Palestinians count on Asian-African conference to internationalize their cause

RAMALLAH - The Palestinians are facing severe difficulties and they are eager to see their hope of establishing an independent state on the territories Israel occupied in 1967 come true, according to analysts and observers.

Analysts say the Palestinian participation in the upcoming Asian-African Conference scheduled to convene in Indonesia on April 19 would contribute to achieving the goal of "internationalizing the Palestinian cause" and establishing an independent state.

They also believe that depending on the historic good ties between Palestinians and so many African and Asian countries, Palestinians "still count on keeping the support of these states and countries to their cause and intensify their efforts to resubmit their bids of joining more international agencies and treaties."

REVIVING PRINCIPLES OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

In commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference and the 10th anniversary of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP), Indonesia will host a series of high level events under the theme "Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity" in Jakarta and Bandung on April 19-24, 2015.

It is expected, according to observers, that the summit will emphasize the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which were initiated in 1954 by leaders of China, India and Myanmar.

The principles stand for mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

Mazen Shameya, Palestine's assistant foreign minister for Asia, Africa and Australia affairs, told Xinhua that "attending the summit in Jakarta is an opportunity to reiterate the principles of coexistence founded by the Asian-African Conference and to convey the principles to the Middle East region which has been passing through crises, wars and instability."

He said that the Jakarta summit "is held as the Palestinian cause is passing through complicated circumstances amid an absence of a political future, especially after the results of the Israeli elections."

He added that when the right-wing Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won the parliamentary elections in March, the situation for the Palestinians had become more complicated. Netanyahu has once said that if he won, there would be no Palestinian state.

"All of us are exerting intensive efforts to gain the largest international support for our Palestinian cause in order to prepare again to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council for ending the Israeli occupation. During the summit in Jakarta, we will focus on this goal," said Shameya.