Krisis dan Jiwa Besar Pemimpin

Dampak krisis secara perlahan sudah dirasakan oleh beberapa sector industri yang padat karya dan banyak bergantung kepada pasar ekspor maupun bahan baku impor. Dampak yang mudah dilihat adalah pemutusah hubungan kerja (PHK) karyawan dalam rangka mengurangi ongkos produksi dan menyelamatkan keberlangsungan perusahaan. Industri tekstil, sebagai misal, sedang mengalami penurunan pesanan akibat turunnya permintaan dari pasar Amerika Serikat dan Uni Eropa. Situasi ini memaksa perusahaan-perusahaan tekstil untuk melakukan efisiensi, bahkan sebagian dari mereka telah berhenti beroperasi. Selain industri tekstil, beberapa industri padat karya lainnya juga sedang mengalami situasi yang sama.

Mungkin hal ini tidak hanya akan dialami oleh industri manufaktur yang banyak bergantung kepada pasar ekspor, akan tetapi hal ini bisa terjadi dengan industri-industri jasa seperti media dan transportasi. Di Amerika Serikat, perusahan-perusahaan media ternama seperti the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, yang juga dikenal dengan majalah Newsweek-nya, tidak dapat terhindar dari ancaman krisis akibat dari penurunan pendapatan iklan. The Los Angeles Times telah menyatakan dirinya bangkrut, sedangkan majalah Newsweek akan melakukan pengurangan karyawan dan perubahan tampilan yang lebih ramping. Sementara itu, jasa tranportasi, seperti industri logistik, juga sedang mengalami penurunan permintaan seiring dengan menurunnya aktifitas ekspor industri di dalam negeri.

Gambaran di atas sesungguhnya ingin menunjukkan bahwa krisis kali ini juga hampir sama seperti krisis yang terjadi pada tahun 1997-an. Sama dalam arti bahwa krisis ini akan meningkatkan jumlah pengangguran dan angka kemiskinan. Sehingga tak dapat dipungkiri, gejolak-gejolak sosial yang sama bisa saja terjadi lagi.

Sebagai pemegang amanah rakyat, sebenarnya langkah-langkah pemerintah sudah mengarah kepada titik antisipasi krisis. Hari Jum’at kemarin, Menteri Koordinator Perekonomian Sri Mulyani meminta setiap Departemen yang potensial untuk menggunakan anggarannya dalam rangka membuka lapangan kerja baru. Menurut Ibu Menko Perekonomian, Indonesia membutuhkan lebih kurang tiga juta lapangan kerja baru guna mengantisipasi krisis (Kompas, 13/12/2008). Selain itu, langkah-langkah lain seperti pengendalian impor barang dan penurunan suku bunga acuan Bank Indonesia (BI Rate) menjadi harapan dalam situasi ketidakpastian seperti ini.

Namun permasalahannya, tanpa maksud merendahkan kemampuan, apakah pemerintah mampu menyelesaikan masalah ini sendiri? Apalagi kalau niatannya hanya mengejar popularitas untuk Pemilu tahun depan.

Disaat seperti inilah, kemampuan seorang pemimpin diukur. Kemampuan untuk merangkul kelompok-kelompok pendukung maupun penentang. Memang hajatan Pemilu tidak lama lagi akan digelar, akan tetapi alangkah bijaknya jika SBY-JK tidak dulu focus ke masalah itu, melainkan mengoptimalkan segala sumber daya yang ada untuk mencegah keterpurukan bangsa ini di dalam lubang yang sama untuk kesekian kalinya.

Melepas baju kepentingan memang sulit, tetapi apa salahnya jika SBY-JK mengundang Megawati, Akbar Tanjung, Amien Rais, Hidayat Nur Wahid, dan tokoh-tokoh lainnya untuk duduk bersama mencari jalan keluar dari krisis. Paling tidak dengan bertemunya simpul-simpul itu, mereka dapat menyamakan pandangan mereka mengenai krisis. Agar krisis ini tidak menjadi komoditas politik menjelang Pemilu 2009. Sebab situasi ini bisa menjadi ‘bom waktu’ yang sewaktu-waktu dapat meledak apabila tidak dikendalikan sejak dini.

Di sisi lain, kerjasama antara pemerintah dan organisasi-organisasi kemasyarakatan (Ormas), seperti NU, Muhammadiyah, PGI, dan yang lainnya sebenarnya belum dilakukan secara optimal. Padahal sebagian dari mereka juga mempunyai program-program pemberdayaan ekonomi masyarakat yang bisa membuka peluang alternatif di saat krisis.

Pada akhirnya, SBY-JK diharapkan untuk dapat menegaskan kembali orientasi industri negeri ini. Karena dalam kenyataannya, industri manufaktur yang sebagian besar berlokasi di perkotaan lebih maju daripada industri-industri yang berbasis pertanian, perkebunan, peternakan, dan perikanan. Re-orientasi ini menjadi penting sebab secara geografis peluang untuk mengembangkan industri itu masih terbuka luas.

Andi Kurniawan
Alumnus Hubungan Internasional
Universitas Jember 2001

Lawmakers clear way for export financing agency

The Jakarta Post Daily-December 17, 2008-The establishment of a new agency to substitute Bank Export Indonesia (BEI) is considered as a support for exporters amid global economic downturn. According to Sri Mulyani, Acting Coordinating Minister of Economy, the new agency is expected to provide financing to sectors unreachable by banks and commercial institutions. Meanwhile, Nusanita Nasution of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said the agency was expected to accelerate export and raise international confidence in Indonesian products.

مقتل فلسطيني باشتباكات بين مسلحين بمخيم في لبنان

قتل فلسطيني وجرح آخرون في اشتباك داخل مخيم المية ومية للاجئين الفلسطينيين في جنوب لبنان الاثنين.
وقال منير مقداح، وهو قيادي في حركة التحرير الوطني الفلسطيني (فتح) ويترأس الهيئة المسؤولة عن الأمن في مخيمات اللاجئين الفلسطينيين إن القتيل –الذي يدعى وليد زيدان- هو أحد أعضاء حركة فتح.

وأفاد المسؤول الفلسطيني بأن القتال دار بين مسلحين من حركة فتح وآخرين من حركة المقاومة الإسلامية (حماس)، مشيرا إلى أن الاشتباكات استعملت فيها الأسلحة الرشاشة والقذائف الصاروخية.

وقال المسؤول إن الهدوء استعيد بعد أن انتقلت قوات الأمن الفلسطينية إلى مخيم المية ومية الذي يعتبر واحدا من أصغر 12 مخيما للاجئين الفلسطينيين في لبنان.

وأعلن مسؤولون فلسطينيون آخرون أن المسلحين الذين تبادلوا الاشتباكات ينتمون إلى نفس عائلة زيدان المنقسمة بين فتح وحماس.

وقد نفت حركة حماس أن تكون لها أي علاقة بما حدث، وقالت إنّ الاشتباك وقع بين فئات من فتح، وشدّدت على أنّها تعمل مع بقية الفصائل على عودة الهدوء إلى المخيم.

وقد سير عشرات من رجال فتح دوريات مسلحة في شوارع المية ومية، الذي يضم نحو 4500 نسمة وفقا لأرقام الأمم المتحدة.

وتشهد مخيمات اللاجئين الفلسطينيين احتكاكات شبه مستمرة بين المسلحين، ولا يدخل الجيش اللبناني تلك المخيمات ويترك مسؤولية الأمن فيها للفصائل الفلسطينية.

المصدر:
الجزيرة + وكالات

بعد يوم النحر حجاج بيت الله يستعدون لأيام التشريق

محمد داود-مكة المكرمة

بدأ حجاج بيت الله الحرام استعداداتهم لأيام التشريق الثلاثة، وهي الحادي عشر والثاني عشر والثالث عشر من ذي الحجة، وفيها يؤدي الحجاج واجب رمي الجمرات ويقيمون في منى. وقالت السلطات السعودية إنها أتمت استعداداتها البلدية في المشاعر المقدسة استعدادا لهذه الأيام.

وكان الحجاج قد نحروا الهدي صبيحة يوم عيد الأضحى وحلقوا بعد رجم جمرة العقبة الكبرى، وتحللوا من إحرامهم فيما توجه غالبيتهم اليوم إلى المسجد الحرام لأداء ركني طواف الإفاضة وسعي الحج لمن لم يسع منهم.

وازدحمت ساحات الحرم المكي بالحجاج القادمين من منى للطواف والسعي، ويعود الحجاج بعد الطواف والسعي إلى منى لقضاء ليلتهم هناك، ويجب على الحاج قضاء ليلتين أو ثلاث (لغير المتعجل) في منى يرمي خلالها الجمرات بعد زوال شمس كل يوم من أيام التشريق.

وشهدت مكة زحاما مروريا كبيرا وخاصة على الطرق الواصلة مع مكة إذ يتنقل الحجاج في يوم النحر بين منى التي وصلها الحجيج لرمي جمرة العقبة ومكة التي وفدوا إليها لأداء طواف الإفاضة والسعي.

