S/PV.2575 Security Council

Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for the period from 10 October 1984 to 11 April 1985 [s/17093]. Members of the Council have also received document s/17100, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in Council consultations. I wish to draw the attention of members of the Council to document S/17062, which contains the text of a letter dated 27 March from the representative of Lebanon to the Secretary-General, and S/17067, which contains the text of a letter dated 29 March from the Secretary-General to the President of the Council. Present: The representatives of the following States: Australia, Burkina Faso, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Madagascar, Peru, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America. ProvisIonal agenda (S/Ageada/2575) I. Adoption of the agenda 2. The situation in the Middle East: Report of Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (s/170931 The meeting was called to order at 11.35 a.m. Express&n of thanks to the rettrtng bestdent I. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of April, I should like first to pay tribute on behalf of the Council to Mr. Blaise Rabetafika, representative of Madagascar and President of the Council for the month of March, for the wisdom and great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the business of the Council last month. I am sure I express the feelings of all members of the Council in sincerely thanking Mr. Rabetzdika for his work as President. Adoptkm of the age& The age& was adopted. llu?tiItmtIonIrltheMldflIeEastl ReprtofdEsecretaly.GeneraIontheU~Nadoas lntetim Force in Labaaoa (s/17093)

I should like to inform members of the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of L&non in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite him to participate in the discussion without the right IO vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure. AI the invitation of the PleJldent, Mr. Fakhoury (L.&tnon) took a place at the Council table. I 4. I understand that the Council is prepared to proceed to vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless 1 hear any objection I shall now put it to the vote. A vote was taken bv show of hands. In fivow: Australia, Burkina Faso, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Madagascar, Peru, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America. Again& None. Abstuinbtg: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. l’lte draft resolution was adopted by 13 vutes to none, with 2 abstentions iresolution 5661 (198511.

Mr. President, since this is the first meeting of the Council in April, it gives me great pleasure. as the representative of a fellow Pacific- *an country, to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency. I am confident that you will guide our deliberations with your well-known skill. Equally as the representative of an Indian-Ocean country, I salute the very great skill with which the representative of Madagascar guided the Council during the month of March. 6. My delegation has voted in favour of the draft resolution just before the Council. Australia has been a strong supporter of the peace-keeping role of the United Nations. It has been a generous and willing contributor of funds for UNIFIL operations. That support will continue. 7. --_ We recognize the dangers and difii,c;uii~ tin&i which UNIFIL operates. These difftculties have been outlined clearly in the last report of the Secretary-General idly thohc which make dill’icult the cffcctivc operation of I~NII:ll. ;IIKI which cndangcr civilian lives. 9. The resolution which the Council has just adopted reitcratcs that lJNII:IL should fully implement its mandate as delined in the resolutions of the Council. IO. It remains Australia’s hoF that the parties concerned can create the conditions necessary for the eftbctive operation of UNIFIL. In this context, WC look forward to Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanon and the return of the sovereignty of the Lebanese Government over its territory, both of which Australia holds as important objectives. I I. Clearly, in the months ahcad the Council will need to consider what future role may be open to UNIFIL. This is particularly important given the present critical phase in IJNIFIL’s operations. It will be necessary for the Council to consider in a timely manner how it will address the important issues involved. The Australian delegation stands ready to contribute constructively to this work. It. We note that the Secretary-General has foreshadowed the need for some new consultations between the two parties to consider UNIFIL’s future role as the Israeli forces withdraw from southern Lebanon. Australia would support any such co-operation with the Secretary-General and would hope that the two countries concerned would agree to participate in such discussions.

