S/PV.2809 Security Council

I thank the represenbtive of Turkey for hia kind words addressed to me. The next speaker is the representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. KITTIKEKXIW (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) (interpretation from French) I My delegation is very pleased to see you, Sir, presiding over the CQUnCil this mnth. The wise and competent manner in uhich you have presided over the Council’s deliberat?cns so far promises success in the consideration of this question, Which we regard as being particularly important. I also Wish to take this opportunity sincerely to congratulate the Permanent Representative of Yugoslavia on the efficient way in which he conducted the Council’s proceedings in the busy month of March. In addition, the Lao delegation Would like to thank you, Mr. President, and the other members of the Council for enabling us to take part in the debate. The Security Council is once again called upon to consider a situation created by renewed deliberate eggreseion launched by Israel against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of mnisia. The international oosanunity will recall Security Council resolution 573 (1985), which, inter alia, demanded that Israel refrain from perpetrating acts against the swereignty and territorial integrity of other States. Despite that international verdict , on Saturday 16 April 1988 at 1.30 a.m., a commando of terrorists entered the home of Wr. Khalil al-Wazir, Abu Jihad - a nrember of the Executive Committee of the Paleetine Liberation Organization (pL1)) - in the locality of Sidi Bou Said, in the northern suburbs of Tunis, and murder%d him in the presence of his wife and daughter. According to an Agence Prance Presse report on 18 April, the United States television network mC confirmed that the Israeli Cabinet had voted to do away with Abu Jihad, the PLO No. 2, who was killed at his home in Tunis. To date, vhile most Israeli authorities have refrained from commenting on Mr. Wazir’s assassination. Israel’s Trade Minister, Atiel Sharon, has boldly advocated the elimination of other Palestinian leaders, according to The New York Times or, 19 April.. MoreoVer, (Mr. Kittikhoun, Lao People’s Democratic Republic) the preliminary results of the inquiry conducted by the responsible Tunisian services have contributed to establishing Israel’s involvement in that criminal, odious act. The international community is indignant over this assassination of a PLO political leader, which was organized in cold blood by the Israeli Government. At an erwgency meeting on 21 April the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement strongly condemned this Israeli terrorist attack on Tunisia, an independent, sovereign oountry, Member of the United Nations and of the Wn-Aligned Movement. This terrorist action is bound to lead to renewed violence and further to aggravate the already explosive situation in the occupied territories. *at is mare, it will divert the problem of the Middle East from the path of a political solution, which the international oounnunity firmly advocates. (Mr. Kittikhoun, Lao Peonle’s Democratic Republic) The time has come for those who strongly advocate the elimination of political leaders to undcltstand that such inadmissible practices can only sully their own image. No one can destroy the strugqle of a people by eliminating its political leaders, for when a people decides to wage a just struggle nothing can stop it. In perpetrating this odious crime against the Palestinian people - a Crime whose dangerous conseauences no one can predict - Israel attacked Tunisia and violatad its territorial integrity and sovereignty with total disregard for the most haeic norms and principles of international law. The Lao Government and people stand in solidarity with the just struggle of the Palestinian peaple, under the leadership of the PLD, for the attainment of its inalienible national rights. In that spirit, and in view of the incorrigible behaviour of the Israelis, my delegation believes that the Security Council should take resolute measures to put an end once and for all to this practice of State terrorism. All States without exception must make their full contribution to the international ccnnmunity"s tireless efforts to persuade Israel never again to resort to acts that run counter to international law and practice. The PKKSIDEM: I thank the representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republc for the kind words he addressed to me. The next speaker ia the representative of Greece. