CHAIRMAN:  To take action on draft resolutions A/60/L.28; A/60/L.29; A/60/L.30; and A/60/L.31.  Members will recall that the General Assembly held the debate on this item at 57th, 58th, 59th Plenary meetings on 29th and 30th November 2005.  
The floor to the United Kingdom.
UNITED KINGDOM (EU):  Mr. President, with your indulgence I would like to make a few additional comments on this item on behalf of the European Union and a number of countries who align themselves with these comments (Bulgaria and Rumania, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Ukraine.)  
The European Union, Mr. President, welcomes the recent positive developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  The Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the northern West Bank, the agreement on movement and access and subsequent opening of the Rafah border on 25 November 2005 and the forthcoming multiparty elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council foreseen for 25 January 2006—all represent significant steps towards implementing the Road Map.
While recognizing that more remains to be done, the European Union believes that such developments should be taken into account when considering the role of existing UN structures.  Equally, the European Union has consistently supported the objective of streamlining in the General Assembly as part of the overall process of revitalization of the Assembly. 
In this respect, the European Union was pleased that the Palestinian observer delegation was willing to withdraw its resolution on Palestinian children in the Third Committee this year, incorporating relevant elements into another existing resolution.  The European Union also supports the updating and reexamination of existing UN structures such as the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to better take into account political developments and realities on the ground.  And the EU looks forward to further discussions on this issue.
Mr. President, the European Union has in the past had some reservations about the terms of reference of this UN body as it felt that it does not sufficiently reflect the spirit of the peace process.  Nevertheless, since the EU now has two member-states who have historically held a different view, our voting pattern will respect this position and reflect it accordingly.  The EU remains committed to the two-state solution as laid out in the Road Map and agreed between the parties which would result in a viable contiguous, sovereign and independent Palestinian state, existing side-by-side in peace with Israel, both living within recognized and secure borders.  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  
CHAIRMAN:  The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolutions A/60/L.28, A/60/L.29, A/60/L.30, A/60/L.31.
We turn first to draft resolution A/60/L.28, entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.”  Additional cosponsors for the draft resolution A/60/L.28 are Venezuela and Zimbabwe.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of draft resolution A/60/L.28 please signify; those against and abstentions, please do so.  
:  The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/60/L.28 entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.”  Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  
The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  in favor 106; against 8; abstentions 59.  Draft resolution A/60/L.28 is adopted.
CHAIRMAN:  We turn next to draft resolution A/60/L.29 entitled “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.”  Additional cosponsors for this draft resolution are Venezuela and Zimbabwe.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of draft resolution A/60/L.29, please signify; those against and those abstaining, please do so.
:  The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/60/L.29 entitled “Division of Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.”  Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  
The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  in favor 105; against 8; abstentions 59.  Draft resolution A/60/L.29 is adopted.
CHAIRMAN:  We turn next to draft resolution A/60/L.30 entitled, “Special Information Program on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat.”  Additional cosponsor for this draft resolution is Venezuela.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of draft resolution A/60/L.30, please signify; and those against and those abstaining, please do so.
:  The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/60/L.30 entitled, “Special Information Program on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat.”  Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  
The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  in favor 160; against 7; abstentions 6.  Draft resolution A/60/L.30 is adopted.
The Assembly will now take a draft decision – will take decision on draft resolution A/60/L.31 entitled, “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.”  Additional cosponsors for this draft resolution are Venezuela and Zimbabwe.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of draft resolution A/60/L.31, please signify; those against and those abstaining, please do so.
:  The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/60/L.31 entitled, “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.”  Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  
The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  in favor 156; against 6; abstentions 9.  Draft resolution A/60/L.31 is adopted.
Before giving the floor to the speakers in explanation of vote, after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanation of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.  
I now give the floor to the delegation of Canada.
CANADA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  In regard to resolution L.28 on Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in the absence of clear value-added presented by the work of this Committee, Canada has maintained its opposition to this resolution and believes the General Assembly should consider reassigning scarce UN resources to efforts that are more directly contribute to the peace process objectives.
