S/PV.2934 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Oman in which he requests to be invited to Participate in the diacuesion of the item on the Council's aqenda. In conformity with tie uoual practice, I propose, w ith the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discuesion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is 80 decided. i\i; kite invitation or’ kite President, Fir. Ai-Khussaiby iGnanj kook tile piace reserved for him at the side of the Council Chamber. The PRRS IDENT: The Security Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Cwncil is meeting in accordance with the requests contained in a letter dated 8 August 1990 Fran the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to the President OC the Security Council (S/21469) and a letter dated 8 August 1990 fran the Permanent Representatives oE Bahrain, Kuwait, man, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/21470). Members of the Council have before them document S/21471, which contains the text of a draft resolution that has been prepared in the course of the Ccuncil’s pr foe consultations. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the follwinq other documents: S/21444, S/21445, S/21446, s/21440, s/21449, s/21450, s/21451, S/21452, S/21453, s/21454, S/21456, S/21457, S/21458, s/21460, S/21461, s/21462, S/21464, s/21465, S/21466, S/21467 and S/21468, which contain communications from Italy, Arqen:ir.a, Paraguay, Egypt, Japan, Kuwait (two communications), the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Saint Kitts and Nevis (two communications), Maldives, Nicaragua, Ghana, Chile (two communications), Japan, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Uruguay, Cuss, Haiti and Oman, respectively. Members of the Council have received photocopies of conunun ications received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United St-a tea of America, and from the Islamic Republic of Iran, w hich will be issued as documents of the Security Council under the symbol5 S/21472 and S/21473, respectively, at 0600 hours tomor row. It is my underetandinq that the Council is ceady to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution E/21471) before it. Unless I hear any c;J jection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Canada, China, Colombia, C&e d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Malaysia, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kinqdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yemen, Zaire

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has therefore been adopted unanimously as resolution 662 (1990) . I shall now call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. Mr. PICKERING (United States of America) : We are pleased and gratified by the unanimous approval by the Council of resolution 662 (1990). The United States does not recognise Xraq’s outrageous and unlawful daclaraticm that Kuwait 18 p:xt of Iraq. My Gdvernment, therefore, is eaqer to support the leqftimate Government of Kuwait through the consensus resolution we have adopted which declares that any such charade is null and void and without legal effect. Iraq has repeatedly, over the last several days, shown its scorn for the international community and for the resolutions of this body. Iraq’s dsclaration Is further proof of its continulnq threat to the world community and its disdain for international law. For our part, at the request of Governments in the region , the United States has increased its presence in the area. We are in the course of informing this Council officially by appropriate letter of our action taken under Article 51 of the Charter. As President Rush said yesterday , thus is entirely defensive in purpose, to help Protect Saudi Arabia, and is taken under Article 51 of the Charter and indeed in consistency with Article 41 and resolution 661 (1990). (Mr. Pickerinq, United States) As resolution 661 (1990) affirms, Article 51 applies in this case. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the larqe military presence on the Saudi frontier create grave risks of further aqqression in the area. This beinq the case, my Government and others are, at the reguest of Saudi Arabia, sending forces with which to deter further Iraqi aggression. Why is this resolution necessary? It is necessary because Iraq is attempting TV extinguish the sovereignty of a State Member of the United Rations. There is sanething repugnant, chillinq and vaquely familiac about the statement issued yesterday by the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council. We have heard that rhetoric bePore. It was used about the Rhineland, the Sudetenland, about the Polish corridor, about Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia and about the Marco Polo Bcidqe incident in China. It was used to divide and swallow up sovereign States, contrary to in tecna tional law. The world community did not react. The result was qlabal conflagration. We believe the international community has learned this lesson well. We here will not and cannot let this happen again. We have finally learned the grim lesson of the 1930s which was euccinctly articulated by a Soviet Foceiqn Minister of that era, Maxim Li tvinov. He said, “Peace is indivisible”. We agree. My C2Nernment is heartened by the response from the world wmmunity to cesolution 661 (1990) and we ace confident that the procedures to implement it are well under way by the Member States and in the United Nations. Resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990) ehould be used not only to contain this oancerous ae t of aggression but also bo require Iraq to withdraw its Cocce5 immediately, unconditionally and totally. The Council also aqain today calls Ear the restoration of the leqitimate authority, sovereignty and territorial inteqrity of Kuwait. (Mr. Pickering, United States) By this resoluticn the international community again reaffirms that this crisis is not a regional matter alone , that it threatens us all and that we have learned the lessons of history. We cannot allow sovereign States Members of the United Nations to be swallowed up. The United States sLmds ready to return to the Council as circumstances warrant to seek further Council action to implement resolution 660 ( 1990) . We are qratified that the Council continues to work expeditiously and effectively in its efforts to deal with this crisis. Mr. BLANC (France) (interpretation from French): My statement will be very brief because the situation ia, unfortuna telv , quite