Text of the Speech made by Mr. Rifa (Jordan) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1237 held on 4 September 1965

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Rifa'i (Jordan) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1237 held on 4 September 1965

Before I speak briefly, for the time being, on the question before the Security Council today, I should like to welcome you, Mr. President, as an outstanding representative of your country. Your first appearance in this Council as the representative of the United States of America coincides with your presiding over our meetings for the current month. This dignified advent is in keeping with the high office which you have just left and with the distinguished position which you are just assuming. You come from the highest judicial body in your country, where right and justice reign supreme, to the highest international body, where right and justice in the relations among nations must be the basic pillars of peace. I sincerely hope that the success which accompanied you in your past career will continue to be with you in the tasks ahead.

Just as members of the Council have followed with deep concern the recent armed clashes in Kashmir, the efforts of the Secretary-General to halt those dangerous activities have also been followed with special appreciation. In recognition of his valuable contributions to the cause of peace, it should be said that our Security-General is shouldering with devotion and perseverance much of the heavy tasks in the maintenance of international peace.

It is therefore quite appropriate that, in their turn, members of the Security Council should feel called upon to meet and consider a situation as dangerous to international peace and security as the one before us today. It is most unfortunate to see that force of arms has become the spoken language between two great nations that belong to the same continent and share the heavy responsibility of protecting peace in the great continent of Asia. With both those nations my people and country have the most cordial relations and strong ties, and we cherish the same ideals and serve the same principles as they do.

We therefore regret to see that the cease-fire line in Kashmir has been opened to wide and expanding armed conflict. Yet we know that this thin barrier cannot continue to resist the pressure of the political weight in the underlying factors and interests of both nations. Nor can it last long in providing hope and patience in a demanding situation. Our duty now, as the Security Council, is to see to it that the cease fire established between India and Pakistan in Kashmir is respected and strictly observed. But such a protection against damage cannot always be guaranteed by the repetition of appeals and pronouncements whenever the cease-fire is in jeopardy. It needs, first and foremost, a strong conviction on the part of the disputing forces that the political problem between them must be settled peacefully and with due regard for the claims, resolutions and agreements pertaining to the question. And here the Security Council should charge itself with the task of assisting the Governments of India and Pakistan in the effort to resolve the fundamental question which has been a source of trouble between the two countries for eighteen years and which, furthermore, has in the course of the years acquired additional weight, to the extent that it has become an influential factor in the attitude of both Powers in international politics.

In the opinion of my delegation, the present meetings of the Security Council should yield positive results. To meet the immediate requirement, the Council should call on India and Pakistan to halt forthwith their armed clashes and return, each of them, to the original position on its side of the line. That requirement has indeed been met in the draft resolution just introduced by the representative of Malaysia. Once this purpose of a cessation of armed hostilities has been achieved, it should be followed by a serious attempt on the part of the Security Council to look into the wider and basic aspects of matter.

As regards the present regrettable state of events, we wish to take note of the important report of the Secretary-General on the current situation in Kashmir, and we trust that the Secretary-General will continue, as he always does, to enable us to be promptly informed of the developments in the situation.