S/PV.2937 Security Council

In accordance with the decisions taken at the 2932nd meetinq, I invite the representatives of Iraq snd Kuwait to take Places at the Council table. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Aldnbari (Iracr) took a place at the Council table; Mr. Al-Sallal (Kuwait) tcok a place at the Cauncil table. The PRESIDENTi I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the seoresentative of Italy in which he requests to be invited to PartiCiWte in the discussion of the item on the Councfl*a asertda. In amordance with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discuesion without the rlqht to vote in accordance with the televant provisions of the Charter and rule 39 of the CWncil'~ Provisional rules of prccedure. At the invitation of the President, or. Traxler (Italy) took the Place reserved for him at the side of the Council Chamber. The FRESSDENT: The Recuritv Council will rllc)w resume its consideration of th item on its azenda. The Sacuritv Council ia meting in accordance with the request contairrod in a letter dated 18 Auguet 1990 fmm the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nationa addressed to the President of the Secutitv Council (S/215611. mmbers ‘A ‘tr. Council have before them document s/21562, which contains the text of a dL.:,‘i: ; .+.~lutja~ XJ.A has been prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. I aholld like to draw the attention of members of the CWncil to docuaent S/21548, which contain8 a letter dated 16 Auqust 1990 frau the Permanent Rerxesentative of KuwatL to the United Nation addressed to the Secretarv-General. It ie mv understendinq that the Ccruncil is readv to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution -fore it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall out the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is M -acided. I chapl first call uuon those raembers OC the Council who wish to make statement6 before the vottng. ?4e. AbASHTAt (Yemen) (interpretation fran Arabic) t The deleqatian of the Republic of Yemen will vote in favour of the deaft resolution before us. Hovever , ~10 ohould like to make it oleae that the vote of the Republic of Yedaea on draft resolution S/21562 reflecte our intereet in the eafetv, saouritv and well-tiinq of all third-Stata nationals in Iraq cad Kuwait. This interest. is in keepinq with humanitarian concerm ana relates to 411 third=State nationals without exception, includins Arab nationals. Secondlv, on the basis of the B&M humanitarian ~rinciplea, we alsa affirm that we intend to eafequard the eecurity and well-beina cf our brothers and sisters in Xraq end lCumitc in particular children, vmen ~ntl the elderly who mav be l ffocated by fuin and illnees c&e to the eahrgo on faadatuffm that haa been irpond upon Iraq and Kurrit. (Mr. Al-Aehtal, Ymen) It ie for these huwitatian TeasuM that wz call for the liftim of the eabarqo on &ad, a measure that should DCOVide a set kus index that would lead to the reduction of tension and military amftontatiar in the region. Thirdly, the crieis in the region is far more deep-seated and damqerous than same believe. Moreover e it is be-ins increasinelv couplioated because of the, military and econnaic blockade that is beiwa set UP by one countrv auainot Its9 ard Kuwait under Article 51 of the Charter. We helieve that utilisatiar of this military blockade by one State without takinq into cxmsideration the role assumed W the Securitv Council for the safequardimi of international peace and securitv is an act that is not defensive in aharacter. Fourthly, within this context the Republic of Yemen believes that an increase in the foreiqr military presence and its qrowima intensity in the reqfon, a re’eqion that is near our awn territorial uaters and terrftorv, is one that is not in anv way in accordance with the political obieotives citad aB s pretext f= sendins foreisn armed forcee to khe teqicm. YOr@OVetr it exceeda the sethates that were made for that marrsive oresence. No one cau doubt that sme L10*ters, or indeed the same Power8 that have sent the aforementioned forces, have asserted that thev will remain in the teqibn foe a lam time. Fifthly, einee the outbreak of the crisis the Republic of Y-man has callea for a ueaceful solutia, within an Arab content. Ihue, w country has made effort8 in the past and will continue doimq so in future with a view to sxtricatinu ourselves from this arisia and findim politioal and aiploraatic solutions to it. On Wle baris of the said principle, we WelcOrmd the Iraqi initiative kwwause we saw in it an indiaatiar that Irarl wiehes to settle thib crisis by eeae.ful meizns. We still consider it necessary to seize this initiative so as to follow uo the actlow taken, with a viar to reachins a Peaceful settlement of all orobleme (Ht. Al-Ashtal, Yemen\ confrontim our reqion, because we are convinced of the interdewndence of all ~tobleas in the region, and it is necessary not to lose siqht of the qeneral mntaxt of our problem in the Middle East , in particular the Israeli policy of exnansion and aettlexent that has been continued in Palestinian territorv, in the Golan Heiqhta and in southern Lebanon. Yelneni leaders, in their contacts and efforts to reach a solution to these problem in the mqion, ate workim towards Aevslopim that Iraqi initiative SO that it will indeed orwide a qaod basis tmkinq it oossible to arrive at a political solution that will quarantee the peace, security, stabilitv and well-beinq of the ueoplea and States of the raqion and also ouarantee a balance of local, reqion and international interests in that resion. We consider this an excellent opportunitv for the Secutitv Council to invite all parties concerned to evince modecatioa and use all outions e*istiW for teachinq a political solution in order to ensure that out ceqion will not be confronted with a w&c whose scope would be tremendous and indeed tettibly Wave for our reqion. The PRiZSIbENNC: I shall mw uut to the vote the dtsft resolution contained in document S/21562. A vote was taken by shw of hands. In favour8 Canada, China, Colombia, C&e d@Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiosia, Finland, Ftmce, Malaysia, Romania, bnima of Soviet Sooialiet Reuublios, United Ri~~~dcm of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yemen, Zaire The FfU39IDEHT: There were 15 votes in favout. The draft resolution has been atloPted unnnitmuslv as resolution 664 (19901. I shall now call on those seabets of the Council uho wish to make statements followim the Votinq. (Hr. Al-Ashtal, Yemen) Mr. PICKKRING (United States of America) t At the outset, let me express tlm qratification of my Government at the unanimous adoption of this verv important resolutln. Yesterday this Council expressed its concern and anxietv over the situation reqardirq foreiqn nationals in Iraq and Kuwait. In the succeedinq 24 hours the Iraqi r&lime answered the deep and unanimous concern of the Secucitv Council with nw actions and threats aqafnst those innocent DeOple , which we find dismavinq and revoltins. In the mean time, the Secretary-General has moved swiftly. We warmly welcome his announcement that he will immediately send a special mission to the orea. Followirv~ our meetinq vesterdav, Baqhdad continued to denv consular amens to hmerican and other nationals in Kuwait and in Iraq. Just a few hours later, Iraq crossed the W&icon when the speaker of the Iraqi Parliaarent announced that foreiqn nationals were being detained and sent to camps and other houainq, either inside or close to militarv and other atrateqfc installations in Iraq. As if that were not enouqh, we heard this morninq that Iraq was alao qoina to take snecial action aqainst the weakest and most innocent of this group of foreiqn visitors and residents in Iraq and Kuwait. The r6qime of Saddam Hussein sfnqled out lnfanta for special food restrictions. It also pointed to the aqed and their special