1968_4_arabisraelwar

UNITED STATES AND UNITED NATIONS / 181
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Council on November 22.
Comparison of the text with the positions outlined by President Johnson
and Premier Kosygin, on June 19, shows that the resolution, for which the
Soviet Union now voted, incorporated four of Johnson's five major points and
virtually none of the Soviet demands. It omitted Johnson's point dealing with
the arms race.
However, in a statement after the vote, Goldberg expressed satisfaction
that the Soviet draft, which was not submitted to a vote, contained a clause,
calling on all the states in the area to "take measures to limit the useless and
destructive arms race." He reiterated that the United States was eager to
work together with the Soviet Union and other states to end the arms race.
But, as noted above, there was no sign at the end of the year that the flow
of weapons from the arsenals of the rival superpowers to the Middle East
had diminished.
In its preamble, the British resolution emphasized "the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting
peace," enabling every state in the Middle East to "live in security," as well
as a commitment by all UN members "to act in accordance with Article 2
of the Charter." (This article requires, inter alia, that all UN members "settle
their international disputes by peaceful means" and refrain "from the
threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence
of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with" the purposes of the
UN.)
In the operative part of the resolution the Security Council:
1. Affirms that the fulfilment of Charter principles requires the establishment
of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application
of both the following principles:
(i) withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent
conflict;
(ii) termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and
acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence
of every State in the area and their right to live in peace
within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of
force;
2. Affirms further the necessity
(a) for guaranteeing freedom of navigation through international waterways
in the area;
(b) for achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem;
(c) for guaranteeing the territorial inviolability and political independence
of every State in the area, through measures including the establishment
of demilitarized zones;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to designate a Special Representative to proceed
to the Middle East to establish and maintain contacts with the States concerned
in order to promote agreement and assist efforts to achieve a peaceful
and accepted settlement in accordance with the provisions and principles in this
resolution; . . .