United Nations, Sept 24, SPA -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said he supported Palestinian efforts to complete the building of state institutions in two years, and he pledged the United Nations’ full assistance. The plans to build Palestinian institutions were announced last month by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and reportedly include disentangling the Palestinian economy’s dependence on Israel and foreign aid, reducing the size of the government, increasing the use of technology, and unifying the legal system.“I strongly support the Palestinian Authority’s plan to complete the building of the state apparatus for Palestine in two years, and pledge the U.N.’s full assistance,” Ban told a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC).“The significance of this goal should not be lost on any of us. Nor can we underestimate the urgency of the moment,” Ban told the meeting, which was attended by Fayyad and other officials.“Either we move forward, towards two states living side-by-side in peace, or backwards toward renewed conflict, deeper despair, and long-term insecurity and suffering for Israelis and Palestinians alike. The status quo is untenable,” the secretary-general said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/702864