PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Syria’s presidency of the Security Council commenced with the adoption of a resolution on the first day of August aimed at immediately restoring peace to Liberia, Council President Mikhail Wehbe of Syria, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

Describing the Council’s programme of work for August, Mr. Wehbe said that the extremely important resolution had been adopted to put an end to acts of violence through the mandate granted by the Council to a peacekeeping mission to be deployed to the country.  Contrary to the Council’s usual practice, the Liberia resolution had been adopted before its monthly programme of work had been adopted.  The Security Council would keep the situation in Liberia under consideration throughout the month.

Highlighting the main points of the programme of work for August, he said the Council had this morning discussed the situation in Guinea-Bissau with the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, David Stephen.  Mr. Stephen had briefed the Council on developments in that country, particularly during the period following the Council’s mission to the region in June.  The Council had also agreed on a presidential statement, which he had read out to the press.  Concluding its work for today, the Council had adopted a resolution on the situation in Côte d’Ivoire.

Tomorrow, the Council would hold its monthly luncheon with the Secretary-General, he continued.  During the luncheon, discussion would focus primarily on Liberia, the Middle East and Iraq.  On 6 August, the Council would hold an open meeting on Bougainville.  It would also meet with Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, to discuss the latest developments in that country.  Consultations would also be held on sanctions against Liberia, particularly the impact of the embargo on timber sales on the humanitarian situation.  The Council would deal with the situation in Liberia in accordance with developments on the ground, and in light of the resolution adopted last Friday.

Continuing, he said that on 18 August the Council would hold consultations on the situation in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The monthly briefing on the Middle East would take place the following day.  The Council would also hold consultations on Côte d’Ivoire.  On Somalia, he said the Council would be briefed by the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee.  It would also be briefed on the midterm report on violations of the arms embargo against Somalia.

An open meeting on the situation in Iraq would be held on Thursday, 21 August, pursuant to resolution 1483, he said.  On 16 August, the Council would review the situation of Kuwaiti prisoners of war and missing persons, he added.

The Council had also agreed today to hold a special closed meeting to hear a briefing on the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, he said.  Carla Del Ponte, the Prosecutor for the two Tribunals, would present the briefing at the end of this week.  On 28 August, the Council would hold a wrap-up session to review its work during the month of the Syrian presidency.

Asked if Syria intended to use its presidency of the Council to move forward the issues of the Middle East and Iraq, he said Syria was honoured to preside over the Council for the second time in two years.  The Middle East issue had been on the Council’s agenda since Syria had joined as an elected member.  Regular monthly briefings were given on the situation in the Middle East.  This month, Danilo Turk, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, would brief Council members.  In keeping with the customary practice, an open meeting would follow the briefing.

Responding to a question on the upcoming briefing on the International Tribunals, Mr. Wehbe said a number of Council members had requested the meeting with Ms. Del Ponte, so that she could elaborate on her efforts and the working methods of the two Tribunals.  It seemed to be the general view that a decision on whether to separate the two Tribunals would be taken after consultation and discussion.

Asked whether an appearance by Ms. Del Ponte indicated differences of opinion among Council members on whether to separate the two Tribunals, he said that following presidential consultations on the matter already conducted, it had not been possible to determine if there was disagreement on the matter.  Consultations were needed, therefore, to determine the position of the different States on the issue.

Responding to a question on Iraq, he said that, up to now, there had been no suggestion for a new resolution on Iraq.

Regarding the “Road Map” for peace in the Middle East, Mr. Wehbe said Syria had reiterated -- at the highest levels -- that a just and comprehensive peace should include all paths, particularly the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.  Those two tracks were governed by the Madrid peace process, and the basis on which it had been founded, Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the principle of land for peace and the initiative of the Arab Summit in Beirut.

In response to a question on weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, he said Syria had previously submitted a draft resolution on the establishment of a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, which were the most destructive and harmful.  The draft resolution was still on the agenda and Syria was waiting for favourable circumstances to discuss it.

Would it be possible to discuss during the month the issue of looting and theft in Iraq? a correspondent asked.  At the present moment, Mr. Wehbe said, there was no indication of the possibility of discussing such issues in the Council.  The Council was a master of its own work, however, and it could tackle any issue it wished to consider.

Answering another question on the Road Map, he said the Road Map mainly dealt with the Palestinian issue.  It did not mention comprehensive and just peace in the region, which was at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.  Syria’s President had, on many occasions, explained what just and comprehensive peace meant to Syria.  There could be no security without peace, and there could be no peace if it was not comprehensive and just.  Such peace must be based on resolutions 242 and 338, the principle of land for peace, and the Madrid formula, which was still at work.  That formula had been contributed by the United States during the presidency of George Bush, Senior.  There was also the Arab initiative, which was a unique initiative that laid down the main course of comprehensive and just peace in the region.

Responding to another question on Iraq, he said Syria’s position had been well known during the events that had transpired in that country.  It had agreed on the resolution submitted to the Council as an attempt to find a solution to the situation in Iraq and to assist the Iraqi people.  Syria hoped that the Council, through granting a pivotal role to the United Nations, would be able to influence the situation in Iraq.  The United Nations’ pivotal role could greatly assist the Iraqi people, through the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, by putting an end to the occupation of Iraq and guaranteeing its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.  Syria hoped for the formation of a legitimate government that was endorsed by the Iraqi people to run the business of the country and the use of its resources.

Asked if he intended to continue the work of Spain’s Ambassador on a draft presidential statement on Iraq, Mr. Wehbe said that, while the Spanish presidency had attempted to submit a presidential statement on Iraq, regrettably -- and due to great differences of opinion -- he had given up on the idea.  As long as there were great differences of opinion, he did not believe it was necessary to go back to a draft that did not command consensus.

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