sovereignty and authority of the Government of Lebanon.
"I wish to repeat that the humanitarian factor is the one which concerns me. I have consulted the Security Council because I felt that this was the right thing to do on a matter of such importance.
"In taking my decision therefore, I would like to have the understanding of the Council on this matter."

On the same day, the President issued the following statement: 25
"With reference to the statement made public by the Secretary-General today, and after consultations with the members of the Council, I confirm, as President of the Security Council, that his statement has the support of the members of the Council."
" S/16195.

THE SITUATION BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ26

Decision
On 21 February 1983, the President of the Council issued the following statement27 in connection with the item entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq".
"The Security Council met in informal consultations on 21 February 1983 to consider the recent escalation of the conflict between Iran and Iraq.
"The members of the Council express their deep concern at the serious situation between Iran and Iraq which gravely endangers international peace and security and at the fact that resolutions 479 (1980), .514 (1982) and .522 (1982) have not yet been implemented.
"The members of the Council continue to urge that all concerned be guided by Member States' obligations under the Charter: to settle their international disputes by peaceful means and in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.
"The members of the Council express their profound regret at the continuation and the escalation of the conflict and deplore the grave human losses and the considerable material damage resulting therefrom. They reaffirm the necessity of implementing the Council's previous resolutions on the subject which were unanimously adopted.
''The members of the Council urgently call once again for an immediate cease-fire and an end to all military operations as well as the withdrawal of forces up to internationally recognized boundaries with a view to seeking a peaceful settlement in accordance with the principles of the Charter.
"The Council remains seized of this question and urges all Member States to exert all efforts to assist in the restoration of peace and security in the region.
26 Resolutions or decisions on this question were also adopted by the Council in 1980 and 1982.
27 S/15616.

·'The members of the Council request the Secretary-General to continue his efforts, in consultation with the parties concerned, with a view to achieving a peaceful settlement and to keep the Council informed."
At its 2493rd meeting, on 31 October 1983, the Council proceeded with the discussion of the item entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq".
Resolution 540 (1983)
of 31 Odober 1983
The Security Council, Having considered again the question entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq", Recalling its relevant resolutions and statements which, inter alia, call for a comprehensive cease-fire and an end to all military operations between the parties, Recalling the report of the Secretary-General of 20 June 198328 on the mission appointed by him to inspect civilian areas in Iran and Iraq which have been subject to military attacks, and exp~ssing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for presenting a factual, balanced and objective account, Also noting with appreciation and encouragement the assistance and co-operation given to the SecretaryGeneral's mission by the Governments of Iran and Iraq, Deploring once again the conflict between the two countries, resulting in heavy losses of civilian lives and extensive damage caused to cities, property and economic infrastructures, Affirming the desirability of an objective examination of the causes of the war,
2" Official Record.\ of the Security Council, Thirty-eighth Year. Supplement .fcJr April. May and June 1983. document S/15834.

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1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his mediation efforts with the parties concerned, with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just and honourable settlement acceptable to both sides;
2. Condemns all violations of international humanitarian law, in particular, the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in all their aspects, and calls for the immediate cessation of all military operations against civilian targets, including city and residential areas;
3. Affirms the right of free navigation and commerce in international waters, calls on all States to respect this right and also calls upon the belligerents to cease immediately all hostilities in the region of the Gulf, including all sea-lanes, navigable waterways, harbour works, terminals, offshore installations and all ports with direct or indirect access to the sea, and to respect the integrity of the other littoral States;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the parties concerning ways to sustain and verify the

cessation of hostilities, including the possible dispatch of United Nations observers, and to submit a report to the Security Council on the results of these consultations;
5. Calls upon both parties to refrain from any action that may endanger peace and security as well as marine life in the region of the Gulf;
6. Ca/Is onc·e more upon all other States to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any act which may lead to a further escalation and widening of the conflict and, thus, to facilitate the implementation of the present resolution;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the parties regarding immediate and effective implementation of the present resolution.
Adopted ut the 249JrJ mc-eting bv 12 votes to none, with J abstc-ntions (Malta, Nicoragua, Pakistan).

LETTER DATED 19 FEBRUARY 1983 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECU· RITY COUNCIL

Decisions
At its 2415th meeting, on 22 February 1983, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Benin, Democratic Yemen, Egypt, Ghana, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the item entitled "Letter dated 19 February 1983 from the Permanent Representative of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/15615)". 29

At its 2417th meeting, on 23 February 1983, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Madagascar and Viet Nam to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the question.
At its 2418th meeting, on 23 February 1983, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Algeria, Bulgaria, Cuba and Ethiopia to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the question.

At its 2416th meeting, on 22 February 1983, the Council decided, at the request of the representative of Jordan,30 to extend an invitation to Mr. Clovis Maksoud under rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure.
29 See Of]idal Records of the Security Council. Thirty-eighth Year, Supplc-ment for January, February and March /98J.
30 Document S/15619, incorporated in the record of the 2416th meeting.

At the same meeting, the Council also decided, at the request of Togo,31 to extend an invitation to Mr. lke F. Mafole under rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure.
-'' Document S/15621, incorporated in the record of the 2418th meeting.

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