Palestine question/USA suspension of dialogue with PLO – Statement by LAS – Letter from Tunisia

Letter dated 21 June 1990 from the Permanent Representative

of Tunisia to the United Nations addressed to the

Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, in my capacity as Chairman of the Arab group for the month of June, the text of a statement issued by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States at Tunis on 21 June 1990 following the recent decision of the United States Government to break off its dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under items 23 and 35 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Ahmed GHAZEL

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

ANNEX

Statement issued on 21 June 1990 by the General Secretariat

of the League of Arab States

The United States decision to break off its dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) does nothing to advance the international efforts being made for the achievement of peace in the Middle East. As might have been expected, it has also been interpreted in Israel as support for the extremist tendencies that reject all international efforts and initiatives, including the initiative of Mr. Baker, the United States Secretary of State.

The arguments advanced for the suspension of the dialogue do not convince anyone. The PLO, which enjoys wider international recognition than that accorded to Israel and which has affirmed that it is not responsible for the actions of which it has recently been accused, is internationally respected as an organization that carries responsibility for a legitimate struggle for the restoration of usurped rights. The international community is convinced that the PLO has rejected terrorism in all its forms and that it is engaged in a form of struggle that is permissible under international law and in accordance with the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations, a struggle that was also waged by the American people under the leadership of great men who provided humanity with one of the most significant of all human rights documents.

The League of Arab States, whose members have affirmed their earnest desire for the achievement of a comprehensive and lasting peace, as is clearly stated in the resolutions adopted by the recent Arab Summit Conference held at Baghdad, while expressing its regret at this adverse development, hopes that the United States Administration will reconsider its decision out of a conviction that the dialogue with the PLO is a service to the cause of peace and not a favour to the PLO.

The League of Arab States sees it as its duty to call attention in a forceful manner to the grave dangers arising from the complete dominance of the policy of extremism in Israel and the grave threat to the security and safety of the inhabitants of the occupied Arab territories to which that gives rise. It further calls attention to the responsibility borne by the United States Administration for the aggravation of the situation in the occupied territories as a result of its decision to suspend the dialogue and the unconditional support it provides to Israel.

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* A/45/50.