Situation in the OPT and the Golan – ECOSOC debate – Press release

ISRAEL CRITICIZED BEFORE ECOSOC OVER OCCUPATION

OF PALESTINIAN, ARAB TERRITORIES

Reform of United Nations Social and Economic Operations also Discussed

(Reissued as received.)

  GENEVA,  26  July  (UN  Information   Service)  —  Israel's  Middle  East

neighbours,  armed  with a  report  presented  to  the  Economic and  Social

Council  (ECOSOC) this  afternoon, charged  as  in  previous years  that the

country's occupation of Palestinian territories and  the Syrian Golan was  a

violation of international law and a violation of human rights.

  An  Israeli representative countered  that the  tone of  their remarks did

not match the  atmosphere of recent diplomatic peace efforts, and termed the

report  political,  irrelevant  and  biased.   The  representative  said new

Israeli Prime Minister  Ehud Barak  had given  the highest  priority to  the

Middle East  peace process,  already he  had met  with Palestine  Liberation

Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat, and had said that the issue of  Israeli

settlements would  be one  of the  subjects to be  considered in  permanent-

status negotiations.

  ECOSOC, beginning the final week of  its four-week session, also  received

a  briefing  on a  General  Assembly  resolution  assessing  reforms in  the

economic and  social  fields  and recommending  areas for  improvement,  and

heard  statements from  national delegations  on possibilities  for  further

reform and heightened efficiency.

  A delegate  from Algeria termed the  Israeli occupation  a "prime example"

of  the  violation  of  human  rights,  charging  that  Israel  was  denying

Palestinians the right  to dispose of their own  fate.  A representative  of

Syria,  meanwhile,  insisted  that the  situation  represented  one  of  the

gravest incidents  of  repression.   Only  15,000  of the  original  130,000

inhabitants of  the Syrian Golan remained  because other  villagers had been

forced to leave, this  official said; the only  way to alleviate  the social

consequences of the occupation was to end the occupation itself.

   Also  speaking   —  and   in  some   cases  criticizing  the   continued

construction   of   Israeli   settlements   on   occupied   land   —   were

representatives of Palestine, Egypt, Pakistan and Indonesia.

  Participating  in the  debate on  reform measures were  representatives of

Guyana (on behalf of the Group  of 77 and China), Finland  (on behalf of the

European Union), United States, Belarus, China, Croatia, Indonesia,  Russian

Federation and the World Bank.

  ECOSOC will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 27  July, to discuss social  and

human rights questions.

  Statements

  MOHAMED-SALAH DEMBRI  (Algeria) said the  occupation of another  country's

territory was a violation  of human rights, namely  the right to  dispose of

one's  own fate. On  the eve  of the twenty-first century,  there were still

people whose rights  to self-determination were flouted, and this challenged

the  whole   international  community.  The   Israeli  occupation  of   Arab

territories was a  prime example of this,  since it denied economic,  social

and other rights.

  The international community had  been confronted with many faits accomplis

over the  last few  years in this  context, and they  had had a  devastating

effect on  the living conditions of the  Palestinian people.   It had got to

the  point  where  the  occupation  was  a  form  of  collective punishment.

Palestinians had  been  moved to  enclaves  from  their ancestral  lands  to

remove obstacles to development for  Israelis.  Living conditions, including

schooling, housing and access to food,  were more than difficult.   Families

had been separated by demarcation lines, which was a form of moral  torture.

Peace could only be established under acceptable conditions.

  TAHER  AL-HUSSAMY  (Syria)  said  the  Israeli   occupation  was  a  grave

situation of repression, and its economic  and social consequences could not

be eliminated without eliminating the occupation itself.

  Of  the original  130,000 inhabitants  of  the  Syrian Golan,  only 15,000

remained —  the other villagers had  been forced into leaving.   Israel had

established  35 settlements  on  the  territory.   The  Israeli  authorities

controlled 25,000 acres of natural resources.   The Syrian inhabitants   had

seen their standard of living deteriorate  under restrictions imposed by the

Israeli  Government.      The  Syrian   economy   had   taken  onto   itself

responsibility  for the Syrian  residents of the Golan.   ECOSOC should call

on Israel to put an end to its occupation.

