SecCo work assessment under Jamaica presidency (Nov 2001) – Letter from Jamaica (excerpts)

Letter dated 8 February 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Jamaica

to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

I am pleased to attach herewith the assessment of the work of the Security Council for the month of November 2001 under the presidency of Jamaica (see annex).

This assessment has been prepared under my responsibility, following consultations with the members of the Council, in accordance with the note by the President of the Security Council of 12 June 1997 (S/1997/451). While other members of the Council were consulted, it should not be considered as representing the views of the Security Council.

I should be grateful if the text of the present letter and its annex could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed ) M. Patricia Durrant
Ambassador
Permanent Representative


Annex to the letter dated 8 February 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Jamaica

to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

  Assessment of the work of the Security Council

during the presidency of Jamaica (November 2001)

  At the beginning of November 2001, Jamaica set out a series of objectives for its presidency during the month (S/2001/1055), which, inter alia, provided for the Council:

 •   To pursue sustainable peace and security in the conflict situations of which the Council is seized;

 •   To pay particular attention to the humanitarian effects of conflicts on the most vulnerable, particularly women and children;

 •   To focus attention on the problems of children and armed conflict and on the protection of civilians in armed conflict;

 •   To continue the Council’s role in the United Nations response to international terrorism.

  To this end, Jamaica identified a number of issues to which special emphasis would be given. These included efforts to advance the peace processes and to seek solutions to conflicts in Africa, in particular Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Western Sahara; to promote resolution of the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Afghanistan; to further the Security Council’s counter-terrorism activities through a meeting of the Council at the level of Ministers; to address the issues surrounding children and armed conflict and the protection of civilians in armed conflict; and to promote a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

/…

   Middle East

    United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

  Members of the Council met in informal consultations to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) (S/2001/1079), and to consider a draft statement by the President and a draft resolution extending the mandate of the Force. On 27 November (4428th meeting) the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1381 (2001) extending the mandate of UNDOF until 31 May 2002. The President of the Council made a statement on behalf of the Council (S/PRST/2001/37) drawing attention to paragraph 12 of the Secretary-General’s report, which points to the potentially dangerous situation existing in the Middle East.

/…

    Statements by the President on behalf of the Council

    International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

  The President of the Council made a statement on 29 November, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, at the invitation of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The President noted that the event was a means for the international community to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian people and commitment to the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, in accordance with Security Council resolutions. The President gave assurance that the Security Council would continue to exercise its responsibilities under the Charter with regard to the question of Palestine, and that the Council remained strongly committed to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East for the benefit of all parties. [For the full text, see appendix II.]

/…


Appendix II

  General statements made by the President of the Security Council

on behalf of the Council during the month of November 2001

/…

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29 November 2001)

  At the outset, I wish to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for the kind invitation extended to me, in my capacity as President of the Security Council for the month of November, to participate in this annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This is a very special event, through which all of us in the international community demonstrate our solidarity with the Palestinian people and our commitment to the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

  The question of Palestine was first placed on the agenda of the United Nations more than half a century ago. Throughout this period, the United Nations has worked to resolve this issue. The Security Council, for its part, has been involved in this endeavour. Today, two of the Council’s resolutions — 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) — are universally recognized as the bases for any durable solution to this question and constitute the foundation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. It is important to note that practically all agreements and understandings reached by the two sides as part of the Oslo process make clear reference to those landmark resolutions.

  It is very disturbing indeed that the past year has been marked by a considerable and rapid increase in violence, as a result of which hundreds have lost their lives and thousands have suffered injuries. It would be irresponsible and utterly unacceptable to allow this situation to perpetuate. A concerted and well-coordinated effort by all concerned is required to check the hostilities and stop the suffering and continuation of violence.

  In the course of the past year, we, in the Council, have followed with great concern the situation on the ground. You may recall that the Council met on a number of occasions to discuss measures aimed at putting an end to violence and resuming the bilateral negotiations. Because it had been a particularly difficult year, the Council was encouraged by a number of diplomatic initiatives aimed at reaching a ceasefire and breathing air into the peace negotiations. The members of the Council were of the view that the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee and the Tenet understandings offered a practicable and reasonable way to reducing the level of violence, achieving a ceasefire and resuming the peace dialogue. As the crisis persisted, additional efforts were deployed by various international parties. In particular, the Council welcomed the statement issued on 25 October last by representatives in the region of the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation and the United Nations Special Coordinator. The Council strongly supported that initiative as an important opportunity to prevent a further escalation of violence and the disintegration of the accomplishments of the peace process. The members of the Council are also hopeful that the position statement made by the United States Secretary of State Colin Powell on 19 November will allow the parties to overcome the deep-seated sense of mutual suspicion and mistrust and help them return to the negotiating table. In order to do that, the parties should unequivocally reaffirm their commitment to the bilateral agreements reached to date, and demonstrate, through a tangible effort on the ground, the will to implement those agreements.

  The Council will remain fully engaged and stands ready to assist the two sides through this critical period. We welcomed and strongly supported the highly instrumental and increasingly important peacemaking role played by the Secretary-General. His leadership role, his personal involvement in all aspects of the issue in the course of the past year and his close partnership with the members of the Council have been most helpful and have enjoyed great respect of the parties.

  In spite of the enormous obstacles of the past year or so, the Council is hopeful today that the two sides will indeed be able to move forward along the road of reconciliation, putting bitterness and anger behind them. This is the only realistic way of forging a strong partnership for peace. Both sides should realize that their own future and that of their children rests in their hands. Working towards peaceful co-existence and good-neighbourliness will require a great deal of personal and political courage, wisdom and far-sightedness.

  The Security Council highly values the close involvement of the international community in assisting the parties out of the impasse and in facilitating the continuation of the peace dialogue. We are also gratified by the vigorous economic and other assistance provided to the Palestinian people by the donor community and organizations, including the United Nations, and stress the importance of a coherent and sustained involvement of all concerned in this undertaking.

  In conclusion, on behalf of all the members of the Security Council, allow me to assure you that the Council will continue to exercise its responsibilities under the Charter as regards the question of Palestine. We shall remain strongly committed to the goal of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, for the benefit of all parties concerned.

______


Document symbol: S/2002/160
Document Type: Letter
Document Sources: Security Council
Country: Jamaica
Subject: Middle East situation, Palestine question
Publication Date: 30/11/2001
2019-03-11T22:27:47-04:00

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