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Russia to support at UNSC any LAS proposals on Gaza, Vitaly Churkin said

UN Security Council has also held closed-door consultations on the situation in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, November 21 (Itar-Tass) — Russia is ready to support at the UN Security Council any proposals of the League of Arab States (LAS) for the settlement of the crisis in the Gaza Strip, Russian Permanent Representative at the United Nations Vitaly Churkin, heading for the second during the day closed meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Palestinian enclave, told reporters on Tuesday.

“I hope that someone will clarify to us the issue what the League of Arab States is seeking in these conditions. Whatever they want, we will support it,” he said.

The diplomat confirmed that the draft resolution on the Gaza conflict settlement submitted by Russia will not be considered at this stage. “It (the draft) has so far been put aside, but I want to stress that it still remains in force,” Churkin said. According to him, the vote on the document “will take place only if no agreement on a cease-fire is reached,” the negotiations on which are now conducted by Israel and the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.

The RF Permanent Representative to the UN expressed concern over the fact that a new crisis that broke out in the Gaza Strip on November 14, has remained without the Security Council’s response. “It is disappointing that we should have responded long ago,” he stressed. Churkin said that over the past two days the Security Council members have considered a “good draft statement” on the situation in the enclave, submitted by Morocco on behalf of the Arab League. However, it has not been supported even by one Security Council member state.

The draft resolution on the settlement of the crisis in the Palestinian enclave was submitted by the delegation of the Russian Federation on Monday night. The draft, in particular, demands the immediate cessation of violence and expresses support for the efforts aimed at the urgent settlement of the crisis. The document also calls on Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks without delay to resolve the conflict through the creation of two independent states.

The UN Security Council has also held closed-door consultations on the situation in Gaza. The draft resolution was not to be considered at it – it should be done at an open meeting. A diplomat from a member country of the UN Security Council said on condition of anonymity that the strategy is to maximally delay the adoption of the decision both on the document and on the issue of an open meeting, giving more time for reaching a truce agreement.