Fifty-ninth General Assembly

Plenary

71^st Meeting (PM)

General Assembly adopts 24 resolutions, four decisions as it takes action

on reports of special political, decolonization committee

Delegates Also Adopt Texts on Assistance

To Rwanda Genocide Survivors, Cooperation with Regional Organizations

Taking up reports of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this afternoon, the General Assembly adopted 24 resolutions and four decisions on a wide-range of agenda items, including decolonization, information, mine-action assistance, peacekeeping operations, the effects of atomic radiation, the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), and Israeli practices in the occupied Arab territories.

The Assembly also adopted, without a vote, three plenary-generated texts entitled “Assistance to the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and sexual violence”, “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”, and “Cooperation between the Organization and the Council of Europe”.

Five of the texts recommended by the Fourth Committee related to the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the OccupiedTerritories.  Four others focused on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

By a recorded vote of 167 in favour, 1 against (Israel), with 11 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution on assistance to Palestinian refugees, by which it extended UNRWA’s mandate until June 2008, and called on all donors to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the Agency’s anticipated needs.  (See Annex I for voting details.)

Adopting a text on the Agency’s operations by a recorded 163 votes in favour, 6 against (Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 7 abstentions (Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea), the Assembly expressed its appreciation for UNRWA’s tireless efforts under increasingly difficult conditions.  It also called on Israel to take measures to protect UNRWA personnel and facilities, to cease obstructing its work, and to compensate the Agency for damage to its property (annex III).

Action on other UNRWA-related drafts this afternoon related to persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities -- adopted by a recorded vote of 162 in favour, 6 against (Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States) with 9 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu) (annex II) -- and Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues, which the Assembly adopted by a recorded 161 votes in favour, 6 against (Israel, Grenada, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States) with 9 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Uzbekistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu)(annex IV).

Taking up draft resolutions on Israeli practices, the Assembly adopted a text on Israeli settlements, by a recorded vote of 155 in favour, 8 against (Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 15 abstentions.  By that action it reaffirmed that settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, were illegal and demanded that Israel comply with international law and in accordance with the 9 July advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (annex VII).

The Assembly also adopted a text on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.  It took that action by a recorded vote of149 in favour, 7 against (Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 22 abstentions.  By that text, the Assembly demanded that Israel cease immediately all practices and actions taken in breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, while condemning all acts of terror, incitement and destruction.  The Assembly also expressed grave concern at the use of suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians (annex VIII).

Other drafts on Israeli practices adopted by recorded votes related to:  the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices (annex V); the applicability of the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 to the occupied Palestinian territory and other occupied Arab territories; (annex VI); and the occupied Syrian Golan (annex IX).

Taking up the Fourth Committee on questions relating to information, the Assembly adopted without a vote, a text by which it reaffirmed that the Department of Public Information (DPI) was the focal point for United Nations information and requested it to use the Millennium Declaration in setting its priorities.  The Assembly also welcomed departmental reforms and stressed the need for quantifiable progress indicators.  It further welcomed the “rationalization” of United Nations information centres with a view to transferring resources from developed countries to the developing world.  In addition, it encouraged efforts toward full parity among the Organization’s official languages on its Web site, and supported the fostering of a culture of peace via all mass media.

By a text on “Information in the service of humanity”, also adopted without a vote, the Assembly urged all countries, the United Nations system and all others concerned to cooperate in reducing disparities in information and communication capacity.  It also condemned attacks against journalists and urged support for the training of journalists from developing countries.

On decolonization issues, the Assembly adopted, by a recorded 167 votes in favour, 2 against (United Kingdom, United States) and 4 abstentions (Belgium, France, Germany, Israel), a resolution on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.  By that action, it called upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on Decolonization to finalize, before the end of 2005, a case-by-case work programme that would enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise, fully and as soon as possible, their right to self-determination, including the option of independence (annex XV).

In another action the Assembly adopted a resolution on the question of Western Sahara by a recorded 50 votes in favour, none against and 100 abstentions.  By that action, it underlined Security Council resolution 1495 (2003), expressing the Council’s support of the peace plan for the self-determination of that Territory’s people as an optimum political solution, on the basis of agreement between the two parties to the Western Sahara dispute.  Also by that text, the Assembly continued to support strongly the Secretary-General’s efforts to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute (annex XIII).

By another recorded vote -- 173 in favour, 3 against (Israel, Palau, United States) and 3 abstentions (France, Haiti, United Kingdom) -- the Assembly adopted a resolution on economic and other activities that affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.  By that text, the Assembly urged the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to their natural resources (annex XI).

The Assembly also adopted, by a recorded vote of 121 in favour, none against and with 57 abstentions, a resolution on implementation of the decolonization Declaration by the specialized agencies and other international institutions associated with the United Nations.  The Assembly requested those bodies to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in their respective economic and social sectors (annex XII).

In another action, the Assembly adopted a resolution on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 (e) of the United Nations Charter, by which the Assembly requested administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned.  That text was adopted by a recorded vote of 172 in favour, none against and 6 abstentions (France, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United Kingdom, United States) (annex X).

TheAssembly also adopted a text on dissemination of information on decolonization by a recorded 170 votes in favour, 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States) and 1 abstention (France)(annex XIV).

Among the draft resolutions that the Assembly adopted without a vote was a consolidated two-part text on small-island Non-Self-Governing Territories, by which the Assembly reaffirmed that there was no alternative to the principle of self-determination in the process of decolonization.  It called upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to facilitate the political process in Territories under their jurisdiction through education and other means.  By part B of that text, concerning individual territories, the Assembly welcomed constitutional review processes undertaken in some of those Territories by their territorial Governments in cooperation with their respective administering Powers.

Acting again without a vote, the Assembly adopted a text on Tokelau, by which it welcomed the substantial progress made in the past year towards the devolution of power to village councils.  It acknowledged the continuing assistance that New Zealand, the administering Power, had provided for promoting self-government in the Territory.  The Assembly also adopted a resolution on New Caledonia and a decision on Gibraltar.

