REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ._~-------------------~ GEiNERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-SECOND SESSION SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/42/35) UNITED NATIONS REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-SECOND SESSION SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/42/35) UNITED NATIONS New York, 1987 NOTE Syrnhols of l 'n'ted NiI'ions d,'clIllIl'nts i1rc compmctlof capitill Ictll'rs comhincd with figurcs. Mcntion of such a symhol indicatcs a rl'fercnn: to a United Nations documcnt. [Original: English) [16 October 1987) CONTENTS ?aragraphs LE'l"I'ER OF TAANSMI'I"rAL "......................................................... Pag~ v 1 I. I I· I II · INTRODUCTION ·································.·.·········· MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ·.············ , ··················· ORGANl ZATION OF WORK ······································ A. B. C. Election of officers Participation in the work of the Con.mittee ············ Re'-establi~hment 1- 6 7 .· 9 10 - 17 10 - 13 14- 15 3 4 4 4 4 of the Working Group., ··············· 16 - 17 18 - 80 18 - 55 IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ····························· A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolution 41/43 A of 2 December 1986 ················· 1. Review of the s~tuation relating to the question of Palestine and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee ·················· Reactions to developments affecting the inalienahle rights of the Palestinian people ·················· Action taken by the Committee to promote the convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East iil accordance I<'i th General Assembly Lesolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983 ··..·..·····.········.··· ···· ~ ··· Attendance at international conferences and meetings ".. _ . 6 6 18 - 28 29 - 46 6 2. 3. 8 47 - 53 54 11 4. 5. 13 Action taken by United Nations bodies, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations ··..··..·.·.·····.·.··············.·· 55 14 B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 41/43 A and B of 2 December 1986 ······································· 1. 2. 3. 56 - 80 56 - 69 70 - 78 79 - 80 15 15 18 20 Co-operation with non-governmental organizations ·· Seminar s ··.······································· Other activities -iii- CONTENTS (continued) Paragraphs V. VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPA.d'MENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 41/43 C ······· RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ·························· ANNEXES I. II. Ill. Recommendations o~ the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first session ·································· Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights ····················· ,....... Conclusions and recommendations ado~ted by the Sixteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New De.hi, 8-12 June 1987 ·····.···························.··········· Declaration adopted by the United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New Delhi, 8-10 June 1987 ·····.········.·····.·········· Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seventeenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New York, 22-2~ June 1981 .·················.·········.·····.····.··.·· Declaration adopted by the United Nations North American Regional Non-Government~l Organizations Symposium on the Question of Pale8tine, New York, 24-26 June 1987 ······················ Declaration adopted by the International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organiza~ions on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 7-9 September 1987 ······························ ,.............. 25 28 Page 21 81 - 91 92 - 96 23 38 IV. 43 V. 4& VI. 53 VII. 63 -iv- LE'M'ER OF TRANSMI'M'AL 7 October 1.987 Sir, I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of ttle Palestinian People for submission to thtl Genp.rbl Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of re~lution 41/43 A of 2 December 1986. Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. (Signed) Massamba SARRE . Chairman of the Committee on the Exp.rcise of the Inalienable Ri9~ts of the Palestinian People His Excellency Mr. Javier P~rez de Cu~llar Secretary-General of the United Nations -v- I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, establighed by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, is currently composed of 23 Member States. 1/ 2. The first report of the Committee ~/ contained specific recommendations designed to enable the '>alestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights as previously recognized and defined by the General Assembly. Those recommendations were first endorsed by the As~embly in its resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. 3. In its subsequent reports to the General Assembly, 1/ the Committee retained its original recommendations unchanged. On each occasion they have been firmly endorsed by t e Assembly, which has also conti~ued to renew and, as necessary, expand the mandate of the Committee. 4. Despite repeated and urgent appeals by the Committee, however, the Security Council has not yet been able to act on or ~mplement the recommendations of the Committee. The Committee remains convincec that positive consideration and action by the Security Council on its recommendations would advance prospects for the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. 5. Meanwhile, the occupation by Israel of Palestinian and other Arab territorleR, including Jerusalem, in violation of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, has continued and is now in its twentieth year. Israel still occupies parts of Lebanon. As a result, the situation relating to the inalienable l'ights of the Palestinian people has continued to deteriorate. The Committee ha; repeatedly expressed its grave concern at the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied territories, which are in violation of the Genev3 Convelltion relative to the Protection of Civilian Per,ons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 4/ and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (General Assembly resolution-2l7 A (Ill». Such poli~ies and practices have continued to pose obstacles to the efforts towards a comprehensive, just and las~ing solution, and to exacerbate tension and conflict in the area, further endangering international peace and security. The Committee has therefore repeatedly warned that thiR situation will continue to prevail as long as the Palestinian people is denied its inalienable rights in Palestine, including those to self-determination without external interference to national independence and sovereignty, to returl. to its homes and property, and to establish its own independent sovereign State, and as long as the Palestinian and other Arab territories remain occupled. In this connection, the Committee has also been gravely concerned by the violence and destruction directed against Palestinians in refugee camps, for whom the international community has a special responsibility. 6. In order to secure United Nations objectives on the question of Palestine, during the period under review, the Comlnittee continued to give priority to the ea~ly convening of the proposed Internatiu.lal Peace Conference on the Middle East, under United Nations auspices and in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution' 38/58 C of 13 December 1983. The Committee is convinced that the conference would make a practical and pobitive contribution to efforts to promote a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and has continued to stress the -1- urgent need for ad(iltional concrf'te and constructive efforts ny all (;overnment~; in order to convene ~he Conference without delay. As a practical step tnwarris that objective, a preparatory r;ommittee should he ,:stahlished imml'c1iately, in dccord"ncp with General Assembly resolution 41/43 D ot 2 December 19B6, with the parlicipJtiun of the five permanent members of thp Security Council and also of all pdrtie~; involved, including the Palestine Liberati()1 Organization (PLO). --2- I I. MANDATE Oi" THE COMMIT'I'I~E 7. The Committee's mandate for the year 1987 is contained in paragraphs 3 to 5 of General Assembly resolution 41/43 A of 2 December 1986 by which the Assembly: (a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation rela inq to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights .?/ and to repor', and make s~ggestions to the General ASSembly or the Security Council, as appropriate, (b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommel1daL ns, including representi\tion at conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations wherp such activities would be considered by it to Je appropriate, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-second session and thereafter, (c) Requested the Committee to continue to extend Lts co-operation to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towardo heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and in creating a more favourable atmosphere for thf\ full implementation of the Committee's recommendations, and to take the necessary stJpS to expand its contacts with those organizations. By its resolution 41/43 B of 2 ::'ecember 1986, the General ASbembly also requested the Secretar)-General, inter alia, to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources and to ensure that the Division continued to discharge the tasks detailed in paragraphs 2 and 3 of General Assembly res0lution 40/96 B, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance. 8. 9. By resolution 4~/43 C of ~ December 1986, the General Assembly requested the Department of Public Information, in full co-operation and co-ordination with the Committee, to continue its special information programme on the question of Palestine. -3- Ill. A. ORGANIZATION OF WORK Election of officers lOo At its l37th meeting, on 12 January 19b7, the Committee decided to re-elect the following officers: Chairman: Mr. Mdssamba Sarre (Senegal) Mr. Oscar Oramas-Olivd (Cuba) Vice-Chairt~n: Rapporteur: Mr. George Agius (Malta) 11. At its 139th meeting, on 12 March 1987, the :ommittee elected by acclamation Mr. Shah Mohammad Oast (Afghanistan) dS Vice-Chairman. 12. At its 141st meeting, on 7 July 1987, the Committee designated Mr. Saviour Borg (Malta) as Rapporteur a.i., in lieu of Mr. George Agius, who had returned to his country. At its 142nd meeting, on 14 September 1987, the Committee elected by acclamation as Rapporteur, Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, who had recently been appointed Permanent Representative of Malta. 13. At its 138th meeting, on 12 February 1987, th~ Committee adopted its programme of work for 1987 (A/AC.183/1987/CRP.l/Rev.l) in implementation of its mandate. B. Participation in the work of the Committee 14. As in previous years, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of Uae United Nations and Permanent Observers to the United Nations desiring to participate in the work of the Committee as observers wo~~ welcome to do so. Accordingly, in a letter dated 18 February 1987, the Chu!rman of the Committee so informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on 26 February 1987, to States Members of the united Nations and members of the specialized agencies, and to intergovernmental regional organizations. The Committee also decided to invitQ the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to participate in the work of the Committee as an observer, to attend all its meetings and to make observations and proposals for the consideration of the Committee. 15. During 1987 the Committee again welcomed as observers all the States and organizations that had participated in its work the preceding year. 6/ The Committee also welcomed the additional participation of Kuwait as of-28 April and of Bangladesh as of 7 July 1987. C. Re-establishment of the Working Group 16. At its 137th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee. The Working Grou~ was constituted as before under the cha!rmanshi~ of Mr. George Agius (Malta), on the understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in its proceedings. 7/ At its 141st meeting, the Committ~e designated Mr. Saviour Borg (Malta) :0 serve as Chairman a.i. of the Working Group. At its 142nd meeting. the -4- Committee appointed Mr. Alexander Borg-Ollvier (Malta) as Chairman of the Working Group. 17. At its 1st meeti~1, on 4 February 19B7, the Working Group elected by ac,=lamation Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India) as its Vice-Chairman. -5- IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMI'rTEE A. Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resolutinn 41/43 A of 2 December 1986 Review of the situation relating to the question o! PalestirIP and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee 1. 18. In accordance with its mandate, in the year under review, the Committee continued to follow developments relating to the question of Palestine and to exprt all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations .'If> repeat.'dly endorsed by the General Assembly. 19. In response to events in the region affecting the inalienable riqhts of the Palestinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, on several occasion!" whenever urgent action "'lS required, brought such developments to the attention of the Secretary-General and the President of the ~)ecur ity Counci 1, anci ca lled for appropriate measures in accordance with United Nations resolutions (see sect. 2 (a) below). Those letters were sent against a backdrop of continued mi litary occupation and gradual annexation by Israel of the Palestinian and Arab terr itor ies, which resulted in a growing spiral of conf 1 ict, t.ension and violence in the region. 