Remarks on the Annapolis Conference

USUN PRESS RELEASE #350
November 30, 2007

Ambassador Wolff: Good afternoon. As you heard from the President we had a very good discussion on the situation in the region, following up on Undersecretary-General Pascoe's good briefing of the Council. We had in consultations and exchange and broad support, clear support for the Annapolis conference and the understanding reached by the parties and looking forward to continued progress to achieve the goals, the understanding laid out.

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, why did the United States withdraw this draft resolution? And the reason I understand that was given was that the parties decided that they didn't want it. Is that true, that both parties decided that it was not the right time and that that's what you told the Council?

Ambassador Wolff: We had a series of intensive consultations over the past few days and the upshot was that there were some unease with the idea of that type of product and the focus we all realized again should be placed and remain on Annapolis and the understanding that was reached there. We have a very good document, it is a momentous decision. It was described as the most important breakthrough in years by Mr. Pascoe. And rather than dilute from that and in respect to both parties in terms of what they thought would be most helpful we reached the conclusion that it would be best simply to withdraw it and that we would continue of course our discussions. And the focus again I want to keep, and I think everyone agreed with this, on the potentially historic outcome that will emerge from the Annapolis process and rather than distract from that or focus on what type of product or timing we thought it was best to just leave it at that.

Reporter: Ambassador, is it fair to say that you circulated a proposed resolution to the Council before consulting with Israel, which is considered at least an ally of the United States and why is it that after it was circulated and agreed to by most members - all members of the Council all of a sudden you realize that the parties are not all on board?

Ambassador Wolff: Well, discussing resolutions and other products of the Council, and particularly on short notice is not always easy. We consult widely, broadly, deeply and we don't act precipitously unless we all agree and the fact that we had consultations and concluded that not everyone was comfortable and let me reiterate that we did not have an agreed text yesterday either, there were other points made within the Council on that. And again rather than turn this into what it's becoming, which is a focus on the process, let me underscore again what our president said, the president of the Council said: Let's keep the focus on Annapolis, the Council is united in welcoming that outcome, this is an important breakthrough, there is a very good feeling about it, we're in a fragile, delicate period, and let's do whatever we can to keep the focus on the breakthrough and movement.

Reporter: Ambassador why not, I mean the simple question, why not consult with the Israelis and Palestinians directly first before making this move and closing this misunderstanding about the intentions…

Ambassador Wolff: Well, I don't accept the premise of your question but like I say we're not going to get into discussing here how we go about doing resolutions and like I say keep the focus on the substance and the objective here rather than a secondary or even tertiary issue of how we go about doing our work. Thank you very much.