A/40/PV.98 General Assembly

May I remind representatives that the debate on this item was concluded on Thursday, 7 November 1985. I call on the representative of Yapan, who wishes to introduce the draft resolution. Mr. KOBAYASHI (Japan) (interpretation from French) : It is my great honour and pleasure to introduce draft resolution A/4O/L.lS/Rev.l following the unofficial consultations which I have been conducting since I was designated, on 19 November 1985, as Co-ordinator for agenda item 30 on the critical economic situation in Africa. My task was greatly facilitated by the fact that all delegations concerned, in line with what the United Nations has been doing fog the past year, unanimously sup~xrted the idea of holding a special session of the General Assembly on the economic situation in Africa in 1986. I also enjoyed the good will and active co-operation of all delegations which took part in the uncfficial consultations in a constructive spirit. I would like to express to them my heartiest thanks. These consultations led to what I believe is a consensus cn the text of this draft resolution as it appears in document A/40/L.15/ReV.l. I sincerely hope -that *aft rcesolution A/40/~.15/Rev.l will be adopted unanimwsly, without a vow. I would like to take this opportunity to express to the President and to our friends in the African Group our profowd thanks for the confidence that they have sham in me and, through me, in my delegation and for according me the great honour of being Co-ordinator for item 30.

The Assembly will new take a decision on draft resolution A/40/L. 15/Rev .l. k&y I take it that the Awmbly adopts this draft resolution? Draft resolution A/40/L.lS/Rev.l was adopted [resolution 40/40). The PRES IDEW: I call on the representative of Bulgaria, who wishes to explain his delegation’s position M the resolution just adopted. Mr. KOLEY (Bulgaria) (interpretation frora Russian) : I have the honour, on behalf of the delegations of the Byelorussian SSR, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the German Uemcratic Republic, the Hungarian People’s Republic, the Mongolian People’s Republic, the Polish People’s Republic, the Ukrainian S&R, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Pwple’s Republic of Bulgaria, to make the following stateumt in connection with the adoption of the resolution on the critical economic situation in Africa. The socialist countries ace deeply concerned by the further deterioration of the economic situation of Africa. Despite the efforts made by the African countries themselves and the assistance provided by the inter natictlal community, the economic problems of the continent continue to worsen. DeveJ.. .nents have once again indicated that these problems can really be solved only by putting WI end to the inequitable situation of the African countries in the world economy, which is a Vestige of colonial times; and to this exploitation by pr ivetc zpit-,?.1 i and by reorienting their economies so t&hat instead of meeting the requirements of the WE. Kolev, Bulgaria) ii .- folclrer-rretropolttan Fcwxs Lhey are geared to the solution of lohg-tera developuent problems in the interest of thepeople. An analysris of the reasons for &he ecanorulc difficulties being experienced by the countries of Africa reveals that they ars_coiaplex in nature and lust be solved in a coarpwehensive way. Sn tljis connection the socialist countries agree with the proposal to convene a special session of the General &melPbly on the critLea1 econoraic situation in Africa, &ich should, in accordance with the resolution we have just adopted, offer a forum for the comprehensive conafderation of the rsediunn-term and long-teru pmblems qnd difficulties of the entire continent with a view to finding ways of solar ing them. The prcblems of the Afr ican muntr ies include a deter ioration of their terms of trade, declining export earnings, an unprecedented increase in rates of interest, a crushing foreign debt burden, and the outflow of financial and hunm resources to developed capitalist countries. The socialist countries are firmly convinced that the solution of the economic and socEa1 probletrrs of the African continent are fnextricably linked with the general probleip of restructuring international economic relations cm a just basis, of improving the political climate in the world and curbing the arms race, into which imperialism has dragged uany countries of the African continent. The aociaUst countries are against dragging the African countries into the arena of mmfrontation - not to speak of military oonfrontation. We believe that - only the African countries arc entitled to decide the future of that cantinent and freely to choose the paths to the development of their States. No one can or is entitled tqfnterf’ese in ,thq$rinternal affairs and to impose on them an order that is alien to thear. For their part, the socialist countries are consistently developing, on a footing of equality, mutually advantageous co-operation with the African countries, thereby contributing to the construction and strengthening of the independent economies of those countries. We shall continue to do so in the future. Mr. BWAKIRI (Burundi) (interpretation from French): Now that the Assc?~~bly has adopted draft resolution A/IO/IL.lS/Rev.l, on agenda item 30, V!ritfcal economic situation in P,frkca*, 1 have the honour and the pleasure to speak on behalf of the African Group and to express to the Members of the General Assembly our deep gratitude for their unanimous support of the draft resolution on the critical economic situation in Africa. I wish particularly to thank Ambassador Kobayashi,, the co-ardknaror of the unofficial consultations, for his untiring efforts to ensure the adoption of the draft resolution by consensus. It is also my duty to state once again the commitment of our Heads of State or Government to the responsibility for the devel<Jpment of AEricai that is the business of Africans themselves. we corimit ourselves to doing our best to ensure that our continent develops and is prosperous. It is our hope that the adoption of this draft resolution will establish a new basis for international co-operation. Africa is awaiting the holding of the special session and hopes that it will be crowned with BUCCCOB. Hence c we ask our partners to join us in preparing for a new kind of development for ii%rica and thereby in conteibuting to the strengthening of lnternatdoneL co-operation.

The Assembly has concluded its consideration of agenda item 30: AGENDA ITEIQ 33 QUESTION OF PAUSTXNE: (cl DRAFT RESOLUTIONS (A/'IO/ti.23 to A/IO/L.251 mm PRE%XQE~~ I should like to propose that the list of opeakers in the debate on this item be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, at 12 noon* May f take it that the General Assembly agrees to that proposal? It was so decided, The PR.WmXm: I therefore reqwst those representatives wishing to participate in the debate to inecribe their nme6 on the list of speakers a6 soon as possible. I now call on Mr. Massambn Sarre of Senegal, in his capacity a6 Chairman of the Committee on the Exexcise of the Inalienable Right6 of the Palestinian Pe@e* Mr. SABRE (Senegal) , Chairman oE the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (interpretation from French): Last Year, in its resolution 39/49 D, the General Assembly eeaffirmed its endorsement of the call for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middkz East in conformity with the guiding principles recommended by the International Conference held in Geneva in 1983. The Assembly urged all Governments to make additional constructive efforts and to strengthen their political will in order to convene the Conference without delay and for the achievement of its peaceful objectives. (Mr. SarrB, Chairman, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the During the past year@ the concept of such a ConEerence hz@ gained growing acceptance, both at the level of Governments and at &ho level of world public opinion. Indeed, the Conference, which-would be held under the auepices of the United Nations, would provide a legal and political framework accepted by the vast iiiajority of the international community for the carrying out of negotiations in a spirit of respect for internationally recognized principles and on a footing of equality of all the Parties concerned. Hence, it would make it possible to go beyond the narrow strategic interests and the purely domestic concerns of the various States and to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. And, better Still, the agreements that would be reached by such a Conference Gould be universally recqnized as legitimate and could be guaranteed and applied equitably and in a way accepted by all. the parties. Based on those considerations and on the mandate given it in General Assembly resolution 39/49 A and 8, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People decided, in its prcqrasnrne of work for 1985, to continue as a matter of priority to exert all efforts to promote the early convening of the Confe lence . Ta that end, we set our course in two directions. The first was to send delegations to selected capital s to discuss the best ways oE promoting this aim. The second was to intensify efforts to alert public opinion, through the organization of seminars, symposia of non-governmental 0rganizat;nns and meetings with journalists. FinaLly, the Cclm~ittee decided that the emphasis in its acti.vities c:ould constantly he placed on the need to promote the convening of thir International Peace Conference on the Middle Zap-t. In accordance with that p~~grarrt~te of work, the Committee sent delegations tQ a certain number of Governments members of the Security Council. The details OF (Hr. Sam-f, ctlairiuan;cmittee on the Exercise or^ the Inalienable Riqhts of the $alestinian People) thO8e missimp, are set forth in the Cmitteegs report,-+g I shall pot go into them here. Nevertheless, I would emphaskze that the Governconts concer.red had a very positive response to the Cormittee8s rtfccQlDt endatians and understaod the nee& indeed the urgency, of taking agreed, specific measures to make a better contribution to the efforts OE the United Nations to ensure a just and lasting settlemnt to the Faleatinian question. Encouraged by that response to its initiatives, the Committee has expressed its intention to complete its contacts with ather States membtrrs of the Security Council next year. ..