وبدأ الحجيج يصلون منى منذ ساعات بعد منتصف الليلة الماضية قادمين من مزدلفة، بينما شهدت شوارع مكة ازدحاما مع ساعات الفجر الأولى وبلغ الزحام ذروته في ساعات الظهيرة واستمر حتى الساعات الأولى من الليل.

وزاد من حدة الازدحام إصرار بعض الحجيج على افتراش الأرض قرب الكعبة المشرفة أو على جانبي المسعى بينما يصر البعض منهم على الجلوس فوق الجزء البارز من الصفا للدعاء فوقه، ويقف آخرون فترات طويلة للدعاء بعد كل شوط من أشواط السعي مما يعيق انسياب حركة الساعين بين الصفا والمروة.

الصفا والمروة
تحلل الحجاج تحللا أصغر بحلق رؤوسهمأو تقصير الشعر (الفرنسية)ويسن للساعي الوقوف قليلا قرب الصفا والمروة واستقبال القبلة ليقرأ قوله تعالى "إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله فمن حج البيت أو اعتمر فلا جناح عليه أن يطوف بهما ومن تطوع خيرا فإن الله شاكر عليم" ثم يمضي إلى سعيه ويدعو بصوت خافت أثناءه.

وأعلنت السلطات السعودية أن موسم الحج يسير حتى الآن بدون أي حوادث تذكر، لكنها شددت على أن قوات الأمن ستواصل منع الحجاج -القادمين غالبا من الداخل بدون الحصول على التصاريح اللازمة- افتراش الأرصفة في منطقة منى، وقالت الأجهزة الأمنية إنها واصلت جهودها لمنع الحجاج من إقامة خيام صغيرة وافتراش المساحات الفاصلة بين الشوارع في منطقة المشاعر المقدسة.

وواصلت وزارة الصحة السعودية توجيه توصيات صحية للحجاج وحذرت من حالات فقدان الوعي التي تقع بسبب شدة الازدحام والتدافع الذي يقع بسبب إصرار بعض الحجاج على أداء الطقوس بسرعة دون مراعاة للآخرين.
وكان الملايين من حجاج بيت الله الحرام قد شرعوا مع إشراق صباح اليوم العاشر من ذي الحجة في رمي جمرة العقبة بعد وصولهم إلى مشعر منى اتباعا لسنة النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام.

وكان الحجاج قد بدؤوا الاثنين نحر هديهم بعد الانتهاء من رمي الجمرة, وتحللوا من إحرامهم تحلّلا أصغرَ، بحلق رؤوسهم أو تقصير أشعارهم. ويستمر الحجاج في إكمال مناسكهم فيبقون أيام التشريق الثلاثة في منى, لاستكمال رمي الجمرات الثلاث.

وكان الحجاج قد أدوا الأحد الركن الأعظم وهو الوقوف بصعيد عرفة الذي لا حج بدون الوقوف به في اليوم التاسع من ذي الحجة.

Strong Factionalism in Golkar Party

Several Indonesian public media this morning released a news about statement of Golkar Party's Chairman Jusuf Kalla on his allowing to some of the party's cadres, like Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Fadel Muhammad taking parts in presidential candidacy that organized by other political parties. Jusuf Kalla, in his statement, actually would like to show his democratic leadership to the public and affirmation that Golkar Party is a democratic and plural party.

On the other side, strong factionalism motion nowadays in internal Golkar Party reflected a distinct between Golkar before and after Soeharto era. In Soeharto era, there were fewer, or even nothing, factionalism motion in internal party due to his strong leadership and authoritarian style. But now, Golkar Party has been led by other leaders performing a party's reform platform, Akbar Tanjung and Jusuf Kalla. They have less power than Soeharto has. Besides due to their affiliation, the reformation era also brings every political party to put democracy as its fundamental of organization.

Andi Kurniawan

Alumnus, International Relations Study

Jember University, Indonesia

BI keeps enthusiasm of real sector

The Kompas Daily-December 05, 2008
Bank Indonesia responds public aspiration on liquidity issue by decreasing BI Rate 25 basis points to be 9.25 percents. It is expected to keep public enthusiasm on real sector. But Anton Supit, secretary general of Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (Apindo), told the reduction would not have significant impact if it were not followed by other policies, such as facilitation on credit access and export-import transaction.

Background Note: Turkey

Friday, 5 December 2008, 10:52 amPress Release: US Department of State - Background Note
Background Note: Turkey
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:Republic of Turkey
GeographyArea: 780,580 sq. km.Cities: Capital--Ankara (pop. 3.9 million). Other cities--Istanbul (11.3 million), Izmir (2.6 million), Bursa (1.5 million), Adana (1.5 million), Gaziantep (1.2 million).Terrain: Narrow coastal plain surrounds Anatolia, an inland plateau becomes increasingly rugged as it progresses eastward. Turkey includes one of the more earthquake-prone areas of the world.Climate: Moderate in coastal areas, harsher temperatures inland.

