SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXT ON SUBJECT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN AND ARAB TERRITORY

Press Release
GA/EF/2941

SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXT ON SUBJECT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN AND ARAB TERRITORY

Committee Also Approves Texts on International Year Of Mountains, El Nino Phenomenon and International Year of Freshwater

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to take action on a number of draft resolutions before it.

By the terms of one, the General Assembly would call on Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. That text, on the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, was approved by a vote of 131 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, Kazakhstan, Marshall Islands). (See voting annex for details.)

Speaking before the vote, Israel’s representative said that the issue of control over natural resources was already covered by the Israel-Palestinian Interim Agreement, signed on 28 September 1995. The subject of natural resources would be negotiated within the framework of a final peace settlement. It was regrettable that the Committee was conducting its discussion with the aim of predetermining the outcome of issues to be directly negotiated between the parties themselves. The draft resolution was yet another example of an attempt to intervene in matters relating to the peace process.

The observer for Palestine, speaking after the vote, said that the vote was a show of the support by the international community for the peace process. There was no contradiction between the negotiations in the peace process and the upholding of international law. Unilateral action, such as the building of illegal settlements, worked against international law. His delegation remained committed to the procedures of the peace process, which had been agreed upon at the Madrid Conference in 1990.

Also this morning, the Committee approved draft resolutions on the status of preparations for the International Year of Mountains, 2002; enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and

Second Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/EF/2941 34th Meeting (AM) 15 November 2000

sustainable development; international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Nino phenomenon; and the International Year of Freshwater, 2003.

In addition, the Committee heard the introduction of draft resolutions on commodities, international trade and development, a Convention on the Prevention of Illegal Transfer of Funds and Repatriation of Funds to Their Countries of Origin, protection and sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea, and the World Solar Programme 1996-2005. The drafts were introduced by representatives of Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Jamaica, China, Ecuador, Russian Federation, Egypt, France (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), United States, Japan, Morocco, Malta, Mauritania and Slovenia.

The Committee will meet again on a date to be announced.

Second Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/EF/2941 34th Meeting (AM) 15 November 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to hear the introduction of a number of draft resolutions as well as to take action on several of them.

Macroeconomic Policy Questions

Before the Committee was a draft resolution, sponsored by Nigeria (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), on international trade and development (document A/C.2/55/L.29). It would have the Assembly deplore any attempt to bypass or undermine multilaterally agreed procedures on the conduct of international trade by unilateral actions inconsistent with the multilateral trade rules and regulations, including those agreed on in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations.

Also, the Assembly would urge those countries that have announced market- access commitments in favour of developing countries and have not yet fulfilled them to expedite the implementation of those commitments, and call on other countries to undertake similar initiatives so that developing countries may also secure the benefits of an open global trading system.

Further, the Assembly would stress, among other things, the urgent need to facilitate the integration of African countries into the world economy, and the need for improved measures to address the volatility of short-term capital flows as well as the effects of financial crises on the international trading system and the development prospects of developing countries and the countries affected by such crises.

By a draft resolution on commodities (document A/C.2/55/L.28), the Assembly would emphasize the need for developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness.

Also, the Assembly would urge developing countries to continue to support the commodity diversification and liberalization efforts of developing countries, especially African countries, the least developed countries, small island developing States and small vulnerable States, in a spirit of common purpose and efficiency.

Sectoral Policy Questions

The Committee had before it a draft resolution entitled towards a convention on the prevention of illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of funds to their countries of origin (document A/C.2/55/L.32), which is sponsored by Nigeria on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. According to the text of the draft, the Assembly would request the international community to support the efforts of all countries aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks for preventing corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the illegal transfer of funds.

Further to the text, the Assembly would call for the commencement of preparatory work for the elaboration of a convention on devising ways and means to prevent and address the illegal transfer of funds and the repatriation of these funds to their countries of origin. The Assembly would also decide to keep this matter under review, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session an analytical report containing concrete recommendations with regard to repatriating illegally transferred funds to their countries of origin.

Environment and Sustainable Development

By the terms of a draft resolution, sponsored by Nigeria, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, on protection and sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea (document A/C.2/55/L.30), the Assembly would call on the United Nations system to assist Caribbean countries in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, particularly through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, and as a result of pollution by dumping of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals.

