News

Lithuania along with the United Kingdom, South Korea, Rwanda and Nigeria abstained in the vote on the draft resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the United Nations Security Council on 30 December. The resolution fell short of the required number of needed votes. Eight countries voted in favour, while the US and Australia voted against it.

According to Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, Lithuania strongly supports the two-state solution that envisages the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security. A resumption of direct negotiations is the only way to solve this long-lasting conflict and to reach an agreement where an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestine and Israel are living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition.

“Under the present circumstances, the insufficiently concerted text of the resolution could hardly contribute to the peace process and bring the ultimate objective  of the two-state solution closer,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

“Most elements of this draft resolution can constitute a good start for further collective work in establishing parameters for peace negotiations. Nevertheless, there is no substitute for direct talks between parties,” said Deputy Permanent Representative of Lithuania’s Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the United Nations Nida Jakubonė.

Jordan submitted the draft resolution on behalf of the Arab Group to the UN Security Council calling for the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories before the end of 2017.

The minimum of nine votes in favour is required for adoption of the resolution by the Security Council.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider