Summary: April 18, 2002: Statement by H.E. Mr. Inocencio Arias, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union at the meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question (New York)
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area, Iceland and Liechtenstein, align themselves with this statement.
The last time the Security Council held a public session on this issue, the European Union expressed its expectations at the meeting of the Quartet on April 10th and warmly welcomed the mission of Secretary of State Powell. The outcome of the Madrid meeting proves the unwavering commitment of the international community to peace and to a better future for the peoples of the Middle East.
In the Joint Statement read by the Secretary-General and supported by the Security Council, we all express our grave concern about the present situation, including the mounting humanitarian crisis and the growing risk to regional security. We reiterate our shared condemnation of violence and terrorism, express our deep distress at the loss of innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives, and extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those killed and wounded. We believe that there has been too
much suffering and too much bloodshed and we call on the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to act in the interests of their own people, the region and the international community, and to immediately halt their senseless confrontation.
The European Union deplores that despite all calls of the international community, Security Council Resolutions 1402 and 1403 continue to be ignored. In this regard, we call on Israel to immediately halt its military operations in the Palestinian Territories. We call for an immediate, meaningful and effective ceasefire and the immediate and full withdrawal of the Israeli troops from all Palestinian cities reoccupied since March 29th and other areas under the control of the Palestinian
Authority. These Resolutions must be implemented fully and immediately. There is no room for selective implementation. We recall the obligation of all members of the United Nations to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the UN Charter.
The virtual destruction of the Palestinian Authority and its infrastructure, the continued isolation of Chairman Arafat, the humiliation, confinement and disregard of the Palestinian civilian population and their most fundamental rights, and the violations of international humanitarian law are unacceptable. These actions must end immediately; they are contrary to international law and unjustified. Israel must immediately stop extra-judicial killings, lift the closures and restrictions in the
Territories and reverse its settlement policy.
Chairman Arafat, the recognized and elected leader of the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian Authority, for their part, must undertake immediately the maximum possible effort to stop terrorist attacks, act decisively within their capacity to dismantle terrorist infrastructures and stop incitement to violence. Terrorist attacks against Israelis must end immediately. They are unacceptable, illegal and gravely harm the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. We note in this regard
the statement issued last April 13th by Chairman Arafat and welcome in particular his condemnation of all terrorist acts targeting Israeli and Palestinian civilians, and his rejection of the use of violence and terror against civilians as a way to achieve political goals. We believe he must show clearly that he is capable of living up to his commitments and produce concrete results.
Mr. Chairman,
The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian Territories is appalling and constitutes a matter of deep concern to us. It is absolutely unacceptable that humanitarian and medical organizations and personnel continue to confront risks and restrictions in performing their work and in accessing those populations in need. Israel must allow them full and unimpeded access.
We reiterate our call on Israel to allow diplomatic and consular representatives to fully perform their tasks, in particular the access to and the protection of their own citizens in the Territories.
The EU considers the reports on the humanitarian situation at the Jenin refugee camp to be extremely alarming. Despite the wide discrepancy on the number of casualties, missing people and those still trapped under collapsed buildings, we deplore the loss of civilian life that has taken place and the widespread and senseless destruction of civilian, medical and humanitarian infrastructure reported by the international humanitarian agencies granted limited access to the camp. Israel's legitimate
fight against terrorism is not served by intimidating and harassing innocent civilians, depriving them of their dignity and erasing their means of living and hopes for the future. It only breeds more irrational desperation and hatred. Israel must fully comply with international humanitarian principles, including the UN conventions on the protection of civilians in times of war, and refrain from excessive use of force. It must extend its fullest possible cooperation to humanitarian agencies and
organizations, including the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross, consistent with its obligations under international humanitarian law, both in Jenin and across the Territories. These organizations urgently need to gain unlimited access to the camp to allow them to care for the large numbers of people in need of basic relief supplies and carry out their humanitarian mandate. The unresolved standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is
also a cause of deep concern.
Mr. Chairman,
This conflict has no military solution. The political roadmap and goals to put an end to it are well known and have already been set up very clearly. They are Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and the principle of land for peace, which formed the basis for the Madrid Conference of 1991, the creation of a politically and economically viable Palestinian state and security guarantees for the state of Israel, as spelled out in SC Resolution 1397, as well as the recent Arab League support of
Crown Prince Abdullah's initiative for peace. What is needed, more than ever, is political will from both parties and statesmanship from their leaders.
We urge the parties to fully cooperate with the efforts of Secretary Powell as well as with Special Envoy Zinni and others, to implement the Tenet Work Plan and the Mitchell Report recommendations with the aim of resuming negotiations on a political settlement. There must be immediate and parallel movement towards near-term and tangible political progress, and there must be a defined series of steps leading to permanent peace. The EU remains convinced that a third-party monitoring mechanism on
the ground is essential to the process of restoring mutual confidence and making progress on both the political and security fronts. We stand ready to participate in such a mechanism. Further, we support the Secretary-General in his call for a multinational force to the Middle East. Nevertheless, to be effective it will have to be acceptable to both sides. It is time to take concerted action to help bring an end to the violence and to provide space for political and diplomatic
negotiations.
The EU continues to make every effort with the parties, the countries in the region, the US, the UN and Russia to find a definitive settlement to this conflict. In this regard, the Quartet of Principals plans to meet in Washington, D.C. on May 2nd. The EU is fully behind the efforts of Secretary of State Powell to bring both parties to an agreement on a ceasefire. We stand ready to assist the parties in implementing their agreements and would be ready to attend an international peace
conference.
We want to reiterate in the present circumstances our aim of improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and our declared objectives of supporting the reconstruction, preservation and strengthening of the Palestinian Authority, including through efforts to rebuild its infrastructure, security and governance capacity, providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians and assisting in economic and institutional reconstruction.
The present dangerous situation in the Middle East threatens regional security and stability. We reiterate our concern at the violence along the border between Lebanon and Israel. We call for an end to the violations of the UN-determined Blue Line, condemn the attacks originated in Lebanese territory and call on all parties involved to show the utmost restraint.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
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