TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
Intro: The United Nations Security Council resumes closed-door talks later
today (Saturday) in an attempt to reach agreement on a resolution
dealing with the violence in the Middle East. More from correspondent Larry
Freund in New York.
Text: Security Council diplomats for the second night in a row worked
into the early morning hours to try to reach agreement on the language of a
resolution acceptable to the United States.
The U-S representative to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke told reporters there are still some
problems with the draft resolution from the U-S point of view. He requested a delay while the White
House reviews the wording.
News reports, quoting diplomats, say President Clinton is discussing
the resolution with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to find an acceptable text
Mr. Holbrooke said the United States shares the Security Councils commitment to
moving very rapidly, adding that President Clinton had been fully engaged in
this process during the evening. The U-S representative said the stakes are very high.
The draft resolution now being discussed condemns what it calls the
excessive use of force in the fighting between Israeli troops and
Palestinians, without specifically pointing to Israeli security forces. The
clashes have led to scores of deaths over the past week.
The proposed resolution also deplores what it describes as the provocation at a holy site
in Jerusalem that led to the violence. Palestinians say the fighting was
provoked by the visit of Israeli politician Ariel Sharon to the site, while
Israel says he had a right to make the visit.
The United States, as one of the five permanent members of the Security
Council, can veto a resolution. Diplomats says the United States had tried
to avoid a resolution altogether. But the current talks began when a text
was introduced by Malaysia, one of the Councils non-permanent members, on
behalf of the nations known as the non-aligned group. The resolution originally
criticized Israeli security forces.
The Council is also trying to find acceptable wording over the nature of an inquiry into the fighting. The
Palestinian representative has called for an international probe, but
Israel has rejected that suggestion. U-S ambassador Holbrooke has said the facts of the
fighting are complicated and disputed. He observed to reporters that
every word counts on a Middle East resolution. (signed)
NEB/NY/LSF/PFH
TEXT:
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