Situation in OPT -summary statement – Secretary-General

SUMMARY STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MATTERS OF

WHICH THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SEIZED AND ON THE STAGE

REACHED IN THEIR CONSIDERATION

Addendum

Pursuant to rule 11 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, the Secretary-General is submitting the following summary statement.

The list of items of which the Security Council is seized is contained in document S/13737 of 11 January 1980.

During the week ending May 1980, the Security Council took action on the following item:

The situation in the occupied Arab territories (see S/11935/Add.l8, S/11935/Add.l9, S/11935/Add.20, S/11935/Add.21, S/11935/Add.44, S/11935/Add.45, S/13033/Add.9, S/13033/Add.l0, S/13033/Add.ll, S/13033/Add.28, S/13737/Add.7, S/13737/Add.8 and S/13737/Add.18)

In a letter dated 16 May 1980 addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/13941), the representative of Jordan requested that the Security Council to convened to consider Israel's defiance of Security Council resolution 466 (1980) Of 8 May 1980.

The Security Council considered the item at its 2222nd and 2223rd meetings, held on 20 May, on the basis of the request from Jordan.  The President, with the consent of the Council, invited the representatives of Israel and Jordan, at their request, to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.  In accordance With the request dated 16 May from Tunisia (S/13942), the Council extended invitations under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Fahd Qawasmeh, Mr. Mohamed Milhem and Mr. Rajab Attamimi.

At the 2222nd meeting, the President drew attention to the request contained in a letter dated l6 May (S/13950) from the representative of Tunisia that the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization be invited to participate the debate in accordance with the Council's past practice.  He said that the of Tunisia was not formulated under rule 37 or rule 39 of the Council's rules of procedure, but that, if adopted by the Council, the invitation would confer on the Palestine Liberation Organisation the same rights of participation as those conferred on Member States invited pursuant to rule 37.

The Security Council adopted the proposal by 10 votes to 1 (United States of America), with 4 abstentions (France, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain an.d Northern Ireland).

At the same meeting, the President called attention to the text of a draft resolution (S/13949) that had been prepared in the course of the consultations among the members of the Council.

At its 2223rd meeting, the Security Council adopted the draft resolution (S/13949) by l4 votes to none, with 1 abstention (United States of America), as resolution 469 (1960).

Resolution 469 (1960) reads as follows:

The Security Council,

Having considered the report by the Secretary-General under Security Council resolution 468 (1960) of 13 May 1980 (S/13938),

Recalling the Fourth Geneva Convention of 19^9 and in particular article 1 which reads "The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances," and article 495 which reads "Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations 6'f protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive;"

1. Strongly deplores the failure of the Government of Israel to implement Security Council resolution 468 (1960) of 8 May 1980;

2.  Calls again upon the Government of Israel, as occupying Power, to rescind the illegal measures taken by the Israeli military occupation authorities in expelling the mayors of Hebron and Halhoul and the Sharia Judge of Hebron, and to facilitate the immediate return of the expelled Palestinian leaders, so that they can resume their functions for which they were elected and appointed;

3.  Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts and requests him to continue his efforts in order to ensure the immediate implementation of resolution and to report to the Security Council on the result of his at the earliest possible date.

—–following item,