The Assembly further adopted, without a vote, resolutions on the effects of atomic radiation, and international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

In other actions, it decided to include “Assistance in mine action” in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session and took note of the Fourth Committee’s report on the “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”.

The Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee introduced its reports, while the representative of Nigeria presented the draft resolution on assistance to the survivors of the Rwanda genocide.  The text on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community was introduced by the representative of Barbados, while Norway’s representative introduced the text on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Speaking in explanation of vote were the representatives of Panama, Israel, Canada, India, Ukraine, Egypt and the United Kingdom.

The representatives of Somalia, Iraq, Chile, Dominican Republic and Nigeria made short statements.

Before closing the meeting, Assembly President Jean Ping (Gabon) informed delegations that the closing date of the fifty-ninth session had been pushed back from 14 December to Monday 20 December.

The General Assembly will reconvene at 3 p.m. on Wednesday 15 December to discuss the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict.  It is also expected to take action on a number of outstanding draft resolutions.

Background

The General Assembly met this afternoon to take action on draft resolutions and draft decisions contained in reports submitted by its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).

Topics addressed in those reports include assistance in mine action (agenda item 22); the effects of atomic radiation (item 74); international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (item 75); the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (item 76); Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories (item 77); comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (item 78); and questions related to information (item 79).

Decolonization issues before the Assembly include:  information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter (item 80); economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (item 81); implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by the United Nations specialized agencies and associated international institutions (item 82); offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (item 83); implementation of the Decolonization Declaration (item 20); and assistance in mine action (item 22).

Decolonization

On decolonization issues, the Assembly had before it report on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/59/478), which contained six draft resolution and two draft decisions recommended for adoption.

By draft resolution I on the question of Western Sahara, would have the Assembly would reaffirm the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of that Territory, underlining in that regard Security Council resolution 1495 (2003), which expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties.

The Assembly would continue to strongly support the efforts of the Secretary-General, according to the text, in order to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara, calling upon all parties and States of the region to cooperate fully with him.

By other terms, the Assembly would call upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of the people unaccounted for, and call on the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release, without further delay, all those held since the start of the conflict.

Draft resolution II on the question of New Caledonia would have the Assembly urge all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of that territory, to maintain, in the framework of the Noumea Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony.  The Assembly would take note of provisions in the Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of the Territory.  [The Noumea Accord was signed on 5 May 1998 by representatives of New Caledonia and the French Government.]

In addition, the Assembly would invite all the parties to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination, in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians according to the letter and spirit of the Noumea Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny.

Further, the Assembly would note positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the “Zoneco” operation, designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia.

Acknowledging the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific, the Assembly would welcome the accession by New Caledonia to observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations of countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to those countries.

Draft resolution III, on the question of Tokelau, would have the Assembly welcome the substantial progress made in the past year towards the devolution of power to village councils in that Territory.  In that context, the Assembly would note in particular the decision of the national parliament, known as the General Fono, to formally explore the option of self-government in free association, and the discussions now underway between Tokelau and New Zealand, the administering Power, pursuant to the decision of the General Fono.

By other terms, the Assembly would acknowledge the continuing assistance that New Zealand has committed to promoting Tokelau’s self-government, as well as the continuing cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  The Assembly would urge all memberStates and international agencies to contribute to a development trust fund for Tokelau to assist in overcoming its problems of smallness, isolation, and lack of resources.  The Assembly would call upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution.

The Assembly also had before it a two-part consolidated text concerning American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands (draft resolution IV).

By Part A of that draft resolution, the Assembly would reaffirm the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination in conformity with the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV).  It would also reaffirm that in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, and, in that connection, call upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial governments, to facilitate political education programmes in the Territories to foster awareness among their peoples of their right to self-determination.

It would also reaffirm the responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the socio-economic development and preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and request the Territories and administering Powers to protect the environment of the Territories under their administration against environmental degradation.

Urging Member States to contribute to the United Nations efforts to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, the Assembly would call upon them to give their full support to the Special Committee on Decolonization in that endeavour.

Also by that text, the Assembly would note that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely of amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders of Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power.  It would also take note of the constitutional reviews in the Territories administered by the United Kingdom, led by the territorial governments.

Part B of the consolidated draft resolution deals with the individual Territories.  Regarding American Samoa, the General Assembly would call upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the territorial Government.  The Assembly would also welcome the assistance from the administering Power to the Territory in its recovery efforts following the recent floods.

By the text on Anguilla, the Assembly would welcome the constitutional review process led by the Government of Anguilla in cooperation with the administering Power.  It would also note that the successful regional seminar held in Anguilla in 2003 represented the first time that the seminar had been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory.

The draft of Bermuda would have the Assembly welcome the June 2002 agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and the Territory formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government and the provision of financial resources to address some of the environmental problems.  The Assembly would also decide to closely follow the territorial consultations on the future status of Bermuda and to facilitate assistance to a public educational programme, if requested, as well as to make arrangements for a visiting mission to the Territory.

The text on the British Virgin Islands would welcome the constitutional review process led by the Government of that Territory in cooperation with the administering Power.

By a draft on the Cayman Islands, the Assembly would welcome the continuing constitutional review process led by the territorial Government in cooperation with the administering Power and note the approval by the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands of the Territory’s Vision 2008 Development Plan.

Under the provisions of the text relating to Guam, the Assembly would call upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people, as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, and to encourage the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter.

By further terms, the Assembly would request the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals.  It would also request the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory.

Further by that text, the Assembly would request the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration.  In addition, it would request the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam.

The text on Montserrat would have the Assembly call upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption.  The Assembly would also welcome the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government in cooperation with the administering Power.

By the text on Pitcairn, the Assembly would request the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security.

The draft on Saint Helena, would have the Assembly welcome the continuing constitutional review process led by the territorial Government in cooperation with the administering Power.  It would request the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address socio-economic development challenges, including unemployment and limited transport and communications.

