Vietnam welcomes and supports the efforts made at various levels by the Quartet, the League of Arab States, regional countries and the international community at large to help the parties resume peaceful negotiations in the Middle East, said a diplomat.

Ambassador Bui The Giang, Vietnam’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN, made the comment at the UN Security Council’s consultative meeting on the Middle East on Sept. 17.

Ambassador Giang expressed concern over the prolonged, devastated humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the unabated violence between Israeli settlers and local Palestinians, as well as Israel’s defiant pursuit of the Separation Wall, house demolitions and eviction, and military incursions against the West Bank.

He called on concerned parties to further commit to and resolutely act upon their mutual rights and obligations under the Road Map, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Madrid terms of reference and relevant Security Council Resolutions.

“In our view, the continued precarious situation on the ground requires a genuine climate of mutual confidence among the parties concerned, which can only be possible on condition of a halt to all provocative acts from all sides, the guarantee of humanitarian access by opening all passage points, the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention centres, and strict compliance with international human rights and humanitarian laws,” Ambassador Giang said.

He stressed Israel has to end its unilateral policies that may endanger the legal status, demographic composition and character of the Palestinian territories before final status negotiations can resume.

The diplomat also called on the Palestinian parties to continue to engage in national reconciliation and unity process aimed at forming a national unity Government, thus laying solid foundations for self-sustained security, socio-economic revitalisation, and future statehood.

He said he hoped that at the upcoming 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, more mediation efforts and resources will be explored along these lines.

Regarding Lebanon , Giang shared concerns about the three-month impasse in forming a new Government and the recent exchange of fire between southern Lebanon and Israel . He called on concerned parties to strengthen efforts at conciliation and dialogue so as to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions that represent the best interests of local communities and contribute to the consolidation of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon .

The Ambassador noted that Vietnam supports investigations relating to issues between Lebanon and Israel and demands Israel to cease flights over Lebanese territory and withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar village and an adjacent area north of the Blue Line.

He reiterated Vietnam’s support for UNIFIL and the full implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006)./.