22 Mar 2011

UN / MIDDLE EAST

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco urged parties to “find a way towards an agreement” on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, saying that such an agreement could act as “an important stabilizing force in the Middle East.” UNTV

Posted at: March 22, 2011 2:06 pm

Duration: 02:27

Available in: SD

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STORY:  UN / MIDDLE EAST
SOURCE: UNTV
TRT: 2.27
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 22 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior UN building

22 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Wide shot, Security Council
3.	Med shot, delegates
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"We must not let the recent surge in violence further undermine the possibility of finding a way towards an agreement on final status issues or undermine the state-building achievements thus far. The wider region has continued to witness dramatic developments which add to the importance of redoubling efforts to break the deadlock as progress towards peace and meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to statehood, could be a stabilizing force in the Middle East."
5.	Med shot, delegates
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"We are deeply concerned about the decision of 12 March by the Israeli Government to approve the construction of approximately 400 housing units in the West Bank in reaction to the heinous murder in Itamar. On 1 March, the Jerusalem municipality issued a permit for the construction of 14 apartments for Israeli settlers in Ras al-Amud neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. These are provocative actions that only serve to exacerbate tensions."
7.	Med shot, delegates
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"The Secretary-General noted with much interest President Abbas' readiness to visit Gaza in an effort to end Palestinian disunity. He also discussed the importance of Palestinian unity with the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Cairo and noted Egyptian intentions to focus anew on this important issue. It is important that the leaders respond to the clear wish of the people for unity."
9.	Med shot, delegates
10.	SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"The important achievements, especially those related to the state-building agenda of the Palestinian Authority would be at risk if the impasse in the political process is not overcome. A decisive effort must now be made by the international community and the Quartet to bring the parties back to negotiating the final status issues towards implementing the two-state solution. We urge the parties to demonstrate leadership and rise to the challenge of making historic peace."
11.	Wide shot, Security Council

STORYLINE:

Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, briefed the Security Council today (22 March) on the latest developments in the Middle East.

Fernandez-Taranco noted the current increase in the levels of violence, which he said "further undermines" the possibility of reaching an agreement on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

He pointed out that as the wider region "has continued to witness dramatic developments", breaking the deadlock on this issue could act as "a stabilizing force in the Middle East."

The Assistant Secretary-General expressed deep concern about the recent decision by the Israeli Government to approve the construction of approximately 400 housing units in the West Bank "in reaction to the heinous murder in Itamar."

He said that these and other settlement activities "are provocative actions that only serve to exacerbate tensions."

According to media reports, an Israeli family of five, including three children, were reportedly stabbed to death earlier this month by an intruder who broke into their home in the settlement of Itamar, a West Bank settlement near the city of near Nablus.

Fernandez-Taranco said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "noted with much interest" Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' "readiness to visit Gaza in an effort to end Palestinian disunity" and highlighted the importance "that the leaders respond to the clear wish of the people for unity."

In closing, he urged the parties "to demonstrate leadership and rise to the challenge of making historic peace."

Negotiations, mediated by the Quartet on the Middle East, comprised the United States, the European Union, Russia and the UN collapsed in September after Israel resumed building settlements in the West Bank.