Mideast situation – Peace proposals – Letter from Bulgaria

LETTER DATED 4 MARCH 1971 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF BULGARIA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

I should be grateful if you would arrange for the statement of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, concerning the latest initiatives of the United Arab Republic and the statement of the Soviet Government of 28 February, to be circulated as an official document of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

(Signed) Guero GROZEV

Permanent Representative of Bulgaria

to the United Nations

_____________

* Also issued under the symbol A/8294.

71-04440


STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

In connexion with the latest initiatives of the United Arab Republic for the peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis, the position of Israel and the statement of the Soviet Government of 28 February 1971, a representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bulgaria stated to the BTA agency:

After the initiative of the cease-fire and the proposal to reopen the Suez Canal to navigation' the United Arab Republic stated, in reply to questions by the special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Jarring, that it was ready to conclude a peace treaty with Israel. The proposal of the United Arab Republic requires the ending of the state of war and respect for each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence by all the countries in the region, on condition that Israel withdraws its troops from the Sinai peninsula and from all the occupied territories, and implements the resolutions which have been adopted concerning the Palestine refugees. These constructive proposals by the United Arab Republic in fact represent the implementation of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967, and thus provide a basis for a political settlement of the Middle East crisis. They were welcomed by the peoples of the whole world, including the people of the United States, who sincerely wish for peace in the Middle East. They received the full support of the Soviet countries. What was the response of Israel to this initiative? Persisting in its policy of aggression, Israel in its statement of 21 February 1971 in fact rejected the proposals of the United Arab Republic aimed at a peaceful solution to the crisis. It gave a negative reply to the question without a solution to which there can be no peace in the Middle East, namely the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the occupied Arab territories. Thus, Israel made Dr. Jarring's mission more difficult, demonstrated its scorn for all United Nations resolutions, and yet again afforded proof of its aggressive intentions.

Israel's reply may prevent an extension of the cease-fire along the Suez Canal and on other fronts, which expires on 7 March 1971.

At this crucial juncture, on 28 February 1971, the Soviet Government published a statement which unmasks the manoeuvres of the aggressors and their protectors, and shows the only path to follow and the only means to use if the Middle East crisis is to be settled. At the moment when the question of political settlement or military confrontation is being raised, the statement of the Soviet Government expresses the position of the whole of progressive mankind, that the only way to solve the conflict is by peaceful means. It is for this reason that the statement is a document of capital political importance9 which will without doubt unite and mobilize the progressive forces of the world against the aggressive intentions of Israel. Now more than ever the parties concerned must support the peaceful initiative of the Soviet Government, and not allow Israel and its leaders to make a political settlement of the conflict unattainable.

The Bulgarian Government fully supports the timely statement of the Soviet Government, and is firmly convinced that it will contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis.

The Bulgarian Government condemns the policy of Israel, which is leading to an aggravation of the situation in that part of the world. It believes that Israel could not persist in its policy of aggression without the unreserved support of the United States of America, which to all appearances wishes to crush the national liberation movement in the Arab countries and suppress the progressive regimes which have been set up there. The Government of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the whole of the Bulgarian people declare their full support for the constructive proposals of the United Arab Republic for a settlement of the Middle East conflict. The People's Republic of Bulgaria has been, and will continue to be, a faithful friend to the Arab peoples in their just struggle. As in the past, Bulgaria will provide full moral and material support to the Arab peoples in their struggle to liquidate the aftermaths of aggression.

The Middle East crisis can and must be solved by peaceful means on the basis of full implementation of the Security Council resolutions, and on condition of withdrawal by the aggressor from the occupied Arab territories.


Distr.

GENERAL

S/10144/Corr.l*

5 March 1971

ENGLISH ONLY

LETTER DATED 4 MARCH 1971 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF BULGARIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Corrigendum

Page 2, second paragraph, fourteenth line

For "Soviet" read "socialist".

– – – – –

_____________

* Also issued under the symbol A/8294/Corr.1.

71-04499


Document symbol: S/10144
Document Type: Letter, Statement
Document Sources: Security Council
Country: Bulgaria
Subject: Middle East situation, Peace proposals and efforts
Publication Date: 04/03/1971
2019-03-11T22:26:02-04:00

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