S/PV.2667 Security Council

This meeting of the Council is taking place at a time of great sorrow, over the death of Prime Minister Olof Palme of Sweden. Mr. Palme was one of the great statesmen of our times. The principles and ideals for which he stood will continue to inspire future generations. His unwavering belief in and support for the United Nations, for which he undertook important responsibilities, as well as his firm commitment and important contribution to the cause of world peace and co-operation between nations, will never be forgotten by the international community. I have already, as President of the Security Council, conveyed my sincere condolences to the Government of Sweden, the Swedish people and the bereaved family. I now invite members of the Council to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of Prime Minister Olof Palme. The members of the Council observed a minute of silence. EXPRESSION OF THANKS TO THE RETIRING PRESIDENT

Since this is the Council's first meeting in March, I wish to pay tribute on behalf of the Council to His Excellency Mr. Martin Adouki, Permanent Representative of the Congo to the United Nations, and to thank him for the diplomatic skill, tact and outstanding courtesy with which he guided the Council's work last month. I am sure that I express the feelings of all members of the Council in warmly thanking Mr. Adouki for the way in which he discharged his task in February. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The agenda was adopted. THE SITUATION BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ REPORT OF THE MISSION DISPATCHED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF THE USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AND IRAQ (S/17911 and Add.1)

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them the report of the mission dispatched by the Secretary~General to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq (S$/17911 and Add.l). I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the following documents: §/17922, letter dated 17 March 1986 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General; and $/17925, letter dated 18 March 1986 from the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary~General, AS a result of consultations held among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The members of the Security Council, seized with the continuing conflict between Iran and Iraq, have considered the report of the mission of Specialists dispatched by the Secretary-~General to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq (S/17911 and Add.l), "Profoundly concerned by the unanimous conclusion of the specialists that chemical weapons on many occasions have been used by Iraqi forces against Iranian forces, most recently in the course of the present Iranian offensive (The President} into Iraqi territory, the members of the Council strongly condemn this continued use of chemical weapons, in clear violation of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which prohibits the use in war of chemical weapons. "They recall the statements by the President of the Security Council of 30 March 1984 (S/16454) and 25 April 1985 (S/17130), and demand again that the provisions of the Geneva Protocol be strictly observed. “At the same time the members of the Council condemn the prolongation of the conflict, which continues to take a heavy toll of human lives and to cause considerable material damage as well as to endanger peace and security in the region. "They express concern over the risk of an extension of the conflict to other States in the region and call upon the two sides to respect the territorial integrity of all States, including those that are not parties to the hostilities. "The members of the Council reaffirm resolution 582 (1986) of the Security Council and note that the Government of Iraq has expressed its willingness to heed the call for the immediate cessation of hostilities. They stress the urgent need for full compliance by both parties with this resolution, which would open the way for a prompt, comprehensive, just and honourable settlement of the conflict. "The members of the Council note that both parties have declared themselves ready to co-operate with the Secretary-General in his ongoing efforts to restore peace to the peoples of Iran and Iraq, and express their support for these efforts." The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 5,10 p.m,