{"id":214782,"date":"2019-04-30T15:58:03","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T19:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=214782"},"modified":"2020-07-22T00:45:06","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T04:45:06","slug":"speakers-argue-over-special-information-programme-addressing-question-of-palestine-as-information-committee-session-continues-press-release-pi-2257","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/speakers-argue-over-special-information-programme-addressing-question-of-palestine-as-information-committee-session-continues-press-release-pi-2257\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers Argue Over Special Information Programme Addressing Question of Palestine, as Information Committee Session Continues \u2013 Press Release (PI\/2257)"},"content":{"rendered":"

3RD MEETING (AM)<\/strong>
\nPI\/2257<\/strong>
\n30 APRIL 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n

As the Committee on Information entered the second day of its forty-first session today, speakers took opposing stances on the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine \u2014 which the Department of Global Communications oversees \u2014 while also spotlighting the potential negative impact of fake news on international relations.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s representative said the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine has presented a dishonest narrative of the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a biased account of the current situation in the Middle East.\u00a0 Pointing to a public exhibition in the General Assembly building, he said it fails to address the conflict\u2019s root cause \u2014 the ongoing refusal of the Palestinian leadership to recognize the Jewish people\u2019s right to self-determination, as recognized in General Assembly resolution\u00a0181, adopted in 1947.<\/p>\n

Echoing that view, the representative of the United States said initiatives, such as the Special Information Programme, promote one-sided representations of Israel, give ammunition to that country\u2019s enemies and harm the Organization\u2019s credibility.\u00a0 She called on the Department of Global Communications to address that concern and ensure that anti-Israel messages are not part of its activities.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s delegate, on the other hand, said the United Nations bears an important responsibility to raise awareness regarding the question of Palestine and the negative consequences of the occupation of Palestinian territories.\u00a0 He commended the Department\u2019s work in that regard, including training for Palestinian journalists.\u00a0 Welcoming the Department\u2019s initiatives combating violent extremism and promoting dialogue between civilizations, he urged it to contribute to raising awareness of the negative impact of unilateral sanctions on targeted countries.<\/p>\n

The representative of the Russian Federation \u2014 who noted that her country played host in 2018 to a seminar organized by the Department on peace in the Middle East \u2014 spotlighted the issue of fake news, saying it is being used by some countries or groups of countries to counter alternative points of view.\u00a0 Media resources are meanwhile being subjected to antagonism and confrontation, creating a dangerous situation reminiscent of the cold war period.\u00a0\u00a0 She called on all States to combat fake news and for the Department to involve itself in that cause.<\/p>\n

Also speaking today were representatives of Trinidad and Tobago and Saudi Arabia, as well as an observer of the League of Arab States.<\/p>\n

The Committee on Information will meet again on Wednesday, 1 May at 10\u00a0a.m. to continue its forty-first session.<\/p>\n

Statements<\/u><\/p>\n

ANDREA STANFORD (United States<\/u>), voicing her support for the Department of Global Communications\u2019 work, said she looked forward to negotiating the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) resolution titled \u201cQuestions relating to information\u201d.\u00a0 Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of American democracy and the United States is committed to helping all societies develop capacities for the free flow of and access to information by all people.\u00a0 She applauded the Department\u2019s promotion of multilingualism across outreach platforms and its adoption of new technologies.\u00a0 However, \u201cthis is not business as usual\u201d, she stressed, underscoring that the Department must conduct its work in the most effective and efficient way possible, including through optimizing its many United Nations Information Centres and leveraging technology.\u00a0 It was also important to eliminate anti-Israel bias across the United Nations system. \u00a0Initiatives such as the Department\u2019s Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine promote one-sided representations of Israel, give ammunition to that country\u2019s enemies and harm the Organization\u2019s credibility.\u00a0 She called on the Department to address that concern and ensure that anti-Israel messages are not part of its activities.<\/p>\n

Mr. NAVEH (Israel<\/u>) said that his country\u2019s Holocaust Remembrance Day on 1\u00a0May not only remembers the 6\u00a0million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis, but also marks a warning of what can happen when the idea of racial or national supremacy is supported.\u00a0 As well, the Day illuminates how the world order must be based on mutual respect and the recognition of nations\u2019 rights to exist in peace, determine their own destiny and defend themselves, which is why the international community should continue commemorating the Holocaust internationally here at the United Nations.\u00a0 The Charter of the United Nations guarantees all nations\u2019 rights to self-determination and self-defence and facilitates peaceful international cooperation.\u00a0 Yet, its principles are being challenged and threatened by some States\u2019 destabilizing behaviour.\u00a0 Some decisions, resolutions and programmes originating from the United Nations itself, including the Department, are incompatible with the Charter\u2019s principles.<\/p>\n

