A/44/PV.64 General Assembly

I call on the representative of Brunei Darussalam, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States. Mr. JAYA (Brunei Darussalam): In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of Asian States for the month of November, I should like to express our profound sorrow over the sudden death of President Abmed Abdallah Abderemane of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. At a time when the world is enjoyinq relative peace and tranauillity, the tragic circumstances surrounding his death fill us with sadness. May I extend, on behalf of the Group of Apian States, our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family of the late President and to the Government and the people of the COmoros on thia sad 109S.

I call on the .representative of Czechoslovakia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Easte~n Ellropean States. Mr. ZAPOTOCKY (C7.echoslovakia): On behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, I wish to express our sincere condolences to the delegation of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comeros over the tragic demise of President Ahmed Abdallah Ahderemane. His sudden passing a~ay is a severe loss to the people of the Comoros, to whose progress and better future President Abdallah devoted his entire energy. Like the people of the Comoros and the yhole international community, we are dismayed by the brutal crime that has taken the life of that outstanding politician and statesman. I take this opportunity to reauest the representative of the IAlamic Federal RepUblic of the Oomoros to convey CUI words of sincere sympathy to the bereaved family of the deceased and to the Government and the people of the Islamic Federal RepUblic of the ComoroA.

I call on the representative of Saint Lucia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States. Mr. FLEMMING (Saint Lucia): It is with dp,ep and sincere regret that I express, on behalf of the members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, our profound condolences to the Government and the people of the Comoros on the Bad occasion of the untimely death of t~eir President, Mr. Ahmed Abdallah Abderemane. We in the Latin American and the Carihbean countries have long admired his leadership, and our hearts go out to the people of the Comoros who, we know, will lonq mourn the loss of this great statesman. We in Latin America and the Carihhean are particularly distressed at the way in which President Abdallah died.

I call on the representative of Norway, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States. Mr. TELLMANN (Norway): The delegations of the Group of Western European and Other States were stunned and aggrieved at the tragic news of the assassination of president Ahmed Ahdallah Ahderemane. Mr. Abdallah was a highly respected leader of hiB country and its people. This dastardly deed haR left the ~orld with a sense of loss and the people of the Oomeros without an inspiring helmsman. At this tragic hour, our deeply felt sympathy is extended to the people of the Comoros. On behalf of the Group of Wester" Europea" and Other StatesI' I should like to convey our most oincere condolences to the bereaved families, to the people and the Government of theComoros and to our colleagues in th~ Comorian delegation.

I call on the representative of Kuwait, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Arab States. Mr. ABULHASAN (Kuwait) (interpretation from Arabic): The Arab world was grieving last week over the untimely death of President Rene Moawad of Lebanon. Today the African continent is grieving over the untimely loss of one of its leaders. This is the fate of those who struggle for their peoples. The Group of Ara~ States at the United Nations was shocked ~y the tragic news of the assassination of President Ahmed Abdallah Abderemane of the Comeros, who defended the noble causes of his nation and led his people within the Islamic and African family and who was interested in international affairs, foremost among which was achieving peace and stability not only in the African continent but also in the entire world. This tragic event prompt8 us to extend to the friendly people of the Comoros, ~.)O have long fought for freedom, our deep condolences at this immense loss. We appeal to God to help the people of the Comeros to overcome the conseQuences of this qreat tragedy as they continue working for. the aChievement of the political stability and economic progress of their country. The Arab Group would li~~ to reauest the delegation of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comeros to convey our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. May he rest in peace and may God inspire the Muslim people of the Comeros with steadfastness.

I call pn the representative of the United States of America, who will speak on behalf of the host country. I I _J Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library Mr. WA'l'SON (United States of America) I As the representative of the host country, I .,ish to express the United States Government's IIlOet energetic condellftation of the assassination of Hr. AhIIed Abdallah Abdere_ne, President of the Ialaaie Pederal Republic of the COmoroe. In office since 1978, President Abdallah was a fo~ce iO~ stability within the region. The United States Governlll!lnt deplores this recourse to violence, rather than peaceful action to re801ve political dlfferences~ I request t~at the most sincere condolences of the UnltedStates Government be conveyed to the family of President Abdalla~, to the Q)vernaent of the COlDOro9 and to all the Comorian people on his tragic death. The· PRrsmENT (interpretation frOdl French), I now call on the permanent Representative of the Comoros. Mr. MOllUN (Comoros) I On behalf of mv Government and on I'I'IJ own behalf, I should like to thank you all for the expressions of sympathy addressed to my Governllent and ifI/ people and to the family of the late President. We all share the sase feelings and we are all against this dastardly act that was carried out, not with political motives, but in pursuit of a personal vendetta. The assassination of lIy President had no political motivation behind it. It was a purely personal vendetta, and we cannot but regret aild condeun all such acts. On behalf of my people, 1 should like once llgain to thank you all for this mark of sympathy in this hour of mourning. AGEtOA I'ftK 37 THE SITUAT10N IN THE MIDDm EAST: REIURTS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (A/44/690 and Md .1, AI44/731, AI44/737) The' PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): Before calling on the first speaker, I should like to propose that the list of speakers in the debate on this item be closed tomorrow at 12 noon. If I hear no objections, it will be so decided. It was' so decided. The'PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): I therefore request those representatives wishing to participate in the debate to inscribe their names on the speakers list as soon as possible. Mr.'A9UL~AN (Kuwait) (interpretation from Arabic): For almost two years now the world has been qoiB:J through a stage of unprecedented positive I changes and developnents, the result of detente in relations between the two super-Powers, the United States Md the Soviet Union. Those developments have transformed relations between the major international blocs in the world from confrontation based on suspicion md mistrust to relations based on a desire for co-operation and coexistence on the basis of t~ust and faith in the unity of human fate i!I'ld a belief in the need to provide md re-channel forces and resources towards economic development and facing challenges. Some of the most salient results of those positive developments have been seen in the resolution of certain regional problems that were on the verge of threatening peace and security in the world, such as the question of Namibia, Afghanistan, and the situation in Central .America. It is regrettable that the winds of change and a positive spirit have not yet exerted influence on the situation in the Middle East. That situation remains unchanged, fraught with possibilities of explosion and instability. The Secretary-General rightly described the situation in the Middle East in his report when he said: -As we are all too well awa{~, the Middle East is an explosive region ~~ events or trends in on~ area almost invariably have repercussions els~ ~. For years I have stated that few international issues are as complex or potentially dangerous as the Arab-Israeli conflict. This remains so today.. • (A/4'-I'3?, para. 43) If there is no change in the situation in the Middle East, that part of the w~ld will undoubtedly become more dangerous, qiven its strategic importence that COnsUtut0S a major elemant in the sacurity, stability, welfare and progress of the whole wodd because of its social, economic, human, historical and geographical , I coP.pOnents. If one as~s why the situation of the Middle East has not yet been influenced by the new positive climcte permeating ~t parts of the !.iorld, one can readily see that the (auae is Israel and the philooophy of this expansionist entity, with its atrateqic objectives in th~ region and its aggressive policies that respect no boundarll!'i6, no mnventiona arod no custom. Tho fJltuatio~ in the Middle East has in origin in the Question of Palestine, the core, OI1SeRQ8 and eru ~ of the problem in the reg ion. (Mr. Abulhasan, Kuwait) (Mr .. Abulhasan, Kuwait) - This QUestion is made all the more complax as a result of the inclteased eXPansionism of Israel.. It eludes solution. The positive international atmosphere has no influence on its solution because of Israeli obduracy and arrogance, and because of the failure of the Organization, as represented by the S~curity Council, to take decisive, appropriate decision to deter that entity, to compel it to respect United Nations resolutions, whether they pertain to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the city of Al Quds Ai Shar~f, the occupied Syrian Arab Golan Heights or southern Lebanon. The population of these ~erritories occupied by Israel since 1967 Uves at the mercy of a regima that depends on military brute force, a regime that believes in no law, no charter, nO custom» a regime that has no scruples about perpetrating the worst atrocities to consolidate its occupation. Its military arm is extended to attack positions in Arab States located thousands of miles from it and far from the occupied Arab territories, such as Baqhdad and Tunis. It has no scruples about developing or using any type of weapon or testing it in a manner that constitutes an act of aggression ~gainst the sovereiqnty, territorial integrity and security of Arab States. Such was the case when Israel launched a missile that came doM'l off the Libyan coast. While the Palestinian people have been continuing their just stru~gle ~r their historic rights in the land of their ancestors, their legitimate leadership, in the form of the Palestine Liberation Organization, their sole, legitimate representative, has made successi.ve pei!lee initiatives.. Arab States, through summit meetings, have submitted comprehensive plans for paace based on justice and international legi tiJI'BCYo However, Israel, true to its type, has not been satisfied with impeding the peace efforts and making them meaningless. It persists in its position, rejecting any just settlement, and in its inhuman practices in the occupied territories, the atrocio~ details of which have been made public by the mass media and which have been deplored in the reports of all human rights orqanizations. We continue to wonder what the denunciJtions and waves of international indignation lead to in the way of practical measures and tangible action, at a tine when the heroic intifadah is entering its third year and While the Israeli occupiers continue to fire live ammunition at children and other defenceless Palestinians. Israel continues to demolish their homes and expropriate their properties, to impose policies of starvation and economic dehilitation, to detain thOusands, to use asphyxiating gases, to expel citizens, and to carry out internationally prohibited measures of COllective punishment. The Israeli occupation has not been satisfied with all this, it has gone even further and outraqed the relig ious feelings of its victims and of the 1 billion Muslims throughout the world by attacking, desecrating and defiling their holy shrines. What the Zionists are doing to the Islamic holy shrines in Al Quds Al Sharif and to mosques in other parts of the occupied territories is a heinous crime on which a resolute stance should be taken by all Sta tes and orqaniza tions. This immoral conduct should he a matter of concern not to Muslims alone but to all peoples which respect r~li9ions and holy books and are committed to humane principles and values. These familiar Zionist acts remind us that 14 years ago this month the General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it determined that zionism was a form of racism and racial discrimination. Under that resolution Israel became the second State, after South Africa, to be branded racist by the international family of nations. The only difference is that the unlimited ~stern support for Israel during all these years of unchecked Zionist aggression has prevented the imposition (Mr. Abulhasan. Kuwa,it) of international sanctions against Israel to force it to cease its practices and respond to the need for a just settlement and peace. This lTOnth the United States used its right of veto against a draft resolution denouncing Israel's barbaric practices submitted to the Security Council. That was the third time the veto had been used this year to prevent simple international condelll\ation of these crimes. The world can no longer find an explanation for this policy of condonation of Israel's policies and practices. Does the United States not see in Israel's actions and in i~q occupation army something that deserves condemnation? Would the United States adopt the sane position if these practices t.ook Place in any other part of the world? No one can claim that the right of self-determination and the enjoyment of human rights and basic freedoms are privileges to be granted to some peoples and denied to others, to be granted or withheld accordinq to ideological whim and self-interest. This cannot be ~~ acceptable concept of the values and precepts of which the Arab world is constantly reminded by the West. What does the international community, especially the super-Powers, intend to do in the face of the blatant nuclear collabora tion between South Africa and Israel, in particular in the light of the latest, patent evidence that those two racist regimes have tested a missile that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and could reaCh many Arab and African capitals? The Arab Group, of which I have the honour to be Chairman for this month, renews the appeal for concerted efforts by all States, in particular those that have acquired nuclear technology, to persuade Israel to end ite illeqal nucleat programmes, which are based on the thelt of Western teChnology, above all American technology. These States should combine their efforts to compel Israel to place its nuclear facilities under international supervision th~ough the International Atomic Energy Agency UASA) efequards system. (~r. Abulhasan, Ruwa i t) The arms race into which Israel has dragged the Middle East for scores of years now is a fearful, evil race whose astronomical costs are taken from resources that are badly needed by the peoples of the region to implement their numerous develoPllent prograt1lll1es instead of spending them on lethal weapons. The continued developlllent of nuclear weapons by Israel is yet another part of its policy of aggre8s10n against the Arab peoples and is a tool of the nucl~c intimidation and blackmail with which it tries to achieve its expansionist schemes. Israel's continued occupation of large parts of southern Lebanon, its almost daily armed acts of aggression against Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, its continued interference in Lebanon's internal afia ira and its constant acte of destabiUza tion of Lebanon are all elements that make the problem of the Middle East even more complex. They oonstitute an obstacle to stability in that sister oount~. The Arab Group in New York therefore calls upon the international community, and in particular the Security Council, to bring pressu~e to bear on Israel to comply with the various Secudty Council resolutions call1ng for Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from southern Lebanon so that the people of Lebanon may be able to regain their well-beinq and concentrate their efforts on rebuilding their country's internal front in a way that would fulfil their aspirations to a stable and prosperous life. The Palestinian leadership took a historic position at the meeting of the Palestine National Council at Algiers last year, a post tion that W&8 fully , supported by the Arab countries. Indeed, the international colllll'luni ty as a whole has supported that position, whose premise is that the International Peace Conference on the Mid~le East - under the auspices of the United Nations and with the participation of all parties to the conflict, includinq the palestine Liberation Orqanlzation, the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian peoPle - la the ftallleWOrk with internatlonal leqitl.cy for finding a solution to (Mr. Abulhasan, Kuwait) this problem that would achieve Israel's withdrawal froa all occupied Arab territories on the basis of Security OOuncil reBOlutl~ns 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and establisb an independent State of Palestine with its capital in Al Quds-A! Sharlf. The Arab Group considers this Pal~8tinian position to be just and realistic. In the light of such a position no one can prevadca te unless the intention is to reject peace. It has become patently clear to the whole world nov who wants peace in the Middle East and who ie prevar1ca tine;; and underaininq efforts to aChieve a peaceful settle_nt at a time when the world is at the dawn of a netl era in international relations ana a new era of detente and coexistence. Mr. SALAR (Jordan) (interpretation from Arabic), Once aqain the General Asseably is sebed of the situation in the Middle East. However, thia year it is discussing the question at a tiae of marked PfogresB towards the settleRent ofa nullber of internationally significant regional iSBues, a clear departure frolll the old patterns and the logic of confrontation, a wil1ingneBD to engage in constructive dialogue and support an enhancec3 role for the United Nations. The world breathes IIlOre easily in view of the recent positive indications in the international political climate which have elllerqed fro.. the adoption by the two super-PoNers and other ~jor Powers of new policies of dialogue and agree.ent and their renuncia tion of the cold-war logic. This has reflected posi tively on the regional contact of coexistence and given impetus to the resolution of issues which had re_ined intractable, such as those of Namibia, Central A_dca, A£qhanistan and the Iran-Iraq conflicte However, the aberration allid all those favourable signs has been the situation in the Middle East. It has re_tned ttte area where no illlproveMnt has been -_. Though it cont1nlies to be in the forefront of worlel attention and has been a grave (Mr. Abulhaaan, Kuwait) cause for international concern since the end of the Second World War, it continu~s to lIOVe very s 10lfly indeed. It Is a t'egrettable fact that the international wUl is never BhOlfn, as far as this region is ~oncerned, unless the region explodes into military conflict. As Soon as hostilities and howeve~, that international will evaporates and the old despondency and acquiescence reign suprewe. The people~ of the region and, indeed, the whole of the international cOlllIJnity sen8e~ some sort. of promise in the air, towards the end of last year on a wave of international welcome for the resolutions adopted by the Palestine National Council at itz special session at Algiers and the subsequent Palestinian statements ~d declarations wherein the Palestinian pc)ple gave voice to their sincere desire fol' peace and earnest wUlingness to work for peace. In all this, the Palestinians co_itted thereelves to acceptance of a peacefUl solution based on security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 Cl973) and the principle of two States in Palestine as enVisaged by General Assellbly resolution 181 (11) of 1947. '1'oqether witb the major!ty of the States of the world we expected Israel to respond to those resolutions and decisions with a degree of reaBonableness and a show of good will. It has not don", so. Instead, it has resorted to its well-tried technique of obstructing thflto path to peace by proposals that lead to a head-on collision with the requirellents of a CCIIIprehensive ..d jtat peaceo In doinq so, it has da~nstrated yet again that real peace is the very antithesis of its goals and expansionist dttsigns, of which i.t has given ample evidence by its amexation of Arab Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights, its insistence en renamtnq the occupied West Bank ·Judea and Samar tail, and the continued building of Israeli set.tl••nts in the occupied territories. (Mr. 9alah, Jordan) Ql top of all this, tsrael has contlnuec1 to r,\out tal. lntarnat1cnzal "ill ellbodie4 in United Rations resolutions th&t define the prerequ1eitee for reao191ng the Arab-Israeli cUspute In ita entirety. Needle. to aay, the cere of that dispute Is tho 'al••tinien issue. 