UNITED NATIONS, Jan 24 (KUNA) — The US introduced “far-fetched” amendments to a Security Council draft statement expressing concern at the steep deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, making its adoption impossible, a council diplomat told KUNA on Thursday.
“Their aim is to have the council issue nothing,” the diplomat said.
The council’s 14 members agreed on a draft statement late Wednesday. The US said it needed more time to seek instructions from Washington. Council statements are approved by consensus.
The US delegation presented earlier today oral amendments to the draft text under discussion for the last three days.
The US now wants the council to condemn the “terrorist groups” that created the current situation in Gaza. “This is unacceptable,” the diplomat said.
Council President Libyan envoy Giadalla Ettalhi also told KUNA following council informal consultations on the draft statement “unfortunately, we did not reach any agreement. There are new oral amendments …but I believe that so far the overall discussion (on these amendments) will not be acceptable to anybody”.
He stressed that there is “nothing written, but there is talk about a condemnation and this obviously will not be acceptable to anybody”.
US Deputy Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff told reporters “there will be no statement that the US doesn’t feel comfortable with and does not believe it is productive, constructive and will contribute to the improvement of the situation in all its aspects”.
“We have a long standing principle. Council statements need to be constructive, productive and balanced…We have some principles that need to be addressed: condemnation of terrorism. We don’t understand why one would not condemn them.
“The reality is that there is a cause-effect here. We will ensure that this is a balanced text that takes into account the broader issue not just one of the consequences of the situation…This council has never condemned the rocket attacks and all of a sudden we are going to be dealing with only one aspect of this issue. That’s not going to fly,” he said.
The Arab group has scheduled a meeting in the next hour to look into the US amendments, followed by a council informal meeting.