Statement by Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council Teri Robl on the Tenth UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names

Teri Robl
United States  Deputy Representative to ECOSOC 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

July 31, 2012

The United States would like to register our strong objection to the manner in which the Palestinian delegation will participate at the Tenth UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. We note that this participation is based on an interpretation of the relevance of the particular historical practices under which past UN Conferences of the Standardization of Geographical Names have been held. The United States disagrees with this interpretation and is concerned that application of these procedures could give rise to misimpressions. The manner of participation of the Palestinian delegation does not reflect any new or separate determination by this Conference, or have any effect on, the status of the Palestinian delegation at the United Nations.

Only negotiations can create a Palestinian state. Procedural actions on unrelated issues only make it harder to reach that goal. The United States remains focused on the most effective means to foster direct negotiations, as called for by the Quartet, in order to bring us closer to the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that we all seek. We call on the parties to redouble focus on these negotiations, not on unrelated and counter-productive steps.

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