CEIRPP meeting – Summary record

COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE

RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 211th MEETING

Held at Headquarters, New York,

on Wednesday, 7 December 1994, at 3 p.m.

____________________________________________________

Chairman:  Mr. CISSÉ (Senegal)

CONTENTS

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 1995

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94-82701 (E)                                                            /…

The meeting was called to order at 3.30 p.m.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

1. The agenda was adopted.

DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

2. The CHAIRMAN said that the four draft resolutions on the question of Palestine had been considered and approved by the Bureau of the Committee. Draft resolutions A, B and C concerned the programme of work of the Committee, of the Division for Palestinian Rights and of the Department of Public Information, respectively.  Compared with the texts adopted in 1993, the draft resolutions contained a few adjustments and updatings in order to take into account the new developments and the recommendations made by the Committee in its report.  In particular, a reference to the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area of 4 May 1994 had been included in the third preambular paragraph of draft resolution A and the fifth preambular paragraph of draft resolution C, a new paragraph 2 had been added in draft resolutions B and C, and there was also an amendment to paragraph 3 of draft resolution C.  It was understood that provision for the programme of work entailed by the three draft resolutions had been made in the 1994-1995 programme budget of the Organization.

3. Draft resolutions A, B and C were adopted.

4. Mr. AL-KIDWA (Observer for Palestine) said that several changes had been made in draft resolution D to try to give more prominence to the peace process and the achievements made so far.  The draft resolution had also been updated so as to reflect accurately the most recent developments, including the new implementation agreements reached between the two parties in relation to the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements.  Certain changes had also been made with regard to the essential elements which would guarantee the achievement of a successful peace settlement, since some of those elements were dealt with in separate draft resolutions on Jerusalem and on the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.  The basic elements were set forth in paragraphs 4 and 5.

5. Broad consultations had been conducted with the Chairman and the Bureau, as well as with the Arab Group, which had in general endorsed the draft resolution, and with the European Union, which had agreed unanimously to vote in favour of the draft resolution in the plenary Assembly provided that it was adopted by the Committee.  That very important step would guarantee an overwhelming majority of Member States in favour of the draft resolution.

6. The draft resolution would represent a bridge between the position of principle of the United Nations and the ongoing peace process.  As such, it would ensure that the peace process moved in the right direction towards the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, making it possible to achieve lasting peace.

7. Draft resolution D was adopted.

8. Mr. AL-KIDWA (Observer for Palestine) said that he had just received from the European Union some amendments to draft resolutions A, B and C.  In the past, members of the European Union had abstained on draft resolutions A and B and the amendments were designed to make it possible for them to vote in favour. He welcomed those efforts, which indicated a readiness to deal positively with the Committee and the Division and become more actively engaged in future work. However, the amendments had been submitted too late to be considered by the Committee.  He hoped that the European Union would try again at a future date and succeed in reaching broader agreement with the Committee.  He was sure that the four draft resolutions just adopted would serve the purposes of the Committee and of the United Nations as a whole.

PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 1995

9. The CHAIRMAN said that the Bureau had held preliminary consultations with regard to the events to be organized in 1995 and wished to submit a number of initial proposals to the Committee in order to enable the Division for Palestinian Rights to begin work on some of the events.  In the light of consultations already held with the non-governmental organizations in Geneva, the Bureau proposed to hold the Preparatory Meeting for the North American and European NGO Symposium and the International NGO Meeting as a joint event in New York on 27 and 28 February 1995.  A smaller number of non-governmental organizations would be invited than in the past in order to ensure the efficiency of the preparatory work.

10. The Seminar and NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine for Latin America and the Caribbean region, which was to have been held in 1994 and had been postponed at the request of the Government of Brazil, would be held in Rio de Janeiro from 20 to 23 March 1995.  Those dates had been approved by the Brazilian Government, which had received a planning mission of the Secretariat and was assisting with the preliminary details.  The Bureau would prepare the programmes and lists of invitees to those events and would report back to the Committee as soon as possible.

11. He took it that the Committee approved the recommendations of the Bureau and authorized the Division for Palestinian Rights to proceed with the necessary invitations, in consultation with the Bureau.

12. It was so decided.

The meeting rose at 3.55 p.m.