Ghana will support all UN peace resolutions - Kufuor

Accra (Greater Accra) 22 June 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday reiterated Ghana's support to all United Nations (UN) Resolutions that sought to ensure that peace, fairness and justice prevailed in the world, especially in the Middle East.

He said; "Ghana is a peace loving country and would always support UN Resolutions towards peace, fairness and justice everywhere in the world, especially the Middle East".

President Kufuor pledged Ghana's support when the Group of Arab Ambassadors in Ghana paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu. He said the entire world wanted the escalation of the war, tension and damage to life and property in the area to cease, adding; "our desire is that the ancient people in the Middle East would find a peaceful way to resolve the tension".

President Kufuor said Ghana would not take any decision or pledge support to any issue that would worsen the situation in the Middle East. He said any decision Ghana would take would be to help alleviate the tension and bring about peace and stability. He said the relationship between Ghana and the Arab World existed before independence and the government would ensure that that atmosphere was strengthened for mutual benefit.

Mr Ibrahim Khalil Omar, Ambassador of the State of Palestine, who led the group, said they were seeking the solidarity and support of Ghana because President Kufuor had close relations with world leaders and could be of great help when it came to implementing the relevant UN Resolutions 1397; 1402 and 1403 because the present situation was threatening the stability and security of the Middle East and the World.

He said it would also help put an end to the bloodshed and bring the parties involved in the conflict back to the negotiating table to reach a just and lasting settlement, which would guarantee the creation of a viable Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Mr Omar, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana, said the Arab World had contributed to help many African countries to resolve many thorny issues that affected them and assisted in the fields of provision of infrastructure and education to achieve improved standard of living.

He gave the assurance that the Arab World would assist Ghana in its socio-economic development programmes and further strengthen and consolidate the economic and cultural relations existing between Ghana and the Arab countries.