The Assembly would also call on the international community, the United Nations system and the multilateral financial institutions, including the Global Environment Facility, to actively support and further develop and implement the above-mentioned approach. Further, it would call on Member States to give priority to improving their emergency response capabilities and to the containment of environmental damage, particularly in the Caribbean Sea, in the event of natural disasters or of an accident or incident relating to maritime navigation.

The text on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 (document A/C.2/55/L.31), also sponsored by Nigeria, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, would have the Assembly stress that substantial new and additional financial resources will continue to be required to support the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption. Also, the Assembly would invite the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to make effective the implementation of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in the different regions and to strengthen as a pilot model its African chapter.

In addition, the Assembly would reiterate its call on all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to support the efforts being made for the development of the renewable energy sector in developing countries on the basis of environment-friendly, renewable sources of energy of demonstrated viability, while taking fully into account the development structure of energy-based economies of developing countries, and to assist in the attainment of the levels of investment necessary to expand energy supplies beyond urban areas.

Sustainable Development and International Economic Cooperation

The draft resolution on the status of preparation for the International Year of Mountains, 2002 (document A/C.2/55/L.5) would have the Assembly encourage all States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Year to ensure the present and future well-being of mountain communities by promoting conservation and sustainable development in mountain areas; to increase awareness and knowledge of mountain ecosystems, their dynamics and functioning, and their overriding importance in providing a number of crucial goods and services essential to the well-being of rural and urban, highland and lowland people, particularly water supply and food security; and to promote and defend the cultural heritage of mountain communities.

Environment and Sustainable Development

Under a draft resolution submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Navid Hanif (Pakistan), on the basis of informal consultations held on a draft resolution A/C.2/55/L.6, entitled “International Year of Freshwater, 2003” (Document A/C.2/55/L.33), the Assembly would proclaim the year 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. The Assembly would also call upon Member States, national and international organizations, major groups and the private sector to make voluntary contributions in accordance with the guidelines for international years and anniversaries.

By another draft resolution submitted by Mr. Hanif, on the basis of informal consultation held on draft resolution A/C.2/55/L.9 on international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon (A/C.2/55/L.27), the Assembly would welcome the establishment of the working group on the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon within the framework of the Inter-Agency Task Force of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Also, the Assembly would call on the Secretary-General and the relevant United Nations organs, funds and programmes, in particular those taking part in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and the international community to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures for the prompt establishment of the international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for that purpose, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/220. The Assembly would also invite the government of the host country to facilitate the process for the prompt establishment of the international centre.

By another draft resolution submitted by Mr. Hanif, on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/55/L.11 on enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and sustainable development (A/C.2/55/L.26), the Assembly would welcome the work undertaken by the secretariats of the instruments related to environment and sustainable development and other relevant organizations to implement General Assembly resolution 54/217.

Also, the Assembly would encourage the conferences of the parties to and the permanent secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and other international instruments related to environment and sustainable development, to continue their work for enhancing the complementarities among them and to strengthen cooperation with a view to facilitating progress. The Assembly would also encourage the conference of the parties to promote the streamlining of national reporting.

Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People Over Their Natural Resources

Also before the Committee was a draft resolution on the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources (document A/C.2/55/L.7/Rev.1). By its terms, the Assembly would call on Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. It would also call for an immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, and the principle of land for peace, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks.

Also, the Assembly would reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water. Further, the Assembly would recognize the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and express the hope that this issue would be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Globalization and Interdependence

A draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (document A/C.2/55/L.16), would have the Assembly invite the Secretary-General to undertake consultations with the Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, with a view to promoting cooperation and coordination between both Secretariats. It would also invite the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with both Secretaries- General in order to initiate consultations and programmes with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and its associated institutions for the attainment of their objectives.

Introduction of Drafts

AUSTIN PETER ETANOMARE OSIO (Nigeria), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, introduced the draft resolution on commodities.

He then introduced the draft resolution on international trade and development.

Next, he introduced the text entitled, “Towards a Convention on the Prevention of Illegal Transfer of Funds and Repatriation of Funds to Their Countries of Origin.”

LILIAN IJEUKWU ONOH (Nigeria), also speaking for the Group of 77 and China, then introduced the draft resolution on protection and sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea.

She then introduced the draft resolution on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005.

Action

ALMAZ BIYBOSUMOV (Kyrgyzstan) provided an update on the latest consultations on the draft resolution on the status of preparations for the International Year of Mountains, 2002. The text had 102 co-sponsors and he thanked them all for their support.

The representatives of Kenya, Jamaica and China informed the Committee that they also wished to co-sponsor the text.

