S/PV.1617 Security Council

The Council has also decided /160 7th and 1615th meetings] to extend invitations to the representatives of Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Ceylon to take the scats reserved for them in the Council chamber, with the understanding that they will be invited to take a place at the Council table when it is their turn to address the Council. At the invitation of the President, Mr. R. Driss (Tunisia), Mr. J. M. Baroody (Saudi Arabia) and Mr. If. S. Amerasin&e (Ceylon) took the places reserved for them irz the Council chamber.

We have heard the Indian Government’s official statement, which was made at the previous meeting of the Security Council by Mr. Singh, the distinguished Minister for External Affairs of India. It is quite clear from his statement that the Indian Government has taken the decision to cease fire on both the eastern and the western fronts. Consequently, hostilities and military actions have ceased. The bloodshed has been stopped. There is no threat to human lives. The draft resolutions which have been submitted up to now, yesterday and before, have no further purpose. It is necessary for the Council to adopt a definite, specific decision in the light of the situation which has now arisen as a result of the measures which have been taken by the Indian Government for a cease-fire and for the cessation of hostilities. 4. Under these conditions, in the opinion of the Soviet deIegation, it would be advisable to adopt a Council decision welcoming the cessation of hostilities in East Pakistan. The Security Council’s decision should express the hope that the cease-fire will be observed by both sides. That would ensure, too, that measures are taken for an appropriate political settlement of the situation. We have in mind the immediate and unimpeded transfer of power to the lawful people’s representatives who were elected in December 1970. Such a decision by the Council would also contribute to the solution of the problems linked with the conflict on the Hindustan subcontinent. 5. It would be advisable for the Security Council to call for an immediate cease-fire and the cessation of all other military actions along the entire frontier between India and West Pakistan, that is, aIong the entire line of the western theatre of military operations. At the same time, the Council should caI1 for an immediate cease-fire and the cessation of all other military actions along the 196.5 cease-fire line in Jammu and Kashmir. The Security Council should give positive consideration to the Indian Government’s statement concerning its decision on a unilateral cease-fire and cessation of all other military actions in this region, beginning at 1430 hours Greenwich Mean Time on 17 December of this year, and should welcome this decision of the Indian Government. 6. It is also advisable and necessary for the Security Council to make an urgent appeal to the Government of Pakistan to take a similar decision without delay. 7. In view of the de facto situation on the Hindustan subcontinent, the Security Council should also call on all States Members of the United Nations to render comprehensive assistance for the speediest cessation of military actions and to refrain from any steps which could impede normalization of the situation on the Hindustan subcontinent. In the light of this de facto situation, in view of the Indian Government’s official statement which was communicated in Mr. Singh’s statement and in line with the views which I have just expressed, the Soviet delegation 8. That is the text of the draft resolution which the Soviet delegation is submitting for consideration by the Security Council and its members. We believe that, in view of the specific situation which now prevails and of the de facto situation on the Hindustan subcontinent, the adoption of such a draft resolution by the Council would greatly assist the normalization of the situation in that area.

The Council now has six draft resolutions before it. I da not know whether members would wish me to begin putting them to the vote, or whether they would prefer to have a suspension of the meeting in order to have further consultations on them. I would suggest a suspension for one hour.

I should like to ask, on a point of order, what would be the appropriate time and procedure for submitting amendments to one of the draft resolutions now before the Council. Would amendments to draft resolutions before the Council be in order now?

It appears to me that the best step to take, in accordance with the usual practice of this Council, would be to have a brief suspension with a view to having further consultations, during which members may decide either to withdraw or to consolidate various draft resolutions. The submission of amendments now might prolong the discussion unnecessarily.

Mr, Chairman, I should like to add that the Soviet delegation, in submitting its second draft resolution, is withdrawing the first one. I refer to the draft resolution which it submitted on 15 December /S/10457/. The Soviet delegation is withdrawing that draft and would be prepared for the Security Council to consider the draft it has submitted today.

In further reply to the representative of the United States, I should like to say that if he wants to submit amendments he may do so orally or in writing, and then they will have to be discussed. But as I have already stated, I believe that if we have a brief suspension in order to hold consultations, we shall make more speedy progress.

