Letter dated 7 March 2002 from the Permanent Representative of South Africa
to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council
I have the honour to refer to the open debate on the situation in the Middle East that took place in the Security Council on 26 and 27 February 2002, where all participants expressed deep concern over the vicious cycle of violence in Palestine and Israel. During this debate, the overwhelming majority of speakers agreed with the Secretary-General’s assessment that the conflict risks sliding towards full-fledged war and urged the Security Council to work with both sides in resolving the conflict. Recent events seem to have confirmed our worst fears.
In my capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, I have the honour to request the Security Council to consider inviting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and President Yasser Arafat of Palestine to discuss the situation in the Middle East with the Security Council at the earliest possible opportunity. In light of the level of violence in the Middle East, we believe that it would be useful for the Security Council to hear a first-hand report on the situation on the ground in Palestine and Israel.
I would be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.
(Signed) Dumisani S. Kumalo
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
_____________
Document Type: Letter
Document Sources: Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)(See also - Committee on Palestine), Security Council
Country: South Africa
Subject: Intifadah II, Palestine question, Peace proposals and efforts
Publication Date: 07/03/2002