Acting without a vote, the Committee approved the text as orally revised.

Mr. HANIF (Pakistan), Committee Vice-Chairman, introduced the draft resolution on the international year of freshwater, 2003. He thanked the observer for Switzerland for facilitating consultations on the text and the representative of Tajikistan who had submitted the initial text. He drew the Committee’s attention to some revisions to the text.

The representative of Nigeria informed the Committee that it also wished to co-sponsor the text.

The Committee approved the draft without a vote as orally revised.

MR. HANIF then introduced the draft resolution on international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon. He thanked the representatives of Norway who facilitated the consultations on the text.

That text was approved by the Committee without a vote.

The representative of Ecuador thanked the representatives of Pakistan and Norway for the flexibility and cooperation they had mobilized behind the text, whose adoption would provide for the establishment of the international centre for the El Niño phenomenon in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Next, Mr. HANIF introduced the draft resolution on enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and sustainable development. He thanked the representative of New Zealand who had facilitated the consultations as well as the representative of the Russian Federation and all those who had shown flexibility on the text during negotiations.

The representative of the Russian Federation expressed his deep satisfaction that agreement had been reached on the text. He valued highly the work in the area covered by the text and was pleased that this year the initiative had received such strong support from the international community. He thanked Mr. Hanif and the representative of New Zealand for the excellent way in which consultations had been organized. He also thanked all co-sponsors to the resolution for the useful contributions made to the discussion of the document.

The Committee, acting without a vote, approved the draft resolution.

Next, the Committee turned to the draft resolution on the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.

MARGARET KELLY, Second Committee Secretary, informed the Committee that operative paragraph seven had been omitted from the Arabic version of the text.

The representatives of Morocco, Malta and Mauritania informed the Committee that their countries were missing from the list of co-sponsors to the text.

Speaking before the vote, Israel’s representative said the draft resolution contributed nothing to the Committee’s consideration of the global issues now of paramount importance. He expressed the regret of his delegation that the debate in the Second Committee was being used as a platform from which to level accusations against another Member State, Israel, and to pass a draft resolution that was completely superfluous. The issue of control over natural resources had already been covered by the Israel-Palestinian Interim Agreement, signed on 28 September 1995. Furthermore, Israel and the Palestinian Authority had agreed to resolve all outstanding issues through direct negotiations.

The Middle East was at a critical crossroads, facing two distinct possibilities, he said. The first was to resume negotiations based on the ideas discussed at Camp David. It should be stressed that at the Summit, Israel had displayed an unprecedented willingness to compromise for the sake of peace. In a recent letter to world leaders, Prime Minister Ehud Barak had made no secret of the fact that Israel would accept the existence of a Palestinian State, provided it was achieved within the framework of a comprehensive bilateral agreement. The second possibility was the route of violence, which would create a source of continuous instability in the region and threaten to undo all the progress of the past seven years.

Israel, he said, had repeatedly made clear that its objective was a negotiated peace settlement that would bring calm and security to all the people of the region. The subject of natural resources would be negotiated within the framework of such a peace settlement. It was regrettable that this Committee should be conducting its discussion with the aim of predetermining the outcome of issues to be directly negotiated between the parties themselves. This draft resolution on sovereignty over natural resources was yet another example of an attempt to intervene in matters relating to the peace process.

Israel would vote against the draft resolution, he said. He urged delegations that supported the peace process and the path of direct negotiations to do the same.

The representative of Egypt said that his delegation wanted to clarify that it was not that the draft had not received consensus, it was that one delegation had requested a vote. He urged other delegations to vote in favour of the resolution and to reaffirm their commitment to the resumption of the peace process. Until a successful and just conclusion of the Middle East peace process was reached, Egypt would be presenting this resolution every year.

The representative of the United States said that her delegation continued to oppose the resolution for several reasons. It was inappropriate to interject the General Assembly into issues that were the subject of negotiations between the parties. The outcome of those negotiations should not be prejudged by United Nations resolutions. Despite the many difficulties on the road to peace, the two parties continued to reiterate their commitment to returning to the negotiating table.

The United States also objected to the reference to “the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem” as another attempt to prejudge the final status negotiations, she said. The United Nations must focus on strengthening its role as a facilitator of the peace process. She would welcome the opportunity to vote for a resolution that demonstrated the support and encouragement of the international community for the peace process. Unfortunately, the present unbalanced resolution did not meet the test. The United States would vote “no” on the resolution and urged others to do the same.

The Committee approved the text by a vote of 131 in favour to 2 against (Israel and the United States) with 3 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, Kazakhstan and Marshall Islands).

The representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the Union had voted in favour of the draft resolution because it believed that the natural resources of any territory seized by force of arms should not be used inappropriately or illegally by the occupying power.

He wished, however, to take the opportunity to express the Union’s interpretation of certain aspects of the text. The Union reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to the occupied territories and also reaffirmed that any infringement of the rights of the Palestinian people with regard to that Convention was illegal.

However, he said, the issues referred to in the draft resolution were matters which were to be dealt with in the framework of the permanent status negotiations of the Middle East Peace Process, of which the Union wished the resumption as soon as possible. The resolution adopted today must not, therefore, be considered as prejudicial to or pre-emptive of the outcome of those negotiations. Any action or statement which might be seen as doing so had to be avoided.

The representative of Japan said that his Government had been deeply concerned over the recent clashes between the Israelis and the Palestinians, which had caused two hundred deaths and thousands of injuries. It deplored the fact that the clashes were continuing in spite of the understanding that the parties had reached on ending the violence. Japan strongly called upon the parties concerned to fully carry out all the commitments they had made, in order to halt the vicious circle of violence and restore calm in the region as soon as possible.

He said a negotiated peace was the only way to solve all outstanding issues and achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region. Japan would continue to fully support the parties concerned in their efforts to that end. It was in this spirit that Japan had voted in favour of the draft resolution. Japan felt strongly about the second part of the operative paragraph four of the draft, which expressed the hope that the issue discussed in the draft would be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Japan’s support for the draft was not intended to prejudge the outcome of the final status negotiations, he said. Also, its acceptance of the words “permanent sovereignty” used in the draft did not imply any changes in its position on the legal status of the “occupied territories.” The Second Committee was not a suitable forum for considering draft resolutions such as this one, which dealt with a matter that was fundamentally political in nature.

The observer for Palestine expressed his sincere thanks to those who had voted for the adoption of the draft resolution and to those who had sponsored it. The vote was a show of the support by the international community for the peace process. His delegation did not believe that there was a contradiction between the negotiations in the peace process and the upholding of international law. Unilateral action, such as the building of illegal settlements, worked against international law. His delegation remained committed to the peace process and to the procedures of the peace process, which had been agreed upon at the Madrid Conference in 1990.

Turning next to operational activities for development, the Committee decided to take note of the Note by the Secretary-General on the Activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women contained in document A/55/271.

The Committee then took up the draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

Committee Chairman Alexandru Niculescu (Romania) informed the Committee that Canada, Brazil, Czech Republic, Fiji and Thailand had joined as co- sponsors.

The representative of France said that the member States of the European Union were also co-sponsors. Slovenia’s representative said her country was also a co-sponsor.

The Committee then approved the text without a vote.

The Chairman then informed the Committee about the status of the submission of draft resolutions, as well as of a request for an extension of the deadline for submission of texts.

The representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said he was concerned about the evolution of the situation regarding the submission of draft proposals. While he understood the difficulties in preparing drafts, he was concerned by the length of extensions. If the deadline was granted, when would the texts be presented? If the new deadline was not respected, he would be obliged to oppose it on behalf of the Group.

The Chairman said that the absolute last deadline would be noon on Tuesday, 21 November.

The representative of France asked what the deadline meant and when the texts would actually be presented. The Committee should have a formal meeting on Tuesday afternoon to present the drafts.

The Chairman said he intended to submit the new texts, which would be received before Tuesday, in an official meeting when they were translated into all languages.

The representative of Kenya said that the draft resolution A/C.2/55/L.34 was ready and could be acted on today.

The Chairman said that text had been agreed to ad referendum but he was waiting for the programme budget implications for it. Once that was received, the text would be submitted to the Committee for action.

The representative of Bangladesh informed the Committee that he was not present during the vote on the text sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources, but if he was he would have voted in favour of the text.

(annex follows)

Second Committee Press Release GA/EF/2941 34th Meeting (AM) 15 November 2000

ANNEX

Vote on Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources.

The draft resolution (document A/C.2/55/L.7 and Rev.1) was approved by a recorded vote of 131 in favour to 2 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In Favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstain: Federated States of Micronesia, Kazakhstan, Marshall Islands.

Absent: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Kiribati, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Palau, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

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