United Nations Security Council Meeting 2932

by United Nations Security Council

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Security Council

Provisional

S/PV.2932

2 August 1990

English

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Provisional Verbatim Record of the Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Second Meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Thursday, 2 August 1990, at 4.45 am

President:	Mr. Munteanu	(Romania)
Members:	Canada	Mr. Fortier
	China	Mr. Li Daoyu
	Colombia	Mr. Peñalosa
	Côte d'Ivoire	Mr. Anet
	Cuba	Mr. Alarcon de Quesada
	Ethiopia	Mr. Tadesse
	Finland	Ms. Rasi
	France	Mr. Blanc
	Malaysia	Mr. Redzuan
	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	Mr. Lozinsky
	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	Sir Crispin Tickell
	United States of America	Mr. Pickering
	Yemen	Mr. Al-Ashtal
	Zaire	Mr. Lukabu Khabouji N'Zaji

The meeting was called to order at 5.10 a.m.

Expression of thanks to the retiring president

The President: As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of August, I should Like to take this opportunity to pay tribute on behalf of the Council to His Excellency Mr. Ismail Razali, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of July 1990. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Razali for the great diplomatic skill and unfailing courtesy with which he conducted the Council's business last month.

Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted.

The situation between Iraq and Kuwait

Letter dated 2 August 1990 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/21423)

Letter dated 2 August 1990 from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/21424)

The President: I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Iraq and Kuwait in which they request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

At the invitation of the President, Mr. Kadrat (Iraq) took place at the Council table; Mr. Abulhasan (Kuwait) took place at the Council table.

The President: The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in response to the requests contained in letters dated 2 August 1990 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/21423), and from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/21424). Members of the Council have before them document S/21425, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Canada, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Malaysia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.

The first speaker is the representative of Kuwait, whom I invite to make his statement.

Mr. Abulhasan (Kuwait) (interpretation from Arabic): Even at this hour, which is not at all convenient, and even in the very dangerous circumstances in which the Council is now meting, I do not want to miss the opportunity to congratulate you, Sir, on yow assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. Despite your very short term of office in this very important international body, we know your ability and efficiency.

I should also like to express my thanks and appreciation to your predecessor, my friend, Mr. Ismail Razali, the Permanent Representative of Malaysia, who was the Council's President last month. We thank him for his fine performance and for his achievements last month.

I wish also to express my personal thanks and those of the Government of Kuwait to all the members of the Council for agreeing to hold this meeting so promptly. The Council’s quick response is in keeping with the principles of justice and righteousness; the Council is responding to the provisions of the Charter, whose authors wanted it to provide security not only to big nations, but — primarily — to small nations.

I feel unparalleled bitterness and embarrassment to be in the situation in which I find myself in the Council, dealing with a military invasion by a sisterly country with which we had previously always enjoyed close links; we have always been linked by our pure Arab blood, and we have always defended sacred rights and dedicated ourselves to them.

The Council is meting to discuss an invasion of which members undoubtedly already know the details from the flood of news from the mass media — radio and television.

As I address the Council, the people of Kuwait of all ages, the old and the young, men, women and children, are all suffering. Everybody throughout the world knows how much we love peace, that we are a peaceful people, that we are faithful to our ties with others and believe in honouring commitments and covenants. The people of Kuwait have played a positive role throughout their existence; this positive contribution has distinguished Kuwait internationally at all levels.

Our people and our sacred land have been subjected to attack in an armed military invasion by a sister country, Iraq. The whole world knows that Kuwait and its Government have played a positive role in solving regional problems by peaceful means and through negotiation. International forums have praised it for that positive role. We always co-operate and we offer aid to all; we share our bread with all friendly countries that have accepted this constructive, civilized coexistence. Yet now we are exposed to military invasion of the whole of our territory and to the overthrow of all our constitutional institutions.

In the early hours of 2 August, Iraqi forces crossed Kuwait's internationally recognized boundaries, penetrated Kuwait's territory and reached its populated area. The Kuwaiti Govemment issued a statement a few hours ago.

"Iraq occupied Kuwait at dawn today. The Iraqi forces have penetrated and occupied ministries, and the headquarters of the Government has been shelled. Crossroads have been occupied. A short time ago, Baghdad Radio announced that the aim of the invasion of Kuwait is to stage a coup d'état to overthrow the régime and establish a new régime and a Government friendly to Iraq".

In that respect, I should like to assure the Council that Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sa'ad Al-Abdulla Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, and the Government of Kuwait remain in control in Kuwait and are defending the country's security.