With respect to resolution L.29, as we signaled last year, Canada questions the value of the work of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.  We believe the time has come for the General Assembly to assess the effectiveness of this particular body and consider reassigning resources to the implementation of activities, more strategic to the protection and promotion of Palestinian rights and to the achievement of a peaceful settlement.  Canada voted against resolution L.29 for these reasons.  
Finally, Mr. President, with respect to resolution L.31, Canada considers it imperative that an explicit and unequivocal condemnation of suicide bombing be included in a resolution pertaining to the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.  In the absence of an explicit condemnation, Canada has taken the difficult decision to change its vote from support to abstention this year.  This abstention should not be misinterpreted as signaling any kind of change in Canadian policy towards the Middle East peace process.  We continue to firmly advocate support for the objectives of the Road Map.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  I now give the floor to Uruguay.  
URUGUAY:  Uruguay wishes once again to express its conviction that it is essential and urgent that there be a return to the road map in order to complete the peace process and bring it as soon as possible to a just and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East.  Uruguay supports a just and lasting solution achieved through peaceful means, allowing for the coexistence of two free and independent states, Israel and Palestine.  My country trusts that the creation of a viable, democratic, sovereign and contiguous Palestine will ensure the conditions necessary for both peoples to live in peace within secure, internationally recognized borders in accordance with international law and with the provisions of the different resolutions that have been adopted both by the General Assembly and by the Security Council of the UN.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  I now give the floor to Australia.  
AUSTRALIA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I’m speaking in explanation of Australia’s votes on resolution concerning the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat, Committee on Inalienable Rights and the Special Information Program.  Australia is concerned that a number of plenary resolution at the UN General Assembly 60 are unbalanced in their criticism of Israel.  The signaling out of one side only for blame in the current situation is deeply unhelpful.  Australia remains concerned by the high level of UN Secretariat resources allocated to anti-Israeli activity, including the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  The annual resolution endorsing those work units do nothing to streamline or rationalize the Secretariat’s structure or to make its work more balanced.  Similarly, the Special Information Program on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat is not a constructive use of UN resources, nor does it help make the Secretariat’s work more balanced.  These resolutions serve only to distract the parties from more pressing issues and do nothing to help the peace process.  Thank you.
CHAIRMAN:  We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the vote.  The General Assembly has just concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 15.  
The General Assembly will now continue its consideration of Agenda Item 14 entitled, “Situation in the Middle East” to take action on draft resolution A/60/L.32 and A/60/L.33.  
The Assembly will take decision on draft resolution A/60/L.32 and A/60/L.33.  We turn first to draft resolution A/60/L.32 entitled, “The Syrian Golan.”  Additional cosponsors for this draft resolution is Algeria.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of draft resolution A/60/L.32 please signify; those against and those abstaining.  
:  The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/60/L.32 entitled, “The Syrian Golan.”  Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  
The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  in favor 106; opposed 6; abstentions 62.  Draft resolution A/60/L.32 is adopted.
Draft resolution A/60/L.33 is entitled, “Jerusalem.”  Additional cosponsors for this draft resolution are Algeria and Guinea.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of draft resolution A/60/L.33 please signify; those against and those abstaining.  
:  The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/60/L.33 entitled “Jerusalem.”  Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  
The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  in favor 153; against 7; abstentions 12.  Draft resolution A/60/L.33 is adopted.
Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanation of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seat.  I give the floor to the United Kingdom.
UNITED KINGDOM (EU):  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and the countries which combine themselves with this statement (Bulgaria, Rumania, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Lichtenstein and Ukraine).  I would like to explain the vote by the countries of the European Union on the resolution on the Syrian Golan.  
The European Union remains concerned about the situation in the Middle East which reiterates that all parties the importance of maintaining forward momentum towards full implementation of the Road Map.  There can be no military solution to the Middle East conflict.  A just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the situation in the Middle East, including on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, must be based on Security Council Resolution 242 which emphasizes the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every state in the region can live in security and on subsequent resolutions 338, 1397 and 1515.  It must be based on the Madrid Terms of Reference, in particular the Principle of Land for Peace as well as on the implementation of the Road Map and all existing agreements between the parties.  We will continue to work relentlessly with the regional parties as part of the Middle East Quartet towards that goal.
