{"id":206510,"date":"1978-12-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T19:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=206510"},"modified":"2019-03-12T19:11:42","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T19:11:42","slug":"auto-insert-206510","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-206510\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle East situation – Yearbook of the Âé¶¹APP 1978 (excerpts)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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YEARBOOK<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n OF THE<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n UNITED<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n NATIONS<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n 1978<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Volume 32<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION<\/strong><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK<\/strong><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n Questions relating to the Middle East<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In 1978, as in previous years, aspects of the situation in the Middle East occupied the attention of the Security Council, the General Assembly and several other Âé¶¹APP bodies. A number of communications were also received, including charges and counter-charges, as events in the region evolved.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Security Council in October 1978 renewed for nine months the mandate of the Âé¶¹APP Emergency Force (UNEF) deployed in the zone of disengagement between Egyptian and Israeli forces in the Sinai. The Council twice renewed six-month mandates for the Âé¶¹APP Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which continued to supervise a 1974 agreement on disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights area. The Council took these actions at the end of May and the end of November.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>For the first three months of 1978, the Chief of Staff of the Âé¶¹APP Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine submitted periodic reports on the status of the cease-fire along the Israel-Lebanon border. In mid-March, however, he reported that Israel had launched ground, air and naval attacks in southern Lebanon. The Security Council met shortly thereafter and called on Israel to cease its military action against Lebanese territorial integrity and withdraw its forces immediately. It also decided to establish a peace-keeping force – the Âé¶¹APP Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) – for an initial four-month period, to confirm chat withdrawal, restore peace and assist the Lebanese Government in re-establishing its effective authority in the area. These actions were authorized by the Council by two resolutions of 19 March. In May the Council approved an increase in UNIFIL'S strength to 6,000 troops and called on Israel to complete its withdrawal.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>By September, owing to factional violence within Lebanon, it had not been possible for the Lebanese Government fully to restore its authority over all its territory; the Council, on 18 September, acting at Lebanon's request, renewed UNIFIL'S mandate for another four months–until 19 January 1979. On 8 December, the Council, meeting to discuss a progress report by the Secretary-General on the implementation of UNIFIL'S mandate, issued a statement calling on those not fully co-operating with UNIFIL, particularly Israel, to desist from interfering with the operation.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The situation along the Israel-Jordan cease-fire line remained unchanged in 1978; no complaints were received from either country regarding cease-fire violations.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The General Assembly discussed several aspects of the situation in the Middle East during the year. It convened its eighth special session on 20 and 21 April to consider the question of the financing of UNIFIL and adopted a resolution for that purpose. Continued financing for UNIFIL was arranged on 3 November at the Assembly's regular 1978 session. By resolutions adopted at the same session, the Assembly arranged for the financing of UNEF and UNDOF.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Assembly also held a special meeting on 29 November to commemorate the first annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In early December, the Assembly discussed a comprehensive report by the Secretary-General covering developments in the Middle East in all their aspects, including the status of the cease-fire, the situation in the occupied territories, the Palestine refugee problem, Palestinian rights and the search for a peaceful settlement. The report contained an outline of events leading to the conclusion of what were known as the Camp David accords, which followed a trilateral summit conference in September between the Heads of State of Egypt, Israel and the United States, and which contained, the report noted, frameworks for peace in the Middle East and for the conclusion of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Having considered the question of the situation in the Middle East at its regular 1978 session, the Assembly on 7 December adopted a resolution by which it condemned continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories, declared that a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East problem must be based on a comprehensive solution, and called anew for the early convening of the Geneva Peace Conference on the Middle East under Âé¶¹APP auspices.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>On the same date, the Assembly adopted three resolutions on the question of Palestine. By these texts, the Assembly, inter<\/i> alia: <\/i>endorsed again and asked for quick Security Council action on a set of recommended principles drawn up by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to be applied in efforts to establish a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; declared that the validity of agreements purporting to solve the Palestine problem required that they be within the framework of the Âé¶¹APP; authorized the Committee to continue promoting implementation of its recommendations and to keep the situation under review; and asked for co-operation in this regard from other Âé¶¹APP bodies.