Security Council – Work assessment under France presidency (June 2005) – Letter from France (excerpts)

Letter dated 2 September 2005 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of

the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations addressed

to the President of the Security Council

Please find attached the assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of France in June 2005 (see annex). This report was prepared under my supervision, after consultation with the other members of the Security Council.

I should be grateful if you would arrange for this letter and its annex to be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Michel Duclos

Chargé d’affaires a.i.

Annex to the letter dated 2 September 2005 from the Chargé

d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of France to the

United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

[Original: English and French]

Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the

presidency of France (June 2005)

The Security Council undertook a very heavy programme of work in June 2005. The Council held 27 formal meetings in various formats and 16 consultations of the whole. This work led to the adoption of eight resolutions. The Council also issued six presidential statements and three statements to the press.

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Middle East

On 17 June, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, introduced the monthly report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East. The Israelis and the Palestinians were endeavouring to coordinate plans for the disengagement from Gaza. In Israel, opponents of disengagement were continuing to voice their opposition. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs expressed concern at the level of violence that had occurred in the preceding weeks. With regard to Lebanon, the Under-Secretary-General recalled that the elections had been held on time. He urged all the parties involved to respect the sovereignty of Lebanon.

All the members of the Council voiced concern regarding the recent deterioration of security in the region, particularly in Gaza. They expressed the hope that the summit meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas planned for 21 June would make it possible to reinvigorate cooperation in the region.

Some delegations called upon the international community to play a role in the disengagement from Gaza, for example, by contributing to the success of the mission headed by the Quartet’s Special Envoy for Disengagement, James Wolfensohn.

Regarding Lebanon, most delegations recalled their support for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559 (2004) and their agreement that the parties should respect the Blue Line. The delegations unanimously welcomed the smooth conduct of the elections.

Lebanon

On 7 June, the Security Council, in a presidential statement (S/PRST/2005/22), condemned the terrorist attack in Beirut that had killed Samir Qassir, a journalist. The Council also welcomed the determination of the Government of Lebanon to bring the perpetrators of the assassination to justice.

On 22 June, the Council, in a presidential statement (S/PRST/2005/26), welcomed the successful holding of the parliamentary elections, held between

29 May and 19 June. It commended the fair and credible character of the vote. In the same text, it also condemned the assassination of the political leader George Hawi, assassinated on 21 June in Beirut.

On 30 June, the Council condemned in a statement to the press the attack emanating from Lebanese territory against Israel and the subsequent exchanges of fire. The members of the Council called on the Government of Lebanon to extend its control over southern Lebanon and called on all parties to respect the Blue Line. United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

On 15 June, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations briefly introduced the report of the Secretary-General concerning the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). The report recommended extending the mandate of the Force for six months. Its work was essential and was supported by the Syrian and Israeli parties.

All delegations endorsed the extension of the Force’s mandate. On 17 June, resolution 1605 (2005), by which the Council renewed the mandate of UNDOF for a period of six months, was adopted unanimously.

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