UNRWA in its 60th establishment anniversary

The Palestinian Return Centre - London/ December 16-18, 2009

Speech by Ambassador Khalil Makkawi

 

Your excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

For four years I have had the honour to head the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, based at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Beirut. Our aim is to improve Lebanese Palestinian relations and provide the refugees with a life of dignity until they are able to realize their aspiration for their legitimate right of return to their homes.

 

At the outset, I would like to salute the initiative of the Palestine Return Centre and express my admiration to their work as a civil society organization dedicated to the cause of the rights of refugees. My salutations go as well to UNRWA, our strategic partner in Lebanon 60th anniversary of its establishment.

 

Some believe it is mere fantasy to talk about the Right of Return. The Israeli enemy lends a deaf ear to the Right of Return, which was stipulated in UN General Assembly Resolution No.194. For sixty years the international community remains as a spectator watching the tragedy of more than 5 million Palestinians in Diaspora and the affront on international justice. This raises a big question mark the international community’s ability to deliver a minimum level of justice, freedom and equality as well as people’s right to self-determination. Such doubt is in itself a factor that threatens world peace and security – if international legality cannot deliver that minimum of justice then the alternatives is armed conflict and violence.

 

My government is committed to the support of the Right of Return of the refugees, this is a fundamental pillar of our policy because we also believe that this is a test of the validity of the concept of international justice and we want international justice to succeed. This is an evolution from the traditional Lebanese position of rejecting permanent settlement of the refugees in the country as stipulated by our constitution. We do not see any contradiction between improving the living conditions of the refugees and their right of return, on the contrary, this will make them more determined to obtain their rights. Our commitment to is an active one, we believe that Lebanon can play an important role on the international scene in the next two years as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council.

 

It is true that the prospects for resumption of negotiations are bleak due to Israeli intransigence as well as Palestinian and Arab divisions. The Palestinian state is a postponed project with the building of settlements and the plundering of Jerusalem both physically and demographically. We welcome the recent EU declaration Jerusalem being the capital of two states. But time is running out for such an option if we do not act quickly.

 

My main message to you on this occasion is related to the identity of UNRWA. This institution is a witness to most horrendous crimes committed against the Palestinians people and has accompanied them in their dispossession. More importantly it is a symbol of international commitment to reach a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue. It has a humanitarian function but also an important political role. We have an obligation towards the refugees and international support for UNRWA is part of that obligation.

 

It is time to revise our outlook to UNRWA and make an international commitment to secure it the adequate funding for it to provide improved services. The refugees have a right to these services it is part of our collective responsibility and our failure to end their plight and give them their legitimate rights. A recognition of the political significance of UNRWA is a key factor in this international commitment.

 

We all know that UNRWA, at this stage in particular, is suffering from a suffocating financial deficit. As for the financial deficit- which I will not dwell on in this speech - it seems that it is attributed- and I am saying this with all friendliness- to the donor countries’ shortfall in providing the necessary resources. I would like here to mention the new policy adopted by the Canadian Government to reduce its contribution to UNRWA’s core budget. This was facilitated by the current world financial crisis and sometimes to UNRWA’s delay in drafting self-development and empowering mechanisms to the Palestinian refugees. Such mechanisms would have shifted UNRWA and the refugees to long-term dimension of rescue, instead of being satisfied with local remedies only. In all cases, during the last meeting of its Advisory Commission, UNRWA submitted a medium-term strategy that looks like re-positioning itself to an exceptional world cause of justice and to improving its services.

 

As a host country, burdened by the “Nakba” and by the repetitive Israeli aggressions and occupations, we support and urge donor countries to fulfill their commitments to UNRWA’s core and regional budget. The Palestinian refugees in Lebanon suffer from situations that are harder and worse than in any other host country. Any reduction of services provided by UNRWA threatens the minimum level of their decent life and paves the way for more extremist elements that menace stability in Lebanon and the region. As for the second issue which we have to think about is the attempt to structure a new identity for UNRWA, based on its affiliation with a cause of highly political features.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I had the honor to participate on Lebanon’s behalf in UNRWA’s Advisory Commission for the last two meetings. They were held in June 2009 and in November 2009. In fact, I was surprised that most of the discussions in the sessions focused on how to mend UNRWA’s deficit, though what is needed is to come up with mechanisms to improve services ensured by the agency. Therefore, we call on donor countries to hold a special meeting to discuss UNRWA’s budget and agree on a formula which will ensure that every donor country will share parts of its annual proposed budget. In this manner, the deficit does not remain a moral sword that hinders the agency’s work. The sum of $540 million annually to look after 5 million people is totally insufficient. It also tarnishes the image of the international community regarding this issue.

 

1- On UNRWA’s role and structure

 

 

I am not an expert in UNRWA’s dynamics, in terms of vision or management. However, based on the keenness to improve and enhance its services and appearance, UNRWA has to face its two main challenges seriously. The first one is embodied in the importance of overcoming the problem of budget deficit and providing better services.The second one is that the cumulative expertise from which UNRWA benefits from should be exploited to raise awareness and support for a just solution to the Palestinian refugee cause.

 

2- On the Future of UNRWA’s identity

 

No doubt that UNRWA has the custody over a humanitarian cause. However, more clearly it is in charge of a highly political cause that has an existential relationship with international justice and security. Just security, in our definition, means ensuring security to people on the geographical, demographic, cultural, social, economic and environmental levels. The continuous Israeli aggressions against the people of Occupied Palestine for more than 60 years is not acceptable and we call upon UNRWA to help document these violations and raise international awareness about them. How powerful was the message from UNRWA’s representative during the Gaza War. This political role is not in contradiction to it being an arm of the United Nations.

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

What was said above is an attempt to push us to think together. The Palestinian Cause is a postponed state with Jerusalem as its capital. The Palestinian refugees’ Right of Return remains as an international challenge and clear option. In the challenge and the option, UNRWA is both the greatest witness and the advocate. So let us all work to protect it by providing the necessary resources, and stop our accusations that it is incapable of fulfilling its mission. This agency should bear witness on the most hideous world crime. We owe a great debt to UNRWA. If it were not for its continuous work over 61 years and its exceptional care provided to the refugees in the host countries, among which is Lebanon, we would have been dealing with a more painful problem than the one we have now.

 

A heartfelt thank-you to UNRWA.

Thank you.