S/PV.2400 Security Council

I should also like to inform the Council that I have received from the representative of Jordan a note dated I8 October [S//5459], which reads as follows: 9. Our position is that we in the United States have no ob.jection whatsoever to the Council’s inviting representatives of the PLO to speak. The United Stutcs has never objected to the Council’s hearing a representative of a political group which has a stake in our deliberations. But we consider that this curt be nccomplished constitutionally, within the framework of the Charter, only under rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure. Rule 39 has always provided it sound “The representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan presents his compliments to the President of the Security Council and has the honour to request the latter to extend an invitation to the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in the Council’s consideration of the IO. The United States requests that you put the proposed invitation to the vote. For the reasons stated today. the United States will vote “no”. I I. The PRESIDENT: If no other member of the Council wishes to speak at this stage. I shall take it thatthe Council is ready to vote on the proposal by Joi~dan. In.firIw/r; China, Guyana, Ireland. Jordan. Panama. Poland. Spain. Togo, Uganda. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Zaire ,+Ig~/i,~.st: United States of America :Ih.stt~ntion.s: France. Japan. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Members of the Council huvc before them document S/ IS455 and Corr-. I, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. 13. It is my honour and pleasure, on behalf of the Council, to extend warm greetings and express the highest esteem to Sheikh Amin Gemnyel. the Prcsident of the Lebanese Republic, and to invite him to address the Council. 14. Mr. C EMAY EL (itrt(~,.p,‘cltr,tit,n .fi-om Fron~~h): Mr. President. I should like first of all. in accordance with the tradition of the Council, to congratulate you on your assumption of your heavy responsibilities and to express my happiness at being here to address the Council under your presidency. The1.e are many indestructible ties between OLIN two countries. IS, I would ;~SO ask YOLI to transmit WI’ thanks to His Majesty King Hussein for the constant support of his Government, and in particular his delegation to the United Nations. in regard to the Lebanese question. 16. Lebanon owes much to the Council and to each of its members. both those who are present today and those who have been members in the past, since 1978. 18. The Council has neither deceived nor disappointed us. The vicissitudes which have prevented the Council’s resolutions from taking on their historical dimensions prompt US, like many members of the Council, to seek together, within the framework of the Charter of the ‘:nitcd Nations. practical means of making the Council more effective. As members doubrless realize, we arc thinking especially of resolutions 425 ( 1978) and 426 ( 1978) and those that flowed from them. We are thinking also of the more recent resolotions-508 ( 1982) and SO9 ( 1982)~and of those which the Council adopted with superb unanimity. Ofcourse. those resolutions did not lead to the liberation of Lebanon nor put an end to the continuing and recurring invasions. However, they condemned the aggression. confirmed the legitimacy of OLII’ rights, upheld the inviolability of our territory and contributed to preserving the unity and sovereignty of our country wit hiI1 its internationally recognized boundaries. 19. Joining us in OLII struggle for the independence of Lebanon and for the freedom of the Lebanese people were soldiers mandated by the Council to serve the cause of peace. Their blood, shed on Lebe~wc soil and mixed with the blood of our martyrs. will not be wasted: we know that the cause of peace hns begun to triumph and will continue to triumph against and in spite of those who threaten it, 20. The Council is meeting today to discuss the future of the peace-keeping forces. the future of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFILI. The Council is already aware of our desire to SW the mandate of the Force extended. This extension of the mandate, however, in our opinion cannot be an indefinite one. UNIFIL must remain an “interim force”. as its name indicates. In addition, in keeping with its mandate, it must be capable of “restoring international peace and security” in southern Lebanon and “assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the arca”-to use the words of resolution 425 (19781. Faced with the Israeli invasion of March 1978. UNIFIL. as we are all aware. found itself in ;I state of frustration since it was prevented from fully accomplishing its task bY the provocations of one party or by the obstructions of :mc,ther. 21. The General Armistice Agreement of ly49+’ which Lebanon continues to respect and invoke. stmces familiar to all here. The withdrawal of Israeli forces is therefore today the objective. as established in the Council’s resolutions. That objective must be achieved. But. at the same time. Lebanon. as it has SO frequently stated in this very chamber. also awaits the withdrawal of all the non-Lebanese armies and forces now on it5 territory. 30. Within the framework of the United Nations. :IS the Council well knows. this solidarity means an obligation to promote the implementation of ~.esoIutions adopted with near unanimity concerning the ” Icgitimnte rights of the Palestinians and the nonacquisition of territories by force and war. 22. It is not customary for 21 Head of State to take Pi1l.t in the deliberations of the Council, and it is WI‘- tainly not my intention tu do so. However. in view of the tragic circumstance5 in Lebanon. which threaten international pence and security, it seemed to mc imperative tu tell the Council how concerned we arc that WNIFIL’s future be viewed within the framework of the developments since its mandate was originally defined. Indeed. any possible extension of the mandate must take into account the new needs of dctcrt‘cnce and. in p:lrticular, the need to give the pracekeeping operation greater credibility. 31. What commitment could be more natural fat the Lebanese. who themselves have been hostngcs iltld victims’? 32. Thus. Lebanon. its powers fully rcgainrd. will here and elsewhere support any initiatives aimed at restoring ;I &just and lasting pcacc in thr Middle L-:ast and guaranteeing the right of peoples und nations to live in security. 23. Alongside UNIFIL. the Lebanese authorities have sought the support and assistance of anothcl international force. the “multinational force”, to which some countries represented here have contributed, and they have so infrrmcd the Orgnnization. Under the supervision of that force. still operating with great effectiveness and cou~~gt:. the Palestinian and Syrian military units pulled out of Beirut as ;I first stage in iI negotiating process aimed at enabling the Lebanese army to undertake its responsibilities solely and fully and thereby to extend the authority of the State throughout the territory of Lebanon. with any other militat’y presence excluded. 33. Has not the Lebanese expericncc. SC) painful in itself. demonstrated the human tragedy and the dangers to world peace that come from the violation of rights? 34. In the Council’s lung deliberations. i\s well as in its I.estjftltiuns, there ilye valtlnhlc lessons that the world will long remember. 35. That. at least. is our hope. May the God of peacl: bless YOUI. cff11rts.

