Security Council plans open meeting on Middle East
23 March 2004 – After the recent upsurge in violence in the Middle East, following Monday's assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza, the Security Council will hold a public debate on the issue today, the President of the 15-member body said.
Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sablière of France told reporters that the meeting, open to all UN members, will be held at the request of Palestine and the Arab Group of States.
Asked why there was no Council statement on the matter, he said consensus was required. Despite "difficult" discussions among experts which began yesterday, "it was not possible to reach a consensus," he said.
In response to another question, the Council President confirmed that the Israeli Foreign Minister was expected to attend the meeting.
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/SCmeeting_AssassinationF.pdf
Document Type: French text, UN news item
Document Sources: Group of Arab States, Security Council, United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), United Nations News Service
Subject: Extrajudicial killings, Incidents
Publication Date: 23/03/2004