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Resolution 1420 (2005)
Prospects for peace in the Middle East
1. The Parliamentary Assembly welcomes
the election of Mr Mahmoud Abbas to the presidency of the Palestinian
Authority. This election opens a new window of opportunity for dialogue
and the renewal of the peace process in the Middle East.
2. The contacts between all parties concerned must be resumed
immediately in order to take full advantage of the momentum resulting
from the outcome of the election. The international community should
actively contribute to the resumption of contacts between both parties.
The United Nations, the United States, the European Union and the
Russian Federation should assume their responsibilities, in line
with their international positions and aspirations, and be much
more actively involved in the negotiation process.
3. The road map continues to be a valid reference for the peace
negotiations, and a two-state solution remains the only realistic
political settlement of the conflict.
4. The political solution can only be achieved through an end
to violence and terrorism. A ceasefire on both sides should be declared
without delay. The Palestinian leadership should receive all possible
support in its continued efforts to curb terrorism. The Assembly
condemns, without reservation, all violence on both sides and in
particular attacks against the civilian population.
5. It is essential that the democratic process within the Palestinian
Authority continues. The international community should offer every
assistance and support to the Palestinian leadership in carrying
out this difficult task.
6. The Assembly strongly urges the Israeli and Palestinian sides
to:
- declare a ceasefire without further delay;
- immediately resume contacts and engage in a meaningful peace process and negotiations;
- co-operate with international mediators.
7. The Assembly calls on the Government of Israel to:
- halt the military operations and extrajudicial executions of militants of Palestinian extremist organisations;
- consider the withdrawal of military forces and settlers from Gaza as a part of the peace process in co-operation with the Palestinian side and not as an isolated step;
- review its position concerning the construction of the security wall taking into account the decision of the International Court of Justice;
- put an end to the construction and expansion of the illegal settlements without any further delay.
8. The Assembly calls on the Palestinian leaders and in particular
President Abbas to:
- make full use of their authority and powers to halt attacks against the Israelis;
- take all appropriate measures to dismantle terrorist organisations;
- pursue democratic reforms.
9. The Assembly calls on the European Union and the Russian Federation
to assume their responsibility and play a much more active role
in the peace process.
10. The Assembly calls on the United States Government, in accordance
with the Charter of the United Nations and in consultation with
its European partners, to use its influence in order to achieve
a just peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as an
indispensable part of a wider democratic process and prosperity
in the Middle East.
11. The Assembly remains convinced that the involvement of the
international community could play a decisive role in the successful
settlement of the conflict. In this respect, contacts at parliamentary
level would be of great importance.
12. The Parliamentary Assembly resolves to facilitate contacts
between parliamentarians from the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative
Council, and in particular instructs its relevant committees as
well as its Secretary General to step up co-operation with their
counterparts in both parliaments by organising joint meetings, conferences
and training programmes. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Assembly
expresses its readiness to observe the forthcoming elections to
the Palestinian Legislative Council.
13. The Parliamentary Assembly invites the Political Affairs Committee
to consider the possibility of using its sub-committee on the Middle
East as a tripartite forum allowing parliamentarians from the Knesset,
the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Parliamentary Assembly
to sit together on an equal footing with a right to speak and make
proposals for the sub-committee’s agenda and plans of action.
14. The Assembly calls on the Venice Commission to provide the
Palestinian leaders with expertise within areas of their competence,
in particular in regard to the conformity of the Palestinian legislation
with international standards.
15. The Assembly calls on the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe to consider possible co-operation with
local authorities in the region, in particular with a view to twinning
towns.
16. The Parliamentary Assembly, as a matter of principle, supports
the peace efforts made by the prominent Israeli and Palestinian
figures who launched the Geneva Initiative on 1 December 2003 and
opened up a new prospect for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Assembly calls on the members of the Knesset and the Palestinian
Legislative Council to lend their support to the Geneva Initiative
and to step up these efforts towards peace.
17. Recalling its Resolution
1156 (1998) and Recommendation
1612 (2003) calling on the United Nations to establish
an international fund (“Palestine Refugee and Displaced Persons
Final Status Fund”) to finance the permanent accommodation that
is necessary to end the appalling conditions and poverty in the
Palestine refugee camps, the Assembly recommends that the forthcoming
international conference on strengthening the Palestinian Authority,
which will take place in London on 1 March 2005, take account of
these proposals as a constructive and necessary contribution to
the peace process.