YouSaid · the spoken record

Mahmoud Hammoud

lines on the record: 48
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2002-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Lebanon looks forward to cooperating with other Members to contribute to this session's success and to finding constructive solutions to the problems and challenges that we face, while upholding the principles of liberty, justice and peace around the world, particularly in the Middle East region. Finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict in all its aspects will surely liberate our States and peoples from the grip of a protracted problem that has depleted their resources and hampered their development.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Lebanon signed a partnership agreement with the European Union last June after acceding to the Greater Arab Free Trade Zone, to which most Arab States currently belong. Preparations are under way for us to join the World Trade Organization, in which we currently enjoy observer status. We gather here under the roof of the United Nations, our common home, to engage in dialogue on the best ways to translate into reality the great values of the Charter. Lebanon takes pride in its firm belief in those values and in the fact that, in its national unity, it embodies the plurality of its society. It stands for a rich human experience, both civilized and pioneering, of which we are proud and which the international community is surely keen to preserve.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Lebanon's parliament recently adopted the Privatization Act, which regulates that aspect of economic activity and defines its conditions and field of application. Such legislation, including the two recently adopted acts, joins a series of laws developed to enhance investors' confidence in the free-market system, which we are keen to preserve. Along the same lines, those in positions of responsibility in the Lebanese Administration are subject to strict accountability and liability rules, including money-laundering and the prohibition of illegitimate gain. It is worth mentioning here that, over the years, the Lebanese internal security forces have destroyed all illegitimate crops, including hashish. But Lebanon did not receive the assistance, provided to others, that would have enabled our farmers to live in dignity.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Increased international assistance is required to revitalize our economy and to increase our opportunities for growth. Lebanon reserves the right to demand compensation for the damage caused by Israeli occupation and acts of aggression, in accordance with established procedures in international political and judicial forums. The reconstruction and rehabilitation of the liberated Lebanese territories and the revitalization of Lebanon's economy are among our Government's highest priorities. Lebanon continues to work for the recovery of its economy and for the reform of its taxation system through the adoption of carefully developed measures and legislation, including the value-added tax on goods and services and the gradual reduction of tariffs, in addition to the direct tax levy and the rationalization of spending.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“With regard to mine clearance, Lebanon is stepping up its cooperation with the United Nations to assist in clearing the mines that the Israeli occupying forces are responsible for laying in our territories. I will note that Israel failed to hand over complete maps and records indicating the specific locations of those mines. We in Lebanon attach the highest importance to the release of Lebanese citizens who are unduly 30 detained in Israeli prisons. They were kidnapped by Israel and incarcerated as hostages, in flagrant defiance of the rules and instruments of international law. It is no secret that the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon has taxed our endurance. Our citizens' lives have been tragically shattered, their properties have been destroyed, their infrastructures have been decimated and our development has been hampered.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Such a solution should be based on their right to return and on a rejection of their settlement in Lebanon. Failure to factor the refugees into the equation of a solution based on the right to return and on the rejection of resettlement in host countries would create a time bomb. It would undermine the security that we are all striving to attain in the Middle East on the basis of a peaceful, comprehensive and just settlement of the conflict. We should like to stress here that a solution to the question of Palestinian refugees cannot be found through exclusive bilateral Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. Guaranteed respect for the rules of international law and the permanence of any solution require that host and other concerned countries, including Lebanon, be involved in the negotiating process.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“That task remains hampered by Israel's continued occupation, threats against Lebanon and provocations, as seen daily in the repeated violation of Lebanon's sovereignty over its land, airspace and territorial waters. Israel continues to occupy the Syrian Golan and to ignore the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. It has rejected every initiative to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Middle East problem. I should like to take advantage of this opportunity to commend the efforts of the United Nations and UNIFIL's important role as it fulfils its mandate. The liberation of Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation will remain incomplete unless we address the heinous legacy of occupation and succeed in finding a just solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees, in particular those who live in Lebanon.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“As members may be aware, since 1978, the Organization has deployed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the aftermath of the Israeli occupation. In May 2000, UNIFIL had the opportunity to begin fulfilling its mandate after Israel had been forced to withdraw from most of the territories in the south. That withdrawal was possible thanks to our people's solidarity, their legitimate resistance to the Israeli occupation and the fact that our Government embraced their heroic efforts for liberation, and the international support for their just cause. The Lebanese Shebaa Farms, at the foot of Mount Hermon, and other points along the withdrawal line remained under occupation. Another important aspect of UNIFIL's mandate that has yet to be fulfilled is the restoration of international peace and security.