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. ZEPGS (Greece) : W6 are particularly pleased to see the representative of a friendly African State presiding over the Security Council in a manner worthy of the nobie tradition8 or’ - nie greai couniiy, i;a&;ti. i wiS;l LCj extend to you, Sir, my warmest congratulations and the assurance of my personal esteem. I would aleo reauest you to allow me to pay a tribute to the examplary way (Mr. Zepos, Greece) in which the business of the Council was conducted last month by your ptedecessorc Ambassador Pejic of Yugoslavia. With his awntry, our neighbour and oldest friend, we have shared a lot, in good and in diff fcult time8, Following upon the letter dated 19 April 198b from the Permanent Representative of Tunisia, the Security Council is again seized of critical iS8UeS related to the recurrence of acts of terrorism and of the violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of an independent State. Tunis ia having been the target of these abhor rent acts, it is all the more significant that the Tunisian Foreign Minister has personaily so;lght to have the Security Council take action in the most appropriate menner. I wish here to reassure His Excellency W. Mhmoud Mestiri of Tunisia of my Government’s strongest feelings of solidarity with Tunisia at this difficult moment. The Greek Government has oonsiatently and firmly condemned all acts of terrorism in all circusstances. It has condemned in unequivocal terms the eurder of Khalil al-Wazir, a leading member of the Paleatine Liberation Organisation (PLO), in Tunis on 16 April, in what is clearly considered to be a terrociet wt. The Prime Minister of Greece, Hr. Andrea8 Papendteou, has stressed that such acts undermine the peace efforts in the Middle East and morewer raise questions not only about their physical authors but about their mDra1 Qnes as well. Time will tellt It will expose those ceeponaible for this hideous act. We hope that the international wmmunity will hold them fully and effectively accountable for their crime. In carrying out their taek, the perpetrators of the raurder acted in a nranner going beyond their heinous act itself. The sovereignty and security of Tunis ia have been viola t.ed , and my Gove-nment cannot fail tc express its concern at these extremely grave consequences. In 1985, Tunisia wa8 the victim of another act of aggreseion. At that time Greece immediately reacted, condewning that act in no unoertein terms. It aertaiuly aanuot fail to do 80 again, and it is doing so new. The cycle of violence we have witnessed in recent days in Tunieia and eleewhere in the region ie a constant reminder of the imperative need tc find a solution to the crwial underlying problem the situation in the Widdle Waet. That problem is almust as old as our Organisation. My country063 pceiticn on this ie well known and haa been ccneistent all these yeare. In conclusion, I should like to e%tend to the Ooverment and the people of Tunieia, tc the Palestinian people and tc the family of Khalil al-Waeir the profound sympathy of my Govemnent . The PRESIDmt I thank the representative of Greece for the kind words he addrettsed to m. The next speaker is the representative of Zimbabwe. I invite him tc take a place at the Coupcil table and to make his statementwt. MANeOff (Zimbabwe) t The dellegation of Zimbabwe is delighted tc see you, Sir, presiding over the affairs of the Security Council this mrith. Zambia and Zimbabwe are bound together not only by national, cultural and hietcrical bonds, but also by links of close cc-cperatioc in fighting poverty and the evil system of apartheid in our au&region. Your proven dipltnmtic ekilla and your renamed personal qualities give us full confidence that you will guide the proceedings of the Security Council in an outstanding manner. Permit me, ur. President, to pay a tribute to your predeceseor~ Ambassador Fejic, Permanent Representative of frtendiy iugoeiavie, a founding and active nrember of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, for the exemplary manner in which he guided the work of the Council last month. (Mt. Manzou, Zimbabwe) Once again the Israeli regime, already condemned and caetigated by the vast majority of the internatlonel community for its iron-fist policies in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, hae demonstrated ita persistent and arrogant contempt for the basic tenets of international law, the provisions of tne united Nations Charter and the relevant decisions of the Security Council. Once aqain, In total disregard of the fundamental rules that govern the conduct of relations between and among State8 , rules which demand reepect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, Israel br launched yet another deliberate attack against peace-loving Tunieia, this time brutally aeeaseinating it. Ah Jihad, Deputy Commander-in<hief of the Palestine Liberation i)rganization (PLO), and other Palestinian