Text of the Speech made by Mr. Fedorenko (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1116 held on 13 May 1964
Text of the Speech made by Mr. Fedorenko (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1116 held on 13 May 1964
After an interval of one and a half months, the Security Council is again considering the Kashmir question, which has been included on the Council's agenda at the request of the Government of Pakistan.
Members of the Security Council have repeatedly heard the positions of the parties, as set forth in the statements by the Minister for External Affairs of Pakistan, Mr. Bhutto, on 5 May 1964 [1112th meeting] and by the Indian Minister of Education, Mr. Chagla, on 7 May 1964 [1113th meeting]. We have also heard more statements by a number of members of the Council.
As we said in our statement to the Security Council of 14 February 1964 [1091st meeting], the Soviet delegation is compelled to note the absence of any essentially new circumstances since the last discussion on this subject.
If, however, one takes the balance of the Security Council discussions about the differences between India and Pakistan, it is unfortunately only the obvious fact and on which we have heard the members of the Council agree, that the further exchange of statements is by no means helping to resolve these differences, but is needlessly exacerbating them. In other words, this again confirms the position which the Soviet delegation has always firmly maintained and continues to maintain that the India-Pakistan dispute must be resolved directly by India and Pakistan through bilateral negotiations, particularly as soon as a normal and calm atmosphere has been created for such talks.
The Soviet Union's position of principle on the substance of the Kashmir problem has already been stated more than once by the Head of the Soviet Government, Mr. Khrushchev. As is well known, our position is that the question of the ownership of Kashmir has already been solved by the people of Kashmir themselves. The Soviet delegation recalled this in its last statement to the Security Council, on 14 February 1964.
Of course, if one is to be realistic, one cannot close one's eyes to the fact that there are differences and serious friction between Pakistan and India, particularly in connection with the Kashmir question. Unfortunately, many states still have to deal with the legacy of colonialist policy, when the departing colonists leave behind sinister relics of their well-known policy of dividing peoples and sowing enmity among them. Is it not clear that the India-Pakistan dispute is having an extremely bad effect on the lives of the peoples of this region? The people themselves, in both countries, are primarily interested in the creation of favourable conditions for the solution of their most important problems- the strengthening of their political independence, the development of their economies and the improvement of their living standards.
It therefore seems particularly important that, with regard to the questions which are the subject of dispute between the two States concerned, nothing should be done which might worsen relations between them or involve any deflection of their efforts from constructive goals. The Indian Minister of Education, Mr. Chagla, quite rightly pointed out, in his statement yesterday, the impossibility of forgetting that quite recently-only seventeen years ago the peoples of India and Pakistan were fighting side by side for their liberation.
It is therefore difficult to understand why, in his statement of 5 May 1964, the Minister for External Affairs of Pakistan saw fit to say that there exists at present no truce agreement between Pakistan and India and that even a ceasefire between them could in present conditions be considered obsolete. Such utterances can only complicate the situation.
On the other hand, one idea expressed here by Mr. Bhutto is worthy of attention and support. He said that, precisely at this time "...a stage has been reached in the affairs of India and Pakistan which offers an unparalleled opportunity to both countries to open a new era of good-neighbourliness and constructive endeavours" [1112th meeting, para. 92].
It gratifying that, in his statement to the Council on 11 May 1964, the Minister for External Affairs of Pakistan again confirmed his belief that "it is within our power to transform the climate of our two countries" [1114th meeting, para. 93].
One may also note with satisfaction-as did the Indian Minister of Education, Mr. Chagla-that India and Pakistan have already started direct discussions at the level of Ministers for Home Affairs, with a view to settling a number of questions of importance to the two countries. It can be seen from the well-known statement by the Pakistan Minister for Home Affairs, which has frequently been quoted in the Security Council, that already, after the first round of discussion by the two sides, 90 percent of the relevant matters in dispute have been settled. As is equally well known, these discussions are to be resumed shortly, during the current month.
We attach particular significance to this fact, which introduces important new elements into the existing relations between the two parties concerned. The fact that direct discussions have been started between those parties, on their own initiative, and have already led to an agreed solution of a number of important problems must be regarded as valuable progress, inspired by a correct understanding of the interests of both countries. In addition, it clearly demonstrates the unconvincing nature of arguments to the effect that at the present time some outside impetus is required for a settlement of the problems dividing India and Pakistan.
As the Indian Minister of Education, Mr. Chagla, rightly stated in his speech to the Council on 7 May 1964 [1113th meeting], the discussions between the Ministers for Home Affairs of India and Pakistan may, if successful, bring about an atmosphere conducive to the discussion of other questions. outstanding between the two sides.
Accordingly, the settlement of the points in dispute between India and Pakistan is in fact already on the right and, as experience is showing, the fruitful path-the path of direct bilateral discussions. It can be said with certainty that this approach to the matter is yielding positive results, because it promotes the interests of both countries, India and Pakistan, equally.
This being so, we find hope in the fact that, as this discussion in the Security Council shows, practically all members of the Council have explicitly agreed that the method of direct bilateral talks between India and Pakistan is the best and most promising method.
It is natural in these circumstances to assume that the efforts of members of the Security Council, and of the Council as a whole, will be directed towards making a positive contribution to the establishment of a propitious and calm atmosphere.
It is essential that the path which is acceptable to both sides, and on which they are in fact already proceeding, should not now be obstructed by any new factors. The Security Council cannot of course fail to take into account the well-known views of India, which were stated yesterday in the Council by the Minister of Education, Mr. Chagla, in the following words:
"If this Council is interested in the maintenance of peace and international relations, it should avoid any superimposed solution upon the two countries or any intervention in any talks or discussions we might have with each other." [1115th meeting, para. 35].
In the opinion of the Soviet delegation, the Security Council should do everything to promote the creation of a calm and propitious atmosphere for the bilateral discussions which are already taking place between India and Pakistan on a number of questions. This is its duty and its responsibility, since experiences shows that it is this path-direct discussions between India and Pakistan-which may lead to a solution of the questions still, unfortunately, dividing these two countries.