Special Political and Decolonization Committee
(Fourth Committee)
Summary record of the 10th meeting
Held at Headquarters, New York, on Thursday, 17 October 2013, at 10 a.m.
Chair: Mr. Motanyane (Vice-Chair) ………………………………. (Lesotho)
Contents
In the absence of Mr. García González (El Salvador), Mr. Motanyane (Lesotho), Vice-Chair, took the Chair.
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16. Mr. Wehbi (Lebanon) …
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18. In conflict-affected countries, collaboration between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Public Information was essential for conveying a clear message on the role of peacekeeping. It was important to utilize both traditional and modern communication networks so as to reach all communities. In Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Public Information Office had been active in enhancing dialogue and understanding through its activities. Likewise, awareness-raising was critical in addressing historical injustice, and Lebanon fully supported the Department’s special information programme on the question of Palestine. Continued collaboration between the Committee on Information and the Department would become more and more relevant as the peoples and communities of the world became increasingly interconnected.
19. Mr. Mohamed (Sudan) …
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22. He further commended the activities of the Department in relation to the question of Palestine, the search for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and the establishment of a Palestinian State, and welcomed the introduction of direct video coverage of statements given in the plenary meetings of the General Assembly.
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27. Mr. Ghirani (Libya) …
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30. Given the importance of multilingualism, press releases should be issued in all the official languages and the number of publications in Arabic should be increased. Cooperation with other United Nations departments was important, as for example in the training programme for Palestinian journalists; indeed, the Department should focus more on the suffering of the Palestinian people, burdened as they were by the occupation. He encouraged coordination between the Department of Public Information, the Department of Political Affairs and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya in organizing an exhibition at United Nations Headquarters on the transition from a dictatorial to a democratic regime, including issues such as elections, human rights and the participation of women.
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59. Mr. Kanaan (Observer for the State of Palestine) reaffirmed his appreciation for the efforts of the Department in implementing many important programmes, including the special information programme on the question of Palestine. That programme was instrumental in raising awareness in the international community of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the efforts for a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to both the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole.
60. He further commended the Department, especially its Palestine, Decolonization and Human Rights Section, for organizing the annual international media seminars on peace in the Middle East (of which the latest had been held in Istanbul, Turkey), for updating the permanent exhibit on the question of Palestine at United Nations Headquarters, and for its activities in commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
61. The Department of Public Information also continued to provide assistance to Palestinian broadcasters and journalists through its annual training programme. In line with General Assembly resolutions, the Department should expand the collection of audiovisual materials on the question of Palestine and the organization and promotion of fact-finding news missions to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. Those activities required sufficient funding if they were to be fully implemented.
62. Unfortunately, Israeli forces continued systematically to target Palestinian journalists and media outlets. Freedom of expression continued to be suppressed through an ongoing campaign of arrests and use of excessive force. His delegation therefore reiterated its call to the Committee and relevant international organizations to step up their efforts to protect Palestinian and foreign journalists and to demand a halt to Israel’s violations of international law.
63. The telecommunications and information technology sector was very important because of its vital role in the development process. Despite Israeli restrictions imposed on the sector, which deprived the Palestinian people of the right to direct access to services, the Palestinian leadership was making tireless efforts to build networks accessible to all and to help people to overcome geographical and physical impediments to normal life.
64. The State of Palestine was committed to the peace process that would end the Israeli occupation and enable the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights to self-determination and return. The State of Palestine should be admitted as a full Member of the United Nations, and take its historical and rightful place among the community of nations.
This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be sent as soon as possible, under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned, to the Chief of the Documents Control Unit (srcorrections@un.org), and incorporated in a copy of the record.
Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org/).
Document Type: Summary record
Document Sources: General Assembly Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization)
Subject: Agenda Item, Palestine question, Public information
Publication Date: 17/10/2013