ECOSOC ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS ON REGIONAL COOPERATION IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND RELATED FIELDS

ECOSOC ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS ON REGIONAL COOPERATION

IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND RELATED FIELDS

Starts Debate on Independence of Colonial

Countries and Economic and Social Impact of Israeli Occupation

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 18 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this afternoon adopted several resolutions and decisions on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields and heard statements on the same topic in which speakers stressed the importance of trade, constructive World Trade Organization negotiations and assistance to developing countries.

The ECOSOC also started its debate on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, and the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian and Arab people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan. 

The Council decided, without a vote, to amend two paragraphs of the terms of reference of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to allow Timor-Leste to become a full member of the Commission.  In a decision on the venue of the sixtieth session of ESCAP, ECOSOC also approved, without a vote, holding the session in Shanghai, China, during April 2004.

The ECOSOC also adopted without a vote a resolution by which it called upon the secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to consider the establishment of a United Nations Arabic language centre, based at the ESCWA, with the objective to raise the technical and linguistic level of the Arabic terminology used in United Nations documents, in order to facilitate the use of the Arabic language in such documents.  It also adopted without a vote a resolution on the establishment within the ESCWA of a Committee on Women compromising representatives of member countries who were specialists in women’s issues.

Jose Antonio Ocampo, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, introduced on behalf of the regional commissions the report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields, and its addendum, within which the resolutions and decisions were contained. 

The Council also started its debate on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian and Arab people.  Michael Keating, Director of the Coordination and Socio-Economic Affairs, introduced a report by the ESCWA on the topic which said that both sides suffered from deep trauma and distrust for each other and that the humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate.  He stressed that the “Road Map” provided a framework for genuine transition –- an opportunity that could not be missed.  

Mervat Tallawy, Executive Secretary of the ESCWA, introduced the report of the Secretary-General, saying the occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel continued to have serious detrimental effects on all aspects of living conditions of the Palestinian people.  The note indicated that the destruction of Palestinian homes, the military siege and the imposition of curfews on residential areas had had a multiple effect on the population of the occupied Palestinian territories, including poverty with 66.5 per cent of households living below the poverty line. 

Speakers expressed deep concern about the cycle of violence and counter-violence and stressed the need for the Israeli Government to end the occupation, stop its settlement activities, ensure freedom of movement of Palestinians, and respect international law.  Both parties were strongly encouraged to follow the provisions of the Road Map in order to ensure the return to normalcy in the region. 

Speaking this afternoon on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields were representatives of Morocco (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), the European Commission, Ukraine, China, Russian Federation, Guatemala, Belarus, Norway, United States, Republic of Korea, Japan, Chile.

Bahrain (speaking on behalf of the Arab States), Qatar, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria, and Italy (on behalf of the European Union) spoke on the economic and social impact of the Israeli occupation on living conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory and the Syrian Golan.

The ECOSOC will reconvene on Monday, 21 July, at 10 a.m. to continue its consideration of issues related to coordination, programme and other questions; economic and environmental questions; and social and human questions.

Documents

Before ECOSOC is the report of the President of the Council on consultations held with the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document E/2003/47).  The report highlights the support given to non-self governing territories by the specialized agencies and the international institutions with the United Nations, including the Economic and Social Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

There is a report of the Secretary-General on assistance to the Palestinian people (document E/2003/84) which states that the year under review saw the continuation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, with hundreds of civilians killed on both sides.  The United Nations continued to work hard to maintain Palestinian capacities to provide essential services, to repair damage to infrastructure and to meet urgent needs.  However, the planning, management and implementation of projects were hampered by restrictions placed on United Nations staff, notably locally recruited Palestinian staff, a deteriorating security environment and problems of access.  This often required re-gearing of programmes and a shift in emphasis from development to emergency activity.  The report outlines the efforts made by the United Nations system, in cooperation with Palestinian and donor counter parts, in order to support the Palestinian civilian population under extremely difficult circumstances. 

There is a report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations (document E/2003/66) which contains a list of specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations, to whom the provisions of the resolution applied, and whose attention was brought to it by the Secretary-General. 

