Brahimi's report to UN General Assembly on Syria

Brahimi speaks to correspondents after briefing

the Security Council in closed session. 

29 November 2012 (Click on picture)

THE JOINT SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SYRIA

REMARKS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE SITUATION IN SYRIA

New York, 30 November 2012

Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary-General,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Yesterday, I briefed the Security Council, and it is a great honour for me today to appear before this Assembly for the second time, to share with you all a few thoughts about the situation in Syria.

The Secretary-General has just briefed you on the humanitarian situation in particular. The numbers he gave illustrate eloquently and also very sadly the dramatic situation now prevailing in Syria.

On the ground, however, it is now the security situation that is a major handicap for the delivery of humanitarian aid. An even greater handicap is the shortage of funding. As you just heard from the Secretary-General, the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan is only 50 per cent funded and the Regional Response Plan is only 38 per cent funded.

Mr. President,

Military confrontations in Syria have continued, unabated. Indeed, fighting has expanded geographically to almost all parts of Syria and intensified very significantly.

Anti-Government forces have reportedly achieved gains on the ground in several areas these past few weeks. The areas of territory that they control are expanding, and at times with strategic value. The Government, however, remains confident that they will have the upper hand.

At the regional level, tension has been high for some time now along the border between Syria and Turkey. Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon are equally fearful of the consequences of events in Syria on their respective countries and people. Palestinian refugees, who number over 500,000, are also concerned that they not be dragged into the conflict raging around – and at times inside – their camps. Hundreds of Palestinian refugees have already been killed including UNRWA staff.

Developments in and close to the Israeli-Occupied Golan are also a source of worry. It seems that the Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel is also being affected. The potential for escalation affecting both parties and the larger region, unintentionally or otherwise, cannot be ignored.

Israeli Ambassador's remarks before the UN General Assembly

Mr. President,

Today I stand before you tall and proud because I represent the world's one and only Jewish state. A state built in the Jewish people's ancient homeland, with its eternal capital Jerusalem as its beating heart.

We are a nation with deep roots in the past and bright hopes for the future. We are a nation that values idealism, but acts with pragmatism. Israel is a nation that never hesitates to defend itself, but will always extend its hand for peace. 

Peace is a central value of Israeli society. The bible calls on us:

 בקש שלום ורדפהו

“seek peace and pursue it.”

Peace fills our art and poetry. It is taught in our schools. It has been the goal of the Israeli people and every Israeli leader since Israel was re-established 64 years ago. 

Israel’s Declaration of Independence states, “We extend our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help...”

This week was the 35th anniversary of President Anwar Sadat's historic visit to Jerusalem. In a speech just before that visit, President Sadat famously stood in the Egyptian parliament in Cairo and stated that he would go "to the ends of the earth" to make peace with Israel.

Mahmoud Abbas's remarks before the UN General Assembly

كلمة الرئيس الفلسطيني محمود عباس أمام الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة تمهيداً للتصويت على مشروع قرار منح فلسطين صفة الدولة غير العضو المراقبة في الأمم المتحدة، باللغة العربية - أنقر هنا. 

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, addresses the 

UN General Assembly before the vote. 29 November 2012

Mr. President of the General Assembly,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Palestine comes today to the United Nations General Assembly at a time when it is still tending to its wounds and still burying its beloved martyrs of children, women and men who have fallen victim to the latest Israeli aggression, still searching for remnants of life amid the ruins of homes destroyed by Israeli bombs on the Gaza Strip, wiping out entire families, their men, women and children murdered along with their dreams, their hopes, their future and their longing to live an ordinary life and to live in freedom and peace.

Palestine comes today to the General Assembly because it believes in peace and because its people, as proven in past days, are in desperate need of it.

Palestine comes today to this prestigious international forum, representative and protector of international legitimacy, reaffirming our conviction that the international community now stands before the last chance to save the two-State solution.

Palestine comes to you today at a defining moment regionally and internationally, in order to reaffirm its presence and to try to protect the possibilities and the foundations of a just peace that is deeply hoped for in our region.

Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Israeli aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip has confirmed once again the urgent and pressing need to end the Israeli occupation and for our people to gain their freedom and independence.  This aggression also confirms the Israeli Government’s adherence to the policy of occupation, brute force and war, which in turn obliges the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the Palestinian people and towards peace.

This is why we are here today.

US's letter to UN member states on Palestinian statehood

This is what diplomats say is an American letter to the UN member states on Palestinian Statehood. It was circulated on 27 September 2012 after the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's speech before the UN General Assembly, diplomats added. The letter was quoted by The Guardian on 1 October 2012. 

Here is the letter in full text. 

Coordination on Potential Palestinian Observer Status Initiative 
in the United Nations General Assembly

 The United States and its Quartet partners continue to work toward a two-state solution that would result in a secure, democratic Jewish State of Israel and a Palestinian State as a homeland for the Palestinian people. We remain focused on returning the parties to direct negotiations and quiet contacts towards that end are proceeding.

