SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ALL ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN CAMBODIA AND CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END TO FIGHTING

11 July 1997

Press Release
SC/6395

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ALL ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN CAMBODIA AND CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END TO FIGHTING

19970711 Presidential Statement Also Urges Parties To Resolve Differences Peacefully and through Political Dialogue

Expressing grave concern at recent developments in Cambodia, the Security Council tonight condemned all acts of violence, called for an immediate end to the fighting and on all parties to ensure the security of persons and to respect the principles and rules of humanitarian law.

In a statement read by its President, Peter Osvald (Sweden), the Council called upon all the parties to respect fully their commitments under the Paris Agreements on Cambodia and urged them to resolve their difference peacefully and through political dialogue. They were called upon to ensure effective and smooth operation of constitutional institutions.

Reminding the Cambodian Government of its undertaking that free and fair legislative elections would be held in May 1998, the Council stressed the importance of the electoral process.

The meeting, which began at 9:33 p.m., adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as document S/1997/PRST/37, reads as follows:

"The Security Council is gravely concerned at recent developments in Cambodia, including violence, which have the effect of jeopardizing continued progress of the Cambodian peace process, and calls for an immediate end to the fighting.

"The Security Council reaffirms the need to respect the principles of national unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

"The Security Council calls upon all parties to respect fully their commitments under the Paris Agreements on Cambodia. It urges them to resolve their differences through peaceful means and political dialogue and in accordance with the spirit of national reconciliation.

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6395 3799th Meeting (Night) 11 July 1997

"The Security Council calls upon the parties again to ensure effective and smooth operation of constitutional institutions.

"The Security Council condemns all acts of violence and calls on all parties to ensure the safety and the security of persons and to respect the principles and rules of humanitarian law.

"The Security Council reminds the Cambodian Government of its public undertaking that free and fair legislative elections would be held in May 1998. It stresses the importance of this electoral process.

"The Security Council welcomes and supports all efforts to promote dialogue among the parties, including those undertaken by the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other Signatory States of the Paris Agreements on Cambodia.

"The Security Council will remain seized of the matter."

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