PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

The passing of Yasser Arafat marked the end of an era in the Middle East, but there were also new opportunities for peace in the region, according to Terje Roed-Larsen, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, who addressed correspondents at a Headquarters news conference before his briefing to the Security Council.

“A giant has left the world political scene”, Mr. Roed-Larsen said.  He was called Mr. Arafat the symbol of Palestinian aspirations, as well as a leader in the effort for a two-State solution.  With his passing, he said, both Israelis and Palestinians and their friends throughout the world must work even harder to help the Palestinian people achieve the inalienable right to self-determination.

He commended the Palestinian leadership on their actions toward an orderly transition of power in accordance with basic law.  He said that they had, for the most part, been able to avoid unrest, although the exchange of gunfire yesterday between masked gunmen and Abu Mazen’s (Mahmoud Abbas) bodyguards was a sad reminder of just how fragile the situation was.  He hoped the Palestinian people would find the courage, the strength and the wisdom to look to the future, looking to fulfill their aspirations through peaceful means.

Free and fair elections, he said, were the first step.  Equally important was sustained action to halt violence and terrorist activity.  Israel needed to refrain from all actions undermining trust -- including settlement activity -- to facilitate the conduct of elections and take steps to significantly improve the humanitarian situation by easing restrictions on movement.

All those steps needed to be taken in parallel to reinforce onward motion towards peace in the Middle East, which was still possible despite the obstacles, he said.  Support for reconciliation, peace and coexistence among both the Israeli and Palestinian public had been one of the lasting achievements of the Oslo Accords.  Other achievements were international consensus on achieving peace through a two-State solution, and an agreed-upon way to get there in the form of the Road Map, which was undoubtedly the basis of any future peace process.

He said that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon’s plan for disengagement from Gaza had the potential to drive the process forward significantly, if it was done in the context of the Road Map, the international community and the Palestinians were actively involved.  The Security Council’s engagement was also crucial in any revitalization of the peace process.  He urged the international community to continue striving for peace in the region and not to give up.

In response to correspondents’ questions, Mr. Roed-Larsen said there was real reason for hope, given recent statements by President Bush and Prime Minister Blair placing Middle East peace at the top of their agendas.  The international community must turn that hope into real opportunities, he said, noting that the Quartet principals might meet in a week or so to discuss them.  Asked about disagreements on timetables and the Israeli wall, he stressed that what was important was working toward peace and the establishment of a PalestinianState.

The current efforts of the United Nations to revitalize the peace process were greatly underestimated, he said in response to other questions.  The peacekeeping missions and observer units in the region, as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), were the underpinnings of a potential peace process.

The United Nations was also the key partner in the Quartet, he continued, having established it and provided it with legitimacy and financing mechanisms.  In addition, the Organization had close contacts on the ground and had spent two years laying the groundwork for elections.  The Secretary-General was working constantly to move things forward; Mr. Roed-Larsen himself spoke to senior representatives in Washington and other capitals every day.

Answering questions about the legacy of Yasser Arafat, Mr. Roed-Larsen said that he was a titan because he represented Palestinian identity, even though he shared responsibility with the other parties for the failure of the Camp David accords, and there were questions about his leadership on reform, human rights and financial accountability.  However, the focus now should be on new opportunities and there were many talented Palestinians who could move things forward from here, once they achieved legitimacy through elections.  At that point, security reform would be of paramount importance to build confidence vis-à-vis the Israelis.

Asked about the rumors of secret foreign bank accounts held by Mr. Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization, Mr. Roed-Larsen said he could neither confirm nor deny them.  He also said that French authorities had found no evidence of poisoning in Mr. Arafat’s death.

* *** *