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UN / MIDDLE EAST
STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 1.42
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
17 SEPTEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“The Secretary-General returned from the region encouraged by what he deemed a demonstrable seriousness by both President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu to resume direct talks, despite scepticism from their domestic bases, as the only viable path through which a two-state solution may still be achieved.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“The international community has long supported the vision of a two-state solution and now has a responsibility to give these efforts a chance. But the onus to sustain an enabling environment lies with the parties. Both should refrain from actions that risk undermining the prospects of negotiations. And we urge them to act responsibly and with restraint. Concurrently any substantial political initiative must yield early dividends in the immediate period ahead with tangible improvements to security and socioeconomic conditions for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“We do not underestimate the challenges ahead and the momentous efforts required to sustain and successfully conclude negotiations within the prescribed timeframe. And yet twenty years of peace efforts have also demonstrated that fair, reasonable and legitimate solutions can be found for the key issues divided the parties. It is for the negotiators to identify and narrow these gaps, and for their leaders to take decisions in the best interest of their peoples.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. Zoom out, Security Council
The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert H. Serry, told the Security Council today (17 September) that "despite scepticism from their domestic bases" Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have shown "demonstrable seriousness" to resume direct talks.
Serry said that “the international community has long supported the vision of a two-state solution and now has a responsibility to give these efforts a chance.”
He stressed that “the onus to sustain an enabling environment lies with the parties” and urged them “to act responsibly and with restraint.”
The Special Coordinator said that “any substantial political initiative must yield early dividends in the immediate period ahead with tangible improvements to security and socioeconomic conditions for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
In closing, Serry acknowledged the challenges ahead but said that “twenty years of peace efforts have also demonstrated that fair, reasonable and legitimate solutions can be found for the key issues divided the parties.”
He said it was for the negotiators “to identify and narrow these gaps, and for their leaders to take decisions in the best interest of their peoples.”
Serry welcomed a recent Israeli Government decision to increase the number of work permits for West Bank Palestinians by 5,000, and said he looked forward to further steps of economic cooperation and easing restrictions on access and movement of Palestinians.
At the same time, he noted that settlement activity continued in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem and reiterated that such actions are counterproductive.
Clashes between Palestinians and settlers also continued and there were reports of settler attacks against Palestinian farmers.
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