Transcribed & edited by Jenny Jiang

Transcript of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Palestine’s application for non-member observer status at the United Nations General Assembly on Nov. 29, 2012:

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen.

An important vote has taken place today in the General Assembly.

The decision by the General Assembly to accord Palestine non-member observer status in the United Nations was a prerogative of the member states.

I stand ready to fulfill my role and report to this Assembly as requested in the resolution.

My concern has been consistent all along.

I believe that the Palestinians have a legitimate right to their own independent state.

I believe that Israel has a right to live in peace and security with its neighbors.

There is no substitute for negotiations to that end.

Today’s vote underscores the urgency of the resumption of meaningful negotiations.

We must give due impetus to our collective efforts to ensure that an independent, sovereign, democratic, contiguous, and viable state of Palestine lives side-by-side with a secure state of Israel.

I urge the parties to renew their commitment to a negotiated peace.

I call on all concerned to act responsibly to preserve the achievements in the Palestinian state-building under the leadership of President [Mahmoud] Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad and intensify efforts towards the conciliation and a just and lasting peace, which remains our shared goals and priority.

Thank you.

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Learn More:

• WebTV.un.org: Ban Ki-moon, Question of Palestine, General Assembly, 44th plenary meeting on Nov. 29, 2012
• WhatTheFolly.com: Transcript: Speech by Israeli Representative Ron Prosor on Palestine’s application for non-member observer status at the United Nations
• WhatTheFolly.com: Transcript: Statement by President Mahmoud Abbas on Palestine’s application for non-member observer status at the United Nations
• WhatTheFolly.com: Transcript: Remarks by Riyad Mansour on Palestine’s application for non-member observer status at the United Nations
• WhatTheFolly.com: Transcript: Statement by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Palestine’s application for non-member observer status at the United Nations