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UN / MIDDLE EAST
STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 2.03
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 AUGUST 2009, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
19 AUGUST 2009, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“The Government of Israel announced that as of 5 August, the passenger crossings hours at Allenby Bridge will be expanded on a pilot basis, which we hope will ease the flow of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who visit the West Bank. This measure comes after an earlier announcement that the commercial crossing hours would be expanded, which is an important step for facilitating Palestinian exports. We welcome these actions and the statements of the Government of Israel that it intends to take further steps to ease movement and access.”
4. Med shot delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“We reiterate our call on Israel to adhere to international law and its Roadmap obligations and to cease and reverse provocative actions such as demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem. We remind Israel of the united position of the Quartet on this issue and its recent affirmation that unilateral actions cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.”
6. Med shot delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
“We urge the parties to respond positively to efforts underway to create the conditions for the early resumption and early conclusion of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, as well as to efforts to promote progress towards comprehensive regional peace. The Secretary-General remains committed to working with the parties and his international partners for an end of the occupation that began in 1967 and the establishment of a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with Israel within secure and recognized borders.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
The UN Security Council today (19 August) heard a briefing on the Middle East situation by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco. The meeting was followed by closed consultations on the same topic.
Ferandez-Taranco reported some positive developments, including the announcement by the Israeli government that as of 5 August, the passenger crossings hours at Allenby Bridge will be expanded on a pilot basis, which “will ease the flow of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who visit the West Bank”.
He added that an earlier announcement that the commercial crossing hours would also be expanded “is an important step for facilitating Palestinian exports” and welcomed these actions as well as statements that the Israeli government “intends to take further steps to ease movement and access.”
He also noted that consultations are ongoing with the Israeli authorities regarding the UN proposal to start early recovery construction activities for schools, homes and health clinics in Gaza.
The Assistant Secretary-General expressed grave concern about continued Israeli settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. He called on Israel to adhere to international law and its Roadmap obligations and to cease and reverse “provocative actions such as demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem”.
He reminded Israel of the “united position of the Quartet on this issue” as well as its recent affirmation that “unilateral actions cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.”
The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which coordinates assistance efforts of individual donors to the Palestinian people, and Quartet principals are expected to meet during September on the margins of the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly.
Fernandez-Taranco concluded by urging all parties to respond positively to efforts underway to create the conditions for the early resumption and conclusion of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, as well as to efforts to promote progress towards comprehensive regional peace.
He said that the Secretary-General remained committed to working with the parties and his international partners for an end of “the occupation that began in 1967 and the establishment of a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with Israel within secure and recognized borders.”
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