S/PV.23 Security Council

Members of the Council have before them document S/lS394/Rev.t, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the representative of Jordan. They also have before them document S/15396, which contains the text of a letter dated 17 September from the representative of Tunisia to the President of the Council. Representatives of Egypt and France to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/15316); Letter dated 16 September 1982 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/15392) (1’) 3. Mr, NUSEIBEH (Jordan): We are meeting this evening in the dark shadow of the traumatic events that have engulfed the celebrated capital of Lebanon, the city of Beirut, which has fallen victim to Israeli occupation. In fact, it is at present living under curfew. I propose to submit a revised draft resolution [S//5.?Y4/ RN-.I] that I hope will give some solace to the agony of the inhabitants of the capital of Lebanon. I do hope that the draft resolution will meet with the consensus endorsement of members of the Council and that steps will be taken to see to it that the ob.jectives and purposes of this draft are carried out, Letter dated 4 June 1982 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/15162); Letter dated 28 July 1982 from the Permanent Representatives of Egypt and France to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/15316); Letter dated 16 September 1982 from the Perlnanent Represelrtative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/ 15392) 4. I should now like to read out the revised draft resolution. “Hrrl*ing wnsidcwd the report of the Secretary- General of 15 September I982 [S//.V82/.4clrl. /I,

In accordance with decisions titken at previous meetings [2374rA, 237Sth, 2377th, 23RSth, 2389tlr rr~~i 2304th tnwtin~gs~, I invite the representutive of Lebanon to take a place at the Council table. I am informed that the representative of ’ ‘I’i~itdlJmnin,:~ the murder of Bashir Gemayel, the constitutionally elected President-elect of Lebanon. and every effort to disrupt by violence the restoration of a strong, stable government in Lebanon, “Trrkir?g tlotc of the determination of Lebanon to ensure the withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon. b. I. Rcr![‘;!;fi,nz.s its resolutions SO8 ( 1982). 509 (1982) and 5 16 ( 1982) in all their components: “2. C’0,7&mns the recent Israeli incursions into Beirut in violation of the cease-fire agreements and of Security Council resolutions: 9. I should also like to extend a welcome and express my good wishes for SLICC~SS to Sir John Thomson. 0111 new colleague from the United Kingdom. who hiis .just assumed his functions here. “3. L)c~tr~7~.s an immediate return to the positions occupied by Israel before IS September 1982, as ;\ first step towards the full implementation of Security Council resolutions: “4. Co//.v rt~ni/? for the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon through the Lebanese Army throughout Lebanon: “5 _ . Rrq[f;r/77.r its resolutions 5 12 (1982) and 513 (1982). which call for respect for the rights of the civilian populations without any discrimination, and repudiates all acts of violence against those populations: “6. Strppo~+t.r the efforts of the Secretary- General to implement resolution 5 I6 (1982). concerning the deployment of United Nations observers to monitor the situation in and around Beirut. and requests all the parties concerned to co-operate fully in the application of that resolution: “7. Dcc*id~~.v to remain seized of the question and asks the Secretary-General to keep the Security Council informed of developments as soon as possible and not later than within twenty-four hours.” 5 - . That is the text of the revised draft resolution. Because of the urgency and gravity of the situation at present prevailing in Reirut, I urge that this draft resolution be put to the vote and that any further statements or comments be made thereafter.

