The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20041213082951/http://www.un.int:80/usa/02_044B.htm

nav-bar.gif (20604 bytes)

Image of the U.S. Eagle

Ambassador John D. Negroponte
United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Remarks at UN Headquarters on the Situation in the Middle East
April 1, 2002


bar-2.gif (1046 bytes)

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 44B (02)
April 1, 2002
  

Remarks by Ambassador John D. Negroponte, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at the Security Council Stakeout April 1, 2002

Ambassador Negroponte: I don’t think I have much to add to what Ambassador Lavrov had to say, other than we have had a couple of discussions today about the situation in the Middle East. And the decisions taken this afternoon in the consultations were to wait until our meeting with the Secretary-General tomorrow at lunch where this question will be explored further. I took the opportunity at our consultations this morning to point out that terrorist attacks have continued in the wake of the passage of the resolution on Saturday. There have been at least three suicide bombings in Israel. I also pointed out that during the month of March alone, one hundred and twenty-two Israelis were killed during the Intifada. I think that one has to look seriously at the question of these continuous acts of terrorism and call upon President Arafat and the Liberation Organization to do more to bring these continue acts of terror under control.

Reporter: Ambassador, there seems to be some confusion about the message coming from the Bush Administration on the implementation of 1402.  In his briefing, today Phil Reeker said “there needs to be a move towards immediate cease-fire as well as a withdrawal of Israeli forces right now.” The White House seems to be more focused on the cease-fire. Can you clarify what the U.S. position is?

Ambassador Negroponte: What the president of the Security Council said this morning was that we agreed that there should be a call for an immediate cease-fire and an implementation of the rest of the resolution; but the rest of the resolution, as you know, contains a number of ingredients in the peace process. And the question of precise sequencing is something that is yet to be determined.  And I think that is also incumbent on the parties on the ground and the negotiators on the ground, General Zinni, the Quartet, and the parties most immediately concerned in the region to be working on these questions. So the resolution does not predetermine the exact timing of that issue. But it does call for an immediate cease-fire and it calls for work to begin immediately by the parties towards implementing both 1397 and 1402.

Reporter: Does the Secretary-General and also Ambassador Kolby -- introducing the resolution -- said that “there should be no sequence in terms of the implementation of the two key elements of the resolution, cease fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces.” You seem to be suggesting that there is some sequencing.

Ambassador Negroponte: What I am saying is that the call is for an immediate cease-fire. In addition to that there are other ingredients of this situation that are discussed in the resolution and all of which need to be implemented; but obviously these things have to be discussed in detail on the ground in the region. General Zinni has been hard at work. Secretary Powell, the President -- all of them -- have been involved in talking to the various parties concerned over the weekend and today. I think that some of this has to be left -- a lot of this has to be left to the players in the region, who are the closest to the situation.

Reporter: We heard you say that (inaudible). We don’t hear you say clearly that Mr. Sharon has to also do what the Council says.

Ambassador Negroponte: Well, I think that we have repeatedly said that the government of Israel has got to recall. That there is not only a tomorrow but a day after tomorrow.  And that ultimately there is not military solution to this problem. That ultimately it is a political solution that is going to have to be arrived at. So, yes, we have frequently -- we have called these considerations to the government of Israel’s attention. I think that there can be no doubt as to what our position is in that regard.

Reporter: Asked this morning about the possibility third party intervention. Maybe some sort of observer, peace keeping troops, some sort of intervention. The Secretary-General said that “those discussions were very much at the forefront.” Is the US engaged in those sessions? What position do you have on the possibility of getting some sort of intervention in there to help them get a cease-fire? 

Ambassador Negroponte: My understanding is the questions of possible observer activity would have to be determined down the road. To the best of my knowledge this is something that General Zinni and others have only talked about in the context of an arrangement that would be mutually agreed by the parties involved, that is to say the Israelis and Palestinians. This again is not something that can be imposed without consideration of the will of the parties from here in New York.

Thank you very much.

 

###