HUMAN WRONGS WATCH

Human Wrongs Watch

Ongoing developments in the Middle East have increased the urgency of resolving the stalemate in the Arab-Israeli peace process, the United Nations political chief said, while also noting that the prospects of regional peace were fading.

West Bank Israeli settlement of Har Gilo, located near Jerusalem. Photo: IRIN/Erica Silverman

“We are concerned that we have not yet seen the progress required for sustained negotiations that could lead to successful outcomes,” the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, told the Security Council on 22 August during its regular monthly meeting on the Middle East.

“While prospects for peace seem to grow dimmer, we – as the United Nations – continue to hope that leaders on both sides will recognize and seize the historic opportunity that is now before them to start seriously working toward the goal of reaching a peace agreement that meets the legitimate aspirations and fulfils the rights of the people on both sides,” Feltman stated.

Human Wrongs Watch

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Iran at the end of the month to take part in the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), according to his spokesperson.

Ban with President Ahmadinejad of Iran, April 2011 | Photo: UN

“The Secretary-General looks forward to the Summit as an opportunity to work with the participating Heads of State and Government, including the host country, towards solutions on issues that are central to the global agenda including follow-up to the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development, disarmament, conflict prevention, and support for countries in Transition,” his spokesperson told reporters on 22 August.

Taking place in the capital, Tehran, and under the chairmanship of Iran, the NAM Summit will be held on 26-31 August, and is expected to draw representatives from its 120 members, as well as from various associated observer countries.

Over recent days, there have been media reports of calls, from Israel and the US, for Ban to boycott the meeting, the UN reports.

Ban’s spokesperson said that the UN chief takes “seriously” his responsibility and that of the United Nations to pursue diplomatic engagement with all of the world body’s Member States, in the interest of peacefully addressing vital matters of peace and security.