Strong support for Palestinian people voiced, as UN marks Day of Solidarity

The United Nations on Thursday marked the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People amid calls for renewed efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement to the question of Palestine - the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Addressing a solemn meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Secretary-General Kofi Annan pledged to continue to pursue a fair, equitable and peaceful solution "with all the resources and means at my disposal."

"We all should do our best to assist the Palestinians and the Israelis in their truly historic quest for peace," Annan said. He called upon the parties "to preserve the achievements of the past nine years of the peace process and steadily move ahead along the path of peace and reconciliation."

Pointing to the worsening situation on the ground and its damaging effect on the Palestinian economy, the Secretary-General said there was a growing sense of despair, frustration and anger among the Palestinians. "This is why," he said, "it is absolutely essential to restore calm as soon as possible, and to revive the peace negotiations, in order to restart the economy."

In his statement at the meeting, the President of the General Assembly, Harri Holkeri of Finland, reaffirmed that "the UN should retain a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine, until it is effectively resolved in all its aspects, in accordance with international law and justice."

Holkeri stressed that development was essential for peace to take root, and urged the international community to step up its efforts to assist the Palestinian people.

Speaking for the Security Council, its current President, Ambassador Peter van Walsum of the Netherlands, said there was grave concern among the Council members about the recent outbreak of violence. He called on the parties to implement the understandings they have reached and to confront the common problems associated with their unavoidable coexistence.

The Chairman of the Palestinian rights committee, Ibra Deguene Ka of Senegal, drew attention to the "brutal interruption" of the peace negotiations in September and stressed that the parties must accept and respect all relevant UN resolutions.

The meeting also heard a message from Yasser Arafat, the President of the Palestinian Authority, which was read out on his behalf by the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, Nasser Al-Kidwa.

In the message, Mr. Arafat stressed that the Palestinian people were being subjected to a "bloody military campaign" waged by the occupying Power in an apparent attempt to impose unacceptable solutions. A UN observer force should be deployed in all localities occupied by Israel since 1967, he said.

The program of events marking the Day included an art exhibit presented by the Palestinian rights committee, in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN. Entitled The Land, the exhibit will be on display in the Public Lobby of the General Assembly building in New York from 29 November through 12 December. Comprising some 40 works of art, it depicts legends from the history of the area through the use of earth, herbs, pieces of ancient pottery and pieces embroidered with motifs of land and trees.