Security Council – Work assessment under Germany presidency (July 2011) – Letter from Germany (excerpts)

Letter dated 29 August 2011 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

 I have the honour to transmit herewith a report of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Germany in July 2011 (see annex). 

 The report was prepared under my responsibility, after consultation with the other members of the Security Council. 

 I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council. 

Annex to the letter dated 29 August 2011 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council 

   Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Germany (July 2011) 

   Introduction 

During the month of July 2011, under the presidency of Ambassador Peter Wittig, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, the Council adopted
9 resolutions and 2 presidential statements and issued 10 press statements. Two open thematic debates on children and armed conflict and on the maintenance of international peace and security (impact of climate change) were held. …

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   Middle East 

   The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question 

 On 26 July 2011, the Council held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, chaired by the Minister of State at the German Foreign Office, Werner Hoyer, during which it heard a briefing by the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry. He described the gap between the progress made in Palestinian State-building and the persistent and profound deadlock on the political track as dramatic. He stressed the need for Israeli steps to roll back measures of occupation and to cease all settlement activities and for steps to restore trust between the parties. He also stressed the need for continuous donor support to the Palestinians and urged donors, including members of the League of Arab States, to ensure that the Palestinian Authority can pay salaries and meet its other financial obligations. He urged the parties to find a way forward at this sensitive and important time and expressed the hope that the international community could help by shaping a legitimate and balanced framework. After having heard statements by the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine, Council members called upon the parties to restart negotiations and to make compromises for a two-State solution for durable peace and security. Many delegations also addressed the Council during the open debate. 

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