SECRETARY-GENERAL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT OF UNITED NATIONS TO MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, PALESTINIAN DEVELOPMENT
Press Release
SG/SM/6114
PAL/1835
SECRETARY-GENERAL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT OF UNITED NATIONS TO MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, PALESTINIAN DEVELOPMENT
19961126 ADVANCE RELEASEFollowing is the text of a statement by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, 29 November:
This annual commemorative event provides an opportunity to remind the international community that the question of Palestine, which is at the centre of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, remains unresolved despite the many efforts that have been made over the years and the undeniable achievements of the peace process which began at Madrid in 1991. This issue is very close to my heart, and I have devoted, and will continue to devote, my best efforts to contribute to the achievement of a comprehensive and just peace in the region.
I have paid tribute to the leaders of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization for their resolve and dedication in proceeding towards historic reconciliation and in reaching agreements of pivotal importance for their future peaceful coexistence. The establishment of an elected Palestinian administration over Gaza and parts of the West Bank earlier this year was a significant advance along this road. It is now of the utmost importance not to dissipate those achievements but to build on them, in order to fulfil the hopes of all the peoples of the region for a future of peace.
Regrettably, the year's promising start was quickly overshadowed by a series of acts of violence, such as the terrorist attacks on Israeli buses in February and March. These incidents had a negative effect on the peace talks, while the prolonged closure of the occupied territories imposed by Israel to prevent further attacks has severely affected the Palestinian economy and resulted in an increased level of unemployment. The tragic events of September in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip following the opening by Israel of an entrance to a tunnel in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque,
- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/6114 PAL/1835 26 November 1996
threatened to unravel the negotiating process and brought about a crisis of confidence between the parties -- namely, the Israelis and the Palestinians. In response to these events, the Security Council adopted resolution 1073 (1996) on 28 September.
The resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations has been an encouraging development. It is essential that the parties should abide by agreements already reached and make tangible progress towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). I earnestly hope that progress can also be made in the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks of the Middle East peace process.
The United Nations continues to attach the utmost importance to the promotion of Palestinian social and economic development. This is essential in order to alleviate the impact of the closure, to improve living conditions, and to create solid foundations for the achievement of a lasting peace. The move of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from Vienna to Gaza, which took place in July, should provide an impetus towards meeting the United Nations development objectives in support of the Palestinian economy. However, enormous challenges remain, and some of our efforts have suffered set-backs during the year in light of the deteriorating conditions on the ground. I believe that the international community can, and should, go further. In this context, the serious financial situation faced by UNRWA requires intensified efforts by all concerned to ensure that the quality and level of services for Palestine refugees can be maintained as an essential contribution to stability in the area.
During his tenure, the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, Terje Roed Larsen, provided valuable guidance to the programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations system as they expanded their activities on the ground, facilitating, in particular, their relations with the donor community. The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Peter Hansen, has taken over those functions provisionally, following Mr. Larsen's return to the service of his Government.
I would like to take this opportunity to renew once again the firm commitment of the United Nations in support of the peace process. The programmes and agencies of the United Nations system will continue to provide all possible expertise and assistance in humanitarian relief and in the fields of economic and social development, in order to contribute to creating the necessary conditions for peace.
In conclusion, I should like to extend my thanks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, under the leadership of its Chairman, for its contribution and efforts towards the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
* *** *