UN agreement allows Israelis into Islamic and Arab countries
Regional-UN, Politics, 7/30/1998

Islamic and Arab Nations have no intention of softening pressure on the UN Conference on Trade and Development over its recent agreement with Israel, Kuwaiti news agency quoted diplomats as saying.

Kuna said the problem resides in a controversial agreement signed between the UNCTAD and Israel's center for international cooperation (Mashav) in Geneva on June 16.

Since then, the Arab group and other members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have stepped up diplomatic pressure on UNCTAD to revoke the agreement.

Last week, the Ambassadors of Qatar, Iran, Algeria, Palestine, Indonesia, Arab League, met with the UNCTAD Secretary General Rubens Ricupero and asked him to cancel the agreement, Map reported.

Ricupero reportedly said that he cannot revoke the agreement, but he hinted at the possibility of freezing its implementation.

The agreement covers joint research and training projects between UNCTAD and Israel in the fields of investment, science and technology, and enterprise development for the benefit of third-world countries.

Aside from its signing at a moment of serious deadlock in the peace process, the main point of contention for the Islamic countries is that the agreement provides for diplomatic immunity for Israeli experts who take part in potential projects.

Arab and Islamic countries are concerned that Israeli experts would have freedom of movement within Arab and Islamic countries while enjoying diplomatic immunity.

This is not a typical provision of UNCTAD's similar agreements with other countries.

The Islamic countries are outraged that UNCTAD would sign such and agreement with Israel at a time when there is wide consensus that Israel is responsible for the deadlock in the peace process and continues with its expansionist policies.

Mashav attempted to forge a similar alliance with UNCTAD in 1988, but the secretary-general at the time, Kenneth Dadzie, turned it down.

Israel signed its first cooperation agreement with the UN Development Program (UNDP) in 1988, but the UNDP administrator at the time froze the accord, diplomats said.

Kuna quoted a diplomat as saying, "This agreement is politically incorrect. We have every reason to be concerned about the implementation of this accord."

Previous Stories:
  Klima calls for pressure on Israel   (7/28/1998)
  International delegation heading from Cairo to Jordan   (7/27/1998)
  Annan calls for sympathy with the Palestinians   (7/2/1998)

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