needs ana indlaated that thev would be denied food. The announcement aia not dfstinquieh between foreiqnere. It made it clear that all foreiqners in those cateqories would be treated alike, Pinally, the announcement completelv iqnored the maior concern of the Securitv Council that thoa forefqn nationals who wish to leave Iraq and Kuwait should be permitted to do so. Obviously, instead of talk about the mutual sharinq of foad shortaqes under Banctions, such oersons should be permitted to leave Iraq and Kuwait immediately, as is their riqht under international law and in acr:orbence with all cxumm standards of humn decency. l[nstead, we were told that thev are being placed in the most sensitive areas , militarily sneakinu, of Iraq md Kuwait. Tim learn is obvious8 blatant Iraqi rejection of tlm concern and appeal of the Council ir clear. That is why we are back, meeting here aqain today. This adds oflo more serious insult and iniuw TV the many which the Iraqi riqima has l lreadv heaped won the familv of nations8 It attacked vithout provocation a State Member of the United Nations. It then, contrary to it5 oun protestations, baldlv annexed the territorv of that State. It has attempted in all possible ways to flout the Security Council resolution callima for immediate and unconditional vithdrakal of its forces. It has attemDted to find all oossible means to escaw the sanctions imgmsed upon it under Security Council resolution 661 (1990). It has coutinued in other wws flaqrantly to violate international law and its obliqations vith respect +XB its treatment of the third-State citizen cmnuunitv in Iraq md Kuvait, includinq an order to shut down eabaasies and consulates in Ruvait and uithdrav the diPlomatit immunities of their personnel. It has reiected the intarnationsl ommunitv’s condemnation of its invasion and aqcireeeion. And now it has besun to round UD and concentrate in Rwait the innocent citizens of the United States and other countries friendlv to the United States. It has bequn also to relocate the civilian citizens of third countries, obuLouslv separatinq thm from the ProteCtion of their Governments, and ie Planninu to use them as human shields around military and etrateqic installations in Iraq .md Ru~it. Each of the abwc actions is unaccevtable to the international -unity. The oraauiattE eEf/-& #-; a= &#yese ar;Eirint, i. ii,tuiers~ie. .s_ --LS-- --- -..--- -.--L R” I,ILLUi, Gali PILLS” P)“Gil, steps to be taken aqainet its wm citizens without the fullest Bossible response. This is an a&ion on the part of Iraq which requires tha full and cmcerted solidatitv 0e all Statea. Thie Cout~cil is the place where that act icm can and must be t&en. (Mr. Pickerinq, United State81 Iu that reoard, the Security Council’s resolution will send au unequivocal and clear messaqa to Saddem Hussein. He and his riqime must bear the responsibilitv for the health, security and safety of third country citizens now looked up in his country. He must bear full responsibility before the family of nations and international public opinion for his treatment of those human beinqs. It is contrary to international law and to all the norma of Arab hospitality to use quests aa militarv shields. 80th the civil riqhts and the human riqhts of these individuals are clearly beins violated, and we believe that the international ccmmnity should sveak out clearly, with one voice - and now - about the problem. Throuqhout this cri8is the international community, as reoresented here in this Council, has remained united in its resolve. Now it is time to continue to ’ shov that resolve. It is imperative, in the view of mv Government, that the Security Council should record clearly and forcefullv that Iraq has solemn obliqations under the Charter of the United Nations which it must respect. We must call a spade a spade. When Iraq tears up international law, seeks to use innocent civilians as a military shield and indicates that it uo lomaer respects its solemn obligations under the Charter and international law, 6,~ must speak clearlv, firmlv end forcefully, as we have. In particular, we can cb no less today because the lives of hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals from countries all over the vorld are be&w put at risk. We must move now to put on the record our clear efforts to secure their release. The resolution the Counci 1 has iust adopted is a solid docment. It OI~!L~ et Irma (nnurACatn1” C_O mrm4b aranh -e-m. +.a &mrc Owa T’rrm rrA fz.urta. __~ -__------__, ---.--- ---.- r-L--*- - -m-m s--n” --.m- -.w ..‘.v..lb, and it reiecta fully and completely the efforts of Iraq ti close the diolomatic and colmlar misdone in Ruwatt vhich help to Drotect those people. Ka& of us has a dutv and an obliqation to protect our own citizens. Todav we make it clear that it is not only our individual hut our collective determination to do all we can to protect the lives, the safetv, the securitv and the health of innocent citizens now cauqht UD in this maliqn conspiracv of aqqression and prevarication. Mv deleqation worked hard to help prepare the resolution just adopted bv the Securitv Council; we supported its adoption and will support it8 full implementation. Hr. WJ Menqjia (China) (interpretation from Chimse) 8 We wish to express our syxpathy with respect to the pliqht of foreiqn nationals in Iraq and Kuwait. Their safety and security should be quaranteed, and they should not be hat-ma in any way. In itts handlim of this aatter , the eountrv concerned should abide by the principles of international lau to quarantee the safety and secuti~ of all foreiqn nationafrr in Iraq and Kuwait and to quarantee their safe exit from those two aountries if that is their choice. On the bade of that wsition, we voted in favour of the draft resolution before the Council this eveninci. In that OOnnectiun, we wish to convey our swreciation to the Secretary-General for his prompt response to the request bv CuuMIil medHWf3 to appoint reweeentet ivee to enqaqe in activities of aood off ices. We believe that to solve the present eerioue crisis in the Gulf, it is necelleary to iltplement the three relevant resolutions of the Sseuritv tiuncil in a seriou8 and effeotive wanner. The oceupvinq forces should ipiuediately, at eaekinq a political settlement bv peaceful mans. We are deeplv disturbed bv the mauntitw tension in the &lf rsqion. It is our belief that militatv involvarrent bv the qreat Pcwers is mt conducive to the settlement of the oresent crisis. We appeal once aqain to the oartiea concerned to exercise restraint, so a0 to avoid any action that could eau5e a further deterioration of the situation. Lastly* I vish to point out that this meetinq is focused on the consideration of the situation of foteiqn nationals in Iraq Md Kuwait rather than cn the crisis as a whole. We therefore express reservations about the reference in the resolution to Chapter VII of’ the Charter , vhich has broader implications. Hr. FORTIER (Canada) 8 The situation faced bv the nationals of third countries in Iraq and Kuwait IS totally unaacentable. It is in clear and flaqrant violation of the norms of international law, in particular of the Covenant on Civil and Poltical Riqhte and of the Fourth Geneva Ccnvention, to both of which Iraq is a P%Ptv. The Iraqi authorities have consistently and reveatedlv chosen to iqnoce the ’ d&marches made bv many Member States ar behalf of their rrationals, and it is for that reason that this hodv has resrnnded quicklv, clearly and unanimouelv to the pliqht of thoae many individuals. As a result, Canada fullv suworts the text of the resolution we have just adopted, which demands that the Iraqi authorities should live uo to their acknowledqed reeponsibilitfea uniter international law and permit and facilitate t& immediate departure from Kuvait and Zcaq of the nationals of third countries. On this occasion X.also wieh to reiterate Canada’ B full and unwalified sunDart for Secuetty Council resolutions 660 (199C0, 661 (19901 and 662 (1990) . In uarticular, resolution 662 .