Fourth Committee report – GA general debate – Verbatim record (excerpts)

Official Records

General Assembly

Fifty-eighth session 

71st plenary meeting

Friday, 10 December 2003, 3 p.m. 

New York

    The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m.

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

  The President (spoke in French ): The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) on agenda items 22, 73 to 82 and 20.

  I request the Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), Mr. Kais Kabtani of Tunisia, to introduce in one intervention the reports of the Committee.

 Mr. Kabtani (Tunisia), Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) ( spoke in French ): It is a great honour and privilege for me to introduce to the General Assembly the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) submitted under agenda items 22, 73 to 82 and 20. Those reports, contained in documents A/59/467 to A/59/478, include the texts of draft resolutions and draft decisions recommended to the General Assembly for adoption. For the convenience of delegations, the Secretariat has prepared a checklist of voting in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee); it is contained in document A/C.4/59/INF/3.

…

  The fourth report, submitted under agenda item 75, “United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”, is contained in document A/59/470. The Fourth Committee considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), published under the symbol A/59/13, as well as the report of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA and various reports of the Secretary-General. Under this item, the Committee adopted four draft resolutions whose adoption by the General Assembly would extend UNRWA’s mandate until June 2008 and enable it to continue the various important activities that it is carrying out to reduce the suffering of Palestinian refugees. The draft resolutions also invite donors to support the tireless efforts made by the Agency in increasingly difficult conditions. The Fourth Committee recommends those draft resolutions for adoption by the General Assembly.

  The fifth report, on item 76, “Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”, is contained in document A/59/471. The Fourth Committee considered the report of the Special Committee concerning the protection and the promotion of the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories (A/59/381), as well as other reports of the Secretary-General issued under this item. The Fourth Committee adopted five draft resolutions, which are found in paragraph 27 of its report. The draft resolutions reaffirm the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and demand that Israel respect its obligations under international law, as indicated by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of July 2004. The Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolutions.

…

  I now have the honour of submitting to the General Assembly for consideration and adoption the recommendations of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), which appear in the reports published under the symbols A/59/467 to A/59/478.

 The President (spoke in French ): If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) that are before the Assembly today.

 It was so decided.

…

Agenda item 75

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

    Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/59/470)

  The President (spoke in French ): The Assembly will now take a decision on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee in paragraph 20 of its report. We will proceed to take a decision on draft resolutions I through IV, one by one. After the voting, representatives will have an opportunity to explain their votes.

  We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Assistance to Palestine refugees”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

 Israel.

Abstaining:

  Cameroon, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu.

  Draft resolution I was adopted by 167 votes to 1, with 11 abstentions (resolution 59/117).

 The President ( spoke in French ): Draft resolution II is entitled “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

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

Abstaining:

  Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

  Draft resolution II was adopted by 162 votes to 6, with 9 abstentions (resolution 59/118).

  [Subsequently, the delegation of Angola informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]

 The President (spoke in French ): Draft resolution III is entitled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

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

Abstaining:

  Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea.

  Draft resolution III was adopted by 163 votes to 6, with 7 abstentions (resolution 59/119).

 The President ( spoke in French ): We now turn to draft resolution IV, entitled “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico , Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

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

Abstaining:

  Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

  Draft resolution IV was adopted by 161 votes to 6, with 9 abstentions (resolution 59/120).

 The President ( spoke in French ): I call on the representative of Israel, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote on the resolution just adopted.

 Mr. Cohen (Israel): Israel fully supports the humanitarian mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Despite the exceedingly difficult conditions on the ground, we are seeking ways to work with the organization for the benefit of the Palestinian population.

  However, because its mission is humanitarian and not political, and because the issue of refugees is specifically reserved for negotiations between the parties, UNRWA resolutions should not deal with extraneous political issues. They should not single out one host country or prejudge issues set aside for final status negotiations. To do so is to reduce the effectiveness of the organization.

  The entire United Nations system has devoted itself of late to the mission of reform and revitalization. We do not think that this issue should be excluded from these worthy endeavours, and we believe that further streamlining and depoliticization of these resolutions is necessary. For all of these reasons, Israel has not been able to support the resolutions under this agenda item, despite its support for UNRWA’s humanitarian mission.

  We are hopeful that we can work with Member States to achieve this goal in future and with UNRWA and other parties on the ground to guarantee that its mandate is fulfilled as effectively as possible.

 The President (spoke in French ): The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 75.

Agenda item 76

Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of

the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories 

    Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/59/471)

  The President (spoke in French ): The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee in paragraph 27 of its report.

 We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I to V one by one.

  After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote.

  We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

  Australia, Canada, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

  Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

  Draft resolution I was adopted by 84 votes to 9, with 80 abstentions (resolution 59/121).

  [Subsequently, the delegation of Iraq informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour; the delegation of Somalia had not intended to participate.]

  Draft resolution II is entitled “Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, 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, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

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

Abstaining:

  Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

  Draft resolution II was adopted by 160 votes to 7, with 11 abstentions (resolution 59/122).

  [Subsequently, the delegations of Angola, Iraq and Mauritania informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]

 The President (spoke in French ): Draft resolution III is entitled “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”.