I wish to thank the President of the Ltzbnnese Republic. Sheik11 Amin Gemnyel. fol hi+, very important statement i\nd for the kind words hr addressed to me and to my country. It will bc my honour to convey the warm i\tld cordial sentiments which President Amin Cemuycl hils addressed to Hia Ma&sty King Hussein of the Hashcmite Kingdom of Jordan and which embody the fraternal relationship between Lebanon and Jordan. 24. Thus. in the days ()Iweeks to come, Lebanon hopes to gain new vigour.. 25. The capital, which I left yesterday. is already coming back to vibrant fife. Lebanon’s resistance nnd its determination to emerge victorious from another war---the war against destruction and devastutionis probably one of the greatest achievements of our times. 26, And so it is with much pride and hope that I have come to announce to the Council in great solemnity the detcrmimltion of the Lebanese, all tho Lebnnesc. to live together. but alone. in uric eternal. indivisible and independent Lebanon.

Members of the Council have before them document S/15458. which contains the text of a draft resolution prcparcd in the course of the Council’s consultations. It is my tmderstnnding that the Council is reildy to proceed to the v~tt: on thisdraft resolution. Unless 1 heal. any ub.jection. I shrill put the draft resolution to the vote now. 27. Coveted by its enemics and envied by its friends, Lebanon has by the blood of its sons earned the right IO be free and to enjoy the trust and support of nations which have the hitme love of freedom. 28. I do not wish to end this statement without telling the Council how concerned we art by. and /II ,f;l~*cu/r: China. France. Guyana. Ireland. Japan. Jordan. Panama. Spain, Togo. Uganda. United King- .4hvtoir1in,:l: Poland. Union of Soviet Socialist Kepublics HOW TO OBTAIN IJNITF:D NATIONS PIJRLICATIONS COMMENT SE PROCURER LES PUBLlCATlONS DES NATIONS UNlES Les publications des Nations Unies sent en ventc dans les lihrnirics ct Its agenccs depositaircs du monde cntier. Inrormez-vow sup& de vwrc libraire ou adresscz-vows B : Nations Units. Section ties ventes. New York ou Gcntive. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICAC’IONES DE LAS NACIONES 1JNlDAS Las ptlhlicaciones de las Naciones Ihula, cstan en venta en librerias y czw~s distribuidoras cn todas partes del mundo. Consultc :I SLI librero o diri,jase a: Nacioncs Umdas. Seccicin de Ventas, Nucva York a Ginebw.