Speaking at an Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon yesterday urged all countries in the region and worldwide to take more effective steps to resolve the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

Rahmon reportedly described the summit as a timely and important step for discussing the situations in Palestine and Lebanon.  He emphasized that more than a year after the outbreak of armed clashes in the Gaza Strip, all attempts at reconciliation between the warring sides have failed.

“We once again call on all parties to resolve their differences solely through negotiations and diplomatic means, based on universally recognized principles and norms of international law, particularly the UN Charter,” he said.

The President of Tajikistan also advocated for an enhanced coordinating role for the United Nations and welcomed any efforts from other authoritative international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to stabilize the region.

It was noted that a genuine solution to the Palestinian issue and a just and lasting peace in the region could only be achieved through the implementation of UN resolutions on establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

“Tajikistan supports the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the borders of 1967,” declared Emomali Rahmon.

According to President Rahmon, this approach would enable the Palestinian people, as an independent entity in the global community, to exercise their legitimate national rights based on widely accepted principles of interstate relations.

Rahmon stressed that Tajikistan is committed to contributing to this endeavor to the best of its ability.  He reminded the audience of Tajikistan's proposal at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly to adopt a special resolution declaring a “Decade of Peacebuilding for Future Generations,” aimed at promoting peacebuilding and peaceful conflict resolution.

The Tajik leader expressed confidence that the outcomes of the summit would support positive progress toward resolving the Palestinian issue.