Mideast situation/UNRWA – Fourth Cttee report

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)

Rapporteur: Mr. Andrej Droba (Slovakia) 

I. Introduction

1. At its 19th plenary meeting, on 20 September 2002, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled “United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” and to allocate it to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).

2. The Fourth Committee held a general debate on the item at its 19th and 20th meetings, on 4 and 5 November 2002, and took action on the item at its 23rd meeting, on 15 November (see A/C.4/57/SR.19, 20 and 23).

3. For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the following documents:

(a) Report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002; 1/

(b) Report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 56/55 (A/57/282);

(c) Report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 56/54 (A/57/338);

(d) Report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 56/57 (A/57/455);

(e) Report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 56/58 (A/57/456);

(f) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the fifty-sixth report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, in accordance with paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 512 (VI) and paragraph 2 of Assembly resolution 56/52 (A/57/294);

(g) Report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (A/57/462);

(h) Letter dated 4 November 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (A/C.4/57/4).

4. At its 19th meeting, on 4 November, the Committee heard a statement by the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), who introduced his report (see A/C.4/57/SR.19).

5. At the same meeting, the representative of Norway, in his capacity as Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, introduced the report of the Working Group.

6. Also at the same meeting, the representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations made a statement (see A/C.4/57/SR.19).

7. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Israel made a statement (see A/C.4/57/SR.23).

II. Consideration of proposals

A. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.9

8. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Egypt, on behalf of Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, Spain, the Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Assistance to Palestine refugees” (A/C.4/57/L.9).

9. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.9 by a recorded vote of 148 to 1, with 3 abstentions (see para. 23, draft resolution I). The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel.

Abstaining:

Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America.

B. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.10

10. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of the Netherlands, on behalf of Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, the Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Cyprus, Iceland, Japan, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” (A/C.4/57/L.10).

11. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.10 without a vote (see para. 23, draft resolution II).

C. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.11

12. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Indonesia, on behalf of Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities” (A/C.4/57/L.11).

13. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.11 by a recorded vote of 147 to 4, with 3 abstentions (see para. 23, draft resolution III). The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America.

Abstaining:

Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea.

D. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.12

14. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Indonesia, on behalf of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees” (A/C.4/57/L.12).

15. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.12 by a recorded vote of 153 to none, with 1 abstention (see para. 23, draft resolution IV). The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

None.

Abstaining:

Israel.

E. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.13

16. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Indonesia, on behalf of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” (A/C.4/57/L.13) and orally revised it by inserting the word “civilian” before the word “inhabitants” in the tenth preambular paragraph.

17. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.13, as orally revised, by a recorded vote of 147 to 5, with 1 abstention (see para. 23, draft resolution V). The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States of America.

Abstaining:

Papua New Guinea.

18. At the same meeting, the representatives of Australia and Canada made statements in explanation of vote after the vote on the draft resolution (see A/C.4/57/SR.23).

F. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.14

19. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Indonesia, on behalf of Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues” (A/C.4/57/L.14).

20. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.14 by a recorded vote of 147 to 4, with 3 abstentions (see para. 23, draft resolution VI). The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America.

Abstaining:

Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea.

G. Draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.15

21. At the 23rd meeting, on 15 November, the representative of Indonesia, on behalf of Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine, subsequently joined by Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, introduced a draft resolution entitled “University of Jerusalem ‘Al-Quds’ for Palestine refugees” (A/C.4/57/L.15).

22. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.4/57/L.15 by a recorded vote of 148 to 4, with 2 abstentions (see para. 23, draft resolution VII). The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America.

Abstaining:

Nauru, Papua New Guinea.

III. Recommendations of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)

23. The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolutions:

Draft resolution I

Assistance to Palestine refugees

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 56/52 of 10 December 2001,

Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which it, inter alia, established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,

Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions,

Aware of the fact that the Palestine refugees have, for more than five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood,

Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region,

Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services,

Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,2/

Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic,

Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and living conditions, and the continuous deterioration of those conditions during the recent period,

Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization 3/ and the subsequent implementation agreements,

Aware that the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process has an important role to play in the peace process,

1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of concern;

2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and requests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2003;

3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its operation and services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees;

4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including recent emergency appeals.