(19901 declared the annexation of Kuwait bv Iraq to he null and void. he a consequence, we cannot accent the Iraqi Government’s decision that &i~ic%T&.iC lii~ii f%itiui~r tii.Gions in Kuwait muei be cioseri and that the per5onnel Of those missions vi11 lose their immunitv. (Mr. Yu Menqjia, China) Kundredn of Canadians remain unable to leave either Iraq or Kuwait. Thev went to Iraq and Kuwait in good taith to contribute to the development of those cwntr ies. Their situation ta causinu the qreatest distress to their families and their loved ORBB, and all Canadians profoundly sympathise with them, as well aa with the citizens of all countries whose nationals remain in Kuwait or Iraq asainst their will. (spoke in French) This humanitarian crisis must not conttnue. Our Council has now unanimously condemned these contravention6 by Iraq of its most elementaN obliqations under international humanitrrian law, as it had to do. Canada welcomes all efforts, in particular those of the Secretary-General, to enable those third-caontry nationals who wish to do so to leave Iray end Kuwait without delay. Me. RASI (Finland) t We are all aware of tire orolonqed divlomatic efforts of numerous countries reqardinq the situation of foreiqnere in the territories of Xraq and Kuwait, Finland itself has used and continues to use all available diplomstic channels to secure the safe exit of Finnish citizens froxu those tm cauntr ies. Reqrettablv, our efforts, like the efforts of many others, have so far been of little avail. We trust that there is rx~ immediate threat to foreiqners reoidinq in Iraq and occupied Kuwait. However, the eituation ie a cause of ever more serious concern to us. Prohibitinq foreiqners to leave ia in flagrant violation of international norms generally acseQted and specie iaally undertaken by Iraq itself. We expect Iraq to oaaply promptlv with its international leqal obliqations and permit the departure of 511 foreiqneto who wish to leave. We also ewpe42 t Iraq not to interfere in the statue and functionincl of dtobmtic and consular mic5ior.s in uuwait. (MP. Fortier, Canada) Finland voted in favour of the humanitarian resolution under consideration in order to urge Iraq in the stronqest possible terms to reEraln from any action that might endanger the safety and health of foreigners and to guarantee their departure and other rights, in acccordance with the norms oE international law. Mr. BLARC (France) (interpretation from French): Prance has approached the lraqi authorities in a series of d&arches in order to ensure that French citizens who 80 wish might Preely leave Iraq and Kuwait, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in accordaxe with the Geneva Conventions, to which Iraq is a party. International law requires Iraq not only to protect foreign citizens within its territory but also to guarantee tbufr freedom of movement. , Similar d&marches have beQn mJde by other countries OK groups of countries, as well as by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The only response of the Iraqi Government has been a succession of statements announcing ever mxe draconian measure9 against foreign nationals, whose freedom has today very clearly been trampled, in a discriminatory manner according to their nationalities. such methods, today accompanied by threats , elicit the greatest possible indignation on the part of Prance , not only because they violate intetncctional commitments, to which Iraq has subscribed, but also beawe they evidence deliberate scorn foe the most fundaonental humanitarian considertitlons. My Government has explicitly instructed me to state C;hat it denounces in the firmest possible way the unacceptable wnduct of Iraq against. foreign nationals detained fn Iraq and KuWUt. The Iraqi Ambassador in France was called this morning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which told him to warn his authorities about the serious (Ms. Rasi, Finlandl consequences which would surely result from arry failure to ensure the safety of French nationals. That is why France fully suworted the resolution just adopted, and ua ace verv pleased that it was adopted unanimouslv. Hr. XDZXNSKY (Union of Soviet P-2 ‘~1 ist Republics) C interpretation from Russian) ; The Soviet deleqation support %e draft resolution on the need for ensuring tha aafetv of foreiqn nationals in Iraq and Kuwait, ofnce we cannot fail t0 share the concern at the situation in which nationals of numerous aountriea find thaSselIRW, htVit?fJ became i~~~ltfrzd fn the present situation, the beqfnnfnq of which, as we al.1 know, result& from the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. Yesterday the memher~ of the Security Council, throuqh the President of the buncil, expressed th:dir concern at the fate of the foreign nationals there and nf4h38rea the Secretary-Germeta to take 311 necessarv steps to resole the matter. Elbwever. the situation continues to deteriorate. The Soviet deleqatton is oonvinoed that tt is necessary to amtinue efforts to find an earlv solution to the Peoblem, in aaeotdance with tha prtr&ipleo of humanitarianiam and respect for human Wbtsr on the basis of the iwrms of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In that oonmottin, ~3 should like to exoresa our sPecia1 hope for the success OP the s4fQrter of the Oectetary-c;aneral and his fepresentat ives. Of course, l vervthinq oossib~e ,411 mntinue to be done bv the Soviet Union as well, and, as we undarstati it, by other ~WI&ZE-SI of the international CanmIinity, in order to brim about a successful settlement of the natter. At the same time, one cannot help eeeinq that wh5t is at issm is not OnlV the 5sfetV of thoassnd8 of p5ople and their feeedom to leave those Q)Untries, krt also the ~oeeibility that events might develop dn such a wav as to lead to a new escalation of tension there with unforeseeable oonsecyences. In this situation it (Mr. Blanc, Prance) is important to stop military activities, to prevent them Etorn soreadinq to other countries and to restore respect for international law. As uas emphasimd by President Gorbachev ot the Soviet Unicn, WC? are relyinq on the reasonableness and responsibility of Arab States and their reqional orglanizatfon and on the riqhm and powers of the United Nations and the SecuditV Council, and we intend to act exclusively within the aontext of collective eEforts for a settlment of this conflict. We would like to see political mettrods emploved to prevent a military confrontation inudvinq even qreater danqers. (Ht. LazLnak*l, USSR) Sir Crispin TXCKELL (United Kinqdomj: I think the resolution has said it all, and speakers 83 far have put with eloquence tfe main points and arqunents which are to buttress it, but I feel that today in ac*,roachim this problem we must *.ontinue always to keer, the essentials in mind. There was an unoromked invasion of a brother-Arab State. There was the creation of a boque Government oE lauqhable implausibfli ty. There was the rapid extinction of that Government. There ua5 the annexation of that brother-Arab State. Meanwhile, that State knew loss of life. It ha5 known destruction. It t~s seen its wealth removed to the aqqressor capital. It has seen threats to its neiqhburs. Aqainst that backqround, we are today dealing with a strictly humanitarian problem. Yesterday, members of the Council qathered and thev asked you, Mr. President, to express their Concern and anxiety about the foreiqn nationals cauqht in Kuwait to the Secretary-General and also to the Permanent Representative of Iraq. That (cd8 done and we know that the Secretary-General, who has this problem vew much on his aqenda, has already decided to send tm emissaries to the Government of Iraq to secure the release of those who are cauqht in Iraq and Kuwait. That was the situation yesterday. Since then there have been two acts which