HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

The Security Council continued to give special importance to the situation in Africa, Mikhail Wehbe (Syria), the current President of the Council,told correspondents today during a Headquarters press conference on the Council's programme of work for June.

He said developments in the Great Lakes region, Angola, the Horn of Africa, and Western Africa would get particular attention.  The Council had just finished consultations on its June programme of work, as well as the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The mandate of the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) would be extended, and developments in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina would be discussed with the aim of maintaining peace in that part of the world.

The Council would have two briefings on the situation in Afghanistan, he said, one before and one after the election of the Loya Jirga.  Consultations on the work of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and on Kuwaiti property had also been planned.  The situation in the Middle East would be discussed in the context of the regular monthly briefing on that subject in a private meeting.  The discussion on all aspects of the programme during this morning's consultation had been fruitful.

Answering correspondents’ questions, Mr. Wehbe said that the situation between India and Pakistan had been raised during this morning's consultations. Council members had agreed to give more time to quiet diplomatic pressure -- exerted by the United Kingdom, United States, Russian Federation, China and others -- on both India and Pakistan to come to a diplomatic solution.  Calling any kind of war between the two countries "catastrophic", he said that if the situation were aggravated, the Council was ready to discuss the matter.

Syria's Minister for Foreign Affairs would preside over the private meeting on the situation in the Middle East and explain, in his national capacity, his country’s vision of developments there and of the frozen peace process.  Syria's public statement on the matter would be given by the Minister during the coming General Assembly session.  In the Council, however, quiet diplomacy in the matter was preferred.  There was no basis to a report that a public meeting on the matter had been avoided so as to prevent the Foreign Minister from addressing the Israeli ambassador as "distinguished representative".  The Minister would also preside over a public meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The day before the private meeting [scheduled for 14 June], the Foreign Minister would meet with the Secretary-General.

Speaking in his national capacity, Mr. Wehbe said there was no Syrian position on the question of Palestine because "the Palestinian question is the Syrian question".  In addition, he said, Israel had occupied part of Syria since 1967, contrary to United Nations resolutions asking for its withdrawal.

Regarding Iraq, he said (still speaking in his national capacity) that Syria had tried its utmost to insert amendments to resolution 1409 (2002), adopted last

month, to facilitate the life of the "brothers" in Iraq and reduce their suffering.  Unfortunately, Syria was only one of 15 members, and the five permanent members of the Council had agreed on the draft resolution before submitting it to the other members.  His country had responded many times to allegations that it was importing oil from Iraq.  That question was asked of Syria, and not of Turkey or other neighbouring countries.  His country had tested the pipeline between Iraq and Syria, which was very old and needed to be replaced. He emphasized that Syria was committed to all United Nations resolutions, even if the country suffered from them.

Asked what Syria had done in the fight against international terrorism and Al Qaeda, he said it had condemned the tragedy of 11 September immediately.  His country had been one of the first to submit a national report, as requested by the Committee established pursuant to Council resolution 1373 (2000).

Reacting to a statement -- as described by a correspondent -- from the United States State Department, reminding Syria of its responsibilities as President of the Council, he said the United States ambassador to the Council had expressed full satisfaction with the work of Syria.  He added that no one could dictate its responsibilities to Syria, which was a sovereign, independent and responsible State.  This was Syria’s third time in the Council, and the country knew its duties and what to do.

He said the most important benefit of Syria's membership to the Council was to add its voice to that of Council members to preserve peace and security in the world, which was the Council's main responsibility.  That was why the current programme of work devoted most time to Africa, while the question of the Middle East was only one item.  Africa took up about 20 per cent of the programme.  His country had always been against terrorism, particularly State terrorism.  Syria had never established relations with the Taliban, despite its sympathy with the people of Afghanistan.  Al Qaeda was not accepted in Syria, it was not even accepted in Saudi Arabia, he said.  He stressed, however, that people defending their territory and their rights should not be seen as extremists or terrorists.

Asked about the Council’s emphasis on Africa, Mr. Wehbe said that the question of Madagascar might be raised in the Council at any moment.  This morning, the Council had discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and drafted a presidential statement condemning public attacks by members of the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Goma (RCD-Goma) against the United Nations Organization Mission (MONUC) intended to undermine the constructive work of United Nations representatives.  That statement would probably be issued tomorrow.

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