  NABIL  RAMLAWI  (Palestine)  said  the  Palestinian  people  were  looking

forward  to  being  granted independence  and  liberation  from  the Israeli

occupation.    Considering  the serious  obstacles  placed  by  the  Israeli

Government and  its occupying forces  in the way of  the Palestinian people,

the international  community  should  insist  that Israel  desist  from  its

unacceptable practices, as  previously called for  by an  ECOSOC resolution.

Israeli  settlements   in  the   occupied  territories   were  illegal   and

constituted  an obstacle  to the  socio-economic development  of  Palestine.

The  Secretary-General  had  emphasized  that  the  Israeli  occupiers  were

continuing  their  practice of harassing  Palestinians, and this had  a very

negative effect on living conditions.

  The  Palestinian   leadership  was   very  concerned   at  the   continued

uninterrupted  establishment of  settlements, despite  political changes and

continued talk about  the Israeli desire for peace.   It also was  concerned

at Israel.s lack of commitment to  honouring the already signed commitments.

The new Israeli Government  should remedy the  situation.  It was no  secret

that the devastating  consequences of  the occupation had seriously  damaged

both the Palestinian territory and the Palestinian people.

  HASSAN  ABDELMONEIM   (Egypt)  said   the  right  of   peoples  to   self-

determination  was one of  the most  fundamental principles  of human rights

law.  Since the Israeli government had  started this practice of occupation,

it had been condemned  by the international community.  It had violated  the

sovereignty of the Palestinian people.  There was  hope that there would  be

action from  the new  Israeli Government.  The  role of the UN  was of great

importance, given that it represented international  legality.  The UN  must

ask Israel to respect international principles.

  Egypt would continue work  with all involved parties.  It was  regrettable

that  the relevant document  was distributed late to  the Council, and Egypt

hoped  that in  the future,  documents would  be distributed well  enough in

advance that member States would have the opportunity to review them.

  FARRUKH IQBAL KHAN (Pakistan) said there  had been steadfast support  from

Pakistan  for  the  just  struggle  for   the  inalienable  rights  of   the

Palestinian people.    The failure  to  implement  the terms  of  agreements

reached  between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization had caused

continuing  hardship  for  the  Palestinian  and  Arab  populations  in  the

occupied territories.

  It was  hoped that the stated  intention to revive  the Middle East  peace

process   by  the  new   Israeli  Government   would  allow   for  the  full

implementation  of  the Wye  River  Memorandum  of  October  1998.   Without

faithful implementation  of  previous agreements,    the  Middle East  Peace

Process would not  only remain fragile  and flawed, but  would increase  the

sufferings  of  the Palestinian  people.    The  full  realization of  their

economic and social rights was critical to alleviate suffering.

  DAVID PELEG (Israel) said the speeches  made today were detached  from the

diplomatic  efforts that were being made  on the ground.   On 6 July the new

Israeli cabinet had been confirmed and Prime Minister Barak had said  Israel

would  adhere to its  international commitments.   Israel  was determined to

find a way to overcome all obstacles and  to come to a mutual  understanding

for a new peace.

  The peace process  was the highest  priority for the  new Prime  Minister.

This week, Prime Minister Barak was scheduled to meet with Chairman  Arafat.

His  ambition was to bring an end to the violence  and suffering, and he was

committed to  working with  Chairman Arafat.   Israel  and the  Palestinians

agreed that the issue  of settlement would be one  of the issues which would

be  negotiated in the context of the permanent  status negotiations.  ECOSOC

could contribute to the  peace process by supporting efforts to promote  the

economic  and  social  well-being of  the  peoples  of the  region,  and  by

rejecting  any   effort to  politicize  its  deliberations and  decisions, a

process which  could  only damage  the  peace  effort.   Unfortunately,  the

report presented by ESCWA (Economic and  Social Commission for Western Asia)

under  this  agenda  item  should  have  been  seen  in this  context  as  a

political,  irrelevant  and  biased  report,  which  was  mainly  based   on

newspaper clippings.

  HASSAN WIRAJUDA (Indonesia) said the recent  elections in Israel had given

new hope for a  resumption of the peace  process.  The  detrimental economic

and   social  impact  of  the  proliferating  Israeli  settlements  and  the

formidable arsenal of  oppressive policies and draconian measures imposed on

the  Palestinian people  had combined  to deliver  a crushing blow  to their

spirit and bury their legitimate rights.

  The  United Nations  and  its  agencies  needed  to  continue  to  play  a

significant role  in alleviating  the plight  of the  Palestinian people  as

well  as  assisting  in  the  formidable  and  challenging  task  of  nation

building.   It  was  an  undeniable fact  that  peace and  development  were

closely   intertwined,  and   it  was  therefore  crucial   for  the  entire

international community to  extend every  assistance for development of  the

region.