'the prerequiaitea of pclace ln the Middle Eaat, as 4e£1ned by the international COIIaUnlty, ate. tsrael'. "lth4t~val fraca all the Palestinian and Arab territories whlch it hae contlnu8d to occupy since 1967, recognition of the legitilbte dC)hta of the Pale.tinian P'Oplo, lnclu4inq their rt,ht to self-determination Md to establish thQ1I:' independent State on their mll in the occupied territories of the .e.t Sa. 8nd the Galla Strip, re.pect for the dqht of all the St&tes of the region, including the two State. of Pale.tine and tar.el, to li"e in peace and security within lntttnat~ally recoqniae4 bOrders. lIben the hleaUne Liberation Organisation (PLO), the sole ana lecJltiute repr...ntatl"e of the Pale.tintan people, declared its accept_ce, toward. the end of last year, of Socurlty COUncil rellOlutlo"s .242 (1967) and 330 (1973), the principal prereQ01.iu. of • cOIIiPl•• _ PHceful settl.-.n~ \fere PfO'lide4 bY the Arab 8id., an4 thus, the political and peychologlcal obstaclelS watch ...re see" by larael _ its aupportet'8 •• hurdles in t.be ..ay of a political aolutlao of the Mid41e _st problea ..er. remved. RecJardl... of all tIlis, however, and not"it..tlftdl~ the clarity of the Arab aide'. polltical IIt_ce and ita COMltunt to a real, peaceful 801~ion, I.rael has r... ln84 Intranal9ant. tts reepons. ha. been ._tguoWl and far fr:oll Hr1ou., aa is proved by Its IIO-eaU-' peace 1nltiatl•• of last May. '1b Ul..trate, let. .. recall what that soueallecl initlati"e eta«*! 1n tu pr_lIble. -'l'hl. docu_nt pre.nta the principle. of IS political initiati"8 o! the Govem.nt of Israel which deals with the continuatlQl of the PCII.oe proees., the terainat10n of the state of 'war wlth the Arab state., .. .elution for the (Mr. Salah, ~r4.n) I Arabs of Judo, sa.aria and the Gallul District, ~eace with Jordan, and a resolution of the proble. of the residents of the refugee camps in Judea, .s...r:1a and the Galla Distdet:.. - (A/44/282, annex,' para. 1) It isself...vldent that that state-.nt ignores cOllpletely the national rights of the Palestinian people. It refers to the Palestinian nationals in the occupied territories &s the Arabs of Judea, Samarla and Gaza, and as -the residents of the refugee ca.ps-. It does not deal with the problem of palestinian refugees in the Diespora, it does not refer to the legal situation of the occli~ied territories, it insists on referring to the occupied West Banlc as Jude:t and Samaria, and it does not even .nUon Jerusalea. The Governaent of Israel alms through this plan to dilute. the peace process and aire it in a -araas of controversy over procedures and formalities in order to gain tiae and vitiate the peace initiative of the PLO. Such a posture on the part of Israel is tantamWlt to total rejecticn of all the prorequiBi tea that must be prcwided if there is to be peace. The Ieraeli ~relgn Minister's letter to the Secretary-General - document A/44/721 - confir~ that this Israeli political posture vis-auvia any attempt to solve the problea in the Middle East is intended to be a subatitute for the resolutions adopted by the United Nations. It even changes the teru used to describe the land and the rights of Palestinians. The content of the Israeli Foreign Minl.teres letter is a clear indication of the Israeli Government's intent to annea the Palestinian territories, to give the West Bank the name of Judea and saaarue and to refer to Jerusalem as the unified capital of IS:IUtlo All this is an indisputable perversion of the resolutions and decisions of the United Nations. The two reports of the Secretary-General - documents A/44/?31 and A/44/737 - voice concern over t~~e increasing gravity of the situation in the occupied (Mr. Salah, Jordan) territories and the fact that the peace opportunities. that have arisen during the past twelve months have not been gra8~d. Reference is made, 'to the SecuritY Council.'sconviction that it has become urgent that a comprehensive, just and perunent settlement ~f the situation in the Middle East,' particularly the question of palestine, be achieved. This conviction on the part of the security COuncil . . nec.ssi~tes concerted and urgent. action by the Council to. settle the Middle East dispute, starting with agreeuent to hold the international conference that is unanimouslyr8garded as: the JlK)st appropriate forum for such an endeavour. Israel is the only State that has rejected completely and out of h~d the idea of the international conference. Its leaders have never had any Qualms regarding this rejection, which they have repeatedly stressed. The General Assembly's general debate at the beginning of this session proved, when the talk turned to the Middle East, that the United Nations has an opportunity to move from the maintenance of peace to peace-making through the holding of an international peace conference - an idea that has attracted a ",ide measure of international support. Jordan has always called for a peaceful~ just and comprehensive solution, particularly since 1967. That call has continued to be for a settlement based on the United Nations Charter and on the relevant United Nations resolutions. In his .tate~nt to the General Assembly at its fortieth session, His Majesty King nussein affirmed that the resolutions that would constitute a balanced basis for a peaceful and just settlement, are these, General Assembly resolution 181 (Il) on the partition of Palestine, General ASsembly resolution 194 (Ill) on the Question of the Palestinian refugees. Security COuncil resolution 242 (1967l, which calls for an Is1'aeli wlthdr:awal from all occupied Arab territories and affirlt8 the right of all the.countries of the region to live in peace within secure and recoqnized (Mr~ Sal~h, Jordan) boundaries, ,and Security Council resolution 338 (1913), which cal19 for neqoti<.tions between the parties to thE' conflict. These resolutions as a whole meet with complete international acceptance, as they include the basic principles whiCh, if adhered to, "'ould lead us to the desired solution. (Mr. Sa1ah, Jordan) Security COuncil reeolutlon 242 (1967) t-~s since its adoption been considered by us to be the basis for all peace efforts and every international attempt to deal with the consequences of the 1967 war. In view of this, Jordan has continuously striven, both on the Arab and on the international levels, to mobilize the nece8~ary support for adherence to and implementation of that resolu tion. As a matter of fact, it was Jordan's acceptance of that resolution which led to the emergence of an Arab posture which later developed into an Arab endeavour to reach a peacefUl settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute, the core of which is the issue of Palestine. Progress 1n that direction has been accelerated over the past few years - witness: the decision of the Fez Arab summit conference of 1982, which formUlated a unified Arab position committed to international legitimcy as a basis for solving the Arab-Israeli dispute, the subsequent Palestinian-Jordanian joint efforts within that context, the Arab unanimous stance at the two Arab summlt conferences of Amman, in 1987, and Algiers, in 1988, which, as a further aff1rnation of that Arab stance, called for the convening of an international peaJce conference on the Middle Fast. All those efforts culminated in the emergence of an earnest and non-ambiguous Palestinian stance on the question of peace. This stance was embodied in the resolutions of the Palestine National Council in its special session last year in Algiers and was equally adopted by the Arab summit conference held in Casablanca this year. We are convinced that such a historic opportunity should not be missed. We are equally convinced that all that is needed for this opportunity to produce a significant contribution to the search for peace is a measure of good will on the part of Israel. We are confident that the in terna tional communi ty - and even those who pretend to believe otherwise - realize that there is a unified Arab stance that (Mr. Salah, Jordan) I I ia highly moderate and responsible, and that it is based on the principles included in the international resol utions I have refer red to. We in Jordan support every effort, includinq the valuable efforts of the Secretary-General, to ensure the holding of an international peace conference on the Middle East, in order to end the suffering of the palestinian people in the occupied Meat Bank and the Gaza Strip, to end the suffering of the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syr ian Golan Heights, and to move away from the dangerous and explosive tensions which beset the region. We hope the Security Council will respond favourably to the request of the General Assembly to consider the adoption of the necessary measures to convene that conference before it is too late to reach a just, permanent and comprehensive settleuent of the Arab-Israeli dispute. Thus the COuncil uould take a very important step towards dealing with the very roots of the Middle East problem. The Security Council has both the authority and the mandate to do so. It also has the resolutions which it has adopted unanimously and which would put paid to the problem if only they were implemented. The security council has also at its disposal an international unanimity on the most appropriate means of finding a solution, namely, an 1n terna tional peace conference. While the focus is on the Arab-Israeli dispute and its core, the Palestinian question, we view with the utl'llQSt concern the continued Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon,. which poses grave threats to Lebanon's unity, stability, independence and .natural resources. In the light of our awareness of the dangers inherent in the continued Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, we support all efforts, particularly those of the new Lebanese Government, which are aimed at safeguarding Lebanon's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNlrlL) was deployed abOut 12 years ago, but it has not yet been able to fulf11 its mandate because of (Mr. Salah, Jorda~) Israel's refusal to comply with Security Council resolutions calling for Israel's complete, unconditional·~ithdrawalfrom the occupied Lebanese territories. The opportunity for peace in the Middle East is av~ilable. The commit1l'ent by the Arab side to ben~fit from t.hat opportunity is clear: ·and consistent. It is " , necessary - nay. imperative - not to miss this opportunity,. through the , ' powerlessness of the United Nations, which bears the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, ald the intransigence of Israel, which harbours dreams of hegemony and expansion. We in Jordan are committed to all efforts to achieve a ~ust and permanent peace settlement of the conflict in the Middle East. We reiterate our willingness to co-operate in every sincere effort that would lead to such an end, includin9 the valuable efforts of the Secretary-General. We appeal to the United Nations and particularly to the Security Council, to shoulder thei~ ~esponsibility and translate international will into concrete action before it is too late. Mr•. BADAWI (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): The international cOl'lll\unity is living through an extremely sensitive, historic moment whieh will have profound repercuss ions on our world as it endeavours to achieve a free and worthy life under a new international order, built on dialogue and peacefUl coexistence and free from the polarization policies and international tensions that had prevailed for many years. It appears that this is a reconfirmation of commitments entered into by thg founders of the United Nations when the Charter was adopted. These are clear indications that peoples and Governments are n~ aware that tine-worn ideologies do not pay and that it is the right of future qenerations to enjoy a more tranquil life, enabling them to devote their energies to economic and social development and prosperity. (Mr. Salah,'Jordan) Ne note that the two .jor Powers and their allies have ClO1lllitted themselves to encUog the nucl.~ and C4nvenUonal ara race, a trend that we hope \fill cantinue ..a 9row. RofIIevet", they IIIWSt not fOr<Jet that t."1f~Y are partner!! in this l"te~••n4&nt, integrated world, a worlii united by a CCllllOn destiny, that depends Oft the har.anlow= coex15unce of uttens to the benefit of mankind as a whole. 'Iba ~evalUng lnternaticnal d&~nte has contributed to the solution, or the tMa91nnlng of the proe... of eol~lngLl a udea of regional conflicts which for many ,.re haet r••lated all attempta at aettle_nt and COlla up against international tellUlWM, suaC»g1e confrCfttatlona and transient interests of Statea. Oftly a f ... day. ago the bB:cthel' people of Naalbla elected its representatives • the canclUitlm of the process leacUnq to total independence. Considerable pr09r:... had been _4ft even before that towards solving l1lany other regional probl_., Hoh .. thon of Afgb&d.stan Md Kaapuchea, the Iran-Iraq conflict and, .at recently, ,tbe Lltbanlta8 Bltuation. In this connection, I pay tribute to the uttoMl l..ciel'abip in Lebanon, wich haa leat no tt., 1n facing up to its rGtlPQn81bUltie. with a view to ensuring the unity of that slster country and its aowerG1CJftty over the whole of ita territory t~rough the total withdrawal of foreiCjI'l - ".lCO'. all the 1nlti~UveQ that have b@j~n taken to i.prove international l'e1atiofts, IIOdat tho\:;9b tbety be and long though we have aweited t.ha• .....r.tMl.u~ w. hel it to be our duty to alert the international co_unity to the fact tMt. ~ &ctd.."...ts to cla tle are but a _.11 step forward Cln the long and IIrd..,. raaet .....CS. Ifbe .uce.ul..a achi4lved in the paat t.wo years are 4edcory OOIIPaI'M tdth the challenge the international COIIDWlity s tUl raee... ICel\tlclr. will agr:eo that the cl_relit e"idence that w. are stUl faltetinea on our reed Md that we Mve not yet lItWad to genG!n. cJti tlent. la the aitua tton in the Middle .st, tblt cradl. of the l'w..led .:01i910n8 aN! the very centre of aany cultures. The Middle EMt has not yet benefited from the positive international climate that: now prevails in most regions of the tIl'orld, in particular tho European region neighbouri~ the Mediterranean basin. I am bound in all honesty to acknowledge that the situation in the Middle East has become even more tense owing to the introducticn into the reg ion of more sophisticated weaponry and to the tests on intermediate-range missiles carried out by Israel on the Mediterranean CO&st. This is a threat to the security of the Medlterranean and thestability of all States in the fe<Jion, particularly in t.he light of the precise, detailed information we receive daily reqardil¥j the non-peaceful character of Israel's nuclear programmes and the strategic military co-operation bet.ween Israel and South Africa, with all its dangerous connotations. 1 need hardly stress the fact that the other States in the region will not. stand by with folded arms in the face of those Israeli policies, whic:h threaten their security. Israel should carefully assess the situation, because if it pursues those policies there will inevitably be a very serious and dangerous arms race, the disastrous consequences of which will spare none in a region that already has more than it.s sha~e of problems. If Israel truly wishes to live in peace and security in the Middle East it must. provide the States in the rC!g ion with the guarantees for which they are asking. Those guarantees cannot. be assured unless the peaceful nature of Israel's nuclear programmes is ascertained, IStllel accedes to the Treaty on t.he Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NilT) and places all its nuclear installations under the International At.omic Energy Agency (~) safeguards system, a denuclearized zone is established in the Middle East, and military co-operat.ion with South Africa is terminated. It is unfort.unate that, while the hopes, and even the dreams, of some Stateo are oO!!ling true, Md we are talking about: a favourable int.ernational situation, the (Mp:. Badav i, Egypt) tribulations of the peoples of the Middle East ate inoreasing and Israel's policy of occupation continues, as do its arbitrary actions against the Arab population in the occupied territories. This is all part of Israel's desperate atte:U\pt to crush the popular Palestinian lntifadah and implement measures that blatantly flout international charters and resolutions and, in particular, the fourth Geneva Convent:i.on Reb,tlve to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. This policy certainly attests to the short-sightednes~ ~1 the Israeli occupat:i.on authorities, becaused ~.. only reinforces the determination of the Palestinian ~ple to resist the occupa tion and cannot but lead to further Violence, thereby widening the qap between Israel and the peoples of the region. In conseQuence of all this, the great hopes that were raised last year regarding positive results from the efforts to bring abOut a peaceful settlement of the Middle East problem, thanks to the courageous podtion a<bpted by the Palestinian leaders, in particular President Yasser Arafat, in Novembet and December 1988, have been dashed and replaced by a new surge of feelings of IlUtual distrust by the parties involved, because the Israeli Government has not given the response that the Palestinian's historic position deserves. we have followed the evolutio,l of this situa~ion with great concern because we are convinced that it is vitally necessary for negotiations accepted by all concerned to be started, in order to reach a comprehensive, lasting solution to the Middle East problem 1n all its aspects. That is why Egypt has decided to conti~ue :J.ts efforts of this year to bring about a dialogue between Palestinians and I8rae11s, on a footing of eauality and free fraa pre-condl tions, as a firs t step in a comprehensive peace process - because the Palestinian problem remains the core of tho Ar81b-IsraeU conflict. I need not add that this dialogue would not be conducted in a vacuum, rather, it would be based on resolutions and positions that ~r. Badawi, !Jypt) would ensure its international legitimacy, and, first and foremost, on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and on recognition of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people. (Hr. Badsri, EgyPt) Sinlilarly, this dialogue must be followed by measures that will necessitate expanded international particiP!'tion within the f.ramework of an international peace conference with a view to readl ing a definitive, cnmprehensive settlement of the conflict. S]ypt would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its consistent position, which is the following. The international peace conference must be held under the auspices of the United Nations in conformity with security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and with recognition of the national rights of the Palestinian people. The aim of that conference IilJst be to reach, through negotiations, a comprehensive, peaceful solutiQ'l of the Middle East problem in all its aspects, and other related problems, so as to guarantee a just and lasting peace ill the Middle East. &]ypt supports the effective participstion in the conference, on an equal foot1Rg, of all the parties concerned, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and the five permanent mel'lbers of the security Oouncil. It should be emJ;hasized that, to be. feasible and lasting, the comprehensive solution of the problem of the Middle East must include the following elementsl First, withdrawal from all Palestinian territories oClCupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, as well as other occupied Arab territories) secondly, the conclusion of an agreement on the measures for the security of all States of the regi'on, including, in particular, a provision with regard to p"rt A of resolution 181 (11), of 29 November 1947, th irdly, solution of the problem of Palestinian refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III) and other relevant resolutions; fourthly, the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and, fifthly, guarantees of freedom of wOrship in the holy places of all revealed religions. (Hr. Badawi, !;pypt) I remind representatives of the States MenDers of the U'lited Nations, of the peoples of the world, as we discuss the situation in the Middle East, one of the thorniest regional conflicts Jllld one that has been before us continwusly fo!' years, that they have a colllllOn responsibility to try to solve all conflicts, no matter which region is involved. That was the purpose that led at the end of the Second World il!.r to the founding of the United Nations, because of our conviction that peace is one and indivisible. History has demonstrated the far-sighted vision of the founders of the Organization, who drafted its Charter. There can be no doubt that in the light of recent technological progress any conflict, wherever it may occur, will have repercussions everywhere else on earth. m:Jypt believes in the common destiny of all the peoples of the world. It is committed to playing a direct or indirect role in the quest for just solutions to all regional problems. Egypt also believes that the tl'lited Nations has a consistent role to play as a peacemaker. It is a role that evolves and adapts to the character istics of the conflict involved and the stage through which that conflict is passing. In this connection I remind the Assembly that the first deployment of United Nations peace-keeping forces, which won the Nooel Peace Pr ize for the Organization, was in the Middle East. Egypt welcomes the Secretary-General's assurance in his various reports on the situation in the Middle East that he intends to pursue his efforts, with all the parties concerned, to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict. We call upon all peace-10'ling States to contr ibute as nuch as they can to the relaunohing of the peace-making process in the Middle Fast and the attainment of a I peace guaranteed by a well-balanoed and equitable series of rights and obl~gations, I i because this is indeed the corner-stone' of a just and lasting peace in the Middle I East. History would judge us severely if we allowed this opportunity to escape. It would be an even JlDre serious error than the errors that have been col'llllitted in I l---,-,----,--- (Mr. Badawi, !2ypt) the put _d woUld have a n~atl", redo-.,btable ispact an the pr.nnt i~tefnat1onal efforts to .atabUsh a ne" international order that tlll1 enaure fre~., .ecurity, atability Iftd proapedty for •••ind a. a wole. Mr. Khltab KIWI (Paklatan). In the Middle _at the prospects of puce, - - . unfortunately, re.in .. sluaive as they vere over 40 years ago when the General Aaaellb1y fi,:st conaiderecJ the threat posed to international peace and .ecurity by developamta in the region. The Secretary-General referred to this tapa... in hi. repo~t, noting that -The situation in the Middle East re8&ln8 a BOurce of profound and int~n.. concern, not only because of the political principle. and issues at IItalle, but a180 b~cause of the widespread hu.n 8uffering caused by the failure to reaolve those 168U••• • (AtU/l, p. 7) Tbe current debate, indeed, 18 another rell104el' of Israel'. intransigence and ita 4eUberatla policy of thwarting every peace 1nltia tive. The reason for it. attitude 1. ad.ple. Israel persists in t~e .iatak~n beUef that, throUCJh its .:111tary pr.panderance, it can 10 the course of tiMe transfor. into a fait accoapll its gradual abaor~t1on of the Pale.tine and Arab territories 1IIbiCh, through the •••ive, abusive uftle of £orce, it continues to occupy iUegally. '1'herefore, we once again condeln Israel' 8 policy of expansion and annexation and 1ts continued occuPatian of the southern territories of Lebanon. The crux of.the preble. In the Middi. East is the denial of the inalienable rights of the Palestin'lan people, includillC) their right to .eUoodeterllination and statehood. Neitt.ler through five warm nor through its conte!iptuou. eUe.8sal of PalesUnian rights has Israel been able to wUI this proble. to disappear. (Hr. BAd...i, -In) Neither. through the protracted use of force and terror nor through ita repeated atte.Pta to liquidate the identity of the Pal.sUnian people has Israel succeeded in extingu18hlng the f1:8- of freedo. which for over four decades the Palutinian people have kept alight through incalculable suffering and sacrifice. The !nUfadab in the occup~~ Palestinian territories since 9 Decellber 1987 has ~MOn.ttat.a once again the.