Statement by H.E. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa Permanent Representativeof the Republic of Indonesia President of the UN Securify Council for the Month of November 2007 at the Meeting in Observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People New York, 29 November 2007 Mr. Chairman.
First of all, I would like to extend our gratitude to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for inviting me to address this solemn meeting in my capacity as President of the Security Council for the month of November. This year's observanceof the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People coincides with the continuing presence of challenges to peaceful coexistence befween Israel and Palestine and the emergence of new opportunities for progress and the robust regional and intelnational desire for peace in the Middle East. We have seen repeated setbacksas a result of continued violence on the ground that serves only as further obstacleson the road to a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. The Council urges all parties concerned to exelcise restraint and refrain from any rneasure that could undermine peace in the region. The Security Council remains concerned over the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The Council, therefore, calls for continued emergency and humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza without obstruction. At the same time, the Council recognizes constructive developments in the efforts to bring peace to the Palestinians and other nations in the legion. Dialogue between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been renewed. This consultation has been stepped up further by the formation of Israeli and Palestinian teams to discuss the core issues that are essential to progress towards their shared goal of a negotiated two-state solution. The recent convening of an international conference in Annapolis to launch negotiations leading to the ending of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was commendable.

The Securitv Council has constantly exerted efforts in making cor-rtributionto the creation of a conducive environment for progress on the political horizon for Palestinian statehood, consistent with the Roadmap and its relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It continues to support existing initiatives in the realization of the vision of fwo democratic states,Israel and Palestine,living side-by-side in peaceand security. The Security Council lecognizes the vital role of the Quartet, arrd also the League of Arab States. The Council attaches great significance to the Arab Peace Initiative, a regional initiative which is a vital element of the efforts to advance towards negotiated, comprehensive,just and lasting peace. Tlre Security Council also acknowledges the importmtceof restoring the interPalestinian dialogues aimed at rebuilding a Palestinian national unity. Mr. Chairman. The day of international solidarily with the Palestinian people plovides an opportunity for the international comrnunity to reflect upon its role and contributions in advancing the objective of the two states vision. It is the day when the international community reaffirms its commitment to the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine. The Security Council recognizes the critical need to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would contribute to security and stabilily in the Middle East, and to put in place a process with the goal of creating an independent, democlatic and viable Palestinian state as envisioned in the Roadmap and the Arab Peace Initiative, and the Joint Understanding announced in Annapolis. The Security Council underlines, in this regard, the importance of the 17th December Paris donors conference to mobilize the donors, following on from the Annapolis conference, and to provide financial and political support for the Palestinian Authorily in order to enable it to build a viable and prosperous Palestinian state. As mandated by its Charter, it is the responsibility of the Council to assist Palestine to achieve sustainable peace and to maintain peace and security in the region. The Council will, therefore, continue to be actively seized of the matter. I thank vou.