EU Presidency Statement - The question of Palestine

Mr. President,

I have the honor to explain the vote of the European Union on the draft Resolutions entitled "Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People" contained in document A/55/L.45 and "Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat" contained in document A/55/L.46.

Important progress has been made in the Middle East Peace Process over the years with a view to establishing a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. The Israeli and the Palestinians have achieved, during the summit held at Camp David last summer, courageous gestures. They had never been so close to reaching an agreement. Ever since, tragedy has overridden negotiation. The European Union has expressed many times the extreme concern with which the current situation inspired us. The European Union nevertheless wants to believe that the Peace process will soon resume. There is no alternative.

The European Union regrets that the mandate of the two United Nations entities in charge of the "Question of Palestine" does not reflect enough the spirit of the Peace process. That is why the European Union, as in previous years, abstained in the vote of the two draft resolutions.

I nevertheless wish, on behalf of the European Union, to commend the work achieved this year by the division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in areas such as the public information through Internet, the training of Palestinian cadres and the computerization of the ground property archives of mandated Palestine under the auspices of the Commission of Conciliation. The Division has achieved effectively that last, essential for the future, task.

The European Union also welcomes the ongoing dialogue with the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. We are prepared to continue this exchange of views, with the particular aim of adjusting the mandate and the activities of the Committee to the spirit of the Madrid and Oslo Accords, in order to allow full support of and a constructive contribution to the Peace Process.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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• EU Presidency Statement - The question of Palestine (30/11/2000)