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