S/PV.2101 Security Council

My delegation voted in favour of the resolution which the Council has just adopted because we agree with the Secretary-General’s statement in his report that the continued presence of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the area is essential. However, I must reiterate our hope and expectation that the interval between now and the time of the next mandate renewal will be used by the parties concerned to try to resolve their difficulties and overcome the obstacles which exist between them in achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. 19. In this connexion I should like to quote from the Disengagement Agreement signed by the parties on 18 In the four and a half years that have gone by since then, no further step has been taken towards such a just and durable peace. This inactivity must not continue. 20. Canada is the only member of the Security Council which contributes troops to UNDOF and my Government has authorized me to announce that we shall continue to do so for this further mandate period. We are proud to read in the Secretary-General’s report that he considers that the members of aur contingent, together with those of Austria, Tran and Poland and those countries providing United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) military observers have performed with exemplary efficiency and devotion to duty the most important and difficult tasks entrusted to them by the Council. 21, Paragraph 19 of the report of the Sceretary-General indicates that, despite efforts to correct the situation, there are still restrictions on the freedom of movement of UNDOF. We have stated before, and wish to reiterate once more, that freedom of movement of contingents within the Force is one of the essential principles under which peace-keeping forces operate, We consider that there should be no fimitations on freedom of movement of any member of any contingent in carrying out peace-keeping on behalf of the United Nations. 22. [ should Uke to express our condolences to the families of the four Austrian and one Polish soldiers who died during this mandate period while serving the cause of peace, 23. In conclusion, we should Jike to express our appreciation to the Foree Commander, Major-General Hannes Philipp, and to the Secretary-General and his staff for their hard work and support which they give unstintingly in directing the operations of the Force. 24. Mr. President, | should also like to take this oppor tunity to express my delegation’s appreciation for the unstinting efforts that you have made during the month in directing the Security Council through its complicated series of meetings. 25. Mr. HULINSKY (Czechoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian}: The Czechoslovak delegation once again yoted in favour of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the [srael-Syria sector for another six-month period. We did this on the basis of the position taken by the Syrian Government, which once again gave its consent to the presence of those trovps on its territory. 26. In the report of the Secretary-Ceneral it is pointed out that over the last six months no special events have occurred in the sector, But recently events have occurred Geneva Peace Conference, by partial separate talks. 27, The separate Egyptian-Israeli deals which have been prepared under the aegis of the Government of the United States are not in keeping with the interests of international security, inasmuch as they are opposed to efforts to solve the problem as a whole in the interests of all peoples in the area including, of course, the people of Israel itself. They cannot fail to give rise to further instability, complications and the dangerous possibility of further explosive outbursts. 28. The Czechoslovak delegation is still firmly convinced that lasting peace in the Middle East can be ensured only on the basis of a comprehensive settlement with the participation of all the parties concemed, including the Palestine Liberation Organization. The Czechoslovak delegation continues to believe that the most appropriate forum for such a settlement is the Geneva Peace Conference, which remains the best chance for all parties to come to an agreement on a genuinely just solution to the problem, taking into account the vital national interests of all parties to the conflict. 29. The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic has stated its support of the decisions of the Baghdad Conference of the Heads of State and Government of Arab Countries. My Government is convinced that the decisions of the Baghdad Conference will play a positive role in the struggle for an effective settlement of the Middle East problem in the interests of peace. 30, In voting in favour of the resolution just adopted by the Security Council, the Czechoslovak delegation once again has confirmed the view which it expressed on this subject in the Council on 31 May last /2079th meeting]. We wish to stress that the presence of thesé and, indeed, all other forces of the United Nations in the area of the Middle East conflict is justified only if it promotes the establishment of conditions for a genuinely just peace by means of a comprehensive solution of all the problems, in strict compliance with the resolutions of the United Nations on the Middle East question. The presence of United Nations forces in the region of the Middle East conflict should in no — way be allowed to ease pressure on the aggressor or to encourage it in its continuing attempts to preserve the results of its repeated acts of aggression, to change the demographic structure of the occupied territories or to continue its defiance of the decisions of the United. Nations.