20. The Committee was increasingly concerned at the fact that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories had continued to deteriorate, accorciing to reports reaching the Committee from a variety ut sources, such as Governments, Uniteci Nations bodies and agencies, non-govern ~enta1. organizations, individual experts and the media. The Comm~ttee was also alarmed at the continuing gralte situation of Palestinian refugees in the camps in south Lebanon. 21. According tu the information received by the Committee, Israel haci persisteci in its policy ol confiscating Arab-owned land in the occupied Palestinian territories and of expanding its settlements, in violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 ~ugust 1949, i/ and Uniteq Nations resolutions. 22. The Committee remained gravely concerned at the continued imposition of the "iron-fist" policy by Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied territories, in an effort to curb popular sent.mC!nt and activities in opposition to the occupation and in support of PLO. Demonstrations and protests which spread throughout the territories during the period under review were met with armed force by Israeli troops on repeated occasions, resulting in the killing and wounding of unarmed civilians, including children. The Israeli authorities continued to impose a range of measures against suspected activists, particularly trade unionists, community and stUdent lerders, journalists, and academics. Such measures included arrest, administrative detention for up to six months without charges or trial, town or house arrest, denial of permission to travel abroarl, and deportation. The Committee was gravely concerned at repeated reports of torture, beatings anll ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli security forces, despite appe.lls by human rights orqanizations and hunger strikes by thousands of prisoners. -6- 23. The Israeli author itieB hdrl St~cr('tary-General (a) COmmUnlci\t ions to till! Counc il and thl' President of the Secur ity 29. In resl~nse to events affecting the inalienable rights of the Pale8tinian people, the Chairman of the Committee, whenever urgent action was required, drew the attention of the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council to such events, urging the adoption of appropriate measures in accordance with United Nations resolutiona. The Chairman continued to call, in particular, for renewed efforts to promote a comprehemllve, jllRt and lasting solution to the question of Palentine, the root cause ef the conflict in the Middle East, and to stress the urgent need for thl' conveninq of the International PeaC'f~ Conference on the Mlddle East in accordance wlth General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. 30. In a letter to the Secretary-General dated 10 November 1986 (A/41/811-S/18452), the Chairman expressed the Committee's grave concern at tht persistence and intensification of fighting in and around Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut and near Tyre and Sidon. In particular, the Committee was greatly concerned that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had been unable to deliver supplies to several of the camps, which were surrounded and remained inaccessible. In his lettpr, the Chairman called for urgent measures to be taken to tnd the suffering and to provide the necessary emergency relief, as well as to ensure the security and safety of the Palestinians in the refugee camps. 31. On 16 Oecember 1986, the Chairman drew attention in a letter (A/41/970-S/18525) to the grave incidents which had conUnued to occur in the occupied Palestinian territories since the adoption by the Security Council of resolution S92 (1986). The Chairman detailed the most significant developments, which included several instances of shootings of Palestinian demonstrators by Israeli troops, hundreds of arrests, the closing of schools and universities and the imposition of curfews in several areas. He stressed th~t che actions by the Israeli authorities in the occupied territories were totally in violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Tim~ of War of 1949, and that, in resolution :1':l'2 (1986), the Security Council had called upon Israel to abide immediately and scrupUlously by the Convention and to release any per80n or persons detained as a result of the recent events. 32. In a letter dated 11 February 1987 (A/42/122-8/18682), the Chairman again expressed the Committo~e's grave concern at the persistence and intensification of attacks on the Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut and near Tyre. Since his previous letter (see para. 30 above), the violence and destruction hod escalated, cauding thousands of casualties. The Committ~e wished to express its utroost concern at th,~ fact that lJNRWA had been unable to deliver food or medicines to the camps and that thousands of persons We[2 trapped and close to starvation. In view of the seriousness of the situation, the Committe~ .shed to make an urgent appeal to all interested parties to use their influence to enable UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations to provide essential emerqen~y relief. 33. In d further letter on the same issue, dated 20 f<'ebruary 1987 (A/42/13S-S/18713), the Acting Chairman expressed the Committee's utmost concern at the fact that lJNRWA had once again been prevented from dEJlivering food and -8- medicines to the Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut nnd near Tyre. In view of the desperate situation of the Palestinlan civilians who had been trapped in the camps for months and who were on the verge of starvation, the Committee wished to reiteratt~ its earlit>r urgent appeal to r.lll the parties concerned. 34. On 12 March 1987 (A/42/176-S/187S1), the Chairman stated that the situation in the Palestinian refugee camps at Beirut and near Tyre continued to arouse the most ser ious concern. After being allowed to deliver some supplies, UNRWA had aga in been barred from the camps; the situation remained e::tremely grave and was bound to deteriorate further unless urgent measures were taken. He accordillgly reiterated the Committee's pressing appeal to all parties concerned to do everything possible to enable UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations to provide emergency relief. 35. On 7 May 1987 (A/42/278-S/1e850), the Chailman drew urgent attention to recent al.r raids carr ied Out by the Isr..leli Air Force against Palf>~tinian refugee camps near Sidon. Two attacks in the space of about a week had resulted in a toll of 22 df>ad and 65 wounded persons, primarily among the civilian population, and in the destruct lon of several houses. He expressed the view that the attacks had to be seen in the context of the intensification of measures taken by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, as well as the general military escalation in south Lebanon. He warned that the situation th~t was being created was a most explosive one, and expressed the Commi~tee's deep concern at the actions of the Israeli authorities, which continued to heighten tension in the region and posed a serious obstacle to international efforts to achieve a solution to the questio.l of Palestine. 36. In a letter dated 20 May 19J7 (A/42/297-S/l8874), the Chai,man express0d once again the grave concern of the Committee at the continuing detel ioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Since his earlier letter on the issue (see para. 35 above), demonstrations by Palestinians against the occupation had intensified and the Israeli authorities had again resorted to a variety of measures, including the use of armed force, the detention of leaders for six-month periods, arrests, the closing down of unlversiti~s, and expulsions. Three youth leaders had recently been denorted: Marwan Barghouti, Chairman of the Student Council at Bir Zeit University, Khalil Ashour, Chairman of the Student Council at A~-Najah University (both in the West Bank) and Ahmed Abdulfatah Nasser, President of the Arab Youth Federation at Xhan ~unis in Gaza. The Chairman recalled that Security Council resolution 592 (1986) had reaffirmed the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to toe Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of \~ar of 12 August 1949 to the occupied ter~ltories, and had called on Israel to abide immediately anriority to efforts to promote the early convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with General Assembly reuolution 38/58 C, the Committee decided that non-governmental symposia an~ meetingb should continue to emphasize the imper tance of convening the Conference ann str uctllred the l·rogrammes for those activities accordingly. 58. (a) North Americb~ Regional Symposium 59. The preparatory meeting for the North American Regional Symposlllm for Non-Governmental Organizadons was held 'lt United Nations Headqu':l':tern on 17 and 18 February 1987 and was attended by the members of the North American Co-ordlnating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question at Palestine, elec~ed by the participants a~ the North American Regional symposium for Non-Governmen~l Organizations held in June 1986. ~he meeting worked out the various aspects of the programme for the symposium to be held in 19a7 and the modaliti~s for expanding the network of non-government3l organizations acti/e on the question of Palestine in North America. 60. The North American Regional Symposium for Non-Governmental Organizations was held at United Nations Headquartels from ~4 to 26 June 1987, immediately following the North American Regioi\al Seminar, with which it was con,bined in the interest of economy and in accordanc~ with the practice followed in previous years (see para. 73 b~low). The Symposium was attended by representatives of 46 non-go~ernmental organizations as Farticipants, and 24 non-governmental organizations as observers from the United States of America and Canada, by a delegation of the Committee, and by a number of observers from governmental and intergovernmental organizations and liberation movements. The symposium had one main panel on "Th& need for convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle Bast in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C: the urgency, f ~nding twenty years of occupation", and a number of action-oriented workshops. 61. The Committee noted with appreciation that the symposium adopted a declaration strongly supporting the convening of the Internati~nal Peace Conference on the Midd~e East in accordance wtih General Assembly resolution 38/58 C and calling upon the peoples and Governmen~s of the United States and Canad~ to take all possible steps to secure the implementation of that resolution in order to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conf.lict, the core of which is the question of Palestine. The Committee was also pleased that the Symposium parti~ipants agreed on common objectives and strategies to be implemented by North American non-governmer.tal organizations to promote a just and i~qting peace in the Middle East, in particular the proposal to convene a model international peace conferenc~ at the non-governmental or.ganizat.ion level, and again established a North America~ Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations to co-ordinate their work. (For the full text of the declaration, see annex VI to the present document.) -16- (b) Asian Regional Symposium 62. The Asian Reglonal Symposium for Non-Governmental Organizations was held at the Vigyan Uhawan Conference Centre at New Delhi from 8 to 10 June 1987. The Committee had decided, in the interest of economy, to intt.'qrate this sy,,,posium as far as possible with the Asian Regional Seminar, which was held ftt the same venue from B to 12 June 198 7 (see para. 72 below). The Committee expressed its appreciation to the Government of India for its willingness to host both events. 63. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 21 non-governmental organizations as participants and 11 non-governmental organizations as observers, as well as by a delegation of the Committee and governme~tal and intergovernment~l observers. 64. The Symposium shared two panels with the Seminar, namely, on "the role of PLO", and on "the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assemblr resol,ltion 38/58 C, the need for such a Conference, and efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome and benefits thereof". An addit~onal panel on "non-governmental organization collaboration on the question of Palestine and the role of t:he U.tited Nations" was also organized for the benefit of the Symposium only, as well as a workshop on "non-governmental organization activities to pcomote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and to mobilize Asian public opinion". 65. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Symposium had adopted a declaration upholding the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/~8 C, with the participation of all parties concerned, including PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and calling for the mobilization of public opinion in the Asian region in supprrt of the convening of the Conference. The Committee was also pleased that the participants in the Symposium had agreed on common objectives and activities for Asian non-governmental organizations with a view to encouraging their Governments to pur sup those policies, and had taken steps towards the establishment of a co-ordinating committee of the Asian non-governmental organizations to harmonize their future work. (For the full text of the declaration, See annex IV to the peesent document.) (c) International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations 66. The preparatory meeting for the International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 16 and 17 March 1987 and was attended by members of the International Co-ordinating Committee foe Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine, elected by the participants at the Inter~ational Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations held in July 1986. In accordance with its mandate, the preparatory meeting worked out the details of the programme for the Interna, ional Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations to be held in 19B7 and discllssed future co-operation and action at the international level. 67. The International Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations was leld at the United NationH Office at Geneva from 7 to 9 September 1987. The Meeting was ~ttended by representatives from 121 non-governmental organizations as participants and 149 non-governm~ntal organizations as obsE-rvers from all regions, inCluding several from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee was honoured by the partici~ation in the Meeting of Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of PLO, who also received the Committee delegation for an -17- exchange ot views. 'X'he Commit.tee w.,s "lso plf!a~wd that a number 01 prominent political personalit.ies hac! accepted ita invi.tation to attenc! "nd arldress the Meeting. 68. 'rhe Heeting established two panels to consider "'1'he need for and the urqcncy of convening the Int.ernational Peace Conference on the Middle East, i.n accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C", and "Palestinian political and human rights", and four workshops, on mobi lization of public opin ion; creative artn dnd the Palestinian struggle for national identitYI community development dnd relidf work, and mobilizing thp. international peace movement for a nuclear-weapon-frec Middle East. The Committee noted with appreciation that. the Meetinq adopt ..d cl declaration reaffirming the need for and urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resollltions 38/58 C and 41/43 D and pledging further efforts by the international non-gov~rnmental organization community to promotll this objective. In this connection, the Committee noteo the commitment of the guropean non-governmental organizations to work towards increased support. for the Conference by their Governments, particularly in the States members of the guropean Economic Cnmmunity and that the non-governmental organizations had urged the European P.lrliament to invite Chairman Arafat to present the views of the Palestinian people. Further, the non-governmental organizati, '1 had reaffirmed th~ international consensus that the PLO is t~le legitimate reprf ntative of the Palestinian people and they callec! on all Governments to recognize the PLO. The Committee noted that the Meeting had called for the r~peal of the Israeli law of 1986 which criminalizes Israeli citizens who engage in peace talks with the PLO. The Committee also noted that the Meeting reaffirmed its support for the recognition and attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, inclUding t.he right of return and the right to self-determination, and expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation of Palestinians in the occupied territories and in southern Lebanon. The Committee further noted with appreciation that the Meeting had agreed on a number of action-oriented proposals for the future, including efforts for the further expansion of the in~ernational network of non-governmental organizations, and had again established an Intern~tional Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations to harmonize these activities. (For the full text of the declaration, see annex VI I to' the presel.t document.) 6Q. 2. Seminars 70. In accordance with the mandate given by the General Assembly, t.he Committee and the Division for Pa1eBtinian Rights in consultation with the Comn,itt.ee and under its guidance continued to organize seminars in various regions. As in the pllst, the Committee decided that the seminars would cons;der the foU<>wing topics: (a) The convening of the International Peace Conference on t,ne Middle East, in accordance with General Assembly resolut.ion 38/58 C, the need lor such a conference and efforts and prospects to promote a succesBlul ollt('ome and benefits thereof; (b) (c) (d) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organizat.ion; The question of Palestine and public opinion (in the region concerned); The United Nations and t.he question of Palestine. -18- 71. It was also decided that other topics of particular relevance to the concerned might be added. r~gion 72. The Committee appreciated the decision of the Government of India to provide the venue for the Asian Regional Seminar (the Sixteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine), which took place at New Delhi from 8 to 12 June 1987. As already mentioned (~ee p~ra. 49 above), the Seminar was integrated with the Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium to the extent possible. The conclusio~s and recommendations of the Seminar are contained in annex III to the present document. 73. The North American Regional Sem\nar (the Seventeenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine) was held at United Nations Headquarters on 22 and 23 June 1987. Its conclusions and recommendations are contained in annex V to the present document. 74. The Committee regretted that, owing to circumstances beyond its control, it could not hold th~ Latin American seminar which it had included in its programme of work for 1987. The Committee has decided to organize this seminar as early as possible in 1988. 75. The Committee was pleased by the participation in the seminars of prominent political personalities, parliamentarians and policy makers, as we]', as persons from the academic community and other experts, as this showed the growing determination of the internstional community at all levels to promote progress towards a solution of the Palestine question. 76. The Committee noted that, in their conclusions and recommendations, the participants in the regional seminars had reaffirmed that the question of Palestine was the core of the Middle East conflict and that no comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region could be achieved without the realization by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in accordance with United Nations resolutions. 77. The rommittee was encuuraged that the participants in the seminar had also reaffirmed the need for convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East under the ausp~:es of the United Nations in accordance with General Assembly re~,lution 38/58 C, and that they urged the Governments of Israel and the United States of America to reconsider their np.gative attitud~ towards the convening of the Conference. 78. The Committee further noted that the participants in the seminar had expressed the view that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had an important role to play in promoting the convening of the Conference and recommended the intensification of political and diplomatic efforts by all concerned to reach a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of the conflict in the Middle East, and that they had called for additional efforts by the United Nations and by all concerned to influence public opinion in that direction through wider disspmination of accurate information on the question of Palestine. The Asian Seminar also expressed serious concern with regard to the rp.lations between I3rael and South Afrlca and called upon the Commitlee and the Division for Palestinian Rights to keep under review the develc~ment of such relationJ. -19- 3. Other activities 79. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat had pursued its programme of studies and publications relating to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in ~nplementation of its mandate as reaffirmed in General Assembly resolution 41/43 B. In particular, the Division h~d continuea to pUblish its monthly bulletin reporting on relevant activities and decisions of United nations bodies and inter.governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as special bulletins containing the reports of regional seminars and of symposia and meetings of non-governmental organizations organized under the auspices of the Committee, and the proceedings of the solemn meetings of the Committee in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. In addition, the Division had continued to update its compilation of ~'nited Nations resolutions on the situation in the Middle East and the question of Palestine. The Division had also produced information notes on the International Day of Solidarity and on the various anniversaries of importance to the Palestinian people to be observed in 1987. A study on the need fo~ convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, and part IV of the study entitled "The origins and evolution of the Palestine problem" were also in preparation and would be finalized during 1987. The D\vision had also continl1~d to monitor deve~opments in the area and to prepare information material for the uce of the Committee as required. 80. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed on 1 December 1986 at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day had been equally commemorated in many other cities throughout the world in 1986 (see para. 91 below). -20- V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE m:;PARTMENT OF' PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WI'rH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REsoLll'rION 41/43 C 81. The Committee noted with appreciation that, during the past year, the Department of Fublic Information had continued its information programme on the question of Palestine, in accordance with previous relevant General Assembly resolutions, with Cl view to furthering the world-wide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information 0' the question. However, the financial situation of the United Nations had led to the curtailment of several acti~ities in this regard. The information programme included press "Ind publication activities, radio-visual coverage, a fact-finding mission for journalists to the Middle East and a series of national and regional encounters for journalists. 82. In pUblication activities, the Departm~nt had continued to disseminate information on the question of Palestine through articles and press releases. The UN Chronicle had also reported on the consideration given to the quest\on of Palestine and other relevant items by the General Assembly at its forty-first session, the Security Council and other United Nations bodies. The Department had also dissemincted, as widely as possible, information regarding the seminars and symposia held by the Committee. 83. Due to the freeze in recruitment, no new pUblications were issued. However, the Department's publications The United Nd~~ons and the Question of Palestine and The Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories were reproduced. 84. The Department's coverage on the question of Palestine included radio news programme broadcasts in all the official languages of the United Nations. The occasion of the International Day of 80lidarity with the Palestinian People, 30 November 1987, would be highlighted in feature programmes and news dispatches. In addition, a special series of raoio programmes, four each in Arabic, English, French and Spanish, were produced in 1986 on the following aspects of the question of Palestine: the international dimension; a search for a political solution; the human dimension and the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East. P~other exclusive series of radio programmes would be produced in 1987 for each In Arabic, English, French and Spanish. 85. Videotape packages included the above-ment.oned coverage and were circulated around the world. As part of its ongoing visua. coverage of events at Headquarters, the Department produced a substancial number of television news items on the question of Palestine and related Middle East events. The News production Section of the Department would cover the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on 30 November 1987, and the deliberations on the question of Palestine and other relevant items during the fortY-3econd session of the General Assembly. Several regional magazines on the question ef Palestine were also produced and disseminated. 86. The production of a new short filln on the question of Pales~ine was currently under way and expected to be ready for screening before 30 November 1987. 87. Activities that focused on acquainting the media with the faGts and developments pertaining to the question of Palestine included a fact-finding mission to the Middle East. A team of 12 prominent journalists and media representatives from various parts of the world had visited Egypt, Jordan and Iraq -21- from 2 to 15 ~Tl1ne 1987. A visit to IS1ael was not possible, since no response had been received from the Government of Israel to an official rp.quest for such a visit. Also, a vislt to the occupied Palestinian territories ....as not possible since Israel, the ocC"upying Power, had not responded to the same official reque!\t. The purpose of the mlsnioll was to provide an opportunity for the participants to learn first hand and in depth about the various aspects of the question through discussions with senior officials of the Governments concerned and of the Palestine Liberation Organization, prominent personalities, and visits to the Palestinian refugee camps. The mission received extensive media coverage during the visit. Participants published numerous articles upon their return to their hom\:! countries. In 1987, as in 1986, I:he Department organized two regional encounters for journalists on the question of Palesti.ne, br inging high-level journalists together with experts on the question of Palestine. The first encounter was held at San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, for the North and LQ~tn American regions, from 20 to 23 January 1987. The second was held at Singapore, for Asian journalists from 6 to 9 April 1987. The objective o~ both encounters was to promote a better understanding of the question among leaders of the media by bringing them together with experts on the subject for brief, inf()rmal discussions. Accordingly, around 15 high-level journalists from the press, radio and tele\'ision media participated in each encounter. The journalists were impressed by the high calibre of the panelists and by the informal and candid character of the presentations made. It was their belief that the encounter, which they found useful, informative and interesting, had greatly increased their knowledge of the subject. 88. The Department also organized two series of national encounters in which a team of expert panelists held meetings, in the form of in-depth press conferences, with natio~al journalists and foreign correspondents in ~arious countries. Latin American national encounters were held in Peru and Venezuela on 28 and 30 January, respectively. Asian national encounters were held i~. India, Thailand and Japan between 31 March and 13 April 1987. 89. 90. Feedback analysis of the above-mentioned activities revealed the great interest of journalists and public opin!( n makers in tile question of Palestine and their appreciation for the United Nations pUblic information progrumme in this regard. United Nations information centres througaout the world continued try carry out information activities in connectio~ with the question of Palestine and made available to the public United Nations publications on the sabject. The centres also continued to organize a world-wide observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Pale&tinian People on 29 November 1986. In this regard, the centres widely disseminated, in official and local languages, the statements of the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Commemorative meetings were also held in a large number of capitals in which official government representatives, parliamentary groups, non-governmental organizations and representatives of the diplomatic corpn participated. Exhibits of posters, photographs, publications and other visual mJterials were mounted and United Nations and UNRWA films were screened on the premises of several centres an~ at the site of the comme~orative functions. The centres would again observe the Day on 30 November 1987. 91. -22- VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 92. During the year under review, international understanding of the question of Palestine and support for the attainment and exercise of thp. inalie~able rights of the Palestinian people have reached new heights, as demonstrated by the many activities, statements and declarations reviewed in the present report. At the same time, the grave deterioration of the situation of Palestinians in the area has aroused the most widespread and serious concern that tension and violence will conti~ue to increase, with possible disastrous consequences for the region, unless progress is finally made towards a negotiated settlement to this long-standing and difficult problem. The Committ~~ therefore considers that a new phase has been reached, which necessitates renewed and intensified collective efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting solution under United Nations auspices and on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions particularly General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D. 93. The Committee considerg that, at this critical juncture, urgent positive action by the Security Council is required on the recommendations formulated by Committee in its first report and those adop~ed by the International Conference the Question of Palestine held at Geneva in 1983, which have been repeatedly endorsed by the General Assembly. The Committee reaffirms that those recommendations are solidly founded on fundamental and internationally accepted principles and that the recognition and attainment of the inalienable rights of Palestinian people are indispensable conditions in the solution of the question Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. the on the of 94. The Committee wishes to reaffirm that the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with the guidelines and other provisions contained in General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D, is the most comprehensive and widely accepted proposal and that its convening would constitute a major contribution by the United Nations towards the realization of such a sol.ution. In the past year, an international consensus has clearly emerged in favour of the convening of the Conference. The Committee therefore intends to further intensify its efforts towards this objective, and to make it the focal point of its work programme in the coming year. 95. Noting that the Secretary-General has reported that it has not yet proved possible to obtain the agreement of all the parties, the Committee recommends that the General Assembly should call once again upon those Member States which do not yet support the convening of the Conference to reconsider their attitude, call for additional concrete and constructive efforts by all Governments in particular the permanent members of the Security Council, for the convening of the Conference and for setting up the preparalory committee for the conference in accordance with General Assembly resplution 41/43 DJ and renew the mandate of the Secretary-GeneraJ., in conSUltation with the Security Council, to continue his efforts with a view to convening the Conference. 96. The Committee has been impressed and encouraged by the strength and unity of the Palestinian people under the leadership of its representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization in confronting adversity. and by the growing awareness and mobilization of the intern~tional community at all levels in support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of United Nations recommendatons for their atta i nment. The Committee \~ill continue to engage in the process of -23- evaluating the progress achieved and the experience gained in its various activities, with the goal of strengthening its efforts and achieving maximum effectiveness in the implementation of its mandate. Notes 1/ The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba, Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia. 1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/351. 1/ Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/32/351' ibid., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35 and Corr.ll, ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35 and Corr.ll, ibid., Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35 and Corr.ll, ~., Thirty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 ~A/36/351, ibid., Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35), ibid., Thirty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/38/35), ~bid., Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/39/351, ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/40/351, ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/41/351. i/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973, p. 287. ~/ Report ot the International Conference C~ the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 29 August-1 September 1983 (United Nations pUblication, Sales No. E.83.I.211, chap. I, sect. B. ~/ The observers at the Committee meetings were as follows: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab states and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Palestine Liberation organization, as the representative of the Pal~btinian people, the principal party to the qup.stion of Palestine, was also an observer. 21 The current membership of the working Group is as follows: Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and, as the representative of the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization. -24- ANNEX I Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first session* I. Basic considerations and guidelines 59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the ~iddle Edst can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspi.rations of the Palestinian people. 60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national indeiendence and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the f~ll implementatioll of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and final settlement of the Middle East crlsis. 61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which ar& held under the auspices of the United Nations. 62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligati~n for complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied. 63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights. 64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular, should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee, furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote action towards a just solution, taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of tll~ United Natlons. 65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numero~s resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts, proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. * Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-Cirst Session, Supplement No. 35 \A!31!35), paras. 59-72. -25- 11. The right of return 66. Tho. natural and inalienable right of Pal~stinians to return to their homes is recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed almost every year since its adoption. This right was also unanimously recognizad by the Security Council in its resolution 237 (1967), the time for the urgent implementation of these resolutions is long overdue. 67. Without prejudice to the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes, lands and property, the Committee conside~s that the programme of impl&mentation of the exercise of this right may be carried out ir two phases: Phase one 68. Tr..'! first phase involves the retul:n to their homes of the P,lestinians displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends that: (i) The Secur i ty Council should request the immediate implementaHon of its resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementation should not bP related to any other condition, The r'!sources of the I~ternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and/or of the United Nations Relief and WQrks Agency for Palestine Refugees in the ~ear Rast, suitably financed and mandated, may be employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in the resettlement of those returning to their homes. These agencies could also assist, in cO-Qp~ratioo with the host countries and the Pale9tinp Liberation Organization, in the identification of the displaced Palestinians. (ii) Phasl! two 69. The second phase deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends that: (i) Whlle the fi~st phase is being implemented, the United Nations in co-operation with ~he States directly involved, and the Palestine Liberation Organization as the interim representative of the Palestinian entity, should proceed to make the necessary arrangements to enable Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967 to exercise their right to return to their homes and property, in accord~nce with the relev~nt United Nations resolutions, particularly General Assembly resolution 194 (Ill), Palestinians not choosing to return to their homes should be paid just and equitable compensation as provided for in resolution 194 (Ill). Ill. The right to self-determin'ltion, national independence and sovereignty (ii) 70. The Palestinian people has the inherent right to self-determination, rational independence and sovereignty in Palestine. The Committee considers that the -26- evacuation of the terri.tories occupied by force alll! in violation of the principles of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a conditio !dne qua non for the exercise by the Palestinian pf'nple of its inalienable rights in Palestine. The Committee considers furthetmore, t It upon the return of the Palestinians to their homes and ploperty and with the est.ablishment uf an independent Palestinian entity, the P~lestinian peopl~ will be able to exercise its rights to self-determination and to decide itR form of government without exterll~l .1.nterference. The Commi ttee also f:-els tllat the Uni ted Nations has an historical duty and tesponslbility to render all assistance necessary to promote t:1C economic development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity. '11. 