Text of the Speech made by the President Mr. Fernando Ortiz Sanz as representative of Bolivia in the Security Council Meeting No. 1251 held on 5 November 1965
Text of the Speech made by the President Mr. Fernando Ortiz Sanz as representative of Bolivia in the Security Council Meeting No. 1251 held on 5 November 1965
If no other member of the Council wishes to speak. I shall take the liberty of speaking briefly as the representative of BOLIVIA.
An armed conflict of vast proportions, involving two States Members of the United Nations, with a population of almost 600 million human beings, was unchained during the early days of August 1965, to the concern of the world.
Fully aware of its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security, which is expressly conferred on it by Article 24 of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council met immediately to discuss the problem. Resolutions 209 (1965), 210 (1965), 211 (1965) and 214 (1965), unanimously adopted by the members of the Council, bear eloquent testimony to the great sense of responsibility of all members here and to the laudable spirit of negotiation and compromise which endowed those resolutions with the powerful force of unanimity.
The Secretary-General, acting with commendable zeal and with the speed which the circumstances required, soon managed, in spite of the size and complexity of the problem, to see to it that the resolutions which we are discussing began to be effective and obtained a cease-fire which was, and still is, the essential first step towards the total implementation of our decisions. The Secretary-General's reports [S/6699 and S/6710], together with their addenda, are proof of the impartiality and dedication with which he has acted in this delicate matter and my Government would like to record its express approval of all the measures adopted.
Additional information was subsequently provided which showed the precarious nature of the cease-fire and other factors intervened which impeded progress towards the withdrawal of troops. Thus, the Security Council, acceding to the request from Pakistan mentioned in our agenda, has decided to discuss the problem once more, in order to continue to fulfil its duty. For it is our duty, as it is that of all the servants and organs of the United Nations, not only to draft resolutions but to ensure, with all the means within our power, that those resolutions are effective.
History is not nourished by isolated documents, however important they may be. But when documents are objective, adequate and practical, they do point the way to coherent and permanent action.
In the case before us it can be stated that the Council's resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, do point, in each and every one of their paragraphs, a clear way towards a solution of this grave dispute, namely: cease-fire withdrawal of armed personnel, an appeal to all States to refrain from any action which might aggravate the situation in the area and, at the proper time, a consideration of the steps which could be taken for co-operation towards a settlement of the basic political problem.
For this reason, the Bolivian delegation has decided to co-sponsor the draft resolution before us since it considers it a new, clear and strong instrument to promote the restoration of peace between India and Pakistan through application of our previous resolutions in all their parts.
Speaking as President, I consider that the moment has now come to put to the vote the draft resolution co-sponsored by Bolivia, the Ivory Coast, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Uruguay [S/6876].
A vote was taken by show of hands
In favour Bolivia, China, France, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Netherlands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay. Against: None.
Abstaining Jordan, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The draft resolution was adopted by 9 votes to none, with 2 abstentions.