UN Marks Solidarity Day with Palestinian People

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 30, 2002

UN Marks Solidarity Day with Palestinian People

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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that sustainable progress in the Middle East region can only be achieved if simultaneous steps are taken on the security, economic, humanitarian and political aspects of the conflict.

In a massage on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, observed on Nov. 29 every year, the UN chief said: "This Day of Solidarity is a day of mourning and a day of grief."

"The human and material losses sustained by the Palestinian people in the last two years have been nothing short of catastrophic," the message said.

It noted that the deplorable situation in the occupied territory has kept the whole region in a continuous state of crisis for over two years, with no end in sight.

"Excessive and disproportionate force has often been used by the Israeli authorities, along with extra judicial killings, arbitrary detentions, deportations and collective punishment measures such as house demolitions," it said. "Such actions only intensify rage, desperation and a desire for revenge."

At the same time, the UN chief also condemned cruel and devastating terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, including suicide bombings, which have claimed large numbers of innocent lives and wounded many more.

"Such actions only set back the Palestinian cause. The result of these actions has been the near-total destruction of the belief on either side that there is genuine partner for a just peace," itsaid.

However, Annan said that despite the descent into "a seemingly endless cycle of killing and destruction," a parallel process of diplomatic and political progress has taken place.

He emphasized that sustainable progress can only be achieved if simultaneous steps are taken on the security, economic, humanitarian and political aspects of the conflict.

Annan urged the international donor community to provide much-needed budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority and its institutions, and essential emergency relief to the Palestinian population.

Besides the secretary-general, President of the General Assembly Jan Kavan, President of the Security Council Wang Yingfan,a representative of Palestine, also addressed the meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

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