S/PV.1166 Security Council

We welcome this morning Mr. Pernando Ortiz Sanz as Permanent Representative of Bolivia. He cornes to the United Nations representing his cotintry and takes his seat in the Security Council after a distinguished career in education, in literature, in journalism and in diplomacy , In welcoming him here as a distinguished colleague, 1 also note with gratification the faithful and useful services of his immediate predecessors in the Security Council, Mr. Castrillo Justiniano who has served here for most of the past year, and more recently Mr. Alipaz. 2. sir vous sera un motif de satisfaction l’a été pour moi ce mois-ci. 2. Mr. Ambassador, 1 shall relinquish my gave1 as President of the Security Council to you tomorrow without reluctance. 1 also hope that your experience in presiding over this body Will be as agreeable as mine has been during the past month. 3. Je remercie M. Stevenson, ment à la cause de la démocratie le monde, a eues à mon égard. 3, Mr. ORTIZ SANZ (Bolivia) (translated from Spanish): 1 am grateful for the warm words of welcorne from the President of the Security Council, that great democrat and servant of world peace, Mr, Stevenson. 4. Au nom du Gouvernement représentants 4. On behalf of the Government of Bolivia, 1 should like t0 greet the representatives of the members of the Adoption of the agenda The agenda was adopted. The Palestine question (2) Letter doted 14 November 1964 from the Permorient Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic oddressed to the President of the Security Councii (S/6044); (b) Letter doted 15 November 1964 from the Permanent Representative of Israel addressed to president of the Security Council (S/6046)

In accordance with the decision taken at our meeting on 16 November 1964 [1162nd meeting], 1 shall invite the representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic and of Israel to take their seats at the Council table. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Michael Comay (Israel) and Mr. Rafik Asha (Syria) took places at the Council table.

My first words Will be addressed to the new Bolivian representative, to whom the French delegation happy to extend a warm welcome. 8. 1 have listened with the greatest attention to the Syrian and Israel explanations of the incident 13 November 1964. My delegation has also examined with a11 the necessary tare the report of the United Nations Chiof of Staff of the Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO), which was transmitted to us by the Secretary-General [S/6061 and Add.l].&’ It would like to draw attention to the merits of this document, which fully reflects the regard for objectivity and the zeal demonstrated by the representatives of the Organization to which has been entrusted difficult task of preserving peace in such a troubled part of the world. 9. The Prench Government deeply deplores the incident which gave rise to this meeting and expresses the great sorrow it feels at seeing blood beind shed once more on the soi1 which gave birth to SO many noble ideas, in particular the ideas of tolesance and respect for the human person, on which our civilization is base& The essential duty ofthesecurity Council is therefore clear. It must do everything its power to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. My Government considers that to this end the means at the disposa1 of the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization should reinforced. It seems to me that, in this respect, could not do better than to examine once again the recommenclations made by General Bull himself his report of 24 August 1963 to the Secretary-General .&/ Sec Officia1 Records of the Security Council, Nineteentb Year, SuPPlement foi- October, November and December 1964. 10. General Bull recalled that Isxael had xefused to attend the meetings of the Mixed Armistice Commission at which Syria’s complaints regarding the demilitarized zone were to be examined and dxewattention to the advantages that a resumptionofthe plenary meetings of that Commission would offer. The French delegation endorses this observation and regrets that the wishes that other delegations expressed to that effect at the Council’s meetings in August 1963 have net been acted upon. 10. Le général Bull, rappelant qu’Israël refuse d’assistex b des sgances de laCommission mixte d’armistice au cours desquelles seraient examinées lesplaintes de la Syrie relatives notait d’autre part tout l’intérêt la reprise des réunions pléniares de cette oommission. La délégation française s’associe $ cette remarque et regrette que le vœu qu’elle avait exprimé a ce sujet, réunions du Conseil d’aoat 1963, n’ait pas eude suite. 