(Mr. Stirrd, Chairman, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People) We also noted with satisfaction the positive replies of the ngjority of Security Council members an4 other par ties concerned to the contacts u&e by the United Nations Secretary-General, to whcm we should like to pay tribute for his tireless efforts in the cause of the Palestinian people. We were also greatly encouraged by the growing understanding and acceptance of the concept of the conference which resulted from the seminars, symposiums and meetings which were held in 1985 and by the efforts made in that respect by many non-gover nmantal organ izations in various counti ies. As will be seen from the report submitted to this Assembly, three regional seminars were organized this year in China, Guyana, and in the city of New York. These seminars were attended by parliamentarians, university professors and experts, which made possible an examination in depth of the question of an international conference on peace in the Middle East, and the consensus reached was that a conference constitutes a valid basis for first, the establishment of just and lasting peace in the region; secondly , achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people; thirdly, the guarantee of the right to existence and security of all the States in the region; fourthly, the elimination of the constant threat to international peace and security. Those attending the seminars urged States that have not yet accepted the idea of a conference to reconsider their aktitude to the peace process under way within the United Nations system. The Committee also intensified its m-operation with non-governmental organ izations by organ iz ing three regional symposiums, in India r in Senegal and in New York, and an international rsekinq held in Geneva. These symposiums were attended by a large number of non-governmental organizations from the various (Hr. Sarr&, Chairman# Committee on the exercise of the malienable Rights of the Palestinian People) xeg ions, includfng - and lc strecus this - some from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. They wade considerable efforts to estabPish means of co-ordination both at the international and regional level, and in the instances of the Geneva and New York meetings these efforts were successful. These non-governmental orqanization meetings also enabled important declarations to be adopted, in which those organizations supported not only the idea of a peace conference on the Middle East, but they also undertook to step uP their action towards their Governments and public opinion in regard to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people ss defined by the General Assembly. Convinced of the fundamental, role to be played by these non-governrr&ntil organizations in alerting and mobilizing public opinion, the Committee decided to annex these important declarations to its report, in so far as they make it possible for the public at large to acquire a better understanding of the question of Palestine. ft alsO intends further to extend its programme of action and co-operation with non-governmental oeganizations in the year to ccme~ IL should be emphasized that at a critical stage in international efforts to enhance the chances of a negotiated settlement under VItited Nations auspices, the contributioh of parliamentary experts and other srganizations might conduce to a happy outcome to the questfm of Palestine and the ,SiddLe East. 1 have nirtrely given a general overview here of some of the moat impressive activities undertaken by the Committee thie year, to which should be added other activities such as those undertaken by the Division for Palestinian Rights, the Eepartment of Public Information and the representatives of the Committee at various internationaL meetings. I shall not go into those ir. detail, because they are clearly set out in the report, He. Sarrt-5, Chairmasr, Committee on the mercise of the xnaliensble jhts of the Palestinian People) Bh%y, the international rxmmunity has coy? to recmpiee that the quef3tiQn Of Palestine Pies at the heart of the conflict of the Middle East, and that there can be no lasting solutim to that conflict without remgnition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. These rights have been reaffirmed oh many occasicns by the General Assembly aud include - if there were any need to be rt’eainded of thas - the right of the PaBcstinlan people to aelf-deterninakion without external interfereme; their right to independence and national sovereignty, including the right to establish their oun State in Palestine and the right to return to theix homes and their belongings, or to obtain compensation if they do not wish to return. In a spirit of objective realisla, the Committee also recognized the right to existence of all States in the region. At the request of the General Assembly, the Committee laid down a programme which would give effect to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and that programme has been approved at each General Assembly session by a great EPajority of Nxdxxs. As is known, the opposition of a permanent member of the Security Council prevented the Council from following up those recommendations. I have had an opportunity to repeat on many occasions - and X can never repeat it sufficiently - that the recomwndations of the Committee ar.; based solidly on fundamental principles recognfzed internationally and in the United Nations Charter . Any proposal purporting to resolve the question of Palestine without taking into account the essential elements of these recommendations would be doomed to failure. In its report the Committee therefore reaffirmed once again the validity of it6 recommendzftions and those of the :nternationaP Conference on tie Question of Palestine which was held in Geneva in 1983. (Hr. t%rr6, Chairman, Colnmittee on -the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights af the Palestinian Peoe) The Coaurittee believes that it is nw up to the Security Council to give effect to those mx?rparendations and that is why, throughout the year, we have continued to make strong appeals to the Sc?curity Council to take positive measures to qive effect to these recomraendations, with view tm enhancing the possibility of establishing a just and lastinq peace in the Middle East. The Ummittee would like to er@asize thak the questim of Falastitre has reached a critical stage, m&King it iaperative that collective efforts be increased SO as finally to bring abmt a just solution to the intolerable fate of the Palest in ian people. The present situation in the occupied territories shcws how necessary that is, and it is reflected in the Committee 9s report to the General Assen33ly. Indeed the Ccinmittee noted with grming concern that the situation continued to worsen because of the policy of establishing and expanding settlemmts in the occupied territories, the violation of human rights , such as the right to freedom of movemint, freedon of speech or freedom of association , with all their concomitant consequences on economic and sccial development in these territories. The Committee would like to express its deep concern at the Israeli practices and pal fcies in the occupied Palestinian territories, It would 1 ike to draw the attention of the Genera1 &3sem!3ly and the Stxurity Council to these facts, given that they are clearly contrary to the Fourth Geneva Ccnver :ion and have ser ious consequences cxl peace and security in the region. In the light of these acts of violence, which are intensifying in the region, we would like to emphasize that ao long as &k~e Palestinian people are unable to exercise their inalienable rights the conflict and tension will oniy becor+ worse. Wr. Sarr&, Cha&.mm, Cmmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable ~~ wrights of the Palestinian People) Tt is both the duty and the responsibility of the whited Blations to restore peace, security and stability tn the Middle E%t while tier@ is smt&lJm time. Tne objective criteria have been laid down, as have the lueans.- eat the present @age, -X_ -- think Jhe ? i~only~~ne~ele~~~kand it .i%a formidable one - which is missing, and that is political will. If we are able to overcome our emotion and pit ourselves outside our ismediate interests, we shall find that political will easily. Therefore, let us harness our efforts and imaglinatian to reach a justt,aqd .~ lasting settI.ement of this cxisis, which it should be noted is a threat to international peace and security. The F’HEsIbEt#r: X now call upon Hr, George Agius of Malta, the Rapporteur of the Special Co@@ittee on the Exercise of the Xnaliefikk Right= of th Palestinian Pmple, who will present the report of that Committee. Hr. AGIUS (Halta), Rapporteur of the special @omittee on the Ercercise of the Xnalienable Rights of the Palestinian People: Xt is an honour for me to present the 1985 report Of the Committee an the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people (A/40/35), on behalf of that Committee, which during the last 12 months has once again striven hard to achieve something which has eluded all of US for so many years - the exercise of the lqitimate and inalienable right ot the Palestinian people to return to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence and sovereignty. It is said that time heals wOunds, but we knaw that in the past 40 years many opportunities have been lost; the wounds are still sore and do not seem to heal. The report before us clearly shows that the Cormnittee has dutifully discharged its role in bringing to the attention of the international community the plight of the Palestinian people in their struggle for an independent homeland= The tragic events covered in paragraphs 16 to 32 of the report are an affront to the efforts of the United Nations, which should be met with a redoubling Of OUT efforts, by putting strong and convincing arguments to those that have so far supported the efforts of the Cemmitte, 0 and by stepping up our efforts to persuade those countries that still. neeLl to be convinced TV join in the United Nations approzsh in favour of a just solution to the question of Palestine. The measures affecting the rights of the Palestinian people, including those Palestinian6 in the refugee camps in southern Lebanon, rnflected in paragraphs 33 to 57 have been the subject of lengthy discussion by the Gxxnittee and have subwquently been brought to the attention of tile :de&zr states on r.3 less than (Mr. Agius, Pa~~~rteur, SPmial Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the CI-q --LAa ..- n--w., r\ ra~rat.anaau c-vp~=~ 13 occas icms. Certain issues, in paOAx.lar the illegal settlement6 in the occupied territories and the displacement of a great number of families in order that their lamed might be converted in.to a military training zone, are two negative vleasures taken by the Ssraeli authorities which have aggravated threats to peatand security in the region. This year the Security Council has on three occasions been seized of the Palestinian question and has twice been called upon to take action on the grave situation afflicting the civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territories. The consensus reached by the Council in the adoption of resolutiOn 564 (1985) last May was erred and proved to be short-lived when, three mnths later, a percent metier of the Security Council vetoed a draft resolution submitted by the non-aligned members of the Council - action which was as regrettable as it was unfortunate. Paragraphs 67 to 85 of the report demonstrate the efforts being made by the Palestine Committee to promote the convening of the proposed international conference on peace in the Middle East - an event which the majority of Hember States believe could turn the tide of instability in the region and pave the way for a lasting solution. They believe that it is the only door lef open for bringing about reconciliation among opposing parties. The contacts carried out with members of the Security Council should instil a sense of pri.de and achievement in the n-embers of the Committee, and indeed in the United Nations as a whole. In 813, the capitals visited strong suppmt and encouragement were given to the Committee to press on with its search for a soLutio11 through an international pence conference. I ndced ) the role of the Committee and the proposed international peace conference ware seen as indispensable to progress. Other approaches were considered unxealistio, and the efforts of the Secretary-General were welcomed vherevsr the Committee went- The energetic efforts of the Committee did not stop there. 