Security Council – Work assessment under Russian Federation presidency (November 2005) – Letter from Russian Federation (excerpts)

Letter dated 6 March 2006 from the Permanent Representative

of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed

to the President of the Security Council

  I have the honour to enclose the assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of the Russian Federation in November 2005 (see annex). This assessment was prepared under my own responsibility following consultations with other members of the Council.

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

(Signed) Andrey I. Denisov

Annex to the letter dated 6 March 2006 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of the Russian Federation (November 2005)

    Introduction

  During the month of November 2005 the Security Council held 11 official meetings and 13 consultations of the whole. A Security Council mission visited Central Africa. A workshop was conducted with the participation of the newly elected non-permanent members of the Security Council. The Council adopted five resolutions and five presidential statements. The President also made five statements to the press on behalf of the Council. Furthermore, the President introduced the annual report of the Security Council to the General Assembly.

  On 2 November, the President briefed the press on the programme of work of the Council for the month.

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   Asia

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     Middle East peace process

  On 29 November, the President addressed on behalf of the Council the participants in the meeting dedicated to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. He said that the current year had been marked by substantive steps aimed at ensuring progress in the Middle East peace process based on the relative Security Council resolutions. One of the steps was the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, allowing progress in accordance with the road map towards an ultimate goal of two States living side by side in peace and security.

  On 30 November, the Council, in a statement of the President (S/PRST/2005/57), welcomed the successful opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, seen as the first step in the implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian agreement on movement and access. The Council commended the efforts undertaken by the Quartet, its Special Envoy and his team to reach the agreement.

  On the same day, at an open briefing, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, informed the Council members about the results of his visit to the Middle East.

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    Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon

  On 2 November, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Implementation of Security Council resolution 1559 (2004), Terje Roed-Larsen, briefed the Security Council on the progress in settling outstanding issues, such as the disbanding of militias and the demarcation of a border between the two States.

  It was confirmed by the Special Envoy during his briefing that the main goals of resolution 1559 (2004) had been met, including the holding of parliamentary elections and the withdrawal of Syrian troops.

  On 23 November, the Council issued a statement relating to the hostilities that had taken place on 21 November along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon. The Council expressed its deep concern about the incident and regretted the casualties incurred during the border clashes between Hizbollah and the Israel Defense Forces.

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