11. The report of 24 August 1963 also proposed that United Nations military observers should enjoy greater freedom of movement and that provision might be made for the installation of mobile snd temporary observation posts in demilitarized zones. 11. Le rapport que soit renforcée observateurs soit éventuellement prévue l’installation, démilitarisées, caractsre temporaire. 12, In the view of the French delegation, recent events have further incxeased the value of these ideas, and it should be possible to put theminto effect within a reasonable period of time, pxovided that both parties are resolved to do everything in theixpower to prevent a recurrence of incidents which cari only harm them bath. It is our hope that, realizing this necessity, they Will first refrain from the use of armed force if any difficulty armes, and then, in the event of fire being opened, Will be careful to prévent any extension of such violence. 12. Les récents de l’avis de la France, la valeur de ces iokes dont il ne paraît pas impossible d’escompter la mise en ceuvre dans des dglais raisonnables, si les deux parties sont déterminées afaire toutoe qui dépend d’elles pour éviter le retour d’incidents dont elles ne peuvent l’une et l’autre que pâtir. Notre vœu est que, prenant conscience de cette nécessité, elles s’abstiennent d’abord, si une difficulté de recourir le feu aurait été ouvert, elles se gardent de toute amplification de la violence. 13, 1 cannot, howevex, fail to mention one of the chief causes of tension on the Israel-Syxian border; namely, the recent considerable reinforcement of Syrian and Isxael troops stationed in the border zones. The Council will no doubt agree with my delegation that both parties shoulcl be asked to reduce these forces to the levels laid down by the Armistice Agreement. 13. Mais je ne saurais passer sous silence une causes principales de la tension qui régne aux frontières israélo-syriennes: rable intervenu récemment dans les effectifs militaires syriens et israéliens stationnés dans les zones frontisres. délégation française qu’il conviendrait des lors de demander aux deux parties de ramener ces effectifs aux niveaux qui ont été arrêtés par la Convention d’armistice. 14. Nous aurions ainsi, une nouvelle fois, en ne nous laissant décourager ni par la répétition des incidents, ni par celle des arguments habituels échangés de part et d’autre, rempli les hautes fonctions qui sont la raison d’être de notre organisme, c’est-à-dire la sauvegarde de la paix. 14. Thus, by not allowing ourselves to be disoouraged either by the repetition of such incidents or by the customary exchange of arguments between the two parties, we shall once more have fulfilled the lofty function for which OLW Organization was created, namely the preservation of peace. 15. Mx. HAJEK (Czechoslovakia): Mr. President, permit me, at the beginning, to join you, as well as the speakex that preceded me, the representative of France, in extending our expressions of welcome to the xepresentative of Bolivia, Mr. Fernando Ortiz Sanz. 15. 111. HAJEK (Tchécoslovaquie) [traduit de l’anglais] : Permsettez-moi Président, de m’associer % vous et au représentant de la France, qui a pris la parole avant moi, pour présenter mes souhaits de bienvenue au représentant de la Bolivie, M. Fernando Ortiz Sanz. 2/ Ibid., Eighteenth YeY 1963~~ d .?./ Ibid., 1963, - 17. Recently, in the course of this year, the Council has been informed about several incidents in the northern area of the Armistice line. In particular, 1 recall the letters of the representative of Syria of 8 July [S/5805]% and of 6 August [S/5854],31 with the Israel reply of 10 August [S/5874].3/ The representative’of Syria mentioned in his speech of 16 November [1162nd meeting] fourteen other incidents that have taken place in the last few weeks. The report of the Chief of Staff also contains a long list of complaints submitted by both sides to the Mixed Armistice Commission, It has certainly not escaped the attention of the memhers that the list of Syrian complaints is much longer. It refers to larger number of incidents, and more of a military character, whereas in the list of Israel complaints there is a large proportion of incidents of a non-military character. In this chain of events, the fighting of 13 November constitutes a dangerous escalation, as appears from the statements by both parties in their speeches before the Council and also from the report of the Chief of Staff of UNTSO. 