The European Union wishes to reiterate that a final peace settlement will not be complete without taking account of the Israel-Syria and Israel-Lebanon aspects.  Negotiations should resume as soon as possible with the aim of reaching an agreement.  It should be recalled that earlier this month the European Union voted in favor of the resolution on the Syrian-Golan in the Fourth Committee, which called upon Israel to desist from changing the demographic composition of the Occupied Syrian Golan and, in particular, to desist from the establishment of settlements.  We believe that the resolution on the Syrian-Golan under today’s Agenda Item contains references which could undermine the process of bilateral negotiations.  For that reason as in previous years, the European Union has abstained on this resolution.
Finally, in the spirit of rationalizing the work of the General Assembly, the European Union would prefer to have only one resolution dealing with this issue before this body.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN:  I now give the floor to Argentina.
ARGENTINA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Mr. President, I wish to explain the vote cast by the delegations of Brazil and Argentina in connection with draft resolution A/60/L.32 which refers to the Syrian Golan, adopted by this General Assembly.
Brazil and my own country, Argentina, have voted in favor of this draft resolution because it is our understanding that its principle and fundamental aspect is related to the illegality of the acquisition of territories by force.  
Paragraph 4 of Article 2 of our United Nations Charter prohibits the use or the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity of a state.  This undoubtedly constitutes an imperative norm of international law.  At the same time, it is necessary to clarify the position of our two delegations with respect to operative paragraph 6 of the draft resolution in question.  We want to clarify that our vote does not prejudge the contents of the above mentioned paragraph and, in particular the reference to the line of 4 June 1967.  We wish to take this opportunity to say once again on behalf of the governments of Argentina and Brazil that we urge the authorities of Israel and Syria to resume negotiations with a view to finding a definitive solution to the situation of the Syrian Golan in conformity with Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967 and 338 of 1973 and in accordance with the Principle of Land for Peace.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  I now give the floor to Canada.
CANADA:  Mr. President, with respect to L.32 on the Syrian Golan, Canada said last year that this resolution imputes to one sole party, Israel, the responsibility for resuming negotiations while in reality confidence building measures and gestures of goodwill are necessary on both sides.  We don’t approve the presentation of this resolution in the Plenary since the Fourth Committee which mostly discusses the Syrian Golan is adopted every year by the General Assembly.  For these reasons we have voted against the resolution.
With respect to L.33 on Jerusalem, which we support, Canada believes that the status of Jerusalem can only be resolved if there is a comprehensive settlement of the situation between Palestinians and Israel.  The question of Jerusalem is to be negotiated and Canada is calling very much on Israel to refrain from any measure that would be prejudicial to a just negotiated settlement.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  I now give the floor to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
IRAN:  Thank you, Mr. President.  We have voted for the resolution just as adopted under Agenda Item 14 and 15 on the Question of Palestine and the Situation in the Middle East respectively.  
The views of the Islamic Republic of Iran on these important issues have already been articulated during the general debate as well as the debate on the Question of Palestine in this Assembly.  In short, we believe that a durable peace in Palestine will be possible for the justice and to discrimination and to occupation of all Palestinian territories, the return of all Palestinian refugees, result to democratic means that undermine the wishes of the people and establishment of democratic Palestine state with Al Quds al-Sharif as its capital.  I thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the vote.  
I now give the floor to the observer of Palestine.
OBSERVER OF PALESTINE:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Mr. President, the voting that has taken place this morning endorsing as usual in an overwhelming way the rights of the Palestinian people and renewing the mandate for programs related to Palestine is a clear indication of the will of the international community to uphold international law and to support what is right and what is just.  We are very gratified that new countries have shifted their votes and voted in support of these programs.  And we are extremely delighted to see such results.  
Today this voting is sending a clear message to the Palestine people who are living under occupation, suffering tremendously under the ruthless system of occupation.  Today you send them a strong message of encouragement and support and you have stated in a clear way to them that you are continuing your support until Israeli occupation to be terminated.  And until the Palestinian state, the independent Palestinian state, and all of the land was occupied by Israeli in 1967 including East Jerusalem to be terminated.  