The representative of Jordan has stated that it would be preferable for the other speakers to make their statements after the vote. but there are already several speakers. I would request the indulgence of the representative of Jordan to permit those speakers who wish to do so to make their statcments before the vote. 7. Mr. de La BARRE; de NANTEUIL (France) (inf(J~p,ct(rtion j*c>m Fwnc~lr): First of all, on behalf of my delegation, may I extend to you, Sir. my congratulations on your accession to the presidency of the 8. May I also highly praise your predecessor. Mr. Noel Dorr. the representative of Irelnnd. who guided the work of the Council during the month of August with exemplary patience and competence. 10. In the serious circumstances which once agoin prevail in Lebanon. France wishes to associate itself with the efforts of the legitimate Government of Lehanon in dealing with the present crisis. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of France has .just visited Beirut. at the request of the President of the French Republic. to assure the legitimate authorities of Lebanon. who have once again been put sorely to the test, of the solidarity and support of France. That WAS the sense of the message addressed by Mr, Franc;ois Mitterrand to Mr. Elias Sarkis in the hours immediately following the villainous assassination of the President-elect of Lebanon. We are profoundly affected by his death. which happened at a particularly sensitive time fur a country which had courageously embarked on the path of reunification. II. Mr, Cheysson has received from the Lebanese authorities their assurance that the constitutionit process has already been initiated in order to make it possible for a new president to be elected as soon its possible. France is very pleased at this and hopes thllt the way will thus remain open to bringing about national reconciliation, an essential prerequisite for reestablishment of the full authority of the Lebanese State, something which France earnestly wishes. 12. The Minister. who was received by President Elias Sarkis, was unable. as he had expected, to meet the President of the Lebanese ~Council. Mr. Chafik Al-Wazzan. because of the advance of the Israeli troops towards west Beirut. 13. That advance, which the Secretary-Generaf described in paragraph 6 (a’) of his report of 15 SePtember [.S’//S382/Add. / 1, and the bombings which accompanied the ttdvance, are viewed by US xi it deliberate and unwarranted violation ofthe Habib Plandrawn up last August, It is worth recalling that that plan. which the United States. France and Italy Cooperated in drawing LIP. was widely welcomed by the internntiomil community. 14. The guarantees provided by the Habib Plan, in return for the evacuation of the armed forces, has been seriously compromised by Israel’s unilateral action. 22. At present. the situation in Lebanon and the entire Middle East situation are at a critical juncture. The PLO and the AI& States have made positive efforts for a *just and comprehensive settlement of the Middle East problem. The PLO, having regard for the overall situation. has evacuated from B&rut its hendquarters and armed forces. The Twelfth Arab Summit Conference. held at Fez in November 1981 and September 1982, put forward a constructive and realistic eight-point plan [.vc~c~ .S/lSSlO, f!/?!i~J.rl. All this has received the affirmation and support of the international community. 16. In this connection. the French Government woufd like to recall the weight it attaches to the immediate implementation of the resolutions of the Council axis-6-19s observers of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Beirut. Their immediate deployment in sufficient numbers should make it possibJe for LIS to evaluate the threat facing the civilinn populations :md the extent to which the agreements reached have been respected, as well as the possibility of taking other steps, if need be. France would like here and now to express its determination to lend its full support to any decision that might be taken. 23. However. the Israeli authorities still stubbornly persist in their position of aggression and expansion. Not only have the Israeli troops that carried out an incursion into Lebanon not pulled back a single step but they have repeatedly provoked conflicts in the eastern and central parts of Lebanon. The Israeli authorities have not only totally rejected the Arab plan adopted at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference hut have also fabricated all kinds of pretexts fos the continued presence of their aggressor troops in Lebanon. Begin has gone as far as openly declaring that the Israeli troops would not pull out of Beirut until all the Palestinian armed forces have withdrawn from Tripoli and the Bekaa valley and the Syrian troops from Lebanon. 17. It is for these reasons that my delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution submitted by Jolditn. 18. Mr. LIANG Yufan (China) fintP/p,‘cltrrtio/? ./i-o/n C‘/rinr>.scJ): We are very pleased to see you. Sir, the outstanding representative of Japan, a friendly neighbour separated from 11s by a body of water, presiding 24. It is necessary to point out here that whether or not the Paleslinian and Syrian forces remain in Lebanon has nothing to do with Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. By confusing the two completely different questions, the Israeli authorities clearly aim at having their forces entrenched in Lebanon and prolonging the tension there, a situation that would fiicilicate its control of that country. overthe Council this month. The Government and people of China are eagerly awaiting the up-coming official visit to our country of the Prime Minister of your country, Mr. Zenko Suzuki. We hope and believe that his important visit will be a powerful impetus to co-operation between our two countries in various domains. 