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Statement by H.E Ambassador R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa, Permanent Representative the Republicoflndonesia of beforethe Special Meeting of the Committeeon the Exercise the Inalienable of Rights of the Palestinian People 20 June 2008 Mr. Chairman, Let me first express delegation's my appreciation you, Mr. Chairman,for conveningthis to specialmeetingof the Committeeto mark 60 yearsof dirporsession palestinerefugeei. of I wish also to thank the PermanentObserverof Palestineand the representative of the IIN Relief and Works Agency for PalestineRefugeesin the Near Eas? GTNRryA) for rheir respective statements, providing an updateon the situation of the Palestine refugees well as as information on effortsbeing madeto address situation. that We thank equallythe experts who have offeredtheir views on the prospects a solution,as of well as modalities.We recognrzethe invaluablework done by civil societyas part of our collectiveeffiorts alleviatethe plight of the palestinerefugees. to This special meeting provides a forum for member states and relevant international otganrzations,as well as civil society which work on the issue, to reflect on ways to collectively address predicamentof Palestinerefugees the and their denial of justice in the past six decades, and to renew our commitment to finding a just solution to the issuein accordance with GeneralAssemblyresolution 194of 194g. Mr. Chairman, Palestinianswho fled their home as a result of the lg48 Arab-Israeli conflict and their descendants havegonethroughhumiliation and dispossession fartoo long asrefugees. for We certainly cannot understatethe importanceof finding a just solution of the palestine refugees a moral andlegalobligationfor all of us underr-elevant as internationallaws. We, therefore,are of the view that the internationalcommunity needto give more affention to the plight of thesePalestinians. this regard,we continueto attach greatimportance In to the work of this Commiffeeas a forum for consideringand reco-*.nJing to the General Assembly a programmeof implementationdesignedto enableall palestinians to exercise their collectiveand individual rights to national independence sovereignty and and to return pffin#{AruffiS{Y $V3*$S*mru ffipTffitr mKPt'Jffi$-|fl$Mfi}{}rl*ffiS8e"gS{Jru{?mffi ffiP Y$"$ffi ruer$#fds

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to the homes and properfy from which they were displacedand uprooted. Its method of work, which allows it to reach out wider stakeholderi, including civil society,is certainly useful. At the practrcallevel, the work of ITNRWA to deliver vital assistance Palestine to refugees is of greatimportance. we support every effort to strengthenpartnerships betweenUNRWA, the host authorities,donorsand partneragencies Mr. Chairman, we understandthat ajust and long lastingsolution of the issueis dependent the political on settlementof Arab-Israelconflicts. we, however,believethat the reverseis also true, that without a just solutionto the issueof palestinerefugees, lastingpeacebetweenIsraelisand a Palestinians in the whole regioncannotbe achieved. and Addressingthe issueof Palestine refugees, therefore,should be part and parcelof effortsto achievepolitical settlement the conflict. of After decadesof suffering and loss inflicted upon Palestinians,in particular those who remain refugees, just, lastingand comprehensive finding a peaceful, settlement the conflict to is thus absolutelycritical. The internationalcommunity ihould redoubleits collectiveeffiorts to promote the reahzatron the vision of t'wo States, of Israeland Palestine, living sideby side in peaceand security,as well as of the rights of the Palestinian people,including their rigfrt, to self-determinationand the rights of the Palestine refugeesto return. Indonesia is committed to this endeavor, on the basis of the relevant international laws, including SecurityCouncil resolutions 242 (1967),338(1973)and 1515(2003)as well as rhe Madrid termsof reference, principleof land for peaceand the ArabPeace'Initiative. the We believethat building a vrablePalestinianeconomyconstitutes vital building block of a the efforts to achievelasting settlement the conflicl and the creationof durablJpeacein of the region.We wish to underscore importanceof the continuedsupportand assistance the of the internationalcommunity to rebuild the economyof the occupiedPilestinian territory. In this connection,Indonesi and South Africa, in the framework of the New Asian African a Strategic Partnership,will convene a Ministerial Conferenceon CapacrtyBuilding for Palestine Jakarta 14 and 15 Julv 2008. rn on Thank you.