(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Bureau of the Caribbean Community’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) has issued a statement on developments in Gaza.

Following is the text of the statement:

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomes the adoption of a resolution last night by the United Nations Security Council calling for “an immediate, durable and fully-respected ceasefire” in Gaza that would lead to the “full withdrawal” of Israeli forces as well as to the passage of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and an end to the trafficking of arms and ammunitions into the territory.

In light of this, the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) express grave concern over the continued violence in Gaza and deplore the attendant loss of life, including that of innocent women and children, as well as the widespread destruction. The Caribbean Community is no less concerned about the continued firing of rockets into Israeli territory by Palestinian militants.

CARICOM therefore calls on all parties involved to respect the international community’s ceasefire resolution and humanitarian law in order to facilitate the passage of critical relief supplies to the civilian population in Gaza.

The Community also fully supports and calls upon all parties to adhere to the principles of the UN Charter that advocates the peaceful settlement of disputes. This would ultimately bring to an end human suffering and create avenues for peaceful co-existence.

Georgetown, Guyana
9 January 2009