~e~er.ina~ion of the Pslestinian people to be fre. and independent. As the Secretary-General has rightly -pointed out in his report on the "Ork of the Organisation. Wit is the political aspects of the problem that h~ve to be addressed if an endi. to be put to the confrontatlqns that occur almost daily throughout the occupied territories. I would, therefore, remind all concerned of the urgent nee«! for ,Ill effective negotta ttng pr~es~·based. o.n~~C?ur1ty COWl~il resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and taking folly into account the legitillate rights of the palestinian ~ple, including that of self-deteraination. The longer' such a process is delayed, the qreater will be the difUcul ties in ini tia ting it and the more explosive the situa tion can b.co...• (Al44/1, p. 8). Por too long Israel's obduracy has been allowed to run rampant lrf the Middle' East. Israel's distorted vision of its destiny, buttressed by a siege mentality, has en~endered grave turmoil and turbulence in the Middle East and wrought havoc on its neighbOurs. It continues its occupation of soutber.n Lebanon and" the Golan Heights. On the other hand, the Arab desire for genuine peace was' repeatedly made .anifest in the resolution acbpted last year ·in Algiers by the Palestine National Council. 'There is no longer room for prevarication. The Palestine NatiQnal Q)uncll resolution Is clear and unambiguous.. It Wldetl'Unes the necessity of holding an effective international conference concerning the Middle East Question and its crux,· t:he Palestinian cause. The conference wU.l be held WIder the (Mr. Khitablhan, Pakistan) autpice. of the Unitec1 NBtione with the participation of the per_nent _libel'S of the Security C4uncil and all parU•• to the struggle 1n the r89ion, including the Pal••tine Liberation Of9anisatton - the sole and le9itiaate repfeBentati~eof the Pal••tinian people - on an eQual footing. The international conference "ill be convened on the basis of security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1.913) &nd the .ssurance of the leglti..te national rights of the Palestinian people. Pirst ~ -.d fOl'e..t .-onc) these are their right to self-deteraination and the ,liberation of all Pa18stinian and Arab territories that Ierael has occupied since 1967, including Jeruaalea. No nation neeel conde. itself to a perpetual state of war. Idrael has a choice bet"een durable peace and an eplle_ral Houdty based on the instrullfmts of "ar and coercion. '!'he pr08pe~a of a just and lasting settlelll&nt in the MidcUe bat CM be reauecitated if Israel 18 vUUnq to negotiat4! Q'l the basis of the proposal for an international peace conference on the Middle East. In Septeaber 1989 the Beads of State or Govem.nt of the non-aligned countries ruffirHd their call for a settle_nt through comprehensive peace negotiatiOns under United Nations auspices. Stressinq the need for the early convening of the International Peace COnference on the Middle Past" they called upon the Security COuncll"vhl1e exerting Qfforts to convene that COnference, inter aUa to consider and elaborate -guarantees for security ReaBUre8 agreed upon by ~he Conference !Or all States in' the region-. (A{44/S51;annex;·p.'39i,para. 8) We believe that the .e~er8 of the Security COUncil, particularly its permanent _Mere, have a special responsibility to provide the neceeaary lmpetue fer the convoning of such an international conference" It Is OUB: convlctlcn that the estabUah1llDnt of the Stat'!f of palestine, which conatltutee a glorious ail.stone in the inexorable mareh of the poople of Pal••tine (Nr.'Khitab Rhanf'Pakistan) towards· their cherished goal, "Ul serve to strengthen the process of peace in the . Middle Baat... More than 40 yeatB ago the Palestinian people "er~ brutally uprooted fro. their ancient ho_land. Por all these years the people of Pakistan have re_ined . steacSfast in their. support for the just cause of the Palestinian people. t wish to take this opportunity to 'renew our plecSge of solidarity with the palestinian people in their struggle to r89ain the exercise of their right to self-determination anc! independence, and with the Arab States in their efforts to resolve the Middle East conf~ict ancS strengthen peace and stability in their region. There can be no durable peace in the Mlddl.e East mUl and unless justice is done to the Palestinisn people ancS Israel withdraws fully froll all occupied Arab territory. For four decades the Palestinians have suffered a tragic life. They are entitle4 to a hOllelaM of their own. We join all fair-minded nations in suppcrtinq their dghteoue cause. Mr. OUBDRAOOO (Burlcina Paso). (interpretation froll French) I Throughout the years the supedllposi tion and overlapping of pollUcal, stra tegic, ecooollic, social, cultural and religious factors have complicated 8 situation "mose crux is the question of Pales tine. Whatever approach we take in considering the problem., the legitill8te claim of a people elergea irresistibly" irrepressibly and totally. la j~t and lasting p.ce ln the Middle Fast can be baraed only on the acknowledgement and effective exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Everything that has happened has resulted froM the contempt shoWn for those rlCJhte. WhUe the cll. tle in in ternationsl 1'e18tlonshas been chataCterllled by relative detente a~ efforts to achiever conciliation, that cllmate regrettably hae not affeCted the Middle Ba9at, wh~2:e there hi'UI been a dangerous escalation 1n tension. There are two major I:easons for: that. ',R,e first 18 IsI:ael's deterll1nation (Mr. Khitab Khan, Pakistan) to 1Illintain its POlicy of force in the region, the second is Israel's refusal to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people. In fact, under cover of its claim of self-defence, Israel has pur~ued a policy of aggression and expansion against its neighbo~rs and of strategic domination over the entire ree) ion. (Mr. Cbedraogo, Burkina Faso) Its policy is characterized by violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of States near and far, by illegal occupation and annexation of Arab and Palestinian lands, and ~. denial of th& Palestinian people's legitimate rights and aspirations, which are the crux of the Middle East conflict. Thus Israel has annexed Arl1b Jerusalem and the Syr ien Arab Golan Heights, invaded Lebanon, destroyed its capital Beirut, occupied southern Lebanon, extended its repressive practices to the inhabitants of the occupied Arab territories, and intensified its COlonisation policies in those territories. In that context, and in the Middle East turl'lOil, Lebanon is paying an inco~enaurately high price. The people and Government of Burkina Faso are concerned at and saddened by that situa tion. As a victim of the chain reaction resulting from the failure to solve the question of Palestine, Lebanon is entitled fully to regain its sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity. Therefore Burkina Faso supports the proposals of the Tripartite High Committee of the Arab League to restore peace to Lebanon and establish genuine na t:ional reconciliation. We support those proposals especially since the recent tragic events which cost the Ufe of President Moawad and members of his entourage are a reminder that that fraternal country, a victim of outside interference, must start somewhere if it is to recover. Fourteen years of blood and pain cry out to the whole international community. Burkina Faso again expresses its solidarity with the entire Lebanese people. True to its status as a non-a119ned country, Burkina Faso reaffirms that the integrity and unity of Lebanon reauire the withdrawal of all foreign troops and also stable institutionso Thus the prOb(/SS that has begun must eontlnue5 (Mr. <lJedraogo, Burkina Faao) The security of the region is also being adversely affected by Israel's refusal to adhere to the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its refusal to agree to the International Atomic Energy Agency's monitoring of its nuclear activities. This policy of force and domination in the region, to which I referred at the beginninq of my statelOOnt, is beinq practised by Israel so that it can go on denying the Palestinian people its inalienable rights. The Palestinian people continues, because of Israel, to suffer the most humiliating ordeals - harsh repression, deportation and the pillaging of its property. Nevertheless, the Palestine Na tional Council has decided on an approach based on negotiation. An independent State of Palestine was proclaimed to that end. The Palestine Liberation Organization, representative of the Palestinian people, has shown its readiness for dialogue. On all sides appeals have been made to Israel to put an end to its policy of intransiqence and force. The Israeli authorities, unfortunately, refuse to heed these appeals. In the final analysis nothing can break the determination of a people struggling for the recogni tion of its inalienable fundamental rights. Nothing can maintain indefinitely a policy bas8d on domina tion, exploita tion and pillaging that is pursued aqainst people carrying on that struggle. From Burkina Faso's viewpoint, a peaceful settlement of the situation in the Middle East requires that Israel renounce its policy of force and agree to the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East. Renunciation of the policy of force on Israel's part means. its total withdrawal from all the Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, its recognition of the inalienable national rights of the Arab Palestinian people to return, to self-determInation and to the establishment of an independent State in Palestine, the ending of its occupation in southern Lebanon, and respect for the (Mr. Qledra09o, Burkina Faso) sOlTereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the States of the region, as well as for the right of all the States of the region to live in peace and security. The idea of convening an international peace conference on the Middle East was initiated in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, dated 13 December 1983. six years have elapsed since then, and the consensus for the convening of such a conference has constantly expanded, to such a point that today only the Q)vernment of Israel opposes it. we believe that it is necessary to hold an international peace conference on the Middle East wi th the participation of the five permanent menbers of the Security Council and all parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, with a view to reaching a comprehensive and just settlement of the Middle East problem on the basis of security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and of aU other relevant thited Mittons resolutions. In this regard, the Unitad Nations, which is responsible for the maintenance of international peaoe and security, has the means available to forllQlate a strategy and specific plans with a view to helping the participants in that conference establish a coMPrehensive, just and lasting peace. The particularly important role of the seourity Council should be emphasized. More than 40 years have passed and the situation in the Middle East remains just as alarming, for the reasons I have just given. we believe that an international peace conference on the Middle East would be a step in the right direction, and we take this opportunity to appeal to the Israeli authorities to join in the broadly based international consensus on the convening of such a conference, so that they too can take part in the collective efforts being made on all sides to reach a just and lasting peace in the Middle East in the interests of all the states and peoples of the region. My:. Cl3EID (Democratic Yemen) (interpretation from Arabic), It is a great honour for me to have this Opportunity to address the General AsSanDly on behalf of the two parts of Yemen, on this imtx>ttant agenda item of the current Assembly session, namely tiThe situation in the Middle E:ast tI. This confirms the unity of the position of the two parts of Yemen with regard to this important question. This renewed discussiorn of the question of the Middle East is taking place in the positive climate Pt'evailing in international relations at the present time. That Climate is reflected in t!~e POlicy of detente between the two super-Ibwers and the replacement of confrontation and lack of trust by understanding and co-operation. It has also reflected pOflitively on regtonal problems in cartain parts of the world, which had been hotbeds of tension threatening peace and security not only in those areas but in the whole world as well. Peaceful solutions have been found to some problems, for example, the Iran-Iraq war, Namibia, Afghanistan, central America, the Western Sahara, while others are on the way to a settlement, such as Kampuchea and Cyprus. The United Nations has played an effective role in achieving understanding between the parties concerned and a political settlement to some of those problems that had long been of concern to the international community. We must pay Cll trihute here to the conAistent and persistent efforts of ~acretary-General Perez de Cuellar, whose work has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt the importance of the Uni ted Nations in solvinq disputes by peacefu1 Means and instilling confidence and understanding among warring parties. All this has reinforced the confidence of the in terna tional community in the Uni tea Ha tions, a confidence which was almost lost at one point owing to the ineffectiveness of its resolu tions and decis ions. In spite of our optimism vis-a-vis the present climate in international relations, this has, regrettably, not reflected on the situation in the Middle East. The fact that this situation has remained virtually deadlocked ~r over four decades is the outcome of Israel's rejection of peace, the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and all the resolutions adopted by the Organization and other international and regional forums over several years to help solve the conflict in the Middle East. What encourages Israel to continue to reject the repeated appeals by the in terna tional comlluni ty to see reason ins tead of to {)ursue a policy of war and aggression is the unlimited military, polit1cal~ economic and moral support it receives froll the United Sta teSe Not only is that support unUlli tea hut the Un1 ted (Mr. Clbeid, Democratic Yemen) (Mr. Obeid, De-ocratic YeMen) - Staus is a 180 propping up the Israeli poltcy en the reg ional and internatianal levels by all the .eans at its disposal, including ~litical and economic pressure on Sta tea and the right of veto, and protects Israel by preventing the Security Council from adopting sanotions against Israel or even condewning Israeli acts of aCJqression in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab terdtories. On behalf of the two parts of Yellen, we call upon the United States, as one of the per_nent Iilembers of the Security COuncil, to shoulder its resPOnsihilities in keeping with the United Nations Charter and adopt a positive attitude towards relevant international peace efforts, thus joining the international community within the agreed framework to achieve a pOlitical settlement in the Middle East. The Security COuncil could then take the practical measures to prepare for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. We appeal to the Un! ted Statea to e~erci_ pressure and influence on Israel to respond to the Palestinian and international peace efforts. We have to takeadvMIlt.age of the positlve cU.ma te in in ternational tela tions and 1Nltip1y our efforts to find a just and comprehensiv<tl settlement of the Middle East problea based on the principles of international law, the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United NationI' calling for the total and unconditional vithcJrawal by Israel froll the occupied Palestini,m and other Arab territories and the restoration of all the inalienahle rightaof the Palestinians, inclUding the right to return and the riqht to self-deteraina tion and the estabUsh_nt of an independent State on their national so11. This can be dccorepli8hed only through the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations and with the participation of all patties concerned, including the Palestine Lib&ration Organi:ation and the per-anent -.mbers of the Security Council. The Arab Sta tes have repea tedly expressed in reg Ional or interna tional forums their desire to achieve a comprehensive and just ~ace in the Middle East. They have laid dOWl the fOlllda tion of an Arab peace s tra tegy based Q'l the a foremen tioned principles.. The PLO, the 801e and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, has reaffirmed beyond a shadow of doubt its interest in achieving peace in the region and has responded positively to the international efforts in that direction.. The resolutions adopted by the Palestine National COuncil and the positive initiative announced by Mr. Arafat in Geneua had a positive effect on the Al'ab and international levels. The increasing 1.nternational recognition of the State of Palestine, which celebrated its first a~niversary this month, testifies to the convictiQ'l of the international community in the leqitiJllBcy of the PLO and its serious attitude towards achieving a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian QUestion and the Arab-Israeli dispute in general. The Palestinian popular intifadah in the occupied west Bank and the Gaza Strip, which will shortly en ter its third year, has demonstra ted more than ever the urgency of finding a just sol~tion to t~e problem. That heroic uprising has clearly illustrated that, notwithstanding the barbarity of the racist ZiQ'list regime in the occupied territories, the occupation of the Arab and Palestinian tenitories, the desecra tion of holy places and the viola tion of basic huuR rights, as well as other acts of Istaeli barbarity and terrorism, ate not the way to settle tbe problem of the Middle East through the kind of peace Israel desires. The Zionists, however, refuse to heed that lesson even now that the Palestinian people has convinced the whole world of its will not to be vanauished and of its desire to determine its own future. In this connection, we must also pay a tribute to the struggle of our Arah people in the Golan Heights and the Lebanese south. At every session of the ARseably the debate on the situation 1n the Middle East ends with the adoption of numerous resol.utions.. Theee resolutions, Uke other: I (Mr. Obetd, l)e1lOcratic Ye_n) resolutions adopted by the Assembly since the inclusion of the Arab-Israeli it.em on its agenda, have ~lways condenned the Israeli occupation of the Arab and Paleeatinlan territories and have denoWlced Israel for its disregard of the resolutions of the Security Oouncil and the United Nations. They have also condemned Israel's continued occupation of the Galan Heights and the Lebanese south. The adoption of such resolutions does not allk)unt to much, however, since they are not binding or have any influence on Israel or on those who suppo~t it. Israel cort...tiUes to reject those resolutions and to pursue arrogantly its policies of occupation and acts of aggression which have become IIlOre violent over the years in defiance of the will of the international community. In fact, Israel's arrogance vis-i-vis the Uni~ Nations resolutions, its short-sightedness, its lack of will