outraqe international law and international opinion. The first was the use of intM3Cent civilians, justified by nauseatinq rhetoric about their status as ‘questsa, to act as a human shield to protect strateqic sites. The second was the Punishment of the hundreds of thousands of civilians cauqht in Kuwait and Iraq - a sort of act of retaliation against the Security Council for havinq adopted remlution 661 (1990) imposinq economic sanctions upOn Iraq. Whom did they choose to retaliate aqainet? They chbae the ueakest members of the cunmunitv: the children, the -men, the sick , the old and anvone wtt~ ms sufficientlv foreiqn to be blamed and cauqht up in the chariot wheels of historv. I can hardly think of a more outraqeous act that anv of us in anv qeneration has seen than that which is now taking place at the hands of the Iraqi Government. We had hoped for an Arab solutio.1 to what has often been called an Arab problem. We saw particular attention qiven to the role of the Laaque of Arab States in resolution 660 (1990), and I think we still must have a few lirklerinq hOpeS. We have also h~~rd some very sensible remarks about the wider danqers which are tekinq place in the reqion , and we have heard appeals for neqotiation. Any sensible parson wants a peaceful solution, but I think that before closi~~$ I should remind this t%uncil of what the basis of any such neqotiations should be. It is set out in the recent acts of this Cauncilr I) . . . that Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally all its fOrCeS t0 the positions in which they were located on 1 Auqust 1990." (resolution 660 (19901, para. 2) and ” . . . that annexation of Kuwait bv Iraq under any form and whatever pretext has no leqal Mliditv, and is considered null and void’ (re5OlUtiOn 662 ( 19901, para. 1) . In daalinq with this humanitarian problem let us never lose our qrip on its essentials, and let us keep that qrip until this problem is resolved. Mr. HAGOSS (Ethiopia): As the statements made bv the orevious Shea k~rs clearly indicate, these are difficult moments. Given the alarminq situation in which third-country nationals find themselves fn Irnq an& !T:+=ft, an8 iii vi+ riF the escalatinq tenston in the C%lf as a whole, we consider it timelv and aWrOPriate thst the tiuncil has seen fit to adopt the resolution before us. Indeed, the attitude manifested by Iraq as reqards foteiqn nationals, particularly (Sir Crirrpin Tickell, United Kinqdom) as of! this morning, clearly warrants a timely decision on the part of the Security Council. There is no doubt that the foreign nationals trapped in Iraq and Kuwait are in need of the Council’s support and proteCtion. Ethiopia believes that the adoption of this resolutLon a>nstitutes the collective response of the international community to the alarming broadcast that emanated from Baghdad pertaining to the predicament of third-country nationals. Although Iraq’s response to the Security Council’s recent decisions has not been encouraging thus far , we should like to express our hope that Iraq would comply with the request contained in operative paragraph 1 of the resolution we have just adopted. Mr. RADPUAN (Malaysia) : My delegation shares the deep wncern of the Council over the deteriorating situation with regard to the status of foreign nationals in Kuwait and Iraq. Malaysia regrets that thousands of foreign national5 in both countries are now under the threat of further danger to their safety and secut ity. This situation is clearly in contravention of the principles of interna tiara1 law. Under the circumstances we believe that all foreign nationals should be allcmed to leave Kuwait and Iraq and proper facilities should be provided for them to do so. These foreign nationals should be able to sviintain contact with and receive the assistance of their wnsular representatives. My delegaticn would also like to take this opportunity to express ouc appreciatian tn the Secretary-General far hie prompt response to your message. Mr. President, on behalf of the Council yesterday. We support the initiative taken by the Secretary-General to send his special emissaries immediately to Baghdad to address this humanitarian problem. At the same time, we believe it appropriate, in the light of the alarming deterioration in the situation today, that the Ccuncil (Mr. Haqoss, Ethiopia) In the interest of peace Malaysia hopes that the Government of Iraq vi.11 roepond positively to this resolution , as ml1 as to rermlutions 660 (19901, 661 (1990) and 662 (19901, 30 that m can have an early ati peaceful settlecbent ta this unfortunate crisis. Mr. ALARCON de QUESADA (Cuhr) (interpretation from Soanfsh): The Security Council has mted i.n favour of resolution 664 (1990). Beatinq i.n mind the viws exPressed bv &me merabere of our Council and Orqanization, to the effect that the resolution is baaed on exclusively humanitarian considerations, Elba voted in . fawur of it. WV deleqation naturally shares the omcerns for the fate of any innocent civilian involved Ln the conflict. (Mr. Radzuan, Malayeta) We believe that it is legitimate to express this concern in regard to Certain nationals of other countries who are currently on Iraqi and Kuwaiti territory. But we believe also that if there is a legitimate humanitarian concern, it should apply equally to the nationals of Iraq and Kuwait. In the light of those considerations , we voted in favour of the draft resolution. We are concerned about the situation of innocent people involved in any conflict. We are concerned about improper treatment being meted out to the nationals of one or another country. We share this concern, which has been expressed by mankind on other occasions. It is not a ne;J concern. Indeed, not long ago in this country we were reminded of what had been done to perncns of Japanese origin, who were interned in concentration camps merely because of their national origin and because the United States was involved in a war with Japan. We remember that rmch more recently severe limitations were placed on the possibility of diplomats leaving Panama, and, what is more, tanks, heavy artillery and major military concentrations were used to impede their leaving their diplamatic missions and even their moving fram one embassy to another. Although the situation was particularly grievous with regard to the diplomats of my cOUntEYe we cannot complain of dfscrtminatZon since similar treatment was meted out to the Papal Nuncio and his colleagues in the Vatican Mission in Panama and to representatives of other countries that had nothing to do with the conflict. Having voted for the resolution, we are duty bound, however, to draw attention to some of its elements on which we have misgivings. First, operative paragraph 1 “Demands that Iraq permit and facilitate the immediate departure from Kuwait and Iraq of the nationals of third countries ..e”. (re8OlUtim 664 (1990), para. 11 In our informal onsul.tations, references were made to (Me. Alarcon de Quenada, Cuba) the national origins of these individuals, and Eiqureu were qiven. 8ut we have not yet received an answer to the question we have asked from the very outset: What is to happen to the large number of nationals of Palestine who are in the territory of Kuwait? 