S/PV.2713 Security Council

The security Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agenda. I ehould like to draw the attention of members of the council to a document containing the text of a letter of 7 October 1986 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq, document 5118389, addressed to the Secretary-General. Mr. AGUILAR (Venezuela) (interpretation from Spanish): Mr. President0 during the months in which we have had the pleasure of working by your side in the Security Council, we have been able to observe your personal and intellectual oualities, and this is why we are convinced that you will he able wisely to guide our deliberations during the month of October. Venezuela has the most cordial relations of friendchip and co-operation with your country, and this is one more reason why we are particularly pleased to see you presiding over this body. I also wish to expreae our appreciation to your predecessor, the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republice, Mr. Belonogov, for the exemplary way in which he preeided over the Council in September. Since 1980 the security cout~fl has met 12 times to consider the conflict between Iran and Iraq, a vat which should not have begun and which has gone on now (Hr. Aguilar , Venezuela) for more than six yeare. During this period the Security Council ha8 adopted nine presidential declarations and five reaolutione, four of them unanimously. Unfortunately, these deciSiOn8, the reeolutions of the General A6WeRlblY, the persevering efforte of our Secretary-General, and many peace initiatives taken by non-gowernmental organieationo have thue far been fruitless. This conflict has on many azcaeions very rightly been termed absurd because the links, aspirations, and intereats that bind these two pecples are greater than the differences that separate them. Geographical proximity, the ties that history and religion have created between them, their etatus aa developing countries, the defence of vital shared interests, in the Grgenization of Oil exporting Countries, add their participation in the t&n-Aligned Movement , are all factors that naturally lead to friendshI.p, solidarity and mutual co-operation. When we think of everything that these tuo sister states have done and could do for the benefit of their peoplee, we experience a aenae of frustration at the results of this prolonged armed confrontation. The war hae already taken an e%~%Iely high toll in human lives and suffering. The eatbnated number of persons killed, dieappeared or wounded in this conflict are staggering and the most dietreeeing thing is that meet of these victim are young? sometimes adolescents, who&a lose vi11 De felt when the time cuxes to reetore peace and begin the arduoue task of reconstruction. The material losses of both countries are incalculable and their ecoIloInies have suffered considerably from the burden of the inuuenee and unproductive expenditure that this fratricidal war involves. The developent process of the two countries, which had made significant progress in the pm-war years, has been suspended, end it will probably take many yeers before they can eecover from the grave consequences of this war. It can well be said that in war there are usually only losers. The prolongation and intensification of this conflict, in a region where there are so many underlying interests and risks, also affects the trade and traffic of neutral ships and aircraft in the Gulf and prompts justified fears that the conflict will spread to other States. What ie et stake is the interests of the long suffering peoples of Iran and Iraa , and peace and security in the region. Given this situation, the Security Council, the organ which under the Charter has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and securityr Unanimously adopted, on 24 February 1986, resolution 582 (1986), wAch in our view constitutes a balanced decision, in which reference is made to the characteristics of the conflict, to the principles that should be applied to the case, and to the measures that should be taken by both sides to put an end to this war. The provisions of the Charter are underlined in the resolution and in particular the obligation of all Members of the Orqanization to settle their international dispute8 by peaceful means, in such a way a8 not to endanger ‘qternational peace@ security and justice , and to stress the principle of the inadmissibility of the acuuisition of territory by force. Xn that same resolution the security Council deplores the initial acts which gave riee to the conflict, its continuation and escalation, especially territarial incursions, the bombing of purely civilian population centres , attacks on neutral shipping or civilian aircraft, and the violation of international humanitarian law and other lawc of armed conflict and, in particular , the use of chemical weapons contrary to obligations under the 1925 Geneva Protocol. In that same resolution, the parties are specifically asked to observe an immediate cease-fire, a cessation of all hostilities on land, at sea and in the air, and withdrawal of all forces to the internationally recognized boundaries without delay, with a comprehensive exchange of prisoners of war to be completed within a short period after the cessation of hostilities in co-operation with the International COmmittee of the Red Cross. The parties are called upon to submit immediately all aspects of the conflict to mediation or to any other means of peaceful settlement of disputes. The Secretary-General is reauested to continue his ongoing efforts to assist the two parties to give effect to the resolution. Lastly, in the final operative paragraph, the Security Council calls upon all other states to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any act which may lead to a further escalation and widening of the conflict. The Council further decides to remain eetzed of the matter. In the view of our delegation , thie resolution is fully valid and the Security Council should therefore once again urge the parties immediately and fully to implement, witbat delay, each and every one of its provisions. There is also a need to reiterate once again our confidence in the Secretary-General and to ask him to intensify his efforts to achieve the implementation of this resolution and to report to the Council, within a reasOnable period Of time on the steps that he has taken. It 1s clear, of course, that the political will and co-operation of the parties is essential for a prompt and peaceful settlement of thie conElict. Venezuela, which has close relation6 of friendship and co-operation with Iran enA Iraq, joins the universal appeal by asking both parties to heed it. In 50 doing (Hr. Aguilar, Veneauela) we are inspired solely by our profound feelings of friendship and solidarity with these f raterns: peoples. z PRESIDSHT (interpretation from Arabic): I thank the representative of Venezuela for his kind words addreseed to me. The next spaaker ix the representative of Mauritania. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mt. OULD ROTE Mauritania) (interpretation from Arabic)r Mr. President, it gives me pleasure to begin my statement by congratulating you on your assuslption Of the PtOSidOncy Of th0 Security Council for this month. We are confident that your high personal oualities, as well as your experience and prudence, will enable this Couucil to succeed in its present proceedings. The United Arab Bmiratee and Mauritania are bound not only by national, cultural, social and religious bonds, but also by links of close co-operation in several areas of develcpx!ent. Wr. President, may I be permitted also to pay tribute to your predeoessor# the representative of the Soviet Union, for the skill he demonstrated in presiding over the prcceediugs of the Council during the month of Septefnber. The subject we are now debating, namely the war between Iran and Iraq, is in fact a painful matter for my country. It is itieed difficult to describe accurately cur sentiments when we discuss this issue. The war between these two rister States has now entered ito seventh year, resulting in heavy human lossesr eNmud at some one million livee. The material loss ia indeed incalculable. Prom a political and developmental standpcint, the third world has been adversely affected by thiri war. Its potential risks expand day by day, a8 the means of tranepurt and communications are now endangered in that area. The situation might perhaps develop into a massive conflagration which might prove to be totally destruetive and might well get out of control in that strategic (Mr. Ould Boye, Mauritania) region. ‘Phi8 unduubtadly con#tituter a threat to international peace 8nd Security. Wo are MV in the year 1986 and in the year 1407 aftor the tiogra of Prophet Mobned, mace be upon him. we are in the age of rrcienca and technologyr the age of reamon and the rule of international law, in order to resolve disputes among Statea Hmce, my corntry hae often stated its pitim with regard to ending the war between Iran and If4 b the General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Mvement, the Organisation of African ulity and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. m&y, we s*WXibe to the COuucil~s sincere apale to make every possible effort to end this extremely dangerous wae, rJhich is fraught with wacld-wide conaequenc~= In this apntext, we cell tic setting iu motfar the promass of paam by both parties observing an immadhte cease-fire and submitting all aspects of the conflict to fuediattan and we support the efforts ma* by the ~Cretary-Gaueral and the meubezs of the Grganizattou of f&e Islamic Ccnference. My delegatim tekes this opportunity to place QI reoord its satisfaction with fraq*s favourable respome to the peace initiatives undertaken so far. We Urge the bndmbers of the Securify Council, which have a genuine in(;etwt in seeing that peaoar justioe, intemetianal security and the right of man to life are Weld, to make every possible effort to aarelerate the process of peain the Gulf regiar. The BRESIDFNT (interpretatiar from Arabic): 1 thank the representcltive of Mwritanie for his kind words eddxeesaed to me and rpy courtry. The next speaker la the representative of Yemen. I invite him to take a place at the Council table aud to make his statement. Mf l 8~~tWAH (YWIen) (inteKptet&btiOn from Arabic) t I sheuld like to cargrstulete you, Sir, m your eesmptiom of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. Your well known petsmel qualities, and the skills you have demonstrated throughart the period X have spent in the Organizatim, give me full ~nfhbn~ that YOU will be able to guide the prcmeedings of the Council in e wise and cutstanding manner. Before dealing with the subject render discuwion in the C0u13cfl Day, it behoves me to put: UI rsoord my thmks and appreciatim (XI your predaceesor, Ambaeaador Filexander Belcmogw, Permanent F&pteeentr,tive of the Soviet (Mr. tiwmndwah, Yemen) thicn, foe the outstanding way in which he guided the work of the Council throughout his prm idency last month. St ie extremely distressing that year after year the ferocious war between Iran and Ircrql continues mabated. It had gare ar for six lcmg years and now, approximately two weeks aglo, it entered into its seventh with no end in sight. Wmtever the reasons foe its outbreak, this war should not have been allowed to con tin ue . It has teken a heavy toll in hum life and desttolfed installations and property and depleted the resources and energies of the two neighbouring comtciee. it has lasted far boo 1-g and exacted too great a price. Since its outbreak in Segtarber 1960, the Council has time and again been seized of this appalling milifery conflict. The last time was on 24 February last, when resolution 582 (1966) was abopted. Attbwgb it8 cartent was clear, calling for an immediate cease-fire, a oaaeation of all hostilities on Land, at eea and fn the air end withdcawal of all forces to the interns tiarally recognised boundaries Without delay, for both prtiee to submit immediately all aspects of the conflict to medktiarr and requaeting the Sacretary-General to ctmtinue his mgoing efforts to WSifJt the two gartiee to give effect to the reaolutian, the resolution remains a dead letter and unLplemen&d, because ftm pemiste in continuing the war end refuses even to listen to all the calls for peace, let alme submit to mediatim, tfhereeo Iraq is rea6y to &serve an immediate cease-fire ma leave8 no stone unturned to help to Secretarydneral a&ieve hie goal. In oaping before the &~curfty Council, we are not asking the Council to help one party to tmbb3ve a military victory wer the other. Like the Other OUUntcieB that ace saddened by the ccntinuation of this ferocious war, we have coam to appeal to the Council to assume it8 respottsiblity under the Charter and wcvk EOC the maintenance of peace. If the Council doe8 not perform this role, then who elae will? If the monstrasities of this ferocious war and it8 aetramaical Co8t8 are in03noeivable, then a just peace, by puttfng an end to this horrible blood-letting, is not mly a duty to be aasumd by the Council mder the Charter but, in the first pld04, it 18 a human duty emanating from the humen WnScienw . The war has lasted this lmg - having entered its seventh year - because the World has remained a mere onlcoker. There are those who are content just to dieapprwe of its other8 ceufafn indifferent 80 lmg as they are not adversely affectsd by iti, and finally, there are those who gloat over it and wish the war to pW8 i8t. Eut all thase who araintain euch attitudes are in error, because tieY thfnk that its consequenoes, although confined to the two countr iea involved so far, will not affect them. This war with its monstrous evils, a war which is taking plats in such a 8fHsitive area , will undoubtedly, extend to other areas and its consequences will be felt by other countries. Should it lead the world to Withers a more widespread tragedy, the ensuing catastrophe will have far-reaching dimeusions. If Iraq ha8 time and again Qclared it8 r &3dine88 to observe an immediate Cease-fire, on the basis of the withdrawal of all for-8 to the internationally recngnioed bourdasiee, it is because of its desire to save further blcod8hed, in line with the initiative -km laet August to &serve such a ceese-f ire. In order to achieve a cease-fire and end the war, it ia necessary for rrcn to follow suit, because without its agreement it will be impossible to end the war. should the international community observe the continuance of this war month after and month and year after year without making any effort to put an end to it, just because Iran rejects a cease-fire? The continuance of this Situation Uonstitutes a serious challenge to the Security Council, the JJnited Nations and the rest of the world. My country, the Yemen Arab Republic, becauss of its affinity with the two pecplea and from the humanitarian standpoint, is racked with sorrow and pain aa it sees those two brotherly neighbouring countries suffering in this bloudy tragedy and waging an unnecessary war , a war in which there can be no victor and no vancuished because both the murderer and the victim are Muslim. My Country has repeatedly called for an end to the bloodshed, for reason to prevail over emotion and wisdom over obstinacy, and for an end to the war. It has sought a cease-fire and endorsed all mediation efforts aimed at extingutshLng the fire of this ferocious war. Although the efforts of the Council, the Secretary-Seneral, the Won-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, along with others, have failed so far, that failure compels UB to redouble our efforts, continue our endeavours and take a clearer and firmer stand on the need to end this war so that friendly relations and good-neighbourlineee may return to the two sister countries. Our sorrow and anguish are all the more acute because the brotherly relations between these two countciee, inherent in their o5cnmon faith, Islam, and based on their age-old goc+nePghbourlinaae; flhnut_a aeffiro tn. nuormo?e the fe??ott =L the dispute. We hops the leader5 of Iran will find inspiration in the following lines of uoetry by an Arab poet of Persian Islamic descent: -Though one day. alas, they went to war and bled They recgnizad their kinship and tears were shed.” (Hr. Baaendwah, Yemen) 3ut will Xran remembar the blood relationship and good-neighbourliness and cease to Persist in the war a after obetinacy has blinded it for 80 many years? It is now mote necessary than ever for the Security Council to ensure that the suffering of the peoples of Iraq and fran end as suickly as possible. Enough is enough, and certainly enough ha8 happened since the outbreak of that ferociou8 war. It is not sufficient for the Council to adopt a resolution that remains unimplemented, as have the previous remlutions. It muat insist on implementation and imposition, usinq the powsrs entrusted tu it. IE it does that it will not be because it is biased against one psrtyl it will be to end the ferocious war in the hat interests of the twu warring psrties, not of one only. Will the Ccmu!il not do this, will it not champion peace? we hope that it will. The PBBSIBBBT i interpretat ion f corn Arabic) : I thank the representative of Yemen for the kind word8 he addressed to me. The next Speaker ie the representative of Morocco. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to m8ke a statement. Mr. BLAGGI (MOrOuco) (interpretation from French) : First of all, Mr. President, I Should like to thank you and all the other members of the Council for giving me the opportunity to panticipate in the debate on a auestion which is at the very heart of the concerns of my Government and particularly of Rie Majesty Ring iiasaan If, who, since the beginning oE this Ecatricidal conflict between Iraa and Iran, has conatant*y appesled for an end to the ho8tilitiee and blind destruction which are compromising the future of these two Islamic countries and seriously threatening the neighbouring countries of the Gulf arear a8 well as international Peace an8 security. I take this opportunity to eXpreB8 to you , Sir, our satisfaction at seeing as President of the Council a representative oE a sisterly country with which ve maintain the friendliest relations. we know you to be a competent am! experienced (Mr. Slaoui , Morocco) diplomat whose human oualities and great opennese are the beet guarantee of the Success of the work of this Council. f wish also to extend my congratulation5 to Ambaesador Belonogov of the Soviet union for the effective and skilful way in which he guided the work of the Council last month. We must pay a tribute to the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts at mediation in order to bring about a rapid end to hostilities, alleviate the suffering5 of the civilian populations and halt the loss of innocent lives. The legitimate anxiety of the international community concerning this conflict have bean expreesed many time5 within thi5 body, which bears the main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. SIX resolutions have already been adopted with the same objectives, namely, to stop the fighting, ensure respect for the internationally recognized boundaries and establish peace between the two neighbouring countries. The latest of these, resolution 562 (1986), wae adopted unanimously on 24 February this year after Iran had launched a new large-scale offensive on Iraqi territory. The Council, in its great wisdom, called upon Iran and Iraq ‘to observe an immediate cease-fire land] a cessation of all hostilities on land, at sea and in the air and withdrawal of all force6 to the internationally reccgnized boundaries without delay’. The Council also reiterated its eppeal to the two parties to euhmit all aspect5 Of the conflict to mediation or to any other procedure for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Kingdom of Morocco, as a member of the Group of Seven of the Arab League, participated actively in the work of the Council last February, emphasizing all the pace efforts undertaken jointly at the world level and within the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States to prevent a woreening of the (Hr. Slaoul, Mroaq On 9 March 1984 His mjeaty Kin9 iisssan IX, than Chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic CQlferma, uttered a warning cry aknIt a *at whose %hadow every day looms ever larger , mae thcaatarfng ad mace destructive. Everything that Iraq and Iran possess in men, means of living, tiviliaation Mb Culture iS threatened with aMihi$6tian. ‘Iwo brotherly OomtrieS which throughout histiry have been the jewels in &e crown of 16ta ad which tmgether and separately have cantributed ta its influennc~ risk, if they are not Cateful, being aver-m by the blind destructitowards which they are headed. “The world cannot continue to remin a mere s~ctator of these acts of exteraiination affecting hundreds of thousands of innocent people. VigofOW actian must be taken to pit an end to this reign of irrationality and folly.” Us Ehjesty King Bassan II then rPade a solemn appeal to the tore parties to halt hostilities imediately and refmm the dialogue within the Islamic peace committee. Unfortunately, all those initiatives were unsuazessful, because of Iran’s intransigence and ite persfetent rejection of &aurity counail resolutions and VaCiouS offere of mdiatiar, the mst reant being that in April 198)s of the late Olof Palm, to crffraee melpory Ooday we pey the tribute due a man MO devoted his life to the cause of psaoe. Morsover, ‘Lran bee not even tirke part in the wrk of this honourable bow in order to Hesent its own grievances, as it has constantly been rurged to do, again most retmtly by the Secretary-General. we must say that that drall6nge by Iran to the internati4=al mmitY cantfasts with the positive, mnciliatory attitude shown oens&mtly by Irq, aa evl&mced by successive repot te of the &cretary-General, who has 6t6&d that a)Mtry’s readiness to oo-opecate in 9ood faith to implement security Council (Mr. Slaoui, Morocco) resolutions, including all aspects of the plan for a comprehensive, just and honourable settlement of the conflict. Irao repeated that commitment in the Council recently, on 3 October. It is imperative, and a matter of urgency, that our Council exercise all its powers under the Charter to impose respect not only for its own decisions but for the fundamental principles of our Charter - the right of all States to exercise their full independence and sovereignty within the framework of their territorial integrity. It is a matter of the credibility of our Organisation a8 a whole. Tha urgency of the situation and of the need for a response from the COUnCil is Clear when we bear in mind, as the Secretary-General rereindad us in his statement to the Council on 3 October, ‘Iran’s declared intention to launch another major offensive to bring a military conclusion to the conflicta. (S/PV.2709, P. 7) That desire for military escalation by a Member State is ir..dmissible and intolerable; it goes against the fundamental norms of international law recognized by the whole international community. Our participation in the work of the United Rations confers rights upon us, it is true, but it also imposes duties on usI the first of which, placed by the founding &hmbers at the very beginning of our Charter, is to ‘save succeeding generations from the scourge of war*. It is therefore up to us co carry out that duty in the present case, in order to restore peace end security in one of the most sensitive regions of the world. It is high the clearly to define the responsibility for the prolongation of the conflict and to use the arsenal of masures that would allow a peaceful Solution, in kteping with Article 33 of the Charter, guaranteeing the rights of each of the parties. (Mr. Slaoui, Mutooco) The Kingdan of Marocco remains convinced that the restoration of peace between Itag and ILM will be the prelude tc a new era of creetivie, which will lead them to cartinue and to strengthen their age-old cmtcibuticn to Ielmic civili%atian and the cultural heritage of all mankind. That peace for which we devoutly wish is the best wager me could make on the future in order tc assure the prasperity and hacraarioue development of their respective peoplee. The BlBIDfDENT (interpretation fran Ar&ic)r I thank the representative Of E(amCCO lBor his kind vords addressed to me and my country. The next speaker is the representative of NitXUagUh P invite her to take a PlaoB at the Council table and to make her statement. Mr& ASlGRGA GADSA (Nicaragua) (intetpretatian fra Spani&): my I fir% Sir, express my delegaticn% satisfectian at seeing you preside over the Council’e work this mcnth. YOU are discharging your important responsibiliti~ with great okill. Your vast experience and the fact that you are the tepzeeentative of a no?kaliqmd, peace-lwing corntry guarantee the BucceSS Of the Council% war k. Pleaee allad me ale0 to congratulate Ambama&r Ale~nder mlmogov of the ROViet thion an the able way in which he guided the Council~e wcxk during SepteEber- The fratr icidal war between I ten and Iraq ia now entering im seventh par. Every day that it cartinues the suffering and terror of three fnaternal peoples increase. Thet tragic wnflict, which should never have begun end whshoae certinuetia, aannot be justified, must end without deleY. Nicaragua, which ie suffering a war imposed QI it and whi& hata spared no effort to achieve peace and understanding in our regim, consider8 it a duty to Weak Out in favour of peace in the tilf region. (Mr& Astotga Gadea, Nicaragua) Wo know the devastating conseuuencem of war , the ruffeting, poverty and baakwatdnew that result for peoples. The confliot between Iran and Iraq has already cost hundmda of thousands of human lives and astronomical material an8 , aconoaic loa8e,. The tesoutcee of thaw countries that ate wasted to sustain the war should be used for the econocaic and oocial development of their tesgcctive peoplea. At the @me tine, my delegation emphaeizea the need for strict respect for internationally recognized humanltatian norms in armed conflicts. (Mrs. Astorga Gadea, Nicaragua) The Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has on many occasions reiterated that the principle of the non-use of force in international relations is applicable to the conflict between Iran and Iraq. Niearague fully supports the Declaration of the eighth summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which in the section dealing with this conflict states: “In this context, they expressed profound regret at the initiation and continuation of hostilities between the two countries, which are important members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The Reads of State or Government therefore appealed once again to Iran and Iraq to cease hostilities forthwith in order to avoid further loss of life and damage to property, They once again pleagea themselves to exert every effort to facilitate a speedy end to this tragic conflict.” As President Daniel Ortega stated at the summit meeting hela in Barate last month, non-alignment is a reality that requires a decision by our countries not to tolerate blcodshed among fraternal peoples, for it is the blood of the Movement that is being shed. That is the case with the war between Iran and Iraq. The United Nations, the Security Council, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference - in a word, the entire internat ional community - must persevere in making creative efforts to find the appropriate mechanisms for bringing those two fraternal countriee clooer tcgether and find a baeie for a just and honourable agreement for the settlement of this conflict which has gone on for too long. In that regard, we commend and encourage the efforts and initiatives of the Secretary4eneral to promote peace. MY delegation believes that a fundamental and urgent step tcl achieve peace should be an immediate cessation of hostilitiee, as well a8 the initiation of dialogue between the parties with the object of finding formulas for understanding. (Mre. AStOrga Gadea, Nicaragua) Nicaragua, a country that has brotherly relations with Iran and fraq, farvently hopes that the efforts of the international cominunity will at last be succeesful. We have no interest in siding with one party or the other in this distressing conflict. We aee inspired by the respect and sincere friendship that Nicaragua feels for Iran and Iraq. We are inspired by our devotion to peace, to the causes of the third world and non-alignment, which will ba strengthened when fraternal blood is no longer being shed and when both unite their voices in the defence of, and the struggle for, petace, development and co-operation among doplea.

