|
|
Mr. President,
Let me
congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the Presidency of the Council.
We had met only last Friday to consider the grievous situation in Palestine.
Resolution 1402 was adopted to reverse this spiraling tide of violence and
bloodshed. Painfully, there is no let up in the scale of carnage. Many more
people have died and violence has generated more violence. This only
demonstrates how helpless the Security Council has become and how scant is the
respect for its resolutions and decisions. This trend is not only a cause for
serious concern but also alarmingly indicative of the inability of this Council
to uphold its moral authority and its Charter obligations. It is time to
seriously address the question of implementing the outstanding resolutions of
this Council without selectivity or discrimination. The very credibility of this
body depends on this.
We strongly urge all concerned to fulfill their Charter obligations and take
necessary steps to implement Security Council resolutions 1397 and 1402,
ensuring an immediate ceasefire along with an Israeli withdrawal from
Palestinian cities, and followed up with the resumption of the peace process,
including the implementation of the Tenet work plan and the Mitchell Report
recommendations.
I thank you, Mr. President.
New York
3rd April, 2002