A/34/PV.86 General Assembly

The position of the Romanian Government on the 0 verriding need for a peaceful settlement of 128. It was reaffirmed, with all due clarity and authority, in the recent message to the President of the General Assembly and to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by the Presidentofthe Socialist Republic of Romania, Nicolae Ceau~escu, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. In the message the President of Romania said: "Romania is constantly working for a peaceful settlement, through negotiations, of the Middle East conflict, for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace that would lead to the withdrawal of Israel from Arab territories occupied as a result of the war of 1%7, to a solution to the problem of the Palestinian people, in accordance with their right to self-determination and to the creation oftheir own State, and ,to guarantees of independence, integrityand sovereignty for all the States in the area." 129. Directly following the outbreak of the war of 1967, Romania clearly stated its deep conviction that an appropriate answer to the problems confronting the countries and peoples of the Middle East, problems which represent a constant danger to international peace and security, can be supplied only by a peaceful and just settlement in accordance with the principles of the Charter and the fundamental interests of the parties involved. The course ofevents in the Middle East in the last three decades proves convincingly that wars and the use of force, far from contributing to a solution of the disputes involved, only complicate matters, aggravate an already dangerous situation and lay the groundwork for further armed conflicts, which would be even more ruinous. Romania therefore has always considered that a political, negotiated settlement is the only way to establish a just and lasting peace, making it possible finally for all the peoples in the area to devote their efforts and resources to the strengthening of their national independence and economic and social development. 130. It is obvious that a future peace settlement in the Middle East, if it is to be lasting, must be just and equitable and must be backed by the principles of the Charter and of international law and must meet the legitimate interests and aspirations of every State and people in the area. 13l. In the light of its position of principle, which is that occupation of foreign territories by force is inad· missible and contrary to all standards of law, legality and international morality, Romania has always called for Israel's withdrawal from Arab territories occupied following the 1%7 war. 132. By the same token, for a peace settlement to be truly viable it is indispensable, as we have always stated, that it should include the exercise of the legitimate national rights ofthe Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and to an independent State of their own. In keeping with this unshakable