Draft resolution II

Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, 2971 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 56/53 of 10 December 2001 and the previous resolutions on this question,

Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982, by which it took note of the special report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,4/

Having considered the report of the Working Group,5/

Taking into account the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,6/

Deeply concerned about the continuing financial situation of the Agency, which has affected and affects the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related and humanitarian programmes,

Emphasizing the continuing need for extraordinary efforts in order to maintain, at least at the current level, the activities of the Agency, as well as to enable the Agency to carry out essential construction,

1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency;

2. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group;5

3. Requests the Working Group to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, to find a solution to the financial situation of the Agency;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work.

Draft resolution III

Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions,

Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 56/54 of 10 December 2001,7/

Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,8/

Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities,

Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993 9/ with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected,

1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 19939 on the return of displaced persons has not been effected, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons;

3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities;

4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its fifty-eighth session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution.

Draft resolution IV

Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19 November 1948 on assistance to Palestine refugees,

Recalling also its resolution 35/13 B of 3 November 1980 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 56/55 of 10 December 2001,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, 10/

Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,11/

Expressing its appreciation to all Governments, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations that responded favourably to its resolutions on this question,

1. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East;

2. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to extend assistance for higher education to Palestine refugee students and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships;

3. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and the United Nations University to contribute generously to the Palestinian universities in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including, in due course, the proposed University of Jerusalem “Al-Quds” for Palestine refugees;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

Draft resolution V

Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including resolution 56/56 of 10 December 2001,

Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions,

Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, 12/

Taking note of the letter dated 26 September 2002 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General, 13/

Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 14/

Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 15/ to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,

Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely, in Lebanon, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic,

Also aware of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees,

Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including the loss of life, injury and destruction and damage to refugee shelters and properties, during the recent tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Expressing grave concern about the recent events that have occurred in the Jenin refugee camp, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants,

Gravely concerned about the safety of the staff and the damage to the facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period,

Expressing deep concern about the policies of closure and severe restrictions, including in particular the curfews, imposed on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people,

Deeply concerned about the continuing restrictions on the freedom of movement of the staff of the Agency, vehicles and goods, including the harassment of personnel, which adversely affect the ability of the Agency to provide its services, including its educational, health and relief and social services,

Deeply concerned also about the continuing critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related programmes,

Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization 16/ and the subsequent implementation agreements,

Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel,

Aware also of the establishment of a working relationship between the Advisory Commission of the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization in accordance with General Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993,

Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization, 17/

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the increasingly difficult conditions throughout the past year;

2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of decision 48/417;

3. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency;

4. Acknowledges the support of the host Governments for the Agency in the discharge of its duties;

5. Takes note of the functioning of the headquarters of the Agency in Gaza City on the basis of the Headquarters Agreement between the Agency and the Palestinian Authority;

6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;15

7. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations14 with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of the facilities of the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

8. Urges the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side, particularly during the reporting period;

9. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which have a detrimental effect on the Agency’s operations;

10. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

11. Notes that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation;

12. Notes also the success of the Agency’s microfinance and enterprise programmes, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute towards the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees;

13. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency and to indicate the progress made in that regard in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session;

14. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, which have been exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support the Agency’s valuable work in providing assistance to the Palestine refugees.

Draft resolution VI

Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 56/57 of 10 December 2001, 18/

Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2002, 19/

Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 20/ and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property,

Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees,

Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report, 21/ 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property,

Expressing its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III),

Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993, 22/ to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees,

1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel;

3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution;

4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution;

5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

Draft resolution VII

University of Jerusalem “Al-Quds” for Palestine refugees

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 36/146 G of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the issue, including resolution 56/58 of 10 December 2001,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, 23/

Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, 24/

1. Emphasizes the need for strengthening the educational system in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem, and specifically the need for the establishment of the proposed university;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary measures for establishing the University of Jerusalem “Al-Quds”, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/13 B of 3 November 1980, giving due consideration to the recommendations consistent with the provisions of that resolution;

3. Calls once again upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cooperate in the implementation of the present resolution and to remove the hindrances that it has put in the way of establishing the University of Jerusalem “Al-Quds”;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution.

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1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13).

2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13).

3/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

4/ A/36/866 and Corr.1; see also A/37/591.

5/  A/57/462.

6/  Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13).

7/  A/57/338.

8/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13)

9/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

10/ A/57/282.

11/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13).

12/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13).

13/ Ibid., p. viii.

14/ Resolution 22 A (I).

15/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

16/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

17/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I.

18/ A/57/455.

19/ A/57/294, annex.

20/  Resolution 217 A (III).

21/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700.

22/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

23/ A/57/456.

24/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13).