GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TEXTS ON PALESTINE, MIDDLE EAST, INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FAMILY, GLOBAL THREATS, CULTURAL PROPERTY

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Plenary

68^th Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TEXTS ON PALESTINE, MIDDLE EAST, INTERNATIONAL YEAR

OF FAMILY, GLOBAL THREATS, CULTURAL PROPERTY

Also Appoints Seven Members to Committee on Conferences

Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement to the question of Palestine –- the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict –- was imperative to comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, the General Assembly this morning adopted a series of resolutions reaffirming international commitment to the Road Map peace plan and to the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

The six texts relating to the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East were all adopted by recorded votes.  The text on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine was adopted by a vote of 160 in favour, six against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, Uganda and the United States), with five abstentions (Australia, Honduras, Nauru, Rwanda and Tonga)(see Annex IV).  In doing so, the Assembly called on both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of the Road Map and stressed the importance of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism.

The resolution on Jerusalem, adopted by a vote of 155 in favour, eight against (Costa Rica, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Uganda, and the United States), with seven abstentions (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Solomon Islands and Tonga)(see Annex V), had the Assembly deplore the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem.  It also reiterated its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on Jerusalem were illegal, and therefore null and void.

By the terms of the Syrian Golan text –- adopted by a vote of 104 in favour, five against ( Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau and the United States), with 61 abstentions (see Annex VI) –- the Assembly demanded once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of  4 June 1967 in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, and again determined that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan, and its de facto annexation, constituted a stumbling block to achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region.

Also, the Assembly adopted texts on the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People –- by a vote of 97 in favour, seven against (Australia, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and the United States), with 60 abstentions; the Division for Palestinian Rights –- by a vote of 98 in favour, six against (Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and the United States), with 63 abstentions; and the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information –- by a vote of 159 in favour, six against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and the United States), with six abstentions (Australia, Honduras, Rwanda, Tonga, Uganda and Uzbekistan).  (See Voting Annexes I, II and III, respectively)

At the top of the meeting, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, a text on preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, contained in the report of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), and introduced by Committee Rapporteur Abdullah Eid Salman Al-Sulaiti (Qatar).  In doing so, the Assembly welcomed Qatar’s decision to host an international conference in November 2004 to celebrate the tenth anniversary, and encouraged governments to make every possible effort to realize the anniversary’s objectives.

The Assembly also adopted, without a vote, a resolution on responding to global threats and challenges, by which it encouraged the United Nations, its Member States, the agencies and organizations of its system and other international and regional organizations to continue their efforts towards establishing a comprehensive and effective strategy for responding to global threats and challenges, and welcomed the establishment of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

Adopting, also without a vote, a text on the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, the Assembly called on all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations to work in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to address on that.

In other action, the Assembly deferred consideration of implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations until its fifty-ninth session. 

Also today, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria, Romania, Senegal and Syria were appointed as members of the Committee on Conferences, to serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2004.

Speaking in explanations of vote were the representatives of the United States, Spain, Israel, Canada, Italy (on behalf of the European Union), United Kingdom, Argentina and Brazil.

The representative of the Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates, Syria and Lebanon also spoke, as did the Observer for Palestine. 

The Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Friday, 5 December, to consider the situation in Afghanistan.  It was also expected to take up consideration of the consequences of the Iraqi occupation and aggression against Kuwait, and several outstanding draft resolutions on humanitarian assistance.

Background

The General Assembly met this morning to take action on draft resolutions presented in the context of the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.  It was also expected to take action on a number of outstanding texts and other issues.

By the terms of the draft resolution on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/58/L.23), the world body would request the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people.  The Assembly would also authorize the Committee to make such adjustments to the approved programme of work, as it may consider appropriate and necessary in light of developments and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session and thereafter.

The draft resolution on the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (document A/58/L.24) would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its work as detailed in relevant earlier resolutions.  It would also request the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and request the Committee on Palestinian Rights and the Division to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine, in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The draft resolution on the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat (document A/58/L.25) would have the Assembly request the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on Palestinian Rights, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2003-2004, including through disseminating information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine; organizing international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; and continuing to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development.

By the terms of the draft resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/58/L.26/Rev.1), the Assembly would call on both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of the Road Map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps, and stress the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism, including all members of the Quartet. 

The Assembly would also call on the concerned parties, the Quartet and other interested parties to exert all efforts and undertake initiatives to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, and to ensure a successful and speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement.  Also, it would urge Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority.