 A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

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

Abstaining:

  Albania, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

 Draft resolution III was adopted by 155 votes to 8, with 15 abstentions (resolution 59/123).

  [Subsequently, the delegations of Angola and Iraq informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]

  The President (spoke in French ): Draft resolution IV is entitled “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”.

  A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

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

Abstaining:

  Albania, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Kenya, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

 Draft resolution IV was adopted by 149 votes to 7, with 22 abstentions (resolution 59/124).

  [Subsequently, the delegation of Iraq informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]

  The President (spoke in French ): Draft resolution V is entitled “The occupied Syrian Golan”. 

  A recorded vote has been requested.

 A recorded vote was taken. 

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mon golia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

 Israel, Palau.

Abstaining:

  Albania, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Haiti, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu.

  Draft resolution V was adopted by 160 votes to 2, with 15 abstentions (resolution 59/125).

  [Subsequently, the delegation of Iraq informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]

 The President (spoke in French ): I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote on the resolutions just adopted.

 Mr. Arias (Panama) (spoke in Spanish ): Allow me to take this opportunity to explain Panama’s vote with regard to draft resolution I, on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, as well as to make a few comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that we feel are relevant.

  Panama reaffirms its solidarity with the Palestinian people and with its right to self-determination through the establishment of a free and independent State. We also reaffirm the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace with the respect of its neighbouring States.

  Panama supports every United Nations effort to ensure effective compliance with human rights in any part of the world and acknowledges the special effort that is being made in the Middle East with a view to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Panama has traditionally voted in favour of all draft resolutions submitted on this item. However, on this occasion, Panama decided to abstain in the vote on draft resolution I in document A/59/471. Given the very particular circumstances in the region, it is insufficient that the mandate of the Special Committee, which goes back to 1968, be limited to investigating only one of the parties to the conflict. Panama believes that, in order to make it more relevant, this mandate should be broader and that, as a result, the Committee’s report should be more comprehensive.

  The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a source of great concern for our country. In particular, we are concerned by the endless cycle of violence in those territories. In that context, we must reiterate that neither the occupation of the territories and extrajudicial killings nor suicide attacks against civilians are legally permissible means to defend national interests. We do not have the slightest doubt that the settlement of Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires strict compliance with the norms of international law.

  We are also concerned by the General Assembly’s lack of effectiveness in resolving this conflict. We draw attention to the great number of resolutions adopted at the United Nations on this matter. Everyone is aware of the fact that resolving this conflict — or any other conflict of similar importance for the international community — is not a function of the number of resolutions that we adopt, but rather of the consensus that we achieve and the possibility that this would lead to concrete deeds which would contribute to the objective that we seek.

  The United Nations Charter establishes as one of the functions of the General Assembly — perhaps the most important one — to make recommendations on the peaceful settlement of disputes. That is why we suggest that our work in plenary meetings not be limited to the critical analysis of realities, but rather aim to formulate proposals that would help to resolve conflicts.

  I would like to conclude by reaffirming Panama’s support for any effort towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. That requires, inter alia, a definitive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a process which requires that all the parties accept and comply with the Oslo Agreements, the principles of the Madrid Conference and the road map.

 Mr. Cohen (Israel): Israel voted against the draft resolutions under this agenda item because we believe that they present a picture that is disconnected from reality. On the ground today there is a sense of opportunity, of a return to negotiations and of new initiatives that may serve to regenerate the peace process. In the texts before us, however, we face a biased and anachronistic picture of the situation in the region, where the rights of only one side are acknowledged. There is no correlation between those two visions.

  We believe that these resolutions are wasteful of United Nations resources and counterproductive, as well as contrary to a spirit of reform and revitalization. The problematic nature of the resolutions is even starker today, given the opportunity for real progress that has emerged in the region. In our view, there is an inherent contradiction between the approach of the road map — which calls for mutual recognition, compromise and compliance — and these resolutions.

  If we are actually to improve conditions in the region for all peoples, we must put such unhelpful, unconstructive efforts behind us. There is opportunity on the ground, and we must embrace it, in the General Assembly and elsewhere, by encouraging negotiations based on mutual respect. Israel is hopeful that the future holds great promise. It is up to all of us to work to realize it.

 Ms. Grant (Canada): As we signalled in this Hall last week, as the result of a full review of all our votes on Middle East resolutions, Canada decided to vote against draft resolution A/59/L.14. Canada is very concerned about the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis and deplores all violence. We have called on Israel to fully comply with its obligations under international law as an occupying Power, and we will continue to do so.

  However, we see no value added from the activities of the Special Committee, which duplicate the work of other more appropriate and effective mechanisms, such as the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. We believe that the General Assembly should consider reassigning resources to activities which are more consistent with road map obligations and the Quartet’s objectives. By focusing solely on the rights of Palestinians, the resolution distorts the picture, which should reflect the rights and responsibilities of all parties.

 The President (spoke in French ): May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 76?

 It was so decided.

…

 The meeting rose at 4.45 p.m.

This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-154A. Corrections will be issued after the end of the session in a consolidated corrigendum.