Mideast situation/UNDOF, UNEF and UNTSO co-ordination – SecGen note

NOTE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

1. On 4 August 1975, the President of the Security Council received a communication from the Secretary-General, which read as follows:

"I should like to inform the members of the Council of my thinking as regards the future co-ordination of peace-keeping operations in the Middle East.

"There are at present three peace-keeping operations of different kinds in the Middle East area, namely, UNTSO, UNEF and UNDOF, which deal with related problems and share certain common services. There would be, I believe, great advantage in establishing a co-ordinating mechanism for their activities and administration. Since the constitutional origins and the mandates and functions of these three operations are different, it is obviously not possible to unify them, and they will maintain their operational identity. However, I believe that it would be of advantage to all concerned, including the parties themselves, the countries providing contingents and also the United Nations, if a greater degree of co-ordination among the three operations could be established. Such an arrangement should also make it possible to some extent to streamline the administrative and logistical set-up.

"In the light of the above, I propose to appoint Lieutenant-General Ensio Siilasvuo, who is currently the Commander of UNEF, as the Chief Co-ordinator of UNTSO, UNEF and UNDOF operations in the Middle East. It is also my intention, if the Council so consents, to appoint Major-General Bengt Liljestrand, who is at present Chief of Staff of UNTSO, as Commander of UNEF. As the Council is already aware, Major-General Hannes Philipp has been appointed as Commander of UNDOF. For the time being, in view of the somewhat restricted nature of its current activities, I believe that UNTSO could be run adequately by the existing staff in Jerusalem. General Siilasvuo and his small staff would utilize the existing accommodation, communications and facilities of the headquarters of UNTSO. General Siilasvuo would continue as necessary to discharge his functions in relation to the Military Working Group of the Geneva Peace Conference on the Middle East and would be responsible for liaison and contact with the parties on important substantive matters relating to peace-keeping in the Middle East.

"Should the Council be agreeable to the above proposals, my intention would be to put them into force as soon as possible."

2. On receipt of this communication, the President of the Security Council had if circulated to the members of the Council.

3. Following appropriate consultations with the members of the Council, the President addressed the following reply to the Secretary-General on 15 August 1975.

"I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated U August 1975 concerning the future co-ordination of the operations of UNTSO, UNEF and UNDOF in the Middle East.

"After consultations with the members of the Security Council, I wish to inform you that the Council has given its consent to the proposed appointment of Major-General Bengt Liljestrand, at present Chief of Staff of UNTSO, as Commander of UNEF.

"Taking into consideration your observations regarding the desirability of establishing a co-ordinating mechanism for the activities and administration of UNTSO, UNEF and UNDOF, the Security Council also agrees with your proposal to appoint Lieutenant-General Ensio Siilasvuo, at present Commander of UNEF, as the Chief Co-ordinator of UNTSO, UNEF and UNDOF operations in the Middle East. The Council notes that as Chief Co-ordinator, General Siilasvuo will continue as necessary to discharge his functions in relation to the Military Working Group of the Geneva Peace Conference on the Middle East and will be responsible for liaison and contact with the parties on matters relating to the operations of UNTSO, UNEF and UNDOF in the Middle East. It further notes that the three above-mentioned operations in the Middle East will maintain their operational identity.

"The delegations of China and Iraq declared that China and Iraq dissociate themselves from the matter."

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