Ambassador Bui The Giang, deputyrepresentative of Vietnam at the UNSC, raised deep concern over theworsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, unabated clashes between Israelisettlers and local Palestinians as well as Israel’s defiant pursuit ofthe Separation Wall and military incursions against the West Bank.
“We are particularly dismayed at Israel ’s recent intolerable decisionto expand Gilo settlement built on the occupied East Jerusalem ”, saidthe Vietnamese diplomat.
“Over the past month, despite continued international and regionaldiplomatic efforts, negotiations between the parties have not beenresumed and progress on the ground has yet been as substantive asexpected.”
He therefore called on Israel to put an end to the so-called naturalgrowth of settlements, open all border crossings, release Palestinianprisoners from Israeli detention centres and refrain from any otherunilateral policy or action that may undermine the peace process.
“We share the concerns about the possible postponement of thepresidential and legislative elections in Palestine scheduled for nextJanuary,” Giang said.
He urged the Palestinian parties to continue to engage in the nationalreconciliation and unity process aimed at forming a national unityGovernment and preparing for future statehood.
“We call for concrete and sustained efforts by both Israel andPalestine to abide by international humanitarian and human rights laws,and follow up with national investigations on the violations asrecommended by the Goldstone Report.”
He said the Road Map, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Madrid terms ofreference and relevant Security Council Resolutions remained the bestpossible framework for the parties to realise the common goal of aMiddle East at peace and a two-State solution.
In regard to Lebanon , Giang reiterated concerns over the resumption offires between southern Lebanon and Israel and supported relatedinvestigations.
He called on all Lebanese parties to rise above partisan interests andjointly shoulder the national agenda of peace consolidation,reconciliation and reconstruction.
“We demand that Israel immediately and unconditionally cease allviolations of Lebanese independence, sovereignty and territorialintegrity.”
“We continue to register our support for the UN Interim Force inLebanon and full implementation of Resolution 1701 (that aims toresolve the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict)”, concluded the Vietnameseambassador./.