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Statement on the Adoption of the Historic
Resolution on the Middle East by the United Nations
Security Council on 13 March 2002
The South African Government welcomes the historic
and near-unanimous adoption by the United Nations Security
Council of Resolution 1397 (note: PDF document) on the
Middle East situation on 13 March 2002 without reservation.
In particular, South Africa unequivocally supports
the decision of the UN Security Council in "affirming
a vision of a region where the two States, Israel and
Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognised
borders" and expresses its gratitude that the United
States of America has taken the lead in introducing
this historic resolution in the UN Security
Council.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad
further welcomes this decision of the UN Security Council,
which "expresses support for the efforts of the
Secretary-General (of the United Nations) and others
to assist the parties to halt the violence and to resume
the peace process" and as it has done on numerous
occasions in the past, wishes to express
admiration and appreciation to the indefatigable efforts
of the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, to help
resolve the current dire conflict in the Middle East.
"In this regard, special thanks is due to the
UN Secretary-General for his profound words of wisdom
on the Middle East conflict delivered on 12 March 2002,
before the UN Security Council and before adoption of
resolution 1397
on the situation in the Middle East."
Amongst other things, the UN Secretary-General stated
the following:
"(Israel's) Large-scale military operations in
pursuit of Palestinian militants - involving ground
troops, attack helicopters, tanks and F-16's - have
taken place throughout civilian areas and refugee camps
in the West Bank and Gaza, causing large-scale loss
of life. In addition, the International Committee of
the Red Cross and other agencies are reporting growing
disregard, on the part of the Israeli Defence Forces,
for the safety of medical and ambulance personnel who
are attempting to treat and evacuate
wounded from conflict zones. Only last week, a UN staff
member was killed in a clearly marked UNRWA ambulance".
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, went further
and added:
"On their side, the Palestinians have played their
full part in the escalating cycle of violence, counter-violence
and revenge. Palestinian groups have carried out a series
of attacks on Israeli military and civilian targets.
They have attacked IDF checkpoints and settlements in
the West
Bank and Gaza. Kassam II rockets have been launched
against civilian areas in Israeli towns. I am particularly
disturbed by suicide attacks which deliberately target
civilians, spreading fear and anxiety throughout the
general population".
UN Security Council Resolution 1397 is viewed by the
Government as an indispensable and critical reaffirmation
of the vital and necessary central role of the UN Security
Council in the search for a just, comprehensive and
permanent resolution of the Middle East conflict. This
is a welcome and historic development that the South
African Government entirely and unreservedly supports.
This resolution is viewed as supportive of and compatible
with various international initiatives, whose genuine
objective is to bring about a speedy and peaceful resolution
of the Middle East conflict. These initiatives must
be unequivocally supported by Israel and Palestine in
order to enable the conditions for peace making once
again to be achieved.
For further information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082
990 4853.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
15th March 2002
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