S/PV.2810 Security Council

In accordal!ce with the decisions taken at previous meetings on this item, I invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tuniaie to take a place at the Council table; I invite the representatives of Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, Gabon, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, the Lao People’s Denixratic Republic, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, ?&xzarrS,ique, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Rep.iblic, the United Arab aoirates, Yemen and Zimbabwe to take the places reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber; and 1 invite the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization to take a place at the Council table. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Mestiri (Tunisia) took a place at the Council table; Mr. Al-Shaker (Bahrain), Mr. Siddiky (Bangladesh)# Mr. NufleZ Mosquera (Cuba), Mr. Badawi (Egypt), Mr. Biffot (Gaban), Mr. Zepos (Greece), Mr. Salah (Jordan), Mr. Abulhasan (Kuwait), Mr. Kittikhoun (Lao People’s Democratic Peprblic), Mr. Fakhoury (Lebanon), Hr. Treiki (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Mr. Guld Boye (Mauritania), Mr. Bennouna (Morocco), Mr. Des Santos (Mozambique) I Mr. Shah Nawaz (Pakistan), Ir. Al-Kawar F (Qatar), Mr. Shihabi (Saudi Arabia), Mr. Osman (Somalia), Mr. Adam (Sudan), Mr. Al-Masri (Syrian Arab Republic), Mr. tickmen (Turkey), Mr. Cudovenko (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Replblic), Mr. Al-Shaali (United Arab mirates), Mr. Basendwah (Yemen) and Mr. Wnzou (Zimbabwe) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council Chatier; Mr = Al-Kidwa (Palestine Li.bezation Organ ;zation) took a place at the Council table. - The PRBSRJTs I ahould like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the repreeentetives of the Congo and Djibouti in which they rt3gUeSt to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Councilye agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I prove, with the consent of the Council, to invite those repreaentstives b participate in the discussion without the right to vole, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Ccuncil’s prarisional rules of procedure. There being no abjection, it is so de&Bad. At the invitation of the Presi&nt, nC. Wouki (Coogo) and Mr. Olhaye (Djibouti) tcmk the placem reserved for them at the side of the Council Chather. The PRBgXDR4Tt The Security Council will nar r&Bum ita a>nsfderatim of the item on its agenda. I should like to draw the attention of medmre of the Council lo document 8/19820, uhich contain8 the text of a letter dated 21 April 1988 from the charge d’affaires ad interim of the Paremnant Mission of 2imbabbue to the United hations addressed to the 8ecretary-Gener al. The first speaker is the representative of the Sudan. I invite him to take a place at the Council and to make hi&. statement- Hr. ADAM (Sudan) (interpretation from Arabic) t We are honaJred to see your Sir, presiding over the Council during the rxmth of April. We already know your eminent qualities, a8 you belong tc a sister African aun”Jy whose lea&rehip has been aharactetized by wisdou~ and determination with regard to just callsee whether in the context of Africa or of unresolved international or regional questions. Through you, Sir, we pay tribute to the Permanent Representative of Yugoslavia for the exemplary way fn which he conducted the Council’s buaineas last month. (Mr. Adam, Sudan) We are also honoured by the presence of Mr. Mahmmd Mestiri, Foreign Minister of mnisia. Rnovn within thie Organisation in the reoetnt past ae a.akilful diplonmt, he has submitted to us an ertremely serious mtter arising from the brutal terrorist aggression against kie mace-laring aountry and its territorial integrity early on the mcening of 16 April by a group of Israeli terrorists. They infiltrated I\misia in order to perpetrate a heinam crime which led to the martyrdom of one of the leaders of the Palestinian resistanas, Mr. &alil al-Wasir, .Abu Jihcd., in a horrible manner under the very eylee of his family, inoluding a little drild. The tirei* Hiniatar of mnieia presented hia axmtry’s amplaint in so aonvinoing a umnner as to leave no room for doubt or for scepticism to be built into a false conviction in Israel’0 favour, enabling it to flout the prinnaiples of the Charter and destroy all hum ideals and the eacred valuea and rules of the international m-unity, vhich prohibit aggression against the ewereignty of independent States and emphaaize the need for respect for their territorial intmgr ity. The action carried out by the Israeli inetitutions of aggression and their intelligence eefvices on 16 Apr 11, vi th the knanledge and bleeeing of the Israeli Cabhet, a@ reported by reliable ma80 media, vaa not the firet of its kind against Tunisia’s swereignty. In Octaber 1985 the Council adopted resolution 573 (198!0, in the vake of the aggression perpetrtted by Israel againot Tunieia’s swereignty and territorial Integrity. That aggresaim of October 1985 VW committed blatantly by the Israeli air force, vhkh ocvered hundreds of wiles to fulfil its mission. The recent aggression of 