I thank the representative Of Nicaragua foe her kind words addressed to me. The next speaker is the representative of Peru , whom I invite to take a place at the Council table awl to make a statement. Me. ALZAMDRA (Peru) (interpretation from Spanish): Mr. President, we extend our greetings to you, and to your distinguished predecessor, in your important post. My delegation deeply appreciates the opportunity afforded to us of partic&-iting in thle debate, thue fulfilling our duty as a founding Member of this Organization, which was created to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to practise tolerance arrd live together in peace, and to join forces foe the attainment of those objectives which are set forth in the Preamble to the United Nations Charter, Above all, our participation is an essential duty aa part of the international cmunity, which is orgsnlzed on the basis of principles, eights and obligations. 04hen in 1795 Iatmanuel Kant, the German philosopher, weote his guiding thoughts oil war an8 peace under the title -Towards Everlasting Peace”, he recognised in lasting peace the common desire foe stable and creative human coexistence which insniees us today, and in the international community an abiding colkctive responsibility for the prevention and the cessation of war, one which cannot be (Mr. Alzamora, Peru) ahirked by thoae involved in the conflict. History demonetratee that war has been and remains a fact of lafe, irrational and destructive; but history hao also witneesed t.he pereietent struggle of the peoples to abolish all forms of violence and to affirm peace and law. The quest for peace is not an exceptional one for Peru. we are d~ply committed to the peace-making efforts of Contadora. We are promoting in Latin America the reduction of arms expanditureo for the benefit of development and we encourage as much as we possibly can the reduction of tension and the creation of harmony in our region. Therefore, there is nothing unusual in our deep interest in the fate of two fraternal thirbmrla non-aligned peoples whose blood has been shed year after year in an unbridled war; nor is our hope for generous and far-sighted reconciliation an illusory one. In many ways the tragedy of this war is also our own, inasmuch es it not only aietreaees us but also weakens the unity and compromises the soliaarity of our joint actions in defence of plittcal and economic interests that are shared also by trao and Iran. At thie time of such great pressure, of so many dangers, confrontation between two nations so important for the aoliaarity of our front and the succes8 of our common cause is costly inaeea, because it undermines the effectivenees of our collective struggle for national intlependence, for economic justice and for the peace and recur ity of all. However, we have no illusions in making thie statement. We know the strength Of nationalist feelings and how intenee is the fire of patriotism whe,) convictions and feelings affecting honour and juetice among peoples are involved. Nevertheless, it is our duty to make every possible effort to offer our Iranian and Iraqi brothers the poeeibility of putting an end to their tragic extermination. We do so out of fraternal friendship for all, without taking aides, without ignoring the views of any party and without disregarding any right or any feeling. We do 50 (Hr. Alzamra, Peru) for a world in which, abbare and beyond be decisions and interests of men* it is our PriMry duty to peserve the work of the Creator and the peaceful mexistence of the human ta-. Rather than duelling ~1 the characteristics of war, my de:egatiar wishes to cartribute to the sppesl for peace and lend its firm suppoct to any initiative that may brin<J peace cloeer . The stranger and the more unanimous that appeal the greater will be the possibility of replacing the dsstructive dynamics of war with the fruitful optiar of pea-. That aPQ8al is at this tiae strengthened and further dignified by the call addressed to all political and spiritual leaders in the wald four day8 ago by Pope John Paul II, who urged that 27 Oobober 1966 be maab a day of universal truce in tAich for 24 hours all co&atants will hy down their arms in a sy&olic gesture of peaae and in a oollectiva exercise of reflecticn. On that day war ld leadexs and the lemdete of all religions cargregated in Assisi will met to invoke that univer es1 mobilizatian for peam. (Mr. Alzamora, Peru) A8 we approach that date, we are not unaware of the value of eyraboliam or of the importance of our remponebility; becauee we are convinced that, aLi the Constitution of the United Nation8 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) etatest ‘since wars begin in the minds of men, it ie in the minds of men that the defences of peace must he constructed”. The PRESIWNT (interpretation from kabic): X thenk the representative of Peru for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker is the representative of Uruguay. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. LUPINACCI (Uruguay) (interpretation from Spanish) I Sir, I should like first of all to congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of the Council for the month of October and to express the hope that under your expert and competent leadership this b&y will take effective steps towards fulfilling its importent reeponsibilities. f also vent to extend my congratulations to your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of the Soviet union, Ambaseador Belonogov, for the feirneo2 and efficiency with which he guided the work of the Council in September. Uruguay is (I peace loving country, one whose international policy has traditionally been baeed on the maintenance and poomotion of relations of friendship and c-operation with all the psoplee of the world and on the principle of the peaceful settlement of internetional disputes. The observance of this principle is even a aonetitutional amdate, and Uruguay ia 0 party to tteatiea on thie subject, which guide it8 international conduct. Inepired by those principiee, Uruguay is also a member of the Contadors Support Group a8 a way of contributing to peace and co-operation among our brothers in Central America. Uruguay is therefore firmly committed to the cause of peace. It ie in the name of peace that we have asked to addrese this body, which haa the primary respormibility fat asaintaining international pe&ce and security pursuant to the Charter, in order to ask I ran and Irw to make every possible effort to bring about the complete and immediate implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, in particular resolution 582 (1966) , and to Put an end to the conflict that for aVet six years now has brought death Md destruction to thOee tuo peoples. Uruguay is a country geographically distant from Iran and Iraq but it is linked to the two by excellent relations of friendship. For thie reaacm ve c8MOt remain silent in a eituatitn which has not cnly