S/PV.2265 Security Council

I should like, on behalf of the Council, to welcome the new Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Mrs, Jeane Kirkpatrick. I congratulate her on her assumption of that office and high responsibilities and assure her of the co-operation of the members of the Council. ExpressIon of thanks to the retiring Preeldent

Before the consideration of the item on the agenda, I should like to pay a tribute, on behalf of the members of the Council, to Mr. Jacaues Leurette. Permanent Representative. of France to the United frlations, fir the great skill he showed as President of the Council last month. His skill as a talented French diplomat deserves our admiration. Adoptloo of the agenda The ugenda was adopfed. The sltuatiou lo the Middle East: Letter dated 3 March 1981 from the ChargC d’affaires a.1. of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the President of the tiurity Council (S/14391)

’ I wish to inform members of the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Israel and Lebanon, in which they request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda, ln accordance with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure. At fhe invifation of fhe Presidenf, Mr. TuPni (Lebacon), took a place at the Council fable; Mr. Blum (Israel) took the place reserved for him af rhe side of the Council chamber.

The Security Council is meeting today in response to a request by the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations, which is contained in aletter dated 3 March 1981 addressed to the President of the Security Council which we have before us. 5. Members of the Council also have before them the following other documents: a letter dated 24 February 1981 from the representative of Lebanon to the President of the Security Council [S/14381], and a letter dated 8 March 1981 from the representative of Israel to the President of the Security Council [S/14394]. 6. The first speaker is the representative of Lebanon, on whom I now call. 7. Mr. TU$NI (Lebanon): Mr. President, since 3 March, when my delegation presented Lebanon’s request for a meeting of the Security Council, you have displayed extreme patience and great wisdom.~May I be allowed, while congratulating you on your assumption of the duties of President, to congratulate you as well, and thank you, for having so far conducted COIIsultations on our complaint with such concern for the cause of peace and the prerogatives and obligations of the Council. We feel confident that, under your guidance and notwithstanding the absence of the customary pre-prepared consensus resolution, the present debate will reach a satisfactory conclusion, as we all hope. 9. Yet, since our last debate, on 17 December 1980 122SBrh !neeriiry], a novel situation has evolved in the south, which makes it imperative for the Security Council to intervene. Regular, repeated acts of violence have developed in6 a state of constant, continued warfare, which is a threat to international peace and securi!y, as weli as to the safety and security of UNIFIL. 10. For although most of the recent acts of aggression by Israel fall outside the limited area of operations of UNIFIL, a pattern has evolved which imperils the safety of the 6,000 gallant soldiers of peace and which will undermine and obstruct their task and render it more frustrating and, probably, sooner or later, totally blunt it, since their now static mission is confrontedby the dynamics of an ever expanding confrontation. 11. We strongly maintain that lsrael finds it useful or, rather, thrives on the illusion of the utility of fuelling and stirring the dynamics of war and terrorism. 12. The Council need only review the very lengthy list of daily shellings, air strikes, overflights, seaborne and airborne commando operations, motorized and infantry incursions, kidnappings and the blowing up of houses, of hospitals, of schools, and so on, to understand why this situation is beyond tolerance. The hundreds of casualties, the dead and injured, the children-Lebanese children-the aged and the women, the extent and nature of the destruction, the rhythm at which violence is exercised--all that is bound inevitably to prompt counter-violence. But that is no accident, for every Israeli leader, civilian or military, proclaims defiantk; that it is all part and parcel of a well-pondered policy of so-called pre-emptive strikes which will continue, whatever the results. 13. But what are the results? What are the results so far? We submit that they are of three species. 14. First, there has been an escalation of military and paramilitary operations to an ever ascending level of intensity. Pre-emptive strikes produce the predictable reaction by “terrorists” of increased violence, which locks everyone concerned in a vicious circle, i., xo- 15. The second result has been the disruption of the fabric of civilian life in southern Lebanon through the destruction of property and the nicans of livelihood and development, not excluding-as was the case last week-the Evangelical School of Sidon, supported, incidentally, by American funds; a Druse religious school in Hasbaya; as well as waterworks and electrical oroiects benefiting from United Nations assistance. -Hence, the masiive exodus from the south, which is destabilizing all of Lebanon and making the restoration of peace and national unity almost impossible in a country already shattered by six years of continued war, which it has so far survived with unequalled resilience, resistance and determination. 