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I. TWELFTH UNITED NATIONS NORTH AMERICAN NGO SYMPOSIUM<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE HELD AT UNITED NATIONS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, FROM 19 TO 21 JUNE 1995<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>The twelfth United Nations NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine for the North American region was held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, at United Nations Headquarters, New York, from 19 to 21 June 1995, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 49\/62 A and B of 14 December 1994.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was represented by Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee and head of the delegation; Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parilla (Cuba), Vice- Chairman of the Committee; Mr. Ravan A.G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman of the Committee; and Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The Symposium was attended by more than 200 participants. Seventy-three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were represented, among them a number of new organizations attending a North American NGO Symposium for the first time. Sixteen governments attended the meeting as observers.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>At the opening of the Symposium, statements were made by Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé, Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, who delivered a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Chairman of the Palestinian Authority; and Mr. Larry Ekin, Chairman of the North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (NACC).<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The theme of the Symposium was "the United Nations on its 50th Anniversary and the Question of Palestine".<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>Experts made presentations at three plenary sessions, as follows:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tA.
\t<\/span>Challenges to peace:\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\tobstacles and opportunities\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tReverend Alex Awad, Lecturer at Bethlehem Bible College and\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tPastor of the East Jerusalem Baptist Church\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Michael Warshawski, Founder and Director of the\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tAlternative Information Center, Jerusalem\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMs. Leila Zachariah, Executive Director of Association Najdeh, Beirut\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Avigdor Feldman, Lawyer, human rights activist and founder of B'Tselem\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tB.
\t<\/span>Working towards self-determination\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\tand promoting civil society\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Raji Sourani, Lawyer and human rights activist\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMs. Suha Hindiyeh-Mani, Director and founder of the\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tWomen's Studies Center, East Jerusalem\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Shafiq Masalha, Clinical Psychologist and Acting Director\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tof the Palestinian Counselling Center, East Jerusalem\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tC.
\t<\/span>Continuing commitment of NGOs on the Question of Palestine\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tDr. Haider Abdel Shafi, President of the Red Crescent Society\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Larry Ekin, Chairman of the North American Coordinating\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tCommittee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMs. Maria Gazi, Vice-Chairman of the European Coordinating Committee\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tfor NGOs on the Question of Palestine\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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\t<\/span>Among the topics discussed in workshops by eight experts were the following:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>1.\t<\/span>Refugees and the displaced.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>2.\t<\/span>Settlements.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>3.\t<\/span>Status of Jerusalem.\t<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>4.\t<\/span>Securing respect for international humanitarian law.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>5.\t<\/span>Mobilizing Palestinian women.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>6.\t<\/span>Promoting civil society.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>7.\t<\/span>Development: putting people first.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>8.\t<\/span>Labour in transition.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>At the close of the Symposium, statements were made by Mr. Larry Ekin, Reverend Ibrahim Ayad, President of the Palestine Committee for NGOs; Mr. Nasser Al-Kidwa and Mr. Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parilla (Cuba). <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The Symposium participants elected by secret ballot a 12-member Coordinating Committee for 1995-1996. Those elected from the United States were: the Association of Arab-American University Graduates; the Episcopal Church, USA; Grassroots International; the Methodist Federation for Social Action; the Palestine Aid Society; the Palestine Human Rights Campaign of Georgia, Inc.; Pax World Service; the Presbyterian Church, USA; and the YWCA of the USA. Those elected from Canada were: the Canadian Autoworkers' Social Justice Fund; the Canadian Council of Churches; and the Centre d'études arabes pour le développement.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>A report on the Symposium will be issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights. <\/p><\/div>\n\n
II.\t<\/span>UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR ON PALESTINIAN ADMINISTRATIVE,<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
MANAGERIAL AND FINANCIAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
HELD AT PARIS FROM 28 TO 30 JUNE 1995<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The United Nations Seminar on Palestinian Administrative, Managerial and Financial Needs and Challenges was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, from 28 to 30 June 1995, under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in accordance with its mandate.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The Committee was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal), Chairman; Mr. Ravan A.G. Farhadi (Afghanistan), Vice-Chairman, Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta), Rapporteur; Mr. Alimamy Bangura (Sierra Leone); and Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa (Palestine). The officers of the Committee served as officers of the Seminar in their respective capacities. <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The Seminar was attended by 150 participants, among them representatives of 50 Governments and 14 United Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations. Twenty experts presented papers on various topics under consideration and these were followed by a discussion.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>Mr. Omar Massalha, Director, Coordination Unit for Assistance to the Palestinian People, made a statement on behalf of the Director-General of UNESCO. A message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations was delivered by his representative, Mr. Robert Gallagher, Deputy to the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories. Statements were made by Mr. Ravan A.G. Farhadi, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and by the representative of Palestine, Mrs. Leila Shahid, General Delegate of Palestine to France and Permanent Observer of Palestine to UNESCO.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The programme for the Seminar began with a plenary session on the theme "Palestinian administrative, managerial and financial needs and challenges – the role of international assistance". Statements were made by donor countries and other governments, by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and by organizations of the United Nations system.