First of all. I should like to congratulate you, Sir. on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of April. It has just bexxi demonstrated that the Council is able to do constructive work under your wise guidance. I also want to pay tribute to the representative of Madagaascar. Mr. Rabetaftka. for the gentle, good-humoured and extremely skilful way in which he guided the work of the Council during the busy month of March. 14. It is indeed gratifying to note that our decision today to prolong the mandate of UNIFIL coincides with the process finally under way of Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. Thus the moment seems appropriate for reflection on the role of UNIFIL in this process and in the wake of the complete withdrawal of the Israeli forces, to which the Government of Israel has committed itself. 15. Developments in southern Lebanon during the last months have clearly demonstrated that violence breeds violence. The threat or use of force will not bring genuine peace and stability to the area. On the contrary, it will only engender counteraction, which is bound to lead to a further deterioration of the situation. This cannot be in the interest of any of the parties concerned. 16. In his latest report on IJNIFIL the Sccrctary-Cicncral rightly points out that the best means of achieving peace complctc authority of thr I .cbanchc (iovcrnmcut aid army in that arca. As is strcshcd by thr Sccrct;lr~-<icllcr;rl. this rcquircs sonic form of conaultati\c ~I’E~~III~WI WICI [Jnitcd Nations auspices, and Denmark urgch both prtics to rcsumc talka as ~,WIII as poshiblc in order to achicvc this purpose. 17. My Govcrnmcnt belicvcs that IJNIFIL shot~ld hc assigned important tasks in the process. taking into account the legitimate security interests of all parties concerned and thus linally allowing the Force to play the role originally envisaged for it in Council resolutions 425 ( 1978) and 426 (1978). 18. In this connection, it should bc borne in mind that even under the most adverse circumstances the Force has in the past amply demonstrated its ability to rcducc considerably violence: in the area of opcrution and even to bring complete quiet to the area when all partics supported and co-operated with it. 19. Denmark thus fully understands and shares IIIC position and concerns about the future role of IJNIHI. \\hiuh the troop<ontributing countries expressed in their Icttcr OI 28 March [ibid.]. We join in their urgent call II~W~ the Governments of Israel and Lebanon to meet the rcquircmcnts necessary to ensure security lbr all conccrncd in the area in the wake of the complete lsracli withdrawal. 20. We owe it to the troop-contributing Governments, and indeed to the very concept of United Nations peacckeeping forces, to secure at least the minimum conditions from the elrective future work of UNIFIL as outlined by the Secretary-General in his report. 21. We interpret the resolution just adopted by the Council as endorsing further action by the Secretary-General along the lines described in his report. Like him, we do not believe that it is in the interest of any of those conccrncd to allow a situation to arise in which violence is likely to continue and escalate and in which UNIFIL will tind itscll once again in a position of embarrassment, inelt’ectivencss and even danger. 22. Finally, I should like to pay tribute to General Calla&an. his stalT, the ofticers and the men of UNIFII. and the military observers of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) for their continued dedication to their task and courage in extremely diflicult circumstances, as well as to the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for their untiring eli’orts in oromotinn peace in Lebanon.

Mr. Prcsident, may I offer congratulations to Peru. It is a mark 01 your country’s international achievements and of the wealth of talent in Peru that two Peruvians should bc sitting together at the head of this horscshtr table today. We know your own talents and your own achicvcmcnts. Sir. and we wclcomc you to the presidency. 25. My dclcgation set out the British Government’s views on the situation in southern Lebanon when the Council met to consider the matter last mongh [2570/11 nfee@l. These views have not changed. Regrettably, since that time there has been no improvement in the situation. The withdrawal of Israeli forces has continued, but it has been accompanied by a further escalation of violence and retaliation which has solved nothing and only added to the sult’erings of the civilian population. Outsiders have been sucked in too. Several of my count1 ymen have been kidnapped. One of them, Mr. Alec Collett. who was working for the United Nations Reliefand Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Lebanon, is still being held. I appeal in this forum for his release. 26. The overriding need now in southern Lebanon is for the cessation of violence on all sides. The first essential towards achieving this is the continuation and completion of the long-overdue withdrawal of all Israeli forces from all Lebanese territory. In the mean time, until its forces have withdrawn south of the border, Israel should scrupulously observe both the letter and the spirit of the Geneva conventions. A continuation of its “iron Iist” policy will serve only to fan the flames of violence and make it more difficult to achieve the security which it seeks for northern Israel. 