16 April against Tunisia’s sweteignty and territorial integrity Look a different form, but the result was the same. There is RO au& thing as a perfect crime. (Mr. Mae, Sudan) Hdlm farael@a politioal institutions md ite &XI mdia have this the choeen Offidal oflmw and aetho4s we have oom ti aeeo&ate with them, no one ha0 80 far ma& my reference to any other party or presented any hard widenue aaawing MY Other pIWw of aooaerinating the Palestinian wrtyr, Abu Jihad. (Mr. Adam, Sudan) AZ1 reliable reporting organisations and mma mdia have branded Israel with the perpetration of thie heinous crime. By Way of exaa@e, we refer to the Israeli Premier ‘8 initiative of sending a cmgretulattory cable to tha terroriste on the eucceee of their terrorist action. B&e that eimply out of a&niration for a prelpeditated aot of aggression undertaken by a group that lan&d in Tmieia from eoae celestial body in another univa~ae? Thtarghout ite history Israel hae adopted disinformation aa a basis for its entire politiual institution. The meet eloquent example in this regard is prrobebly its use of methods of deosptiqn and fraud in building iter nuclear capability. It persisted in that arrogant decmption mtil it was recently exptmed by an Israeli expext who had worked at the Dtnona reactor. The world was suddenly alerted by irrefutable evidence to the eeriownesa of ferael’s lmlenciee and its use of military mi*t - even if that mi#lt lead to the outbreak of a devastating nuclear war. The strategic technical aD-operation &at ham gone ar for years between ’ Israeli intelligence services and their counterparts in som mjor Parer0 known for their friendship with Israel hae enabled G e latter to play hevoc with all international norms and laws that should be respected and Ipaintrrfned. That ooqmration has enabled Israel to strike at will in pureuit of the Palestinians wharf ft has displaced from their homeland. This is a singularly serious mtterr because it hss a direct beating on the security of States, their national sovereignty over territories and their right ti dfdefon-trbskitg. I need not cite examples of Israel’6 past action8 against the ecw3rsignty of States other than Tunieia; we are 8’11 aware of them. Therefore the crime perpetrated by Ieraeli eervioee againet Tunisia and previouf3 crimes against the territorial integrity ma political independence of (Hr. Mam, Sudan) other States are a flagrant breach of Article 2 (4) of the tlhited Nations Charter end must be condemned once again, the Council must take appropriate measures to ensure that that will not be repeated. If the State terrorism praotised by Israel this tima is designed to enhanoa the prestige of its security and of ita military and political institutione in the context of the continued Palestinian uprising within Xsreel and inside the oooupied Palestinian territories, then the result has been ample tely corn tet-produo t ive - it hee increased the resistance to occupation in the occupied territories and more martyrs heve fallen. Israel continues to impmda all peace initiatives in the ares ellaed essentiellY at respecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, including the establishment of their own inhpendent state end a just, permment and genuine Peace in the Middle -St. The eforemmtionecl requites that Israel withdraw from all the Arab territories occupied by it since 1967 and its acceptance of fixed intetnetionel borders. Ultimately, that means abendonment of Isreel*e expansionist dreams end aspirations of superiority vis-&via the other States in the region. Rae the psychology end orientation of the Israeli leadership achieved that stsge? AL1 indications and the tendencies of Xarael’s leaders indioate otherwise. PinSlly, I must soquaint the members of this Council with the official communique issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan in the wake of the assassination of the martyr Abu J ihad: It stated that the assassination of the Palestinian leedet shocked the civilized world end the entire Arab nation; that the Sudan cannot but express its denunciation of this heinous crime and condemn the Israeli design to deport Palestinian freedom fighters from their homeland to Iabancn, having exhausted all mans of oppression and terrorism in the occupied land of Palestine. The communiqu4 indicates that the Sudan haa been follwtng with grave awcecn all the acts of terrorism and oppression taking place in occupied Palestine , and affirms that a people of the aagrbitude awl detertination of the Palestinian people will nevm ceve in to oppreeoion and terrorimn. The PRESZDBNTt I thank the representetive of the Sudan for the kind words he addreseed to me. The neHt speaker is the representative of Uauritani.8. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to nreke hi8 etateemnt. Mr. OUID BOY& (Mauritania) (interpretation fram Arabto)% It give8 IS pleasure to eee a brother, the repreaentstive of &mbiar PraRiding aver tie 8eCurity Council’s deliberation8 thie amth. I extend to you, Sir, sincere oongretulations on your assumption of the preef&ency. My delegatim feels thatr Shar&@ Co your dipltxnatic skill and great exper iencm, the Council will be able to fulftl its duty in the maet felicitous manner. t take this opportunity to express our abngratulations to and appreciation of your predecewzc, the Permanent Representative of Yugoslavia, Mr. Dragoal.av Pejic, for the able manner in which he guided the Council’s work during Ilsrd. I should also like to weloom a prominent Tunieian Arab official vho is Well knoun for his vast k-ledge, wisdom, serioueneeo of purpoee and pru&nes, wt. MeImoud mstifi, the Minister for Porelgn Affair6 of Tunisia, who cam perecmally to address the Security Council on the TunLian amplaint - indeed, a canplaint by us all and an indication of our repugnance at Israel’s dastardly act of assassination of the Paleetinian freedom fighter Rhalil al-Wssir and an act of aggreseion against Tunieie’s sovereignty and territorial 1ntagrit.y. aggression against Tunisia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the assassination of a great Palwtinlan free&m Pighter Khalil al-Warir and other innocent pecuans. Tmieh, whi& hail been a victim of Zraelll aggression, has wfnt8ind urd uin~ino intim& tiw of kinship with Uauritania. Our actions amverge towards th@ eotabliahmat of the great Arab Maghreb within the PramawoCk of Arab MitY# which is Freu of intoleranca and aggreseion. Burtherlrore, %miuia ham a reputation in the international coammity for its paacafulness, opennetm8 hospitality, Wi6dOa and modaration. (MC. Ould Boye, Mauritania) That hae been reflected in the support we have seen in the past Pew days for this sister country. There is no doubt that Israel’s act oP aggression against Tunisia and its cowardly assassination of Whalil-al-Wasit have proven several facts; first, that Israel does not want peace) secondly, that violence is inherent in Israel’s system of life an8 that, therefore, it would be difficult for 28rael to renounce it. Also, Israel has proved that it has lost its nervea in the face of the Palestinian people who are in revolt inside occupied Palestine, especially as the Palestinians have pre-empted Israel’s ability to use its essential weapons. It has beoonm clear to the entire world that the demcracy claimed by Israel is but (L srmkescreen thraJn up in an effort to deoeive certain nations and to lure increasing nunWas of settlers to ferael. pamvet, there is another established fact, namely, that the Palestinian people, mder the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, has gained more resolve and determination. Palestinians no larger dread the Israeli soldiers, aho are armed to the teeth. Our amsistsnt position has been that the Palestinian people, whose land has been usurped unjustly and by aggression, will emerge victorious in its war against Israel) it is supported by all forces that uphold peace and justice. Israel is mistaken uhen it assumes that, by k ill ing a Pales tin ian freedots fighter who has been denied his land, it will be able to stem the grawing tide of the Palestinians’ uprising, which is aimd at regafnlng their dignity, independence and freedom. The determination of the Palestinian people has bear. reinforced and they no longer fear death. The Palestinians enthusiastically embrace martyrdom. Martyrs are buried amid chants and songs of joy and pride. (Mr. (luld Boye, Maw itania) A Uauritanian poet who considers himself a Palestinian has stated% “We receive our maetyrs in pride and dignity as we celebrate their departure, and we sing the songs of death in the cause of life as being the way to life. We sing in our wounds, for miracles reside in the masses and oppression gives birth to freedcsn.’ As I a&rem the Security Council, I declare our solidarity with and support fa eietec Tunisia in the face of Ierael’s vicious act of aggression against ‘hJl\misien territory and swereignty. I reiterate my country’s support for the Pale8tine Liberation Organizatior. and the heroic Palestinian people confronted by the Campaign of ter rot and assassination cart ied out aga inst them by Israel, both inside and cuteida their homeland. Israel iS Once again challenging all intWIK#tiOnal law3 and norms of behaviour by cotmaitting an act of aggression against an independent, sarerefgn State *&et of the mite8 Nstione. llccordingly, my delegation calls upon the Security C0uncil met strongly t0 aakdemn Israel ta its repeated acts oE apgression against the Tmisian RB@liC and to tske proper action in order to prevent the recurrent Of such acts Of aggress ion. We call upon the Security Council, in accordance with the spirit of the bited Nation8 Charter and the resolutions of the @netal Assembly, also to c4mdem a8 an abhorrent act of terrorism Istael's assassination of Rhalil-al-Wazir, vh0 wa6 in his civilian residence and in the presetroe of his children and other family amhers. 