US embassy cable - 04USUNNEWYORK2570

UNCLAS  USUN NEW YORK 002570 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, UNGA 
SUBJECT: 59TH UNGA: GENERAL ASSEMBLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE 
MEMORY OF YASSER ARAFAT 
 
1.  Summary.  On November 11, the United Nations General 
Assembly marked the passing of Yasser Arafat. 
Secretary-General (SYG) Kofi Annan and GA President Jean Ping 
both made statements of condolences as did the leaders of the 
various regional groups.   Gambia, on behalf of the African 
States; Indonesia, on behalf of the Asian States; Belarus, on 
behalf of the Eastern European States; Nicaragua, on behalf 
of the Latin American and Caribbean States; New Zealand, in 
its capacity as the Chairman of the Western Europe and Other 
States (WEOG); Sudan, on behalf of the Arab States; The 
Netherlands, on behalf of the EU; Malaysia, on behalf of the 
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM); Turkey, on behalf of the 
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC); Senegal, in its 
capacity as Chairman of the Committee to Examine the 
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Egypt; and the 
Palestinian Observer all gave statements,  The United States 
did not.  Several speakers recalled Arafat's first speech 
before the UNGA delivered almost 30 years to the day of his 
death, his signing of the Oslo Accords, his Noble Peace Prize 
in 1995, and his election as President of the Palestinian 
Authority.  Several states noted his confinement during the 
last years of his life to his compound in Ramallah.  Most 
expressed a hope that his dream of a Palestinian state, 
living side-by-side in peace with Israel, would be achieved 
and encouraged the international community, especially the 
Quartet, to take all steps to restart the Roadmap.  Following 
the statements, the Israeli delegate speaking to the GA on 
the next agenda item, stated it "understands this is a day of 
profound sorrow for the Palestinian people," but hoped this 
could be an opportunity to pursue peace in the region.  He 
stated further, that the Palestinians are "not our enemies, 
they are our neighbors, who deserve to live in peace as much 
as we do."  End Summary. 
 
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SYG Annan & President Ping 
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2.  On November 11, 2004, SYG Annan stated to the General 
Assembly that Arafat "expressed and symbolized" the national 
aspirations of the Palestinian people.  He noted that Arafat 
led the Palestinians to the principle of peaceful coexistence 
between Israel and a future Palestinian state.  Annan stated 
it was tragic that Arafat did not live to see his dream 
fulfilled, but urged the international community to make even 
great efforts to bring about the peaceful realization of the 
Palestinian right to self-determination.  (Note:  Annan's 
embargoed written text referred to "President" Arafat; 
however, in his verbal statements Annan repeatedly 
substituted "Chairman Arafat" for "President Arafat."  End 
Note.) 
 
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Palestinian and Israeli Statements 
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3.  The Palestinian Deputy Observer, Somaia Barghouti, stated 
it was with "great sorrow and sadness" that the Palestinian 
leadership announced to the world the death of "their leader, 
their teacher, their hero."  Noting that Arafat was a great 
world leader that placed the Palestinian people and their 
national rights at the front of the world agenda, Barghouti 
noted that Arafat leaves a legacy of a "bright future for 
peace, freedom, and development" for the Palestinian people. 
Barghouti thanked all "friendly and fraternal" states for 
their words of condolences, and noted that the Palestinian 
Mission would be open Monday and Tuesday from 10am-3pm to all 
missions wishing to express their condolences. 
 
4.  A representative for Israel speaking at the GA Hall on 
the following Plenary agenda item (Item 39(c) Humanitarian 
Assistance to the Palestinian People), stated that Israel 
"understands this is a day of profound sorrow for the 
Palestinian People," but also said it was an opportunity to 
continue the quest for peace in the region.  He further 
stated that "the Palestinians are not are enemies, they are 
our neighbors" and asserted that both Palestinians and 
Israelis deserve to live in peace.  He touted Prime 
Minister's Sharon's "disengagement plan" recently ratified by 
the Knesset, would dismantle all military installations in 
Gaza by the end of 2005.  He quoted PM Sharon as "willing to 
make painful compromises" to achieve peace, and hoped the 
Palestinians and the Arab world would focus on "creating a 
peaceful Palestinian state, instead of demolishing the 
Israeli one." 
 
