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Greek PM sends UN chief declaration of Socialist International on Mideast

27 June 2010 02:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Greek Prime Minister and President of Socialist International George Papandreou sent a letter to United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon Saturday, formally informing him of a declaration of the group on the Middle East issue, APA reports quoting news.xinhuanet.com website.

The same letter, along with the whole text of the declaration, was also sent to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Middle East Quartet Representative Tony Blair and Baroness Ashton of Upholland, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, Papandreou’s Press Office announced.

On June 21-22, some 350 leaders and high level officials of 160 socialist, social democrat and labor parties participating in the Socialist International, held a meeting in New York and discussed and reached agreements on various issues.

One of the main issues discussed was the Middle East issue, with the participation of Israeli and Palestinian parties members representatives, such as Ehud Barak, leader of the Labor Party and Defense Minister of Israel and Husam Zomlot of Palestinian Fatah party.

The Socialist International Council, according to the declaration, affirms the right of Palestinian people for self- determination and calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land within a year and withdrawal to the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem.

"All member parties of Socialist International have expressed their genuine commitment to end the dreadful cycle of violence in the Middle East. We urge all parties to help establish an independent, sovereign, democratic Palestinian state alongside a secure Israeli state within a year from now," stressed Papandreou in his letter, adding that it is not only an urgent priority for the security of all peoples of the region, but also a crucial factor for global peace and security.