24th September 2011 - New York;Today, the Permanent Representative to the UN for the Republic of Maldives, H.E. Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, called on the Security Council of the UN to approve Palestine's bid for statehood.
H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine put forward an application to the UN Secretary General, which will be forwarded on to the General Assembly only with the approval of the Security Council. Speaking at the Security Council's open debate on the situation in the Middle East, Ambassador Ghafoor told the Council, that "after 64 long years of inaction, the time to move forward is now." He emphasized that the only way to promote dialogue was through making even the "unequal power relationship" between Palestine and Israel, claiming that the UN has "obligation to level the playing field," thereby refuting claims that statehood would interfere with the peace process.
The Ambassador also expressed support for the Palestinian Authority referring to it as a "government that is capable of administering its country, and an administration that is ready to take on the full burden of governance." He clarified that it was only through independence that social and economic development could take place and that there could be no better time than now.
He called on the Security Council, including the United States and European Union "to prevail against a history of failure and stand up for the dignity of these men and women in supporting a free and independent Palestinian State."
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