SecCo open debate on children and armed conflict – Press encounter with SecGen (excerpts)

PRESS ENCOUNTER WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOLLOWING SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT

New York, 12 July 2011 —

SG: Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to see you.

Yesterday I travelled to Washington to participate in a meeting of the Quartet Principals.

We discussed the urgent need to bring the parties into resumed negotiations in the aftermath of President Obama’s speech of May 19, which all Members of the Quartet supported.

It was a detailed and very useful discussion.

I hope it will still be possible to help the parties return to talks on a clear basis, which is a common objective of all Quartet members.

Quartet envoys are continuing consultations today.

I believe the Quartet and the international community, together with the parties, need to make all efforts to find a way forward to re-start negotiations to finally bring an end to the occupation and an end to the conflict, and lead to the establishment of two states, an independent Palestine and a secure Israel.

/…