clear. On 2 August Iraq invaded Kuwait; a few days later it set up a qovernment at its service. But despite the adoption as early as 2 August of resolution 660 (1990). demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraq, and despite the withdrawal announcement made a short time la ter by that country, the occum tion has continued. Yesterday Iraq took are more step by annatncing the merger of Iraq and Kuwait. That is an extemely serious decision taken in violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. It calls for a total condemnation an cur part, and it led us to support without reservation the resolution just adopted unanimously by the Council. Hy country will of course look with favour on subsequent decisions that will be taken to ensure the implementa ticn of resolutions 660 (1990), 661 (1990) and 662 (1990). Mr. L&MINSKY (Unicm of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russ ian) : There is deep, continuing alarm and concern in the Soviet Union over the uninterrupted trend towards a rapid qrowth of confrontation in the Persian Gulf area, caused by the armed invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, and also by yesterday’s annaoncement of the so-called merger of these two States , and by the deployment of United States naval and air forces in Saudi Arabia. This wan mettticned in the statement made today by the Ministry of Foreign Affair8 of the USSR. Despite the efforts of the international community - and that includes the Soviet Union - undertaken in the daye following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, Iraq not only has not withdrawn Pts forces from Kuwait but has actually declared its annexation. (MK. Lozinsky, USSR) ':t is hard and bitter for us to talk this way about Iraq’s latest actions. Iraq is a country with which we have long had friendly relations, and we should like to maintain that friendship, but in this situation we cannot take a position of silence, and still less can we go against our conscience. The Soviet approach to this question of principle remain8 a firm one. The sovereignty, national independence and territorial inteqrity of the State of Kuwait must be fully restored and protected. The Soviet Union is aqains t reliance on force and against unilateral decisiono, In our view, the surest, wisest way to act in conflict situations is to make collective efforts and to make full use of the machinery of the United Wations. What is taking place in the Per8ian Gulf at this time demonstrates with particular clarity haJ important it is to be prudent and circumspect in such situations and to reject actions which might pour more oil on the fire. We wish to remind everyone once again that the Soviet Union is against reliance on force and against unilateral decisions. The experience of many years ha8 proved that the 8UreSt and wisest way to act in conflict situations is through collective efforts, using to the full all the potential of the United Nations. Specifically, as pointed out in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign AEfairs, we favarc having the Security Council now devote its attention to this extremely acute matter on a permanent basis. We are prepared to undertake consultations immediately in the Security Council’s Military Staff Committee, which, under the Charter of the United Nations, can perform very important functions. As we Bef? it, the efforts OC the Arab countries th63lBelVeS could play a special role here in preventing the situation in the Persian Gulf from expanding into an even larger military conflict. (MC. Lozinsky, USSR) We listened attentively to statements about holding an urgent meetinq of the Heads of the Arab States at Cairo, and we hope that the results of that meetinq will be an important fat tot in joint actions with ceqatd to the situa Lion centred around Kuwait. The Soviet Union calls upon all who ace directly involved in the danqeras confrontation unfolding in the Persian Gulf area to respect the will of the international community and to shaJ a hiqh sense of responsibility for the fate of the world. Mr. KIRSCH (Canada) : I shall be bc ief, as the cesolu tlon that we have just adopted unanimously is clear and needs little ampliftoation. Ae the resolution states, the Iraqi declaration of its annexation of Kuwait has no basis in Law and is null and void. Cana& does not cecogn ize this purported annexation and continues to recoqnixe the legitimate Government of Kuwait. There can be no doubt that other recent actions of the Government of Iraq ace also in complete disregard of internationaL law, the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes among States. The 5nternational wmmunity, through the Security Council, has condemned the Xragf invasion aa occupation of Kuwait. We have imposed sane tions on Lraq for fail inq to with&au its troops immediately and unconditionaLLy. The annaJncement yesterday that Iraq had annexed Kuwait was made in defiance of this international condemnation, is an act of exceptional gravity and cannot be tolerated. My delegaticzm therefore voted in favour of resolution 662 (1990) . We call upon icag to compiy Immediately with operative paragraph 3 of that resolution by rescinding its actions purporting to annex Kuwait. Sir Crispin TI(T(ELL (United Kingdom) : We have passed through eight extraordinary days. Who would have imagined that the Security Council would have been put to the t&St in the way that it has OK that it would have responded so well in the form of the three resolutions: resolutions 66U (1990)) 661 (1990) and 662 (1990). Confronted with the terrible events that have happened, my Government is delighted at the response to these amazing events , and we are particularly glad that the resolution we have juat adopted should have been adopted unanimously. I shall not dwell upon that, but I should like to make one or two other brief comments. I think that most of us, thinking about this crisis, have a terrible feeling that we are in a kind of time war&b that we are looking at one of those black and white films of the 1930s &en the dictators strutted on the world stage and seized the territories of others, claiming anschluse , or whatever it might be, as if the world was not really looking. Now, we are caught in this time warp and looking at events which, I think, even 10 days ago would have seemed to most people almost incredible. But we have responded well, and I think it very important that we watch each stage of *he crisis when we consider the events that are to follow. The firet is, of course, that we have been misled in a most lavish and dramatic fashion. We were told that Iraq had no intention of invading Kuwait; that was passed on privately and publicly to the world. The invasion then followed. We were told very recently that Iraq had every intention of withdrawing; a timetable submitted to the United Nations indicated that Iraqi forces would be withdrawing me-- n -.