In order to have yet another draft resolution before the Council, we should like to submit a draft resolution which, at one point in the consultations, seemed to have a great deal of support. I shall read it out, and after the text has been circulated and the meeting is resumed, I hope that the Council would be willing to discuss it. It reads as follows: [The speaker read out the text of a draft resolution subsequently circulated as document S/10459./

AS the representative of the United States has already stated, this appears to be a draft which has been neither submitted nor circulated. If the members agree with the proposal to rise for a period of an hour, the draft resolution may then be processed and circulated for discussion.

May I make a practical suggestion that we convene again as soon as the text of this new draft is ready for circulation in the original language in which it has been drafted, if other members have nothing against it.

There being no other speaker, if it is agreed upon, I propose to suspend for a while to meet again as soon as this draft resolution has been processed and circulated. It was so decided. The meeting was suspended at 5.45 p.m. and resumed at 9.20 p. m.

A few more hours have gone by, and it seems to my delegation for a moment as if the most recent draft [S/10459), bearing the name of Japan and the United States, to which many delegations have contributed through their work in the last week or so, came reasonably close to an agreement between most of the members of this Council. I cannot report to you, Mr. President, that there is agreement in which the parties to the conflict would both concur, but I am not sure that that will be achievable, although we came so close to agreement on this draft. Of course, what really is important is that we have total agreement here in this Council. We are rather at a loss as to what the next step should be, except that we do not want to give up on this draft, or any draft. 20. My query to the Council at large is this. If indeed the parties are in close proximity, if not actual agreement, would the various delegations around this table be able to support the draft and would they be able to act on short notice? What troubles me is this. If we obtain agreement -and the representatives here have been working very hard in the past few hours-on a text on which Pakistan and India might finally agree, would the Council, that is, the various delegations here, be willing to move forward and vote on this tonight or would they have to obtain instructions? If there is any use in staying here-if it. is a question of obtaining instructions in an hour or two-we should certainly be in favour of continuing, but I must confess that I do not see that shaping up at this very minute. So I would simply like to put that question forward for any other representatives who might feel SO inclined. If we can obtain agreement between the parties in an hour or so, would the Council then be willing to act with unanimity, or would we still be hampered by having to adjourn? If that is the case, I think we might as well adjourn; but if there is a chance that we can get this matter through, if the representatives have enough flexibility, given

My delegation, like others, has been in close contact with the delegations of India and Pakistan in an effort to draw up a formula which would satisfy them both. At certain points there seemed to be some hope that an agreement would be reached, but it is evident that more time is needed, and I would suggest that we adjourn until tomorrow morning. However, to take up a point made by the representative of the United States, it seems to me that if the two parties to the conflict are reaching agreement, no other delegation here could possibly seek a further postponement of our debate, since after all we are here to try to reconcile the two parties. If they reach agreemart, I do not think a further adjournment would be necessary. 26. As I have said, these two draft amendments seemed to meet with a large measure of agreement. So that the Council will know where we stand, I would inform it that the problem between the parties seems principally to concern the language of the second half of operative paragraph 1. In revealing that I am not betraying the confidence of any party, but simply suggesting that any representative with sufficient energy left might expand it and try to work out an agreement between the parties concerned on the language of paragraph 1. If that could be worked out, I would concur with the representatives of Somalia and Japan that this would then provide a document that could meet with the agreement of the parties and might make it possible for the Security Council to act.

The new joint draft resolution presented by the United States and Japan, contained in document S/ 10459, has just been circulated. The representative of Somalia has also stated that he is trying hard to find smne common ground in his contacts with the Indian nnd Pakisiani delegations. 1 think this new draft is the result of extensive consultations among the non-permanent members and also with some permanent members. There may be some points which still create problems for some members of the Council. Iiowever, this draft is intended as an approach taking into account the development of the situation in the India-Pakistan subcontinent. So, for the purpose of further consultations, it would be helpful if the delegations could make some comments, even of a preliminary nature, on this draft. It could help the further consultations among the members with a view to finding common ground between the parties concerned. So, although my delegation has no objection to the proposal of the representative of Somalia that we adjourn until tomorrow morning, my delegation would be very much interested in hearing any comments delegations might wish to make before the adjournment.

