Sixty-first
General Assembly Plenary, 79th
Meeting (PM)
Auszug
aus General Assembly, GA/10559
General
Assembly adopts 24 resolutions, 2 decisions as it takes action on
Fourth
Committee reports, plenary agenda items ...
The Assembly also adopted, without a vote, four plenary-generated texts
related to protection of humanitarian workers and strengthening of the
coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance. By a recorded
vote of 159 in favour to none against, with 7 abstentions (Federated
States of Micronesia, Fiji, Israel, Marshall Islands, United States,
Nauru, Palau), it adopted a text on assistance to the Palestinian
people. (See annex XVI)
... Other texts adopted by recorded votes concerned implementation of
the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries
and Peoples, including several small-island Non-Self-Governing
Territories. (See annexes X-XV)
The Assembly adopted four texts on the operations of UNRWA (see annexes
I-IV), including one on that Agency’s UNRWA’s operations,
by which it called upon Israel to ensure the safety of its
personnel and facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem. Also by that text, the Assembly urged
the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damage to its
property and immediately to reimburse UNRWA for port charges and losses
suffered as a result of Israeli-imposed delays and restrictions on
movement and access. (See annex III)
Taking up five draft resolutions on Israeli practices affecting the
human rights of the Palestinian and other peoples in occupied Arab
lands (see annexes V-IX), the Assembly adopted a text on Israeli
settlements by 162 votes in favour to 8 against (Australia, Federated
States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu,
United States), with 10 abstentions. By that action it reaffirmed
that settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, were illegal and an obstacle
to peace and economic and social development. The Assembly would
reiterate its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli
settlement activities. (See annex VII)
South Africa’s representative introduced the text on
international cooperation in the field of natural disasters relief; the
delegate of the Philippines introduced the draft on strengthening
emergency relief in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster,
and Finland’s representative introduced texts on safety, security
and protection of humanitarian personnel, and on assistance to the
Palestinian people. They did so on behalf of the Group of 77
developing countries and China, the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and
the European Union respectively. Sweden’s representative
introduced a text on strengthening the coordination of emergency
humanitarian assistance.The representative of the United States spoke
in explanation of position before the Assembly took action on the text
on assistance to the Palestinian people.
The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Friday 15
December, to take up the resumed tenth emergency special session on the
Middle East.
Background
Topics covered in the Fourth Committee reports include; the University
for Peace (agenda item 28); effects of atomic radiation (item 29);
international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (item
30); United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East (item 31); Israeli practices affecting the human rights
of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
(item 32); comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping
operations in all their aspects (item 33); questions relating to
information (item 34); decolonization issues (items 35-39);
revitalization of the work of the General Assembly (item 110), and
programme planning (item 118).
Decolonization issues before the Assembly include; information from
Non-Self-Governing Territories, transmitted under Article 73 e of the
United Nations Charter (item 35); economic and other activities, which
affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing
Territories (item 36); implementation of the Decolonization Declaration
by the United Nations specialized agencies and associated international
institutions (item 37); offers by Member States of study and training
facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories (item 38),
and implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence
to Colonial Countries and Peoples (item 39).
which were approved without a vote on 30 October (see Press Release GA/SPD/357).
UNRWA
The Fourth Committee’s report on the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (document
A/61/407) contains four draft resolutions, all of which were approved
by recorded votes on 28 November (see Press Release GA/SPD/366).
By draft resolution I, on Assistance to Palestine refugees, the
Assembly would note, with regret, that repatriation of, or compensation
to, the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly
resolution 194 (III) of December 1948, has not yet been affected and
they continue to require assistance. The Assembly would affirm
the need for the continuation of UNRWA’s work and the importance
of its unimpeded operations and services, pending the just resolution
of the Palestine refugee question.
Draft resolution II, on Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967
and subsequent hostilities, would have the Assembly reaffirm the right
of all those persons to return to their homes or former places of
residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
According to draft resolution III, on Operations of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the
Assembly would call upon Israel to ensure the safety of UNRWA
personnel, the protection of its institutions and the security of its
facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem. It would urge the Government of Israel speedily to
compensate the Agency for damage to its property and immediately to
reimburse it for port and related charges and other financial losses
suffered as a result of Israeli-imposed delays and restrictions on
movement and access.
Draft resolution IV, on Palestine refugees’ properties and their
revenues would have the Assembly reaffirm that the Palestine refugees
are entitled to their property and income derived there from. It
would request the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in
consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for
Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property
rights in Israel.
Israeli Practices
The Fourth Committee’s report on the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
(document A/61/408) contains five draft resolutions, all of which the
Committee approved by recorded votes on 28 November (see Press Release
GA/SPD/366).
Draft resolution I, on the Work of the Special Committee, would have
the Assembly reiterate its demand that Israel cooperate with that body
and deplore those Israeli policies and practices that violate the human
rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied
territories. It would also request the Special Committee, pending
complete termination of the occupation, to continue to investigate
those Israeli policies and practices.
By draft resolution II, on the Applicability of the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12
August 1949, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories, the Assembly would
reaffirm that the Geneva Convention is applicable to the occupied
territories, and demand that Israel comply scrupulously with the
provisions of that Convention.