to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of the problem and its repetitious false claims have all become permanent features of Israel's attitude towards the United Nations. What is the importance of such resolutions if they do not even exercise moral pressure on Isr~el or contrihute towards mitigating its arhitrary practices? Indeed, Israel co~siders that United N&tions resolutions are not in keeping with its philosophy, which envisages only one State in Palestine and depends on military might and the support of its friends to impose that philosophy. We believe that the international community must find new ways and means to exercise pre8sur~ on Israel and ensure that it respects international law and abides by its obligations in accordance with the United Nations Charter, including the adoption of sanctions, the imposition of an economic and military boycott and other IMndatory sanctions wh ich, in our view, would not be effective enough unless countries friendly to Israel withheld their unlimited support. (Mr. Obetd, nelOcratic Ye_n) 'l'ho~ aeasures provea effective wtBen they were imposed on the rac1at re91- in South Africa. Desp! t~ the fact that we Itnow beforehand that such _ndatory measures cannot be adopted by the Security Council bec&uAe of the 9tronq opposition of the United States, we call at least for voluntary measures by the States Menbers of the United Nations. Otherwise we shall continue to a<bpt one resolution after another, while Israel will only turn a deaf e&f to the international community and the 5ufferinq of the Arab popu1a Uon in the occupied Pales tin ian and other Arab terr! tories will increase, thereby posing a threat to international peace and security. The achievement of peace and security in the Middle East, indeed, in the entire wQrld, calls for collective, honest, sincere and practical efforts and steps. Success in solving the Middle East conflict and other cOlllPUcated reqional problems will be determined in accordance with the level of political maturity displayed by the Sta tes Memhers of the Organi,... tion. That is the only standard aqainst Which the effectiveness of the United Nat.ions as an international political body will be judgfl!d. We hope that 1~90 will he the year of peace 1n the Middle East. It is hiqh tine for the peoples of the region 'to enjoy security and sUhil1ty after lont) years of torment and suffering. Why should the policy of international detente not extend also to the Middle East and restore a smile to the lips of its people? That will depend basically on the ability of the United States to adopt a realistic and fair policy vis-i-vis the conflict in ttle Middle East &Rd on its readineM .to exercise pressure en IRrael to compel it to abide by international law. Let UR Mr. AL~HAKAR (Bahrain) (interpretation from Arabic). Tbday there is a new will in the international arena to enhance the effective role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security on the hasis of (Mr. (beld, DellOCratlc Ye_n) coaplete «,_spect fot its Charter, and through the prollOting of international co~peration within the Orqanizatlon to ~olve international proble.e in accordance with the Charter .. Against that backdrop, the General Aalutllbly is considering the 81tuDtion in the Middle But, which ls one of the 808t illportant itealll on its agenda in view of the close Unk between the situation in that region and intetnational peace and security. The representative of the State of Kuwait, the current Chairman of the Group of Arab States, has expres8ed the position of the Group, including that of my country, in his statement made earlier today before the ~nefal Assembly. The Asaellbly's considendou of thiR item is rendered all the more important this year in view of the fact that mere than 22 years have elapsed Bince Israel occup~ed the Palestinian t~rritorles and the Syrian Golan Heights in lQ67. it has been a period replete with successive events, momentous developments, grave concerns and heart-rending sadness, accumulatinq year after year as a result, of Israel's non-eompliance with its commitments under the Charter of the United Nations. Foremost allOn(} those oo_i tmElnts are respect for the principles of the Charter, in particular the principles of political independence, territorial integrity, and the right of peoples to self-determination, respect for basic human rights, refraining from the use or threat of force, the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and the peacefUl sfilttlellent of disputes. A clear analysis of the reports of the Secretary-General in documents A/44/73l and A/44/737 ~kes it abundantly clear that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole and leqitilftllte representative of the Palestinian people, haa adopted a positive stance, and so have the Arab StateA concerned. They have una.niguously de~n8trated their desire for peace in accordancE with international law. They have responded to all endeavours for the achievement of peace. They (Mr .. Al-Shakar, Bahrain) haft adopted a position, in harmny with unanillOus international opinion, a. eJIbodled 1", General Aa••ably reSQlutlon 43/176. On the other ha"d, there 1. Iorael's intran.iqent po.ition, which foil. all international peace effort., tbrough obstructioni •• or rejection. Hence, and in the liqht of the facts contained in the reports of the Secretary-General, we caU upon the Ge!\eral AssellllblV to tackle the situa tion in the Middle Blat with the UtJIOllt .erlC)u.ne.... we call upon it to shoulder its responsibility for peace and security in that sensitift part of the world. It is hiqh ti_ to adopt a decisive poGition against israel's obstruction of the peace efforts, its rejection of the convening, under the auspices of the U,i ted Nl tions, of an international peace conference for the settlelllent of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its intransigent refusal to negotiate with the POO, the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In the present cU.te of international csetente, and in view of the positive winds of change on the lnternational scene, the General Assembly cannot remain silent in the face of this aberration. It is illogical to assume that the winds of detente, whiCh have blown through all corners of the Earth, should have missed the Middle East. The situation is crystal clear. and the picture has become very o~10u81 it ia no longer possible to justify Israel's continued refusal of the convening of an international conference. It i8 our belief that the General Assembly and the major Powers IIlllst adopt a unified international position on the call for that conference in order to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict and establish a just and comprehensive peace. This necessarily calls for the adoption of a decisive position vis-A-vis Israel's continued refusal of the conference - a position which would reafflr. the credibility of the Organization, the effectiveness of its resolutions and ita prestige. (Mr. Al-&halcar, Bahrain) Last year we witnessed Cl frantic escalation by Israel of acts of oppression ai..d at eliminating the heroic Palestinian intifadah and stripping the Palestinian people of their inalienable national rights, including the right to self-e1eter.ination and to the est:abUshllll!nt of their independent State on their national soil. The purpose of these measures was to u~oct the Palestinian people and expel them from their homeland by means of persecution, torture and, finally, deportation. Israel's aggressive policies have not been confined to Palestine and ita people. Rather, they have encompassed the territory and the present and future of the whole Arab nation. Israel's acts of aggression and occupa~ion have extended to other Arab countr ies • 'rhe situatio., now prevailing in the Middle East is the result of Israel's rejection of all international and Arab peace initiatives, which. are based on international law. But Israel has not limited itself to that. Rather, it has escalated the sense of confrontation by strengthening its more sophisticated IIlilitary capabilities. It has acquired and developed weapons of mass destruction in the mistaken belief that that is the way to impose its occupation and dictate to the Palestinian people and the other Arab Sta tes • '111e international and the Olited States media, in particular the tl3C TV networr.:, have made it cle!lr that Israel has acquired weapons of mass destruction, that it is carrying out tests of such weapons, and that it launched a medium-range missile, which fell in the Mediterranean off the shores of Libya. In addition, they bave made clear the increasing co-operation between Israel and the south Afr lean racist regime in the developnent of long-range nuc:lear IIltssiles. Israel has also transferred to South Africa ao(:histicated tbited States technology in the manufacturing of jet fighters. There bas been a long history of collaboration between Israel and the SOuth African regime in all fields, (Mr. Al-Shakar, Bahrain) particularly that of ar_.nts. Thi. collaboration has taken on even graver eSi.euions since it was extended into the field of nuclear co-operation. This constitutes a thrMt to the very existenee of both the Arab and the African States, which will always be the target.. of the nuclear weapons and .1I5sUea of these two raci8t r891..s, whose only objective is to impose their evU sche_s. This collaboration, which oonatltutes a grave danger to the present and the futurE of the Middle But and southern Africa, cannot relllain unChecked by the international cc_unity. It 16 a flagrant violation of security COuncil re801utions _ich call for the i.position of a~ e.barge on SOuth Africa in connection with the military lineS nuclear co-operation between Israel and the Pretoria regiae. Yet Israel has totally disreqarded these resolu HOM. In addi tion, the coUabora tion threatans international peace and SEcurity in those two sensitive regiofis of the world. A r.ealiRtic analysis of the current sitqation in the Middle East leads to the , following conclwsions, Pirst, the 19tifadah during the last two years haR Ducceeded in strenqtheninq t:r'\e in terna tional conviction that it is a leg1UIMte way c f re jecting occupa ticn. It ha. atttaeted fUrther international suppo~t for the struggle of the Palestinian people fOt the attainment of its inalienable rights. it has also refuted the unfounded accusations by Israel, whi~h desperately attempts to portray the !ntUadah as an act of terrorism. Secondly, the Palestine Liheration Organization (PLO) has succeeded once agaln in exposift9 the lie (.n :~led bV Shallir the "Israeli peace plan-. That plan has been exposed an a mere farce deAigned to dissipate popular discontent since there is a refusal to recognize the PeleaUn lan (M!Oille' s tiqht to 8elf-deter.ina tion and to the establishment of an independent Pal~stlnian State, as well as the principle of (Mr. At-Shakar, Bahrain) land for peace. '!'he leut that can be saic:1 about it is tba\: it lacks the acceptable bauis on wich a just and lasting peace could be established. Thirdly, the actions taken by the Palestine Liberation Organization have _de clear the coIMitllent of the Palestinian people to peace. They have exposed Iarael's obduracy aboUt all peace initiatives. 'Utey have also made it clear tJ1at there can be no substitute for the Palestine Liber:a\~icn OJ:9ani:ation as the representative of the Palestinian people in any negotiatione that could take place for the achievement of the desired peace. In any solution of the Middle East situation or settlement of the Artllb-lsraeli conflict, the PLO must inevi tab1y discharge its major: role. Therefore, Israel's attempts to keep the PLO out of the peace process are doomed to failure. Fourthly, the international conference to be convened under the auspices of the United Nations - with the participation of the five permanent members of the Security Council and all the concerned parties, including the PLO - is the internationally accepted forum for the achievement of a comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. That is the way to establish peace and thereby bring security and stability to the region, which has been deprived of them for so long. Fifthly, the obdurate Israeli refusal to agree to the convening of the International Peace Conference is tolle major obstacle to the pace process in the The international coftllUnity should give ser ioos consideration to those facts and undertake a joint internaUonai effort to ensure that the Security Council plays its proper role so that an ~ld can be put to Israel's obduracy and to the elFents taking place in the Pa1t'1stinian and ether occupi~ Arab territories in connection with Israel's attempt to crush the Palestinian intifadah. A (Mr. Al-Sh8kar, Bahrain) continuation of this situation "ill not contribute to tbe ~QI prOCCUI8. Rlther. it "Ul open the door "iae to grave repercu8Si«l8 in the region, repercus.icna woee ..gnitude Md results cannot be Pl'edicted. The obdurate lsr.eli poeition _at not dissuade the ill: ..arnational co.unity frOll playing its proper ro1'4. The international COIII8unlty aUBt purs.. its action for lalmcbing of the peliC8 ~oce.e, and bringing Israel to accept a just and coaPl'ehensive peace "ithin the frUl'Mrk of international legiti_cy, tbrcwC'jh reC04JRition of the Pale.tint. people -s right to the restoration of their occupied territories and their right to exerci.e self-deterMination and to establish their independent State on their s~ll. That 121 the only "ay to save the region frOll the disaster of the reperll:l1saions to "hich I alluded to earlier. It is the only path to the ",stablishJlent of stability and aecurity in our regian. (~. AI-Shakar« Bahrai!!.) report submitted to the General Assembly, of the need for the Security Council to contribute to the efforts being made to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Isr&eli conEl lct by renewing its c:omit:.'Uent to resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and to the legitimate political rights of the Palestinian people, inc11.'<1ing their right to self-.determination, with all it entails. That is the only solid foundation for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the region. The Secret&ry-Geller~l righUy points out in his i:'eporrt before the General Assembly that "few internatiOl1al issues are as oomplex or potentially aangerous as the Arab-Israeli conflict". (A/44/737, p~a. 43) Will the General Assembly this year stand up to this Israeli obdur&cy that jeopardizes the possibilities for peace? WUl it reaffirm the oommitmmt ot: the international conmunity to the convening of the Internati01lal Peace Conference on the Middle East with the participation of all parties to the ccnflict, inclUding the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing, as well as the five permanent members of the security Council, en the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) ~nd recognition of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, foremoot among which is the right to self-determination? Will it do that? Mr. PE.:tIC (Yugoslavia) s The er lsis situation in the region of the Middle East, which seriously affects international peace and security 5ld the stability of the world economy, has preoccupied the world Organi:l:ation and the broadest segments of the international oommunity mer a number of years. Despite certain positive movements in the region, such as; tha cease-fire between Iran and Iraq and the efforts to create conditions for overCl)lfting the situation in Lebanon, th~re are unfortunately no important signs of the early initiation of the process for the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, at the core of which is the problem of Palestine and whioh remains the basic and most dangerous source of tension and in!;;~bility not only in that region but in the world. This is the second consecutive year that debate on the situation in the Middle East has been marked by the intifidah~ the uprising of the Palestinian people a9Qinst Israeli occupation. The explosive situation in the occupied territories has thus drawn international attention IilOSt eloquently to the untenability of the situcstion created by continuation of the occupation. It is therefore understMdable to expect urgent efforts to be axerted to bring about a solution to this prd>lem and thus prevent developments that would lead to the outbreak of a new arlled conflict in the re9100. 'lbe decisiolB acbpted by the Palestine NIl tional Council last year along these lines and the opening of the United States-Palestinian dialogue are events of IlIlljor importance that open up prospects for the coamencement of substantive dialogue for a peaceful solution to the Middle East crisis and the que~tion of Palestine. Along with other non-aligned CIOuntr les, Yugoslavia has always pointed to the unsatisfactory situation in the Middle East, which is by and large a consequence of the continued use of force, violation of the territor lal :J.nl:egrity and sovereignt'/ of the countries of the region, the policy of occupation, and the denial of the legitimate rights of the peoples of the :eqion to self...aeterMination and indePGndent development. General agreement edsts that the basic cause of this situation ;.s the policy conducted by some ruling circles in Israel and their constant refusal to engage in dialogue tdth the authentic represmtatives of the Palestinian people - that is, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which enjoys the full support of the Palestinoian pop.!lation in the occupied territories and of Palestinians living in diaspora - for a lasting and just solution to the problem of Palesti~e. Bearing in lIina the complexity of tt'te Middle East edsis and its potential threat to world peace, Yugoslavia has always pointed out that the only possihle way to achieve a lastinq solution of the Rituation in the Middle East is to heqln the process for a political solution of the problelD within the United Natv~ns, with full respect for the authentic in terests and rights of all countries and peoples in the region. Fbreign occupation and dOllination, regardless of the military miqht upon which it relies6 do not and cannot bring peace and security to anybody. EQually unacceptable are attempts to ensure exclusive protection for one's own interests at the eRpense of the elementary rights of others, throuqh viola tion and even outright denial. Lasting and stable peace in the Middle East can be achieved only by elillinatinq the chronic sources of instability and conflict in that. region and creating conditions for the coexistence of peoples and countries in that area. In that context, Yugoslavia fili:"lI1y believes that a solution to the Middle East crisis is possible only through the unconditional withdrawal of Israel from all te~rito~ies occupied since June 1967, recognition of the legitimate riqhts of the Palestinian people, under the leadership of the P'JO, to self-determination and independence, and respect for the rights of all the countries in the reqion, including Israel, to existence and security within internatiOnally recognized borders. Yugoslavia, &s well as the vast majority of non-aligned countries, considers - and this position was reaffirmed at the recent summit conference in Belqrade - that the initiative for the eatly convening of the International Conference on the Middle East under United Nations auspices en the basis of Security COuncil resolutions 242 (lQ67) and 338 (1973), as well as other relevant United Nations resolutions - with the participation of all interested parties, includinq the PLO, on a footing of equality, and of other factors that can make a constructive contribution to the success of that Conference - provides the moat suitable fraaework for a lasting and just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, with the problell of Palestine at its core. We sincerely hope that at long last this wUl be recognized also by some of the most responsible members of the Israeli Government, tha~eby finally opening up prospects for sUbstantive efforts in the direction of the solution of thie serious international problem. We therefore consider that it is indispensable to .ake decisive joint efforts to overcolIe the curtent situa tion of no wart no pece, and br inq pressure to bear on those whose positions stand in the way of the opening of dialogue directed at finding the basis for resDlving the Middle East crisis. As Chairman of the Move_nt of Non-Aligned Countries and a non-perlMnC!nt llellber of the Security COuncil, YuC)06lavia wiU CCl'ltinue to support each and every constructive effort towards opening a process that would lead in that direction. In this context we fully support the efforts of the Secretary-General, Mr. Perez de euellar. Yugoslavia h~s been following the most recent developments in Lebanon with great attention and concern. The brutal, cri.inal assassination of the newly elected President of Lebanon, Mr. Rene Moawad, caused understandable shock and outreqe in Yugoslavia. That senseless act, which _t with the broadeRt conde8\ation by the international co.unity, was carded out bV those who oppose efforts to ensure the speedy restoratiQ'l of the full national unity, terri tot' ial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. It was carried out at a time when, on the basis of the TaU agreements reached as a result of the tireless efforts ef the Tripartite Committee of the Arab League, the Lebanese people vas startine) the process of national recC'A1ciliation after years of conflict and suffering. For its pa.rt, \\lgoslavia will continue to render full support for implementation of the TaU Agreement, which remains a broadly acceptable basis for solu tion of the Lebanese sltua. tion. In that regard t we we1co~ the election of the new President of Lebanon, Mr. Elias Rrawl. Of course, we continue to believe that essential pre-condi tions for a las ting sOlu