SecCo list of items – SecGen summary statement (excerpts)

SUMMARY STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MATTERS OF WHICH THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SEIZED AND ON THE STAGE REACHED IN THEIR CONSIDERATION

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

The list of items of which the Security Council is seized is contained in documents S/22110 of 28 January 1991, S/22110/Add.3 of 1 February 1991 and S/22110/Add.13 of 25 April 1991.

During the week ending 24 May 1991, the Security Council took action on the following items:

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The situation in the occupied Arab territories (see S/11935/Add.18, S/11935/Add.19, S/11935/Add.20, S/11935/Add.21, S/11935/Add.44, S/11935/Add.45, S/13033/Add.9, S/13033/Add.10, S/13033/Add.11, S/13033/Add.28, S/13737/Add.7, S/13737/Add.8, S/13737/Add.18, S/13737/Add.20, S/13737/Add.22, S/13737/Add.50, S/14326/Add.50, S/14840/Add.1, S/14840/Add.2, S/14840/Add.3, S/14840/Add.4, S/14840/Add.12, S/14840/Add.13, S/14840/Add.15, S/14840/Add.16, S/14840/Add.45, S/15560/Add.6, S/15560/Add.7, S/15560/Add.20, S/15560/Add.30, S/15560/Add.31, S/16880/Add.36, S/17725/Add.3, S/17725/Add.4, S/17725/Add.48, S/17725/Add.49, S/18570/Add.49, S/18570/Add.50, S/18570/Add.51, S/19420/Add.1, S/19420/Add.2, S/19420/Add.4, S/19420/Add.5, S/19420/Add.13, S/19420/Add.15, S/20370/Add.5, S/20370/Add.6, S/20370/Add.22, S/20370/Add.26, S/20370/Add.34, S/20370/Add.440 S/21100/Add.10, S/21100/Add.12, S/21100/Add.17, S/21100/Add.20, S/21100/Add.21, S/21100/Add.39, S/21100/Add.40, S/21100/Add.42, S/21100/Add.44, S/21100/Add.45, S/21100/Add.48, S/21100/Add.49, S/21100/Add.50, S/22110 and S/22110/Add.12)

In a letter dated 22 May 1991 addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/22634), the representatives of Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, India, Yemen, Zaire and Zimbabwe to the United Nations requested, as members of the Council belonging to the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, that the Council be convened urgently to examine the situation created by the recent deportations by Israel of four Palestinians from the occupied territories.

The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at its 2989th meeting, held on 24 May 1991.

The President, with the consent of the Security Council, invited the representatives of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, at their request, to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.

At the same meeting, the President drew attention to the request contained in the letter dated 24 May 1991 (S/22640) from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations that, in accordance with its previous practice, the Security Council invite the Deputy Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations to participate in the debate.  He said that the request was not made pursuant to rule 37 or rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council but that, if it was approved, the Council would be inviting the Deputy Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations to participate, not under rule 37 or rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, but with the same rights of participation under rule 37.

Following discussion, the Security Council adopted the proposal by 11 votes in favour, to 1 against (the United States), with 3 abstentions (Belgium, France and the United Kingdom).

The President drew attention to the draft resolution contained in document S/22633 which had been prepared in the course of the Security Council's prior consultations.

The Security Council then proceeded to vote on the draft resolution (S/22633), and adopted it unanimously as resolution 694 (1991).

Resolution 694 (1991) reads as follows:

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its resolution 681 (1990),

Having learned with deep concern and consternation that Israel has, in violation of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and acting in opposition to relevant Security Council resolutions, and to the detriment of efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, deported four Palestinian civilians on 18 May 1991,

1. Declares that the action of the Israeli authorities of deporting four Palestinians on 18 May is in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which is applicable to all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;

2. Deplores this action and reiterates that Israel, the occupying Power, refrain from deporting any Palestinian civilian from the occupied territories and ensure the save and immediate return of all those deported;

3. Decides to keep the situation under review.

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