Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs on behalf of The Non-Aligned Movement Committee on Palestine (Nam-Cop)
3 May 2001
Following a request of President Arafat to the Chair of NAM, it was agreed to convene a Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Committee on Palestine in Pretoria on 3 May 2001. The Chair also invited the NAM Security Council Caucus, a representative of the Secretary General, the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan and the Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to attend the meeting.
The Meeting was indeed very successful and the Ministers trust that its results will help in finding a solution to the tragic situation in the Middle East and contribute to reaching a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
The Ministers heard an important address by President Mbeki in which he reiterated the Movement's solidarity and support for the people of Palestine. He reaffirmed the NAM's commitment to the emergence of an independent Palestinian state. He said the NAM was committed to the peace process in which progress is presently blocked and needs to be unblocked. He said there is a need to move forward with speed and break the logjam so as to create a just, comprehensive and permanent peace. President Mbeki stressed that the NAM is committed to work with all other interested parties for a just peace in the Middle East. This, he said the NAM owed to all the people of the Middle East.
The Ministers also heard an important address by President Arafat and welcomed his full commitment to the peace process and all agreements signed. He said that the language of violence and bombardment will not serve the interests of Palestinians or Israelis. He announced his full acceptance of the Egyptian/Jordanian proposal. He said he did so with no reservations for the cause of a comprehensive, lasting and just peace in order to revive the hopes of peace and put the peace process back on its right track. He said he did so on behalf of the interests of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, and the people of the Middle Eastern Region.
"I am making this commitment in front of President Mbeki, and I count on all of you. I send this to Mr Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel that my commitment to peace is for peace and security for your children and our children and for the stability and peace of the whole Middle East Region," said President Arafat.
President Arafat asked President Mbeki to continue to remain engaged in efforts to re-start and support the peace process.
Following these statements there was a lively and comprehensive exchange of views among participants. The Meeting adopted a communiqué.
The mandate and composition of the committee on Palestine
The VIIth NAM Summit (New Delhi, 1983) established the Committee on Palestine at the level of Heads of State of Government to cooperate with the seven member Arab Committee to support the right of the Arab Palestinian people in accordance with international law and the will of the Non-Aligned countries and their peoples. The mandate given to the Committee at the VIIth Summit was to work with the various forces influential in the Middle East conflict for the achievement of a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East which will enable the Palestinian people to exercise their rights in freedom and sovereignty in their independent homeland. The Committee currently comprises the following members:
1. Algeria Minister Abdelkader Messahel
2. Bangladesh Dr Mohammed Selim, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs in the Bangladeshi Parliament
3. Cuba Deputy Minister José Armado Guerra Menchero
4. India Minister of State U.V. Krishnam Raju
5. Indonesia Ambassador Harsoyo Sudirman
6. Palestine Minister Farouk Kaddoumi
7. Senegal Ambassador Ibra Deguène Ka
8. Zambia Minister Sipakeli K. Walubita
9. Zimbabwe Minister John Landa Nkomo
10. Chair of the NAM Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
The countries representing the NAM Security Council Caucus are as follows:
1. Bangladesh Dr Selim Mohammed, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs in the Bangladeshi Parliament
2. Colombia Ambassador Fred Eric Jacobsen
3. Jamaica Ambassador Curtis Ward
4. Mali Ambassador Louis Bastide
5. Mauritius Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan
6. Singapore Minister of State Chin Hock Ow
7. Tunisia Minister Habib Ben Yahia
Egypt was represented by Assistant Minister Mohamed Ezz Eldine and Jordan by Ambassador Ziad Al Majali. The Secretary General of the UN was represented by Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Danilo Turk and Ambassador Ibra Deguène Ka (Senegal) also participated in his capacity as Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
For more information contact Basetsana Thokoane
Cell no. 083 443 7740
Office no. 012 351 0174