Check against delivery STATEMENT BY HIS EXCBLLENCY MR. PAUL BADJI CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEB ON TIIE EXERCISE OF THE INALIBNABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALBSTINIAN PEOPLE INTRODUCTNGTHE PROGRAMME OF WORK OF THE COMMITTBE FOR 2A06(CRP.l) 2006 10February I I Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Bureau,I would like to introducethe draft programme of work of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the PalestinianPeople for the year 2006, containedin documentA/AC.183?0A6!CRP.1. The programmereflectsthe ongoing concerns of the Committee in relation to the present situation and explains how the Committee intends to carry out its mandatedactivities in the course of the year. The prograrnme of work has been by discussed the Bureau of the Committee and, with your permission,I would now like to describebrieflv its contents. 1 Section I (paragraphs to 4) is largely proceduraland surlmarizesthe relevant resolutionsof the GeneralAssembly adoptedat the 60thsessioncontainingthe respective mandatesof the Committee, as well as the Division for PalestinianRights and the Departmentof Public Information. 5 Section II (paragraphs to 14), outlines issuesof priority in the Committee's programmeof work for 2006. It reaffirms the Committee'sview that its programmeof activities, mandatedby the GeneralAssembly, contributesto focusing the attentionof and the general public on issues Governments,intergovernmentaland civil society organtzations crucial for advancing a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The Committee congratulatesthe palestinianpeople on the successful holding of the electionsto the PalestinianLegislative its Council. It expresses sincerehope that the mandatethe newly electedCouncil has received in from the palestinianpeoplewill lead to positive developments the Occupied Palestinian conflict. The opportunity Territory and to new stepsaimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian brought about by the democraticelectionsmust be built on and seizedby the partiesto try to revitalize peacenegotiationsbasedon the principles of internationallaw and the relevantUnited Nations resolutions.The Committeewill continueto promote supportfor the Road Map and the just important work of the Quartetin pursuanceof a comprehensive, and lasting solution of the questionof palestine. In its activities,the Committeewill continueto support all efforts by the partiestowards fulfilling that goal and will mobilize all sectorsof the world community with a view to assistingthe Palestinianpeople to attain its inalienablerights. While welcoming the Israeli withdrawal from the GazaStrip and four small settlementsin the Northern West Bank, the Committee points to the urgent needto revitalize the economyof the Gaza Strip and to allow for an unhinderedmovement of people and goodsinto and out of Gaza. The Committee reiteratesits strong opposition to the expansionof settlementsin the West Bank and efforts to complete the construction of the wall on Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and numerous Security Council and GeneralAssembly resolutions.The internationalcommunity must ensurethat the occupying power abideby the provisions of the Advisory Opinion of the InternationalCourt of Justiceand of GeneralAssembly resolutions,including the establishment a registerof damage subsequent causedby the building of the wall. As in previous years,the Committeewill maintain its support for the Palestinianpeople and the political processthrough a variety of activities.The Committee will pay specialattention the to assessing situation on the ground, and supportingthe creation of conditions conduciveto the resumptionof peacenegotiations,including the completecessationof all actsof violence, such as military attacks, destruction and acts of terror. The Committee will highlight the specific responsibilityof the occupying Power for ending its illegal policies and practices,such as the of activity, the constructionof the wall, and various measures collective punishment. settlement The Committee will maintain its support for revitalized and active international involvement both partiesto overcomethe current impassein the peaceprocess, aimed at encouraging of including through the Quartetand the continuedpersonalengagement the United Nations and Secretary-General the United Nations SpecialCoordinatorfor the Middle East Peace process. The Committeewill also focus on issuesrelating to the Palestinianeconomicrecovery to and the urgencyof providing internationalassistance the Palestinianpeople. It will lay special of on emphasis raising greaterinternationalawareness the plight of Palestinianwomen and children- the most vulnerablesegmentof the Palestiniansociety- suffering as a result of the occupation. This Sectionalso refersto the mandategiven to the Department of Public Information the by GeneralAssembly resolution 60/38. In that resolution, the GeneralAssembly requested Department,inter alia, to expandits collection of audio-visualmaterial on the questionof palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat. The Committee will continue to cooperatewith the Department in this regard. 