UNITED NATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN SUPPORT OF

THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS

The role of Europe in advancing Palestinian statehood and achieving

peace between Israelis and Palestinians

Brussels, 28 and 29 June 2011

WHAT:The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is inviting journalists to cover the United Nations International Meeting in Support of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, being held under the theme: “The role of Europe in advancing Palestinian statehood and achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” The Meeting’s official languages will be English and French.

WHERE:RésidencePalace - InternationalPressCenter, Brussels, Belgium

WHEN:28-29 June 2011

WHO:The opening session, on 28 June, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., is expected to feature:

  • Michel Goffin, Deputy Director-General for Multilateral Affairs and Globalization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
  • Abdou Salam Diallo, Chairman of the Committee on the Exerciseof the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
  • Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Representative of Palestine

Plenary I, entitled: “Peace or process – Taking stock of 20 years of European efforts

to promote Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking”, will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 28 June, and is expected to feature:

  • Véronique De Keyser, Member of the European Parliament, Brussels
  • Neve Gordon, Professor, Ben-GurionUniversity, Beer-Sheva, Israel
  • Abdelaziz Aboughosh, Ambassador of Palestine to Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
  • Clare Short, Former Member of the British Parliament, London

Plenary II, on the urgency of seeking a two-State solution, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 29 June, and is expected to feature:

  • Maxwell Gaylard, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Jerusalem
  • Sahar Qawasmi, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Hebron
  • Leila Shahid, Palestinian Delegate to the European Union, Brussels
  • Nawaf Salam, Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations, New York

Plenary III, called “Supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace – Raising the role of Europe”, will run from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on 29 June, and is expected to feature:

  • Proinsias de Rossa, Member of the European Parliament, President of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council, Brussels
  • Rawan Abu-Yousef, Head of the Europe Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority, Ramallah
  • Christian Jouret, Middle East Advisor, European External Action Service (EEAS), Brussels
  • Simon Petermann, Honorary Professor, University of Liège, Liège
  • Avraham Burg, Former Speaker of the Knesset, Jerusalem
  • Pierre Galand, Chairman, European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine, Former Senator, Belgian Parliament, Brussels

The closing session, on 29 June, from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., is expected to feature representatives of Palestine and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

MEDIA ENCOUNTERS: The entire Meeting will be open for media coverage. In addition, the UN will be available to help arrange one-on-one media interviews. A press conference mayalso be held on 28 June immediately following the opening statements (at approximately 11:15 a.m.), if the schedule allows for it.

BACKGROUND: The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was established in 1975 by the UN General Assembly. It exists to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people; raise international awareness on the question of Palestine; mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people; and work towards a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. As part of fulfilling its mandate, the Committee organizes conferences throughout the world.

REGISTRATION: Journalists are invited to register in advance to using the attached registration form or by sending an email to

MORE INFORMATION:

For additional information about the Meeting or Committee, or to arrange interviews with any of the speakers, please contact:

Mr. Brenden Varma, +32 (0) 483 438 521, or,

Alexandra Froger, + 32 (0) 2 788.84.61 or,

Jean-Luc Onckelinx, +32 476 215 485