Security Council – Work assessment under China presidency (June 2012) – Letter from China (excerpts)

Letter dated 29 August 2012 from the Permanent Representative of China 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 China in June 2012 (see annex). 

 The document 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. 

(Signed) Li Baodong 

Ambassador and Permanent Representative 

of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations 

Annex to the letter dated 29 August 2012 from the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

   Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of China (June 2012) 

   Introduction 

 Under the presidency of China in June 2012, the Security Council went through an intensive programme of work. The Council considered a wide range of agenda items ranging from Africa-related issues (Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan) to Asia-related issues (Middle East, Yemen, Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, Myanmar). The Council also considered thematic issues such as non-proliferation, peacekeeping operations, protection of civilians in armed conflict, counter-terrorism and the international tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. The sixth annual consultative meeting of the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union was held this month. The Council also held several informal interactive dialogues with representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the League of Arab States on situations in Guinea-Bissau, Mali and the Syrian Arab Republic. 

 In the month of June, the Council held 17 public meetings, 3 private meetings and 16 informal consultations. The Council adopted seven resolutions and issued one presidential statement and seven statements to the press. 

/…

   Middle East 

/…

 On 19 June, during an open briefing on recent developments in the Middle East, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, stressed that sporadic clashes, military operations and announcements of settlement construction in the West Bank by Israel were challenging the positive environment created by recent fragile forward steps in the Israeli-Palestinian talks. He noted that Quartet envoys, after meeting in Brussels on 15 June, agreed that there was an urgent need for the parties to continue to pursue the current efforts towards resumed dialogue and substantive negotiations and that it was time for them to take the necessary steps towards that goal. He also reassured the Council that the Secretary-General, together with the Quartet, would stress the need to renew dialogue and make real progress towards the two-State solution. He emphasized that only a direct and meaningful dialogue can help restore belief in a negotiated peace. 

 Turning to the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Assistant Secretary-General said achieving a full and sustained cessation of violence and seeking a peaceful resolution of the crisis was at the centre of United Nations efforts. On the situation in Lebanon, he said that the country continued to face challenges to its security and stability, in part because of the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic. 

 During closed consultations that followed, members of the Council stressed the importance of resuming Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and encouraged both sides to keep direct contact so as to maintain the positive momentum for the resumed dialogue and negotiations. Some members condemned unilateral actions, in particular the construction of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. Some members stressed the urgency of reaching comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and called for vigorous diplomatic action to attain lasting peace in the region based on an enduring commitment by the two parties to mutual recognition, the two-State solution, and building upon previous agreements and obligations. Some members emphasized the United Nations role in the Quartet to support the parties in their efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Several members also reiterated their support for a visit by the Security Council to the Middle East. 

/…

_____________