First and foremost, allow me to ratify that for Cuba the NAM Committee on Palestine is now, more than ever, an important forum of harmonization and support for the cause of that heroic people. Cuba wishes to acknowledge in this context the work done by Malaysia, which has contributed to strengthening the Committee’s actions and increasing its prestige among the members of the Movement.

Mr. Chairman:

In 1947, the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II), which recognized the partition of Palestine and advocated the establishment of two independent States, which should co-exist in peace and harmony. This resolution has only been partially complied with. The State of Israel was created in 1948, but the establishment of the sovereign State of Palestine continues to be a pending issue.

Today, instead of seeing the enforcement of the numerous General Assembly and Security Council resolutions which set forth Israel’s withdrawal from Palestine and the other occupied Arab territories, new policies are envisaged – which, far from contributing to fostering just and lasting peace in the region, perpetuate the status quo and nullify the efforts made by the Palestinian people to own their destiny.

Cuba claims that Israel’s total withdrawal from the occupied territories and the installation of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State in its legitimate territories with East Jerusalem as its capital continues to be the main objective to follow.

The Palestinian people voted last 25 January on its current Government, in free, transparent and democratic elections, making use of its sovereign right to elect its representatives.

However, Israel, the United States and Europe – in a new signal of the double standards inherent in them – hastened to deny the validity of such process and are enforcing the most ruthless financial blackmail against the Palestinian people. The denial of financial aid has been used as an element of political pressure to procure concessions.

The Palestinian people has been deprived of nearly US$ 1 billion on an annual basis. There has been a disruption in aid programs, the salaries of civil servants and the direct food aid to the population. According to figures from the World

Bank, the wages of the National Palestinian Authority that have not been paid because of this financial war are in the order of US$ 116 million – while it is estimated that around 25% of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank depend on this money. This is compounded by the US$ 60 million in monthly customs taxes retained by Israel.

The Movement, a forum of traditional support for the just and legitimate Palestinian cause, must strongly condemn this new action against the will of a people that wages a heroic battle for its independence.

Mr. Chairman:

The solution to the Palestinian issue must inevitably revolve around the unconditional return of all the occupied Arab territories and must not be subject to unilateral decisions or financial blackmails. The Government of Israel, aided and financed by the United States, is directly responsible for the stagnation of this process.

In the meantime, the NAM must continue to provide its unconditional support to the Palestinian people. In this new scenario, the Movement must be united around the Palestinian cause.

The Movement must continue reiterating its traditional positions at every multilateral forum. In this sense, Cuba wishes to recognize Malaysia’s statement, on behalf of the Movement, at the public meeting of the Security Council on “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question,” held last 30 March 2006.

Mr. Chairman:

In the three years following the Summit in Havana, Cuba intends to undertake a number of actions at the helm of the NAM Committee on Palestine so as to continue the work done by Malaysia in this period. In that regard, we will continue to enhance the meetings of this Committee and will assign concrete tasks to it. Besides, Cuba believes that the NAM, through its Chair or any member of the Troika, must be represented at the regional meetings convened by the UN on Palestine.