submerged two friendly countries in a blood bath but clhich also affect8 the entire international Community and distresses all mankind. Peace is indivisible. Any breach of the peaoe in any region of the war ld endangers univ=sal pamae. This is crystal clear, especially in respect of a amflict of a eer iousness and length of tLe ono that pits thrlee two friendly countries again& each other , and in &ich all other cmmtries, in dne waY at another, see their intercete affected: the general and supreme interest of internatiaral peace and security and specific interests related to co-opera’cion a-g Statss, the stability of international trade, the security of conmunicatims, and many others. UrUgaray also make.8 thi8 awal for peaa betueen the parties to this anflict because bx3ay more than ever we muat focus all our energies on strengthming the - ._ a -- . . uniwo welube system. The war betveen I ran and Iraq ia putting to the teet the affectiveneea and credibility of this system, hi& is the greatest guarantee, especially for nMium-sized and small Statee, of their c*rn secuciQ an8 of the establishment of appropriate ccnditiom for their full development and the (Hr. Iupineoci , UK Iquay) The Security Council must do everything in f ta power, within the framework of th4 Charter, bD obtain the immediate cessation of hatilitie5 and the initiatim of negotiations that can lay the foundatim for a firm and &finitiVe 5ettlelnmt acceptable to both parties. MY Country wishes W streaa the efforts made by the Secretary-General in the search for a peaceful solution to the ccnflict, and we express our euppott and enccuragelpent to him to continue that mission, and to renew his offer8 of krtellectual and material co-operaticm for that purpose. we particularly trust that, through that co’Omratim, it may be possible to find the path of peace we all desire> we mce again urge the Governnmte of Iran and IX4 ta implement Security Council resoluticm 582 (1986), to heed tie call of the internaticnal ccmunity, and to resolve their difference5 through dialogue and negotietitm, which will do hmour to them both for the att5inent of e paathe ’ main benefioiariee of which will be their own peoples. me PRESPDE24T (interpretation from Arabic): I thank the representetive of Uruguay for his kind words addressed to me- I 6hall nay make a ehtement in rpy capacity BB the representative of the tfnibed Areb miretea. On behalf of the delegation of the United Arab miretes, I should like to pay a tribute W AITbaSa8dOr Alexander Belmogw, the representetive of the soviet Unia, for hi6 distinguished and able guidanoa of the Security Council dur ing the past mmth of September. I should also like to express thanks to all thoee who have extended ccagratulatione tc me. 1 hoge that through cc-operation 4th our colleague5 in the COWCil wb shall be able to discharge the tasks entrusted m the Council, especially fn view of the difficult times through tihfch international relation8 are paseing, and the increasing crises in Bevera parts of the world. (The President) In my capacity a9 a repesoeantstive of cm8 oomtry in the cegicm, JIich is suffering from the ccioie of the destructive war between the two neighbours, Ican and Iraq - the questiar &ich is being debated by the Council today - I Isay say that the a&ievement of peeve is a matter of primary anC4cn to us in the United AC& BaiCat@S. We fail to understand bar there can be any positive aspects to the war or any justification fa its cartinuatia,. R3gardless of the outcome of the conflict, it will not warrant the dWtructiar, devastatiosr, killing, and rendering of people homeless in both coUrtrieS* #Ir ing the paet six years of the war , the Semrity Council has adbpted six resolutions, all of *ich called for an end to the war and for the achievement of a geeaful settlement that would ensure to both oountciee their rights under the thitea NationsCharter and under intecnaticmal law. McuecWec, nine otatementa have been issued by the Rresidsnts of the Council, all in ache sams vein. (The President) For his part, the united Nations Secretary-General has made considerable and sincere efforts in a bid to implement those resolutions, and has also undertaken personal initiatives to that end, namely, the achievement of peace. Furthermore, several regional and international institutions have made efforts to end the scourge of this war and to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Last February, the Security Council, thanks to efforts by all ite members, worked hard to achieve the adoption of resolution 582 (1986). We had a fervent hope that that resolution would have some chance of being accepted and implemented by both parties. But, as we take stock of the overall situation, it is Indeed Painful to recognise that the international community finds itself in an extremely difficult stalemate and that all those efforts have proved to be Vain. Today, the security Council meets again, in a f reeh attempt to find a peaceful formula to resolve that dilamma. In thie context, we welcome the response by Irag to the Council’s resolutions, as well as the mediation efforts made by others, which are all directed to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. But Qur conviction, as always, is that this attitude by Iraq needs to be reciprocated by the Islamic Republic of Wan. We ao hope that this will be the case. Therefore, on the basis of our firm convictions, we call upon Iran to find an appropriate way of responding to the peaceful initiatives so that this deetructive war can be brought to an end. The debate over the past few days has ehown the concern of members of the international community over the continuation of the conflict, and the potential dangess poeed to the whole region and to world peace. Since the outbreak of that war, my country has not been slow in making every possible effort, with Other sister countries, individually as well as collectively, within the framework of institutions in the region, as well as other international bodies, and we will (The President) continue our efforts towards this goal until peace and stability have been brought to an area which has suffered appalling destruction. I now resume my task a8 the President of the security COUnCil. MemberS of the Security Council have before them document S/18383, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s consultat ions. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to a vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objections, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided. I shall first call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the vote. Wr. de KEMJXILARIA (France) (interpretation from FrenchIt Mr. President, I wouljl like to express my delegation’s satisfaction at seeing you presiding over this Council, first of all because you represent the united Arab Emirates whose links with France, my country, are friendly and sincere. I would also like, on a personal note, to refer to my many visits to the Emirates, and the friendly attitude of the various notables I met in your oauntry, including Sheikh Zayid, your Preeident . I therefore wish you full success in your presidency. I would be failing in my duty if I did not pay a tribute to your colleague, Ambassador Selonogov, whose presidency, distinguished by finesse and flexibility, imprinted a character at once conciliatory and effective on our discussions, thus reflecting his lofty diplomatic aualities. Once again the security Council is meeting to study the conflict between Iraq and Iran. This meeting ie testimony to the growing concern of the international community over the prolongation and intensification of a wer which is now entering (Mr. de Kemoularia, France) upon its seventh year. France shares this concern. It understands the reasons which have led to the convening of the Council, upon the initiative of the Committee of Seven of the Council of the Arab League. Anxious to promote the development of its relations with these two great countries, Iraq and Iran, France must necessarily be alarmed over the tragic chain of violence. As the Prime Minister of France stated here a few days ago in the General Assembly: ‘The dogged proeecution of this absurd war threatens to shatter the eauilihrium of a region of strategic importance . . . France is aware of and deeply concerned by this situation.’ (A/$l/PV.8, p. 63-65) Aow indeed can one remain insensitive to the suffering and sorrow8 of the people of those two countries? How can we fail to deplore the imaenee material damage caused by the continuation of hostilities? France, for its part, has conetmtly invited the two belligerents to make peace. The President of the Republic, in a visit to Kuwait on 19 September, made an appeal for an end to the war and for the two countries, which we respect, to take active steps to seek peace. Race, in the United Nations, on 24 September, Mr. Jacques Chirac also expreraeed his hopes for a reasonable and negotiated outcome to this endleee conflict, and pressed for the implesentation of the Security Council resolutione. fie added that France supported all effort to put an end to the fighting, including the Secretary-General’s offers of mediation. For several years the international community has been exhorting Iran and Iraq to coxmit themselves to the road tmarde a peaceful solution to their dispute. The Security Council has made proposals. It has already declared it in resolution 540 (1983) for a comprehensive, just and honourable settlement that would be acceptable to both parties. More recently, in resolution 582 (19861, the Security Council laid down the basis for a negotiated settlement. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his part, has made untiring efforts directed to restoring peace in that region. France has supported and continues to support these different initiatives , and hopes he will continue those efforte. The draft resolution before us calls upon the two parties to implement a resolution unanimously adopted by the members of the bcdy charged by the United Nations with the principal responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Council also requests the Secretary-General to continue and intensify his efforts to achieve peace. These ideas are those of the international community as a whole. They are in line with the appeals which the French delegation has co!:stantly made to the patties, and with its titeleas encouragement of the mediation efforts of the Seoretary-General. France will therefore vote for the draft resolution before Us. The PRKSIUKNT (interpretation from Arabic)3 I thenk the representative of France for his kind words addressed to me. Hr. GORE-EKKYlW (United Kingdo@ : Mr. President, your country and mine have enjoyed a long, special and historical relationship. It givee ny delegation Particular pleaeure to see you in the Chair of the Council for this month. We are delighted that the United Arab Emirates should he represented on the Council for the first time. A6 your alphabetical neighbour at the table, we are particularly well placed to admire your personal qualities. The Council will benefit frm the energy, wisdom and good humour you are bringing to what looks like being a busy month. I also wish to extend the thanks of my delegation to your predeoessor in the Chair, the Permanent Representative of the Soviet union, who conducted the work Of the Council in the month of September with an efficiency and touch that belied his status as a newcomer to our deliberations. The armed confliot betweem Iran and Irao is not sia@y one of the most serious gueetione on the Counoil*s agenda. It is a great human tragedy, on a scale which ha6 profoundly shaken the two peoples involved , and the entire region in which they live. It was with the purpose of avoiding such human tragedies that the United Nat+ms was founded over 40 yeare ago with the resolve, in the words of the Charter g ‘to ensure by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest*’ The appalling human suffering caused by the conflict, together with the --..--A-. L--- A--- a.- A.a.- -.,-L.-r rO ,hr ~ooLcILI(IL LSO‘nl UvllcI C” C.&w “OL*--*..y Y. b..” -l- A@ Cu\th ~irloa h@a rightly r”-r-- -_ ___.. -----; caused botror and dismay in every country of the world. The risk of the conflict extending to other regional States , some of whose Foreign Minieters have honoured this debate by their presence, is also rightly a matter of grave concern to the Council. The way in which the present aonflict has been conducted has aleo given (Mr. Gore-Ftooth, United Kingdom) rise to grave concern. The views of my delegation on the use of chemical weapons are well known: we are implacably opposed to their use which is in contravention of the Geneva protocol of 1925. The Security Council has strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons, most recently in Its statement on 21 March this year. We are equally alarmed by the tendency, demonstrated by the growing number of attacks by both side8 on civilian targets, to Ignore their obligations relating to the protection of civilian populations in time of war. we wish to attess, in the case of these hostilities, as in the case of any others, the importance of upholding the corpus of humanitarian law in armed conflict, including the Geneva Conventions Of 1949. Similarly, we are gravely concerned by the continuing occurrence of attacks on vessels flying the flag of States which are not involved in the current hostilities, including my own, causing the loss of many lives and serious damage to ships and cargoes. It is, needless to say, wholly unacceptable to my Government that armed attacks should continue to be directed in this way against merchant veseels . The decision to precipitate a conflict, OK the refusal to end it, reflect a lack of confidence in the ability of our Organisation to bring ahout a just and peaceful settlement of the dispute concerned. My delegation firmly believes that the United Nations has offered and continues to offer the two side8 the means to reach, through negotiations , a just, honourable and enduring settlement of their dispute. An important step was taken with the unanimous adoption by the Council on 24 February this year of resolution 582 (1986). we urge the party which has not declared its readineee to abide by