UNITED NATIONS: U.N.Security Council adopts statement expressing shock and distress at Israel's bombing of a U.N. outpost in Lebanon

Record ID: 828869

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: U.N.Security Council adopts statement expressing shock and distress at Israel's bombing of a U.N. outpost in Lebanon
  • Date: 28th July 2006
  • Summary: (AM) UNITED NATIONS (FILE) (REUTERS) WIDE EXTERIOR: UNITED NATIONS
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2006 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAADQQYDKRO1XDQXSMUS0BPCZBR
  • Story Text: The U.N. Security Council adopted a statement on Thursday (July 27) expressing shock and distress at Israel's bombing of a U.N. outpost in Lebanon that killed four unarmed U.N. peacekeepers.
    French Ambassador to the U.N., and current Security Council President, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere read the statement.
    "The Security Council is deeply concerned about the safety and security of United Nations personnel and in this regard, it stresses that Israel and all concerned parties must comply fully with their obligations under international humanitarian law related to the protection of the United Nations and its associated personnel. And it underlines the importance of assuring that United Nations personnel are not the object of attack," said La Sabliere.
    The final draft adopted by the 15-member council eliminated wording "condemning any deliberate attack against U.N. personnel" as well as a call for a joint Israeli-U.N. investigation, for which U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan had asked.
    Instead, it called on Israel "to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into this incident, taking into account any relevant material from United Nations authorities."
    Israel has apologized and called the incident a mistake. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Dan Gillerman said that the Presidential Statement was necessary.
    Said Gillerman: "I feel that it was right for the Security Council to issue the Presidential Statement which was adopted unanimously just a few minutes ago; I think this is the right thing to do both in memory of the people who were killed doing their duty, and also as a concern of the international community and the United Nations for the welfare of their people."

    The policy statement, which carries less weight than a resolution, was weaker than one proposed by China and other nations, after more than a day of negotiations and objections from the United States, which wanted to make sure Israel was not directly blamed for the attack.

    Chinese ambassador to the U.N., Wang Guangya, said that it was important for the Council to make a statement, despite the fact that it was missing condemning language.
    He said, "I'm glad and somewhat relieved that finally the Security Council comes to an agreement on the PRST. Of course, you all know that the text of the draft as been watered down, but I think what we agreed is the minimum that the Security Council can do under the current circumstances."

    China earlier on Thursday warned the United States that its opposition to the statement could could jeopardize U.N. negotiations on a resolution ordering Iran to stop its nuclear enrichment.

    After the Security Council statement was announced, Wang said, "I didn't expect that the consultation on such an important issue, which I think that had many common points by Council members, would take such a long time. So I think the frustration is there, and I think that this frustration will affect working relations somewhat somewhere."

    One of the peacekeepers killed on Tuesday was Chinese. The other three came from Austria, Canada and Finland. The U.N. personnel were killed on Tuesday (July 25) after firing by the Israeli military at the outpost. U.N. officials said numerous calls had been made to the Israeli military and its diplomats in New York to protest repeated firing on the outpost.
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