S/PV.3142 Security Council

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): 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 its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador, document S/24833 and Addendum 1. Members of the Council aiso have before them document S/24861, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Counci''s prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any cbjection, I shall put the Graft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided. I shall first call upon those members of the Council who wish to make statemen':s before the voting.

Mr. ARRIA (Venezuela) (interpretation from Spanish): I should like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) contained in document S/24833, dated 23 November 1992, submitted in compliance with resolutions 729 (1992) and 784 (1992). At the outset I should like to say again that my country is constantly in support of the Secretary-General's efforts to ensure full implementation of the peace agreements that were signed in Mexico between the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacien Nacional (FMLN), As a country that is part of the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General - Colombia, Spain and Mexico are also members - and, with the support and participation of the United States Government, we can bear witness to the effort and the unwavering support of the United Nations for implementation of the peace agreements. We particularly appreciate the work done by th2 colleagues of the Secretary-General - Mr. Marrack Goulding, Mr. Alvaro de Soto and Mr. Iqbal Riza, the Special Representative for El Salvador ~ and their teams. Thanks to the efforts that have been made, it has been possible to deal with the obstacles that have arisen during the implementation of the agreements, particularly those relating to the transfer of agricultural lands, the demobilization and disarming of tha military structure of the FMLN, public security, the purging of the armed forces, and, linked to all of these, respect for the calendar for the implementation cf commitments. Particularly noteworthy are the consultation efforts of the Secretary-General during this month, thanks to which understandings were reached, which, as the report mentions, it is hoped will lead to the formal ending of the armed confiict on 15 December next. My Government agrees with the Secretary-General when he talks about the flexibility, constraint and spirit of compromise with regard to the agreements that have been demonstrated by the parties throughout the very complex and delicate process of implementation. In particular, we agree with the Secretary-General's assessment that the peace process in El Salvador is continuing to show signs of becoming irreversible. Here we wholly support the extension for six months of the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvados (ONUSAL), whose presence is, we feel, essential. The Secretary-General''s report sets forth in detail why it 4s so important in the present circumstances, as it will be in the immediate future. The Security Council's unanimous approval of this request would undoubtedly strengthen the process of discussion of the agreements, and would provide the parties with the necessary assistance and enable the international community to provide guarantees for fulfilment of this compromise for peace. At this point I should like to emphasize the importance of the appeal to both parties contained in the dratt resolution that they scrupulously respect and implement the peace agreements, as required. What happens in the next two weeks will be critical. My country emphasizes that it is fully and constantly availabie to the Secretary-General in the work he has been doing so effectively and with such dedication. The peace process in El Salvador shows the positive scope of the two main aspects of what can be done: on the one hand, there is the participation of the United Nations as mediator and guarantor of the peace agreements entered into by the parties in a civilian conflict, with whom main responsibility rests; and, on the other, there is the important support role that can be Played by friendly countries in the Gialogue leading to agreements and in follow-up with regard to implementation. These two concepts no doubt have precedents; we have seen them in similar situations, and in situations in which the United Nations is active at present. These two concepts can help to ensure, at the national and the international levels, trust in the peace process and the reconciliation process. El Salvador is an example, and success there is in everyone's best interest, just as it is in everyone's best interest that the Salvadoreans themselves achieve peace and reconciliation. The international community has done what it can for El Salvador, and it is now up to the people and Government of that country to consolidate peace and achieve national reunification - ubsolute prerequisites to the process of the national reconstruction of this small country that has for far too long been subjected to a bloodthirsty civil war.

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/24861. how hands. In favour: Austria, Belgium, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Morocco, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): There were fifteen votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 791 (1992). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The meeting rose at 3.50 p.m.