-1--I. -ranA LL”uI 0 u LziL”Clrn tii 8.ieay .“V L.... ‘3. W-W we era tnld Chnt Iraq hna no ambitions --.w-. elsewhere in the region; I think we must regard any assertions of that kind with Zegi tima te suspicion and doubt. Members will remember also that we were told that a “provisional free Kuwait government” had been invented to conduct the affairs of that country. It was3 true was formed and we aaw television pictures of that qovernment takinq office. It is hardly necessary for me to say that that qovernmcnt was neither free nor Kuwaiti nor a qovernment - but it was certainly proVisiOnal. The Iraqi Government is now tryinq to invoke arquments to justify its actions by harking back to the time of the Ottoman sultans to demonstrate a riqht to engulf Kuwait. I would just remind the Council that on 4 October 1963 Iraq formally recxqnized Kuwait ‘a sovereignty and independence. Iraq should stand by that undertaking now. Even at Lhis stage it is not too late for Iraq to implement Security Council resolution 660 (1990) and avoid the impact of the sanctions provided for in Security Council resolution 661 (1990). I reiterate that we must continue to sUPport the efforts of the League of Arab Statest it must be our profound hope that the Current Arab summit in Cairo will bear fruit and point a way out of the crisis. Put I must also make it clear that such a way out of! the cc is is must in&x%3 the restoration of the eovateignty, independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait under its legitimate Government , and the withdrawal of all Iraqi forces unconditionally Eros Kuwait in accordance with Security Council resolution 660 (1990). Members of the Council may wish to knaJ that four orders to give effect to Security Council refiolution 661 (1990) under British law in the United Kingdom and our dependent Terttt6ties, and a% regards British nationals and ampanies overseas, entered into force at midnight last night. In short, we have now qiV%n leqisla tfve effect Within out terribries to the Provisions of Security Council resolution 661 ( 1990). Membera oE the Council will also know that at the request of the CbVertt.ment of Saudi Arabia my Government has agreed to contribute forces to a multinational (Sir Crispin Tickell, United Kinqdcm) effort for the collective defence of the territory of Saudi Arabia and other threatened States in the afea. We will do so in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter OP the United Nations, which members will recall was specifically reaffirmed in the preambule to Security Council resolution 661 (1990). The presence of British forces, particularly naval forces, in the area will be of added advantaye in the context of securing the effective implmentation of resolution 661 (1990). Paragraph 6 fb) of that resolution in particular called upon all States to provide further information reqarding the action they had taken concerninq the effective implementation of the provision5 of that resolution. We see the clcae monitirinq of maritime traffic as a key element in makinq the embargo effective. We shall, of course, qive the new Security Council Committee, which is to meet for the first time this afternoon, the fullest collaboration, and will pass on the information thereby gathered as rapidly a5 possible for assessment and appropriate further action. This, I think, is another important day in the history oE this institution and sets a precedent for the kind of Security Council and the kind of functioning of the Security Council first envisaged by the Pounding fathers when they drew up thoee documents So long a90. Mr. TADF23SE (Ethiopia) : We are deeply aqqrieved by the turn of events following Iraq’s illegal annexation of Kuwait. It sadden5 ua to note that Iraq ha5 emerged a5 a new intenational pariah. It has violated the fundamental principle5 of the pacific resolution of disputes by launchinq naked aqqression aqainet Ruwa it. It has defied the will of the international mmmunity, and certainly of this Council, that it immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces frm Ruwaiti territory. (Mr. Ta&use, Ethiopia) what we are watching before our very eyes is an act of utter lawlessness, a sad re-enactment of the tragic events of the 1930s when miqht made right. We all recall where th24t led. This Cou;k~il is determin& to prevent a renetition. This Council bears the supreme responsibility for the restoration of law, sanity and respect for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this latest attempt at the sudden and forcible obliteration of the State of Ku,wait through the invasion by Iraq of the sovereign and peaceful State of Kuwait. It is incumbent upon us to stand firm Ma to strive to nullify that outrage, that utter dofiance of the collective Will of the Council and, indeed, of the entire international community. It is with that conviction that Ethiopia, which itself was a victim of such aggression in the past, condemns Iraq’s aggression and its annexation of Kuwait. Needless to say, my delega tiar is prepared to co-operate in all possible measures that may be envisaged to face up to the grave challenqe posed to the preservation Of in terna tional peace and aecutity. We call upon Iraq to caoply with Security Cauncil resolution 660 (1990) and we reiterate our support for the full restoration of We unity, aoveteignty and territorial integrity of Kuwait. Mr. RAZALI (Malaysia) : Malaysia is extremely disappointed and alarmed by the Iraqi action to annex Kuwait. The action was taken in the face of Security Cauncil resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990)) raising very qrave questions about the steps ahead. Malaysia upholds that every country, the weak as well as the powerful, must come within the parameters and strictures 0f Unit& Nations principles. No principle is mOre important and more hallwed than the riqht of all nations to their sovereignty, national independence and territ0rial integrity. The world has cOme a long way fccm the history of wars and miseries brought about as a result of ambitions and imperatives of States to expand and annex other States around thae. There is