Special session of Human Rights Council / SecGen report on peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine – Spokesman’s Office noon briefing (excerpts)

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

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**Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council will meet in a special session on the “human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and East Jerusalem” this Thursday, 15 October, in Geneva.

The holding of the special session comes at the request of Palestine.  That request has been co-sponsored by 18 Member States of the Human Rights Council.  It is expected that the special session will continue into Friday, 16 October.  A resolution is expected.  There is more information in a media advisory upstairs.

**Question of Palestine

The Secretary-General’s latest report to the General Assembly and Security Council on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine is now available.

In it, the Secretary-General calls on the parties to honour all existing agreements and previous commitments and pursue an irreversible effort towards the two-State solution.  He adds that a true end to violence and lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis will only come through a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

He also reiterates that the framework for peace remains unchanged.  That framework involves the establishment of two States — an independent and viable Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel — on the basis of the principle of land for peace and a just and comprehensive regional peace consistent with the relevant Security Council resolutions, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative.

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**Questions and Answers

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Question:  Following up on the statement coming from Geneva on discussions on the Goldstone report, there are reports that the Secretary-General has reservations of referring the report to the Security Council in case the Human Rights Council asks him to do so, because of United States pressure, because they don’t want this matter to be discussed in the Security Council.  What’s the SG’s view if he was asked by the Human Rights Council to refer the report?

Associate Spokesperson:  That decision is not for the Secretary-General but for Member States to discuss, and so the decision of a referral is actually for the Member States on the Human Rights Council to consider.  Beyond that, all I have to inform you is once again to mention the phone conversation between the Secretary-General and the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas that took place on Sunday.  Among other things, the Secretary-General expressed his support for President Abbas’s engagement with Member States on a proper process for the consideration of the Goldstone report.

Question:  The Goldstone report asks the Secretary-General to refer the report, in case it’s approved by the HRC, to the Security Council.  How come the States will discuss… someone has to refer it to the Security Council?

Associate Spokesperson:  As we pointed out just a few minutes ago, a resolution is expected to be discussed, but it’s up to the Human Rights Council to take action.  We’re not at that stage yet.  Once they’ve taken action, we can respond accordingly.  But we’re not at that stage yet.

Question:  The SG is not facing United States pressures, telling him even if you get the report, don’t refer it to the Security Council — this is not true?

Associate Spokesperson:  He will make his decision upon action, depending on how the Human Rights Council acts.  A resolution is under consideration; let’s see what action they take on that.

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Question:  Is the resolution available, at this point, that’s under consideration about the Goldstone report?

Associate Spokesperson:  That’s being discussed by the members of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, so I’d suggest that they may have it there before we get it here.

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For information media • not an official record