and Tunisian nationals. There can be no justification whatsoever for such barbaric act8 by the Israeli r6ginw2. The Government and people of Zimbabwe, and, indeed, the movement of Non-Aligned Countries, condemn in the strongest terma possible thie latest Israeli aqqreseion against Tuniaia and the Palestinian people. Addressing this grave issue, the Co-otdineting Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, meeting yesterday in urgent session, vehemently condemned *the tsCKi?rist assault perpetrated by Israel during the early hours of 16 April 1988 against Tunisia, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this State Member of the Movement and of the United Nations, by attackinq under cover of darkness tzhe residence of Hr. Rhalil al-Wazir, ‘Abu Jihad’, Deputy Commander-in-Chl ?f of the forces of the Palestine Liberation Orqnaization, brutally assassinatinq him and other Palestinian and TUniBian nationeis by means of an Israeli commando unit estimated to numbsr no less than 30, supported by sophisticated naval and aerial coveraqe.” (Mr. Manzou, Zimbabwe) Further, the BUteaU l condensed this repeated act of State tettotiem against a hospitable and peaceful sovereign State Member of the united Nation6 in total disregard of Security Council resolution 573 flOS!l), which demanded that Israel refrain from petoettating such acts of aggression and teouested the States Members of the United Nations to take measures to dissuade Israel from resorting to such acts against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States. The Bureau expressed its support aud solidarity with the people and Government of Tunieia and the Palestine Liberation Otganization in the face of this blatant act of aggression aud it6 dangerous consBOuences.m The Israeli attack on Tunieie aimed at aseassinating Abu ;ih&J is part and parcel of the Tel Aviv t6gilne*s campaign of State terrorism agafnet thet Pfx), the Palestinians in the oacupied territories and against the Arab front-line States. Like its metntot in Pretoria, which hss heightened its campaign of assassinating the leaders of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC) and perpetrating acts of aggression and State terrorism against the independent State6 of southern Africa, the Tel Aviv t&gimi desperately hopes that hy elituinating the PLO leadership and attackins the Arab front-line States it cm undermine the popular uprising of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. The regime is indeed mistaken and no doubt hes failed to learn from recent histoiy. It is a matter of public tecord that since December of last year Ietael has tried countless illegal and brutal practices in an attempt to destroy the popular uprising in the cccupied territoriee. Earlier on, we witnessed Iatael*e rcthleee campeiqn of breakinq the hones of innocent Palestinian men , women and children and the use of live ammunition aqainst peaceful demonstrators, acts that were roundly condemned hy the Council. When those brutal acts failed to deter the oppressed Palestinians, the Tel Aviv rbqime recently embarked on the renewal of its illegal policy of deportation. Prime Minieter Shamir was recently auoted in The NeW York Timem a8 maying that deportations were neoeeeary because they were probably the most 6evere form of punishment Ierael could employ and, hence, one of its heat weapons for deterring Palestinian political activism. As Gadi Yatsiv, an Israeli parliamentarian, stated: "It amane that we actually recognize, without admitting it, that the Paletatinians’ love of their laud ie ao deep and 80 strong that the greatest pain we can inflict on them ie diaconnectiug them from it. If that ie 80, then trying to fight their uprising with ainple poliae methods will be fruitleee hacause we are dealing with a deeply rooted nation and national wil1.W Indeed, Yatsiv wan correct. Ae with any other pmaple, the Paleatiniansg love for their land ie uo deep and so etrong that even the mst brutal police methode and illegal deportatioua will not shake it. #o amount of brute force or violence uan etifle the will of the Paleetinian peaple to be free. The breaking of the bones of 014 menI Wn and echool-children did not deter the Paleetinians from fighting for their national right to eelf-determination. The recent brutal Israeli meaauree will not work either. If anything, those meatwree will strengthen the Paleetinian people.8 resolve to be free to determine its own destiny. That those who were victim of the Rolocauet could, barely five decades later, become leader8 in perpetrating genocide1 acts againet another people ie the great enigma of our times. The Ieraeli authorities ehould be the laet to be expected to have such a short merry and to indulge in the inhuman practices of wiping Arab .