UNSC: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNDOF MANDATE FOR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001171 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC SUBJECT: UNSC: SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS UNDOF MANDATE FOR SIX MONTHS REF: STATE 166737 ¶1. (U) The Security Council December 14 adopted by a 15-0 vote a resolution (UNSCR 1788) to extend the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for six months to June 30, 2008. The extension was recommended by the Secretary-General in his December 3 "Report of the SIPDIS Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement SIPDIS Observer Force (for the period from 7 June to 31 December 2007)" and had also been agreed to by the governments of the Syrian Arab Republic and Israel. In the Security Council's December 11 closed consultations on the report, a number of delegations expressed hope that the recent U.S.-sponsored international meeting at Annapolis would mark the beginning of an effort to solve the Middle East problem. Texts of UNSCR 1788 and an accompanying Presidential Statement (PRST) are in paragraphs 2 and 3. ¶2. (U) Begin Text of UNSCR 1788: -- The Security Council, -- Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force of 3 December 2007 (S/2007/698),and also reaffirming its resolution 1308(2000) of 17 July 2000, -- 1. Calls upon the parties concerned to implement immediately its resolution 338(1973) of 22 October 1973; -- 2. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force to implement the Secretary-General's zero tolerance policy on sexual SIPDIS exploitation and abuse, and to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take preventive and disciplinary action to ensure that such acts are properly investigated and punished in cases involving their personnel; -- 3. Decides to renew the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for a period of six months, that is, until 30 June 2008; -- 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, at the end of this period, a report on developments in the situation and the measures taken to implement resolution 338(1973). End Text of UNSCR 1788. ¶3. (U) Begin Text of Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2007/48): -- At the 5802nd meeting of the Security Council, held on 14 December 2007, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "The Situation in the Middle East", the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council: -- "In connection with the resolution just adopted on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, I have been authorized to make the following complementary statement on behalf of the Security Council: -- 'As is known, the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (S/2007/698) states in paragraph 11 that "... the situation in the Middle East is tense and is likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached". That statement of the Secretary-General reflects the view of the Security Council.'" SIPDIS End Text. Khalilzad