27. The Secretary-General has given us his considered views of the present situation in the observations contained in his latest report. My Government fully supports the efforts hc has been making and the views and recommendations contained in the report. We had hoped that by this time agreement might have been reached on havirs UNI- FIL deploy to the international border in fulfilment of its original mandate. We continue to believe with the Secretary-General that the Council’s objectives must be to secure a speedy, orderly and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, to establish international peace and security in the area and to restore effective Lebanese authority and sovereignty up to the internationally recognized border. These words should be given their full and precise meaning. Thus they exclude completely any residr*nl Israeli presence or some kind of “security zone” controlled by groups unauthorized by the Lebanese Government. 28. The Secretary-General has said that he believes the best means of achieving these objectives would be an orderly take-over from the withdrawing Israeli forces by UNIFIL together with units of the Lebanese army. We agree. We share his concern that unless some orderly way is iound to achieve this. the situation is iikeiy io coniinue to deteriorate to the grave disadvantage of all concerned. Some consultative mechanism is therefore essential to the process. as the Secretary-General has pointed out. We welcome the Secretary-General’s offer to convoke a new conference of Israeli and Lebanese military representatives for this purpose, We urge both sides to accept this offer and to find means of co-operating on security in the border area IO reduce the possibility of further violence. 30. My Government is fully aware of the difficulties in the way of achieving a diplomatic solution on these lines. The situation is both complex and inflamed by the escalating violence, Today’s events in Lebanon serve to underline these difficulties. But in our view they only strengthen the need for a diplomatic solution in southern Lebanon. The restoration of peace, security and normality there will be of benetit to the whole of Lebanon. The Secretary-General must continue his efforts in pursuance of the resolution just adopted, and the Governments concerned must give him their full co-operation. Delay will only make matters worse. 31. In the mean time, we are continuing to provide UNI- FIL with substantial help over logistics and have given our support to the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate for a further six months. In doing so, we note that the Secretary- General has left open the possibility of reporting again to the Council in the near future. We believe that this is right and that the Council should be prepared during the next six months to give further thought to UNIFILS mandate as soou as there is an opportunity for making progress. For the time being, the Force can continue to play a help ful role in the area while a way is sought for it to fulfil its original mandate. It is a troubled and difficult role to ask of the Force and the troop-contributing Governments They richly deserve the continuing gratitude and support of the international community, especiaily since, as the Secretary-General has once again been obliged to point out, the Organization is increasingly far behind in their reimbunement. We look to the Israeli and Lebanese authorities to ensure that the major financial and political contribution which most of the international community is making is keeping UNIFIL in place is not wasted. 32. In closing. I should like once again to pay a sincere tribute to General Callaghan and all the personnel of UNI- FIL and UNTSO for the courage and skill which they continue to bring to their task. Their dedication is an example to us all. We for our part must now work. as I have jusi descri’bed. for iilr psfui suiiiiiuii iiiai wiii siioiv that their efforts have not been in vain. 33. Mr. TROYANOVSKY (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (inretpr~rurion from RI&U@: First, I congratulate you. Sir. on your assumption of the post of President of the Council and at the same time express the conviction that. under your highly enlightened guidance. the Council will be able to cope successfully with the very responsible 34 I should like to take this opportunity also to express our profound gratitude to the representative of Madagascar, Mr. Rabetafika, for the exemplary way in which he performed the timctions of President of the Council during the month of March. That period turned out to be an extremely heavy one for all members of the Council, but of course the main burden fell squarely on the President’s shoulders. 