Security Council – Work assessment under Jordanian presidency (January 2014) – Letter from Jordan (excerpts)

Letter dated 19 August 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan held the presidency of the Security Council for the month of January 2014. I have the honour to transmit herewith an assessment of the work of the Council during the presidency of Jordan (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Dina Kawar

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

Annex to the letter dated 19 August 2014 from the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Jordan (January 2014)

Introduction

Under the presidency of Jordan in January 2014, the Security Council held a total of 18 meetings. The Council also adopted four resolutions and issued nine statements to the press and two presidential statements during January.

-President Riek Machar.

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Middle East

On Monday, 20 January 2014, the Security Council held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Secretary-General briefed on the efforts made to reaching a framework on all core issues to address Israeli and Palestinian aspirations in a fair and balanced manner and to allow for continued negotiations towards a final status agreement. He stressed that a framework of understanding must be consistent with the principles on all core issues outlined in Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, the road map and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. He added that the Israeli and Palestinian leaders will be required to make bold decisions and compromises for peace. He was alarmed by recurrent violence and incitement on all sides and by the continued settlement activity, which he described is illegal under international law. He added that both parties must act responsibly and with restraint.

Members commended the Palestinian and Israeli sides for resuming peace negotiations and expressed their support for the efforts of the United States in this regard. They reiterated their support for the two-State solution and called on both parties to refrain from actions that will undermine the atmosphere required for the ongoing negotiations, particularly the continued settlement activity that many members considered illegal. Many members also condemned the rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza. Moreover, members addressed the Syrian crisis, as they welcomed the second Geneva conference to be held that week. They also expressed their serious concern regarding the deepening humanitarian crisis.

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