Palestine question – Second Arab-South American Summit (Doha) – Declaration/LAS letter(excerpts)

Letter dated 11 May 2009 from the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

I have the honour to forward a letter dated 5 May 2009 addressed to you from Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, regarding the outcome of the second Summit of Arab and South American Countries held in Doha on 31 March 2009 (see annex). In addition, please find attached a copy of the Doha Declaration issued by the Summit (see enclosure).

Pursuant to Article 54 of the Charter of the United Nations, I should be grateful if you would arrange for the present letter and its attachments to be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Yahya Mahmassani

Ambassador

Annex to the letter dated 11 May 2009 from the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

[Original: Arabic]

I have the honour to attach herewith a hard copy and a CD-ROM of the Doha Declaration (document M141/(09/03)/06-D(0177)) issued by the second Summit of Arab and South American Countries in Doha on 31 March 2009 following the Arab Summit.

As you are aware, that document contains a number of important resolutions covering the Arab-South American position on the most outstanding issues in the Arab world and in South America, in particular concerning Palestinian matters and the Arab-Israeli conflict, developments in the situation in the Sudan, Iraq, Somalia and Lebanon and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, together with a number of other important resolutions in the political, economic and social fields and in the fields of sustainable development, science and technology.

In that context, the Summit emphasized the importance of continued efforts to forge close relationships between the two regions with a view to their participation in a fairer and more equitable structure of international relations, and the creation of a new framework of international cooperation based on equivalence and equality. The Summit also emphasized that the attainment of peace, security and stability in the world calls for cooperation based on adherence to multilateral instruments, respect for international law, the observance of human rights and international humanitarian law, a comprehensive commitment to respect for the principles of State sovereignty and territorial integrity, the peaceful resolution of all international conflicts, in particular regional and bilateral problems and conflicts, in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the full and non-selective implementation of all United Nations resolutions.

I take this opportunity to reaffirm to you my desire for continued consultation and coordination with you on the various issues of common concern and I should be grateful if you would have the Declaration issued as a document of the United Nations.

I also wish to convey to you my great respect for your wholehearted efforts on behalf of peace, security and development throughout the world.

(Signed) Amre Moussa

Secretary-General

Enclosure

[Original: Arabic and English]

Doha Declaration

We, the Heads of State and Government of the Arab and South American Countries, in our Second Summit held in Doha (31/3/2009), upon the generous invitation of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and in accordance with what was stipulated in our First Summit, held in Brasilia (10-11/5/2005), upon the invitation of His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, who co-presided the First Summit together with His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, as the Chairman of the Arab Summit, with keenness to work on promoting Arab-South American relations and to benefit from its available chances, and coordinating bi-regional efforts to build a strong community in which mutual benefits can be exchanged and common interests protected, in the framework of constructive and concrete relations,

AGREE TO:

/…

II – Political Coordination:

5. Reaffirm the need to reach a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of the principle of land for peace and relevant resolutions of the Security Council and of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in particular Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) of the Security Council, as well as the Madrid Framework and the “Arab Peace Initiative” adopted at the Beirut Summit (2002) and reaffirmed at the Riyadh Summit (2007) and the Damascus Summit (2008), that ensure the realization of security for all countries in the region. Also highlight the necessity of the full implementation of the “Road Map”. Reaffirm the need for the materialization of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, and for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1515 (2003), and the establishment of the independent Palestinian State, based on the 1967 lines, living side by side with the State of Israel, and the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab territories to the lines of 4/6/1967, including the occupied Syrian Golan and what remained from the Lebanese territories and the dismantling of the settlements including those in East Jerusalem. Duly take into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9/7/2004 by the International Court of Justice concerning the “Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, and call upon all parties concerned to comply with the said advisory opinion. 

Express our respect for the Palestinian legitimacy under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas and appreciate his efforts with all Arab and Palestinian parties to achieve national reconciliation and ensure that the Palestinian dialogue succeeds. Also express our respect for the legitimate institutions of the Palestinian National Authority established by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), including the elected Palestinian legislative council.

Appreciate Egyptian efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to seek Palestinian reconciliation, as well as welcome the results of the International Conference for Donors in Sharm El-Sheikh, held by both Egypt and Norway on 2/3/2009, in order to offer needed funds to rebuild the Gaza Strip and the resumption of international assistance to the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian people.

Deplore the Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, which led to thousands of civilian Palestinian casualties and the destruction of the infrastructure as well as the private and public institutions, and call for the immediate reopening of all the crossing points between Gaza and Israel, and for lifting the siege, so that essential goods and services, including fuel, can be supplied on a continuous basis, in order to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories. Reaffirm our full support for the implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Palestinian occupied territories.

/…

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