13y actively pwticipating in 15 international csnferences and meetings the Committee has during the past yean: cafzried the voice of the Palestinians to the four corners of the globe. The Committee grasped each opportunity to tell the world that there are people who, despite 40 years of Ikited Nations fiwolvement, are still without their hmeland. The Committee also notes with extreme encouragement the declarations made in support of the holding of an internation& conference cm peace in the Middle East- Worn the Mediterranean context to the Non-Aligned Movement, from the Organization of the Xsliomic Conference to the Organization of African Unity, Era the European Cauncil to the Comraission en Human Rights, from Bandung to Nairobi, feom the Eccaomic Commission for Western Asia (ECXA) to the Arab States, there is no dissenting opinion as to the the urgency of seeking an early solution to the question of Palestine through the holding of an international peace conference. Everywhere there is a mmmn denominator, there is a conviction that an international conference on peace in the Middle East offers the only realistic and practical nay tcswnrds a solutisn of the problem sE Palestine and *be establi&mnt of a PaLestinisn State. During the past year no less than 17 gather Lngs have addressed this queaCksn. Paragraphs 87 to 134 are a recorded seaEEirmatisn of the special attention which the United Nations, the non-aligned countr its and non-governmental arganizntions (Hr. &gfue. Rswrrporteur , Skp+sciaI Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights ofxe Fa 1 ^-La- 1-- “--.A. e ezcms~num rr;vpaz are giving to this inrportant subject. Witb 6~) many declarations and stateraents of unanirpous support by the majority of Member States of the United Nations, it passes our understanding how a solution to the Palestine questim cannot be attained. The call for direct negotiations awmg the parties themselves, including the Palestine Liberation Organization (Pxxl) o has been resounding. There is also broad agreement that the Palestine question is the key to the Arab-Israeli crisis and that Palestinian leaders should be invoPved in a negotiated solution. Once again the role of nowg0vernmenta.l organizations cm the question of Palestine has been outstanding. Ten years ago the Committee recmgnized the paramount importance of non-governmental organieations in enhancing objective public awareness of the Palestinian cause and in encouraging public opinion in favour of a speedy, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. That recognition has been vindicated. Their involvement has brought about a better understanding of the problem of Palestine and the influence it ie having in the Middle East. Xn 1985, New Rebhi, New York, Dakar and Geneva have been tLr -zonues of important sympclsium3 at which nolr-governmental. organizations have made a unique and Valid contribution in reaffirming the rights of the Palestinian people. Suffice it to state that the mer&ers of the Committco who attended those symposiums were impressed by the quality of participation by non-governrental. organizations. The Asian Symposium, in New Delhi, the North American Symposium, in New York, and the Eirst African Regional IJCX) Symposium, in Dakar, have drawn valuable conclusions for the future and expanded co-operation in ana co-ord inatl.on of activities. Furthe~‘riire, the declaratisns adopt.cd by the sympsiums reflect the (Mr. .Agius, ~?lpp~~te~~, spedid Committee on the Exercise ofthe Xnalienable Rights of the Palestin ian Pecme basis on which non-governmental orqanizations intend to play their important role in promoting a just solution of the question of Palestine. There is no doubt whatsoever that these gatherings constitute a pool of experience and information Pertaining to the question. All this is an added asset to the endeavours of the Committee to bring about an early and comprehensive solution to the problem of Palestine. Non-governmental organisations need all the suplport from the Committee that it can give. 1 am sure that this will be amply forthcoming in the years to Come* Other very important contributions to the work of the Committee were the seminars held in Asia, Latin America and North America. The reports of those seminars clearly indicate the intensive and in-depth approach of Participants to the Palestine question, The Committee itself is encouraged to note significant changes in public opinion in many important countries which hitherto had not been as forthcoming as others as regards the voting record in the United Nations. The Georgetown, New York and Beijing experiences have confirmed those changes, A feature of the seminars was the emphasis given to the diplomatic effort as opposed to the armed struggle. Thfe year two Studies have been published by the Secretariat’s Division for Palestinian Rights. These studies, together with the 20 or SO objective and factual studies published by the Committee, continue to keep the problem of Pakstine fresh in the minds of the international community. This is a case where the pen is ra&ght&zr than the SWPdi it is truly an activity which we cannot ignore. We are all aware of the power of the media in moulding public opinion. The CoxWttee has recognioed that the press, radio and television media are crucial in analysing and assessing the complexity of the problem of Palestine and the challenges which it poses. The Committee therefore strongly commends the Department of Information for its activities during 1985 in disseminating information on the question of Palestine through articles in the UN Chronicle and the Development Forum, press releases and special publications. The holding of journalists encounters in the North Caribbean and Asian regions and national encounters in African and European countries have also given an impetus to governmental action in solving this IO-year-old problem. The forward-looking recommendations of the Committee, in paragraphs 163 to 172, are a mixture of past and new recommendations, but in essence they are a reaffirmation of the Committee’s recommendations on the question of Palestine as defined in the Geneva International Conference , recommendations which constitute a3 truly representative international consensus. It should he emphasized that the recommendations were drawn up by consensus as a result of an impartial study solidly based 019 previous decisions of the United NationG and on the principl.es of the Charter e They have international backing, which no other approach can claim, It l.Q an appfOach which, as 1 hove already described, is supported in meetings, conferences, seminars, symposiums, colJoquiums, solidarity events, jourQali.sti~ (Mt. Agius, Rappocke41~ e* Cam ttee on the Ex@rC Se 0 the Inalienable Rights of the Paiestinian People; encounters and other gatherings organfzed throughout the world in support of the Palestinian people. Purthermre, a number of elements and proposals from all the other approaches advanced are contained in the Committee’s recommendations. In the final analyeis, no other approach is as d&aired, cornprehensive and widely supported a6 the recoIrr6endations of the Committee. The Committee strongly believes in what it is doling; its duty is to bring unity and to steengthen our efforts Bar the future. Xn its recommendationfir the *strongly points out that the question of Palestine has reached a critical phase and urges a renewed, concentrated and collective effort to find a just solution under United Nations auspices and on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions to end the unacceptable plight of the Palestinian people*. (A/40/35, para. 167) That statement is based on from the evolving situation and the state of international awareness af the question of Palestine. . We have to build on what has been achieved so far. Many of us discern some progress. To msntian only a few of the more important elements, there has been proqress through the publishing of 20 or so Studi which are a response to and a rectification of the distorted in information surrounding the Palestinian people; pragrees in the voting record at the United Nations - 90 psitive votes in 1976 to about 130 in 1984, or about a SO per cent increase , while the negative votes and abstentions have decreased from 30 in 1976 to only three in 1984, or a 1,000 per cent decrease; and progress in agreement on what are generally described to as the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, incuding the right to self-determination, and concerning the role of the PLO. The Committee intends (Hr. Ag ius, Rapporteur , Sp-ec ial Committee on the Exercise of >he Inalienable Rights of the (D-1 CLN&4 m.s IT pen”le) L cIL.ziyLLIILYI to follow up these positive trends and ensure that they prevail over scepticism, despair and misconceptions. In the past 12 months the Qxuuittee has given priority to the urgent need to convene the proposed international conference on peace in the Middle East. Zn the Year ahead the Committee intends t0 step up its activities in this regard through the Security Council and through the completion of the process of sending delegationis to the capitals of Council members. The role of the Secretary-General is not to be downgraded. Rather, it is for US to strengthen the Secretary-General’s hand in dealing with the Palestine question. In concluding my statement , I should like to stress that there is much solid Common ground lEor us to build on, We detect a change of attitudes, During the CoRUWMXatiOn of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations we heard important statements on this important problem. The experience gained from the many gatherings held in the past year should be to our benefit, It may be the time to get down to the specifics of a solution, rather than engage in rhetorical, confrontational and aggressive talk. Whilst it can be said that not all developments in the past have been Positive, we cannot forget the progress achieved, slow though it m&y be, particularly in the Uignificant changes in public opinion in xany important countries. We know where we still have to make progress. We need continued help in those remaining efforts. The Committee welcomes what has been done. Although faced with adverse circumstancas, the Committee has continued to contribute actively to the final solution of the problem of Palestine. (Mr. Agius, Rap~~teux, special Committee on the Exercise of se Inalienable Riqhts of-e Palestinian People) We aY.1 rarogniae that what the United Nations is proposing is based on justice, reality and peace - peace for the region, dignity and honour for the Palestinian people and a pecnmful lasting solution to one of the most complex, most long-standing and most dangerous problems with which the world is faced. The world Pitermlly cannot afford a failure on this questioil I and the procedure envisaged by the United Nations is the only viable course of action to solve the question once und for all. The PRESIDEIGT: l’he next speaker is MP. Farouk Raddoumi, head of the Observe&’ delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization. 