Shoura chairman condemns UN double standard
Published: Jul 22, 2010 00:02 Updated: Jul 22, 2010 00:02
RIYADH: The Kingdom has called on the United Nations to intervene and stop ongoing Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territories.
Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh said the UN needed to stop Palestinian rights being violated. He was addressing delegates at the third World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, which concluded in Geneva on Wednesday.
The conference is a global summit convened by The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which focuses on democracy, the role of legislative institutions and their relationship with the United Nations.
The IPU is composed of members from 140 parliaments around the globe.
“The Middle East region is still witnessing continuous Israeli occupation and its daily violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, who live under oppression, destruction and genocide,” said Al-Asheikh.
“We see that those who speak the language of law and call for the application of the principles of human rights, justice and equality, ignores all of that when it comes to Israel. This double standard policy is shown in its ugliest form, and thus we see that the Palestinian individual is deprived of his least rights,” he said.
Al-Asheikh added that it was a painful reality that proves once again the urgent need for the United Nations to put a stop to these actions.
“The only way to find effective solutions for our bitter problems is through the framework of multilateral cooperation under the umbrella of the United Nations,” he said.
He urged the UN and IPU to pool their resources to devise a method to facilitate international cooperation and solve a problem that demands a conducive environment based on justice, mutual trust and real partnership, and construct sound relations between countries to deal with future challenges for the benefit of mankind.
He said Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council was dedicated to promoting humanitarian relations and cooperation by ratifying international treaties after careful deliberations. “We also solicit the opinions and suggestions from the local community in this regard,” he said.
“The council also participates effectively in promoting strategic relations with parliaments in all parts of the world. It is also committed to establishing dialogue and achieve partnerships and constructive cooperation to cater to humanitarian hopes and expectations.”
He said that based on the principles of Islam, the religion of moderation and tolerance, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah created an initiative that calls for dialogue among followers of different religions and beliefs.
According to him, the aim was to remove misunderstandings and overcome different elements of disagreement, hostility and hatred.
The king, Al-Asheikh said, has also encouraged a culture promoting dialogue and communication between civilizations and cultures to boost coexistence and understanding and to disseminate humanitarian values.
“This will help reduce tensions and defuse conflicts and bring about the desired peace and security. The concept of democracy, which is the focus of our discussions today, requires us to come out with a vision considering culture, civilization, diversity, principles of justice, freedom, equality and preserve dignity and human rights to avoid painful and bitter human miseries which disturb the conscience of our international society.”

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Jul 22, 2010 16:13
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