Jerusalem/Settlements – Letter from Guyana

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-first session Fifty-second year

Agenda items 33, 35 and 85

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO

  INVESTIGATE ISRAELI PRACTICES

  AFFECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF

  THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND OTHER

  ARABS OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Letter dated 10 March 1997 from the Permanent Representative of

Guyana to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit a copy of the statement issued by the Government of Guyana on 7 March 1997 in response to the announcement by the Government of Israel on 26 February 1997 that another housing settlement would be established in East Jerusalem.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter and the attached statement circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda items 33, 35 and 85 and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  S. R. INSANALLY    

Ambassador       

Permanent Representative

Annex

STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA ON 7 MARCH 1997

The Government of Guyana is concerned by the disquiet in the Middle East owing to the decision by the Government of Israel on 26 February 1997 to establish another housing settlement in East Jerusalem.  Such inflammatory acts which violate resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council and repudiate the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people cannot be condoned.

The imminent talks on the final status of Jerusalem should not be undermined by an atmosphere of distrust.  These talks offer another opportunity to advance the peace process which has been started with the cooperation of the parties.  All issues should be resolved through dialogue and full commitment to the peace accords that were signed after painstaking negotiations.

We reiterate our call for peace in the Middle East and we urge the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work together for its early achievement.

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