Draft resolution III, on Israeli settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied
Syrian Golan, would have the Assembly reaffirm that those settlements
are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social
development. It would reiterate its demand for the complete
cessation of all Israeli settlement activities and call for the full
implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.
According to draft resolution IV, on Israeli practices affecting the
human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, the Assembly would reiterate that
all measures and actions taken by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant
provisions of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in
Time of War, and contrary to the relevant Security Council resolutions,
are illegal and have no validity.
By draft resolution V, on the Occupied Syrian Golan, the Assembly would
call upon Israel to comply with the relevant resolutions on the
occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497
(1981), in which the Council decided that the Israeli decision to
impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian
Golan was null and void and without international legal effect and
demand that Israel rescind its decision.
Decolonization Issues
The Fourth Committee’s report on Information from
Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 (e) of the
Charter of the United Nations (document A/61/411) contains a draft
resolution, by which the Assembly would request the administering
Powers concerned to transmit, or continue to transmit, to the
Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 (e) of the
Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and
constitutional developments in the Territories concerned. The
Committee approved that text by a recorded vote on 11 October (see
Press Release GA/SPD/346).
Contained in the Committee’s report on Economic and other
activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the
Non-Self-Governing Territories (document A/61/412), is a draft
resolution, by which the Assembly would reaffirm the right of the
peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination, as
well as their right to enjoy their natural resources and to dispose of
them in their best interest. The Committee approved that draft by
a recorded vote on 11 October.
The report on Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized
agencies and the international institutions associated with the United
Nations (document A/61/413) contains a one-draft resolution, by which
the Assembly would recommend that all States intensify their efforts in
the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations
system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples. The Committee approved that text by a recorded vote on
11 October.
Contained in the report on Offers by Member States of study and
training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories
(document A/61/414) is a draft resolution, by which the Assembly would
invite all States to make, or continue to make, generous offers of
study and training facilities to the inhabitants of the Territories
and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective
students. The draft was approved without a vote on 11 October.
The report on Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document A/61/415)
contains six draft resolutions and one draft decision.
....
General Assembly Draft Resolutions
.....
A draft resolution on Assistance to the Palestinian people (document
A/61/L.47) would have the Assembly urge Member States, international
financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional
organizations, to extend -- as rapidly and as generously as possible --
economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close
cooperation with the Palestinian Liberation Organization and through
official Palestinian institutions.
Also by that draft, the Assembly would urge Member States to open their
markets to Palestinian exports on the most favourable terms, consistent
with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade
and cooperation agreements. It would also call upon the
international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged
assistance to the Palestinian people, so as to meet their urgent needs
and stress the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to them
and the free movement of persons and goods.
The Assembly would, by other terms, urge the international donor
community, United Nations agencies and organizations and
non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible
emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian
people, so as to counter the impact of the current crisis.
...
Action on Fourth Committee Texts
....
The Assembly then turned to the report on the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (document
A/61/407) and adopted draft resolution I, on “Assistance to
Palestine refugees”, by a recorded vote of 173 in favour to 1
against ( Israel), with 10 abstentions. (See annex I)
It then adopted draft resolution II, “Persons displaced as a
result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities”, by a
recorded vote of 170 in favour to 6 against (Federated States of
Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States),
with 8 abstentions (Cote d’Ivoire, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New
Guinea, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu). (See annex II)
Taking up draft resolution III, “Operations of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”,
the Assembly adopted it by a recorded 169 votes in favour to 6 against
(Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru,
Palau, United States), with 8 abstentions (Cameroon, Cote
d’Ivoire, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Vanuatu). (See annex III)
By a recorded vote of 170 in favour to 6 against (Federated States of
Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States),
with 8 abstentions (Cameroon, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New Guinea,
Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu), the Assembly then adopted draft
resolution IV, “Palestine refugees’ properties and their
revenues”. (See annex IV)
The Assembly then turned to the Report of the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
(document A/61/408), adopting draft resolution I, “Work of the
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human
Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories”, by a recorded vote of 90 in favour to 9 against
(Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall
Islands, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States), with 81
abstentions. (See annex V)
Taking up draft resolution II, “Applicability of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of
War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab
territories”, the Assembly adopted that text by a recorded vote
of 165 in favour to 7 against (Federated States of Micronesia, Israel,
Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States), with 10
abstentions. (See annex VI)
It then adopted, by a recorded 162 votes in favour to 8 against
(Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands,
Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States), with 10 abstentions. (See
annex VII).
By a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 9 against (Australia, Canada,
Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau,
Tuvalu, United States), with 14 abstentions, the Assembly then adopted
draft resolution IV, “Israeli practices affecting the human
rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”. (See
annex VIII)
Finally, the Assembly adopted draft resolution V, “the occupied
Syrian Golan”, by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 2 against
(Israel, Tuvalu), with 16 abstentions. (See annex IX)
Explanation of Vote
The representative of Iran said he had voted in favour of the text in
hopes of easing the plight of the Palestinian people, which was caused
by the occupying Israeli regime. Their situation could be
resolved through justice, an end to discrimination, an end to the
occupation of all Palestinian territories, the return of refugees and
the establishment of a democratic Palestinian State, with Al Quds Al
Sharif as its capital.