According to the text on the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Assembly would welcome the continuing constitutional review process led by the territorial Government in cooperation with the administering Power.  It would note with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration and the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering.

By the draft on the United States Virgin Islands, the Assembly would request the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals.  Once again, it would request the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States.  It would call for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the UNDP, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The Assembly would, by other terms, note the economic difficulties being experienced by the territorial Government and the fiscal austerity measure being implemented, and others proposed, to relieve the Territory’s cash flow shortage, and would call upon the administering Power to continue to provide every assistance required by the Territory to further alleviate the difficult economic situation, including the provision of debt relief and loans.

Draft resolution V, on dissemination of information on decolonization, would have the Assembly approve the activities in that regard undertaken by the Departments of Public Information and of Political Affairs.  It would request those Departments to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, among other things, to seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the matter, to maintain a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information, and to encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information.

By draft resolution VI, entitled implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Assembly would reaffirm its determination to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism.  It would call upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on Decolonization to finalize before the end of 2005 a programme of work -- on a case-by-case basis for each of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories -- to facilitate implementation of the full mandate of the Special Committee.

The Assembly would, by further terms, urge the administering Powers to take measures to guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of those Territories to their land and natural resources.  It would also call on all administering Powers that had not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2005.

By the terms of draft decision I, on the question of Gibraltar, the Assembly would urge the Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom, while listening to the interests and aspirations of Gibraltar, to reach in the spirit of the Brussels agreement of 27 November 1984, a definitive solution to the question of that Territory in the light of relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the United Nations Charter.

Draft decision II, on the increase in the membership 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, would have the Assembly decide to increase that membership from 25 to 27 by admitting Dominica and Timor-Leste.

The Fourth Committee’s report on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations (document A/59/474) contained a draft resolution by which the Assembly would request the administering Powers concerned to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned.  It would also request the Secretary-General to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available sources in connection with the preparation of working papers related to the Territories.

A draft resolution contained in the Committee’s report on economic and other activities that affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/59/475), recommends that the Assembly reiterate that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Territories, in violation of United Nations resolutions, are a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories.  The Assembly would invite all governments and United Nations organizations to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded.

The Assembly would also, by that draft, urge the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources.  Administering Powers would be requested to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

Further to the text, the Assembly would call upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration, and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination.

The Secretary-General would be requested to inform world public opinion, through all means at his disposal, of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV).  The Assembly would appeal to the mass media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as to individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in the Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interests of their peoples, including indigenous populations, and at promoting their economic and financial viability.

Another report, 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 A/59/476), contained a draft resolution by which the Assembly would request those bodies to review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in their socio-economic sectors.  Specialized agencies and other United Nations system organizations and institutions would also be requested to strengthen existing support measures and formulate appropriate assistance programmes to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would recommend that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other United Nations organizations formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs.

The Assembly would request the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and United Nations organizations.  It would request the Secretary-General to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing relevant United Nations resolutions, and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions.

A report on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/59/477), recommends that the Assembly adopt a resolution by which it would invite all States to continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of the Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence, including, wherever possible, the provision of travel funds.  The Assembly would also urge the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities, and to provide all necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees

The Fourth Committee’s report on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (document A/59/470) recommends that the Assembly adopt four draft resolutions.

By the terms of draft resolution I, on assistance to Palestine refugees, the General Assembly would decide to extend the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) until June 2008.  It would note with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III) of December 1948 and subsequent resolutions, has not yet been effected and that the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern.  The Assembly would also note with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in implementing that resolution, and would request the Commission to exert continued efforts in that regard.

Also by that text, the Assembly would affirm the necessity for the continuation of UNRWA’s work, and the importance of its operations and services for the well-being of the Palestinian people and the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the Palestine refugee question.  The Assembly would call upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the Agency’s anticipated needs, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals.

By draft resolution II, on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, the Assembly would reaffirm the right of all those persons to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  Expressing its deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties (in the 1993 Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements) for the return of displaced persons has not been complied with, the Assembly would stress the necessity of an accelerated return.

In the meantime, the Assembly would, by further terms of the text, endorse the Commissioner-General’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance.  It would strongly appeal to all governments, organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.

Draft resolution III, on operations of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, would have the Assembly express its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the UNRWA, as well as to all Agency staff, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in light of the increasingly difficult conditions throughout the past year.  The Assembly would express its appreciation to the Agency’s Advisory Commission and request it to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of decision 48/417.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would take note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the UNRWA for its efforts to assist in ensuring the Agency’s financial security.  It would commend the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency.  It would also acknowledge the support of the host governments for UNRWA, and welcome the convening, in June 2004, of the Geneva conference by the Agency and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to increase support for UNRWA.

The Assembly would, by other terms, express concern about the temporary relocation of UNRWA’s headquarters international staff from GazaCity and the disruption of operations at the headquarters.  It would call upon Israel to comply fully with the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention on protection of civilians in time of war.  The Assembly would also call upon the Government of Israel to speedily compensate the Agency for damage to its property, and also call upon Israel to cease obstructing the movement of UNRWA personnel, vehicles and supplies, and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges.

By other terms, the Assembly would call upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the United Nations Charter, and by the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, in order to ensure the safety of UNRWA personnel, the protection of its institutions and the security of its facilities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Further, the Assembly would request the UNRWA Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the occupied Palestinian territory.  Affirming that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation, the Assembly would note the success of UNRWA’s microfinance and microenterprise programmes, and call upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute towards the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation.

By further terms, the Assembly would reiterate its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of UNRWA’S archives through the Palestine Refugee Records Project.  In addition, the Assembly would reiterate its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the Agency’s regular budget, and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees.  It would request the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships.

The Assembly would urge all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support its valuable work in assistance to the Palestine refugees.

Draft resolution IV, on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues, would have the Assembly reaffirm that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived there from, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice.

By other terms, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel, and call once again on Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution.

Further by the text, the Assembly would call upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution.  It would urge the Palestinian and Israeli sides to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process.