Iraq's pretext for invading an independent, sovereign State is false and unwarranted. This matter is a cause for surprise in terms of international relations and particularly of relations between friendly, sisterly countries. If not deterred in a decisive manner by the Council, such action will threaten all international relations. No country will be safe after this, and the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of every State will be jeopardized.

It is indeed alarming that the invasion should come from Iraq, an Arab country with which we share a number of ties rooted in history. It is equally appalling that the invasion should come less than one day after a round of talks between our two countries in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, at the very high political level of deputy leader of each country. In those talks, the Kuwaiti delegation was headed by Sheikh Sa'ad Al-Abdulla Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, and the Iraqi delegation was headed by Mr. Izzat Al-Doury, the Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council.

We discussed all points of view and all disagreements between our two countries. Through its Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Kuwait has expressed its willingness to continue bilateral negotiations in Kuwait and Baghdad in order to reach a just and honourable solution that would take into account the legitimate rights of both countries.

The only way to deal with this matter, which has already been dealt with through all international norms, instruments, and laws — first and foremost the Charter of the United Nations — is to solve the problem by peaceful means and negotiations, and not through the use of force. The solution can be found in the Charters of the United Nations and the Arab League, and the principles of non-alignment and of Islam, righteousness and justice. In this matter, however, we are faced with the Iraqi invasion, which represents a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its Article 2.

It is now incumbent on the Council to shoulder all its responsibilities and to maintain international peace and security. The Council is responsible for the protection of Kuwait and its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, which have been violated. In order to shoulder all its responsibilities and to carry out its tasks, the Council is urgently requested to demand that Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally all its forces to the positions in which they were located on 1 August 1990.

Kuwait, a small country, draws its strength and support in international legitimacy, represented by the Security Council and its role in implementing the provisions of the Charter. This is a test for and the responsibility of the Council vis-à-vis peace and security in that vital area of the world and towards all small nations that are defenceless and helpless.

Kuwait's request is very simple and clear. We ask the Security Council to put an immediate halt to this invasion and to exercise its duty to ensure, by every means available, that Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally to the international boundaries that existed before the invasion. Kuwait appeals to and urges the Council in the name of justice and the sovereignty of the United Nations Charter to adopt a resolution in conformity with the Charter and with international laws and norms.

The President: I thank the representative of Kuwait for his kind words addressed to me. I now call on the next speaker, the representative of Iraq.

Mr. Kadrat (Iraq) (interpretation from Arabic): I should first like to congratulate you, sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. I wish also to express our thanks and congratulations to the Permanent Representative of Malaysia, who presided over the Council's work last month.

The position of my country's Government with respect to the item before the Council is the following.

First, the events taking place in Kuwait are internal matters which have no relation to Iraq.

Secondly, the Free Provisional Government of Kuwait requested my Government to assist it to establish security and order so that the Kuwaitis would not have to suffer. My Government decided to provide such assistance solely on that basis.

Thirdly, the Iraqi Government energetically states that Iraq is pursuing no goal or objective in Kuwait and desires cordial and good-neighbourly relations with Kuwait.

Fourthly, it is the Kuwaitis themselves who in the final analysis will determine their future. The Iraqi forces will withdraw as soon as order has been restored. This was the request made by the Free Provisional Government of Kuwait. We hope that it will take no more than a few days, or at the most a few weeks.

Fifthly, there are reports that the previous Kuwaiti Government has been overthrown and that there is now a new Government. Hence, the person in the seat of Kuwait here represents no one, and his statement lacks credence.

Sixthly, my Govemment rejects the flagrant intervention by the United States of America in these events. This intervention is further evidence of the co-ordination and collusion between the United States Government and the previous Government of Kuwait.

My country's Government hopes that order will be swiftly restored in Kuwait and that the Kuwaitis themselves will decide upon their future, free from any outside intervention.

Mr. Pickering (United States of America): I want first, Sir, to take this opportunity to express my thanks to Ambassador Ismail Razali of Malaysia, your predecessor, for the splendid work he did in leading the Security Council last month, and to extend to you our congratulations and good wishes on your assumption of the presidency of the Council.

At about 6.30 p.m. yesterday Eastern Daylight Saving time, or shortly after midnight today in Kuwait and in Iraq, Iraqi forces moved into Kuwaiti territory, according to reports received from the United States Embassy in Kuwait. These military forces crossed over into Kuwaiti territory all along the frontier, according to these reports. They rapidly proceeded to Kuwait City and they are currently present in that city.

There was opposition to the movement of these military forces, firing and combat. We are not aware yet of the extent of casualties, but we are informed that Kuwaiti forces are resisting the advance of the Iraqis.