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>With regard to the situation in the Arab territories occupied by Israel, the Assembly took decisions on the treatment of the civilian population in those territories – as did the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council – based on the findings of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Decisions were also taken on questions of Israeli measures in those territories and on living conditions of the Palestinian people. The Assembly endorsed decisions of the Economic and Social Council concerning assistance to the Palestinian people and called on Âé¶¹APP organizations to intensify efforts to improve their social and economic conditions.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>By a six-part resolution on the Âé¶¹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), adopted on 18 December, the Assembly took decisions dealing with assistance to Palestine refugees and other persons in the area displaced as a result of the June 1967 hostilities, Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced inhabitants, offers of grants and scholarships for Palestine refugees, and the financing of UNRWA. By the resolution, it urged Governments to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the needs of UNRWA, in the light of the Agency's projected budgetary deficit, and asked that UNRWA's headquarters be reconsolidated within the area of operations as soon as possible. Also considered were the health needs of Palestine refugee children.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Details of these and other related actions on Middle East questions are described in the following pages.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n The situation in the Middle East:<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n status of the cease-fire<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Egypt-Israel sector: Âé¶¹APP Emergency Force<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Report of Secretary-General (17 October)<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Prior to the expiration of the mandate of the Âé¶¹APP Emergency Force (UNEF) on 24 October 1978, the Secretary-General submitted to the Security Council a report on the activities of the Force covering the period from 25 October 1977 to 17 October 1978.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Secretary-General observed that the situation in the area of operations had remained stable and that UNEF had continued efficiently to discharge its mandate: supervising the observance of the cease-fire and assisting in the implementation of the Agreement between Egypt and Israel of 4 September 1975 and the Protocol of 22 September 1975.1<\/u>\/<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Chief Co-ordinator of the Âé¶¹APP Peace-keeping Missions in the Middle East, Lieutenant-General Ensio P. H. Siilasvuo, and the Force Commander, Major-General Rais Abin, had continued the practice of separate meetings with the military authorities of Egypt and Israel on matters concerning UNEF.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>As of 16 October, the strength of the Force was 4,178, made up of contingents from Australia, (Canada, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Poland and Sweden, assisted by 120 military observers of the Âé¶¹APP Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The period under review, the report noted, had seen no major violations of the Agreement by either party; minor incursions into the buffer zone by land or air had been reported to and acted upon by the parties in a satisfactory manner. However, despite some improvement concerning the freedom of movement of certain contingents, arrangements still fell short of what was required for UNEF'S efficient operation as a military unit. The Force continued to inspect the limited forces and armaments areas and missile-restricted zones, to make available the findings to the parties, to provide escorts for mine-clearing teams, and to assist representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross with facilities for family reunions and student exchanges; during the review period, 4,785 persons crossed from Egypt to Israeli-occupied territory, and 3,704 crossed from there to Egypt.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>It was emphasized in the report that, despite the prevailing quiet in the Egypt-Israel sector, the situation in the Middle East as a whole continued to be unstable and potentially dangerous and was likely to remain so unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem could be reached. The Secretary-General expressed the hope that urgent efforts would be pursued by all concerned to tackle the problem in all its aspects, with a view both to maintaining quiet in the region and to arriving at a just and durable peace settlement, as called for by the Security Council in its resolution 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973.2<\/u>\/ He stated that the search for a peaceful settlement and in particular the efforts undertaken at various levels to implement that resolution had been dealt with in the comprehensive report on the Middle East problem which he had submitted on 17 October 1978 in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 32\/20 of 25 November 1977 3<\/u>\/ (see p. 327).<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Taking into account all factors involved and after consultations with the Governments of Egypt and Israel, the Secretary-General recommended the extension of the mandate of UNEF for a further period of one year.