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“As president of the Arab Summit, Lebanon hopes that Iraq's compliance with the will of the international community and allowing the return of the international weapons inspectors will lead to the end of the suffering of its people and to a comprehensive solution that will lead to the implementation of Security Council resolutions and to the lifting of sanctions. We also hope that that will enable the Middle East to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction and will avert the threat or use of force against Iraq, thus preserving and respecting its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Lebanon takes pride in its strong and positive relationship with the United Nations, being one of its co-founders and having contributed to the drafting of its Charter as well as to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Submitting disputes before the United Nations and implementing United Nations resolutions, particularly those of the Security Council, can guarantee the peaceful settlement of any given conflict. By following that course, the parties could be spared the need to settle their dispute by military means. It may not be easy to contain the tragic ramifications of military action in a given region. That is particularly true of Iraq, which also was the subject of deliberations at the Beirut Arab Summit. It was also decided there that the solution to the Iraqi problem must be achieved through dialogue between Iraq and the United Nations. Iraq should not once again be a theatre of war, which would increase the suffering of its people. The Arab leaders consider an attack against any Arab State a threat to the national security of all Arab countries.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“We hope that this will pave the way for a mechanism of prior consultations and joint effort based on resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative. The Arab peace initiative, which we uphold and which was adopted unanimously by the Arab countries, represents a historic opportunity that may not present itself again. It cannot be replaced by partial or interim approaches, the futility of which has been proven 29 throughout decades. Instead of leading to the long- awaited peace, they have led to renewed violence. We, therefore, call upon the international community to adopt this initiative and to support it, as it represents an opportunity for achieving our aspirations — a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“The Beirut Summit established a special committee to implement the Arab peace initiative. Once formed, the committee requested a meeting with the Quartet to present the initiative and confirm its status as a point of reference for the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The initiative contains all previous references dating back to the Madrid Peace Conference, held in 1991, and is based on resolutions of international legitimacy. We seek to submit it to the Security Council for adoption and for the subsequent establishment of an international mechanism to implement it. A meeting was held yesterday between the Quartet and a delegation of the committee at United Nations Headquarters.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Subsequently, the Arab States will consider the Arab-Israeli conflict ended, will enter into a peace agreement with Israel, will ensure security for all the countries of the region and will establish normal relations with Israel in the context of that just peace. A central element of the Arab peace initiative is securing an agreement not to allow any type of resettlement of Palestinian refugees that is incompatible with the particularities of the host Arab countries. It is unfortunate that Israel has responded to that initiative by increasing its aggression and reoccupying the West Bank, relentlessly targeting human lives and property in the occupied Palestinian territory. Simultaneously, others have chosen to ignore or override the initiative, despite its comprehensiveness, unanimous acceptance by Arabs and broad international support.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In that context, Arab leaders unanimously adopted an integral, indivisible peace initiative at the Arab Summit, held in Beirut on 28 and 29 March 2002, based on the following conditions. First, Israel must withdraw completely from the occupied Arab territories, including the occupied Syrian Golan, to the border of 4 June 1967, and from the territories it still occupies in southern Lebanon; secondly, it must reach a just solution to the problem of the Palestinian refugees, to be agreed upon in accordance with General Assembly resolution 194 (III); thirdly, it must agree to the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State in the Palestinian territories occupied since 4 June 1967 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Lebanon again rejects those Israeli threats and draws the attention of the Assembly and the Security Council to the danger those threats represent and to their direct negative impact on international peace and security. It is difficult for any human society to strive for security in the absence of political, economic and social justice. We, therefore, believe that security approaches and partial interim solutions alone cannot possibly succeed in resolving the Middle East conflict. Therefore, we call for the adoption of an approach that takes into account the priority of the political dimension of the conflict and the need to arrive at a just and comprehensive solution to the conflict in the region in all its aspects.