Security Council – Work assessment under Mexico presidency (June 2010) – Letter from Mexico (excerpts)

   Letter dated 17 September 2010 from the Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

 I have the honour to transmit herewith the report on the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Mexico, in June 2010 (see annex). 

 The document was prepared under the responsibility of my delegation following consultations 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) Claude Heller
Ambassador
Permanent Representative 

   Annex to the letter dated 17 September 2010 from the Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

   Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Mexico (June 2010) 

 The Permanent Representative of Mexico, Claude Heller, held the presidency of the Security Council in June 2010 for the second and last time as a non-permanent member during the biennium 2009-2010. 

 During that month, the Security Council undertook an active programme of work during which Mexico helped to promote agreements while focusing on the Council’s unity and credibility. Four particularly important and sensitive issues on the international agenda were addressed in June, concerning the Israeli military operation conducted in international waters against a humanitarian assistance flotilla en route to Gaza; the situation in Kyrgyzstan; the sinking of the corvette Cheonan; and the Islamic Republic of Iran non-proliferation issue. Although the situation in Kyrgyzstan and the case of the Cheonan are not matters of which the Security Council is seized, ways to ensure that they received due consideration by the Council were found. 

 A total of 29 meetings were held, including 13 informal meetings, 15 formal meetings and one “informal interactive dialogue”. In addition, two open debates were held, on the situation of children and armed conflict, and the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security. 

 The Security Council adopted 24 decisions, including nine resolutions, four presidential statements and six statements to the press. The President made remarks to the press, previously authorized by the Council, on five occasions. 

 The Council also conducted a visit to Afghanistan from 21 to 23 June. 

 In addition, Council members participated in a retreat on the theme “Peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding”, organized by the Government of Turkey and held in Istanbul from 24 to 26 June, although this was not an official activity of the Council. 

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   Middle East 

   The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question 

 On 1 June, the Council adopted a presidential statement concerning the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza (S/PRST/2010/9). In the statement, the Council condemned those acts which had led to the loss of at least 10 civilians and many wounded, requested the immediate release of the ships and of the civilians held by Israel, and called for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards. The Council emphasized that the situation in Gaza was not sustainable, re-emphasized the importance of the full implementation of resolutions 1850 (2008) and 1860 (2009), reiterated its grave concern at the humanitarian situation and stressed the need for a sustained and regular flow of goods and people to Gaza. The Council also re-emphasized that only a two-State solution, with an independent and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours, could bring peace to the region. The Council also expressed support for the proximity talks, expressed concern that the incident took place while proximity talks were under way, and urged the parties to act with restraint, avoiding any unilateral and provocative actions, and called for all international partners to promote an atmosphere of cooperation. 

 On 15 June, the Council heard a briefing on the situation in the Middle East from the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry. He stressed the importance of taking a different approach to Gaza in the light of the incident involving the humanitarian flotilla, which demonstrated the unsustainability of the situation in Gaza, and said that the Secretary-General had proposed the establishment of an international panel. He also said that the Quartet had been involved in the search for a solution leading to the lifting of the restrictions imposed on Gaza. He stressed the need to encourage further indirect talks leading to genuine direct negotiations and said that those conversations should be accompanied by positive steps on the ground.

 Members of the Council reaffirmed their support for the “two-State solution”, and stressed the importance of concrete results from talks between Israel and Palestine. They called on the parties to adhere to their obligation under the road map. 

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