| Date | 24 September 2002 |
|---|---|
| Started | 02:20 |
| Ended | 02:30 |
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The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question Letter dated 20 September 2002 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2002/1055) Note verbale dated 20 September 2002 from the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2002/1056)
| President: |  | Mr. Tafrov Bulgaria |
(The Presidency changes each month to the next member in alphabetical order) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Members: |  | Mr. Belinga-Eboutou Cameroon |
 | Mr. Wang Yingfan China |
 | Mr. Valdivieso Colombia |
 | Mr. Levitte France |
 | Mr. Traoré Guinea |
 | Mr. Ryan Ireland |
|
 | Mr. Koonjul Mauritius |
 | Mr. Aguilar Zinser Mexico |
 | Mr. Kolby Norway |
|
 | Mr. Lavrov Russia |
 | Mr. Mahbubani Singapore |
 | Mr. Wehbe Syria |
|
 | Sir Jeremy Greenstock United Kingdom |
 | Mr. Cunningham United States |
|||
The President
As we agreed in consultations, we shall vote on the draft resolution on the basis of the English text, which is before us. The draft resolution will be circulated in blue very shortly, but I would like to know whether members are prepared to vote on the basis of the document that is now before them. I see this is the case.
Members of the Council have before them document S/2002/1063, which contains the text of a draft resolution presented by Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I hear no objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote.
There being no objection, it is so decided.
| favour | against |
| abstain | absent |
favour=14 against=0 abstain=1 absent=0
Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Colombia, France, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Syria, United Kingdom, United States
The President
The result of the voting is as follows: 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 1435 (2002).
I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.
Mr. Cunningham (United States)
The resolution that we have adopted this evening was flawed, in our view, in that it failed to explicitly condemn the terrorist groups and those who provide them with political cover, support and safe haven in the perpetuation of conflict in the Middle East. Those responsible for killing civilians obstruct the Quartet's efforts and the prospects for Palestinian reform. They are known groups -- Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The leaders and spokesmen of these groups have openly claimed credit for scores of terrorist bombings and for many deaths and injuries. Their actions are aimed at the peace process, at Israelis and at Palestinians.
This Council cannot claim to be seriously considering efforts in the Middle East unless it is also willing to recognize the tragic dynamic at play. Each time a glimmer of hope, however dim, appears, a terrorist act rises up to extinguish it. What we had hoped for at this time was for the Council to assume its responsibilities, take a clear stand against the actions of these terrorist groups and call for action against them.
This resolution starts that process, but it does not go far enough. Nor does it provide the clarity and context we think is required, as set out in the draft text we ourselves tabled on Monday. Our text was more explicit on terrorism, those who perpetuate it, the need to combat it, and on strong support for the Quartet, the political process and continued effort on the ground in the region. Because this resolution does not meet that standard, and because we do not think it as well conceived or worded as it should be, given the importance of the issues it addresses, we have abstained.
The President
There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.