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>Subsequently, four round-table discussions moderated by experts, were conducted, as follows:<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>I.\t<\/span>The Palestinian Authority –<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t\t<\/span>needs and challenges of administration<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Shibley Telhami, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t(Moderator)\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Ibrahim Al Daghma, Chief, Legal Advice and Legislation Department\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tof the Palestinian Authority\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Yair Hirschfeld, Director-General of the Economic Cooperation\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tFoundation and Senior Lecturer at the University of Haifa\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Alfons Calderón Riera, Assistant Professor of the Escuela Superior\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tde Administración y Dirección de Empresas, Barcelona\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Amin Baidoun, Director-General for International Cooperation,\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tPalestinian Authority\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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II.\t<\/span>Laying the foundation for a public financial management<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Stephen B. Peterson, Research Associate at the Harvard Institute\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tfor International Development, Harvard University, (Moderator)\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Fouad H. Beseiso, Head of the Palestinian Monetary Authority\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Atef Alawneh, Deputy Head of Finance Department, Palestinian Authority\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMs. Muna Jawhary, Economist-Consultant, London\/Jerusalem\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Georges Capdeboscq, Counsellor, French National Audit Office, Paris\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Gilles Johanet, Counsellor, French National Audit Office, Paris\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Abdel Hamid Bouab, Officer-in-Charge, Public Finance and\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tEnterprise Management Branch\/DDSMS, Secretariat of the United Nations\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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III.\t<\/span>Supporting the development of the Palestinian municipalities and public utilities<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Francis Dubois, Senior Programme Adviser, Programme of Assistance\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tto the Palestinian People, UNDP (Moderator)\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Mustafa Abdel Nabi Natshe, Mayor of Hebron\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Ghassan El-Shakah, Mayor of Nablus\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Atef Alawneh, Deputy Head of the Department of Finance\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tof the Palestinian Authority\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Hussein Al-A'raj, Deputy Head for Local Government,\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tPalestinian Authority\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Sameer A. Abu-Eisheh, Dean, Faculty of Engineering,\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tAl-Najah University, Nablus\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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IV.\t<\/span>Human resources development and management – building institutional capacity<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Robin Poppe, Programme Officer, National Capacity Building,\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tILO International Training Centre, Turin (Moderator)\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Shibley Telhami, The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Bishara A. Bahbah, Associate Director, Institute for Social\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tand Economic Policy in the Middle East, Harvard University\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Musa D. Ghosheh, General Director of the Employees Bureau, West Bank\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. Alain Claisse, Professor of Public Law, Université de Paris\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tMr. George Jadoun, Technical Programme Manager, Training Focal Point\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tfor Palestine at the ILO International Training Centre, Turin\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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\t<\/span>At the close of the Seminar, statements were made by Mrs. Leila Shahid, General Delegate of Palestine to France and Permanent Observer of Palestine to UNESCO, and by the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The final report of the Seminar was submitted to the Secretary-General and will be published as document A\/50\/278-E\/1995\/114. It will be distributed to all members of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, and will also be issued as a publication of the Division for Palestinian Rights.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
III.\t<\/span>EXCERPT FROM G-7 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT ADOPTED AT THE<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
G-7 SUMMIT HELD AT HALIFAX FROM 15 TO 17 JUNE 1995<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>At the Halifax Summit held from 15 to 17 June 1995, the Heads of State and Government of seven major industrialized nations and the President of the European Commission met and issued the Halifax Summit Communiqué and the Chairman's statement. The following is an excerpt from the Chairman's statement (document A\/50\/254-S\/1995\/501):<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>"The Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty is an important building block for peace throughout the region. It is imperative that the momentum for peace be maintained. We encourage the conclusion of peace treaties between Israel and Lebanon and Syria. We pledge our firm support for the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles. We urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to conclude, as agreed between them, the arrangements for elections in the Palestinian Autonomous Territory and the redeployment of Israeli Defence Forces. We also recognize the importance of the economic basis for peace, notably the need for regional integration. We reiterate our call to the League of Arab States to end its boycott of Israel."<\/p><\/div>\n\n
IV.\t<\/span> EXCERPTS FROM PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL AT ITS FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
HELD AT RIYADH ON 11 JUNE 1995<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>The following are excerpts from a press release issued at the fifty-fifth session of the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Arabian Gulf (A\/50\/255-S\/1995\/504):<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>"The Ministerial Council studied developments in the Middle East peace process since the Madrid Conference in 1991, which had laid the foundations for achieving peace and guaranteeing a just solution through the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the principle of land for peace.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>"The Council reviewed the progress made in the context of the peace process towards achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region, which would bring about full Israeli withdrawal from the Holy City of Jerusalem and all occupied Arab territories and the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to the establishment of an independent State in its own national sovereignty.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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\t<\/span>"In that connection, the Council expressed its grave concern regarding Israel's continued confiscation of Palestinian land and its building of settlements in the occupied Arab territories, thus breaching the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, violating the spirit and the letter of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles and endangering the Middle East peace process.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n