PeopleNationality: Noun--Turk(s). Adjective--Turkish.Population (2007): 70.5 million.Annual population growth rate (2004 est.): 1.33%.Ethnic groups: Turkish, Kurdish, other.Religions: Muslim 99%, Christian, Bahai, and Jewish.Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Zaza, Arabic, Armenian, Greek.Education: Years compulsory--8. Attendance--97.6%. Literacy--86.5%.Health: Infant mortality rate--39.4/1,000. Life expectancy--68.5 yrs.Work force (23 million): Agriculture--35.6%; industry--17.5%; services--47.2%.
GovernmentType: Republic.Independence: October 29, 1923.Constitution: November 7, 1982.Branches: Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers (cabinet--appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister). Legislative--Grand National Assembly (550 members) chosen by national elections at least every 4 years. Judicial--Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, Council of State, and other courts.Political parties with representatives in Parliament: Justice and Development Party (AKP) (340 seats), Republican People's Party (CHP) (97 seats), Nationalist Action Party (MHP) (70 seats), Democratic Society Party (DTP) (21 seats), Democratic Left Party (DSP) (13 seats), Freedom and Democracy Party (ODP) (1 seat), Grand Unity Party (BBP) (1 seat), and five independents.Suffrage: Universal, 18 and older.National holiday: Republic Day, October 29.
EconomyGDP: (2005) $361.5 billion; (2006) $390.4 billion; (2007) $490 billion.Annual real GDP growth rate: (2005) 7.4%; (2006) 6.0%; (2007) 4.6%.GDP per capita: (2005) $5,016; (2006) $5,349; (2007) $6,830.Annual inflation rate /CPI: (2005) 7.7%; (2006) 9.7%; (2007) 8.4%.Natural resources: Coal, chromium, mercury, copper, boron, oil, gold.Agriculture (10.5% of GNP): Major cash crops--cotton, sugar beets, hazelnuts, wheat, barley, and tobacco. Provides about 26% of jobs and 4% of exports.Industry (25.4% of GNP): Major growth sector, types--automotive, electronics, food processing, textiles, basic metals, chemicals, and petrochemicals. Provides about 20% of jobs.Trade: Exports (merchandise)--(2005) $73.1 billion; (2006) $83.5 billion; (2007) $106 billion: textiles and apparel, industrial machinery, iron and steel, electronics, petroleum products, and motor vehicles. Imports (merchandise)--(2005) $116 billion; (2006) $135.5 billion; (2007) $167 billion: petroleum, machinery, motor vehicles, electronics, iron, steel, plastics precious metals. Major partners--Germany, U.S., Italy, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, U.K
PEOPLEModern Turkey encompasses bustling cosmopolitan centers, pastoral farming villages, barren wastelands, peaceful Aegean coastlines, and steep mountain regions. More than 70% of Turkey's population lives in urban areas that juxtapose Western lifestyles with more traditional ways of life.
The Turkish state has been officially secular since 1924. Approximately 99% of the population is Muslim. Most Turkish Muslims follow the Sunni traditions of Islam, although a significant number follow Alevi and Shiite traditions. Questions regarding role of religion in society and government, the role of linguistic and ethnic identity, and the public's expectation to live in security dominate public discourse. Turkish citizens who assert a Kurdish identity constitute an ethnic and linguistic group that is estimated approximately 12 million in number.
HISTORYMustafa Kemal, celebrated by the Turkish State as a Turkish World War I hero and later known as "Ataturk" or "father of the Turks," led the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 after the collapse of the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire and a three-year war of independence. The empire, which at its peak controlled vast stretches of northern Africa, southeastern Europe, and western Asia, had failed to keep pace with European social and technological developments. The rise of national consciousness impelled several national groups within the Empire to seek independence as nation-states, leading to the empire's fragmentation. This process culminated in the disastrous Ottoman participation in World War I as a German ally. Defeated, shorn of much of its former territory, and partly occupied by forces of the victorious European states, the Ottoman structure was repudiated by Turkish nationalists brought together under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. The nationalists expelled invading Greek, Russian, French and Italian forces from Anatolia in a bitter war. After the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey the temporal and religious ruling institutions of the old empire (the sultanate and caliphate) were abolished.
The leaders of the new republic concentrated on consolidating their power and modernizing and Westernizing what had been the empire's core--Asian Anatolia and a part of European Thrace. Social, political, linguistic, and economic reforms and attitudes decreed by Ataturk from 1924-1934 continue to be referred to as the ideological base of modern Turkey. In the post-Ataturk era, and especially after the military coup of 1960, this ideology came to be known as "Kemalism" and his reforms began to be referred to as "revolutions." Kemalism comprises a Turkish form of secularism, strong nationalism, statism, and to a degree a western orientation. The continued validity and applicability of Kemalism are the subject of lively debate in Turkey's political life. The current ruling AK Party comes from a tradition that challenges many of the Kemalist precepts and is driven in its reform efforts by a desire to achieve European Union (EU) accession.
Turkey entered World War II on the Allied side until shortly before the war ended, becoming a charter member of the United Nations. Difficulties faced by Greece after World War II in quelling a communist rebellion and demands by the Soviet Union for military bases in the Turkish Straits prompted the United States to declare the Truman Doctrine in 1947. The doctrine enunciated American intentions to guarantee the security of Turkey and Greece and resulted in large scale U.S. military and economic aid under the Marshall Plan. After participating with United Nations forces in the Korean conflict, Turkey in 1952 joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Turkey is currently a European Union candidate.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONSThe 1982 Constitution, drafted by the military in the wake of a 1980 military coup, proclaims Turkey's system of government as democratic, secular, and parliamentary. The presidency's powers are not precisely defined in practice, and the president's influence depends on his personality and political weight. The president and the Council of Ministers led by the prime minister share executive powers. The current president, who has broad powers of appointment and supervision, was elected by Parliament in August 2007 for a seven-year term. Pursuant to a constitutional amendment package approved by voters in an October 2007 referendum, the president is directly elected by the voters for a term of 5 years and can serve for a maximum of two terms. The prime minister administers the government. The prime minister and the Council of Ministers are responsible to Parliament.
The 550-member Parliament carries out legislative functions. Election is by the D'Hondt system of party-list proportional representation. To participate in the distribution of seats, a party must obtain at least 10% of the votes cast at the national level as well as a percentage of votes in the contested district according to a complex formula. The president enacts laws passed by Parliament within 15 days. With the exception of budgetary laws, the president may return a law to the Parliament for reconsideration. If Parliament reenacts the law, it is binding, although the president may then apply to the Constitutional Court for a reversal of the law. Constitutional amendments pass with a 60% vote, but require a popular referendum unless passed with a two-thirds majority; the president may also submit amendments passed with a two-thirds majority to a popular referendum.
The judiciary is declared to be independent, but the need for judicial reform and confirmation of its independence are subjects of open debate. Internationally recognized human rights, including freedom of thought, expression, assembly, and travel, are officially enshrined in the Constitution but have at times been narrowly interpreted, can be limited in times of emergency and cannot be used to violate what the Constitution and the courts consider the integrity of the state or to impose a system of government based on religion, ethnicity, or the domination of one social class. The Constitution prohibits torture or ill treatment; the current government has focused on ensuring that practice matches principle. Labor rights, including the right to strike, are recognized in the Constitution but can be restricted.
The high court system includes a Constitutional Court responsible for judicial review of legislation, a Court of Cassation (or Supreme Court of Appeals), a Council of State serving as the high administrative and appeals court, a Court of Accounts, and a Military Court of Appeals. The High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, appointed by the president, supervises the judiciary.
In the November 2002 election of Turkey's 58th government, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) captured 34.3% of the total votes, making Abdullah Gul Prime Minister, followed by the Republican People's Party (CHP) with 19.39% of the vote, led by Deniz Baykal. A special General Election was held again in the province of Siirt in March 2003, resulting in the election of AKP's chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a seat in Parliament, allowing him to become prime minister. AKP and CHP were the only parties to surpass the 10% threshold required to hold seats in Parliament. The elections resulted in 363 of the 550 seats going to AKP, 178 seats to CHP, and 9 as independent. Due to a reshuffle in party affiliation and resignations, by 2007, AKP held 353 seats, CHP held 151 seats, Anavatan Party held 20 seats, independents held 10 seats, and five joined the True Path Party (DYP). In March 2004 nationwide local elections, AKP won 57 of 81 provincial capital municipalities and, with 41.8% of the votes for provincial council seats, consolidated its hold on power.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly was to have elected in May 2007 a new president to succeed President Sezer, whose term ended on May 16. Opposition parties led a Constitutional Court challenge to the electoral procedures, which resulted in a series of proposed constitutional amendments and early general elections on July 22. AKP won 46.6% of the vote, followed by CHP (20.9%), MHP (14.3%) and independents (5.2%). The new Parliament, which was sworn in on August 4, 2007 included 341 AKP members, 97 CHP members, 71 Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members, 20 Democratic Society Party (DTP) members, 13 Democratic Left Party (DSP) members, one Freedom and Democracy Party (ODP) member, one Grand Unity Party (BBP) member, and five independents. Following the election, Sezer reappointed Erdogan as Prime Minister and then-Foreign Minister Gul again declared his presidential candidacy. The Parliament elected Gul in the third round of voting on August 28, 2007. Following Gul's move to the presidency, AKP seats in Parliament total 340; an MHP deputy died in August 2007, bringing the number of MHP members to 70; and the ban on a DTP deputy expired in July 2008, raising the number of DTP members to 21. President Gul approved Erdogan's proposed cabinet on August 29, 2007, and the new government received a vote of confidence on September 5. Nationwide local elections for municipal assembly and mayoral positions are scheduled for March 2009.
In March 2008 the Constitutional Court agreed to hear a case to close down the AKP because of alleged "anti-secular" activities that contravene the Turkish Constitution. Seventy-one AKP members, including President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan, were named in the case and could have been barred from politics for five years. On July 30, 2008 the court voted six in favor and five against closing down AKP; seven votes were required to close down the party. The court decided to cut the party's state funding, worth about $58 million, in half. None of the AKP members were banned.
Principal Government OfficialsPresident of the Republic--Abdullah GulPrime Minister--Recep Tayyip ErdoganMinister of Foreign Affairs--Ali BabacanAmbassador to the United States--Nabi SensoyAmbassador to the United Nations--Baki Ilkin
Turkey maintains an embassy in the United States at 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 612-6700. Consulates general in Chicago (360 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1405, Chicago, IL 60601, tel: 312-263-0644, ext. 28); Los Angeles (4801 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 310, Los Angeles, CA 90010, tel: 323-937-0118); New York (821 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, tel: 212-949-0160); and Houston (1990 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77056, tel: 713-622-5849). The Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations is located on 821 United Nations Plaza, 10th floor, New York, NY 10017, tel: 212-949-0150.
ECONOMYTurkey is a large, middle-income country with relatively few natural resources. Its economy is currently in transition from a high degree of reliance on agriculture and heavy industrial economy to a more diversified economy with an increasingly large and globalized services sector. Coming out of a tradition of a state-directed economy that was relatively closed to the outside world, Prime Minister and then President Turgut Ozal began to open up the economy in the 1980s, leading to the signing of a Customs Union with the European Union in 1995. In the 1990s, Turkey's economy suffered from a series of coalition governments with weak economic policies, leading to high-inflation boom-and-bust cycles that culminated in a severe banking and economic crisis in 2001 and a deep economic downturn (GNP fell 9.5% in 2001) and increase in unemployment.
Turkey's economy has recovered strongly from the 2001 recession thanks to good monetary and fiscal policies and structural economic reforms made with the support of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The independence of the Central Bank has been firmly established, a floating exchange rate system has been put in place, and the government's overall budget deficit has been substantially reduced. In addition, there have been substantial reforms in the financial, energy, and telecommunications sectors that have included the privatization of several large state-owned institutions.
