Unofficial transcript Agenda item 37 “Question of Palestine”, November 29, 2012 DAFF-ALLA ELHAG ALI OSMAN (SUDAN): Mr. President of the General Assembly, Secretary General, I have the honor as permanent representative of the Republic of Sudan, Chairman of the Group of Arab Ambassadors in the United Nations, I would like to welcome at the outset -- I would like to welcome the children of Palestine who are present here who have displayed patience and good faith, and who have shown that they were excellent partners for the Palestinian cause. Welcome to all of you, President Abbas, our brother, the militant. Welcome to your distinguished delegation at this historic meeting on this historic day. Mr. President, I have the honor and the pleasure of introducing the draft resolution entitled The Status of Palestine in the United Nations contained in document A/67/L.28 under agenda item 37, relating to the question of Palestine. I would like to introduce this draft resolution on behalf of the following countries: Azerbaijan, Argentina, Jordan, Afghanistan, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Uruguay, Iceland, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Belize, Bangladesh, the Plurinational state of Bolivia, Peru, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, the Comoros, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Laos Democratic Republic, South Africa, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Chile, Somalia, China, Tajikistan, Iraq, Grenada, Guyana, Guinea Bissau, Palestine, Venezuela, Vietnam, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Kuwait, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Malaysia, Madagascar, Egypt, Morocco, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Nicaragua, India, Yemen, Turkestan, Surinam, Belarus. Mr. President, this important draft resolution is aimed at taking a historic decision, granting Palestine the status of nonmember observer state. The preamble of the draft resolution reaffirms the unacceptability of the acquisition of territory by force stipulated in the charter. The other paragraph in the preamble reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to an independent state of Palestine. Mr. President, certain paragraphs in the preamble reaffirm relevant resolutions of the Security Council as well as of the General Assembly concerning the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine that mentions among other that Israel must withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory, occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, that the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, starting with the right to self-determination and the right to establish an independent state must be achieved, as well as an equitable statement for the refugees of Palestine, as well as the complete cessation of Israeli activities of establishing settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The paragraphs in the preamble recall the resolution of the General Assembly where it has taken note of the proclamation of the states of Palestine by the National Palestinian Council on 15, November 1988. These paragraphs also reaffirm the right of all states in the region to live in peace within safe and internationally recognized borders and the right of both states to live in peace and security side by side. As for the operative paragraphs, it reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to a dependence in the state of Palestine on the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. The General Assembly is called upon to grant Palestine the status of nonmember observer state. I repeat we are asking the General Assembly to accord to Palestine a nonmember observer state status without prejudging the rights and privileges here of the organization as representative of the Palestinian people. The paragraphs -- operative paragraphs also call for the determination to contribute to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and also ask that an end be brought to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and that will make it possible to realize a vision of two states. These paragraphs also express the urgent need to continue negotiations in order to achieve a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution. Paragraph six of the draft resolution urges all states, the specializes agencies and organizations of the United States [sic] to continue to support the Palestinian people in the early realization of the right to self-determination, to independence and to freedom as soon as possible. Mr. President, independence, freedom, the right to self-determination, these are principles that have been enshrined by the United Nations charter. This is a historic day because it will enshrine those principles of the charter. Sir, the draft resolution brought to your attention has taken a long time to come here to make official a decision of the General Assembly, today 65 years ago when the United Nations decided on the partition of historical Palestine into two states, a state which required its independence. The other one has waited until now on this historic day. The eyes of all the children of Palestine are directed towards us and towards the support of the General Assembly in order to realize their aspirations. The General Assembly, since that date 65 years ago, adopted many resolutions reaffirming the right of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, and reaffirming the need to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine under the resolutions of international legitimacy, and in this respect this draft resolution is an additional milestone along the path to realizing the international will to establish a real peace in the Middle East based on the two-state solution. That is why I call upon all states to contribute today to make history, to make history and to pave the way for the future by voting for the draft resolution. Mr. President, in conclusion, I can only express on behalf of the Arab Group our great gratitude to all of the states who have introduced this draft resolution showing in this way their support for the principles of the charter. This is a victory of the values of truth. It's a victory for the Palestinian people who are watching us. Thank you very much, Mr. President. CHAIRPERSON: