U.N. tries again to work out cease-fire plan

Press, 5 June 1982, Page 8

U.N. tries again to work out cease-fire plan

, NZPA-Reuter New York The United Nations Security Council planned a new attempt today to produce a Falklands cease-fire resolution that can avoid a British veto and help head off a climactic battle for the islands’ capital, Port Stanley. Britain was prepared yesterday to veto a draft, spon-sored-by Spain and Panama, calling for a cease-fire without any reference to an Argentine withdrawal from the Falklands. Britain has insisted that the shooting can stop only if there are cast-iron assurances of an Argentine

troop pull-out from the islands. When the council met yesterday after. several hours’ delay Panama proposed an amendment under which a cease-fire would begin simultaneously with the implementation of two previous council resolutions, including one adopted on April 3 calling for an immediate withdrawal of all Argentine forces.

Sir Anthony Parsons said this was an improvement, although even in its amended form the draft still did not directly mention an Argentine pull-out. After suspending the meet-

ing, council members spent the rest of the day privately discussing more amendments that might make the resolution acceptable to Britain while helping avert a looming battle for Port Stanley, the last main Argentine stronghold on the islands. Details of the proposed amendments were not made public, but council sources said their effect would be to tighten the link between a cease-fire and an Argentine withdrawal.

Asked whether the proposed changes were moving in the direction he favoured. Sir Anthony said: “I think they are beginning to move

fractionally in that direction."

The Spanish Ambassador. Jaime de Pinies. one of the

sponsors of the original reso> lution. had been pressing for speedy council action, stressing the need to prevent further bloodshed in the South Atlantic.

But at the end of the day the council met again for only about a minute so that its president, Mr Luc de la Barre de Nanteuil, of France, could announce an adjournment until today. This was to allow time for more consultations between delegates and their governments.