  PATRIZIO  CIVILI, United  Nations  Assistant Secretary-General  for Policy

Coordination  and  Inter-Agency  Affairs,  said  discussion  of  the   joint

meetings held  by the  bureau of  the Council  were an  opportunity for  the

Council  to  assess progress.    There was  room  for  improvement,  and the

relevant reports pointed to  areas where improvements could be made.   There

was  little  doubt  that  advance  planning  could  have  been  considerably

strengthened.  Members of  the Council had made  considerable effort to make

the decisions of the Council more action oriented.

  Over the last few  years, and particularly during the past two years,  the

Council  had   also  significantly  increased   its  interaction  with   the

specialized agencies.  Senior  agency officials had participated actively in

the different segments of the  Council.  A significant and increasing number

of reports  for  the Council  were  also  being  prepared jointly  with  the

agencies.   This  contributed to  making  ECOSOC's  work and  guidance  more

directly  relevant  to  the  agencies'  own  activities  and  concerns,  and

undoubtedly  strengthened the  Council's  coordination  role.   It  was  the

strong wish  of  all concerned  that  this  relationship should  be  further

strengthened in the future.

  ALFONSO VALDIVIESO,  Vice-President of ECOSOC,  said four  aspects of  the

report of  the joint  meetings held  by the Bureau  of the  Council and  its

functional commission were of great interest.  The Bureau and the  Secretary

of  the  Council  did  and   should  continue  to  contribute  much  to  the

functioning of the Council.

  The  consultation  process  was  somewhat remote  from  the  functions  of

several  Commissions. Clarification needed  to be  made, and  the rules made

more explicit, so that recommendations  could be more operative. Commissions

should  hold  periodic meetings  with  each  other,  and  use the  available

communication  technologies  for  them,  and  should  discuss  cross-cutting

issues. It was important  to guarantee the continuity of the Councils  work.

Institutional coordination mechanisms needed  to be designed.  More specific

action by the Council and the Bureau should be highlighted.

   GEORGE TALBOT (Guyana) speaking  on behalf of the  Group of 77 and China,

said  the  resolutions   on  reform  represented  important  landmarks   and

guideposts in the overall process of reform of  the United Nations, and more

particularly  in the  restructuring  of the  organization  in  the economic,

social and  related fields.  The  set of reports  which the Secretariat  had

made  available offered an  enlightening account  of the  progress made thus

far  in  the implementation  of,  as  well  as  useful recommendations  for,

further advancing  the reform  and restructuring  process.   The process  of

reform  had to  reaffirm  the unique  role  of  the  United Nations  in  the

economic, social and related  fields in accordance with the Charter.  It had

to  enable the organization to  perform its functions  in a manner befitting

the comprehensive mandate envisaged in the Charter.

  The Group of 77 was convinced that these objectives could be achieved  not

merely through  a process of  internal restructuring and reorganization, but

also through a renewed  commitment by all member  States to a more effective

role for the UN in the economic, social and related fields.

  MATTI  KAARIAINEN  (Finland), speaking  on behalf  of the  European Union,

said  the revitalization  of the United  Nations in the  economic and social

field  was a  priority objective.   Progress  made in the  implementation of

reforms  was welcomed, but a renewed  effort was needed  in the year 2001 to

give new momentum to the reform effort.

  In  the  meantime,  implementation  of  the  relevant  resolutions  should

continue.  Great  importance   should  be  placed  on  the   simplification,

rationalization,  and harmonization  of the  procedures of   programmes  and

funds,  especially at  field level.    The  Bretton Woods  institutions were

major global  players in  the economic  and social  field and  as such  were

important partners for the United  Nations operational activities system, as

well as  ECOSOC and its subsidiary  machinery.   Enhanced field coordination

between the  United Nations and the  Bretton Woods  institutions should take

place  in close  cooperation with  national  authorities  and in  support of

their policy objectives.

  LYNETTE PAULTON  (United States) said significant  progress had been  made

in the last few  years in strengthening  the role of ECOSOC in  coordination

and oversight.  There had been  significant progress and improved  relations

with the executive board and governing  bodies of the funds  and programmes,

with  the regional  economic commissions  and  with  many of  the functional

commissions.

