A/39/PV.91 General Assembly

Four draft resolution~ have been submitted under this item [A/39/L.37 to L.40]. 2. Mr. NDONGO (Congo) (interpretation from French): Since th~ United Nations. adoI?ted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights In 1948, many countries and peoples, one aft\:;;, ~mother, have achieved freedom and dignity. 3. The same does not hold true for the Palestinian people, which still today does not enjoy its inalien- able rights. Indeed, without consultation with the Palestinians and in contradiction of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, according to which "The wishes of [the] communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Man- datory", Palestine was put under a British Mandate. Moreover, five years before that Mandate, Great Britain had committed itself to promoting the estab- lishment of a "national Jewish homeland" in Pales- tine, a country with which the Zionist leaders claimed a "historic tie". . 4. After the revelation ofthe Sykes-Picot agreement by the Soviet Union ~~d the contradict<!ry st~te­ ments made by the Bntlsh Government, mcludmg the Balfour Declaration, the Palestinian Arabs ener- geticaliy opposed the Mandate. At the end of the Second World War, acts of violence were carried out by the Jewish community. 5. Alleging that the Mandate imposed contradictory obligations on it, Great Britain, after 2S years of administration in Palestine, put the issue before the United Nations-which had just been created-pro- posing the division ofPalestine into two independent States: one a Palestinian Arab State and the other a Jewish State, the City ofJerusalem being il;lternati~n­ alized. Peace was not restored and PalestIne contm- ued to be in a state ofupheaval. Thus a war broke out in the Middle East which was halted only through United Nations intervention. One of the two States envisaged in the partition pleD, having proclaim~d its independence under the name of Israel, dunng a series ofwars proceeded to expand its control over all of Palestine. NEW YORK 6. The Arab State ofPalestine never saw the light of day, and since that t.i.me ~~e Pale~ti~i~n ~peopl~ has never ceased slruggnng UJ regain. its. lOst f}ghts. Successive wars and acts of destruction, In particular since 1948 have forced millions of Palestinians to embark uPon the r0!ld of exile an~. the United Nations to seeka solutIon to the Palestm!an pro~lem, which constitutes "a grave danger for mternatlOnal peace and security". 7. Abused by the expansionist and Zionist regime of Israel, wandering from country to country and shunted off into refugee camps-such is the sad plight of the Palestinian people. 8. But that did not suffice. For mendacious reasons ofsecurity, in 1967 the Israeli Zionist regime decided to annex some areas of neighbouring Arab countries in Egypt, Syria, Leban.on and Jordan. 9. Nor was the Holy City or.Jerusale~ spared; the occupying force has declared It the capital of Israel. As we are all aware, the problem of Palestine lies at the heart of the tragedy of the Middle East. 10. The difficulty of finding a just, equitabl~ an~ satisfactory solution to the problem of Palestme IS compounded by the fact that, in defiance of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time ofWar, of 12 August 1949,1 and the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land,2 and despite numerous resolutions of the General Assembly, the ~ommission on Hum!ln Rights, t~e Security Coun~tl and. the. ~nom~c ~nd ~Ial Council IsraeliS pursumg With Impumty Its pobcy of collecti~e and individual retaliation, criminal acts, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment without right to counsel. 11. In proceeding to expel populations from various regions, the occupying forcC? is trying to destroy ~he demographic and geographIC umty of the Palestm- ians, thus trampling underfoot General. Assembly resolutions 194 (Ill) and S13 (VI). There IS no need to recall here that, despite its arrogance and unjusti- fied stubbornness, Israel has an obligation to respect the rules of the international community and in particular the Chart~r of ~e United Nation~. It is obliged to do so for It has Itself suffered and It o~es its very existence to a General Assembly resolutIOn. Hence it is hardly fitting that it should force the Arab people to suffer those very atrocities to which its own people fell victim. 12. As some can see, this Zionist policy is based on the theory of a regime which intends to pursue the application ofColo-llialism tbrough settlements and a frenzied expansionism which ~eli~ve~ that t~e use of terror is the best means for achieVing Its ~rdld plans. 13. It is perfectly clear that no progress can be made until Israel ends its policy of annexation and occupa- ~renade attack upon the Dome of the Rock Mosque In January and the narrowly averted bomb attack on Arab buses in Jerusalem last April have demon- strated beyond doubt the existence of an under- ground Jewish terror network rejoicing in the sinister acronym TNT ("Terror Against Terror"). It is more- over evident that this terrorist network enjoys close ties with extremist settler groups. My delegation therefore views with the gravest misgivings the election to the Knesset of Rabbi Kahane, whose racist "Kach" group has openly advocated the mass parti~ipa~ion of all parties directly involved in the actlye partl~lp~t10l! and sup~rt of both super~Pow- conflict, Including, of course, the PLO, which must ers IS essential If thiS process IS to have.any chance of be involved at all stages as an equal partner. success. 29. On the fundamental question of Palestine, we 34. At every instance when the United Nations has must reiterate that only the FLO, the sole representa- sought to embark on a fresh initiative to establish a tive of the Palestinian people, can negotiate for that structure for comprehensive negotiations, Israel has people. If a durable peace is to be achieved in the consistently frustrated those efforts by persisting in Middle East, there must be an independent Palestin- its policies ofterror and oppression ofthe Palestinian ian State, through the restitution of the Palestinians' Arabs in the occupied territories and of aggressive ancestral lands, usurped by Israel. expansionism a~ainst its neighbo~rs. Time and a$ain, 30. I cannot conclude without paying a tribute to Israel has conSCiously ~hosen belllg~r~ncy over dlplo- the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of macy and stubborn reliance on pobcles of force over the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and efforts for peace. his colleagues for the valuable contribution they 35. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalien- continue to make to the drive to secure a just able Rights of the Palestinian People, in its report settlement of the Palestine question. [A/J9/35], has graphically detailed these Israeli poli- 31. Mr. ALATAS (Indonesia): This year marks a c~es and practices or blatant a~ession and. repres.;. decade since the General Assembly adopted resolu- Slon, as well ~~ Israel s system~tlc att.empts to.destroy tion 3236 (XXIX), appropriately elevating the cause the PI;.0 p~h~lcally and physlcally,.l,:?