Egypt hails Annan's statement on Israel

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's statement to the UN Security Council represented a clear-cut stance against ongoing Israeli practices, Egypt's chief delegate to the UN Ambassador Ahmad Abul Gheit said late Tuesday.

Commenting on the statement, Abul Gheit said Annan asserted necessity to set up a sovereign Palestinian state that is able to live in peace with Israel.

Palestinians have the right to live within "secure internationally recognized borders," he added.

Annan completely understands the details of the Palestinian Israeli conflict, Abul Gheit said.

Annan has asserted that the real problem comes out of the continued "illegal occupation" of Palestinian lands, he added.

The UN chief pressed for expanding the security framework in order to resume political efforts, Abu Gheit said.

Implementing the Mitchell and Tenet's peace plan would lead to negotiations which should be resumed on the basis of UNSC resolutions 242 and 338 and the land-for-peace principle, he added.