now total rsjecticn of such acts and policies. The Security Council this time and in thio instance can do no less. The annexation of Kuwait is totally unacceptable. In rejecting the annexa ti0n of Kuwait, the Security Cauncil will need to do so from the hiqh qraund that it represents as a collective intetnati0nal authority, and it must be prepared to take the necessary action to resltore to Kuwait its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Malaysia watd like to appeal t0 Sraq not to doubt the will and ability of the United Nations to bring the full weight of its power and influence to implement Security Council resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990). The atmosphere at the moment is dsnqerausly charged with aainarn possibilities. The Arab cmuntriee at this moment are engaged in critical discu5sion5 at the highest level to determine a response that will move the situation away from the pmcfpfce bowardo which we are advancing. We must all give tie Arab countries all supmrt, understanding and encouragement. We must all take several steps away fram that precipice. The reaffirmation of the central role of the United Nations and the eschewing Of unilateral actions will contribute to a move in that direction. Net country (Mr. Rereali, Malaysia) would wish to see a Eurther deterioration of the situation and all would nou appeal to Irag to abide by Security Council resolutions 660 (19901 and 661 (1990) and heed the call of its Arab and Muslim brothers to end its occupatim of Kumit. Mr. LX Daoyu (China) (interpretation from Chinese): The Chinese deleqation, like many other delegs tions, is shocked at the Pecent actions of Iraq. We wish to reiterate here that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait must be restored and respected, that Security Council resolution 660 (1990) must be Lnplemented immediately and effectively, and that IPag should withdraw all its troops from Kuwait immediately and unconditionally. We believe that the annexation of a sovereign State constitutes a gross vlolatfon of the United Nations Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and therefore cannot be allowed. Based on that position, we voted in favour of &aft resolution S/21471. In the meantime, we have noted with 3oy that an emerqency Arab summit will be held today. We always support the mediation efforts of the Arab Stetes and hope that the stnaarit will yield positive results t so as to help reach a Waceful solution to the current dispute. we call upon all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain frcm taking any actions that might further complicate the situation, in order to restore peace and stability in the Gulf reqion. MP. ALARaN de QUEMDA (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish): I will be brief, since I have in fact no real ne4 tm explain my delegation’s vote. My delegation, when it was first consulted aboul: this situation and the draft Pesolutlon, ccmflrmed that we would have no &jrr;iiGG L- ---L’-- w.J rvirrry :n *m--Y* C-...a*.- -f c’\e draft resolution, since we agreed that thie decfsicm Ghauld be taken at any appeopr iate time by the Council. (Mr. Alarcon de Quesada, Cuba) However, I feel bound to make a number of comments, because I have heard rumours according to which saneone, for sane unkncwn reascnr is seeking to disinform public opinion and the representatives of other States members of the Catncil concerning a supposed Cuban action to prevent or &lay the adoption of the draft resolution. As members know, we indicated at informal ccn~sulta tfcns yesterday that we were ready to vote on it then and adopt it, as w were sure it would be adopted unanimously. What my delegation has in fact said in the consultations that we have been holding over the past few days since the adoption of Security Council resolution 661 (1990) is somethinq quite dieferent. We were saying it before the announcement oP the annexation of Kuwait or even before the intention to do so was m&z public. I feel duty bound to repeat what I have felt obliged t6 repeat constantly: cur profound conviction that the Security Council and the international commlnity must act energetically and promptly to prevent the conflict from bewmlng exacerbated and frcsca spreading. we cannot ignore the obvious fact that certain Powers are taking unflatecal measures that are not in acwrdance with the decisions taken by the Council, and that - as we no ted at an earlier meeting - do not accord with the desire ti maintain the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Kuwait or any other Sb~te, Such measures simply correspcnd to the hegemDnistic designs of these Powers in the Middle East. One cannot justify war and interventionism in the Middle East on the basis of any arbitrary interpretation of the right to self-defence. The world did not come to an ena with Mussolini, and the United Nationa ttan born aJt of the ashes of fascism. And o ince the Kni ted Na ticns was born we have witnesEied how certain great Pcwers have sought to use the Council more as a tool for their m strategic interests rather than as a body working for the maintenance of international peace and security. (Mr. Alarcon dc Quesada, Cuba) L am not going to make a long statement at this paint. The last time T spoke before the Council, I called bo mind that, not 50 or 60 years ago, but here and ncM the Council has failed to act on certain matters that affect us. My delegation will continue to insist that the Council rmst reject any unilateral or selected approach desiqned solely to benefit certain great Powers. I know that some delegations do not 1 ike names ti be mentioned, but in this particular case I am talking especially about the United States of Pmerica, Reference has been raade, for example, to the importance of monitoring maritime trmspor t rcu tes so as to ensure that an economic and trade embargo is s trlctly appl ied. That 1s fine-, my dsleqation is ready to wait until 17 August. I think we agreed that on 17 August we would hold the next meetinq of the Ccami ttee of the Security Council - which was created not last week but exactly 13 years ago - entrusted with monitor fnq the implementa ticm of the embarqo against the South African &gfme , and this io not a trade embargo but an arms embarqo. A few weeks ago we saw a document from a prestigious nongovernmental organization which indicated that more than one Member of the United Nations and of the Security Council was failing to comply strictly with the provisions of that embargo. The idea has been