CTIAIR OF THE COORDINATING BUREAU OFTHE NON- ALIGNED MOVEMENT

STATEMENT MR. RODOLFO BY BENITEZ VERSON, CHARGE D'AFFAIRESA,I OF CUBAIN ITS CAPACITY ACTINGCHAIRMAN THE COORDINATING AS OF BUREAUOF THE NONALIGNED MOVEMENT,AT THE SPECIAL MEETING TO MARK SIXTY YEARS OF DISPOSSESSION PALESTINIAN OF PEOPLE. NEWYORK, JUNE20,2008, Mr.Chairman, I havethe honour speakin thisimportant to occasion behalf the 118 members on of countries the of Non-Aligned Movement. The Non-Aligned position solidarity supportto the causeof the Palestinian Movement's of and people widely is known. situation the Occupied The in Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem East andthequestion therefugees been, of has andshallcontinue be priority to issues the Movement. for peoplesolemnly Last year, the Palestinian commemorated 60thanniversary the General the of Assembly's adoption resolution (ll) in 1947, of 181 whichpartitioned historic Palestine ledto the and historic injustice tragedy and people 1948- Al-Nakba during imposed uponthe Palestinian in which people the Palestinian were forcibly expelled fled in fear from their homes, or dispossessed and dispersed refugees as throughout region, became stateless people. the and a Todaywe are solemnly observing six$ 60 yearsof dispossession Palestinian the people, of Al Nakba. More thanthreequarters historic of Palestine forcibly was seized thattime. Moreover, at 531 Palestinian towns andvillages weredestroyed 85%of the Palestinian population and werebanished and displaced.Todaysome4.6 millionof Palestinian refugees scattered overthe Middle are all East. We, as members the international of community, people muststandin solidarity the Palestinian with on thisoccasion reflect to uponthe tragedy and injustice has befallen that themandto reaffirm our determination double efforts peacefully justlyresolve question Palestine all and our to and the of in its aspects, including just resolution the plightof the Palestine the of refugees, accordance in with the rules and principles international and relevantUnited Nationsresolutions. The of law international community shouldnot delayin acting comprehensively to address issuebecause this peoplehave suffered the Palestinian and waitedfor too long for justiceand freedomand the passage so manyyears has only furtherand seriously of compounded problem, the whichhas impacted region beyond. the and The Non-Aligned peoplecontinue sufferthe Movement deeply regretsthat the Palestinian to prolonged and brutal lsraeli militaryoccupation their land for more than 40 years. lt is of peoplecontinue be deniedtheirfundamental unacceptable the Palestinian that to humanrights,

among whichare the rightto self-determination the rightof the Palestinian and refugees return to to theirIands. The situation the GazaShip is especially in critical and NAM reiterates call for an end to the its unlawful siegeof Gazaand the collective punishment the entirePalestinian of population civilian there. thisregard,NAMtakesnoteof theachievement a truceand hopes willbringan endto In of it cycleof violence, including beenextended theWestBank, by to andthe speedy openinjof Gaza's border crossings the movement persons goods for of and andthealleviation the direhumanitarian of crisis. Our Movement stresses needand urgency put an end to the prolonged the to and illegallsraeli occupation all of the Arab territories of occupied since1967,and to establish indepeident an and sovereign Palestinian state, withEastJerusalem itscapital. as Mr.Chairman, The Movement reiterates concern the increasing its at deterioration the political, of economic, social and humanitarian situation the Occupied in Palestinian Territory, a result the continued as of illegal policies and practices lsrael,including by seriousviolations humanrightsand constant of war crimes, which haveresulted increasing in suffering deprivations the Pilestinian and people. for In several multilateral forums, including UN General the Assembly the Security and Council, nonthe aligned countries haveexpressed strong their condemnation the illegal deliberate of poiicies and and practices lsrael, by whichare deliberately aimedat altering demographic the composition the and character natureof the Palestinian and landsin orderto facilitate lsrael;s iilegalaltempts de facto to annex moreland. Mr.Chairman, Overall of the yearsof suffering throughout manycrisesand upheavals the Palestine and the that refugeeshave faced, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for PalestineRefugees (UNRWA) has been a vital sourceof support and humanitarian providing assistance, themwith education, healthcare, relief andsocial services, emergency and assistance, including distribution of foodand monetary for needyrefugees Jordan, aid in Lebanon, Syriaand the WestBankand Gaza Stripof theOccupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. East UNRWA played central in the livesof the Palestine has a role refugees, thisregard alsobeen in has important actingas a protecting in presence them in areas of crisis and conflict,in promoting for stability, in preserving rights the refugees. and the of The Movement recognizes important also the roleplayed overthe decades the hostgovernments Jordan, by of Lebanon Syriaas wellas the and countries the Diaspora, in including particular in otherArabCountries, hosting Palestine refugees, andthedonor community helping careforthe Palestine in to refugees. The international com;nunity's long-standing principled and support UNRWA for has beenessential in helping maintain to the Agency'soperations throughout years. In this connection, the NAM reaffirms importance the mandate the of entrusted UNRWA, to which has been so noblyand devotedly caried out overthe yearsby the Commissioner-Generals haveled UNRWA that and its entirestaff. This mandate must continue be extended to untila just solution achieved the is for

Palestine question accordance General refugee in with Assembly resolution (lll) of 194gand 194 international law. In the context the direcurrent of situation, NAMreafiirms permanent the responsibilitythe United of Nations, including General the Assembly theSecurity and Council, towards question palestine the of untilit is resolved all its aspects the basisof international including just resolution the in on law, a to plight the Palestine of refugee. Mr.Chairman, I wouldliketo conclude reiterating the Non-Aligned by that Movement continue support to will to and contribute muchas possible the achievement a just,comprehensive lasting as to of peace the and in Middle East,based the relevant resolutions restating our collective on UN and that efforts constitute a contribution the international to community's efforts redress historic to the injustice imposed upon people to provide the Palestinian and them,particularly Palestine the refugees, basic with needs and human dignity until daythata just resolution theirplight achieved. the to is you Thank verymuch.