German draft statement on Arab League - UN cooperation

Peter Wittig (front row, left), Permanent Representative of Germany

to the UN and President of the Security Council for the month of

 September. At right is Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General

for Political Affairs. 12 September 2012

This is a revised draft presidential statement proposed by Germany to be adopted in the high level Security Council meeting on September 26th. Diplomats said that this draft was still under discussions on Friday, 21 September 2012. 

Draft

Date: 20 September 2012

Statement by the President of the Security Council

At the XXXth meeting of the Security Council, held on 26 September 2012, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “The situation in the Middle East”, the President of the Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council reaffirms its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

“The Security Council recalls all its previous resolutions and statements of its President which underscore the importance of developing effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant statutes of regional and subregional organizations.

“The Security Council recognizes that regional organizations are well positioned to understand the causes of armed conflicts owing to their knowledge of the region which can be a benefit for their efforts to influence the prevention or resolution of these conflicts.

“The Security Council expresses its appreciation for the briefings of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Nabil Elaraby.

“The Security Council recognizes the contribution made by the League of Arab States in efforts to settle conflicts in the Middle East peacefully as well as to formulating international responses to the transformations experienced in the region, while reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of regional countries and to the purposes and principles of the Charter.

“The Security Council welcomes the intensifying cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States in the wake of these transformations which reflect the legitimate aspirations of all peoples in the region for freedom, political participation and economic and social well-being in a pluralistic society.

“The Security Council, [reiterates | underscoring] the importance of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East[, calls for renewed and urgent efforts by the parties and the international community to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognised borders, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and also recalls the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative].

“The Security Council welcomes the appointment of the Joint Special Representative for Syria of the United Nations and the League of Arab States following relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations and of the League of Arab States as an important step forward in the cooperation between both organizations and expresses its support for his continued efforts.

“The Security Council commends the Members of the League of Arab States for their ongoing commitment to international peacekeeping and peacebuilding, including through the contribution of troops to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

“The Security Council takes note of the general meeting on coordination between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, held in Vienna on 10 July 2012,

“The Security Council acknowledges the intention expressed by representatives of both organizations to cooperate across a broad agenda of mutual concern, formulating adequate joint responses to humanitarian crises, promoting human rights, freedom of expression, food security, environment protection and the fight against terrorism and the illicit trafficking of drugs and arms, while reiterating the need to ensure that all UN efforts to restore peace and security also respect and promote the rule of law. [The Council recognizes the necessity of an integrated approach, which strengthens coherence between political, security, development, human rights and rule of law activities.]

[“The Security Council, recalling its condemnation of violence against diplomatic missions and personnel,  emphasizes that expressions of ideas should never be met with violence, recognizes continuing international efforts to enhance a global dialogue for the promotion of tolerance and peace, and calls for enhanced cooperation in light of recent events to strengthen the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, whose very purpose to promote better understanding across countries and cultures, and to support host governments in meeting their obligations to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises and their staff against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity.”]

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of strengthening cooperation on capacity building, including efforts to enhance the capacities of the League of Arab States in the maintenance of international peace and security,

“The Security Council expresses its determination to take effective steps to further enhance cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to report, as appropriate, on further ways of strengthening institutional relations and cooperation between the two organizations.”

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