There is also a report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussion of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (document E/2003/21).  The report states that the occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel continues to have a serious detrimental effect on all aspects of the living conditions of the Palestinian people.  The Israeli army has continued to resort to excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, house demolitions, and increasingly severe mobility restrictions and closure policies, as well as the confiscation and bulldozing of productive Palestinian agricultural land.  The Palestinian economy continues to accumulate losses, currently equal to half of its annual gross domestic product.  Unemployment has increased threefold, and poverty has risen among more than two thirds of the population.  Women and children bear a special and enduring burden resulting from the occupation.  As noted in previous reports, Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory remain one of the principal issues fuelling the conflict between the two peoples.  The report highlights that the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights continue to witness settlement expansion beyond the 33 settlements already in place.  Social services such as schooling, higher education and medical facilities remain insufficient for the Arab population in the Syrian Golan Heights.     

Action on Resolutions and Decisions

In the addendum of a report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields (document E/2003/15/Add.1), ECOSOC had before it matters calling for action by it and matters brought to its attention. 

In this connection, ECOSOC adopted without a vote a resolution in which it decided to amend paragraphs 2 and 3 of the terms of reference of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to allow the admission of Timor-Leste as a full member of the Commission.  In a decision, adopted without a vote, on the venue of the sixtieth session of the Commission, ECOSOC approved the holding of the session in Shanghai, China, during April 2004.

Following recommendations by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on the consideration of the establishment within the ESCWA of a United Nations Arabic language centre, ECOSOC adopted, without a vote, a resolution through which it called upon the secretariat of the ESCWA to consider the establishment of a United Nations Arabic language centre, based at the Commission, of which the objective, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the United Nations, and taking into consideration the requisite technical, financial and administrative needs, shall be to raise the technical and linguistic level of the Arabic terminology used in United Nations documents, in order to facilitate the use of the Arabic language in such documents.  The ECOSOC also called upon the secretariat of the Commission, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the United Nations, to undertake the establishment of a committee responsible for determining the competences of the aforementioned centre.  Finally, ECOSOC requested the Executive Secretary of the ESCWA to follow up implementation of this resolution and to submit a report on the progress achieved in that regard to the Commission at its twenty-third session. 

In a second resolution, adopted without a vote, ECOSOC decided to establish within the ESCWA a Committee on Women compromising representatives of member countries who were specialists in women’s issues, to be responsible for, amongst other things, identifying the women-related priorities; monitoring developments with respect to the status of women and activities of the ESCWA secretariat; follow-up on global and regional conferences; coordinating action at the regional level; and prepare and implement field projects for the advancement and empowerment of women.  The ECOSOC also decided that the Committee on Women hold its sessions biennially, with effect from 2004, and that an inaugural session be held before the end of 2003; and requested the Executive Secretary of the ESCWA to establish a women’s centre within the secretariat of the ESCWA with responsibility for acting as the secretariat of the Committee on Women and to follow up implementation of this resolution and to submit a report on the matter to the Commission at its twenty-third session.   

Statements on Regional Cooperation in Economic, Social and Related Fields

JOSE ANTONIO OCAMPO, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, presenting the report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in economic, social and related fields, said that the regional commissions had dealt in the past year with a wide spectrum of issues -– ranging from regional development and integration within the context of global economy, sustainable development, combating poverty and HIV/AIDS to addressing the impact of conflicts on regional economic and social development -– all aimed at integrating the economic, social and political spheres. 

For example, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) had devoted the high-level policy segment of its fifty-eighth session to economic development and sustainable development in the ECE region, while in view of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), ESCAP had decided to hold its fifty-ninth session in two phases, the first devoted to transit issues and the second to integrating economic and social concern, with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS.  The Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), meanwhile, had focused its work on poverty eradication in the region in preparation for the Third Regional Conference for follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development.  And the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) had devoted its thirty-sixth session to the theme of “greater coherence and mutual accountability for development effectiveness”.  The ESCWA undertook the theme of the “impact of the lack of stability in the Western Asia region on its economic and social development” during its twenty-second session.

Recalling that the regional commissions had been given specific mandates for follow-up to major global conferences, he said that they had each chosen to report only on those most recently held:  the International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit for Sustainable Development.  They had also discussed preparations for conferences on small island developing States, the World Summit on the Information Society and the Conference on Transit Transport Cooperation.  Their reports also provided information on cooperation among the five regional commissions.