tion of the Lebanese situa tion are termination of the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and the withdrawal ef foreign troops frOll'l Lebanese: territory, cessation of interference il\ the internal affairs of that country, and the enabling of the Lebanese people to ,1ecide, freely and independently, how it should develop. YUgoslavia has been following with ~een interest the developments in other parts of the Middle East. We attach great impOrtance to the commitll'!mt of Iran and Iraq to the quest for a peaceful sol ution of the conflict between t.he two countries, on the basis of Security Council resolution 598 (1987\. YUqoslavia reiterates its fUll support for the efforts being made by the United Nations Secretary-General and his Special Representa tive towards achievement of the goal of a peaceful solution. At the same time, however, we cannot but express our deep concern over the current impasse in the talks on the implementa ticn of Security Oouncil resolution 598 (1987) concerning a solution of the Iran-Iraq conflict. The eight-year-long war demonstrated in a most tragic way that the problems between the two countries cannot be solved by military means. We therefore call on the two sides to take appropriate steps to overcome the current impasse and to continue to co~perate with the Secretary-General in the implementation of resolution 598 (1987). We believe that progress in achieving this would be in the interests not only of the two countties but also of the peace and stability in this part of the world that are of vital importance for international relations. (Mt. Pejie, Yugoslavia) The crisis in the Middle East continues to be one of the most serious burdens in the context of the overall situation in international relations. We therefore believe that at this session of the General Assemly the international community will reaffirm its consensus on the need for the broadest possible international endeavour to overCOMe sources of tension and instability that have existed in that part of the world for years. ?or its part., Yugoslavia, ii'l its capacity as CbairlDl'.ln of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countr ies and as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, will continue to make a full and active contribution towards this Ms:. PITARKA (Albania), This year again the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly contains a IlIlltitude of items on acute political problems that call for solution and clearly reflect the concerns and legitimate aspirations of a nunber of Member States. At the same time these items represent a challenge to the entire international colMlunity to deal seriously with the problems and to make use of its role and of the role of this Organization to provide just solutions to them. One acute 1X)litical problem bearing directly upon peace and security in the region and the world is that. of the Middle East. The representatives of numerous Member States have expressed profound regret, but also great disillusionment, at the course along which several regional crises and conflicts are developing. Among these is the problem of the Middle East, which, so far, has defied attempts to set it upon the road to a just ana lasting solution. It is very unfortunate that the situation in this region remains dangerOUD ana very explosive. This is because of the persistence of the factors that generate such situations - the numbe!.'-one factor being the Zionist. aggressioo and occupation of Arab territor lee and the denial of the Palestinian people '& inalienable right to self-determination and bO live free in their homeland. Other factors relate to foreign lnter.ference and to the conspiracies hatched agains" the Arab people in general and the Palestinian people in particular. These conspiracies, which take the form of manoeuvres and political and diplomatic tricks and are inflamed primar ily by the r i'1alry and collaboration between the two super-Powers - the thited States and the Soviet (hion - have become a stumbling-block to realization of the national aspiration of the Palestinian people and to solution of the Middle East crisis. The further aggravation of the fatricidal war in Lebanon, which could have dangerous consequences not only for the country's unity - indeed, its very existence - but alBo for peace and stability in the region and beyond, is another factor which, in conjunction with the de facto continuation of the occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel, ser iously exacerbates m'ld renders IIDre explosive the situation in the Middle East. Benouncement of the discords and feuds, as well as of the fatricidal bloodshed in Lebanon - and such a renouncement should be attained through a cease-fire and national conciliation, assisted by the fraternal Arab countries - would not only create the oonditions for the extinction of another hotbed of tension and for the restoration of national unity and integrity in Lebanon but also encourage the Arab countries to concentrate their efforts and attention on putting an end to the occupation of their territories and, especially, at solving the Palestinian question, which remains the key to the final solution of the Middle East problems. In the nean time , another important and encouraging development in the region is the heroic resistance and struggle of the Palestinian people to put an end to the Zionist occupation and to realize their inalienable right to self..cJetermination in their own lands. Living p,t'oof of this determined resistance is the continuation of the intifadah - the massive uprising in the occupied territories in which the Palestinian people ha\'e been engaged for ~lmost two years. Events and facts tt;Ner this two-year period Qbound, thus provinC) that the zionist o~ression and genocide, the S6vage police violence, the lIassive number of "rrests, the forced deportations, especimlly of patriotic Palestinian youths, and all other most barbaric measures of the occupying Israel! forces and administration have failed to break, however insignificantly, the will of thr ""uestinian population in these territories and their deterlllinatiM to resist, wi th their bare fists and chests, the bullets and tanks of the occupiers, so that they may free themselves from the hateful occupation and regain their stolen homeland, the land that was torn from them. This massive popular uprising in the occupied territories and the ever DOre active involvement of the new State of Palestine, which has gained the recognition and support of the international community, and of its legitimate leadership, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PID), are, likewise, positive factors and developments that should accelerate the process of setting the Palestinian question on the road to solution by discarding the intrigues and plotting schemes, one of which is the so-called free elections in the occupied territories. This extreDlely anti-Palestinian plan has been rightly condemned and turned down by the Palestinian people themselves and by their legitimate representative, thf:l PLO, as 8i'l attempt to gain time and to perpetuate the Israeli occupation regime in these territories, to crush the Palestinian uprising, CRnd to neutralize the success of the important steps that the new State of Palestine has lmdertaken internationally, as well as its increasing prestige in the world and the affirmtion of the part that it is entitled to play in the just reso1lJtion of the Palestinian question, which remins the key to the solution of all the problems of the Midale East. (Mr. pitarka, Albania) Such deceptive plans can be neither covered up nor prettified by the new cosmetics that are being applied in order to paint as pacifiers those who are the real accomplices in implementing the Israeli expansionist policy. Nor can such plans be boosted by those who profess to be fr iends of the Arab peoples and strive to present their rapprochement and collaboration with Israel as "new opportunities" to enert ~essure on it for the alleged purpose of contr ibuting to the attainment of a peaceful solution of the Middle East question. (Mr. Pitarka, Alban!!.) Life itself. reaU ty and their resistance for sutvival have sho.., the Palestinian people and the other Arab peoples that the solution of their problems, the l1bera tion of their ancestral lands and the preserva tion of freedom and independence are ultiaately in their own hands, they lie in their unity and the resolute struggle against the Zionist and imperialist enemies and reaction. Aqainat the unity of tha Arab peoples, which is a source of invincible pOwer, against the all-round Palestinian resistance, the intifada~ included, the imperialist and Zionist schemes and plots are doomed to failure. This is the most secure course for the Palestinian and other Anb peoples to follow. No solution to the Palestinian Question in particular or to Middle East problems in general can be achieved without the participation and the expressed will of those peoples, much less without the Palestinians and against the Palestinians. The debate at this session of the General Assembly offers us an opportunity to reiterate once more the Albanian Government's and people's resolute support for and unreserved solidarity with the fraternal Arab peoples in their struggle and efforts" as well as to express our firm confidence in the triumPh of the just cause of the Palestinian people and the fulfilment of their legi timate national aspirations and the aspirations of all the fraternal Arab peoples. Mr. ESZTER~LYOS (Hungary), The deliberations at the present session of the General Assembly are being conducted in favourable international conditions under the influence of the many posi tive changes that have tal(en place durinq the past year. The year 19~9 haA also witnessed the growing involvement of the United Nations in the settlement of reg ional crises and hotbeds of tension. Indeed, we can note with satisfaction that most of the reqionalcrisis situati.,ns on the agenda of the Organization seem to have heen solved or to be well on the way to a pea" .jful sol utton. (Mr. Pitarlce, Albania) In striking contrast to all these encouraging tendencies, the situa tion in the Middle East remains alarminq and continues to be a cause of serious concern to the whole int.ernational coml'll1nity. The ongoing militarhation of the region, together with the constant tension among the participants in the conflict, have world-wide implications and one cannot exclude the possibility that at dI certain point they may even threaten the unfolding positive processes in international relations. The prospects for sett.lement are still uncertain. ~~e problem at the core of the conflict, the Palestinian question, remains unsolved. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories continues and so does the uprising of the the Palestinian people against occu~ation, motivated by an accumulation of harassment, humiliation and frustration. The annexa Hen of East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights and the continued violation of the territorial integrity of Lebanon are constant sources of tension necessitating large-scale United Nations peace-keeping operations in the area. In expressing our appreciation to the soldiers serving the cause of peace I wish also to reaffirm our support for these United Nations peace-keeping activities. At this point I wish to express our deep indignation over the assassination of Mr. Hene Heawad, President of the Lebanese Republic, last we~k in Beirut. It is our hOpe that that terrorist act will not interrupt the process of national reconciliation and that the Lebanese PeOple, who have suffered so JIllch, will eventually regain peace, safety and prosperity for their country. Owing to its qeographical proximity and traditional relations with the countries and peoples of the Middle East g Hungary is deeply and sincerely interested in a just and early settlemant of the conflict. Our approach to the complex issues and the many sensibilities involved in the Middle East problem is determined by a genuine desire to create and promote confidence bet.ween the parties (Mr. Esztergalyos, Hungary> involved and to cantribute to the lessening of tenaion in the reg ion. Proceeding from this consideration and intention, we deem it important to develop our relations with all the parties inVolved in the conflict. It was also in this spirit that Hungary recognized the proclamation of the State of Palestine and that we raised our inter-State relations to ambassadorial level. At the same tinwJo our relations wi~h Israel are also developing and this found expression recently in the re-establishment of diplo1t\3 tic rela tions between out two na tions. Our position regarding the ways and conditions of resolvin9 the Middle Fast conflict has been placed on record and remains valid and unChanged.. Hunqary believes that the best way to reach a oomprehensi~e, just and lasting solution of the Middle East situation would be by the convening of an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation ef the five permanent members of the Security COuncil and all the parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The basic conditions for a viable and speedy solution have heen clearly formula ted and are recogn!zed by the in terna tional communi ty , and Hunqary also fully subscribes to them. They are, the withdrawal of Israel from all territories occupied since 1967, the full exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and to establish its own independe~t, sovereign State; and tespect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political !ndapendence of all States in the reqion, including Israel. In our considered opin ion the encourag ing in terna tiona! developments have created more favourable circulllStl1lnCeS than ever before for the launChiY'lC) of the long-awaited peace process in the Middle East. ObViOusly, the increasing readiness for co-operation of the great Powers, which has been confirmed quite recently at this session of the General Assembly by their joint initiative on enhancing (Mr. Esztergalyos, Hungary) international peace, security and co-operation in accordance with th,e Charter, as well as by the initial results in the elimination of regional conflicts, is of particular relevance. In this respect we should like to mderUne the llignificance of the new, constructive and realiRtic attitude ~f the Palestir-e Liberation OrgaraizatiOi! and of the fftsistance of the palestinian people to Dccupation, which has found powerful expression in the intifadah, now enter il'.g its third year, in the occupied territories. The beginning of the dialogue between the United States and the PLO, the proposals and initiatives concerning the launching of a palestinian-Israeli dialogue and the efforts undertaken hy lestecn EUropean countries also signify the co_itllent of the international coml'Mlnity to finding a cOlllprehensive political settle_nt of the Arab-Israeli conflict on the basis of & balance of the l ..i;,iuests of all the parties concerned. The determination of the PLO to reach a comprehensive settlelllent by pelttical 1Ile8ns, the acceptance by the Palestine National Council of Security COuncil fesoul tions 242 (U67) and 338 (1973) and its repeated and categorical'rejection of terrorism in all its forms have heen welcomed and are regarded by the international colllllunity as imp)rtant steps towards a peaceful, negotiated solution of the conflict. We believe that it is up to Isuel now to take the next step and respond consttuetlvely to these moves. The opportunity remains to be seized In order to overcome the stalellate and engage In a negotiating proceM that should eventually bring peace and trenquillity to the peoples of the Middle East. (Mr. EsztergalyoBi) Hungary) Mr. ZActllNiN (Ger\Mn Democratic Republic) & The current situati.on in tha Middle East is marked by the persis tence of one of the 01dest and lIlQ8t i~ttica te regional conflicts in the world. The _in cause of the permanent f'ltate of tension in the reg ion, wh iob is so sensi tive in terlfts of in terna ticnal &ecudty, re_ins Isra.l's denial bf the ~ight to self-determination of Arab people of Palestine. Th~ Geraan De-ecratic Republic has followed with great concern the further aggravation of the occupation practices, which not only are a hindrance to the early peaceful settle_nt of the conflict but lead to even grea ter 8ufferineJ for the Palestinian pecple. In this context, the massive a:esistance by the peoPle of Palestine, now well into its second year, has llade it eloquently clear that only a collprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict will bring peace to all peoples in the reg ion. The Get_n Democratic Republic has 101\9 pleaded and worked for the early start of a settlell8nt proceas in the Middle East, & process which should embrace all aspects of the conflict. 'Ibday, it is I10re than ever imperative to set such a procea in IlIOtian throl;lgh collective in terna tional efforts and re11~nce on Cl flexible negotiating a~proach. Practical eXPerience in the solution of other regional conflicts a,e1llOn8tr~tes QUite strikingly that such ~olutions will he just and lasting only if they are brought about by political means. The Gerlll2ln Deaocratic Republic also believes that the cc.plexities of the Middle East conflict can be disentangled only throuqh constructive dialogue and an accommodation of the lnterest5 of all the parties involved. Rere, all those concerned are called upon to display the requisl te senoe of reason and realism. The German Democratic Republic holds that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, IDUst be a participant in such a dialogue on an equal footing with all the others. The German Deaocratic Republic stands resolutely for a pe.lcaful and just settleJrent of the Middle East conflict. This includes guarantees of the Palestinian people's right to 8elf~etermination and the right to existence of the State of Israel within secure borders. Proceeding from th~t, the German Oamocratic RepUblic is in favour of norMl rela tions with all Sta tes in the req ion. My COll'ltty also supporta the demand voiced by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestini&n People that the State of Palestine should ba accorded its ri9htful place within the international community and the United Nations. The PLO's peace offensive, marked as it is by a sense of pal! tical responsibility and realism. has been an essential element in the emergence of new conditions in the Middle East. At the recent summit meeting in Cas~blanca, the Arab States supported the constructive policy line pursued by the PLO. Notwithstanding the obstacles munt.ed by IsrBlel, the PLO has agreed to enter into a dialogue with Israel under international auapicQs. The oo~Lnity of States now expects Israel to come forward with an equally conetructive approach. It is to he hoped that awareness will prevail in Israel that a just and secure peace csn be achieved only th~ough guaran teeing the legi till8 te rights of all peoples in the region, including the people of Palestine. Like the overwhelming mBljority of States, my oount~y emphatically pleads that the PLO should not be dep~ived of the political means of participatinq on an equal footing in the settlement of the conflict. We also believe th&t efforts to address only selected aspects of the conflict in order to circumvent the key issueR or perpetuate existing conditions under a different label are doomed to failure. In the recent past qui te a few ideas have been advanced on hew to 8tat't~ without further delay, the process that is to hring about a solution to the Middle East conflict. One thing, however, has becolllt! cleare an international conference on the Middle East, if it were convened under United Nations auspices and if all the parties directly involved - includ:l..nq the PLO and Israel - as well as the five permanent members of the Security Council, participated as equals, would be the most appropr!a t! and realistic way towards peace. The principles of a future settlement have already been set forth in quite a number of pertinent General Assembly resolutions. In our view, the Security Council, particularly its permanent menbers, should take practical steps to prepare the M~'idle East conference in good time. This could conceivably be done in the framework of consultations. My daleqation also supports all future efforts by the Secretary-General designed to set in motion a process leading to a solution of the conflict. By the same token, we wish to emphasize again that, as in the past, the German Democratic Republic will make every effort to contribute to progress towards a political settlement of the Middle East conflict. !r. AL~!YAMI (Oman) (interpretation from Arabic). Mr. President, it gives lie great pleasure to express to you on behalf of my deleqa tion our profound satisfaction at the work accomplished during the deliberations and discussions at this session of tbe General Assembly. Your efficiency and diplomatic skill have undOUbtedly enabled you to guide our work in this clear and satisfactory manner. We are discussing today one of the most important items an our agenda, the situation in the Middle East, a region which is of special strategic importance on the world l'l8p. It is alOOng the mo&t deUca te and dangerous areas and what happens there has a dir~ct bearing on international peace and security. (Mr. ?achmann, German Damocratic RepUblic) The signs of detente in international relations, especially between the two super-Powers, are a source of satisfaction to us all. The relaxation of tensions has had a clear effect on stability the world over. The bounty of peace is beginning to bear fruit everywhel'e. My country will continue to work for this lofty objective and to advocate it. we in the Sultanate of Qnan have repeatedly voiced our belief in the effective role played by the various