By Xinhua
United Nations : The U.N. Security Council on Friday urged donors to rapidly disburse their pledges on Palestine which were made at the Paris conference .
The council members issued the appeal after they heard a briefing from U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B.Lynn Pascoe on the Middle East.
Pascoe said the next few months are critical for the renewed peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, adding that solid progress will be essential in the bilateral negotiations.
“This however is unlikely to be achieved, or to be sustainable, without serious improvements on the ground,” he said. “Donors must follow through on their commendable Paris commitments, and the parties must act to fulfill their responsibilities, so that a new climate of confidence, security and physical mobility is established.”
On Lebanon, Pascoe said, as the current situation is dangerous and unsustainable, it is of fundamental importance for the Lebanese state that all Lebanese leaders seek a solution that enables presidential elections to take place immediately.
Following closed consultations, the council welcomed in a statement the Paris conference for the Palestinian state held in Paris on Monday, calling it “an important step in a broader process aiming at the realization of the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security.”
However, council members urged a rapid disbursement of the pledges, and call upon states and international organizations “to maximize resources available to the Palestinian Authority, and to contribute to the Palestinian institution-building program in preparation for statehood.”