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THE PERMANENT MISSIONOF

SOUTHAFRICA
TO THE LINITED NATIONS

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STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADORG. MTSHALI OF THE REPUBLICOF SOUTHAFRICA

ON ..RIGHT OF PEOPLES SELF.DETERMINATIONO' TO

THIRD COMMITTEE UNITED NATIONS NEW YORK 7 NOVEMBER 2OO7

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Chairperson, I thankyou for providing delegation my with an opportunity address Third to the Committee item71: Rightof Peoples Self-determination. on to The principle self-determination enshrined the Charterof the United of as in Nations,the lnternational Covenanton Civil and PoliticalRights and the International Covenant Economic, on Social and Cultural Rights, affirm rightof the peoples self-determination the obligation all StatesParties promote all to and by to the realization thisright. of Therefore, SouthAfricafinds it most unfortunate the international that community still has to grapplewith the subjectof the right to self-determination the of people Palestinian longafterits enunciation the UN General by Assembly. view We with deep concernthe continued occupation Palestinian of territory lsraelin by contravention International of Law. The SpecialRapporteur the situationof human rights in the Occupied on Palestinian Territories, Prof.JohnDugard, his reportN621275 in addresses key the issueregarding situation Palestine, the of whichis the rightto self-determination of the Palestinian People.The reportcatalogues litanyof violations a visitedupon people, root causeof whichis theirwish to exercise Palestinian the theirrightto self-determination independent sovereign in an and State. Chairperson, SouthAfricaremainsconcerned about the continued volatilesituation and the deteriorating humanitarian crisisin the Palestinian particularly Gaza, territories, in as aggravated the severe restrictions Palestinians' by on freedom of movement, throughmultiplelsraeliroadblocks and checkpoints. The building the illegal of settlements the negative and impact the illegal of separation on the dailylives wall of the Palestinian People continues unabated, despite ruling the lnternational the of (lCJ)and in spiteof international Court Justice of condemnation. The SouthAfrican delegation also concerned is with the illegal imprisonment and arbitrary detention Palestinians, of including the imprisonment women and of political prisoners children. Thousands Palestinian of continue languish lsraeli to in jails, where they are subjected inhumane to treatment leadingto widespread suffering, trauma and death. This is clearlya violationof human rightsand lnternational Humanitarian Law. Another for concern my delegation the factthatthe Quartet takena selective is has approach negotiations. approach to This onlyserves undermine unityof the to the people Palestinian and to hamperthe establishment a meaningful, lasting of long solution the conflict the Middle to in East,whichmustinter-alia to the creation lead of a Palestinian State. Furthermore, are concerned thefactthatthe Quartet we with has ignoredthe human rights situationin Palestine and also not given due consideration the pronouncements the larger membership the United to of of Nations. therefore We believe thatthe United Nations, a member the Quartet, as of shouldbeginto articulate represent will of the majority the International and the of

Community play a moreeffective towards and role ensuring self-determination the peopleand the establishment an independent sovereign of the Palestinian of and Palestinian State. In addition, SouthAfricacallson boththe Government lsrael of and the Palestinian National Authority seeka peaceful to solution the conflict the Middle to in East.Only a political solution, through negotiated a settlement, basedon a two-State solution can guarantee just, lasting a peacein the MiddleEast.This and comprehensive visionof a two-State solution has already been enshrined the Security in Council resolution 1397of 2002. cannot We allowthisvision fade. to In this regard,my delegation wishesto reiterate position the MiddleEast our on PeaceProcessi.e. the establishment an independent of stateof Palestine, with East Jerusalem its capital,livingside by side with lsrael,with both States as enjoying secure and internationally recognised borders. people'sright to self-determination be respected the The Palestinian must by international community, the denialthereofresulting and fromforeign occupation, cannot allowed continue. havea dutyto fulfilthe obligations be to We enunciated in the UN Charter the International of Rights. and Bill SouthAfricatherefore wishesto reiterate unwavering its support the struggle for of people realise the Palestinian to theirrightto self-determination exercise and their sovereignty theirownState, in Palestine. you. I thank