1 call on him in accordance with resolution 3237 (XXIX), of 22 Novewr 1974. Mr. KCaDBWMf (Palestine Liberation Organization (PLC)) (interpretation f mm Arabic) : As I am speaking for the first time at this session, ? am happy to congratulate the President on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its fortieth session. I salute his friendly country, Spain, which has always supported the just struggle of our Palestinian people. It is a country linked to the Arab nation by ancient ties and close friendship, f am confident that his wisdotn and wide experience will be the principal element in the success of this session. I cannot fail to express our thank s and appreciation to the President’s distinguished predecessor, Mr. Paul Lusaka, for the valuable efforts he made in presiding over the previous session. I am also pleased to pay a tribute to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de CuelIar, for his untiring efforts to promote the po-,sibilities of peace, reduce tension and strengthen and pronot (3 the role of khe international Organization in maintaining international peace and security. (Mr. Raddoumi, PM) The General Assembly is once again discussing the question of Palestine. This debate coincides with an outstanding occasion , which is the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations. As I have said on numerous occasions to the General iwsembly8 perhaps there-is-no~other international issue wh.ich has so closely coincided with the-birth and march of.the-United Nations itself, because the question of Palestine has always been an item on the agenda of the General Assembly, from 1947 right up to the present session. Indeed, this is no cause for satisfaction, Since it means essentially that ever since 1947 our Palestinian people have been, and continue to be, dispersed, oppressed and deprived of the-most basic human and political rights, However, on the other hand, we see that this insistence on maintaining the question of Palestine before the General Assembly for nearly 40 years represents a clear recognition by the international community that a final and just solution to this issue has not yet been achieved. Furthermore, the fact that this issue has not been resolved in a way that guarantees the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is a source of dispute and tension in the Middle East0 and in the world as a whole. And this is a dire threat to international peace and security. During the past 40 years of the life of the United Nations, the General kssembly, the Security Council, the commissions and committees of the United Nations, and its specialized agencies, have adopted hundreds of resolutions which cryatallize the position OF the international community on this is;e;ue. They have crystallized the basis For any just and durable solution to this besue. These resolutions have al.1 stressed that the PaLestinian people, like other peoples of the world, has the right to freedom, independence and sovereignty on its soil, on the basis of the Charter of the Ynitcd Nati.ons an? the principles of internation??l la;;, as well as 011 the values and Ideals which inspire the United Nations, and for .- .-- -. - (MC. Ksdcloumi, PLO) which it was indeed created 40 years ago. Respite all these resolutions, sad to Say, WI! serious progress has .-been achieved in terms of the desired peaoe, or in terms of enabling the Palestinian people to enjoy its inalienable rights, because of the intransigence of Sslcael, supported by the United States of America. Indeed, on the contrary, our people have been subjwted to another flagrant act of aggression aimed at uprooting it Erom its lands, aimed at exterminating it and wiping its independence and national identity off the map. Our people have been subjected to a series of wacs and massacres, in Deic Yam&n, Kafr Qassem, Sabca and Shatila, and, finally, in Tunisia , at the hands of the Zionist forces of invasion and occupation. In a premeditated, open -and scandalous way, Israel8 for nearly 413 years - the years representing both its own life and that of the international community, which .- unfortunately accepted Israel as a member - has violated every letter of every resolution adopted by the TJnited Nations. While the principal aim of the United Nations is to achieve international peace and security, and to prevent wars1 which is the very philosophy of the Charter, Israel, ever since its creation, has wcked to destroy this aim by denying the rights of the Palestinian people, by continually pcactislng acts of aggression and terrorism against the Palestinian people and out Arab nation, and by flagrantly violating the principles, the Charter, and the resolutions of the United Nations. This reopens an extremely important iscue, particularly important while we are celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the creation of this international Organicat ion. That issue is; how far is the United Nationa capable of ensuring respect for its Charter, of ensuring implementation of its resolutions, in order to gi.ve it the neces.c;ary credibility to live up to the hopes which humanity vested in Ft a~: an instrument to prevent aggression and to maintain international peace and Many have spoken oE this %ngercus phenomenon I a phenomenon reflected in this clear dichotomy between the adoption of resolutions and their implementation. There is no doubt that, as we all know, the United States of America bears a large share of the responsibility for this paralysis of our fGternationa2 Organization. This is in large part due to the policy of hegemony and obstruckion pursued by the United States of America, particularly when using the right of veto to cover Israel’s aggressive acts, its unlawful practices, and similar acts, Thus far the United States of America to date has used its right of veto more than 50 times, and 30 of those vetoes were directed against Arab causes and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. This American stand, and the consequent obstruction of the role of the Security Council, shows how little it respects the United Nations and its Charter, how lightly it views its role as a permanent member of the Security Council, which makes it responsible for maintaining international peace and security. We issue a warning here that the credibility af the United Nations is in danger unless the United Nations makes its resolutions mandatory , unless it ensures that these resolutions will be moved from the level of condemnation and appeals to the level of specific action. The first step would be to implement the mandatory sanctions against Israel provided for in Chapter VII of the Charter , as a non-peace-loving State. No other issue has SO confronted the United Nations with its responsibilities; no other issue has i T-I such a challenge to the declared aims of the United Nations, as the Palestinian question. Furthermore, no otkr issue has been the subject of more resolutisns by this international Organization. Furthermore, no other issue has been the subject of more resolutions of condemnation than this i$$slJ@ pertaining to Israel. Despite all. this, we believe that the political and moral force of the resolutions of the United Nation6 represents, on the part of the international community, a chaXlcnge to and a rejmztion of the policy of fame, aggxesslon and occupation pursued by Israel. P’or this reason, we can say that the quest&n of Palestine is the question of the United Na~jona itselg, because it 4s a _q@@fe! Of ~ tight, of justice? a~quest%on which in-its diaenWmsr+pxcenta tb aeptrttion of humanity as a whole ,@ p& an e@ to -poltcien of force a@ aggre!@ion, Westabltsh a better world in which all-peoples enjoy freedom and independence, a world which will, be rid of colonialism, exploitation and racism, and all form16 of discrimination on the basis of racer religion or colours a world which would be a reflection of the Charter, the Charter sign& 40 years ago, It has become customary for many years now for us to speak before the Assembly at this the during the discussion of the question of j?alggtins, whenwe always ~. invoke confirmed facts, loqic, the-principles of international law, the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations. We always &ace ourselves on our deep desire to 1iEt the burden of suffering from our people and to achieve peace in the region. We have said and continue to say that we are attempting to achieve a peaceful solution to the question of PalestQe, based on United Nations resolutions, in such a Way as to ensure that the Palestinian @ople can enjoy its just and inalienable rights as recognized by this Assembly. It would seem, in view of the progress made so far towards a comprehensive and just peace inthe-Middle East, that-we were screaming in a vaLuum# because the policy of force continues to reign supreme in international relations, because the United States of America still wishes to shape the world according to its Own perceptions, so as to serve its interests - and its interests alone - without heeding the United Nations and the aspirations of people to freedom and independence. Despite all this, we have not lost hope. Every year we speak before this Assembly and present our just cause time after time, describing the struggle of our IX?Ople and its bitter sacrifices to achieve international legitimacy. And in this we enjoy the overwhelming support of the peoples and States of the world, reflecting the conscience of all free and just people. We have not Ilost hope in the United Nations and its resolutions because thsy represent a living picture of mankind’s aspirations to create a world and international relations on a just and equitable basis and not on the basis of the narrow interests of the lobbies, leaders and individuals of the United States of America which is ruled by large monopolies, huge mass media and Zionist circles. A few weeks ago the Assembly lived the hijacking of the Italian ship Achille litauro. Before that we witnessed the criminal Israeli-air PaidU%gainst Tunisia and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Later on ue witnessed events which resembled an old American B movie, a cowboy movie, where the hero goes it alone and goes very far, imposing his law according to his own wishes. The United States, its Government and its President were very happy with that great victory,-and many personalities appeaeed on television in the United Setates exchanging congratulations and words of appreciation, and it became very obvious - nobody ever doubted this - how the United States was able to mobilise its fleet, aircraft, intelligence services , marines and satellites against a defenceless Egyptian civilian aircraft. However, what has taken place in the past few weeks - leaving aside all feelings of jingoism, and while expressing bitterness and sadness - requires us to make a serious analysis of events and to put them in their proper perspective without falling victim to the misleading reports of the mass media. What really took place? Against whom did the United States and Israel achieve a victory? We can say confidently that the United States and Israel won a crushing Victory against all efforts for peace in the Middle East. Israel and the United States won a real victory for more violence and extremism in the region. What the United States did was to declare war against the strugg’tng Palestinian people, to declare war against the Arab States without any discrimination between friend Or foe, as