UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA) has called for an urgent de-escalation of the conflict and an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, and strongly urged all parties to immediately return to the negotiating table under the auspices of the United Nations.

In a statement released Monday, the council expressed grave concern at the outbreak of military hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran, and condemned the use of force by all parties to the conflict, and its serious impact on the neighboring countries across the Middle East region.

"This is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law and poses a grave threat to international peace and security," the statement said.

Noting that the UN Charter clearly prohibits "the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations," the statement urged all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international law, especially the UN Charter.

The statement reiterated the principle of self-determination enshrined in Article 1 (2) of the UN Charter, which establishes the right of all peoples to freely determine their political status and pursue their political, economic, social and cultural development without external interference, and urged all parties to peacefully resolve their differences through diplomatic means in accordance with the relevant provisions of the UN Charter.

The statement called on the UN Security Council to fulfill its obligations for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to urgently take the necessary actions to ensure an immediate cessation of hostilities.

It also called on the president of the UN General Assembly to consider the convening of an emergency special session to address the crisis in all its aspects.

It further called on the UN secretary-general to utilize his good offices to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict as soon as possible. It expressed its full readiness to support all efforts by the United Nations to this end. ■