35. Last month marked seven years since UNIFIL was established. This is the seventeenth time now that the Council has had to extend that Force’s mandate for a further period of six months. ‘ihese figures in themselves indicate quite eloquently that the presence of the interim forces in Lebanon has beccme a oiotracted one. 36. The reasons for such a situation are well known. After the invasion of i&anon in March 1978, Israel, in violation of Security Council resolutions, transferred the regions bordering on southern Lebanon to its puppets among the local mercenaries and in that way virtually refused to leave Lebanon. Then, as a result of further acts of aggression by Israe: in June 1982. the United Nations forces found themselves far behind the occupying forces. Since then, Tel Aviv has been systematically and stubbornly refusingtocarryout the clear-cut demands of the Council and the entire intemational community for the unconditional withdrawal of its troops from all Lebanese territory. In the light of that fact,it is Israel’s fault that to this day UNIFIL has no opportunity to perform the functions entrusted to it-the main one being to monitor the withdrawal of the aggressor’s forces behind the international frontier. This fact is quite properly underlined in the report of the Secretary-General which is now before the Council. 37. For almost three years now, Israel has continued to hold sway on Lebanese soil, Virtually isolating the southern part of tebanon, the oc.cu+s have turned it into a realm of violence, and daily they perpetrate new crimes there. Shooting, mass searches, arrests, demolition of houses, collective punishment and derisive treatment of the Arab population are the characteristic signature of those who only recently, without a hint of embarrassment, affhmed that they had brought 40 years of peace to the people of Lebanon. 38. Israeli -ion has been particularly stepped up in recent months after the initiation of the forced relocation of the aggressor’s forces under the pressure of the liberation struggie t-hat has been unieashed by the Lebanese patriots. According to the report of the Secretary-General, in the period from February to the beginning of April of this year alone the occupiers carried out 32 major punitive operations against villages in the southern part of Lebanon as a result of which large segments of the population suffered 39. We are therefore completely justified in stating that the Israeli military has unleashed nothing less than a ter- 40. We must focus separately on the Israeli occupiers’ arrogant attitude towards UNIFIL personnel. WC fully share the concern voiced on this score by the Sccretary- General and those States which have supplied contingents to UNIFIL. As the report makes abundantly clear, thcrc have been frequent instances when forces belonging to Israel, which is a Member of the United Nations, and their henchmen opened fire on UNIFIL personnel. Obstacles continue to be placed in the way of the normal functioning of United Nations forces, making it impossible for them to fulfil the tasks entrusted to them by the Security Council. 41. The Soviet delegation emphasizes once again that it is the bounden duty of the Council to ensure respect for the United Nations flag and for UNIFIL. The Council should brook no intervention in its activities, as it has directly insisted in past decisions, particularly in resolution 523 (1982). We think it would also be desirable for the Sefretary-General to continue his practice of informing the Council of any ir.stances when the forces arc not in a position to perform their functions. 42. With reference to the situation in the southern part Lebanon, we cannot fail to advert to the fact that the lawless activities of the fsraeli authorities in that part of the world have twice-in September 1984 and March 1985-- been considered in the Council. In both instances the discussion led to an identical outcome: a veto cast by the United States against the Lebanese draft rcolutions [ s/f6732 und S/IXBXIJ, which asked that Israel merely act in accordance with the decisions of the Council and that it cease its terrorism against the civilian population in the occupied areas of Lebanon. That position taken by the United States has been assessed, quite rightly. not only as a political cover for its junior partner in the strategic alliance but also as a direct encouragement of that patiner to pursue its inhuman policy towards Lebanon. 43. The Soviet Union is firm in condemning the ongoing Israeli a-ion in Lebanon and reaffirms its solidarity with the people of that country who are struggling for their legitimate rights against the Israeli occupation. 44. The key to a sol*ltion of the Lebanese problem has been clearly set forth in Council resolutions SOB (1982) and 509 (1982). the latter demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire territory of Lebanon. Those resolutions must be acted npon. It is essential to guarantee respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Lebanon and to put an 45. In the light of the foregoing and of the request of the Government of Lebanon, the Soviet delegation has decided not to object to the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate for a further term. At the same time. we should like to reiterate and reconfirm our fundamental position with regard to that Force, including the method by which it is financed. It is our understanding that, as indicated in the Secretary-General’s report, should any fresh trends emerge as the situation develops, he will submit a further report to the Council, which would then, if necessary, meet again to take any necessary decisions.

