Sovereignty over natural resources in the OPT – GA debate – Press release (excerpts)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO CONVENE TWO-DAY

RESUMED SESSION OF ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

TO ADDRESS 'FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT'

Adopts 43 Proposals Recommended by Second Committee;

Reaches Agreement on Reference to 'Economic Growth'; Acts on El Niño

Acting on reports of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial) this afternoon, the General Assembly adopted without a vote six resolutions previously approved by recorded votes, after those texts were orally revised so that the phrase "sustained economic growth and sustainable development" was followed by "in accordance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences" — the wording adopted in a resolution on the medium-term plan (51/219). The six texts were among a total of 43 proposals adopted on the Committee's recommendation, two by recorded votes.

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In two other texts adopted by recorded vote, the Assembly:

— Reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water, and called on Israel not to exploit or endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 — 137 in favour to 2 (Israel, United States) against, with 14 abstentions (See Annex II for details of the voting.); and …

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Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to consider the reports of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial). The reports concern the following topics: financing of development; trade and development; science and technology for development; external debt crisis and development; industrial development cooperation; business and development; sustainable development and international economic cooperation; environment and sustainable development; operational activities for development; training and research; report of the Economic and Social Council; and permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.

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The report on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources (document A/52/632) contains one draft resolution approved by a vote of 124 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 13 abstentions, on 2 December. The text would have the Assembly reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water. It would call upon Israel not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of, or endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

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The report on "permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources" was before the Assembly for action. The draft resolution contained in that report was adopted by a recorded vote of 137 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 14 abstentions. (See Annex II.)

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ANNEX II

Vote on Sovereignty of Palestinian People over Natural Resources

The draft resolution on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources was adopted by a vote of 137 in favour to 2 against with 14 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstain: Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Federated States of Micronesia, Georgia, Grenada, Marshall Islands, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan.

Absent: Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Guatemala, Lesotho, Madagascar, Nepal, Palau, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Zambia.

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