S/PV.1429 Security Council

Before proceeding to OUT agenda, as President of the Security Council I wish to make a brief statement in connexion with the tragic attempt last night on the life of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, which today has called forth statements of sympathy and sorrow from the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and other leading figures at the United Nations, and indeed from governmental and religious leaders throughout the world. 2. Senator Kennedy, like his late brother, President John F. Kennedy, has many times expressed his devotion to the United Nations and to its purposes of peace. At this time, in view of the tragic event which is in all our minds, I believe that it would be appropriate if, in the name and on behalf of the Security Council, I, as its presiding officer, were to send the following telegram to Mrs. Robert I?. Kennedy: “On behalf of the United Nations Security Council, and as its President during the month of June, I wish to convey to you the sense of shock and deep sorrow which all members feel at the grievous news of the attempt to assassinate your husband; Senator Kennedy’s support for the United Nations and its purposes of peace is known and respected throughout the world. All members of the Council join in hoping and praying for him and in profound sympathy for you and for the entire Kennedy’ family.”

The Indian delegation received the news of the dastardly attack on Senator Robert Kennedy with a sense of profound shock: This cruel attempt to assassinate a great American in the prime of his life can only be the act of a deranged person. 4. Senator Kennedy is held in the highest respect in my country and indeed in all parts of the world. His dedication to peace and prosperity throughout the world is well known. It is not often that in the political arena we come across a personality of Senator Kennedy’s sensitivity and passion for the welfare of mankind. We hope his life will be spared and we offer our fervent prayers for his recovery. The Kennedy family has had more than its fair share of tragedy and suffering, and our hearts go out in sympathy to Mrs. Robert Kennedy and, her children. 5. We associate ourselves with the sentiments expressed in the telegram to be sent in the name of the Security Council to Mrs. Robert Kennedy. I may add that my Prime Minister has already sent a telegram of sympathy to Mrs. Kennedy.

On behalf of my Government I thank Ambassador Parthasarathi for his remarks. 7, Lord CARADON (United Kingdom): Mr. President, I am sure that all members of the Council would wish you to act as you have proposed, and we thank you for the words you have spoken to us this evening. I too should like to say a word, if I may, about the terrible news which we received early this morning. 8. The evil of senseless violence has today cast a shadow of gloom over us all. On this sad and bad day we all have more reason than ever to hate violence with a fierce hatred and to grieve over all its evil deeds and consequences. We in this Council have special reason today to denounce violence in all its forms and manifestations. On behalf of my Mission, on behalf of my Government and on behalf of the British people everywhere, I wish to convey to you, Sir, and to your Government and people our feelings of outrage, heartfelt anxiety and deep compassion for all those who pray today for the life of a brave man.

On behalf of my Government I thank Lord Caradon for what he has said.

The Pakistan delegation associates itself with the sentiments of shock and grief that have been expressed at this meeting by my colleagues and with your message, Mr. President, to the family of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. 11, At this hour, when the people of my country are filled with horror at the heinous crime and are following with

On behalf of my Government I wish to express appreciation and thanks to Ambassador Shahi for his remarks.

The senseless attempt to assassinate one of the most outstanding personalities of the United States has made the deepest impression of horror and sorrow in my country-sorrow felt personally by each and every citizen of my country. 14. The Danish Foreign Minister, who is at present in Washington, in a statement issued this morning recalled that Senator Robert F.Kennedy had devoted himself to the struggle for liberty and equality and against oppression and violence. 15. Our deepest sympathy goes to the family of the Senator and to Government and people of the United States. It is our fervent hope that he may soon recover from this cruel attack. 16. My delegation fully associates itself with the telegram that you, Mr. President, intend to send in the name of the Council to Senator Kennedy’s wife,

I thank the representative of Denmark on behalf of my Government. 18. Lij Endalkachew MAKONNEN (Ethiopia): Mr. President, my delegation wishes to associate itself with the sentiments of sympathy and sorrow that you have expressed on our behalf with regard to the tragedy that has befallen the Kennedy family. Senator Kennedy brings to mind his late brother in the feelings of admiration and affection that he evokes in all parts of the continent of Africa. 19. We in Ethiopia remember the visit he paid to Addis Ababa and to the headquarters of African organizations in our capital city and we recall in particular the inspiring addresses he delivered on those occasions. He is a recog nized leader in all endeavours having to do with human freedom and progress, be it here in the United States or in the rest of the world. 20. My delegation and the Government and people of Ethiopia join the people of the United States in the fervent prayer that the life of this great and inspired man may be saved for the sake of his family, his nation and the whole of mankind.

On behalf of my Government, I express appreciation to Ambassador Makonnen for his remarks. 23. I need not dwell on Senator Kennedy’s qualities; his is an outstanding personality that transcends purely national boundaries. The telegram you are proposing to send, Mr. President, to the family of Senator Kennedy, expresses the sincere and profound feelings of my delegation. But 1 feel it my duty to convey those feelings at the same time, through you, to the people and Government of the United States, for it is they, after all, who wilI suffer most from the grim consequences of today’s tragic event.

I thank the representative of Paraguay on behalf of my country.

