UN Special Coordinator Mladenov calls for calm and for preventing religious provocations – UNSCO press release

UN Envoy Calls for Calm and for Preventing Religious Provocations

Jerusalem, 27 July 2015

Following tensions and incidents in the Old City of Jerusalem over recent days, resulting in a number of injuries and arrests, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, made the following statement:

“I am concerned by recent incidents and heightened tensions in and around the Holy Sites of the Old City of Jerusalem and call upon people on all sides to maintain calm. Provocative actions and language carry the seed of violence and ultimately undermine the ability of worshippers of all faiths to have access to their respective Holy Sites. Respect for the status quo is in the interest of all and is essential for stability.

I call upon all religious and political leaders to prevent extremist elements from abusing the sanctity of Holy Sites and the different religious sentiments of all people.”

ENDS

http://www.unsco.org/Documents/Statements/SC/2015/Statement%20by%20the%20UN%20Special%20Coordinator%20-%2027%20July%202015.pdf