this resolution to reflect urgently upon the opportunity it offere for peace, and for the avoidance of further unnecessary bloodshed and suffering. It is right to be concerned ahout how the conflict was (Hr. Gore-Booth, United Kingdom) begun, but it ia even more important to be concerned about putting an end to it. That is why we appeal for the implementation without further delay of resolution 582 (1986) and why we shall vote in favour of the draft resolution in front of us- In particular, we urge that the call be heeded for an immediate cease-fire, cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of all force6 to the internationally recognized boundaries, and the suhmiasion of all aamcts of the conflict to mediation or to other mean8 of peaceful settlement. In this regard, we wish to reiterate our complete confidence in the Secretary-General, and our full support for hie efforts to bring such a settlement about. At the same time, we should like to draw attention to the wise words in bie annual report for this year that: ‘To express full confidence in the Secretary-General while failing to give the necessary support to the Security Council . . . is fundamentally contradictory” (A/41/1, p. 17) l In this connection, I underetand tbat the permanent Representative of one of the parties is preparing a statement in exercise of the right of reply in connection with the draft resolution we are about to adopt in another part of the building. My delegation would prefer him to he at this table behind a placard hearing his country’s name. I have to say that my delegation would alao prefer speeches to be confined to members of the council and those, to guote rule 37 of the provieional rulee of procedure, whose ‘intereets . . . are specially affected. by the queetion under diecueeion. This is eepecislly true when the General Aesembly ie in eeeeion. We do not need General Aeeembliee at both ends of the corridor.

I thank the representative of the United Ringdom for his kind words addreseed to me. Mr. WALTERS (United States of America) t Mr. President, this ie the first occasion I have had to congratulate you an your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council and to express my confidence that your well-known diplomatic (Hr. Walters, United States) skille and experience will enable you to steer out Council iu a positive and effective way. I should also like to express my contratulations to your pYedecessorI the Permanent Representative of the Soviet Union, WC. Aleksandr Relonogov, for the able and distinguished way in which he presided over the discussions of the Security Council. When the Security Council met last February to diecuee the war between Stan and Ptaq, we called on both parties to agree to enter into negotiation8 for a compteheneive settlement. we were concerned thst in the absence of such negotiations the war would inteneify and even spread throughout the region. Unfortunately, those negotiations have not taken place. One party, fraq, has declared its readiness to negotiate. The other party, Iran, has COnthUd to decline to do so. The concerns which we expressed here eight mcmths ago regrettably have proved correct. The war has not only continued but has ertpnded- The Iran-Iraq war, already among the longest and most destructive wars in the modern era, has entemd its seventh year. The heightened tempo of the fighting and the heightened danger that this fighting will spill over to othm countries have increased the risk to the security of the entire region. The war continues t0 be a threat to neutral shipping. A5 my delegation has said on other occasions, the United States would view an expansion of the war to neutral third parties ae a major threat to our interests. In addition to its material costs, the war ha8 inflicted a heavy humen toll on the people of this region. The United States has frequently deplored the terrible suffering created by this eenselese conflict. - -_- Further lo55 02 lste can oniy mid to the tragedy that has already severely affected the populationa of bath Iran and Itao. We expreee again out profound hope that these unneceessry sacrifice6 will (Hr. Waltem, United Statea) This war &8d &t CCntinU8. The 88cr8tary-G8neral ha8 made a numb8r of UN3truatiV8 proporals that could be the ba8iS for a medfated IB8ttl8BlNit. W8 has indfCat8d hi8 r8UdiIMMJ t0 COntinU8 his 8ffOrttS. They offer a real possibility of bringing this war to an end. (Hr. Walters, United States) We comeud the Sacretsry-General*a initiatives as well as those of vatioue other parties. Wa call again on Iran and Iraq to work cloaoly with the Secretary-General and his aeacciatee to find the best way to end thio conflict speedily. The goal should be and it raaaine the earliest possible conclusion of hoetilitiea with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Iran and Iraq preserved. As has been made clear in this debate, virtually the entire international conmunity has repeatediy called upon Iran md Iraa to settle their conflict through negotiations. The rasolution that the Security Council will vote on today is based on resolution 582 (1986), which it unanimously adopted on 24 February 1996. Today’@ remlution again reflects the international comaunity* oeep concern at the futile continuation of this unnecessary uar. my delegation supports it and hopes that it8 moderate and balanced language will be reepected by both parties to the diopute. We recognise that the two sides do not &are the same perception of the causes of the war. This fact, however, should not stand in the way of a negotiated settlement. Iraq has repeatedly responded positively to the Security Council’6 appeals. Once again therefore we call on the Iranian leadership to join in working tOward8 a p-ompt ati peaceful settlement of the war. Even though Iran is not present in the Council today, it is our sincere hope that the leadership of Iran will seriously consider the Security Council*e action, not a8 an arbitrary ariticism but as an appeal for a renewed effort to end the war. We are genuinely perswded that the Iranian an6 Iraqi people alike can only benefit from a positive response to the appeal we make here today. The PRESXDREFP (interpretation from Arabic): I thank the reprementative of the united Staten for hia kind word8 addreseed to me. Xt is my understanding that the Council irr ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless 1 hear any objection, P shall put the draft reuolution to the vote WV. There being no objection, it is so decided. A vote vae taken by show of hands. In favour8 Australia, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Bonaark, Frmce, Ghana, Madagascar, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Rniratea, united Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, united States of Aaeeica, Venezuela The PReSIaEEtF (interpretation from Arabic): There vere 1s votea in f avow, Tho draft resolution haa therefore been adopted unanimously am rerolution S88 (1986). There are no further speakers inscribed on my liot. The Security Council ha6 thue concluded the preoent stage of its connidetation of the itom on the agenda. The meeting roee at 5.35 p.m.