15 Section III (paragraphs to 34), dealswith the proposed activities of the Committee A, and the Division for Palestinian Rights. In Sub-section the draft outlinesthe action to be taken by the Committee in the courseof the year, including the participation of its Chairman in inviting and meetings,as necessary; relevant intergovernmentaland other conferences palestinianofficials and other Palestinian personalitiesto meetingswith membersand observers of the Committee and the Secretariat. It will continue consultationswith various parties interestedin its programmeof work, including membersof the EuropeanUnion, the Nonthe Aligned Movement, as well as the African Union, the Leagueof Arab States, Organizationof of should help to promote understanding the Islamic Conferenceand others. Theseexchanges the Committee's mandateand objectives. B Sub-section spells out this year's programmeof internationalmeetingsand conferences.Here, the Committeeintendsto addresssuch issuesas the needto end the occupationof all Palestinianland; the importanceof supportingthe PalestinianAuthority in its efforts to rehabilitatethe econoffiy,especiallythat of the GazaStrip; the responsibility of all of Govemmentsfor applying internationallaw to all aspects the questionof Palestinein with the Advisory Opinion of the InternationalCourt of Justice;the urgency of accordance of resumingthe political processand implementing of the Road Mup; the adverseconsequences of the sefflementpolicy and the constructionof the wall for the achievement a two-State solution; people;the humanitarianand socio-economicsituation, the needto protect the Palestinian women and children; and the role of civil society. In including the plight of Palestinian the delivering its programmeof meetingsand conferences, Committeewill keep in mind the utilization of resources.The Committee will also needfor economyand most cost-effective ) continue to make an effort to encourageparticipation by countries and orgarnzations,which so far have not engagedfully in its progftrrnmeof work. This Sub-sectionlists a number of events to be orgarlrzedby the Committee in2006. the Sub-sectionC dealswith the Committee's cooperationwith civil sociefy and stresses importanceof the role played by all sectorsof civil society,including NGOs, parliamentsand inter-parliamentary organizations,in upholding international legitimacy with regard to the questionof Palestinethrough continuedadvocacywork and the mobilization of public opinion. The Committeewill continueto encouragethe important work done by civil society in support of the Palestinianpeople in the region and worldwide. It invites accreditedcivil society organizationsto sharewith it their insights into and reports on the situation on the ground and on is relevant initiatives. Specialernphasis laid on developingclosercooperationwith parliaments the bodies in order to encourage discussionwithin the of and representatives inter-parliamentary respectiveparliamentsand among all strataof society of ways of supportingpeacein the Middle East and resolving the questionof Palestine. the D Sub-section describes work to be carried out during the year on the United Nations Information Systemon the Questionof Palestine(UNISPAL), an activity mandatedby the the GeneralAssembly in 1991. The Committeehas requested Division for PalestinianRights to continue its work on further development,expansionand administeringof the system,including "Question of Palestine"sites on the Internet. The Division will enhance the the "IINISPAL" and "Question of Palestine"site's portal designedunderthe guidanceof the Bureau and will continue to redesignthe variousrelatedweb pagesof the site. E Sub-section is devotedto the publications programme - one of the central activities Rights, which contributesto heighteninginternationalawareness of the Division for Palestinian of of the various aspects the questionof Palestine,involvement of the United Nations in the issue,and the work of the Committee,its mandateand objectives. 6 F Sub-section outlines other important elementsof the programmeof work of the Division, including the training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authorify. The Committee considersthat, in light of its importance and usefulness,the Division should continue for the training programmein 2006. The Committee is of the view that, in selectingcandidates this annualprogramme,specialconsiderationshouldbe given to achieving genderbalance. of With regardto the annualobservance the International Day of Solidarity with the this anniversarywith a solemnmeeting Palestinian People, the Committeewill commemorate that the usual programme of activitiesbe on Wednesday,29 November 2006, and recommends including a Palestinianexhibit or a cultural event. envisaged, In conclusion,I would like to say that, againstthe backgroundof the evolving situation to on the ground,the Bureau of the Committee,will continueto give thorough consideration the as various elementsof the Committee's prograrnmeof work for 2006 and make adjustments to necessary.In doing so, it will strive to make it more responsive the situation and, therefore, more effective. to I would like to expressthe hope that this draft will be acceptable the Committeeand will be adoptedat this meeting. Thank you.