On the situation in the Middle East, the Assembly had before it two draft resolutions.  The first, on Jerusalem (document A/58/L.27), would have the Assembly deplore the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and would call once more on those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the world body’s Charter.  It would also reiterate its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever. 

By the terms of the second, on the Syrian Golan (document A/58/L.28), the Assembly would demand once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.  It would determine once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region. 

The Assembly would also call on Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks.  Further, it would call on all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).

The Assembly also had before it a draft resolution on preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, contained within the report of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) on social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, and disabled persons and the family (document A/58/497).  By the terms of the text, the Assembly would welcome the launching by the Secretary-General of the celebration of the tenth anniversary on 4 December.  It would also welcome Qatar’s decision to host an international conference in November 2004 to celebrate the tenth anniversary, and encourage governments to make every possible effort to realize the anniversary’s objectives. 

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General to strengthen the programme of work of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs on family pursuant to the objectives of the tenth anniversary to enhance the unique role of the family in society, in particular through, among other things, developing and strengthening a family-focused perspective in relevant policies and programmes of United Nations bodies.  It would also request the Secretary-General to address family issues in his report on the integrated and coordinated implementation and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields.

By the terms of a draft resolution on responding to global threats and challenges (document A/58/L.7/Rev.1), the Assembly would encourage the United Nations, its Member States, the agencies and organizations of its system, and other international and regional organizations to continue their efforts towards establishing a comprehensive and effective strategy for responding to global threats and challenges.  It would also welcome the establishment by the Secretary-General of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change and express its willingness to consider the recommendations of the Secretary-General thereon as a matter of priority at its fifty-ninth session.

By the terms of the draft resolution on the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin (document A/58/L.20), the Assembly would call on all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations to work in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to address on the issue of return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin. 

In addition to inviting Member States to consider adopting and implementing the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the Assembly would urge them to introduce effective national and international measures to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, and invite them to continue to draw up systematic inventories of the cultural property, and to work towards the creation of a database of the cultural legislation of Member States.

A note by the Secretary-General on the appointment of members of the Committee on Conferences (document A/58/107/Rev.1) informs the Assembly that, given the expiration on 31 December 2003 of the terms of office of Argentina, Benin, Finland, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Peru and Sierra Leone, the Assembly President will have to appoint seven members to fill the resulting vacancies.  The members so appointed would serve for a period of three years, beginning on 1 January 2004.

The Committee itself is composed of 21 members, appointed by the President of the General Assembly, after consultations with the chairman of the regional groups, for a period of three years, on the basis of the following geographical distribution –- six members from African States; five members from Asian States; four members from Latin American and Caribbean States; two members from Eastern European States; and four members from Western European and other States.

Action on Drafts

As the first item on its agenda for the day, the General Assembly adopted, without a vote, the resolution on the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, contained in a report of the Third Committee.

Speaking after the adoption of the text, ANN CORKERY (United States) said her country adhered to the widely accepted view of the family as the basic social unit and advocated stable families as the core of society.  Holding that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family must identify measures to overcome those problems undermining stable families, the United States looked forward to local, regional and national commemorations that forwarded the objective of stable families.

The follow-up to the International Year should have been ongoing, as advocated by the Secretary-General, she recalled.  Moreover, it was good to see that the action taken today could be implemented within existing resources.  The resolution adopted today provided a deeper mandate for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  It was important to reflect that the people of the world were inextricably linked to one human family.  Supportive of that family, the United States sought to work with other like-minded States in the wider international community.

When the Assembly took up items related to follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit, SERGEY V. LAVROV (Russian Federation) introduced the draft text on responding to global threats (document A/58/L.7/Rev.1), saying that there was an ever-increasing need for the international community to work together to counter evolving threats which were global in nature, such as the spread of poverty and environmental degradation.

The fundamental parameters of international response to such threats had been agreed in the 2000 Millennium Declaration, which outlined integrated and comprehensive strategies to deal with global issues of the twenty-first century.  Today’s text reaffirmed the coordinating and leading role of the United Nations in dealing with global threats and also welcomed the Secretary-General’s establishment of a High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

The Assembly adopted the text without a vote.

Following that action, DAVID CARRIEDO (Spain) said that while agreeing with the thrust of the text, his delegation would stress that terrorism was a unique phenomenon that could not be qualified -- there was no such thing as “domestic” or “international”, “old” or “new” terrorism.  Such labels just caused confusion.  All acts of terrorism were violent, destructive acts, regardless of when, where or how they were carried out.  The Security Council, in its decisions on the scourge, had generally referred to terrorism “in all its aspects”, and Spain hoped the Assembly and other inter-governmental bodies would likewise follow that path.