- the V~tn h~pe of the Palestinian people for self-determination and of extm~ulsh!ng the fi~e .of Pal~sttm~ nat.lonallsm independent statehood to an issue of major concern and obhterattng Palesttnlan natIOnal Identity. to the international community in its own right. In a 36. Without going into further detail, my delegation concomitant decision [resolution 3237 (XXIX)], the would only wish to highlight the fact that in the Assembly accorded recognition to the PLO as the occupied territories Israel has stepped up its illegal sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian peo- settlements policy, which by its own admission is pIe, by granting it observer status at the United aimed at achieving 100,000 Israeli settlers by 1987 Nations. The establishment of the Committee on the and a projected figure of 190,000 by the year 2010. In Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People the pursuit of this objective, the Tel Aviv regime has following year completed the process of bringing the intensified its. ruthless measures to render life un.. question of Palestine into full focus. As a result of bearable for the Palestinian Arabs, with the sole those historic decisions, the question of the national intention of eventually forcing them out of their natio~al liberation, the removal of. the qu~stion of 58. The People;s Republic of Bulgaria has more Palestme. from t~e agenda of the Umted Na~lOn.s and than once stated that it favours a comprehensive, just of other l~ternatlOnal forum~,.and the eradl~abon of and lasting solution to the conflict in the -Middle the q,uestlOn from the SpIrIt and conscIence of East. An integral part of such a solution is the mankind. restoration of the inalienable national rights of the 52. The tragic events of the last few years have Palestinian people, in~luding the ~ght to establish its demonstrated more dearly than ever before that own sta!e on the soIl of Palestme and under the there is no force capable of stifling the aspiration of leadershIp of the PLO. the Palestiuian people to freedom and independence. 59. While reaffirming its full solidarity with the Its determined struggle to achieve its inalienable heroic Arab people ofPalestine, the People's Repub- national rights daily increases the sympathy and lic ofBulgaria will continue to give its active support respect of the peoples of the whole world. to the just struggle which that people is waging 53. The huge international consensus on the princi- ag~ins~ aggressi~n a.nd natio.nal oppress!on, t~e. final pIes and the sole means of justly resolving the o.bjectlve o.f wh,lch,1s the enj~yment of ItS legltlm~te question of Palestine has been e~pressed in numer- nght .to. lIve m .ltS own mdependen~! sov~relgn ous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly Palestlman State, l!l peace and co-opera..lon With all during the last IS years. Among them is the.impor- peoples of the regIon. tant resolution 38/58 C, in which the Assembly 60. The People's Republic of Bulgaria firmly be- endorsed the Geneva Declaration on Palestine,3 lieves in th:; just cause of the Palestinian people and adopted by the International Conference on the in the triumph of that cause. Question of Palestine, held at Geneva l~st year~ and 61. Mr. MOUMIN (Comoros) (interpretation from reaffirmed the proposal to. convene an mternatlonal French): The Israeli-Palestinian conflict constitutes peace conference on !he Mld~le East. That.consensus the major source of tension in the world, and the was also supported .In the Fmal DeclaratIon of the failure to settle this problem constitutes a· serious Twelfth Arab Sum~lt Confer~~ce, adopted !it·Fez on threat to international peace and security;- just as it 9 September 1982; m the PolItical DeclaratIon ofthe frustrates the various measures that have been adopt- Seventh Confer~nce of Head.s of State or Govern: ed by the United Nations to preserve peace in the ment of Non-AlIgned Countnes, held at New DelhI world from 7 to 12 March 1983;5 and in the Political . . . . Declaration of the States Parties to the Warsaw 62. The Palestlman questIon emerged from the Treaty issued at Prague on 5 January 1983 6 conflict between zionism and the Arab people of '.. . . . Palestine, but it also constitutes the axis ofthe Arab- 54. Agamst t~IS backdrop, .It· IS n,atural t~ wonder Israeli conflict-in short, the key to the crisis in the why the. questIon of Palestme stIl~ remam.s unre- Middle East. solved, gIven the clearly expressed wIll ofthe mterna- 63 Th . f h' bl . th c. t ,,_ tional community. . . e essence 0 t IS pro em IS . e lac tl1~t, . . smce 1948, a people dnven from Its land and SS. It IS as clear as daylIght.that Israel wo.uld .never dispersed throughout several countries has been haye been abl~ to carry out ItS brazen polIcy ID !he struggling to exercise its fundamental rights and Mlddl~ East ~Ith~ut the .unres~,r,:ed and t~tal asslst- establish its own State in accordance with the right of ance gIven by ItS strategIc ally, Ifthe Umted States peoples to self-determination. did not systematically use its right of veto in the . . . Security Council to block any possibility ofequitably 64.. The fate of the PalestmIan people arouses resolving the question of Palestine and of applying feehngs of profound sympathy ~nd frate~al sup~rt effective measures against the aggressor. United from o!her peoples ofAfnca, ASIa and LatlD.An!enca States assistance to Israel within the context of that ID partlcu!a~.No o.ne today can contest the just~ce of well-known "strategic alliance" is based not on moral the Pale~tlD1an cla~m; no 0!le can deny the legality of considerations but on the objectives of military that claIm under mternatlOnal law. policy. The development ofevents in the Middle East 65. The Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros, has revealed the true nature of the separate agree- since its arrival on the international scene, has never ments announced by their authors, with much fan- failed to proclaim loudly and clearly the legitimate fare, as a "road to peace". Immediately after the right of the Palestinian people to establish an inde- signing of the Camp David agreements, there were pendent and sovereign State on the Arab soil of far more casualties than during the Israeli aggression Palestine, which has been occupied· arbitrarily by of 1967, the situation in the region became even Israel. reg~~d to a just peace ~~d an enhancement ~f the 89. Israeli policies in the occupied Arab territories legItImacy ~f th~ Palestlm~n people and the VIctOry stem from a false assumption and therefore lead to of PalestIman nghts and mterests. the wron~ results. Israel's non-recognition of the 84. The objective,comprehensive and democratic applicabihty of the Geneva conventions to the occu- dialogue between the Palestinian people and its pied Arab territories and its non-compliance with its legitimate leadership in the PLO, as well as its responsibilities as a signatory to those conventions in struggling contingents, reaffirms the vitality of that its capacity as an occupying authority can never people, its unity of purpose and its unflagging impart legitimacy or legality to any measures-recent determination to continue the struggle for the exer- or old---emanating from those arbitrary policies, cise of its nati~nal. and legitimate right to return and based on faits accomplis. to self-deter~l1nat1on.. .. - 90. The establishment of new illegal settlements 85. There IS no perspectIve more. SIgnIficant or and the expansion of existing ones are illegal. The more profol;ln~ than the co.mprehensl'~e perspectiye original settlements and the proliferation of settle- based on pn~c!ple from whIch E~t vu~ws .the umty ments are also illegal. of th~ P~lestmlanpeople and thell' ~ontmumJ strug- 91. Above all, the annexation by the Government gle.wlt~m the framework of th~ umty, coheSIon and of Israel in 1980 ofthe City ofJerusalem is an illegal sohdant~ of the on~ Arab l}atIon.. act. This legal and pOlitical position was reaffirmed 86. ThIS was mamfested In the meetmg of the by the Security Council in resolution 478 (1980) Palestine National Council at Amman. It was explicit ", .. . in President Mubarak's statement before the Egyp- 9f· It IS mcumbent upon the InternatIOnal commu- tian Parliament on 2 December 1984, when he mty to take !ieterren~ measures to prevent the !oss of welcomed the Jordanian monarch, King Hussein, the ~oly CIty !If.Jerusalem through the a~tlOn of durir.1g his visit to Egypt. President Mubarak stated: I~raeh forces withm the ft:amework of IsraelI.so,:er- "Th t Co Id' d k't elgnty over and occupatIOn of the Arab temtones. e even s un10 mg aroun us ma e 1 neces- .. . . 