14021964 Text of the Speech made by Mr. Nielsen (Norway) in the Security Council Meeting No 1091 held on 14 February 1964.

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Nielsen (Norway) in the Security Council Meeting No 1091 held on 14 February 1964.

The Security Council has now been seized of the India Pakistan question for more than a decade and a half. It is a matter of deep regret and concern to the Norwegian Government that relations between these two great neighbouring countries remain strained. The public statements to the Council by the representatives of India and Pakistan have served to remind us of the deep-rooted distrust between the two countries and, as it was described by one of the previous speakers, "the apparently complete incompatibility of the public attitudes taken by the two parties to the Kashmir dispute" [1090th meeting, para. 93].

The seriousness of this conflict between the two neighbouring nations has been underlined by the fact that only recently communal uprisings and violence have occurred, not only in Kashmir itself, but also in India as well as in Pakistan, This has served to remind us of the deep emotions which are engaged on both sides. We in Norway are impressed by the magnitude of the problem as emphasised again by both parties through the fact that the fate and emotions of hundred of millions of people in fact, one sixth of the population of the earth are involved.

My country is reminded of the long and sad story of this item in the records of the Security Council was actively seized of the India-Pakistan question when Norway last served on the Council fourteen years ago. To us the basic features of the Kashmir question have not changed in these years. The core of the problem is still the political future of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir of British India. The resolutions adopted over the years by the Security Council and the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan have not been rescinded or abrogated; they therefore remain valid and represent the views expressed by the United Nations on the problem. To us the question of Kashmir clearly has an important international aspect, since two great nations, both Members of the United Nations, are directly involved.

From these basic facts we derive the following general conclusions that a final settlement of the Kashmir question must be satisfactory of the population of Jammu and Kashmir, and that, likewise, the main features of the settlement must be acceptable both to India and to Pakistan.

The statements by the representatives of India and Pakistan to the Council have underlined the differences, and it may seem a hopeless task to try and bridge this gap and strive for a solution on the basis I have just outlined. On closer examination of this situation we believe, however, that we have seen some signs which may encourage the Security Council to try a new approach aimed at reconciling the parties. For one thing, both countries have deplored the renewed outbreaks of communal violence. Further, both parties have stated and emphasised to the Council that they have taken strong action to put an end to the violence and the representatives of both parties have in their statements indicated a willingness in principle to find a common ground,. and thus generally to improve the relations between the two States.

The Norwegian delegation therefore believes that the present time should be propitious for renewed efforts to assist and to encourage the parties. We share the views expressed by a number of the members of the Council that the efforts should be concentrated on the reopening of direct negotiations on the outstanding questions, including the question of Kashmir, which is the question the Government of Pakistan has brought before the Council by the letter dated 16 January 1964 from the Minister for External Affairs of Pakistan addressed to the President of the Security Council [S/5517].

Actually, in the first half of 1963, as has been mentioned here on a number of occasions, the parties did engage in six rounds of such bilateral negotiations on a ministerial level. In order to facilitate the resumed negotiations and increase the chances of singling out the areas in which agreements are most likely, we believe that the two Governments will be well advised in seeking the good offices of a country or an outstanding personality enjoying the confidence of both parties. If assistance should be needed in arranging for effective good offices, the Secretary-General of the United Nations naturally comes to our mind.

I repeat, we are looking toward the resumption of negotiations between the two parties, in recognition of the fact that a solution of the outstanding problems is only conceivable when the parties agree. We do not expect the parties to renounce their claims or their views in advance of future negotiations, but we find it important and encouraging that of none of the parties in principle has rejected the idea of negotiations.

Far be it us to anticipate the results of such negotiations or to prescribe to the parties how to solve their differences. We do believe, however, that both parties will be well advised in recognizing that any settlement of the long standing question of Jammu and Kashmir which is not generally satisfactory to the population of the area can hardly be expected to last. We hope that the parties will pay due attention to the substance of this important consideration; the form of the efforts as well as the means employed to reach this goal peacefully appear to us, however, to be of somewhat lesser importance.

In conclusion, I would express the hope that it will prove possible for the Security Council to encourage the two parties to meet anew at the conference table. And again, the form of such encouragement of the Council does not seem so important as the political value in finding means to give unanimous expression to this desire of the members of this Council to see negotiations resumed at a peaceful settlement of the problems that now divide India and Pakistan.