 At the same time, we continue to urge both parties to avoid provocative one-sided actions that could undermine trust or otherwise distract from the pursuit of peace. This includes efforts by the Palestinians to potentially press for a resolution in the UN General Assembly to give “Palestine” non-member observer state status. Such a resolution would have significant negative consequences for the peace process itself, for the UN system, as well as for our ability to maintain our significant financial support for the Palestinian Authority. A General Assembly resolution on Palestine statehood could also open door to Palestinian participation as a state in other international for a including at the International Criminal Court as well as a host of UN Specialized Agencies. Statehood for the Palestinians can only be achieved via direct negotiations with the Israelis.

 We believe your government understands what is at stake here, and – like us - wants to avoid a collision at the coming UNGA session. We hope you are willing to support our efforts, including in your conversations with other governments and with the Palestinians directly, that such a vote on status in the UN General Assembly would be extremely counterproductive.

 We would appreciate knowing where your government stands on this issue. We would also be interested in knowing whether you have been approached on this matter by Palestinian representatives.

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GA Third Committee resolution on human rights violations in Syria

Bashar Ja'afari, Permanent Representative of Syria to the UN,

speaks at the Security Council’s stakeout area. 04 October 2012 

قرار اللجنة الثالثة في الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة حول انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان في سورية باللغة العربية - أنقر هنا. 

Voting record - click here. 

General Assembly

Sixty-seventh session Third Committee, Agenda item 69 (c)

Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights

situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives

Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America: draft resolution

Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic

The General Assembly,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1) and relevant international human rights treaties, including the International Covenants on Human Rights,(2)

Recalling its resolutions 66/176 of 19 December 2011, 66/253 A of 16 February 2012 and 66/253 B of 3 August 2012, Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1 of 29 April 2011,3 S-17/1 of 23 August 2011,(3) S-18/1 of 2 December 2011,(4) 19/1 of 1 March 2012,(5) 19/22 of 23 March 2012,(5) S-19/1 of 1 June 2012,(5) 20/22 of 6 July 2012(5) and 21/26 of 28 September 2012, and Security Council resolutions 2042 (2012) of 14 April 2012 and 2043 (2012) of 21 April 2012,

UN General Assembly resolution on Palestinian Statehood

The General Assembly adopted a resolution granting to Palestine the status of non-member observer State in the United Nations. The vote was 138 for, 9 against, with 41 abstentions.

Mahmoud Abbas (front centre), President of the Palestinian Authority, with his delegation in the General Assembly Hall following the Assembly's decision. 29 November 2012

Click here to read the voting record. 
DRAFT (26 November 2012) - Rev. 1

67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Agenda Item 37: Question of Palestine

Status of Palestine in the United Nations

The General Assembly,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and stressing in this regard the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples,

Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 (1), affirming, inter alia, the duty of every State to promote through joint and separate action realization at' the principle of equal rights and self- determination of peoples,

Stressing the importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon freedom, equality.justice and respect for fundamental human rights,

Recalling its resolution 181 (ll) of 29 November 1947,

Reaffirming the Charter principle of tile inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,
Reaffirming relevant Security Council resolutions, including, inter alia, resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973),446 (1979),478 (1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008),

Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons inTime of War, of 12August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia, 'with regard to the matter of prisoners,

Reaffirming its resolution 3236 (XXIX) of22 November 1974, and all relevant resolutions, including resolution 66/146 of 19 December 20 11,reaffirming the right of the Palestinian people to self~ determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine,

Reaffirming its resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988, resolution 66117 of 30 November 20 11, and all relevant resolutions regarding the "Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine", which, inter alia, stress the need for (a) the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem ;(b) the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestin ian people, primari Iy the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; (c) ajust resolution of the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (Hl) of I1 December 1948; and (cl)the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,

Security Council's statement on ceasefire in Gaza

Security Council Press Statement on Situation in the Middle East

The following Security Council press statement on the situation in the Middle East was read out by Council President Hardeep Singh Puri (India):

The members of the Security Council welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached in relation to the Gaza Strip in order to bring about a sustainable and durable cessation of hostilities that had been affecting the Gaza Strip and Israel.  The members of the Council called on the parties to uphold the agreement and to act seriously to implement its provisions in good faith.  They expressed their continued support for the ongoing international efforts to consolidate this agreement.

The members of the Council strongly commend the efforts of Egyptian President Morsi and others to achieve the ceasefire. The members of the Council also expressed strong appreciation for the efforts of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in this regard.

The members of the Council affirmed the need for the people of Israel and the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip to live without fear.  They called on the international community to contribute to improving the living conditions of the people in the Gaza Strip, notably through providing additional emergency aid through appropriate established channels to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to work in this regard with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Egypt for the expeditious and unimpeded delivery of such humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment.

The members of the Security Council deplored the loss of civilian lives resulting from this situation and reiterated the need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians and their protection in accordance with international humanitarian law.

           

The members of the Council stressed the urgency of the restoration of calm in full and reiterated the importance of achieving 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 recognized borders.

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