Continued support for Palestine urged
Continued support for Palestine urged
JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations Asian seminar and Non-
Governmental Forum (NGO) forum on Palestine opened here yesterday
with calls for continued mobilization of support for the
Palestinian cause against what is seen as continued Israeli
aggression.
During the opening ceremony, delegates said that despite its
geographic distance, Asia remained an important source of support
for the Palestinians.
Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas said: "It is not only
the parties involved in the conflict nor only the peoples of the
Middle East who have a vital stake (in the peace process, it is)
also the whole world that hungers for a new order of peace,
justice and equitable prosperity."
Under the theme Achieving a Just, Comprehensive and Lasting
Solution of the Question of Palestine -- the Role of Asia, the
three-day seminar and symposium is being convened by the UN
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestine People.
Alatas said yesterday that convening the event here reflected
Asia's unremitting support for the cause of Palestinian self-
determination.
Indonesia is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and
refuses to establish relations with Israel.
Alatas lamented that while there was great hope for peace
following the Madrid peace process in 1991, it has recently
faded.
"That hope grew dim as, during the past year, the peace
process faltered and fell behind schedule because of Israel's
adamant refusal to fulfill its commitment and treaty obligations.
"Israel continues to arrogantly set aside deadlines so that
key provisions of the agreements remain unimplemented," he
remarked.
Israel sparked international ire last month with its
development of new settlements in occupied Arab East Jerusalem.
K. M. Khan, representative of the International Coordinating
Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine, described the
recent developments as "explosive" and urged NGOs to increase
pressure on the Israeli government to stop the development.
"As NGOs attached to the Palestinian cause we should prevail
upon our respective governments to act in a manner so that
justice is achieved for the just cause of our Palestinian
brothers and sisters," he said.
He then expressed confidence that the meeting would be the
beginning of "a new era of activities by Asian NGOs."
Other notables attending the meeting in Jakarta are Alvaro de
Soto, assistant UN secretary-general for political affairs, Ibra
Deguene Ka, chairman of the UN committee for Palestine, and
Suleiman Annajab, member of the executive committee of the
Palestine Liberation Organization. (swe/mds)