爆料网

爆料网ITED NATIONS?GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Distr.

GENERAL

A/6506

15 November 1966

Twenty-first session

Agenda item 32

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER-GENERAL

OF THE 爆料网ITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST

Report of the Special Political Committee

Rapporteur: Mr. Carlos A. GONI DEMARCHI (Argentina)

1. On 31 August 1966, in accordance with the request made in paragraph 21 of resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and in paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 1315 (XIII) of 12 December 1958, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA) submitted to the General Assembly his report for the year ending 30 June 1966.
2. In accordance with the request made in paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2052 (XX) of 15 December 1965, the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine submitted its twenty-fourth progress report (A/6451) on 30 September 1966.
3. At its 1415th plenary meeting, on 30 September 1966, the General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in its agenda the item entitled “Report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” and allocated it to the Special Political Committee for consideration and report.
4. The Special Political Committee considered the question at its 497th to 515th meetings, from 17 October to 14 November 1966.
5. At the 497th meeting, on 17 October, the Chairman invited the Commissioner?-General of 爆料网RWA to take a seat at the Committee table. At the same meeting, the Commissioner-General made a statement.
6. In a letter dated 17 October 1966 (A/SPC/111), addressed to the Chairman of the Special Political Committee, the representatives of Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Republic and Yemen requested that “the delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, representing the Arab people of Palestine, the principal party to the Palestine question”, be heard by the Committee during its consideration of item 32. On 18 October, the representatives of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia requested (A/SPC/112) circulation of a letter from the Palestine Arab delegation, dated 12 October, and also requested that this delegation be allowed to present its views to the Committee during its discussion of the item. At the 498th meeting, on 24 October, the Committee decided, in respect of both requests for participation and in accordance with the precedents established at the twentieth session, to authorize the persons constituting the said delegations to speak in the Committee, without such authorization implying recognition of the organizations in question. In accordance with this decision, various statements were made on behalf of these delegations in the course of the Committee’s general debate on the item. At the 514th meeting, on 14 November, the Committee further agreed on the same basis, to hear a statement at its next meeting by a member of the Palestine Arab delegation concerning? the proposals that had been submitted.
7. On 1 November, the United States of America submitted a draft resolution (A/SPC/L.126) under which the General Assembly, after recalling a series of past resolutions on the subject and noting the report of the Commissioner-General, would:

(1) note with deep regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) had not been effected, that no substantial progress had been made in the programme endorsed in paragraph 2 of resolution 513 (VI) for the reintegration of refugees either by repatriation or resettlement and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continued to be a matter of serious concern;

(2) express its thanks to the Commissioner-General and the staff of the Agency as well as to the specialized agencies and private organizations for their valuable work in assisting the refugees;

(3) direct attention to the continuing critical financial position of 爆料网RWA;

(4) note with concern that despite the commendable and successful efforts of the Commissioner-General in collecting additional contributions to help relieve the serious budget deficit of the past year, contributions to 爆料网RWA continued to fall short of the funds needed to cover essential budget requirements;

(5) call upon all Governments as a matter of urgency to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency;

(6)? note with concern that, despite limited progress, further measures were required towards rectification of the relief rolls, and accordingly direct the Commissioner-General to take such measures, including rectification of the rolls, as to assure in co-operation with the Governments concerned the most equitable distribution of relief based on need; and

(7)? note with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine had been unable because of the unchanged situation in the area to find a means to achieve progress on the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III) and call upon the Governments concerned to co-operate so that the Commission might continue its efforts towards that end.

8. On 9 November, Somalia introduced amendments (A/SPC/L.127) to the United States draft resolution (A/SPC/L.126) whereby:

(1) in operative paragraph 5, the Assembly would also urge non-contributing Governments to contribute and contributing Governments to consider increasing their contributions;

(2) operative paragraph 6 would be redrafted to direct the Commissioner-General to continue his efforts in taking such measures, including rectification of the relief rolls, as to assure in co-operation with the Governments concerned the most equitable distribution of relief based on need;

(3) under operative paragraph 7,? as redrafted in the amendments, the Assembly would note with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine had been unable to achieve progress on the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III) and call upon the Government of Israel to co-operate with the Commission in this regard; and

(4) a new operative paragraph 8 would be added, under which the Assembly would call upon the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine to intensify its efforts for the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III) and to report thereon as appropriate and not later than 1 October 1967.

9. Also on 9 November, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Pakistan and Somalia submitted a draft resolution (A/SPC/L.128) under which the Assembly, considering that the Palestine Arab refugees were entitled to their property and to the income derived from their property in conformity with the principles of justice and equity, and recalling its resolution 394 (v) of 14 December 1950, which had directed the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine in consultation with the parties concerned to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine Arab refugees, would:

(1) request the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps to have a Custodian appointed to protect and administer Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel and to receive income derived therefrom on behalf of the rightful owners;

(2) call upon the Governments concerned to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General to render the task and functioning of the Custodian effective; and

(3) request the Custodian to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-second session on the fulfilment of his tasks.