1s the Council asking that they be permitted and assisted to return to their lands, which, as the Council well knows, have been illegally occupied for so many years? Does the Council contemplate any action to ensure that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, which pK@-da&? the conflict with which we are now dealing, are fulfilled? Perhaps we shall have to wait a while to get an anSuet to . that question, which from a statistical point of view seems to be rather important, according to the data with which we have been provided. The resolution welcomes *the efforts of the Secretary-General to pursue urgent consultations with the Government of Iraq following the concern and anxiety expressed by l * . the Council [yesterday]“. (resolution 664 ( 19901, fourth Qreambular paragraph) But we were rather hastily called upon to adopt this resolution that we have just adopted, when, clearly, the Secretary-General has had very little time ti engage in these diplorrutic effort8 that we all want him to enqage in. In operative paragraph 2 the Council .F’uKther demands that Iraq take no action to jeopatdize the safety, secuKity or health of such natianals”. (ibid, pare. 2) We believe that neither Iraq not anyone else should take any measures that will affect OK jeopardize the safety, security or haal_kh cf these r;~kitr.a‘Ls UT crny oifner nationals in the area. It seems to US that this is a rather unilateral way of looking at the metter. Iraq is being asked to guarantee the health of foreign nati0nd.s on its tereitories, but we do not stake in this Kegolution that the main factor that could place at risk tho ability of the nationals oE third countries or the nationals of Kuwait and Iraq to get sufficient food or medicine is that, with the full knowledge of the Security Council, one Power, a permanent member of the Council, has abrogated to itself the power to decide what goes into or out of the territory of Kuwait and Iraq. The United States has not received any authorization fKOnl anyone to impede the arrival of food and medicine to Iraq. Despite the fact that reaolut.ion 661 (1990), of which the United States was a sponsor, clearly excludes medicine from the embarqo or the sanctions and recognizes that there must be humanitarian considerations with regard to foodstuffs, and despite the fact that nowhere in that resolution is it stated that it is for the United States Government to determine when there are humanitarian circumstances and when there are not, we have nw been informed unilaterally that from now on Washington will not take such requirements into account, and such products will not enter the area in question. Hence, if the Security Council wishes to be the least bit objective, it should demand that the Unf ted States Government put an immediate end to its illegal activitiee - not authorized by anyone - in the region, activities that are affecting the security and health of the nationals of various countries, !‘ncluding the nationals of Iraq and Kuwait. There have been other developments in recent days which, unfortunately, have not yet prompted the Security Council to take any action. Originally we were convened to consider the imposition of sanctions against Iraq - when we all knew that such sanctions had already been appi ied by some deveioped countries. .Th e Council adopted resolution 661 (1990) and immediately - without any request from any quarter, without any authorization from anywhere - the United States Government sent its navy, its air force, its soldiers ta the reqion and beqan to quarantee the (%r. Alarcon de Quesacla, Cuba) implementaticn of the resolution. That ccmotitutes, inter alia, not only a violation OP the Charter but a violation of resolution 661 (1990) itself. And yet it is a resalutic31 that the United States Govertrlnant is very nuch in Eavour of. Subsequently, a de facto naval blockade was put into place. And barely 48 hours ago something rather strange happened3 the members of the Council became aware of a communication dated 16 August 1990 and sent by Ambassador Watson, at that time acting aa head of the United States Hfssion. That communication informed us that the United States was applyinq blockade measures and alleged that it wasa . doing ao under Article 51 of the Charter and Security Council resolution 661 (1990). I have already said that n-here does that resolution authorize anyone or ask anycne - the United States or any other State - to implement the resolution by military means. @it. Alarcon de Quesadn, Cuba) Article 51 is undoubtedly known to any *first-wader’ in the Untted Nations system. It refers to a very old principle of mankind - the riqht to self-defence. But it is also crystal clear in recoqnisinq the riqht to self-defence “until the Securitv Council ha5 taken masuree necessary to maintain international peace and SeCWitV”. What we are witnessinq now is a new and intezestinq ohemnon, which should brannt the Council to take very clear decisions. The Charter is beinq amended. We see a twistinq of the tetmqi of the oriqinal concept of the Charter with reqard to self-aQfeIICQ8 the Charter is beins u8edr deceitfullv, as somethinq to be imolemented unilaterally by one State after the Security Council has taken the decisions it deems appropriate. Does that mean that the United States is not really in aqreament with resolution 661 (19901, which it promoted? Dow it believe that the Security Council hae not taken the 6teP.9 it 5hould3 Or, contrary to Article 51, does it feel that it has the riqht to infrinqe the authority and reeWnsibility of the Security Counoil? It has been allsqed on other occasions, because the United States dsleqation has used a variety of arquments, that the United States is implementinq resolution 661 (19901, which clearly ia hased on Article 41 of the Charter, and that Article could not be clearer either. Pt refers to mea5ure5 .not tnvolvim the use of armed rotce- . We belfeve that the Council will lose some of its credibilitv and moral authority iti it rerers to onlv sum aspects of the complex and serious conflict with which we are dealim on the basis of a decieian which may be taken by a permanent member which then decides when we should ta obnvened, fa uhat purnose and to discuss which part of a qiven conflict, in order to take a aneedv decision on the matter. (me. Alarcon de Quosarla, Cuti) So tar the Srlcuritv Council has heen unable to act in a situation rhlch ia ext remelv clear, where one of its mmherrs is usim the resolutions of the Securitv Council in the manner it deema mout suitable ta protect its oun interestu. I have before me the text of an important statement, a measaqe Fran a dist inqoiehed Arab leader, President 6en Ali oE the Republic of Tunisia, to his veople a few days aqo. I shall read out part of the mesitaqe, as follows: ‘The situation makes u5 clwnder with bitterness ahaut the ProPer foundation of the pretext of international leqalitv to send foreign trcrow to Arab aoil. We have test& thio leqalitv throuqh the now chronic Palestinian matter, the occupation of Arab territories, the invasion of Lebanon and the repression of the intifadah, despite the manv resolutions adotsted by the United Nations and the successive votes aqainst those 310 are clamaurinq for their leqitimote tights. *Events have demonstrated that leqalttv and the wincivloa which should back it up are not adequate in the face of: the vital interests of the maior PWers, and that this Ieqalitv chancres cleuendin9 on those interests and their relations with tb party to be condemned.” Sn ex~reseirw our aqreement with that statement made hy the Preoidsnt of the ReOuhlic of Tunisia, we should like once aqain to call the Council*s attention to the need to take meamfes that wil!. rut*** Watt _ -a-*~ it titissibie to resolve the conflict peacefu 11~. At the very least we should make sure that the Counci 1’s resol.utfons Of decisione are implmented in the manner in which the Council it~lf decidea. My deleqation voted in favour of the draft resolution hecau8e of the humanitarian considerations, which w mn~ider to he Leqithnate. fJCiW Of QtJT colleaques have explained their concerns with reqard to their own natianaln in the (Mr. hlarcon * Querada, Cuba) authority is respected, help ensure that this element is not used as one mQre excuse - mt to seek peace, but to continue alonq the course of war and military intervention. The representative of the United States concluded his statement by sayinq something which may be quite normal, hut which at the sme time could be a terrible threat. He said that the United States was not only auwortinq the draft resolution, but wcwld seek its full implementation. I am not quotinq exactly, because the United States &leqation did not circulate the text of the statemnt. Earlier, eayinq that it souqht full imRlementation of sanctions, the United States sent the fleet and deplored major militant units, which continue to qraJ in the area. Now will the United States alea implement this resolution by using foroe? Will it urn the resolution to take unilateral maasuresr or will United States action be kept strictly within the marameters of this resolution, adopted unanimously? We shall ait and see. Wr. FICKERING (United State6 of America) t For a resolution for which he votedo the representative of Cuba spent a long time tellinq us about all the portiona of it which he disliked. I w%sh to respond to only one issue that he raised - the application of Article 51 of the Charter. I shall be brief; I shall read fraa a doortllenc I recently ouhmitted to the Council, document S/21492, tha first uaraqraph of which reads as followsr ‘A8 I informed y&u yesterday, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, I wish on behalf of my Government, to rewrt that the United States has ileplovsd military forces to the Fereian Gulf reqion. These forces have bean dispatched in exeroise of the inherent riqht of individual and collective self-defence, recoqnized in Article 51, in response to develo@aents and requests from Governments in the reqion, (Hr. Alarcon & Ouesada_, Cuba) includinq requests from Ruuait nd Saudi Arabia, for assistance. The amlication of this inherent riqht in response to the Iraqi a-d attack QI Kuwait has heen affirmed in resolution 661 (1990) .” I should like now to turn to a second document, resolution 661 ( 1990) and to read out the penultimate preamtu lar paraqraph, as folbwsr *Affirminq the inherent riqht of individual or collective self-defence, in response to the armed attack by Iraq aqainst Kuwait, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter”. I believe that that makes suff iclently clear the position of mv Goveknment in this reqa rd. Mr. ALARCON de @JESADA (Cuba) (interoretation from Spanish) ; Far be it from me at this staqe to embark upon a leqal discussion, but we still have the same Soncern - whether Article 51 can be construed to allow, on the decision of any ember State, actions which have not been aqreed upon by the S@curitV bu~il, includinq the use of armed force, and whether resolution 661 (1990) can be construed as allowinq the United States to use militenv means for an UnAUthorized purpose . I think we are riqht to express our profoMd concern that the United States will also try to promote the full implementation of the resolution Ye have just adopted bv takinq aqqressive military action, includinq the use of warships and bombers. (Hr. Pickerinc!, United States) I think what is moat important about the article and resolution from which he has quoted is that both assert this Council's authoritv to handle the crisis. Here we have a deleqation that canes here, as it frequentlv dces, and tails upon us to take a decision so that the Council may act and then qoes on to say it is actinq as it must act, irrespective of decisions a& the Council. Either OIE follL)W8 decisions of the Council or one does tWz - We cannot accept havinq a member of the Council manipulate the Zounci1.s decisions according to itsa own interests= The only special privileqe of permanent members is the one unfortunately set “orth in the Charter2 the riqht of veto. But please: I think it wou Id be a most serious matter fog all Members of the Orqanization if we were to tolerate their usinq the Charter and the Council to do as thev Please.

I shall MW make a statement in nrv capacitv as - representative of Romania. The deleqation of RmanZa associated itself with the expressicdn of concern and anxiety voiced by the Security Council in connection with the situation of foreiqn nationals in Kuwait and Iraq. In this respect mv deleqation shares the views of other members of the Council concernins the necessitv of the Iraqi Government'5 abidinq by the oblfqations assumed under the relevant international leqal instruments. Thus, article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Riqhts of 16 Deccember 1966 clear?.y states that everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall within that territorv have the riclht to libertv of movement and freedom to chooee hie reaidance. Moreover, in conformitv with the same article evewone shall b free to leave anv countrv includinq his own. Mention could also he made of the Geneva Convention Relative ta the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 Auqust 1949. That Convention hinds the (Mr. Alarcon & megada, Cuba) - authorities of anv party to the conflict. Section 2 of the Convention is de-ted to the situation of aliens in the territorv of a pattv to a conflict. Article 35 of the Cbnvention deals specifically with the riqht to leave the territory. It states that all protected persons wha may deeire to leave the tecritorv at the outset of or durlnq a conflict ehall be entitled to do So. We think that any actton undertaken by the Securitv Council on this sensitive issue could contribute to decrease the? tension in the reqion, and therefore W deleqation fully supports its draft resolution in document S/21562 and the efforts . of the Secretary-General on the present item. Finally we reiterate our conviction that under the qfven circunstancss it Le necessary for all States to display moderation and resmnsibility ati to undertake nothinq which may further aqqramte the situation. I now rem mv functions as President of the Cou~fl- The Council will now hear other statements. 2: call on the representative of Kuwait. Mr. AL-SALLAL (Kuwait) (Irrtarpretation from Arabic): We have conmned today for the fourth time in tm weeks w qrapr>le with the evil that WBS unleashed on the second of this rronth with the aim of destrovinq an casis of eafetv and a haven of stability and security in the reqion, soreadinq amOnq citizens and residents uurder, terroriet acts and ouoression. The intolerable situation there impels thousands of forefqners to seek to flee. The essence of this issue fs the barbaric aqqression perpetrated by the Iraqi international law. Each day that pa.99325 revals another black chapter in the bleak record of that r&qiime in Kuwait, replete with crimes aqainst the People, PcOtiW to the whole wrld that there is no end to ite flnutinq of world peace and securitv and humanity as a whole. (The Resident) The resolution the Council has adopted qrapples with a political, leqal and hunanitarian issue unprecedented in the history of the international cmmunitv in which millions of citizens are beinq held hastaqe to aqqressive, expansionist policies that threaten world peace and Lcecuritv, compranisinq the interests of all the countries of the world. At a time when Iraq is callinq for the easing of sanctions for humanitarian reasons, it threaterrs to deprive foreiqners in Iraq of food. This is hideous blackmail. The attitude of the Iraqi r&qime towards innocent, defenceless citizens and its threats to use them as a human shield to protect the aqqressive militacy institutions of Iraq represents human behaviour at its basest and requires that the international communitv respond resolutely and unhesitatinqlv to stov the aqqressor. The international canmunitv must take more strinqent masures to stop that r&qime*a madness and to end its tramplinq umn and ridinq rouqhshod over the noms of the international canmunitv. Delay, shortsiqhtedness and preoccupation with temporam interests will wreak havoc all over the world, to an extent that is umredictable at this staqe. Therefore we fully support the efforts of the Secretarv-General aimed at findina a satisfactory solution for the problem OE the detainees. We hope that the representatives of the International Red Cross will he able to qet permisdon to enter Kuwait from the occuwinq authorities, which at Dresent, in contravention of the Geneva Convention , are preventinq them fram doit~ so. Iraq is trvim to cover uv the crimes perpetrated there. The reso titian just adopted bv the Council also calls on Iraq to refrain from &..