UNdemocracy - General Assembly Session 57 meeting 73

Date	11 December 2002

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A-57-PV.73 2002-12-11 10:00 11 December 2002 [[11 December]] [[2002]] /

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Agenda item 76

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/57/520)

The Acting President

I call on the representative of Papua New Guinea for an explanation of vote.

Mr. Ovia (Papua New Guinea)

As everyone in this Assembly is well aware, Papua New Guinea's policy on the inalienable rights of all peoples to self-determination, including those of the Palestinian people, remains firm and unwavering. However, we also believe that this inalienable right must be exercised through peaceful means and without any duress and violence.

For the Middle East region, we believe that the two States of Israel and Palestine have a right to exist as sovereign States side by side and within secured borders. The statement of Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, to the General Assembly during the general debate this year further reaffirmed that position.

The current state of violence on both sides of the Middle East conflict cannot and must not be condoned by the international community, including Papua New Guinea. We condemn the violent methods employed by some amongst the Palestinian population to achieve these aims. We appeal to them to cease these methods and to take the peaceful route of dialogue and negotiations. At the same time, we call for fair treatment of innocent Palestinian people by the Israeli army in its attempts to catch those individuals, organizations and leaders responsible for the violence.

The delegation of Papua New Guinea has in recent times further observed that many resolutions on Palestine and the Middle East question are not fair and balanced. They condemn Israel for taking action to protect its citizens and bring to justice those responsible for taking the lives of innocent people, including children. At the same time, the resolutions say little or nothing about Palestinian suicide bombing and other methods used to try to send a message and/or achieve the intended goal of freedom.

Papua New Guinea, like others in our subregion, believes that dialogue and negotiations with our rivals and even those who do not necessarily agree with us are always the best way forward. We believe therefore that peace and harmony will come to the Middle East region by very hard and constructive discussions and decisions. We call on both Israel and the Palestinian authorities to come to the negotiating table to discuss their differences and the difficult questions.

Papua New Guinea will therefore vote in favour of most of the draft resolutions, but abstain in the voting on others.

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the seven draft resolutions recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee in paragraph 23 of its report (A/57/520).

After all the votes have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote.

We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Assistance to Palestine refugees".

favour

against

abstain

absent

Draft resolution I was adopted by 158 votes to 1, with 5 abstentions (resolution 57/117).

favour=158 against=1 abstain=5 absent=28

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

The Acting President

Draft resolution II is entitled "Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East".

The Special Political and Decolonization Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote.

May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 57/118)

The Acting President

Draft resolution III is entitled "Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities".

favour

against

abstain

absent

Draft resolution III was adopted by 155 votes to 5, with 3 abstentions (resolution 57/119).

favour=155 against=5 abstain=3 absent=29

The Acting President

Draft resolution IV is entitled "Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees".

favour

against

abstain

absent

Draft resolution IV was adopted by 164 votes to none, with 1 abstention (resolution 57/120).

favour=164 against=0 abstain=1 absent=27

The Acting President

Draft resolution V is entitled "Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East".

favour

against

abstain

absent

Draft resolution V was adopted by 155 votes to 5, with 4 abstentions (resolution 57/121).

favour=155 against=5 abstain=4 absent=28

The Acting President

We now turn to draft resolution VI, entitled "Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues".

favour

against

abstain

absent

Draft resolution VI was adopted by 159 votes to 5, with 2 abstentions (resolution 57/122).

favour=159 against=5 abstain=2 absent=26

The Acting President

Draft resolution VII is entitled "University of Jerusalem 'Al Quds' for Palestine refugees".

favour

against

abstain

absent

Draft resolution VII was adopted by 155 votes to 5, with 4 abstentions (resolution 57/123).

favour=155 against=5 abstain=4 absent=28

The Acting President

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 76.