Situation in the OPT – Letter from India

DOCUMENT S/19491

Letter dated 8 February 1988 from the representative of India

to the President of the Security Council

[Original: English]

[10 February 1988]

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit the text of a statement made by the official spokesman of the Government of India on the evening of 6 February 1988 on the situation in the occupied Arab territories.

I should be grateful if you would arrange to have this letter and the attached text circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) C. R. GHAREKHAN

Permanent Representative of India

to the United Nations

ANNEX

Text of a statement made by the official spokesman of the

Government of India on 6 February 1988

The PLO Ambassador, Mr. Khalid El Sheikh, called on the Prime Minister this evening to apprise him of the heroic resistance of unarmed Palestinians in the occupied territories in the face of brutal acts of repression being perpetrated by the Israeli authorities. A group of Heads of Missions of countries members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference also called on the Prime Minister to inform him of the plight of Palestinians. These calls on the Prime Minister were both in his capacity as head of Government and the President of the Congress (I) Party.

The Prime Minister strongly condemned the Israeli atrocities and reiterated the unequivocal support of the Government and people of India for the just Palestinian cause. He added that at a time when world public opinion was incensed at the senseless violence against Palestinians in Israeli bondage, concerted efforts should be made at the United Nations, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and other forums to seek a just and durable Palestinian settlement. This should be done through the early convening of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation of all parties concerned, including the PLO. India would lend its full support to such a move.

In his capacity as President of the Congress (I) Party, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi informed the PLO Ambassador that his Party would take the traditional lead in organizing a public campaign to collect relief assistance for the Palestinians as an expression of popular Indian support and solidarity with their just cause.