While the Iraqi invasion was carefully planned and professionally executed, the Iraqis at one salient point made a serious mistake. Instead of staging their coup d'état and installing this so-called free provisional government before the invasion, they got it the wrong way around: they invaded Kuwait and then staged the coup d'état in a blatant and deceitful effort to justify their action the effort they have just made here.

It was with great happiness that I learned in recent hours of reports that the Emir, the Crown Prince and the Foreign Minister of Kuwait are safe and are continuing to direct the Government of Kuwait despite the efforts from Baghdad to install its own régime in that country.

Within the last few hours the White House has issued the following statement:

"The United States strongly condemns the Iraqi military invasion of Kuwait and calls for the immediate unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces. We have conveyed this message to the Iraqi Ambassador in Washington and to the Iraqi Government through our Embassy in Baghdad. We deplore this blatant use of military aggression and violation of the United Nations Charter. Together with Kuwait, we are calling for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council."

The United States has made it clear that it will stand shoulder to shoulder with Kuwait in this time of crisis.

It is our understanding that the present aggression was completely unprovoked. United States policy has been to support every diplomatic effort to resolve the present crisis. Thus we did not arrive lightly at our position of calling for a Security Council meeting or seeking an immediate resolution which would condemn the Iraqi invasion, call for the immediate unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi troops, and support a process of negotiated solution to the differences between Iraq and Kuwait, and particularly the efforts being undertaken by the Arab League in this regard.

We have been in touch with many States in the region in an effort to seek their additional support for the action of the international community to bring about an end to this heinous act of the use of military force, contrary to the Charter, international law, and all the fully accepted norms of international behaviour.

The Security Council has seldom faced a more blatant use of force. The Council should act immediately in dealing with this problem. The United States is pleased to be joining with eight other members of the Council in proposing the text of a draft resolution for immediate adoption tonight by the Council. The Council can certainly do no less in this time of present crisis than to deal effectively and rapidly with this transcendental problem of the aggressive use of force.

We ask the Council to accept its full responsibilities and to support Kuwait in its hour of need. It is the time for peace and diplomacy, not the time for war and aggression. The world is now watching what we do here and will not be satisfied with vaccilation or procrastination.

In this time of most serious crisis, I ask all the members of the Security Council carefully to contemplate the serious issues before us and to act in the way in which they as Members of the Organization and as States committed to act under the Charter should act.

The President: I thank the representative of the United States for the kind words he addressed to me.

Mr. Peñalosa (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of my delegation, I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. I also express our thanks to Ambassador Razali for the outstanding job he did as President of the Security Council last month.

The position taken by the Colombian Government over more than a century in support of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States is well known. Whatever the circumstances, we have always opposed the use of force and, indeed, the very threat of use of force, regardless of excuses or arguments employed to justify the use of force. We are convinced that, particularly in the near future, the sovereignty and self-determination of small States, which make up the majority of Members of the United Nations, will be jeopardized if in one fashion or another we were to condone the use of force to intervene in the internal affairs of other States.

That is why, for the same reasons we condemned the invasion of Panama in December, we are now co-sponsoring the draft resolution before the Council, a text which condemns the intervention in Kuwait.

The President: I thank the representative of Colombia for the kind words he addressed to me.

Mr. Fortier (Canada): May I begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency and wishing you well during the month of August. I should also like to thank our colleague, the Ambassador of Malaysia, for his stellar performance during the month of July.

Our presence here this morning at this early hour is evidence of the deep concern of the members of this Council and the international community about the dangerous situation in Kuwait, which has been caused by the naked Iraqi invasion of its territory, There can be no question that the brutal Iraqi aggression against Kuwait is totally unacceptable and represents a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations as well as international law.

The international response to this aggression must be clear and unambiguous. The Secretary of State for External Affairs of Canada, the Right Honourable Joe Clark, earlier this morning strongly condemned the Iraqi military action against Kuwait, which he called "a totally unacceptable aggression". Mr. Clark called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the complete and immediate withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwaiti territory.

The draft resolution now be fore us is in complete accordance with the position already adopted by the Government of Canada. For this reason, Canada has agreed to co-sponsor this draft resolution, and we hope that it will enjoy the full support of all members of the Council.

The President: I thank the representative of Canada for the kind words he addressed to me.

Mr. Blanc (France) (interpretation from French): First of all, I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your country's accession to the presidency, and I should like to take this opportunity to thank our colleague, His Excellency Ambassador Razali, who quided our work during the month of July.

