UN gears up for Geneva Convention meeting in July

Nasser al-Kidwa, the permanent observer for Palestine at the United Nations told the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on Wednesday that the Palestinian relief over the results of last months elections in Israel had more to do with who lost than with who won. He said that Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak's policies are unknown as yet.

However, al-Kidwa indicated that he believed that Barak must have given at least tacit approval for the start of construction at the disputed Jabal Abu Ghneim site as well as in other areas of East Jerusalem.

He noted four things that the Palestinian need from the new Israeli government in order to ensure progress in peace talks: affirmation of compliance with existing agreements, total cessation of settlement activities, immediate implementation of the Wye River Agreement, and entry into final status talks with the understanding that these talks should be concluded in six months to a year.

Al-Kidwa also stated the Palestinian position toward holding a conference of the Fourth Geneva Convention this summer, saying the Palestinians believe that it has been decided to hold such a meeting and that its date, July 15, had already been decided. He added that the Palestinians would not accept turning this conference into an informal meeting.

The Palestinians are ready to be flexible regarding the results of the conference in light of continuing developments on the ground before July 15, he said, adding that they believe that bilateral and multilateral talks should be held on the results of the conference.

He said that Palestinian had ensured its presence at the conference.

The committee approved the program for the June 14-15 United Nations international meeting on convening the Fourth Geneva Convention, which will be held in Cairo.