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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “The aspiration of the Palestinian People to join the United Nations has been a long aspiration, and it has been long overdue. Last year, President Abbas submitted an application for their membership, and it is still in the Security Council. At the same time, I believe that all these processes should come out as a result of a negotiated settlement of the Middle East peace process, particularly the two-State formula, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security.  This has been upheld by all the parties concerned, including the two parties, that they should, first of all, engage in dialogue so that they can find a lasting formula. Then, in such a case, I think the missions, or their status in the United Nations, will automatically be resolved.”