1 sary for me to dot the i's and cross the t's. I listen 93. The mternatlOnal commumty IS call~d upo~.to to the one Arab voice, th:;: voice of one Arab take the nece~sary ~eas~es to preserye t~e s~cunty nation, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf, calling of t~e Holy CIty, ~hic~ IS ~ s!lurce of m~pIratlon,.for on all Arab leaders to turn to the new page on all tnose who bt:beve in divme revelatIOn and IS a which our future history is written. This is our place of. fr~ternit.Y a!ld t?leraJ?ce, and to pr.l~vent historic responsibility towards the coming genera- !srael from I~posm~ ItS WIll umlaterally on a:I'I.1stor- tions. le, ~mque cIty whIch, the whole world regards as "Accordingly, we greeted the Palestine National specIal. , . . . Council, which met in the capital ofthe Hashemite 9~. Egypt s posItIOn .of pnnclple IS unswervmg: It Kingdom of Jordan. That meeting is an indication !eJ~cts Israeli soverel$l1ty over JerusaleIl?-' Egypt of the Arab capacity to overcome artificial barriers mSI~ts !hat Jerusa!em IS part !lf~he occup~ed ~b and of the fact that the will to unity and solidarity t~~~ones and subJ~t.to the pnJ?ciple ofthe madmls- is far stronger than division and dissension." slbillty ofthe acquIsItIOn of ~emtoryby force, a~ w~ll Th E . P'd d d' as to the Geneva conventIons. No change In ItS e " gyptlan. resl ent ad e '. . demographic, geographic or administrative nature Egyp.t wIll never abandon ItS yanguard role !n can be regarded as legal or in any way serve as a the s~rvlce o~ Arab causes and w~ll never falter m precedent. carrymg out ItS duty, however VIolent the storms . . and waves. It is a firm strategy of Egypt's policy to 95. The Holy CIty of Jerusalem ~ust remaI!1 Arab champion the Palestinian cause" and must b~ prott:ete4 from all regIonal ~nfli~t and . . . ." from Israeh dommatlOn. It must remam a cIty of 87. Day after day m the occupIed Arab. tet:ntones peace and love as ordained by God and the prophets. there are numerous examples of colomzatlOn, de .' facto annexation, coercion, duress, the seizure of 96. In his statement before the ~neral Assem!'ly lands, expropriation of property, unjust exploitation on. ~8 September.last [12!h meetmg], the EgyptIan of resources and continuing arbitrary practices, the M}nister for F<?relgn AffaIrs made a general ey~u- most abhorrent of which is the imposition of a dual atlOn. of !he different e~emen~s of the Palestlman legal system that discriminates between the Palestin- quest!on, Its causes and dlIl?-enslOns ~d the elements ian inhabitants, who are the rightful owners of the of a Just and comprehenSIve solutIOn. land, and the Israeli settlers. All this has led to a 97. That statement included a number ofconsider- vicious circle of occupation, followed by resistance, ations that are indispensable in arriving at a just then oppression and then yet more resistance. Occu- political settlement of the question of Palestine. pation has led to what we see today in the way of These can be summed up as follows. obnoxious .fanati~ism and organized terrorism perpe- 98. First, peace and expansion into the land of trated by mtrudIng settler groups. others are irreconcilable. Israel must therefore relin- 88. In spite of all these mp~erial conditions which quish the occupied Arab territories so that genuine have been imposed, and in spite of arbitrary prac- peace 'can be attained. This applies equally to the direct~y concerned, has the right to cho<;>s~ its repre- 109. In this connection, we wish to recall again the sentatlves and spokesmen. Th.e Palestlman.people relevant observations made by the Secretary-General has already chosen the PLO as ItS representative and in his report on the situation in the Middle East spokesman. [AI391600] and refer to his precise analysis of the 103. Egypt, which honours its commitments and·its need to move in this direction in the search for a signature to treaties and conventions, foremost peaceful settlement, especially with regard to the among which is the Charter of the United Nations, cardinal role attributed to the Security Council as the which calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes, organ primarily responsible for the maintenance of has chosen the path of peace. Egypt is following that international peace and security, as well as to his path in the firm conviction that peace must be based practical views on the basis ofnegotiation, its context on justice and that only such a peace can satisfy the and the role that the Secretary-General himself can interests of all concerned. The arduous road that play in consultation with the Council and the con- leads to peace and progress must proceerl through cemed parties in preparation for such a .conference. free n~g~tiatio~s, based on the principle of mutu.al 110. Discussion of the question of Palestine began recognltl0I! of nghts and respe~t for mutual commlt- with the establishment of the United Nations. The ments. This IS the challenge we I11LUSt all meet. passage of fDur decades since the beginning of the 104. Egypt, which has expressed its readiness to conflict should not make us forget for one moment ezplore all possible avenues, in President Mubarak's its true causes and origin. Nor must we forget the fate message on the occasion of the International Day of met by the resolutions adopted year after year by the Solidarity with the Palestinian People, commemorat- United Nations. ed on 29 November 1984, reaffirmed that it favoured Ill. The time elapsed after the adoption of a "all constructive initiatives, includin~ that of the United Nations reSOlution does not rob it of its United Nations, for the holding ofan mternational legitimacy or legality, in spite of Israel's disregard of peace conference on the Middle East with the United Nations resolutions, or violation of them. part!cipa~ion,o.n an equal footing,. of all co~c~rned 112. The ri~ts of the Palesti~i~n people are. deep- parties, tDcludmg the PLO, the sole legitimate rooted in their land. The Palestmlan people's nght to representative of the Palestinian people, so as to return and to self-determination is authentic, how- !ranslate ~he a~piration~ fo~ peace and c~xist~nce ever long that !Day ta~e. No !Datter how lo.ng Israel mto an histone reconclllatlOn guaranteemg nghts continues to Violate mternatlonal conventIons, the and based on law". political, legal and historic bases of the nationai and 105. The recommendations of the Committee on legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in their the Exercise ofthe Inalienable Rights ofthe Palestin- land cannot be denied. ian People [see A139135, annex 1], endorsed -by the 113. In the final analysis, the Palestine cause re- General Assembly at its thirty-firsCsession, in 1976, mains the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It will continue to serve as an acceptable basis. There is no symbolize the human reality which the voice of doubt that the efforts of the Committee and its reason beckons us to acknowledge and not deny. It members have advanced those recommendations calls on us to deal with it, not to ignore it, for the towards more developed and more effective horizons Pal~tinian people, like all other peoples in the through the documents of the International Confer- region, are entitled to a secure existence and a free ence on the Question ofPalestine, held at Geneva in and dignified life. the summer of 1983. . 