Security Council – Work assessment under Nigeria presidency (July 2010) – Letter from Nigeria (excerpts)

Letter dated 15 September 2010 from the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations addressed
to the President of the Security Council 

 I have the honour to transmit herewith a report on the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Nigeria in July 2010 (see annex). The report was prepared under my national responsibility, following consultation with the 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) U. Joy Ogwu 

Ambassador
Permanent Representative 

Annex to the letter dated 15 September 2010 from the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

   Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Nigeria (July 2010) 

   Introduction 

 Under the presidency of Ambassador U. Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, the Security Council had an extensive programme of work. During the month, the Council held 12 consultations, 4 briefings, 2 private meetings and 3 open debates. The Council issued three presidential statements, six press statements and adopted one resolution on the extension of a United Nations peacekeeping mission mandate. 

/…

   Middle East 

/…

   Middle East: open debate 

 An open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine, took place on 21 July 2010. The Council was briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. B. Lynn Pascoe. He stressed the need to re-establish direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in order to pave the way for the realization of a two-State solution. Noting that the process is again at a critical juncture, he indicated that such talks are necessary to end the 1967 occupation and the conflict and resolve all core issues between the parties, including Jerusalem, borders, refugees, security, settlements and water. Noting the follow-up committee meeting of the League of Arab States to be held on 29 July, he urged the parties not to miss the current opportunity to make progress in talks and to move to direct negotiations with active third-party involvement and close Quartet support. 

 After the briefing, and the interventions made by the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine, Council members and 37 other speakers made statements. Council members were united in their wish to see the conflict between the two sides resolved as a matter of urgency. Council members reaffirmed their commitment to the Middle East peace. Some Council members suggested measures that would support progress towards such a resolution, including the complete lifting of restrictions on access for goods and people to Gaza, and called on Israel to end its settlement activities. Some Council members called for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held prisoner by Hamas in Gaza; and some stressed that the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza should be done through established channels. Many Council members called for a prompt, impartial, transparent and credible investigation conforming to international standards into the flotilla incident of 31 May 2010 resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza.

/…

__________