Mideast situation – Letter from Zimbabwe

Letter dated 5 May 1987 from the Permanent Representative of

Zimbabwe to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of the final document adopted a the Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Committee of Nine Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine held at Harare on 14 and 15 April 1987 (see annex).

I request that it be circulated among Member States as an official document the General Assembly, under agenda items 38 and 39 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

ANNEX

Harare Declaration of the Committee of Nine Non-Aligned

Countries on Palestine

1. The Foreign Ministers of the Committee of Nine Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine met at Harare, Zimbabwe, from 14 to 15 April 1987 to review the situation in the Middle East and to consider actions that the Committee could take within the context of its mandate to contribute to the peace efforts in the region aimed at achieving a just and lasting solution to the Middle East crisis and in particular the Palestinian question, which is the core of the Middle East crisis.

2. The Ministers reaffirmed the firm commitment of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the search for a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the situation in the Middle East and reiterated that the attainment and exercise of inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as defined by the relevant United Nations resolutions, and Israel's withdrawal from all the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, would contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East.

3. Having received and analyzed the report on the important consultations with the President of the Security Council, the Secretary-General and the permanent members of the Security Council carried out by the Permanent Representatives at the request of the Foreign ministers at their Georgetown (Guyana) meeting, and having listened to and considered the briefing given by H.E. Brother Milhem of the Palestine Liberation organization (PLO) on the current situation in the Middle East.

The Ministers recalled the relevant decisions taken by the Heads of State or Government of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries at their Eighth Summit Conference with regard to the Middle East problem. They noted that, since the Harare Summit Conference, the conflict in the Middle East had worsened as a result of the actions of the Israeli occupation forces against the civilian population in the occupied territories in flagrant violation of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. They concluded that this situation still posed a serious threat to international peace and security.

4. The Ministers reviewed the situation in and around the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon resulting from Israeli invasion and occupation of the country in 1982 and expressed grave concern and profound anguish at the escalation of fight that has brought untold suffering to the civilian population in the area. They stressed the need for free access to the camps of medical supplies, food, water and fuel, for lifting of the siege imposed on the camps and for ending the fighting destruction.

5. The Ministers reiterated the Movement's solidarity with and firm support for the Palestinian people led by PLO, their sole and legitimate representative, in their struggle against Israeli occupation and appealed to all members of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as the international community, to give additional support to this legitimate struggle. The increasing popular resistance of the Palestinian people in Palestine is proof of the vitality of the struggle and the confidence of the Palestinian people in the leadership of PLO. Taking note of the positive element of the dialogue which has begun among the Palestinians, the Ministers welcomed the forthcoming meeting of the Palestine National Council scheduled for 20 April in Algiers. In this regard, the Ministers appreciated all efforts, in particular the efforts of President Chadil Benjedid, in organizing and hosting this meeting with a view to enhancing the unity of PLO.

6. The Ministers reviewed the current international developments in relation to the Middle East, particularly in the light of United Nations General Assembly resolution 41/43 D of 2 December 1986, and welcomed the growing sentiment and momentum in favor of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle-East under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation, on equal footing, of all the parties concerned, including PLO as the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and of any other party able to make a positive contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace in the region. They particularly welcomed the declaration of the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve member States of the European Community on the Middle East made at Brussels on 23 February 1987. They also welcomed the Franco-Soviet initiative.

7. The Ministers further welcomed the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations aimed at facilitating the early convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. Conscious of the urgency of finding a comprehensive and durable solution to the complex problem of the Middle East and of the dangers that further delay could entail for the region and beyond, they urged all parties concerned to co-operate fully with the Secretary-General in his efforts to facilitate the early convening of the Conference. In this regard, the Ministers reiterated their call for the early establishment of a preparatory committee for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East under United Nations auspices and in conformity with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983. They further stressed the primary responsibility of the Secretary-General, as well as that of the permanent members of the Security Council, to bring this about.

8. Pursuant to the mandate given to the Committee by the Eighth Summit Conference, cognizant of the new international climate which is more conducive to the concept of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East and desirous of promoting and supporting these international efforts aimed at the early convening of such a Conference, the Committee addresses this Declaration to all States, international organizations and world public opinion and asks that they do all in their power to promote and support all efforts for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, one of the objectives of which is the attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the right to establish an independent State in Palestine.

9. To this end, the Committee decided to undertake the following actions:

(a) To convey to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations the concern of the Non-Aligned Movement over the situation in the Middle East and to give full support to their endeavors in this regard, as well as to urge them to intensify their efforts in order to set in motion the preparatory process for the Peace Conference;

(b) To meet with the permanent members of the Security Council, in the capitals of Committee member countries and in New York, in order to convey to them the Movement's concern over the situation in the Middle East and to urge them to contribute to the creation of the needed conditions for the urgent convening of International Peace Conference on the Middle East;

(c) To invite the members of the Security Council, following the presentation of the report of the Secretary-General on the Middle East in May 1987, to assess prospects of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East;

(d) To request the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement to consult with the members concerned with the convening of the Peace Conference, i.e., Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, in order to continue co-ordination and to increase efforts to promote the Conference;

(e) To brief the members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on the urgent need to work for the promotion of the early convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East.

10. The Committee decided to continue to work actively and closely with regional and international organizations, as well as to act as a liaison between the interested parties in order to promote the idea of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and to ask the Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to conduct consultations and contacts in order to develop further action to promote our goals.

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* A/42/50.

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