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STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
SOURCE: UNTV
TRT: 2.11
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 24 FEBRUARY 2011, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior UN building
24 FEBRUARY 2011, 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 Middle East region has been witnessing dramatic political transformations, but stagnation in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. It is true that the shifting regional dynamics have added uncertainty to the environment of an already difficult Middle East peace process. However, progress towards a negotiated solution that addresses all core issues would make a critical contribution to stabilizing the region.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“Notwithstanding the recent results in the Security Council, all members of the Security Council strongly oppose continued settlement activity. This extends to East Jerusalem, where a number of settlements were announced for expansion in past weeks, including 56 new units in Ramot, and 13 units in the heart of the Palestinian neighbourhood Sheikh Jarrah. We urge the parties to refrain from provocative actions at this sensitive time.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“As regards developments in Egypt, where a transition is underway that must serve the interests of the Egyptian people, we take positive note of reaffirmed commitments by Israeli and Egyptian authorities to regional stability and peace. We note with appreciation that Israel is allowing 300 Palestinians living in Libya to enter the West Bank as a humanitarian Gesture.”
9. Med shot, delegates
10. Wide shot, Serry walks to the stakeout position
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
11. Close up, camera
24 FEBRUARY 2011, NEW YORK CITY
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“In a situation like we find ourselves now in the region, where many countries are also preoccupied by internal developments, that could also mean that the parties will want to wait and see what kind of a new Middle East we may be seeing after these events have been crystallizing out, so to say, a bit more.”
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
13. Close up, cameras
24 FEBRUARY 2011, NEW YORK CITY
14. Wide shot, Serry walks away from the stakeout position
A senior United Nations official today (24 Feb) called for the parties to break the impasse in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, noting that a negotiated solution would help stabilize a Middle East currently in ferment.
In a reference to the popular uprisings that have already ousted Presidents Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, and have roiled a host of other countries from Algeria and Libya in the west to Yemen and Bahrain in the east, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry told the Security Council that the region “has been witnessing dramatic political transformations, but stagnation in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations”.
He noted that although “shifting regional dynamics have added uncertainty” to the peace process, “progress towards a negotiated solution that addresses all core issues would make a critical contribution” towards stabilizing the Middle East.
Serry said that the diplomatic Quartet of the UN, European Union, Russia and United States, which seeks to establish a two-State solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, has set this September as a goal for achieving this so-called Road Map, and he warned that its credibility is on the line.
He repeated past criticism of Israel’s settlement activity and called for a complete freeze, including in East Jerusalem. He said that “notwithstanding the recent results in the Security Council, all members of the Security Council strongly oppose continued settlement activity.”
The United States recently vetoed a Security Council resolution criticising Israeli settlement building.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas broke off direct talks at the end of September after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building in occupied Palestinian territory, activity which the world community deems a violation of international law.
As regards to the situation in Egypt, the Special Coordinator took positive note of “reaffirmed commitments by Israeli and Egyptian authorities to regional stability and peace” and welcomed the fact that “Israel is allowing 300 Palestinians living in Libya to enter the West Bank as a humanitarian gesture.”
Outside the Council, Serry acknowledged to reporters that “in a situation like we find ourselves now in the region” it could mean that the parties “will want to wait and see what kind of a new Middle East we may be seeing” before making further commitments.
