S/PV.4862 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Israel, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter dated 19 November 2003 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, which will be issued as document S/2003/1102, and which reads as follows: “I have the honour to request that, in accordance with its previous practice, the Security Council invite the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations to participate in the meeting of the Security Council to be held today, Wednesday, 19 November 2003, regarding the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.” I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite the Permanent Observer of Palestine to participate in the meeting in accordance with the rules of procedure and the previous practice in this regard. There being no objection, it is so decided.

I should like to inform Council members that Bulgaria, China, Germany, Guinea, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom have also joined as sponsors to the draft resolution contained in document S/2003/1100. Accordingly, members of the Council have before them document S/2003/1100, submitted by Bulgaria, Chile, China, France, Germany, Guinea, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I welcome the presence of the distinguished Secretary-General at this meeting today. It is my understanding that the Security Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I hear no objection, I shall now put the draft resolution to the vote. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1515 (2003). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.