Russia to host UN talks to revive Mideast peace
Security Council chair calls open debate in hopes of adopting draft statement calling for 'lasting peace in the region, based on enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence, incitement, terror, and the two-state solution, building upon previous agreements and obligations'
The United Nations Security Council on Monday is to hold talks on reviving the stalled Middle East peace process and creating an independent Palestinian state living side-by-side with a secure Israel.
Although Israeli and Palestinian representatives will not take part in the UN talks, Russia called for the debate saying that "vigorous" diplomacy was needed to resolve the issue of Middle East peace.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who chairs the 15-member Security Council this month, called the Council meeting to stress the "urgency of reaching comprehensive peace in the Middle East."
The open debate, to include foreign ministers of Russia, Britain, France, Turkey and Austria as well as US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, comes as Israel is led by a new government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has so far refused to publicly endorse the idea of a Palestinian state, a bedrock principle of international plans to resolve the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Vigorous diplomatic action is needed to attain the goal set by the international community," said a preliminary draft statement Russia wants the council to adopt unanimously.
"Lasting peace in the region, based on an enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence, incitement and terror, and the two-state solution, building upon previous agreements and obligations."
The text, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, also encouraged the work of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet - the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States - "to support the parties in their efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."
Participants at Monday's open debate are to include Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov of Russia, David Miliband of Britain, Bernard Kouchner of France, Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, their counterparts from Austria and Costa Rica.
Last week, the Russian FM met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and told her, "The Middle East is one of our priorities, and we thank the Americans for their support of the special Security Council meeting on the 11th of the month."
However, Clinton is not scheduled to take part in the meeting, and the United States will be represented by Ambassador Susan Rice.
The Americans, as well as Israel, would rather advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process through directs talks, mediated by the US, and not through Security Council resolutions.
Next week, the Israeli prime minister is scheduled to arrive in Washington for a meeting with US President Barack Obama.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are to arrive in Washington for meetings after Netanyahu.
Yitzhak Benhorin contributed to this report