~.i~ t& larr?Al P+PCI*,A AC chp PA~~~~~sw fief ~V.E *here: hnaPd nn reaalution __~.__ -_-_-- -- -_.- -_..----_ ----_-- 662 (1990), which stated that the annexation of Iraq is null and void. (Mt. Al-Sallal, Kuwait.) Any attempt cm the part of the Sraqi regime to change the constitutional and legal status of Kuwait and to continue the destruction of its ecouomy as well as of the social fibre of its citizens, demands the fullest condemnation by the Security Council and by all States of the world, rejecting the decisions issued by the occupation by Iraqi troops there that call for closinq the consular offices in Kuwait. Resolutions 660 (1990) , 661 (1990) and 664 (19901 are all binding, and we must respect their provisions. International legality must be maintained. The whole world is looking to the Security Council. Its responsibility is tremendous, commensurate with the risks confronting us. Thus, it is imperative to close ranks, to co-operate, to take joint action to protect the present and pave the way for a world &at seeks to be free from aggression and from aggressor% a ’ world in which relations between peoples and States will be based on justice, peace and mutual respect. What has been described by one member just a few moments ago as ‘an Iraqi initiative” is no more than a simple-minded and flimsy device aimed at distracting world attention and preventing decisive action to implement resolutions 660 (19991, 661 (1990) and 662 (1990) , which call for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the invading aggressor troops of Iraq from Kuwait and for the return of the legitinmte authority, namely, the Sheikh Jabir Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah. The state of tension that now prevails in the Gulf region is a direct result of Iraq’s aggressive actions against the sovereignty , security and territorial integrity of Kuwait. The so-called initiative is no more than a continuation of the Iraqi authorities’ mind-set against Eoreign nationals in Kuwait and Iraq, that is, simplv the mentality of detaining hostages there. The CKAIRMAN; I call an the representative of Zcaq. (Mr. Al-Rallal, Kuwait) Mr. AL ANBAR (Iri?q) (interpretation from Arabic): First of aLL, 1: wi::h to draw the Security Council*s attention ts the position adopted bv the United States wncerning resolution 660 (1990), and to its special interpretation of how that resolution is to be implemented. The United States has arrogated to itself the riqht to impose a maritime blockade aqainst Iraq without calling it by that name. The United States Secretary of State announced on 10 August 1990 at a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held at Brussels that the United States had the right to resort to the use of force in order to prevent any connnercial relations between third-party countries and Iraq. The United Kingdom followed the exam&z of the United States and announced on 13 August 1990 that the United Kingdom would use its warships to prevent what it called any violation of the sanctions adopted in accordance with resolution 661 (1990). Despite the epeed with which that resolution was adopted and the pressures exerted for its adoption, and despite the flagrant injustice of its provisions, we note that the United States of America and its.ally the United Kingdom are attempting, by taking the position I have just mentioned, to impose a certain interpretation of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. That position is based an the allegatiar that that Article allowa the natural right of individual or collective self-defence and that resolution 661 (1990) refers to that Article. Those two States have declared that they had been given the right to make use of that right on behalf of what they called the legitimate Government of Kuwait; they claim thaL this entitles them to implement resolution 661 (1990). AB members knee, Article 51 grants the right of individual or collective self-defence “until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to mainta in international peace and security*. The Security Council took such me3:ure:j b-1 its hasty and mjust resolution 661 (1990) requesting all State8 to respect that Article, and it established a Comittee in order to guarantee the implewntation of the tesoluticn. St is clear f!rom this that the position of the United States of Anerica and the United Kingdom is based on a totally fallacious pretext: the interpretation envisaged by them is only a partial interpretation of Article 51 of the Charter. (Mr. Al Anbari, fraq) By their positions, to which I have referred, the United States and the United Kingdom have transformed the way in which the unjust resolution 661 (1990) is to be implemented. Rather than invi tiq States to implement the sanctions 89 those States understand them, the United States and the United Kingdom would have States implement the resolution as those two countries understand them. Thus, the machinery for implementing the unjust provisions of the resolution is no longer the invitation to States to implement sanctions as ‘they interpret them, under the supervision of a comittee established by the Council to that end. The United States and the United Kingdom have transform& that machinery into a military blockade by force of arms. By adopting that dangerous position , the United States and the United Kingdom have appointed themselves the policemen of the region, acting in the name of the Security Council, under the cover of the United Nations, even though the Security Council and the Charter of the United Nations do not grant them that right. Iraq vigorously protests againet that conduct by the United States of America and the United King&m and believes that it constitutes aggression against Iraq. Iraq will do everything in its power to counter that aggression and to prevent it from being imposed cm the world and cm the United Nations. Worse still, the United States and its allies have continued their acts of aggresaicn in contravention of international law and of the letter and Spirit of resolution 661 (19901 concerning the embargo, which made an explicit exception in respect of feed and Iredicine. That resolution gives no party the right to resort to the use of force, to encircle Iraqi ports or to intercept Iraqi ships on the t-agh seas. Despite this, and in contravention of the international will - which a few weeks ago attempted to protect Palestinian Arabs in Kuwait - the United States has resorted to the veto to undermine that international will. Today, the United State8 is using pretexts to defy the resolutions of the Security Council, and it is declaring to the entire world that it will resort to force to prevent the delivery of food and medicine to Iraq. The United States is not concerned in the least about the suffering this will impose an the Iraqi people and on Arab and foreign nationals residing in Kuwait City and fn other Iraqi cities. While stressing the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all foreign nationals residing in Iraq, Iraq believes that their departure depends on the cessation of armed acts of aggression by the United States and the United Ringdom and on the cessatiar of terrorist acts. It also depends on the unhindered delivery of food and medicine to Iraq and on the provision of genuine guarantees in that regard. f wish further to say that Iraq will not prevent foreign national8 from obtaining food and mdicine. It will share with foreign nationals whatever food and medicine enter the country. We guarantee the elderly, children and others of foreign nationality full lnedical care on an equal footing with Iraqi citizens. (Mr. Aldnbasi, Iraq) Foreiyn and