Brussels, 27-30 November 2001

There is no question that the al-Aqsa intifada (uprising), now in its second year of noble sacrifices, has strengthened the Palestinians’ resolve and determination in seeing through to completion their struggle for their national rights, which have become the unifying and focal point of Palestinian sentiment whether in the homeland or in exile.

The sacrifices of the Palestinian people during the brave intifada have forged certain developments and changes on the ground. This, in turn, has contributed to constructing new frameworks for struggle and unity which proved more effective in protecting the intifada and maintaining our people’s national goals, defined as: ending the Israeli occupation; establishing an independent sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital; and adhering to our right of return, as spelled out in UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

As part of our people’s efforts to secure their national rights, this Second Coordinating Meeting was held in Brussels between 27-30 November 2001 on an invitation from the Bethlehem-based BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, in cooperation with OXFAM / Belgium. Various NGOs, committees and centers working for the defense of our right of return (listed below) also took part in this meeting and were consulted. At a time when our people is engaged in a valiant struggle for their national rights, under the most difficult and complicated of international situations, the aim of this meeting was to improve the level of coordination and cooperation among the participating organizations in order to strengthen the position of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons.

The following goals were set for this Second Coordinating Meeting:

• Improving the level of coordination and cooperation among the participants.

• Formulating a unified discourse on return which is based upon international laws and principles.

• Designing a joint action plan for the year 2002.

The meeting began with an evaluation session during which participants reviewed their activities related to the defense of the right of return. They reviewed the achievements in this respect and elaborated upon the obstacles and difficulties they faced. They then moved on to a presentation and discussion of the working papers and the topics on the agenda, including:

• The participants’ reports on their activities for the previous year.

• A paper entitled “The Right of Return and Self Determination – Principles and Priorities,” presented by the two ‘Aidun groups of Lebanon and Syria.

• A paper entitled “The Palestinian Refugees’ Right of Return and the European NGO Solidarity Movement,” presented by BADIL Resource Center.

• A paper entitled “Towards the Publication of an Arabic-Language Periodical by the Right of Return Coalition,” presented by BADIL Resource Center.

• A study of the Bosnian refugees’ experience and of the mechanisms for their return to their homes of origin.

At the end of the discussion sessions and in light of the conclusions and results reached, the participants made the following decisions:

• Declaring that the “Coalition for the Palestinian Right of Return” shall serve as the main umbrella organization, which will include all current member organizations and will be open to all NGOs, committees and centers working on the right of return who wish to join the coalition.

• Agreeing to reach out to Palestinian organizations and centers working on the right of return in those countries that were not represented in this meeting, to invite them to join the coalition.

• Agreeing to strive to strengthen relations with other (i.e., non-Palestinian) solidarity organizations and groups in order to widen support for our right as refugees to return to our homes of origin, in accordance with Resolution 194, and to impress upon the international community its obligation to guarantee our return.

• Emphasizing that the general principles on return which were part of the Concluding Statement of last year’s First Coordinating Meeting, held in Cyprus, remain part of the unified basis for the Coalition for the Palestinian Right of Return.

• Entrusting BADIL Resource Center with the responsibility for coordinating among coalition members during the year 2002.

The following recommendations were agreed upon:

• To continue discussion on the publication of an Arabic-language periodical under the name of the coalition. It was agreed that a decision should be reached on this issue by the end of February 2002.

• To refine the paper presented by the two ‘Aidun groups from Lebanon and Syria, in light of the recorded remarks and suggestions.

• To address world public opinion in accordance with the bases and principles of the coalition’s discourse on return.

• To work to alert Palestinian refugees living in Europe and America of the importance of registering with UNRWA.

• To confront adamantly any statement made or position taken that infringes upon our right of return or tries to relegate this right to a mere bargaining chip.

• To hold the next coordinating meeting of the coalition in one year’s time.

The right of return has become an essential part of the current Palestinian national struggle and the core foundation of the work of several of our NGOs, popular centers and committees. This being the case, it is imperative that the coalition strengthen itself in order to be able to shoulder the tasks for which it has taken responsibility.

The participants in the meeting also stressed the belief that defending our right of return is a responsibility of all Palestinians wherever they may be and that the decades-old struggle to achieve our national rights will not end until these rights are fully granted. Our people are all united on all these rights and will struggle for them all.

At the closing of the meeting, the participants saluted with appreciation our brave intifada, in which our unarmed people are confronting the occupation forces with steadfastness and resolve to achieve their full rights. The participants also saluted our brothers in the 1948 territories, who are struggling against Israel’s racism, all the while clinging to their national identity and their sense of belonging to their nation.

Brussels, 30 November 2001

Participants in the Second Coordinating Meeting of the Coalition for the Palestinian Right of Return:

Committee for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights & Yafa Cultural Center – Palestine
Union of Youth Activity Centers – Refugee Camps, Palestine
National Society for the Rights of the Internally Displaced – 1948 Palestine/Israel
High Committee for the Defense of the Right of Return – Jordan
‘Aidun Group – Syria
‘Aidun Group – Lebanon
Forum of NGOs in Lebanon (an umbrella coalition including most major Palestinian NGOs operating in Lebanon) – Lebanon
Palestine Right to Return Coalition (Al-‘Awda Network) – North America
Al ‘Awda-Palestine Right to Return Coalition Europe – Europe
BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights - Palestine

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