Mideast situation/Palestine question – SecCo action endorsing Road Map – Press release

SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION ENDORSING ROAD MAP LEADING

TOWARDS TWO-STATE RESOLUTION OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

The Security Council this afternoon endorsed the Middle East Quartet’s Road Map towards a permanent, two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By its unanimous adoption of resolution 1515 (2003), the Council called on the parties to fulfil their obligations under the plan in cooperation with the Quartet.

In its preambular section, the text also reiterated the Council’s demand for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement and destruction.  It emphasized that a just and lasting peace should take into account the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian question.

[On 20 December 2002, the “Quartet” (Russian Federation, United States, European Union, United Nations) reached agreement on the text of the Road Map with the goal of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ending the occupation that began in 1967.  That goal was to be achieved on the basis of the 1991 Madrid peace conference, the principle of land for peace, Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002), agreements reached previously by the parties, and the “Arab Initiative” of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah endorsed by the Council of the League of Arab States on 28 March 2002.  The performance-based and goal-driven Road Map presented clear phases, time lines, target dates and benchmarks aimed at the progression by the two parties through reciprocal steps in the political, security, economic, humanitarian and institution-building fields, under the auspices of the Quartet.  The Road Map was officially submitted to the parties on 30 April 2003.]

The meeting began at 12:20 p.m. and adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

Resolution

Following is the full text of Council resolution 1515 (2003):

“The Security Council,

“Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and the Madrid principles,

“Expressing its grave concern at the continuation of the tragic and violent events in the Middle East,

“Reiterating the demand for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, including all acts of terrorism, provocation, incitement and destruction,

“Reaffirming its vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders,

“Emphasizing the need to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks,

“Welcoming and encouraging the diplomatic efforts of the international Quartet and others,

“1.   Endorses the Quartet Performance-based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (S/2003/529);

“2.   Calls on the parties to fulfil their obligations under the Roadmap in cooperation with the Quartet and to achieve the vision of two States living side by side in peace and security;

“3.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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