The Government of Prance has during the past few days been following with the keenest of concern the rising tension resulting from the threats made by Iraq against Kuwait. We had welcomed the efforts at Arab mediation and the holding of a first-round meeting at Jiddah between the two parties. In fact, we believe that dialogue is the only possible means for resolving the dispute between Iraq and Kuwait.

We most firmly deplore the fact that Iraq has chosen to use force, all the more so since we are dealing with a region that has just emerged from a particularly lengthy and bloody conflict.

That is why we fully approve of the emergency meeting of our Council. Ne unreservedly condemn the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and we demand the immediate withdrawal from the territory of Kuwait by Iraqi forces.

For those reasons, we have decided to co-sponsor the draft resolution submitted to us.

The Resident: I thank the representative of France for the kind words he addressed to me.

Mr. Redzuan (Malaysia): On behalf of my delegation, I should like to congratulate you, Sir, and express our best wishes on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. I wish also to take this opportunity to thank you and others for the kind words expressed to Ambassador Razali.

Malaysia considers the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations as sacrosanct in the conduct of relations between sovereign States. We are against acts of external interference, aggression and the use of force and the threat of force in inter-State relations without exception. This is particularly important to protect the sovereignty of small States.

Malaysia deeply regrets that this situation has taken place, involving two members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement with which we have good relations. This is particularly sad when this event is taking place during the annual Foreign Ministers' meeting of the OIC in Cairo. We are saddened at the loss of lives and the destruction brought about by this invasion.

We had been following with great interest the negotiations held earlier between Kuwait and Iraq and we had hoped that any differences would have been settled through peaceful brotherly negotiations.

This is indeed a very grave situation, and urgent and forthright action by the Security Council is required. We should like to call upon Iraq to withdraw its forces immediately and unconditionally from Kuwaiti territory and respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait. We appeal to both sides to begin immediately intensive negotiations to resolve their differences, and we should like to support the efforts of all concerned, especially those of the Arab League, in bringing about a peaceful settlement between the two countries.

Under the circumstances, Malaysia has agreed to co-sponsor the draft resolution before the Council.

The President: I thank the representative of Malaysia for the kind words he addressed to me.

Sir Crispin Tickell (United Kingdom): Mr. President, our best wishes to you and our warmest thanks to your predecessor in office.

This is an ugly moment in world affairs. We strongly condemn a clear breach of the Charter of the United Nations, as indeed of the Charter of the Arab League. The Security Council must today take its responsibilities.

In the last few hours the Iraqi Government has launched a full-scale invasion of the territory of its small and vulnerable neighbour. I should add that this is not the first time that Iraq has invaded the territory of a neighbour. We have so far seen formulas which recall in dismaying fashion the kind of totalitarian remarks made in history on many occasions. Thus we have a invasion from outside; we have a phoney coup d'état from within; and we have the purported establishment of a puppet government. Like my United States colleague, I have noted that the plot was botched because the timing was back to front.

Now we seen the already precarious stability of the region bled by a long and painful war dangerously upset. We have seen destruction of property and, more important, we have seen dangerous destruction of human life among our friends, the Kuwaitis.

There have been differences between Iraq and Kuwait for a long time. Why a violent crisis now? Negotiations were in train. We greatly welcome the efforts of President Mubarak and other Arab leaders in that respect. The negotiations have not broken down: they should have been resumed. Instead, we have seen that while the negotiations were taking place men were being mobilized and arrangements made to launch the invasion we are discussing today.

We have co-sponsored a strong draft resolution to condemn an unquestionable act of aggression. We welcome the invocation of articles 39 and 40. Iraqi forces must now withdraw unconditionally to where they were only yesterday.

I particularly pick out the points made by our colleague from Colombia when he said that the Security Council must protect, as one of its primary duties, the small, the vulnerable and the defenceless. The Security Council represents a focus of world opinion. It is the way in which the international community can mobilize itself to maintain the purposes and ideals of the Charter and ensure that acts of this kind do not succeed.

In conclusion, I want to express not just a sense of dismay but also a sense of disgust that this kind of thing can still happen in 1990 in the world community in which we all live and breathe.

The President: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for his kind words addressed to me.

Ms. Rasi (Finland): Mr. President, allow me first to thank Ambassador Razali of Malaysia for the excellent way he guided our work throughout the month of July.

It is indeed a pleasure, Sir, for me to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council.

At this early-morning hour, I do not intend to take much of the Council's time: The dangerous situation between Iraq and Kuwait does not require lengthy statements.