long as that nerved the interests of Israel. This operation revealed the contradictions inherent in the United States p~itiorl and logic in respect of so-called terrorism. ~frst, it rashes to defend what the world &greed was Israeli terrorism against Tunisia and tne Palestine Liberation Organizatinn, what the United States calls a right, a ~-called (Mr. kddoumi, i?W) legitinmte right to self*fence. Thm the united States of America itself practisersOerroxiem. It xesponds, as &-says, to terrorim by terroism, T-tie fxnited States argument, the argument of-Jhe. super-Poqer to j_ustify me &Wt that it went outside international law, is that it is fighting another act outside the law. This justificaticm convinces no one,- and if all the states of the WOEld Were to pursue this path the international community, as we know it today, would change completely . $I~J the o~ther hand, terror isa is an old phenomenon known to all human Societies, a Menoarenon from which many. developed States suffer today, This is not a phenomenon unique to particular individuals or regions. For a long period of time the United Nations debated the issue of terror isra and there was great disagreement on thedefinition of terrorism. The United States of CuPerica andits allies believed tbattbe struggle of peoples for liberation is terrorism - a terrorism which must be f_Ocsght. The united States of America does not hesitate to call terrorists those fighting against Pascist and dictatorial r6gilnes. bihen it suits it, the United States of America considers American intelligence agents in Nicaraqua as freedom fighters. At the same time, it believes that the struggle of the peoples of Palestine , Namibia and South Africa is terrorism, which nust be eliminated, which must be stood up to by a11 means, including terrorism. In a clear-cut attempt to distort the struqgle of peoples, United States and imperialist mass media have begun to describe the Palestinian standing up to Israeli occupation of his homeland as a teticorist. (Mr. Knddoumi, PLO) They have also described VfeCnameee free&m fighter6 and Algerian revolut5cnariesas terroriets._ Event more dangerous is that thfe conceptwas widened to accuse the Palestine Liberation Organization of being a terrorist organisation and then further widened to include the whole Palestinian people. The United State6 of Americq h36 conde-mned _and denouncedthekilling of Leon Klinghoffer, an American citizen. Indeed that was its right.. We too did 80. The United State6 raised an unprecedented clamour over that Ps6ue, a6 if the earth had been shaken. But it did not show the 6ame concern when another Ameriaan Citizen of Palestinian origin was killed - the martyr Iskandar Aouda, who was aesassinated on American soil. He was the Chairman of the Arab-American Committee against Racial Discrimination. To date we have not heard of the arrest Of the perpetrator6 of that assassination, despite the fact that everyone know6 who they are. For 40 years Israel ha6 practised all types and forms of aggression and terrorism against our Palestinian people: it has perpetrated massacres, detained and expelled citizens , confiscated their lands, thrown thousand6 of them into prison, and organixed armed bands which attack citizens on the West Bank and have attempted to assassinate elected mayors. Israel has used internationally prohibited weapons in its wars. The whole world caught it red-handed - red with the blood of our people in Sabra and Shatila, but that did not make the United States Of America angry) it did not even condemn those acts of terrorism. But the whole world, including the United Nations in many resolutions, has condemned that ocganized Israeli terrorism against our Palestinian people, Such acts were supported and encouraged by the United States sE America. Indeed, Israeli weapons are American, Israeli money is American. Israel’s cover in the United Nations and other international forum6 is American. All that is taking place before the eyea and within earshot of the international ccmgnwity, but the United States wishes 1181 to believe thatit is fighting terrorism. DO all those~ facts leave any room for a logical. dialogue with the-United States? Prom our pooition, we say no, a. thousand times no. - ~~ It is indeed roast regrettab@ therf _a nuper-Power , which claims to be -.-: :-- .~ responsible for peace, should sink so low in contradictions, irresponsibility and double standards as to make out the Palestinian to be the terrorist in t~he-eyes of Americans, regardless whether he is the killer or the victim, while Americans or Zionists are always either heroes or victims, even if they are caught red handed .- before the whole world. The peoples of the worJ.d reject that American “logic”; they believe. it-is the Palestinians’ right to struggle and use violence against colonialism, rcci$m and foreign occupation of their homelands. The United Nations has recognized the right of peoples to resist colonialism by all means. Perhaps the United States believes that Israel’s occupation of our country, Palestine, is an aat of aharity which must be encouraged, and not an abhorrent foreign presence which must be opposed and fought. Throughout history the peoples of the world have taken up arms against the occupiers, beginning with the American people itself and the French people. It is a right now being exercised by the peoples of Palestine , Namibia and South Africa. What is really taking place under the guise of fighting terrorism is that a war has &en declared by the United States of America Pyainst the Palestinian people and the Palestine Liberation Organization. For many years, with full United States support, Israel. has attempted in vain to wipe out the Palestine Liberation Organization. It believed that it would achieve that end through its aggression against Lebanon in 1982. However, heroic Palestinian and Lebanese resistance dissipated thase illusion~$. Israel left J southern Lebanon licking its weundo. As for our occupied homeland, the Israeli , forces of occupation encounter increasing resistance every day, even with stones, knives and sticks, All of which proves that the Israeli policy of aggression and expansionism and the occupation of our hosreland is the real source oE danger and of all operations of aggression , violence and terrorism in the region. Without an end to that abhorrent occupation, without anend to the policy of expansionism against our people and the Arab nation, and without enabling the Palestinian people to enjoy its inalienable rights, including its right to return to its hameland, to self-determination and to the establishment of its independent StateN things will get worset the cycle of violence and counter-violence will become more frequent and might eventually threaten international peace and security in general. If the United States truly desires to fight terrorism in the Middle East region, it must fight that terrorism at its roots. It must seek to find the real reason for that terrorism, namely, the continuing Israeli occupation of our homel,and and the deprivation of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights. We have addressed numerous appeals to the United States from this rostrum, based on our recognition of the United States role in the Middle East peace pxcxxss, to adopt a more balanced attitude towards the struggle in the region and to end its blind bias and unlimited supported of fsraelo because that will not lead to the desired peace. We have said more than once that it is America's right to rePuse to talk to the Palestine Liberation Organization if it SQ wishes. That is a regrettable position; it is one that ignores and circumvents the facts, That will not lead to the desired peace. HOUc?W?tT, it is not the right of the United States, in the light (Mr. Raddowi, PW) of a13 the value8 cherished by mankind, to refuse ta icecqnize the Paleetinian &mple and its right ta self-determination, as in the case og all the other peoples of the wuxld and in accordance with the United Nations Charter. - . Xt is truly regrettable that a super-Power such as the United States of Auwica should use all its might and potentialities against a mall pmpXe - the Palestinian peuple, which has endured more suffering than any other peaple and ie continuilig to struggle so as to be able to live a life of freedom ani8 inrlepeti~nce in its hmeland, without been attacked by anyone. Despite the official, organized terror fsar &id1 our Palestinian people is facing itairy in the occupied termrorities and outside them - as is the cme, far instance, in Tunisia and Lebanon, as S said previously - at the hands of Israel and its agents and despite the political media uar which is being faced by OUP people and our organization, the Palestine Liberation Organization has always condemed terror iem. In the case of the events concerning the Italian ship, for examplq,our organization condemned those acts from the beginning and made the utmost efforts to put an endi to them and save the passengers, As everybody knows, the Palestine Liberation Oryanization war ks in the light of day. It has its civilian instit:utions and offices nearly everywhere in the wor Id. St is an organization that attempts to create relations of friendship and co-operation with all peoples. We do not have a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) i we do not have a Mossad - a Mossad which has terrorized our peoples and many other peuples in the world. It is no coincidence that the great majority of the States in the world recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization; it is no coincidence that they all have relations of many kinds with our organization, based on their realization of the irapor tance of the role undertaken by the PLO in the region and internationally and on their belief that it is the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Xn order to put an end to Fumx Pcan and Israeli efforts to describe the PLO as a terrorist orqanization, the organization has reaffirmed its position - which has been recognized by the Palestine National Council since 1974 - on 7 November 1985 through Yasser AraEat and through what has bec:ome known as the Cairo Declaration. That Declaration says the following: “In suppxt of current efforts to convene an international *ace conference, the organizat.icn declare:; that it: denounces and condemns all acts of tertorism, whether perpetrated by States, individuals or groupg18 against innocent, defencelps people anywhere. Because su&_a coauaitmenic cannot be unilateral, the inter_nstional community must pemmade Israel tu cm&t itself to put an end to all terrorist aativities inside and outside Israel. “The organization stresses in this context that it saintains the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupy tion of its homeland by all available means in order to bring about Israeli withdrawal froro these territories, since the right to resist foreign occupation is a legitimate right which cannot be denied; it is a right under the Charter of the United Nations, which calls for the renunciation of the threat or use of force to settle disputes and considers resort to force -to be inconsistent with its purposes and principles. “The r iqht of the Pales tinian people to resist occupy tion in the occupied territories is reaffirmed in the many resolutions adopted by the United Nations, as well as in the provisions of the Geneva Convention& * Eighteen years have gone by and our Palestinian people in the occupied territories continue to languish under lsraeli occupation; they continue to suffer fcom various forms of oppression and represssion in the political, economic, social, educational. and health spheres. Israel hopes by imposing a fait acoompl i and entrenching its occupation to force our people to emigrate, thinking thus tQ achieve its aims. In order to ach ievc its aims, take control of the land vacated by QUT People and attract more settlers from here, there and everywhere to take their place, Israel has continued to pursue its policy of expansionism and settlement, k3re settlements have been established and existing settlements have been @xpanded, so that by the end of last year the number of such settlewnts had reached 212, (Mr. Kaddoumi, PLO] not counting six new settlements k*Pch Shimon Peres, the Israeli Prim Minister, agreed on 19 January 1985 should be established in the Palestinian territories on the l&St mnk. These-are pcsrt of the 27 new settlements which will be established in the region in the next few years. Recently there has been a new settbemenc phenomenon in the form of Israeli attempts to settle inside Arab towns aad villages, a5 happened in the case of the towns of Al-Khalil and Nablus. Purthemore, there leas been more cmfiscatiw of land and more attempts to disperse the peopie from their lands. Put perhaps !