114. Palestine will always remain a source of 106. In this context, we wish to pay a tribute to the peace-if that is indeed the will of the peoples of the efforts of the Committee and its Chairman. We region--or it can continue to be a theatre of slaugh- appreciate their COntributIon and lend our support to ter, agony and loss of life, if one party to the conflict their efforts. contim~es to be the prisoner of historic illusions and 107. Egypt, with responsibility and effectiveness, the victim of a d~sir~ for domination and supremacy participated in the preparation for that historic over the other parties. conference and, together with all the participating 115. The choice in Palestine is between peace and countries, worked for its success. We feel that the strife. Wisdom and realism call on us to 190k to the Geneva Declaration on Palestine,3 unanimously ap- future, to opt for peace and to explOIt all the proved by the Conference, constitutes a balanced, .opportunities that are .before us all. We must choose ~ence and fanning of regional conflicts for which were it not for the patronage and comprehensive Imperialist and other reactionary forces are to blame. support it receives from its overseas partner in Ua These are conflicts which threaten international strategic alliance". By arming and watching over the peace and security. But probably the most acute and aggressor, defending it in the United Nations, the protracted of them is still the conflict in the Middle United States, together with Israel, bears direct East, of which a key element is the Palestinian responsibility for the dangerous situation existing in problem. the Middle East which threatens international peace, 117. The core of this problem, as is well known, is and t~e~ bear the responsibility for the fact that'the the fact that the Arab people ofPalestine is deprived Palestl~lan problem ~as not yet been resolved. As has of its inalienable right to self-determination and the been nghtly ~oted. I~ the ~ourse of the current establishment of its own State. Despite numerous As~embly seSSIOn, It. IS precIsely those, two Stat~s United Nations resolutions and efforts ofthe interna- whIch ,are now blockmg the ~ay to.genull~epeace m tional community, the past year has not alleviated the MIddle East, perempt0f!ly tryl~g to lmpo~e.on the plight of the long-suffering Palestinian people. th.e Arabs sepa~ate deals whIch are m contr~dlctlOn This is attested to by many facts cited in the ~Ith the tf1;le I.nterests of.the ~ab countnes and discussiull and in reports from the occupied territo- Ignore the malu:nable national nghts of the Arab ries. people of Palestme. 118. T~e p.resent explosive situation in the Middle 123..It ~s ~el! known that only thanks to gene~ous East regIOn IS the result of the adventuristic expan- financIal mJectlOns from overseas can Israel contmue sionist policy of Israel, encouraged and sup~rted by its expansionist po!icy a~inst the Arab peoples. This the United States. It is the ruling circles of Israel year alone,. t}nanclal assIstance to Israel accounted which are carrying out an inflexible chauvinistic for $2.61 bIllIOn, and the needs ofthe a~essor grow policy towards the Arab people of Palestine, egging un~he~k~d. Thus, f~r the ~ew financIal yeat:, .Tel on the country to continue the occupation of Pales- AVIV, It IS reported, IS planmng to request $5 bIlhon. tinian ~nd other Ar~b lands, implementing a deliber- There can.be no doub.t that Washingt~nwill tUI11a ate polIcy of expelh~g the Palestinian people from sympath«?tI~ ear ~o thIS req~est. In thIS connectl0!l the lands they have seIzed an~ trying by force ofarms The ChTlstlan Sf!ence MOnitor "of 6 September thIS to put an end to the Palestmian question., year noted ~hat: Th~ pro-Is~aeh lobby has sho~ ~n 119. At present, Tel Aviv has behind the bars ofthe ma~y occaslO~s that It can wm ~ut over the Admlms- occupation regime about 2 million persons, that is, a tratl0!l, both. m Congres.s an.d In. the Senate, '?!1 any population equal to about half the inhabitants of question whIch affects (he mteLests of Israel. , Israel. Numerous events attest to the fact that the 124. The pro-Israeli policy ofthe United States has Israeli clique is carrying out a policy of mass once again been reaffirmed in discussion in the terrorism in the occupied territories. Murder of the Security Council this year of incidents of ilie law- civilian population, mass acts of repression and lessness of the Israeli military clique against the torture, collective reprisals, medical experiments on Lebanese and Palestinians in occupied southern prisoners, destruction of housing and expulsion of Lebanon. per~,ons-.those are ~ngred.ien~s of the ~ion!st uir0!l- 125. The anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian. essence of fist pohcy, the m'!Jor objective of whIch 18 to gam the policy ofstrategic partners was also reaffirmed by for Israel more Uvltal space." their negative attitude towards the idea'Of convening 120. It is accompanied by stepped-up colonization an international peace conference on the Middle of the Arab lands seized as a result of aggression and East. It is because of the obstructionist policies of is aimed at changing the demographic picture. Ac- those two Governments that General Assembly reso- cording to several sources, as a result of expropria- lution 38/58 C, regarding the convening of such a tion, Israel now controls 60 per cent of Palestinian conference, has still not been implemented. From lands. The establishment of Israeli settlements on 1976 onwards, because of the United States veto, these lands is going on at an ever faster pace. The implementation ofthe recommendations ofthe Com- number of such settlements is already about 200. In mittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the next 30 years, the number of colonists in them the Palestinian People has not been carried out. will exceed a million, given the present level of Those recommendatio:)s lay down ways and means 50,000. Such are the results of the plans and the of implementing those rights. Using trumped-up policies of ucreeping annexation" regarding the occu- excuses, they also reject other constructive proposals, pied territories. These actions are a crude violation of including the Arab peace plan,adopted at Fez on 9 the Charter ofthe United Nations and the provisions September 1982 by the Twelfth Arab Summit Con- of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection ference,4 and others aimed at solving the Middle East of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August problem and finding a just solution to the Palestinian 1949,1 and they have been condemned on numerous problem. occasions by the Secu~ity Cau.nci(, th,: General 126. The Ukrainian SSR is convinced that it is not Assembly and other Umted NatIons bodIes. through military adventures or backstage intrigues 121. The question naturally arises as to how Israel, and separate deals that peace can be brought to.the which received its own statehood as a result of peoples of the Middle East. A fundamental improve- United Nations decisions, has been able for so many ment in the situation in the Middle East can be years blatantly to ignore decisions of the Organiza- achieved only through joint efforts, through conven- t~onal nghts of the .Pal~stInIanpeople, znter alla, !ts goals-'is only making the Palestinian and Arab nght ~o self-determmatIon and to ~he creatIon Of.ItS peoples more than ever determined to cling to their own Independ~nt State. The SovIet pro~s~.s ~Ive ancestral lands and to continue their struggle for both an overvIew and !i sum!Dary of t~e InItIatIves liberation, knowing that they· enjoy the support and put forward by the SO':Iet UnI~n at v~nous stages of solida.rity ofall forces and countries in the world that th~ d~velopment of thIS conflIct and l~y !lo~ clear cherish peac~ and freedom. pnncIples and concrete mean~ for elII~lInatIng the 133. The only path to peace and security in the proble~: Tho~e proposals, whIch ~ake mto account Middle East is that of a comprehensive, just and the legt~Imate Ifit~restsofall countnes aI?