S/PV.2493 Security Council

The fratricidal conflict between Iran and Iraq, which has just entered its fourth year, has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children, and inflicted savage punishment on scores of population centres on both sides. The unremitting hostilities spell disaster for the fragile economies of the two countries, and, if continued much longer, will mortgage their future to the vagaries of history’s incalculable forces. 8. The magnitude of the issues involved in the conflict has, however, dwarfed the efforts reflected in the Council resolutions and the appeals in the presidential statements. One of the major reasons for the failure of the international bodies, in particular the Council, to take effective measures to bring about a cease-fire and terminate this tragic conflict has been Iran’s perception of a lack of proper understanding of its point of view by the Council. The inability of the Council adequately to respond to Iran’s concerns and misgivings, particularly during the early stages of the conflict, has caused Iran to form a somewhat impetuous judgement about the Council’s capacity to play an effective role as a peacemaker. 4, Pakistan has been profoundly moved by this tragic conflict. The pangs of anguish at the prolongation of this war are made more poignant for us, not only by our geegraphical proximity to the centre of hostilities, not only by the ties of tradition and history, but, especially, because the flow of our Islamic heritage and ideology can be traced directly to the fountains of culture and religion which cascaded in these two great countries many centuries ago. It is 10. When the Council addressed itself once again to this issue in its current session, it was our hope that a serious attempt would be made to evolve a resolution that would engage both parties in a process combining the virtue of an immediate containment of hostilities with the prospect of a comprehensive peace settlement to follow. The alternative was, as in the past, to adopt a resolution which the Council, in its judgement, deemed fair and necessary, even if it left one party to the conflict as disenchanted and aggrieved as ever. Resolutions of the ‘btter category already exist, and the addition of another of that kind would hardly have a meaningful impact on the war. 11. In order to contain and bring to an end this threeyear-old conflict, what is required above all is to promote a peace process in which both the parties become fully engaged. Given the great objective before us, that of restoring peace and tranquillity in a most sensitive area of the world, we need to summon all our resources of patience and courage to help us remain fully committed to this noble goal. 12. We regret the loss of an opportunity during our informal consultations when a sustained effort might have succeeded in getting the two parties involved in the process of ‘consultations with the promise of a meaningful outcome. Instead of devoting more time to exhaustive consultations, we are hastening to adopt a document which is not fully matured and which lacks consensus. It is not likely to serve the objective we have in view. We must now wait for another propitious combination of circumstances for a renewed effort to activate a peace process. 13. It is as much for those reasons as for our concern for the preservation of Pakistan’s impartial role as a member of the Islamic Peace Committee that we shall abstain from voting on the draft resolution which, nevertheless, has many positive features, such as the call for a cessation of hostilities, the emphasis on the continuing role of the Secretary-General, the affirmation of the right offree navigation in international waters in the region of the Persian Gulf, the call addressed to the belligerents to respect the integrity of other littoral States and the emphasis on the need for all States to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any act which may lead to further escalation and widening of the conflict. 14. The prolongation of the Iran-Iraq conflict in a region which harbours so many other combustible issues exposes it to the danger of great-Power intervention. The everoresent threat of great-Power confrontation in that vital ,egion has never been so imminent, nor the ability of the rnited Nations to avert a catastrophe so impaired as at 15. Mr, GAUCI (Malta): As we have stated on so many occasions and in every forum open to us, the Maltese Government views with great concern the outbreak of hostilities between Iraq and Iran, both countries staunch friends of Malta. On every single day, indeed practically at every single hour since the unfortunate outbreak of hostilities, it has been Malta’s constant endeavour to encourage reconciliation between the two parties through a cease-tire and negotiations. We were therefore encouraged that both sides responded with detailed and written observations to the working paper which had been the focus of concentrated attention in rhe Council in the course of the informal consultations over the past two weeks or so. We have stated our position in the informal consultations and we wish to confirm our reasoned position publicly today, 16. As members no doubt would be .aware, my delegation took the objective stand that the main concern of the Council at this stage should be to build on the initial responses received and to undertake urgent and energetic efforts to bring the two sides together in an open attempt to initiate, through the good offices of the Council, a constructive and, we would hope, positive dialogue. We believe that this approach would offer better possibilities than the mere passage of a draft resolution, even though it would undoubtedly be more time consuming, Since we know that one side has not considered that it has been given a reasonable hearing and sufficient consultation by the Council during its current consideration, we naturally favoured a prolongation of the exercise under way in the Council. Others, unfortunately, felt otherwise and pressed for a vote. It the vote will help reconciliation between the parties and bring about a cessation of hostilities, nothing would give my country greater pleasure, But for the reasons stated, we have misgivings and therefore, while not opposing the draft resolution, my delegation will have to abstain in the voting on it. 17. We remain opeq, within our modest means, to exercise renewed efforts to bring about the cherished hope of reconciliation and the cessation of the conflict between Iraq and Iran. This we pledge to both parties and to the Council. We hope that the time will soon come to bring about constructive negotiations with the continued and dedicated assistance of the Secretary-General.

