U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L, front) talks with Danny Danon (C), Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, and Jonathan Cohen (R, front), U.S. Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, prior to a Security Council meeting on challenges to peace and security in the Middle East, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 20, 2019. A United Nations official on Tuesday called for "restraint and genuine dialogue" to avoid major confrontation in the Middle East. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations official on Tuesday called for "restraint and genuine dialogue" to avoid major confrontation in the Middle East.
"Restraint and genuine dialogue are urgently needed, in order to avoid the risk that a minor miscalculation would inadvertently lead to a major confrontation, with disastrous consequences even well beyond the region," Maria Luiza Viotti, UN chef de cabinet, told a Security Council meeting on challenges to peace and security in the Middle East.
"The series of incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waterways have raised tensions to dangerous levels," she said, adding that "it is crucial that the rights and duties related to navigation are respected in accordance with international law."
Speaking of Iran, she said that "deep disagreements about Iran's nuclear program are further exacerbating differences in the Gulf."
"Notwithstanding the concerns about it, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action remains the only agreed international framework to address Iran's nuclear program," she noted.
Referring to Syria, Viotti said that "the United Nations is concerned that the ongoing hostilities in northwest Syria may risk undermining the special envoy's efforts to revive the political process."
As for Yemen, Viotti said the United Nations continues to provide desperately needed, life-saving humanitarian assistance, while special envoy Martin Griffiths remains engaged in efforts to implement the Hodeidah agreement.
Noting that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains "the longest standing issue on the UN peace and security agenda," Viotti said that "a just solution acceptable to both sides is essential for the future of the whole region."
"The United Nations remains ready to support efforts towards allowing Palestinians and Israelis to live in two democratic states side by side in peace and within secure and recognized borders, based on relevant United Nations resolutions," she added.
"Keeping the channels of communications open needs to be priority number one, followed by confidence-building measures to move parties away from confrontation toward dialogue," she said.