19. I am also convinced that, as a seasoned diplomat with rich diplomatic experience, you will certainly be able to lend the Council to a smooth fulfilment of its tasks for this month. 25. The acts and deeds of the Israeli authorities clearly demonstrate that it is sheer hypocrisy for them to assert that they respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and that they have no intention of occupying Lebanese territory. 20. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the President of the Council for August, Mr. Dorr. His admirable wisdom and ability enabled the Council to tackle successfully the important and, at the same time, very arduous tasks of the Council in August. At the inmc time. 1 wish to welcome to the Council the new ‘epresentative of the United Kingdom, Sir John rhornson. We look for-ward to the best possible co- Iperntion with him. 26. The incursion of Israeli troops into west Beirut is another gross trampling underfoot and violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese Government and people strongly condemn this new crime of aggression of the Israeli authorities. We firmly support the appeal made by the Lebanese Prime Minister for Israeli troop withdrawal. The Israeli authorities must turn over a new leaf, implement the relevant resolutions of the Council, abide by the norms of international law. immediately cease their aggression against Lebanon and immediately and unconditionally withdraw all their aggressor troops from Lebanon. :I. The Chinese delegation was very indignant to fearthat the Israeli aggressor troops, taking advantage tf the occasion of the untimely death of the Presidentlect of Lebanon, Bashir Gemayel. and in violation gain of the cease-fire agreement, carried out a massive Icursion into west Beirut and attacked Muslim militia, lunging the people of west Beirut once again into

Mr. President. I am gratefut for the greetings to this 28. I should also like to pay a special tribute to YOUI predecessor. the representative of Ireland, who, I know. conducted the Council’s proceedings last month with his well-known skill, conscientiousness and good humour. 29. My Government is dismayed by this latest recurrence of violence and tension in Lebanon. We had hoped that, after the magnificent success of MI.. Habib’s efforts in negotiating an agreement between the parties and the exemplary achievement of the multinational force from the United States. France and Italy. we would now be moving towards the restoration of peace in that country and the re-establishmat of the Lebanese Government’s authority throughout its territory. 30. This hope of peaceful recovery has been violently interrupted, first by the shocking assassination of Lebanon’s President-elect, Mr. Bashir Gemayel. and subsequently by Israel’s military thrust into west Beirut and the resumption of conflict there. 31. My Government deplores the murder of a man who since his election had committed himself to the search for peace between all communities in Lebanon. It is R tragic event for the country. We should like to extend our condolences to his family and the families of the other victims. We hope that all Lebanese leaders will continue to work for reconciliation and nation:~l reconstruction. 32. We trust that there will be no foreign interference with this internal and necessary process. We strongly support. too, the Lebanese Government’s initiative to restore its own iluthority in west and east Beirut and are naturally opposed to any action which l.enders this more difficult, 13. Instead of the restraint which we had hoped for from all parties. we have seen Isruel’!, forces move deep into west Beirut, causing further conflict and destruction. We are greatly concerned by this Israeli move. We note the Lebanese Government’s public re.iection of Israel’s claim that it is acting to prevent fighting and secure pence. Israel hns no right to arrogate to itself the power of intervention in the capital and territory of a neighbouring State. Israel has no right to take the law into its own hands in someone else’s country. We support the call for an immediate 34. It is incumbent on all involved in the tragic hilu~:- tion in Lebwmn to obscure the grc:\test restrain1 ;rEai exercise prudence at this time of tension. A sati&:- tory situation c;m be achieved only when IsriIel \bith* draws its forces, as called fr)lhy the Council in 1’t’s13lution 509 (1082). and when all other foreign troop*. except any authoriced by the L,ohancsc Govt‘t’nmrn!. also withdraw. The representative of Lchanon \&.I yesterday that “Lebanon should he left to the l,&- unese . and the Lcba~~ese ulonc” 13(14//r ~~l~~*fi!r:“. prrrc/. IZI. Wc agree and hold that this is the gcl.11 towards which the Council should work. 33. We liked the moderate and sensible speech hi the representative of Lebanon. irnd the clear. conci*c’ and constructive draft resolution bused on it \\,hiih was put forward by the represent:\tive of Jut&n [S/15304]. We could hnvc voted in ~~IVOU~ of thilt hft resolution, but we can also accept the amendment\ which have been proposed. Accordingly, we shall VC~I~ in favour of the text as it now stands ~.Y/lS.?c)3/f<~r,I~.

