SOUTH AFRICA'S 1974-1994 ASSESSMENTS NO LONGER DUE AND PAYABLE, ACCORDING TO TEXT ADOPTED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

15 December 1995

Press Release
GA/9038

SOUTH AFRICA'S 1974-1994 ASSESSMENTS NO LONGER DUE AND PAYABLE, ACCORDING TO TEXT ADOPTED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

19951215 Citing Unique and Exceptional Circumstances, Assembly States that Action Should in No Way Be Considered Precedent

The General Assembly this morning decided that, owing to the unique and exceptional circumstances pertaining to the resumption of South Africa's participation in the Assembly's work following the elimination of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democracy, the country's unpaid assessments accruing during the period from 30 September 1974 to 23 June 1994 for the regular budget and for peace-keeping operations shall be considered no longer due and payable.

The Assembly took that decision by adopting without a vote a resolution which explicitly stated that today's action should under no circumstances be used as a precedent.

The representative of South Africa described the resolution as exorcising the remaining legacy of apartheid -- its intentional withholding of payment of its membership contributions for 20 years. "I am pleased to announce that I have received explicit instructions to inform the Assembly that my Government has decided, as a special gesture, to make a voluntary contribution to the United Nations", he said. The contribution -- to be specifically earmarked for peace-keeping operations in Africa -- would be made over and above its normal assessments and other voluntary contributions.

Other statements were made by the representatives of Singapore, Spain (on behalf of the European Union), Namibia, Japan, Norway, Swaziland and Kenya. Speaking in explanation of position were the representatives of Mexico, Brazil and Poland. The resolution was introduced by the representative of Algeria.

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Also this morning, the Assembly adopted four resolutions on the question of Palestine, one on assistance to Nicaragua, and one on the situation in Haiti.

The Assembly voted 143 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 3 abstentions (Russian Federation, Marshall Islands, Costa Rica) to adopt a resolution expressing its full

support of the ongoing peace process, and stressing the need for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. The resolution emphasized the importance of the United Nations playing a more active role in the peace process, including the monitoring of the forthcoming Palestinian elections. (For details of the voting, see Annex IV.)

Voting 142 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 7 abstentions (Côte d'Ivoire, Russian Federation, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Ecuador, Grenada, Lesotho), the Assembly adopted a resolution requesting the Department of Public Information to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments, its special information programme on the question of Palestine, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America. (See Annex III.)

The Assembly voted 95 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 52 abstentions to adopt a resolution authorizing the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to, among others, make necessary adjustments in its programme of work in the light of developments. (Annex I.)

Under the terms of a resolution adopted by a vote of 96 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 53 abstentions, the Assembly, considering that the Division for Palestinian Rights continues to make a constructive contribution on issues pertaining to the question of Palestine, requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources to discharge its tasks. (Annex II.)

Those texts were introduced by the representative of Afghanistan, who is also the Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Explaining their votes were the representatives of the United States, Spain (on behalf of the European Union), Israel, Swaziland, Iran, Syria, Libya and Ecuador. The Observer for Palestine also spoke.

In another action this morning, the Assembly adopted a resolution without a vote requesting all Member States, the international funding agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue providing broad and flexible support to Nicaragua to stimulate a greater effort in the process of

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reconstruction, social investment, stabilization and development. The Secretary-General was requested to provide Nicaragua with assistance in areas such as caring for displaced persons, land ownership in rural areas, care for war-disabled persons and mine clearance so that the peace and democracy already achieved would become irreversible.

Also acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted an orally-revised resolution requesting the Secretary-General to support the Haitian Government as it works towards national reconstruction, and stating its readiness, upon consideration of a recommendation of the Secretary-General and at the request of the Haitian authorities, to extend the United Nations component of the International Civilian Mission to Haiti beyond 7 February 1996 in an appropriate resolution. Oral revisions to that text were introduced by the representative of Brazil, on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group.

The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 18 December, to take up reports of its Fifth Committee; the Declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) relating to the April 1986 attack by the United States against Libya; and cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to address the normalization of the situation in South Africa. It is also scheduled to take up four draft resolutions on the question of Palestine, one on international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua, and one on the situation in Haiti. (For background on reports concerning Palestine, Nicaragua and Haiti, please see Press Releases GA/9020 issued 1 December, GA/8992 issued 10 November and GA/9032 issued 11 December, respectively.)

South Africa

Concerning normalization of the situation in South Africa, the Assembly has before it a draft resolution as well as a letter from the Fifth Committee Chairman to the Assembly President regarding South Africa's apartheid-era dues (document A/50/815).

The letter proposes certain revisions to the draft resolution which accept, due to exceptional and unique circumstances, South Africa's request not to pay its dues for the period between 30 September 1974 and 23 June 1994 and decide that the resultant burden be shared by Member States. It would also endorse and welcome South Africa's statement that it would waive any credits of $549,606 and $737,142 that it would be in position to get from surpluses in the regular and peace-keeping budgets, respectively, for the period 30 September 1974 and 23 June 1994.

According to the Committee's letter, if the Assembly wrote off those dues, it would be deciding to reduce by $53.9 million the $122.2 million available as credits to other Member States and to waive the $53.3 million share of credits among other Member States from a past regular budget. It would also decide to cut by $40.9 million the $173.4 million available as credits to Member States and to waive the $40.2 million share of credits among other Member States from surpluses in some peace-keeping accounts.

The revised draft resolution incorporates those recommendations. In addition, under its terms, the Assembly would decide that, owing to the unique and exceptional circumstances pertaining to the resumption of South Africa's participation in the Assembly's work following the elimination of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democracy, the country's unpaid assessments accruing during the period from 30 September 1974 to 23 June 1994 for the regular budget and for peace-keeping operations shall be considered no longer due and payable. The draft states that those decisions should under no circumstances be used as a precedent.

The draft is sponsored by the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi,

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Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Question of Palestine

Concerning the question of Palestine, the Assembly has before it a draft resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.

By a draft resolution on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/50/L.47), the Assembly would authorize the Committee to continue to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize assistance for them, and to make necessary adjustments in its programme of work in the light of developments. The Committee would also be requested to continue to cooperate with non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the question of Palestine. The Assembly would consider that the Committee can continue to make a contribution to the implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and to mobilizing assistance to the Palestinian people during the transitional period.

That draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

Another draft concerns the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (document A/50/L.48). Under its terms, the Assembly, considering that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution on issues pertaining to the question of Palestine, would request the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources, and to ensure that it continues to discharge its tasks. The Secretary-General would also be requested to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other

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units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine.

That draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

By another draft (document A/50/L.49), the Assembly would consider that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the complexities of the question and the situation in the Middle East in general, including the achievements of the peace process, and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process.

The Department would be requested, in full cooperation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments, its special information programme on the question of Palestine for the coming two years, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.

According to the draft, the Department should disseminate information on all United Nations activities relating to the question of Palestine; continue to issue publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine, including materials concerning the recent developments, in particular, the achievements of the peace process; expand its audiovisual material on the question of Palestine; organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the occupied territories; organize international, regional and national encounters for journalists; and provide, in cooperation with the United Nations specialized agencies, assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development.

That draft is sponsored by Afghanistan, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

By the text of the draft resolution on the question of Palestine (document A/50/L.50), the Assembly would express its full support of the ongoing peace process which began in Madrid and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, as well as the subsequent implementation agreements. It would express the hope that the process will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East and would call for the timely and scrupulous implementation of the agreements between the parties towards the negotiation of the final settlement.

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The Assembly would also stress the need to realize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination; for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; and to resolve the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948. Member States would be urged to expedite the provision of economic and technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period.

The Assembly would also emphasize the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current peace process and in implementing the Declaration of Principles, including the monitoring of the forthcoming Palestinian elections, and the Secretary-General would be requested to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter.

The draft resolution is sponsored by the following countries: Afghanistan, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

Reconstruction of Nicaragua

The Assembly also has before it a revised draft resolution on international assistance for the rehabilitation of Nicaragua (document A/50/L.18). By that text, the Assembly would request all Member States, the international funding agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue providing broad and flexible support to Nicaragua to stimulate a greater effort in the process of reconstruction, social investment, stabilization and development. It would call upon Member States, the international funding agencies, regional and intraregional organizations and in particular the Secretary-General, to provide the technical cooperation and assistance required in support of the electoral process in 1996.

Also by that text, the Secretary-General would be requested to continue to provide assistance to activities for the reconstruction, stabilization and development of Nicaragua and to ensure the formulation and coordination of United Nations programmes in that country. He would be requested to provide Nicaragua with assistance in areas such as caring for displaced persons, land ownership in rural areas, care for war disabled persons and mine clearance so that the peace and democracy already achieved would become irreversible.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Senegal and the United States.

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Situation in Haiti

By the terms of a draft resolution on Haiti (document A/50/L.53), the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to support the Haitian Government as it works towards national reconstruction, and it would also request him to continue to coordinate the efforts of the United Nations system to help provide humanitarian aid and meet the development requirements of Haiti.

Under the draft resolution, the Assembly would state that it stands ready at the appropriate time and at the request of the Haitian authorities to extend the United Nations component of the International Civilian Mission to Haiti beyond 7 February 1996. The Assembly would express its full support for that Mission and its trust that the Government of Haiti would continue to afford it timely, complete and effective cooperation. The Assembly would also reaffirm once again the commitment of the international community to increase its technical, economic and financial cooperation with Haiti, in support of its economic and social development efforts and to strengthen Haitian institutions responsible for dispensing justice and guaranteeing democracy, respect for human rights, political stability and economic development.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Haiti, United States and Venezuela.

South Africa's Dues

RAMTANE LAMAMRA (Algeria) introduced the draft resolution on normalization of the situation in South Africa. He announced that Belize, Liechtenstein and Pakistan had joined the co-sponsors of the text, thus raising the number of co-sponsors to 136. He urged that the draft be adopted by consensus, stressing that it would not constitute a precedent.

MANUEL TELLO (Mexico), seeking a point of clarification, asked when a document would be published detailing the financial implications of the draft.

Mr. PERFILIEV, Director of General Assembly Affairs, said that a detailed report on the costs to be incurred by Member States would require considerable time to produce, involving a detailed review of dozens of General Assembly resolutions as well as intricate calculations of assessments spanning a 20-year period. In light of the work required, it would not be possible to complete that exercise before January 1996.

Malta then joined in sponsoring the draft.

HO TONG YEN (Singapore) said that during the twentieth century there had been all too many unconstitutional, unrepresentative and repressive regimes. "But even the most totalitarian of them has usually felt it necessary to make at least token obeisance to virtue by professing to rule in the name of some

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lofty ideal, even if in practice they ignored or perverted the ideal. The apartheid regime was unique because if felt no need even to make a token gesture to morality."

He hoped that the draft resolution would bury the ghosts of the unhappy period in South Africa's membership in the United Nations. As the apartheid regime was uniquely evil, so also must the measures taken by the Member States to remedy the effects of that regime be unique. He was pleased that the resolution stated unambiguously that the decision would be an exception which under no circumstances could be used by any other Member State as a precedent to write off its arrears.

ARTURO LACLAUSTRA (Spain), speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU), said that -- fully aware of the political significance of the proposal before the General Assembly -- the European Union welcomed the adoption by consensus of the draft resolution, which had been co-sponsored by all the States of the European Union. At the same time, the Union wanted to emphasize that the situation concerning South Africa represented a unique and exceptional case, which could not be used as a precedent by other Member States given that no other situation could be similar to the one presented by the apartheid regime.

However, the adoption of the draft resolution would assume that Article 19 of the United Nations Charter [regarding the voting privileges of Member States in arrears] had not been applicable to South Africa. Therefore, he said, it was necessary to establish a concrete and precise procedure that could be followed by all Member States which considered that their failure to pay their assessments was due to reasons beyond their control. Taking note of the United Nations serious financial situation, the European Union trusted that South Africa would join in the effort of all the Member States to make voluntary contributions, in kind and in money, to the programmes and activities of the Organization.

SELMA ASHIPALA-MUSAVYI (Namibia) said the commitment of the international community and the United Nations had never wavered in rejecting the obnoxious policy of racial segregation in the old regime in South Africa. Namibia had also been subjected to that policy. The apartheid policy, which the Assembly had decreed a crime against humanity, attempted to create ethnically pure communities supported by the force of state law. The United Nations should rightly feel pride when a united, non-racial and democratic South Africa was readmitted to the United Nations. It was the irony of the human race that, at the same time it was capable of producing monsters like Hitler and Verwoerd, it was equally capable of immeasurable generosity and solidarity. For that reason, she urged unanimous support for the draft resolution.