HASSAN ABOUTAHIR (Morocco), speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said that the activities of the regional commissions were broad and diversified to reflect the regional dimensions of issues discussed within the United Nations system.  As globalization and free trade evolved, the regional perspective would become ever more crucial in encouraging growth and protecting against marginalization.  The commissions should contribute to the process of globalization by reflecting the concerns of each region within this debate.  As debt servicing weighed ever more heavily on national budgets and the global exports of least developed countries declined, it was important to recognize that least developed countries alone did not have the capacity to tap the benefits of globalization.  There was no clear reason to expect improvement in their situations, as they continued to lose former comparative advantages of production and poverty was institutionalized. 

Therefore, he continued, the follow-up to major United Nations conferences must constitute the main task for each regional commission and should be conducted with a view to the main priorities of the region.  He stressed that although there were some common challenges, the regional commissions should promote ownership of conference outcomes and contribute to development within their own regions.  Finally, he concluded, improved coordination and cooperation between the United Nations system and the regional commissions could contribute to a better understanding on the part of United Nations agencies of regional priorities and to coordination among agencies at the regional level. 

PETER THOMPSON (European Commission), speaking on behalf the European Union, said trade could foster growth and poverty reduction and could be an important catalyst for sustainable development.  Countries that had integrated into the world economy, through trade and investment, had enjoyed higher economic growth and improvement in many key indicators.  Trade openness alone was, however, not sufficient to combat poverty.  The extent to which trade contributed to poverty reduction depended on a wider, country-owned poverty reduction strategy for which a combination of sound domestic policies and additional external support was needed.  The European Union had therefore integrated trade as one of the main priorities of its development policy and was the first donor of trade related assistance. 

Multilateral trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda, together with bilateral and regional initiatives and support for regional integration among developing countries, were the main vehicles to pursue enhanced market access and improved trade rules.  The existence of a rules-based multilateral trading system was key for developing countries’ ability to participate in and benefit from international trade.  The rules-based system embodied in the WTO substituted the rule of law for the law of the jungle, which was of particular benefit to smaller nations and developing countries.  Regional integration could contribute to the participation of developing countries in the global economy and help to reinforce the multilateral trading system.  North-South integration could help lock in reforms, give stable access to a large market and facilitate flows of foreign direct investment.  The regional perspective was strongly present in the relations between the European Union and many developing regions, such as the Mediterranean countries, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and the Central America and Andean Community countries.  

SERHII YAMPOLSKYI (Ukraine) said that the regional commissions’ activities should remain focused upon providing support to Member States in their efforts to integrate into the world economy and create favourable conditions for economic growth and sustainable development.  Keeping in mind the need for greater coherence among United Nations organizations and agencies, the role of the regional commissions as coordinating mechanisms for activities of the United Nations system at the regional level should also be strengthened.  The outcome of the fifty-eighth session of the ECE constituted a serious step to strengthening its capacity and improving its work.  At the same time, the need to further strengthen subsidiary mechanisms, improve priority setting for technical cooperation and develop its fund-raising strategy had also been demonstrated.  While supporting regional cooperation between those countries acceding to the European Union and those not acceding, the ECE should focus its technical cooperation on helping transition economies of non-acceding States to integrate into the world economy. 

Turning to the issue of interregional cooperation, he said that the regional commissions should play an active role in bringing international expertise to support Member States in achieving their sustainable development goals.  They should also support Member States in their dealing with global and regional trading arrangements.  In this regard, the Final Communique of the GUUAM Summit had recorded the importance of establish Free Trade Areas and implementing free trade principles based on internationally recognized norms.  The ECE’s efforts in helping transition economies to comply with the WTO accession requirements should also be strengthened.

JIAN TAN (China) said the report had highlighted and recommended several activities that were important and worth discussion.  A salient feature of the current trade environment must be the focus of ensuring that the future World Trade Organization negotiations were constructive.  Regrettably, many deadlines had already been missed.  The Chinese Government had always attached importance to regional cooperation and trade between the countries in the Asia and Pacific region.  It was hoped that as a regional organ of the United Nations, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) would continue to play an important role.  The need to assist developing countries and enable them to participate in the world economic order must be a focus of regional commissions, as well as strengthening capacities to ensure constructive development progress.  The fact that ESCAP would meet in 2004 in Shanghai witnessed the great importance China attached to regional integration.  Preparations were proceeding smoothly and it was hoped that the meeting would inject further momentum to the work of ESCAP. 

VASSILY NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) said that the Secretary-General’s report gave an objective picture of the activities of the regional commissions.  The commissions should continue to play the role of regional pillars for the United Nations system, promoting regional stability through coordination with United Nations funds and programmes active in their regions.  The most difficult task of the commissions was to translate the global dialogue of the United Nations into specific agendas for regional development.  The Russian Federation supported the strengthening of the regional commissions’ involvement with the private sector. 