We learned with shock and dismay about the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. This act of aggression is a gross violation of the United Nations Charter. Finland has always condemned the use of force or the threat of its use in relations between States and we continue to do so. In conformity with this policy, Finland has agreed to co-sponsor the draft resolution before the Security Council. We urge Iraq to withdraw its forces from the territory it has occupied. We urge the parties to settle their dispute in a peaceful manner.

The President: I thank the representative of Finland for her kind words addressed to me.

Mr. Lozinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian): Mr. President, allow me first of all to congratulate you upon your shouldering the responsibilities of President of the Security Council at this difficult hour and to wish you success in your responsible work.

The Soviet delegation would also like to express its gratitude to the Permanent Representative of Malaysia for having successfully discharged the duties of President of the Security Council last month.

The Soviet delegation expresses its profound concern and alarm over the reports of the invasion by Iraqi armed forces into Kuwait. On several occasions recently the Soviet Union has spoken out in favour of a peaceful solution of all of the problems that have arisen between those two States. We look forward to positive results from the negotiations and mediation efforts undertaken by the Arab States of the region. We are even more concerned by reports to the effect that battles are still caging in Kuwait and that blood is being shed.

The Soviet delegation believes that the Security Council must act immediately to eliminate this violation of international peace and security in a region where so many urgent conflicts still await solution.

We support the draft resolution submitted for the Security Council's consideration. We expect an immediate cessation of the armed invasion, the withdrawal of Iraqi troops and a renewal of negotiations between the countries, with the assistance of regional organizations.

The President: I thank the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the words he addressed to me.

Mr. Li Daoyu (interpretation from Chinese): First of all, Sir, allow me to congratulate you upon your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We believe that under your talented guidance the Security Council will register new achievements.

At the same time, I should like to express our thanks to the Permanent Representative of Malaysia for his successful guidance of the Council's work last month.

China has consistently held that disputes between States should be settled peacefully, not by force. My country enjoys friendly relations with both Iraq and Kuwait; we hope that they will live together in peace.

We regret the incident that took place in the early morning hours of 2 August, when Iraqi troops crossed the border and attacked Kuwait. Hostilities must cease immediately. Iraqi troops should be withdrawn to where they were before the event took place. We appeal to both countries to solve their differences peacefully: through negotiation.

China endorses the draft resolution before us.

The President: I thank the representative of China for the kind words he addressed to me.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Romania.

I pledge the full support of my country for the draft resolution before us.

Our position is based on the firm belief that neither the use nor the threat of force should be resorted to for the settlement of international disputes. All disputes between States, irrespective of their nature, should be solved only by peaceful means. We are confident that implementation of the draft resolution we are called upon to adopt will restore peace in the region. We express the hope that the two States involved in the conflict will do their utmost to respect in good faith the principles of the United Nations Charter.

I now resume my functions as President of the Council.

It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that that is case.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

Before putting the draft resolution to the vote. I shall first call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

Mr. Al-Ashtal (Yemen) (interpretation from Arabic): At the outset, Sir, allow me to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, which seems to be a very difficult time. I wish also to thank Mr. Razali, the representative of Malaysia, who conducted the Council's affairs in an exemplary manner last month.

The delegation of Yemen will not participate in the voting on the draft resolution, because we have not received instructions from Sana, the capital.

However, I should like to make the following points.

First, the delegation of the Republic of Yemen, which has always tried to express the Arab position and to defend Arab interests in the Security Council, feels sorrow and embarrassment over the subject of the discussion here, especially since the problem relates to two Arab countries members of the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement, Iraq and Kuwait, with which we have very brotherly ties.

Secondly, the Republic of Yemen emphasizes its respect for the United Nations Charter and its principles and the right of all States, without exception, to enjoy their sovereignty and their territorial integrity and independence. That applies to Kuwait just as it applies to any other country.

Thirdly, the Republic of Yemen as a matter of principle emphasizes its condemnation and denunciation of all forms of interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and strongly opposes the use of force and calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Fourthly, on that basis, we call on Iraq ad Kuwait to begin immediately negotiations with a view to solving their problems, and we support all efforts by Arab countries, individually and collectively, to contain the crisis. Those efforts are going on now in Caira, where the Foreign Ministers of the Arab countries are meeting to deal with the matter.

The President: I thank the representative of Yemen for his kind words addressed to me.

I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document S/21425.

A vote was taken by show of hands.

In favour: Canada, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Malaysia, Romania, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zaire

Yemen did not participate in the voting.

The President: The result of the voting is as follows: 14 in favour, none against and no abstentions. One member did not participate in the voting. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 660 (1990).

There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.

The meeting rose at 6.05 a.m.