S/PV.3108 Security Council

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese}: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in the course ef its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document 8/24488, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. I should like to draw attention to the following revisions toe the draft resolution contained in document S/24488 in its provisional form. The last part of operative paragraph 2 should read a3 follows: "and welcomes its demarcation decisions", The first part of operative paragraph 3 should read as follows: "Welcomes also the decision of the Commission ... ". It is my nderstanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it, as orally revised in its provisional form. If I hear no objection, I shali take it that that is the cage. There being no objection, it is so decided. Before putting the draft resolution, as orally revised in its provisional form, to the vote, I shall call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

Mr. BIVERO (Venezuela) (interpretation from Spanish): As stated in its letter dated 16 June 1992 addressed to the President of the Security Council (8/24121), Venezuela considers that the process of demarcaticn of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary is being carried out, as pointed out in the draft resolution now before the Council, in the special circumstances following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, which posed a threat. to international peace and security. Hence, ic is Venezuela's understanding that the draft resolution does not establish a precedent altering the general principle expressed in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter that it is the parties directly involved in a dispute of the kind we are discussing today that should negotiate and reach an appropriate agreement to overcome their differences.

Mrs. AYALA LASSO (Ecuador) (interpretation from Spanish): When abstaining in the vote on resolution 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, the delegation of Ecuador stated its conviction that Article 36 of the Charter does not grenut the Security Council competence under Chapter VII to pronounce itself on the territorial boundary between Iraq and Kuwait or to determine any settlement intended to demarcate that boundary. Ecuador considers that the means used to implement Security Council resolutions cannot give the Council powers beyond those set out in the Charter itself, and moreover that those means must be in strict conformity with the norms of international law. I wish also to recall that in their statements on the subject, many Council members gave voice to the goneral view, stating that the relevant paragraphs of resolution 687 (1991) do not constitute a precedent that can be invoked in the future. While reiterating all the considerations we put forward when we abstained in the vote on resolution 687 (1991), Ecuador, in conformity with Article 25 of the Charter, bas so wish to place any obstacles in the way of actions which the Council might agree under that resolution. Ecuador has already made this statement, on 17 June 1992, when the Security Council adopted the text of the presidential statement (5/24113) on the demarcation of the boundary between Irag and Kuwait. As we vote on the draft resolution before us today, Ecuador wishes once again to reiterate that statement, which applies fully to the text of draft resolution 8/24488.

Mr. SEZAKI (Japan): Japan believes that the demarcation of the border between Irag and Kuwait at this time is essential to maintain peace and security in the region. Japan believes that this is essential in view of the fact that, when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, it illegally claimed that Kuwait was a part of Iraq. My delegation is fully aware that any border dispute is a very sensitive issue, and that when a third party becomes involved in efforts to settle it, it should do so in a manner free of any political motives. If the demarcation is not effected in a fair and objective way, the dispute will surely erupt again. It is our understanding that the Uaited Nations Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission has taken a very technical and scientific approach and has demarcated the boundary based upon the historical background, various documents and maps, and was in no way impressed by political considerations. Japan welcomes the work of the Commission and urges it now to consider the Eastern section of the boundary, which includes the offshore boundary. We also urge Irag to join the work of the Commission so that Iraq is given full opportunity to explain its position.

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese): I now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document 8/24488, as orally revised in its provisional form, A.yote wos taken by show of banda. in.favour: Austria, Belgium, Cape Verde, China, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Morocco, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela and Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Ecuador

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese): The result of the voting is as follows: 14 votes in favour, none against and one abstention. The draft resolution, as originally revised in its provisional form, has been adopted as resolution 773 (1992). I shall now call on those representatives who have asked to be allowed to make statements after the voting.