He went on to say that the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine has presented a dishonest narrative of the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a biased account of the current situation in the region.\u00a0 The public exhibition\u00a0Question of Palestine<\/em>, displayed in the General Assembly building, fails to address the conflict\u2019s root cause \u2014 the ongoing refusal of the Palestinian leadership to recognize the Jewish people\u2019s right to self-determination, as recognized in General Assembly resolution\u00a0181, adopted in 1947.\u00a0 The Palestinians have not, to this day, accepted the resolution because they do not want to allow the Jewish people to seek self-determination, he said, and he called for a different information programme on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that reflects the truth.<\/p>\n

MARIA ZAKHAROVA (Russian Federation<\/u>), describing her country\u2019s day-to-day cooperation with the Department, spotlighted the international seminar on the problem of peace in the Middle East, held in the Russian Federation last year, and a photo exhibition at Headquarters on the blockade of Leningrad, among other events.\u00a0 The Department\u2019s reforms should reflect the latest trends in information and communications technologies and prioritize awareness-raising of the Organization\u2019s agenda.\u00a0 Innovations should take into account the views of Member States, she said, requesting more frequent informal briefings with the Under-Secretary-General as well as information about budget costs that could lead to a loss of services.\u00a0 However, she noted that multilingualism is starting to be seen as an anachronism.\u00a0 News services should serve the general public, not targeted audiences.\u00a0 As well, fake news is being used by some countries or groups of countries to counter alternative points of view.\u00a0 Media resources are meanwhile being subjected to antagonism and confrontation, creating a dangerous situation reminiscent of the cold war period.\u00a0 Noting that World Press Freedom Day is being celebrated this week, she called on States to combat fake news and for the Department to be involved itself in that cause.<\/p>\n

PENNELOPE ALTHEA BECKLES (Trinidad and Tobago<\/u>) commended the Department for finding new ways to reach target audiences through advancements in all languages and new communication technology.\u00a0 Highlighting activities organized by the United Nations Information Centre in Port of Spain \u2014 particularly media workshops on the Sustainable Development Goals \u2014 she called for further support for the Centre to develop and expand its information technology capacity.\u00a0 That would enable it to increase its operational efficiency and extend its outreach efforts.\u00a0 While repositioning the United Nations development system and merging the Information Centres and resident coordinator offices will result in cost savings and increased efficiencies, she reiterated the importance of ensuring that the transition preserves the gains achieved.<\/p>\n

ESHAGH AL HABIB (Iran<\/u>), associating himself with the \u201cGroup of 77\u201d developing countries and China, said the misuse and abuse of social media to disseminate disinformation is negatively impacting States and peoples.\u00a0 The use of such technology must be compatible with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.\u00a0 Welcoming the Department\u2019s initiatives in the areas of combating violent extremism and promoting dialogue between civilizations, he urged it to contribute to raising awareness of the negative impact of unilateral sanctions on targeted countries.\u00a0 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ also has an important responsibility to raise awareness regarding the question of Palestine and the negative consequences of the occupation.\u00a0 He commended the Department\u2019s work in that regard, including training for Palestinian journalists.\u00a0 He also encouraged the Department to keep the strengthening of United Nations Information Centres on its agenda and to include the Persian language in its efforts to expand multilingualism.<\/p>\n

MOHAMMAD ABDURRAHMAN S. ALKADI (Saudi Arabia<\/u>), emphasizing that productive cooperation must be the basis between States and the Department, questioned why the meeting was not being recorded and transmitted live. \u00a0That situation made it difficult to cover proceedings.\u00a0 Moreover, it is also very difficult to access recordings, which sometimes are not posted with interpretation.\u00a0 To rectify this, he suggested a feature on the website to record meetings and access statements in a timely manner.\u00a0 Despite the potential of the eDelegate website, not all events are posted, thus impeding access to statements and the names of participants.\u00a0 Making such information accessible will ameliorate services, he said, expressing hope that the Department will rely on accurate information and not fake reports.<\/p>\n

Ms. FLITTI, an observer for the\u00a0League of Arab States<\/u>, said United Nations coverage of activities and events is a critical tool to disseminate information worldwide, including on promoting the Sustainable Development Goals.\u00a0 The League has launched activities in the region, including developing an electronic platform to monitor States\u2019 work towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.\u00a0 In addition, communication channels play a critical role to inform the region\u2019s people, particularly efforts made to prevent terrorists from using the Internet in their recruitment campaigns.<\/p>\n

For its part, the League\u2019s Cairo office has opened all channels of communication in the region to intensify cooperation, hold training sessions and exchange experiences in areas of concern, she said.\u00a0 Using Arabic as a working language \u2014 like English and French \u2014 at international and regional levels would help that goal.\u00a0 With\u00a0541 million people in the region, Arabic is now the third most used language, after Chinese and English.\u00a0 As such, efforts on regional and global levels must reflect this.<\/p>\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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