Arabian Legend
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
- Messages
- 5,155
- Reaction score
- 9
- Country
- Location
Speech of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Before the Security Council on:
The Situation in the Middle East
Delivered by
H.E. Chargé D'affaires a.i.
of the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia
To the United Nations
Counselor Dr. Abdulmohsen F. Alyas
Tuesday, 23 July 2013 New York
Unofficial Translation
Please check against Delivery
Ms. President,
At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations on your assumption of the Security Council presidency for this month; and for convening this open debate on the situation in the Middle East. I would like also to express my Country's support for the statements given, and to be given, by the speakers on behalf of the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Ms. President,
Israel continues to violate international law and the rights of the Palestinian people that include, but not limited to, displacement, expulsion, arbitrary detention, and ill-treatment of prisoners. It also continues its settlement policy in a quest to change the situation on the ground that include, but not limited to, confiscation and destruction of Palestinian homes, expansion of settlements; arrests, detentions and use of excessive violence against demonstrators, continuation of the blockade on Gaza Strip. In addition to all that, the last evidence of Israel's arrogance and defiance of the will of the international community was announced last week declaring its intention to approve the construction of 1,000 new housing units in a number of settlements.
Ms. President,
Israel not only continues to ignore international efforts to revive the peace process, but Israeli officials give statements that threatens the success of the peace process and the two-state solution, a matter that requires a broad international condemnation. On the other hand, we closely monitored the statements and reports on the near resumption of the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel. Consequently, the delegation of my country stresses the importance of not relying on hopes without the continuation of exerting more pressure from the international community on Israel in order to make it understand that there is no choice but peace and that this issue is not limited only to routine reviews in the Security Council's deliberations. Meanwhile, the Delegation of my country commends the latest decisions of the European Union that emphasize the illegitimacy of settlements built on the territories of the West Bank and Jerusalem; and the inclusion of a clause in any future agreements between the EU and Israel that emphasizes that these settlements are not under Israel's authority. Moreover, we commend the decisions of the EU not to cooperate with government agencies, especially the ones in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. In that regard, we call on the countries of the world to follow suit and take similar steps to condemn the criminal Israeli actions against Palestinian citizens.
Ms. President,
The situation in Syria is deteriorating day after day. So far, more that 100,000 were killed, of which there are more than 6,500 children under the age of ten. All this happens while the international community refrains from forcing the Syrian regime to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. The Syrian humanitarian crisis is a source of shame on the conscience of the international community which stands paralyzed towards this issue. As a result, the crisis of the Syrian refugees reached a historic record as it has become the worst crisis since the genocide in Rwanda as per United Nations testimonies.
Ms. President,
Through the UNGA resolutions, especially the latest of 15 May 2013, the majority of the member states has condemned the Syrian regime who massacred tens of thousands of the Syrian people. Moreover, the Human Rights Council in last June condemned the Syrian regime on the violations of the Syrian people human rights. Consequently, the Delegation of my Country stresses the importance of activating these decisions through international action to support the Syrian people and stop the massacres committed by the Syrian regime before it continues its genocide; in addition to preventing an outbreak of the crisis at the regional level which will have serious consequences of third parties' intervention such as the flagrant interference of Hezbollah in Al-Qusayr.
Ms. President,
Any delay from the international community to take action means more suffering for the helpless Syrian people helpless.
Thank you Ms. President.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/07/23/Saudi-Arabia-calls-for-increased-pressures-on-Israel-to-stop-violations.html