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SHUNJI MARUYAMA (Japan) said he supported the draft resolution. The proposed normalization of the situation regarding South Africa was a unique arrangement. To allow that arrangement to be made, all the other Member States had shown a willingness to bear the financial consequences. They were thereby acknowledging that South Africa had been barred from participating in the work of the General Assembly, as well as congratulating the new Government. Japan saluted South Africa and President Nelson Mandela for finding a way to put an end to racial confrontation through peaceful and democratic means.

JAKKEN BIORN LIAN (Norway) congratulated the people and political leaders of South Africa on the end of apartheid. "The elimination of apartheid and the establishment of democracy and majority rule in South Africa represented an important victory for the fundamental political values and principles on which the United Nations itself was built", he said. Norway had been in the forefront of the international fight against apartheid. Its current economic support -- almost $100 million -- aimed to assist in the consolidation of democracy. The accumulation of South Africa's financial arrears to the Organization was a direct consequence of the international community's fight against apartheid. It was therefore natural and logical to ensure that South Africa was not burdened by those arrears. The draft resolution was a fully satisfactory solution to the problem at hand.

MOSES MATHENDELE DLAMINI (Swaziland) said today marked an historic occasion. The spirit of the draft implored States to continue to honour the good tasks undertaken by South Africa. It would be wrong to hold the current Government responsible for the dues of its cruel predecessor. It was not the duty of the United Nations to now punish the South Africa that it had worked so hard to save. The draft resolution should have no conditionalities attached to it. To write off the debts which were never incurred by the present Government of South Africa was correct. The people of South Africa should never be burdened by the sins for which they were not responsible.

PHILIP R.O. OWADE (Kenya) said his country had co-sponsored the draft based on the conviction that the circumstances surrounding South Africa's situation were unique and exceptional, arising from the abominable policies of the apartheid regime. Upon the establishment of a non-racial democracy in South Africa, that country had rejoined the family of nations. The South African case could in no way set a precedent. "We cannot foresee a situation in which any country would be expelled from this august body again for practising the most heinous form of racial discrimination." The new Government of South Africa, embarking on the path of democracy under the leadership of President Nelson Mandela, deserved the full support of the international community.

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KHIPHUSIZI J. JELE (South Africa) said the removal of the apartheid item from the Assembly's agenda, and the invitation to South Africa to take its rightful place among the community of nations, was met with joy, relief and satisfaction. However, the legacy of the apartheid regime remained. The actions taken to isolate the apartheid regime had been morally and politically justified. In retaliation, however, the apartheid regime intentionally had withheld payment of its membership contributions for 20 years. That was the legacy that was being addressed today.

"The draft resolution before you is founded upon the belief that this remaining legacy of apartheid should now be exorcized", he said. Due to the unique and abnormal circumstances arising from the apartheid era, the resolution did not set a precedent for the future. In addition, since resuming its seat in the Assembly, South Africa had made substantial voluntary contributions to peace-keeping in Africa.

"I am pleased to announce that I have received explicit instructions to inform the Assembly that my Government has decided, as a special gesture, to make a voluntary contribution to the United Nations", he said. The contribution -- to be specifically earmarked for peace-keeping operations in Africa -- was made over and above its normal assessments and other voluntary contributions. The gesture was made in appreciation of the role of the United Nations in the struggle against apartheid and in recognition of the financial situation of the Organisation.

Action on Draft on South Africa

The draft resolution on the normalization of the situation in South Africa was then taken up.

Speaking before action on the draft, Mr. TELLO (Mexico) said that by the draft's terms, Member States would waive reimbursement of the sums due to them from previous budget periods. The draft's treatment of South Africa was in keeping with a unique situation. The current financial situation of the Organization made it imperative that Member States pay their financial obligations as stipulated in the Charter. It was a matter of regret that a statement of financial implications had not accompanied the draft. Such a text should be circulated at the earliest possible time.

MARCIO FAGUNDES (Brazil) said his country was a supporter of the draft resolution, but it wished to stress that the arrangement proposed therein was based on unique circumstances owing to South Africa's participation in the General Assembly. Under no circumstances should that arrangement be used or construed as a precedent.

The draft resolution was then adopted without a vote.

