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United Nations A/AC.183/PV.290 General Assembly Official Records Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 290th meeting Friday, 25 November 2005, 11 a.m. New York Chairman: Mr. Badji .............................................. (Senegal) The meeting was called to order at 11.15 a.m. honours the Committee and, above all, illustrates your commitment to the promotion and attainment of the International Day of Solidarity with the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Palestinian People I now invite all participants to rise to observe a The Chairman (spoke in French): Today, the minute of silence in memory of all those who have Committee is holding a solemn meeting to observe the given their lives for the cause of the Palestinian people International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian and the return of peace between Israelis and People, in accordance with the provisions of General Palestinians. Assembly resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977. The members of the Committee observed a minute It is my honour and great pleasure to warmly of silence. welcome Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the General The Chairman (spoke in French): Allow me now Assembly; Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the to make a statement on behalf of the Committee. United Nations; and Mr. Andrey Denisov, President of the Security Council. I should especially like to A sense of shared responsibility vis-à-vis the acknowledge the presence among us of, and issue of Palestine has brought us together today, on respectfully welcome, Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Minister 29 November, as it does every year, to observe the for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority. I also International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian wish to thank Mr. Mohd. Radzi Abdul Rahman, People. Participants have come in great numbers to this Alternate Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the meeting in response to the invitation extended by the United Nations, who is representing the Special Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Palestinian People, thereby rallying around the just the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other cause of a people who have for long and through great Arabs of the Occupied Territories, as well as sacrifice sought to attain their right to self- Mr. Tuliameni Kalomoh, Assistant Secretary-General determination, independence and national sovereignty. for Political Affairs. I thank them both for their I thank every one here for their presence, which attests presence at this ceremony. to their commitment to peace and reconciliation in both Palestine and the Middle East region, which is I also wish convey the Committee’s great cherished by humankind as a whole. appreciation to the representatives of Member States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society This year’s observance of the National Day of organizations and all those who so readily accepted the Solidarity with the Palestinian People coincides with Committee’s invitation. Your presence in such number the thirtieth anniversary of the General Assembly’s This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-154A. Corrections will be issued in a corrigendum. 05-63031 (E) *0563031* A/AC.183/PV.290 adoption of resolution 3376 (XXX), of 10 November Palestinian Authority. Soon thereafter, the first summit 1975, which established the Committee on the Exercise meeting in years was held at Sharm el-Sheikh between of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian That anniversary is not a cause for celebration, but Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The rather an opportunity for the Committee to reflect upon commitments made by the parties created new the many years of effort during which the international momentum towards the resumption of the political community and the parties concerned have found process. themselves powerless in the face of the numerous Last September, the Committee welcomed obstacles on the road to finding a negotiated, Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question settlements in the northern West Bank. That of Palestine. Our meeting today provides us an development should have led to the relaunching of opportunity once again to express our unwavering negotiations within the framework of the roadmap, as commitment to move ahead with resolve towards an well as the restart of the stalled political process. It equitable solution to the question of Palestine. should be noted, however, that, at this very moment, This Day of Solidarity also reminds us that there Israel remains in control of the borders of the Gaza will be no definitive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Strip, including its territorial waters and air space. It conflict without the achievement by the Palestinian also continues to control the movement of people and people of their inalienable rights as defined by the goods in the West Bank, thereby hampering any General Assembly in 1974, namely, the right to self- meaningful economic development on Palestinian determination without external interference, the right territory, which it continues to occupy. to national independence and sovereignty and the right Moreover, the situation remains worrisome in the to return to their homes and property, from which they West Bank. This year, Israel has accelerated the had been displaced and uprooted. expansion of its settlements in that part of the occupied The occupation of Palestinian land and the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. occupying Power’s ultimate refusal to relinquish Ignoring international opinion, it has also continued to control over Palestinian territory, including East build the illegal wall in occupied Palestinian lands. The Jerusalem, further complicates efforts by the creation of new facts on the ground is accompanied by international community and the parties to the another complication, related to the announcement of conflict — Israel and Palestine — to arrive at a just plans to develop other settlements in the West Bank, solution to the conflict, that is to say, the particularly in East Jerusalem and around the Holy implementation of the vision of two States, Israel and City. All those activities run counter to the obligations Palestine, living side by side within secure and imposed on Israel by the road map and contravene recognized borders. international law and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004. There have been encouraging developments once again this year, including a rapprochement between Recently, the Committee welcomed as an Israelis and Palestinians. Unfortunately, that is in encouraging sign the international community’s contrast to the continued pursuit of illegal policies by intensified efforts to relaunch the implementation of the occupying Power and by the upsurge in violence measures envisaged in the road map and to facilitate triggered by the never-ending circle of attacks and dialogue between the parties. International donors have indiscriminate retaliation. pledged substantial sums to rebuild the Gaza Strip following the Israeli withdrawal. The European Union, The passing of Yasser Arafat, the national leader for its part, has stated that it is prepared to provide a of the Palestinians, over a year ago has put the third-party presence at the Rafah terminal between the Palestinian people and its institutions in a situation that Gaza Strip and Egypt. We expect both parties to is very difficult to overcome. Nevertheless, his passing cooperate fully with the Quartet and with other parties was also the beginning of a peaceful, democratic and of good will. responsible transition that followed the holding of the free, transparent and fair election that brought For its part, the United Nations must continue to Mr. Mahmoud Abbas to the presidency of the shoulder its responsibility with regard to the question 2 A/AC.183/PV.290 of Palestine until that problem is resolved in all its Government representatives. The many messages aspects. Ultimately, the definitive solution — two received from various heads of State or Government of States defined by the 1967 borders and the realization United Nations Member States have been a source of of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people — inspiration for us. For the Palestinian people, they have will depend on the implementation of the relevant been a source of strength and valuable support in the United Nations resolutions, particularly Security fight to regain national independence and sovereignty. Council resolutions 242 (1967) 338 (1973), 1397 It is also a pleasure for us to welcome the (2002) and 1515 (2003). representatives of our traditional partners: the Non- Our Committee — which is the only United Aligned Movement, the African Union, the Nations intergovernmental body devoted exclusively to Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League the political aspects of the question of Palestine — will of Arab States, whose tireless support has never make every effort, in strict accordance with its faltered. I wish to thank them for participating