New Delhi(IANS) : Contending that India’s support to Palestine has “not wavered”, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday said New Delhi will attend next week’s International Donors’ Conference for Palestine.
Mukherjee was addressing a meeting of the Parliament’s Consultative Committee on External Affairs.
“India supports a negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, living side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Roadmap and UNSC Resolutions 1397 & 1515,” the external affairs ministry spokesperson quoted the minister as telling the committee. India also backed the 2003 Quartet roadmap and the Arab Peace Initiative, he said.
Mukherjee also noted that resumption of dialogue between Israel and Lebanon as well as Israel and Syria will also have to be addressed “in efforts to establish comprehensive and durable peace in the region”.
“India’s support to the Palestinian cause has not wavered,” he said, reminding the committee that India had recognized Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as a representative of the Palestinian people in 1975 and was one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988.
He pointed out that India had in its statement at the Middle East Annapolis Conference Nov 27 reiterated its position and appreciated the intention to launch regular negotiations between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Mukherjee announced that Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed will represent India at the International Donors’ Conference for Palestine being held in Paris Dec 17.
He also briefed the committee members on India’s close interaction with West Asian countries, with the region emerging as an important one “whose stability and security has a direct relevance for India”.