~re dangerous than all that is the establishment by the Zionist settlers of their a)m political, Military and economic establishment, so that they are a State within the State, a State controlled by the mOre fascist and extremist fih2tiaas in Israel. This threatens the fate and life of our people, which are daily the object of bloody campaigns at the hands of those settlers, who do not hide their attempt to annex the land and force the people to emigrate. Even more dangerous is the fact that these groups are fully supported by the Israeli Ccwernnicnt. This is also true of all the settlement programmes, which has been the cornerstones of successive Israeli Governolents. The falseness of the claims to desire peace made in various places at various tiaras is highli$hted by this. We have ?,Xways said that the Israeli Government is bent CFO continuing its acts of aggress?c;m and @xpansionism and the outright annexation of the occupied tecritor ies in order to pave the way for official annexation, as happened in the cases of Jerusalem and the Golan. Because of this aggressive Israeli policy the occupied Arab territories are facing deteriorating esccrJlomb@ conditians, with increasing pressure on the inhabitants. Furthermorep in addition to its dangerous political effects, the attempts to confiscate Par-d has had a destructive effect on the economic situation because (Mr. Kaddouai, Pm) this haa led tu a dininuticm of the alaount of arable land and has-foxced out WY Palestinian farmer 8. Our people under occupr~tim have also suffered the desUuctive effects of the excessively high AnfYatim and the continuing devaluation of the Israeli currency. Mg~ny of @ma .have been forced to becoorr -~ rpan~~l labourers and to work in deggading conditions without social security of any kind. Everyone knows that Israel’s real a%r in pursuing this policy is completely to destroy the economy o$ the occupied terr 5. tories and to integrate them into the Israeli econcmuy so as to sake sure that these lands relaain dependent on Israel for ever and to force the inhabitants to edgrate far Praffl their lands and their people. Perhaps this wuld open the eyes of those who have been blinded by Xsraeli claims of a flourishing @cm-y. -. .-- (Hr. Kaddoumi, P&o) Bxzause of this explosive situation and the ccmtinuingl ‘Israeli occupation, the acts of national cesismJqnc6, .in the ocaupied territories have increased - as ia quite natural and- $0 kg pl;+sg2d - de6pite the difficuJ.tfes and the sacrifices that this entails. Confrmlted by the uprising of the people in OUK hmeland, focael. has increased its oppressive activities. It has detained mote citiwns, c;losed school6 and univec6ities, thrown thousands of persons into prison, thus violating the mst fundamental of human rights; it has flouted United Nations resolutions and the Pout th Geneva Coven tion. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned these Xscaeli practice6 in the occupied territories. Indeed, the General Assembly has before it the cecmmendation of the Special Political Committee that such condemnation be expressed again. Things are becoming unbearable; we cannot sit by quietly while these things ace happening . We call for pre-emptive, strong measures against Israel immediately, without any further delay. Once again we ask: Ace these Israeli practices in the occupied territories not pure terrorism? DO not the Palestinian people have the right, indeed the duty, to respond ro these practices by all available means? If there are some who believe that this heroic resistance of the people is terrorism, so be it. As for us, we shall continue our resistance to Israeli occupation, hadever long it may take and whatever sacrifices my be peeded. A few weeks ago, in a statement deiivered to the Generai Assembly, the Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon P~Kc?s~ tr led to look 1 ike a man of peace, He used rather ambiguo..is terms, but there was a great deal of premeditated clamour about his speech. The purpose was to hide the fact. that these were merely old views being put in a new way. It was just an attempt to make some coamztic changes in Israel’s ugly face on the intern3 tional scene. That position was no surprise to us. (Mr. Kaddoumir PLO] Indeed, it only proved what we have always said. e~13ccalue of our knowledge and our Suffering, because of the very high price we have w&d in blood and tearer we have always said that real peace based on justice is not yet an Israeli choice. The dream of settlement, the dreams of expansion, the policy of intransigence and occupation, the Zionist principle&based on racism, the unlimited United States Support for Israel: all this makes Israel believe that it does not really need peace; all this makes Israel believe that it can impose on the Palestinian people and On the Arabs - all the Arabs - the type of peace it wants. But that, in Pack, will not be peace ; it will be total surrender, a surrender that would give Israel hegemony over the area; it would give Israel both land and peace. In the latest manouevre - designed, above all, to exclude the Palestine Liberation Organization and to fragment thha Arab ranks - Peres spoke directly; he stated the cooditiono of surrender reguired from the Palestinians and the Arabs, as constituted by the three 9~0s~ that have constantly been the basis of the policies of all the Governments of Israel from S.967 to the present. They BT@ the following: no to withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories; no to recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination; no to the Pales tine Liberation Organisation. Since that is the real Israeli position, what would be the basis of the direct talks referred to by Peres? ft &ems that we must again stress some facts that have been accepted by the whole world, facts that only Israel and the United States continue to disregard and reject. It has been internationally recognized that the question of Palestine is the core of the StrUggle in the Middle East and that there can be no Peace without a comprehensive and just soIution ~XJ that question, in all its aspects I) But it is clear from the policies and practicea of Israel, that it does not wish the question (Mr. Kaddoumf, PLO) of Palesftine ta be solved. It whhes tc tackle only the question aE borders between it and tha ~ieighbcuring Awnb States. Rut khat will not achieve peace in the region at all; it has certainly not done so in the past a The Arab States and most of the other states in the world as well as the Wted t4aticm have recogqized that the Palestine Liberation Organfzatioh is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palwtinian people and therefore rrrrart participate, 9n an egual footing with other parties, in all international efforts and meetings designed to achieve a solution to the problem oE the Midd,le East. Experience has aho shown that partial and unilateua: ~iohtions, solutions that do not ensure the participation of the Pale&tin&m people, represented by the Palestine Liberaticn Organization, will remain just that: partial and unilateral solutions, which will not lead to peace. The world has CSIWZ to realise that the Palestine Liberation Organi&ation is not just a group of individuals8 it is a political. framework and a representative body, a body representing the Palestinian people and its national aspirations. 9?he Palestine Liberation Organiza ticn did not corn into being because of the 1967 aggression; it came into being weE1 before that. Ever since the time of the British Mandate over Palestine, it haa represernted the constant will and aspirations of the Palestinian people to libeleatian and independence. Fur thermore, this widespread international nemgnikion of the Palestino Liberation Organization is a recognition of the independent national identity of the Palestinian people. In othher words, it is a re~~~~~~itfon of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish its own independent State WI its homeland. Experience has shown that any attemp”: to find an alternative to the Palestine Liberation Oryanization, inrjide or outside the occupied territories, iS Uyfn;~ to bps@ in advance on the Palei~tirpj.an p@oph ana the P&estine Liberation Organization - ccadfttaao 6ucb a6 the prior tec30gnftfan of re6Cluth~ 242 C$W) 3d prior x:eoognftiaf9 -of. the-right 0f x6raer t0 exist - age hj fact biased, tyrannical and tUogica1 cmdktfrwrs that cannot in my way serve the efforts to ensure peace.* (Mr. Kaddoumi, PLO) Through its representative in this Assembly in 1978 the United States of berica itself declared that Security Council resalution 242 (1967) did not tackle the plfticaP dimension of the Palestinian problem Therefore, how are we exmted to deal with a resolution which does not tackle the basic.dimension of our wuse, that is our right to self-determination? Notnady is discussing the validity of the principles in that resolution. However, we have said, and we continue to save that this resolution does not suffice and it is not a sound basis for a comprehensive solution. W@ do not accept in any way whatsoever that we should be treated as a group of refugees. We have declared that we accept and recognize all international resolutions on the questFen of Palestine: we cannot at al.1 aflrpe to deal with one wa--- of those resolutions only. Again, talking of Israel’s right to existence is a myth; its aim is the suffocation of the right to existence of the Palestinian people and therefore Of their self-determination. It is clear that it is the Palestinian people, whose lauds are occupied by Israel , who are dispersed throughout the world, a peol?le which iS pursued by acts of aggression and by massacre, is the people that is threatened. It is not Israel that is threatened. it is also clear that Israel threatens not only the security and presence of the Palestinian people alone, it threatens the peace and security of all the Arab 5tates, not only the neighbouring States but alao States thousands of kilometres away from Israel. ExP@rienc@ and events have shown that Israel, which is allied strategically with the United States of America, and is in r.ssession of the most rr&ern American arsenals and the most riern meant; of mass destruction and war. is the true muto of terrorism, aggsensgon and wars in uur recgfon. (Hr. Katddcxwi, PLO) The Palestinian *ogle continues its struggle to libecatq its land, to enjoy its right to self-determination irnd to establish an independent State as a sine qua non to achieving a just and lasting peace in the region, a peace under which all peoples RMY l-iv@ together free frw acts of terrorism and oppression. Despite the ~?