16. The third result has been the unavoidable explosion, beyond the Lebanese borders and in the whole Middle East, of a general state of disintegration and terror. Indeed, the microcosm will soon generate a macrocosm. Lebanon has been ihe arena wherein were waged, often by proxy, all the wars and revolutions of the region; its crisis will inevitably spill ovel and, as has already been the case, its present stock of violence will be exported. Directly threatened are those who, friend and foe alike, once found it convenient to contain, or to maintain the illusion of containing, external conflicts within the structure of out internal conflicts. And whilst so much is invested iit ensuring peace, security and stability on the shores of the Arabian Sea, where oil is exported through the Gulf and its Straits, the world might one day soon discover that the real security of such vital wealth and resources is in fact endangered by violence and terror imported from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the unavoidable historical and geopolitical route of both war and peace between East and West. I7. To this we humbly beg to add that it would be indeed agreat pity to destroy the credibility of UNIFIL as a deterrent, ai an already existing and functioning factor of stability, whilst those concerned with this same stability of the Middle East are running around trying to create new multinational systems of defence, ai nounchallengeable cost. It may be sobering for all of us to ask why southern Lebanon with UNIFIL cannot become, in the interest of all, at least as secure as the Golan Heights with the United Nations Disc gagement Observer Force (UNDOF). 18. We therefore come to the Council, unabashed, with a sentir-‘:nt of fear and concern, yet not without hope. For, having condemned the disruption of peacekeeping from whatever source, and dissociating the policy of our legitimate Government from all acts of hostility, we refuse to accept the Security Council’s being reduced to a mere forum where complaints are That was a solemn warning, which I am now laying before the Council, not unaware of its concern for peace in the Middle East and of its responsibility in solving the Middle Eastern problem, which, as we have all admitted in earlier debates, could lead to another world war. 19. Six weeks ago, the President of the Republic of Lebanon, in an unprecedented attitude of courage and candour but also in anguish and despair, addressed the 38 heads of State attending the third Summit Conference of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. He presented what he described as our country’s unique tragedy, that of a martyr country. He said: 2 I, To all, I want once more to repeat what has often been stated in this chamber and elsewhere, to no less responsible audiences: peace in Lebanon cannot, should not, and indeed shall not wait for the conclusion of everyone else’s war and everyone’s revolution as well. “I shall speak to you in particular”-said the President- “about the situation in southern Lebanon. Not that this subject overshadows other aspects of the Lebanese crisis but because it epitomizes the entire Lebanese question , . . 22. So allow me to reiterate in the most unequivocal terms that Lebanon’s will to survive is beyond all question. Rarely has a country so small and, let us admit it, so divisible and so divided, been able to endure what we have endured and to remain independent, sovereign, proud and always ready to fulfil its Zstorical obligations. “The problem of southern Lebanon is not Lebanese in origin, yet Lebanon is shouldering its burdens and responsibilities alone. The sons of the south are being terrorized, displaced and killed; their houses and properties are being destroyed, their land plundered. Lebanon has appealed under every possible international and regional charter by which it is bound. We have brought complaints about Israel to the Security Council because of Israel’s recurrent acts of aggiession. . . . 23. Through centuries of cultural and political universality, we have come to believe that resorting to the international community is the surest way of attaining peace and freedom, provided the world Organization is willing to restrain those who, as Israel does, challenge its resolutions and utilize one country or another as a dumping pit of marginal wars and the products of war. “But we have only obtained resolutions, which Israel continues to defy. , , . “We have also complained to international, regional and Arab conferences in which we have participated. We are constantly pursuing contacts with all friendly and sisterly States, seeking their cooperation to end the massacres, the tragedy and the chaos prevailing in the south. 24. Now, what do we ask from the Council? 25. We ask that it exercise its responsibilities and prerogatives: that it should forcefully and with determination not condemn, condone, regret, deplore or call upon, but in simple, pragmatic terms initiate a mechanism for peace in my country and, more specifically, on the internationally recognized border with Israel. Such an arrangement must, once the dangers of war have been ascertained, prevent the otherwise unavoidable explosion and create the objective conditions for the success of a most difficult peace-keeping enterprise. For it was clear to the Council when UNIFIL was created that the ulthnate goal, beyond the cessation of hostilities, was to put an end to the erosion of a country and a people. “In response to our appeals, WC have encountered only limiied response b; support, which has been insufficient to deal with the Lebanese crisis in depth and to cover all its aspects. . . . “But now the crisis has attained such magnitude that we are made to wonder what can the United Nations, what can UNIFIL and what can the League of Arab States as well do to help us to solve our problems and protect our land and people?” 26. We strongly believe that, through proper consultations and, if need be, a restrained debate, members of the Council will be able to reach the type of actionoriented resolution which has been so often heralded in the past. Indeed, the Council has reaffirmed, in resolution after resolution, since resolution 444 (1979) of 19 January 1979, 20. Having used equal frankness in his criticisal of armed transgression by Palestinian groups, contrary to commitments, and of their consequences in the south, President Sarkis conclud.~.’ his address by asking in unequivocal terms for I lssistanc: of all Arab and Muslim rulers, to help 1 _I Only by exploring such “ways and means” can we reverse the trend towards a broadening confrontation and war. Then, and only then, can Lebanon, restored to health, sanity and security, become the natural partner that it should be in the creation of a just and comprehensive Middle East peace, based on the recognition of everyone’s right to independence, selfdetermination and security,

