Mideast situation – SecCo meeting – Verbatim record

Provisional

Security Council

Fifty-seventh year 

4614th meeting

Monday, 23 September 2002, 2.20 a.m.

New York

Agenda

The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question 

Letter dated 20 September 2002 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2002/1055)

Note verbale dated 20 September 2002 from the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2002/1056)

    The meeting resumed at 2.20 a.m.

 The President (spoke in French): As we agreed in consultations, we shall vote on the draft resolution on the basis of the English text, which is before us. The draft resolution will be circulated in blue very shortly, but I would like to know whether members are prepared to vote on the basis of the document that is now before them. I see this is the case.

  Members of the Council have before them document S/2002/1063, which contains the text of a draft resolution presented by Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I hear no objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote.

  There being no objection, it is so decided.

  A vote was taken by show of hands.

In favour:

Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Colombia, France, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Russian Federation, Singapore, Syrian Arab Republic, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining:

 United States of America

 The President (spoke in French): The result of the voting is as follows: 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 1435 (2002).

  I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.

 Mr. Cunningham (United States of America): The resolution that we have adopted this evening was

flawed, in our view, in that it failed to explicitly condemn the terrorist groups and those who provide them with political cover, support and safe haven in the perpetuation of conflict in the Middle East. Those responsible for killing civilians obstruct the Quartet’s efforts and the prospects for Palestinian reform. They are known groups — Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The leaders and spokesmen of these groups have openly claimed credit for scores of terrorist bombings and for many deaths and injuries. Their actions are aimed at the peace process, at Israelis and at Palestinians.

  This Council cannot claim to be seriously considering efforts in the Middle East unless it is also willing to recognize the tragic dynamic at play. Each time a glimmer of hope, however dim, appears, a terrorist act rises up to extinguish it. What we had hoped for at this time was for the Council to assume its responsibilities, take a clear stand against the actions of these terrorist groups and call for action against them.

  This resolution starts that process, but it does not go far enough. Nor does it provide the clarity and context we think is required, as set out in the draft text we ourselves tabled on Monday. Our text was more explicit on terrorism, those who perpetuate it, the need to combat it, and on strong support for the Quartet, the political process and continued effort on the ground in the region. Because this resolution does not meet that standard, and because we do not think it as well conceived or worded as it should be, given the importance of the issues it addresses, we have abstained.

  The President(spoke in French): There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.

 The meeting rose at 2.30 a.m.

This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council . Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room C-178.