59TH UNGA: GENERAL ASSEMBLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002570


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: 59TH UNGA: GENERAL ASSEMBLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE
MEMORY OF YASSER ARAFAT


1. Summary. On November 11, the United Nations General
Assembly marked the passing of Yasser Arafat.
Secretary-General (SYG) Kofi Annan and GA President Jean Ping
both made statements of condolences as did the leaders of the
various regional groups. Gambia, on behalf of the African
States; Indonesia, on behalf of the Asian States; Belarus, on
behalf of the Eastern European States; Nicaragua, on behalf
of the Latin American and Caribbean States; New Zealand, in
its capacity as the Chairman of the Western Europe and Other
States (WEOG); Sudan, on behalf of the Arab States; The
Netherlands, on behalf of the EU; Malaysia, on behalf of the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM); Turkey, on behalf of the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC); Senegal, in its
capacity as Chairman of the Committee to Examine the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Egypt; and the
Palestinian Observer all gave statements, The United States
did not. Several speakers recalled Arafat's first speech
before the UNGA delivered almost 30 years to the day of his
death, his signing of the Oslo Accords, his Noble Peace Prize
in 1995, and his election as President of the Palestinian
Authority. Several states noted his confinement during the
last years of his life to his compound in Ramallah. Most
expressed a hope that his dream of a Palestinian state,
living side-by-side in peace with Israel, would be achieved
and encouraged the international community, especially the
Quartet, to take all steps to restart the Roadmap. Following
the statements, the Israeli delegate speaking to the GA on
the next agenda item, stated it "understands this is a day of
profound sorrow for the Palestinian people," but hoped this
could be an opportunity to pursue peace in the region. He
stated further, that the Palestinians are "not our enemies,
they are our neighbors, who deserve to live in peace as much
as we do." End Summary.

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SYG Annan & President Ping
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2. On November 11, 2004, SYG Annan stated to the General
Assembly that Arafat "expressed and symbolized" the national
aspirations of the Palestinian people. He noted that Arafat
led the Palestinians to the principle of peaceful coexistence
between Israel and a future Palestinian state. Annan stated
it was tragic that Arafat did not live to see his dream
fulfilled, but urged the international community to make even
great efforts to bring about the peaceful realization of the
Palestinian right to self-determination. (Note: Annan's
embargoed written text referred to "President" Arafat;
however, in his verbal statements Annan repeatedly
substituted "Chairman Arafat" for "President Arafat." End
Note.)

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Palestinian and Israeli Statements
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3. The Palestinian Deputy Observer, Somaia Barghouti, stated
it was with "great sorrow and sadness" that the Palestinian
leadership announced to the world the death of "their leader,
their teacher, their hero." Noting that Arafat was a great
world leader that placed the Palestinian people and their
national rights at the front of the world agenda, Barghouti
noted that Arafat leaves a legacy of a "bright future for
peace, freedom, and development" for the Palestinian people.
Barghouti thanked all "friendly and fraternal" states for
their words of condolences, and noted that the Palestinian
Mission would be open Monday and Tuesday from 10am-3pm to all
missions wishing to express their condolences.


4. A representative for Israel speaking at the GA Hall on
the following Plenary agenda item (Item 39(c) Humanitarian
Assistance to the Palestinian People),stated that Israel
"understands this is a day of profound sorrow for the
Palestinian People," but also said it was an opportunity to
continue the quest for peace in the region. He further
stated that "the Palestinians are not are enemies, they are
our neighbors" and asserted that both Palestinians and
Israelis deserve to live in peace. He touted Prime
Minister's Sharon's "disengagement plan" recently ratified by
the Knesset, would dismantle all military installations in
Gaza by the end of 2005. He quoted PM Sharon as "willing to
make painful compromises" to achieve peace, and hoped the
Palestinians and the Arab world would focus on "creating a
peaceful Palestinian state, instead of demolishing the
Israeli one."

