APU final statement calls for Middle East peace
Regional, Politics, 6/30/1999

The final statement of the council of the Arab Parliamentary Union, which concluded its deliberations in Damascus on Tuesday, called for the United Nations and the international community, especially the cosponsors of the Middle East peace process and the European Union, to intensify their efforts for the realization of a just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy resolutions and the Madrid terms of reference, especially the "land for peace" formula.

In its final statement, which came following the closing up of its current session, the Arab parliamentarians called on the world parties concerned to put pressure on Israel to compel it to resume peace negotiations from the point at which they broke off.

The council of the APU asserted the backing of the Arab parliaments for Syria in its rightful quest to restore the Golan in line with the peace obligations.

The statements strongly denounced the Israeli repeated threats against Syria, aiming at escalating tension. It highlighted the steadfastness mounted by the Syrian people in the occupied Golan heights against the Israeli practices in view of international laws, including the Geneva Convention, especially UN Security Council resolution 497 of 1981.

The Arab parliaments stressed the unity between the Syrian and Lebanese tracks for the interests of the two countries and the Arab states. They commended Syria's backing of Jordan as an example of constructive Arab solidarity.

The Arab parliamentarians appealed to all Arab leaders to convene a pan-Arab summit with the objective of discussing recent developments and adopting united stances conducive to challenging enemy schemes and reviving pan-Arab solidarity.

The statement called for drawing up a comprehensive Arab strategy based on protecting national Arab security and on preserving Arab water resources. It, in this respect, stressed the right of both Syria and Iraq to the waters of the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers and called on Turkey to abide by and honor international laws and norms in this regard.

The council asserted the importance of giving top priority to the enhancement of joint Arab action and to the establishment of an Arab common market and an Arab free trade zone. The statement, furthermore, called for strengthening the role played by the AL in developing joint Arab ventures.

It called for convening a dialogue between the Arab-Islamic and Western world in order to assert common understanding among the world states.

The APU's final statement also called on the Arab governments to carry out the resolutions of the Cairo summits of 1996 and 1997, which provide for ceasing all forms of normalization with Israel and for suspending multilateral talks until Tel Aviv complies with Middle East peace obligations.

The APU statement denounced Israeli policies which have blocked the Middle East peace process and Israel's use of military force with the objective of imposing "fait accompli" on the occupied Arab territories.

The statement condemned Israel's refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and to put its nuclear facilities under international inspection. It called on the world community to make the Middle East a zone free from nuclear weapons.

The final statement of the APU also called on the Arab governments to link the development of relations with the new Israeli government to the extent of the Israeli commitments to peace obligations. It voiced backing and support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of the independent Palestinian state.

The APU council, in its final statement asserted its backing for the Arab identity of holy Jerusalem as part of the Arab territories occupied by Israel in 1967 and praised the decision taken by the European Union in refusing Israel's occupation and annexation of the holy city as its "united and eternal capital."

The statement denounced the decision taken by the US congress to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, noting that the decision is in contradiction to international law and constitutes a direct threat to the Middle East peace process.

The APU statement pledged backing for the Arab and international stand which categorically refuses the Israeli settlement policy. It condemned this Israeli policy and the frequent Israeli attacks against south Lebanon and the western Bekaa. The statement voiced total support for Lebanon and the call of the Lebanese people for implementation of UN resolution 425, which provides for Israel's total and unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon.

The statement highlighted the Arab parliament's support for maintaining the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq, as well as for Libya and Sudan.

Solidarity was also voiced with Algeria.

The Arab parliamentarians called for condemning all forms of terrorism, especially the Israeli state terrorism, and for a clear distinction between terrorism and the struggle mounted by people to liberate their lands and restore their legitimate rights.

Previous Stories:
  Arab Parliamentary Union resumes deliberations in Damascus   (6/29/1999)
  Speaker of Moroccan parliament takes part in Arab inter-parliamentary union   (6/28/1999)
  Damascus hosts APU's 34th session   (6/28/1999)

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