Support for Palestinian statehood – Non-Aligned Movement statement – Letter from Cuba

 Letter dated 23 January 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  In my capacity as Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, I have the honour to enclose herewith the statement of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reiterating support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and supporting the Palestinian struggle and their leadership in rejecting the so-called Palestinian State with provisional borders (see annex).

  Furthermore, I formally request that the aforementioned document be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 14, and of the Security Council.

(Signed ) Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz

Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations

Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement

    Annex to the letter dated 23 January 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

    Statement of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reiterating support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and supporting the Palestinian people and their leadership in rejecting the so-called Palestinian State with provisional borders

  The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms its support for President Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian National Authority and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in his rejection to a so-called Palestinian State with provisional borders. This so-called provisional State would in essence only be an entity under the domain and control of Israel as the occupying Power rather than a sovereign and independent State. The Bureau rejects attempts to alter the terms of reference of the peace process and further rejects the imposition of unilateral measures and plans aimed at imposing an unlawful unilateral solution by Israel, the occupying Power. In this regard, the Bureau also condemns the plans by the Israeli government to build a new illegal settlement in the Jordan Valley and its expansion of the illegal settlement of “Maale Adumim” in Occupied East Jerusalem in violation of international law, United Nations resolutions and the Road Map. The Bureau stresses the need for a resumption of direct and substantial negotiations between the parties for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peaceful settlement to the question of Palestine, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and in accordance with the rules and principles of international law enshrined therein. In this regard, the Bureau reiterates the necessity and urgency of ending the prolonged and unlawful Israeli occupation of all of the Arab te rritories occupied since 1967. The Bureau further reaffirms its long-standing position in support of the establishment of the independent State of Palestine in all of the Palestinian Territory occupied by Israel in 1967, including East Jerusalem as its capital.

  The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement reiterates its support for this position to be strongly expressed by President Abbas in the upcoming summit that will take place between Israel, Palestine and the United States of America. The Bureau calls for efforts at the Summit to focus on the “end game”, in which Israel’s occupation would be brought to a complete end to allow for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, the Road Map as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.

  The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement demands that Israel, the occupying Power, immediately cease all of its violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. The Bureau expresses its deep regret that the Israeli government has continued to intensify its aggression against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory rather than heeding to the calls made by the international community to extend the ceasefire to the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The Bureau reflected upon the recent military incursion by Israeli occupying forces, in which at least four Palestinians were killed and 25 injured in Ramallah on 4 January 2007. In this regard, the Bureau expresses its disappointment that efforts by the members of the Movement in the Security Council to address this serious issue were obstructed for well-known reasons, thus preventing the Council from discharging its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

New York, 22 January 2007

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