Israeli-Palestinian "Peace Process"
Nine months of talks have not been enough, in spite of all the efforts of John Kerry, to even provide a framework for negotiating an agreement on the final status, but this is not a reason to stop the talks. The most pressing priority should be to ensure the resumption of negotiations. Both parties should focus on this.
Luxembourg has consistently called for intra-Palestinian reconciliation behind President Abbas as an important element for the unity of the future Palestinian state and for reaching a two-state solution. Only this reconciliation will strengthen the viability of a future peace agreement and ensure the unity of a Palestinian state including East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. We welcome the formation of a Palestinian unity government and the decision of the US to recognize it. The prospect of democratic elections for the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council is positive to bring back full legitimacy to Palestinian institutions. It would also make a future peace agreement more sustainable.
Any future Palestinian government must uphold the principle of non-violence, to remain committed to achieving a two-state solution and to a negotiated peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, accepting previous agreements and obligations, including Israel’s legitimate right to exist. The Palestinians have the right to have their own state and a life in dignity. This is a basic right, a humanitarian right.
President Abbas will remain fully in charge of the negotiation process and have a mandate to negotiate in the name of all Palestinians provides further assurance that the peace negotiations can and must proceed.
The continuation of negotiations is entirely consistent with the intra-Palestinian reconciliation. It is unacceptable to punish the Palestinians because they want to reconcile or because they want to adhere to international conventions and organizations. Reconciliation cannot be an excuse for the Israeli government not to resume negotiations as soon as possible and in good faith.
Regrettably, illegal settlement construction, which has been the main reason for the negotiations to be currently on hold, continues. Settlements remain an obstacle to peace and undermine the prospects for a negotiated settlement. More should be done to discourage settlement construction.
Syria
The bloodshed in Syria continues unabated. The Geneva process is deadlocked. Assad has just reelected himself. The prospects for a political solution are very bleak indeed. In the absence of a political solution to the Syrian conflict requires at the very least, the international community should respond decisively to the humanitarian emergency.
Unfortunately, one thing is clear: seven months after the adoption of the presidential statement, and three months after the adoption of resolution 2139 on humanitarian access, the requirements set by the UNSC have not been met. Luxembourg, recognizing the non-implementation of UNSCR 2139 works on a new resolution together with Australia and Jordan, and in close cooperation with OCHA. We are working on proposals for measures that the Council may take in response to the arbitrary denial of humanitarian access to Syria, and to increase the assistance to the population in need.
Let me also reiterate our conviction that the perpetrators of heinous crimes committed in Syria must answer for their actions, regardless of their affiliation. For the sake of justice, and to put an end to the crimes committed by all parties to the conflict.
Since March 2011, Luxembourg calls on the UNSC to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC. The EU as a whole does the same since April 2014. We regret that the text of the resolution drafted by France has been vetoed by Russia and China on the 22nd of May.
Libya
I want to express my full support to those who, under extremely difficult conditions, stay engaged in the elaboration of a new constitution and are trying to organize new parliamentary elections to give democratic legitimacy to Libyan institutions.