Israeli Practices in Occupied ArabTerritories

The Fourth Committee’s report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the OccupiedTerritories (document A/59/471) recommends to the Assembly the adoption of five draft resolutions.

By draft resolution I, on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, the Assembly would reiterate its demand that Israel cooperate with the Special Committee.

The Assembly would, by other terms, deplore those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the Special Committee’s report.  It would express grave concern about the continuing crisis situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemn the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions, which has resulted in more than 3,400 Palestinian deaths, including more than 750 children, and tens of thousands of injuries.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would request the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949.  The Special Committee would also be requested to consult with the International Committee of the Red Cross in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded.

Also by that text, the Assembly would request the Special Committee to submit periodic reports to the Secretary-General on the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.  It would further request the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners and detainees in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

By the terms of draft resolution II, on the applicability of the Geneva Convention, the Assembly would reaffirm that it is applicable to the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and demand that Israel comply scrupulously with the provisions of that Convention.  It would call upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel in the occupied territories.  The Assembly would also reiterate the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions of its tenth emergency session, including resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004.

Draft resolution III, on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, would have the Assembly reaffirm that those settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development.  It would also call upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to those occupied territories, and to abide scrupulously by the provision of the Convention, in particular article 49.

Further by the text, the Assembly would reiterate its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, and call for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.  It would also demand that Israel comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice and as demanded by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004.

By other terms, the Assembly would stress the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory.  The Assembly would reiterate its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and property, particularly in light of recent developments.

Draft resolution IV, on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied Palestinian territories, would have the Assembly reiterate that all measures and actions taken by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in wartime, and contrary to the relevant Security Council resolutions, are illegal and have no validity.  The Assembly would demand that Israel comply fully with the provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention, including extrajudicial executions.

Further, the Assembly would demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, respect human rights and comply with its obligations.  It would also demand that Israel comply with its legal obligations as mentioned in the advisory opinion of 9 July 2004 rendered by the International Court of Justice and as demanded in resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, by, among other actions, dismantling the wall and making reparation for damage caused by its construction.  It would also stress the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the occupied Palestinian territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within that territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world.

A further provision of the text would have the Assembly condemn all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital infrastructure.  The Assembly would also condemn the events that occurred in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, the Rafah refugee camp in May 2004 and the Jabaliya refugee camp in October 2004.

Also by that text, the Assembly would express grave concern at the use of suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life and injury.

By draft resolution V, on the occupied Syrian Golan, the Assembly would call upon Israel to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel rescind its decision.

The Assembly would, by other terms call upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and to desist from the establishment of settlements.  It would determine that all legislative and administrative measures and actions by Israel that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention, and have no legal effect.  In addition, the Assembly would call upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and from its repressive measures against the population.  It would also deplore Israel’s violations of the Geneva Convention and call, once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures referred to in the present draft resolution.

Information

The Fourth Committee’s report on questions relating to information (document A/59/473), contains a two-part draft resolution and a draft decision recommended for adoption by the Assembly.

By draft resolution A, entitled information in the service of humanity, the Assembly would urge all countries, the United Nations system and all others concerned to cooperate and interact to reduce existing disparities in information flows, by increasing assistance for communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries.  The Assembly would also urge all concerned to ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks, and condemn all attacks against them.  They would also be urged to provide support for the strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries.

Draft resolution B, on United Nations public information policies and activities, would have the Assembly reaffirm that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world and that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasize the essential role of the Department of Public Information (DPI) in that context.  It would stress the importance of clear and timely provision of information by the Secretariat to Member States within the framework of existing mandates and procedures, and encourage DPI to continue to do so.

Further by that text, the Assembly would request the Department, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in the medium-term plan and using the United Nations Millennium Declaration as its guide, to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and the needs of the African continent.  The Assembly would further request the DPI to pay attention to all major issues addressed in the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals in carrying out its activities.

Concerning the general activities of the DPI, the Assembly would reaffirm that the Department is the focal point for United Nations information policies and the primary news centre for information about the activities of the Organization and the Secretary-General, and encourage closer integration of functions between the Department and the office providing spokesman services for the Secretary-General.  The Assembly would also welcome the DPI’s recommendations for developing a communications strategy on publicizing the work and decisions of the General Assembly, and encourage the Department to establish a closer working relationship with the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

By further terms, the Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to strengthen the coordination between the DPI and other Secretariat departments, including the designation of focal points to work with substantive departments, in the context of its client-oriented approach, to identify target audiences and develop information programmes and media strategies for priority issues, and emphasize that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department.

Under a further provision, the Assembly would appreciate the Department’s continued efforts in issuing daily press releases, and request it to continue providing that invaluable service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States.

On multilingualism and public information, the Assembly would welcome the DPI’s ongoing efforts in that regard, and emphasize the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all the DPI activities.  It would recognize the fact that the integration of the Official Document System (ODS) with the United Nations Web site, scheduled to take place during the fourth quarter of 2004, will significantly enhance the multilingual nature of the site by providing free public access to all United Nations parliamentary documents in the six official languages.

Towards bridging the “digital divide”, the Assembly would welcome the holding of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) from 10 to 12 December 2003, and looked forward to the second phase to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005.  It would call upon the DPI to contribute in raising awareness of the international community of the importance of the Summit and the need to join efforts to make it a success.

Taking note of the Secretary-General’s note on the 2006-2007 on the proposed strategic framework on the Department’s programmatic aspects, the Assembly would stress the need to include in the proposed biennial programme plan quantifiable and verifiable indicators for measuring expected accomplishments, so as to give a clear indication of the progress towards the accomplishment of objectives set.  It would also stress the importance of full compliance with all legislative mandates, when preparing the proposed budget for 2006-2007.