<\/p><\/div>\n Consideration by the<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Security Council (23 October)<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Security Council met on 23 October 1978 to consider the report of the Secretary-General on UNEF. By resolution 438 (1978), adopted on the same day by 12 votes to 0, with 2 abstentions (Czechoslovakia and the USSR), the Council decided to renew the mandate of UNEF for nine months, until 24 July 1979. The Council also requested the Secretary-General to submit at the end of that period a report on the developments in the situation and the steps taken to implement its resolution 338 (1973). It expressed confidence that UNEF would be maintained with maximum efficiency and economy. China did not participate in the vote.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>(For text of resolution 438 (1978), see DOCUMENTARY REFERENCES below.)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In explaining their vote, several Council members, including Czechoslovakia, India, the USSR and Venezuela, supported the Secretary-General's view, expressed in his report, that the situation in the Middle East as a whole continued to be unstable and potentially dangerous until and unless a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem could be reached.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representatives of the USSR and India reaffirmed the fundamental principles for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the area, namely, Israeli withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories, granting the Palestinian people their inalienable right to self-determination and the creation of their own State, and international guarantees for the security of all the States of the region without exception.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representatives of Czechoslovakia and Kuwait emphasized that the peace-keeping operation of UNEF should not contribute to the perpetuation of occupation. Gabon said that under no circumstances should it be used as a permanent peace-keeping force.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of the USSR stated that the presence of Âé¶¹APP armed forces in the Middle East could not be considered separately from the over-all context of the situation there. The USSR did not object to the extension of UNEF'S mandate, on the understanding that it would not be altered and that the troops would not be drawn into the implementation of any separate agreement currently being elaborated in Washington, D.C. The USSR and Czechoslovakia stressed that any attempt to entrust any other kind of role to UNEF and to adapt those forces for the implementation of separate deals would be contrary to the decision of the Security Council on this question. They said that the road of separate talks and concessions to the aggressor did not bring peace any closer; on the contrary, the USSR added, it exacerbated the situation even further in the whole area. Czechoslovakia and the USSR also confirmed their position to the effect that they would not participate in any additional expenditures for UNEF occasioned by the 1975 Egyptian-Israeli Agreement on the Sinai. The USSR said in conclusion that the Geneva Peace Conference on the Middle East, which had been created for the solution of the cardinal problems of a comprehensive settlement, remained an open door to a just solution.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of Kuwait observed that Kuwait did not object to the extension of the mandate of UNEF as long as the mandate remained as previously defined. He also noted that it was expected that the Secretary-General would report to the Council on any development that changed the situation and that the Council would be able to take the appropriate action accordingly.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of the United States stated that his country's views on the problem of the origins of the situation in the Middle East, on the motives and objectives of the participants in the Camp David accords and the tripartite negotiations currently under way in Washington, and on the terms of an ultimate solution to the Middle East problem differed sharply from those stated or implied by the USSR representative. The United States had based its efforts to seek a lasting solution of the problem on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) 4<\/u>\/ and 338 (1973), which expressed the Council's commitment to work towards a full and comprehensive agreement in the Middle East. He agreed with the view that the Secretary-General should keep the Council informed of significant developments concerning UNEF, including major changes in its deployment. However, the United States disagreed with the view that the Secretary-General was obligated to seek the specific approval of the Council for every deployment within the area, since the Charter of the Âé¶¹APP contemplated, and experience confirmed, the need for him to exercise reasonable latitude in using his discretion to attain the objectives of a peace-keeping force decided upon by the Council.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of China stated that his country had always held a different position in principle with regard to the question of UNEF, and consequently it had not participated in the voting on the extension of the mandate of the Force.<\/p><\/div>\n Documentary references<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Report of Secretary-General (17 October)<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n S\/12897. Report of Secretary-General on UNEF (for period 25 October 1977 to 17 October 1978).<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Consideration by the<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Security Council (23 October)<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Security Council, <\/i>meeting 2091.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n S\/12897. Report of Secretary-General on UNEF.<\/p><\/div>\n S\/12899. Draft resolution.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Resolution <\/i>438 (1978), as proposed in S\/12899 adopted by Council an 23 October 1978, meeting 2091, by 12 votes to 0, with 2 abstentions (Czechoslovakia and USSR) (China did not participate in voting).