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UN / SERRY
STORY: UN / SERRY
TRT: 1:56
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 14 DECEMBER 2010, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, UN headquarters
2. Med shot, Serry approaches podium
3. Cutaway, press
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations:
“Despite the setback, we should not lose sight of what then needs to happen next year. What I have said also is that means that we need now vigorous negotiations on the final status issues and that Secretary-General very much expects both parties to be engaged.”
5. Cutaway, press
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations:
“It is also time for the international community, in particular the Quartet to take up its responsibilities. I’ve said that next year also the credibility of the political process and its sponsors, including the Quartet will be at stake.”
7. Cutaway, press
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations:
“Now, unfortunately after strenuous US attempts to actually get another extension of the freeze we have not come to the conclusion that Israel is not in a position to do so. That of course has created a setback. As I said, I think it’s the right qualification, but as I have said too, I don’t believe this means we have to stand and pause, quite the contrary.”
9. Cutaway, press
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Serry, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations:
“Everybody knows that only a negotiated endgame is the way only forward. But there are ways you can negotiate and for the time being what I would like to see, what I hope to see, are serious, indirect talks on the core issues.”
12. Med shot, Serry walking away
Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told reporters that next year would be a, "critical year" for the parties and it was time for the Quartet to, “take up its responsibilities.”
Following an opening meeting today in the Security Council on the region, Serry said that after the recent developments there, the need to shift strategy was evident and that the Secretary-General expects the parties to show discipline and responsibility in refraining from provocative actions, adding, “we would like to see concrete progress and very soon.”
Israel’s refusal in late September to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activity in the Palestinian territory occupied in the 1967 six-day war prompted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw from direct talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which had only resumed a few weeks earlier after a two-year hiatus.
The US, which championed the resumed talks, has now reverted to indirect shuttle diplomacy between the two sides.
Serry met with United States (US) Middle East Envoy George Mitchell on Friday where Mitchell informed him of renewed efforts to move forward on a two state solution. He said the Quartet was expected to meet at the principles level “very soon” next year.
Serry did express concern that there had been a rise in demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in recent months. He said that even after a strenuous attempt by the US to get an extension on the freeze of the settlements, that of caused a setback but that did not mean “we have to stand still or pause, quite the contrary.”
Earlier, Serry emphasized that the United Nations would continue to emphasize that settlement activity is contrary to international law the Road Map and the position of the Quartet, referring to the internationally endorsed plan for two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, and the diplomatic grouping – comprising the UN, European Union, Russia and US – championing it.
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