18. The Czechoslovak delegation has studied with the utmost attention a11 these documents. We deplore the incidents, their escalation into dangerous fighting and the Ioss of human life they caused. We join those of our colleagues who have expressed the hope thatpeace may return speedily to the area. It seems to us that the Council, on the basis of a11 the facts submitted, is in a position to reach appropriate conclusions. 19. Let us sepeat some of the facts. A warning shot provoked by the presence of an Israelpatrolon Syrian territory was followed by an exchange of heavy firing on bath sides. Within a few minutes, necessary contacts were established by the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission in order to arrange a ceasefire as soon as possible. Bowever, while the position of Syria towards this initiative was co-operative, the attitude of Israel was quite different. After having accepted a suggested cesse-fire, Israel reversed its position at the last moment. Immediately afterwards an air attack followed on Syrian territory. New attacks went on after the original cesse-fire should have corne into effect. A new cesse-fire was negotiated, but the air attacks went on and did not stop until three minutes before the entry into force of the new cesse-fire, causing heavy material damage and loss of human life. 3/ Ibid., Nineteenth Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1964 L 20., When a11 these circumstances are taken into consideration, it would be logical to conclude that an aggressive action was undertaken by Israel against Syrian territory, violating both the general Armistice Agreement between Israel and Syria of 20 July 1949 and the general principle contained in Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations. It is evident that to justify this action the principle of legitimate self-defence cannot be invoked, as no attack against Israel territory has taken place. Even if we accepted, for the sake of argument, the opinion that the Israel encroachments on Syrian territory which started the ground firing on 13 November were a result of a cer:ain confusion concerning the demilitarized zone, it is sufficient to look at paragraph 26 of the Chief of Staff!s report to see that it is Israel’s obstinacy in refusing to co-operate with the Mixed Ar.mistice Commission which has beenpreventing the functioning of this body and, by implication, a clarification of the question of the demilitarized zone. The failure to salve this question results, in itself, in a violation of,Syria’s sovereignty. The whole attitude of Israel in the present dispute is evidence of a systematic disrespect for the system created by the Armistice Agreement which was drawn up under the auspices of the United Nations and has been supported by several resolutions of the Security Council. provoqué démilitarisée, du rapport que c’est cet organisme que ne soit tirée au clair la questionde litarisée. résolue de la souveraineté dans le différend actuel témoigne d’un mépris matique du mécanisme créé par la Convention d’armistice, approuvé résolutions. 21. The Security Council has had to deal recently, on several occasions, with acts of wilful, premeditated aggxession, perpetrated by means of air attacks under pretext of preceding incidents which sometimes were never proved as having taken place but which always, whether real or fictitious, were blown up and dramatized by the aggressor in order to justify his aggressive and criminal actions as so-called acts of legitimate self-defence; 21. Le Conseil ment, prémédités aériennes, antbrieurs eu lieu, mais qui, réels exagérés fier défense. 22. It is significant that the Security Council has never condoned such an arrogant and hypocritical policy, apparently a new version of the old gunboat policy of the colonialists. In some cases it condemned it; in a11 cases its members very energetically exposed this colonialist and neo-colonialist practice as contrary ta the Charter, It seems to my delegation that this practice, applied ~150 in the present case, deserves condemnation. The Security Council, in the opinion of my delegation, should insist on compliance with the Charter al,c! with the Israel-Syrian Armistice Agreement, concluded under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as with its previous resolutions; and consequently it should condemn the aggression that took place on 13 November and insist that the necessary arrangements be made to ensure that the Israel-Syrian Armistice Agreement works and is fully respected. 