bcx1ies and organs of this Organization in finding just solutions to the many crises and problems that beset humanity. This belief stems from our faith in the benefits of dialogue and understanding between nations and our conviction that to engage in such dialogue under the wing of the United Nations is the ideal means of resolving those problems and crises. The current world trends and regional dev~lopments require a broader overview of the problem of reshaping the Middle East peaceably. It is quite obvious that the region is being armed to the teeth, at great speed, with the mst sophisticated and destabilizing of weapons. Israel has consistently pursued a policy of destabilization and discord that plays havoc with the security of the region, in defiance of the wiU of the international community and the principles of our Charter. The proof, if proof is needed, of Israel's persistence in this polio)" is that it has continued to introduce the most destructive of weapons into the regime It has constantly threatened the Arab countr tea. It has continued to test and experiment on weaponry and technologies of the most destructive kind. Its latest venture was a test run of a missile which fell near the coastline of Bengazi, in Libya. The Palestinian intifadah is now bfo years old. This intifadah is the end product of the accunulated bitterness caused by the oppression and coercion practised against the Arab Palestinian peoplea One year has elapsed since the proclamation of the Palestinian State. And yet, we still see on our television (Mr. Al-Rixami, oman) screens scanas of hundreds of unar-ed. defenceless Palestinian victims being killed or ui.ed at the hands of the Israeli forces of occupation. Such hateful brutality goes on unchecked vhile world public opinion sits on its hands, demnstrat1ng its pOverlessness via-A-vis the brutisb behaviour of those forces of oc=upatlon and the traapling under their jackboots of the most fundamental and legiti-ate human rights of the Palestinians. The ongoing intifadah and unwavering resistance to the Israeli occupation dellOnstrate the resolve and the iron will of the people to bring to an end the occupation in every shape and forlll. The Cbvernment of IIY country, Oaan, supports all Palestinian peace initiatives and every sincere and serious effort to reach a durable, just solution that would ensure the national rights, especially the right of self-deteraination and the right to an independent State, of the Palestinian people. My country's delegation calls for the I'IlObillzation of all the United Nations capabilities and organs in such a ~.Y that the mechanislls st the Organization's disposal may beCORe the effective and efficacious means of safeguarding the hUIUlR rights of all peoples and of hu_nity at large. Our strong co8mitment in this respect impels us to call for the urgent organization and convening of an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations. That conference wUl afford the international co_unity and all its peace-loving countries, including the Palestine Llberation Organiza tiOR, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, the opportunity to address the utter. My delegation hopes the two super-Powers wll1 join all ot.her world forces and the concerned parties 1n taking the necessary measures to aChieve a just and peaceful solution that would end the long-drawn-out agony of the Palestinian people. We hope the countries of the region vill enjoy peace and stability. In orde~ for that to happen, the two super-lbwers flust put the Middle Fast Ciuestion at the (Mr. Ai-Riya.i, ORan) top of their priorities. The question lIust urgently be addressed. We also call upon the international co.-unity and the United Nations to exett preesure on Israel to recognize the realities in the region. If Israel really wants peace with its neighbours and coexistence with the Arab countries, as it claims, it must renounce its policy of aggression. It must desist from rejecting out of hand every attempt and peaceful initiative, and put an end to its persistent bellicosity and its conaistent use of force. We wish to express our sorrow with regard to the situation in Lebanon. My Mr. Rene Moawad. We condemn this heinous crime, which .8 committed against country has learned with grief of the assassination of the President of Lebanon, lebanon's unity and its legitill8CY and was designed as a blow against national reconciliation in that sisterly countrY. We welcoJle th\\!l election of the new President of lebanon, Mr. Elias Brawi: and call on all our Iebanese brethren to work together towards restoring order, peace and stability in the country. We wish our brethren in Lebanon success in that endeavour and call for the iMediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Ltbanon. We wish all the peoples of the world peace and security. Mr. SRlRABI (saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic), The problem of the Middle East, which is now under discussion is a problem that we have addressed in the General Assellbly year after year, a problem that we live with in the Middle East day after day and hour after hour. Although the world has been able in the course of this year to move other int~actahle crises towards settlement and understanding, the problell of the Middle Fast has not moved any nearer to the end of the tunnel. Why? Because Israel, the IlO8t intractable problem of all and the sOUrce of all the disasters and troubles of the Middle East, still acts under the influence of its expansionist, colonialist outlook and pretends that it can protect itself by acts of agqression and the continued occupation of the land of others. (Mr. Al-Riyami, oman) Its leaders do not seem to realize that if they persist in this - and all the indications are that they will - they gain nothing but more uncertainty and insecudty• The leaders of zionism have dreamt mallY dreams over the years. They have clothed their dreams in the garb of relig ion and bedeCked them with worldly ambition. They thought they were going to be able to deceive all the people all the time. They disregard the fact that history and geographic and demographic realities lead to direct contradictions with their fabrication of history &nd twisting of its facts. The leaders of zionism fondly believe that their penchant for settler-colonialism and their expansionist 811Oitions should be legitimate justification enough and sufficient licence to invade, commit acts of aggression, occupy another people's country and seize their lands. They seem convinced that their need for secudty is an in terna tional licence to threa ten the security of others and an open-ended authorization to violate the rights of others and deprive them of their means of livelihood, and that the world has no alternative but to aCQuiesce in whatever the Zionists plan and whatever they may desire. (Mr. Shihabi, saudi Arabia) This, of course, is lop-sided logic, which the world of today rejects and twentleth-century society condelll\s. It has been condelMed by divine religions since the advent of the prophets. Israel, the irresponsible offspring of a corrupt, unacceptabie precedent in international practices, has based its existence on the acquisition by force of other peoples' homelands and the violation of their national and human rights under the pretext of false claims. It thinks that the occupation of other peoples' homelands is a simple arithmetical exercise through which it can create facts on the gro\l1d and in which the owners of the land must acquiesce, and all the world must accept without delllJr the diktat of Israel. The ZiOrtist leaders seem to be ignorant of the wide cultural gap between the theorizing Western mentality in whose lap zionism was born, under particular European social, political and religious circumstances, and the mentality and heritage of the East, especially the deep-rooted ellOtional Arabian and Islamic outlook which is closely bOund to family, faith and the land in which it grew. In order for us to see our way to an acceptable solution, we have to understand the cultural origins of the Arab and Islamic outlook which refuses to be separa b!d from its roots no matter how strong the forces working against it are. Zionisll w111 eventually pay the price of its ignorance of and disregard for the realities and underlying components of the Middle East problem, the distortion of the ~roblem's causes and obfuscation of its conS8q\!ences. We witness daily thoir insistence upon ignoring the facts and their opposition to any atte.pt to deal with the situation in the true light of the Palestinian, regional and international realities and daily we witness the results of thia attitude ~nifestin9 themselves in the growing lists of the killed and woW\ded. Utr. Shihabi, saudi Arabia) ~ problea of the Middle East is the natural coapIeDent to the Palestinian problea. In its collpleKity, it elllbodies the complex nature of denis.., its drea. and expansionist greed. It reveals the real nature of Israel and that it has become, since its inception, a grave threat to the peace and security of the region and the safety of i to peoples. Isreel has beco_ the instrur.ent of a dangerous logic which threatens the international scales and standards of regional and international peace and security through the right it claims for itself to do vhat it does and its attelllPts to justify what it does. In all this, it never ceases to cloud the issues and obfuscate the realities of the situation and the roots of the probless. It also ellllbodies - and this is & grave danger indeed - the effectiveness of the networks of Zionist influence in certain world capitals and their ability to affect the readine. of those who occupy positions of responsibility in those capitala to listen to the counsels of reason. In this way, those in post tiOa1S of responsibility tend to accept the irrational and choose to keep quiet about Israel while they refuse to do 80 concerning any other aggressor in the world. The dangerous Zionist influence on the sound judgement of the advanced and influential countries in the world is far-reaching and poses a danger to the relations of these countries with other nations, should this situation continue as it is now. ROll can the world in this day and age accept the Zionist logic that gives licence to Israel to continue i ts occ~pation of Arab lands, even when they adI'D! t that those lands are being occupied, and aCQUiesce in what Israel is COmMitting in order to deprive a whole people of their rights under the eyes of the whole wo~ld? ROll can it be content with state_nts and 111lited resolutions without any punitive action? How is it that we have faUed to this aay to adoPt any resolution which would tapo. any penalty or sanction in the face of Israeli aggression, when we have 8een here, in this General Asselllbly, how any countries rose and took a stand (Mr. Shlhabi, saudi Arabia) against. the invasion by the araies of a certain State of another COWltry, hCllf they IIObiUzed all the potential and all the international foru. in condeaning that State in the strongest terlDS, hew they opposed that invasion with every .eans at hand until the occupation canae to an end? The proclamation by the Palestinian National Council on 15 Novermec 1988 of the Palestin lan Sta te in conforaity with Uni ted Ha tions resolu tiens, and the speedy recognition of that State and the welco.. extended to the Council's declaration by peace-loving countries, which have so rar nullbered 95, point at one of the ways which will lead to peace and securi~i in the region, if the Israeli authorities respond to it. It is the way to the illlple_ntation of Uni tfld Ha tions resolutions, the resolution of the Fez sunuait conference and the various plans forlllulated by wise statesmen for resolving the problem of the Middle East and Palestine. This is a stage in the history of the Middle East which opens widely the doors of hope that the world may respond and thus rid the international arena of one of the worst problellS that we in the ~egion have faced. But the authorities of Israel and its rulers. even the so-called UDderates among them, have rejected tht'! ini tia tlve even before it was announced and continued to resist it after the Palestinian Rational Council proclaimed it regardless of the great sacrifices it involved and the c~lls by many States in the world to recognize it and co-operate with it for the sake of security and peace. It is that pesoe which Isreel does not want, avoids6 and cannot live with, as its responses demonstratee Hence, where do we go from here remains your responsibility - our collective responsibility. After all that we heve seen over the past two years since the beginning of the intifadah ... the strange attelllPts to crush the intUadah and the Zionist MnOeUft. to hoodwink the population under the nalle of security and peace'" we may ask ourselves, Wbat is it that Israel wants? Is it peace that it vants? But what (Mr. Shihabi, saudi Arabia) sort of peace could that be when this is its reeponse? It has _de a mistake by rejecting the Palestinian State. It has shown that it does not recognize the right way to peaO! when it persbted in deprivinq the Palestinian people of their basic rights that are beyond dispute. It has strayed from the path because delusions ha". lured it since its inception in the land of Palestine when by aggression it aehed th0 ho_land of the Palestinian Arab people with the support and under the wing of illPer18l1slI, it dreamed of obUterating for all time the Arab Palestinian Peace cannot be achieved through expanding the areas of aggression, enlarging the fronU of enmity and extencUng the lines of animosities. In 1982, the Arabs Offered the well-known Fez summit formula as a way to a balanced peace in spite of the big Arab sacdficea it involved. (Mr. Shihabi, saudi Arabia) It was rejected, resisted and fought against by the Zionists, who even refused to understand the declaration of the Palestinian National COuncil, its peaceful ini tiative and the proclamation of the Palestinian Sta te a year ago. What, then, do they want? Do they want to keep the Palestinian people hostage as a bargain i~'9 chip in their: drive to domina te the whole teq ion by force? Can the tsraeli authorities really believe that Israel will be able for ever to dominate the region, impose its will by intimidation, demarcate borders at will, and qrant or withhold rights as it wishes? If so, it would appear that just as they are ignorant of everything else, so they are ignorant of the fact that they are a small group of people living on land they have occupied, sustained for one day to the next by foreign aid. Their roots are not where they live, and their actual influence is not in the place of their dreams. They are living in an environment of increas in9 hastilt ty and deep hatred. The Arab na tion, spread far and wide, and the Islamic people, within their farthest limits, give birth every year to several times the number of persons that make up the Zionist population in Palestine, as rapresentatives well know. The gap of Zionist technical and military suPeriority is narrowing every day and in a short time the eauation of Israeli superiority '1111. be but a farce in the annals of history. This is the reality of what will happen if the Israeli authorities persist in their delusions and ignorance. From what we hear and see every day, it b my expectation that they will persist in that iqnorance and cherish thair delusions unless the countries of the world take a firm stand in keeping with the simplest demands of their responsibilities, as was the case of dealing with South Africa. We await the same show of firmness now by the countc1es of the world, especially the friends of Israel. This is the dimension we do not seem to be able to find in the quest for the solution for which we are working. (Mr. Shihabi, saudi Arabia) Tbe revolution of the PalesUninan people is in full flood, despi te all the Ileaaures of suppression. It erupted 23 months ago. Then there ls the revolution 11\ the Golatl, the occupied land of the Republic of Syria and the revolution in southern Lebanon, the pOrt of tbe Republic of Lebanon dominated by Zionist injustice and aggression. On every side there is open revolt against injustice, conquest and occupa ticn. Sons and daughters of the people in revol t are daily being llartyred. The world's conscience is outraged &nd the human imagination set afla... The minds of people the world over are being set free from the shackles of Zionist deception md the Israeli tlisinformatim that has continued to brainwash people over the past decades. Th~ revolution has shoun the Israeli army to be a gang of outlaws and tramplers of human values who wage war against children and heat wo_n, aen, children and the elderly. It has shown that army to be a group of saboteurs who destroy houses, pillage stores and take the daily means of livelihood away froR peaceful citizens~ It is the revolution of Children who have exposed with their stoning the Zionist leaders' claim to mral vectitude and adherence to divine edicts. It has exposed them before the eyes of the civilized world, and shoMl the. to be a group of forgerm who have deceived some of the people some of the tille. Memers RUst have heard, as we have, that more than 30 per cent of the injuries inflicted by the heavily armed Israeli army on the people of the occupied Palestinian territories were sustained by children under 15 years of age. The question here is whether the United Nations, IDOre than 40 years after the beginning of Zionist armed aggression, can rid itself of the complex that has prevented it from confronting I~tael with the precepts of the Charter and all the measures against inadmissible acts of aggression called ~r in the Charter. Israel'S actions are not aaa1salhle, whether in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, IraQ or Tunisia, its acts of aggression are endless. (Mr. Shihabi, saudi Arabia) So can the Uni tea Ha tions face up to all this in the same way as it faces up to South Africa, Israel's organic twin and racist companion, or to any other situations of invasion and aggression throughout the world? The answer to this question will decide the possibilities of achievin9 the real peace for which all Meabere of the Assembly strive, and it will either define the ~ole of the United Nations in solving the Middle Fast problem or expose the Organization's impotence. In the latter case, Israel, through its rejection of peaceful solutions, will face what every oth~r invader throughout history has faced after seizing the exceptional opportunities afforded by the absence of logic and reason at a certain historical juncture. Such invaders have always had to face the realities of geography and the currents of history. They have always discovered, when it was too late, that exceptional opportunities are by their ~ery nature temporary and that the realities of history and the facts of geography are bound to decide the outcome in favour of those in the right. The Custodian of the TWo Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, said in the sta tement addressed .to the Chairman and members of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the occasion of the In terna tional Day of Solidari ty w1th the Pa1estin ian PeOple # "As we know, the endeavours to aChieve peace founded on tight and justice have to cross the bridge of respect for values, adherence to covenants, compliance with principles of justice, and the rule of law. No peace will endure that is not founded on these tenets, and no peace will survive that is reached thorugh violating and avoiding." As we blessed and supported the proclamation of the Palestinian State, so today we praise with esteem and respect the revolt of the people in the lands of Palestine, the Golan and southern Lebanon to regain their usurped r iqhts. We hail (Mr. Shihabi~ saudi Arabia) the revolution and its heroes, men, women, children and the elderly. We hear the echoes froll lIOuntains and valleys, cities and villagess we hail their courage and sacrifice, we applaud their steadfastness in the face of Zionist injustice, and we salute their persistence until the final fUlfilment of their aspirations. We have to translate into acUal our collJllitment to upholding palestinian rights, restoring Syrian territory to Syria and Lebanese land to Lebanon, and ensuring the inviolability of the whole of the Arab land, from Baghdad to Tunisia, and all Arab and Muslim lands, as well as their protection from Zionist aggression. We have to respond to the calls of the palestin ian people in theit intifadah in defence of the very principles upon which the United Nations was founded and the precepts enshrined in international conventions and treaties. They have a right to their hoaeland, to self-deter.lnation, to choose the form of government they desire, to uphold the State they have proclaillled, to reject all forms of injustice or agCJression, and to condemn and expose the aggressor's unjustifiable claims. Peace founded on justice is the demand of all memers of the Assembly. It is our demand. Let us work for it on the basis that is clear to all.