It is my pleasure to jcin my colleagues in paying a tribute to you, Sir, and to wish you a presidency free from any untoward crises. Your first remarks have amply shown that you possess the necessary experience and skills for your task, and, like my colleagues, I am certain that the Council is in good hands this month. Let me also take this opportunity to say that relations between my country and yours are warm and that they have been so for many long years. I am particularly gratified, therefow. to express my esteem to you. 47. I wish also to pay a tribute to your predecessor, Mr. BIaise Rabetafika, who in difftcult circumstances gave proof both of great human qualities and of diplomatic skills-to which I would add the fact that he never lost his good humour, an element I deem extremely important to the good work of the Council, whatever the problem we may be considering. 48. Once again, through its vote in favour of the renewal of the mandate of UNIFIL, France has expressed its support for the Force’s activities and role. Indeed, my country considers that, in spite of the many obstacles, both de&to and dpjure, placed in the way of its activities, the effect of IJNIFIL has been a positive one. No one can challenge the fact that despite the difficulties it has encountered on many sides that have particularly affected-as all here knowthe French contingent, UNIFIL has been able to limit the scope of the incidents that have occurred within its zone of operation. I should like to take the opportunity provided by today’s meeting to pay a special tribute to all the members of UNIFIL under the command of General Callaghan, to whom I extend a warm greeting here today. In ._ . . c . _ _ ._- __ any WC‘IL, MC I-Ulbc ,,wst. as VJO,, ii3 j-Jo&:e. lx pit in a position fully to carry out its mandate as set forth in resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978). 49. As members of the Council know. France has spared no efforts to make its presence in the UNIFIL count and to ensure that the troop strength of the French contingent continues at the high level that has hitherto been maintained. In our view, however, we must constantly see to it 50. In voting in favour of the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate, France has wished once again to demonstrate its commitment to the unity, territorial integrity and independence of Lebanon. However, my country would express the strong wish that during this new six-month period the Secretary-General, whose report has received our full attention, will continue to an even greater degree to study and, if need be, to foster all necessary measures to ensure the full discharge of UNIFIL’s mandate.

I too want to join our colleagues in extending congratulations to you, Sir, on your assumption of the oRice of Resident of the Council for this month. Indeed, I would like to say that 1 associate myself with the remarks made by the representative of the United Kingdom concerning Peru’s representation at this table. I would also like to extend our thanks to Mr. Rabetafika for the truly outstanding manlier in which he conducted the Council’s proceedings during the month of March. 52. The United States has voted in favour of extending the mandate of UNIFIL because we believe that UNIFIL can help create stable conditions in southern Lebanon in the months ahead. We are of the view, however, that such a contribution to stability can be made only if all the parties involved agree to co-operate in UNIFIL’S mission. It is for that reason that we support most strongly the Secretary-General’s suggestion that a consultative mechanism be created under United Nations auspices-such as perhaps renewal of the Naqoura talks-whose purpose it would be to effect the needed cooperation of the parties so that constructive results can indeed be attained. 53. As the Secretary-General has noted, UNIFIL was able in the early years of its operations to bring about a significant reduction of violence in its zone of operation. In doing so, it served valiantly in dangerous and volatile circumstances. More recently, UNIFIL has provided protection and humanitarian assistance to the residents of the area of its operation, serving as a focus of civil order respected by the population and thus continuing to contribute to efforts to achieve stability in the area. However, as many parties, most particularly the troop contributors, have pointed out, UNIFIL has in recent years faced increasingly anomalous conditions, which have pointed up the fact that the Force’s present restricted role is both inappropriate and unsatisfactory. -. 34. This appraisai of present conditions ieads us to ihe conclusion that a clarifmtion of UNIFIL’s role, agreed upon by the parties concerned, must be achieved soon to adapt to a situation which will arise as Israel completes its withdrawal. Neither the troop contributors, nor the Secretary-General, nor the Council, can be expected to continue supporting the mission of the Force unless such a clarilication is agreed upon in the months ahead. The present extension of the mandate. for which we vo!ed because 55. As the Secretary-General stated in his report, we ah owe to the cause of peace and stability, the troop contributors and the United Nations itself, our best efforts to ensure that UNIFIL’s present highly unsatisfactory situation does not continue. We therefore urge all parties to redouble efforts during the coming mandate period to achieve an agreed role for UNIFIL, a role that utilizes its potential and assigns to it an important task in the continuing international effort to restore Lebanese sovereignty and peaceful conditions in southern Lebanon. 56. As to the comments offered by our colleague from the Soviet Union concerning the votes cast by the United States on the two draft resolutions to which he referred, let me say simply that our reasons for voting as we did were fully explained at the time these votes were cast. We regret that the Soviet Union considered it necessary to use this occasion to direct criticisms at us once again. We do not believe that the comments require any further elaboration on our part.

