# SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY ALARMED’ BY RAPIDLY ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST
Calls on Prime Minister Sharon, Chairman Arafat to Exercise Responsible Leadership# ZINNI CEASEFIRE PROPOSALS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BY PALESTINIANS; ISRAEL SHOULD HALT ASSAULT ON PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SECURITY COUNCIL
SG/SM/8181
29 March 2002
SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘DEEPLY ALARMED’ BY RAPIDLY ESCALATING VIOLENCE
IN MIDDLE EAST
Calls on Prime Minister Sharon, Chairman Arafat to Exercise Responsible
Leadership
The following statement was issued today by the
Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the rapidly
escalating violence in the Middle East. Just as the Arab League Summit
in Beirut presented a new opening for peace, the enemies of peace have
carried out terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli civilians. The purpose
of these attacks is to undermine any prospect for a political settlement.
Yet, destroying the Palestinian Authority will not bring
peace; it will bring the region even closer to war.
The Secretary-General calls on both Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon and Chairman Yasser Arafat to exercise responsible leadership at
this time. He urges them to take advantage of the outcome of the Arab League
Summit in Beirut, which outlined a vision for full peace in the region.
He specifically calls on Chairman Arafat to accept the ceasefire proposal
tabled by United States Special Envoy Anthony Zinni, and he calls on Prime
Minister Sharon to halt the assault on the Palestinian Authority.
The way out of this escalating and vicious cycle of reprisals
and counter-violence is for both parties to move ahead as speedily as possible,
via the Mitchell recommendations, to achieve the two-State vision expressed
in Security Council resolution 1397 of 12 March 2002.
_______________________________________________________________________
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/sgsm8182.doc.htm
SG/SM/8182
PAL/1909
SC/7349
29 March 2002
ZINNI CEASEFIRE PROPOSALS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BY PALESTINIANS; ISRAEL
SHOULD HALT ASSAULT ON PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS SECURITY
COUNCIL
Following are remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan
at today’s open meeting of the Security Council on the Middle East:
I have just returned from Beirut where Arab leaders made
a historic decision to embrace Crown Prince Abdullah’s peace proposal,
which confirmed the possibility of peace in the Middle East and proposed
a way forward.
And just prior to the Arab League Summit, the Security
Council itself passed one of its most significant resolutions on the Middle
East, resolution 1397, which affirmed the vision of two States –- Israel
and Palestine -– living side by side, within secure, internationally recognized
borders. The international community must do everything possible to advance
these efforts. We should not allow terrorism and extremism to prevail over
the pursuit of a political settlement.
I am deeply alarmed at the rapid escalation of the violence
in the Middle East that we have witnessed over the past two days. Horrific
terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, first in Netanya and then
in Jerusalem, have been carried out. Such attacks are aimed at undermining
any prospect for a political settlement. I understand the anger of the
Israeli Government and people over these attacks.
The intention of such attacks, which I have consistently
and unreservedly condemned as morally repugnant, is to subvert the possibility
of any peaceful settlement. Terrorism will not bring the Palestinian people
closer to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State.
Yet, I have also consistently voiced criticism over Israel’s
use of disproportionate lethal force, especially in civilian populated
areas in response to these attacks. Such use of force will bring neither
peace nor security to Israel.
Both sides need to adopt policies that re-enforce the
prospects for a political process leading to a peaceful settlement, and
eschew actions that make peaceful settlement through negotiations more
difficult.
(more)
- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/8182
PAL/1909
SC/7349
29 March 2002
I call on both Prime Minister Sharon and Chairman Arafat
to exercise responsible leadership at this time. I would urge that they
make every effort to take advantage of the outcome of the Arab League Summit
in Beirut, which outlined a widely welcomed vision for full peace in the
region. United States Special Envoy Zinni has put forward ceasefire proposals
that should be accepted by the Palestinians. Israel should halt its assault
on the Palestinian Authority; destroying the Palestinian Authority will
not bring Israel closer to peace.
At times like this it is possible to lose sight of the
fact there is a path away from violence and war. Via the Mitchell recommendations,
the parties should move quickly to achieve the two-State vision expressed
in Security Council resolution 1397 of 12 March 2002, which is based on
land for peace, and Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
In your debate this evening, I would urge you to consider
not only the alarming deterioration of the situation on the ground, but
also how the international community can help ensure that your resolutions,
in particular 1397, can become a reality, and how the international community
can help the parties get back to the table.
Thank you.