Jan
31
The UN warns that progress in negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians is minimal
“If you can not move toward a final status agreement, the risk is going backwards, endangering both the two-State solution as the Palestinian Authority,” Serry conveyed to the Security Council in its regular report.
He also noted the highest organ of United Nations decisions that this process is facing “the danger of a political vacuum.”
Serry, the Wednesday met in Washington with U.S. special envoy Middle East, George Mitchell, noted that the Quartet (U.S., Russia, the European Union and the UN) has a key role to revitalize these negotiations.
According to the UN coordinator in a time when the 2009 comes to an end “negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have yet to resume, the trust between the parties is low, there are still situations on the ground and tensions persist in Jerusalem.”
In this gloomy picture, Serry said, align the actions of the radical Islamist group Hamas and Israel, which “do not contribute to the stability and welfare of Gaza” as well as in West Bank There are also negative elements, although there was some progress between the parties.
“Once again we are in a race against time between the contradictions that occur on the ground and the crisis of confidence between the parties, to move permanently “in the process, he said.
recommended that Israel” do more “and, specifically,” implement their commitments to the roadmap and prepared to negotiate without ambiguities, resolving core issues, “including Jerusalem.
As for the Palestinians, the coordinator suggested that they also” do their part, constructive efforts to resume negotiations As before also moving forward on the project of creation of the State “.
Serry, who is also the special envoy of UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, for this conflict stressed that we need to end the blockade of Gaza, to begin a period of calm and responsibility of all concerned.
“The region and the Quartet have to work together without delays and for the sole purpose of supporting their agenda in the coming months, “said the diplomat, who noted that Ban also believes that” a revitalized Quartet “is essential for progress in the coming months.
He said the head of the UN “remains committed to ending the occupation and conflict through the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.”
In a later press conference, Serry referred to the ongoing evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, while in the Gaza Strip product imports are still a quarter of the level they were before the blockade Israeli 2007.
The roadmap designed by the Quartet calls for the complete cessation of Israeli settlement building in those areas.
Another element of concern to the UN envoy is a shortage of food and hygiene producdafts suffering Palestinians of Gaza, which also suffers a lack of fuel and materials to repair damaged infrastructure.
Serry called the Israeli blockade as “unacceptable and counterproductive” and lamented the lack of a satisfactory response from the Israeli side to UN proposals to complete housing projects, schools and health facilities.
He also commented that the U.S. special envoy it was transmitted on Wednesday President Barack Obama”s determination to bring about a resumption of the talks and “a prompt conclusion of negotiations (the creation) of two States”.