Regarding the United Nations Information Centres (UNICs), the Assembly would reaffirm paragraph 15 of its resolution 57/300, in which it took note of the Secretary-General’s proposal to rationalize the network of the UNICs around regional hubs, where appropriate, in consultation with concerned Member States, starting with the creation of a Western European hub and followed by a similar approach in other high-cost developed countries.  It would request the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the implementation of the proposal with the objective of applying this initiative in other regions, in consultation with Member States, where this initiative will strengthen the flow and exchange of information in developing countries.  It would welcome the agreement between the DPI and the Western European countries to establish a Regional United Nations Information Centre (RUNIC) in Brussels.

Taking note of the Secretary-General’s report on the rationalization of the network of the UNICs, the Assembly would stress that the report could not at that stage fully address all aspects of the implementation of the rationalization of the UNICs in Western Europe and other high-cost developed countries.  In that regard, he would be asked to report in detail to the Committee at its next session.  The Assembly would also stress that the information centres, or regional hubs, as the “field voice” of the Department, should promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level.

The Assembly would, by other terms, affirm that the above-mentioned objectives are central to the future rationalization of the UNICs, which must be in consultation, on a case-by-case basis, with all concerned Member States in which existing UNICs are located, the countries served by those UNICs, and other interested countries in the region, taking into consideration the distinctive characteristics of each region.  In the framework of rationalization, the Secretary-General would be requested to extend the services of UNICs and RUNICs to those Member States currently outside the scope of the DPI’s field information capacity.

The Assembly would also request the Secretary-General -- within the framework of the rationalization process -- to take into account the needs of Portuguese-speaking African countries, and the offer made by the Government of Angola.  It would welcome the DPI’s ongoing efforts to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the UNICs with a view to transferring resources from information centres in developed countries to United Nations information activities in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries, and to any other activities of high priority, such as multilingualism on the web site and evaluation of services.

By other terms, the Assembly would appreciate the DPI’s work in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as sustainable development, children, HIV/AIDS, malaria, decolonization, dialogue among civilizations, tolerance and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.  The Assembly would stress the need for renewed emphasis in support of Africa’s development, in particular by the DPI, in order to promote international awareness of the nature of the critical socio-economic situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

Regarding the DPI’s role in United Nations peacekeeping, the Assembly would request the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the DPI from the planning stage of future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).  It would also stress the importance of enhancing the DPI’s public information capacity in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for the United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions.

Expressing regret over the information gap between the new realities and success of peacekeeping operations, especially multidimensional and complex ones, and the public perceptions, the Assembly would stress the need for a comprehensive public information strategy on peacekeeping operations, undertaken in close coordination with other relevant departments, to overcome such gaps and ensure a positive public impact.  It would emphasize the need for close cooperation between the DPI and DPKO to develop this strategy.

By further terms, the Assembly would encourage the DPI to provide the necessary support within existing resources for dissemination of information pertaining to dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace, as well as take due steps in fostering the culture of dialogue among civilizations via all mass media such as the Internet, print, radio and television.

In the area of news services, the Assembly would stress that the central objective of the news services, implemented by the News and Media Division, is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media -- print, radio, television and the Internet -- to the media and other audiences worldwide with overall emphasis on multilingualism.

The Assembly would also stress that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the DPI and note that an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations has been made an integral part of the Department’s activities.  It would request the Secretary-General to pay full attention to the parity of the six official languages in expanding the international radio broadcasting capacity.

With regard to the United Nations Web site, the Assembly would note that the multilingual development and enrichment of the site has improved, although slower than expected due to constraints that need to be addressed.  In that regard, it would encourage the DPI to improve actions to achieve full parity among the six official languages on the United Nations Web site and reaffirm the need for parity.

In addition, the Assembly would stress the need for the DPI to take further necessary measures to ensure accessibility to the Web site by persons with disabilities, including visual and hearing disabilities, and call on the Department, as a first step, to make further efforts for all new and revised pages to adhere to the obligatory level of compliance with recognized industry standards regarding such accessibility, and within existing resources to work towards compliance with all other levels of such standards.

Welcoming the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service, distributed worldwide through e-mail by the DPI, the Assembly would also welcome the inclusion of the news e-mail services in English and French, and the Secretary-General’s intention to include other official languages in these services by 2004.

The Assembly would, by further terms, welcome the creation of the Steering Committee on the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries, and commend it for its coordinating role and initial organizational efforts and for reaching agreement on an impressive programme of work.  It would call on DPI to continue to lead the Steering Committee, and encourage the member libraries of the Steering Committee to coordinate closely and to establish time frames for the fulfilment of its programme of work.  It would also note with appreciation the operation of a common library in Nairobi within existing resources and urge all United Nations offices in Nairobi to participate and support this venture.

By other terms, the Assembly would note the importance of the continued implementation by the DPI of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries in transition, and encourage the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing aspects such as its duration and the number of its participants.

The Assembly would recognize the need for the DPI to increase its outreach services in all regions and reiterate the need to include, in the reorientation of the United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, an analysis of the present reach and scope of the activities of the Department, identifying the widest possible spectrum of audiences and geographical areas that are not covered adequately and that might require special attention, including the appropriate means of communication, and bearing in mind local language requirements.  Welcoming the thrust for educational outreach and the orientation of the UN Chronicle to that end, the Assembly would also call on the DPI to strengthen its role as a focal point for two-way interaction with civil society.

Congratulating the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) for its Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund, which sponsors journalists from developing countries to come to the United Nations Headquarters and report on activities during the General Assembly, the Assembly would urge donors to extend financial support to the Fund so as to increase the number of scholarships.

The Assembly would also note that the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations will be observed in 2005, and request the DPI to take necessary measures to publicize the occasion in every way possible, stressing the purposes and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and highlighting its accomplishments in the past six decades.

By a draft decision on the increase in the membership of the Committee on Information, the Assembly would increase that membership from 102 to 107, with the admission of Qatar, Iceland, Luxembourg, Madagascar and Cape Verde.

Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

The Assembly had before it a report on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/59/469), which recommends that the Assembly adopt two texts.

