Resolution 52/57
(December 10, 1997)
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 51/124 of 13 December 1996 and all its
previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 194 (III) of
11 December 1948,
Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
covering the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, 1/
Welcoming the signature in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 by
the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization, the representative of the people of Palestine, of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements 2/ and
the subsequent implementation agreements, and also the signature of the
Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995, 3/
Encouraging the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle
East peace process to continue its important work,
Welcoming the completion of the transfer of the headquarters of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East to Gaza, to its area of operations,
1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the
refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III),
has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the
refugees continues to be a matter of concern;
2. Expresses its thanks to the Commissioner-General and to all the
staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East, recognizing that the Agency is doing all it
can within the limits of available resources, and also expresses its
thanks to the specialized agencies and to private organizations for their
valuable work in assisting refugees;
3. Notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission
for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in
the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution 194 (III), and requests
the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of
that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later
than 1 September 1998;
4. Notes the significant success of the Peace Implementation Programme
of the Agency since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements, 2/ and stresses the importance that
contributions to this Programme are not at the expense of the General
Fund;
5. Welcomes strengthened cooperation between the Agency and the World
Bank and other specialized agencies, and calls upon the Agency to make
a decisive contribution towards giving a fresh impetus to the economic
and social stability of the occupied territories;
6. Urges all Member States to extend and expedite aid and assistance
with a view to the economic and social development of the Palestinian
people and the occupied territories;
7. Reiterates its deep concern regarding the persisting critical
financial situation of the Agency, as outlined in the report of the
Commissioner-General; 1/
8. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to move towards
budgetary transparency and internal efficiency, and hopes that such moves
will continue;
9. Notes with profound concern that the structural deficit problem
confronting the Agency portends an almost certain decline in the living
conditions of the Palestine refugees and that it, therefore, has possible
consequences for the peace process;
10. Calls upon all Governments, as a matter of urgency, to make the
most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the
Agency, urges non-contributing Governments to contribute regularly and
encourages contributing Governments to consider increasing their regular
contributions.
69th plenary meeting
10 December 1997
Notes
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session,
Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/52/13 and Add.1).
2/ A/48/486-S/26560, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council,
Forty-eighth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1993,
document S/26560.
3/ A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex; see Official Records of the Security
Council, Fifty-second Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1997,
document S/1997/357.
Sources: The United Nations |