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

Addendum

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

The list of items of which the Security Council is seized is contained in documents S/20370 of 11 January 1989 and S/20370/Add.16 of 2 May 1989.

During the week ending 10 June 1989, the Security Council took action on the following items:

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 and S/20370/Add.6)

In a letter dated 31 May 1989 addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/20662), the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to the United Nations, in his capacity as  Chairman of the Group of Arab States at the United Nations for the month of May, requested that an urgent meeting of the Security Council be convened to discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at its 2863rd to 2867th meetings, held between 6 and 9 June 1989, on the basis of the above request.

In the course of the meetings, the President, with the consent of the Council, invited the representatives of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, the German Democratic Republic, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Yemen and Zimbabwe, at their request, to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.

At the 2683rd meeting, on 6 June 1989, the President drew attention to the request contained in the letter dated 5 June 1989 (S/20669) from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations that, in accordance with its previous practice, the Security Council invite the 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 Permanent Observer of Palestine to participate, not under rule 37 or rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, but with the same rights of participation as under rule 37.

Following discussion, the Security Council adopted the proposal by 11 votes in favour, to 1 against (United States of America), with 3 abstentions (Canada, France and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

In response to the request dated 5 June 1989 from the Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations (S/20670), the Security Council extended an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Clovis Maksoud at the 2863rd meeting, on 6 June 1989.

In response to the request dated 5 June 1989 from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations (S/20673), the Security Council extended an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. A. Engin Ansay at the 2863rd meeting, on 6 June 1989.

At the 2864th meeting, on 7 June 1989, the President drew attention to the text of a draft resolution (S/20677), submitted by Algeria, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Nepal, Senegal and Yugoslavia, which read as follows:

The Security Council,

Having considered the letter dated 31 May 1989 from the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States at the United Nations for the month of May,

Bearing in mind the inalienable rights of all peoples recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Recalling that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

Recalling its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in particular its resolutions 446 (1979), 465 (1980), 607 (1988) and 608 (1988),

Recalling the Secretary-General's report of 21 January 1988 pursuant to resolution 605 (1987), and in particular the recommendations contained therein (S/19443),

Expressing its grave concern and alarm over the increasing sufferings of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory,

Having been apprised of the recent violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,

1. Strongly deplores those policies and practices of Israel, the Occupying Power, which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory as well as vigilante attacks against Palestinian towns and villages and desecration of the Holy Koran;

2. Calls upon Israel, as the Occupying Power and as a High Contracting Party to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to accept the de jure applicability of the Convention to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and fully to comply with its obligations under that Convention and in particular its "responsibility for the treatment accorded to the protected persons by its agents";

3. Recalls the obligations of all the High Contracting Parties, under article 1 of the Convention, to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances;

4. Demands that Israel desist forthwith from deporting Palestinian civilians from the occupied territory and ensure the safe and immediate return of those already deported;

5. Expresses great concern about the prolonged closure of schools in parts of the occupied territory, with all its adverse consequences for the education of Palestinian children, and calls upon Israel to permit the immediate reopening of those schools:

6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory by all means available to him, to make timely reports to the Council, including recommendations on ways and means to ensure respect for the Convention and protection of Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, including Jerusalem;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit the first such report no later than 23 June 1989;

8. Decides to keep the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, under review.

At the 2867th meeting, the Security Council proceeded to vote on the draft resolution (S/20677), which received 14 votes in favour, to one against (the United States of America), with no abstentions, and was not adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Security Council.

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