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JAN JAREMCZUK (Poland), speaking in explanation of vote, said that his country had supported the resolution with great satisfaction, and having in mind the exceptional and unique circumstances which had given rise to it. Poland supported the young Government of South Africa. However, due to transformative processes going in Poland, it would not be in a position to contribute funds to carry out the terms of the resolution.

Question of Palestine

RAVAN FARHADI (Afghanistan), Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, introduced the four draft resolutions on the question of Palestine. Those texts had been formulated with a firm resolve to contribute to the current peace process and to make real progress towards a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. A number of delegations had been consulted in the drafting of the texts, which represented the view of the majority of the members of the international community. He invited States to vote in favour of the drafts.

ALFRED DECOTIIS (United States) said he was unable to support the four draft resolutions submitted on the question of Palestine. They were remnants of an earlier time and had been overtaken by the events on the ground in the Middle East. The draft resolutions supported institutions whose approach to the peace process was unbalanced and outdated. That did not contribute to the growing spirit of Middle East reconciliation.

He said those institutions and activities absorbed about $7 million, which could be better used in another way. "We believe these resources would be better spent in support of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people", he said. At a time of searching for ways to reform the United Nations, such expenditures seemed excessive. The resources should be transferred elsewhere, for example, to the special coordinator in the occupied territories to carry out programmes directly benefitting Palestinians.

He said draft resolution A/50/L.50 on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine spoke to issues that were already under direct negotiation between the parties in the region. His Government, as co-sponsor of the Madrid peace process, believed it was inappropriate and unhelpful for the Assembly to take a position on issues already under negotiation. "At this important moment, we want to support that process of negotiation rather than focusing on issues or statements that divide and polarize", he said. The unbalanced draft before the Assembly complicated the effort to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

CARLOS PEREZ-DESOY (Spain), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said life in the Middle East was gradually being transformed. The Israeli security forces had already withdrawn from Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus and

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Qalquilya. Bethlehem and Ramallah were expected to come under Palestinian control by the end of the month. It was a matter of regret that the mandates of the Departments in charge of the question of Palestine did not adequately reflect the positive developments which had taken place. "It is now time to open new paths for the peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians, and to have the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Division for Palestinian Rights and the Department of Public Information truly reflect the progress achieved in the peace process."

The Union had made a number of constructive proposals on the drafts, but the reforms suggested had not been incorporated into the texts, he said. The Union would therefore abstain on the drafts. It was hoped that next year the need to adjust the mandates of the relevant organs to the new reality on the ground would be fully recognized.

YAEL RUBINSTEIN (Israel) said that since September 1993, Israel and the Arabs had made historic steps forward in the peace process. "We had hoped that the fiftieth session of the General Assembly would respond to the new realities in the Middle East by changing and eliminating obsolete resolutions drafted at the height of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Regrettably, this has not happened. The draft resolutions before us do not reflect the new realities, nor do they reflect our hopes for a better future."

Regarding draft resolutions L.47 and L.48, she said Israel had opposed the existence of those bodies since their inception. They had obstructed dialogue and understanding through a one-sided and distorted portrayal of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Draft resolution L.49 -- requesting the Department of Public Information, among other things, to disseminate information on United Nations activities relating to the Question of Palestine -- was a needless expenditure of valuable resources. Draft resolution L.50 attempted to predetermine the outcome of negotiations on issues relating to permanent status, in contradiction to the Declaration of Principles. "We believe that Member States which claim to support the peace process have a responsibility to oppose this resolution, as it strikes at the essential principles on which the process is based."

MR. DLAMINI (Swaziland) said the way to lasting peace involved opening doors, engaging in talk and resolving matters. It was important to encourage peaceful dialogue. Israel had opened the door for peaceful dialogue. The Palestinian leadership had expressed the willingness to negotiate. Peace was a necessary commodity in the Middle East. The draft resolutions seemed to defeat the spirit of cordiality. He found it very difficult to support any resolution that failed to recognize the efforts of those trying to bring peace to the Middle East.

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The Assembly then took up the draft on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

By a vote of 95 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 52 abstentions, the resolution on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was adopted. (For details of the voting, see Annex I.)

Next, the draft resolution on the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat was put to the vote. That resolution was adopted by a vote of 96 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 53 abstentions. (See Annex II.)

The Assembly then voted 142 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 7 abstentions (Cote d'Ivoire, Russian Federation, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Ecuador, Grenada, Lesotho) to adopt the draft on the Department of Public Information. (Annex III.)