8u adopting such a position, which is in conformity with the principles for which it was established, the Security Council would undoubtedly enhance 'be WnfiC&nC@ Of peoples and States in the mitea Nations an6 in tie hiq’neai; Oiqau entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security, namely, the Security Council itself. The PREsXDtSW I thank the representative of bhuritania ear hie kind wards addressed to IDB. The next opeaker ia the representative of Djibouti. I invite him to take a place at the Caunail table and to make his staterent. Mr. OLIflWE (Djibouti); I wish to acknowledge at the outset the presence Oe Ur. Blahmud Mestiri, Foreign Mini&x of %$,anisia, who haa travelled all the way here to plead his comtry*a aomplaint to thie COMC~~, Lollwing tie sat of aggression auatained by his awntry. Eli8 preeence here is aleat testimony of the * gravity of the mtter for the consideration of the Council. Djibouti ha8 a Social relation with Tunisia and hae always respected and a&ired the pragmatism, maderation CmB aoneiatenay in international relative of that eietarly nation. We are e&nod that it has becoa again the object of Xerael i terror ier. Beeare proamding, 1 should like to congratulate yarr sir, an your aammption 0e the preeiidency 0e the Council for this mnth. I am aonfidbnt that your drill8 rrd proeeesianalien will judiaiouely guide the Council. The Council ie meting to oon6ider Tunisia9 legitimate aomplaint concerning Israel’8 blatant disregard of ite sovereignty end territorial integrity- CUWinaing evidence incriminating Israel in thie attack, which culminatid in the tragic death of Khalil-al-Wait l Abu Jihad. and other innocent individuals, hae been detailed by the epakece who spoke before me and therefore I need not clue11 on it at length. This is a eerioue trim that requirea the most intenee ocmpera tion in the Council to arrive at far-reaching concf.usione and nteaeures which will effectively ensure that euch disdain and arrogance ohall have no place in thie war ld. It to dioturbing that Ierael could commit multiple atrocities eimultamously in the occupied territozie@, in Tunisia and, only a few days ago, in Lebmm, and still be obBeseed with eecurity end paw. (Mr. Ofhave, Djibouti) Indsed, it is Israelgo very denial of security, ‘peace and freedom to other8 that ie the root cause of the prublem. The trampling underfoot of the rights of Palestinians for alsmt half a oentury and the consistent flouting of all relevant United #ations reeolutiona aimd at achieving lasting peace in the region is a recipe for diaaeter. The asewsinrtion of Khalil al-Waair, Abu Jihad, has only added umte ‘fuel m an already preoerioua situation. Duu we shall have a conflagration. During the Onet four aontbo we have witneseed the spontaneous uprising of the Palestinians in the ocarpied Arab territories, which has to date resulted in the death of some 2DO PeoEle, thousands of GaMaltie8, unquantifiable loss of property and deportations. These psople demand nothing more thah the basic elements of human decenty, the rule Of lw and the exeroise of self-determination towards self-rule, as enshrined in . the Chwtu. ‘ire m&due and wifle the popular uprising simply through resorting to ooeraion and the ume of form, acampanied with ureets, detentions, deportations blookades and cwfewm, will not serve the cause of peace nor heal the wounds. On the QHIttuy, it hae mly served to exacerbate and further aggravate the belieate balance. In the prmess, Israel has , unnecessac ily , earned for itself tbe Math, amlf#laation aud ignominy of the international cornunity, It is suffering from a credibility crieie of enormous proportions , as a result of its wtal defiance and contravention of n&emus United Nations resolutions, in particular security Council resolutions 607 (1988) and 608 (1966). As could be expected, the aesaseinstion of A&u Jihad has further strengthened the resolve and the will of the Palestinian people, who mote than ever firmly reject resignation and deepair: their reaction is rage, not submission. Obviously, political control in Israel is in the hands of men who are vehsmemtly oppoeeB ti the very notion of peace, let alone peace negotiations; and My hop@, however fragile, raised by Secretary of State Shultz has now evaporated. (Mr. fllha&, 03 ibouti) AS the observer rightly pointed out, %he Icraelie [settlers] live nwxe in the past than the present and attach greater weight to the claims of history than the claim of medo Ierael ie entitlad to its opinions and prejudices; it ie not, however, entitled to its om oonaegtian and interpretation of hutnan rights, flreedom and international law and practice. Israel knwe full well how far io too far and how larch ie tcm EWCh. It must be punished severely for its conteapt of this Councils We offer our sincereet condolences to the family of the elain leader and to the Palestinian population, who have Buffered an irreparable loss. BgUallYr we wish t0 state out full syrppathy and solidarity with the evermnt and the people of Tunisia. The Council is in duty-bound to condean in the strongest possible t.errre the repeated act of aggression against the cravereignty and territorial integrity of a staunch and law-abiding Memhet of the United Nstions. I thank the Council for having acceded to my rwueat to participate in this dabate. The pRlBIDR4T: I thank the tepreeentative of Djibouti for the kind words he addressed to abe. The next speaker is the representative of the Congo. fn invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make hie ststement. Mr. ADOIJKI (Congo) (interpretation from Prench)t I am pleased to have this opportunity to congratulate you , sir, cn your aesuuaption 0E the presidency of