UNSC: SECRETARY-GENERAL BRIEFS COUNCIL; COUNCIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000041 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC KWBG KPAL IS LY EG AU SUBJECT: UNSC: SECRETARY-GENERAL BRIEFS COUNCIL; COUNCIL WELCOMES GAZA CEASE-FIRE REF: A. STATE 5430 ¶B. USUN NEW YORK 19 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Secretary-General briefed the Security Council January 21 on his recent trip to the Middle East during the Council's monthly meeting on the Middle East. Both he and Council members welcomed the unilateral cease-fires and the Israeli withdrawal but stressed the need to implement UNSCRs 1860 and 1850. The Secretary-General announced the start of a humanitarian needs assessment mission to Gaza, the results of which would be presented to the Council on January 27. The Secretary-General described "several incidents of outrageous attacks against UN facilities" and said he had demanded a thorough investigation by Israel and would await its report before making a decision on next steps though he did call for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions. The Secretary-General did note the condemnation by Lebanon of the rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel and said he had urged restraint on the part of Israel. At the end of its consultations, the Council reached consensus on elements of a press statement welcoming the cease-fire and emphasizing the need for the full implementation of resolution 1860. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Secretary-General briefed the Security Council on January 21 about his recent trip to the Middle East during the Council's monthly meeting on the Middle East. As the Secretary-General had lost his voice, Under Secretary-General Pascoe read the Secretary-General's remarks. (Note: USUN e-mailed the Secretary-General's remarks to IO/UNP on January ¶21. End note.) The Secretary-General, who had consulted with the Council prior to his departure (see ref B),said he had traveled with the "simple and unmistakable message" that the fighting must stop and UNSCR 1860 must be fully respected and implemented. He commended the leadership and initiative of Egyptian President Mubarak to achieve the cease-fire and of other leaders for their contributions. He stressed that efforts must continue to ensure a durable and sustainable cease-fire is quickly put in place. ¶3. (SBU) The Secretary-General spoke on the conflict's impact on civilians, criticizing "Hamas' unacceptable and irresponsible actions and Israel's blockade and use of excessive and disproportionate military force." He said he went to Gaza January 20 to show Gazans that the UN stands with them, He also described his visit to Sderot and said in both places international humanitarian law must be fully respected and civilians protected. He praised the work of UN staff in Gaza and paid tribute to those who had been killed or injured. He said the UN would work urgently to provide humanitarian assistance and begin the process of recovery and reconstruction. He announced the January 22 visit to Gaza by Special Coordinator Serry and Under Secretary-General Holmes to begin the humanitarian needs assessment. He noted that Holmes and UNRWA Commissioner-General Abu Zayd would report to the Council January 27 on the humanitarian situation and that the UN would launch a Flash Humanitarian Appeal within ten days. He stressed that plans for Gaza's recovery and reconstruction would be coordinated closely with PA Prime Minister Fayyad and would be presented at a conference in Cairo and feed into the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee process. ¶4. (SBU) The Secretary-General described "several incidents of outrageous attacks against UN facilities," including the January 19 attack on UNRWA's main warehouse which he described as "still smoldering" during his visit. He noted that he had called on all combatants to respect the sanctity of UN premises and that he had been given assurances by Israeli authorities that something like the January 19 attack would not happen again. He noted that two days later a UN school serving as a shelter was attacked and two boys killed. He stressed that he had met with the Israeli leadership and "demanded a thorough investigation by Israel into every single one of these incidents" and he expected to "receive a full explanation of each incident and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions." He said Prime Minister Olmert promised to provide the results of their inquiry. The Secretary-General said he would decide on the appropriate follow-up action. ¶5. (SBU) The Secretary-General then turned to the political way forward and said he had appealed for Palestinian reconciliation and stated that the UN "will work with a united Palestinian government encompassing Gaza and the West Bank." He reviewed his visit to Lebanon and his address to the Lebanese Parliament. He noted the Lebanese government's condemnation of the rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel and the prompt action by UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces. He said he asked the Israeli USUN NEW Y 00000041 002 OF 003 leadership to exercise restraint in response and to move forward with implementing outstanding elements of UNSCR 1701, including the withdrawal from northern Ghajar In conclusion, the Secretary-General said that while the Gaza crisis requires conflict management and containment it is a symptom of broader problems and demands a true end to violence and a comprehensive peace between Israel and all its Arab neighbors. ¶6. (SBU) In Security Council consultations immediately following the briefing, the majority of members welcomed the unilateral cease-fires and the Israeli withdrawal and stressed the need to implement UNSCRs 1860 and 1850 -- a durable cease-fire, an end to illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition to Gaza, and a sustained opening of the crossings on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. (Note: Ambassador Wolff delivered the U.S. remarks contained in ref A. End note.) The Libyan DPR was alone in his tirade about the "destruction" and "atrocities" in Gaza perpetrated by Israel. He went as far as saying that the atrocities and crimes perpetrated by Israel show the Zionist mentality is based on the denial of the existence of the Palestinian people and even quoted the phrase "a land without a people for a people without a land" as proof of that mentality. The Burkinabe representative, referencing the loss of life and infrastructure in Gaza, said those who violated international humanitarian law should be prosecuted. ¶7. (SBU) The Austrian Perm Rep noted that the European Union is ready to look at re-deployment of EUBAM at Rafah and asked for the UN Secretariat's assessment of the necessary conditions for such a step. Later, Under Secretary-General Pascoe replied that the timing is critical but that the normal commercial functioning of crossings are tied to the arrangements being put in place to counter the illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition to Gaza. Pascoe noted Israeli confirmation to the Secretary-General during his trip that humanitarian assistance may flow through the crossings while those arrangements are being set up. ¶8. (SBU) Throughout the consultations, the UK and French delegations were engaged in side negotiations with the Libyan, Russian, and U.S. delegations on the elements of a press statement on which the Council eventually reached consensus. The French Presidency read the following press statement at the press stake-out immediately following Council consultations: "The Secretary-General briefed the members of the Security Council this afternoon on his visit to the Middle East. "The members of the Security Council welcomed the cease-fire in Gaza, and the effort of international and regional partners - in particular the Egyptian initiative - in helping bring this about. The members of the Security Council expressed their strong appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary-General to support the implementation of resolution ¶1860. The members of the Council emphasized the need for full implementation of resolution 1860, in particular for the cease-fire to be durable and fully respected by all parties, for the provision of arrangements and guarantees to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition to Gaza, and to ensure the sustained reopening of the crossing points, on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. "The members of the Security Council restated their grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the need for unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza. In this regard, Council members recognized the excellent work being carried out in Gaza under very difficult circumstances by UN agencies, in particular UNRWA, the infrastructure of which was severely damaged. Council members called upon all parties to ensure these agencies receive the support and protection they need and recalled the obligations of all parties to a conflict to ensure respect for international humanitarian law. "The members of the Security Council encouraged, as set out in resolutions 1850 and 1860, tangible steps towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation and stressed the need to continue to work towards a long-term solution. Members re-emphasized that only a two-state solution, with an independent and viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors, could bring peace to both Israelis and Palestinians. Council members welcomed, in this regard, the initiatives and proposals aimed at organizing international meetings, including, as mentioned in resolutions 1850 and 1860, the Quartet's consideration, in consultation with the parties, of an international meeting in Moscow in 2009." End text of USUN NEW Y 00000041 003 OF 003 press statement. Wolff