~~litical and military events we have witnessed in the regiQ9, particularly in the last few years, beginning with the Israeli aggression against the Palestine Liberation Organization in Beirut and Lebanon in 1982 and ending with Ui2 Israeli raid ag&inst Tunisia to strike at the offices of our organization last month, the Palestinian people continues to hold out its hand for peace. WC? cmtinue to seek ta pave Lhe way in the region and internationally for il. just, -peaceful and fasting aettbmmt. To achieve that, the Palestine Lib-eratiofi Organization has welcomed every effort and constructive international initiatives to achieve peace in the Middle East regfon. Beginning with the joint ccmmuniqu6 between Frame and the Soviet Union issued in October 1977, which caJ.led for a remmption of the peace conference meetings in Geneva, and for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to be taken into consideration, our Palestine National Council in 1982 also welcomed the Soviet initiative announced by President Brezhnev, At a later stage in 1982, we played a large part in drafting the Arab peace plan approved by the Fez summit conference in M~?~OZCO and reaffirmed ,t the Casablance summit conference this year, an initiative that wag widely accepted and welcomed internationally , one which has been approve3 by the Palestine National Cmneil during its two previous sessions - the :,ixteenth and seventeenth, in Algeria and Oman. Ln 1.993, Tthe United Nations convened an international conference which issued (Mr. Kaddoumi, PLO) Last February, the Qrgwniration established a f~amewx-k oE action for peace with ite brother country, Jordan , a framewr’c which expresses the special relationship between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples. aased on that, we have undertaken jalnt efforts to promte the peace-procee aud to test the credibility of the United States of America. what happened? Experience, and the bitter events which followed, showed that the United State8 has no credibility and that its aggressive political positions are hostage to Israel. we con~:inue to declare our comitment to an international peace conference for the Middle East, as approved by the United Nations itself, a conference which would be attended by the United States of America, the Soviet Union and the other permanent members of the Security Council, as well as the othelr parties concerned in the region, including the Palestine Liberation Organisation, under the aegis of the United Nations and based on all its resolutions on the question of Palestine. That would be a sound basis for a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the struggle in the Middle East region. I have put before Members the present situation on the question of Palestine and in the HiddLe East, including new variables since the previous session, based on this: we do not believe that there is any reason for optimism as to the possibility of achieving any new serious progress towards peace in the region as long a6 the United States and Israel insist on their positions and their policies. The time has came Par everyone to rea).ize that attempts to circumvent ths inalienabLe rights of the Palestinian people and tc. deny those rights, inc?uding its right to return, to self-determination and to creating its independent State, ~3s WSll a6 attempts to ignore the Falestins Liberation Organization, an osganization which has been scceptcd by the: Paic:ztinian people in full awareraeqs (err. Kaddourai, PLO) .- 9ur people will continue its etrqgle for its inalienable rights and for a just peace in the Hiddle East regfan. OUP people looks to this interrnatfonal Organizatfon with hopa and confidence. We appeal to the General Asgeaably ati the occupation, to put an end to the continued arbitrary Israeli practicePr and their -~ -- violation of human rights in the accupied territoriee. Furthermore, there is a strong need to adopt the necemary sanctions to force Israel to abi& by UrriterJ rations resolutiona. 7: - We do not believe that: resolutions expressing condemnation are sufficient. We hope that the Secretary-General will continue his much appreciated efforts to ci-wanqe Gcile hold~iig QC an :i~tecnat:Gil~l @o;;f&KE3liS in accoirdcncc uith General Assembly resolutions and we should like to re-emphasise the importance of those resolutions. I cannot fail to express OUT thanks and appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of tie inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, under its Chairman, Ambassador sar r6, for the great efforts made to ensure the implementation of the mandate given to the Committee by the General Assembly. it also gives me pleasure ) on behalf of the Palestinian people and the Palestine Liberation Organisation to express thanks and appreciation to friendly States in the Non-Aligned wvement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Socialist: Croup - with the Soviet Union and the Peaple’s Republic of China in the forefront - and to those States In Africa, Asia, Latin America and Western Europe, which have supported the struggle of our people for self-determination, freedom and the establishment of its own independent State. Mr. SALAH (Jardan) (interpretation from Arabic) : I do not think it is necessary for me to enumerate once again before the General Assemblyr the details of the problem of Palestine. The development of the guestion is known to all, For the same reason there is no need for me to speak of the sufferings of and the inhuman and illegal practices imposed on the Pale2 .*tinian people and its Arab brothers because of the continued Israeli occupation of Arab territories. I flliall confine myself to stating that this conflict is reflected in an item which has been on the General Assembly’s agenda longer than any other. it+ is a EEDE~ serioufi item (Mr. Salahr 5ordan) the Middle Xast has suffered in the past would be little, campared to the di ff icultiasl that would arise then. Aware as I am of the adver ae effects of the need to achieve a just and worthy politic~ll eoluticm, I Eeel I should not speak about the post and about the wrongs committed, against the Palestinian people, of the denial and violation of their legitimate rights. Nor do I wish to analyse the past in detail QC enumerate Psraeli practices against the Palestinian people on the West: Bank and in the occupied Gaza Strip since this item was discussed here last year. ’ However I it must be em&asized that the policy of the Judaization of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the nailed fist policy pursued agair,f*r the Arab population of the occupied territories continue. We are still not convinced that Israel has given up those policies. Never theless X shall attempt to look ahead, to the future, in the hope that we may save the Palestinian people from the neglect and injustice i; uas suffered. There is no need for me to remind the Assembly that, in saving the Palestinian people , we should be saving ourselves from the charges of shirking the moral responsibility we assumed for its fate. We would thereby avoid political errors which could cause a great deal harm both within and outside the region. But: it would be pointless to look towards the future if we failed to draw lessons from the past, which show that a solution to the Palestinian Problem cannot be found unless it is based on justice. I hasten to add that what I mean by justice io not a subjective concept according to which truth is nothing other than what the eye sees. Tn other words, juetice implies that a pnl.itical. solution to the Palestinian problem must, nok refl.ect the predominance no might ovc?r sight. Orr the one hand, we have Israeli’s brutal might - regardless of its origins or whether it was created internally or externally, and on the other acre are the legitiwte rights of the Palestinian people regardless of the forces that support it. To those who think that justice an3 legitimate rights are not sufficient for those who want to enjoy those rights, we say that the might of the aggressor is not enough to prevent the Pal.estinians from continuing their struggle and realizing their rights. Since the creation of Israel in 1948, and after the wars in 1967, 1973 and 1982, Israel has been behaving as though it could solve the problems inherent in the denial of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people by resorting to force. However, the Palestinian people and their Arab brothers have remained committed to their just cause in Palestine, namely, their struggle for the r ight of refugees to return to Palestine , and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, rights of which they were deprived by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip , and the Golan Heights since 1967. Moreover , the United Nations has remained committed to its position of principle that the basic principles governing international relations should be maintained: namely, the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territary by force, the need to maintain good-,rreighbourly relaC,lon8, the non-use of force in international relations, and the settlement of conflicts exclusively by peaceful means. Those principles are embodied in Security Council resolution 242 of 22 November 1967 which, in Jordan’s view, offers the best basic for a political. settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. (MK. Salah, Jordan) However, those two approaches - that of Israel on the one hand and that of We Arabs and the international Organization on the other - have taken paraUe1 paths 80 far. Force, with the temptations to which it: gives rise, is pushing Israel to adopt: a more rigid position, while right, justice and legality strengthen the Arabs’ belief in tie inevitability of the triumph of right. Meanwhile, however, the tragedy of the Palestinian people continues and Che violence and tension persist in our region. because of the logic of force and tie logic of right, two logics that it has not been possible to reconcile. Israel justifies its policy by describing the question of Palestine as a demographic problem and by denying the territorial dimension represented by the occupied territories. 8ut to deny the very nature of the problem of PaLestine in no way changes the crux of the matter. The question of the accupied Arab territories ineluding Jerusalem, is still with us. The problem of the Palestinians under occupation is still with us, as is the problem of the refugees. Zhe wars unleashed by Israel to solve one problem have resulted In many others as dangerous as the ones before, We therefore note today that the question of Palestine has become a very complicated matter, taking the form of a conflict between the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people and the regional and international. ambitions of many parties. Palestine has become an area of combat and E ivalry. The PaLestinia:l people are not the only victims, although they have suffered much more than others. Certain Arab countries are bearing the burden of maintaining 1.5 million Palestinian refugees. Some countries have been unable to escayfi the ramifications and effects of the Palestinian cause. 