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“As if occupying Arab lands and terrorizing their civilian populations were not enough, Israeli greed prompts Israel to usurp our natural wealth and water resources, contravening international laws and instruments. The Israeli Prime Minister directly threatened to attack Lebanon, using the pretext that we are diverting the course of the Hasbani and Wazzani rivers. However, the fact is that Lebanon is trying to draw limited amounts of water for some poor southern villages that have suffered from the Israeli occupation for many years, which will lead us to pump a total of approximately 9 million cubic metres annually. By all standards, that amount is far below our legitimate rights, it represents only one tenth of our right.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“If Israel's perpetration of the massacres of Dair Yasin, Qana and Jenin is not terrorism, then what is terrorism? Is not Israel's daily breaking of the sound barrier over Lebanese cities and villages a form of terrorism and intimidation? 28 Is not Israel's kidnapping of Lebanese citizens from their homes and detaining them in Israeli prisons as hostages another form of terrorism? Is not leaving hundreds of thousands of landmines in south Lebanon to kill civilians a form of terrorism that should be strongly condemned? Is not Israel's constant threat of invading Lebanon and destroying its civil institutions, infrastructure and development projects a terrible form of terrorism, devastating to our hopes in reconstruction and rehabilitation?”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Shimon Peres today accused Hezbollah of terrorism because it has effectively contributed to the legitimate resistance against Israeli occupation and to forcing Israeli forces to withdraw from most occupied Lebanese territory. Hezbollah is represented in Lebanese parliament and participates in the political, economic and social life of Lebanon. Mr. Peres is in fact the last person who should have the right to talk about terrorism. He is the one responsible directly for the killing of 102 women, children and elderly at Qana when Israel bombed the UNIFIL tent where they had sought safety and shelter. Israel should be held accountable for such crimes. Israel was founded on terrorism and has used it to occupy land and establish faits accomplis.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It has resorted to terror and violence to implement expansionist and settlement policies. It has accumulated weapons of mass destruction in an arsenal primarily stacked with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. It continues to oppose all attempts to reach a just and comprehensive peaceful solution to the Middle East issue, and remains, nonetheless, in total impunity, never held accountable or punished for its actions. That situation can only strengthen the impression among Arab Governments and peoples that there is a double standard at play in international affairs, and that, regrettably, Israel is allowed to remain outside and above the law.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Israel has recently begun to manipulate the tragic events of September 2001 and the international campaign to combat terrorism, using them shamelessly as a pretext for persecuting the Palestinian people and depriving them of their right to self-determination. Israel has launched a slanderous campaign of threats against Lebanon and its legitimate resistance, as well as against Syria, while the origin of the conflict in the region is the Israeli occupation of Arab territories. The reality is that Israel has continuously defied resolutions of international legitimacy. Israel has disregarded Security Council resolution 425 (1978) for more than 22 years and has refused to implement the Security Council resolution calling for the establishment of a fact-finding mission to investigate the Jenin camp massacre.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“There is no doubt that the choice of theme for the conference before these dramatic events arose from the foresight of its members and participants and from their conviction of the need to interact and to engage in dialogue, far removed from the logic of confrontation and hostility. Lebanon itself was the target of terrorist acts prior to 11 September 2001 and its army stood up to the perpetrators and overcame them. Lebanon and its Arab brothers have been suffering from the State terrorism continuously practised by Israel without international deterrence since the Deir Yassin massacre and the massacres in the Qana and Jenin camps.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“On behalf of Lebanon, I avail myself of this opportunity to reiterate our sympathy with the bereaved families. Like us, they are heartbroken over the loss of their sons, relatives and loved ones. We also renew our commitment to cooperating with the international community to combat international terrorism in accordance with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and other relevant United Nations resolutions. The events of 11 September 2001 impeded the convening of the ninth summit of the Francophonie, scheduled to be held last year under the theme of “Dialogue among civilizations”. My country is proud to be hosting the conference in mid-October.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Lebanon believes that there is a causal relationship between security and sustainable 27 development and calls for a renewed effort, under United Nations auspices, to eliminate poverty and disease, bridge the gap between the North and the South, and reduce social disparities. These are the scourges that are often manipulated by those who harbour ill intentions towards humanity. In this context, Lebanon welcomes the establishment of the African Union and supports the principles on which the New Partnership for Africa's Development was built. The work of this session coincides with the first anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks and the terrible tragedy that struck the United States of America. The world is still suffering from their terrible repercussions.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Lebanon considers the United Nations to be the main body entrusted with the realization of international peace and security and with upholding respect for the rules of international law. The United Nations is a safe haven for States, particularly small ones, which find in its Charter the reassurances they need in a turbulent world. Therefore, any departure from the Charter, circumventing, disregarding, or overstepping its authority; any selective handling of its resolutions; or any attempt to impose settlements on and solutions to conflicts and disputes outside its framework flagrantly undermines the credibility of the Organization and its organs, particularly the Security Council. Such acts are a devastating blow to the pillars of international order.