International Day of Solidarity/GA President’s statement – Press release

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARKS DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN PEOPLE,

   URGING INTENSIFIED INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR PEACE

Following is the statement by Didier  Opertti (Uruguay), President of  the fifty-third session  of  the General  Assembly,  at  the observance  of  the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People:

At the outset,  I would like  to say  that I am  honoured to take part  in this commemorative  meeting in my capacity  as President  of the fifty-third session of  the General Assembly.   In December 1977,  the General Assembly, in its resolution 32/40  B, called for the annual observance of 29  November as  the  International  Day  of  Solidarity  with  the  Palestinian  People. Traditionally on this day, the international  community renews its pledge to the  Palestinian people to  continue to  support its  legitimate aspirations and demands on the basis of the principles  of international law, the United Nations Charter and United Nations resolutions.

Since the early days of the United Nations,  the question of Palestine has remained a matter of major preoccupation and concern to its members.  On  29 November  1947,   the  General   Assembly  adopted   resolution  181 (II), partitioning Palestine into two  States — one Arab  and one Jewish  — with an economic union between  them and a  special international regime for  the city of Jerusalem.  Half a century later, this remains the oldest unresolved issue on our Organization's agenda.

Some  five  years  ago,  the Israeli-Palestinian  negotiations  came  to a dramatic turning point, when leaders of  Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization  (PLO)  signed  a  historic  document  —  the  Declaration  of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements —  that ushered in a new stage in their  relations.  The  Interim Arrangements were  welcomed by  the international community  as a sign  of hope and  an indication of  political courage, far-sightedness and genuine desire to  achieve peace and  stability in the region.  Since then,  the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations have seen many ups and downs, breakthroughs and frustrations.

We were  gratified that following a  protracted and  uneasy stalemate, the parties  have at  last succeeded  in recapturing the  momentum of  peace and putting  the  process  back  on  track.    The  signing  of  the  Wye  River Memorandum, its subsequent ratification and gradual implementation, as  well as the beginning of the permanent status talks, show that  both parties  are committed  to  proceed  along the  road  to peace,  in  accordance with  the existing agreements.

Nevertheless, we are aware  of how long and difficult this process will be and how tense the  situation on the ground remains.   In this respect, it is absolutely essential  for the  agreements to  be scrupulously respected  and for the parties to refrain from engaging  in unilateral acts in pursuit  of advantage on the ground.   In particular, the General Assembly at its  tenth emergency  special session  has demonstrated  anew  its serious  concern  at ongoing settlement  construction, calling  for a  conference of  contracting parties  to the  Fourth Geneva  Convention  to  consider measures  to ensure respect for  its provisions.   We are grateful  to the  Swiss Government for its efforts in this regard.

The   General  Assembly   has  continued   to  reiterate   the   permanent responsibility  of the  United Nations  towards the  question  of Palestine, until  the  question  is resolved  in  all  its aspects  with  fairness  and justice.  It is incumbent  on all of us — Members  of this Organization — to see to  it that this  objective is  brought to fruition.   For the  peace process  to succeed,  it should  continue to  be based  on respect  for  the universally recognized principles  of international law, the United  Nations Charter, and relevant  United Nations resolutions, notably Security  Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978), and the exercise by  the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights,  including the right to  self-determination.

Helping the  Palestinian people  to establish solid foundations  for peace through  the  mobilization of  international assistance for  economic  and social  development is another essential task of  the international community.  The United Nations family of organizations, in cooperation with donor countries and the international community  as a whole, must  intensify their efforts  in this regard so  as to enable  the Palestinian people, who have suffered for so long, to begin enjoying the fruits of peace.

I would like to  commend the Committee on the Exercise of the  Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its untiring  efforts in support of the Palestinian people and in implementation of  the important mandate given  to it by the General Assembly.

I would also like  to recall the important  initiative of the Committee to introduce a new  item in  the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly.  The consideration of the item, entitled "Bethlehem 2000", the involvement of the United Nations  in  this  worldwide and  truly historic celebration, and the adoption, without a vote, of a resolution marking  this millennial event  became a  manifestation of  the international  community's conviction  that peace, justice  and harmony  will prevail  in this troubled region.

Under  your  dedicated leadership,  Mr. Chairman,  the Committee  has done much  to bring  the question  of the inalienable  rights of  the Palestinian people  and,  more   broadly,  the   question  of   Palestine,  into   sharp international focus.  I have been  following, with interest, the  work of the Committee  on the  Exercise of  the  Inalienable  Rights of  the Palestinian People and  I  know  how keen  it  is to  make  a concrete  contribution  to international  endeavours  in   support  of  the Israeli-Palestinian  peace process.  I would like to wish you every success in your mission.

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