Turkey's economy grew an average of 6.0% per year from 2002 through 2007--one of the highest sustained rates of growth in the world. It is expected to grow about 5.5% in 2008. Inflation and interest rates have fallen significantly, the currency has stabilized, government debt has declined to more supportable levels, and business and consumer confidence have returned. At the same time, booming economic growth has contributed to a growing current account deficit. Though Turkey's vulnerabilities have been greatly reduced, the economy could still face problems in the event there is a sudden change in investor sentiment. Continued implementation of reforms, including tight fiscal policy; securing independent Central Bank monetary policies, is essential to sustain growth and stability.
After years of low levels of foreign direct investment (FDI), in January-November 2007, Turkey succeeded in attracting $16.6 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and is expected to attract a similar level in 2008. A series of large privatizations, the stability fostered by the start of Turkey's EU accession negotiations, strong and stable growth, and structural changes in the banking, retail, and telecommunications sectors have all contributed to the rise in foreign investment. Turkey has taken steps to improve its investment climate through administrative streamlining, an end to foreign investment screening, and strengthened intellectual property legislation. However, a number of disputes involving foreign investors in Turkey and certain policies, such as high taxation and continuing gaps in the intellectual property regime, inhibit investment. Turkey has a number of bilateral investment and tax treaties, including with the United States, which guarantee free repatriation of capital in convertible currencies and eliminate double taxation
EU Accession. Turkey's principal ongoing economic challenge is providing for the needs of a fast-growing, young population. Raising living standards to those prevalent in Europe will require high rates of GDP growth and a well functioning market economy. This will entail continued structural reforms that encourage both domestic and foreign investment. Principal areas for reform identified by international financial institutions include increasing flexibility in the labor market, making the educational sector more responsive to the needs of the economy and ensuring faster and more predictable operation of the judicial system. As an aspirant to membership in the European Union, Turkey aims to adopt the EU's basic system of national law and regulation (the acquis communataire) by 2014. While implementing some elements of the acquis will be costly and difficult (for example in the areas of environmental protection and agriculture), its adoption will make a significant contribution to modernizing the economy.
Energy. Installed electricity generation capacity in Turkey reached 40,000 megawatts (MW) as of 2007. Fossil fuels account for 68% of the total installed capacity and hydro, geothermal, and wind account for the remaining 32% Electricity demand in Turkey has been above the average rate of GNP growth over the last few years. This, combined with the lack of investment in the sector, mainly due to the Government of Turkey's (GOT) control over prices and slow progress in market liberalization, increased concerns regarding electricity shortages. According to official data, Turkey will face electricity shortages as of 2009, while market experts expected the shortages as early as summer 2008. The GOT is working on new legislation to encourage investments in the sector, which is expected to introduce incentives for companies bringing their facilities online by 2012. Turkey also plans to privatize its electricity generation and distribution facilities in 2008.
Oil provides about 43% of Turkey's total energy requirements; around 90% is imported. Domestic production is mostly from small fields in the southeast. New exploration is taking place in the eastern Black Sea. In 2004, the Parliament approved a petroleum market reform bill that liberalized consumer prices and would lead to the privatization of the state refining company TUPRAS, which was privatized in 2005. Turkey has a refining capacity of 714,275 barrels per day (b/d).
Turkey acts as an important link in the East-West Southern Energy Corridor bringing Caspian, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern energy to Europe and world markets. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which came online in July 2006, delivers 1 million barrels/day of petroleum, and in 2007, the South Caucasus Pipeline (from Shah Deniz) started bringing natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey. Turkey's interconnector pipeline to Greece, an important step in bringing Caspian natural gas to Europe via Turkey, came online in November 2007.
Telecommunications. Parliament enacted legislation separating telecommunications policy and regulatory functions in January 2000, by establishing an independent regulatory body, the Telecommunication Authority. The Authority is responsible for issuing licenses, supervising operators, and taking necessary technical measures against violations of the rules. Most regulatory functions of the Transport Ministry were transferred to the Authority, and the regulator is slowly gaining competence and independence. The long-expected privatization of the state-owned telecommunications company was accomplished by the sale of 55% of Turk Telekom to the Saudi-owned Oger Group in November 2005. With liberalization and growth in the economy, there is growing competition for Internet provision, but Turk Telekom remains the sole provider of ADSL wide band Internet.
Environment. With the establishment of the Environment Ministry in 1991, Turkey began to make significant progress addressing its most pressing environmental problems. The most dramatic improvements were significant reductions of air pollution in Istanbul and Ankara. However, progress has been slow on the remaining--and serious--environmental challenges facing Turkey.
In 2003, the Ministry of Environment was merged with the Forestry Ministry. With its goal to join the EU, Turkey has made commendable progress in updating and modernizing its environmental legislation. However, environmental concerns are not fully integrated into public decision-making and enforcement can be weak. Turkey faces a backlog of environmental problems, requiring enormous outlays for infrastructure. The most pressing needs are for water treatment plants, wastewater treatment facilities, solid waste management, and conservation of biodiversity. The discovery of a number of chemical waste sites in 2006 has highlighted weakness in environmental law and oversight.
After long years of silence, Turkey's becoming a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol was back on the agenda in 2007, and a focus of Prime Minister Erdogan's speech at the UN General Assembly. Despite the positive approach, Turkey would still like to keep its reservation to get developing country treatment with regard to the emission levels set by the protocol.
Transport. The Turkish Government gives special priority to major infrastructure projects, especially in the transport sector. The government is in the process of building new airports and highways, thanks to an increased public investment budget. The government will realize many of these projects by utilizing the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.
FOREIGN RELATIONSTurkey's primary political, economic, and security ties are with the West, although some voices call for a more "Eurasian" orientation.
Turkey entered NATO in 1952 and serves as the organization's vital eastern anchor, controlling the straits leading from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and sharing a border with Syria, Iraq, and Iran. A NATO headquarters is located in Izmir. Besides its relationships with NATO and the EU, Turkey is a member of the OECD, the Council of Europe, and OSCE. Turkey also is a member of the UN and the Islamic Conference Organization (OIC). In December 1999, Turkey became a candidate for EU membership. On December 17, 2004, the EU decided to begin formal accession negotiations with Turkey in October 2005.
Turkey and the EU formed a customs union beginning January 1, 1996. The agreement covers industrial and processed agricultural goods. Turkey is harmonizing its laws and regulations with EU standards. Turkey adopted the EU's Common External Tariff regime, effectively lowering Turkey's tariffs for third countries, including the United States.
On October 3, 2005, Turkey and the EU reached agreement for Turkey to begin negotiations on accession to the European Union. Turkey and EU officials have begun the process of screening Turkey's laws and policies in order to begin negotiating the individual chapters required for ultimate EU accession.
Turkey opened and provisionally closed in 2006 one EU negotiating chapter on science and technology. Another chapter on statistics was opened in February 2007, and two more were opened in June 2007. Eight chapters, mostly related to trade, were suspended by the European Council in December 2006 after Turkey declined to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels--a commitment Turkey made as part of the Ankara Protocol and its EU Customs Union membership. Two new chapters were opened in December 2007 under the Portuguese Presidency, and the Slovenian Presidency opened two additional chapters in June 2008.
Turkey is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It has signed free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Israel, and many other countries. In 1992 Turkey and 10 other regional nations formed the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Council to expand regional trade and economic cooperation. Turkey chaired BSEC in 2007 and hosted in Istanbul the 15th BSEC Summit in June 2007.
U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONSU.S.-Turkish friendship dates to the late 18th century and was officially sealed by a treaty in 1830. The present close relationship began with the agreement of July 12, 1947, which implemented the Truman Doctrine. As part of the cooperative effort to further Turkish economic and military self-reliance, the United States has loaned and granted Turkey more than $12.5 billion in economic aid and more than $14 billion in military assistance.
U.S.-Turkish relations focus on areas such as strategic energy cooperation, trade and investment, security ties, regional stability, the global war on terrorism, and human rights progress. Relations were strained when Turkey refused in March 2003 to allow U.S. troops to deploy through its territory to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but regained momentum steadily thereafter and mutual interests remain strong across a wide spectrum of issues. On July 5, 2006, Secretary Rice and then-Foreign Minister Gul signed a Shared Vision Statement to highlight the common values and goals between our two countries and to lay out a framework for increased strategic dialogue. U.S. President Bush welcomed Prime Minister Erdogan to Washington for a White House visit on November 5, 2007, during which he committed to provide greater assistance to Turkey in its fight against terrorism from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK or Kongra Gel), which he characterized as a "common enemy" of Turkey, Iraq, and the United States. He reiterated this commitment during President Gul's January 8, 2008, White House visit.
The U.S. and Turkey for several years have had a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which last met in Washington in April 2007. In 2002, the two countries indicated their joint intent to upgrade bilateral economic relations by launching an Economic Partnership Commission, which last convened in Washington in April 2008. In 2006, Turkish exports to the U.S. totaled about $5.4 billion, and U.S. exports to Turkey totaled $5.7 billion.
Principal U.S. OfficialsAmbassador--James F. JeffreyDeputy Chief of Mission--Douglas Silliman
CounselorsPolitical Affairs--Daniel O'GradyPolitical-Military Affairs--Anthony GodfreyEconomic Affairs--Dale EpplerRegional Affairs--Theodore SingerConsular Affairs--Sandra ShipshockManagement Affairs--Kim DeBlauwPublic Affairs--Tom LearyAgricultural Affairs--Ralph GiffordCommercial Affairs--James Fluker
Office of Defense Cooperation--Major General Eric RosborgDefense and Air Attache--Col. Charles SchneiderNavy Attache--CDR Peter CatalanoArmy Attache--COL Calvin Carlsen
The U.S. Embassy is located at 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, Ankara 06100, tel: (90) (312) 455-5555.
TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATIONThe U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program advises Americans traveling and residing abroad through Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings. Country Specific Information exists for all countries and includes information on entry and exit requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, safety and security, crime, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country because the situation is dangerous or unstable.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found. Consular Affairs Publications, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are also available at http://www.travel.state.gov. For additional information on international travel, see http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel/International.shtml.
The Department of State encourages all U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad to register via the State Department's travel registration website or at the nearest U.S embassy or consulate abroad. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency and will enable you to receive up-to-date information on security conditions.
Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.
The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport information. Telephone: 1-877-4-USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778); TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793. Passport information is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. You may speak with a representative Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) and a web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. The CDC publication "Health Information for International Travel" can be found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentYellowBook.aspx.
Further Electronic InformationDepartment of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://www.state.gov, the Department of State web site provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key officers of Foreign Service posts and more. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides security information and regional news that impact U.S. companies working abroad through its website http://www.osac.gov
Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance and market information offered by the federal government and provides trade leads, free export counseling, help with the export process, and more.
STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides authoritative economic, business, and international trade information from the Federal government. The site includes current and historical trade-related releases, international market research, trade opportunities, and country analysis and provides access to the National Trade Data Bank.
ENDS