The delegation of Uganda is very pleased to SIX you. Sir. presiding o\‘er the Council during the month of September. We h:tic worked closely with you in the Council for :tlmc)%t two years now, and we are confident that. with yutlr well-known qualities of political wisdom iind dIpIt)- matic skill, you will steer the Council successfilll: through this difficult period. 37. I wish to pay a very special and well-dcscrvcJ tribute to my friend, Mr. Noel Dorr, of Ireland. \rh~ was President of the Council for the month of Augufl Mr. Dot-r’s resourcefulness, imagination, pnticncl nnd sense of fairness have tdready made a significanl impact on the work of the Council. 38. I should like also to take this opportunity tc? extend 11 very warm welcome to Sir John Thomson. the new representative of the United Kingdom. wtl look forw;u.d to working very closely with him and 11) benefiting from his extensive and distinguished cxpCrience. 39. The Council has been meeting since yesterday at the request of Lebanon, following Israel’s invasion and occupation of west Beirut. an act clearly in vi& tion of the cease-fire agreements ;lnd the resolutions of the Council. 40. My delegation condemns the assnssin:~tion of MI-. Bashir Gemayel, the President-elect of Lebanofla But we condemn even more strongly Israel’s cynicism in seizing upon thnt tragedy HIS ;I pmext for occupyifl! west Beirut, thereby aggr:iv:\ting the suffering of Ihe Lebanese people and shattering the fragile peace thitl was SlOWly, if painfully. emerging in Beirut. “The Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon had actually observed the cease-fire with Israel obtained last summer by the United States. It was not in its interest to provoke an Israeli onslaught. The PLO did not resume hostilities until after the heavy Israeli attack, for which the assassination attempt on Ambassador Shlomo Argov in London --an odious act that no evidence links to the PLOserved as a pretext.” 46. That was 1954 and therein lies the impetus fat Israeli activities in Lebanon to this day. We cannot stand idly by and watch Israel implement with impunity its strategy for a weak and divided Lebanon. We support the desire of the people of Lebanon for :I strong and united country, a Lebanon able to detcrmine its own destiny in complete freedom and independence. For that reason. my delegation will support draft resolution S/ IS394/Rev. I. 42. The present Israeli action in Beirut therefore follows a now-familiar pattern of pretexts invariably followed by massive military action. There is no doubt that Israel has seized on the tragic death of Presidentelect Bashir Gemayel as a mere pretext to move into west Beirut in the same way that it used the attempted assassination of Ambassador Shlomo Argov in London as a mere pretext for launching a full-scale invasion of Lebanon. 47. The only contribution that Israel can make towards the restoration of law and order in Lebanon is to withdraw its troops immediately from Beirut and the entire territory of Lebanon. 48. In conclusion, my delegation regrets the impending departure of our friend and colleague, MI-. Ghassan Tuini. of Lebanon. Over the last two years, I have come to know Mr. Tubni well and to respect him deeply, He has done so much during his time at the United Nations to sensitize the Council in particulsr and the international community at large to the agony of his country. It is a matter of deep regret that the Council has not been able to do more in response to Mr, Tukni’s constant and passioni\te pleas on behalf of the Lebanese people. On this OCCUsion. the best wish I can extend to Mr. TuCni is the strong hope and prayer that his country should now be allowed to enter ;I new era of tranquillity. :I period of national healing and reconstruction. This is my wish for Mr. TuCni and for Lebanon. 43. I remember that during the months of June, July itnd August, Israel had invoked the presence of PLO fighters in Beirut as the reason for the destruction and carnage it visited upon the capital of Lebanon. Today, well after the successful evacuation of PLO fighters from Beirut, Israel continues to inflict destruction and human suffering on the people of Beirut. 44. The Israeli claim of restoring law and order in Beirut is preposterous and unacceptable. It is all the more ironic because it is Israel that has contributed SC) much to the present chaos and suffering in Lebanon. In any case. it is inadmissible that Israel should arrogate to itself the right to police the internal affairs of Lebanon in spite of the explicit wishes of the Government and people of Lebanon, as expressed so clearly and movingly yesterday in this very chamber by the representative of Lebanon, Mr. TuOni.

