Declaration of the Non-Aligned Movement Committee on
Palestine
(Durban, South Africa, 27 April 2002)
- The Committee on Palestine of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) met at
the ministerial level in Durban South Africa, on 27 April 2002. The NAM
Members of the Security Council (NAM Caucus) were invited and
participated in the meeting. The meeting was convened to consider the
grave and deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including Jerusalem, and to consider appropriate action in support of
the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority and in support of
all efforts to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to establish
peace in the region.
- The Ministers decided to intensify the efforts of the Committee in
light of these difficult circumstances in coordination with the valuable
efforts that have been undertaken by the Chairman of the Movement, H.E.
President Thabo Mbeki. The Ministers took guidance from the positions
adopted by the Durban NAM Summit.
- The Ministers expressed outrage and condemned the willful killing,
vast destruction and other atrocities committed by the Israeli occupying
forces against the Palestinian people, especially since the start of the
Israeli military assault on Palestinian cities and the Palestinian
Authority on 29 March 2002. They expressed, in particular, grave concern
about reports on war crimes and massacre committed in the Jenin refugee
camp and in other Palestinian cities. In this regard, the Ministers
rejected what has become an Israeli culture of acting with impunity and
with disregard for resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. The
Ministers stressed the need for full accountability and an end to the
application of double standards.
- The Ministers expressed grave concern as well about Israeli military
attacks on Holy Sites, including mosques and churches, in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and expressed profound concern about the Israeli
military siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
- The Ministers called for the immediate and full withdrawal of
Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities in implementation of
Security Council resolutions 1402 (2002) and 1403 (2002) as a first step
for ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land occupied since
1967.
- The Ministers expressed full solidarity with and support for the
elected President of the Palestinian Authority and the leader of the
Palestinian people, H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat. The Ministers demanded the
immediate end of the Israeli military siege imposed on President Arafat
in Ramallah and called for international efforts and assistance to
rebuild the Palestinian Authority and its capabilities.
- The Ministers welcomed Security Council resolution 1405 (2002) on
the dire humanitarian situation of the Palestinian civilian population
and the fact-finding team dispatched by the Secretary-General. The
Ministers expressed support for the fact-finding team and expressed
confidence that a detailed, substantial report would be presented by the
Secretary-General to the Security Council on the atrocities committed in
the Jenin refugee camp and in other cities.
- The Ministers called for the implementation of the Declaration
adopted by the reconvened Conference of High Contracting Parties to the
Fourth Geneva Convention on 5 December 2001 and called for concrete
action on the national, regional and international levels to ensure
respect by the occupying Power of the provisions of the Convention.
- The Ministers recalled the international liability regarding grave
breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention and called for actions against
the perpetrators by the United Nations system, including the Security
Council or alternatively the General Assembly. The Ministers also
reiterated the need to ensure that Israeli credentials to the General
Assembly and international conferences do not cover the territories
occupied by Israel since 1967.
- The Ministers welcomed the proposals of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations on the establishment of a robust and credible
multinational force under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United
Nations. The Ministers called on the members of the Security Council to
quickly consider the proposal of the Secretary-General and to take the
necessary measures in this regard. The Ministers agreed that the
presence of such a force could make an important, positive contribution
towards the rapid achievement of a final settlement between the two
parties.
- The Ministers called for an immediate end to the violence, killing
and destruction and the speedy resumption of peace negotiations on a
final settlement, one which would end the Israeli occupation, including
the colonial settlements, and lead to the establishment of a Palestinian
State with Jerusalem as its capital. The Ministers took positive note of
the vision affirmed by the Security Council in resolution 1397 (2002).
- The Ministers stressed the need for a comprehensive approach in
dealing with the situation, with a complete road map, including the
final goal, mechanism and international presence on the ground. The
Ministers called for an increased international role, including that of
the Security Council and the Secretary-General. The Ministers expressed
appreciation for the role played by the members of NAM in the Security
Council and invited them to continue making such a positive
contribution.
- The Ministers agreed to organize, through the Chair of the Movement,
a delegation to visit Palestine and to meet with President Arafat, in
expression of solidarity with the President and people of Palestine.
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