By the terms of draft resolution I, on application of the concept of the “launching State”, the General Assembly would recommend that States conducting space activities consider enacting and implementing national laws authorizing and providing for supervision of non-governmental activities in outer space under their jurisdiction.  States would do so in fulfilling their international obligations under the United Nations treaties on outer space, in particular the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies; the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects; and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

According to the draft, the Assembly would also recommend that States consider the conclusion of agreements in accordance with the Liability Convention with respect to joint launches or cooperation programmes.  The Assembly would further recommend that the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space invite Member States to submit information on their current practices regarding “on-orbit transfer of ownership of space objects” and that States consider the possibility of harmonizing such practices.

By draft resolution II, on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, the Assembly would reaffirm the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

The Assembly would, by further terms, endorse the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and urge States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer space to consider ratifying or acceding to those treaties, as well as incorporating them in their national legislation.

The Assembly would endorse the Committee’s recommendation that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, consider, among other things, the status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; the definition and delimitation of outer space; and the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including ways to ensure its equitable use without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  The Assembly would endorse the recommendation of the Legal Subcommittee to establish an open-ended ad hoc working group to continue to consider the appropriateness of the United Nations acting as supervisory authority.

By other terms, the Assembly would endorse the Committee’s recommendation that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-eighth session, consider, among other things, the United Nations Programme on Space Applications; implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); matters relating to remote-sensing of Earth by satellite; space debris; use of nuclear power sources in outer space; and space-system-based telemedicine.

The draft would also have the Assembly endorse the recommendation of the Fourth Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with Member States, be invited to arrange a symposium to address high-resolution and hyperspectral satellite data integration for precision farming, environmental monitoring and possible new applications to be held during the first week of the forty-second session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.

Further by the draft, the Assembly would note with satisfaction that the Committee submitted the report on the review of the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III use in its review and appraisal of that matter at its fifty-ninth session.

The Assembly would urge all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.  It would also consider it essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects and space debris, agreeing that international cooperation is needed to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions.

By further terms, the Assembly would emphasize the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications, and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries.  The Assembly would urge entities of the United Nations system to examine how space science and technology could contribute to attaining the goals of the Millennium Declaration.

Also by the text, the Assembly would decide that Libya and Thailand shall become members of the Outer Space Committee.  It would urge the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications.

Effects of Atomic Radiation

The Fourth Committee’s report on Effects of atomic radiation (document A/59/468), contains a draft resolution by which the Assembly would request the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to continue its work, including its activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources.  The Assembly would endorse the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment.

By further terms, the Assembly would request the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to continue providing support for the work of the Scientific Committee and urge the Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would invite the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to information provided by Member States on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invite Member States, the organizations of the Untied Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation.

Assistance in Mine Action

The Fourth Committee’s report on assistance in mine action (document A/59/467) contains a draft decision by which the Assembly would include the matter in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session.

Peacekeeping Operations

The Fourth Committee’s report on its comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (document A/59/472) notes that the Committee considered that item from 25 to 28 October.

Strengthening Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian Assistance

In matters not pertaining to the Fourth Committee, the Assembly was also expected to consider the Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations.  In that respect it had before it a draft resolution on “Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence” (document A/59/L.45).

By that text, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to encourage the United Nations to continue working with the Government of Rwanda in developing and implementing programmes to support vulnerable groups that continue to suffer from the effects of the 1994 genocide, in alleviating poverty, disease and suffering as well as promoting development. It would also invite the entities of the United Nations to continue to develop and implement those programmes, using existing resources and encourage mobilization of additional voluntary contributions.

The United Nations would also be invited to ensure that assistance is provided in the specific areas prioritized by the Government of Rwanda -- education for orphans; medical care and treatment for victims of sexual violence; trauma and psychological counselling for genocide survivors and; skills training and micro-credit programmes aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and alleviating poverty.

Member States would also be encouraged to seriously consider promoting the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the independent inquiry into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.  They would be further encouraged to provide assistance to genocide survivors and other vulnerable groups in that country.

Cooperation between the United Nations, Regional and Other Organizations

The Assembly was also expected to take up Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations.

By a draft on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community (document A/59/L.25) the Assembly would call upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in association with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as relevant regional organizations, to continue to assist in furthering the development and maintenance of peace and security within the Caribbean region.

The Assembly would also, by a text on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe” (document A/59/L.31), ask the Secretary-General to continue exploring with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe –- possibly by arranging a meeting between representatives of the two organizations in light of the outcome of the Third Summit of the Council of Europe -– possibilities for the further enhancement of cooperation between the two organizations.

Action by Assembly

The Fourth Committee’s Rapporteur, KAIS KABTANI (Tunisia) introduced the reports before the Assembly, which adopted, without a vote, the draft decision on Assistance in mine action (document A/59/467).

Taking up the report on Effects of atomic radiation (document A/59/468) the Assembly adopted that text, also without a vote.

It then took up the report on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (document A/59/469), adopting, without a vote, draft resolution I entitled “The application of the concept of the “launching State”, and draft resolution II entitled “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”.

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees

The Assembly then turned to the four draft resolutions contained in the Committee’s report on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (document A/59/470).

Taking up draft resolution I, on “Assistance to Palestine refugees”, the Assembly adopted that text by a recorded vote of 167 in favour, 1 against (Israel), with 11 abstentions (see annex I).

It then adopted draft resolution II, “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities”, by a recorded vote of 162 in favour, 6 against (Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 9 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu) (annex II).

Taking action on draft resolution III, “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”, the Assembly adopted it by a recorded 163 votes in favour, 6 against (Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 7 abstentions (Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea) (annex III).

By a recorded vote of 161 in favour, 6 against (Israel, Grenada, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 9 abstentions (Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu), the Assembly then adopted draft resolution IV, “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues” (annex IV).

Explanation of Vote

The representative of Israel, speaking in explanation of vote, said his country fully supported UNRWA’S humanitarian mandate.  However, because its mission was humanitarian and not political, and because the issue of refugees was specifically reserved for negotiations between the parties, UNRWA resolutions should not deal with extraneous political issues.  They should not single out one host country and prejudge issues set aside for final status negotiations.

