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Statement by the Chinese Delegation at the 60th Session of the Commission on Human Rights on the Question of the Violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Arab Territories, Including Palestine (item 8) (Geneva, March 24, 2004) 2004/04/16 Mr. Chairman, The Middle East and Palestine issue has been one of the major concerns of the international community. For years, this Commission has intensively discussed and adopted resolutions on it. It has played an important role in and made unremitting efforts for the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. What worries us is, however, the escalation of the bloody conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians, and the frequent occurrence of disastrous terrorist incidents since 2000. The protracted conflicts and bloodshed have inflicted inestimable losses of lives and property as well as hardly healable emotional trauma on the two peoples. The implementation of the Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East came to a deadlock soon after it was initiated in June 2003. The difficult Middle East peace process has become a common concern among members of the international community, including China. The long deadlock over the solution of the Middle East issue will not only endanger peace and stability in the region, but also have a negative impact on peace and development in Palestine and the world at large. The key to the realization of a lasting peace in the Middle East lies in an early end to the drawn-out conflicts and bloodshed between Israelis and Palestinians, the restoration of the right to national self-determination and other legitimate rights to the Palestinian people and a fair and reasonable solution of the question of Palestine. The Chinese Government believes that countering violence with violence and resorting to military means can only deepen mutual hatred rather than help solve the problem. The Middle East and Palestine issue can be resolved only through negotiations on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions and the principle of ¨land for peace¨. As the roadmap is a plan accepted by all parties concerned, any unilateral action will only make the situation more complicated. We appeal to Palestine, Israel and all parties concerned in the region to bear in mind the overriding importance of peace in the Middle East and life and well-being of the peoples in the region, exercise restraint, stop acts of retaliation, take positive steps in cooperation with the peace-making efforts of the international community and push forward the Middle East peace process. Mr. Chairman, As a permanent member of the Security Council, China has, by taking a responsible attitude, been engaged in persuading the parties concerned to come back to the negotiating table. The Chinese Government sent its Special Envoy on three occasions to the Middle East to mediate and work for ending the violent conflicts and an early resumption of peace negotiations. At each session of this Commission, the Chinese Government actively participated in the discussion of the agenda item on the occupied Arab territories including Palestine and co-sponsored relevant resolutions. We also support the convening of a special sitting during the 60th session of Commission on Human Rights. China supported the adoption of resolutions on the question of Palestine in the Security Council. We have done all this with the sole purpose to join the international community in its efforts for an early realization of peace in the Middle East, the early restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people as soon as possible, for a lasting stability in the region, and for the enjoyment of all the human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Palestinian people who have suffered from war and turmoil for so long. The Chinese government will continue to work tirelessly with the international community for this goal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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