22. n’a jamais admis cette politique d’arrogance crisie, des canonniares arrivé ont contraires et néo-colocialistes. faut condamner eu recours Conseil respectées israélo-syrienne et ses résolutions l’agression que soient prises effective et à en faire observer 23. Mr. Chun-ming CHANG (China): 1 wish first of alI to associate myself with the words ofwelcome extended to the new representative of Boliviawho is par- 23. glais]: la bienvenue 26. The Council has before it the report of the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. It is a factual account of what actually happened, as well as of the factors that contributed to the tragedy. This is a very commendable reportcommendable for its objectivity and impartiality. 27. It appears that the incident of 13 November was chiefly due to the fact that the Armistice demaroation line in the region of Tel-El-Qadi is not entirely clear. It cannot be precisely determined whether the track constructed by Israel along the boundary is wholly on the Israel side, or whether at some point it encsoaches upon Syrian territory. The question, as the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission has indicated, may be Ila matter of metres “. It is most unfortunate that a few metres of territory shouldhave been the cause of an armed clash as serious as that of the 13 November incident. 28. The Chief of Staff of UNTSO has suggested that a survey be made of the boundary in the area in question by a team of international experts. The suggestion should, with the co-operation of both parties, be acted upon as quickly as possible. The results of such a survey could removeone of the most important sources of friction between Israel and Syxia. It is the hope of my delegation that the local authorities on both sides of the boundasy Will henceforth exercise such restraint as to avoid a repetition of the 13 November incident. 29. I"inallY, it seems to the Chinese delegation that the r-Med Nations peace machinery in the area should be givsn the possibility of functioning as effectively as possible in the investigation and settlement of border complaints and in the restoration of tranquillity to the inhabitants of the area. This would, 1 am sure, be an important contribution to the lessening of the tension which bas so long poisoned relations between Israel and Syria.

May 1 be permitted first to s&nd a hearty welcome to the new Bolivian representative in our midst, Mr. Fernando Ortiz Sanz. Ws are looking forward to co-operation with him. 32. The Norwegian delegation, of course, cannot associate itself with any of the measures the parties resorted to during these tragic hours. 1 wouldbe failing in my duties, however, if I dicl not state that the latest steps in this escalation, that is to say the use of tanks and of modern military aircraft, was in our view most dangerous. We are relieved by thefact that a cesse-fire was arranged andhas been inforce since. The Norwegian delegation deeply deplores the loss of human lives and the hardship created for the civilian population which resulted from the violence of the 13 November incident. 32. La délégation norvégienne n’approuve évidemment pas les moyens auxquels les parties ont eu recours dans ces heures tragiques. Cependant, je manquerais 3 mes obligations si je ne disais pas qu’a notre avis l’emploi en dernier ressort de moyens tels que des chars et des avions m.odernes est extrêmement grave, Certes, un cessez-le-feu a été ordonné et il est effectif, mais la délégation norv&- gienne déplore vivement les pertes en vies humaines et les épreuves endurges par la population civile 2 la suite de l’incident du 13 novembre, 33. When, in August 1963 [1061st meeting], the Council dealt with another incident in this area, I stressed, on behalf of my delegation, that apart from pronouncing the views of the Council on the incidents brought before it, it appeared just as important, if not more SO, that the Security Council should consider appropriate measure,s designed to create a moxe peaceful atmosphere in this area in the future, 33. En aofit 1963, lors de l’examen par le Conseil d’un autre incident survenu dans la même région, j’avais souligné au nom de ma délégation [106léme séance] que le Conseil devait faire connaître son opinion sur les incidents dont il était saisi, mais qu’il était tout aussi important, sinon plus, qu’il consid&re les mesures ?i prendre en vue d’y ramener le calme. 