Security Council – Work assessment under Germany presidency (September 2012) – Letter from Germany (excerpts)

 Letter dated 11 December 2012 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

 I have the honour to transmit herewith a report of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Germany in September 2012 (see annex). 

 The report was prepared under my responsibility, after 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. 

   Annex to the letter dated 11 December 2012 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

   Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Germany (September 2012) 

   Introduction 

 During the month of September 2012, under the presidency of the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Wittig, the Council adopted four resolutions and one presidential statement, and issued nine press statements. The Council held a high-level meeting on peace and security in the Middle East, which was presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Guido Westerwelle. It also held an open thematic debate on children and armed conflict. 

/…

   Middle East 

   The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

 On 17 September 2012, the Security Council heard a briefing by the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, on the situation in the Middle East, followed by consultations of the whole. The Special Coordinator said that the lack of progress on the political track and ongoing conflict and occupation put at risk the very viability of the two-State solution. He highlighted the budget deficit of the Palestinian Authority as an issue of immediate concern, especially in the light of recent protests in the West Bank. While Israel had advanced some tax transfers in order to enable the Authority to pay salaries, the implementation of donor commitments and additional contributions were urgently needed. The lack of a political perspective compounded the frustration felt among the Palestinian population, which put at risk the progress achieved in building a functional State. The Special Coordinator also reported a spike in violence, including so-called “price-tag activities”, by extremist settlers. He stressed the importance of Palestinian access to and development in Area C of the West Bank for the viability of a future Palestinian State. Council members shared the concern about the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority and called for further support, especially of Arab donors. They further noted a worrying increase in settler violence in the West Bank. Some Council members called for an early meeting of the Middle East Quartet principals. Many Council members condemned as illegal settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. Council members reiterated their condemnation of the attacks on diplomatic personnel and premises, following the publication of a defamatory video. 

/…