unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/11/89)
UN FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS Posting Date: 10/09/89 Copyright UNITEX Communications, 1989 UNITEX Network, USA ISSN: 1043-7932 Issued: 6 October 1989 THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ISRAELI POLICIES AND PRACTICES WHICH VIOLATE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PALESINIAN PEOPLE IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORY After the end of its discussion on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Israeli policies and practices which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory. The resolution, adopted by 140 votes in favour to 2 against (Israel and United States), with 6 abstentions (Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Zaire), was introduced by Libya, whose representative stated that the introduction of the resolution was dictated by the tragic conditions which prevailed in the Palestinian territory under Israeli occupation. Israel's representative stated that conspicuously absent from the resolution was any condemnation of violence perpetrated by Arab extremists, and stated that it constituted an exercise in public relations, "designed to nip the peace process in the bud". Explaining his country's position after the vote, the United States representative said the resolution presented a one-sided view of the situation in the area, while the observer for Palestine said he hoped the adoption of the resolution would bring an end to the Israeli repression in the occupied Palestinian territories. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDS SECOND WEEK OF GENERAL DEBATE Ending the second week of general debate, the General Assembly heard statements by Foreign Ministers and Deputy Foreign Ministers, and one head of delegation. The Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the United Nations, Alejandro Serrano Caldera, told the Assembly that the Central American crisis had not only political and military implications, but economic and social implications, as well. Economic assistance for the region had to be provided immediately without waiting for the political problem to be entirely resolved. He stated that, in compliance with the political agreements adopted by the Presidents of the five Central American countries, Nicaragua had invited the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) to verify the Nicaraguan electoral process scheduled to culminate next February. Furthermore, Mr. Caldera said the United Nations was participating in the Central American peace process through the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA), whose function is to verify that irregular forces do not conduct cross-border operations and that the territories of Central American countries are not used for attack against others. A prompt solution of the security problems among the Central American countries -- use of territory, support for irregular troops -- should pave the way for an agreement with specific deadlines, on attaining a reasonable balance of forces. Mr. Caldera said his Government suggested to that end the establishment of an accord between the countries of the region, which could be supervised by ONUCA. In his statement, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of Morocco, Abdellatif Filali, reiterated his Government's support for the United Nations Secretary-General's peace plan for Western Sahara and said Morocco would contribute to the joint peace efforts undertaken by the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to achieve a settlement for that problem. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, Nathan Shamuyarira, said that South Africa President F.W. de Klerk's talk of reform was pure talk, and that it was important that the South African Government be urged by the international community to go "beyond rhetoric to concrete action". Among the other speakers who addressed the General Assembly were the Minister for Planning and Foreign Affairs of the Seychelles, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ukraine, Qatar and Belize, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yemen and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar. * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | Did u read patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | today? -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-