34. This seems today of even more vital importance, The Armistice Agreement between the two parties came into being under the auspices of the United Nations. The United Nations has assumed certain responsibilities for the maintenance of peace in this axea and has established its own machinery to supervise the truce agreement. But this obligation cannot truly be fulfilled without the full and willingco-operation of the parties involved. 1 therefore address again an appeal to the two parties that they, in their own interest and in the interest of peace, co-operate loyally with the United Nations and its organs in the area and that they observe scrupulously and without reservations the provisions of the Armistice Agreement to which they are parties. 34. Dans le cas présent, c’est, semble-t-il, encore plus indispensable. En effet, la Convention d’armistice a été signée sous les auspices de l’organisation des Nations Unies, qui a assumé certaines responsabilités en vue du maintien de la paix dans la région et qui a mis en place notamment un organisme chargé de veiller au respect de la tr&ve. Or, il est impossible de s’acquitter effectivement de cette obligation si les parties intéressées ne sont pas disposées 8, coopgrer pleinement. Je leur lance donc un nouvel appel poux que, dans leur propre intérêt et dans celui de la paix, elles coopèrent loyalement avec 1’CNU et les organismes qui la représentent dans la rggion et qu’elles observent scrupuleusement et sans réserve les clauses de la Convention d’armistice. 35. We noted in the wise statement made by the United Kingdom representative at our last meeting [1165th meeting] his prudent comment that we are gathered here not to condemn but to conciliate. We share this view and feel that it is our essential duty to concentrate on the practical steps by which the conciliation cari find its true meaning and lead to tranquillity in the area. The Security Council has before it the report submitted by the Chief of Staff of the Uniteù Nations Truce Supervision Organization. This report net only reflects the objectivity and the Consciousness of UNTSO, but also demonstrates the constructive approach towards the problems we are dealing with. It is also perhaps a reminder to us a11 that the essential work for peace goes beyond the declarations of moral obligations. Our responsibility is nOt fulfilled by an allocation of blame or recom- 35, Le représentant du Royaume-Uni a sagementrappelé au Conseil, à sa dernière réunion [1165Bme séance], qu’il est réuni non pour condamner, pour concilier. Nous partageons son il est essentiel de mettre d’abord au point les mesures qui favoriseront rétablissement de la paix. Le Conseil de séCUrité est saisi du rapport du Chef d’état-major de l’Organisme des Nations Unies chargé de la surveillance de la trêve. Ce rapport témoigne non seulement de l’objectivité fait preuve lQNUST, mais également de son SOuCi d’aborder d’une mani&re constructive les problèmes que nous avons $ résoudre. Peut-être vise-t-il aussi & nous rappeler que les énoncés d’obligations morales sont bien loin d’être l’essentiel quand on œuvre pour la paix, Notre responsabilité n’est pas dégagée quand 36. If we cannot now heal the bitterness at the root of this confliot, at least we mUSt make possible more firm control of the situation, It is, therefore, the opinion of my delegation that the Security Council should endorse the specific recommendations in the report before us, the more SO as it seems that both parties bave already identified themselves with their substance and indicated willingness to pay regard these recommendations. P,ermit me to outline essential elements in these recommendations. They are: The need for a survey by impartial experts the frontier between the two countries in order define and mark the armistice demarcation line. Furthermore, there is the necessity of avoidingdirëot unilateral actions, either provoked or unprovoked: stress this-either provoked or unprovoked. One cannot condone any firing, for whatever purpose, across the armistice demarcation line. Lastly, it is of vital importance, we believe, that whatever international instrument is present, in this case the Mixed Armistice Commission, it must be made to function effectively. 37. The Norwegian delegation, therefore, joins with others which have stressed the importance of both parties co-operating fully and loyally with the Mixed Armistice Commission,

The next name on my list of speakers is that of the representative of Israel, upon whom 1 naw call.