On the work of the European Commission of Europe (ECE), he said its most important task was to help economies in transition integrate into the world economy.  On that of ESCAP, he welcomed the admission of Timor-Leste and endorsed the regional work of ESCAP, which had been faced with a number of threats to sustainable development.  It was important to continue the strategic work of ESCAP, while remaining flexible in dealing with these threats. 

JOSE BRIZ (Guatemala) said that the proliferation of regional and subregional institutions around the world led one to ask whether the United Nations should not form relationships with these organizations, instead of maintaining their own regional system.  However, although the role of the regional commissions differed from one region to the next, each acted as a conduit to introduce global concerns to its region, to be assimilated and adopted, and at the same time brought regional concerns to the global forum.  Moreover, the regional commissions had been the first to network with the other regional and subregional institutions within their geographical spheres.

Four of the commissions were composed either entirely or mostly by developing States, he added.  Thus, in being closer to the field, these regional expressions of the Secretariat made an invaluable contribution to the work carried out at United Nations Headquarters.  They reflected a direct contact with the realities of the economies within their regions and interacted with the main public and private actors of the countries in their jurisdictions.

VLADIMIR MALEVICH (Belarus) said the importance of regional cooperation had been increasing in light of the globalization process.  It was an enhanced cooperation at the regional level that was needed to put global processes into concrete and right shape.  Regional approaches were the most effective in handling a wide range of issues, in particular problems of effective use of water and other natural resources, environmental protection, development of transport corridors, and the promotion of free trade zones.  In this connection, he commended the initiative of the ECE of holding conferences with the participation of donor organizations and countries.  Such conferences might become a helpful tool for coordination of efforts of all those concerned and lead to more effective use of scarce resources available.  Concerning access to the WTO, he said it must be considered as an engine for reform and an accelerator of transformation.  Belarus was interested in widening its programmes of cooperation with the ECE, especially in the area of trade.

PER IVAR LIED (Norway) said that trade had a vital role to play in helping to boost economic growth and to generate resources for reducing poverty in developing countries.  Integration into the world economy was essential to development and poverty eradication, yet many disadvantaged WTO members, especially least developed countries, required technical and financial support to further their competence and knowledge of the WTO and its negotiations.  In this context, Norway attached great importance to the ongoing cooperation between the WTO, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the regional commissions for providing trade-related assistance to developing countries.  To achieve increased economic growth in developing countries, parallel efforts were needed to reform trade and conclude negotiations at the WTO; continue domestic reforms within a comprehensive development strategy; and improve supply capacity and infrastructure to utilize market opportunities.

Trade reform and liberalization, he said, must be accompanied by complementary policies and regulatory reforms to promote a stable and conducive macroeconomic framework, good governance, agricultural development and social safety nets.  Agriculture was the backbone of many developing countries’ economies, making the development and diversification of agricultural production and trade a prerequisite for sustained economic growth and poverty reduction.  Furthermore, capacity constraints related to logistics and infrastructure, trade facilitation and productivity and quality should be addressed regionally.  Regional trade arrangements should complement global trade agreements in the WTO, but as non-participating countries had no part of such arrangements, regional agreements should never replace general multilateral trade rules.

SICHAN SIV (United States) said his country would continue to provide leadership to realize the promise of Doha and had proposed the elimination of all tariffs on manufactured goods by 2015.  The United States remained willing to pursue a robust approach that delivered commercially significant liberalization.  In agriculture, the United States had called for eliminating export subsidies; cutting $100 billion from domestic subsidies that distorted production and trade; and slashing tariffs to no higher that 25 per cent –- with the United States average dropping to 5 per cent.  All WTO members -– developed and developing countries alike –- must have a sense of mutual responsibility, while recognizing the necessity of special treatment for the poor and most vulnerable.  Although some argued that there was no need for developing countries to lower trade barriers, 70 per cent of the tariffs paid by developing countries were to other developing countries.  Thus, developing country barriers protected the privileged few, with the price paid by poor consumers, instead of stimulating competitiveness.  