Mr. President, J am particularly happy to have the opportunity on this, the last day of your presidency, to pay a tribute to you for the . skill, tact and good humour with which you have handled our business in what has proved to be a particularly busy month. 32. 1 do not intend to comment in detail on the substance of the question on which we have just voted. There have 33, The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force continues, by the efficient operation of its mandate, to play an important part by supervising the Disengagement Agreement and generally creating the necessary climate of confidence in the area against which the search for a solution can go on. 34. Once again, therefore, I should like to place on record our profound gratitude to the Secretary-General and his staff, to the Commander of the Force, Major-Genexal Philipp, and to the members of the Force for the way in which they have carried out their tasks over the past few months, Our thanks also go to those countries which have continued to provide contingents of troops, 35, Mr. JELONEK (Federal Republic of Germany): In joining the consensus on the renewal of the mandate, my delegation was guided by the conviction that the continued presence of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the area is essential for the cbservance of ihe cease-fire between the parties. We have noted with satisfaction that the cease-fire has indeed been observed and that no complaints have been raised by either party. This is evidence of the outstanding performance of the Force, as well as the willingness of the parties to co-operate in order to avoid a confrontation that involves incalculable risks, 36. Notwithstanding these positive aspects, we cannot but agree with the Secretary-General, in his comprehensive and lucid report, that “despite the present quiet in the Israel-Syria sector, the situation in the Middle East as a whole continues to be potentially dangerous” /.8/12934, para, 32]. 37. When, in May 1978, the Security Council last renewed the Force’s mandate, my Government appealed to all parties concerned to find the courage to overcome old prejudices and painful experiences of the past. Now, six months later, my delegation fervently repeats this appeal directed to all parties in the Middle East conflict. My Government shares the view of the Secretary-General that a durable peace in the region can only be reached through a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem. 38. I should like to conclude by again extending my country’s appreciation and gratitude to the Commander of the Force, Major-General Philipp of Austria, to the officers and men of the Force and its civilian staff, as well as to the UNTSO military observers assigned to the Force, for their outstanding efficiency and dedication in performing an important and difficult task. Our gratitude goes also to the four countries providing contingents to the Force. 39. Finally, I wish to congratulate you, Mr. President, as well as the Secretary-General and his staff, on the successful efforts which have brought about the adoption of this resolution. ; ; 41. The French delegation voted in favour of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for another period of six months, That decision was taken in accordance with the recommendation made by the Secretary-General in his report of 24 November. We should be gratified, as noted in the report, at the fact that the situation has remained quiet in the sector controlled by the Force, thus contributing to the maintenance of favourable conditions for the establishment of peace in the region. However, it should be borne in mind that such a measure ought not to delay the search for an over-all, just and lasting settlement of the Middle East conflict, in accordance with the provisions of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), 42, France has on a number of occasions welcomed the recent efforts made in the region with a view to achieving that objective. But, as we emphasized recently, my Government considers that the restoration of a true climate of peace can only be assured by an overall agreement involving all the parties concerned, including the representatives of the Palestinian people, and recognized as just by all the States concemed and by the international community as a whole, 43, In conclusion, I should like to pay tribute once again to the Secretary-General and his colleagues for the way in which they are discharging the delicate and difficult tasks entrusted to them. I would also express the appreciation of the French authorities for the exemplary contribution which the Commander and the contingents of UNDOF are continuing to make to the work of the Organization. 44, J. also wish to extend our condolences to those who have lost members of their families in the service of peace.

Mr. President, as your presidency comes to an end today, I hope you will accept the commendation and expression of gratitude of my delegation for the skilful and extremely effective way in which you have managed our business during the course of this month. 46. The agreement of Syria and Israel to the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement. Observer Force is a tribute to the will of both parties to the conflict in that area to maintain the cease-fire and the possibility of peace which stems from it. 47, We all recognize that peace-keeping is not peacemaking. It is, however, a vital element in the Middle East, which has seen four wars over the past 30 years, with untold suffering during and after each. 48. The officers and men of UNDOF have done much to preserve the peace in this area and have thereby made a 1velp to hold open to both the countries, and thereby to the -egion, the possibility of a real peace. 49. It has been argued that the peace-keeping forces lull the Security Council and the world at large into the illusion that calm is equivalent to peace. The United States has not suffered from such an illusion nor do J believe have any other members of the Council, We feel, however, that only through such calm can we continue to pursue durable, just solutions for the whole of the Middle East, We therefore strongly support the regular renewal of the UNDOF mandate, 50, We share the concern of other members of the Council about the fact that the goal of all of us must be the comprehensive peace. It states specifically that the agreed basis for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israel and its neighbours is Security Council resolution 242 (1967) in all its parts. 51. I would emphasize the fact that the Camp David agreements did not exclude anyone. They offered to all concermed a practical and honourable way to achieve the just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict that the people of the Middle East and the people of the world have for so long aspired to. We will welcome the participation of all those who accept peace and recognition among neighbours as the declared objective of negotiations, The meeting rose at 4,50 p.m. ravesse) abel wy gite le d perl) LS ge fale gt GAC Se byse pleted = SLM asd peer gb cg) gaa LaSalle cancall l ola gti le dpanll 3, + ee Bal da st db all de Faced AY Ml oath ante] EAH Ble aR REBAR MESHASHN HEARS A RE. ANE WAR AR MME AROS BA. HOW TO OBTAIN UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS United Nations publications 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 Les publications des Nations Unies sont en vente dans les librairies et les agences dépositaires du monde entier. Informez-vous auprés de votre libraire ou adressez-vous a: Nations Unies, Section des ventes, New York ou Genave. KAK ILONY4YHMTS W3LAHUA OPTAHH SALMM OD bEAHHEHHDIX HAMM Msaauna Opranusangun O6meqHHeHHEIX Haun MOMAO KYNHTS B KHHMHBIX Mare- 3HHAX WH APGHTCTBaX BO BCexX palionax MupR., HanogutTe cripaBKu 06 H3QaHHAX B BALUeM KHHXHOM MBPasHhe HAM THWNTe no anpecy: Opranusauun O6beqHHeHHbIX Hau, Cexgus no npoxaxce uspannit, Hor-HMopK Hunn Wenera. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS Las publicaciones de las Naciones Unidas estin en venta en librerias y casas distribuidoras en todas partes del mundo. Consulte a su librero o dirijase a: Naciones Unidas, Seccién de Ventas, Nueva. York o Ginebra. Litho in United Nations, New York Price: $0.5.1.00 78-70005—March 1980~—-2,200