THE SITUATION BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ42

Decisions
At its 2663rd meeting, on 18 February 1986, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen to participate, without vote, in the di~cussion of the item entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq: letter dated 12 February 1986 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council {S/17821)"43
At the same meeting, the Council also decided, at the request of the representative of the United Arab Emirates,44 to extend an invitation to Mr. Chedli Klibi under rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure.
At its 2664th meeting, on 19 February 1986, the Council decided, by a vote, that an invitation should be accorded to the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in the debate and that that invitation would confer upon it the same rights of participation as those conferred on a Member State when it was invited to participate under rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure.
Adopted by]() votes to I (United Srute.1 o}America). with 4 absrenIiuns (Ausrralia. Derrmark. France. Unired Kingdom of Greal Britain and Northern Ireland/
At its 2665th meeting, on 20 February 1986, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Egypt, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Morocco to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the question.
Resolution 582 (1986)
of 24 February 1986
The Security Council, Having considered the question entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq",

Recaffing that the Security Council has been seized with the question of the situation between Iran and Iraq for almost six years and that decisions have been taken thereon,
Deeply concerned about the prolongation of the conflict between the two countries resulting in heavy lo~ses of human lives and considerable material damage and endangering peace and secunty.
Recaffing the provisions of the Charter and in particular the obligation of all Member States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and ~ecurity and justice are not endangered.
Noting that both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq are parties to the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,45
Emphasizing the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force.
Taking note of the elforts of mediation pursued by the Secretary-General,
1. Deplores the inittal acts which gave rise to the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq and deplores the continuation of the conflict;
2. Also deplores the escalation of the conflict, 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
3. Calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq 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 internationally recognized boundaries without delay;
4. Urges that a comprehensive exchange of prisonersof-war be completed within a short period after the cessation of hostilities in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross;
5. Calls upon both parties to submit immediately all aspects of the conflict Jo mediation or to any other means of peaceful settlement of disputes;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his ongoing efforts, to assist the two parties to give effect to this resolution and to keep the Council informed;
7. Caffs upon all other States to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any act which may lead to a

42 Resolutions or decision' on thi' question were al\o adopted h~ the Council in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985.
43 See Official Records of Ihe Securily Council. Forty-}irll Ymr. Supple-
men/ for January, February and March 1986. 44 Document S/17841, incorporated rr1 the record of the 266.lrd
meeting.

4' I ~<t!!ll~ of '\iatH>Il,, I '<'utr .'icnc.1, vol. XCIV ( 1'129), No. 213~. p h"

11

further escalation and widening of the conflict and, thus, to facilitate the implementation of the present resolution:
8. Decides to remain seized <lf the matter.
Adopt~d UIIU/1/IWJU,f)' Ul the 20Mth tn~clin.~
Decisions
At its 2667th meeting, on 21 March 1986, the Council proceeded with the discussion of the item entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq: report of the mission dispatched by the Secretary-General to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq (S/ 17911 and Add.!)" .43
At the same meeting, the President of the Council made the following statement:46
"On behalf of the members of the Security Council, I am authorized to make the following declaration:
" 'The members of the Security Council, seized with the continuing conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq, have considered the report of the mission of specialists dispatched by the Secretary-General to investigate allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the conflict between Iran and Iraq.47
" 'Profoundly concerned by the unanimous conclusion of the specialists that chemical weapons on many occasions have been used by Iraqi forces against Iranian forces, most recently in the course of the present Iranian offensive into Iraqi territory, the members of the Council strongly condemn this continued use of chemical weapons in clear violation of the Geneva Protocol of 192545 which prohibits the use in war of chemical weapons.
" 'They recall the statements by the President of the Council of 30 March 198448 and 25 April 1985,49 and demand again that the provisions of the Geneva Protocol be strictly observed.
"'At the same time, the members of the Council condemn the prolongation of the conflict which continues to take a heavy toll of human lives and to cause considerable material damage, as well as to endanger peace and security in the region.
" 'They express concern over the risk of an extension of the conflict to other States in the region and call upon the two sides to respect the territorial integrity of all States, including those that are not parties to the hostilities.
" 'The members of the Council reaffirm resolution 582 (1986) of the Security Council and note that the Government of Iraq has expres~ed its willingness to heed the call for the immediate cessation of hostili

ties. They stress the urgent need for full compliann· by both parties with this resolution, which would open the way for a prompt, comprehensive. ju~t and honourable sdt lement oft he contlict.
.. 'The members of the Council note that both par ties have declared themselves ready to co-operat.with the Secretary-General in his ongoing efforts t'l restore peace to the peoples oflran and Iraq, and e\ · press their support for these efforts.' "
At its 2709th meeting, on 3 October 19!16, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia. Senegal, Tunisia and Zambia to participate, without vote. in the discussion of the item entitled "The situation between Iran and Iraq: letter dated 30 September 1986 from the Permanent Representatives of Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/18J72)''50
At the same meeting, the Council also decided, by a vote, that an invitation should be accorded to the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in the debate and that that invitation would confer upon it the same rights of participation as those conferred on a Member State when it was invited to participate under rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure.
Adopled hv JIJ vo/·'' Io I (Unu,·,! Stuln oj 1merim) >l'ith 4 ah,f,'ll
tion\ ( ·tusrraliu. Dunm(Jr/,_
France. Unlfed 1\.'ingdom 11/ Great Rritain awl "'ortlrern /r1
land!
At the same meeting, the Council further decided, at the request of the representative of Oman,5I to extend an invitation to Mr. Chcdli K libi under rule J9 of the provi\ional rules of procedure.
At its 271 Oth meeting, on 3 October 1986, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Argentina, Bangladesh, the German Democratic Republic and Yugo~ lavia to participate. without vote, in the discus~ion oft he question.
At ih 2711 th meeting, on 6 October l9H6, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Afghanistan. Chad. Cuba and Mexico to participate, without vote, in the d1scu\sion nf the que~tion

46 S/ 17932 47 Ojjiciull~ccord' of" the Secur!lv ( 'ounn I. I (!1'/V-jinl rcur. SU[i[lhll<'/1{
}or Junuwy. Fehruary <111d Murch /9XfJ. docu!lll.'llh S; 17911 and ;\dd I 4R See Resoluiion·. and Dcciswm o( Iiw Sccur!lv Cou/1( 1!. !9X4. p lil 4q !hid.. /9X5. pp. tJ-7.

' 0 See Ol,h< 1ul Rcn>ltf, ·>/ lh,·.),·curin· Cuunnl. 1-'orll-/ini }'ear. \'IJ[>.>f,
lllt'l/l jor Oc!oht'!. \1<~,'1nh,·,. o1nd /),·c,·mh,,- IIJXfJ " 1 [)ut.:UPlt:tlt 'i, \:-.. ~~.:;. Hll"tillhH.alcd 111 tlh· n .·t:drd ,il the 27()11111
11\t't.'llll~

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