* * Mr. Hurat (Antigua and BarOOda), Vice-President, took the Chair. (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arahia) let us hope that, in the present international climate of detente~ the peoples of the world will be able to hold their heads high and participate in an international order hased on respect for human values and the rights of the individual and of States. We hope that the Middle East will qet its fair share of support so that these principles, rules and rights may hecome a reality in our reqion. Mr. HOQOQ (Afgha~istan). Allow me at the outset to express our profound condemnation of the cowardly act of terror that claimed the life of President Rene Moawad of Lebanon. We express our heartfelt condolences to the people of Lebanon on their tragic loss, and we are confident that the la te President will go down in the history of his country as a true and courageous son of.' lehanon who rose to the demands of the national interests ef his country at a crucial juncture, sacrificing his life for the cause of peace, harmony and national reconciliation in his motherland. Over the decades, the tense situation prevailing in the Middle East as a result of the continued Israeli occupation of Palestine, the Syrian Gol&n Heiqhts and parts of southern Lehanon, as well as the policy of agqression and expansionism constantly pursued bV Israel in that region, has posed a dangerous threat to peace and security in that region and throughout the world • That policy has brought about untold irreparable suffering and sorrow to the Palestinian people scattered arou~d the world as refugees and to those Palestinian and other Arah people Uvinq in the occupied terdtoties. It is quite obvious that a just and lasting peace and stabiliri in that VOlatile region of the world can only he based on Israel's total and unconditional withdrawal from all the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, as well as on the restoration of the undeniable and legitimate rights of (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) the Palestinians to exercise self-determination without. foreiqn intervention, to retucn to their homeland and to establish their own State in their national territory in line with General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974 and other relevant United Nations resolutions. In this connection, I should like to recall the great significance of the political declaration adopted by the Palestine National Council in Algiers on 15 November 1988. That declaration embodies the proper and practical ways and means for the settlement of the grave situation in ttle Middle East, with the QIlestion of Palestine constituting its core. The heroic intifadah, which has continued notwithstanding the merciless murder of Palestinian youths, women, men and children at the hands of the Is~aeli butchers, is a convincing response to the illegal occupation of their lands. In this regard i I Should like to rei tera te the firm solidari ty and support of the people and the Gove~nment of the Republic of Afghanistan for the struggle of the peoples of Palestine and the Republic of Syria in their just and dC;ht.eous cause of liberating their occupied lands. The situation in Lebanon rer.ains tense and explosive owing to the continued occupation of parts of southern Lebanon by Israeli forces. It is high time to demand the immediate and scrupulous implementation of Security Oounci1 resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (197e), 508 (1982) and 509 (1982), calling for the total and unconditional withdrawal of the Israeli aggressor forces from Iebanon. The full sovareignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Lebanon as a full-fledged member of the community of nations must be preserved and enaured. Under present conditions, the convening of an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations is t~e only practicable means for ensurinq just and l&<Jting peace and stability and security ill the Middle East. In that (Mr. 8oQQ4, Afghanistan) conference, the full participation of all the parties concerned. including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, should be ensured on an equal footing. In conclusion, I should like once aga in to express the firm support of the people and the Government of the Republic of Afghanistan for the just struggle of the Palestinian people and the other Arab peoples for the liberation of the occupied Arab territories and the immediate restoration of their legitimate rights. We are fUlly convinced that the just solution of the protracted Middle East problem can, in turn, consolidate the process of peace, understanding, peaceful coexistence, and international security. Mr. AL-MASRI (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation from Arabic) z While the improved climate of international relations and the replacement of years of confrontation, tension and cold war by a new phase of detente have had a positive effect on some of the regional disputes throuqhout the world, the Arab-Israeli conflict continues to take a different COUi'Be in an atmosphere of tension and confrontation. This is the outcome of depriving the Palestinian people of its inalienable national rights and of the continued occupation by Israel of the Palestinian and other Arab territories, as well as of the increasing Israeli intransigence in challenging international law and United Nations resolutions and the escalation of its brutal oppressive measures in the occupied Arab territories. The United Nations credibility has been enhanced by its great achievements in many regions of the worlde People are increasingly convinced of the Orqanization's effectiveness as an international machinery for resolving regional conflicts, eliminating injustice and assisting the oppressed in liherating themselves from all kinds of foreign occupation and alien domination and in restoring their national (Mr. Hoqoq, Afghanistan) rights. Hence it is imperative that the United Nations assume a decisive role in helping the Palestinian people - whose upris!nq has entered its third year - as well as the popula tions of the other occupied Arab terdtories, libera te their lands from Israeli occupation and put an end to their tragedy. The Palestinians are subjected daily to all kinds of repression, oppression, ~illing, house demolition, deportation, and other meane of mass punishment such as the destruction of farms - means which occurred duting the most barbaric periods of naziem. (Mr. Al-Masri, SYrian Arab RePubUC) • The consideration of the Middle East crisis and the seeking of a just solution t.o the Arab-Israeli conflict. cannot ignore the two following decisive elements which constitute the basis for the settlement of this conflict.. first, the need for ending Israoli occupation of the Palestinian territories and other occupied Atab territories unconditionally, s !nce occ:upation is an illegitimate ae t which violates the United Nations Charter and the rules of international law, and secondly, enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights, including their rights to self-determination, to return to their homeland, Palestine, e.nd to establish their independent and sovereign State. My COUlti:ry has repeatedly made it clear that peace has certain components, foremost among which are justice and equity, the ending of occupation and the restoration of usurped rights. There is no peace under occupation. There will be no peace unless and until the Arabs regain all their lands and all their rights. It is sophistry and a grave mistake for some people to believe that peace can be !lchieved in this region without total, unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all the Palestinian and other Arab occupied territories and without giving the Arab Palestinian people the opportunity to exercise their inalienable national rights. Those who speak of peace and ignore those requirements and conditions steer away from the truth of the matter and make a serious error of judgement. Israel does not. want peace in the region. The rulers of Israel, with their Zionist doctr ine which is unmatched in its fanaticism and fundamentalism by any other doctrine, are living in another age. They still rely on nvths and illus'ions to achieve their final objective of establishing greater Israel, from the Pllphrates to the Nile. Israel simply wants the Arabs to accept its expansionist designs. It is for this reason that. Israel (Mr. M-Masr!, $lr ian Arab Hepublic) rejects the international conference under the auspices of the Uhited Nations and the implementation of related United Nations resolutions. It is escalating its expansionist policies and creating further obstacles on the road to peace. It has annexed Arab Jerusalem and the Arab Syrian Golan» it has invaded Lebanon, destroyed its capital, Beirut, and occupied its southern part, it has stepped up its settler policies by continuing to build more settlements. All of this strongly refutes the claims of those who believe that Israel wants peace. At the same time, it shows Israel to be a tool of aggression, a racist zionist entity and an active factor against peace and security in the Middle East and in the world as a whole. Having realized this fact, on 10 November 1975 the General Asserrbly adopted a ' resolution determining that Zionism is a form of racism. On 5 February 1982, after the applica tion of Israeli laws to the Arab 51r ian Galan, the General Assembly declared that Israel' s record and ac tions confirmed that it was not a peace-loving Member State and that it had not carried out its obligations under General Assembly resolution 273 (III) of 11 May 1949. The problem that obstructs the peace process in the Middle East is inherent precisely in the prac tices of Israel and the Israeli dreams of expansion. The long terrorist history of Israeli occupation of the Arab Syzian Gelan, the west Bank, the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon calls to mind the barbaric acts of the racist regime of Pretoria against the peoples of southern Africa and the Nazi crimes against civilians during the second World War. Since it occupied the Arab Syrian Golan in 1967, Israel has continued to impose measures aimed at annexation of the territory and encouragement of its settlement by Israelis. That is why, in Decenber 1981, Israel took the decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Arab Syrian Golan and (Mr. Al-Masri, §Vrian Arab Republic) Israeli identity on its Syrian Arab inhabitants. '!'hose who refused to accept that identity were harassed by the most harsh measut'es. The Israeli occupation authorities confiscated the lands of the Syrian Arab inhabitants and converted those lands into military zones and settlement areas. They also took (JIIer the natural water sources and pre'$ented the Syrian Arab inhabitants from moving and working freely in the territory. The sit~ation in the Arab Syrian Golan, as in other occupied Arab territories, is deteriorating further. Every day the Syrian Arab inhabitants face very brutal treatment at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces. Their basic human rights are systematically violated. Since Israel occupied the Arab Syrian Golan in 1967, it has pursued the well-known Israeli strategy of aggression against the inhabitants of the territory. Its objective has been to Judaize the Arab Syrian Golan, eradicate the national identity of its inhabitants, destroy its economic infrastructure, take OYer its waber resources and change its social and cultural character, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, particularly seCUl ity Council resolution 497 (1981), adopted unanimously on 17 December 1981, and General Assembly resolu tion ES-9/1, adopted on 5 February 1992 at the ninth emergency special sess ion and reaffirmed a t every subsequent session of the General Assembly. It is no secret that the tragic sit~ation in southern Lebanon is the result of Israeli occupation of part of Lebanon and of Israel's use of armed mercenaries and puppets to commi t ac ts of terror: ism and violence agains t the Lebanese poP'J la tion • Israel rejected Security Council reso~tion 425 (1978) and subsequent resolutions calling for the full and unconditional withdrawal of its forces from (Hr. AI-Masr i, Sofr lan Arab R!public) all Lebanese territory and the deployment of thited Nations forces in the area to carry out their mission. The Israeli occupation forces have turned whole towns and villages in southern Lebanon into quasi-eoncentration camps. They transformed life there into hell as the Israeli occupation forces daily carry out acts of repress ion, murder and destruction from the air, sea and land. (Mr. Al-Masri, §Yrian Atab Republic) The road to a just p~ce is a one-way road that passes through an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations and with the • participa tion of all par ties concerned, including the pales tine Libera tion Organization. In essence, peace means justice, it means restoring the rights to those who have been denied them and putting an end to aggression and occupa tion. That is the kind of peace for ~ich we struggle. The peace we desire follows the road of the implementation of the United Nations resolution~ relevant to this auestion, including those pertaining to the holding of the international oonferenc~. Unless Israel withdraws from all the occupied Arab territoliee, unless the auestion of Palestine is solved in a way that guarantees the rightB of the Palestinian people, there will be no peace in that region. For if there is no just peace, aggression and occupation will continue, in the Arab Syrian Golan, in the Arab Palestine land, and in southern Lebanon. That resistance is a result of continued occupation. Therefore, the resistance will continue in all these areas until the last inch of Arab territory is freed from Israeli occupa ticn. Mr. AKSIN ('l\lrkey). Once again the question of the Middle East iB before the General Assembly, and once again we shall have to give expression to our feelings of frustration at our inability to see the prospect of an early settlement. As we approach the end of an eventful year, we are witnessing welcome developments in a number of areas of conflict, developments that contr ibute to the creation of an international climate of conciliation and understanding. It was against that hackqround that we anticipated favourable developmenta to help bring to an end the conflict in the Middle East and the suffering of the people of the region. Unfortunately, attempts made this year to achieve a just and lasting solution to the problem have so far brought no tangible results. (Mr. Al-MasH, Syrian Arab Republic) Throughout the four decades of wars, strife and instability in the Middle East, Turkey has pursued policies conforming to its direct and natural interest in the reg ion and in the fate of the people livinq near. its botders. Close historical, cultur.al and emotional ties hind the people of TUrkey to the people of the region. It is natural for Turkey to show concern at any event which would threaten the peace and well-being of the region, and the plight of the Palestinian popula tion in the occupied terd tories is no exception. We have made clear on a nunner of occasions our position teqarding the auestion of the Middle East. Turkey is convinced that there can he no satisfactory, lonq-term solution to this problem unless it is based on negotiations between all the interested parties, conducted in good faith within the framework of an international peace conference. M¥ Government welcomes all efforts directed towards aChieving this end and believes that following the proclama tion and international recognition of an independent Palestinian State last year the circumstances are right for the consideration of new initiatives. We hope that all countries in a position to do so will contribute to present efforts aimed at the establishment of peace and justice. Turkey stands ready to assist in such endeavours. Recent initiatives envisaginq the par.ticipation of the true r.epresentatives of the Palestinian people in direct negotiations with Israel deserve very careful consideration. My Government helievea that such neqotiations can form a oasis for the elimination of differences, thereby leading to the launching of the peace process. We appeal to the Government of Israel to reApond to these ini tia Uves by adopting more conciliatory policies. We remain bopeful that no Government will stand in the way and blOCk efforts aimed at the early attainment of a lasting solution. Such a solution must he based 00 justice, the right to (Mr. Aksin, TUrkey) self-determination, and the riqht of all States in the Middle East to exist in peace behind recognized and secure borders. T~e report of the Secretary-General in document A/44/731 of 16 November 1989, on the CfUesticn of convening the Interna tianal Peace Conference on the Middle Esst as stipulated in General Assembly resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988, reveals that all parties di~ectly involved in the conflict, with tbe exception of Israel, are prepared to enter the peace process under the auspices of the United Nations. My delegation concurs with the Secretary-General when he expresses his dismay in the following wordsl -This is particularly unfortunate since the resolution ••• received much wider support than earlier resolutions concerning an international conference. The vote in favour of Assembly resolution 43/176 reflected the commitment of the international community to the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, with the participation of all parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Libera tion Organiza tion, on an eaual footinq, and the five permanent members of the Security Council, based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the leqitil18te national rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self~etermination". (A/U/7)1, para. 5) It is sad to see opportunities of this kind being wasted, especially at a time when the situa tion in the occupied tert!toties is so alarminq. The in terna tional community must exert its influence ~n support of the convening of the International peace Conference under the auspices of the United Nations. All countries must shoulder their responsibilities to teach that end. As the peace process fal ters, the world follows with anguish the justified uprising of the Palestinians in the occupied ter.ritories. The Palestinians, the principal victims of the ques tion of the Middle East, are hravely confrontinq the (Mr. Aka!n, Turkey) harsh measures taken by the occupying Power. We need not qo into the details of the oppression of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. A random glance at the report (A/U/13) of the Commissioner-General of the United Na tions Rellefand Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or at the report (A/44/599) of the Special Committee to Investiqate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the population of the OCcupied ~rritories, is enough to reveal the traqic situation faced by the Palestinian people. There have been so many resolutions, the last one heinq General Assennly resolution 44/2 of 13 October 1989, condemning the unacceptable policies and practices of Israel. Several draft resolutions eondemninq Israeli practices, adopted in the Special Political Committee last week, have met with qeneral approval and will he brouqht to the General Assenoly. There will be others. Is the message of the ovei:whelminq majority of the United Nations not clear? For how long must Israeli practices be condemned before the indignation of the world community is understood? (Mr. Aks!n, TUrkey) We appeal once more to the Government of Israel to end its harsh repressive measures in the occupied territories, to live up to its moral and legal obligations and stoP violating the human rights of the Palestinian people, to recognize the leqitimate rights of the Palestinians, including their inalienable right to self-determina tion, and to engaqe in meaningful negotia tions with the true representatives of the Palestinian people and other parties dir.ectly involved, in an international peace conference for the purpose of finding a political solution to the oonflict • Before concluding I wish to state once again that the tragedy of Lebanon is another matter of grave concern to Turkey. At ca mnent when expecta tions were rising as a result of the endeavours of Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco to find a peaceful way ef ending the agony of that suffering na tion, the dark shadow of hatred once aqain overtook it. TUrkey strongly condemns the cowardly attack on President Moawad and shares the shock and sorrow of the Lebanese people at its tragic loss. Our sincere wish is to see the early return of peace, unity and stability to Lebanon through the efforts of the Lebanese people, under the leadership of its newly elected President. Mr. OUID M01W4ED MAfMOUD (Mauritania) (interpretation from Arabic) I The improved political climate and the portents of hope do not, unfortunately, prevail everywhere. In the Middle East, notwithstanding the international community's appeals to and energetic and repea ted condemna tions of Israel throuqh, among other things, resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Oouncil, there has been no improvement in the sI.tua tion h that part of the world. Danger con tinues to hang over the region because of Israel. Therefore it is more necessary than ever before that we adopt appropriate measures to prevent an exacerbation of the situation. We should a1s(,) dellOnstrate good faith, couraqe and willingness to (Mr. Aksin, TUrkey) assist the Palestinian people, who have suffered for more than 40 years now from occupation, displacement and denial of their rights. The Palestinian peopl'9 waited patiently for justice from the international community for a very long time, notwithstanding the brutality of the occupation. But in the face of disappointment, the Palestin ian people loet pa tience, they had no option but to stand up to tyranny in a new way. Therefore:, on 1 Decell'ber 1987 they began their popular uprising against the Israeli occupa tion, an uprising that embodied the noblest values of steadfastness, resistance and opposition to occopation. The valiant Palestin ian people have consented to generous sacrifices, demonstrating true courage and heroism, drawing upon their traditional values and closing ranks in a determined effort to achieve recognition of their inalienable right to establish their Palestinian State with the City of Al Quds as its capital. The General Assembly must now reaffirm the need for a oomprehensive, lasting solution