-- VllLagee from tfm face of the earth and treatlng Palestinians like graeshappers - especially eince Israel itself continues to enjoy the status of a special case in the world following the Holccauat, (Mr. Manaou, 2 imbabwe) The international community is in duty bound to compel Israel to stop ite genocAda1 acta in the Middle East. Xt is the hope of my delegation and other membere of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries that the Council will once again codem in the etrongeet terms possible the acts of aggression end State terroriem perpetrated against Tunieia and the PLO and that the Council will take effective and appropriate etepe to enaure that euch act8 are not repeated. The PRESItlBHFt f thank the representative of Zimbabwe for hitl kind vorde addreraed to lm. The next speaker is the representative of Bahrain. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make hi8 statement. Mr. At-SRARAR feahrain) (interpretation from Arabic): I ehould like at the out-t to congratulati you, Sir , upon your acceeeion to the presidency of the Seuurity Council for the currant month. I am convincml that your vast exmrience and diplomatic skills will allov you to guide the work of the Council effectively and aume~fully. f should also like to expreso our grstituae to your predeceseor, Ambaeeador Pejic, the Permament Representative of Yugoslavia, for the exemplary way in whioh he preeided over the Council’@ work during the month of March. My thenke go also to you and the other members of the Security Council for allowing me to particpate in the Council*~ deliberationa on the item on its agenda. Mr. Al-Shakar , Bahrain) Once again the Security Council haa convened tu consider a barbaric act of aggression perpetrated by Israel against the territory of a peace-loving State Wember of the United Nations, Tunisia, with which we rPaintain fraternal tiee. Yesterday, Hi6 &cellency Mr. MahmDud Mestiri, Minister for Foreign Affairs of TMisia, set forth in detail proof of the Zionist act committed by Israel against Tunisia resulting in the murder of martyr Khalil al-Waair, Abu Jihad, one of the principal leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PUN, along with a Tunisian citizen and two guards. Once again Israel has flagrantly and most seriously violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Tunisia, a country with which we have fraternal tiee. This act is totally proscribed by international law, Israel’s violation of Tunisia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has triggered indignation and deserves the condemnation of the entire international wurnunity. In the light of that cowardly act resulting in the assassination Of Rhalil al-Waair, Israel’s aggression against Tunisia once again bears witness to the policy of Stat0 terrorism pursued by Israel against Arab States in general and the Palestinian people in particular. Israel’s aggression against TUnisia ie no isolated act in the annals of the region’s history, indeed, the region’s history abounds with similar acts perpetrated by Ierael againet Tunisia and other Arab countries. We shall always recall the act of aggression against Tunisia perpetrated by Israel in Octcber 1985. By the asaaesination of Khalil al-Wazir Israel sought to bring to nought the popular uprising in the occupied Arab territoriee that has brought the entire world face to face with the stark fact8 of Israeli occupation and oppreesion, facts which mke clear the Zionist occupation and the designs hatched by Israel against Arab peoples. (Mr. Al-Shekar, Bahraiyl Rhalil al-Wazir; Abu Jihad, hau by his death joined the liet of martyrs who have fallen in the course of the Palestinian people’s struggle. The only thing about his lose that consoles us is the very fact of the audecioue Popular uprising, which is naw in it8 fifth month aa we speak, in the occupied Wsst Bank and Gaaa strip. Thie uprising is still under way , and the Palestinian people there are more determined than ever to stand up to the Zionist occupation author ities and to regain their legitimate rights, especially the right to self-determination and to establishing an independent State on their own territory, whatever the cost. The people and the Government of Bahrain have strongly condermed this barbaric act perpetrated by Israel against ~nieia*e sovereignty and the killing of the militant PW fighter Khal il al-W= ir , Abu Jihad. We stand shoulder to shoulder With our Palestinian brothers in this hour of their grievous loss. We ale0 voice our deep convictian that Ierael will not manage, whatever i ta power and might and no matter its threats, via assassination and terroriem to annihilate and crush the popular uprising. It will not atop the popular uprising Of