Sovereignty over natural resources in the OPT – GA debate – Press release (excerpts)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSES OUTCOME OF UNCTAD IX,

ADOPTS ANTI-CORRUPTION DECLARATION, STRESSES

CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL INTEGRATION

Actions Taken as It Adopts 28 Proposals On Recommendation

of Economic and Financial Committee

The General Assembly this afternoon endorsed the outcome of the ninth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) (Midrand, South Africa, May 1996), as it adopted 28 proposals recommended by its Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

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Acting on other matters referred to it by the Economic and Social Council, the Assembly, by a vote of 133 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States, Vanuatu), with 21 abstentions, called upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss and depletion of, or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. (See Annex for details of the vote.)

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Assembly Work Programme

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Approved by the Committee by a recorded vote of 123 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 17 abstentions, draft resolution II concern permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.  Under its provisions, the Assembly would call upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss and depletion of, or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. The right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources would be recognized. The Assembly would express the hope that that issue would be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. The Secretary-General would be requested to report to the Assembly's fifty-second session on implementation of the text.

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Action on Second Committee Reports

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The draft resolution, on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, was before the Assembly for action.

The draft was adopted by a vote of 133 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United States, Vanuatu), with 21 abstentions. (See Annex.)

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ANNEX

Vote on Sovereignty in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Draft resolution II, on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, contained in document A/51/601, was adopted by a recorded vote of 133 in favour to 3 against, with 21 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States, Vanuatu.

Abstaining: Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Palau, Paraguay, Ukraine, Uruguay.

Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Lesotho, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Zaire.

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