Our people are not interested in resolutions.  We are more interested in moving from this side where I sit to where all of you sit there as representing your countries.  We want to be as equal with you as anybody else.  We have been denied this right for the longest period of time.  And for those who think that we are interested in resolutions and they characterize these resolutions as biased and one-sided, we tell them that what is biased and one-sided is the action of the Israel occupation.  What is more violent?  Is it words in resolutions or the action of the Israeli occupying army?  
For those who think that these resolutions are anti-Israeli, we simply tell them that these resolutions are upholding international law.  And it is the business of the United Nations and the General Assembly to respect international law and to uphold international law.  And if Israel or any country violates international law, it is our collective responsibility to tell that party whether it’s Israel or any country – that nobody is above international law.  
And for some countries who lecture us about programs of Palestinian committee and other programs as being programs that are unbalanced and anti-Israeli, we tell them please study carefully what these programs are doing.  
When the Committee in Palestine is trying very actively to have activities in Europe and maybe in Japan and other countries, to support the Quartet process and the peace process at the political and the economic levels, is that in contradiction of what we are doing or is it adding another – an additional effort to advance the peace process forward?  
Again, you know, we are very, very proud of this moment and we hope that those who have different opinions (and they are in the extreme minority) that we can engage in intensive discussions and dialogue with them so that we can perhaps have a mutual understanding and the voting might be different.  
In this connection, I want to express our thanks and gratitude to many countries and groups including the European Union.  We negotiated with them during the course of the last three months with a positive attitude, constructive attitude and flexible attitude.  And we are proud of the fact that we were able to accomplish many positive things and we accommodated each other, both sides, in a positive way.  And this positive spirit that has been demonstrated through that exercise from our side we declare our good commitment that we will continue with that positive spirit in order to accomplish much more than that.  And I am also extending our willingness to other countries, including one country that unfortunately changed its vote.  We negotiated with that country in a very positive spirit and we will continue to negotiate with them in a positive spirit, and we hope that when we negotiate in a positive spirit to be rewarded, not to be punished.
I just want to conclude my – my intervention by reiterating our deep appreciation and thanks to those who cosponsored our resolutions and we hope – and voted in favor of our resolutions – and we hope that next year the Palestine people will be very much closer to accomplishing their objective of having their own independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.  
And I thank you very much, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  I now give the floor to the Syrian Arab Republic.
SYRIA:  Mr. President, allow me to express the appreciation of my delegation for the adoption by the General Assembly moments ago the resolution on the Syrian Golan and the other resolutions relevant to the Palestinian question.  
This great vote in favor of the resolutions including the resolution on the Syrian Golan reflect one very clear fact:  that is, the support by the international community of our right to recover our lands that were occupied by Israel, this occupation that has continued for the last 28 years – 38 years, excuse me.  
We have listened to some colleagues making comments on rationalization of the work of the General Assembly and streamlining, including reducing the numbers of resolutions adopted by the assembly.  I am sincere when I say that we are all for it.  However, it is truly regrettable for us to say that the enthusiasm vis-à-vis the rationalization is only present when we submit resolutions on the Middle East and Palestine at time when resolutions proliferate and mushroom by the same people who call for rationalization in other fields that serve certain interests and objectives.  These, we believe, are among the aspects that truly require rationalization.  We would have hoped for the standards to be one.  
The majority – the overwhelming majority of member states support the United Nations programs on the Middle East and Palestine and we are pretty satisfied with that.  
In conclusion I would like to stress the appreciation of Syria, the great appreciation of Syria, I say for member-states who supported the resolution on the Syrian Golan and those countries who voted in favor of that resolution.  I would also like to stress that Syria was and will forever remain sincere in its call for the realization of the just and comprehensive peace, something that is still rejected by the Israeli government.  We hope that states calling for the realization of this just and comprehensive peace will impress the right party in this field and bring pressure to bear on Israel to resume the peace process, which we believe is the only way for the realization of a promising future in the Middle East region.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 14.  








HUDSON INSTITUTE
General Assembly: Question of Palestine; 
Situation in Middle East Vote L.28-L.31
December 1, 2005 (60th Plenary AM)	23