mentioned of us inq the naval forces of certain States that have these means available, and are willing to provide them, to contribute to ensuring that the Committee on the South African arms embargo is able to work more effectively. We look forward to receiving propo3als on these lines on 17 August. But I think that I should call the attention of all members to the fact that it is not of benefit TV the immense majority of mankind to accept the imposition, as a practice 02 our Organization, of these selective approaches based on the priorities of just certain quarters. We think - and this is the only point that we have been stressing conetantly in the past few days of private consultations - that we must act when all the media disclose and announce that there are some who are marching towards war, who are preparing for war; when calcula tione are made about the consequences thin could have for their forces or military means. We think that it would be very irresponsible of the Security Council not to take this fact into account and not to act, and act immediately. This has nothing to do with the adoption of resolution 662 (1990) , which we voted in favour of. I would stress it is particularly important for us to keep in mind this serious and perturbing state of affair8 in the Middle East ceqion because, at the same timea we have heard today news of aomethinq that we trust can open a door to hope and the solution of this deplorable conflict between Iraq and Kuwait and this serious situa ttca prevailinq in the reqion, 1: am referring to the summit meet+ of the Arab States, which should be just qettinq under way in Cairo. In this respect, X should like to quote the following from a message sent yesterday by President Fidel Castro to all the Heads of State of the Arab countries - a message that X had the honour of qiving personally to Ambassador Abulhasan for transmission to his Government: * . . . let me share with you, Sir, the certainty which inspires me of the wisdom and courage of the leaders of the Arab nation and the vitality of its ins ti tu tfons. “Nothing and no one can replace this force, this authority and this morale in the immediate search for a negotiated solution to a conflict between two Arab peoples, one which entails, of course, the withdrawal of the Iraqi troops and the total restoration of Kuwait’s sovereiqnty, withat c3taStrOphiC war& immolation of peoples and vast material destruction.” (S/21465, p. 4) My delegation expresses the hope that, given the concerted efforts Of all the Arab States, they will be able to find a fair and swift solution to this conflict and thus shut the door in the face of today’s and yesterday’s imperialists, who are seeking to dominate the Middle East and treat it as if it were their wn backyard. Ms. RASI (Finland): The international community has been struck by the Iraqi declaration on the annexation of Kuwait. The adoption of Security Council resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990) conveyed a very clear message of reason from the international community to Iraq. We regret that this message has not met with a responsible and serious reaction. Instead of serious intentions to withdraw and normalize the explosive situation, Iraq chooses expansion. (Ms. Kasi, Finland) The acquisition of the territory of another State by the use oE force contradicts one of the moat basic and firm principles of international law. Finland considers the annexation of Kuwait by Irag null and void and has just joined other members of the Security Council in calling upon everyone not to rewgn ize it. We note with satisfaction that the Arab countries are sparing no effort to alleviate the extremely dangerous sitlration , and we look forward to positive results from the summit meeting wnvened to deal with the davelopnents. We once again appeal to Irag and ti all others concerned to exercise extreme restraint, in order not to accelerate the cycle of tension and escalate the situation. The occupation of Kuwait by Iraq must be brought to an end. It would be an unforgivable mistake to repeat failures of history at a time when world develop’nents present an opportunity to work for the better. Mrs. CASTA&! (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish): In the light of the events that ha% followed the adoption of Security Council resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990), the delegation of Colombia expresses its profound concern at and its autright condemnation of Iraq’s declaration that it is annexing Kuwait, in direct contravention of the fundamental principles of international law. We lent our support to and w-sponsored resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990), and the same is true of the resolution that the Council has just adopted. We did so because we believe that the Security Council must continue to play the leading and salient role it has played so Par in thn nnrrrh fey 1 pa;rcefal aclct-icx ti ehi~ conflict, which affects the world. The use of force can never legi timize the occupation and subjugation of a Territory. Hence, ve hope that all Sta tea and international orqaniza tions in the (Mrs. Caatafio, Colombia) world rill take the action required in order to nullify the annexatim of KUwait. The independmce, territorial integrity and aovereiqnty of Kuwait must be restored, and to that end we recognize the Security Council’s competence. Thus, States must work together to ensure that tensions are not exacerbated or allowed to spread to other areas. W delegation offers its co-operation in the work of the Security Council. We hope that the inf Luence of the League of Arab States will help to bring abaIt a Peaceful solution to this dispute. The PRESIDDVP: I shall nOw make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Roman irr- Romania voted in favour of resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990) on the i&m, “The situtian between Iraq and Kuwait*, and called for their immediate and unconditional implementation. It is in the same spirit, and in conformity with the same position, that KomanSa expresses its full support for the resolution that has just been adopted, contained in document S/21471. St ie ar firm stand that no reason can justify the use oE force against an independent and sovereign State and the mi 1 itary occupation of that State. We are sttcnqly of the view that resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990) should be implemented p-omptly by all muntriee. L &mania again stands for the withdrawal without delay of the