Palestinians, Israelis should seize chance to achieve 2-state solution

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry on Wednesday urged Palestinian and Israeli leaders not to miss the upcoming opportunity to achieve the two-state solution. Addressing the Security Council in its monthly briefing on the situation in the region, Serry said: "As the efforts underway to develop a meaningful initiative to achieve the negotiated two state solution are likely to reach a critical point in the coming weeks, we sincerely hope that the leaders on both sides will demonstrate this time their commitment and realize that this is a moment of opportunity they cannot afford to lose." This also applies to regional stakeholders who can play an important role to achieve peace through a revitalized Arab Peace Initiative, he added, stressing that the United Nations stands ready to contribute to a return to meaningful negotiations in the period ahead, including through the Quartet and broader engagement with all parties. "Now is not the time to relent in our commitment to advancing the prospects for the resumption of meaningful talks towards the realization of a two-state solution. This is the time for concerted action in support of a substantive initiative lest we miss the slight opening that has been offered in recent months," he noted. He praised the renewed US effort and sustained personal engagement and commitment of the US Secretary of State John Kerry who is currently on his fourth trip to the region. He also noted the "renewed interest" of regional stakeholders, particularly the "important" visit to Washington late last month by a delegation of Arab ministers and leaders including the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al Thani and Arab League Secretary-General A1-Araby. "Their visit reaffirmed the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative first proposed in 2002 and, we hope, revived prospects that its promise of regional stability can become an important part of developing peace efforts," he said in reference to the amended Arab peace initiative to include a land swap between the parties. He noted that the recent events in the region attest to the mounting risks for regional stability. "It is imperative for everyone to work collectively to avert those risks, preserve stability and contribute to lay peaceful foundations for a better future in the Middle East, to which so many of its peoples aspire," he stressed. On the conflict in Syria, Serry said ending it is a matter of "great urgency" and must be the top priority of the international community." He said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the recent American-Russian initiative to bring the Syrian parties to a negotiating table, and is "fully devoted to helping the Syrians find a political solution. The weeks ahead will be critical and we urge everyone to cooperate."