We should like to speak before the draft resolution on the situation between Iran and Iraq, sponsored by Guyana, Togo and Zaire [S/1609z], is put to the vote. 19. Notwithstanding the efforts to reconcile the various views of the members of the Council, it has not been possible to produce a consensus document. We would have preferred that, in this matter of such special importance and delicacy, the actions of the Council be guided by a 26. We should, however, recognize thal past decisions of the Council have failed to bring about conditions leading to a peaceful settlement of the conflict in conformity with the principles of justice and international law. 27. If we are to achieve favourable conditions leading to an end of this war it is, in our opinion, essential for this Council not only to be as objective and balanced as possible in its assessment of the conflict but also to secure the agreement of both parties to co-operate with the decisions of the Council. It was with these important objectives in mind that the Netherlands delegation took an active part in the consultations which led to the draft resolution submitted by Guyana, Togo and Zaire. Because we are not dissatisfied with the result, the Netherlands voted in favour of the draft resolution. 20, The draft resolution before us does not provide them. That js why we very much doubt that it will achieve the desired results, As we said in the informal consultations, should the draft resolution reflect the views of the majority of the members of the Council, we cannot object to the Council taking such action as it deems necessary in this situation, But we cannot endorse by an affirmative vote a decision which lacks any guarantee of effectiveness and even casts doubt on the ability of the parties to the controversy to bring about a relaxation of tension. 28. However, as on previous occasions when the Council dealt with the situation between Iran and Iraq, one of the problems facing the Council remained how to secure the compliance of both parties with a resolution. I repeat that, for Council decisions to have any real impact on this serious and bitter conflict, a certain measure of cooperation on the part of both parties is indispensable. We seem to have been nearer to this important ob.iective than on any previous occasion and we, for our part, therefore, regret that it has not been possible to explore the possibilities which might have presented themselves to the very end. 21. That is why we shall have to abstain in the voting on the draft resolution.

I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution submitted by Guyana, Togo and Zaire [ibid.,]. A vote was taken by show of hands. Infivour: China, France, Guyana, Jordan, Netherlands, Poland, Togo, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zaire, Zimbabwe. 29. In conclusion, we wish to express the hope that this new resolution will serve as a first step to a more meaningful involvement of the United Nations in the search for a comprehensive, just and honourable settlement of the conflict in all its aspects that is acceptable to both sides. The important role which the Secretary-General could play to this end is underlined in paragraph 1 of the resolution, which requests him to continue his mediation efforts. If the belligerents were to heed the calls for the immediate cessation of all military operations against civilian targets and for the ending of all hostilities in the region of the Gulf, as expressed in paragraphs 2, 3 and 5, this could l~clp to bring about the more favourable conditions required to end this bitter war by peaceful means. Last, but nl,t least, we whole-heartedly agree with the call reiterated in palngrdpl 6 for al1 other States to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any act which might lead to a ftrrthcr es&>- tion and widening of the conflict. Against: None. Abstaining: Malta, Nicaragua, Pakistan. The draft resolution was adopted by 12 votes to none, with 3 abstentions [resolution 540 (1983)].

I shall now call on members of the Council wishing to make statements after the voting.

It is on the Security Council that the Members of the United Nations have conferred the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Confronted with acts of aggression or a breach of the peace, it is our collective duty to make constructive and objective recommendations and, if necessary, to take collective measures in order to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the adjustment or settlement of the conflict.

Today’s meeting of the Council reflects the profound concern of the overwhelming majority of Members of the Orgariization in connection with the continuing armed conflict between Iran and Iraq, ‘This concern is whole-heartedly shared by the Soviet Union, which cannot fail to take an interest in eliminating dangerous hotbeds of tension in regions which are in the immediate vicinity of its li-omiers. 25. The cruel war between Iran and Iraq has now already lasted for more than three years, More than eight months have elapsed since the Council issued its last presidential statement on the conflict [S/25616], which now threatens 32. The Soviet Union has consistently and categorically opposed, and continues to oppose, any attempts on the part of external forces to exploit the Iran-Iraq conflict for intervention in the internal affairs of States in that area. It is the sovereign right of those countries and peoples to provide for their own security and to dispose freely of their own natural resources. Any armed intervention in this area, no matter what the pretext-including that of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf-is absolutely inadmissible. It must be absolutely clear to everyone that such intervention could have extremly dangerous consequences for the fate of peace in this region and throughout the world. 35. The draft resolution that has just been put to the vote, in which the Council calls for a cease-fire and requests the Secretary-General to continue with his mediation efforts and other positive factors, is consistent with China’s position that the conflict between the two sides should be settled by peaceful means, 36. For this reason, the Chinese delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution.

The Council has concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 12.20 p.m. 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 Units sent en vente dans les Iibrairies et les agences depositaires du munde entier. Informez-vous auprEs de votre libraire ou adressez-vous 1~ : Nations Unies, Section des ventes, New York ou Gcneve. ICAK llO.JIYYl4Tb M3.4AHMII OPTAHMSAIJAW OE;‘J&~MHEHHLIX HAUMti M3naHliR O~TaIiM3LWiM O6~efliWeHHblX HausR MONKHO KyITUTb B KHM)KHblX Mara3MHaX M~reI~Tc.r~~XB~BcCXp~~Ol~~XM~pa.~a~onllTeC~paBK~OEi~3~~~i~~XBBaUl~MKHU)I(IIOM MaraSUHe MJIH nw.~rIre no anpecy: OpraHENiUm O6'benHHeIiHh~X HauHU, CeKuMw n0 nponame usnamti,Hbro-Mopx H~II XeHeBa. COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS Las publicaciones de las Naciones Unidas estdn en venta en librerias y casas distribuidoras en todas partes del mtmdo. Consulte a su librero o dirijase a: Naciones Unidas, Seccidn de Venhs, Nueva York o Ginebra.