[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23331-23332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE STATE OF ISRAEL ON CHAIRING 
        A UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Saturday, August 4, 2007

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution congratulating the State of Israel on chairing a United 
Nations committee for the first time in history.
  For the first time ever, an Israeli diplomat, Mr. Ron Adam, Director 
of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's U.N. Political Affairs Department, 
has been chosen to chair a U.N. committee: the Committee on Program and 
Coordination, CPC.
  This 33 U.N. member body provides an important role to the 
functioning of the U.N., as it approves the work plan for all U.N. 
agencies and bodies.
  Mr. Adam is highly qualified to represent his country at the U.N. He 
was former director of the Israel Foreign Ministry's U.N. Political 
Affairs Department and had been at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs since 1990. From 1998-2002, he was a Counselor at the Israeli 
delegation to the U.N. Since 2004, he served as the director of the 
U.N. Political Affairs Department, in the Division for the United 
Nations and International Organizations. Last year, Mr. Adam served as 
the deputy chair of the CPC, representing the European Group.
  Madam Speaker, Israel was accepted in 2000 as part of the Western 
Europe and Others Group, WEOG, giving it the right to apply for 
positions on U.N. committees. The country already sits on several 
important committees and representatives from Israel have served as 
deputy chairs in the United Nations numerous times. However, this marks 
the first time that an Israeli has been chosen to chair a United 
Nations committee.
  For far too long, Israel has been considered a second class nation at 
the United Nations, unfairly subjected to unjustified one sided attacks 
from other nations. The facts make the case themselves: 6 out of 10 
emergency special sessions called by the United Nations General 
Assembly have directly condemned Israel, while no emergency sessions 
have been held against some of the world's worst cases of genocide or 
repressive regimes.
  Israel is also the only U.N. member state denied membership by all of 
the U.N.'s five regional groups which elect U.N. bodies in Geneva.
  Israel also remains the only country of the Western and Others Group 
to have a conditional status, thereby limiting its ability to caucus 
with its fellow members of this regional grouping, compete for open 
seats, or run for positions in major bodies of the United Nations.

[[Page 23332]]

  The fact that some member states have chosen to use the U.N. as an 
attack mechanism toward Israel while blatantly ignoring the despicable 
human rights records of other states truly undermines the United 
Nations' credibility, integrity and effectiveness.
  I am hopeful that Mr. Adam's appointment will help contribute to the 
normalization of Israel's bilateral and multilateral relations, as well 
as challenge future disproportionate United Nations condemnation of 
Israel.
  I am also hopeful that the newly appointed United Nations Secretary-
General Ban Ki-moon will work to end any unfair vilification of Israel 
at the United Nations and to use his good offices to support Israel's 
bid to join the Asian regional grouping.
  Finally, I am hopeful that Israel will be granted membership on the 
Security Council for 2019 and gain full participation rights in the 
United Nations.
  I ask for my colleagues' support and urge the House Leadership to 
bring this legislation to the floor for its swift consideration.

                          ____________________