Mideast situation – UNTSO supplemental information – SecGen report

Supplemental Information Received by the Secretary-General

1. General Bull has now reported details concerning the Observer teams on the Syrian side as follows:

     (i)  Team Zulu, Hill 1079, MR 2272-2914;

    (ii)  Team Yankee, Hill 1012, MR 2351-2848;

   (iii)  Team X-Ray, manned 13 June vicinity of MR 2298-2734;

    (iv)  Team Whiskey, en route to vicinity of MR 2345-2665;

     (v)  Team Victor, on Hill 635, MR 2438-2522;

    (vi)  Team Uniform, en route to vicinity of MR 2285-2485;

   (vii)  Two radio relay stations, one at Sasa and one en route to Hill 1023, MR 2325-2913;

  (viii)  Two additional operations to be manned 13 June of which location to be forwarded soonest.

2. All UNMO teams accompanied by Liaison Officers and will remain in field indefinitely.  All UNMO teams in radio contact with control headquarters.

3. Israel Liaison Officers with Tiberias control centre teams have their own communications facilities.  Syrian Liaison Officers do not have their own communications.

4. I have already mentioned on several occasions in the Council the serious handicap which continued lack of access to UNTSO Headquarters in Government House imposes upon General Bull and his observers.  On the afternoon of 12 June I received from General Bull the following message on the subject:

"(i) A whole week after our eviction we are still being denied return to Government House despite my repeated requests and appeals from SecGen and President of the Security Council.

(ii) This question becomes evermore urgent because of Security Council Resolution of 12 June.  We cannot work in proper conditions at temporary makeshift Headquarters.  In particular, we have no adequate communication facilities and no access to our maps and documents.  In those circumstances I do not feel I can provide SecGen and Security Council with information required.

(iii) I plan  to  approach  Sasson  again  tomorrow  13 June and if reply should be negative or still delayed I would recommend that you raise this question in a report to the Security Council, informing it that because we are prevented from returning to Government House Chief of Staff UNTSO considers it impossible to discharge properly the responsibilities placed upon him by the Security Council resolution of 12 June for implementation of the cease-fire."

5. General Bull met with Mr. Sasson of the Israel Foreign Office on the afternoon of 12 June to discuss this and other matters.  These included the implementation of the Security Council resolution of 12 June.  General Bull also raised with Mr. Sasson the question of mapping the position of the forces and made it clear that the positions to be mapped should be those occupied as of the time of the cease-fire, i.e., 1630 hours GMT 10 June.  Mr. Sasson agreed with this position and promised that full co-operation would be given to United Nations Military Observers for this purpose.

6. General Bull also raised the question of the exchange of war prisoners which had been suggested by Mr. Sasson.  General Bull stated that it was his intention with the full support of the Secretary-General to make his good offices available for the exchange of war prisoners.  Mr. Sasson informed General Bull that the Israel authorities had got in touch with the Red Cross also for this purpose. General Bull remarked that in the past UNTSO's good offices for the exchange of prisoners had been exercised in full co-operation with the Red Cross and that his good offices were available at all times if and when necessary.

7. General Bull also raised the question of freedom of movement of United Nations personnel which was not at present adequate.  He pointed out that United Nations Military Observers had now to be accompanied by Israel liaison officers in their movements.  Mr. Sasson observed that the present situation was an emergency one and that the Government of Israel would consider establishing freedom of movement for observers as soon as possible.

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