the Security council. You have my delegation’s very beat wiehee during your term 0e 0ffm thh3 month. I wieh to tianic your ptedeceasoc, His excellency Ambaseedor PBjic of Yugoslavia, for the excellent fob he did last month. I should like once again to place on rec~d the deep respect my delegation and I have for Bie Excellency or. Mahmoud Mestici, Minister foe Foreign Affairs of (Hr. Mouk i, Congo) Tunisia, who le present at this dabrto. We should havie mch preferred to greet and welcome him warrly to t?eu York in leas dietreaoing eircuaotancee. Never theleso, we are pleased to 986 him hero with 8180 The Palestinian people are muming their dead. Indeed, for the pet 40 years life there haa continued t@ extraat a ghaotly daily toll. In the aurrent Palestinian national uprising, tbe international mdia have relayed pictures of atone-thrcwing being rt by bloody reprewion at the hands of the occupation fotces in Mesa and the wbot Bank - two aaaupied territoriee uhoge inhabitanta, as we knar, have opted fur e path other than rosignatlon and despair. The Palwtinien &ad strewn crlarg tbrt peth are now legion. Not even Palestinian leaders 8re spared the onay*r lightning terrorist strikeac they fall murdered in their turn. In aOtobu 198s Tuniclia witne88ed a nmlvo attack against the Palestine Liberation Otganisatiar (MD), in flagrant violation of international law and Tunieia*s sarereignty and territorial integrity. ?&w it has become the 8etting for the deepicabla murd= of Hr. Khalil l l=Uasir , a Pu) leader, in Tunis on 16 April, in oircurtanae~ I shall not duo11 upon but which Tunisia’s Minieter for Poreign Affaim,.with an saute een8e of hio lofty rospmaibilitlee, eccurately described to the Counoil. In tbe Minister ‘r view - rhued by international absuvere of recognised credibility and impartiality - a Refty dcm of blindness and caaplacency would be required to absolve those reeponrible for thie politicelly motivated murder on Tunisian territow. The Congo firmly aondeae the Political msaerination of the Palestinian leader Rhaftl al-Uauit. Hy country has expreesed its condolencQo to the Palestinian people and to the faailiee of the mniehn victims. The Congo ehareo Tunisia’8 respect foe internc,tioRa1 law. Olr. MoukI, Cargo) Thb otir &t&d h TmAe a~nrthltut~ m l ttaafc against ‘Rni8fm l UUa&lty Mb territorial integrity. It cannot go unpunished. Aa previoue l pukur hmm rightly epphesimd, thie ariaa ~~deminea the relaxation of tension that ir naamsary in the fmrch, whidr is already arduotm, for a just and lasting perin t?m widdle East- Mt. Wouki, Cmqo) All cbmber sate8 of the mited Nations are &&bound to work for peace by doing their u&et to faoilitate the amvening of the Inteenational Peace Conferewe on the Middle Baet* & delegation rOiteKate0 that the Cango umdenme all attack8 fin&n-d, SUppOrted and perpetrated by Oovernmnt8 a8 being particularly odious. W delwtiOll i8 reminded in the849 dCCU~tMCC+S Of thQ CegtdaC ~8a88hatiOn8 Of fteedoa fighters Qatpettated by the CaCist South African apartheid r8gime. In keeping with itp Charter &ligation8 end its special responsibilities for the minteMM0 Of int0tMtiOMl pee and Security, the Security Council mu8t axpre88 the horror and the tepbiation and firm amdemation of this aat of aggteadan Jhiah Tmiaia ia entitled to heat tram the intetnetional community and stab8 maor8 of the Boautity CoUnuil. Like 80 many paa-leping Btatar and peaplss, the Carncil ucmld thhus be displaying it8 aative Sdid&tity with ‘PUlliSis, a united tbtione nttbet uho8e generow hoepitelity md l meteignty hate once again been ~0 outraqeady flated, The IfRBBOEPTr I thenk the representative of the Con90 tot his kind WOrdS addrO88ed t0 m. I shall now make a elsteant in ~sy Capacity a8 the Representative of Zambia. When the framers of the United Nation6 Charter delibera”*ed wet it8 prwisions, they envisaged, inter alia, a provision for the prevention of eituatiais that threaten international peace and securitv. In an effort to achieve this end, they made it obligatory for all Metier States to refrain in their international relation8 from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State , or in any other manner inconaietent with the purpcsee of the United Nations. A8 Mslllber States of the Wited Nations, we therefore have a moral obligcrtiow to fulfil in good faith, the provisions of the Char&x in order to pronw8 greater intunatianal underetmding and co-peration. This, in our vie-u, is a cardinal principle which We all should cherish and respect. It i8 With thi8 VieV in mind and our faith in the United NatiOII8 a8 the arbiter for resolving international dispute8 that my delegation saw the imperative need for the &murity Council to accede to the request by the Government of Tunisia to debate the item before US. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of mnieia, Mr. Meetiri, in his lucid and detailed pte8entstian to this body, stated hi8 COU#ltty’S indignation and outrage at Israeli toobl disregard of mnisia’s swereignty and territorial integrity. My aomtry, whidr hae suffered eimilrr acts of aggreeeion from the racist r6gilPe Of South Mr:=, is in full 8yaOathy with TuniSiabe Cmplaint and suppotit. TMiSia i8 a friendly, no*aligned and pWXtfU1 country committed to the total eradhation Of all vestiges of colonialism, oppreaeion and foreign domination. Thea0 are lofty aims which d88etve. the unflinching support of all free&X&-1Wing ao~ntrie~ the war 18 over. lImisia*s amitment to these ideals is donmnsttated by it8 teadine and willingne88 to offer 8arEtUary to oppreeeed and displaced people. It8 8actifioe and eelflessneae are highly comendable and merit the sympathy and support of the international comamity at large. The 5itUation in the Pliddle East continues to deteriorate by the day as Israeli forces continue to brutalise , maim and break bones and to kill Palestiniens in the w-pied tecritor ies despite the resolutions of the setcutity council, ana indeed the artcry of the international community against this reign of terror. (The Ptes i&n t) It is regrett86i.e Uist in this Qy and age, and given recent attempt8 at peace initiativea which include the proposal br an international peamnfexence to addtees ule Middle East situation, the core of which is the question of Paleatiner I.sr: ael hes chosen to take a dangerous pati of attacking ite grab neighbour e and &are that are not close to its borders in hot pureuit of those oppmmd to its UlilLtary occupation. Tbla aggressive posture cannot and uill not contribute to peace ad security in the Middle East. It will breed further tension and escalate oonflicta, both of which conetitute a serious threat to international peace and security. Pbr a 1-g tim nm my country has repeatedly urged Israel to adopt a policy of peaoetful mexistence with ita Arab neighbours. We find it ironic that a COMUY which publicly eeeke secure bacdbre Bharld reaort to mate terror iem NIX a way of dealing a permanent blow to thoee who dieagree with its policies. By aeekihq t0 reeolve political p&lby military xeane Israel ie engaging in an exercise of eelf delua iox. Wa continue to believe that it is in’fecael’e ovn intereet, and indeed in the interest of all muntrlee in the region, that a peaceful and just eolutkn TV this vexing prablera have its twtn in an international peace amference. Peace and aggreaeion cannot wexiet. We in Zaxbia otrongly condemn the armed terrorist wmmando attack on T\mbia on 16 April 1988 end call on the international ammunity to apate no effort in cmdermlmg this attack. Assassination of Leaders is not the anewer to the problems ot the region. In this regard, Israel should have the courage to accept the universal call for an international peace conference on the Middle East in which all the parties wncerned, including the Palestine Liberation Organlzation (PLO), vi11 particiwte on an equal fwtirrg. It ia our conviction that the eituation in (The Pre8 ident) the Middle t3mt require8 leader6 with great courage and vision, it require8 leader8 capable of looking beyond the imediate political advantagae in order to addreae the long-term interests of the Middle East and ita people. Only if and when this i8 done, can Xerael hoge to live in peaceful, secure and internatitrna11~ r,mognieed borders. The raid on TunLia, which resulted in the brutal murder of Abu Jihad, a pre&er of the PrD Executive Committee and other@, has indeed shodted the inter national ommun ity . It cannot be seen a8 just an ieolated act of lawleesnese by M unknown gang of bandits: rather, it must be viewed a8 a aarefullY premditated aoeeaaination with intent to liquidttte the Pu) leadership. This was indeed the ease on 1 Octcber 1985, when Ierael cmmitted a similar aot of aggremion against mnieia, which was strongly condemned by the Ccuncil in its resolution 573 (1985). Iefael, therefore, hao a “track reaortP in military operations against the leaderehip of the PLO. It mu6t be clear from etatemente originating tram Israel that, rather than dkxganising the Pfl), the assassination of Abu Jihad hae merely rervenl to aggravate the eituation in the Middle East. It has inspired the oppreeeed People Of Palestine to fight to victory, and it has provided a rallying pint which will serve to strengthen their bonds of unity6 a goal for which the late Abu Jihad worked eo diligently during his lifetime. Iecael will never overcome the just struggle of the Palestinian people by assaseinating itt3 authentic leaders. Indeed, a8 the Israeli paper Radaehot, in its editorial opinion, Pointedly wondered: ‘If Pu) leaders are targets for bumping off, with uhan, actually, do we intend In conclusion, my delegation calls on the Security Council, which ie charged with the pritnery responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, to (The President) But &aisively by ‘adopting the draft ruolution before it so that this aat Of WWe8eLon will not ba t8psabd in the Luturo by Iereel, or indaed by any otiwt UountrY. 1 nQlp resunm ly fun&ions as President ot the security Counoil. With the aonowrence of wmber8 of the Council, I shall nap 8uSpond the meLine for 30 rinutea in or&r that ambin points ray be cleated up. The rmetinq was euapendsd at 12 noon awl remlad at 1.25 p.m. The PRBIDoBsr; It ie ny unQr8tending that ‘the Counail is ready to prowad to the vote on the draft resolution before it. tlntenr 1 hear any objection, I shall put it to the vote. ThaPe being no abjection, it is so dsOi&d- Does any member rich to make a statement bofoce the voting? wr. omw (united states 0e Amrica)t The mited statea bplores the use 0e violanw from datevet quarter. In pntticular , we oondea acts 00 politbl a8daesinaticn, as Aaerican Governsant epokeemm stated cleuly in Washington last week. Bmisia is a aloee and valued friend ot the United States. Bbt a sewn8 time in le#a than three year6 it hae 8Uftered a violation ot ite territorial integrity and ita satereignty. The United Rater ha8 repeawdly m@ba6irod LU mapport for Tmiaia% territorial integrity) we reumin eaitheul to that pledge. Our relationship with Tunisia is fknly tooted in a aomm Qdication co the dignity of man and to the puceuit of polltical mderation and tolaatwe. T~~ieia enjcw a eolid reputation as a peaceful wuntry. Owef the wurw oC the year6 it has pursued its national goals in a ma~ec consistent with its wamitwnt to peaosful rsso1ution of its problems. The psrgetration 00 political assassination un Tmisian soil stands in stark contrast m ~unisia’e long-standing tradition of non-violmoe. Despite the strong vi-6 the United States holds on political assassination, and despite out strong support for Tunisia’s national sovereignty and territorial d----*L.. LL- .-14.-a “L-L-r Lu cG”8&A c* UIrmyA .CI, b1.e “II.c*I” “LOL5e ..-. -W.-w *-C-a- !e thunto M ,hq &aft - 1-e-s.. e.- .-- resolution todey because it dieproportionetely places all blase for this latest round in the ricing spiral of violent in the Middle Poet on one event only vhila failing to mention other actions that pteoeded it. ft also includes language which is suggestive of Chapter VII sanctions. (Mr. Okun, United States) Ae we deliberate here today we must not lose sight of the broader goals we all share. All involved must renew their efforta Co reach a amprehensive settlement in the Middle East which will realise the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in a manner that protects Israel’s security. Palestinians and Israelis both deserve a future of eecurity, dignity and prosperity. There must be mtual respect for each other’s rights and a climate where fear and recrimination can be replaced by security and trust. We believe now is the tisle to act. The PRESIDENFfr The Council will ncy vote on the draft resolution before it contained in cbcument S/19819. A vota was taken by shav of handa. In favourt Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, @rmeny, Federal Republic of, Italy, Japan, Nepel, Senegal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britein and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia, Zahia None Against : Abstaining: Unitid States of America The PREsIDEapt The result of the voting is as follcws: 14 votes in favour,ncneagainstandlabstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 611 (1998). I &all new call on any member of the Council that wiehea to make a statement follcwing the voting. Sir Criopin TICXELL (United ikngdom): My delegation has just voted in favour of the resolution. we did so in view of my Government’s consistent condemnation of terrorism in all its form6, including such acts of political murder as that of Mr. Khal il al-Waz ir . (Sir: Criepin Tickell, United Ring&m) Aa the sponsor8 of the draft and othere well know, we would have preferred aertain dmngee tp the text. In particular, we would have wished it to leave more open the implication of reeponaihility for the murder , einoe, a8 I said here on 21 @ril, we da not knaw with certiinty who was tesgonaible. we aleo regret that Security Council resolution 573 (1985) was incorrectly quoted. Further, we find that operative mragraph 3 ha6 little maning when aken with the rest of the resolutifm, whiah doea not contain epecific provisions fez implementation. Our mderetanding of ogetcrtive pmagraph 2 L that it can only refer to maewee that we appropriate and lawful and in accordance with the prwiaione of the Charter of tie thiwa abtione. In spite of our Qubte m theme points, my delegation voted in favour of the be* to mmke ulear our datetminatian to join the Comail in vigororre candemation 02 the murder, and to help bring horn lo those reaponeible the grave coneequencee of their aat. The PRPBPRm I call an the representative of the Palestine Liberation Otgaizatictn , who hae aaked to speak. Mr. AL-I(lW?A (Paleetine Liberation Organisation (AC)) ) (interpretetion frm ArabicIt On behalf of the delegation of the Palestine Liberation Orqanioation, I wish to thank all thoee who expreeeed their position of principle by orndeming the criminal aeeaeeination of Abu Jihad. I should alao like to express our gratibrde to all those who extended eympathy ta the family of the martyr, the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Paleetinian people. we have ttmsmitted those sentiments to the bereaved family and leadrship of the pm. , There ie no doubt that the international conaenaue regarding the item before the Cooncil has contributed in a concrete fashion tn allwiating WI a large extent the suffering sustained a8 a result of this lose. But I should like to emphaa ize . . (Mr. Al-Kichua, Paleetine tiberqrtion orsanisatf~) here that our Palestinian people end its sole, legitidpate repreeentative~ the Palestine Liberation Organisation, will be able to weroom this lose end put it behind it. I take this occaeion tm place on reoPrd our appreciation to all metier6 that voted in favour of the draft resolution, eepecially to the norraliwed counUiee that aponeored it and to express -cur satisfaction chat the United Stats8 did not exercise it23 paaer of veto. In this regard, I express the hope that paeitive Positlone will be taken to serve the just ceuse of peace in the Middle Bset. In cOncluaion, I once again expreee our deep gratitude to Tunietir its Gwernwnt and people, and aleo strees bD all metiers of the Council that our people will continue ita struggle to attain ite inalienable naticnal rights. The PRaSIDmr I call nw QI the Minieter for Boreign Affair6 of Tmieia, P&r. Blahmu4 Hwtiri, who has asked to apeak. Hr. MESTIR (mnieia) (interpretation froID Pren&)s I am particularly abliged to the w&ere of the Council for their paeitive reeponee to TuriSk’e appeal. %a hope that the text which has juet been aQpted, even though it &me not fully meet our expectitione, will nevertheless have the Cleterrent ef feet we hoped to we. We ace most grateful also to the eponeore of the draft reeolution, who, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, took upon theppaelves the teak of negotiating this text and finding solutions aazeptable to the members of the Council. We are particularly grateful to thoee of them who had to overmum their convictions in presenting a draft resolution which was not fully satisfactory to them. We can (Mr. Mestiri, l%nieia) aaaure them that we too had to make an effort - one which did not come easily to US - to satisfy ourselvea with this decision which, when all ie said and done, basically responds to the concerns of our people. Finally, the aggression has been denounced and condemned and the aggressor named. Our sincae thanks go to all those delegations which have expressed to US their solidarity, sympathy and support on behalf of their respective countr lea. I should have liked to name them all, because they were all generous in their words to my country, my people and President. Our gratl tude also goes to those who, notwithstanding the pressures brought to bear on them - eometlmas in an inelegant fashion - nevertheless lived up to the responsibilities incusbent upon them under the Charter. We also unders’tand those who, unable to vote in favour of the draft resolution, abstained, thus enabling the international community to denounce and conderrn this aot of aggression and, hence, the aggressor. We know beyond all doubt who the aggressor was. Almost all speakers identified the aggressor; it is clear that even those who expressed doubts know per feotly well who the aggressor was. We are therefore convinoed that in the light of rlew elements the task of the Secretary-General to place the responsibility for this act, a task set out in paragraph 4 of the resolution, will not be an unduly dif fioult one. This will enable the Security Council, which remains seized Of the matter, to take measures under the Charter with respect to the aggressor as confessions and discoveries continue to emerge. For our part, we ahall transmit to the Secretariat a file wnteining technical information about eucb matters as the logistical support provided during the operation by an Israeli aircraft flying in air mce near Tunisian territory. The presence of that aircraft has been oonf irmed also in a communiqu& issued by the Italian air-traffic controllers’ union, the text of which is available. The Charge d*Affairs ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Malta has j-t Provided us with a letter from his Government confirming that the aircraft bearing the number 4X977 and Israeli insignia - the aircraft I mentioned in my introductory statement - overflew the region. The letter contains precise data concerning its movements, which coincide in terms of time and space with the aggreseion. This letter too will be transmitted to the Secretariat. Our file also contains information from the Lebanese authorities on the false ljdSJPOct8 and aliases used and on the rental of the vehicles employed by the terrorists. (MC. Mestiri, Tunisia) We hope that other States, especially rhose in the Mediterranean region, will join Malta in m-operating in this with the Secretary-General, to whom we pay a tribute; from the outset he has viewed the problem in its true context. Communications from him, without straying from the m0st complete objectivity, have stated clearly what the international community knows full .well. In Conclusion, Mr. President, I wish to assure you of our appreciation and admiration for the patience and wisdom with which you guided this debate. I could not paas in silence over the position taken by Zambia, a friendly brother nation of Africa which, in keeping with a long tradition of tireless struggle for just causes, played a decisive role in the conclusions reached in this &bate. The PSeSIDPNTt I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tunisia for the kind words he addressed to me and to my country. There ace no further speakers for this meeting. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 1.45 p.m. -