Annan Addresses Mideast Violence

ABC NEWS ^ | March 12 2002 | The Associated Press

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Annan Addresses Mideast Violence

Kofi Annan Urges Palestinians to Halt Acts of Terror, Israelis to End 'Illegal Occupation'

UNITED (freekin) NATIONS March 12 — In his toughest statement on the Mideast violence, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday urged Palestinians to halt "morally repugnant" acts of terror and Israelis to end their "illegal occupation" of Palestinian territory and stop using excessive force.

Calling the current fighting the worst in a decade, Annan welcomed the U.S. decision to send retired Gen. Anthony Zinni back to the region and urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to back his efforts to renew the peace process.

"You can still lead your people away from disaster," Annan said at an open meeting of the Security Council on the escalating violence. In the last 10 days, more than 200 Palestinians and Israelis have died.

U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said he believed it was the first time that Annan had called Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory "illegal."

Israel's U.N. Ambassador Yehuda Lancry said it was "not a new development." He said that Sharon has envisioned a Palestinian state and Israel entered a process in 1993 to end its occupation. But he stressed "we have to negotiate it."

Nasser Al-Kidwa, the Palestinian U.N. envoy, didn't think Annan was striking a harder stance. But he said it was "indicative that the whole world is getting ... increasingly nervous about the situation and ... wants to see an end to this occupation."

The Security Council met late Tuesday to discuss rival resolutions introduced by Palestinian supporters and the United States, both calling for an immediate cessation of violence and a resumption of negotiations. Neither mentions outside observers to help calm the situation, which Israel opposes.

The Palestinian draft refers to Israel as "the occupying power" and calls for it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention, which governs conduct and protection of civilians during occupation. Israel claims the land is disputed, not occupied, and maintains the convention does not apply.

The United States, Israel's closest council ally, welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah's peace initiative and encouraged diplomatic efforts by Zinni and others.

Diplomats said a vote was not expected until Wednesday, giving council members time to consult capitals.

The council "welcomed the secretary-general's statement," said Norway's U.N. Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby, the current council president. Diplomats said many members wanted to "endorse" it, but the United States objected because of Annan's reference to Israel's "illegal occupation."

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said "in general terms ... we welcome his statement."

"We might not endorse every single word of it but we certainly think in general terms it's a fair characterization of the situation that is prevailing in the Middle East at the moment," he said.

Negroponte, Lancry and Al-Kidwa all expressed hope that Zinni's mission would lead to a resumption of talks.

In his speech, Annan warned that the alternative to renewed dialogue "is continued bloodshed delaying even further the prospects for an end to the occupation and the violence."

"To the Israelis I say: you have the right to live in peace and security within secure internationally recognized borders. But you must end the illegal occupation," he said.

"More urgently, you must stop the bombing of civilian areas, the assassinations, the unnecessary use of lethal force, the demolitions, and the daily humiliation of ordinary Palestinians," Annan said.

"To the Palestinians I say: you have the inalienable right to a viable state within secure internationally recognized borders. But you must stop all acts of terror and all suicide bombings," the secretary-general said.

"It is doing immense harm to your cause, by weakening international support, and making Israelis believe that it is their existence as a state, and not the occupation, that is being opposed," he warned.

[JAWs]

Notice how every word of Annan's condemntation of the Pals gets soft-pedaled and ignored?

[Fireone]

If a defined Palestinian state is established, please allow twenty acres for the new U.N. headquarters. We don't need to spend a dime on jet fare for an ambassador either. New York City could put the existing area to good use. It should be returned to the United States.

[Diogenesis]

[RamsNo1]

I wish that Annan would address the brutality of the African Muslim regimes and their persecution of Christians instead.