Turning next to matters related to the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, the Assembly adopted a related resolution without vote.

The Assembly then decided to defer, until its fifty-ninth session, consideration of matters related to “implementation of United Nations resolutions.”

As the Assembly prepared to take action on the series of texts related to the question of Palestine, CHAIM SHACHAM (Israel), speaking in explanation before the votes, said he would vote against the draft resolutions on the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people, the Division for Palestinian Rights, the special information programme of the Department of Public Information (DPI) and the peaceful settlement of the Question of Palestine.  That was because the ritualistic recycling of what he termed “those outdated draft resolutions”, year after year, remained utterly oblivious to the realities in the Middle East, and contradictory to the letter and spirit of signed accords.

Since their inception, the Committee and the Division had obstructed dialogue and understanding through a preset, one-sided portrayal of the Arab-Israeli conflict, he said.  Those bodies expended valuable resources that would be better invested in responding to the real needs of public information in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, let alone other conflicts throughout the globe.  Additionally, he would vote against the resolution related to the special information programme of the Department of Public Information, because that programme, through its various seminars, missions and exhibits, promoted a distorted and one-sided view of the conflict.

With regard to the resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, he said that although the text claimed to support that goal, it actually went against the agreements already achieved between the parties and undermined the peace process it professed to support.

The Assembly then proceeded to adopt all four resolutions on the question of Palestine by recorded votes.  The resolution related to the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/58/L.23) was adopted by a vote of 97 in favour, seven against (Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and United States), with 60 abstentions.

The resolution on the Division for Palestinian Rights (document A/58/L.24) was adopted by a vote of 98 in favour, six against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and United States), with 63 abstentions.

The resolution on the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information (document A/58/L.25) was adopted by a vote of 159 in favour, six against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and United States), with six abstentions (Australia, Honduras, Rwanda, Tonga, Uganda and Uzbekistan).

The resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/58/L.26/Rev.1) was adopted by a vote of 160 in favour, six against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Uganda and United States), with five abstentions (Australia, Honduras, Nauru, Rwanda and Tonga).

Speaking in explanation after the vote, DEBRA PRICE (Canada) said her country had consistently supported the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of self-determination and the right to an independent State.  However, Canada questioned the value added by the work of the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and of the Division for Palestinian Rights in the pursuit of the ultimate goal.  For that reason, her country had maintained its abstention on the texts related to those two bodies.

MARCO CARNELOS (Italy), speaking on behalf of the European Union, noted that the Middle East had been struck by violence recently and condemned those recent acts of terror and violence, which served only to endanger the peace process.  The peace process represented the only hope of resolving the situation.  The Union remained committed to the Road Map and felt that both parties must address the issues dividing them through sustained negotiations, on the basis of the Road Map and the two-State solution.  It was regrettable that the terms of reference of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights did not sufficiently reflect the appropriate spirit.  Thus, the Union had abstained on the texts related to those bodies.

ADAM THOMSON (United Kingdom) said that, like his European Union partners, he had voted in favour of the resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/58/L.26/Rev.1), as he supported the need to find a just and peaceful solution to that conflict. However, it was regrettable that the resolution had not been better balanced.  The United Kingdom condemned terrorism absolutely.  It also felt that both parties had obligations that must be fulfilled in implementation of the Road Map.

Making a general statement after the action on the question of Palestine, NASSER AL-KIDWA, Observer for Palestine, said that he wished to express his gratitude and appreciation for those Member States voting in favour of the resolutions just adopted.  He also wanted to thank beforehand those countries that would support the draft resolutions on the situation in the Middle East.  Undoubtedly, there was a high political value that resulted from the adoption of those resolutions by a landslide majority.  That majority was reached despite intense pressure exerted, which exceeded the pressure exerted in past years. Opposition of the resolutions was primarily Israeli, backed by the United States.

HAMAD HAREB AL-HABSI (United Arab Emirates) requested that his vote in favor of the resolution on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/58/L.23) be recorded, as it had not appeared on the voting board at the time of the vote.

As the Assembly prepared to take action on the series of texts related to the situation in the Middle East, Mr. SHACHAM (Israel), speaking in explanation before the votes, said that he would vote against the draft resolution on Jerusalem, as that was an issue expressly reserved for permanent status negotiations between the parties.  The attempt to use the Assembly as an alternative to the negotiations violated the agreements between the parties and undermined the foundation of trust and cooperation that was vital for the permanent status talks to reach a fruitful result. 