KYUNG-WHA KANG (Republic of Korea) noted the unfortunate circumstances stemming from the outbreak of SARS in the region of ESCAP and said that while it was good to note that the epidemic had been brought under control, the harm caused by SARS had caused more rapid economic damage that the 1997 Asian financial crisis.  Given the gravity of this threat, ESCAP should assist with efforts to overcome the economic damage of the epidemic.  It was hoped that, through its public health programmes, ESCAP would contribute to the prevention of a recurrence of SARS, or the future emergence of similar epidemics.

In amassing the financial resources necessary for significant improvements in education and health services regionally, she said that ESCAP’s recommendations for a policy shift to highlight health and education priorities in national budgets and the involvement of other stakeholders -– including non-governmental organizations –- in fundraising efforts were important.  Moreover, the Commission’s constructive discussion on programming, management and transit transport issues affecting landlocked and transit countries should prove valuable for the upcoming International Ministerial Conference on Transit Transport Cooperation.  Finally, given the global economic turndown, it was good to see that the developing economies of the ESCAP region had maintained relatively strong growth.  Her country was committed to assisting the region’s least developed countries.

KIYOSHI WADA (Japan) said he wanted to clarify that a provision of the draft resolution regarding the ESCWA, which referred to the establishment of a Committee on Women, would have no budgetary implications. 

PEDRO OYARCE (Chile) said regional commissions played an important role in the efficiency of regional cooperation.  He highlighted five important issues for regional commissions to take into consideration.  First, he stressed the need to ensure an integrated approach to regional cooperation.  Second, he highlighted the role of the functional commissions in working towards the Millennium Development Goals.  Third, it was important to ensure greater participation of regional commissions in the global system.  Fourth, it was essential to ensure further cooperation with the private sector.  Finally, he referred to the need to introduce a crosscutting approach to gender mainstreaming. 

Introduction of Reports on Economic and Social Impact of Israeli Occupation on Palestinians and Arabs

MICHAEL KEATING, Director of Coordination, introducing a report by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian and Arab people said that the situation on the ground in the occupied territories of Palestine had evolved since the issuance of the report.  Under the aegis of the United States, both sides had agreed to adhere to the Road Map and a ceasefire had been announced by Palestinian groups in June.  The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had withdrawn from some occupied areas and contacts had been established between the two parties, including between their prime ministers.  And while the violence continued, its level had dropped dramatically.  The Road Map provided a framework for a genuine transition in the region; the challenge now was to seize this opportunity by improving the economic and social situation on the ground. 

Thus far, political development had not been translated into improvements in living situations, he noted.  Both sides were suffering from trauma and deep distrust of the other; however, the Palestinian civilian population had clearly suffered the most.  Well over half of the population was now receiving some form of food assistance, and psychosocial problems were increasing, particularly among women as domestic violence increased and respect for adults decreased.  The occupation continued to be the central reality of the population; it was the approximate cause for the humanitarian and economic crisis.  Lifting the closure was vital to reconstructing the economy and revitalizing the welfare of the population.  The curfews, closures and access problems also continued to complicate United Nations support for the Palestinian civilian population. 

Ending the closure would not, however, solve all the problems, he said.  The Palestinian Authority needed to implement an economic recovery plan that could be backed by international donors, and to promote a swift and appreciable improvement in the quality of life of the civilian population.  In this context, increased support for the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was urgently needed.  Among the challenges faced by the United Nations in supporting the Road Map, he said, were the issues of how to buttress the Palestinian Authority, how to provide humanitarian assistance without constraining development prospects and how to deal with the difficulties imposed by the continued closure. 

MERVAT TALLAWY, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), introducing the report of the Secretary-General on assistance to the Palestinian people, said the occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel continued to have serious detrimental effects on all aspects of living conditions of the Palestinian people.  The Israeli army had continued to resort to excessive use of force, arbitrary attention, extra judicial killings, house demolitions, increasingly severe mobility restrictions and closure policies, as well as the confiscation and bulldozing of productive Palestinian agricultural land.  Many innocent civilians had been killed in the bombing of villages or exchange of gunfire in circumstances indicating an indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force.  The report of the Secretary-General indicated that the destruction of Palestinian homes, military siege and imposition of curfews on residential areas had had a multiple effect on the population of the occupied Palestinian territories.  The Government of Israel had initiated the construction of physical barriers running through the West Bank to separate Israeli and Palestinian populations.  Due to severe restrictions on freedom of movement and closures, the Palestinian economy continued to accumulate losses, currently equal to half of its annual gross domestic product.  Poverty had risen substantially, with 66.5 per cent of households living below the poverty line.  The Road Map provided a rare opportunity to establish trust and respect between the two peoples.   

