UNSC: MIDDLE EAST MINISTERIAL STRONGLY BACKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000493

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAL UNSC LE SY IS
SUBJECT: UNSC: MIDDLE EAST MINISTERIAL STRONGLY BACKS
COMPREHENSIVE PEACE, ADOPTS PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT


1. (SBU) Summary. The Security Council on May 11 convened a
ministerial-level meeting to encourage Israel, the
Palestinians, and the international community to move forward
on their commitments toward a comprehensive peace agreement.
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, opened the
meeting (in Russia's capacity as this month's Security
Council President) and said the most important immediate
goals were the rapid resumption of negotiations and the
reaffirming of the two-state solution. UN Secretary-General
Ban said the challenge is to launch "an irreversible drive to
achieve an Israeli-Palestinian agreement," with the ultimate
objective to create an independent, democratic and viable
Palestinian state. All delegations voiced support for the
Arab Peace Initiative and called on Israel to cease its
settlement activity. Most urged Israel to end its blockade
of Gaza to allow delivery of humanitarian and reconstruction
assistance and to a lesser extent called for an end to arms
smuggling into Gaza and rocket attacks against Israel. A
number mentioned the Gaza Board of Inquiry and welcomed its
investigation; the Libyan PermRep said his delegation had
prepared a draft resolution based, in part, on the
conclusions of the Board of Inquiry. Following statements,
the Council adopted a presidential statement, though some
delegations said they were unsatisfied with its content. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) The Security Council on May 11 convened a
ministerial-level meeting to encourage Israel, the
Palestinians, and the international community to move forward
on their commitments toward a comprehensive peace agreement.
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister whose delegation
called for the Council's ministerial format, opened the
meeting and said the most important immediate goals were the
rapid resumption of negotiations and the reaffirming of the
two-state solution. He urged the Council and regional actors
to support the Arab Peace Initiative, the Roadmap principles,
and the Madrid Conference, and he called on the parties to
reject any unilateral activities, such as settlement
activity, that undermined a viable two-state solution.
Lavrov said the presidential statement (PRST) to be adopted
at the end of the meeting confirmed these goals, and he said
the planned conference in Moscow later in the year was the
next step in the diplomatic process. (Most Council members
subsequently thanked Russia for organizing the Moscow
conference and voiced their support.)

3 (SBU) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped the
ministerial meeting would provide direction and momentum to a
process that had achieved no progress on implementing
Security Council resolutions 1850 and 1860. He said the
parties' upcoming bilateral meetings President Obama, a
proposed meeting of the Quartet and consultations with the
Arab League aimed to "kick start a renewed and irreversible
drive to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian agreement." Ban
lamented the "crisis of confidence" among ordinary people on
the ground, saying that Palestinians experience house
demolitions, intensified settlement activity, settler
violence, restrictions on movement and the construction of
the barrier, and he urged Israel to "fundamentally change its
policies." He said Israelis continue to seek reassurance
that a future Palestinian state will guarantee their right to
peace and security, and he called on the Palestinian
Authority to create an effective security structure that,
inter alia, would end rocket attacks against Israel. Ban
also emphasized Arab countries' commitment to the Arab Peace
Initiative, which "offers Israel the opportunity for
acceptance and security within the region on the basis of
land for peace."

Multiple Calls to End Israeli
Settlements and Gaza Blockade
--------------

4. (SBU) Among the most common themes expressed during the
meeting were calls for Israel to end its settlement activity
in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and to lift its
restrictions on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to
Gaza. French Foreign Minister Kouchner said the situation in
Gaza is alarming and Israel's blockade makes reconstruction
impossible. Kouchner also said Israeli settlement activity
is producing "facts on the ground" that will split the West
Bank and undermine a viable Palestinian state. Turkish
Foreign Minister Davutoglu said Jewish settlements and
restrictions on Palestinians' movement run contrary to
Israel's obligations and the spirit of Annapolis. UK Foreign
Secretary Miliband said the Palestinians want to see an end
to settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, open
borders and an adequately funded government. In that
context, Miliband made the day's only reference to Iran's
role in the conflict by saying, "Iran's exploits the misery