Noting that the entire United Nations system had of late devoted itself to the mission of reform and revitalization, he said that further streamlining and depoliticization of resolutions was necessary.  For all of those reasons, Israel had not been able to support the resolutions.

Israeli Practices in Occupied ArabTerritories

The Assembly then took up the Committee’s report on the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (document A/59/471).

It adopted draft resolution I, “Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”, by a recorded vote of 84 in favour, 9 against (Australia, Canada, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 80 abstentions (annex V).

Taking up draft resolution II, “Applicability of the Geneva Convention”, the Assembly then adopted it by a recorded vote of 160 in favour, 7 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 11 abstentions (annex VI).

It then took up draft resolution III, “Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”, adopting that text by a recorded 155 votes in favour, 8 against (Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 15 abstentions (annex VII).

The Assembly then adopted draft resolution IV, “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied Palestinian territories”, by a recorded a vote of 149 in favour, 7 against (Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States) with 22 abstentions (annex VIII).

By a recorded vote of 160 in favour, 2 against (Israel, Nauru) with 15 abstentions, the Assembly then adopted draft resolution V, “The occupied Syrian Golan” (annex IX).

Explanation of Vote

The representative of Panama, reiterated his country’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination within a constituted free and independent State, as well as the right of Israel to live in peace with its neighbours.  Panama’s delegation had traditionally voted in favour of all Fourth Committee resolutions but on this occasion it had refrained from voting on resolution A/59/L.14.

He said that given the circumstances in the region, the Special Committee should not just investigate one party to the conflict -- its mandate should be broader.  While there could be no support for occupation of territory, extra-judicial killings or suicide attacks against civilians, there were other ways to settle the issues and any settlement must observe the norms of international law.  Resolution of the conflict would not be achieved by the number of resolutions but by the consensus achieved.  A proposal should be formulated to resolve conflicts.  Panama would support any effort to bring a just and lasting pace to the Middle East.

The representative of Israel, said he had voted against the draft resolutions because they presented a picture that was disconnected from reality.  On the ground there was a sense of a revival of talks and negotiations.  The texts, however, were one sided and blocked opportunities for real progress.  If conditions in the region were to be improved, such unhelpful obstacles must be left behind.  There was now an opportunity on the ground and international community should make it work.  

The representative of Canada, said her country had revised its voting and decided to vote against the text on the Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices.  Canada was very concerned about the suffering of the Palestinians and the Israelis, and deplored all violence.  It had called on Israel to comply with its obligations under international law.  However, the resolution added no value to the work of other organizations involved in the peace process.  Moreover, it distorted the picture that should reflect the rights and obligations of all parties.

Comprehensive Review of Peacekeeping Operations

The Assembly then took note of the Committee’s report on its comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (document A/59/472).

Turning to the report on questions relating to information (document A/59/473) it then took action on the two texts contained in it, adopting draft resolution A -- “Information in the service of humanity” -- and draft resolution B -- “United Nations public information policies and activities” –- without a vote.

Also without a vote, the Assembly then adopted the draft decision on the increase in the membership of the Committee on Information.

Action on Decolonization Issues

Taking up the Committee’s report on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the charter of the United Nations (document A/59/474), the Assembly adopted the draft resolution contained therein by a recorded vote of 172 in favour, none against and 6 abstentions (France, Israel, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United Kingdom, United States) (annex X).

It then turned to the report on economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/50/475), adopting that text by a recorded 173 votes in favour, 3 against (Israel, Palau, United States), with 3 abstentions (France, Haiti, United Kingdom) (annex XI).

By a recorded vote of 121 in favour, none against, with 57 abstentions, the Assembly then adopted the draft resolution contained in the report on 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 A/59/476)(annex XII).

Acting without a vote, the Assembly then adopted the draft resolution contained in the report on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/59/477).

The Assembly then turned to the report on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/59/478), taking action on its six draft resolutions and two draft decisions.

By a recorded vote of 50 in favour, none against and 100 abstentions, the Assembly adopted draft resolution I, “Question of Western Sahara (annex XIII).

It then adopted, without a vote, draft resolution II, “Question of New Caledonia”.

Acting again without a vote, it then adopted draft resolution III, “Question of Tokelau”.

Also without a vote, it then adopted draft resolution IV, “Question of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.

Taking up draft resolution V, “dissemination of information on decolonization”, the Assembly then adopted that text by a recorded 170 votes in favour, 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 1 abstention (France)(annex XIV).

By a recorded vote of 167 in favour, 2 against (United Kingdom, United States) and 4 abstentions (Belgium, France, Germany, Israel), the Assembly then adopted draft resolution VI on “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to colonial Countries and Peoples(annex XV).

The Assembly then adopted, without a vote, a draft decision on the “Question of Gibraltar”.

Finally, it adopted, also without a vote, a draft decision on the “Increase in the membership of the Special Committee with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”.

Explanation of Vote

The representative of India, expressed disappointment that the parties to the issue of Western Sahara could not come to any consensus and urged them to find a solution through dialogue.

The representative of Ukraine, aligning himself with the European Union, said he favoured a lasting and just solution that ensured the people’s right to self-determination.  It was regrettable that the tradition of adopting the text by consensus had not continued.  The parties could have exerted more efforts to reach a consensus.  The fact that Ukraine had abstained from voting did not indicate any opinion in favour of any of the parties.

The representative of Egypt said the voting had not indicated that his country had abstained.  It had done so because a lasting solution to the question could only be reached through direct negotiations between the parties.  That could also strengthen good-neighbourly relations in the region.

The representative of the United Kingdom said his country had voted against the resolution relating to dissemination information on decolonization, which represented a waste of scarce United Nations resources, as well as the text on implementation of the decolonization Declaration.  The United Kingdom was committed to enhancing and improving its relations with colonial countries and would work with the Special Political and Decolonization Committee.

Action on Plenary Texts

The Assembly then took action on a number of plenary-generated draft resolutions.