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It gives me pleasure to begin by congratulating Mr. Kavan on his election as President of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. I wish him every success as he embarks on this task. I would also like to thank his predecessor, Mr. Han Seung-soo, who so ably steered the work of the General Assembly at its fifty- sixth session, which was convened amidst acute and grave circumstances. I would be remiss if I failed to express my appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his tireless work to enhance the role of our international Organization. It is also my pleasure to congratulate the Swiss Federation on its admission to membership of our international Organization.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Preparations are already under way to receive the Arab monarchs and presidents. We will also be hosting the Ninth Summit of the International Organization of la Francophonie in the fall of 2002, under the heading, “Dialogue among cultures”. Lebanon is a founding member of the League of Arab States, the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie. Lebanon, which participated in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is capable of proving that it can reassert its active presence and again take a pioneering role at the regional and international levels. We come from a time-honoured civilization, and are blessed by unique and distinguished experience of coexistence. We will put this to the service of the noble objectives of the United Nations.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Thanks to our diverse social composition, our experience is informed by coexistence and consensus. It is a unique experience, rarely paralleled in our world today. We call on the Assembly to mobilize the forces of peace and justice in order to redress the historical injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian people. The Assembly must bring about a just and comprehensive solution to one of the most complex and dangerous regional conflicts in the Middle East. It is a conflict that has depleted the resources of its people, hindered its progress and stunted its contributions to the world. This solution will unfetter its creative capabilities and enable it to develop a global partnership free from fear, injustice and terror. My country is proud to be hosting the next Arab Summit, to be convened in Beirut in March next year.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It may be useful to recall here that Israel did not withdraw from most of the Lebanese territories of its own accord; neither did it withdraw in compliance with the decision of an international authority or in response to a political requirement that remained on the table for over 22 years. Rather, it withdrew under pressure from the Lebanese resistance, which was embraced by the Lebanese State. It withdrew because of the steadfastness of the Lebanese people. Its withdrawal was not a voluntary démarche for peace, as some would have it. The withdrawal was a measure taken to avoid peace, and instead to seek alleged security at the expense of the requirements of a just and comprehensive peace. Lebanon is a democratic Arab country, open to the world, with a civilization that goes back thousands of years.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“This is an era of responsibility and accountability for the world, but accountability cannot be selective, nor can it be based on double standards. During the long years of occupation of the Lebanese territories, Israeli bombardment and the destruction that ensued killed thousands and injured and disabled thousands more. Our infrastructure, vital facilities, houses, schools, farms and bridges were destroyed and our growth and development were hindered. Lebanon must therefore be adequately compensated. Lebanon will spare no effort in appealing to the relevant international political and judicial organs to request that Israel make reparations for the damage resulting from its acts of aggression.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In this regard, it behoves us to remember that the resettlement of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon would constitute a time bomb that would jeopardize the peace, security and stability in the Middle East; such refugees will relentlessly seek to return to their homeland and Lebanon is unable to integrate them, given the precariousness of its own internal equilibrium and the fact that provisions of its national pact do not allow for any form of resettlement. Furthermore, Lebanon appeals for greater international attention to enable us to provide urgently needed assistance that could help return our liberated lands to normalcy, restore economic balance and provide opportunities for growth after long years of occupation and destruction.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“However, with respect to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who have been provisionally hosted on Lebanese land ever since their 16 expulsion from their homes in Palestine — and for whose final status the United Nations bears essential responsibility — we reiterate our demand for a just solution to their cause, on the basis of the implementation of their right to return and of our refusal to resettle them in Lebanon.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“They curtail their freedom of movement and obstruct their work. We consider this to be a continued — albeit indirect — form of occupation of Lebanese territories by Israel. In the light of this situation, the United Nations and the international community should make a greater effort to compel Israel to hand over all maps and records disclosing the locations of the mines, which have to be cleared as soon a possible.