UNITED NATIONS, Oct 4, (KUNA): Addressing a UN gathering on international terrorism, the State of Kuwait demanded the Israeli crimes against the Palestinians be put before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to hold perpetrators of violations of Human Rights and International Law accountable for their actions.
The Second Secretary of the Kuwaiti Permanent Mission to the UN Mohammad Abdullah Al-Ateeqi was addressing, Monday evening, a gathering discussing issues of international terrorism, during the 66th UN General Assembly.
The diplomat urged both the UN and the international community to honor their responsibilities and not turn blind eye to deliberate attacks on civilian populations, and went further to clearly re-iterate that Israeli attacks on the Palestinians amount to “state terrorism.” Al-Ateeqi pointed out physical attacks, illegal confiscation and seizure of property, expansion in settlements, and an ongoing siege on Gaza Strip are all acts which fall under the jurisprudence of the ICC. Chapter VII of the UN Charter clearly states upon referral of issues of genocide and crimes against humanity to the ICC, he added.
The Kuwaiti mission demanded the UN Security Council take legal action and file suit in this regard, as it is authorized to do by the ICC.
While believing peaceful means should be used to settle disputes with due heed to human rights, international laws, and international conventions and agreements, respect of rule of law and global peace and security is only feasible through holding violators of laws and agreements accountable for their ill deeds, the secretary said.
On terrorism, the delegation’s speech made a clear distinction between this international bane and peoples’ legitimate right to defend themselves and their homelands.
Al-Ateeqi stressed terrorism is a global phenomenon that should not be associated with any given religion, nationality, community or civilization, or ethnic group. The State of Kuwait, he said, condemns all forms of terrorism, regardless of justification, and believes it is a grave threat to international peace, security, and stability.
As for means to counter terrorism, the diplomat said they start with putting an end to root causes and reasons it spreads easily, and mentioned the eradication of poverty, encouraging sustainable development, supporting sound governance, and bolstering religious co-existence and tolerance. He also mentioned shunning inciting of hatred on any grounds, abuse of religious symbols, and all forms of extremism and violence.
The Kuwaiti diplomat also urged more action to fine-tune and finalize the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism while also stressing it is essential to include the convention a clear definition of terrorism and state terrorism which differentiates between the two and legitimate self defense, sanctioned in UN Charter.
The Kuwaiti diplomat then recalled the agreement between the United Nations and Saudi Arabia to set up a new counter-terrorism centre at UN headquarters in New York in September, and urged the international community to support this initiative to better cooperate and coordinate in capacity-building and training in this field.
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CAIRO: A senior official of the Arab League said here Monday the Arab side would go to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to get full support for Palestinian UN membership, should the US use veto.
Arab countries have been stepping up efforts to ensure more world countries backing to Palestine’s UN membership bid.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had recently submitted the membership bid to the UN in spite of US veto threats.
The new session of the UNGA will be devoted to the Palestinian cause, Deputy Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmad bin Helli said in news remarks.
Although the UNGA does not give full membership, but the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) status will change from just a UN observer into an “observer Palestine state”, he said, adding that there is a big difference between a movement and a state. Furthermore, Israeli allegations of “disputed territories” will become useless, as “occupied territories” will be used instead, he said.
The fresh situation has been created by great Arab efforts that have ensured a major international diplomatic support for Palestinian UN membership bid, the Arab League’s official noted.