Security Council – Work assessment under Gabon presidency (March 2010) – Letter from Gabon (excerpts)

   Letter dated 20 July 2010 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Gabon to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

 I have the honour to transmit herewith attached a report on the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Gabon in March 2010 (see annex). The document was prepared under the responsibility of Ambassador Issoze-Ngondet, following consultation with 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) Alfred Moungara Moutsotsi
Ambassador
Deputy Permanent Representative 

Annex to the letter dated 20 July 2010 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Gabon to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

   Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Gabon (March 2010) 

 Under the presidency of Gabon, in March 2010, the Security Council considered international and regional issues and one thematic issue. It held 22 official meetings, 1 informal meeting on 22 March, on the future of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), and 1 closed meeting with countries contributing troops to that Mission. 

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 I.  Regional issues 

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   Middle East 

   The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question 

 On 24 March, the Council heard a briefing by the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. 

In his briefing, the Secretary-General informed the Council of the Quartet meeting held in Moscow on 19 March and his visit to the Middle East, in particular the statement issued by the Quartet on the following: the need to hold proximity talks; the freezing by Israel of all settlement activity; compliance by the Palestinians with security obligations; lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip; and its firm support for the Palestinian Authority’s programme for the establishment of a Palestinian State.

 Members of the Council welcomed the diplomatic efforts made by the Secretary-General and the Quartet to facilitate the relaunching of the Israel-Palestinian peace process. Members of the Council expressed their concern at the continued impasse and tensions between Israel and Palestine and called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, considering that it was an obstacle to the resumption of peace talks. 

 Members of the Council reiterated their call on the two parties to adhere to their commitment and to discharge their obligations in accordance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the road map, and invited them to make every effort to resume the peace negotiations as soon as possible.

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