Mideast situation – Canada, Denmark – Letter, SecCo meeting request

LETTER DATED 23 MAY 1967 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES OF CANADA AND DENMARK ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

We have the honour to request an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider the extremely grave situation in the Middle East which is threatening international peace and security.

In his report to the Security Council of 19 May 1967, the Secretary-General has conveyed his "deep anxiety about recent developments in the Near East" and what he considers to be "an increasingly dangerous deterioration along the borders there". He also warned the Council that the current situation in the Near East "is more disturbing, indeed, I may say more menacing, than at any time since the fall of 1956".

Since the Secretary-General's report was issued, developments have taken place which have caused the situation to deteriorate further.

We have concluded, therefore, that the time has come for the Security Council, which has a primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, to discharge its responsibilities. We believe that action by the Security Council would reinforce the current efforts being made by the Secretary-General to preserve peace in the area. It is of course also of the utmost importance that no Member State of the United Nations take any action which would worsen the situation.

Please accept, etc.

        (Signed) George Ignatieff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  ..  .(Signed) Hans Tabor
       Permanent Representative of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Permanent Representative of Denmark
           to the United Nations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . to the United Nations

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