In order to facilitate the Council’s conside&tion of these drafts I should like to say that my delegation agrees to the amendments proposed by the representative of the United States. 2X. Mr. ORTJZ DE ROZAS (Argentina) (interpretation from Spanish): In reply to the question addressed to US by the representative of Japan, I should like to say that my delegation has no major objections to this text. Accordingly, if, as it would appear, the consuitations between the two parties concerned, India and Pakistan, are producing favourable results in the sense that their respective points of view have come closer together, I think that we should make the greatest possible effort to arrive at a document that can be adopted unanimously by the Council. 29. In recent days we have striven in vain to arrive at a text which would win the approval of this body, and if we are about to achieve this I think we should leave no stone unturned. Accordingly, 1 would venture to make the same suggestion as the representative of Somalia, my friend Ambassador Farah: namely that between now and tomorrow consultations should continue on the aspects still dividing the parties, so as to arrive at a wording satisfactory to both.

I should like to report on a Few very small changes that I think were unanimously accepted in consultations on this draft. J report them now simply to put them before the meeting, so i3.s to save time tomorrow when we meet. 24. It was generally suggested that operative paragraph 1, instead of reading ‘Demunds that a durable cease-fire , , .“, should read: “‘Demunds that an imlnediate and durable ccnse-fire . . .“, So we shall offer that draft text as a revision, provided our co-sponsor is agreeable.

I have noticed that the meeting has concentrated mainly on the draft submitted by the delegations of the United States and Japan. I should like to remind the members of the Security Council that the Soviet Union’s draft was submitted before that draft. I would request members of the Council, in studying this item before the next meeting, to give attention to the Soviet draft resolution, to consider its realistic nature in the light of the situation on the spot at the present time and to observe that the measures envisaged in it ensure a cease-fire, peace and stability on the Hindustan subcontinent. 25. Concerning paragraph S-and again I am putting this forward on the understanding that we shall seek agreement with our colleague from Japan after the meeting-it was rather unanimously suggested that it be eliminated as written and replaced by the following new paragraph 5, which is taken directly from a British-French text, I believe: “lnvifes the Secretary-General to appoint a special representative to lend his good offices, in particular for the solution of humanitarian problems;“.

Bearing in mind what the Soviet representative has said, we certainly 32. I am not suggesting that Ambassador Malik had it in mind, but we do not want to be in the position of delaying proceedings, and we are perfectly willing to consider the drafts and dispose of them one way or the other right at this meeting.

Of course, each delegation has a special attachment to its own draft resolution because it better reflects its own views on this crucial problem. It was, however, our understanding that we are all making a joint effort in order to achieve a unanimous agreement so that the Council may finally take a decision and act. 34. Speaking for my delegation, at this advanced stage, after so many days and nights of hard work, we certainly would not insist upon our own draft being considered. And I believe that should be the spirit of the Council at this stage. And if we understand that progress has been made in order to reconcile the position of the two main parties, we should continue these efforts. The more so when this draft resolution-I think it is well known-was a draft which was prepared by several delegations and of course reflects that desire, that wish of these delegations to come to some agreement finally. I believe that if we wish to work in that spirit and, I hope, come to a positive conclusion, we should at this stage forget about our personal views and preferences . 3.5. Mr. BUSH (United States of America): I could not agree more with what the representative of Italy has said, Let me simply say that if this draft resolution, S/10459/ Rev.], on which many people here worked diligently, becom’es the consensus and the vehicle that solves this problem, I would propose that at the next meeting every

There being no further sprab;cs%, ? wish to say that in view of the suggestions in tile recc::: statements of members and in view of the fact that &rr*: measure of agreement is reported to have been reaclled wi:k the two parties, if there is no objection I shrill adjourn ~&.a meeting until 10.30 a.m. tomorrow. The meeting rose at 9.45 p.m. HQW TO OBTAIN UNITED NA’P’IONS PUBLICATIONS United Nations publirwtions nmy 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 PUBLlCATIONS DES NATIONS UNIES Les publications des Nations KJnies sent cn vente dam les librairies et les egenees d&o&sires do monde entier. Infonnez-vous aup& de votre libraire ou adressez-vous h : Nntions Unies, Section des ventes, New York ou GenBve. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES [JNIDAS Las publicnciones de Ins Naciones Unidas ent,in en venta en librerias y cams distribuidoras en todas pm+ de1 mundo. Consulte a so librero o dirijase a: Naciones Unidas, Seccicin de Ventas, Nucw York o Ginebre. Litho in United Nations, New York Price: $U.S. 0.50 (or equivalent in other currencies) 82260-July 1974~2,050