It gives me great pleasure to convey my congratulations to you, Sir, on your accession to the presidency of the Council for the month of April. Given your well-known abilities, wc look forward to a continued period of wise and efficient guidance under your presidency. 58. May I also take this opportunity to convey to your predecessor, the representative of Madagascar, our appreciation for the skilful and enicient manner in which he conducted the business of the Council during the month of March. 59. My Government ftrmly believes that the presence of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon can be an essential factor of stability in the region, contributing to the maintenance of L.&anon’s territorial sovereignty and integrity and to its political independence; it can also help to ensure the return of effective State authority in the area. However, in order that the peace-keeping operation of the Force may attain the objectives of its original mandate as laid down in rese lution 425 (1978). certain conditions must be fulfilled. 60. First of all, the terms of the relevant resolution must be fully implemented. In this regard, we have welcomed the decisions of the Government of Israel to withdraw all its forces from Lebanon. Their withdrawal to the interna- .: ---,,.. _^^^^ L-3 L--A-- :- -- _----.:-1 ----- .: .- c,vrmo,,J 1n~gr8hhu UVLUCGS a- 0h1 -8mu yvmxpwtr iu peace, We have noted that the initial steps taken by the Government of Israel to translate this decision into reality are already in force. 61. Next, the security of all the members of the peacekeeping forces and of all United Nations personnel operating in the area must be safeguarded. My Governmerlc views with concern the high number of casualties suffered 62. My Government wishes at this time to express its appreciation to those countries which have provided troops to UNIFIL. We regard their contribution as a Vangible commitment to uphold the ideals and principles ot the Char*er of the United Nations, WC wish also to compliment the Secretary-General on his succinct report on UNIFIL. More important, we wish to commend his continuing efforts to obtain the agreement of the parties involved in order to ensure the smooth functioning of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. 63, The Government of Trinidad and Tobago reiterates its support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and supports the extension of the mandate of UNIFIL which expires on 19 April 1985, for a further period of six months. Let me take this opportunity also to pay a tribute to the patience, courage and dedication of the olllcers, men and staff of the Force, who serve in the most taxing and complex conditions. Such commitment demands, on our part, nothing but our unstinting support. They are prepared to make the supreme sacrifice; we can do no less than to support them in all matters and in every manner we can.

The next speaker is the representative of Lebanon, on whom I now call.