72. To these ends, the Committee recommends that: (a) A timetable should be est~blished by the Security Council for the complete w~thdrawal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967, such wlthdrawal ~hould be completed no later than 1 June 1977, (b) The Security Council may neeJ to provide temporary peace-keeping forces in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal, (c) Israel should be requested by the Set ·ity Council to desist from the estaLlishment of new settlements and to ",ithdraw during this pen.od from settlements establishe" since 1967 in the oc,;upied territor ies. Arab property and all essential services in these areas should be maintained intact, (d) Isr~el should ~lso be requested to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Geneva ('')nventi<"'o relaltve to tb~ Protection of Civilian Persons io Time of war, of 12 Aug ,st 1949 and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these territories, its recognition of the applicability of that Con"ention, (e) The evacuated territories, with all property and services intact, should be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people, (f) The United Nations shuuld, if necessary, aS3ist in establishing communications between Gaza and the West Bank, (g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity ha/> been eotablil:Jhed, the United Nations, in c~-operation wit~ the States dire~tly involved and the Palestinian entity, sh'luld, taking into account General Assembly r'~8clution 3375 (XXX), makt:! further arral'gements for the full implement.ation Ol: the inalienable rights of the Palebtinian people, the r(solulion of 'll'~Btanding problems and the ostablishment of a just and lasting peace in the region, in accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutionsl (h) The United Nations should provide the Hconomi~ and technical assi'3tance necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity. -27- ANNEX 11 Geneva Opc larati~?~. Pale5tine and the Pr()(Jralnml~ of Action for the Achievement of PaleB!ini~~ights ~/ In pursuance of Gen~ral Assemhly rer'lutions 36/120 C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/7 of 19 AuguBt 1982 and 37/86 C of 10 December 1982, an International Conference on the QlIestlt-,n of PalestJnt> was convened at: the United Nations O!'fi.ce at Geneva from 29 August to 7 Septemher 1983 to ;-;eek effective ¥lays and means to ,nable the Palestinian people to attain and to exercise their inalionahle rtghts. The Conference was opened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jllvier Perez d~l Cuellar, and presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affi,tir!-l of Senegal Moust.'ipha NLlSg.'l. * * 1. The Conference, having thorollqhly considered the qlleet!on of. Palestine In all Its aspects, expresst!s the grave concern of ell! nations and r'>eoplea reg,udlng the international tension that has persisted for several decadr.·,g in the Middle East, the principal cause of which b t'le deni'11 by Isr,lel, and t~I(J'H~ supporting its expansionist policies, of the in lienable legi.timat.e rights uf the Palestinian people. The Confert'nce reaffirms and stresseg that a just solution of the question of Palestine, the core ot the problem, is the crucial element in a comprehensive, jUflt and lasting polit.ical setUement in thl' Middle East. 2. The Conference recognizes t.helt, as o,.e ot the most /lcut£' and complex problems of our time, the question of Palestine - inheri.ted by the United Nations at the time of its establishment - requires a comprp.hensive, just and lasting political settlement.. This settlement must be based on the implementallon of the relevant United Nations resolutions concerning the ques; ion of Pillestinl~ and the al:tainment of the legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian peol'le, inclUding the right to self-determination and the right to the establishment of its own independent State in Palestine and should also be bmwd on t.he provision by the Secur ity Council of guarantees for peace and secur i ty among all States in t.he region, including the independent Palestinian state, within secure and internationally recOf}nized boundar iea. 'rhe Conference is convinced that the attainment by the Palestinian people of their ir 'llienab1f~ rights, as defined by General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, will contribute subota:-tially to the achievement of peace and stahility in the Middle East. 3. The Conference considers the role of the United Nations in the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting pear;e in the Middl.e East to be essential and paramount. It emphasizes t.he n,!pd for re"Fect for, and applicatio,. of, the provisions of thl' Char.ter of tlH~ United Nations, the resolutions of ,'lP United Nations relevant to the qu.'s t ion of. Palentim~ and the observance of Ue pr inciples of international law. 4. The Conference consl.der.'l that t.he various proposals, consistent 1N1.t.1~ lh~ principleL of internatiunal law, which have been presented on this questioll, such as the Arab p~ace plan adopted unanimollsly at the 'rwelfth Arab Summit Conference (see A/J7/696-S/15510, annex), hl~ld at \"ez, Mo(occo, in Se~J"cjnber 1982, should -28- serve as ~uidnlines for concerted international effort to resolve the question of Palestine. These g~idelines i~clude the foliowing: (a) The attai~menL by the Palesti~ian people of its leqitimate inalip.nable rights, includinn the right .") return, the right to self-determination ;;and t~e ci~ht ~o establish its own independent State in Palastine, (b) The right of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the represen~ative of the Palestinian people, t.o parti..:ipate on an equal footing with other parties in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the to'iddle East, (c) The need to put an end to Israel's occupation of the Arab territories, in accordance with the principle of the inadmissibi' :ty of the acquisition of territory by torce, and, consequently, the need secure Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, (d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli policies and practices in the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and ar,~' de facto situation created by Israel as are contrary to international law ~nd relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly t.he establishment. of i:lcttlements, as these policies and prl',ctices constitute major obstacles to the achic>vement of peace in the Middle East, (e) The need to reaffirm as null and void all legislative and administrative measures and actions takell by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, including the expropriation of land and property situated ther~~n, and in par.ticular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamat.ion of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, (f) The right of all States in the region to existence wi.thin secure and internatlonally recogniZed boundar ies, with justice and secur ity for all the people, the sine gua non of which is the recognition and attainment of thl! legitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in 8ubparagraph (a) above. 5. In order to give effect to these guidelines, the Conf~~rence considers it essential that an internation~l peace conference on the Hildle East be ccnvened on the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, with the aim of achieVing a comprehensive, just and bsting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, an essential element of which would be the establishment of an independent PalestinJ.an StatE' in Palestine. This peace con(erence should be convened under the auspices of the United Naticns, with the participation of all parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the Palesline Liberation Organization, as well as the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist RepUblics, and other concerned States, on an equal footing. In this context the Secur ity Council has a pr imary ref"1'Onsibility to create appropr late institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions in order to guarantee and to carry out the accords of the international peace conference. 6. Thp. International Conference on the Question of Palestine emphasizes the importance of the time factor in achievlng a just solution to the problem of Palestine. The Conference is convinced that partial solutions are inadequat~ and delays in seeking a comprehensive solution do not eliminate tensions in the region. -29- B. Programme of Action for the Achievement of ~alestinian Right~ Tht· Intf!rnationdl Cnnf(.!tence un the Question of Palestine agreed that no effort should be spared to seek effective ways and means to enable the Palestinian people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with the Ch3rter of the United Nations, the Universal Decl~ration of Human Rights b/ and the principles of lnterniltional le-wo The Conference, taking into consideraU-;:;n the Geneva Declaration or. Palestine (sect. A ab,:we), recommended the following Programme of Action. I The International Conference on the Question of Pc11estine recommendr that all states, individually or collec~ively, consistent with their respective cons~itutions and their obligations under the Charter of the United N3lians and i.n c"nforn~ity with L.e pr inciples of international law, ~Ihould: (1) Recognize the great question of Palest.ine! importanc<~ of the timl) factor in solving t.he (2) Intensify el'forts for the establishinent of an independenl: Palestinian state within the framework 0(' a comprnhensive. just and lasting sett.lament: to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance wi th r,he Charter of the United Nations, the (elevant United Nations resolutions and the guidelines of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine! (3) Consirier the conlinued presence of ISr31!1 in the occupied Palestinian imd other Arab teer itor ies, including Jer usalem, as exacerbating inAtability in the region and endangering international peace a.ld security! (4) Oppose and reject, as a ser iOllS and continuing obBtacle to peace, the expar.sionil:lt policies pursued by Isrdel in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupi~ since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular the alteration of the geoqraphic nature and demographic composition, and the Israeli attempt to alter, through domestic legi.slation, the legal status of thOse territories, and all the measures taken in violation of the Ganeva Convention relative to the Treatment of PriEloners of. War, ~/ and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, dl both of 12 August 1949, and of The Hague RegUlations of 1907, el such as the Cf:ltabUshment and expansion of settlements, th':! transfer of larlleU civilians into those territories and the individual and mass transfers therefrom of the Arab Palestinian population, (5) Refr~in from providing Israel with assistance of such a nature as to encourage it mill tar ily, economically and financially to continue its aggression, occupation and disregard of its obligations under the Charter and the relevant resolutions of thp United Nations! (6) Not encourage migration to tile occupied Arab territories until Israel has put a definitive end to the implementation of its illegal policy of establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 19671 -30- (7) rully a»nply with the relevant resolutiuns of the United Nations and its specialized agencies on the Holy City of .Jerusalem, including those which r,~ject [sral'l's c1nrlf'xiltion of ,Jerusalem and its fleclaration of that city as it~; cilpit"!l (8) UndlHtake universal efforts to protect the Holy Places and urge Israel to take measures to p~event their desecrationJ (9) Consider ~ays and means of meeting thp threat that Israel poseo to regional security in Africa in view of Israel's .Iiaregard of United Nations resolutions, and its close collaboration with the ~)~rtheid regime in the economic, milLtary and nuclear fields, thereby contributing to the continued illegal occupation of Namibia and enhancing the regime's repressive and aggressive capacitYJ (10) Encourage, through bilateral and multilateral contacts, all states, including western European and North American States which have not flone so, to welcome all peace initiatives based on the recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, which were also welcomed by Chairman Yasser Arafat in his address to the International Conference on the Question of Palestinel (11) Seek and develop ways and means to enable the Palestinian people to exercise sQvereigllty over their national resources; (12) Express concern that Israel debars Palestinians from economic activity and access to national resources on Palestinian territory, in consistent violation of General Assembly resolutions on the right of the Palestinians to permanent sovereignty over their national resourcesJ (13) Declare null and void and counter such measures and practices applied by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, as the annexation and the expropriation of land, water resources, and property and the alteration of the demographic, geographic, historical and cultural features thereofJ (14) Undertake measures to alleviate the economic dnd social burdens borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli occupation of thE-ir territories since 19671 (15) Consider contributing or increasing special contributions to the proposed budgets, programmes and projects of the relevant organs, funds and agencies of the United Nations system that have been requested to provide humanitarian, economic and social assistance to the palestinian people, with particular reference to: (a) General Assembly re3ulution 33/147 of 20 Decemter 1978 and the appeal of the Go.rerning Council of the United Natior.s Development Programme at its thirtieth session for additional special contributions amounting to at least $8 million during the third programming cycle (1982-1986) aimed at helpill9 to meet the economic and social needs of the Palestinian people, !