UN Arab Group – LAS telegram – Letter from Kuwait

LETTER DATED 17 OCTOBER 1985 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

OF KUWAIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF

THE SECURITY COUNCIL

I have the honor, in my capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of October, and on its behalf, to convey the concern of members of the Group over the climate of anti-Arab hostility which currently exists in the United States. We consider this climate to be inseparable from the recent emotional statements made by public officials through the news media in the United States.

The Arab Group believes that this anti-Arab atmosphere has liven encouragement to attacks against the offices of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) on Friday, 11 October in the course of which Mr. Alex Odeh, the west coast regional director of ADC, was killed and six innocent Americans injured. Mr. Odeh and the committee he represents are known to be advocates of human rights, including the rights of the Palestinian people.

The members of the Arab Group hope that the perpetrators of this terrorist act will be identified, apprehended and brought to justice.

We attach to this communication the text of the message of condolences addressed to Mr. James Aboureszk, national chairman of ADC, by the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Chedli Klibi.

It would be appreciated if this letter is circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Annex

Telegram from the Secretary General of the League of

Arab States addressed to the National Chairman of the

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Following is the text of the telegram sent by His Excellency Mr. Chedli Klibi, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, to H.E. Mr. James Aboureszk, national chairman of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), on the recent murder of Mr. Alex Odeh, west coast regional director of ADC:

"The martyrdom of Alex Odeh and the circumstances of his murder by criminal terrorists has shocked and deeply saddened the Arab world. His work in fighting discrimination and his defense of the just cause of Palestinian rights in particular and human rights in general, has earned him high esteem in his country of origin, Palestine, and his country of adoption, the United States of America.

"Reports of his intense devotion, sincerity and genuine commitment have made us aware of his constructive activities in the fields of information, literature and political enlightenment. That the terrorists who fear the truth struck down Alex Odeh the west coast regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is a tribute to his effectiveness and a hallmark of terrorists' criminal intent and behavior and the expression of their cowardly aversion to justice and truth.

"Our sense of shock and outrage can only be smoothed and mitigated by the realization that this sad and tragic episode will only lead to ADC's redoubling its endeavors to noble causes it has so admiringly espoused and advanced.

"Please convey to his wife and family, and to his colleagues and friends, our sincere condolences and profound sympathy."

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