Let me congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month and to assure you of our confidence in your ability and long diplomatic experience, which guarantee that the work of the Council will be well guided. 66. I wish also to thank your predecessor, Mr. Blaise Rabetalika, representative of Madagascar, for his activities and endeavours, and for the ability and statesmanship he displayed during his term as President of the Council last month. 67. Five newly elected members have joined the Council this year, and I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to the representatives of Autralia, Denmark. Madagascar, Thailand and Trinidad and Tobago. I wish them success in ihrll i&s arKi iuuk forward io ihrir cwperaiion wiih colleagues on the Council towards the attainment of the objectives for which it was established. I ati confident that they will discharge the great responsibility associated with membership of the Council. 68. After witnessing the Council adopt the draft resolution to renew the mandate of UNlFIL for six months and hearing the statements of some members of the Council. I 69. That concern is the inevitable result of Israel’s disruption of the Naqoura talks and its insistence on refusing to implement Council decisions calling for it to withdraw fully from Lebanese territories and enable UNIFIL to deploy along the international borders, making southern Lebanon a zone of security and peace. Israel’s insistence on establishing a security belt in Lebanese territory, excluding UNIFIL and the Lebanese army, is a llagrant deliance of the Council, a deliberate flouting of its resolutions, a cynical disregard for the international Organizalion and its forces and an undermining of the endeavours of the Secretary-General and his assistants-especially the efforts made by the Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, Mr. Brian Urquhart. and Mr. Jean- Claude Aim&, on the instructions of the Secretary-General. 70. In this regard, I should like to express to Mr. Urquhart the appreciation of the Lebanese Government for his endeavours and its confidence in him, in the hope that those endeavours will continue with a view to attaining the full implementation of the resolutions of the Council. 71. 1 must also express the thanks and appreciation of the Government of Lebanon to the troop-contributing countries and to the Commander of the Force, General Callaghan. its ollicers. soldiers and staff. The demeanour and actions of the Force and the fact that it has withstood, under difficult circumstances, various pressures and practices whose source is well known to the Council deserve a generous tribute. The Secretary-General devoted part of his report to those pressures and practices and enumerated acts of aggression against some UNIFIL units by the Israeli army during the past six months. He also enumerated some Israeli prac! -, against Lebanese cities and villages, and the arbitrao . measures taken against Lebanese civilians. 72. We regard the Council’s adoption of the draft resolution as further aflirmation of its commitment to its previous resolutions and its insistence on implementing them in order to enable UNIFIL to discharge its assigned tasks of securing full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territe ries. assisting the Lebanese State to exercise its sovereignty anti auihuriiy over aii tbdncx irrriiui-y u)i iu iiir: ;iiirl ,)ationally recognised borders and transforming the south into a zone of peace and security. 73. In my letter of 27 March this year to the Sccretary- General [S/1706Zj, I defined Lebanon’s position with regard to UNIFIL and Lebanon’s understanding of the role it is required to play. That position and understanding are consistent with the Secretary-General’s report. on the 74. First, the IJNIFIL area of deployment extends from the Litani River southward as 18; as the internationally recognizd boundaries of Lebanon. Secondly, the whole of this region should be under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese army, assisted in Its task solely by the United Nations Force, since Lebanon does not accept any role for any military force which is not a legal force. Thirdly. Lcbanon is in no circumstance prepared tc accept the creation of what are known as buffer zones or of security belts of any kind inside its territory, something that by implication has been rejected by all the resolutions of the Council that provided for the withdrawal of all Israeli forces beyond the internationally recognized borders of Lebanon. Fourthly, the area of deulovment of UNIFIL should not become a disengagement z&e between illegal armed forces within Lebanese territory. Fifthly. UNIFlL’s posts and area of deployment will be determined by agreement with the Irbanese Government alone. 75. While my Government is convinced that UNIFII.% presence is an essential and basic factor for stability in southern Lebanon, it is also convinced that the provision of a minimum degree of security for the work of the Force is also basic and necessary. Therefore, Lebanon is still ready to co-operate with the Security Council, the Secretariat and UNIFIL to the greatest extent within the scope of its understanding of the ?titurc :ole of the Force and in accordance with its position wit:] regard to the Force, which is fully in support of the provisions of the Council’s resolutions. 76. Israel, which has consistently refused to assign any role to UNIFIL. must abide by those resolutions to allow UNIFIL to undertake the tdsks man&ted tc, it.

I should like to inform members of the Council that I have just received a letter from the representative of Israel in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice. I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative 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. II WI 60 decided.