-d peoples of lasting solution one that does not fragment the the regIon, receIved broad approval m the Arab 'd" d h ' l' bl ' I' h world and also a positive as"essment during the questIon or ~s~egar tl.e ma lena ~ natIOna ng ts , . f.J h G . al of the PalestInIan people. The polIcy of separate, course of the current sess~on 0 t ~ ener Assem- bilateral agreements which the United States and bly. All those who genumely asplr~ to a peaceful Israel are trying to impose on the peoples of the settlement of the problem of the Middle East sup- region is contrary to the legitimate interests of the ported them. Arab people and constitutes partiality and support on 127. In stating our solidarity with the just struggle the part of the United States for Israel's policy of of the Palestinia~people for their inalie~~ble ri~~s, aggression and. expansion in the region. we ~all for a ~lo~Ing of ranks among antl-Imp.enal.lst 134. I would like to emphasize once again my natl,?nal patnotlc. forc~ of the Arab countn.es1 m- country's firm position. It supports the struggle ofthe cludIng the Palestme reSIstance movement. ThIS IS an Palestinian people, under the leadership of the PLO, e~est ~f th~ spccess of ~he. struggle of the Arabs against aggressive policies and conspiracies designed ~gaInst Impen!llIsm an!l ZIOnISm.and for ~he estab- to impose final solutions that are contrary to United bshment ,?f a. just, l!l~tmg p~ace In the Middle East Nations .resolutions and to the legitimate national and ensu!1ng the legItimate nghts of the Arab people rights of the Palestinian people. of PalestIne. 35 h' . . . . . 1 . At t e same time, we express our appreCI8tIon 128. The UkraIlllan SSR fa~ours the adop~Ion by for the international efforts and initiatives designed the General Asse~bly of effective measures alm~d at to restore a just and lasting peace to the Middle East the speedy solutlC?n ~f the .problem of the MIddle and to defuse the explosive situation, through the Ea~t. Such a solution IS awaIted by all peoples ~f !he holding of an international conference with the regton, and first and foremost by the Palestmlan participation of all the parties concerned in the people. conflict, including the PLO. 129. We believe the General Assembly should take 136. The Geneva Declaration on Palestine,3 adopt- an unequivocal stand favouri!1g the co~tinuati~nof ed by the International Confer~nce on the Ques~ion efforts for the speedy convenIng of an mternatIonal of Palestine held at Geneva m 1983, emphaSIzed conferen~e on the Mid~le.East. The o~stacles ra~sed that a just solution of the q~e.stion ~f Palesti!1e is the to so dOIng must be ebmInated. In thIS connect~on, crucial element in a polItIcal, just, lastmg and we call on the Assembly to adopt an appropnate comprehensive settlement in the Middle East. That decision, and we are ready actively to support it. declaration also lays down the guidelines for such a 130. Mr. AL-ALFI (Democratic Yemen) (interpre- settlement. They in~lude t~e.ri~t of the Palestinia!1 tation from Arabic): The fact that ~ the question of peo.ple to re.tu~ to Its land, ~ts ~Ight to ~elf-determI- Palestine the core ofthe conflict in t&'e Middle East nation and ItS fight to establIsh ItS own mdependent remains ~ithout a just solution has serious conse: State in its homeland: The Geneya Decl~ration also quences for stability in the region. This question, calls for the conve~mg of an InternatIOnal.peace which continues to be given priority attention by the confere~ceon t~e MId~le Eas~, under the a~spIces of United Nations, requires serious measures to find a the U~l1ted NatI~ns, ~Ith a view t.o the aC~Ievement just solution, especially since the absence of a of a compr~hensIye, just and lastmg SolutIon to the solution to the problem only adds to the sufferings of ~rab-IsraelIconfl!ct, based, above al~, ~n the esta~- the Palestinian people, who have been forcibly IIshm~nt of an mdep~ndent ~alestmIan State In expelled from their land and are subjected to the Palestme. The declaratI~n provIdes.that ~he confer- most horrendous forms of terrorism and torture and ence shoul~ be held WIth t.he partIcipatIon, on at! whose lands and properties have been expropriated equal. fo~tmg,. of all parties to t~e Arab-IsraelI by the Israeli occupying authorities. con{lIct, ll~cludIng the PLO, the UnIted States, the 131 Th . t d d It' th SOVIet UnIon and other concerned States. . e successIve even s an eve opmen sme·· . . Middle East amply demonstrate that without a Mr. Lusaka (Zambia) resumed the Chair. withdrawal by Israel from the Arab territories it 137. Furthermore, the Soviet Union recently put occupies and without a just solution of the question forward some proposals [ibid.] regarding the question of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian of Palestine and the Middle East. Those ptoposals people, including the right to return to' its country, ate essentially in line with the General Assembly~s c0!ltin~es to support I~rael in the U:nited Nat~ons by occupation. The report ~ves numerous instances.of usmg Its veto power m the Secunty CouncIl. The harassment and persecutIOn ofthe Araband Palestm- United States even resorts to threatening States and ian population in the occupied territories, which are. international organizations that condemn Israeli pol- kept constantly terrorized through frequent curfews icies and practices. That demonstrates the complete and the routine.practice of security checks by-the bias of the United States in favour of Israel. Israeli occupation authorities-soldiers, polic~'and 141. We hope that the discussions at the current s~ttlers-at any time ofthe day.or ni~t. 1\t t~e sCl!Jle session will provide new impetus for international time! the econ.omy ofthe occuP.led te11?~ones is bemg solidarity with the just cause of the Palestinian manipulated }n a manner w~llch faclhtat~s c~mtrol people and its legitimate struggle. We also hope that over production and reduction of the c~paclty .to it will bolster the Assembly's condemnation of the ~reate employment. Consequently, you!lg Palestl!l- aggressive, expansionist and racist policies pursued lans are forced to leave the land of their fathers m by Israel, with the support and encouragement ofthe search of employment and sustenance abroad. United S~ates. In that \ya¥.,. the Ul!itt!d Nation~ ~ill 147. Terrorism is rampant,and even t~e Islamic s~oulder ItS fu~l respons~blhty to ehm~n~te the mju~- holy places are not immune from desecration ~t the tlce and suffenn~ to which the Palestlm~n people JS hands of fanatics who openly advocate the obhtera- subjected and wIll be able to take practical steps to tion of Arab and Palestinian existence and the achieve a just and lasting settlement so that peace banishment of their cultural heritage from the occu- !Day reign in that explosive region ~nq th~ P~estin- pied territories. lan.people.may be enabled to exercise Its mahenable 148. The most disturbing and sinister aspect of national nghts. . . Israeli policy in the occupied territories is the 142. Mr. Shah N~WAZ (Pakls!an):.The conSider- systematic pursuit of the objective of permanent ation of th~ queS!lon of Palestme IS yet ~nother annexation of the occupied territories by altering sombre remmder, If any IS needed, that the mterna- their Palestinian and Arab character. The main !ional community ha.s not been able to resolve what thrust of this policy is towards ch~nging the demOo IS perhaps the olde~t Issue on th~ General Assemb~y~s graphic pattern of the occupied territories' through ~genda. The questIOn of Palestme has been figunng the expropriation of Arab and Palestinian lands and m our debates for nearly four decades and we are no the establishment of Israeli settlements. Measures nearer a solution of the ~roblem today than we were have been taken to limit or obstruct the expansion or 37 y~ars 8:go, when the Issue first came up for the growth of Palestinian towns and v~llages. and to conSideration of the General Assembly. divert the resources or the land, particularly water, 143. Year after year, the General Assembly in its for the benefit of Israeli settlers. 