Palestinian Foreign Minister says global community must uphold its legal, moral political, duty to promote peaceful settlement of Israeli-Palestinian

GA/10789
Sixty-third General AssemblyPlenary57th Meeting (PM)
As General Assembly Begins Annual Consideration of 'Question of Palestine', Assembly President Calls on All Parties to Help End 'Self-Perpetuating Tragedy'
With many speakers expressing alarm at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, sustained Israeli aggression and flagging peace negotiations, the General Assembly today began its annual debate on the question of Palestine -- more than 60 years after its own adoption of a 1947 resolution calling for the creation of a Jewish and Arab State in Palestine.
The daily hardships endured by the Palestinian people, as Israel tightened its blockade of Gaza, expanded the dividing wall and launched other hostile acts, were part of a wide-ranging debate that encompassed the report of the Assembly's Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. It also included the introduction of four draft resolutions meant to ease the Palestinian people's suffering, raise awareness about the situation, including through the work of the United Nations, and push the peace process forward.
Today's debate also marked the Assembly's direct contribution to the United Nation's observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which recognized 29 November 1947, when the Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), also known as the "Partition Resolution". It called for the creation of two independent States within the land of Palestine –- a Jewish State and an Arab State.
General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua compared Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to "the apartheid of an earlier era" and said it was important that the United Nations used that term. "We must not be afraid to call something what it is," he said, adding that, after all, it was the United Nations that had passed the International Convention against the crime of apartheid.
He said the United Nations had taken the lead from civil society 20 years ago, in agreeing that sanctions were necessary to pressure South Africa to end its violations. Perhaps it should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society groups, which were calling for a non-violent campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations of international law. Further, the global community should spare no effort in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to reach a two-State solution, as enmity between them was a "self-perpetuating tragedy".
Riad Al-Malki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority, said the Palestinian people had returned to the Assembly this year to renew their appeal to the international community to intensify its efforts for a peace process aimed at achieving a peaceful settlement on the question of Palestine. That would include a just solution for the Palestinian refugees on the basis of Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 1948, he said. There had been little progress in the peace process since its resumption a year ago at Annapolis.
Meanwhile, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, had continued to deteriorate because of Israel's ongoing illegal policies and practices. He said that Israel's continued siege of the Gaza Strip, for example, had transformed the area into "an open-air prison" and was an inhumane form of collective punishment tantamount to a war crime. The impact on the Palestinian economy and society had been disastrous.
Reaffirming the Palestinian peoples' commitment to the peace process, he urged all concerned parties, including the diplomatic Quartet –- which comprises the United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation and United States -- to seize the opportunities created by the Arab Peace Initiative and the Annapolis Conference, and move negotiations forward. The international community needed to redouble its efforts to uphold its legal, political and moral responsibilities to promote a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after 60 years, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the representative of France said the European Union fully supported the ongoing negotiation process and stressed that all parties needed to end all acts of violence and terrorism so the peace process could reach a successful conclusion. The European Union strongly condemned the Palestinian militia's rocket attacks on Israel. And while recognizing Israel's right to self-defence, the European Union called on Israel to exercise the utmost restraint. In that vein, he strongly condemned the acts of violence and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Md. Touhid Hossain, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, also welcomed all the recent regional and international efforts to achieve peace, and the agreement to begin final status negotiations to resolve all core issues. That meant borders, refugees, settlements and Jerusalem. Those issues, he stressed, had to be resolved on the basis of previous agreements that would entail the complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem.
The representative of Senegal, who chairs the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, introduced four draft resolutions on: the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat; Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information; and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. Those texts outlined positions, mandates and programmes that were very important to the Palestinian people. He urged the Assembly to adopt the resolutions and support their important goals.
In other business, the Assembly adopted a resolution on the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by which it decided that the commemorative event would include an awards ceremony for the United Nations Prize in the field of human rights, and two consecutive informal, interactive panel discussions.
Also addressing the General Assembly today were the representatives of Cuba (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), India, Viet Nam, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
The representative of Malta, as Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, introduced the report on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/63/35).
The General Assembly will reconvene on 25 November, at 10 am, to continue its consideration of the question of Palestine and begin its consideration of the situation in the Middle East.
Background
The General Assembly met today to consider the question of Palestine. It also planned to consider the promotion and protection of human rights.
Before the Assembly was the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/63/35), which noted that the 5 October 2007 to 6 October 2008 reporting period was characterized by resumed Israeli-Palestinian political talks, intensified international engagement on the issue and a deteriorating situation on the ground. In a situational overview, it stated that on 27 November 2007, representatives of more than 50 Governments and international organizations met in Annapolis, Maryland, which led to resumed "permanent status" negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), with the goal of reaching a two-State solution.
At the same time, the report says the Israeli army continued its military operations in Palestinian population centres, and the Gaza Strip remained sealed for the greater part of the year, with Israel allowing the most basic supplies to pass through checkpoints. The response by armed Palestinian groups included rocket and mortar fire, and a suicide attack in Israel. While a Gaza ceasefire was agreed, and has been largely observed, it has not led to significantly improved living conditions in that area. Israel, in violation of international law, continued to expand Israeli settlements, including in and around East Jerusalem.
For its part, the Committee sought to support momentum created at Annapolis, and repeatedly warned that without visible improvement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, negotiations were doomed to fail, the report stated. It cautioned that the continued policy of "fait accompli" on the ground was a grave threat to a peaceful, negotiated solution to the conflict. Further, it remained concerned at internal Palestinian divisions blocking reunification of the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority, and supported all Arab efforts to restore Palestinian national unity.
Among actions taken by the Committee during the reporting period, the report notes a special meeting held at Headquarters, on 20 June 2008, to mark 60 years of dispossession of Palestine refugees and, with the Division for Palestinian Rights, various international awareness-raising meetings, notably in Amman, Jordan.
Among its conclusions, the Committee stresses the need for the complete cessation of all violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror. On the "Road Map" obligations, the Committee called on Israel to end its military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and stop other measures that undermined Palestinian institutions. It also called on Palestinians to unite in support of President Mahmoud Abbas and all democratically elected Palestinian institutions, and to resolve their differences by peaceful means. It was paramount that various Palestinian factions put national interests ahead of partisan concerns, as unity was essential for achieving a viable solution on the question of Palestine.
Also before the Assembly was the Secretary-General's report on a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/63/368-S/2008/612). In response to the Secretary-General's review of resolution 62/83, the Security Council has, among others, presented monthly accounts of the situation, a note verbale of the parties concerned, and observations of the Secretary-General on the current state of affairs and international efforts to move the peace process forward.
The monthly reviews of events follow the development of actions taken, noting the process of bilateral negotiations between Israel and the PLO at the 2007 Annapolis Conference, the involvement of the international community including the Quartet and members of the League of Arab States, and the escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel.
The Secretary-General, in his note to the Governments of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the PLO, sought their positions and any steps taken by them to implement resolution 62/83. As of 31 August 2008, replies from Israel and the PLO have been received. In its note, Israel reiterated its position on the resolution and reviewed its position on recent events, stating that "the resolution cannot substitute for direct Israeli-Palestinian dialogue." In its note, Palestine, noting minimal progress since the adoption of the resolution, has reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process and urges all concerned parties in the international community to continue the forward movement towards successful negotiations.
The Secretary-General continued his report by noting that, with the Annapolis Conference and regular bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, there has been new hope for progress. The report goes on to say he commends the significant strides made by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to imposing law and order in Jenin and Nablus. However, the progress towards two States living side by side in peace and security has been impeded upon with the situation on the ground.
The Secretary-General actively condemns all acts of violence and human rights violations in the region and has repeatedly called for all parties concerned to cease all such activities. The report stresses that the Palestinian Authority remains the sole legitimate authority and that Gaza and the West Bank comprise one single Palestinian territory, and praises the courage and dedication of the United Nations personnel serving in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The report concludes with the Secretary-General's acknowledgement of the important steps towards a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and he calls for the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to "undertake every effort to achieve the goal of the Annapolis process." The report states his reaffirmation of the United Nations' commitment to work towards the creation of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace with a secure Israel.
The Assembly is also set to consider several draft resolutions, including a text on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/63/L.32), by which it would request that the Committee continue all its efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of self-determination, the support of the Middle East Peace Process, and the mobilization of international support for, and assistance to, the Palestinians.
The text would also authorize the Committee to, "in light of the developments", make adjustments to its approved programmes when necessary and appropriate, to continue to extend assistance to Palestinian and other civil society organizations, and to involve additional civil society organizations in its work, in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people towards the goal of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
The draft resolution on the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (document A/63/L.33) would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to ensure its continuation of its programmes of work -- among other things, monitoring development relevant to the question of Palestine; organization of international meetings and conferences; liaison and cooperation with civil society; further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine; and conduct of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority.
By a text on the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information (document A/63/L.34), the Assembly would consider the special programme "very useful" in awareness raising on the question, and request the Department, in full cooperation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue it for the 2009-2010 biennium. In that context, the Assembly would also request the Department to disseminate information on all United Nations activities relating to the question and the peace process; continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question, especially on efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement; and expand its collection of audio-visual material.
Also in that context, the Assembly would request the Department to organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel. It would also organize seminars for journalists aimed at sensitizing public opinion on the question of Palestine, and enhancing understanding between Palestinians and Israelis; and continue to provide assistance to Palestinians in the field of media development. Finally by the text, the Assembly would encourage the Department to develop ways for the media and civil society to engage in positive discussion on the means for promoting regional peace and mutual understanding.
The draft text on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/63/L.35) would have the Assembly reaffirm the illegality of Israeli actions intended at changing the status of Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-1 plan [which aims to connect Jerusalem to the West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim]. It would also reaffirm the illegality of other unilateral measures, that are contrary to international law, which endeavour to alter the character, status and demographic composition of the city and the territory as a whole, among them the construction by Israel of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem.
Further by the text, the Assembly expresses deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, the continued establishment of checkpoints, and the imposition of a permit regime through the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, among other things, which engenders a dire humanitarian crisis, and impacts socioeconomic recovery, development and contiguity of the Palestinian Territory.
The Assembly would welcome the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship of Norway, at United Nations Headquarters on 22 September 2008, and the importance of follow-up and fulfilment of pledges made at the Paris Donors' Conference of 17 December 2007, convened to support and enable the recovery and development of a prosperous and viable Palestinian State, and also to alleviate the socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people.
The Assembly would welcome the convening of the Bethlehem Conference on Private Sector Investment from 21 to 23 May 2008, aimed at promoting an environment for Palestinian private sector growth and development, and would commend the Palestinian Authority for all its efforts made to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions and infrastructure. The Assembly also would welcome the convening of the Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law, held on 24 June 2008, and would call for a speedy implementation of its outcome decisions.
The draft resolution also states that the Assembly would commend the progress made in Jenin, and would call on all parties involved to continue to promote security and the building of confidence for both Palestinians and Israelis, and would encourage such progress extend to other major population centres.
Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including that of the Quartet, the Assembly would urge international support for both parties in advancing and accelerating the peace process negotiations towards the establishment of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement based on United Nations resolutions, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative. In this regard, the Assembly would reaffirm its full support for the Middle East Peace Process begun in Madrid, the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative, and the efforts of the international conference convened in Annapolis, and it would call upon both parties to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation and to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000.
For its consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights, the Assembly had before it a draft resolution on the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (document A/63/L.31), by which it would decide that the commemorative event would include an award ceremony for the United Nations Prize in the field of human rights, and two consecutive informal interactive panel discussions. It would also heave the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights address the plenary event.
Further by the text, the Assembly would also invite intergovernmental organizations and entities with observer status, among others, to be represented, and requested the Assembly President to draw up, no later than 30 November, a list of two representatives of pertinent non-governmental organizations for each of the interactive panels. It further requested the Assembly President to hold open consultations with Member States and observers to prepare a brief declaration reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to be adopted at the commemorative plenary meeting.
Action on Draft Resolution on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
The General Assembly began its session today by adopting the resolution on the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (document A/63/L.31).
Statement by the General Assembly President on "the Question of Palestine"
General Assembly President MIGUEL D'ESCOTO BROCKMANN of Nicaragua said it was with a "heavy heart" that the United Nations had today observed the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. He joined the Secretary-General, and others, in expressing concern for the terrible situation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. He urged the international community to raise its voice against the collective punishment of the people of Gaza, and demanded an end to that massive abuse of human rights.
Noting that this morning in the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People he had spoken about how Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories appeared similar to the apartheid of an earlier era, he said it was important that the United Nations used that term. "We must not be afraid to call something what it is," he said, adding that it was the United Nations, after all, that had passed the International Convention against the crime of apartheid.
Recalling that, twenty years ago, the United Nations had taken the lead from civil society in agreeing that sanctions were required to pressure South Africa to end its violations, he said, perhaps, it should today consider following a similar lead of a new generation of civil society calling for a non-violent campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations.
While patience was a virtue in which he believed, there was nothing virtuous about being patient with the suffering of others, calling for an end to Palestinians' suffering. He had never hesitated to condemn the crimes of the Holocaust, however, their suffering did not give anyone the right to abuse others, especially those with such deep relations with the Jewish people.
He reminded Israelis that, even with protection of the United States, no amount of arm twisting would change Assembly resolution 181 of 1947, calling for the creation of two States. The fact there was no Palestinian State to celebrate today made a mockery of the United Nations, and he called on those at the decision-making level "in our host country" to end the policy that only retarded justice in the Middle East. The global community should spare no effort in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to reach a two-State solution, as enmity between them was a "self-perpetuating tragedy". In closing, he urged finding new ways to enable both peoples in reasserting their historic bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Introduction of Draft Resolutions
Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, PAUL BADJI (Senegal), speaking on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, noted that, one year ago, the global community had welcomed the holding of the international conference at Annapolis, Maryland, which had led to the resumed political process between Israel and the Palestinians, and an unprecedented level of political, economic and financial support for the Palestinian Authority.
Outlining various activities, he said the Division for Palestinian Rights, under the auspices of the Committee, had organized three major international meetings: the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People in Amman, Jordan; the United Nations International Conference on Palestinian Refugees, in Paris, France; and the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, in Malta.
After listening to Palestinian and Israeli assessments, the Committee had concluded there was a widening gap between bilateral negotiations, international efforts and the deteriorating situation on the ground. Continued settlement activity, the blockade of Gaza and daily incursions of the Israeli army into Palestinian population centres threatened to upset fragile negotiations. At the current stage, the Committee could only encourage the parties to continue the political process. The situation on the ground must change dramatically.
Continuing illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory remained the root cause of the conflict, he said, emphasizing the urgent need for a negotiated solution that would ensure the exercise by Palestinians of their inalienable rights and guarantee security for the State of Israel, based on international law. The Committee remained concerned at the internal Palestinian divisions blocking reunification of the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority.
Urging the United Nations to maintain its permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it was effectively resolved, he said the Committee also called on the Security Council to act decisively in implementing its resolutions.
He then introduced four draft resolutions respectively on: Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (document A/63/L.32), Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat (document A/63/L.33), Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information (document A/63/L.34) and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine (document A/63/L.35). Those drafts outline positions, mandates and programmes that were of special importance. He urged the Assembly to vote in favour of the resolutions and support their important goals.
Presenting the Committee's annual report, SAVIOUR BORG (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, highlighted the main points covered by its chapters, among them: the outlining of the Committee's objectives and its general perspectives on the events which have taken place in the course of the year; a summary of the General Assembly mandates of the Committee, the Division of Palestinian Rights and the Department of Public Information; as well as a review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine, and the relevant political developments as monitored by the Committee during the year in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
He noted the report's last chapter, which contained conclusions and recommendations, pointing out that, encouraged by the outcome of the Annapolis Conference and Paris Donors' Conference, the Committee stressed the need for a complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror. The Committee had called on Israel to end its "illegal policies and oppressive practices" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and had expressed its view that the Israeli occupation must end without conditions; thereby allowing the Palestinian people to establish an independent State on all territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem. The Committee had also called on all donors to live up to their pledges, in order to ensure the continued functioning of the Palestinian Authority institutions.
