UNSC: SYG BAN KI-MOON'S AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST TRIP

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000270 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC SUBJECT: UNSC: SYG BAN KI-MOON'S AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST TRIP BRIEFING -- REMARKS ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS ¶1. In the April 4 briefing of his recent trip to Africa and the Middle East, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon focused on five issues: the Middle East Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq, Darfur and Somalia. This cable will review only his comments on the Middle East Peace Process. His comments on other subjects are being reported septels. ¶2. Ban reported that he had met with President Abbas and some members of the National Unity Government and had been impressed by his commitment to the Middle East Peace Process. While the National Unity Government represented a step forward by Hamas, he had decided not to meet with Hamas officials at this time. He said he had urged the National Unity Government to accept the Quartet principles, to release kidnapped Israeli soldier Shalit and to stabilize the security situation in Gaza. ¶3. Ban noted that, in Israel, he had seen the settlements and the separation barrier and both were of some concern, especially those parts of the separation barrier path that diverged from the Green Line and therefore gave the appearance of prejudging final borders. He said he had asked Israeli Prime Minister Olmert to do more to balance Israel's right of self-defense with its international humanitarian obligations vis-a-vis the Palestinians. ¶4. SYG Ban summarized the Palestinian-Israeli portion of his trip with several observations: -- that the Arab Summit in Riyadh has been a positive event and that Saudi King Abdullah should be saluted for his unstinting efforts; -- that in Abu Mazen we have a genuine partner who has the confidence of the Quartet, Israel and the Arab world; -- that Israel is ready for peace; -- that Olmert's and Abu Mazen's agreement to regular meetings represents a step forward; -- that there is renewed Arab dynamism, as witnessed by Arab League activity and the renewed Arab Initiative: Arabs are ready for full normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal to 1967 lines and solution of the refugee problem; -- that there is renewed international interest in a settlement; and -- that the UN will be waiting to see how it can help. Security Council Members' Comments -------------- ¶5. The remarks of most Security Council members focused on Lebanon. Only Qatar, Russia, France, Italy and Congo offered significant comments on the Middle East Peace Process. Qatar agreed with Ban that the Arab League was a vital partner and expressed the hope that consultations between the Arab League and the UN would deepen in pursuit of a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. Qatar also hoped the UNSC would intensify its efforts on the crisis, using the renewed Arab Initiative as the political framework for a solution. Italy called for a "wider international conference," while both France and Russia offered to host an international conference to move the Middle East Peace Process forward. France asked whether the Quartet had considered including Arab countries in its deliberations. SYG Ban replied that there had been discussion of including "moderate" Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE. He said also that there was some talk of including Palestinians and Israelis in Quartet deliberations, but that the idea still needed some work. Finally, Congo reminded delegations that, though Hamas is not recognized as an interlocutor, it can nevertheless not be ignored. WOLFF