Racism and racial discrimination/Right to self-determination – Third Cttee debate – Summary record (excerpts)

Third Committee

Summary record of the 35th meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Wednesday, 3 November 2004, at 9.30 a.m.

Chairman:   Ms. Groux (Vice-Chairman) …………………………………………………  (Switzerland)

 later: Mr. Kuchinsky (Chairman) ………………………………………………………………….  (Ukraine)

 later:   Ms. Groux (Vice-Chairman) …………………………………………………………  (Switzerland)

Contents

Agenda item 103: Elimination of racism and racial discrimination

(a)   Elimination of racism and racial discrimination

(b)   Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Agenda item 104: Right of peoples to self-determination

The meeting was called to order at 9.50 a.m.

Agenda item 103: Elimination of racism and racial discrimination 

 (a)   Elimination of racism and racial discrimination (A/59/18, 275, 276, 329, 330, 425; A/C.3/59/4)

 (b)   Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (A/59/375; A/C.3/59/4)

Agenda item 104: Right of peoples to self-determination (A/59/191, 376, 425; A/59/66-S/2004/219; A/59/427-S/2004/806)

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19.  Mr. Elbadri (Egypt) …

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20.   He agreed with the Special Rapporteur’s views on the danger of the new forms of racism, particularly those that had appeared after 11 September 2001, and the description, in paragraph 42, of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. He asked whether the Special Rapporteur considered that the education of children, starting as young as 4 or 5 years of age, could play a decisive role in the struggle against racism.

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54.   Mr. Elbadri (Egypt) …

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55.   The right to self-determination allowed a people to choose its political, economic, social and cultural identity. It was an essential requirement for democracy. It was not a gift but a natural right, fully applicable to every one, including the Palestinian people, who were being prevented from establishing an independent state. Their struggle was legitimized by the international community, and Israel, the last bastion of colonization, must understand that its occupation of the territories was illegal and remained a source of instability and hatred which challenged coexistence between peoples. It must therefore review its policies. Failure to recognize the right to self-determination amounted to violating a principle and contradicting a moral code.

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56.  Mr. Xie Bohua (China) …

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60.   The international community must work for the restoration of all the rights of the Palestinian people, in particular their right to self-determination, in order rapidly to reach a fair and reasonable settlement of the Palestinian issue, which was indispensable to sustainable peace in the Middle East. The construction of the separation wall by the Government of Israel and the expansion of the settlements were both regrettable. The Government of China was convinced that countering violence with violence would only exacerbate tensions, and strongly supported the Middle East peace process, the principle of land for peace and the peace initiative adopted during the Arab League Summit held in Beirut.

61.   In conclusion, he wished Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority and distinguished Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and an old friend of China, a prompt recovery.

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The meeting rose at 12.05 p.m.

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Corrections will be issued after the end of the session, in a separate corrigendum for each Committee.