ECOSOC report/Settlements – GA Second Cttee debate, vote – Summary record (excerpts)

SECOND COMMITTEE

47th meeting

held on

Friday, 10 December 1993

at 5 p.m.

New York

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 47th MEETING

Chairman:   Mr. MONGBE  (Benin)

CONTENTS

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AGENDA ITEM 12:  REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (continued)

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The meeting was called to order at 10.15 a.m.

AGENDA ITEM 12:  REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (continued) (A/C.2/48/L.17)

Draft resolution on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli settlements on the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, occupied since 1967, and on the Arab population of the Syrian Golan (A/C.2/48/L.17)

1. Mr. RYSINSKI (Poland), Vice-Chairman, said that no consensus had emerged from the informal consultations on draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17.  It had, however, proved possible to introduce various amendments.  In the first line of the final preambular paragraph the words "in particular" should be inserted before the words "the signing".  At the end of paragraph 2, the word "peace" should be replaced by the words "economic and social development".  Paragraph 4 should be deleted and existing paragraph 5 renumbered as new paragraph 4.  In that paragraph the final words "being without legal validity" should be replaced by "illegal".  Existing paragraph 6 should be renumbered as new paragraph 5.

2. Mr. RAMOUL (Algeria) said that Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had joined the sponsors of the draft resolution.

3. Mr. SEBINA (Botswana), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said that his country was opposed to the continued occupation of Palestinian and other territories by Israel.  It was cause for concern for Botswana that draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17 failed to reflect the agreement concluded between the PLO and Israel on 13 September 1993.  His Government held the view that all the intentions indicated in the agreement must be encouraged if a lasting solution was to be attained.  Accordingly his delegation would abstain.

4. Mr. ELIASHIV (Israel), speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, said that the Declaration of Principles signed on 13 September 1993 by Israel and the PLO stipulated that the question of the settlements would be discussed in the framework of the negotiations on permanent status.  The United Nations should support the Declaration.  Draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17 ran counter to the modalities envisaged in the Declaration and prejudged the outcome of the negotiations.  In fact the bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and Syria were the proper forums in which to resolve such issues.  Accordingly his delegation would vote against the draft resolution.

5. A recorded vote was taken on draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17.

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States of America.

Abstaining: Belarus, Botswana, Croatia, Czech Republic, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nigeria, Peru, Russian Federation, Samoa, Togo, Uruguay.

6. Draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17, as orally amended, was adopted by 113 votes to 2, with 13 abstentions.

7. Mr. AL-HABIB (Islamic Republic of Iran) said that his delegation, while it had voted in favour of draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17, had certain reservations regarding those parts of the resolution which could be interpreted as implying recognition of Israel.

8. Mr. KHANI (Syrian Arab Republic) said that the final preambular paragraph of draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17 was not compatible with the Declaration signed in September 1993 by Israel and the PLO, in view of which his delegation had reservations.

9. Mr. ELBATEL (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) said that his delegation's vote in favour of draft resolution A/C.2/48/L.17 did not imply recognition of Israel or acceptance of certain elements of the text.

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The meeting rose at midnight.