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We must also recall that in May of this year the Security Council adopted a statement in which members acknowledged Lebanon’s concerns and apprehensions, including those relating to the future. Lebanon is tirelessly seeking to achieve a total Israeli withdrawal from its territories. At the same time, it attaches great importance to the release of the Lebanese people kidnapped by Israel during its occupation of our land and thereafter detained in Israeli jails. They remain incarcerated in Israeli prisons as hostages, in contravention of international laws and instruments, particularly the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the subsequent Protocols thereto. The 130,000 landmines that were left behind by the Israeli occupation are still killing, maiming and harming scores of civilians in Lebanon.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In that respect, we are duty-bound to recall that the security of the region is indivisible. We would be deceiving ourselves if we were to believe that peace and security can be restored to the region outside the context of a comprehensive overall solution to all aspects of the conflict on all its tracks. Such an undertaking requires an all-inclusive effort, not only by UNIFIL but also by the entire United Nations, which should be responsible for the enforcement of its resolutions, particularly resolution 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978). From this rostrum, I call on the United Nations Secretariat and the Security Council to preserve UNIFIL’s existing mandate. The timing is of particular importance, given the serious circumstances prevailing in our region and in the world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Furthermore, Israel continues to increase the frequency of its threats against Lebanon and Syria. The second pending question concerns the restoration of international peace and security. In his reports to the Security Council between May 2000 and July 2001, the Secretary-General recognized that UNIFIL had not fully implemented the task entrusted to it. He repeatedly said that there is a third task the international forces have yet to undertake, and on which UNIFIL will have to concentrate. That task is the restoration of international peace and security in the region. How can we speak of a third task yet to be completed by UNIFIL under Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and at the same time discuss the possibility of reconfiguring UNIFIL into an observer mission?”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Therefore, the Shab’a farms, on the slopes of Mount Hermon, remained under Israeli occupation, together with three additional points along the line of withdrawal drawn by the United Nations. At the time, Lebanon expressed its reservations on these points. These territories are Lebanese lands and Lebanon reserves its natural right to restore them and to extend its sovereignty to them. Lebanon would like to stress here that it will stand up for every inch of its national soil and for all its rights to its water resources, in accordance with international law. In that regard, we must draw attention to the fact that Israel continues to violate Lebanese sovereignty on a daily basis. In his report issued in July of this year, the Secretary-General described these violations as provocative.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“On the contrary, we believe that UNIFIL’s role must be strengthened, particularly as it has not yet fulfilled the entire mandate entrusted to it by the international community in Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which was adopted on 19 March 1978. That mandate cannot be implemented by an observer force due to the following questions that are still pending. The first pending question is the verification of the Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories. It is a known fact that the United Nations did not verify the Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories. It only verified the withdrawal of Israeli forces to a de facto withdrawal line, which became known as the blue line. That line is not in conformity with Lebanon’s internationally recognized borders, a fact recognized in subsequent reports of the Secretary-General.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1365 (2001), which was adopted on 31 July, the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the activities of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), taking into account its possible reconfiguration into an observer mission in the light of the developments on the ground, following appropriate consultations with the Government of Lebanon. 15 Due to the gravity of the situation, and in anticipation of the Secretary-General’s report, it is important for me to stress from this rostrum that both logic and the realities on the ground call for maintaining Unifier’s existing mandate without amending it or reconfiguring the mission into an observer force.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The question of Palestinian refugees, their legitimate right to return, and Lebanon’s right to oppose their resettlement on its territories must not be ignored. This opposition is grounded in the principles of fairness, justice and sovereignty. In the light of the above, we believe that a comprehensive peace built on justice and on the resolutions conferring international legitimacy is the sole guarantee of the sustainability of any desirable solution. There are two fundamental questions in Lebanon that are of direct concern to the United Nations: one is the mandate of the international forces in southern Lebanon and the other is the destiny of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In the aftermath of 11 September, attention has focused on the need to step up the effort to find a political solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, a solution that should allow the Palestinian people to establish an independent Palestinian State on their national soil. It is our duty to recall that a just and comprehensive peace necessitates that we simultaneously address all aspects of the Middle East conflict. The Lebanese and Syrian tracks must not be separated from the track of the overall settlement. That track is stalled, and reviving it will require the devotion of additional efforts. The liberation of Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation must be completed. Israel must withdraw from the entire occupied Syrian Golan Heights to the line of 4 June 1967.