/ (b) The proposed programmP. bl~~et of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development for the bienniu,n 1984/85 regarding the establishment -31- within the United Nations Conferenc~ on Trade and Development of a special economic unit, ~/ as requested by that Conference at its sixth session at Be 19 rade, !!/ (c) Establishing a special legal aid fund to assist Palestinians in securing their rights under conditions of occupation. i/ in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Ci;ilian Persons in Tim~ of War, (16) Ensure that the United N~tions Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East can meet the essential needs of the Palestinians without interruption or any diminutjon in the effectiveness of its u~rvices, (17) Review the situation of Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories and, in view of their special hardships, urge the Preparatory Committee of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievemp.nts of the United Nations Decade for women, to be held at Nairobi in 1985, to include this item on the agenda of the Conference; (18) Review, if they have not yet done so, in conformity with their national legislation, their economic, cultural, technical and other relations with Israel, and the agre&ments governing them with the aim of ensuring that these regulations and agreements will not be interpreted or construed as implying in any way recognition of any modification of thp. legal status of Jerusalem and of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, or an acceptance of Israel's illegal presence in those territories, (19) Recognize that the process of enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significant contribution to the restoration of the rule of law in international relationsl (20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provided in General Assembly resolution 181 (11) guaranteeing to all persons equal and non-discriminatory rights in civil, political, economic and religious matters and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, pUblication, education, assembly and association, (21) Express concern' that the laws applicatle i.n the occupied Arab territories have been totally eclipsed by a plethora of military orders that have been designed to establish Q new "legal regime" in violation of The Hague Regulations of 1907, and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of Warl (22) Act in accordance with their obligations under existing international law, in particular with regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 which require States Parties to respect and to ensure respect for those Conventions in all circumstances, and in particUlar ensure the respect by Israel for the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, (23) Express concern that the Palp.btinians and other Arabs in the occupied terr Hor ies are depr ived of jUl' idiGal and other Unds of protection, that they are victims of repressive 1~91slation, involving mass arrests, acts -32- of torture, destruction of houses, and the expulsion of people from their homes, acts which constitute flagrant violations of human right~I (24) Recognize the necessity that Palestinian lind Lebanese prisoners detained by Israel be accorded the status of prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949, cl if combatants, or in accordance with the Geneva Convention rElative to the-protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, ~I if civilians; (25) strive for the adoption of international measures so that Isra~l will implement in the West Bank and Gaza the provisions of The Hague Regulations of 1907 and the Geneva Convention relative lo the Protection of Civilian Persons, in the light of Security Council resolution 465 (1980); (26) Recognize, if they have not yet done 80, the Palestine Liberation Organization e.s the representative of the Palestinian people and establish with it appropriate re1ationsl (27) Encourage, in conformity with thelr national 1egJ.slations, the formation of national committees in support of the Palestinian people, (28) Encourage the observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the PalustJ.nian People, in a most effective and meaningful way; (29) Request the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session to designate a Year of Palestine, to be obserVed at the earliest possible ' ~e, taking into consideration the factors neceseary to ellSUI'e its effective preparation for the purpose of galvanizing world-wide pUblic ollinion and support for further implementation of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action. 11 The International Conference on the Question of Paletltine stresses the obligation of all Member Statf!S, under the Charter <>f the United lIations, to enable the United Nations through an pxpanded and more effective role to fulfil its responsibility for achieving a solution : .... th~ question of Palestine. To this end: A States participating in the Conference invite the Security Council, as the organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security: (1) To suppress conHnuing and growing acts of aggression and other breaches of the peace in the Middle East which endanger peace and security in the region and the world as a whole, (2) To tal.e prompt, firm and effective steps and actions to establish an independent sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine through the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, by facilitating the organization of the international peace conference on the ~iddle East, as called for in paragraph 5 of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (see sect. A -33- above), and by creating in this context the appropriate institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutiuns in order tu guarantee and carry out the ilCCOlJS ot the international pedce conference, including the fulluwinq: (a) Taking measures consistent with the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force to ensure Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, with a specific timetablel (0) Undertaking effective measures to guarantee the safety and security and legal and human rights of the Palestinians in the occupied territories pending the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusaleml (c) Subjecting those territories, following the withdrawal of Israel, to a short transitional period, under the supervision of the united Nations, during ",hich period the Palestinian paople would exercise its right to self-determinationl (d) Facilitating the implementation of the right to return of the Palestinians to their hom~s and property, (e) Supervising elections to the constituent assembly of the independent Palestinian State in which all Palestinians shall participate, in exercise of their right to self-determination; (f) Providing, if necessary, temporary peace-keeping forces in order to facilitate the implementation of 6ubparagraphs (a) to (e) above. B Meanwhile the Security Council is also inviced to: (1) Take urgent action to bring about a~ immediate and complete cessation of such Israeli policies in the occupied territories and, in particular, the establishment of settlements as have been determined by the Security Council to have no legal validity and as a serious obstruction to achi~ving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, (2) Consider urgently the reports of the Commission established under its resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, which examined the situation concerning settlements in ~he ~rab territories occupied since 1967, in~luding Jerusalem, and to reactivate the above-mentioned Commission, (3) Initiate action to terminate Israel's explc,itative policies which go against the indigenous economic development of the occupied territories, and to compel Israel to lift its restrictions on water use and well-drilling by Palestinian farmers as well as J.ts diversion of West Bank water resources into the Israeli water grid systeml (4) Keep under its const~nt attention the actions committed by Israel against the Palestinian people in violation of the stipulations provided for in relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular the stipulations of -34- resolution 181 (Il) of 29 November 1947 guaranteeing to all persons equal and non-discriminatory rights and freedoms; (5) Consider, in the event of Israel's persistent non-compliance with the relevant United Nations resolutIons which embody the wi 11 of the international community, appropriate mr,asures in accordance with the Charter of the Unitei' Nations, to ensure Israel's compliance with these resolutions. c (1) Taking into account the recommendatior.. of the five regional preparatory meetings of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine i/ and United Natiuns resolutions concerning economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, the Secretary-General of the United Nations i9 requested to convene a meeting of the specialized agencies and other organizations associated with the United Nations, as well as representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of those countries which are hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potential sources of assistance to develop a co-ordinated programme of economic and social assi~tQnce to th Palestinian people and t.o ensure its implementation, (2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency machinery to co-ordinate and sustain and intensify United Nations assistance to the Palestinian people. D The dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information world wide and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination ;>,Id to the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian State. To tl.ese ends: (1) The United Nations Department for Public Information, in full co-operation and constant consultations with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, should: (a) Co-ordinate all information activities of the united N~tions system on Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information Committee; (b) Expand publications and audio and visual coverage of the facts and of developments pertaining t the question of Palestine; (c) Publish newsletter dnd articles in its respective pUblications on Israeli violations of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied territories and organize fact-findillg missions for journalists to the areal (d) Organize regional encounters for journalists; (e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine; -35- (2) The relevant organizations of the United Nations system should organize meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of referencp. and relating to specific problems of the Palestinian people by establishing closer liaison with non-governmental organizations, the media and other groups interested in the question of Palestine. III The International Conference cn the Question of Palestine, convinced of the important role of world-wide public opinion in resolving the question of Palestine, and in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, urges and encourages: (1) Intergovernmental and nOli-governmental organizations to increase awareness by the international community of the economic and social burdens borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli occupation and its negative effects on the economic development of the West Asian region as a whole, (2) Non-governmental organizations and professional and popular associations to intensify their efforts to support the rights of the Palestinian people in every possible way, (3) Organizations such as those of women, teac~ers, workers, youths students to undertake exchanges and other programmes of joint action with their Palestinian counterparts; ~na (4) Women's dssociations, in particular, to investigate the conditions of Palestinian women and children in all occupied territoriesi (5) The media and other institutions to disseminate relevant information to increase public awareness and understanding of the question of Palestinei (6) Institutions of higher education to promote the study of the question of Palestine in all its aspects; (7) Various jurists' associations to establish special investigative commissions to determine' the violations by Israel of the Palestinians' legal rights and to disseminate their findings accordingly; (8) Jurists to initiate with their Pa~~stinian counterparts consultations, research and investigations on the juridical aspects of problems affecting the southern African and Palestinian struggles, in particular the detention of political prisone.rs and the denial of prisoner-of-war status to detained members of the national liberation movements of southern Africa and Palestine, (9) Parliamentarians, political parties, trade unions, organizations for sQlidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Western Europe and North America, to join their counterparts in oth~r paris of the world ir. gi;.'ing their support, where it has not been done, to an initiative which would express the desire of the international community to sep :he palestinian people at last llving in their own independent homelan' I peace, freedom and dignity. -36- Notes ~/ See Report of the International Conference on the Question of Geneva, 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations ~ub1ication, Sales No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, sects. A and B. ~/ Pale~tine, See General Assembly resolution 217 A (Ill). United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135. ~., £/ 2/ No. 973, p. 287. ~/ Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915), p. 100. !