Doc. 9447

7 May 2002

Observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly for the “Palestinian Legislative Council”

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Marty and others

The Assembly,

Recalls that the State of Israel has held observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly since October 1957;

Recalls that the Oslo II agreement signed in Washington on 28 September 1995 instituted a “Palestinian Legislative Council”;

Recalls that the “Palestinian Legislative Council” is a body vested with legislative powers and can be justifiably regarded as the highest institution of the Palestinian Authority;

Considers that the existence of the “Palestinian Legislative Council” is an important development in Palestinian political life, and should be regarded as a major step in the peace process;

Recalls that the “Palestinian Legislative Council” is the first elected body in the history of the Palestinian people;

Considers that the “Palestinian Legislative Council” is of great importance in the eyes of the Palestinian people and also of the international community, since it can be looked upon as the expression of the hopes placed by this people in the progressive mastery of its destiny;

Considers that the balance of the Assembly’s relations with the Israelis and Palestinians should be redressed;

In the light of the foregoing,

Decides to ask the Bureau to grant observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly to the “Palestinian Legislative Council” to enable a Palestinian delegation to attend and take part in Assembly sessions and committee meetings.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Marty, Switzerland, LDR

Andícan, Turkey, EDG

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Fehr, Switzerland, LDR

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Glesener, Luxembourg, EPP

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Gülek, Turkey, SOC

Mariot, France, SOC

Martínez Casañ, Spain, EPP

Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR

Pellicini, Italy, EDG

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Vanoost, Belgium, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group