the Palestinian people aNtnot Zioniet occupation whi& haa been visited upon them for wet 20 years now. The leaders of Israel have always mistakenly believed that force and military euperiotity could impose a peace dictated along Israeli line6 and that Ierael’S force and terrorism would indeed allas it to Pursue its expansion&, terrorist Policy throughout the Middle Fiast and thereby break the Palestinian people’s legi tirwte res istsnce. The Middle East has experienced and will oontinue Ed mcpariancq mqet_rnt tension so long as Iereel denies Arab legitimate rights, particularly the right of the Palestinian people to their wn homeland, on their wn soil, and so long as it (Hr. Al-Shakar , Bahrain) continues its arbitrary terrorist and aggressive practices. It will continue to fail. We expreso the oonviction that a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East problem is impossible unless it includes a just settlement of the Palestinian question in all its ramifications. Israel’s violation of Tmisia’s integrity and sweteignty for a secona time - despite (iecurity Council resolution 573 (1985) of 4 October 1985, which demanas that Israel refrain from perpetrating such acts of aggression again& Tunisia’s sovereignty Ma territorial integrity - shows its contempt for the Council’s authority. My delegation therefore calls upon the Council to shoulder its responsibility under the prwisions of the United Nations Charter, adopt a firm etana in the face of this flagrant act of aggression, condemn Israel in the strongest possible terms and take the effective measures provided by the Charter to ah3httk39 it from perpetrating such crimes in the future. The PRBSIDR4Tt I thank the representative of Bahrain for the kind words he addressed to ms. I should like to inform the Council that I have just received letters from the representatives of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the Sudan in which they request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the itern on the Camcil’e agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the hu’Icil, to invite those Kepresentetives to participate in the discussion, without the KiQht to Vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter ald rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Treiki (Libyan Arab Jamhiriya) and Hr. Adam (Sudan) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber . The PReSIDI3NTt The next speaker is the representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. I invite hfm to take a place at the Council table and to make his etatemmt. Mr. TWIN (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (interpretation from Arabic)% On behalf of my delegation, I should like at the outset fo congratulate your Sk, on your assueiption of the presidency of the Council for this nronth. Sinao you represent a fraternal African country, your presidency is epeoial to me and my delegation. I am amfident that, given your well-kmm skills, your presidency will pronmte the abjectives of the United Nation.8 and respect for its Charter. (Mr. Tteiki, Libyan At&, Jamahiriya) I ehould like aleo to congratulate your predecessor, the representative Of friendly Yugoslavia, who presided over the Council laet mnth in en exemplary manner- The Council ie convened today to examine, ae it hae examined before, the continued Israeli aggreeeion against an Arab nation. The Council ha8 diecussed Ziuniat aggreseion againat 8. ,ghdad and Zionist aggression against Tunisia, and once again it ie diecueeing another Zionist aggreaeion against Tunieia. The target of tbie Zioni& aggresoion was the Palestinian caut3e in order to carry out the Zioniet policy of liquidating that struggling people. The -reign Minister of mnieia mede a statement before the Council in which he preeented full evidence that the Zianist terroriat entity was reeponaible for that aggression. In view of our lcng ewperienoe , we do not even need that ample evidenoe. Mgremive by nature, the Zionist entity continue6 to disregard the resolutions of the united Nationo, the Charter and international law. while the Couacil is discussing the aggreeeian againet Tunisia, the Zianiet entity is al60 comitting aggreeeion by air against Iabanon, adding new martyre to the lcng list of Palestinian martyre. The msrtyrdcm of Abu Jihad in Tunisia ie only a link in a chain of eve3t8, only one name in a long list of martyrs of the Palestinian Fple l Despite the unanimous international condeumation of that act, the Zioniet entity*8 disregard of all international laws and cuetome will continue ae long aa the international community fails to take the necessary practical measures. tet us call what took place in Tunisia by its real name: State terrorism. 