European role in Mideast peace process – EU High Representative Ashton briefs SecCo – Press release (excerpts)


Security Council

SC/10168


Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York


Security Council

6477th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL, CONSIDERING COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL BODIES, COMMENDS

EUROPEAN UNION'S EFFORTS IN PURSUIT OF UNITED NATIONS AIMS

 

Members Briefed by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

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Background

Meeting this morning to consider cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council heard a briefing by the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Briefing

CATHERINE ASHTON, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, …

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Turning to the wider Middle East, she said the European Union was following up on the search for a negotiated peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians within the well-known parameters of two States coexisting in peace and security on the basis of the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both.  The European Union was at the forefront of budgetary and security assistance to the Palestinian Authority as it laid the foundations for a future State, she stressed.

She said she had reconfirmed, in visits and talks with Palestinian leaders, her support for the new National Plan and pledged to “frontload” an initial financial package of €100 million for the Occupied Territory under the 2011 budget.  Also, the European Union would soon host a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to promote Palestinian state-building.  The European Union was also fully committed to supporting the people of Gaza, she said, adding that she had proposed a package of support focusing on infrastructure, equipment and training, with the objective remaining the unconditional opening of the border crossings, while addressing legitimate Israeli security needs.

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Statements

GÉRARD ARAUD ( France) …

As a founding member of the European Union, France continued to support the bloc’s efforts to jumpstart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, he said.  As it became clear that the two parties were incapable of taking bold steps on their own, it was time for the European Union and other members of the diplomatic Quartet to consider a “phased approach” to getting the negotiations under way.  As for Iran’s nuclear programme, he expressed support for the European Union’s recent request that the country fulfil its obligations, in line with Security Council resolutions.

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VITALY CHURKIN (Russian Federation) noted the importance, in terms of international cooperation, of the recent Munich Conference of the Middle East Quartet, …

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PETER WITTIG ( Germany) said reforms were the only way forward in Egypt and Tunisia as he welcomed efforts for a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.  The Munich statement of the Quartet was important in that regard, he added.  …

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ROSEMARY DICARLO (United States) …   Beyond Europe, she welcomed its role in the Middle East Quartet.  …

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RAFF BUKUN-OLU WOLE ONEMOLA(Nigeria) … The European Union’s support also remained necessary in Côte d’Ivoire, and its commitment to Middle East peace was also commendable. 

MARK LYALL GRANT (United Kingdom) …

…   As for the Middle East, he said the European Union had been involved in pressing for a political solution, while at the same time providing critical assistance to the Palestinian state-building process.

NAWAF SALAM (Lebanon) …

While noting the European Union’s efforts in the Middle East through the Quartet, he emphasized that merely condemning some Israeli practices “from time to time” was insufficient, especially when that country’s actions contravened the very practices of the European Union in terms of respect for human rights and the rule of law.  Israel also contravened the Geneva Conventions prohibiting collective punishment, which that country was clearly committing in the Gaza Strip.  It was high time for all those calling for the creation of a Palestinian State to take active steps to help the Palestinian people and leaders achieve that goal by the next General Assembly, he stressed, adding that such efforts should be carried out in cooperation with the League of Arab States and other regional groups.

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ALFRED ALEXIS MOUNGARA MOUSSOTSI (Gabon) highlighted the importance of the European Union’s work in pursuit of United Nations goals, particularly in South Sudan, Haiti, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Somalia.  He also applauded the regional organization’s role in assisting the world body in the quest for peace and stability around the globe.

NESTOR OSORIO (Colombia) … Colombia also valued the European Union’s efforts, through the Quartet, to ensure peace in the Middle East, he said, stressing that such efforts should be based on the principles of respect for human rights and the peaceful settlement of disputes.  Aspirations for democratic change were “front and centre” in the Arab world today, he pointed out, which placed a new responsibility on the international community to ensure that the region’s peoples could achieve it.

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For information media • not an official record 


2019-03-12T19:07:25-04:00

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