S/PV.5499 Security Council

The President (spoke in French): Pursuant to the decision taken at the 5498th meeting, held earlier today, I acknowledge the presence of the representatives of Israel and Lebanon at the Council table, in accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. The Security Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. After consultations among the members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The Security Council expresses its extreme shock and distress at the shelling by the Israeli Defense Forces of a residential building in Qana, in southern Lebanon, which has caused the killing of dozens of civilians, mostly children, and injured many others. The Security Council sends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Lebanese people. "The Security Council strongly deplores this loss of innocent lives and the killing of civilians in the present conflict and requests the Secretary-General to report to it within one week on the circumstances of this tragic incident. the "The Security Council expresses its concern at the threat of escalation of violence with further grave consequences for the humanitarian situation, calls for an end to violence, and underscores the urgency of securing a lasting, permanent and sustainable ceasefire. "The Security Council expresses again its utmost concern at the Lebanese and Israeli civilian casualties and human suffering, the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the increased number of internally displaced persons. "The Security Council urges all parties to grant immediate and unlimited access to humanitarian assistance. "The Security Council deplores any action against United Nations personnel and calls for full respect for the safety and security of all United Nations personnel and premises. "The Security Council affirms its determination to work without any further delay to adopt a resolution for a lasting settlement of the crisis, drawing on diplomatic efforts under way. "The Security Council remains seized of the matter." This statement will be issued as a document of Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2006/35. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 8.35 p.m. 06-44899