<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Security Council,<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Recalling <\/i>its resolutions 338 (1973) of 22 October, 340 (1973) of 25 October and 341 (1973) of 27 October 1973, 346 (1974) of 8 April and 362 (1974) of 23 October 1974, 368 (1975) of 17 April, 371 (1975) of 24 July and 378 (1975) of 23 October 1975, 396 (1976) of 22 October 1976 and 416 (1977) of 21 October 1977,<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Having considered <\/i>the report of the Secretary-General on the Âé¶¹APP Emergency Force,<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Recalling <\/i>the Secretary-General's view that the situation in the Middle East as a whole continues to be unstable and potentially dangerous and is likely to remain so unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached, and his hope that urgent efforts win be pursued by all concerned to tackle the problem in ail its aspects, with a view both to maintaining quiet in the region and to arriving at a just and durable peace settlement, as called for by the Security Council in its resolution 338 (1973),<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>1.\t<\/span>Decides <\/i>to renew the mandate of the Âé¶¹APP Emergency Force for a period of nine months, that is, unto 24 July 1979;<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>2.\t<\/span>Requests <\/i>the Secretary-General to submit at the end of this period a report on the developments in the situation and on the steps taken to implement Security Council resolution 338 (1973);<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>3.\t<\/span>Expresses its confidence <\/i>that the Force will be maintained with maximum efficiency and economy.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n S\/INF\/34. Resolutions and decisions of Security Council, 1978. Decision, p. 7.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Israel-Syria sector:<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Âé¶¹APP Disengagement Observer Force<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Communication and report<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>By a letter dated 17 April 1978 to the President of the Security Council, the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic charged that Israeli elements had infiltrated through the zone of disengagement between the forces in the Golan Heights in late March and had planted booby-trapped mines, with a receiver-transmitter radio set connected to the telephone cable between Damascus and Amman (Jordan), near the main highway that linked the town of Deraa with Damascus. Syrian experts had reported that the set was equipped with nuclear cells manufactured in the United States and operated through radioactive substances, whose use for military purposes was prohibited because of their damaging effect on human life. Such use by Israel, the letter continued, represented a new and dangerous manifestation in the Middle East struggle.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>As the mandate of the Âé¶¹APP Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was due to expire on 31 May 1978, the Secretary-General submitted a report on 17 May, giving an account of the activities of the Force during the period from 30 November 1977 to 17 May 1978. The Secretary-General stated that UNDOF had continued effectively to supervise the cease-fire called for by the Council and the area of separation, and to inspect the areas of limitation of armaments and forces, with the co-operation of the parties, as provided for in the Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces of 31 May 1974.5<\/u>\/<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>During the period under review, the situation in the Israel-Syria sector had remained quiet, there had been no incidents of a serious nature and no complaints referring to the UNDOF area of operation had been raised by either party. Restrictions on freedom of movement still existed, he noted, and arrangements still fell short of what was required and what was provided for in the Protocol to the Agreement on Disengagement.6<\/u>\/<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>As at 17 May, the strength of the Force was 1,245, made up of contingents from Austria, Canada, Iran and Poland, and included 85 military observers detailed from the Âé¶¹APP Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO). Command of UNDOF continued to be exercised by Major-General Hannes Philipp, and Lieutenant-General Ensio P. H. Siilasvuo continued as Chief Co-ordinator of the Âé¶¹APP Peace-keeping Missions in the Middle East.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Secretary-General also noted that efforts to promote an early resumption of the negotiating process aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, called for by the Council in its resolution 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,7<\/u>\/ had continued at various levels.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Secretary-General stated that the prevailing quiet in the sector was basically precarious, that the main elements of the Middle East problem remained unresolved and that the situation in the area as a whole would continue to be unstable and dangerous unless real progress could soon be made towards a just and durable settlement of the problem in all its aspects. He stressed that it was important and urgent that a determined effort be made to achieve progress in the search for such a settlement and, as a first step to that end, to promote an early resumption of the negotiating process in accordance with resolution 338 (1973).<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In the prevailing circumstances, the Secretary-General considered the continued presence of UNDOF in the area to be essential and recommended that the Security Council extend the mandate of the Force for a further six months until 30 November 1978. He added that the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic had given assent to the proposed extension and that the Government of Israel had also expressed agree<\/p><\/div>\n Consideration by the<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n Security Council (31 May)<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The Security Council met on 31 May 1978 to consider the May report of the Secretary-General on UNDOF. By resolution 429 (1978), adopted on the same day by 14 votes to 0, the Council, expressing concern over the prevailing state of tension in the area, decided to renew the mandate of UNDOF for six months, until 30 November 1978. The Council called upon the parties concerned to implement immediately its resolution 338 (1973) and requested the Secretary-General to report on the developments in the situation and the measures taken to implement that resolution.