Sixty-second session * A/62/150. Item 17 of the provisional agenda* The situation in the Middle East The situation in the Middle East Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report contains replies received from Member States in response to the Secretary-General’s note verbale of 8 June 2007 concerning implementation of the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolutions 61/26, entitled “Jerusalem”, and 61/27, entitled “The Syrian Golan”. Contents Page Introduction 3 Replies received from Member States 3 Italy 3 Mexico 3 United Arab Emirates 4 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 61/26 and 61/27. In its resolution 61/26, the Assembly welcomed the decision of those States that had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw their missions from the city, in compliance with Security Council resolution 478 (1980). In its resolution 61/27, which deals with Israeli policies in the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, the Assembly demanded once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions. 2. In order to fulfil the reporting responsibility of the Secretary-General under resolutions 61/26 and 61/27, on 8 June 2007 notes verbales were addressed to the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations and to the Permanent Representatives of other Member States requesting them to inform the Secretary-General of any steps their Governments had taken or envisaged taking concerning implementation of the relevant provisions of those resolutions. As at 24 August 2007, replies had been received from Italy, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. Those replies are reproduced in section II of the present report. II. Replies received from Member States Italy [Original: English] 1. With reference to the request contained in the Secretary-General’s note verbale dated 8 June 2007, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations has the honour to assure the Secretary-General that the position of the Italian Government on the territories occupied by Israel in the city of Jerusalem and in the region of the Golan is based upon the provisions contained in the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to which Italy is a State party. 2. Furthermore, the Permanent Mission of Italy wishes to recall that Italy fully aligns itself with the position of the European Union, according to which no changes to the pre-1967 status of the Palestinian territories will be recognized other than that agreed by both parties. Mexico [Original: Spanish] 1. In response to the Secretary-General’s request, in his note verbale of 8 June 2007, regarding the measures adopted by Mexico to implement the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolutions 61/26 and 61/27 concerning Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan respectively, the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations is pleased to transmit the following information from the Government of Mexico: (a) With regard to resolution 61/26, in particular paragraph 2, it should be stated that, pursuant to Security Council resolution 478 (1980), Mexico has its Embassy in the city of Tel Aviv; (b) With regard to resolution 61/27, it is relevant to note that Mexico supports the efforts of the international community to achieve a just and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East in conformity with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). United Arab Emirates [Original: English] 1. In reference to the Secretary-General’s note verbale of 8 June 2007, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates is pleased to report on the position of the United Arab Emirates towards General Assembly resolutions 61/26 and 61/27 on the situation in the Middle East, as well as to report on measures taken by its Government for their implementation. Position of the United Arab Emirates towards resolutions 61/26 and 61/27 concerning the situation in the Middle East Measures taken in connection with resolution 61/27 concerning Jerusalem (a) Condemnation of Israeli excavation works carried out under Al Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding area which could result in its collapse; (b) Calling upon international organizations, especially the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to shoulder their responsibilities relating to the protection of Muslim and Christian shrines; stressing the Arab characteristics of Jerusalem; and rejection of illegal Israeli measures aimed at the Judaization and annexation of that city. Assistance provided to Al-Aqsa Fund Government assistance in the amount of $650 million was paid in full to Al-Aqsa Fund Measures taken in connection with the occupied Syrian Golan (a) Reiteration of the United Arab Emirates’ support for the demands of the Syrian Arab Republic and its right to the restoration of all the occupied Syrian Arab Golan up to the line of 4 June 1967, in accordance with the principles of the peace process and international legitimate resolutions and within the guidelines of the Peace Conference on the Middle East held in Madrid in 1991; (b) Reaffirming the commitment by the United Arab Emirates to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East as a strategic option. The peace process is a comprehensive and indivisible process which can be achieved only through a full Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian and Arab occupied territories, including the occupied Syrian Arab Golan up to the line of 4 June 1967 and the remaining occupied territories in southern Lebanon; (c) Attaining a just and an agreed solution for the problem of the Palestinian refugees, based on General Assembly resolution 194 (III); (d) Rejection of all forms of settlements; (e) Emphasis on the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with its capital as East Jerusalem.   sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/327 sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/327 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-50117 \* MERGEFORMAT 2 \* MERGEFORMAT 3 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-50117 United Nations A/62/327 General Assembly Distr.: General 11 September 2007 English Original: English/Spanish jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 07-50117 (E) 240907 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0750117*