General Assembly Session 54 meeting 51

The President

I give the floor to the representative of Senegal, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to introduce draft resolution A/54/L.20.

Mr. Ka (Senegal)

It gives me great pleasure once again to address the Assembly on an item that is dear to the hearts of millions of people throughout the world: the forthcoming commemoration of the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the celebration of the new millennium in the symbolic city of Bethlehem. I believe that this event is of special importance, not merely for the Palestinians and the peoples of the region, but also for all believers throughout the world. For 16 months, from Christmas 1999 to Easter 2001, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem will be the site of the commemoration, in a spirit of joy and of hope, of this historic anniversary, which will coincide with the advent of the third millennium.

Thousands of visitors from all regions of the world, from all walks of life and from all faiths, will make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem for a unique experience in a spirit of communion, openness and sharing. The message that will be delivered at Bethlehem will be one of universal peace, dialogue and reconciliation. This strong message will, I am sure, reflect an aspiration so profound and fundamental that it will stimulate the imagination and energy of all people of goodwill.

As the Assembly is aware, the Palestinian Authority, in anticipation of masses of pilgrims arriving in Bethlehem, in 1997 launched the Bethlehem 2000 project in order to welcome the millions of tourists and pilgrims who wish to commemorate in Bethlehem a unique event in this holy land. In order to promote the particularly rich past of the city and to give a boost to the tourist industry, the Palestinian Authority has organized a series of projects.

The Bethlehem 2000 project, an enormous undertaking, seeks primarily to restore the religious and historical sites of the city and to upgrade the city's infrastructures. The restoration of these historical sites and the upgrading of the infrastructures, many of which are damaged and have been abandoned for many years now, have been real challenges for the Palestinian leadership. Years of conflict have had a negative impact not only on the socio-economic situation of the inhabitants of Bethlehem, but also on the condition of the sites and of the city's buildings and public services.

In order to lend support to the Bethlehem 2000 project, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in May 1998 requested the inclusion of an item entitled "Bethlehem 2000" in the agenda of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly. Following an extremely interesting debate, the General Assembly adopted, without a vote, resolution 53/27 of 18 November 1998, in which it expressed support for the project and called for the international community's increased assistance and engagement to this laudable initiative.

In response to the General Assembly's request, the Committee last year implemented a programme of activities to heighten awareness of the Bethlehem 2000 project and to mobilize support for it. One of the most important activities was the convening of the Bethlehem 2000 International Conference at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, on 18 and 19 February 1999, in cooperation with the Italian Government and the Holy See, which I wish solemnly to thank once again for their support in helping to organize that Conference.

Many personalities attended the Rome Conference, including Mr. Francesco Rutelli, the mayor of Rome; Mr. Kieran Prendergast, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and representative of the Secretary-General of our Organization; Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, President of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and head of the delegation of the Holy See; Mr. Jacques Baudin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal; Mr. Azeddine Laraki, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference; Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; and Mr. Lamberto Dini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy.

The eminent personalities who spoke at the Conference included Mr. Luciano Violante, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and Mr. Domenico Fisichella, Senator and Vice-President of the Italian Senate and representative of Nicola Mancino, President of the Italian Senate. The Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat, also made an important statement.

In Rome, Mr. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, then President of the Republic of Italy, received the Committee delegation and expressed the readiness of his country to continue to make every effort to revive the peace process. The delegation also had an audience with His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who welcomed the Committee's activities and sent his best wishes for the success of the events soon to be held in Bethlehem.

The Committee continued to increase its support for the project by organizing other activities, in particular an international meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, in April 1999, as well as meetings with representatives of the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States. I should like to take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. President, for your personal contribution to the success of the Windhoek meeting.

An exhibition entitled "Bethlehem 2000", which includes works of art and photographs of Bethlehem, was organized to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November 1998, at United Nations Headquarters. The exhibition was also on view during the meetings in Rome and Windhoek. On the occasion of the next International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which will be commemorated at the end of this month, the Committee will present another exhibition of Palestinian art, also on the subject of Bethlehem 2000. The exhibition will be entitled "Follow the Star: Images from the Palestinian City of Bethlehem at the New Millennium", and it will be officially opened on 29 November at 6 p.m.

For its part, the United Nations system has played a pre-eminent role since the launching of the Bethlehem 2000 project in 1997. The United Nations Development Programme is continuing to participate in a wide range of projects to repair infrastructure and to develop the tourist industry in close cooperation with the municipality of Bethlehem. The World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are continuing to play an active part in the project through specific initiatives in the area. The European Commission, non-governmental organizations, donor countries and individuals have made substantial contributions, which have enabled the preparatory work to be finalized in time for the launch of the festivities.

At a time when the world will soon be flooding into Bethlehem, and at a time when the Palestinian people are preparing a generous welcome for all visitors, the Committee hopes that many will respond to the invitation and come to celebrate in peace and hope the birth of Jesus Christ in the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. All are welcome in Bethlehem, that place of pilgrimage where the past and the present meet. In Bethlehem we will honour the heritage of a rich culture and a magnificent history with millennial traditions. In Bethlehem we will also be able to imagine a future that holds promise for all the peoples of the region -- a region that must preserve its role as a crossroads for coming together and for peace for all people of goodwill.

On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I now have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/54/L.20, entitled "Bethlehem 2000". In addition to those named in the document, the following countries have also decided to sponsor the draft resolution: France, Guinea, Malta, Namibia, Norway, Portugal, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and Venezuela.

