New York, Sep 22 (Petra) His Majesty King Abdullah II asserted on Monday that the global consensus in support of the two-state solution sends a clear message about the need to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and that this solution is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace that "fulfils the rights of all our peoples." Delivering Jordan’s address in New York at the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty said: "We thank all countries that have recognised the State of Palestine." "We must work to stop all measures that undermine the two-state solution. We must make sure that today is a step in a continued effort to realise it," the King continued.

During the conference, held at the United Nations headquarters and organised jointly by Saudi Arabia and France, His Majesty said the commitment demonstrated by many countries today to creating a peaceful future represents the beginning of a long, difficult, but essential process to realise it.

Following is the full text of the King’s remarks: "In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Your Excellencies, My Friends, I thank France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for convening this meeting.

We meet here at the UN, where every country, every people, are promised a voice. We meet to raise our voices for peace and for justice, for the only path to ensuring security for the Middle East and beyond: The two-state solution.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Almost every year since, our countries have met within these halls to decry the injustice and violence of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and seek solutions. And now, for nearly two years, we have been witnesses to a horrific level of bloodshed and destruction in Gaza.

It stands in flagrant violation of international laws and the values of our shared humanity. And it threatens the foundations of future peace.

The war on Gaza must end. Humanitarian aid must flow unhindered.

And all illegal, unilateral measures in the West Bank and settler violence must also end.

A clear choice stands before us. On one side, to continue down the dark and bloody path of war and conflict. Or, to take the path of peace, through the two-state solution.

And today, the world is taking a significant step on the path to achieving just and lasting peace.

This global rally behind the two-state solution sends a clear message: the conflict must end. The two-state solution is the only path to the just and lasting peace that fulfils the rights of all our peoples.

We thank all countries that have recognised the State of Palestine. And now, we must work to stop all measures that undermine the two-state solution. We must make sure that today is a step in a continued effort to realise it.

As we work on ending the war on Gaza, we must also do all we can to restore hope.

The commitment so many countries are making to a future of peace today, begins that long, difficult, but essential process.

Thank you." The conference saw broad international participation to discuss ways to implement the New York Declaration adopted in September, with the aim of developing a roadmap leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, on the basis of the two-state solution.

France, and a number of other countries, announced their official recognition of the Palestinian state during the conference.

Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Portugal recognised the Palestinian state on Sunday.

//Petra// AF