Palestine question – Second Arab-South American Summit (Doha) – Declaration//Non-UN document (excerpts)

Second Summit of Arab and South American Countries

Doha, 29-30/3/2009

Doha Declaration

We, the Heads of State and Government of the Arab and South American Countries in our Second Summit held in Doha (31/3/2009), upon the generous invitation of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the Stale of Qatar, and in accordance with what was stipulated in our First Summit. held in Brasilia (10-11/5/2005), upon the invitation of His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, who co-presided the First Summit together with His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, as the Chairman of the Arab Summit, with keenness to work on promoting Arab-South American relations and to benefit from its available chances, and coordinating bi-regional efforts to build a strong community in which mutual benefits can he exchanged and common interests protected. in the framework of constructive and concrete relations.

AGREE TO:

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II – Political Coordination:

5. Reaffirm the need to reach a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of the principle of land for peace and relevant resolutions of the Security Council! and of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in particular Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) of the Security Council. as well as the Madrid Framework and the "Arab Peace Initiative” adopted at the Beirut Summit (2002) and reaffirmed at the Riyadh Summit (2007) and the Damascus Summit (2008), that ensure the realization of security for all countries in the region.  Also highlight the necessity of the full implementation of the “Road Map”. Reaffirm the need for the mater materialization of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people and for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1515 (2003), and the establishment of the independent Palestinian State, based on the 1967 lines, living side by side with the State of Israel. and the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab territories to the lines of 4/6/1967, including the occupied Syrian Golan and what remained from the Lebanese territories and the dismantling of the settlements including these in East Jerusalem.  Duly take into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9/7/2004 by the International Court of Justice concerning the "Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, and call upon all parties concerned to comply with the said advisory opinion.

Express our respect for the Palestinian legitimacy under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas and appreciate his efforts with all Arab and Palestinian parties to achieve national reconciliation and ensure that the Palestinian dialogue succeeds.  Also express our respect for the legitimate institutions of the Palestinian National Authority established by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), including the elected Palestinian legislative council.

Appreciate Egyptian efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to seek Palestinian reconciliation, as well as welcome the results of the International Conference for Donors in Sharm El-Sheikh held by both Egypt and Norway on 2/3/2009, in order to offer needed funds to rebuild the Gaza Strip and the resumption of international assistance to the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian people.

Deplore the Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, which led to thousands of civilian Palestinian casualties and the destruction of the infrastructure as well as the private and public institutions, and call for the immediate reopening of all the crossing points between Gaza and Israel, and for lifting the siege. so that essential goods and services, including fuel, can be supplied on a continuous basis, in order to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories. Reaffirm our full support for the implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Palestinian occupied territories.

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