JAN ELIASSON:  The 57th plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order.  The General Assembly will this afternoon consider agenda item 15, entitled question of Palestine.  The report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has been circulated in document A/60/35 and the report of the Secretary General has been circulated, document A/65/39.  In connection with this item, the General Assembly has before it four draft resolutions issued as documents A/60/L.28, A/60/L.29, A/60/L.30 and A/60/L.31.  
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentleman, this morning I had the honor to address the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the occasion of the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.  I recalled the United Nations permanent responsibility with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law as stated in resolution A/59/31 of last year.  
Indeed, solidarity with the Palestinian people is an intrinsic part of our common responsibility to support the Middle East peace process.  It is in this context that the General Assembly in the same resolution of last year, A/59/31, recalled the relevant Security Council resolutions and welcomed the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side within secure and recognized borders.  This constitutes the foundation for the peace process.  
Let me also use this occasion to express appreciation to all governments, regional organizations, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and individuals for their untiring work and dedication to achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East and to provide humanitarian and economic assistance to the Palestinian people.
We must spare no efforts to assist both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to decades of Palestinian-Israeli confrontation and conflict.  
I was particularly gratified to hear this morning the message of the President of the Palestinian Authority, His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in which he stated that the Palestinian Authority has, and I quote, Chosen peace and negotiations as the path to reaching a just and comprehensive peace, and he added, Our hands remain outstretched for peace. 
This year has already marked some real progress.  The Palestinian people demonstrated their commitment to democracy during the presidential election in January.  The international community welcomed the Israeli withdrawal and dismantlement of settlements in the Gaza Strip and parts of the Northern West Bank in the late summer.  
Last week on November 25, following an agreement by both sides on movement and access, the President of the Palestinian Authority formally reopened the Gaza Strip's border crossing with Egypt, thus giving the Palestinians control over one of their frontiers for the first time in their history.  An important step was thus taken to fulfill the vision of a future Palestinian state.  
All those who made this possible through painstaking and complicated negotiations, through persistence and tenacity of efforts are to be commended.  The parties are encouraged to continue their cooperation on outstanding issues related to disengagement supported by the international community.
The Road Map supported by the Quartet provides a solid basis for the continued work for peace.  The international community must intensify its engagement in helping the parties to end the conflict, which for far too long has tormented this region and its peoples.  It is crucial that Palestinians and Israelis now cooperate to the fullest extent possible.   
Actions which could aggravate the situation and increase suspicions and mistrust must not be undertaken.  Violence and acts of terror must cease.  In the meantime, everything must be done to eliminate the daily plight of the Palestinian people.  Access and mobility are crucial for dealing with unemployment and poverty.  International assistance should focus not only on humanitarian relief, but also on capacity building programs as part of a development strategy for a future Palestinian state.
Let us hope and let us be determined that with the full backing of the United Nations and the world community, the peace process will be reactivated so that we finally can see the realization of a vision for a region where two states, Israel and Palestinian, face the future together in peace and cooperation.  
I this afternoon first give the floor to his excellency, Mr. Paul Badji of Senegal in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, who will introduce draft resolutions A/60/L.28 to A/60/L.31 in the course of his statement.