Cairo, Spet. 12 (Petra)-- Following an emergency meeting in Cairo, the Arab and African Parliaments jointly released a statement applauding the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Arab Republic of Egypt for their honorable position in firmly opposing any plans to end the Palestinian cause and categorically rejecting attempts to drive the Palestinians from their land.

The statement emphasized that the ongoing international silence on the suffering of the Palestinian people is unacceptable and urged the free world's nations to recognize the Palestinian state at the next UN General Assembly session.

The statement urged all regional and international organizations, parliamentary unions, and institutions to view the occupying entity as an entity shunned by the international community and to suspend its membership and parliament.

The two parliaments also emphasized that it is necessary to reevaluate the procedures that oversee UN decision-making, especially in the Security Council.

They demanded that the veto be abolished because it has evolved from an instrument for preserving peace and security to one for defending against aggression and transgressions of international law. They also demanded that the Council be reformed in order to guarantee equitable representation for all nations and to alleviate injustice experienced by developing-nation citizens.

Speaker of the Arab Parliament Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi and Speaker of the African Parliament Chief Charumbira confirmed that this united position represents the Arab-African destiny and shows the parliaments' support for the Palestinian people's rightful rights as well as for anything that promotes regional and global security and stability.

//Petra// MF