of the problem of the Middle East, hased on equity and justice, through the convening of an international conference on the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations and with the participation of all the parties concerned, including, in particular, the Palestin~ Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole, legi timate representa tive of the Pales tin ian people. The conference should focus on the principles set out in paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 43/176, adopted in 1988. The message of peace sent by the President of the Palestinian State, Mr. Yasset: Arafat, to the Assembly at its last session was testimony to the serious and sincere endeavours of the Palestine Liheration Organi~ation to create condi tions conducive to peace. Therefore, we can now only appeal sincerely to those in a position to exert influence to bring pressure to bear on the party (Mr. OJld Mohamsd Ma hmoud, Mauritan fa) obstructing the attainment of peace to contrihute to the establishment of a truly just, lastinq and comprehensive peace in the a~ea based on recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people and total withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories. While supportinq the efforts of our Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de CuelIac, and all international efforts, Mauritania remains concerned abOut the tension prevailing in that part of the world. We feel that advantage must be taken of the favourable in terna tional cline te to brinq abOut the settlement of the Middle East problem. The United Nations has enormous potential and this should be brought to bear for the purpose of bringing peace to that part of the world through serious, practical efforts to convene an international conference. Mr. STRESOV (Bulgaria). The delegation of the People's Republic of Bulqaria is deeply disturbed by the fact that the Middle East conflict continues to he one of the most Rerious sources of tension in the world, despite the consistent efforts of the international community as reflected in numerous resolutions of the United ~tions. The acuteness and scope of this conflict stands out in ~ particularly striking manner aqainst the background of the current state of ~nternational affa irs, in which a number of regional sources of tension are on the way to being quelled by political means. It is common knowledge that the Palestinian issue is at the co~e of the Middle East crisis. Peace and stability in the region are un~hinkable without a just solution of that issue. That is why every attempt to sidetrack or disregard the interests of the Arab Palestinian people through separate deals or by ignoring the Palestine Liberation Organi~tion (PLO), which is the sole, legitimate representative of these people, will, in fact, impede resolution of the conflict. The heroic uprising of the Palestinian people in the Israe1i~ccupied territory has been going on for two years already. The intifadah is a ViV1d expression of the struggle of the Arab Palestinian people for their legitimate right to independence and self-determinstion, including the right to a sovetei9n State. There are daily reports of casualties and of repressive measures imposed by the occupying forces. The history of mankind has repeatedly proved that repression and terror cannot destroy a nation's desire fo~ freedom and independence. Our attention, besides being focused on the situation in the occupied Arab territories, is also focused on the situation in Lebanon, from which news abOut bloodshed, civilian casualties and destruction is reaching us~ Bulgaria welcomed the recent agreements between the Lebanese factions achieved through the efforts of the Tripartite High Committee of the League of Arah States, hoping that they would bring peace to that troubled land. Unfortuna tely, this was not to be. We learnt, with profound shock of the assassination of President Moawad. Bulgaria strongly condell\l\£ this b:utal act. We hope that the newly elected President will get the necessary support in his efforts to bring peace to Lebanon. It is most important now tn avoid rih!;Ort to further violence, which could disrupt the poli tical dialogue~ In order to bring peace to that suffering land, however, it is necessary, above all, to ensure the implamentGtion of Security COuncil resolutions 508 (1982) and 509 (1982), which call for the immediate and unconditional (Mr. Stresov, Bulgaria) withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lehanon. The restoration of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon is long overdue. The People's Repuhlic of Bu:garia is convinced that it is of paramount importance to seek a comprehensive, peaceful, just and lasting solution of the Arah-Israeli conflict. That solutior. should be based on the generally recognized principle of the inadmissibility of the aCQuisition of foreign land by aggression, which means that Israel must withdraw completely and unconditionally from all Arah terr i tories (", ~··npied in 1967. A solution to the conflict will he feasible only if the Arab people of Palestine are granted the right to self-determination and all States in the region, including Israel, are guaranteed the exercise of the right to free aevelopment and a secure future. This approach enjoys stronq support at the United Nations and has been elaborated in numerous resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. In our view, which is shared hy the vast majority of countries, the most appropriate way to resolve the Middle East conflict is by convening an international conference, under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation of all interested States and including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on behalf of the State of Palestine, and the five permanent members of the Security Council. We are convinced that the positive chanqes in international affairs create favou~able conditions for a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. New opportunitiea in this respect have emerged as a result of the historic decisions of the Palestine National Cooncil at its nineteenth session, in Algiers, which convincingly demonstrated the PLO's willingness to adopt a constructive approach to the solution of the PaleAtinian Question. It is our hope tnat these opportunities will he utili~ed and that other States involved in the conflict will show the necessary political wisdom and realism in (Mr. Stresov, Bulgaria) the saarch for a mutually acceptable solution. Efforts should now be directed at finding the common elements in the proposals and initiatives of the interested States, whiCh should then be used as a basis for moving the poll tical process in the right direction. The PeopJ~e's Republic of Bulgaria welcomes the gro",ing role of the United Nations in thE~ efforts to find peaceful solutions to regional conflicts and eliminate sources of tension. The united Nations will always enjoy tbe full and active suppor'~ of tftJ eountry, so that the Middle East may ul tima tely be transformed from a region of armed confrontation and contradictions to an area of peace and understanding. Mr. COORN!Y (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation from Russian), The discussions at the forty-fourth session of the General Assembly have shown convincingly that the process of improving the international climate by the development of dialogue and the strengthening of the principle of the pl'itmcy of law and human values has encompassed practically all spheres of multilateral diplomacy and had a positive impact on the approaCh of Sta tes Members to the settlement of long-standing regional conflicts. So fat, unfortunately, the wind of positive c~ange in international life has had only a very insignificant eftect on the situation in the Middle East. The Middle East has been, and continues to be, one of the most sensitive areas in the world and a danqerous focal point of tension. The periodic outburAts of instability and the surqes of confrontation and extremism in the region have confirmed a widely perceived truth - that there iA no alternative to a pOlitical solution of that probl~~. Military measures and armed force have not only failed to lead to a settlement in the Middle East but also helPed the accumulation of new factors tha t impede the movement towards peace and stability. (Mr. Stresov, Bulgaria) The Arab-Israeli conflict is now acquiring a particularly alarming nature because of the unbridled arms race into which the Middle East has been 1rawn. The accumulation, in that area, of weapons of mass destruction threatens the very existence of the States and peoples of the region, undermines t~e comprehensive system of peace and seclJrity established as a result of the efforts of the United Nations, and endangers the peace of the world in general. Of course, new approaches have been seen there, too, from time to time. These relate primarily to the constructive and realistic platform of the PLO adopted at the special session, 1n Alqeria, of the Palestiu~ National Council. The PLO's recognition of the right of the State of Israel to a secure existence, its willingneAs to engage with Israel in negotiations within the framework of an international conference, and its renunciation of all forms of terrorism met with approval at the Arab summit in Casablanca and with a positive response in the world in general. The Ukrainian SSR actively supports the PLO's position and regards it as an important step towards a Middle East settlement. (Mr. Chornxy, Ukrainian SSR) Unfortunately there has still been no equivalent response from Israel. Istael'a answer has been heightened repression in the occupied territories and in the poutical sphere the proposal of the so-called Sha_ir plan, which disregards one of the ..in requireeents of a peaceful settl~nt in today's world - recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. 'l'hose in the ruling circles in Israel continue to seek to retain control of the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories. Consequently, as the Secretary-Gen~ral notes in his report on the work of the Organization, WThe situation in the Middle East re_ins a source of profound and intense concern ••• Ibpes for early progress in the peace process ••• have sadly given way to mistrust and doubt among the parties concerned. w (A/U/1, p. 7) As a result of the continuing deadlOCk the situation in the occupied territories has become even worse. The policies and practices of Israel with regard to the population of the occupied territories have heen unani~sly condeaned by the international collllunity. However, Israel prefers to ignore that cleuly voiced position, which has been repeatedly set forth in resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. 'l'oc1ay, when the Ollted Nations has proolai_d the Decade of International Law, thus dellOnstrating the desire of the world co••unity to strengthen the authority of internatioYlal la", the Question of Israel '8 collpliance "ith its obligations under the 'Ourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Tt.e of War poses a particulady acute probl.. 'It\e developaent of events that has occurred once DOre convinces us that only a coepreheosiV& political settlement .nco~ssinq all aspects of the conflict in the Middle east can effectively protect the dCJhts of the Palestinians, as "ell u those of the et thens of Israel. Military force cannot CJuarantee a lonq-terra, stable solution to political (~r. Chornyy, Ukrainian SSR) proble.. It is essenUal to revive as soon as possibl" the effective process of negotiations on the Middle East, relyinq on Security ONncil resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and taking fullY into account the legitiMate national rights of the Pal••tinian people, including the right to self-deteralnatlon. Delay in this regard could have the alDSt serious COlllseqUenceB.. We fully share th~ alara of the Secretary-General, Who 1n his report on thia Question observes -I aa deeply worried by the fact that tittJe 18 passing and that opportunities that have flllerCjed in the past 12 IIOnths 1Il1ght slip a.y. - (~/44/131, para. 7) Because of the exceptionlOl complexity of the Middle East conflict, the neCJQtiating process ..ust he ..1tifaceted in Mture and could include efforts to establish and develop a bilateral and a &ultilateral cUalOCJue. Gere everything is ~portant, including the initiatives of individual countries and their own regional o rC)an1zations, such as, for eu.ple, the League of Ar~b States, and an active role by the Security COuncil and its permanent _libel'S. Hr delegation believes that, in the liqht of the extreBe qravity of the sitUDtion, the peace process IIUSt be given a stronq iilpetus by the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East under United Nations auspices, with a view to achieving a cosprehenslve settleMent of the Middle East conflict. Consideration at a _eting of the Security Cbuncil of the cuestion of preparing an international conference would certainly mpcrt extra dynalllislI to the peace process" The principle of the freedoe of soci01POlltlcal Choice, whiCh we view as on~ of the fundalllental principles of interna tional rela tions, reauires that the possibility of exercising that right be e.tended to the Arab people of Pelest1ne. The holding, within the context of a ccsprehsns1ve Mtt1.ellent under effective (Mr. Ohcrnrr, Utrainlen SSa) international control, of free and fair elections in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, could be a step towards that end. In tfte general compleg of Middle East problelllJ the si tua tion in Lebanon continues to be a source of great concern. The tkrainian SOviet SOcialist Republic bas consistently supported steps likely to lead to the cessation of military activities in that country. We were deeply alarmed and distressed to hear of the <.teath of the lawfully elected President of Lebanon, Mr. Bene MoaWl!ld. 'lbat tragic event could once again provoke clashes among Iebanese parties and groups. This must not be permitted. we call on all Lebanese parties to show res traint and soundnesi; of judgement and to use only political means. It is essential to consolidate the results achieYed throuc;h the mediation of the Tripartite Hi9h COmmittee of the League of Arab states and the constructive positions of Arab and other countries. As the Presidant of tha securi ty Council observed on 22 November a "Democratic lBbanese institutions /lUst be stron9ly supported and the process of national reconciliation must go forwerd. This is the only way Lebanese national unity can be fully restored." (S/PV. 2894,'p. 3) The Middle East ..,d all the people who live there must cross the threshold of mutual hatr~d and confrontation. By taking that difficult but essential step they wUl open up for themselves the possibility of strengthening mutual security, economic co""Operation and mutual cultural endchll'ent. Only by resolving the pr incipal issue at th is stage - by mak inq a s tart on the process 0 f & comptehens ive settlement - can we mve towards the solution of the other complex problems of the region. Miss WILLBERG (New zealand) a It is with a sense of frustration that New Zealand speaks on this item. There was a glimmer of hope as 1988 drew to a close that this year might have seen progress on this long-standing dispute.· Despite the efforts of many and the expressed wish of all, howevel', that was not to be. (Mr. Chornyy, Ukrainian SSR) Hew Zealand has long held that before any negotta ted solution can be reached the parties concerned IIUSt have dellDnstrated a clear commitment to reach a just and durable peace. We welCOlled, therefore, the outcome of the Algiers I!l&eting of the Palestine National Council last year and, particularly, the statement hy Mr. Arafat In Decellber that the Palestine National Council explicitly accepted the existence of Israel. These were clear signs of lIlovement, the opening of a cbor towards the POSSibility of negotiations. In New Zealand's view, Security COuncil resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) provide the besis fo~ a coaprebensive settlement in the Middle East. We are all aware th5t these resolutions affirm that every State has the right to live in peace within Mcure and recognised boundade", free frolll threats or acts of force. Israel has that right. We regret the reluctance of some of Istael's neighbours uneQUivocally to accept that right. The resolutions also emphasize the inada1stllbil1ty of aCQuiring territory by war. Israel has no right under international law to the occupied territories. Palestinian endorsement of Security COuncil resolution 242 (1967) pr~ides a foundation on which to build a settlement that recognises the rights and aspirations of those party to the dispute. Regrettably, current hopes appear to be fading, with political stale&tte and ia~bll1ty on the pa~t of Israel. We emphasize our view that without a willingnes9 to oon81der reciprocal coneesRions there can he no negotiated solution. We look for signs that Israel is genuine about peace. ~ range of peace proposals exists lind fJuhstantial effot'ts continue, hut teal progress depends on political will. We have yet to see sufficient lIlCWement in the direction of teaching a negotiated settle..nt that addresses all anpects of the Palestinian prohlem, and fOr the PalestiniaNl this .ust include the fW\da_ntal element of the riqht to self~etefatnationand to a national homeland, if that is their wish. eMiRS Willberg, New Zealand) Meanwhile, Israel continues to enforce measures to consolidate its hold over the occupied territories. New Zealand does not accept the validity of Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem, nor the continuing establishment and encroachment of settlements in the occupied territor les. Nor can we condone Israeli practices in containing the intifadah. We are deeply concerned by reports of intimidation of those monitoring human rights, and of others working to provide humanitarian services to the Palestinian people. We find unacceptable Israeli practices of closing schools and edueational institutions, of demolishing houses, of imposing economic sanctions and other forns of collective punishment. The repressive measures used against the village of Beit Sahur by the Israeli authctities have been widely condemned. The international community has been unanimous this year in its condemnation of Israel's continuing practice of deportations, in violation of international law~ As an occupying Power Israel must accept the de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention and apply its provisions in full. we consider that the intifadah is a spontaneous uprising throu~; which the Palestinian people have shown that they reject 22 years of Israeli occupation, that they are seeking to take control of their own destiny. The uprising shows no signs of ending, indeed, it: has intensified over the last few m:mths. It is clear that this is not simply a question of maintaining law and order, it is at root a fundamental political question which Israel must address. Israel looks to negotiations with acceptable representatives of the Palestinian people. Yet those exercising leadership in the occupied territories find themselves either placed in df.::tention or expelled from their homes. Who should represent the Palestinians is for the palestinians to decide. We would remind Israel that in negotiating for peace one has in the end to deal with others besides one's friends. There can be no substitute for direct negotiations with (Miss Willberg, New zealand) genuine Palestinian leaders. These must include the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Israel's acceptance of this fact would serve to revitalize the hope that peace can be achieved. Such an act would match the constructive PLO moves last year. New Zealand is not, of course, a party principal to the dispute and our concern is one that recognizes the importance of the region for global stability. We have witnessed progress on IIBny international issues over the year. A significant step was taken this month on another 101\9-standing issue before the United Nations, the question of Namibia. The new international environment has seen a willingness on the part of parties to regional conflicts, and both super-Powers, to reach negotiated settlements, to seek peace and justice. When barriers are tumbling down around the world and enmities are seen as increasingly anachronistio, we look to the partiea involved in this dispute to grasp the opportuni ties proferred in this new climate. The peace proces.q is at a decisive stage because opportunities for progress do exist. We call on the parties to the dispute - and Israel in particular - to seize these opportunities. If they do not they will beat a heavy responsibility. If they do not peace will become ever more relllOte. The United Nations has a constructive role to play. The convening of an international peace conference unae:r United Nations auspices, with the participation of all parties involved, including the Palestinians - and this must inevitably involve the PLO - and those who can contribute to a successful outcome, provides the way forwar~ to a negotiated settlement. Vi~tually all have given their support to this concept, but, as the Secretary-General notes, sufficient agreement does not yet exiRt to permt the convening of such a cxmference. We endorse the continuing efforts of the Secretary-Generml in this regard. (Miss Willberg, New Zealand) As we have said in this forum before, peace and justice for Israel will be found only when thera is also peace and justice for Palestinians. we believe that the long-term interests of Israel will be served best by a peaceful resolution of the dispute based on a recognition cf mutual rights. What we are looking to no", is constructive movenent by all parties to the dispute. The meeting rose at 8 p.m. (Miss Willberg, New Zealand)