Palestine question/Self-determination/ Extension of interim period – Statement by the Central Council of the PLO/Postponement of declaration of state – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-third session Fifty-fourth year

Agenda items 39 and 109

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION

Letter dated 4 May 1999 from the Chairman of the

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable

Rights of the Palestinian People addressed to

the Secretary-General

On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I wish to inform you that the Committee took note of the series of meetings held, from 27 to 29 April 1999, in Gaza, within the framework of the extraordinary session of the Palestinian Central Council, and of the final statement adopted at the conclusion of the session.

In this regard, the Committee expresses its full support for the decisions of the Palestinian political leadership.  The Committee is also hopeful that the Council's statement would lead to the revitalization of the currently deadlocked peace process.  In the Committee's view, this constructive diplomatic initiative should enable the parties to re-engage in the critical phase of the permanent status negotiations on the most sensitive and far-reaching political issues of great importance for both peoples and for the region as a whole.

In light of the above, the Committee wishes to take this opportunity to call upon the Government of Israel immediately to stop its illegal policy and actions aimed at creating facts on the ground through, inter alia, establishing new and expanding the existing settlements, stifling the Palestinian economic development and livelihood and denying the Palestinian people its inalienable rights.  The Committee considers that the Israeli side should respond to the recent decisions of the Palestinian Central Council by returning to the negotiating table as soon as possible, without preconditions and in good faith, so as to allow the permanent status negotiations to proceed towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine.  The Committee is hopeful that the permanent status negotiations, once resumed by the parties, will be concluded within the time-frame of approximately one year.

The Committee also wishes to reiterate its position of principle in support of the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign State.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, under agenda items 39 and 109, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Ibra Deguène KA         

Chairman of the Committee on the

Exercise of the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People