Letter dated 14 October 2003 from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council
I enclose the assessment of the United Kingdom presidency of the Security Council for September 2003 (see annex). This has been prepared on my own authority, but I have consulted other members of the Security Council before submitting it. I should be grateful if you would circulate it as a document of the Security Council.
(Signed) Emyr Jones Parry
Annex
Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (September 2003)
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Middle East
On 12 September the Sudan, on behalf of the Arab Group and the States members of the League of Arab States, requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider Israel’s decision “in principle” to remove President Arafat from the occupied territories. The Sudan circulated a draft resolution (S/2003/891) for the consideration of the Council members. The members of the Council met on 12 September, agreed on a statement to the press setting out their concerns at Israel’s decision, and scheduled an open meeting for 15 September. The Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Terje Roed-Larsen, opened the meeting on 15 September with a briefing. More than 40 delegations spoke against Israel’s decision to remove President Arafat.
The Council members held further informal consultations on the draft resolution on 15 and 16 September but were unable to reach consensus. The resolution was put to a vote by its sponsors on 16 September but was not adopted because of the negative vote of a permanent member.
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Document Type: Letter
Document Sources: Security Council
Country: United Kingdom
Subject: Expulsions and deportations, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Palestine question, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 14/10/2003