Text of the Speech made by Mr. Sunde (Norway) in the Security Council Meeting No. 457 held on 17 December, 1949

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Sunde (Norway) in the Security Council Meeting No. 457 held on 17 December, 1949

First of all, I should like to compliment. Mr. Samper on his lucid exposition of the work of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan. His statement well supplements the Commission's excellent report of 5 December. I believe that I represent the general feeling of the Security Council when I praise the Commission for its report. It is succinct, yet complete and comprehensive, and testifies clearly to the unwavering effort of the Commission to carry out its difficult and pressing task in a spirit of fairness and impartiality which does credit not only to the Commission itself but also to the United Nations.

Nevertheless, the most important part of the Kashmir problem still remains unsolved. Let us not, however, forget the very real progress that has been achieved by the Commission. There is no more fighting A cease-fire line has been drawn and agreed to by the opposing parties. This is no small achievement in itself, and it is all the more encouraging because it strengthens our confidence that the parties which are facing each other across this precarious line want peace, as do all the rest of us, and that they are ready to explore together all avenues by which that peace can be attained.

It serves no purpose, however, to close our eyes to the fact that an impasse has been reached on the main avenue along which the mediation effort of the United Nations has so far progressed. It seems to me that the time has come to stop and take new bearings, and I am wondering whether some new technique or approach might not be found by which the need and earnest desire of the parties for a solution could be translated into the final agreement for which we are all hoping. I frankly doubt the utility of threshing out again in the Security Council the manifold and complex issues which are at stake in this case. Tentative suggestions swiftly become unalterable opinions when they are expressed in this Council, and arguments advanced in the heat of discussion have a tendency to become vested with the habiliments of national prestige. Such a discussion might yet become necessary. But would it not be better first to explore another approach, another avenue, or-let me say frankly-a short cut ?

We have this month as our President the representative of a country which is closely related to both the parties by the ties of friendship and common interest which prevail in the Commonwealth of Nations. Our President possesses also. to an eminent degree the authority, as well as the broad minded impartiality is necessary for the reconciliation of opposing points of view. It is my suggestion, therefore, that the President should meet informally with the two parties and examine with them the possibility of finding a mutually satisfactory basis for dealing with the Kashmir problem.

This procedure was adopted at various times during the first four months of 1948 and led to the Council's resolution of 21 April of the same year [S/726] By adopting this suggestion we should also, in my opinion. take full advantage of the fact that Pakistan and India are represented at the headquarters of the United Nations by such eminent statesmen and diplomats as Sir Mohammad Zafrulla Khan and Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai, who have no superiors and few equals in the art of negotiation and conciliation.

In conclusion, may I say that if my suggestion is adopted we should request the President to report back to the Security Council for its consideration any proposal which might develop during his meetings with the parties.