Mideast situation/Palestine question – Rio Group press communiqué – Note verbale from Costa Rica

Note verbale dated 2 April 2002 from the Permanent Mission
of Costa Rica to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General 

The Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations, in its capacity as pro tempore secretariat of the Rio Group for 2002, presents its compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour to transmit herewith the press communiqué adopted by the Rio Group on 2 April 2002 concerning Security Council resolution 1402 (2002) (see annex).

The Permanent Mission would be grateful if you could have this document circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 42 entitled “The Situation in the Middle East”, and of the Security Council.

Annex to the note verbale dated 2 April 2002 from the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the
United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General 

Press communiqué adopted by the Rio Group concerning Security Council resolution 1402 (2002)

In view of the recent events which have shocked the international community, the Rio Group reiterates its grave concern at the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and its interest in the achievement of peace between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. The Rio Group also:

Expresses its firm support for resolution 1402 (2002) of the United Nations Security Council, which calls upon the parties to move immediately to a meaningful ceasefire, calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, and reiterates the demand contained in resolution 1397 (2002) for an immediate cessation of all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, which have caused loss of human life and inflicted suffering upon the civilian population;

Expresses its support for the efforts made by the special envoys and by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to put an end to the violence and make possible the resumption of the peace process; and

Urges the parties to the conflict to make every political effort to resume negotiations as soon as possible to resolve the conflict and lay the bases for a lasting peace in the Middle East.

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