/ See Official Records of the Economic and social Council, 1983, Supplement No. 9 (E/1983/20). ~ A/C. 5/38/4, para. 8 (c). ~/ Reco endation 146 (VI) of 2 July 1983 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. 1/ Recommendation 19 of the Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting, Managua, Nicaragua, 12-15 April 1983 (A/CONF.114/2). i/ African region, A/CONF.114/l; Latin American region, A/CONF.114/2, Western Asian region, A/OONF.114/3; Asian region, A/CONF.1l4/4; European region, A/CONF.114/S. -37- ANNEX III Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Sixteentl' United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (New Delhi, 8-12 Jun~ 1987) Introdl'ction 1. The Sixteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine entitled "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian People" was held at the Vigyan Bhawan C0nferenc~ Centre, New Delhi from 8 to 12 June 19B7. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inulienable Rights of the Palestinian People had decided to integrate the Seminar with the Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palest. ne which was helQ from Monday, 8 to 10 June 1987, on an experimental basis ~nd in the inter~st of economy. 2. The Committee on th~ Exercise of th~ Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was represented by a delegation cor~sisting of Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Committee, head of delegation, M~. Guennadi I. Oudovenko (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic), Mr. David K. Karran (Guyana), Mr. Saviour F. 80rg (Malta); Mr. Pramathesh Rath IIndia), and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palpstine Liberation Organization). Mr. Oramas-Olivd was Chairman of the Sentinar and Mr. Rath R~pporteur. J. Seven meetings were held <:lod 14 pa,lelists presentee t'apers on .':.;l<::vted aspe~ts of the question of Palestine. In additioll, representat.ives of 4G Governments, the Palestine Liberation Org~nization (&'L~), three United Nations organs, two United Nations programmes and specialized tlgencies, one intergovernmental organization and ob~;ervers of 30 non-governmental organizat ions attended the Seminar. 4. The opening se&sion 01 the Seminar was addressed by Hr. K. Natwar Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Mr. N. G. Rathore, representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Oscar Oramas-Oliva, Chairman of the Seminar, Mr. N. N. G. Mal Fast, in accordance with United Nations General Assemhly resolut ion 38/'i8 C, I he need for such a Confl?rel'lcE' and efforts and prO!'lpectf' to prcrnote a mlcceElElfuJ outcomt! .'lnd benefits thereof" (combined for the Seminar and the Non-Governmental Orgllnizati,.ns SympoBillm) I Mr. P. N. Haks"r (India), Mr. lqor M. lun~B ct,gigned to otit:"Le .111 form>! of pal! ticcd., cultl,rdl, 80ciitl and (collomic ey.pre.lflloll of the Palestinian peopl(~. rurth(Hm, ·re, Tsrael continues to strennthen its control over most aspects of Life, wit.h the -.>bjtK:tive of obst L,lcting the gelf-generatlng development. of the occupipd ten itor h!s by turning them into a dependent entity with the aim of its f ina I absorpti.oll dnd annex"tion. These policies are in violation of United Nations resolutions alld intetll<.lt.lonal law and le/id only to the exact:rhotion of tension in th(~ area thu" hindering attem~lts to find a peaceful solution to the Palestine que:;t ton. (C) The Seminar was aware uf the factors that encourage Israel in pursuing ibl pol i ien. It lioted with ~;er ious concern the relations between Israel and the raCi[lt rt. ime in South Afr iea, in particular in the econom.l.c, military and nuclear fifdds. 'rhe Seminar calls upon the Committee on tht! Exereise of the Inalienable Riqht!, (,f t.he Palp;;l:inian Peoplp and the United Nat..i s t frcm ,lOd te rminate such collabor at ion and abide scrupulously by the relevant resolutions (If the General Assembly and the Security Council. (d) '1'he Seminar expressel qrave concern about thf~ economic ing utilizativo of cheaJ,- Arab labour by Israeli. employers, which constituted exploitat'.on and discrimipation. In this context, the Seminar expressed appreciation for the endeavour and effort.s of the Palestine r.ib~latjon Organization in the fie::'d of social and economic development o( the Palestinian people. The S~minar ~~lled upon the United Nations and its organ!! .md agencies to t::ender and co-ordinate all forms of economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in consultation &nd co-operation with the PGlestine ~ibetalion Organtz~tion. (e) 'rhe Seminar. also recalled that. the year 19tH marked'l number of anniversaries of significant events in the history of. the Palestinian people in its atr Jggle to attain ha legitimate and inalienable rights including the 70th anniversary of the Balfour Decla~atlon, the 40th anniversary of the adoption of General Assembly resolution 181 (11), the 20th anniversary of the 1967 War and the 5th anniversary of the Israeli invasion and oCGupation of f.ebanese terr Itary and the massacre at Sabra and Shat.ila. The Seminar stressed thf:: urgency to solve the Middle Ea3t conflict und its core issue, thE: question of Palestine. Those States that did not :oupport the attainment by thl> Palestinian people oE its L1alienable rights and the exercise of those righl8, in particular, the right to self-determination as well as the establishment of a State 0f its own in Palestine, were urged to reconsIder their positioCl to'l'Iards a solution "0 the problem. (f) TIH! SelT,inar unanimously concluded that the best way to establish a jUf,;t and lasting peae"'! in the Middle E:ast was by convening ttJ(~ Intel.national Peace Conferencl!. on the Middle EaE;t und(~r the auspices of the United Nationu and with the participation of all parties to the conflict l.lcJ.udinq the Pale"Une Liberation Organization, as well as the Uni ted States and the ~Jnion of Soviet Socialist Republics and other concerned States, in accordance with the quidelines laid down in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The Seminal supported the establishment of -40- a preparatory commi tteo.! within the framework of the Secur ity Council, with the participation of its permament members as called for by Gen~ral Assembly resolution 41/43 D, as a means tc' under take practical step!: towards the convening of the Conference. (9) It further recalled the unyielding and firm support by the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Arab States, the Movement of the Non-Aligned Countries, the European Community and other groups of countries, of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East. The Seminar was convinced that partial and piece-meal agreements would ignore the core of the Arab-Israeli problem and were not conducive to a comprehensive peaceful solution. The Seminar was of the view that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had a major role to play in promoting the convening of such a Conference and encouraged its efforts in this regard. (h) The Seminar greatly appreciated the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. In this regard, the Seminar took note of the Secretary-General's report (A/42/277-S/18849) of 7 May 1987 and expressed support for the continuation of his efforts to intensify his contacts with the par ties concerned and of ~is consultations with the members of the Security Council. In this context, the Seminar urged the Governments of Israel and the United States of America to reconside_' their negative attitude towards the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. (i) The Seminar appealed to the members of the Security Council, and in particular to its permanent members, in exercising their responsibilities for the maLltenance of international peace and security, to make every effort to achieve the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East without further delay. (j) The Seminar viewed the results of the 18th session of the Palestine National Council held in April 1987 at Algiers, as a significant contribution in achieving a just solution to the question of Palestine and in resolving tne plight of thn Palestinian people. 'l'he Seminar welcomed in particular the unequivocal support of the Palestine Liberation Organization for the convening of the International Peace Conf'tence on the Middle East and for the establishment of a preparatory committee within the framework of the Security Council, with the participation of its permanent membera. (k) Th~. Commi.ttee on the Exer.cise of t.he Inalienable Rights of the Palest.ioian People has itn important role to play in promoti.ng th(! convening of the Interrlational Peace Conferel'ce on the Middle East.. In that context, t.he Seminar recommended the intensi eication of the l)olitical and diplomatic efforts by ,111. concerned [or reachinlj a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of {',he conflict in the Middle East. (1) The Semi.nar agreed that vigorous uffort "; should be made to mobilizl~ p'.lblic opinion in Asia as well as in oi:her regions of the world, in particlllar, throu1h the use of the media and activities by non-governmental orgnizations. The Seminar Euggested that the Uniled Nations Inform~tion Centres in various cities in Asia should establish closer contacts with univeruities, educational in8titut~ons and non-governmental organizations. 'l'he Seminar appeah~ to tile leadera of. the major Powers anl~ the parties to thE! conflic:t to demonstrate politicdl w.ill i.nd t.o -41- Mid~le play an active and cor.structive role in the effortR to create lastinq peace in the East, in particular, in the resolution of the Palestine prohlem. (m) In that regard, the United Nations should make additional efforts to disseminate factual and up-ta-date information on the question of Palestine, not only in its official languages but in others as well, in particular, on the United Nations resolut\ons relevant to the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and the establishment of the aforementioned preparatory committee. In) It was important that the media should play a more responsive role in providing a balanced reporting on the Middle ~ast and, in particular, on the pli'Jht of the Palestinians in and outside the occupil!d terr i todes as a dispossessed and harassed people. The Seminar emphasized that intergo~ernmental organizations, institutio,s, such as universities, colleges, research institutes, churches and other religious establishments, as well as national and international non-governmental organizationa, had a crucial role to play in the formation of public opinion, especially in the United States and Israel. Those institutions ehould bP. urged to give wider coverage and balanced treatment to the question of Palestine. It was the view of the Seminar that national committees be set up to promote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. '0) Every effort shoula be made to step up the widespread dissemination of information, as one of the major contributions to the achievement. of a just solution to the problem on the basis of the attainment by the Palestinian people in Pde13tine of their inalienable rights. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat had an important role in such dissemination of informati.on. Furthermore, the oepartmer.t of Public Information, in co-operation with the Division for Palestinian Ri9ht~, should make every effort to ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine received the widest possible dissemination. -42- ANNEX IV Declaration adopted by the United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine (New Delhi, 8-10 June 1987) Introduction 1. 'rhe second United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Question of Palestine, on the theme "The ir.alienable rights of the Palestinian People" was held at the Vigyan Bhawan Conference Centre, New Delhi from 8 to 10 June 1987. The Symposium ~as held concurren~ly with the Sixteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, which was held flom 8 to 12 June 1987, (see annex 11 I) 2. The Symposium was attended by 21 non-governmental organizations as participants and 11 non-governmental organizations as observers, with about 80 persons in attendance, as well as by observers from several Governments, one United Nations programme, one intergovernmental organization and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). 3. In addition to the panels held jointly with the Seminar, tile Symposium considered a panel entitled "Non-governmental organizations collaboration on the question of Palestine and the role of the United Na~ions", at which presentations were made by Mr. David D. Karran (Guyana) and Mr. Donald Betz (United States of America), on behalf of the Committee on the E"ercise of the Inalienable Righ~s of the Palestinian People and the International Co-ordinating CommiUE''' lor Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine, respecti~ely. 4. A. workshop was also organized on "Non-governmental organizations activities to promote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and to mobilize Asian public opinion", at which presentations were made by the following three experts: Dr. Ronlisn T. Akhramovict. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), Dr. Ergun Ozbudun (Turkey) and Dr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel). 5. The Symposium sent a message of appreciation to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of Ir.dia, and in addition, sent a message of appreication and support to Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation organization. 6. The Symposium decided to create a 12-member Asian Regional Preparatory Committee, in this connection, a r.hairman and an Executive Secretary were elected. The two offic~als were charged with the. responsibility, through consultations with non-governmental organizations in the region, to identify the remaining ten members who should include repr~Bentativeb of non-government~l organizations from countries represented at the Symposium. It was also decided that such a body would be the prototype for an Asi.m Reg ional Co-ord inat ing r::ommi ttee. 7. The Declaration of the symposium, which was adopted unanimously, is reproduced below. The full text 0 the report will be issued in due course as a special bulletin of the United N~tions Division [or Palestinian Hights. -41- Declaration of the Symposium B. We, the non-governmental organizations participating in the United Nations Asian Regional Non-Governmental Organizations Symposium on the Queltion of Palestine, wish to thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for convening this meeting. We are indeed honoured by the presence of the members and observers of the distinguished United Nations body and the expert resource persons, whose valuable contribution provided a ~;uitable perspective for working out concrete programmes of action. 9. We also wish to thank the representative of the Secretary-General, the Chief of the Div~5ion for Palestinian Rights, the International Co-ordinating Committee. the non-governmental organizations liaison officers, the staff of the Department of Conference Services and the interpreters for their valuable assistance in the preparation and exe~'ltion of this meeting. We believe this meeting strengthens the bonds bl:tween the United Nations and the community of Asian non-governmental organizations involved with the Palestinp question 3nd look forward to increasing levels of understanding, appreciation and co-operation. 10. We wish also to thank very sincerely the Governm( .. t of India for hosting thin Symposium and for its generous co-operation. We recognize and appreciate the long-standing and unfailing support of the Governmelt and the people of India to the just cause of the Palestinian people, in the tradition of the national liberation movement of India from the early 1920s, when it opposed the Balfour l:eclaration. 11. We recognize that 1987 marks th~ seventieth anniversary of the BaIfour Declaration, the fortieth anniversary u~ the adoption of General Assembly resolution 181 (Ill "f 29 November 1947 for the partition of Palestine, the twentieth anniversary of the 1967 war and the subsequent Israeli mi~itary occupation of the West BanK and Gaza, and the fifth anniversary of the destluctive Israel i agqresflion against Lebanon and tt.e massacre at Sabra an~ Shatila and the Inter'1ational Year of the People of Palestine. 12. We re~olutely reaffirm the international consensu~ that PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in its ~Jst struggle for its inalienable rightF. Tak ing n6te of the support of the Palestinian people for pr.o, and of the consolidated unity established at the April 1987, ei9hteenth session of the Palest ne National Council at Algiers, we reject outright the idea that anyone other tt.3n the ralestinian people should decide who should represent them, all the more so as the first ar:t of any people in implementin'] its right to self-determination is the choice of its own representatives. We fully support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to untramelled independent decisIon-making through i~s own national organization, PLO. 13. Accordingly, we call upon all Governments that do not recongize PLO to do so without delay. We also call upon all Governments to support the convening of the International Peace Confer~nce on the Middle East and tc work for the realization of such a conference as a top ~riority. 14. We reco~giz~ that the self-determination of the Palestinian people and their right to self-governm~nt in their o~n independpnt state in Palestine is the cpntral requirement for peace and security, for a just and durable peace between Israel and the Palestinian national State and its Ar,.b neighbours, and is in full ac:cord with -114-· one of the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We reaffi~m that this right must be exercised without outside interference on its own national territory and under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organiz.tion, in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions. 15. We l'ully support the Geneva Declaration on Palestine of 7 september 1983 adopted by the Intertnational Conference 0n the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva from ~9 August to 7 September 1983, in favour of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and we fully uphold General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983. I t is essential that the Conference be inclusive and be attended by the repreeentatives of both Israel and PLO, those Arab States parties to the conflict, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, all on an equal footing. We are aw~re that not only world peace but also the human and civil rights of the Palestinian people have been set back by the non-implementRtion of resolution 38/58 C. In this context, we reject partial 'nd piecemeal agreements as counter-productive and not conducive to a comprehensive peaceful solution, as others totally ignore the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict. 16. We take serious note of the fact that, while PLO fully supports General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, the United States of America and Israel are opposed to it. We strongly feel that the position of those two Governments constitutes a serious threat to world peace and we urge all Governments to exert more pressure on the two Governments to join the global consensus on this issue. 17. We view with grave concern the law recently adopted by the Israeli Government making any meeting between an Israeli citizen and a member of PLO puni&hable by three years' imprisonment. This is considered an ac~ designed to prevent peace efforts at the non-governmental organization level. We urge the Israeli Government to immediately repeal that law and call upon the United tlations and all Governments to exert their influence upon the Israeli Government to do so. 18. We note with grave concern the discr~minatory policy and practices being committed by the Iaraeli Government against the Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel and condemn the racist laws and practices that endanger their existence in their homeland. We call u[~n the Israeli Government to give equal rights to the Arab citizens of Israel. We declare our full support for the struggle of the Arab Israeli community together with the Jewish democratic forces for equality and s~curity. We believe that there can be no democracy without equal rights for all citizens. 19. We have heard with great appreciation the voice of Israeli peace forces and extend 1:0 thl,m all our sympathy; nd support in their difficult task of opposition to the oppressive policies of the Israeli Government, within the Israeli Parliament and among the Israeli public. In particular, we express solidarity with those who, dS an act of peace, accept imprisonment for their refusal to engage in military service in the occupied terr itor ies. We note wi,th great satisfaction the emergence of peace forces, particularly within the Oriental Jewish Community in Israel. We regard this as a most significant development and call up?n all elements interested in early peace in the Middle East to 'Jive moral anG political support to the emerging peace forces within Israel. -45- 20. We strongly condemn the continu~tion of the repressive measures by the Israeli administration against the Arab population in the occupied territories (arrests, tortures, demolition of homes and land r~quisitions, etc.) and call upon the United Nations, all Governments and people to urge the Israali Government to stop such oppressive acts. 21. We note with great concern the continued Israeli attacks on the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and strongly condemn the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people in the camps. We call upon all concerned parties to enforce a durable cease-fire and to ensure the flow of medical and relief supplies to the camps throug~ the United Nations Relief and Works As~ncy for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the Tnternational Red Cross and other international agencies. 22. We call upon all concerned parties to guarantee the security of the Palestinian people in Lebanon and to their right to live in security in Lebanon. The preeence of the Palestinian people in the refugee camps is not of their own will, but the r~sult of the non-fulfilment of General Assembly resolution 181 (Ill. As this is the responsibility of all member nations of the United Nations, vie call upon to' and the Uni.ted Nations General Assembly to take every necessalY measure to enl .. e the security of the Palestinian people in Lebanon and elsewhere. 23. We draw attention to the continued Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, intervention in that country's internal affaird through political coercion and oppressive actions in the eouth. We demand t~e immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces froll southern I,ebanon and t ,e release at t-housands held in pr ison. The question of Lebanon is an inte1ral pe.rt of the Palestinian question and Israeli military expansion. 24. We believe that it is the increasing expansion of conflict areas by Israel and the growing threat it constitutes not only to the peace of this region as a whole but of Asia and tne world, that makes the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East such an urgent necessity and the only practical and realistic solution to the problem of Palestine and the establishment of a Palustinian State. Immediate steps should be taken tQ set up a prep'lratory ~ommittee ~'ith the pilrticipati~n of the permanent members of the Security Council as the first step towards the holding of the Confer .. '1.... d. 25. We urther assert the inextricable connection between th,' strugd States to de-legitimize the importance of the work of UNIlWA. 42. We, the North American non-g()vernmental organi~~tionB, have taken note of the continuing assaults on Palestinian refugee camps and have duly condemned the atrocities committ.ed, called for the siege to be lifted permanently and called for the free flow of medical assistance and olher relief to the campfl. 43. We urge all people and organizations workinq towards an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to support, through an internationcll peace conference, the Palestinian rJ.ghts of return, the right of self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State alongside of Israel as a basis for a comprehensivl' and lasting peace. NACC wishes to continue to act as a resource for the United NaLions Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the P~leBtinian People and the DIvision for Palestinian Rights, as requestel1. NACC requests that the United Nations continue its flnanclal support of an NACC preparatory meeting, so th~t NACC can fulfil its obligations in relation to the 1988 North American symposium on the Question of Palestine. 44. In order to continue collaboration between the United Nations and the North American non-governmental organization com~"nity, we urge both the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the P01estinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to sell~ rep.::esentatives La the major North American non-governmental organizations conferences. 45. We urge the Chairman of the Committee on the exercine of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Decldration to the Generzl Assembly at its forty-second session as part of the Committee's report. Notes a/ The Immigration and Naturalization Service seeks to deport seven Palestinians and one Kenyan under ~'w McCarran-Walter Act, accusing them of membership in an organization which promotes international communism as well as other technical immigration violations. -62- ANNEX VII nf!(·I_,~~.ic~. art.:)£!.~d .N..'.:_~-·~~~~~rnmt'nt.al by the Intern'lt ional Mf't!t !:_l~ Or.1;\1 a III I! . It ill \:11 [\'1 Ha,x liP 11 IT ,x r,an t '11a\ :--.Hpa. I L.lIH Iill I I C (lIpall"" OOIlL'llldIUt\ 1111<11111.::-'1 'OIlIAill(l\l '{,lIdIHlIl' Hillf Wfll,H!e riO, i1/1P('l'~,': ()pr;HfHj;UIHH ()(Jl,l,.·illflfCIIIlI.I\ "alllltt, ('l'kIUIH 110 lIpOlla;+;c IIll1allllll, f1hHl·t!OPI\ Hilll iKcllcna. ('OMO ('O:llSE(;l'IH l'I'IlU('AnONES IlE (,,\S NAl'IONES I'NIIlAS Lt.. pllhlt\'al"tlllr .. l~llC\a dl' la . . Nill"Illlll'" 11111" ... 'nrlt· ... dL'lllllllldo, (·Oll ... llltc: ,I "'ll (Inlda . . l· ... l;ill C:1l Vl'llta rn 1threrla.. y C,l"'a ... dl ...tnhllldtlra ... l'll Ilhl'l'Itl {1 dlrq,l"'l' It N,ll'llIlll· ... (111Ida .... Sf.:n'HlI\ dl' Vl·nta ... , 'w!, (I (Illll' I'a. Litho in United Nations, New York 00900 25488-Novem'::2!" 1987-3,600