Statement In Security Council

By Ambassador Munir Akram Permanent Representative, October 5th 2003

Mr. President,

Since this is the first meeting of the Security Council which you are presiding, may I take this opportunity to extend to you the warm felicitations of the delegation of Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council during the current month. We will extend every cooperation to you, Sir, to ensure the success of your Presidency. I would also like to express my delegation’s congratulations and admiration to Sir Jones Parry, the Permanent Representative of the U.K. for the successful Presidency during the last month.

Mr. President,

  1. The Security Council has been established to defend a world order based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Our Charter prescribes strict rules for the use of force by member states and this is envisaged only in two circumstances. Firstly, in the right of self-defence, against a direct act of aggression or use of force. Secondly, through the collective use of force under article 42 of the United Nations Charter with the explicit authorization of the Security Council.

Mr. President,

  1. The attack perpetrated by Israel against the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic on 5 October did not meet these strict prescriptions of the Charter. This was an arbitrary act, in legal and political terms. It is clearly a violation of the United Nations Charter. It is also a violation of the several resolutions which the Security Council has adopted on the issue of peace in the Middle East such as resolution 242, 338, 350, 1397 and others. We welcome the fact that the government of Syria instead of retaliating against this wanton attack on its territory has chosen to approach the Security Council for redress. The Security Council must commend Syria’s self restraint and condemn the Israeli attack against Syrian territory.

Mr. President,

  1. A few weeks ago the Secretary General of the United Nations warned member states against the danger of the misuse of the t-word - terrorism - for actions by states designed to suppress the struggle of peoples for freedom and to achieve their own partisan objectives. We believe that the response of Israel in this case is one such example of the exploitation of the campaign against terrorism for other purposes.

Mr. President,

  1. The problems which Israel faces are problems which arise from its illegal occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories. The answer to individual acts of terrorism is not state terrorism. Nor is it wanton attacks against other countries in violation of international law and the UN Charter. We must distinguish between acts of terrorism and the legitimate struggle of peoples under foreign occupation for self determination and liberation.

Mr. President,

  1. Pakistan has officially condemned Israel’s attack against Syrian territory in violation of international law. We urge the Council to speedily adopt a decision to condemn this military aggression and to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.