1\ccording to the deliberations on the Palestinian question has focused report of the Committee, the ommous long-term !ts attention on the two distinguishable, though r.Qn~eq~ences o{ this ~licy are e~ident in. t~e Israeli m~eparable, aspect.s .of t~e problem-:-name!y, ~he r';:4jectlOns, W~l1~~ envI.sage setthn8. a mm}m,,!m of phght of the Palestlmans m the occupied temtones, _00,000 Israeh cItizens m the occupied temtones by ~tate. Each tIme also" all who harbour good inten- 164. The United Nations bears a great part of the tlons expect that a mIrac!e will occur a~d hope that responsib~lity for the creation and development of the re~urrent ~all expressmg the awakemng of wor~d the questIon of Palestme. The General Assembly conscIence wIll be heard and that there will be a resolution of29 November 1947 [resolution 181 (11)], ha~py end to the.tragedy ofthe Palestinian people, to which partitioned Palestine into two States, signalled theIr l~ng s~ffenngs.and to the s~crifi~es they have the first error committed by the United Nations in its made !n t~eIr occupIed la~d and m.exIle. Neye.rthe- ~istory. This could have been due to the good l~ss, zlomsm and. successIve Amencan admmlstra- mtentions of one party, but the malevolence of the tlOns d~ not heSItate to place repeatedly coercive other was quite clear, for this was a step to realize its constramts on such hopes. ambitions in the Arab homeland. Thus, the feelings 161. In the face ofthe separation and contradiction generated by the set-backs of the Second World War between international decIsions and the likelihood of and the memories ofFascist and Nazi injustices were their implementation, we can see how those who, in exploited to implant an intruding entity into the haste and without difficulty, formulated the Charter Arab world to serve as a custodian for imperialist and ofthe United Nations in the aftermath ofthe Second colonialist interests in the region and a regional World War, wrote the beautiful and optimistic instrument to strike down the possibilities of evolu- Preamble to that Chart~r. It is clear that the founders tion and unity in the Arab world. Under the slogan of were not sufficiently aware at the time that imperial- "Justice for the Jews" after their plight in Nazi ist designs are even more dangerous for peace than Germany, the worst case ofinjustice was inflicted on fascism, that racism did not end with the fall of the Arab and Palestinian peoples. In this regard, the nazism and that threats to international peace and famous English historian Arnold Toynbee said that security persist in the absence ofan international will the Arabs have to pay for a crime they did not and authority capable of protecting the causes of commit and the basIC responsibility for which falls justice, right, freedom and peace. upon western societies. 162. The question of Palestine, in the past and at 165. The question of Palestine is the flagrant em- present, bears historic witness to the continuing bodiment ofthe start ofcontemporary Western plots prevalence of unjust rules in international relations, against the Arab nation. It is the bitter harvestreaped even with a United Nations presence in the matter. It after Arab co-operation with Western colonial coun- also points to grave defects in the current form ofthe tries during the- two world wars. The question of international Organization. Nearly 40 years after the Palestine represents at the same time a moral crisis establishment of the United Nations, equality be- facing the Western colonial democracies which. as- tween States remains for the majority a fantastic cribe no value to anything save their selfish interests dream. In practice, it has been possible for one State, and ambitions. Great Britain, which had responsibil- or a small group of States, to challenge the interna- ity for the Mandate over Arab Palestine, entered into tional will and consensus, in total disregard of the collusion with the world Zionist movement and principles and provisions of the Charter and the conspired with it to apply policies aimed at changing principles of contemporary i'lternational law. Power the demographic nature of Palestine by forcing the m the world today is confined to the interests of the Arab inhabitants to flee by various terrorist means strong; he who possesses power has tremendous and welcoming thousands of Jews brought over to possibilities to transform wrong into right, the impos- Palestine by the Jewish Agency. After the conspiracy sible into the possible. In such a situation, the was revealed, all that remained to be done was to give legitimate aspirations of lesser peoples are stifled. A it international legitimacy. Hence Great Britain barrier is placed before their demands, however referred the whole question to the United Nations, strong international sympathy may be. If, employing which, under Zionist and imperialist pressure, _in that logic, they do not otTer even greater sacrifices in NOvember 1947 produced its resolution on the order to change the balance ofpower, they will never partition of Palestine. Some thought the matter had attain anything. The only other choice available to ended there, but the rejection by the Palestinian them. is to.sl!rrender. Tha~ is exa~tly what zionism people and the Arab natIOn of ~is unjust dec~sio.n, " and ImperIalIsm have stnven to !mpose upon the on the one hand, and the escalatIOn of expanslOmst Palestinian people, and exactly what racism and Zionist ambitions, on the other, has kept the question imperialism wish to impose on the Namibian people. alive, and it now threatens peace and development In spite of widespread international sympathy with not only in the Arab region but also in the rest of tbe those two causes, the two racist regimes in Palestine world. a.nd Sou!h Afri~ continue to challenge the interna- 166. The question of Palestine is the responsibility tl0nal wIll. of the United Nations. This fact cannot be changed 163. This deplorable -fact, which illuminates the by the current situation obtaining in this.intemation- deep chasm between the principles and ideals en- al Organization, the result of the policies of the affe~t the credIbIlIty. and reputatIon of the UnIted usurped rights and of the cause of a natIon whIch NatI!>ns b~t also ,,:ill ~ncourage the aggressor. to struggles against an alien danger which th.reatens its co~tm~e ~ts m~chmatlons an.d plans-practIces home, its sacred shrines and its very eXIstence. whIch m tI~e ~Igh~ becom~ ddlicult to chang:. 174. The Zionist policy-based as it is on power 167. The SItuatIOn m Pales~me and the Arab re8.10n and aggression in its relations with the Arabs, as well m~es It necessary t~ reconsIder !he way. the UnIted as its repressive practices in the occupied ~alestinia!l NatIOns has dealt ~Ith t~e q~estIOn dunng the .past and Arab territories in the form of expuls~on, JudaI- four decades, ~SpeClally smce It has b~come cl«?ar that zation and the alteration ofthe demographIc, cultural all the ~esolutIOnsadopted by the.UnIted Nations on and geographic character of the occupied Arab the subject, although comprehensIve, always lack the territories-has unmasked the true nature of the p!>ssibility of implementation.and. fall short.of dete~- Zionist plan. The Committee on the Exercise of the rIng. the aggressor from pursumg Its ~ggresslon. 