The Committee called on Israel to end its military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to stop any other measures that further undermine Palestinian institutions, he said, adding that the Committee had expressed its strong opposition to the illegal construction and expansion of settlements in the West Bank, as well as the unlawful construction of the wall, and found those activities incompatible with negotiations on the permanent settlement. Also, the Committee had strongly condemned the killing of innocent civilians by either side, and denounced rocket attacks on Israel. It had called for a cessation of those activities by Palestinian armed groups.
Continuing, he stressed the Committee's call on the Palestinian leadership -- the leaders of all factions and all Palestinians -- to unite in support of President Abbas, his Government and all democratically elected Palestinian institutions, and to resolve their political differences by peaceful means. It had also called for a comprehensive national dialogue supported by confidence-building measures to start a process of repairing national unity and the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
He went on to highlight the Committee's recommendation to request the continuation of the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information, with the necessary flexibility, as warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine. Finally, reiterating its desire of making a contribution to the achievement of comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, the Committee called on all States to join it in that endeavour, and to extend their cooperation and support to the Committee. It initiated the Assembly to again recognize the importance of its role and to reconfirm its mandate.
Statements
RIAD AL-MALKI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority, said the international community had gathered this morning to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The day reassured the Palestinian people of the continuing international commitment, including that of the United Nations, to uphold their permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it was resolved in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions. The Palestinian people, under the leadership of the PLO, were committed to the two-State solution, as a means of creating an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Palestinian people had returned to the Assembly this year to renew their appeal to the international community to intensify efforts to support a peace process that would achieve a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, including a just solution for the Palestinian refugees on the basis of Assembly resolution 194 (III), he said.
There was no doubt that the question of Palestine was at the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and rectifying the injustices of the Palestinian people would promote peace and stability in the Middle East. Regrettably, the international community had not made significant strides towards its goals since the Assembly last met to consider the question of Palestine. There had been little progress in the peace process since its resumption a year ago, and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, had continued to deteriorate because of Israel's ongoing illegal policies and practices, he said.
Under the aegis of a peace process, Israel had committed countless violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, many amounting to war crimes. In a collective punishment of the Palestinian people, Israel had continued to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods to and from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which had been virtually cut off from the rest of the Territory. Israel's continued siege of the Gaza Strip had transformed the area into "an open-air prison" and was an inhumane form of collective punishment tantamount to a war crime, he said. The impact on the Palestinian economy and society had been disastrous.
Israel continued its massive colonization campaign in the Territory, breaching the Fourth Geneva Convention and Additional Protocol I, in violation of United Nations resolutions, in total disrespect of the 9 July 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and disrespecting its peace process commitments, he said. The campaign had involved the continued illegal confiscation of Palestinian land, construction and expansion of settlements and settlement "outposts", the construction of the Wall, and the creation of a bypass road system.
In addition to the immediate humanitarian consequences, Israel's unlawful colonization campaign seriously threatened future peace prospects. Its campaign was the core obstruction to the political and physical efforts to achieve the two-State solution of Palestine and Israel, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), the Arab Peace Initiative and the Road Map. All of Israel's illegal actions must be firmly rejected and condemned, he said. It was the collective duty of the international community, including the Security Council, to uphold the law and implement the relevant resolutions, and act concertedly to compel Israel to abide by its legal obligations.
Only a just settlement, including a just solution of the refugee issue, could bring an end to the conflict and bring peace and security. The Palestinian people and their leadership remained committed to the peace process. They urged all concerned parties, including the diplomatic Quartet, to seize the opportunities created by the Arab Peace Initiative and the Annapolis Conference to move negotiations forward. The international community needed to redouble its efforts to uphold its legal, political and moral responsibilities to promote a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after 60 years, he said.
MD TOUHID HOSSAIN, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, said his country was deeply concerned over the continued suffering of the Palestinian people and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied territories. Israel had continued to violate international humanitarian law by committing systematic human rights violations against the Palestinian people. The blockade in the Gaza Strip was another example of the Israeli violation of international humanitarian law.
With the unabated construction of the wall, which ignored the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion, the territories were being fragmented into smaller parts, which seriously impacted the viability of a Palestinian State. Bangladesh reiterated its call for immediate dismantling of the wall, he said.
Israel was a signatory to the relevant provision of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the Assembly and the Security Council, through resolutions adopted over the years, had reconfirmed Israel's obligation to ensure the basic human rights of the Palestinian people, he said. Bangladesh believed that full implementation of the relevant resolutions could only resolve the Palestinian crisis. Bangladesh was ready to play a supportive role in the collective endeavour to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. But unless the two parties joined the process with genuine political willingness, the process would raise optimism and then lead to another letdown.
Bangladesh welcomed all recent regional and international efforts, the commitment for the creation of a Palestinian State and the agreement to start final status negotiations to resolve all core issues, including borders, refugees, settlements and Jerusalem. Those issues must be resolved on the basis of previous agreements and would entail the complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. A sustainable resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the issue of Palestine, had to be the collective objective of the international community, he said.
PHILIPPE DELACROIX (France), European Union Presidency Coordinator, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, underlined the importance of the parties' negotiation process launched in Annapolis, which had allowed all major issues to be addressed without exception, in keeping with the pre-arranged commitments between the two sides. The launch of negotiations had also renewed the involvement of regional and international partners in their work towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The European Union was fully supportive of the ongoing negotiation process and invited parties to maintain constructive dialogue, in order to arrive at a just and sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as quickly as possible, based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, on the principle of land for peace, on the Arab Peace Initiative, on the Road Map and on previous agreements between the two parties, he said.
In order to consolidate the progress so far achieved, it was essential that the parties made new efforts to comply with their previous commitments, in particular those provided for under the Road Map and the Agreement on Movement and Access. In that regard, he said the European Union was deeply concerned by settlement activities in and around Jerusalem, as well as in the rest of the West Bank. Such activities, which ran contrary to international law and to Israel's commitments made pursuant to the Road Map, had to be suspended, as they undermined the credibility of the process initiated in Annapolis and affected the future viability of the Palestinian State. The European Union also called on both sides to refrain from all unilateral measures that could compromise the final settlement of negotiations.
To bring the peace process to a successful conclusion, it was essential to end all acts of violence and terrorism between the parties. The European Union thus strongly condemned the Palestinian militia's rocket attacks on Israel, he continued. Similarly, while recognizing Israel's right to self-defence, the European Union called upon Israel to exercise the utmost restraint and underlined that action should not contravene or be disproportionate to international law. In that vein, He strongly condemned the acts of violence and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
He commended Egypt for its endeavour to overcome Palestinian divisions, and to reunite Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza under the legitimate Palestinian Authority. Concerned about the violence that had recently returned to Gaza and southern Israel, the European Union urged all parties to respect the calm and expressed its hope that that calm would result in further relief for the civilian population of Gaza, including the regular opening of the crossings for both humanitarian and commercial flows, and sustained peace on Israel's southern border.
He concluded with a call for the immediate release of Corporal Gilad Shalit on the one hand; as well as the immediate release of Palestinian ministers and legislators detained by Israel, on the other.
ILEANA B. NÚÑEZ MORDOCHE (Cuba), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, regretted the continued deterioration in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, over the past year, and noted that the current poverty rate there was 65.8 per cent overall, and 80 per cent in the Gaza Strip. She was particularly concerned at that deterioration resulting from the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by Israel against the Palestinian civilian population, as well as its many other illegal policies and practices, including the inhumane and destructive collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population.
Those collective punishment measures constituted a grave breach of international humanitarian law, violated virtually all human rights of the Palestinians, and had devastated their socioeconomic conditions, causing a dire humanitarian crisis, she said, elaborating further on specific measures Israel had undertaken, which had caused serious damage to the Palestinian economy and society as a whole. Moreover, Israel continued to arrest and detain thousands of Palestinian civilians, imprisoning them in inhumane conditions, and continued to carry out intense military raids and incursions into Palestinian population centres, causing extensive loss of life and injury to Palestinian civilians.
The Non-Aligned Movement condemned the prolonged Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian Territory. Israel's unrelenting violations of international law over four decades had caused immense suffering to the Palestinian people and had obstructed all efforts to promote the achievement of a just and lasting peace, she said. She further criticized Israel's illegal colonial settlement policy and illegal construction of a wall in the West Bank.
She called upon the occupying Power to end settler violence, hold the perpetrators of crimes against Palestinian civilians accountable for their actions and immediately cease all illegal activity, among other things, and urged the international community to demand that Israel respect all its obligations under international law and cease all illegal and inhumane practices against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza. Israel must comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which was applicable to the entire Occupied Territory, including East Jerusalem, she continued, calling for the opening of all crossings and for Israel to repair all damage it had caused to infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, as well as for the international community to provide financial assistance to the Palestinians.
