Jerusalem/Embassy – Letter from El Salvador

Letter dated 25 August 2006 from the

Deputy Permanent Representative of El Salvador

to the United Nations addressed  to the Secretary-General

  On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of the letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of El Salvador, Mr. Francisco Estéban Laínez Rivas (see annex).

  I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the United Nations and inform the relevant bodies.

(Signed ) César Edgardo Martínez Flores

Ambassador

Deputy Permanent Representative 

Chargé d’affaires a.i.

*  A/61/150.  

Annex to the letter dated 25 August 2006 from the

Deputy Permanent Representative of El Salvador

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

  I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Republic of El Salvador has decided to transfer the Embassy of El Salvador in Israel to the city of Tel Aviv (see enclosure).

  The decision to transfer our diplomatic mission was taken after a thorough evaluation and a series of consultations and was based on the sincere wish of the Government and people of El Salvador that this decision might contribute to achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. Furthermore, it is important to stress that this decision is pursuant to the various international resolutions on the status of the city of Jerusalem, in particular Security Council resolution 478 (1980).

  I should be grateful if you would inform the relevant United Nations bodies, including the Security Council, about this decision and have this letter circulated as a document of the United Nations.

(Signed ) Francisco E. Laínez

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Enclosure 

    Official statement of the Government of El Salvador

  The Government of El Salvador, having assessed the current situation in the Middle East with Israel, and following the agreements reached in Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), whose mandate aims to promote security and greater stability and to establish a new phase of favourable expectations for the Middle East, states the following:

 •   Members of the international community must make their best efforts to implement the necessary measures agreed in the various United Nations resolutions, with a view to establishing the conditions for a just, lasting and sustainable peace in the region;

 •   The Government of El Salvador reaffirms its interest in contributing to the Middle East peace process in the framework of the United Nations system and reiterates its commitment to finding a negotiated political solution to the conflict;

   •   In view of the above, and taking into account the current situation in the Middle East, the Government of El Salvador has decided to transfer its diplomatic mission in the State of Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv;

 •   The Government of El Salvador will continue its active participation and support for initiatives that reject terrorism and violence as the means of resolving conflicts and that recognize and guarantee the right of the State of Israel to exist and live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders. The Government of El Salvador also reiterates its recognition of the right of a Palestinian State to exist;

 •   The United Nations, in keeping with its mandate to foster peace and understanding, should always ensure that due respect is accorded to the parties concerned and secure the agreement of all actors so as to bring about a lasting and sustainable peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Israelis.

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