1: sr se1 is themse1.ve.s are suffering as a result of the situation, Continuin:J (Mr. Scnlah, Jordan) One cannot deny the existence of the Palestinian people by talking about Palestinian ter EOC ism. If there is resistance, that means that there is a Palestinian problem. Everyone ie aware today that violence or resistance are not due to the absence of just any solution, as some woul.d claim; Et is due to the absence of a lasting, comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian problem. Israel’s position with xegard tu the question of Palestine has resulted in the present tension in the area. Israelus attitude is based on hypotheses that cannot be accepted as achieving a just and lasting solution. Clne of its hypotheses is as follows: Xsrrael’s struggle with the Palestinians and the hrabs is a matter of life or death which mmt end in total victory or total defeat; the Palestinian problem is a demgra_ahic probleru, with n0 wegional or political aspects; it can therefore be dealt with by resorting to military 5orce. That policy has created legitimate dissent by the Palestinian people. Israel’s repeated resort to the use of force has strengthened Arab dissent and given r is0 to the appearance among the Arabs of people crho also think the struggle with Israel is a life or death struggle which must end in total victory or total defeat. Therefore, there is a vicious circle of vioience and terrorism exploited by Israel to convince the whole world of the justice of its position, based on the denial of the Xegitimte rights of the Palestinian people. In fact, Israel has given that people only one choice - submission and obedience or extremism and dissent. There is no need for mz to aay that: either of those options plays into Icroel’c hands. If the Palestinian people submit, the problem of Palestine is ended and the Arab problem begins. Tf they resort. to extremism or dissetik, Israel will expl0i.t the 3itu3ki!in to justify its stubbcdr9t1aess in denying tlkreilrights arid their ‘very existence, and to m&e other attacks an the Arab people. (Hlr . Sajlah, Jordan) However, the Pdlestinian pzuplc under the occupation have sought throughout the years to find a better solution than that offered by Israel. The Pales tin ians and other &r&s will never accept subrsifssion. They do not wish to reaain uonfimd to the straitjacket of extremisa and dissent. Therefore, it has become necessary for some cmpetent authority to take the initiative and break the vicious circle= We have therefore calLed on the United Nations and the parties concerned to try to get the Arab-Israel conflict out of the present deadlock, but -mst of those combsndable effotts have failed to break the vicious circle, the amst serious effects of which have bean the maintenance of the situation of neither war nor *ace in the area and the intensification of violence and legitimate resistance, on the one hand and on the oftherE (1error and aggress&x and the consecration of Xseael*s occupation of the Palestine territories, of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The situation has created instability and tension whose effects are unforeseeable. We in Jordan are experiencing what al1 out brothers in the occupied areas are suffering. We see them and hear them, and we know how the Judaiza tion of the West Bank and Gaza Str ip is prmeeding . It is a process that soi39 call galloping annexation. The restit will be either the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their territories or their becoming second-cl,ass citizens, as is the case of the indigenous people in South Africa. It is clear that time is on no one’s side for several reasons. The contirluskiols oF the struggle and the intensification of violence end dsstructio~l have created very deep wounds. CXlr brothers have bxmr=z aware of the suffer inq of (Mr. alah, Jordan) Sn response to the appeals made, and in accordance with our national comnitments and the voice of our ccmscienec?, we are seeking with the PM3 ta crystallize a political ~itirm likely to provide the Palestinian people with an alternative to submission-and the vicious circle of vioPence, terrorism and extremism, an alternative based on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, within the ftaanework of a ccmprehensive solution based on international legitinsacy. That is the "land for peace" initiative. (Mr. Salah, Jordan) The purpose of the joint Jordan&?alemtinian initiative, in the form of the Agreement of 11 February 1985, signed in &m.an by the Jordanian Government and the PLO, was to offer a practical and objective option ffar leescuing the Palestinfan iS8u@ from the vicious circle of extremism and violence in which ii: was trapped and which was governing the future of the Palestinian people. That initiative is based on ethical and political principles characterized by an attachment to international legitimacy and objectivity, as well 86 its applicalGX.ityg We wish to fill in the gap separating Eorce and its temptatians on the part of Israel from the idealistic commitment ta legitimacy oE the &rabs - that gap which represents the state of the struggle in which the PaZestinian people live, torn between the fait accom~li and the hope that they will be liberated. ‘ifs have called, and still call on the United Nations to translate its views into tangible action in order to put an end to this abnormal situation in which the Palestinians are living. We have blamed the international Organization and we continue to do 6 i we blame it for not having been able to translate its word8 into deeds. Let us ‘be logical, let us be consistent. It is not enough to accuse or blame people for what has happened to the Palestinian people. We have done our best to contribute to creating conditions propitious for peace. These are the ethical and political premises for the joint action of Jwdmians and Palestinians, which I mentioned. It is true that the Agreement of 11 February 1485, between Jordan and the PLO, spe116 out the privileged relations between the Jordanian people and the Palestinian people. It is trw that it. ref.lects the nations1 tie8 they have in comrrton, that is, the ties between PaZc~:“ine GArld t7f2rdan. H*~tr. abwe all that Agreement %a a etep, wit% International dimensions, talrc!n by ttw .Jordan.j.an Govcsnmcnt and the ~,ea&~t~bj.p of c-he PLUS tct save t’lrz ri~cugied Arab terr itaries, including Jccur.aY!.cm, and to deliver ttlrz Pcl1.PSk r rrri<lr’l (Hr. Salah, Jordan) peaple tFrocr\ the claw& ef occupntion, and frooro the state of dispeesian and extremism i3rposed upon it. We tctcruld also like to put an end to the extremism and ~~~stnbility Erom which tzhe Middle East sxgian is aufferfng, a aitzuation which if it goes on, vi11 break out into other regions , and might eventual,ly light the fuse of a third world conflagration. A point af departure with the PLO was an objective vision of the prforitles within the occupied Arab terrltsries, j.n both regional and in international team. The Palestinian p~pXe will no longer endure this occupation. The Judaizatian af the Arab territories is hcreasing in intensity, A climate Of rigidity has prevafler, in this quasticn &cause of th:: 9s wae-nc -LI-CI aitoirtim i,n khe r-ion, &..---- which has led to the extremism, violence and tension from which the whole region has Suffered and is still suCEering. similarly, ths Paleotindan question was almcWz forgotten under the pressure of other regional canElicts, bath in the Middle Ease and in other areas of the world. The varic~a other parties to conflicts in the region were not in a situation that left them any XCXM for optimism. morn the international standpaint the whole situation was charaeterined by bath a regional and an international. polarization. (Mr. Salah, Jordan) The Agreement was A form of political action to deal with problems that were a stumbling block in the way of progress touards peace. f t is a landmark along the road of joint Jordan-Palestinian action, and is a foundation stone, which we are all striving to safeguard, on which we can build s-thing better. This is a striking point in the Saint Agreement between the Palestinians-and the Jordanians. We must continue to build on this groundwork. This is not an alternative, but stornething which will supplemeniz ail bilateral or comprehensive agreements on Co-Operation with our brothers irnd our friends equally, with the goal of peace and stability in the area. As is well known, this Agreement did not come out of the blue. No, there had been an Arab peace initiative, known as the Fen initiative of 1982, as well as other international initiatives, notably the initiative of President Reagan in 1982, and the initiative of the Soviet Union in 1984. Thus our point of departure Was the existing situations at the various levels and we have built on the basis already laid by Ar;\b a&I international peace &forts. we sought, and w cor-kinue t0 Seek, on all levels, to reach a p??aceful solution to the Palestinian problem desiring the peace negotiations to be conducted at an international conference in which all the parties concerned in the Palestinian problem, without exception, would participate. We began by crystalliziqg the Jordan/Palestinian consensus, and we are iriving to-wards an Aaab c~iis~ris~~s, in order to arrive finally at an internationai consen6us on the contents of the Settlement c and also the form in which it will p%? achieved. We asked for the framework of the peaceful settlement to he an international conference wnder the auspices of the United Nations convened by tale (HP. Salah, Yordan) i~lementation of Security Councdl 242 (1967) 0% 22 Ncrv~r 1967. Kin9 Hussein said in his statement that there watt thnee other resolutions af the United Nations which should be taken into account in any efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement : namely, General Assembly resolutiona 181 (11) of 1947, 194 (1x1) of 1948, and Security Councdi resolution 338 (1973). l’hese resolutions spell out three principles which must be taken into accaunt in the inpplementation of Security Counc1.1 ses;slutbon 242 (1967). -These principles are as follows: Lstal withdrawal by Israel from all occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem; the right to return of Palestinian refugees8 the right QE the Palestinian people to self-determination , and the right of every State in the area to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized boundaries. l[n ccmcsluuicm, I dmu3.d like to ask thbe Gewsal Assembly wee again to COtrtilW~ itS dXCXtS t0 Supprrrt and preserve international legitil8Qcy. There could be no better ap~rtunity kkm the celebxaticm of the fortieth anniversary of th@ Unfted &tions to CQiU@W~_the__quest~oa of Wlestine. _. .~. ~~. -~~. -. .. As far as that question is comerned, internatioml Begitiracy is crystallized in the i&ove-mentioned principles, which require the Wnited Nations to support the efforts being made, with & viem k.o apply~ing-those principles,- with the consequent establishment of a just, lasting and cowrehensive peace. The meting rose at 1.20 p.m.