With regard to the resolution on the Syrian Golan, he said that his country had stated on many occasions its willingness and interest to resume its negotiations with Syria, without preconditions.  However, the language of the resolution attempted to predetermine the outcome of those negotiations, and thus stood in contradiction to any genuine notion of a negotiated settlement.

The Assembly then proceeded to adopt both texts on the situation in the Middle East by recorded votes.  The resolution on Jerusalem (A/58/L.27) was adopted by a vote of 155 in favour, eight against (Costa Rica, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Uganda and United States), with seven abstentions (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Solomon Islands and Tonga).

The resolution on the Syrian Golan (A/58/L.28) was adopted by a vote of 104 in favour, five against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau and United States), with 61 abstentions.

Speaking in explanation of vote, MATEO ESTREME (Argentina) said his delegation had voted in favour of the text on the Golan Heights because the essence of the language reinforced the notion that the acquisition of land by force was illegal under international norms.  Argentina did not prejudge references to the withdrawal line created in 1967.

RONALDO MOTA SARDENBERG (Brazil) said his delegation had voted in favour of the Golan resolution, particularly since it called for negotiations on issues related to the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of the Middle East conflict.

Mr. CARNELOS (Italy), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said he was deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.  There could be no military solution, he added, noting that outstanding issues on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of the Arab-Israeli dispute must be addressed within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions on those matters.  Negotiations should resume as soon as possible with the aim of reaching agreement on Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese issues.  The Union had abstained on the vote on the Golan text.

Mr. MAALOUF (United States) said his delegation remained committed to the necessity of finding a just solution to all tracks of the Middle East conflict.  Its objection to the text on the Syrian Golan, however, stemmed from the unbalanced language.  The draft implied that only Israel had obligations to make peace and did not reflect the need for positive and cooperative actions on Syria’s part, as required by relevant Security Council resolutions.  Indeed, Syrian actions must reflect the words of the recent statements of the country’s President Basher Al-Assad.  But very often, they did not.

In a general statement, FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria) thanked delegations that had voted in favour of the resolution.  The text had once again reaffirmed that all should reject occupation and aggression.  It sent Israel a message that it needed to respect the Charter and withdraw from the Golan to the prescribed 4 June 1967 line.  The de facto annexation of land by Israel was a stumbling block to efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.  Israel must abide by United Nations resolutions.

Having just heard the “regrettable and irresponsible” statement of the representative of the United States, he said he was surprised at its tenor, since that State was a sponsor and protector of the peace process and must, therefore, be impartial and just.  The statement had been very inappropriate, particularly in light of the Syrian President’s statements yesterday affirming the country’s willingness to work towards a negotiated solution.

HOUSSAM ASAAD DIAB (Lebanon) expressed regret regarding what he said were the irresponsible remarks made by the United States.  Those statements had nothing to do with the issues under consideration today.  He said that Syrian-Lebanese relations were governed by good neighbourliness, and he urged the United States to reflect on the remarks he had made, as they were irresponsible and must be rejected.

ANNEX I

Vote on Palestinian Rights Committee Text

The draft resolution on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/58/L.23) was adopted by a recorded vote of 97 in favour to 7 against, with 60 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States.

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan.

Absent:  Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu.

ANNEX II

Vote on Division for Palestinian Rights Text

The draft resolution on Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (document A/58/L.24) was adopted by a recorded vote of 98 in favour to 6 against, with 63 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States.

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.

Absent:  Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Georgia, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

ANNEX III

Vote on DPI Special Information Programme on Palestine Text

The draft resolution on special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information (document A/58/L.25) was adopted by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 6 against, with 6 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, 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, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States.

Abstain:  Australia, Honduras, Rwanda, Tonga, Uganda, Uzbekistan.

Absent:  Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Georgia, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

ANNEX IV

Vote on Peaceful Settlement of Palestine Question Text

The draft resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/58/L.26/Rev.1) was adopted by a recorded vote of 160 in favour to     6 against, with 5 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, 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, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, Uganda, United States.

Abstain:  Australia, Honduras, Nauru, Rwanda, Tonga.

Absent:  Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Georgia, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX V

Vote on Jerusalem Text

The draft resolution on Jerusalem (document A/58/L.27) was adopted by a recorded vote of 155 in favour to 8 against, with 7 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Costa Rica, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Uganda, United States.

Abstain:  El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tonga.

Absent:  Albania, Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX VI

Vote on Syrian Golan Text

The draft resolution on the Syrian Golan (document A/58/L.28) was adopted by a recorded vote of 104 in favour to 5 against, with 61 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States.

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay.

Absent:  Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

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