Comrade President, first of all, I wish to congratulate you, the representative of a fraternal socialist country, the German Democratic Republic, on your assumption of the important post of President of the Security Council for March and to wish you every success in the discharge of the tasks facing the Council. The great international prestige of your own country which has achieved such outstanding success in economic and social development will be of great help in this, as will your country’s great political authority and the consistent struggle which it has waged against aggression and colonialism, all forms of exploitation, national and racial oppression, and for freedom and independence of the peoples, thanks to which the German Democratic Republic has won widespread recognition in the world. The delegation of the Soviet Union is convinced, Comrade President, that the success of your work in this responsible post will be furthered also by your own di&inguirhed diplomatic qualities and your experience of fruitful work in the delegation of the German Democratic Republic in the united Nations, particularly in the Security Council, for the achievement of peace, the consolidation of international security and the development of international co-operation. 28. I should like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to your predecessor as President of the Security Council, the representative of France, Mr. Leprette, for his able and skilful performance of his functions last month. 29. I should like also to welcome to this table the new representative of the United States of America, Mrs. Kirkpatrick. By way of offering her my experience, I should like to say that the path in this organ, the Security Council, is not always strewn with roses -even for ladies; and, when it is, we find that rose bushes are plants that have not only blooms but also thorns. 30. As has repeatedly occurred over the last year, the Security Council has been forced to meet in con- 31. On 2 March, the Israeli air force carried out totally unprovoked raids on the village of Abul-Aswad and other populated localities situated in the region of the town of Tyre in southern Lebanon. During those barbarous bombing raids of peaceful villages, 14 people were killed-largely among the civilian populationand more than SO wounded. 32. Those air raids carried out by the Israeli air force on peaceful towns and villages of Lebanon are by no means the first aggressive raids by Israel agahist that country in the period of slightly more than two and a half months of this year alone. Suffice it to recall the letters of the representative of Lebanon sent to the Security Council on 30 January and 24 February ISi/ and Sil43811 which aave concrete details &out the numerous a&s of aggression committed by Israel against his country. Furthermore, Israeli aircraft have been carrying out daily reconnaissance flights over practically the whole territory of Lebanon. In this regard, on 18 February, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Chedli Klibi, condemned those actions by Israel as “a naked violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon and a direct threat to the national security of the whole Arab world”. 33. The Israeli leaders, by no means for the first time, are attempting to justify those aggressive actions against a sovereign State, a Member of the United Nations, by means of arrogant assertions to the effect that they are carrying out so-called pre-emptive strikes against the Palestinians-people who have been driven out by Israel from their homes and have found refuge and shelter on the territory of Lebanon. In this way Israel once again, as it has done time and time again in the past, is blatantly flouting the universally acknowledged norms of international law and openly violating numerous decisions of the Security Council and the General Assembly designed to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon against Israeli encroachment. 34. The pohit is not that Israel, as it might seem, cannot find any way out of the vicious circle of violence, which we hear talked about sometimes. Rather, something else is true. It is not a circle at all but a phenomenon which had one clear-cut beginning, namely, the aggression of Israel against Arab co6 tries which is continued by the exclusive fact of ttis aggression, the fact of the continuation of the occupation by Israel of Arab territory. 35. What Israel is doing in Lebanon i.. veritable international terrorism-and terrorism exalted to the status of State polic;r which for that reason is an even more dangerous form of terrorism. We cannot fail to notice that, pursuing this policy of aggression against Arab “Now, what is to happen next? It seems to us that it is time to move things off dead centre. It is time to return to honourable collective efforts to find a comprehensive settlement on a just and realistic basis. In the circumstances this could be done, for example, within the framework of a specially convened international conference. “The Soviet Union is ready in a constructive spirit and from a position of good will to take part in this work. We are ready to do this together with other interested parties, with the Arabs, including, of course, the Palestine Liberation Organization, with Israel. And we are ready to embark on a search for a just solution together with the United States. We have, I would remind the Council, a certain amount of experience in this area which we acquired a few years ago. We are ready to co-operate with European States, with all those who have a sincere interest in bringing about a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. “And, of course, in all this the United Nations too can continue to play a useful role. “As for the substance of the matter, we remain convinced that for genuine ueace in the Middle East an end must be pui to Israeli occupation of all the Arab territories seized in 1967. The inalienable rights of the Arab people of Palestine must be implemented up to and including the creation of their own State. We must ensure the security and sovereignty of all States of this area, includit& Israel. Those &e the fundamental principles. The details can, of course, be the subject of negotiations.” representative of France, who presided over the Council’s business last month. 43. We have listehed carefully to the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Lebanon. We have also heard a statement by the representative of the country which over the past quarter of a century has contributed so much to fomenting tension in our region in its attempts to destabilize it and to fish in troubled waters. 44. There is much in the presentation of the representative of. Lebanon on which we would wish to comment both as regards the facts and as regards their evaluation. We prefer, however, to address ourselves to his presentation and to the matter before us in general at the appropriate time. 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