United Nations S/ PV.8495 Security Council Provisional Seventy-fourth year 8495th meeting Wednesday, 27 March 2019, 5.35 p.m. New York President: Mrs. Gueguen .................................. (France) Members: Belgium ....................................... Mr. Pecsteen de Buytswerve China ......................................... Mr. Wu Haitao Côte d’Ivoire ................................... Mr. Ipo Dominican Republic .............................. Mr. Trullols Yabra Equatorial Guinea ............................... Mr. Esono Mbengono Germany ...................................... Mr. Heusgen Indonesia. Mr. Syihab Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Peru .......................................... Mr. Meza-Cuadra Poland ........................................ Ms. Wronecka Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Safronkov South Africa ................................... Ms. Sabelo United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Ms. Pierce United States of America .......................... Mr. Hunter Agenda The situation in the Middle East Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (S/2019/248) . This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 19-08834 (E) *1908834* S/PV.8495 The situation in the Middle East 27/03/2019 The meeting was called to order at 5.35 p.m. forces and armed opposition groups began. In 2018, the Syrian Government re-established full control of the Adoption of the agenda area known as the Bravo side, thereby re-establishing a status quo ante. Throughout this period, Israel has The agenda was adopted. periodically stressed the critical importance of the Golan to its security. The situation in the Middle East On 25 March, United States President Donald Report of the Secretary-General on the Trump signed an official proclamation recognizing United Nations Disengagement Observer Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Force (S/2019/248) Golan. The Secretary-General has taken note of this The President (spoke in French): In accordance development, including Member States’ reactions to the with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of United States decision. Let me reiterate the Secretary- procedure, I invite the representatives of Israel and the General’s statement that the United Nations position on Syrian Arab Republic to participate in this meeting. the Golan is known and clear. That position is reflected in the relevant Security Council and General Assembly In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s resolutions, notably Security Council resolutions 242 provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following (1967) and 497 (1981). briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and We hope that the recent developments will not be Peacebuilding Affairs; and Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, used as an excuse by anyone to pursue actions that Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. could undermine the relative stability of the situation on Golan and beyond. We will continue to closely The Security Council will now begin its consideration monitor developments on the ground and will keep the of the item on its agenda. Council informed, as appropriate. I wish to draw the attention of Council members The President (spoke in French): I thank to document S/2019/248, which contains the report Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. I now give the floor to Mr. Lacroix. I now give the floor to Ms. DiCarlo. Mr. Lacroix: I wish to thank you, Madam, for this opportunity to brief the Council on the situation Ms. DiCarlo: During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Syrian Arab Army crossed the 1967 ceasefire line on (UNDOF) area of operation and on the activities of the the Golan, known as the Purple Line, initially gaining Force and Observer Group Golan over the past three territory. In a swift counter-attack, the Israel Defense months, following the publication of the report of the Forces recaptured the lost ground and advanced further, Secretary-General on UNDOF (S/2019/248). crossing the 1967 ceasefire line and occupying a salient portion of Syrian territory. The conflict quickly As noted in the report, the ceasefire between reached an unstable stalemate, with tensions remaining Israel and Syria has been maintained, notwithstanding high for months. a number of violations observed by UNDOF of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement of 1974. They Following United States-led diplomatic efforts, on included the crossing of the ceasefire line by civilians 31 May 1974 Israel and Syria signed the Disengagement from the Bravo side, the presence of unauthorized of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria. On equipment and personnel in the areas of separation and the same day, the Security Council welcomed the limitation, and the firing into the area of separation Disengagement of Forces Agreement and, through and across the ceasefire line. UNDOF protested to the resolution 350 (1974), in accordance with the protocol parties all violations of the Disengagement of Forces to the Disengagement of Forces Agreement, established Agreement that it observed. the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. The incidents of missile, rocket and other heavy The situation in the Golan remained generally calm weapons fire on 29 November, 20 January and until 2011, when fighting between the Syrian armed 11 February, details of which the Secretary-General 2/20 19-08834 27/03/2019 The situation in the Middle East S/PV.8495 outlines in his report, illustrate the continued risk refurbishment of United Nations position at the Charlie of escalation of the situation in the UNDOF area of gate and its reoccupation, UNDOF military police operation. It is critical that the parties at all times continued to deploy at the crossing point during the respect the Disengagement of Forces Agreement so as limited opening hours only to liaise with the respective to maintain stability on the Golan. The importance of sides on UNDOF personnel crossings. As Council the parties maintaining their liaison with UNDOF in members will be aware, the Quneitra crossing is the first instance cannot be overemphasized. We count important in facilitating efficient and effective UNDOF on members of the Security Council to support efforts mandate implementation. to sensitize both parties and regional stakeholders to The completion of the redeployment and resumption the risks of escalation and the need to preserve the of full operations in UNDOF’s southern area of long-standing ceasefire between Israel and Syria. operation will be facilitated by the deployment to the Allow me to turn the Council’s attention to Mission of a new mechanized company in July of this UNDOF’s incremental return and full resumption of year, which is planned to occupy positions 85 and 68. operations on the Bravo side. Since I last briefed the I can reassure Council members and troop- Council in December (see S/PV.8432), the Mission has contributing countries that in the implementation of continued to conduct operational patrols on routes in the Mission’s plan to gradually return to the Bravo the northern and central parts of the areas of separation side, the safety and security of UNDOF and Observer and limitation. In addition, UNDOF continues to carry Group Golan personnel remain paramount. There out assessment visits and protected patrols to vacated is a continued significant threat to United Nations United Nations positions and observation posts, personnel in the UNDOF area of operation from including position 85 and observation post 57, in the explosive remnants of war and from the possible southern part of the area of separation. UNDOF has presence of sleeper cells of armed groups, including also conducted, for the first time, route reconnaissance listed terrorist groups, particularly in the southern patrols to United Nations observation post 52 through part of the area of separation. UNDOF, in consultation the area of separation. with both parties, continues to review the situation UNDOF also continues to make progress in in the area separation in order to assess whether the the refurbishment and reoccupation of its vacated conditions on the ground would permit the return to positions. The refurbishment and reoccupation vacated positions in the area of separation. We remain of United Nations position 32 was completed on committed to supporting UNDOF in the implementation 30 December 2018 through the deployment of 35 of the necessary mitigation measures, including force UNDOF military personnel. On 28 January, UNDOF protection measures, at both United Nations positions commenced a limited reoccupation of position 37 to and observation posts, as well as at Camp Ziouani and support engineering work related to the refurbishment Camp Faouar. of the facilities and the security infrastructure