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>(For text of resolution 429 (1978), see DOCUMENTARY REFERENCES below.)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>Basing itself on its long-held position of principle with regard to the question of the Force, China did not participate in the vote.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In connexion with the adoption of resolution 429 (1978), the President of the Security Council made a complementary statement on behalf of the Council in which he said that the Secretary-General's statement that the current quiet in the sector was basically precarious. and that the main elements of the Middle East problem remained unresolved and that the situation would continue to be unstable and dangerous unless real progress could soon be made towards a just and durable settlement of the problem in all its aspects reflected the view of the Security Council.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The President added, on behalf of China, that, as China had not participated in the vote, it had taken the same position with regard to the complementary statement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>In explaining their vote on the resolution, many representatives associated themselves with the concern expressed by the Secretary-General in his report. They noted that although the presence of the Force had helped to avoid confrontations and maintain the cease-fire, only a political solution of the conflict could bring the world close to a durable peace in this area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representatives of Czechoslovakia, Kuwait and the USSR stated that they voted in favour of the extension of the mandate because the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic had given consent to such an extension.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representatives of Bolivia, Czechoslovakia, Gabon, India, Nigeria and the USSR observed that the presence of the Force in the area was a provisional measure. With no prospect of a peace settlement, the Indian representative said, it could be feared by some that the presence of the Force was designed to freeze the status quo <\/i>indefinitely.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of Kuwait stated that Israel's persistent disregard for Âé¶¹APP resolutions was due to the opposition by some permanent members of the Council to the imposition of sanctions on Israel in accordance with Chapter VII of the Charter of the Âé¶¹APP.8<\/u>\/ He also said that Israel continued to build Jewish settlements on occupied Syrian territory, Jewish immigrants were being brought in to cultivate Syrian land, and Israeli authorities had been saying that the occupied Syrian territory would never be vacated, even after achievement of a peaceful settlement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representatives of Czechoslovakia, Nigeria and the USSR reiterated basic interrelated principles which they considered necessary for a just and comprehensive peace: the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all occupied Arab territories; the exercise by the Arab people of Palestine of their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination; and international assurance of the independent existence and security of all States in the area.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representatives of Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States commended the Force for efficiently discharging its mandate and expressed satisfaction that the cease-fire had been maintained and that no complaints had been raised by either party.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of the USSR stated that failure to settle the Middle East conflict, the continued occupation by Israel of Arab land and the flouting of the legitimate rights of the Arab people of Palestine had created an explosive situation which contained the seeds of a new military conflict. He maintained, as did the Czechoslovak representative, that a comprehensive and just solution could be achieved through a reconvened Peace Conference on the Middle East in Geneva with the participation of all parties concerned, including the Palestine Liberation Organization. The representative of the USSR said that maintenance of the status quo <\/i>in the Middle East was in line with the long-term plans of imperialist circles to strengthen their control over the region, its tremendous oil resources and important strategic position. That was the reason they wanted to weaken the Arab States as much as possible and force them to act as separate entities. The USSR disapproved of countries' actions designed to substitute separate arrangements for a comprehensive Middle East settlement. He said that the presence of the Âé¶¹APP armed forces in the area should not be used to protract the efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of the United States noted that difficult problems and serious obstacles remained in the search for peace in the Middle East, but it was to the credit of UNDOF that the efforts to reach a solution continued in a stable atmosphere. He said that the success of UNDOF in carrying out its mandate had been greatly assisted by the parties' observance of their obligations under the terms of the Disengagement Agreement.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t<\/span>The representative of the United Kingdom observed that the lack of incidents lately and the relative quiet continued to be important in creating a general climate in the area so that efforts to reach a solution to the problem could make progress. He cautioned that the renewal of the mandate was no substitute for true peace, but provided a further period during which the search for a just and lasting peace should be actively pursued.<\/p><\/div>\n
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