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Egypt, the Arab States, the OIC, and NAM
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5. The Egyptian Charge d' Affaire Amr Aboul Atta stated that
Arafat was the embodiment of the struggle for freedom and
independence and asserted that he would be remembered with
the likes of Ghandi and Mandela. Aboul Atta lamented that
"fate" did not allow Arafat to fulfill his dream of "praying
in Al Aqsa under the Palestinian flag," but stated the
Palestinians would overcome their current struggles. Atta
noted that feelings of hate and desperation were intensifying
in the Near East, but also said there was a ray of hope and
asked the "major powers" to intervene to restart the peace
process. The Sudanese representative Omar Bashir Mohamed
Manis, speaking on behalf of the Arab States, stated "with
heavy hearts, we are saddened by the loss of our brother,"
and claimed that the Palestinian cause was the cause of all
Arabs. Manis said the Palestinians were loosing a courageous
and steadfast leader, who never wavered in his struggle, but
he assured the Palestinians that Arafat's "principles and
positions will remain alive in us (the Arab States)." The
Representative from Turkey, on behalf of the OIC, stated it
was "a sad day for humanity" and called Arafat a "valiant
leader." He noted that President Arafat epitomized the
struggle of the Palestinian people. The Turkish
representative said that Arafat lit the flame of Palestinian
Statehood, but the OIC would continue this goal until it was
achieved. The Representative from Malaysia, Rastam Mohd Isa,
speaking on behalf of NAM, stated that President Arafat was
not just a leader of Palestine, but also an influential
leader in NAM. Isa noted the "indignity" of President Arafat
being imprisoned by the Israelis at his compound and reminded
the members that at the time of his death, Arafat was the
elected leader of his people, "although certain Quartet
members didn't want to recognize this." Isa said he is
confident his "brothers" in Palestine will remain calm during
this period and stand united to face the challenges ahead.
The Malaysian representative said NAM would "continue to
support the goal of a Palestinian State, living side-by-side
in peace with Israel, until it is achieved," and he called on
all member states, especially in the Quartet, to make sure
"Israel doesn't take advantage of the situation."

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The EU, Eastern European States, and WEOG
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6. The Netherlands Permanent Representative Dirk Van den
Berg, speaking on behalf of the EU, expressed the EU's
condolences to the Palestinian leader for the loss of their
leader and "democratically elected President." Van den Berg
reassured the Palestinian people that they could count on the
"undiminished support of the EU on the path toward a
peaceful, durable and just settlement of the conflict."
Belarus, speaking on behalf of the Eastern European States,
said Arafat would be remembered as a lifelong symbol of the
struggle of the Palestinian people. He continued saying that
as a statesman, Arafat left an "undeniable imprint, not just
on the Middle East but also on the world's international
political scene. New Zealand PR Don Mackay, speaking in his
capacity as chairman of the WEOG group (Note: Mackay had to
speak in his capacity as Chairman and not "on behalf of WEOG"
because many states within the group, including Israel, were
unable to receive formal guidance from their capitals on an
official position. End Note) noted that Arafat had led the
Palestinians to a historic acceptance of the principle of
peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian
state. Mackay said the Palestinian leadership would now have
to shoulder the responsibility in carrying forward the vision
of the two states living side-by-side in peace and security
to fruition.

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Asia, Africa, and Latin America
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7. The Indonesian representative, Rezlan Ishar Jenie,
speaking on behalf of the Asian States, called Arafat the
father of the Palestinian movement, who was only too familiar
with the harshness of oppression. He stated that when the
"ferocity of the campaign against the Palestinian people did
not lessen over the years, Mr. Arafat matched it with the
intensity of his spirit and undying optimism." Jenie noted
that his last days was spent as a virtual prisoner in
Ramallah, and he claimed the flame for Palestinian freedom
had not been extinguished by his death. The Representative
from Gambia, Crispin Grey-Johnson, speaking on behalf of the
African States, said his delegation had been "profoundly
saddened by the death of Yasser Arafat," who was the
"personification" of the Palestinians struggle for
independence. The Gambian representative stated Arafat had
moved the question of Palestine from being a mere footnote on
the international agenda to center stage of world affairs.
Grey-Johnson also noted that he committed his life to the
liberation of oppressed peoples everywhere. The
Representative from Nicaragua, Eduardo Sevilla Somoza,
speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean
States, called Arafat a "historic" figure that symbolized the
struggle of his people until his very last breath. Sevilla
hoped the Palestinian people would continue to search for a
free, sovereign and economically viable State dedicated to
peace. Senegal, in its capacity as Chairman of the Committee
to Examine the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,
also made a brief statement of condolences to the Palestinian
People.

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Comment
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8. The SYG announced that the UN Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the
Palestinian Authority, Terje Roed-Larsen, would represent the
SYG at Arafat's funeral in Cairo. End Comment.

DANFORTH