Special Coordinator Serry: need for diplomatic progress to sustain two-State solution – SecCo briefing – Press release

29th May 2012

During his briefing today, to the Security Council in New York, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Robert Serry noted a number of positive trends which he said, “if sustained would offer renewed hope for progress.”  Mr. Serry spoke of the quiet engagement between the parties in the context of the exchange of letters between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, as well as related efforts to address events on the ground with the potential to inflame tensions. He also briefed the Council on the latest developments regarding Palestinian reconciliation. In addition the Special Coordinator reiterated the Secretary-General’s hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s expanded coalition provides an opportunity for Israel to embark on a meaningful renewal of the peace process. Mr. Serry said that, “the parties must now also be willing to take the much needed steps to capitalize on the potential for progress,” adding that, “the current situation remains fragile and uncertain”.

Addressing the impact of the ‘Arab Awakening’, the UN Special Coordinator expressed his disagreement with those arguing that this is not the time for diplomatic progress. “On the contrary”, Mr. Serry said, “the search for a lasting peace that ends the Arab-Israeli conflict and resolves all claims is in my view more urgent than ever”.  He added that, “if the parties do not grasp the current opportunity, they should realize the implication is not merely slowing progress toward a two-state solution. Instead, we could be moving down the path toward a one-state reality, which would also move us further away from regional peace in the spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative”.

In concluding his brief to the Security Council the UN Special Coordinator expressed his hope that the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Government will find a way forward in the coming months, while also reasserting the commitment of the United Nation’s to work for a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Ends.

Note: Please see attached the full text of the brief as delivered to the Security Council

[SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEF ON THE MIDDLE EAST 29th May 2012.doc]

For further information contact:

Richard Miron
Chief Public Information Officer
United Nations Special Coordinator's Office
Telephone: +972 2 568 7289
Email: mironr@un.org
www.unsco.org