SecCo President remarks/ASG for Political Affairs briefs SecCo – US press release/Non-UN document (excerpts)

USUN PRESS RELEASE #122 (02)

August 22, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Remarks by Ambassador John D. Negroponte, as Security Council President and United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Security Council’s review of the situation in the Middle East,

August 22, 2002

Ambassador Negroponte (as Security Council President):  The Security Council had its monthly review of the situation in the Middle East today.  Assistant Secretary General Danilo Turk briefed the Council on the latest developments in the region.  Council members, among other things, commended the parties for their recent agreement on Bethlehem and Gaza and encouraged the parties to continue to build on this positive development.  Members also supported the efforts of the International Task Force on Palestinian reform, that is meeting in Paris today, and they also expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Palestinian areas and support for the work of Ms. Catherine Bertini in her capacity as the Secretary-General’s Personal Humanitarian Envoy.  They also urged respect for the blue line between Lebanon and Israel. As some of us were discussing, Ms. Bertini is speaking at the UN Spokesman’s Noon Briefing today, and I am sure she will provide all of you with information on her trip.  The Council looks forward to the results of the Paris meetings of the International Task Force, which are taking place today and tomorrow. Basically, it was the regular briefing of the Council on the situation in the Middle East, and there were no action items that resulted from our discussions.

Reporter:  The Council urges respect for the blue-line; can you say what you were told regarding activity along the blue-line?

Ambassador Negroponte (as Security Council President):  Well, I would say that, yes, there was discussion of some firing that still happens in the area between Israel and Lebanon and there was also the question of some of the over-flights by the Israeli armed forces. Although, I think there was also a reference, if memory serves, that there have not been for some time attacks on the so-called Shabba farms area.

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