Britain to veto U.N. call for cease-fire

Press, 4 June 1982, Page 6

Britain to veto U.N. call for cease-fire

NZPA-Reuter New York

Britain yesterday threatened to veto a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional Falklands cease-fire but United Nations told Security Council members that it would agree to a truce if Argentina withdrew its forces within 14 days. Spain and Panama tabled the resolution yesterday when the 15-nation council took up the South Atlantic crisis again after learning that the Secretary-General (Mr Javier Perez de Cuellar) had; failed in renewed efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting. Mr Perez de Cuellar said he had been unable to negotiate mutually acceptable terms in extensive exchanges with British and Argentine representatives.

While saying that he would vote against the call for an immediate cease-fire, Britain’s representative, Sir Anthony Parsons, outlined to members a course that Britain would find acceptable.

And British officials distributed privately .what’ they called “an illustrative resolution” that was not a formal proposal. It mentioned a call for Argentine agreement to pull out within, say, 14 days, but Sir Anthony spoke of no given time.

British sources said that the Spanish-Panamanian draft was unacceptable and Britain would have to exercise its right of veto if it was put to a vote.

Sir Anthony toM-the council: “The United Kingdom is perfectly prepared for a cease-fire so long as it is inextricably linked to..implementation of the element in resolution-502 on Argentine withdrawal.” ; That was the resolution adopted on April 3, the day after Argentine forces occupied the Falklands. It called for an end to hostilities, Argentine withdrawal, and a diplomatic settlement. “We are ready to discuss honourable arrangements for the departure of Argentine forces, in accordance with resolution 502,” Sir Anthony

said. A call for a cease-fire could become effective as soon as watertight arrangements for their withdrawal were agreed between the respective military commanders.

Jaime de Pinies, of Spain and Leonardo Kam, of Panama, asked for a' vote on their resolution yesterday. But the council agreed to defer a vote to today.

Enrique Ros, the Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister, blamed Britain for the failure of Mr Perez de Cuellar’s latest efforts to stop the fighting.

He told the r council that Britain had no intention of heeding any appeal. It sought only to continue military aggression with the sole purpose of establishing “another shameful example of colonial imperialism through aggression.”

Sir Anthony said it was Britain that was the victim of Argentine aggression and that Britain’s aim was to free the' Falklanders from Argentine occupation. .