  Another  area where there  had been  great advances in the  last few years

was  in  the  relationship  between  the   Council  and  the  Bretton  Woods

institutions.  The increased exchange of views,  via the annual meetings  in

the spring and the  reciprocal trips of executive  directors to New York and

ECOSOC ambassadors to  Washington had  strengthened the relationship.   Such

activities should continue.

  TAMARA  KHARASHUN  (Belarus) said  the progress  made in  implementing the

resolutions on reform  was striking proof of the efforts made  by ECOSOC and

its  subsidiary  bodies  towards    implementation.    It  was  important to

continue the debate about standing issues related to United Nations work  in

the  economic  and social  spheres.   There  should  be development  of  the

practice of holding  joint meetings between the  ECOSOC board and the boards

of  the  functioning commissions.   Such meetings  would make a considerable

contribution to further progress.

  There  was a  need for  the participation  in reform  efforts of  national

experts  and those Governmental representatives responsible for implementing

United  Nations  recommendations. The  debate  should  be  constructive  and

helpful. Attention should be  paid to the efforts of the Commission on Human

Rights.

  ALFREDO SFEIR-YOUNIS,  of the  World Bank,  said the  relationship between

the  Bank and  the UN  decision making   at  the policy,  institutional  and

operational  levels had improved.   The scope of  the relationship had moved

forward  in  major  ways,  from  a  simple  exchange  of  information  to  a

substantive  dialogue  on  development  issues.    Recently,  the  Bank  had

undergone a process  of identification of, and  a full engagement on,  major

strategic issues facing developing countries.

  This process  of progressive engagement had been advanced and consolidated

by the  reform  processes.   Both  institutions  had pursued  these  reforms

relentlessly.   There was plenty more to  do, but this was in  the nature of

change.    There  was no  room  for  complacency.   Both  institutions  were

changing, and it was  strongly believed that this change was for the better,

and, more importantly, for the betterment of humanity.

  LIU JINGTAO  (China) said the United  Nations had  achieved major progress

in the reform  of its major bodies, including  ECOSOC. The current stage  of

reform had come to a close. It was a gradual process, and  what was required

was an implementation of  the new reform measures,  and then a short process

of evaluation of the effectiveness of the reforms.

  While  in favour of  cooperation between the relevant organizations, China

still  saw a  need to  respect  their  different competencies.   Cooperation

between  the United Nations  system and  the Bretton  Woods institutions was

useful, and should continue.

  Z. UJEVIC  (Croatia) said  great importance  was attached  to the  ongoing

process aimed at restructuring and revitalizing the UN in the economic,

social and  related fields.   The main  responsibility in that  regard would

continue to rest with  ECOSOC, the principle  organ for economic and  social

issues, and a central mechanism for coordination within the UN system.  The

process of restructuring the UN in the economic and social fields should be

part of an overall reform of the  UN designed to enable the  organization to

better  respond to the needs  of its membership in the current international

environment.

  Croatia commended the steps already taken  in this direction and  welcomed

the report.   The document gave  a clear  picture of what had  been achieved

and where additional efforts were needed  to ensure the full  implementation

of the  General Assembly resolution.  Croatia believed that efforts aimed at

enhancing  the  efficiency  of  the  work   of  ECOSOC  and  its  functional

commissions  and at  improving  interaction with  specialized  agencies  and

funds and programmes should continue.

  HASSAN WIRAJUDA  (Indonesia)  said the  report should  greatly assist  the

Council in identifying and addressing the  major policy issues emerging from

the work of commissions which  required a coordinated response by the United

Nations system.  It should also promote a  clearer division of labour  among

the functional  commissions and provide them  with clear  policy guidance in

their follow-up to the United Nations  conferences.  ECOSOC should  organize

an open  and informal dialogue to discuss in particular the cross-cutting of

themes  in  the various  functional commissions,  with  the widest  possible

participation between experts, NGOs, and the Council.s subsidiary bodies.

  Meetings  between ECOSOC  and relevant  financial and  trade  institutions

could  provide an effective  forum for  addressing issues  of common concern

within the  framework of  the forthcoming  round of  negotiations for  trade

liberalization.

  VASILY A. NEBENZYA  (Russian Federation) said the information relating  to

the implementation of the various provisions  of the reform resolutions  was

helpful.  There was  a potential for rationalizing the agenda of the  reform

process.   The level of participation  of Bretton  Woods representatives was

noted.

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