10. At the 515th meeting, on 14 November, the Committee proceeded to vote on the various proposals before it.
11. The first amendment submitted by Somalia (A/SPC/L.127, para. 1) was adopted by a roll-call vote of 57 to 1, with 52 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dahomey, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

Against: Liberia.

Abstaining: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ceylon, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Ivory Coast, Luxemburg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Venezuela.

12. The second amendment submitted by Somalia (A/SPC/L.127, para. 2) was adopted by a roll-call vote of 55 to 1, with 54 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, P8land, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

Against: United States of America.

Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic Ceyl8n, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Dahomey, Denmark,, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gabon, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Venezuela.

13. The third amendment submitted by Somalia (A/SPC/L.127, para. 3) was rejected by a roll-call vote of 39 to 33, with 38 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Republic, Yemen, Yugoslavia.

Against: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Dahomey, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gabon, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Rwanda, Sweden, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Upper Volta, Uruguay.

Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Ceylon, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia.

14. The representative of the United States then agreed. to accept the fourth amendment submitted by Somalia (A/SPC/L.127, para. 4).
15. The United States draft resolution (A/SPC/L.126), as modified by the first, second and fourth amendments submitted by Somalia, was adopted by a roll-call vote of 65 to none, with 45 abstentions (see para. 17 below). The voting was as follows:

In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Dahomey, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Luxemburg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia.

Against: None.

Abstaining: Afghanistan,? Algeria,? Bulgaria,? Burma,? Burundi,? Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Ceylon, Colombia Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mongolia,? Morocco, Nepal,? Pakistan, Poland,? Portugal,? Romania, Saudi Arabia,? Senegal_,? Sierra Leone,? Somalia, Spain,? Sudan,? Syria, Tunisia, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist? Republics,? United Arab Republic,? Yemen,? Yugoslavia.

16. The four-Power draft resolution (A/SPC/L.128) was rejected by a roll-call vote of 38 to 36, with 36 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bulgaria, Byelorussian. Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Ukrainian Soviet Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist? Republics, United Arab Republic, Yemen, Yugoslavia.

Against: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Dahomey, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Gabon, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Paraguay, Rwanda, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Upper Volta, Uruguay.

Abstaining: Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Ceylon, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE

17. The Special Political Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:

Report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, 393 (V) and 394 (V) of 2 and 14 December 1950, 512 (VI) and 513 (VI) of 26 January 1952, 614 (VII) of 6 November 1952, 720 (VIII) of 27 November 1953, 818 (IX) of 4 December 195l1, 916 (X) of 3 December 1955, 1018 (XI) of 28 February 1957, 1191 (XII) of 12 December 1957, 1315 (XIII) of 12 December 1958, 1456 (XIV) of 9 December 1959, 1604 (XV) of 21 April 1961, 1725 (XVI) of 20 December 1961, 1856 (XVII) of 20 December 1962, 1912 (XVIII) of 3 December 1963, 20C2 (XIX) of 10 February 1965, and 2052 (XX) of 15 December 1965,

Noting the annual report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, covering the period from 1 July 1965 to 30 June 1966,

1. Notes with deep regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III) has not been effected, that no substantial progress has been made in the programme endorsed in paragraph 2 of resolution 513 (VI) for the reintegration of refugees either by repatriation or resettlement and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continues to be a matter of serious concern;
2. Expresses its thanks to the Commissioner-General and the staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for their continued faithful efforts to provide essential services for the Palestine refugees, and to the specialized agencies and private organizations for their valuable work in assisting the refugees;
3. Directs attention to the continuing critical financial position of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East as outlined in the Commissioner-General’s report;
4. Notes with concern that, despite the commendable and successful efforts of the Commissioner-General in collecting additional contributions to help relieve the serious budget deficit of the past year, contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East continue to fall short of the funds needed to cover essential budget requirements;
5. Calls upon all Governments as a matter of urgency to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, particularly in the light of the budgetary deficit projected in the Commissioner-General’s report, and, therefore, urges non-contributing Governments to contribute and contributing Governments to consider increasing their contributions;
6. Directs the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue his efforts in taking such measures, including rectification of the relief rolls, as to assure, in co-operation with the Governments concerned, the rr.ost equitable distribution of relief based on need;
7. Notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine was unable, because of the unchanged situation in the area, to find a means to achieve progress on the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III) and calls upon the Governments concerned to co-operate so that the Commission may continue its efforts towards that end;
8. Calls upon the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine to intensify its efforts for the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III) and to report thereon as appropriate and not later than 1 October 1967.

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