6ar ie terrorism theni it ia an act of direct aggression aimed at perpetrating the cc ime of murder. Thie is something we have beaxne accustbmed to expct from (Mr. Treiki, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) the Ziariet entity. A whole people has been displaced, is living in camps and is still being killed. The martyrdom of Abu Jihad is only, as I mentioned before, a link in the chain of the struggle of the Arab nation. The blood of Abu Jihad and his oountrymen, the blood of the other martyrs who fell in brotherly Tunisia, will only increase the determination of the Arab nation and add further flames to the Uprising in the occupied lands until the occupation ends and until the Palestinian people is able once again to retutn to its land and regain its legitimate rights. A reoolution might be adopted. The Council has a draft resolution before it; the veto may also be used once again against that draft resolution. But despite its weaknaee in that it is arly an expression of international wndemnation, it will be one of many resolutions a&pted by the United Nations. The question is: what can we do ;la~? I think that our ertperienm with naziem and fascism points the arly way: the whole world rallied to the struggle against nazism and fascism. ‘TodaY the world is facing another danger represented by the racist-Fascist Zionist entity. m must join forces a%d fight it l On the one hand, Ierael’s disregard of international resolutions is a matter of record; it needs no further evidence , no further words of expression oC any resolutions. Those resolutions may have been strong in their condemnations, but the Zionist entity makes no bones about rejecting and disregarding all international resolution. I have seen the press release issued by that entity concerning the convening of this Council. No words, no matter how strong , can express the vehemence of our condemnation Of this act of aggression against Tunisia. kt me reaffirm to the Foreign Minister of ‘Ihisia OUI: full support of the people and ever nment of ‘l’un iaia in the face Qf that aggression. We reaffirm also our support for the heroic Palestinian people. (Mt. Treiki, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) We shall not express colidolences because we console ourselves in the rPsrtyrdom of AbU Jihad, convinced as ws are that his blood will not have been shed in vain and that the enemy will pay the price. Its paoer, no matter how strong, will come to an end. History has no mrcy. Just as we gut an end to nasism and fascism, lianism and aggression also will coto an end. We are an Arab nation. (Mr. Treiki, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) We are an Arab nation. W’natever may be the weakness that we are now facing, we are alive, able and capable. whoever reads history is aware of this fact. Those who support the Zionist entity is one way or another now reaognize that it is high time to become practical and logical. Terrorism is terrorism, whether by Shamir or Botha in 8outh Africa. tits Of killing again& the Palestinian people will never be different from thOee perpetrated in any other place against any other people. The supporters of the Ieraeli entity should recognize the fact that it is high time to t&l1 the enemy to prt an end to his aggression. One has to be practical and realistic. One cannot fight terrorism and yet at the sarm time encourage the Zionist entity to commit terrorism. One cannot struggle against international terrorism while supporting those who are, in an organized, official and collective nnnner, czoxnitting these acts of terrorlen. @be &y everyone will rmnize that Zioniem has become a danger not only to the Palestinian and Arab nation but to humanity as a whole. The Council has a heavy responsibility and is held accountable for the persistence of these acts of killing and terrorism against the Palestinian people. There is now more than ever a need for prompt measure6 to stop this aggressor and its acts that run counter to international law8 and custom. There ie no need for further evidence beyond the resolutions which have already been adopted in the General Assembly and the Security Council condemning Zionist aggression. It is high time to implement - even for once in our hi8tory - c;.apter Vii of the charter, the only measure that will ensure putting an end to terrorism and the act6 of killing to which the Palestinian people and the Arab nation are subjected as has happened to sisterly Tunisia. The PRESIDRdTt I thank the representative of the Efbyan Arab Jamahiriya for his kind worda addressed to u@= There are no further speakers ar my list. The next Counail to continue its acnsideration of the item cm its bbnday, 25 April, at 10.30 a.m. The meting rose at 6.35 pm. meeting of the Security agenda vi11 take place on