Mideast situation/Palestine question – Rio Group Declaration – Letter from Chile

Letter dated 7 December 2001 from the Permanent Representative of Chile

to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the declaration by the Rio Group concerning the latest events in the Middle East.

On behalf of the Member States of the Rio Group, I should be grateful if you would have this text circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Juan Gabriel Valdés

Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations

Annex to the letter dated 7 December 2001 from the Permanent Representative of Chile

to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Declaration on the Middle East

In view of the very serious deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, which is witnessing a succession of violent acts involving and affecting the authorities and peoples of Israel and Palestine, the Rio Group has agreed to:

1. Call upon the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to do their utmost to bring an immediate halt to all acts of violence, as recommended in the Mitchell report, so as to restore the minimum conditions of confidence necessary to prevent a deterioration of the present situation, which poses a threat to security and peace in the region and in the world.

2. Reiterate the Declaration made on 14 November 2001, in New York, by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Rio Group concerning the crisis in the Middle East.

3. Request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to continue making every effort to bring about a rapprochement between the parties.

In order to contribute to the achievement of the above-mentioned objectives, the Rio Group will join with other countries of the international community and, in particular, with other regional groups such as the European Union, in the efforts to achieve that same objective of peace and security.

The Secretariat pro tempore will promptly communicate the text of this pressing appeal and position of the Rio Group to the Government of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. It will also take steps to have the secretariat of the United Nations Security Council circulate this declaration among the members of that organ for their information.

Santiago, Chile, 5 December 2001