Introduction of Plenary Draft Resolutions
......
KIRSTI LINTONEN (Finland), introduced the draft on Safety and security
of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel
(document A/61/L.45) on behalf of the European Union, saying that the
deeply disturbing deaths, injuries and harassment of humanitarian
personnel, as well as the fact that the perpetrators seemingly operated
with impunity, clearly demonstrated that the issue deserved urgent
attention. The draft resolution addressed both the need to
strengthen the normative framework for the safety and security of
humanitarian personnel and protection of the United Nations personnel
and efforts to promote and enhance the Organization’s security
management system.
She then introduced, and made minor editorial corrections to, the draft
on Assistance to the Palestinian people (document A/61/L. 47), calling
on the Assembly to show the same strong support for the text that it
had shown in the past.
ANDERS LIDEN (Sweden) then introduced a draft on Strengthening the
coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations
(document A/61/L.46), saying that, while the Organization’s
emergency response capacity had been strengthened considerably,
significant challenges remained in the implementation of important
principles for humanitarian assistance, funding and coordination.
The draft addressed gender-based violence – an issue of growing
concern -- and reaffirmed the principles of neutrality, humanity,
impartiality and independence in the provision of humanitarian
assistance. Sweden had been an early believer in the success of
the CERF, to which donors had already pledged $345 million for 2007.
Explanations of Position
The representative of the United States said, in explaining his
position regarding the text on assistance to the Palestinian people,
that, though his delegation had traditionally been pleased to join the
consensus, it had regretfully abstained this year. While the
United States shared the concern over the hardship suffered by the
Palestinians and had continually assisted them through substantial
financial contributions, the text contained no language stipulating
that the Hamas-led Palestinian Government must accept and commit to the
three Quartet principles.
Action on Plenary Drafts
.....
The Assembly then adopted the draft on Assistance to the Palestinian
people (document A/61/L. 47) by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to
none against, with 7 abstentions ( Federated States of Micronesia,
Fiji, Israel, Marshall Islands, United States, Nauru, Palau).
ANNEX I
.....
ANNEX II
Vote on Displaced Persons
The draft resolution on persons displaced as a result of the June 1967
and subsequent hostilities (document A/61/407) was adopted by a
recorded vote of 170 in favour to 6 against, with 8 abstentions, as
follows:
In favour: (alle Europäer)
Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States.
Abstain: Côte d’Ivoire, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu.
Absent: Gambia, Kiribati, Liberia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Somalia.
ANNEX III
Vote on UNRWA Operations
The draft resolution on operations of the UNRWA (document A/61/407) was
adopted by a recorded vote of 169 in favour to 6 against, with 8
abstentions, as follows:
Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States.
ANNEX IV
Vote on Refugees’ Properties
The draft resolution on Palestine refugees’ properties and their
revenues (document A/61/407) was adopted by a recorded vote of 170 in
favour to 6 against, with 8 abstentions, as follows:
Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States.
ANNEX V
Vote on Work of Special Committee
The draft resolution on the work of the Special Committee to
Investigate Israeli Practices affecting the Human Rights of the
Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
(document A/61/408) was adopted by a recorded vote of 90 in favour to 9
against, with 81 abstentions, as follows:
In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin,
Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chad,
Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar,
Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of
Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States. Abstain: Albania,
Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia,
Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti,
Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi,
Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian
Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon
Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
Uruguay, Vanuatu.
ANNEX VI
Vote on Applicability of Geneva Convention
The draft resolution on the applicability of the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12
August 1949, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories (document A/61/408)
was adopted by a recorded vote of 165 in favour to 7 against, with 10
abstentions, as follows:
Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States.
ANNEX VII
Vote on Israeli Settlements
The draft resolutions on Israeli settlements in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied
Syrian Golan (document A/61/408) was adopted by a recorded vote of 162
in favour to 8 against, with 10 abstentions, as follows:
Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States.
ANNEX VIII
Vote on Israeli Practices
The draft resolution on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem (document A/61/408) was adopted by a recorded vote of
157 in favour to 9 against, with 14 abstentions, as follows:
Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands,
Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States.
ANNEX IX
Vote on occupied Syrian Golan
The draft
resolution on the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/61/408) was adopted
by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 2 against, with 16 abstentions,
as follows:
Against: Israel, Tuvalu.
ANNEX X
Vote on Information under Article 73(e)
The draft resolution on Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories
transmitted under Article 73(e) of the Charter of the United Nations
(document A/61/411) was adopted by a recorded vote of 179 in favour to
none against, with 4 abstentions, as follows:
Abstain: France, Israel, United Kingdom, United States.
ANNEX XI
Vote on Economic activities
The draft resolution on economic and other activities which affect the
interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories
(document A/61/412) was adopted by a recorded vote of 179 in favour to
2 against, with 2 abstentions, as follows:
Against: Israel, United States.
Abstain: France, United Kingdom.