The draft on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine was adopted by a vote of 143 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 3 abstentions (Russian Federation, Marshall Islands, Costa Rica). (Annex IV.)

JALAL SAMADI (Iran) expressed his country's reservations on those parts of all resolutions adopted on the question of Palestine which might be construed as any recognition of Israel.

AHMAD HALLAK (Syria) said his country had voted in favour of the resolutions, but that did not mean that it supported or opposed the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements.

GUMA I. AMER (Libya) said his country had supported the resolutions but held reservations on any portions of the texts which recognized Israel or welcomed the so-called peace process. That process did not provide for a just resolution of the question of Palestine, which would require implementation of the many United Nations resolutions on the subject. In particular, the Palestinian people must be able to exercise their right to self-determination. The process in South Africa which had resulted in the establishment of a non- racial democracy should be applied to the situation in Palestine so that Arabs and Jews could live in equality and peace.

LUIS VALENCIA RODRIQUEZ (Ecuador), speaking in explanation of vote, said he had abstained on resolutions L.47-49 and had voted in favour of L.50. It supported the parties endeavouring to protect the equal rights of the Palestinian people. It rejected and refused to recognize territorial occupation by force, and he supported the concept that peaceful, negotiated solutions must be found to territorial problems.

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M. NASSER AL-KIDWA, Observer for Palestine, wished to extend thanks to all Member States that had backed the four resolutions, which had just been adopted by overwhelming majorities. He regretted the positions expressed by the United States and Israel, which were mainly designed to set aside international law and legitimacy and force the Palestinians to accept policies which were illegal and which had been condemned by the international community for many years. The Palestinian people, while upholding the peace process, were only armed by their historic rights, international law and legitimacy. Any attempt to deprive the Palestinian people of those things was immoral and must be fully rejected.

Positive change should take place on two tracks and by the two parties, he said. It was high time that those who were taking isolated positions change those positions and join the international community.

Action on Texts on Nicaragua; Haiti

The Assembly then took up the draft on assistance to Nicaragua.

Haiti, Italy, Spain and Sweden joined in co-sponsoring that text.

The draft on assistance to Nicaragua was then adopted without a vote.

Next, the Assembly took up the draft on the situation in Haiti.

HENRIQUE R. VALLE (Brazil), speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, introduced oral revisions to the draft. Among those, the Assembly would state that it stands ready, upon consideration of a recommendation of the Secretary-General and at the request of the Haitian authorities to extend the United Nations component of the International Civilian Mission to Haiti beyond 7 February 1996 in an appropriate resolution.

The following countries joined in sponsoring the draft: Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

The resolution on the situation in Haiti, as orally revised, was adopted without a vote.

(annexes follow)

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General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

ANNEX I

Vote on Committee on Exercise of Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People

The draft resolution on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/50/L.47) was adopted by a recorded vote of 95 in favour to 2 against, with 52 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.

Absent: Albania, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Latvia, Madagascar, Palau, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Zaire.

(END OF ANNEX I)

General Assembly Plenary - 15 - Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

ANNEX II

Vote on Division for Palestinian Rights of Secretariat

The draft resolution for the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (document A/50/L.48) was adopted by a recorded vote of 96 in favour to 2 against, with 53 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran , Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.

Absent: Albania, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Latvia, Madagascar, Palau, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Zaire.

General Assembly Plenary - 16 - Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

(END OF ANNEX II)

General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

ANNEX III

Vote on Department of Public Information

The draft resolution on the Department of Public Information (document A/50/L.49) was adopted by a recorded vote of 142 in favour to 2 against, with 7 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstaining: Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Lesotho, Marshall Islands, Russian Federation.

Absent: Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Dominica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Latvia, Madagascar, Palau, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Zaire.

General Assembly Plenary - 17 - Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

(END OF ANNEX III)

General Assembly Plenary Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

ANNEX IV

Vote on Peaceful Settlement of Question of Palestine

The draft resolution on peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/50/L.50) was adopted by a recorded vote of 143 in favour to 3 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, United States.

Abstaining: Costa Rica, Marshall Islands, Russian Federation.

Absent: Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Dominica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iran, Latvia, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Palau, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Zaire.

General Assembly Plenary - 18 - Press Release GA/9038 93rd Meeting (AM) 15 December 1995

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