Stop managing Middle East crisis and seek solution, Omani minister tells UN debate

In his remarks to the General Assembly today, Oman’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, called on the United Nations to switch from managing the Middle East conflict to actively seeking a solution, stressing from the podium of the General Assembly that despite many previous resolutions the issue still remains a threat to world peace.

“It is known to all of us that the United Nations has explored all venues and has adopted many resolutions and policies on the Question of Palestine, but this issue is still a subject of concern and source of threat and conflict, which goes beyond the Middle East,” the Foreign Minister told the 67th Assembly on the last day of its annual General debate, taking place at UN Headquarters in New York.

“Hence, we believe that the role of the United Nations in relation to the Question of Palestine should change from managing the crisis to seriously searching for a just and lasting comprehensive political solution, that would take into account the interests of the Palestinians and the Israelis, leading to the establishment of the State of Palestine and the State of Israel living side by side,” he added.

Oman, he noted, supports the application of Palestine to become a non-member State of the UN, “hoping this will usher a new phase in the concept of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, which could contribute positively in the settlement of this problem.”

The Foreign Minister also called on the parties in the Syrian crisis, where over 18,000 people have been killed since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad erupted some 19 months ago, to reach a peaceful solution that would spare the lives of the Syrian people.

“We call on our brothers in Syria to renounce violence, stop fighting, and enter into a political process that will meet the aspirations and the hopes of the Syrian people and preserve the security, stability and unity of Syria,” he stated.

He added, “We call on the Security Council, which is responsible for the preservation of international peace and security, to reach consensus on a unified position towards the Syrian crisis, away from any political contradiction and without bias to any party, which would usher a serious national political dialogue between all political powers in Syria without exception.”

He also urgent all parties in the Somali conflict to take part in a national dialogue regardless of their ideological and political differences, so as to contribute in restoring security, stability, and state building in the Horn of Africa country which has been riven by instability and insecurity for much of the last two decades.

Oman’s Foreign Minister is one of scores of world leaders and other high-level officials presenting their views and comments on issues of individual, national and international relevance at the Assembly’s General Debate, which ends later on Monday.