Mideast situation-Convening the International Peace Conference-Letter from Tunisia

Letter dated 30 April 1987 from the Permanent Representative of

Tunisia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of April 1987, I have the honour to transmit herewith a letter dated 29 April 1987 addressed to you by Mr. Zehdi Labib Terzi, Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would kindly arrange for the text of this letter and its annex to be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under items 38 and 39 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Mahmoud MESTIRI

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

__________         

*A/42/50.

ANNEX

Letter dated 29 April 1987 from the Permanent Observer of the

Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations

addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, I am requested to bring the attached resolution of the Palestine National Council to your attention (see appendix).  As you are aware, the Palestine National Council was held with the full participation of all Palestinians.

The decision on the International Peace Conference was adopted unanimously, and it is our contention that the issue of "who represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people" should not be a controversial issue and should not be a matter for discussion.  The Palestinian people adhere to the Palestine Liberation Organization as their sole and legitimate representative, and the General Assembly of the United Nations has already determined that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the representative of the Palestinian people.

Chairman Arafat expresses his hope that the endeavours taken by you to convene the International Peace Conference will be both fruitful and successful.

(Signed)  Zehdi Labib TERZI

Permanent Observer

APPENDIX

The Palestine National Council in its 18th Session held in Algiers from 20-26 April 1987,

Taking into consideration United Nations resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 regarding the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East; and the United Nations resolutions regarding the question of Palestine;

Supports the convening of the International Peace Conference within the framework of the United Nations and under its auspices, with the participation of the permanent members of the Security Council and the concerned parties to the conflict in the region, including the Palestine Liberation Organization on an equal footing with the other parties;

Stresses the necessity that the International Conference should have full authority;

Expresses its support for the proposal regarding the establishment of the Preparatory Committee (initiating committee) and requests that its establishment and convening should be expedited;

Highly appreciates the resolution in this matter of the Fifth Islamic Summit Conference, which took place in Kuwait (26-29 January 1987); and of the Eighth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Harare (August-September 1986) and its Co-ordinating Committee (the Committee on Palestine); and of the Conference of the Organization of African Unity held in Addis Ababa which supported the convening of the International Conference, the Preparatory Committee and the efforts made for convening the Conference.

—–