The Non-Aligned Countries called on the Security Council to take the actions necessary to implement its own resolutions, and compel Israel to respect international law and end its occupation and all illegitimate and illegal practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Israel's unilateral measures in the Occupied Territory posed a serious threat to achieving a negotiated agreement on a two-State solution and, thus, threatened prospects for peace. She noted that despite the resumption of direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel's illegal policies had undermined the process. She called upon all concerned parties, including the Quartet, to exert the necessary efforts to promote a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
DEVENDRA DWIVEDI (India) said almost one year after the international conference at Annapolis had raised the hope that the process of dialogue would help quickly address the daily litany of violence, blockades rhetoric and privation, and, thus, bring a just, mutually acceptable and durable solution to the question of Palestine, those hopes remained unfulfilled and settlements continued to expand in the occupied territories in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Road Map. The separation wall continued to be built, despite the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the General Assembly.
He said the division of Palestinian territories endured since the event of 2007, despite efforts to unify the leadership, and, "most damagingly," the blockade of Gaza persisted. Restrictions on movement and the ongoing blockade of Gaza had serious humanitarian consequences in an already precarious situation. Restrictions on supplies of fuel and electricity in Gaza had only intensified that humanitarian challenge.
Additionally, the security situation also remained a challenge, and despite efforts to maintain a ceasefire, incidents of indiscriminate violence and retaliation continued to erupt, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence. India believed that all violence had to be eschewed if there was to be a positive atmosphere for serious dialogue. He said a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine, to which the international community was committed through all the relevant resolutions, could not be created under the current circumstances.
HOANG CHI TRUNG ( Viet Nam) said that, in a year of mixed developments in the Middle East, he welcomed the continued engagement of Israel and Palestine in negotiations on final Status issues, and strong support at conferences held in Paris, France; Bethlehem, Israel; London, United Kingdom; and Berlin, Germany, for a viable Palestinian State. Tangible progress between Israel and relevant parties on ceasefires and prisoners' exchange, as well as steps by the Palestinian Authority to enhance national unity and promote foreign investment, also deserved recognition.
Such progress, however, could not conceal that more than six decades after the passage of General Assembly resolution 181 (1947) on the "Partition Plan", Middle East peace remained elusive, he said. The world still witnessed the continued denial and violation of Palestinians' inalienable rights, including that to self-determination. Viet Nam shared concern at Israel's military incursions into the West Bank, illegal settlement expansion into Palestinian Territory, and ongoing construction of the separation wall. To facilitate negotiations, he called on Israel to immediately end its restrictive measures, open border crossings and ensure unfettered access to humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
Turning to Lebanon, he said Viet Nam was encouraged by the convening of the second session of national dialogue, the reconciliation process initiated among Lebanese parties, and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria. He was concerned, however, at the resurgence of political assassinations and bombings in Tripoli, and urged all parties in Lebanon to fully engage in the national reconciliation process. Further, he fully supported the implementation of Security Council resolution 1707 (2006), and urged parties concerned to end targeted attacks against United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel and contribute to an improved regional security environment.
Peace processes could only be nurtured with peaceful dispute settlement and diplomatic negotiations, he said, and the Middle East conflict would remain unresolved unless all parties moved "beyond the ordinary" efforts to renounce violence. In closing, he reaffirmed his country's support for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, the principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative.
MAGED A. ABDELAZIZ (Egypt) noted that, despite the Annapolis Conference's goal of establishing a Palestinian State before the end of 2008 and the continuing negotiating process between both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, Israel's refusal to adhere to the United Nations resolutions and its unlawful practices against the Palestinian people had contributed to the worsening humanitarian situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the minimal progress towards achieving inalienable rights for the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, the expansion of settlements, the separating wall, attempts to reconfigure the border between the West Bank and Israel, the closures of border crossings at the Gaza Strip, and confiscation of Palestinian land, among others, was preventing "the needed supporting political environment" to achieve peace and reach an agreement on the final status core issues of the Road Map and the Annapolis understanding.
Today's General Assembly meeting, he continued, was of great importance, re-emphasizing support for the endeavours of the Palestinian people to establishing a viable and connected, and independent State of Palestine, side by side with Israel. The Secretary-General's report noted the progress made by the Palestinian Authority imposing law and order in the West Bank. Yet, he observed that Israel had not fulfilled its commitments towards ending its unlawful activities.
Noting that the closure of border crossings and obstruction of movement between Israel and the Gaza Strip had resulted in huge shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, deepening poverty, and severe diminishing of quality of life for the residents of Gaza, he said that such activities on the part of the Israeli Government would only lead to "the horrific cycle of violence and counter violence," and he called on both sides to cease firing and respect the "calm agreement". Under the supervision of the diplomatic Quartet and the international community, both sides needed to commit to confidence-building measures so that results of the negotiations could manifest into reality on the ground.
"The success of the peace process requires rapid effort by the international community," he said in conclusion, to hold Israel to its commitments under the Road Map and other international law regulations, including the reopening of Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, the release of Palestinian prisoners and officials, the supplying of the Gaza Strip with fuel, the removal of restrictions on access and movement, and the immediate end of all settlement activities. The Palestinian national conciliation and integrity of Palestine's Territory as one political connected entity, as well as the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and achievement of an independent viable Palestinian State, would continue to receive Egypt's full support, he added.
BASHAR JA'AFARI ( Syria) said the Assembly's meeting today coincided with passage of six decades of "al Nakba" on Palestinians, including preventing them from returning home, in blatant disregard for international law. Indeed, the Assembly was meeting to reaffirm its support for Palestinians in their struggle to achieve statehood and regain their legitimate rights, including the right to return, as outlined in Assembly resolution 194 of 1948. Despite the numerous resolutions that had been made, Palestinians were still living under the yoke of Israeli occupation.
In light of Israel's non-compliance with international will, and the continued suffering of Palestinians, it was important for the United Nations to uphold its responsibilities towards the Palestinian cause, he said. All Member States bore responsibility for the non-implementation of Assembly resolution 194.
The inability to create a Palestinian State was among the greatest failures, he continued. Recalling General Assembly resolution 273 of 1949, which had set the conditions for Israel's membership to the United Nations, he said the Assembly must not forget Israel's statements presented to the Special Political Committee at that time, and its commitment to implement resolutions. The fact that the Security Council had not taken any serious action against Israel, because of automatic favouring of Israel by some countries, sent a wrong message that Israel was above the law.
The world was witnessing the killing and displacement of Palestinians at levels unprecedented in human history, he continued, saying that Israel had desecrated places of worship, and had prevented medicine, food, water and electricity from reaching an entire population. Israel had continued its excavation activities around places of worship, includingAl-Aksa Mosque, and its policy of destruction, especially of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, the world's biggest "open-air prison". Further, it continued to assassinate key democratically elected Palestinians and limited the movement of United Nations staff.
At a time when Arab States sought to make peace, Israel had intensified its illegal settlement building and construction of its "racist" separation wall, despite the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. Syria reaffirmed firm support for Palestinians' rights to regain independence, and underscored the need to regain national unity through a national dialogue that would bolster the Palestinian negotiating position.
In closing, he said a just and comprehensive peace could be achieved through Israel's implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 497 (1981). The 2008 Arab Summit in Damascus, Syria reflected Arabs' will for a just peace.
HABIB MANSOUR ( Tunisia) said today's meeting allowed the Assembly to consider Palestinians' deep suffering, and he reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to step up its efforts to end that tragedy. Reaffirming his country's desire to see an end to Israeli practices in the occupied lands, he said that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lived in difficulty due to Israel's impediments to food delivery.
Indeed, Tunisia was committed to the principles of international law, he said, and had always championed the Palestinian cause. Tunisia had always demonstrated solidarity with Palestinians, particularly within the framework of an independent Palestinian State. The responsibility to find a just solution to the Palestinian question was a shared responsibility, and he reaffirmed the United Nations' efforts to support Palestinians, particularly through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
It was vital to support Palestinians in order to achieve regional peace, he said. Reaffirming Tunisia's commitment to join actions that would bring about the just, overall settlement to the Israeli conflict, he called for pooling international efforts to end Palestinians' suffering. He urged the international Quartet to lay the groundwork for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, based on international "legality", United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
OMAR ALI SALEH AL OYAIDI ( Saudi Arabia) said contemporary issues required cooperation among States to establish peace and international security. His country had participated, with other Arab States, in the 1991 peace talks in Madrid, Spain, as well as in various subsequent negotiating rounds, with a view to ending occupation of Arab lands. However, Israel had not implemented its agreements, and stability had remained a "far-fetched" possibility, notably because of Israeli confiscation of lands, demolition of homes and building of the separation wall. Palestinians were suffering attacks from armed Israeli settlers, and further, Israel continued such actions to destroy Palestinians.
Continuing, he said Palestinians had chosen peace, not surrender. They were for implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and an overall just and comprehensive peace, with Israel's withdrawal to 1967 borders, the right for Palestinians to return to their homes, and compensation for those not wishing to return. He also urged Israeli withdrawal from the Syrian Golan Heights.
Arab States had committed to just peace, he said, and they were waiting for Israeli commitment on that. In closing, he said Israel must halt its settlement activities, as they would only empty negotiations of any meaning.
For information media • not an official record