Vietnam called for an end to violence in the Middle East
VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS DEMANDS AN END TO MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE
Oct. 21 (VNA) -- Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Pham Binh Minh has called for an immediate end to violence in the Middle East.
He made the demand at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Oct. 20 which was attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and representatives from 50 countries.
The Vietnamese Ambassador held that the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit in Egypt was a step towards detente and had helped create the conditions basic to the resumption of the peace process in the Middle East. He said he was deeply moved by the news that more than 100 innocent Palestinian people had been killed.
He affirmed Viet Nam's support for Palestine's just struggle, saying that Viet Nam, now as before, strongly supported the Palestinian people's struggle for their sacred rights, including the right to self-determination, the right to return home, and the right to build an independent State of Palestine with Geru Salem as the capital.
"We hold that the Arab - Israel conflict in the Middle East will not be resolved peacefully unless a fair solution to the Palestine issue is found," Ambassador Minh said.
He added that Viet Nam lauded all initiatives and efforts by regional and international communities to break down obstacles to a long-lasting, fair and peaceful resolution of conflict based on the UN Security Council's Resolutions 242 and 338 and other UN resolutions and on the principle of "land for peace".
The Vietnamese ambassador reiterated that Viet Nam would work with the world community to continue striving for a fair and reasonable solution to the Palestine issue.
The General Assembly voted for the adoption of the session's resolution, expressing concern about conflicts between Israeli and Palestinian armies and their losses, condemning violence, renewing support for the Middle East peace process, and calling for the two sides' cooperation in these efforts.