111IS Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has in reality calls for a fr~sh assessment aImed a~ findI~g various respected international documents repeated- new ways to deal ~th the pro.blems. I belIeve thIS ly revealed the plight of the Arabs in the occupied process should b~ lInked to an m-depth study of the territories. The Zionists have not concealed their true problems and theIr sources, as well as how .toresolve intentions. They feel no shame in declaring suph them. ~ere we should refer !O a nu~ber ofImportant ambitions. Rabbi Cook of the Gush Emunim says facts dIrectly related to thIS questIOn. that this is a period of work and that God will bless 168. First, the Arab character of Palestine is such work because He has enjoined all His people to steeped in history and has never been questioned. go to Zion and raise the banner over the Holy Land. The inhabitants of Palestine-be they Muslims, He says: "Here there is no Arab land; this is our la~d. Christians or Jews-·are Arabs in origin, culture and The land defined by the Torah extends from the Nile civilization. Any allegation to the contrary is an error to the Euphrates and it belongs to Israel." Another and does not confer any right to occupy Palestine and leader of the Zionist movement, Levinger, cl.arities to expel its inhabitants, Muslims or Christians. Thus, the matter further by saying: "When we deal WIth the any attempt to erase the Arab character of Palestine Arabs throu~ force they will surrender to us. If they is null and void and cannot be accepted, even though object to ZIonist sovereignty in Judea and S~ma- it might produce certain effects lasting years or ria"-he means the West Bank and the Gaza Stnp- centuries. "we must expel them." 169. Secondly, the Zionist movement, born in the 175. Amnon Rubenstein, the former dean of the cradle ofimperialism and colonialism, is a colonialist Faculty of Law of Tel Aviv University, stated, in an and racist political movement, even though it may article published in Ha'aretz, that the Zionist organi- operate under the guise of religion. Its main features zations continue to perpetrate their crimes, based on were shaped in that period of historic and social the Kach and Gush Emunim movements, and that: evolution when Europe was imbued with a spirit of "The Arabs are :tn inferior race. They have no rights. adventure and distorted ideas of superiority and They constitute a danger to Israel. They must be supremacy, thus reflecting a culture alien to the Arab expelled from the country." region. 176. In the vi~w of those two organizations, it is 170. Thirdly, the Zionist movement is dependent necessary to resort to arms to carry out that act of on imperialism and colonialism, which encourage it purification. to expand and give it more and 1I!0rt: assistance and 177. After the success of the terrorist Kahane, the support. !I~nce, at an early sta~e ZIOnISm was the ally leader of the Kach movement, in the lat«?st Israeli ofthe Bntlsh and French empIres and, later, the ally elections he was asked what his expectatIOns were of American imperialism. after five years. He answered, "I expect to be Prime 171. Fourthly, the establishment of a religiously Minister." This should not surprise us, e~pecially segregated community in Arab Palestine, as well as when we remember that Mena~hem ~egIn,. who the repercussions of this action, .have brought the perpetrated the massacres at Delr YassIn, hImself region to the brink ofconflict.and instability. Zionist became Prime Minister. . amb}t.ions did not s~op ~it~ the adoption of the 178. These are examples of the thinking an~ deeds partltlo~ plan re~oluhon; ZIOnISm has tnt:d to extend ofthe Zionist leaders in occupied Arab PalestIne. We the Jewls~ empIre oyer.the largest pOSSIble area.of refer all those who wish to know more to the Arab !emtory..The ZIOnISt ~ystem does not recognIze memoirs ofBen-Gurion, Dayan ~nd others, as well as that. !ts polItIC¥ bo~nd~nes ~re marked by the to the articles publis~ed i.n spnng of 1982 by tht: partItion resolutIOn. ZIOnIStS beheve that that resolu- Zionist Research InstItute In Jerusalem about Israeh tion serves as th«? base and spring-b<?ar~ to imple- strategy in the 19808, which reveal the dimensions of ment the succeSSIve phases of the ZIOnISt scheme. the conspiracy aimed at dividing the Arab countries 172. Fifthly, Zionist plots have always run counter and imposing Zionist supremacy over them: We refer to the objectives of J?Cace and prospenty in tht: Ar~b particul~rly to th~ declarations oft.he ~erron.st Sha~on lands. For the ZiOnIst movement, peace conSIsts m ,concernmg the vltalspace ofthe ZIOnIst enb~y, WhICh imposing its terms on other countries or causing a . stretches east to Pakistan, west to the AtlantIC Ocean, Z~onist progra~me, the Unite~ States.has become a 189. Thirdly, pressure must be put on the United duect partner In the aggressIOn agaInst the Arab States Government to sever its alliance with the nation. Zionist regime and end its assistance to the Zionist 182. The widespread American-Zionist plot against entity, which allows the latter to. petsist in its the Arab world places on the United Nations the defiance of the international will and to escalate its responsibility of going beyond the usual conciliatory policy of aggression. , resolutions and adopting practical measures that can 190. Fourthly, new ways and means must be found lead to a just and lasting peace and put an end to the to enhance the possibilities of implementing interna- long suffering of the Palestinian people. Our delega- tional decisions when the arbitrary use ofthe veto by tion would like to recall certain facts and principles the United States prevents the Security Council from that should be the basis of efforts aimed at restoring fulfilling its function of maintaining peace and peace ~nd stability in the region. These include the security. follOWIng. 191. The question of Palestine did not result from 183. First, the question ofPalestine and its various the June 1967 act of aggression against the Arab ramifications are the result of an organized foreign world, as some believe or wish to believe. That and invasion the motives and objectives of which go other acts of aggression that followed were the result beyond economic control to the expulsion of the of a problem that goes back more than two decades Arab inhabitants. On this level, the question of before that date. Therefore, to restrict consideration Palestine is one of racism and colonialism. It is the of this question to the 1967 act·of aggression and its responsibility of the international community to consequences is but a perpetuation ofinjustice and of liquidate that. Aggressive Zionist racism cannot be the destabilization of the Arab region. The people of reformed or modified, and this applies also to tht: Palestine count on the United Nations to administer Pretoria regime. complete justice. 184. Secondly, in any just settlement of the ques- 192. In conclusion, on behalf of our delegation, I tion two prinCiples of international relations must be should like to express to Mr~ Massamba Sarre our fully applied. The first is the principle ofthe inadmis- thanks and our appreciation of the Committee~s sibility of the acquisition of territory by force. That efforts in heightening the awareness of international principle, which is indivisible, applies to all the Arab public opinion of the reality of zionism and in and Palestinian territories occupied before and since winning International sympathy for this just intema- 1947. The second principle is that the Palestinian tional cause. P~lest~nian peo~le, includi~g the pght to self-deter- 203. My delegation sincerely believes that, in order mmatl~n, the rIght to. natlOnalmdependence an~ to reach a negotiated solution, a climate of ~onfi- sovereignty, and the nght to return safely to thetr dence .and understanding between all parties is ho~esand pr~perties. ~o~eve~,. we also be.lieve that, necessary. Such an atmosphere could be b~ought whtle resp.ectmg ~alestlman rI~ts· as bemg. ~acro- about only by means of two factors: .one IS the sanct, the.l!lternat!onal commumty' must be mmd~ul unequivocal recognition of Palestinian. rights ~y all of the legitimate nghts of other Stat~~. Henc~,.whIle the parties and the other is the pohtical wIll to we reaffir!l1.our ~uppo~ for thC? legitimate nghts of compromise in the best interests of regional peace the PalestImans, In~h:ad1Dg t~e rIght to statehoC?d, we and the security of all States. Efforts in such direc- als,? respect.the ~eg!tlmate nght of all S~ates m the tions will indeed be necessary and useful in creat!ng re~lOn to eXIst wlthm .secure and .recognlzed b~und- an atmosphere conducive to a just and lastmg anes. We earnestly belIeve that thIS would contnbute solution. to a just and durable settlement of the proble~. 