1 invite the representative of Israel to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

I should like first to congratulate you. Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. We have seen your wise counsel here. and we have confidence in your stewardship. I should like also IO congratulate the representative of Madagascar for the successful completion of last month’s prcsidenq. that ~rti\lll lo todiiy’s discussion and then to respond to one of the swakcrs in particular. 81. The first point is this. We welcome the Secretary- <icncral’s call lo reconvene a forum of consultations. We were not the ones who broke the talks in Naqoura. We sufttired, 1 would .say, great pains of frustration because WC were unable to lind a serious interlocutor i;, Naqoura. I am sure I represent the feeling of my Government when I say tlrat we arc delighted to hear :5’: expression of a new willingness on the part of the Lebanese to reconvene at Naqoura, and we will bc very happy to return to those talks or to another thrum to discuss ways of establishing peace and tranquillity in the south of Lebanon. 82. The second point is this. What is the problem we arc tilting’! We arc facing the problem of how to stop crossborder attacks once Israel completes its withdrawal. The reprcsentativc of Lebanon has talked about the the Lebanese army, as have others here. Well, which army are we talking about? Is it the army that is regrettably unable today to keep the peace in Beirut, where dozens of people are being slaughtered, or in Burj Al-Barajneh, or in Sidon? This is an army that cannot keep peace in its own backyard, and it is being asked to police a very large area. for which, to be realistic, we believe it is not equipped. That is my second observation, and I make it, I must say, with regret. 83. The third point relates to the suggestion that UNI- FIL fuliil this function. I think there is a confusion-a confusion in good faith-among some of the rcpresentatives on the difference between peace-keeping and peaceenforcing. The task of policing a border strip against the infiltration of terrorists, against rocketing and shelling, is not merely a peace-keeping function; it is a peaccenforcing function, which an international force, by its very nature and inherent structure. is not organizcd to carry out. Having spoken with quite a few of the representatives of the troop-contributing countries, I know there is growing recognition that that is the ca$e here, 84. This leads to my fourth point. namely, that the security of northern Israel and the prevention of terrorist attacks is something that Israel does not expect others to take upon them.ulvcs. The Israel Defence Forces will assume that function from our own lines, from our side 01 the borders. And however difficult a task that may be. it will not be assisted by the introduction of forces that are really unsuited or unable to perform that function. ~5. My next remarks relate to the words we heard here from the Sobiet reprLwntative. He chose to lecture US OE civilian populiition. I lind this very encouraging. Ill0 tone was condemnatory. and I find that encouraging. I would like to ask if this indicates a change of heart or merely a scnsc of guilt. 86. <In I3 March IYXS. the llnited Nations Commission on Human Rights approved the report’ of its Special Rapportcur, Felix Ermacora, on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Thr report states that “gross violations of human rights” have occurred in Afghanistan. It lists a host of abuses committed during the Soviet occupation, including the maiming of children by booby-trap toys, the wholcsalt destruction of agriculture and the deliberate bombing of hospitals. The report cites Alkhan witnesses and talks oi four specific examples when massacres of civilians took place between 1982 and 1984. It says, for example, that on I2 October 1983. in villages in the province of Kandahar, “360 people wcrc cxccutcd in the village square, including 20 young girls and about 20 old people”. The Soviets, the report says, have both “spread the extent of the violence” in Afghanistan and “brought about a selective suppression” of people who oppose communist policies. It says that, after the Soviet forces joined the combat, hostilities reached unprccedcntcd proportions involving “systematic bombardment of a number of villages” and terror directed against civilians. The result of all these activities is that more than half of the pre-invasion population of Afghanistan-approximately I7 million people--Cave been forced to become refugees, tither in another country or as internal refugees within Afghanistan. 87. So what ia the Soviet record in Afaanistan? It is a record of daily random bombings and maimings and killings of children and civilians; it is a record of the destruction of schools, hospitals and mosques; it is a record of the destruction of crop lands and irrigation systems, of the use of chemicals. of the burning of thou.xands of acres of forest; it is a record of imprisonment and torture. It is, in short, a record dlat at the very least should direct the Soviet representative to ashamed and painful silence.

The Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of this agenda item. llre meeting rose al IL50 p.m. L.&o in United Nations, New York 00300 90-6l43~Junc I+1925