Security Council demands immediate cease-fire as first step towards negotiated settlement of Iran-Iraq war.

Security Council demands immediate cease-fire as first step towards negotiated settlement of Iran-Iraq war

Asks UN observers be sent to area

THE SECURITY COUNCIL on 20 July demanded that, as a first step towards a negotiated settlement, Iran and Iraq observe an immediate cease-fire, discontinue all military actions on land, at sea and in the air, and withdraw all forces to the internationally recognized boundaries without delay. The Council asked Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar to dispatch a team of United Nations observers to "verify, confirm and supervise the cease-fire and withdrawal', to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with the parties, and to report thereon to the Council.

The Secretary-General was also asked to explore, in consultation with Iran and Iraq, the "question of entrusting an impartial body with inquiring into responsibility for the conflict' and to report to the Council as soon as possible.

In unanimously adopting resolution 598 (1987), the Council also urged that prisoners of war be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949.

Iran and Iraq were called upon to co-operate with Mr. Perez de Cuellar in implementing the resolution and in mediation efforts to "achieve a comprehensive, just and honourable settlement, acceptable to both sides, of all outstanding issues', in accordance with the United Nations Charter principles. All other States were called upon to exercise "utmost restraint' and to refrain from any act which might lead to further escalation and widening of the conflict.

The Council recognized the magnitude of the damage inflicted during the conflict and the need for reconstruction efforts, "with appropriate international assistance, once the conflict is ended'. In that regard, the Secretary-General was asked to assign a team of experts to study the question of reconstruction and to report to the Council. The Secretary-General was also asked to examine, in consultation with Iran and Iraq and with other States of the region, measures to enhance the region's security and stability.

Finally, the Council decided to "meet again as necessary to consider further steps to ensure compliance' with the resolution.

In a preambular paragraph, the Council reaffirmed its resolution 582 (1986), by which Iran and Iraq were asked to observe "an immediate cease-fire, a cessation of all hostilities on land, at sea, and in the air and withdrawal of all forces to the international recognized boundaries without delay'.

Both parties, in resolution 582, were also called on to submit immediately "all aspects of the conflict to mediation or to any other means of peaceful settlement of disputes'. Under other of its provisions, the Council had deplored the initial acts which gave rise to the conflict between Iran and Iraq, and its continuation and escalation, "especially territorial incursions, the bombing of purely civilian population centres, attacks on neutral shipping or civilian aircraft, the violation of international humanitarian law and other laws of armed conflict and, in particular, the use of chemical weapons contrary to obligations under the 1925 Geneva Protocol'. (Both Iran and Iraq are parties to the Protocol, which calls for "the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare'.)

Resolution 582 also urged that a comprehensive exchange of prisoners of war be completed within a short period after the cessation of hostilities in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). All other States were called upon to "exercise the utmost restraint' and refrain from any act which might lead to a further escalation and widening of the conflict.

"A breach of the peace'

Other preambular paragraphs of...