UNSC: SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001222

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC PTER
SUBJECT: UNSC: SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL
STATEMENT ON BHUTTO ASSASSINATION



1. (U) The Security Council December 27 adopted a
Presidential Statement (PRST) condemning the December 27
terrorist attack by extremists that caused the death of
former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and others.
The statement also paid tribute to former Prime Minister
Bhutto, called on all Pakistanis to exercise restraint and to
maintain stability in the country, and underlined the need to
bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors
of the reprehensible act of terrorism to justice.


2. (U) The draft text, authored by the Italian presidency,
was debated for more than an hour by the Council prior to its
adoption. In the end, a preference by some delegations,
including the U.S., for additional language honoring Mrs.
Bhutto,s commitment to democracy and the rule of law for
which she lost her life, yielded to the importance of an
immediate Security Council response to her assassination.
The Secretary General, who issued his own statement on the
assassination, was present in the Council for the adoption of
the PRST as were several members of the Pakistan Mission to
the UN.


3. (U) Begin Text of Statement of the President of the
Security Council (S/PRST/2007/50):

The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the
terrorist suicide attack by extremists that occurred in
Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on 27 December 2007, causing the death
of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and numerous other
casualties, and expresses its deep sympathy and condolences
to the victims of this heinous act of terrorism and their
families, and to the people and Government of Pakistan. The
Security Council pays tribute to former Prime Minister Bhutto.

The Security Council calls on all Pakistanis to exercise
restraint and maintain stability in the country.

The Security Council underlines the need to bring
perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this
reprehensible act of terrorism to justice, and urges all
States, in accordance with their obligations under
international law and resolution 1373 (2001) and consistent
with resolution 1624 (2005),to cooperate actively with the
Pakistani authorities in this regard.

The Security Council reaffirms that terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious
threats to international peace and security, and that any
acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless
of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever
committed.

The Security Council further reaffirms the need to combat by
all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations, threats to international peace and security caused
by terrorist acts. The Council reminds States that they must
ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply
with all their obligations under international law, in
particular international human rights, refugee and
humanitarian law.

The Security Council reiterates its determination to combat
all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its
responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.
End Text
Khalilzad