Palestine envoy hopes Arab FMs will visit UN in April

Palestinian Ambassador Ryadh Mansour expressed hope on Thursday that the ministerial delegation which is scheduled to visit the US, Russia, China and European capitals next month will also visit the UN in New York. Mansour told KUNA following a meeting with Secretary-General that he informed him about the ministerial delegation's visit and that "we will do our best to have them visit New York" to meet with UN officials and participate in the monthly debate of the Security Council in April on the situation in the Middle East. KUNA learned that the ministerial delegation will indeed visit New York next month and that it is not just a hope. Mansour was accompanied during his meeting with Ban by Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi, Chairman of the Arab Group; Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Khazaei, Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned (NAM) countries, Djibouti Ambassador Roble Olhaye, Chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); Ambassador Abdou Salam Diallo of Senegal, Chairman of the Palestinian rights Committee; and Mohamed El Kafrawi, Charge d'affaires of the League of Arab States. Mansour said the Ministerial delegation "may come in the second part of April. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Qatar, and includes the Foreign Ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and the Arab League Secretary-General. He said he and the accompanying delegation discussed during the meeting with Ban four issues: the settlements, the Palestinian prisoners, Jerusalem and the blockade of Gaza. On the issue of settlements, Mansour said the delegation of Ambassadors asked Ban to use his good offices with the Israeli government to stop their construction. On the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Mansour said the delegation also asked Ban to "do whatever he can to help release the prisoners who are on hunger strike, and to have UNCEF report on 200 children prisoners." He added that the delegation further asked Ban to "pressure Israel to stop all the unilateral illegal actions in the Holy City, and to lift the blockade on Gaza. Mansour described Ban's response as "very positive" and invited him to meet with the Council of Arab Ambassadors here in preparation for the possible Ministerial meeting. He explained that the Ambassadors' meeting with Ban today comes in response to the decision by the recent Arab Summit, the OIC Summit, and the NAM Ministerial Committee to "engage the UN officials on very important issues for the Palestinian people." He added that today's meeting will be followed by other meetings with the Presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Ambassador Khazaei, delegated to speak on behalf of the group, told KUNA that the international community "should do more to prevent Israeli crimes against Palestinians. More action is needed." He said Ban "fully agreed with us and promised to increase his efforts."