Secretary-General’s remarks at press encounter with US Secretary of State Kerry – SG’s remarks

OFF-THE-CUFF

Secretary-General’s remarks at press encounter with U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry

Cairo, Egypt, 24 July 2014

This is totally unacceptable. I have condemned strongly. We are now in the 16th day; tomorrow will be the 17th day. During those days Secretary Kerry and I and many world leaders have been working tirelessly to bring this unacceptable, intolerable, situation to an end as soon as possible. We have not yet reached there.

I am telling to the parties – both the Israelis and Hamas and Palestinians – that it is morally wrong to kill your own people. The whole world has been watching, is watching, with great concern. You must stop fighting, and enter into dialogue. Whatever grievances you may have, this is wrong.  Why are you continuing to kill people? There are many other ways to resolve this issue without killing each other.

I am angry about what they are doing. I appreciate all their concerns. They have their own problems and root causes. Secretary Kerry has been working tirelessly during the last nine months to resolve these issues. Now it is time to sit down together, instead of killing each other. They should be responsible for their own people. They should be responsible for history. They should be responsible for international humanitarian and human rights law.  I am asking them: stop now. We have to take action now.

Thank you.