RI upset over UNSC failure to adopt resolution on Israel
RI upset over UNSC failure to adopt resolution on Israel
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government expressed regret on Wednesday over the failure of
the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to adopt a resolution
on the Middle East, saying a veto by the United States prevented
any progress in the region.
However, the government vowed to continue working closely with
the international community to achieve peace in the Middle East.
"This failure, as a result of a veto cast by the United
States, is all the more regrettable as there had been
overwhelming support for the council to demand that Israel desist
from any act of deportation, and cease all threats to the safety
of President Yasser Arafat," the foreign ministry said in a
statement.
"The veto might be construed as inaction against Israel, while
it is understood that the United States itself has put pressure
on Israel to refrain from carrying out its decision (on Arafat),"
the statement said.
The U.S. vetoed on Tuesday (Wednesday Jakarta time) a
resolution demanding Israel not harm or deport Arafat, saying the
resolution should have included condemnation of acts of terrorism
by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"We will not support any resolution that evades the explicit
threat to the Middle East peace process posed by Hamas and other
such terrorist groups," said John Negroponte, U.S. ambassador to
the United Nations, as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
Eleven of the 15 council members voted in favor of the
resolution, which was sponsored by Syria, the only Arab nation on
the council, at the request of Palestine. Britain, Bulgaria and
Germany abstained.
The veto drew criticism from around the world, including
France and other major nations.
The Indonesian government reiterated its intention to mobilize
support for Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly.
"Indonesia will continue working closely with the rest of the
international community, including within the Organization of the
Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement, to ensure that
Israel immediately overturn its decision (on Arafat)," the
foreign ministry statement said.
The government also reiterated its position that Arafat had an
indispensable role to play in any effort to end the conflict in
the region.
Former foreign affairs minister Ali Alatas, meanwhile, said
the unjust treatment of the Palestinians was helping to fuel
terrorism.
"One of the root causes of international terrorism is the
unsettled Palestinian cause," Ali said after meeting with
President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
He said it was clear that the injustices suffered by the
Palestinians continued to be fertile ground for terrorism.