A.L. ABDUL AZEEZ (Sri Lanka):  Mr. President, this month, the 10th November 2005, marked the 30th Anniversary of the establishment by the General Assembly of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  We were reminded on that day by the Committee that the Anniversary was an opportunity for us to reflect upon decades of failed efforts to resolve the question of Palestine and redouble efforts at bringing about a just solution of that question.
The continued relevance of the Committee’s mandate to the pursuit of peace, freedom and justice for the Palestinian people cannot be over emphasized.  Since its establishment in 1975, the Committee has made commendable efforts to promote the full realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and mobilized international support for their cause.  
It has advanced a number of initiatives to ameliorate the plight of the Palestinian people and keep the focus continuously on the issues of wider concern to them.  We thank Ambassador Paul Badji for his initiative and leadership in this regard.  
Mr. President, Sri Lanka has constantly supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their right to an independent sovereign state based on Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515 and other eleven resolutions.  
The newly elected president of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, has been an abiding friend of the Palestinian people and I wish to quote his message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.  I quote:
“Sri Lanka as constantly advocated for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and extended our full unequivocal support for their just struggle in obtaining their rights including the right to statehood.  
In my public life over 30 years, I have associated myself with the cause of the Palestine and supported activities in my country and elsewhere aimed at promoting the rights and freedoms for Palestinian people.  The reports on the continued hardships and deprivations suffered by the Palestinians almost on a daily basis fill me with profound sorrow.  While expressing my concern on such incidents, I sincerely hope that the efforts to pursue an end to violence and take forward the peace process would soon bring successful results.  
On behalf of the government and the people of Sri Lanka, I take this opportunity to reaffirm our continued solidarity with the Palestinian people and share their hopes and aspirations of seeing an end to foreign occupation, realizing a Palestinian state and a durable peace.” End of quote.
Mr. President, during the past year, we have witnessed the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the holding of a meeting between Israel and Palestinian leaders, and more recently, the convolution of the agreement on Gaza-Egypt border crossing between Israel and Palestine.  These developments enhance the prospect of reviving the peace process within framework of the Quartet Road Map and should be welcome.  
However, the continuation of violence and attacks on civilians, the intensified expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the continued construction of the Separation Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in contravention of international law remains a matter of deep concern.
The Summit meeting between Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian Authority President held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, early this year, created a fresh momentum towards the resumption of the peace process.  We were able to reach understanding on a number of important issues, most importantly a commitment to cease all acts of violence.  We welcome the removal of all Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.  
Despite this withdrawal, Israel’s control of the borders have prevented the free movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, and the achievement of the deserved goal of economic development of the Palestinian people who have for far too long undergone extreme hardships in their living conditions.
The agreement on Gaza-Egypt border crossing, between Israel and the Palestine Authority on 15th November 2005, we hope would enhance the free movement of the Palestinian people and improve the economic activity.  Further, we believe that this would contribute to the confidence-building measures between the parties and help them to renew their focus on the peace process and address the other pressing issues such as the need to end violence, stop settlement activities, and improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people.  
Mr. President, we appreciate the recent efforts made by the Quartet members for advancing a peaceful settlement and hope that the international community will continue to work towards the achievement of a peaceful solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state, existing side-by-side with Israel within secure and recognized boundaries.  Thank you, Mr. President.