S/PV.1773 Security Council

I now give the floor to the Secretary- General. Provisional agenda (WAgendaI1773) 1. Adoption of the agenda

The Security Council has before it my report contained in document S/11302/ Add.1 to which are annexed the texts of the Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces and the Protocol concerning the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. 2. The situation in the Middle East: (a) Letter dated 30 May 1974 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/l 1304); (b) Report of the Secretary-General (S/11302 and Add. 1) 6. The announcement of this Agreement, which is the result of many days of hard negotiation and which will be signed at Geneva tomorrow, 31 May, is most welcome and encouraging news. It is an achievement upon which all those concerned are to be congratulated. I hope and believe that the achievement of this Agreement on Disengagement will constitute another important step towards a just and lasting settlement in the Middle East, for which the Council has worked for so many years. l%e meeting was called to order at 3.40 p.m. Adoption of the agenda l%e agenda was adopted. ‘Ihe situation ln the Middle East: (a) Letter dated 30 May 1974 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/11304); (b) Report of the Secretary-General (S/11302 and Add.1) 7. The Agreement and the Protocol call for the creation of a United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. I shall take the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol, if the Security Council so decides, I should like to inform the Council, in a preliminary way, that in this event it would be my intention to set up the Force on the basis of the same general principles as those defined in my report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 340 (1973) [S/110.52/Rev.Z], which was approved by the Council in its resolution 341 (1973) of 27 October 1973.

This meeting of the Security Council has been convened in accordance with the request of the representative of the United States contained in a letter [S/II304J dated 30 May 1974 addressed to me. In the letter the representative of the United States requested an urgent meeting of the Council to consider the situation in the Middle East, in particular the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces. Also inscribed on the agenda is the report of the Secretary-General [S/11302 and Add. I-J. 8. It would also be my intention that the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force be drawn, in the first instance at any rate, from United Nations military personnel already in the area. I would, of course, be in consultation with the Security Council and the Governments concerned, as well as those providing personnel, about the selection of the elements of the Force.

Mr. President, since this is my first opportunity to address you in your capacity as President of the Council, I wish to take note of the patience, dignity and wisdom with which you have 9. As members of the Council are probably aware, I have a long-standing plan to visit the United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Middle East next week. At that 10. Before concluding, I wish to express again my satisfaction at this positive development and my hope that it will lead to further progress. In this connexion, it goes without saying that I and my colleagues in the Secretariat stand / 00300 74-82001-April 1983-2,200 7Xe meeting rose at 3.50 p.m.