Iraqi military forces beyond the intecna tfonally recognized boundaries between the two countries and for the restoration of the legi timate Government of Kuwait. At the same time, we believe that all Stiteu should act in strict conformity with the universally accepted principles of international law. It if3 imperative for all State8 to display mdetation and respansibflity and to undertake nothing which rpay further aggravate the eituation. Any new escalation of force would make the settlement of the situatlar, which ie already particularly trerlou5, even more difficult. What is necessary naJ is to resort to political actions and ti keep dialoque always open. The United Nations and i te Member Sta tee should be able to exercise their influence on events to keep the crieie under control and to keep the problms created by the use of force and the military occupatlm of another State under control. The resolution cxmteined in document S/21471 ie crystal clear in that respect, emphaefzinq that the occupation of Kuwait by fraq ha5 no legal Validity. It underlines the Council’s determination to resbxe the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Kuwaft. (The Preeident) We express the hope that this new resolution as well as the previous cmes will be fully observed and implemented by all the parties ancerned. I now resume my function as President of the Council. r now call an the representitive of Kuwait. Mr. ABULAASAV (Kuwait) (interpretation from Arabic)r For the third time in a week the Council ia meeting to diecuas the Iraqi aggression against Kuwait, Iraq’s occupation by brute force of all Kuwait’s soil and tha ramifications of that aggressfan. For the third time I am speaking in the Council while suffering and cfioking in pain, because the brother in wham we had put our full trust and the neighbour wham we have always treated well has acted in a manner that we least expected, a manner that has always been unacceptable under any norms or instruments: falsehood @ata&td in words and aggression paraded in actions. The Council has mat today Pp discuss the real mtive for the agqreaeion that atatted on 1 August. That motive has become clear to the world, as seen in the usurpation and total aunexatim of Kuwait by military force. This brinqs US bsck to the law of the jungle. It runs axmter to all international norm8, instruments and principles. How could the agqresaor 80 flart and disregard the international will, norms and practices governing relations between States and peoples? Wow did we get here? We got here through a series of lies and cheating that marked the Iraqi re’gime. Before its invaeim of Kuwait the Iraqi rhgime had made coimnibmento to Arab leaders, greatly respcted and appreciated by Ruuwit and iti people and egUdllY respected by their peoples and by the world. They were commitments to the effect, as the Council well know, that xtaq would not tmmit any act of aggression against Kuwait, let alone invade Kuwait. The result wa8 that Irag inva. 3 Kuwait and occupied it8 soil in its entirety. (Mt. Abulhasan, Ruwa it) The Iragi re’gime thee made another claip~, that its invasiar oE Kuwait came at the request of alleged local parties. That claim was also proved false in a way that arde it the subject of the mockery of all the peoples and countt ies of the war ld. The Ir rigime continued with its claims ahd promises. It promised to withdraw, and actually said that it had started withdrawinq. soon the substance of the Iraqi r6girrle’s txue greedy desire became manifest - to swallw and annex the whole of Kuwaiti soil, advancirrq false claims that did not prevail in the past and will not prevail mu, in mr day. bow, then, after today can we believe any promises, any coamitments or MY stated intentions of that artlaw regime, flcutinq international norms and instruments? The Bair, Government and people of Kuwait, faced with this new challenge not only to us, but to all the other peoples of the world, Cal!, upcm your Council, and through it the iqternational cornunity , to amhun and categorically reject thie mnexatim, and to consider ft null and void, with no legal validity. (Mr. Rbulhasan, Kuwait) There is a clear principle deeply rooted in international instruments and norms. namely, the non-admissibility of the acquisition of territory by force. Tt is a principle that can, qiven its strenqth, face up to the tyranny of the Iraqi aggression , which has shcwn bcundless heqemonistic intentions and threatens the peace and stability of the reqion. The Council is called upon strictly to implement resolutions 660 (1990) and 661 (1990) so as to lead to Iraq’s heeding the international will and withdraw all its forces and those who have illegally entered Kuwait and to the restoration of the situation to what it was prior to 1 August and the invasion. The Council is called upon alto to support the effor ta of the legitimate Government of Kuwait aimed at the reinstatement of its legitimate authority over the country’s resources and the liberation of all Kuwaiti territory. There is a genuine struggle being waged by the people of Kuwait under OcCUpation, deopite their lirnib+d rescurces. This struggle is a lfVin9 3Xpr3SSiOn of Kuwaiti rejection, whether by citizens or residents, to the tyranny of the OCcupier, to its aggression and to its presence on the soil of Kuwait. This etruqgle has grown recently because it is at the same time resisting the inhumane practices of the occupation forces, to which we drew the Counci1’s attention in detail and which wore clearly the subject of concern to all international mass media. The Council ie called upon to support thie genuine struggle and intervene, calling upon the occuyying authority to cease immediately these inhumane practices. Our grave concern over the situation in Kuwait leads us to call upon thhe COUncil t0 make It absolutely clear to Iraq that it must respect the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War. The resolution just un&~tmoualy adopted is, from our point of view in Kuwait, considered as a necessary reaction to the Iraqi claim, which is null and void, legally and in spirit, both as to procedure and result. We believe that this (Hr. Abulhaann, Kuwa it) reaolut.tar’s provisions are within the framework of Chapter VII of the Charter. We look forward to the Council*s continued support in implementation of resolutions 660, 661 and 662 (19901, thus uphold- Kuwaiti leqitimacy, the principles of the Charter and international norms and instruments. In these critical nmiments iu the life of peoples