[antiwar-van] Canada to Vote AGAINST Two Resolutions at the UN

[hanna]

It seems the "Liberal Parliamentarians for Israel" have succeeded from
inside the Canadian Cabinet into pushing Canada to be more pro-Israel.
See: Globe and Mail article, Oct. 21, 2004  "Is Canada preparing to shift
line in the sand?", and Canadian Jewish News article, October 28, 2004
"Liberal MPs work to change UN voting pattern on Israel".
Thank you Canadian government for exposing your true face.
Hanna

Canada's Statement to the Plenary of the General Assembly (General Debate)
59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

AS DELIVERED
Item 37: Question of Palestine
Tuesday, November 30

Introduction
Mr President,

Our discussions today on the Question of Palestine take place against the
backdrop of extraordinary opportunity in the Middle East. Events are
unfolding quickly, and while we look back on a year that has seen much loss
of life and suffering on both sides, there are also new reasons for hope
that the peace process will move forward. Canada strongly welcomes early
signs that this might happen and calls on both Israel and the Palestinian
Authority to remain focussed on the goal of peace. The international
community, including Canada, must be prepared to act so this unique
opportunity does not slip away.

The passing of President Arafat this month was and is a source of great
sorrow for the Palestinian people. President Arafat personified the
Palestinian people's struggle for self-determination. His vision and
leadership on Palestinian aspirations, particularly at the time of the Oslo
Accords, will not be forgotten.

Canada commends both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for their renewed
cooperation at this time. We welcome the efforts made by both sides to set
in motion a free and fair election process, which is essential to democratic
institution building and renewed negotiations toward a just and lasting
peace.

Key elements of Canadian Policy in the Middle East
Mr President,

The fundamental elements of my country's policy in the Middle East are
unshakeable. Canada has endeavoured to play a constructive role in peace
efforts for decades, dating back to our involvement in defusing the Suez
Crisis in 1956, for which then Foreign Minister Lester B. Pearson was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Since that time, generations of Canadians
have been devoted to peacekeeping and peaceful settlement of disputes as a
mainstay of our foreign policy.

Our ultimate goal in the Middle East is a comprehensive, just and lasting
peace, and the creation of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian
state living side by side in peace and security with Israel. To this end,
both sides have basic needs and concerns which should be recognized.

Support for Israel, especially its right to live in peace with its
neighbours within secure boundaries, has been at the core of Canada's Middle
East policy since 1948. Canada recognizes Israel's right to assure its own
security, and to take proportionate measures to protect the security of its
citizens from attacks by terrorist groups, but always in accordance with
international law, including human rights and international humanitarian
law.

In tandem with this, Canadian support for the creation of a Palestinian
state is unwavering. We believe the human rights of Palestinians are of
primary importance and that the international community should do everything
necessary to secure them. This is one of the reasons why Canada co-sponsored
the resolution Assistance to the Palestinian people. A just solution to the
Palestinian refugee issue is central to the Middle East Peace Process and to
a peace settlement.

However, Mr. President, the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and
Palestinians have been thwarted by the violence that continues to plague the
region and by major issues that remain unresolved.

On one hand, Israeli military actions and the construction of a barrier in
territories it continues to occupy will not, in our judgment, give Israel
long-term security within internationally recognized borders. On the other
hand, a just peace will never be achieved through suicide bombing attacks
targeting Israeli civilians. All acts of violence undermine the search for a
peaceful settlement and the well-being and realization of the legitimate
aspirations of people on both sides.

Terrorism will never contribute to the solution of this complex issue.
Terrorists and their supporters should immediately be brought to justice,
prosecuted in accordance with international law, and dealt with in a manner
which does not penalize, endanger or harm innocent civilians.

Israel, to engender trust, must refrain from all unilateral actions that
might prejudge the outcome of negotiations. Canada opposes the establishment
of settlements in the territories, unilateral moves to annex East Jerusalem
and the Golan Heights, and construction of the barrier inside the West Bank
and East Jerusalem. In addition to its obligations under international
humanitarian law, Israel also has obligations under human rights law with
respect to the inhabitants of the occupied territories.

Canadian Approach to UNGA resolutions
Mr President,

Having outlined our fundamental principles, let me now set forth how Canada
approaches the resolutions on the Middle East discussed each year in the
General Assembly. Canada has long-standing concerns that many of the
resolutions do not contribute to strengthening dialogue or enhancing trust
between the parties.

First, we have consistently urged and continue to urge the sponsors to make
real efforts to reduce the number of resolutions, many of which are
redundant and outdated. This fact not only damages UN credibility but also
gives the impression that their objectives are more rhetorical than
results-oriented.

Second, in our judgment, the resolutions are often divisive and lack
balance, no matter how artfully they are crafted. Foremost, references to
Israeli security needs are often overlooked in the General Assembly.
Repeatedly emphasizing Israel's responsibility under international law
obscures equally important responsibilities of other parties to the
conflict. This is a major shortcoming of the process. Effective action by
the Palestinian Authority to dismantle terrorist capability and
infrastructure are essential steps toward statehood -- as are other long-due
governance reforms -- yet neither of these obligations are sufficiently
emphasized in General Assembly resolutions.

Third, on those limited occasions where resolutions can be helpful, Canada
encourages a more innovative approach to drafting resolutions which are
pragmatic, reality-driven texts, with mechanisms for follow-up on agreed
benchmarks. The effectiveness and credibility of General Assembly
resolutions would increase significantly if they more accurately reflected
the Roadmap obligations and the Quartet's objectives.

Accordingly, it is in light of these considerations and taking into account
the guiding principles of our long-standing policy, that Canada has been
evaluating the draft resolutions tabled for adoption in this Plenary. We
have decided to oppose in this chamber two resolutions, namely the Work of
the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human
Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied
Territories, and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of
the Palestinian People. We believe that the value added of the activities of
both Committees is questionable. Indeed, for many years now, neither of
these resolutions have enjoyed the strong support of the international
community.

Concurrently, we have also decided to support in this chamber the Risk of
Nuclear Proliferation in the Middle East resolution, which is consistent
with the Canadian Government's nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
policy and ongoing non-proliferation efforts in the region.

Mr President,

We believe that the time has come, especially given renewed hope for the
peace process, to evaluate the efforts that all of us make at the United
Nations to determine if they could be re-directed toward more constructive
outcomes. It is incumbent upon the General Assembly, as well as the Security
Council, to do more to foster the mutual respect and trust between Israelis
and Palestinians that is desperately needed for a peaceful solution to the
conflict. While a peaceful solution to the conflict can only be the result
of a negotiated agreement between the parties, the international community
at the UN can play a greater role, in a spirit of cooperation and collective
effort.

The changes we have signalled today are yet another example of Canada's new
multilateralism. Canada is intent on engaging the world in an active,
systematic and principled manner. Our support for the Responsibility to
Protect initiative and our efforts to promote a G-20 are but two recent
examples of our new multilateralism. In the context of the Middle East, our
efforts to assist Palestinians in their nation-building enterprise reflects
our commitment to supporting human rights and human development. We want to
help the new Palestinian leadership build a democratic, prosperous society
with fully functional institutions, including an independent judicial system
and sophisticated administrative bodies. We have offered to build that
capacity.

Prime Minister Martin has stated Canada's commitment to support the parties'
efforts to reach a peaceful settlement in any way we can. Canada is
committed to promoting peace and stability in the region. Our goal is to
provide assistance in support of free and fair Palestinian elections and to
encourage the Palestinian nation-building process. Canada, today and always,
stands ready to work with all UN delegations toward that shared objective.

Ambassador Allan Rock,
Canadian Permanent Representative to the UN


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