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Statement on the
Meeting Between a NAM
Ministerial Delegation and President Yasser Arafat, Ramallah, 2 June 2002
- President Yasser Arafat today, Sunday 2 June 2002, warmly received a
delegation of the Non Aligned Movement Ministers led by its
chairperson South Africa’s Foreign Minister N Dlamini Zuma in
Ramallah.
- This visit is sequel to a decision of the NAM Ministerial Meeting
Committee on Palestine held in Durban, South Africa on 27 April 2002,
which adopted a declaration to send a delegation to Palestine to meet
with President Arafat, in an expression of solidarity with the
President and the people of Palestine.
- The NAM delegation included the incoming NAM chair, Malaysia, India,
Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
- President Arafat briefed the NAM ministers on the latest
developments, including the implementation of new restrictive measures
against the Palestinian people, which effectively resulted in the
balkanisation of the occupied territory.
- The NAM delegation reiterated the movement's outrage at the
intensification of the illegal Israeli occupation, the killing, vast
destruction, the economic strangulation and other atrocities committed
against Palestine and its people; including the continuation of
settlement activities especially in and around East Jerusalem.
- The NAM delegation reiterated the movement's support for the
principle of the right of the Palestinian people to self determination
and the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem
as its capital. They reaffirmed the need for Israel to withdraw to the
1967 borders.
- The delegation congratulated President Arafat on the signing of the
"Basis Law" of Palestine; which is an important step towards
the establishment of a constitutional law of Palestine.
- The NAM delegation also expressed its support for all-international
efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting solution.
In this context, the movement unequivocally affirmed its support for
the Arab peace initiative and the effort of the Quartet.
- The NAM delegation noted that these efforts by the international
community should form the basis of an international conference aimed
at the establishment of a road map for the attainment of a lasting
peace, and on the basis of the Security Council resolutions 242, 338
and 425 and the Madrid Conference terms of reverence on land for peace
principals.
- The NAM delegation wished President Arafat and people of Palestine
success in their endeavors to find peace to this long-standing
conflict.
For further information contact Mr Ronnie Mamoepa at
082 990 4853.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
2 JUNE 2002
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