Mr. SREENTVASAN (India): My delegation has just voted in favour of resolution 773 (1992), which welcomes the work of the Irag-Kuwait Boundary Commission and its decisions regarding demarcation. The Boundary Commission has carried out its work in accordance with the mandate given to it by the Secretary-General following the adoption of resolution 687 (1991) on 3 April 1991. While supporting resolution 687 (1991), my delegation had at that time expressed its views on several aspects of concern to us, including on its provisions relating to the international boundary. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the salient points of its concern on this matter. As we said in April 1991, my delegation will never support any decision whereby the Security Council would impose arbitrarily a boundary line batween two countries. Boundaries are an extremely sensitive issue and must be freely settled by the countries in the exercise of their sovereignty. Any other course would only lay the groundwork for potential trouble in the future, In this particular case, however, we have voted that what the Council was doing was to recognize that a boundary agreed to by Irag and Kuwait in the exercise of their full sovereignty and between the highest authorities of the two countries, with their sgreement duly registered at the United Nations, oxists, and to call upon them to respect its inviolability. The Council itself was not establishing any new boundary between Iraq and Kuwait, but only making arrangements for the demarcation of an alxeady agreed boundary. It is in this light that my delegation views the work of the Boundary Commission.

Mr. WATSON (United States of America): 'The United States strongly supports the resolution the Council has just adopted on the work of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Comission. As the resolution states: "through the demarcation process, the Commission is not reallocating territory between Kuwait and Irag, but it is simply carrying out the technical task secessary to demarcate for the first time the precise coordinates of the boundary". That task has been completed with reference to the land boundary. We commend the Commigsion for resolutely completing this part of its work. The United States looks forward to the Secretary-General carrying out the necessary realignment of the demilitarized zone at the earliest practicable time, with the consequent removal of the Iraqi police posts within Kuwaiti territory. This resolution is also intended to reassure the Commission that prior Counc resolutions do not preclude demarcation of the offshore boundary, and to urge the Commission to conclude its demarcation of the boundary subject to the Commission's terms of reference set forth in the Secretcry-General's report of 2 May 1991. Finally, the United Nations joins other Council members in reiterating Suppest for the Council's quarantee of the inviolability 9f the international boundary being demarcated by the Commission, as stated in paragraph 4 of resolution 687 (1991). We too urge Irag and Kuwait to cooperate fully with the work of the Commission.

Mr. VORONTSOV (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): The delegation of the Russian Federation welcomes the letter of the Secretary-General of 12 August of this year and the accompanying report of the United Nations Irag-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission. The activities of that Commission, in accordance with Security Council resolution 687 (1991), are one of the necessary elements determined by the Security Council in order to eliminate the consequences of Iraq's aggression against Kuwait and to re-establish peace and security in that region. We regard the work of the Commission which is demarcating the international boundary historically existing between Irag aud Kuwait as an important element in strengthening regional stability. Concluding the process of demarcation of that boundary in accordance with resolution 687 (1991), which provides for a guarantee on inviolability by the Security Council of this boundary, is a necessary component of supporting international peace and security in the region. Essentially, in this situation we are speaking of one of the preventive measures to guarantees peace and security in that region - particuiarly taking into account the fact that in Baghdad we have heard voices of revenge uttering threats - not only for Iraq but for other States as well. Because of these points, the Russian Federation is one of the sponsors of the resolution. The adoption of this resolution, as we see it, is 4 proper reaction on the part of che Security Council to the reluctance of the fragi authorities to cooperate with the United Nations Irag-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission. The world comaunity quite properly demands that Irag fully and faithfully fulfil its obligations according to the resolution of the Security Council, which would be in accordance with the national interests of Iraq itself. Only constructive cooperation with the international community on the part of Irag will help to avoid those serious consequences that would result from Baghdad's continuing its policy of confrontation with the Security Council. The Russiar delegation has, in dealing with Baghdad, frequently referred to the inadmissibility of political games with the world comaunity and the fruitlessness of its attempts to undermine the desire of the Security Council to ensure the full implementation of its decisions. In accordance with Security Council resolution 687 (1991), Russia supports all necessary steps with respect to Iraq that are desigued to ensure the implementation of Usited Nations resolutions on a post-crisis settlement.

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Chinese): There are no further speakers inscribed on the list. 'The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council] will remain seized of the matter. Zhe meeting rose ot 5.00 p.m.