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Intransigent Israeli policies, deviation from the Madrid principles and terms of reference, and stripping the peace process of its political content in favour of so-called Israeli security considerations indicate that projected solutions to the Middle East crisis are divided among many conflicting rationales. There is the rationale of a partial solution and that of a comprehensive solution; the rationale of basing a solution on force and that of basing it on what is right, just and grounded in United Nations resolutions; the rationale of achieving security at the expense of peace and that of making peace the foundation of security.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“They also prove that unbridled global rejectionist movements and terrorist groups that know no boundaries and accept no restrictions are capable of undermining our confidence in everything we have achieved so far. They are working to establish what can be referred to as a “new world disorder” and global instability. Under the circumstances, and given prevailing fears, a thorough look at what is happening in the Middle East conflict zone would clearly reveal the difficulty of realizing the objectives of peace and development promoted by the United Nations. In recent months, the world has witnessed continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, unjust and arbitrary Israeli practices, desecration of holy sites, blockades, killings, assassinations and displacements. Such acts continue with no international deterrence or control.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“It would be wise not to link terrorism to a particular race or religion, particularly to Arabs and Muslims, if we want to avoid setting world civilizations and religions on a collision course. We can thus avoid falling into the trap designed by those who are pushing the world towards collision, conflict and strife. Side by side with its Arab brothers, Lebanon is determined to exert additional efforts to combat terrorism and eradicate its various root causes. In 1998, Arab States successfully negotiated and concluded the Arab Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism, a Convention with clear-cut purposes and objectives. The events of 11 September have demonstrated that humanity has not yet reached its ultimate evolutionary stage.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Had it not been for Israel’s persistence in occupying what it called “the security zone”, no one would have had to resist it and ultimately force it to 14 withdraw in May 2000 from most of the territories that it had occupied. Had Israel not occupied the Palestinian territories, there would have been no need for a courageous uprising against occupation. It must be pointed out that Lebanon is determined to fight terrorism. We have acceded to 10 out of the 12 conventions relevant to the question of international terrorism. We stand ready to respond positively to any international initiative, including the convening of an international conference for this purpose, to arrive at a standard definition of terrorism.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Both the Taif Agreement and the April Understanding recognized the legitimacy of resistance against the Israeli occupation. Let me recall here that had Israel not invaded Lebanon on 14 March 1978, there would have been no Lebanese Resistance — which, of course, is the subject of our pride — to counter this invasion. Had Security Council resolution 425 (1978) adopted on 19 March been implemented without delay, as stipulated in its provisions, the Resistance would not have been born. Had it not been for widening the scope of the Israeli invasion of Lebanese territory and the subsequent occupation of Beirut in 1982, the Resistance would not have escalated.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We resisted this occupation until it ultimately ended with Israel’s withdrawal from most of our national territories. It is perfectly normal in this context to stress the need for distinguishing between terrorism, which we strongly condemn, and peoples’ legitimate right to struggle for the liberation of their territories from foreign occupation on the basis of the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolutions. As regards Lebanon, we have to refer to the April Understanding of 1996, an agreement which was reached under the auspices of the United States and France after Israel had carried out the Qana Massacre that same year, in addition to the Taif Agreement that had laid down the tenets of our national reconciliation. A series of Security Council presidential statements have given the Council’s blessing to the Agreement.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“These acts exacted a high toll among innocent civilians and plunged the peoples and countries of the world into an atmosphere of gloom and anxiety. We once again extend our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones; some of them were Lebanese, or American of Lebanese descent. We share their deep sense of grief and sorrow. From this rostrum, I would like to reiterate Lebanon’s condemnation of these terrorist attacks. Lebanon stands ready to cooperate seriously, positively and responsibly with the United States and the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with the rules of international law and with the prerogatives of national sovereignty. For a long time, Lebanon has suffered from Israeli occupation and Israel’s terrorist practices.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Mr. President, allow me first to congratulate you on your election as President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, which is meeting under critical and exceptional circumstances. We wish you every success in your arduous endeavours. I also wish to thank your predecessor, Mr. Harri Holkeri. In addition, on this occasion, I would like to pay tribute to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the efforts he has made throughout the year. We hope that he will be able to enhance the prospects for peace, stability, and development in the world during his second term of office. The whole world was shocked by the enormity of the tragedy that struck the United States of America on 11 September — the barbaric terrorist acts against New York City and Washington, D.C.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)