and nations, and in particular that of Kuuait, its Prince, its Goverrmant and its people, I find myself unable to aupprese my feelings and those of all members of the Kuwaiti deleqation. We are qreatly impressed by the support and understanding we perceive in you, Mr. President, in the Secretary-General, in members of the Security Council, and in all delegstions of States Members of the United Nations. From the very beginninq of our tragedy, we have been overwhelmed by their sympathy, concern and understanding of the true meaninq of this aggressicm , an agqression that would not limit itself to Kuwait’s boundary, Its tyranny, blsckma ilinq and terrorism would apread to include all States in the region and threaten peace in the world. Gn behalf of my delegation, I wish to tell you, Mr. President, the Secretasry-Cenetal the nrambere of the Council’and everyone here that you are standing QI the sida of right and are recording iu the annals of history testimony of your firm ceemct fat principles and your rejection of the senselegs use of power devoid of rtqht - something which cannot prevail and cannot govern the life of peoples and the destiny of humanity. The PRQSIDKNT: I thank the representative of Kuwait for the kind words he addressed to me. yL& ---L ---I.-- := A- --------A-L*--- -m L-- .L- .-4-L-- c. --. ..- l.OAL opm”“or YIO •W~~~CIPO~~LPI~*V= VL -an, wuv wrerher, w spezeoarr Gaj b&&r' of the States msQbera of the Gulf Co-operation Council. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and e0 rPake his statement. Hr. AL-RWSSAIBY (Chnan) I On behalf of the Permanent Representatives of thu Gulf Co-operation Council member State@, I wish tv express oue appreciation to your Mr. President, an% to the other rmbers of the Security Council for your relentless efforta in trying ta find a solution ti end the Iraqi invasion, WUpation and, to%ay, annexation of Kuwait. The Gulf Co-operation Council @5 member countries issued a strong statement concerning this act of agqresaim against Kuwait. EWthsrmre, the international ccemnity heard several statements condemning the Iraqf aqgression, including statements issue% by t.he League of Arab States an% the Orqanization of the Islamic Conference. (Mr. Al-Khussaiby, Qnnn) In the light oE such act of aggression, the Security Council, under Your leadership, Mr. President, correctly adopted Security Council resolution 660 (1990), calling for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces to the positions before 1 August 1990, and for the need for the peaceful settlement of all their difEerences. The Council wa8 then faced with the situation whi& is threateninq international peace and security. The Gulf Co-operation Council countries fully support the role of the United Nations and the Security Council t, bring about a peaceful solution between these two brotherly countries and continue to express their recognition of the legitimate Government of Kuwait, under the leadership of His Hiqhness Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait. In their extraordinary ministerial council meeting on I Auqust 1990, the Gulf Co-operation Council countries issued another communique’ to reaffirm their support of the legitimate Government of Kuwait, as circulated in the official document. Once again, tie Gulf Co-operation Council countries reiterate their call to Iraq to withdraw its forces immediately and unconditionally, in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. As a result oE Iraq's non-compliance with Security Council resolution 660 (19901, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 661 (1990), which calls for relevant aanctiona under Chapter VII of the Charter. Unfortunately, before seeing any po3itive results of all the collective efforts of the international mmmunity, we learned with dismay of the declaration issued by the Aiqh Revolutionary Council of Iraq, annexing Kuwait to Iraq. T-his represents an aet of defiance against the wishes of the international commu?fty and is in total disreqard of the Charter of the United Nations. The Gulf Co-operation Council countries regret this action and do not recocjn ize ouch annexa tlm. They urge other countr fes not to cecoqn ize such (Mr. Al-Khussaiby, (bran) aumxatiou of a sovereign State and a full-fledqed Member of the Uuited Nntioos that has enjoyad years of international recognition by all countries, including Kraq. Here the international ammunity vaf3 faced once again with another eeriau3 situation which justified the adoption of another Security Council resolution. It i8 to be h-d that the resolution adopted here thie nrocning will send a clear message 6~ the vmld that such a daclara ticm of anneXatian of the legitimte and sovereign State of Kuwait is null Ed void and unacceptable. In ctx~clusion, I vish ta take the OQpOttmity b express my apprecfation to youB Ht. President, the members of the Security Council, the Secretary-General, and the Me&era of the UniM Nations for their uuderstahding, encouragement, tireless effort8 and support. The PREsXDBJT: I thank the representative of Quan for his hind words aaaressfid to me. The next epeaker is the representative of Iraq on whom I nw call. Mr. AL-ANBAR (Iraq) (interpretaticm frm Arabic) t Those who live in 91-a houses should not throw stones, especially at their neighbours* hcmes. Forty-five years aqo, the United Sta tea of! America dropped the atomic bomb on two Japanese cities, killing thousands of innocent people dur inq the edurse of that opera tlon. Some weeks ago the Council met in Geneva , with the support of all ita member Statee, to aebate the protection of womeu and children in the occupied Arab terribories resulting from Ierael’s aations. The American delegation, however, did uot hesitate to exercise its veto (D prevent the adoptiar of a resalutiar dn the subject. It was not alare in this, because the Beleqatians of other counttie have also dealt with Security Council resolutiona in the p-t without qivinq due consf&eraticm to the intecnettonal leqqftimacy on which they make fine speeches. (Mr. Al-Anbarf, Iraq) X refer to such bitters but I neverthelese respect fully the Security Cauncil and ita aembers. s Mu Government officially stated that it would undertake the withdram from Kuuait of ite forces on 5 August this year, and that withdrawal wb8 begun. Nme the less, some international circles do not want thi5 withdrawal to proceed peacefully. That is why they have brought serious pressure to bear an the international community diplcraatically and by other means and iesued