I would just take a few minutes of the Council’s time to touch on two or three points of fact which have been mentioned in the course of the debate this morning. 40. Firstly, the representative of France referred to the suggestion contained in the report last year of the Chief of Staff regarding the possible use of mobile temporary United Nations observation posts, in addition to the fixed observation posts which alreacly exist on both sides of the frontier. 1 am in a position inform him and the Council that in the last few months -that is, since July-General Bull has on three occasions approached the Israel Government with regard t0 the setting up of such temporary mobile observation posts, and on a11 three occasions he has immediately been extended the agreement and the co-operation the Israel authorities. Such temporary posts were UP at Almagor from 24 July to 7 August, again at Almagor from 25 to 26 August, and in Tel-Katzir from 8 to 9 October, SO that there has been on this question an implementation already of the proposa1 that was made last year-an implementation with the full co-operation of the Israel authorities. 41. Secondly, the representative of Czechoslovakia made some point of the suggestion that the list of 42. Nevertheless, it is of interest to note that of 42. Néanmoins, about 130 Syrian complaints for the month of October alors qu’elle avait déposé, au cours du mois d’octobre, which have appeared in this list for 7 to 13 November, 130 plaintes in no single case was an investigation requested by question’ the Syrian authorities themselves. Therefore, the enquête mere padding of the numbers of complaints without simple requestfng any United Nations investigation of them sans cari hardly be held to be afactor indicating a.ny wrong- Nations doing on the part of Israel. élément de culpabilité 43. My third point is the following. In an earlier statement before the Council, 1 mentioned a fact with which perhaps a11 members of the Council were not fully familiar, namely that in spite of the difficulties which have arisen concerning the holding of plenary meetings of the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission, it is in fact the largest and the busiest machinery of any of the Mixed Armistice Commissions and it carries out very fully and effectively the great bulk of its responsibilities. 1 mention this to remove any impression that the Mixed Armistice Commission has ceased to function or that it was being held in suspension, which is not SO at all. 1 should like to mention just one fact to the Council: of about 100 military observers who are attached to a11 the Mixed Armistice Commissions, a little over half of them, ‘chat is fifty-four, are attached to and operate in the framework of the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission alone. The present distribution of the field observers in the total machinery of UNTSO and of the Armistice Commissions is that less than half serve the other Mixed Armistice Commissions and more than half serve the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission. This is an endorsement of what 1 said before, namely that if one were to believe that because of the problem of having plenary meetings Of the Mixed Armistice Commission, the Commission itself was inactive or suspended, it would not be a true picture of what actually happens on the ground. 43, Enfin, dans une déclaration précédente, j’ai rappelé, ce que plusieurs membres du Conseil ignoraient peut-être, contrées pour la réunir en séance plénibre, la Commission mixte d’armistice israélo-syrienne réalité la plus importante par son effectif et la plus active de toutes les commissions mixtes d’armistice, et elle s’acquitte de maniere tr8s satisfaisante de la plupart de ses fonctions. Je reviens sur ce point car je ne voudrais pas que l’on ait l’impression que la Commission a cessé de fonctionner ou qu’elle est en sommeil, ce qui n’est pas du tout le cas. Je citerai un seul fait: sur quelque 100 observateurs militaires détachés auprbs de toutes les commissions mixtes d’armistice, 54, c’est-a-dire plus de la moitié, sont détachés aupr&s de la Commission mixte d’armistice israélo-syrienne. Ainsi, moins de la moitié des observateurs repartis entre 1’ONUST et les commissions d’armistice mixtes d’armistice autres que la Commission mixte d’armistice sont affectés b cette dernisre. Ces précisions renforcent ce que j’ai déj& dit, a savoir qu’on ne se ferait pas une idée exacte de la situation si l’on estimait que cette commission est inactive ou en sommeil parce qu’il est difficile séance pl8nière. 44. Le PRESIDENT (traduit de l’anglais): La liste des orateurs inscrits pour la présente séance est Qpuisée. Etant donné que les membres du Conseil seront appelés a d’autres tâches et auront d’autres prboccupations au cours des prochains jours, on a

1 have no further names on the list of speakers for this meeting. It has been suggested that in view of other responsibilities and preoccupations of members during the next day 01: tw0, W? do not attempt to fix the date of our next meeting

1 am sure that a11 members of the Council share the concexn of the repxesentative of Morocco with respect to the gxavity of the question before us and also his concern that it be dealt with as rapidly as possible, With this undexstanding, we shall adjourn subject to the cal1 of the President of the Secuxity Council. The meeting rose at 1.2~5 p.m. Litho in U.N. Price: $US. 0.35 (or equivalent in other cukmxies)