204. Finally, my delegation would like to urge all 198. Thirdly, Thailand views the PLO as the sole parties concerned to exert every effort to revitalize and legitimate representative of the Palestinian peo- the peace process in the region so that a comprehen- pIe. This was recently reaffirmed in my Prime sive political settlement encompassing the legitimate Minister's message to the special meeting in com- rights and aspirations of all concerned parties could memoration of the International Day of Solidarity become a reality. Essentially, we demand the prompt with the Palestinian People, held here on 29 Novem- withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Arab territo- ber 1984. We therefore support the right of the PLO, ries occupied since 1967 and full Israeli compliance in conformity with relevant United Nations resolu- with and implementation of all relevant United tions,. to participate on an equal footing in all Nations resolutions. When the inalienable and legiti- negotiations and conferences on the question of mate rights of the Palestinian people have been Palestine and the situation in the Middle East within exercised, then the international community will and outside the framework of the United Nations. have perf01;med its duty in the interest of peace and 199. Fourthly, Thailand upholds as one of the justice for all manki~d. ,.' , .. fundamental. principles that· any foreign military 205. Mr. AL-QAYSI (Iraq) (interpretation from occupation of another State's territory is unaccept- Arabic): I should like first of all to express my thanks able..In. this connection, we have co~timially called and appreciation to Mr. Massamba Sarre, of Senegal, for .the. withdra\yaJ of Israeli troops .fro)ll all Arab ChCJ~rman of ~he Committee o~ t~e,Exercise 6f the terntOrIes. occupied SInce 1967. /' InalIenable Rights of the PalestIman People, and to lastin~ solution to the Palestinian problem or the establishment of peace in the region. Hence, we call upon the Security Council to shoulder its--fesponsibil- ~etermIne their own destmy and to hve In theIr own 271. We share the view expressed by the Secretary- Independent State. General in his report on the situation in the Middle 263. The whole course of history, furthermore, has East [A/39/600] that such a conference might be established the truth that a people cannot base its conceived as a flexible framework for the necessary security and independence on the denial of the right negotiations to settle all the questions involved in the of other peoples to exist and to independence or on Middle East conflict. Similarly, we agree with other the threat or use of force against other States and delegations that the time has come for all the peoples. The truth is that peace and security can be countries concerned and all political forces in the achieved only through respect for the rights of other region to promote the organizing of such a confer- countries and for the principles and norms of inter- ence. which would be a significant contribution to national law. .. the search for the comprehensive and just solution so 264. Hence, recognition of and respect for the lon~ awaited by the peoples of that region and of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, entIre world. while guaranteeing the conditions in which they can 272. Romania and the Romanian people have fulfil their national aspiration to live in peace and consistently expressed their support for the just cause tranquillity in their own independent State, is in the of the Palestinian people, for its legitimate aspira- interest of all the peoples of the region and of peace tions to live in freedom in an independent State and and· security throughout the world. for its inalienable right to selfudetermination. Roma- 265. Taking as its point of departure the require- nia w~s among the first countri~s. of the world to ment that all conflicts and matters ofdispute must be r~cogntze the PLq '!S the sole legItImate representa- settled solely by peaceful means, through negotia- tIve of the Palestlntan people. tions, Romania has always called firmly for a politi- 273. In a telegram sent recently by President Nico- cal solution to the problems ofthe Middle East that lae Ceau~escu to the Chairman of the Executive would guarantee the establishment of a comprehen- Committee of the PLO, Mr. Yasser Arafat, to sive peace in the region, as well as the solution ofthe congratulate him on his re-election to that post, the problem of the Palestinian people on the basis of its conviction was expressed that relations of friendship right to self-determination, including its right to.set and beneficial co-operation between the Romanian up an independent Palestinian State.' . Communist Party and the PLO would continue to 266. My country has consistently emphasized that expand and.be diversified, to th~ benefit of both the Palestinian people, like all other peoples, have an peoples ~lDd In the caus~ of peace, Independence and inalienable right to organize their life in accordance InternatIOnal co-operatIon. with their national aspirations and to exercise their 274. We feel that the United Nations can and must right to self-determination, including the right to set play a more active role in efforts aimed at solving the up an independent State. We have frequently ex- Middle East conflict and settling the Palestinian pressed our unshakeable conviction that, without the problem and that under its auspices comprehensive solution of the problem of the Palestinian people on negotiations can be embarked upon so as to bring the basis oftheir ri$ht to self-determination, no peace about, in that very troubled region of' the world, a in the Middle East IS possible. Faithful to its policy of just and lasting peace that would fully meet the hopes principle, Romania has never failed to adhere to its and expectations of the peoples of the region and of position that the PLO, the sole legitimate representa- the entire 'world. tive ofthe.P~estinian people, mus! participate on an 275. Undertaking measures and making efforts by equal foot.JnJ In the process ofsetthng the problem of political means to find a settlement for all aspects of th~ Palestlman people and the overall problem ofthe the Middle East conflict-first and foremost, the MIddle East. ,Palestinian problem-is in full conformity with the 267. A comprehensive solution must lead to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United achievement ofa just and lasting peace"and guaran- Nations and the legitimate needs of its States Mem..

I should like to inform the Assembly that I have received two additional formal requests to extend the deadline for the submission to the Fifth Committee of all draft resolutions with programme budget implications. The Chairmen of the Special Political Committee and the Second Committee have requested an extension until 10 December in connection with agenda item 74, as well as items 12, 80 and 82 respectively. 303. May I take it that it is the wish ofthe Assembly to extend the deadlines accordingly? It was so decided. The meeting rose at 7 p.m. lTirana, "8 N£NTORItt Publishing House. 1984. 9Re;ort of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations publication. Sales No. E.S3.I.21). chap. I. sect. A. para. 2.