President Mahmoud Abbas called on the African Union and its member states to support the idea of ​​an international conference to take care of and participate in the peace process, as well as to send observers to the upcoming general elections in Palestine.
In an address to the 32nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, he warned of Israel´s attempts to change the character and identity of the city of Jerusalem and to call on some countries to transfer their embassies to it, which contravenes international law and Security Council resolutions. Resolution 478 of 1980.
The president stressed that those who encourage Israel to act as a state above international law are the US administration, which no longer qualifies for sponsoring the negotiations alone, because it has proved its bias toward the Israelis.
He added that confronting colonialism, racism, injustice and asserting the right of peoples to self-determination are common issues between Palestine and the peoples of the African continent, stressing rejection of any American intervention in the affairs of any country, as is happening now in Venezuela.
He stressed his rejection and condemnation of all forms of terrorism and extremism in the name of religion, which targets some African capitals, such as occurred in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, last month.
The President´s statement reads as follows:
In the name of of Allah the Merciful
His Excellency President Paul Kagame,
Excellencies, Heads of Delegation,
Brother Abe Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia
His Excellency Mr. Mousa Faki,
Ladies and Gentelmen,
I am happy to meet again, thanking you for your kind invitation to attend this summit, which we wish to achieve success. I extend my thanks and congratulations to His Excellency President Paul Kagame, President of the Rwandese Republic, for the successful completion of his task of chairing the African Union for 2018 and for the significant achievements made during his term of office;
We wish the forthcoming Egyptian presidency and President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi´s success in his 2019 mandate and we are confident of his success and wisdom in leading the African Union towards further development and prosperity.
We also extend our congratulations to all the friendly heads of African countries elected in 2018, wishing them success in serving their countries.
I would like to thank the friendly Ethiopia for its role in the Security Council over the past two years and to thank Equatorial Guinea and Kut Dwwar for their solidarity. We congratulate South Africa on its accession to the Security Council for this year and we are confident of the positive role it will play in supporting The Palestinian cause and all the issues of justice and justice in Africa and the world.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of Delegation,
We applaud the acceleration of the achievements of African countries by raising the rates of economic growth, achieving the social well-being of your peoples, empowering women and young people, as well as your efforts in combating terrorism and religious extremism, and focusing efforts to develop infrastructure and urban development in the continent.
We are gladly watching the democratic transformations, the accelerating pace of political, economic and social reform in the countries of the African continent, the predominance of dialogue on conflict and rivalry and the peaceful and smooth transfer of power.
In this regard, we extend the warmest congratulations and congratulations to the President of Ethiopia, Ms. Sahla Vark Zoudi, on her assumption of the presidency of the Republic and to the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abe Ahmed, who, through dialogue and partnership with all, leads a comprehensive reform movement that includes all sectors, including the empowerment of women in political life. Which foreshadows a promising and bright future for Ethiopia and its friendly people.
The Rwandan experience in empowering women is not forgotten here. Women occupy more than half of the seats in the Rwandan parliament and participate actively in the economic sector and the business world.
We also highly appreciate the recent conclusion of the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict through the initiative, dialogue and tolerance approach, as well as the important achievement of the peace agreement in the State of Southern Sudan.
On this occasion, we reject and condemn all forms of terrorism and extremism in the name of religion, which targets some African capitals, such as those in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, last month. We are always ready to cooperate with your friendly countries in combating all forms of terrorism and extremism, through the transfer of expertise and effective and direct cooperation.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of Delegation,
نود أن نؤكد لكم عزم دولة Ùلسطين تقديم كل إمكاناتها وخبراتها ليس Ùقط على الصعيد الثنائي، بل بصÙتها رئيسا لمجموعة الـ77 والصين التي تضم 134 دولة ومنها دول اتØادكم العتيد. وإننا سنعمل خلال Ùترة رئاستنا لهذه المجموعة للدÙاع عن Ù…ØµØ§Ù„Ø Ø£Ø¹Ø¶Ø§Ø¦Ù‡Ø§ØŒ وعلى رأسهم الدول الأÙريقية، وبقية المجموعات الإقليمية أو القطاعية والجغراÙية ÙˆÙÙ‚ أجندة عملنا لعام 2019.
We will also work in the framework of solidarity, partnership and action with the countries of the South and the North, and within the framework of tripartite cooperation in the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan and Programs, which are in line with the priorities of the African Group, foremost of which is the eradication of poverty and disease, Gender equality, increasing the vulnerability of societies, addressing climate change and spreading sustainable energy production; as well as the challenges that directly affect the economy and development, especially those relating to refugees, migrants, displaced persons and displaced persons arbitrarily, Under the slogan Solidarity for Development.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of Delegation,
I would like to renew your appreciation to your Union and its Member States for your supportive and supportive positions with our just cause, especially in international forums.
We have been and will continue to be our partners, and we hope that our partnership will continue to flourish. In our struggle for liberation and independence today, we look forward to continuing your steadfastness and support for our Palestinian cause in the coming period. The full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations, the international protection of our people, the renunciation of the Israeli occupation of the territory of the State of Palestine, the condemnation of its racist colonial policies and practices, the terror of the settlers and the incursions into the Christian and Islamic holy places, Daily prayers, and the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem of constant threat.
We are working to build our institutions according to the rule of law, spread a culture of peace and fight terrorism in our region and the world. We believe in peace in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and in accordance with the two-state solution, the sovereign state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, Israel to live in security, peace and good-neighborliness.
Those who encourage Israel to act as a state above international law are the American administration, which no longer qualifies for sponsoring the negotiations alone, after it proved its bias towards the Israelis and after the illegal measures taken against us, the transfer of its embassy and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, And our commitment to the negotiations as a sole way of peace between us and the Israelis, and with the full American alignment of the occupying state, at the expense of our legitimate rights, we call for convening an international conference and forming a multilateral mechanism to take care of any future negotiations.
Here I would like to emphasize our rejection of any American intervention in the affairs of any country, as is happening now in Venezuela.
In this regard, we call on the African Union and its member States to support and participate in the international conference to take care of the peace process. As well as in sending observers to the general elections that we are organizing soon in Palestine and with the participation of our people in the city of East Jerusalem, the capital of our Palestinian state first and then in the Gaza Strip and then in the West Bank, which we want to be open to all believers and followers of heavenly religions.
We are wary of Israel´s attempts to change the character and identity of the city of Jerusalem, and its call on some States to transfer their embassies to it, which contravenes international law and Security Council resolutions, specifically resolution 478 of 1980.
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,
We are proud of the depth and strength of the historical relations between Palestine and its people in Africa and its peoples. The struggle against colonialism, racism and injustice and the affirmation of the right of peoples to self-determination are common issues between Palestine and the peoples of the African continent. We count on your steadfastness in your noble positions on the question of Palestine. Values ​​and principles, especially in view of the exposure of the Palestinian cause to conspiracies aimed at jumping from the rights of our people and the liquidation of its just cause.
In conclusion, I thank you for your sincere and sincere positions to enable our people to attain their freedom and independence on their national soil. We hope for friendly Africa, its countries and peoples, and for the African Union to achieve more prosperity, progress and prosperity.
A strong Africa, a strength for all its friends,
Long live Africa, and live Palestine
