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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr Aziz Pahad to Attend Meeting of Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) Committee on Palestine Putrajaya, Malaysia Thursday,
13 May 2004
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad will
depart for Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday, 11 May 2004
to attend a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Committee on Palestine which will be convened on Thursday,
13 May 2004.
The mandate of the Committee, inter alia, is to "work
with the various forces influential in the Middle East
conflict for the achievement of a full, durable and
comprehensive peace in the Middle East." The Deputy
Minister said that, "The South African government
is very concerned about the deteriorating situation
in the Middle East which is not in the interests of
the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. The Roadmap has
practically collapsed and this is very dangerous."
The Chair of NAM, Malaysia, agreeing that the international
community must urgently address the issue and take all
necessary measures to prevent the further deterioration
of an already volatile situation has therefore convened
a meeting of the Committee on Palestine, the focus of
which will be to look at ways to ensure the speedy implementation
of the Roadmap.
Participants in the meeting include: Malaysia, South
Africa, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, India, Palestine,
Senegal and Zambia. The meeting will also be attended
by the NAM Security Council Caucus, ie. Algeria, Angola,
Benin, Chile, Pakistan, and Philippines.
The meeting will also discuss the latest developments
at the United Nations. The 191 member United Nations
General Assembly on 6 May 2004 overwhelmingly affirmed
the need to enable the Palestinian people to "exercise
sovereignty and to achieve independence in their State,
Palestine."
By a vote of 140 in favour to 6 against (Israel, Marshall
Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and the United States),
with 11 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a resolution
that also affirmed that "the status of the Palestinian
territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
remains one of military occupation."
The text also affirmed, in accordance with the rules
and principles of international law, and relevant resolutions
of the Security Council, that "the Palestinian
people have the right to self determination and to sovereignty
over this territory and that Israel, the occupying power,
has only the duties and obligations of an occupying
Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the IV
Hague Convention of 1907."
The Assembly also expressed its determination to contribute
to a comprehensive negotiated peace settlement in the
Middle East, resulting "in two viable, sovereign
and independent states, Israel and Palestine, based
on the pre-1967 borders and living side by side in peace
and security." The challenge to NAM and the UN
is how to implement this and other resolutions.
The second priority issue that will be discussed is
to assess progress made in revitalising NAM.
The Movement has played an active, even central role,
over the years, on the issues of concern and vital importance
to its members, such as decolonisation, apartheid, the
situation in Palestine and the Middle East, disarmament,
poverty eradication and socio-economic development,
among others. After more than forty years of its founding,
and having undergone many challenges and vicissitudes,
it is timely and appropriate to comprehensively review
the role, structure and work methods of the Movement
in keeping with the times and the new realities, aimed
at the further strengthening of the Movement. With the
end of the Cold War, the emergence of unipolarity, the
trend towards unilateralism and the rise of new challenges
and threats such as international terrorism, it is imperative
for the Movement to promote multilateralism, better
defend the interests of developing countries and prevent
their marginalisation.
With increased globalisation and the rapid advance
of science and technology, the world has changed dramatically.
It is imperative therefore that NAM respond in ways
that will ensure its continued relevance and usefulness
to its members.
The future presents as many challenges and opportunities
as the past and the Movement must continue to remain
strong, cohesive and resilient. The continued relevance
of the Movement, will depend, in large measure, on the
unity and solidarity of its members as well as its ability
to adapt to these changes.
In this regard, elements that are being discussed include:
- The enhancement of our unity and ensure that these
interests are continuously promoted and our concerns
are fully addressed;
- The preservation and promotion of world peace through
dialogue and diplomacy among states and the avoidance
of the use of force to resolve conflicts;
- The promotion and strengthening of multilateral
processes;
- The promotion of democratisation of the system of
international governance;
- Ways in which to be pro-active, rather than reactive
to international developments;
- The enhancement of South-South Co-operation particularly,
in the political, social, cultural, economic and scientific
fields and
- The promotion of a more dynamic and co-operative
relationship with the developed and industrialised
countries, based on constructive engagement, broad
partnership and mutuality of benefits.
In conclusion, this meeting and discussions will occur
against the background of preparations for the XIV NAM
Ministerial to be hosted by South Africa in Durban in
August 2004 ahead of the NAM Ministerial meetings on
the margins of the United Nations General Assembly's
59th regular session in September 2004.
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
10 May 2004
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