Sisters, brothers, our people on every spot of the Palestinian homeland, our steadfasting people in camps of expulsion and in dispossessions.
Today, I am speaking to you on an occasion which has important implications and indications for our people. Today, is the 4th of May 1999. It is a date that sheds light on very important issues of our cause and process:
1. The 4th of May is the central example that embodies the peace process on the Palestinian - Israeli track, with all what it includes and obliges of our people insistence on return, self-determination and establishing our state on our land, as a peak to the peace process and Arab and international positions towards the process in the entire region and on all of the Arab tracks.
This day has become a distinguished mark in the process of our national work which signs to the wide range of international support that almost reaches a unanimous supportive position to our people right in self- determination and building its independent state. The date has become and indicates the warm international support which is enjoyed by our people and cause. On the contrary, it signs to the isolated position of the current Israeli government.
During my meetings with leaders of countries which I have visited in the past few months, I listened to a more clear and credible forms of support to our position. I also, listened to their advises which were based on concerns and support. If brotherly and friendly countries have reinforced their position, EU countries have made, through the Berlin Declaration, wide steps forwards by their declaration of support to our people rights. Moreover, President Clinton’s letter which I received a week ago, represents an unprecedented positive progress in the policy of US Administration towards the Palestinian cause. In addition, there are the positions of Russia, China, Japan, Norway, non-Aligned countries, Arab brotherly countries, Islamic countries, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Canada and others.
This strong wave of support represents the world conscious and will. It is a wave coinciding with the act of humanity towards closing all files of colonialization, occupation and aggression by the end of this century. It is a strong wave that cannot be stopped by policies which do not belong to values of freedom, justice and peace. The echo of this unanimous position can be heard in the Israeli society itself. Major parties and influential personalities in Israel have started to cross out from their programs and positions, any opposition or reservation to establishing a Palestinian state. In fact, some of them have started to adopt openly the need to support the option of the Palestinian state, because they believe that this state is a security valve for stability in the region, the corner stone and main component for the prosperous future of peace in the Middle East region.
This date, with all of its obligations, instead of being a base for crowning joint efforts of the two signorities on peace agreements in order to achieve an agreement over the final status, yet, regretfully, it becomes an important declaration to Israeli continuous disregard to peace obligations and the subsequent commitments of signed agreements. This date, instead of becoming a source for satisfaction to all countries of the world by diffusing the major source of tension in the Middle East region through implementing agreements, it has become a source of concerns regarding dangers facing the peace process due to the current policy of the Israeli government particularly after it deliberately intends to destroy credibility of the peace process and insists on evading the implementation of its obligations and through its policy of expansions, occupation, lands confiscation, building settlements, house demolitions, Juadizing Jerusalem and isolating Bethlehem city.
However, in this context, this date represents to us another occasion to reiterate that the option of peace is a strategic option, as was confirmed by the Palestinian Central Council in its recent session. We are insisting on implementing signed agreements and call upon countries of the world to exert their efforts to oblige the Israeli part to implement its obligations.
The date, 4th of May, represents an occasion for us to affirm our deep rooted right in declaring our independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Despite the fact that this right is very natural for all peoples of the world, it is a constant right for Palestinians according to UN Generally Assembly resolution 181 and other international rights including 425. And based on the importance of peace process on the Lebanese and Syrian tracks, so that there will be real translation of peace which forms the basic foundation for Madrid Conference and according to the two resolutions 242, 338 and the principal of land for peace.
If advises of friends and brothers were the main cause for the Palestinian Central Council to decide the continuous review of the issues relating to the date for the future declaration of state, yet, the Council decided also to form committees for embodying the state. This date, should be a station for starting a national, Arab and international workshop to continue with the process of construction and development which began after establishing the Palestinian National Authority according to Oslo Agreement which was signed in the White House under President Clinton sponsorship and was signed also by Russia, EU, Norway, Egypt and Jordan in presence of a UN and Japan representatives. Thus, the agreement is international.
Our agenda is full of missions such as facing Israeli settlements aggression, acting to implement signed agreements, internal missions such as institution buildings on the base of pluralism, assuring human rights, separation of authorities, independence of the judicial system, supporting civil society institutions and going forward in the quiet development process in order to achieve independence of our national economy and supporting the role of private sector in order to achieve aspirations of our people who has suffered and still suffering of decades of dispossession and occupation. I remind the entire world that we receive a homeland where the occupation destroyed all of its infra-structure and that we have begun from the zero point in some sites. Our people got involved in the challenge with all what it bears of pains, weariness and difficulties.
I affirm and draw the attention of officials in all of the ministries, apparatuses and institutions to be attentive to opinions of our people and to correct the mistakes wherever they are taking place. Our great people deserves what is better and this people is our non - mistaken compass. Consequently, we are concerned in reinforcing and activating PLO institutions, the great umbrella and our sole legitimate representative for Palestinians in all places of their existence. On this occasion, I specially great our people in camps of steadfast in Lebanon and in all places of dispossession. I say to them: you are on top of our agenda. The issue of refugees and Jerusalem are the main bases together with the cause of our heroic prisoners and detainees in the final settlement in our region.
In conclusion, I say to our heroic martyrs and sons, our courageous, patient and steadfasting people the oath and promise are the same pending hoisting Palestinian flags over walls, minarets and churches of Jerusalem by our children. Palestine has resurrected in its new dress by the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority five years ago. Here is Palestine a thought, reality and an embodied entity that is growing day by day as an unbroken deep rooted reality which cannot be canceled. Yet, Palestine has returned despite the conspiracy, as a basic number on the political and geographic map in the region. Here is Palestine being shaped as a state where its courageous people are progressing towards the near moment of the declaration of their state on their free and blessed land.
Bothers, sisters, sons of the coming state of Palestine, Throughout our long struggle we have never received support similar to the great support that we are observing today. Palestine has never been an approaching and embodied state with Jerusalem as its capital, as it is now.