My delegation cannot but join the representatives who have already spoken and express the feelings of grief and shock with which the Brazilian people and Government received the sad news of the attempted assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy, We deeply deplore the fact that a great political tragedy has again struck the United States. 26. I thank you, Mr. President, for taking the initiative in expressing to the family of Senator Kennedy, O~I OUI behalf, the sentiments of profound sorrow we all share at the regrettable event of last night. The whole Brazilian people will be praying that Senator Kennedy quickly recovers and that he may soon resume the place he rightly holds as a great figure in American life.

I thank the Ambassador of Brazil ’ for what he has said.

The Hungarian delegp tion learned with deep shock the tragic news that the outstanding American statesman, Senator Robert Kennedy, had fallen victim to a senseless act of violence. We join you, Mr, President, in conveying the expression of our profound sympathy to the family of Senator Kennedy and to the Government of the United States, and our best wishes to the Senator himself for his early recovery.

I thank the Ambassador of Hungary for what he has said.

On behalf of Canada, a close neighbour and friend of the United States, I would say that the news overnight came as the most profound shock to everybody in my country. We would, of course, wish to associate ourselves with the message which you read out, Mr. President, but we wish also to say that at this moment our thoughts are, of course, of the Senator and his family and of all that he stood for, as you said, in the advocacy of world peace, social justice and all those things which are enshrined in the Charter-things in which all just men believe. At this moment in the trial of this country our profoundest sympathy goes to all concerned. 31, The PRESIDENT: I thank Ambassador Ignatieff.

It was with heartfelt and profound emotion that my delega. 34. I would ask you, Mr. President, to transmit the French delegation’s condolences to your Government and I thank you for conveying to Mrs. Robert Kennedy our feelings of grief and sorrow, our wishes for her husband’s speedy recovery, and the hope we share with her that the news may soon be better.

I thank the representative of France.

The delegation of Senegal and particularly its representative here in the Security Council, who has had the privilege of knowing Senator Robert Kennedy personally-learned with consternation of the shocking attempt upon the life of one , of the finest sons of the United States of America. 46. In view of this sad event, and despite the urgency of L/” the question we are discussing, my delegation would like to 37. On behalf of my Government I would ask you, Mr. President, to transmit totSenator Kennedy our earnest hope for his speedy.and complete recovery. My delegation joins with you in expressing its complete agreement with the sentiments expressed in your telegram and we ask you to convey to your Government and to the Kennedy family our concern and our good wishes.

I thank Ambassador Boye for what he has sai %1 d ’ 39.. Mr. MALIK (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated porn Russian): Mr. President, we were deeply horrified to hear, early this morning, of this tragic event. We firmly condemn acts of political terrorism, and extend our deepest sympathy and condolence to the family of Senator Kennedy as well as our sincere wishes for the Senator’s recovery. We endorse the message read out by you, which is to be sent to his family. 1.,+‘50. The Council has heard the proposal made by the 40. The PRESIDENT: I thank Ambassador Malik. representative of Algeria. Since I hear no objection, I shall adjourn this meeting on the terms he proposed. 41. Mr. LIU (China): I should like to join in the spontaneous expression of sympathy around this table for the family of Senator Kennedy and for the people of the The meeting rose at 7.15 p. m.

Mr. President, my delegation fully associates itself with the wording of the message you have been kind enough to read out on our behalf. 44. We should like to express our sorrow at the tragedy which has struck Senator Robert Kennedy. It was his ambition to pursue the noble mission of the late lamented John Fitzgerald Kennedy and thus to reconcile the United States with itself and with the whole world. 45. On behalf of the Algerian delegation, we express to you, Mr. President, and to your delegation, our feelings of deep sympathy. We ask you to be good enough to convey these feelings of affectionate sympathy to Mrs. Kennedy and her family. make a formal request to you and the Council to adjourn this meeting and, with the consent of the Council to decide when our work should be resumed.

I thank the representative of Algeria for what he has said. 48. Before putting his proposal to the Council, I should like to.add a few words on my own behalf, since I made my first statement in my capacity as president of the Council. 49. As we pray for Senator Kennedy, our hearts cry out in pain and anguish at this terrible act of violence; and the cry is that all violence must stop. Surely by now the lesson that violence breeds violence .must be pounded into our heads. Surely by now all will agree that there must be an end to killing at home and abroad. Otherwise there will be little hope for my country, for any other country or for the world. HOW TO OBTAIN UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS United Nations publicotionr may be obtained from bookstores and distributors throughout the world. Consult your bookstore or write to: United Nations, Sales Section, New York or Geneva. COMMENT SE PROCURER LES PUBLICATIONS DES NATIONS UNIES Ler publications der Nations Unier rant en vente dons ler libroirier et ler q gences d&pasitairer du monde entier. Informez-vous oupr&s de votre libroirie ou adresser-vour 6: Notions Unies, Section de, venter, New York ou Get&e. HAH llOJlYL(MTb L43AAHMFi OPTAHMSA~MH 06bEAHHEHHblX HAuHii COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS tar publicaciones de Ias Nocioner Unidar ertdn en venta en librerias y cosos dirtribuidoras en lodes parter del mundo. Consulte o su librero o dirljare a: Nociones Unidar, Secci6n de Ventar, Nuevo York o Ginebm. Litho in United Nations, New York Price: $U.S. 0.50 (or equivalent in other currencies) 3543o-September 1972-W~o