Arab nationals residing in all of Iraq’s cities are not hostaqes in Iraq. However, the Iraqi people as a whole is the hostaqe of American terrorism and is the victim of the f& and medicine blockade, which runs counter to the most fundamental principles of international law and to the resolutions of the Security Council. In conclusion, Itaq will take no measure other than deEending itself if! the United States or one of its allies should attack it. The see, -ity and safety of foreign nationals is guaranteed if the United States and its allies guarantee that they will T at attack Iraq. However, if the United States of America and its allies should persist in their policy of aggression and attack Iraq with their military forces - meaning, of course, the military forces oE the United States - making Iraqi women, children and old men victims, then whatever the Iraqi people would be subjected to vould also be applied to its foreign guests. The respons ib il i ty would rest with the %ggtessors and their allies, their accomplices. That is why we fear that the resolution adopted by the Security Council this evening, instead of guaranteeing the safety of foreign nationals in the region, will be a new pretext for further aggression by the United States against Iraq. Hr. RIQSSRING (United States of America): The hour is late and I have just a few points to make on the amazing discourse to which we have just been treated. The discomfort of my colleague from Iraq is obvious, because he has clearly once again been given an opportunity ti provide us with Iraqi public relations. Indeed, over the last three or four weeks Iraqi public relations have been renowned for their ineptitude. In fact, what we have seen in the last few days, and what we have just heard, rank among the most difficult and unusual aspects of Iraqi public relations. Indeed, “Iraqi public relations” has probably become the oxymoron of the year here in New York. (Mr. Al-Anbari, Iraq\ I shall make only a few comments on the words he spoke about the United States. It is obvious that he believes that there is only one, or perhqos two, votes against him in the Council. He should re-examine the votes M the recent resolutions, where the Council has spoken with unanimity, and I hope that he and his Government will recognise, take heed of and 1 isten to the views oE the Council. We also need no lessons from the representative OP Iraq about interpretinq the resolutions which we have adopted. His enthusiasm for interpreting them is a reElection, I think, of the attention he has been paying to what we have been saying, and of his own Government *s willingness to heed what we have adopted here. Perhaps all this has somehow escaped their notice. Obviously we should like to have the representative of Iraq continue to pay close attention to what we are saying. Indeed, that he presumes to interpret our resolutions for us is the equivalent of the old English adage about setting the fox to watch the hen house. We have ALSO had the opportunity to hear Iraq’s view about the United States provision of assistance under Article 51 oE the Charter. I should be delighted, and indeed very interested , to hear Iraq’s view of its own conduct in the 1 ight of Article 2, paraqraph 4 aE the Charter and resolutions 6~~0 (1990), 661 (1990), 662 (1990) and today’s resolution 664 (1990). Mr. RICHARDSON (United Kingdom) : The hour is late and I shall be even briefer. We have just heard an extraordinary, and I must say brazen, statement by the representative oE Iraq which bore no relation to the concerns which have been expressed in this debate, on to the resolution which the Council has -just adopted unanimously. He has rejected, or appears to have rejected, the very strong message and signals that the Council has given him this evening. I hope very rmch that he and his Government will reflect carefuLl*y before they continue down that course. (Mr. Pickering , United States) The FRESiDENT: The next speaker is the representative of Italy. I invite him to take a place at the Council table ad to make his statement. Mr. TRAXLER (Italy) : My delegation’s request to participate in this meeting of the Security Council is the expressial of the utmost concern with which my Govetnmnt is following the deterioration of the political situation in the Gulf region resulting from the Iraqi aggression and subsequent annexation of Kuwait. Italy has always unref3Qrvedly condemned the use of force by a Member State of the United Nations against the territorial integrity of another State as constituting a breach of the Charter of the United Nations and an unacceptable means of resolving international differences. Cont3eguently, Italy strongly rejects the act of aggression against Kuwait and regards the proalaimed annexation of Kuwait as null and void - as stated in Security Council resolution 662 (1990). Italy therefore rejects the Iraqi request for the cloeure of diplomatic and consular miaslons in Kuwait and regards as UnaCCeQtable any attempt by the Iraqi authorities to exercise Rowers of government within the territory of Kuwait. The behaviour of the Iraqi authoritiee is caueing unacceptable hardship to foreigners in Iraq 8nd in Kuwait. Italy, ar a national basis and as the current PKeSiC&nt of the 12 States members of the European Cosanunity, has repeatedly voiced its deepest conaern about the untenable situatiar of foreignera in both those coun tc ice . In this context, Italy wishes to expres5 its utmost dismay at the unacceptable treatment meted out bv the Lraqi authorities to ‘Italian citizens who have qone to the tm countries concerned in a spirit of friendship aimed at consolidatinc! the relations of co-operation which ha* traditionally existed hatween Italy on the one hand and Iraq and Kuwait on the other. In view of the dramatic situation of it5 citizens in Iraq and Kuwait, Italy reqests the Iraqi authorities, whom we hold fully accountable for the safetv of foreiqn citizens, to permit and facilitate their immediate devarture from Iraq and Kuwait and to qrant them continuinq access to their consular officials. Italy further demand5 that the Xraqi authorities take M action to jeooardixe the safety, securitv or health of our citPsens. In this context, we should like to renind Iraq of its obliqations under the international convention5 it has ratif ied, in particular - and it has been quoted by other5 before me - the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 Auquat 1949, as well a5 the International Covenant on Civil and hiitical Riqhts. In this same wntext, we hope that the prompt action undertaken by the Secretarv-General will b5 successful. In fact, while expressinq our sincere auoreciation to the Secretary-Genera1 for the prompt wav in which he tme remanded to the anxieties expressed by a number of countries, we shall continue to follow the situation of our citizen8 in Iraq and Kuwait with the utmost attention and concern. We sincerely hone that the Iraqi authorities will abide by the fundamental otovieions of the aforementioned internattonal tteatiee and that they will allow -, I LAW.. ire- -- U&I L”Cci.~~lc~~ iii =raq G.im< Eti&iit r'uii and unconditionai freedom at movement within and outside those countries, thus demnetratirq their willinqness to search for a political solution to the crisis. (Mr. Traxler, Italy) For its part, Italy, while fully supporting the implementaticm of Security Council resolutions 660 (1990), 661 (1990) and 662 (1990) and today's resolution, 664 (1990), reiterates fta deep commitment to contribute to the prompt achievement of such a political solution by peaceful means. Indeed, we hope that the adoption by the Council of today's resolution may constitute a first step in that direction.

There are no Farther names on the list of speakers. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council will remain seized of the matter. The meeting rose at 12.35 a.m., Sunday, 19 August 1990_.