Russia
Puts Gaza
Resolution In
Blue After
Morocco
Complains of
Amendments
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 19 --
After the Gaza
consultations
called at noon
by Russia
in the UN
Security
Council ended,
Russian
Permanent
Representative
Vitaly
Churkin came
out and said
that if the
Morocco
proposed draft
press
statement was
not soon
approved,
Russia would
come forward
with a
resolution.
Inner
City Press asked
Churkin about
Russia's push
for a Quartet
ministerial
meeting -
wouldn't the
US take the
same position
there?
Churkin
replied that
the Quartet
has been
inactive too
long.
After
that, side
meetings
continued
inside the
Security
Council.
Sources
told Inner
City Press
that Morocco
was working
with the UK to
see if
a new draft
press
statement was
possible and
could be
agreed to by 5
pm.
Moroccan
Permanent
Representative
Loulichki
emerged and
said Morocco
had tried
to keep its
draft as
minimal as
possible and
that he had
thought it
could be
agreed at the
end of the
morning's
Council
session. He
shook
his head.
Later
on Monday
afternoon,
Inner City
Press learned
through
sources that
Russia had
come forward
with its draft
resolution and
"put it in
blue," meaning
that a vote
can be called
in 24 hours.
Russian
draft
Gaza
resolution put
In Blue:
The
Security
Council,
Recalling
all
of its
relevant
resolutions,
including
resolutions
242 (1967),
338 (1973),
1397 (2002),
1515 (2003),
1850 (2008)
and 1860
(2009),
and noting the
importance of
the 2002 Arab
Peace
Initiative,
Gravely
concerned
at the
dangerous
escalation and
steep
deterioration
of the
situation in
and around
Gaza, in
particular the
resulting
heavy
civilian
casualties,
deploring the
worsening
humanitarian
situation,
and
emphasizing
that the
Palestinian
and Israeli
civilian
populations
must be
protected,
Stressing
the
importance of
and
appreciating
ongoing
international
and regional
efforts aimed
at the
immediate end
of violence,
Noting
in
this regard
the important
role of the
Quartet in
seeking a
political
solution to
the
Israeli-Palestinian
conflict,
Recalling
that
a lasting
solution to
the
Israeli-Palestinian
conflict can
only
be achieved by
peaceful
means,
Reaffirming
the
right of all
States in the
region to live
in peace
within secure
and
internationally
recognized
borders,
1.
Stresses the
urgency of and
demands an
immediate,
durable and
fully
respected
cessation of
violence,
leading to the
restoration of
calm;
2.
Supports
international
and regional
efforts with a
view to a
prompt
solution of
the current
situation;
3.
Encourages
Israel and the
Palestinian
authority to
resume without
delay a
substantive
bilateral
negotiating
process in
order to reach
the final goal
of concluding
a peace treaty
resolving all
outstanding
issues,
including all
core issues,
without
exception, on
the
internationally
recognized
basis of the
two-state
solution as
envisaged in
Security
Council
resolution
1850 (2008);
4.
Condemns all
violence and
hostilities
directed
against
civilians and
all acts of
terrorism;
5.
Urges all
parties to
address the
serious
humanitarian
and economic
needs in Gaza
and to allow
for the safe
and unhindered
access of
humanitarian
assistance and
personnel to
the
Palestinian
people and
to ensure the
unimpeded
provision of
humanitarian
supplies
throughout
Gaza[; and]
6.
Decides to
remain seized
of the matter.
Watch
this site.
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