threats against my country; and that has ma& it impoaalble for my country to cmplete the withdraval in a eerene climate. The allegations that Iraq ia acting against a brotherly Arab country are withart foundation uhateoever. Iraq ham denied those allegations at a very high “eve1 and repeated that it respects the territorial integrity of 011 neighbouring Arab States, including the brotherly country of Gaudi Arabia. Neverthelesn, military intervention in the region ie, in fact, the factor for the instability there. when the Security Cauncil adopted resolutim 661 (19901, we heard statements fram scae of its members tRat the impcsiticm of economic eanctiam &odd not be a prete%t for unilateral milit~y r&easures QI the part of any State not involved fn the matter. Nare the less, a member of the Seeurity Council trampled upon that resolution and did undertake unilateral :ilitary measures, and that ie the true factor for the instability In the regiar at the present time. The Revolutionary Camiaand Carneil in I rag, which ie the euprecse authority of ----A. our c~mtcy, a&pted an important reao’mtion, & I tbirik G-I&~ the beet ciw-=~~~ to be made on the resolution adopted by the Council today at thie meeting is to quote sane passages fraa that resolu titan. The Iraqi Revolu tionar’y Command Council Sb td that the former colonizera had not left our region without firet having undertaken certain taeke. (Me. Al-Anhct i, Iraq) “In the past, the Arab 1x1 tion was me and indivisible. After indapendence was gained by the Arab States the many counteies of the region were the result of foreign colmizees carving up the teeeitoey of the region. The oolmizers ee-deew the geopolitical map of the region in order to weaken the Arab States. That did indeed split the Arab natim and ma& it difficult for it to speak uith a siuqle voice. The colohizees succeeded in their undeetak inq t They teansfomed the Arab na tiw into 22 Arab countries, including the recently united Yemen. “In that way a part of the region chat ished by Iraq - Kuwait - was eeparated from Iraq. This was our country ‘8 area of 5 tea teqic access. The mlonizers did not hesftats to do in Iraq what they did in other countries of the region. “That ie \Jhy the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council decided to restoro to our comtry the portion taken away from it, thus ee-establishinq the eternal, iadesteuctible mity of out country. This continues today to have value foe us, as we in Xraq be1 ieve ; we now have the tereitoe ial unity Ula t has emerged from WC &cisian.* P¶y Gbverhment reaffirms that the unity of Iraq and Kuwait is inhstructible. (woke _ Enql ishI It is an ebornal end irreversible unity. Mr. PICRWING (United States of America) : I hesitate ba make a Statement, but juSt a minute ago ve heard something So stranqe, So Cutraqeous, So until that it requir~1-4 ooiament. The Statement from the repreaentitive of Iraq was built stati the initial notion that somehow all of this wan the fault of the United States, ignoring the fact that his wn Government moved forces without prwocatian to swallow up a fell* Arab country - indeed, an Arab brother - on the one hand, and seclJndly that a nearby threatened country, Saudi Arabia, asked for assistanae from the Witsa States and other friends, which has now been provided under Artiale 51 of the Charter. Re then went on to dascci!oe the unilateral, forcible, indeed aggressive “reunification of the Arab vorld under his President , somehow seeming to justify it, contrary to international law, the Charbar and the position of the ieaquo of Arsb States, the Gulf Cowperation Council and indeed everyone that I can think of sitting here or anywhere in the wor Id who be1 ieves in r iqht and in justice. The notion that Irw CM take urilateral action bo accomplish some Arab objective which arty its President perativfas, of arse, leads us to won&r uhere does it ena? nOes it end in Kuwait2 mes it move an to &udi Arabia? Does it move to Yordan? Or doe8 it move bemnd, to other auntr ies? All this is aside from the fact that in this particular regitm, vith respect b3 this particular problem, my Government ha8 no historical connection ezept to promote and defend the free&m and independenceof the countries in that area. And one van&ro haJ this new-found surge of aggressive interest in Arab reudficetitn aan paseibly be quared with the actian of his own Government. as we heard just a few minutas aqo, in l963 in recognising the freedom, the independence, the sovereignty and tile territorial integrity oE the state of Kuwait, which we have just, of course, reaffirmed here in the CaJncil. The PKESIDWT: The representative of Kuwait has asked to speak, and I nw call on him. Mr. ABULKWAN (Kuwait) (interpretation from Arabic): I apologize for making another statement, but feel 1 must respati to the representative of Iraq. I was being extrearely hanest. This was made plain by the Pact that the representative of Iraq aqreed with me in his reference to the colonial presenoe in the region and to the way in which the Arab world was partitioned. His statement confirms my statement that Iraq’s expwsianist objectives would not stop at Kuwait’s bcundaries. We knw the Iraqi leadership’s promises; we have come ti see where those promises have led. The Council has heard an attempt to justify the recent attempt to annex Kuwait. The representative of Icag follows that jtitification with a promise that the aggression will not reach other oauntries. In the light of what we have seen of the credibility of Iraqi promises and the philosophy behind the ilwasiQ1 and annexation of Kuwait - as mabe clear a moment ago by the representitive of Iraq - I leave it to the Council to draw the proper canclusiars about the extent of Iraqi aggression in the regicn. The representative of Iraq said thst the Iraqi Revolutionary Cuumand Ccuncfl was his country’s highest authority. I would point art that the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Carncil ia not the highest authority in the world. The best answer to the Iraqi delegaticn’s alleged eternal mity is the answer the Secutity Ccnmcil has opken through it.3 unanirmus adoption of reaolutim 662 (19901. The international authority of the Security Comcil eupersedes that of the Iraqi delega tion’e Rf2voLu ticnary Camnand Carncil. The 1?R!SSIDEUT: There are no further speakers. The Security Council has thus cc~~cluded the present staqe of its ccnsideraticn oE the item cn its aqenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. The meeting rose at 1 PA.