In the draft resolution, the General Assembly welcomes the impending arrival of the historic event which will commemorate both the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and the beginning of the third millennium in the city which is a symbol of the shared hope for peace among all the peoples of the world. The Assembly then expresses its support for the Bethlehem 2000 project and commends the efforts undertaken by the Palestinian Authority in this regard. It notes with appreciation the assistance already given by the international community in support of the Bethlehem 2000 project and calls for the further increase of assistance and engagement on the part of the international community in order to ensure the complete success of the project.

The draft also requests the Secretary-General to mobilize the pertinent organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to increase their efforts to ensure the success of the project, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Bethlehem 2000" so that the Assembly may continue to support the project until the commemoration comes to a close at Easter 2001.

Allow me to express the profound gratitude of the Committee to Governments, United Nations bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the sponsors of this important draft resolution. Their generosity and contribution will enable the Palestinian people to fulfil one of their dreams and one of their aspirations. Let us all dare to hope that the celebration of Bethlehem 2000 will enable us to lay the foundations for lasting peace that will endure beyond the festivities, and that it will embody the hope, at the dawn of the next millennium and for years to come, of harmonious coexistence among all the peoples of the region.

In conclusion, allow me also to express the hope that, as was the case last year, all Members will give their unreserved support to this draft resolution and that once again it will be adopted by consensus.

The President

I should like to inform members that, in a letter dated 5 October 1999 addressed to the President of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Western European and other States for the month of October, requests that the General Assembly hear in plenary meeting a statement by the observer of the Holy See on agenda item 36, "Bethlehem 2000".

Taking into account the importance attached to the issue under discussion, it is proposed that the General Assembly should take a decision on that request.

May I take it that there is no objection to the proposal to hear a statement by the observer of the Holy See?

Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine)

The Palestinian city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, is on the threshold of its millennium commemoration, Bethlehem 2000. The forthcoming worldwide celebration of this epic turning point in time is an occasion imbued with profound historical, religious, spiritual and cultural dimensions of high importance for our people, for the other peoples of the region, for the faithful and for the entire international community. Bethlehem, Palestine, is of great historic and symbolic centrality in these celebrations. There, the world will rejoice in the two-thousandth anniversary of the birth of Jesus and will welcome a new millennium. The General Assembly's consensus adoption of resolution 53/27, the first under this item, was a reflection of both the prominence of the issue and the profound significance and meaning of the occasion.

A dignified, glorious and celebratory commemoration befitting such a historic and momentous occasion is of paramount importance and has been a central priority since the inauguration of the Bethlehem 2000 project in March 1997. In this regard, the organization and preparations for the celebration of this occasion in Bethlehem constitute an enormous endeavour that the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority have undertaken with great pleasure.

Throughout the past year, serious work has been carried out in connection with the Bethlehem 2000 project in spite of the persistent difficulties on the ground caused by the occupation. The most recent examples include the killing of a Palestinian man by an Israeli soldier in Bethlehem and recent plans by Israel, the occupying Power, to establish a border-like checkpoint at the entrance to the city. All the work that has been achieved despite such obstacles reflects the resilience of the Palestinian people and their determination to ensure the success of this commemoration. The atmosphere in and around Bethlehem has already begun to feel different, and there is an enthusiastic readiness to receive the 2 million pilgrims and tourists expected to join in the celebrations and events beginning just prior to Christmas, 1999, continuing throughout 2000 and concluding on Easter, 2001.

The international donor community has also been engaged in the preparations. This includes the United Nations community, particularly the United Nations Development Programme. We also express our deep appreciation for the work and efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People over the past year in this regard. In addition to the initiative it has undertaken with regard to Bethlehem 2000, the Committee will also sponsor the annual exhibit on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, presented in cooperation with our Mission. This year's exhibit is entitled "Follow the star: Images from the Palestinian city of Bethlehem at the new millennium".

This year, the Committee organized a very successful Bethlehem 2000 International Conference in Rome in February. The Conference had the full support and participation of Palestine, Italy, the Holy See, church authorities, the European Commission, the United Nations system and various other international organizations, institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as of individuals from the academic, cultural and private sectors. Upon its conclusion, the Conference adopted the Rome Declaration on Bethlehem 2000, in which it reaffirmed, inter alia, the international community's support for the success of the occasion and expressed appreciation for the funding and assistance provided by the donor community, particularly donor countries, agencies and the private sector.

I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those who have made generous contributions towards this endeavour and who have cooperated with the Palestinian Authority in its effort to ensure the jubilant success of Bethlehem 2000. Continued participation by the international community is, of course, essential. As for the role of the United Nations in this regard, it is our hope that the Organization will continue to play an important role in drawing the attention of the peoples of the world to the importance of this historic universal occasion.

The Palestinian people are proud and honoured to be hosting such a historic occasion, one that we hope will reflect and promote a vision of peace, reconciliation and goodwill for all humankind. We had truly hoped to begin the Bethlehem 2000 celebrations in an independent Palestine. Of course, we are disappointed that this will not be the case. However, we are confident that the second portion of this occasion, including Christmas, 2000, the start of 2001 and the conclusion of the commemorations on Easter, 2001, will be celebrated in an independent Palestine and a peaceful Middle East.

The unanimous adoption of resolution 53/27 by the Assembly during the fifty-third session was hailed by the Bethlehem 2000 International Conference in Rome as a clear reflection of the world community's strong desire to bring an era of dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation to the people of Bethlehem and the entire Middle East. It is our fervent hope that the draft resolution under this item will also receive the support of all the Member States of this Assembly and be adopted by consensus.

Ms. Rasi (Finland)

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