Draft report
Chapter III
General debate
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24. A number of speakers commented on the Department’s information programme on the question of Palestine. One speaker congratulated the Department for its activities in that regard and encouraged it to continue to actively follow the situation, to offer its cooperation and support to Palestinian civil society organizations and to marshal even more solidarity and support from the international community for the Palestinian people, with the overall goal of promoting the exercise of their inalienable rights and for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. Another speaker noted that the United Nations visitors’ tours did not sufficiently address the question of Palestine and hoped that the Department would take into consideration the question of Palestine as a bigger part of the tours. Another speaker, referring to the implementation of General Assembly resolutions on the Palestinian information programme, regretted that, by its very definition, the programme promoted a one-sided narrative. Especially at a time of United Nations reform and revitalization, the programme should be substituted, in due time, with a more balanced and constructive joint effort concerning peace in the Middle East, aimed at the promotion of tolerance, peace education, mutual understanding and the prevention of incitement, he argued. Another speaker said that his country looked forward to a United Nations media message that could push forward efforts to enhance dialogue and understanding among civilizations and narrow the gap between the countries of the North and South.
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Document Type: Report
Document Sources: General Assembly, United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI)
Subject: Palestine question, Public information
Publication Date: 11/05/2007