Security Council's Statement on Haram Al-Sharif/ Jerusalem

Press Statement by Security Council on the Situation in Jerusalem

17 September 2015

The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern regarding escalating tensions in Jerusalem, especially surrounding the Haram Al-Sharif compound, including recent clashes in and around the site. 

The members of the Security Council called for the exercise of restraint, refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric, and upholding unchanged the historic status quo at the Haram Al-Sharif – in word and in practice. 

The members of the Security Council called for full respect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as may be applicable in Jerusalem.

The members of the Security Council urged all sides to work cooperatively together to lower tensions and discourage violence at holy sites in Jerusalem.

The members of the Security Council appealed for the restoration of calm and called for full respect for the sanctity of the Haram Al-Sharif, noting the importance of the special role of Jordan as confirmed in the 1994 peace treaty between Jordan and Israel and encouraged increased coordination between Israel and Jordan’s Awqaf department. The members of the Security Council underscored that Muslim worshippers at the Haram Al-Sharif must be allowed to worship in peace, free from violence, threats and provocations. The members of the Security Council further underscored that visitors and worshipers must demonstrate restraint and respect for the sanctity of the area and for maintaining the historic status quo at the Holy Sites. The members of the Security Council urged that the status quo of the Haram Al-Sharif should be maintained and visitors should be without fear of violence or intimidation.  

The members of the Security Council called for the immediate cessation of violence, and for all appropriate steps to be taken to ensure that violence ceases, that provocative actions are avoided, and that the situation returns to normality in a way which promotes the prospects for Middle East peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. 

Draft ETP Statement on Aqsa

14 September 2015

 Elements for Press Statement by Security Council on Situation in Occupied East Jerusalem 

·         The Security Council expresses its grave concern about the disturbing developments in Occupied East Jerusalem, particularly the series of recent provocations and incitement at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the rising tensions in this regard.

·         The Security Council calls upon all parties to cease all provocations, incitement and acts of violence. The Security Council called for full respect of international law.

·         Religious extremists must not be allowed to impose their destructive agendas and must not be permitted to destabilize the already-fragile situation on the ground. Political and religious leaders have a responsibility to act against extremists, who undermine the rule of law.

·         The Security appeals for the restoration of calm and calls for full respect for the sanctity of this Holy Site.  Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque must be allowed to worship in peace and tranquility, free from violence, threats and provocations.

·         It is imperative that the longstanding agreements and understandings regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque compound be honored and respected by all parties and that no measures be undertaken to alter or affect the historic status quo in this regard.

·         The Security Council calls upon the parties, along with all concerned parties, to exert immediate and serious efforts to resume dialogue and launch a credible political process aimed at achieving a just, lasting and peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in particular Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515 and 1850, the Madrid Principles and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Draft Press Statement on Yemen: New Round of Direct Talks

Press Statement 

The members of the Security Council welcomed the announcement by the United Nations and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen on the upcoming talks that should take place before Eid in the region. The members of the Security Council commended the decision by President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi to participate in these peace talks. The members of the Security Council expressed their appreciation and reiterated their full support for the efforts of the United Nations and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen.

The members of the Security Council recalled Security Council resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012), 2140 (2014), 2201 (2015) and 2216 (2015), emphasizing the need for a peaceful, orderly, inclusive and Yemeni-led transition process. The members of the Security Council reiterated their demand for the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, and reiterated their call from resolution 2216 (2015) on all Yemeni parties to resume and accelerate United Nations-brokered inclusive political consultations.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their call on Yemeni parties to attend the announced talks and any such future talks and engage without preconditions and in good faith, including by resolving their differences through dialogue and consultations, rejecting acts of violence to achieve political goals, and refraining from provocation and all unilateral actions to undermine the political transition. The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all violence, attempts or threats to use violence to intimidate those participating in United Nations-brokered consultations and emphasized that such action is unacceptable. The members of the Security Council emphasized that the United Nations-brokered inclusive political dialogue must be a Yemeni-led process, with the intention of brokering a consensus-based political solution to Yemen’s crisis in accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The members of the Security Council expressed their support and appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, who will continue to engage with all Yemeni stakeholders to take steps towards a durable ceasefire and a mechanism for the withdrawal of forces, release of political prisoners and the resumption of an inclusive political transition process in accordance with Security Council resolution 2216 (2015). The members of the Council recognized the importance of UN ceasefire monitoring capacity to support the process.

The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, including the food insecurity already facing millions of Yemenis across the country and the increasing risk of famine. They welcomed the United Nations revised humanitarian appeal which requested $1.6 billion, but which was currently only around 24 per cent funded. They, therefore, encouraged the international community to contribute to the appeal. The members of the Security Council urged all parties to take immediate steps to facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance and fuel to all parts of Yemen, as well as measures to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors to reach people in need of humanitarian assistance, including through all of Yemen’s ports.

The members of the Security Council called upon all sides to comply with international humanitarian law, including to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects, and to urgently work with the United Nations and humanitarian aid organizations to bring assistance to those in need throughout the country. They also stressed the urgent need for commercially-shipped food, medicine, fuel and other vital supplies to enter Yemen through all of Yemen’s ports without further delays as a humanitarian imperative because of the heavy dependence of Yemen and its people on imported food and fuel. 

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Revised GA Palestinian Draft Resolution on Non-Members Flags

DRAFT

A/69/L.87/Rev.1

31 August 2015

69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Agenda Item 120: Strengthening of the United Nations System

The General Assembly,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Bearing in mind the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations and the reaffirmation of faith in the equal rights of men and women and nations large and small,

Deleted paragraph** (Recalling that the Holy See became a non-member Observer State at the United Nations on 6 April 1964, and recalling also in this regard its resolution 58/314 of 1 July 2003 and previous relevant resolutions,)

Taking note of the participation of non-member Observer States, which maintain permanent observer missions at United Nations Headquarters, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly,

Recalling that the State of Palestine became a non-member Observer State at the United Nations on 29 November 2012, and recalling also in this regard its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012 and previous relevant resolutions,

1. Decides that the flags of non-member Observer States at the United Nations maintaining permanent observer missions at Headquarters shall be raised at the United Nations Headquarters and Offices following the flags of the Member States of the United Nations,

 2. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake the necessary measures for the implementation of this resolution during the seventieth session of the General Assembly and within 20 days of the adoption of this resolution.

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