Statements on Economic and Social Impact of Israeli Occupation on Palestinians and Arabs

SAEED MOHAMED AL-FAIHANI (Bahrain), speaking on behalf of the Arab States, said there could be no stability or development in the Middle East without peace.  Violence continued unabated despite regional and international efforts.  Israel was still aiming to have the Palestinian people accept occupation under Israeli terms through massacres and other barbarous acts.  The whole region was as a result filled with tension and violence.  All actions taken by the Israeli Government, which seriously undermined the social and economic situation of the Palestinian people, were in violation of human rights.  In addition to the Palestinian situation, it was essential that the international community address the situations in Lebanon and Syria.  To deal with the question of violence and counter-violence, Israel needed to withdraw from occupied territories and stop its settlements, which ran counter to international law.  The Arab States reaffirmed the need to send international observers to the occupied territories in order to monitor the situation and encourage momentum in the peace process.  The draft resolution before ECOSOC contained many positive elements supported by the Arab States, including the end of the occupation and ensuring the freedom of movement of Palestinian people. 

ABDULLAH EID AL-SULAITI (Qatar) said that the report before the Council reflected the very difficult conditions of the Palestinian people living under the occupation.  The renewed negotiations should lead to respect for the rights of the Palestinian people, in which context Qatar stressed the importance of Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied territories to ensure peace.  The renewed Israeli occupation since 2000 had violated international political will.  The policy of blockade and destruction of houses carried out by Israel should be considered as inhuman treatment; moreover, Israel had prevented United Nations and humanitarian personnel from aiding the Palestinian population with concurrent negative effects on the health of the civilian population.  Israel had also strengthened its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights.  One could not have security, when one had walls, he said.  It was hoped that the Road Map would lead to a final conclusion of peace, with Israel respecting principles such as land for peace, among others.

NABIL RAMLAWI, Observer of Palestine, thanked the United Nations agencies that provided assistance to the Palestinian people, as well as the ESCWA for its report on the repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people.  Unfortunately, there had been little improvement in the economic and social conditions in the region as a result of the actions of the Israelis, whose acts could only be compared to war crimes.  The Israeli Government was usurping Palestinian land and destroying the land it had no interest in.  The Israeli authorities were in fact killing Palestinians, not only through violence, but in a multitude of ways.  Israel acted as a special entity above international law.  Palestinians were attached to their land and were prepared to fight for it.  The main result of the occupation had been Palestinian resistance and a struggle for independence.  Palestinian people still aimed for peaceful solutions and had accepted all United Nations resolutions on the matter, while Israel refused to adhere to United Nations resolutions.  Justice would only be achieved through the withdrawal by Israeli forces from occupied areas, including Jerusalem.  It was a moral and humanitarian duty of the international community to put an end to the Israeli occupation.   

AMGAD MAHER ABDEL-GHAFFAR (Egypt) said that the continued suffering of the Palestinian people and society under occupation made this discussion particularly important.  The report noted the negative impact of the occupation upon the occupied territories; Israel’s policy of settlement had been condemned by the international community.  Moreover, the report detailed the worsening of the economic and humanitarian situation in the occupied territories.  Israel, therefore, needed to put an end to its blockade and should respect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.  Without a just and global settlement of the question of the Palestinian people and a withdrawal from the Syrian Golan Heights, peace, security and stability in the Middle East would not be achieved.  Requesting greater assistance for the Palestinian people from the international community, he pledged his country’s continued support for the Palestinians.  The commitments of the Israeli Government should be applied forthwith, without any obstacles.

Commending the work of the Committee on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, he reaffirmed its role in eradicating colonialism and ensuring self-determination.  The countries of the Middle East did want peace and prosperity, which was the motivation for presenting the current draft resolution. 

SICHAN SIV (United States) said the United States was committed to assisting the parties on the difficult road to peace.  However, it was ultimately up to the parties to take the necessary steps to make the process succeed.  The current prospects for peace were the most promising in several years.  The transfer of authority in Gaza and Bethlehem, from the Israeli Defense Force to Palestinian security forces, demonstrated that there had been important progress made by the two parties in direct negotiations.  However, one-sided resolutions undercut the credibility of the work of ECOSOC.  They unfairly isolated Israel, doing nothing to improve the situation in the region.  The ECOSOC resolutions must not prejudge political issues, including territorial issues that the parties had agreed were to be decided in final status negotiations.  Instead, ECOSOC must focus on working together constructively to address Palestinian needs and support the two parties on the road to peace.  

ABDULLAH AL-SHEIK (Saudi Arabia) said that the economic and social repercussions of the occupation on the Palestinian people had been severe.  In the past few years, serious developments and suffering had been witnessed, and while it was agreed that no stability and development would occur within the Middle East while the occupation continued, the suffering of the Palestinian people could not continue.  The international community needed to extend a helping hand to the Palestinian people.  Israel had violated international political will; as the occupying authority, Israel needed to lift its siege and recognize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of the inhabitants of the Syrian Golan Heights.

HAIM WAXMAN (Israel) said that his Government was interested in the well being of the Palestinian people.  Israelis and Palestinians were neighbours and their futures were bound together, thus it was important for Israel to see the social and cultural life of the Palestinian people flourish, and their economy prosper.  However, the current debate did nothing to contribute to the realization of this goal; one-sided resolutions based on one-sided reports that did not take into account the reasons for Israel’s defensive actions nor the suffering of Israelis in the past three years would not advance the living conditions of the Palestinians.  The real answer to improving the socio-economic situation of the Palestinians lay in the creation of an environment of peace and stability, free of terrorism, violence and incitement.  For example, there had been impressive growth in the Palestinian economy prior to the commencement of the Palestinian terror campaign.  The absolute condition for the improvement of the situation of the Palestinian people was the complete cessation of acts of terror and a meaningful political dialogue with Israel aimed at solving the conflict.

There were strong indications, he said, that such a process was under way with the adoption of the Road Map by Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  The steps set forth in the Road Map could usher forth a new reality for the region.  Joint committees, dealing with important issues such as economic affairs, security and the elimination of incitement had been established and their work had already led to positive developments on the ground.  Now a new culture of peace should be fostered to replace the climate of intolerance and hatred that had plagued the region.  This should find expression in the United Nations with the abandonment of one-sided reports and resolutions.  The international community should rather concentrate its efforts on assisting both sides to settle the conflict.

MOHAMMAD KHAFIF (Syria) said the subject under consideration had been a constant concern of the international community for the last 40 years.  What had happened to the objectives of the United Nations Charter and legality, he asked.  The same standards must be applied equally in the international community, according to international law.  Why was this not the case for the Palestinian people or Arab people living in the Syrian Golan and southern Lebanon?  In the Syrian Golan, Israel had continued its policy of colonization through further military and civilian settlements in the region.  This was a war crime according to the fourth Geneva Convention, he said.  Israel’s decision to impose its laws on the Syrians living in the Golan was simply not valid.  In addition, Israel had taken control of the water resources, charging Syrians for access to it.  It was stressed that children had been deprived of education and were forcibly taught in Hebrew.  He thanked the ESCWA for its report and stressed that the terrorist policies undertaken by Israel were forcing Arab people into despair.  There must be full implementation of United Nations resolutions and an end to the occupation.  He reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council as well as the principle of land for peace.  The introduction of a just peace in the region was a prerequisite for international peace and security, and the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the populations in the region.  The draft resolution must be adopted in order for the ECOSOC to be in alignment with international law in defending Palestinian and Syrian. 

VALENTINO SIMONETTI (Italy), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the Union was fully committed to promoting a lasting, peaceful and just settlement of the Middle East conflict.  There was now an historic opportunity for peace that the European Union was determined not to miss.  Welcoming the acceptance of the Road Map, he said the Union was convinced that no alternative to speedy implementation of this plan existed.  The European Union remained ready to contribute in all aspects of its implementation, including through the setting up of a credible and effective monitoring mechanism.

Deeply concerned by the continuing violence on the ground, he said visible and clear gestures of good faith by both sides were imperative to restoring hope and promoting stability.  In this regard, the Palestinian announcement of suspending attacks against Israeli targets and the initial Israeli withdrawals from Gaza and Bethlehem were welcomed.  Israel should make all possible efforts to support Palestinian authorities and to ease the plight of the Palestinian people, including through facilitating the movement of Palestinian people and goods, access for humanitarian organizations, the removal of outposts, reversing settlement policy and activities and ending land confiscations and the construction of the so-called “security fence”.  The European Union shared the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security, which included an end to the occupation and the establishment of a sovereign, viable and peaceful Palestinian State with democratic institutions and security and recognition for Israel.

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