PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
The Security Council would spend a considerable amount of time on Africa, making this “a very African month”, Jean-Marc de La Sablière (France) said this afternoon at a press conference to present the Council’s programme for the June French presidency.
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The Council’s monthly consideration of the situation in the Middle East would take place on 17 June, with Kieran Prendergast, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, giving possibly his final briefing. He would inform the Council in particular about the Quartet’s initiatives, just a few days before the important summit to be held between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
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Was it not strange that the Council was not going to revisit the question of Lebanon under the French presidency, given the extent of France’s interests in that country? the same journalist asked. Had the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon achieved all the objectives expected of it as far as the French Government was concerned?
Mr. de La Sablière said that Lebanon’s inclusion on the agenda did not depend on France holding the presidency. So far this month, no special report on Lebanon was expected. Lebanon was included as a footnote on the programme because the Council might wish to express something on the Lebanese elections, which were scheduled for 19 June.
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Document Sources: Security Council
Subject: Middle East situation, Palestine question, Peace process, Situation in Lebanon
Publication Date: 02/06/2005