Iran-Iraq peace talks continue in Geneva.

Iran-Iraq peace talks continue in Geneva

Another round of direct talks between Iran and Iraq aimed at achieving a final peace settlement through full implementation of Security Council resolution 598 (1987) was held in Geneva in April.

Between 20 and 23 April, Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar met three times with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati and Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz together, after holding separate meeting with each official.

On 24 April, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said he had registered the parties' recommitment to full implementation of resolution 598, the upholding of the cease-fire between the two countries and pursuance of the peace process. His Personal Representative on issues pertaining to the implementation of resolution 598, Jan K. Eliason, was to remain in touch with both sides to prepare for future meetings.

The Secretary-General also expressed satisfaction with the atmosphere of the meetings, at which the two Ministers had spoken with restraint, using non-controversial statements.

Four previous rounds of direct peace negotiations had been held--in August, October and November 1988, and in February 1989, in both Geneva and New York.

Security Council resolution 598, adopted unanimously on 20 July 1987, calls inter alia for a cease-fire, an end to all military actions in the region, withdrawal of forces to internationally recognized boundaries, dispatch of a team of UN observers to supervise those actions, and release and repatriation of prisoners of war.

On 13 April, before the fifth round began, the Secretary-General expressed the hope that renewed intensive discussions would help achieve full and rapid...