President of the UN Security Council Arnold Peter van Walsum said Thursday that the council will discuss the situation in the Middle East on November 8th, reported Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
"We discussed the program of work for this month. I raised it myself as the first point because of general interest," Walsum told a press
"I think we all agree in the council that whatever we do in this area should be supportive of the secretary-general's efforts to revive the peace process," he said.
He noted that the council will not discuss exclusively the Palestinian and Arab request last week to dispatch a UN protection force or the working paper about it, said the agency.
He said there have been "encouraging developments" in the Middle East, in reference to the meeting of Israel’s former prime minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, during which both sides agreed on putting an end to the deadly clashes in the West Bank and Gaza for more than a month.
The agreement may “influence the text of the resolution or document we are going to have before us," he said.
Diplomats said that the council discussion, to be held one day after the US presidential elections, will focus on how to ease tension, protect civilians in broad terms, support the peace process and whatever developments occur from now until then, KUNA said.
The discussion will also coincide with Arafat's visit to Washington next week. In the meantime, top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat is scheduled to meet with UN Chief Kofi Annan Friday, said the agency, adding that Annan met with Israel’s foreign minister Shlomo Ben Ami Thursday during which they discussed the current situation in the region – Albawaba.com
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