Middle East peace process – FM Lavrov statement at SecCo Ministerial-Level Meeting on Middle East – Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry press release/Non-UN document

Unofficial translation from Russian

Statement by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov at the Ministerial-Level Meeting of the Security Council on the Middle East, New York, September 21, 2006

1625-22-09-2006

We responded attentively to the initiative of the League of Arab states to request the United Nations Security Council to examine the situation evolving in the Middle East comprehensively. We believe that at a time when the Middle East peace process has been dealt a serious blow, collective efforts would be timely and useful in restoring political dialogue between Arabs and Israel.

The war in Lebanon has confirmed once again that force not only fails to solve existing problems, but also delays progress towards a lasting and just peace in the region. A serious new impetus for resumption of the peace process on all tracks is needed based on a comprehensive settlement. Concrete steps of a humanitarian character would be helpful in creating necessary conditions for that – in the first place the release of Israeli war prisoners and Palestinian and Lebanese detainees.

Despite all the difficulties, however, the situation is not hopeless. 

As before, we regard the Palestine-Israel conflict as pivotal to the region's destinies. It is obvious that its unsettledness remains a breeding ground for extremism and the origination of ever new hot spots in the Middle East, and not only there.

There are opportunities to find a political solution between Israel and the PNA, and it is necessary to take advantage of them. Especially as the basis for action in this direction is well known: the Road Map, adopted by both parties in conflict, and the Quartet must play the leading role.

Yesterday, the Quartet made a decision to reinvigorate contacts between the Special Representatives and Quartet ministers with Israel, the Palestinians and leading Arab countries.

We also welcomed Kofi Annan's initiative in returning James Wolfensohn to his Middle East team. The serious experience that he has will help solve the economic and social problems of the Palestinians, we believe.

We are convinced that it is necessary to continue providing vigorous support to Mahmoud Abbas in his efforts to establish a Government of National Unity on a platform that would move towards the principles of the Quartet. It was also important to make clear to the Palestinians the links between their steps towards Israel and movement towards a settlement.

Hopefully, the international community will support the PNA Head as Palestinian leader, particularly by providing economic support to the Palestinians and releasing their sources of financing. This, in view of the extremely grave humanitarian situation in the PNA territories, is now extremely important.

Regarding the Lebanese track, things there go, on the whole, in the right direction. Although the situation remains fragile, the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is continuing, and it has to be fulfilled in full. This is only possible if all Lebanese political forces are involved, including Hezbollah. We note the lifting of Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon as an important step. We welcome the deployment of units of the regular Lebanese army and the continued deployment of the strengthened UNIFIL contingent in the south of Lebanon. It is important that the evacuation of the Israeli army should be completed soon, as planned.

We are very concerned over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon. We will provide assistance to Lebanon by sending engineer-sapper units of the Russian army to restore the country's infrastructure. Preparation for their dispatch to the region has already begun.

The Syrian track, in a frozen state for a long time now, must also be resuscitated. Our contacts with the Syrian leadership gave the impression that Damascus is sincerely interested in establishing firm peace in the region.

And lastly, I would like to stress that we view favorably the initiative of the League of Arab States to begin preparations for an international conference on the Middle East. By and large, Russia stood at its origins. President Putin spoke of this in 2005 during his visit to the region.

While it is not going to be easy to implement that initiative, it is necessary to embark on a collective search for a solution of one of today's most complicated problems as soon as possible.

In our view, the forum must be well-prepared and can't be reduced to a one-day exchange of statements. It should become the beginning of a negotiation process on all interrelated tracks in the Middle East. 

Let us not forget that it was the Security Council that approved a series of resolutions which form the basis of a comprehensive Middle East settlement. It is our straightforward duty to facilitate the start of practical realization of this objective.

September 22, 2006