Security Council – Work assessment under United States presidency (June 2008) – Letter from United States (excerpts)

    Letter dated 1 July 2009 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the United States Mission to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

  I have the honour to transmit herewith the report on the work of the Security Council during the presidency of the United States in June 2008 (see annex).

 The document was prepared under my own responsibility, following consultations with other members of the Security Council. I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed ) Rosemary A. DiCarlo

Ambassador

    Annex to the letter dated 1 July 2009 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the United States Mission to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

    Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of the United States of America (June 2008)

   Introduction

  During the United States presidency of the Security Council in June 2008, the Council held 28 meetings, with one resumption, and 15 consultations of the whole. The Council also adopted eight resolutions and seven presidential statements. The United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, presided over the open thematic debate on women and peace and security, which was convened on 19 June.

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   Asia and Middle East

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   The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

  On 27 June, the Director of the Asia and the Pacific Division of the Department of Political Affairs, Lisa Buttenheim, briefed the Council on the situation in the Middle East. She reviewed the situation in Gaza, discussed efforts to advance the Annapolis process, took note of the continuation of indirect talks between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic with Turkish mediation, and highlighted the visit to the region, including Damascus, of the Special Coordinator, Robert Serry. She said that efforts to advance the political process through direct negotiations, including those mediated by the Quartet and countries in the region, should be promoted to find common ground on the core issues. Reiterating the United Nations condemnation of all deliberate or indiscriminate attacks on civilians and any disproportionate or excessive use of force, she added that measures to support the Palestinian Authority and the economy in the West Bank must be intensified by donors fulfilling pledges for budgetary support, that the road map obligations needed to be acted upon, particularly an Israeli settlement freeze, and that the Gaza calm should be respected by all parties concerned. On Lebanon, she noted that Lebanese leaders continued the process of forming a national unity government, as agreed upon in Doha; and stated that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces continued coordinated operational activities throughout the area south of the Litani River.

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