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Egypt, the Arab States, the OIC, and NAM 
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5.  The Egyptian Charge d' Affaire Amr Aboul Atta stated that 
Arafat was the embodiment of the struggle for freedom and 
independence and asserted that he would be remembered with 
the likes of Ghandi and Mandela.  Aboul Atta lamented that 
"fate" did not allow Arafat to fulfill his dream of "praying 
in Al Aqsa under the Palestinian flag," but stated the 
Palestinians would overcome their current struggles.  Atta 
noted that feelings of hate and desperation were intensifying 
in the Near East, but also said there was a ray of hope and 
asked the "major powers" to intervene to restart the peace 
process.  The Sudanese representative Omar Bashir Mohamed 
Manis, speaking on behalf of the Arab States, stated "with 
heavy hearts, we are saddened by the loss of our brother," 
and claimed that the Palestinian cause was the cause of all 
Arabs.  Manis said the Palestinians were loosing a courageous 
and steadfast leader, who never wavered in his struggle, but 
he assured the Palestinians that Arafat's "principles and 
positions will remain alive in us (the Arab States)."  The 
Representative from Turkey, on behalf of the OIC, stated it 
was "a sad day for humanity" and called Arafat a "valiant 
leader."  He noted that President Arafat epitomized the 
struggle of the Palestinian people.  The Turkish 
representative said that Arafat lit the flame of Palestinian 
Statehood, but the OIC would continue this goal until it was 
achieved.  The Representative from Malaysia, Rastam Mohd Isa, 
speaking on behalf of NAM, stated that President Arafat was 
not just a leader of Palestine, but also an influential 
leader in NAM.  Isa noted the "indignity" of President Arafat 
being imprisoned by the Israelis at his compound and reminded 
the members that at the time of his death, Arafat was the 
elected leader of his people, "although certain Quartet 
members didn't want to recognize this."  Isa said he is 
confident his "brothers" in Palestine will remain calm during 
this period and stand united to face the challenges ahead. 
The Malaysian representative said NAM would "continue to 
support the goal of a Palestinian State, living side-by-side 
in peace with Israel, until it is achieved," and he called on 
all member states, especially in the Quartet, to make sure 
"Israel doesn't take advantage of the situation." 
 
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The EU, Eastern European States, and WEOG 
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6.  The Netherlands Permanent Representative Dirk Van den 
Berg, speaking on behalf of the EU, expressed the EU's 
condolences to the Palestinian leader for the loss of their 
leader and "democratically elected President."  Van den Berg 
reassured the Palestinian people that they could count on the 
"undiminished support of the EU on the path toward a 
peaceful, durable and just settlement of the conflict." 
Belarus, speaking on behalf of the Eastern European States, 
said Arafat would be remembered as a lifelong symbol of the 
struggle of the Palestinian people.  He continued saying that 
as a statesman, Arafat left an "undeniable imprint, not just 
on the Middle East but also on the world's international 
political scene.  New Zealand PR Don Mackay, speaking in his 
capacity as chairman of the WEOG group (Note:  Mackay had to 
speak in his capacity as Chairman and not "on behalf of WEOG" 
because many states within the group, including Israel, were 
unable to receive formal guidance from their capitals on an 
official position. End Note) noted that Arafat had led the 
Palestinians to a historic acceptance of the principle of 
peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian 
state.  Mackay said the Palestinian leadership would now have 
to shoulder the responsibility in carrying forward the vision 
of the two states living side-by-side in peace and security 
to fruition. 
 
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Asia, Africa, and Latin America 
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7.  The Indonesian representative, Rezlan Ishar Jenie, 
speaking on behalf of the Asian States, called Arafat the 
father of the Palestinian movement, who was only too familiar 
with the harshness of oppression.  He stated that when the 
"ferocity of the campaign against the Palestinian people did 
not lessen over the years, Mr. Arafat matched it with the 
intensity of his spirit and undying optimism."  Jenie noted 
that his last days was spent as a virtual prisoner in 
Ramallah, and he claimed the flame for Palestinian freedom 
had not been extinguished by his death.  The Representative 
from Gambia, Crispin Grey-Johnson, speaking on behalf of the 
African States, said his delegation had been "profoundly 
saddened by the death of Yasser Arafat," who was the 
"personification" of the Palestinians struggle for 
independence.  The Gambian representative stated Arafat had 
moved the question of Palestine from being a mere footnote on 
the international agenda to center stage of world affairs. 
Grey-Johnson also noted that he committed his life to the 
liberation of oppressed peoples everywhere.  The 
Representative from Nicaragua, Eduardo Sevilla Somoza, 
speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean 
States, called Arafat a "historic" figure that symbolized the 
struggle of his people until his very last breath.  Sevilla 
hoped the Palestinian people would continue to search for a 
free, sovereign and economically viable State dedicated to 
peace.  Senegal, in its capacity as Chairman of the Committee 
to Examine the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, 
also made a brief statement of condolences to the Palestinian 
People. 
 
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Comment 
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8.  The SYG announced that the UN Special Coordinator for the 
Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the 
Palestinian Authority, Terje Roed-Larsen, would represent the 
SYG at Arafat's funeral in Cairo.  End Comment. 
 
DANFORTH