The representative of Nigeria, introduced a text on assistance to the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and sexual violence (document A/59/L.45), saying that, among other things, it called for concrete measures to address the affects of the genocide, and for Member States and the United Nations system to work with the Government of Rwanda to provide support for the survivors.

It was important that those who had survived the ugly events, and who had already gone through such tremendous pain and suffering, regain their dignity as human beings and find ways to assume their rightful place in society, he said.  In that context, the focus should be on education for orphans as well as medical care, including psychological care and training for survivors.

The Assembly then adopted the draft without a vote.

Next, the representative of Barbados, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), introduced a draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) (document A/59/L.25).  After reading out a small correction to preambular paragraph 10 -- on the effects of the recent storms and hurricanes that had devastated the Caribbean region -- he said the text reaffirmed the importance of regional organizations in furthering international peace and security and stressed the necessity of fully implementing the Barbados Programme of Action.

The representative of Norway then introduced a draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe (document A/59/L.31), saying that the text had been prepared to promote the furtherance of cooperative efforts by both entities towards their shared international goals.

The Assembly then adopted both texts without votes.

Following that action, the representative of Somalia said with regard to the Fourth Committee text on Western Sahara, his delegation had intended not to vote at all.  However, that had been mistakenly reflected in the record as an abstention.

The representative of Iraq said his delegation had voted in favour of the texts relating to the occupied Syrian Golan and Western Sahara.

The representative of Chile said his delegation had intended to vote in favour of texts, relating respectively to information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter, and dissemination of information on decolonization.

The representative of the Dominican Republic said his delegation had voted in favour of the text on implementation of the decolonization Declaration by specialized agencies.

The representative of Nigeria said his delegation had supported the resolution on Western Sahara.

ANNEX I

Vote on Palestine Refugees

The draft resolution on assistance to Palestine refugees (document A/59/470) was adopted by a recorded vote of 167 in favour to 1 against, with 11 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, 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, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 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, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel.

Abstain:  Cameroon, Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Albania, Bhutan, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland.

ANNEX II

Vote on Displaced Persons

The draft resolution on persons displaced as a result of June 1967 and subsequent hostilities (document A/59/470) was adopted by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 6 against, with 9 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 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, Nicaragua, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Albania, Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia., Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland.

ANNEX III

Vote on UNRWA Operations

The draft resolution on operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (document A/59/470) was adopted by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 6 against, with 7 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 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, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea.

Absent:  Albania, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia., Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

ANNEX IV

Vote on Palestine Refugees’ Properties

The draft resolution on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues (document A/59/470) was adopted by a recorded vote of 161 in favour to 6 against, with 9 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 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, Nicaragua, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Albania, Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Uganda.

ANNEX V

Vote on Work of Special Committee

The draft resolution on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the OccupiedTerritories (document A/59/471) was adopted by a recorded vote of 84 in favour to 9 against, with 80 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Gambia, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Swaziland, Timor-Leste.

ANNEX VI

Vote on Applicability of Geneva Convention

The draft resolution on the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories (document A/59/471) was adopted by a recorded vote of 160 in favour to 7 against, with 11 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, 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, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, 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, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

ANNEX VII

Vote on Israeli Settlements

The draft resolution on Israeli settlements in the OccupiedPalestinianTerritories, including East Jerusalem, and the Occupied Syrian Golan (document A/59/471) was adopted by a recorded vote of 155 in favour to 8 against, with
15 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 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, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, 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, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Albania, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia., Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago.

ANNEX VIII

Vote on Israeli Practices

The draft resolution on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian People in the OccupiedPalestinianTerritory, including East Jerusalem (document A/59/471) was adopted by a recorded vote of 149 in favour to 7 against, with 22 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 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, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, 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, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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

Abstain:  Albania, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Kenya, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

ANNEX IX

Vote on Syrian Golan

The draft resolution on the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/59/471) was adopted by a recorded vote of 160 in favour to 2 against, with 15 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 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, Nicaragua, 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, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, 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, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, Palau.

Abstain:  Albania, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia Grenada, Haiti, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu.

Absent:  Angola, Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Solomon Islands.

ANNEX X

Vote on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories

The draft resolution on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 (e) of the Charter of the United Nations (document A/59/474) was adopted by a recorded vote of 172 in favour to none against, with 6 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, 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, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  None.

Abstain:  Federated States of Micronesia, France, Israel, Palau, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent:  Bahamas, Bhutan, Chad, Chile, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Malawi, Monaco, Niger, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis., Uzbekistan.

ANNEX XI

Vote on Economic and Other Activities

The draft resolution on Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/59/475) was adopted by a recorded vote of 173 in favour to 3 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, Palau, United States.

Abstain:  France, Haiti, United Kingdom.

Absent:  Bhutan, Chad, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Malawi, Monaco, Niger, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Uzbekistan.

ANNEX XII

Vote on Implementation by Specialized Agencies

The draft resolution on 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 A/59/476) was adopted by a recorded vote of 121 in favour to none against, with 57 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  None.

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Absent:  Dominican Republic, Bhutan, Chad, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

ANNEX XIII

Vote on Western Sahara

The draft resolution on the Question of Western Sahara (document A/59/478) was adopted by a recorded vote of 50 in favour to none against, with 100 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, South Africa, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  None.

Abstain:  Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Yemen.

Absent:  Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Congo, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

ANNEX XIV

Vote on Dissemination of Information

The draft resolution on dissemination of information on decolonization (document A/59/478) was adopted by a recorded vote of 170 in favour to 3 against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, 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, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstain:  France.

Absent:  Bhutan, Chad, Chile, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Iraq, Kiribati, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

ANNEX XV

Vote on Implementation of Decolonization Declaration

The draft resolution on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/59/478) was adopted by a recorded vote of 167 in favour to 2 against, with 4 abstentions, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, 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, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  United Kingdom, United States.

Abstain:  Belgium, France, Germany, Israel.

Absent:  Bhutan, Chad, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Haiti, Iraq, Kiribati, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam.

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