Hanoi, 28th November 2014
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I wish to convey to you the greetings of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people, to all our friends participating in the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People around the world. I would also like to express our profound gratitude to Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, Kim Dong Cultural Center, and Vietnam – Palestine Friendship Organization of Hanoi City for their untiring efforts in co-organizing this event.
We commemorate this occasion in Hanoi one year after the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and two years following its adoption of the historic resolution to raise the status of Palestine to a non-member observer State in the United Nations. Of course, our objective and endeavor remain full membership in the United Nations, which is our people’s legitimate and legal right.
On this day, we renew our deep gratitude to all Member States, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, as well as to all our brothers, sisters, friends, and all freedom and peace-loving people around the world, as well as our friendly people of Viet Nam, who continue to steadfastly stand by our people. We are grateful for their solidarity and support of the Palestinian people’s legitimate national rights for the achievement of their freedom and independence and just lasting peace.
Despite all the challenges, hardship and setbacks, we continue to have the faith that a just peace can be achieved in the Middle East and that right must prevail. Therefore, we appeal to you to continue to stand firmly for peace, for the rule of law and respect the human rights, including the right of self-determination, which the Palestinian people have too long been denied. It is high time to find the political will to act decisively for the realization of the inalienable rights of our people, including to independence of the State of Palestine, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
This year marked the passage of 47 years since June 1967, when Israel forcibly occupied the remainder of historic Palestine – the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. This year also witnessed the suffering of our people under another brutal military aggression by Israel, the occupying Power. That aggression this past summer targeted in specific the occupied Gaza Strip, where our people endured a barbaric Israeli aggression that killed an injured our people, including our children, caused massive destruction and flattened homes atop entire families, inflicting horrific devastation that has been condemned by all.
We regret the lack of implementation of the countless resolutions regarding the question of Palestine, a fact that has clearly compounded the conflict over the many decades, inflicting grave hardship on the Palestinian people and the continued denial of their rights. This regrettable reality deepens the widespread conviction that there is indeed a double standard when it comes to United Nations resolutions regarding Israel, which are not implemented, allowing Israel to continue behaving as though it is a State above the law.
We insist that this injustice must end and this military occupation of our land and our people must end. We reiterate our urgent calls to the International community to act forthwith to compel Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with its legal obligations, relevant United Nations resolutions and international commitments and to cease completely its violations of International law and its Illegal, aggressive and destructive policies and practices.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are grateful for the many expressions and actions of solidarity with the Palestinian people extended from all the peoples of the world, which we witnessed during the last Israeli war on Gaza. I wish here to recognize the changes in the Western world where the popular sentiment has reached the official political levels. Sweden moved ahead bravely in this regard with its recognition of the State of Palestine, and we hope that other European countries will follow suit. Here we also recognize the important and overwhelming motions in support of recognition of the State of Palestine by the parliaments in the United Kingdom, in Ireland, in Spain and the upcoming votes in France and other European countries in this regard. We are deeply appreciative of all of these positive developments, which enhance the opportunities for peace and security and stability in the region. Does Israel, the occupying Power, understand all of the message in this regards?
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this occasion, I would also like to extend to the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the government and the friendly people of Viet Nam the sincere thanks of the leadership and the people of Palestine. Your solidarity and friendship given to Palestine’s legitimate struggle over decades has become a strong motivation for the two countries to overcome geographical distances to get closer and further promote this special friendship. The victories of Vietnam over the years bring in not only invaluable lessons but also the inspiration and an enormous encouragement for the Palestinian people to continue our enduring and difficult struggle for national independence and freedom.
Tomorrow will mark the sixty-seventh anniversary of the adoption of the partition resolution in 1947, and in this year, the international year of solidarity with our people, the Palestinian people look forward with great hope to the future. We are determined to remain steadfast on our land and realize our inalienable rights, confident that the international community will stand with right and justice, so that hope, freedom, peace and security can prevail and that will ensure a better future for all of our children.
Thank you!