United Nations S/PV.6470 (Resumption 1) Security Council Provisional Sixty-sixth year 6470th meeting Wednesday, 19 January 2011, 2.30 p.m. New York President: Ms. Čolaković ................................... (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Members: Brazil ......................................... Mr. Rizzo China ......................................... Mr. Huang Hongjiang Colombia ...................................... Mr. Osorio France ......................................... Ms. Legendre Gabon ......................................... Mrs. Ntyam-Ehya Germany ....................................... Mr. Eick India .......................................... Mr. Gupta Lebanon ....................................... Mr. Ramadan Nigeria ........................................ Mrs. Ogwu Portugal ....................................... Mr. Vaz Patto Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Listov South Africa .................................... Mr. Crowley United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .... Mr. Afshar United States of America ........................... Ms. Masilko Agenda The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the 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-506. 11-21096 (E) *1121096* S/PV.6470 (Resumption 1) The meeting resumed at 2.40 p.m. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomes the increasing number of countries, in particular those The President: I wish to remind all speakers to of Latin America and the Caribbean, that have joined limit their statements to no more than four minutes in the dozens of countries throughout the world order to enable the Security Council to carry out its recognizing Palestine as a free and independent State. work expeditiously. The delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to recall the importance of ensuring the I now give the floor to the representative of the implementation of all Security Council and other Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. United Nations resolutions promoting a peaceful Mr. Valero Briceño (Bolivarian Republic of solution that will lead to the establishment of two Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): The United Nations States. The Madrid terms of reference, the Arab Peace Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Initiative and the Road Map are equally relevant the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Richard proposals that urge direct negotiations between the Falk, recently voiced his concern over the murder of parties so that the State of Israel and the State of four Palestinian citizens by the Israeli Defense Forces Palestine can live side by side within secure and in the West Bank and the demolition of the historic recognized borders. Hotel Shepherd in the centre of Jerusalem to make way The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms for an Israeli settlement. The West Bank Director of the the need to implement the Geneva Convention relative United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War in Refugees in the Near East, Barbara Shenstone, the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and indicated that the demolitions of dwellings of the other Arab territories occupied since 1967. Palestinian citizens occupied since prior to 1948 are reprehensible acts of devastating effect and violate Our country emphasizes the importance of the Israeli obligations pursuant to international law and the annual international United Nations International United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Meeting on the Question of Palestine, to be held on 7 and 8 February in Cairo on the theme “The urgency These facts continue to occur without this body of addressing the plight of Palestinian political adopting efficient measures to avoid such excesses. prisoners in Israeli prisons and detention facilities”. Therefore, it is imperative to reiterate that all activities This praiseworthy initiative, supported by the connected with the establishment of Israeli settlements Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East the Palestinian People, will offer the opportunity to Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to address the repeated violations of human rights the achievement of peace in the region. suffered by hundreds of men and women who These and other reprehensible actions repeatedly heroically and with dignity have fought for the just, carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, which are legal and heroic cause of their people. aimed at changing the demographic composition, We cannot fail to mention the delicate character and status of Palestinian territories, in clear humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The daily violation of international humanitarian law and the suffering of Palestinians in this territory requires us to relevant resolutions of this body and of the United demand once again the immediate lifting of the Nations, require the international community to merciless blockade imposed by the Government of the demand the immediate cessation of such illegal State of Israel. activities. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela once again Against this backdrop, the Bolivarian Republic of calls on the State of Israel to respect the sovereignty of Venezuela co-sponsors and therefore firmly supports Lebanon so that situations such those of July 2006 may the draft resolution urging Israel to cease the avoid recurrence. In that respect, efforts to promote construction of settlements. The United Nations must direct negotiations between the parties must be condemn in the firmest possible manner these repeated encouraged, pursuant to resolution 1701 (2006). violations of international law carried out by the State of Israel and adopt practical and effective measures to All illegal actions aimed at violating the prevent them, at the risk of its historic relevance. territorial area of the occupied Syrian Golan are also an 2 11-21096 S/PV.6470 (Resumption 1) impediment to comprehensive peace in the region. altering the demographic composition, physical Hence, Member States must address the need for Israel character and status of the occupied Palestinian to withdraw pursuant to the demands of resolution 498 territory, including East Jerusalem. Israel is violating (1981). Moreover, resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 international law and the United Nations Charter. (1973) must be implemented in order to preserve the The illegal Israeli settlements undermine all territorial integrity of Syria and thereby contribute to efforts to restart peace talks between Palestine and the peace that is so sorely needed throughout the Israel, jeopardizing the vision of a two-State solution region. and complicating the conflict in the region. We I would conclude by stating that cruelty, injustice therefore attach primary importance to the role of the and unfairness throughout the world can constitute Security Council in responding to the settlement issue major obstacles to the implementation of the provisions as it did back in 1980, when it adopted resolution 465 of international law. That is why we once again call on (1980). The Council must regain its role in solving this the State of Israel to comply with the resolutions very important issue, as mandated by the United adopted by the United Nations on the Middle East and Nations Charter. the question of Palestine. We very much hope that It is in this context that Indonesia is today’s debate of the Security Council will contribute co-sponsoring the draft resolution before the Council to achieving the longed-for peace in that region of the on the illegal Israeli settlement activities in the world. occupied Palestinian territory, including East The President: I now give the floor to the Jerusalem. We hope that this new resolution will representative of Indonesia. reverse the inactivity of the Security Council when it comes to matters relating to the suffering of the Mr. Kleib (Indonesia): Let me begin by Palestinian people. The Council must and indeed can congratulating you, Madame President, on Bosnia and exert a positive influence on the Middle East peace Herzegovina’s assumption of the presidency of the process. Security Council for this month, and by extending the appreciation of my delegation to you and the members At this stage, however, it is hard to imagine that of the Council for convening this open debate on such peace can be victorious in the Middle East through a an important issue. one-time lofty solution. We can always hope for the kind of effort made at Oslo or Madrid or Annapolis, Mу delegation joins others in congratulating the but for the time being we must appreciate positive five new members of the Council — Colombia, developments on any scale that keep the peace process Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa — and in in motion. Indonesia therefore supports the current wishing them a very productive and successful tenure surge in diplomacy aimed at relaunching negotiations in the Council. We would also like to thank Under- and jump-starting a comprehensive peace process, Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe