November 3, 2010
For Immediate Release
UNRWA New York Director Apologizes and Retracts Comments
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition is pleased to forward the following correspondence which we received today November 3, 2010 via UNRWA representative Mr. Sami Mshasha.
We thank all our members, supporters and people of conscience for their response to our alerts of November 1 and November 3, 2010. These are posted at our website http://www.al-awda.org
Begin Correspondence
----- Original Message -----
From: MSHASHA, Sami <S.MSHASHA@UNRWA.ORG>
To: alerts@al-awda.org ; info@al-awda.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 10:14 AM
Subject: UNRWA New York Director apologises and retracts "inappropriate and wrong" comments on the right of return and again underlines they do not represent the views of UNRWA.
Dear Al-Awda members,
Received your thanks posted to UNRWA for distancing itself from comments by our New York Director. UNRWA's Commissioner-General, Filippo Grandi, appreciates your concerns and we, at UNRWA, understand the reasons that prompted you to share these concerns with UN officials.
Please find below a letter from our New York Director to my colleague Chris Gunness. It is self-explanatory.
I take this opportunity to invite Al-Awda members to get to know UNRWA better and what we do for and with Palestine refugees. The link below explains about an important campaign launched by the Agency ( www.peacestartshere.org ).
Seeking your assistance to share it with your members and supporters.
Sincerely
Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Public Information Office/HQ
Jerusalem
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UNRWA New York Director apologises and retracts "inappropriate and wrong" comments on the right of return and again underlines they don't represent the views of UNRWA
3 November 2010
Dear Mr. Gunness,
I am writing following my realisation - from media reports, statements and letters from individuals, organisations and governments - that part of the remarks I delivered at a conference in Washington hosted by the National Council on US - Arab Relations, on 22 October, 2010, were inappropriate and wrong. Those remarks did not represent UNRWA's views.
I express my sincere regrets and apologies over any harm that my words may have done to the cause of the Palestine refugees and for any offence I may have caused. I have spent much of my long career working for the Palestinian people, and defending their rights, in different professional capacities. It is definitely not my belief that the refugees should give up on their basic rights, including the right of return.
I wish to put this letter on the public record out of concern that what I said in Washington could be interpreted in ways that negatively affect the reputation and work of UNRWA, an organisation I have been proud to serve since July 2002. The Agency is at liberty to use my statement in whatever ways it sees fit. There is no need for a reply.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Whitley
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Al Jazeera: UNRWA campaign entitled "Peace starts here"
UNRWA spokesperson Sami Mshasha assured his rejection of the statements made by the Director of the agency's office in New York, which stated that the right of return was just an illusion and should be stopped.
http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A8E3DEE9-2A21-4127-8051-A1257BFAA668.htm
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Again, we thank all our members, supporters and people of conscience for their response to our alerts of November 1 and November 3, 2010.
Until Return
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-918-9441
Fax: 760-918-9442
E-mail: info@al-awda.org
WWW: http://al-awda.org
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is dedicated to education and advocacy for the restoration in full of Palestinian human, national, legal, political and historical rights with particular emphasis on the right of Palestinians to return to their homes and lands of origin from which they have been dispossessed since 1948. PRRC is a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC are tax-deductible. To donate, please go to http://www.al-awda.org/donate.html and follow the instructions. To become a member, go to http://al-awda.org/membership.html |