The next speaker is the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on whom I now call. 45. The truth is that Israel has long harboured an elaborate and sinister design on Lebanon. Plenty of evidence is available on the nature and strategy of that design. but I shall refer to only one example to iIliIstrate the point. In February 1954, David Ben- Gill-ion wrote to the then Prime Minister of Israel. Moshe Sharett, expounding on that design as follows: SO. Mr. TERZI (Palestine Liberation Organization): While the Council has been passing time deliberating and arguing, the Israelis huvc taken the following action: “Israeli troops have stormed west Beirut. Israeli troops have mounted a wide-scale arrest campaign. Hundreds of Palestinians and f,ebanese have been seen bound. blindfolded and taken off to an unknown destination. Israeli troops have entered the Palestine Liberation Orgnnization Research Centre “It is clear that Lebanon is the weakest link in the Arab League. The other minorities in the Arab States are alI Muslim, except for the Copts. . . . The cr-eation of a Christian State is therefore a natural ;tct: it has historical roots and it will find support -a centre of culture and education, a centre full of documents, manuscripts, maps and plans on the 51. Later we received the following much more serious information: “A very dangerous situation is developing. Reports indicate that the militiamen of Saad Haddad had entered the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabre and Shatila. This very dangerous development could result in :I mass massacre of Palestinian civilians still remaining in those camps.” 52. Furthermore, .iust before we entered this chamber, reports said that those persons arrested were taken to the Citi Sportive: but much more dangerous, damaging and inhumane, corpses were found at the Ouzai Beach, presumably of some of those who had been arrested. 53. At last, the Council is about to adopt a resolution demanding Israel’s immediate withdrawal--although it does not say “withdrawal”; but we maintain that it is-to the positions previously occupied. But the question is: should Israel fail to comply. as has been its policy in rejecting Council resolutions and decisions, will the Council invoke its powers, the powers vested in it by the Charter of the United Nations. and adopt effective ways and means to see to it that justice is done, that the lives of civilians are guaranteed and that Israel withdraws totally and unconditionally from Lebanon? Or will one member-the ~1sua1 permanent member-again obstruct and undermine the role and efficacy of the Council‘? We have only to wait 24 more hours before judgement can bc passed.

It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution submitted by Jordan, contained in document S/IS394/Rev. I. BS orally revised by the representative of Jordan. I am afraid that some representatives might have missed the oral revision: therefore I shall read it out, 55. The representative of Jordan made the following oral revision to operative paragl-aph 4: replace the words “and the Lebanese :%rmed forces throughout Lebanon” , at the end of the pilrilgraph, with “through the Lebanese Army throughout Lebanon”. Operative paragraph 4 wauid then read: ZJ, ‘:(‘rr//.r oa~lrrin for the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity. unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclu- 57. I put to the vote the draft resolution contnincd in document S/lS394/Rev. I, as orally revised by the representative of Jordan. 58. Mr. OVINNIKOV (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) fintr~/p/~cJfatiorl fkJ/n Rl,.v.sirnl): Today the Security Council has adopted a resolution which map seem to be a first step on the correct road-on the road to ending Israeli aggression, on the road to ensuring tin unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forci from all the territory of Lebanon, as provided for i the basic Council resolution SO9 (1982). 59. However, in order to ensure that type of breill through, it is important to have not only ;I Count resolution, but also a sincere willingness on the P;II of aI1 Council members who vote in favour of it I implement that resolution. This is especially relevar to those Council resolutions that were adopted UKU imously, resolutions such as SO9 (1982) and today’ resolution. 60. States members of the Security Council Ini! of course have a divergence of opinions at variou stages of the discussion, but when they reach uni! nimity on any given resolution, that would seem tc be the very minimum they should and cannot fail h implement. It is that elementary basis of activity bl the Council that should be axiomatic. If a State mereI1 votes formally in favour of any given resolution bu does not go along with the actual implementation 0 that resolution, then many questions can arise. 61. For ex:lmple, was that State sincere when il voted in favour of that resolution, or did it merely wish to use its vote as a fig-leaf? That is not a rhetorical question: it is not ;I theoretical problem. It is the very essence of what we shall encounter 24 hours from now if Israel does not withdraw its forces from We51 Beirut. The elementary obligation of the Council is to achieve the implementation of its resolutions3 esPecially those resolutions that are adopted unanimouslYa 62. That is the basic premise of the Soviet delegation.