Cooperation between UN and OAU – Letter from Egypt (Excerpts)

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE ORGANIZATION

OF AFRICAN UNITY

Letter dated 22 August 1991 from the Permanent Representative of

Egypt to the United Nations addressed to the

Secretary-General

I have the honor to request that you arrange for the distribution as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 30, the resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its fifty-fourth ordinary session, held at Abuja, Nigeria, from 27 May to 1 June 1991 (annex I), and the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-seventh ordinary session, held at Abuja, Nigeria, from 3 to 5 June 1991 (annex II).

Annex I

CONTENTS

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CM/Res. 1334 (LIV)

RESOLUTION ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Council of Ministers of the organization of African Unity, meeting in its Fifty-fourth Ordinary Session in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 27 May to 1 June 1991,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity on the Situation in the Middle East as contained in document CM/1664 (LIV),

Guided by the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charters of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations and the common determination of the African and the Arab Peoples to pull their resources in defense of their independence and restoration of their legitimate basic rights,

Noting with grave concern that the connivance between the Zionist Regime in Israel and the Apartheid System in South Africa aims at spreading international terrorism against the Palestinians in occupied Arab lands and the majority of the population in South Africa and their suppression,

Recalling that the Palestinian Question is the main cause of the conflict in the Middle East,

Reaffirming that the violation by Israel of the sanctity of the Arab lands, air space and territorial waters, constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

Considering the efforts made to establish peace in Lebanon within the context of the Taif Agreement:

1. RECALLS all the resolutions previously adopted by the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the Council of Ministers, and EXPRESSES its full support for the Palestinian people and to the Arab Countries which are victims of Israeli aggression;

2. FURTHER REAFFIRMS the common struggle of the African and Arab Peoples and the urgent need to promote Afro-Arab Solidarity;

3. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Israeli refusal to comply with the resolutions of the United Nations and the organization of African Unity and the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949, for the Protection of Civilians in times of War;

4. STRONGLY CONDEMNS also the settlement of Jews in the occupied Arab Territories and the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank;

5. DEMANDS the withdrawal of Israelis from all the occupied Arab Territories, and considers null and void all measures taken by Israel in these territories aimed at changing their original characteristics and exploiting their resources;

6. DEMANDS the early convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly with the participation of the Permanent Members of the Security Council and the parties concerned, including the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian People on an equal footing, and SUPPORTS efforts deployed in this regard.

7. EXPRESSES SATISFACTION at the process of national reconciliation and peace in Lebanon and its hope in reconstruction;

8. DEMANDS the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in conformity with resolution 425 of the United Nations Security Council;

9. CALLS UPON all States, international organizations and investment institutions to abstain from lending any support to Israel for its acts in these territories and from maintaining any cooperation relations with that country, likely to enable it exploit the resources of these territories, and DEMANDS Israel to put an end to its acts of violation;

10. REQUESTS the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity to follow the development of the situation in the Middle East and report to the next Ordinary  Session of the OAU Council of Ministers.

CM/Res.1335(LIV)

RESOLUTION ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Fifty-fourth Ordinary Session, in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 27 May to 1 June 1991,

Having considered the Report of the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity on the Question of Palestine as contained in Document CM/1665(LIV),

Recalling the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of heads of State and Government and the previous sessions of the council of Ministers on the Question of Palestine.

Further recalling all resolutions of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement on the Question of Palestine,

Reaffirming the legitimacy of the struggle of the Palestinian people under the leadership of the PLO, their sole and legitimate representative, so that they would recover their territories and exercise their full national rights,

Following with attention the Palestinian population uprising "INTIFADA" in the occupied territories in order to put an end on the Israeli occupation and attain the inalienable national rights for the Palestinian people, including their right to return to their homeland, self-determination and the establishment of their independent State with Jerusalem as its capital,

Noting with deep concern the acts of systematic state terrorism practiced by Israel against the Palestinian people and their leadership:

1. RECALLS all the previous resolutions and recommendations adopted by various sessions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the council of Ministers of the OAU on the Question of Palestine;

2. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the continued inhuman acts perpetrated by Israel against the citizens of the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories such as mass deportation and detention, slaughter of women and children, destruction of homes, confiscation of lands and property and the desecration of holy places, and EXHORTS international community to intervene in order to put an end to these inhuman acts which constitute a flagrant violation of human rights in Palestine;

3. STRONGLY CONDEMNS the expansionist settlement policies pursued by Israel in occupied Palestine including Jerusalem and settlement of immigrant Jews in the occupied Arab territories, and CALLS UPON the Soviet Union and the United States of America, in accordance with their declared positron, to take the necessary actions to stop the settlement of migrant Jews in the Palestinian and Arab occupied territories;

4. HAILS the resistance of the Palestinian people to Israeli occupation, the intensification of the Palestinian people's uprising in the face of the brutal repression perpetrated by the Israeli authorities as well as the sacrifices made by the Palestinian people under the leadership of their sole legitimate representative, the PLO, in order to recover their inalienable rights to return to their homeland, to recover their property in Palestine, to self-determination without outside interference, and the establishment of their independent and sovereign state with Jerusalem as capital;

5. DEMANDS that Israel withdraws immediately and unconditionally from all the occupied Palestinian territories;

6. CALLS ON the United Nations to secure international protection for the Palestinian population; and to take all the necessary measures to put an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories;

7. REQUESTS the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 681/1990 to invite all States party to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to hold a conference aimed at providing protection for the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation and ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Convention on the part of the Israeli Occupying forces in Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem and other occupied Arab territories;

8. DEMANDS the early convening of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly with the participation of Permanent Members of the Security Council and all the parties concerned, including the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, in the said Conference on an equal footing, and supports efforts being deployed in this regards;

9. CALLS ON the Secretay-General of the Organization of African Unity to follow up the developments of the Palestinian Question and submit a report thereon to the forthcoming Session of the OAU Council of Ministers.

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* A/46/150.