USUN NEW Y 00000493 002 OF 003


of the Palestinian people for its own goals." (Note: The
Iranian Mission to the UN subsequently circulated a letter to
the Security Council calling the UK's accusations "baseless".
End note.) Ambassador Rice stated that Israel must halt
settlement activity and dismantle outposts erected since
March 2001. (The full text of Ambassador Rice's statement can
be found at http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov.) Mexican
PermRep Heller "deplored the practice of colonization,
demolition, and settlement activity that threatened the peace
process." Representatives of Austria, Burkina Faso, Croatia,
Japan, and Uganda expressed concern that despite the more
than $5 billion pledged at the Sharm el-Sheikh donors
conference, little could be effectively dispersed because of
the border closures. Costa Rican Foreign Minister Stagno
said it was "sad" that the only democratic Arab state lives
under occupation.


5. (SBU) Criticism of Hamas' rocket attacks against Israel
did not garner the same attention as did Israeli actions.
However, Ambassador Rice stated that all UN member states and
those in the region must ensure the cessation of arms and
ammunition into Gaza. France, the UK, Japan, Croatia, Mexico
and Uganda made references to ending rocket attacks and the
trafficking of arms into Gaza.

The Arab Peace Initiative
--------------


6. (SBU) Almost all delegations made references in support of
the various peace initiatives--Quartet principles, Madrid,
Annapolis, and the Roadmap, but it was the Arab Peace
Initiative that featured as the predominant peace initiative
mentioned. Lavrov was the first speaker to urge support of
the Arab Peace Initiative, among others. Burkinabe PermRep
Kafando recalled the Madrid and Arab Peace Initiatives as the
most important frameworks for peace. Miliband said, "The
Arab Peace Initiative is finally getting the attention it
deserves," and he thanked Saudi King Abdullah for his
initiating this process and Jordanian King Abdullah for
promoting it. Ambassador Rice said states in the region must
create an atmosphere to foster negotiations, which is one
reason why the U.S. intends to integrate the Arab Peace
Initiative into its approach. Japanese Foreign Minister Ito
welcomed the active role of Arab states in finding a solution
and backed the Initiative. Stagno of Costa Rica said the
Roadmap was a "roadmap to nowhere," and opined that its
principles should be considered in reverse--that is, the
ultimate goal of a two-state solution should be enshrined
first rather than contingent upon met objectives.

Gaza Board of Inquiry
--------------


7. (SBU) Almost half the Council members welcomed the results
of the Secretary-General's findings into the Gaza Board of
Inquiry and looked forward to further investigation into
Israel's actions. Kouchner was the first delegate to mention
the BoI. He said the Security Council cannot avoid such an
investigation, and he said France backed the BoI's work and
will support any independent, objective investigation into
the conflict in Gaza. Miliband said it was contingent on the
Israeli government to look into each of the BoI's conclusions
about Israel's conduct during the conflict. Although not
mentioning the BoI directly, Austrian Foreign Minister
Spindelegger said allegations of violations of international
humanitarian law must be investigated and Austria welcomes
further investigation. Mexico, Uganda and Vietnam welcomed
the BoI's report. Libyan PermRep Shalgham said that while
Libya welcomed the BoI's work, his delegation had prepared a
draft Security Council resolution to hold Israel accountable
for its actions. Moreover, Shalgham said Libya anticipated
the results of the Human Rights Council's own investigation
of Israel's actions in Gaza.

Presidential Statement Adopted
With Some Reservation
--------------


8. (SBU) The Council adopted by consensus the Russian-drafted
Presidential Statement (PRST),which urges a reinvigoration
of diplomacy toward a comprehensive peace, supports the
Quartet's efforts toward a two-state solution, and calls for
assistance to the Palestinian Authority. Most delegations
expressed appreciation for Russia's drafting of the PRST, but
some criticized it for falling short on some elements. The
Libyan PermRep said Libya agreed with little of the PRST's
content because it did not deal with Israeli settlement
activity, the Golan Heights, or Sheba'a Farms, but in
deference to its relationship with the Russian Federation and

USUN NEW Y 00000493 003 OF 003


to protect the unity of the Council Libya supported it.
Kouchner pointed out that the PRST would have been stronger
if it had contained a call to end settlement activity.
Stagno of Costa Rica said his delegation would have preferred
a clearer endorsement in the PRST of the Arab Peace
Initiative.
Rice