At its 2967th meeting, on 10 December 1990, the Council continued its consideration of the question.
After suspension and resumption of the meeting and in response to a motion by the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in accordance with rule 33, paragraph 3, of the provisional rules of procedure, the Council decided, by a vote, to adjourn the meeting to Wednesday, 12 December 1990, at 6 p.m.
Adopted at the 2967th meeting by 9 votes to 4 (Colombia, Cuba. Malaysia, Yemen) with 2 abstentions (China, France).
At its 2968th meeting, on 12 December 1990, the Council continued its consideration of the question.
In response to a motion by the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in accordance with rule 33, paragraph 3, of the provisional rules of procedure, the Council decided, by a vote, to adjourn the meeting to Monday, 17 December 1990, at 3 p.m.
Adopted at the 2968th meeting by 9 votes to 4 (Colombia. Cuba, Malaysia, Yemen) with 2 abstenTions (China. France).
At its 2970th meeting, on 19 December 1990, the Council continued its consideration of the question.
In response to a motion by the representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in accordance with rule 33, paragraph 1, of the provisional rules of procedure, the Council decided, by a vote, to suspend the meeting.
Adopted at the 2970th meeting l>y 9 votes to 6 (China, Colombia. Cuba, France, Malaysia. Yemen)"
At the resumed 2970th meeting, on 20 December 1990, prior to the adoption of resolution 681 (1990), the President made the following statement on behalf of the members of the Council:45
"The members of the Council reaffirm their determination to support an active negotiating process in which all relevant parties would participate leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict through negotiations which should be based on Council resolutions 242 ( 1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 ( 1973) of 22 October 1973 and should take into account the right to security of all States in the region, including Israel, and the legitimate political rights of the Palestinian people.
"In this context, they agree that an international conference, at an appropriate time, properly structured, should facilitate efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement and lasting peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
45 S/22027.

"However, they are of the view that there is not unanimity as to when would be the appropriate time for such a conference.
"In the view of the members of the Council, the question of the Arab-Israeli conflict is important and unique and must be addressed independently, on its own merits."

Resolution 681 (1990)
of20 December 1990

The Security Council,
Reaffirming the obligations of Member States under the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming also the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, set forth in resolution 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967,
Having received the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with resolution 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990 on ways and means of ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation,46 and taking note in particular of paragraphs 20 to 26 thereof,
Taking note of the interest of the Secretary-General to visit and to send his envoy to pursue his initiative with the Israeli authorities, as indicated in paragraph 22 of his report, and of their recent invitation extended to him,
Gravely concerned at the dangerous deterioration of the situation in all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and at the violence and rising tension in Israel,
Taking into consideration the statement made by the President of the Security Council on 20 December 199045 concerning the method and approach for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict,
Recalling its resolutions 607 (1988) of 5 January 1988, 608 (1988) of 14 January 1988, 636 (1989) of 6 July 1989 and 641 ( 1989) of 30 August 1989, and alarmed by the decision of the Government of Israel to deport four Palestinians from the occupied territories in contravention of its obligations under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,40
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report;
2. Expresses its grave concern over the rejection by Israel of its resolutions 672 ( 1990) of 12 October 1990 and 673 (1990) of 24 October 1990;
3. Deplores the decision by the Government of Israel, the occupying Power, to resume the deportation of Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories;
4. Urges the Government of Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,40 to all the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the ConventiOn;

6 ;

Official

Records

of the

Security

Council,

Forty-fifth

Year,

Supple~

ment for October, November and December 1990, documents S/21919

and CorL I and Add" 1-:\"

8

5. Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the said Convention to ensure respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for its obligations under the Convention in accordance with article 1 thereof;
6. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to develop further the idea, expressed in his report, of convening a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the said Convention to discuss possible measures that might be taken by them under the Convention and, for this purpose, to invite the Parties to submit their views on how the idea could contribute to the goals of the Convention, as well as on other relevant matters, and to report thereon to the Council;

7. Also requests the Secretary-General to monitor and observe the situation regarding Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation, making new efforts in this regard on an urgent basis, and to utilize and designate or draw upon the United Nations and other personnel and resources present there, in the area and elsewhere, needed to accomplish this task, and to keep the Security Council regularly informed;
8. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a first progress report to the Security Council by the first week of March 1991 and to report every four months thereafter, and decides to remain seized of the matter as necessary.
Adopted unanimously at the 2970th meeting.

LETTER DATED 2 FEBRUARY 1990 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF CUBA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
Decisions
At its 2907th meeting, on 9 February 1990, the Council discussed the item entitled "Letter datecl2 February 1990 from the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/21120). 47
At the same meeting, the President (Cuba) made a procedural statement, indicating his decision to have resort to rule 20 of the provisional rules of procedure and to yield the Chair, for the purpose of the consideration of the item currently on the agenda, to the representative of the member next in English alphabetical order (Democratic Yemen').
--
47 Ojjicial Rt'cords of the Security Council, Forty-fifth Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1990.

THE SITUATION IN CYPRUS48

Decisions
On 22 February 1990, following consultations with the members of the Council, the President made the following statement on behalf of the Council: 49
"The members of the Council recall the statement made on their behalf by the President on 14 December 1989.50 They express their appreciation to the SecretaryGeneral for his briefing on the current situation about his mission of good offices concerning Cyprus and give their full support to his efforts to assist the two communities to reach a just and lasting solution.
"The members of the Council stress the importance
48 Resolutions or decisions on thi, question were also adopted by the Council in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983,1984,1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
49 S/21160. 50 Sec Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1989, p. 18.
9

they attach to an early negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem.
"The members of the Council are pleased that the leaders of the two sides in Cyprus have accepted the Secretary-General's invitation to meet with him for an extended session beginning on 26 February 1990 to complete the work on an outline of an overall agreement, as agreed in June 1989.
"The members of the Council call upon the leaders of the two sides to demonstrate the necessary goodwill and flexibility and to cooperate fully with the SecretaryGeneral so that the talks will result in a major step toward the resolution of the Cyprus problem.
"The members of the Council request the SecretaryGeneral to report to the Council at the conclusion of the forthcoming meeting to inform them of the results achieved and of his assessment of the situation at that time."
At its 2909th meeting, on 12 March 1990, the Council

