UN meeting on Palestine hails Security Council support for 'Road Map' for peace

The United Nations wrapped up an expert meeting in Beijing on the question of Palestine today amid widespread praise for the Security Council's support of the Road Map for peace in the Middle East.

In its final document, the gathering called on the parties to fulfil their obligations under the plan and to realize the vision of two States living side by side. The experts also viewed the Council's endorsement of the Road Map as a strong indication of its intention to remain fully engaged in efforts towards achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Participants also voiced concern over the construction of the separation wall in the occupied West Bank and around East Jerusalem, calling this development an extension of the illegal annexation by Israel of Palestinian land in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Final Document called on the Council to make Israel stop and reverse the barrier's construction.

In addition to the 16 expert participants, representatives of 72 Governments, 3 intergovernmental organizations, 7 UN agencies and 11 non-governmental organizations attended the two-day event.