S/PV.2798 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting today in accordance With the understanding reached in the Council's prior consultations.' Following consultations of the Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the members of the Council: "The members of the Security Council express grave'concern over the fact that the tragic conflict between Iran and Iraq continues and has entered its eighth year. "They strongly deplore the escalation of the hostilities between these two countries, particularly the attacks against civilian targets and cities that have taken a heavy toll in human lives and caused vast material destruction, in spite of the declared readiness of the belligerent parties to cease such attacks. "The members of the Security Council insist that Iran and Iraq immediately cease all such attacks and desist forthwith from all acts that lead to the escalation of the conflict and which thereby create further obstacles in the way of implementation of resolution 598 (1987) and undermine the efforts of the Security Council to put an early end to this conflict, in accordance with the,resolution- "They are convinced that the recent escalation has demonstrated the need for full and rapid implementation of resolution 598 (1987). "Determined to bring the conflict between Iran and Iraq to an early end, the members of the Security Council reaffirm their strong commitment to the (The President) implementation df resolution 598 (1987) as an integrated whole which is the only basis for a comprehensive, just, honourable and lasting settlement 'of the conflict. "They express graveconcern that resolution 598 (1987), which has a mandatory character, has not yet been implemented. "The members of the Security Council take note of the statement made by the Secretary-General to them on 14 March 1988. They encourage him to continue his efforts as endorsed by the Security Council to secure implementation of resolution 598 (1987) and, in this connection, support his intention to invite the Governments of Iran and Iraq to send, at the earliest possible date, their foreign ministers , or another senior official, as a SPXial emissary to New York to enter into urgent and intensive consultations with the Secretary-General. They request the Secretary-General to submit to the Security Council, within three weeks, the report on his consultations with the two sides. "The members of the Security Council reaffirm their determination, in accordance with operative paragraph 10 of resolution 598 (1987) promptly to consider, in light of the Secretary-General's renewed efforts to secure implementation of this resolution, further effective steps to ensure compliance with it." The Security Council has thus concluded its business for this meeting. Before adjourning, I should like to announce that the Security Council will take up the item "The question of South Africa" at 3.15 p.m. today. The meeting rose at 12.20 p.m. . . ',. L,