12051964 Text of the Speech made by Mr. Bernardes (Brazil) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1115 held on 12 May 1964

Text of the Speech made by Mr. Bernardes (Brazil) in the Security Council Meeting No. 1115 held on 12 May 1964

During the Council's debate on the question of Jammu and Kashmir in the month of February 1964 [1092nd meeting], I had the opportunity to present the views of my Government on the substance of the matter now under consideration by the Security Council. I shall, therefore, refrain from restating the position of the Brazilian Government since it has not changed in the time that has elapsed between last February and today. I shall limit myself to noting with satisfaction that talks between the Home Ministers of the two countries directly involved have taken place and are scheduled to continue. Although no definite answer to the many problems that confront India and Pakistan in relation to Jammu and Kashmir has yet been found, it is encouraging that direct negotiations between responsible Cabinet Members of the two Governments have been initiated and that the Home Minister of Pakistan has been able to say that a substantial measure of agreement has been reached.

We are particularly pleased with these developments since we firmly believe that a final and lasting solution to this fifteen year old problem can only be found by the parties themselves taking into account the wishes of the people of the area which is the object of our attention. I do not mean that the United Nations, and the Security Council especially, do not have an important role to play. On the contrary, I believe that the Security Council has already discharged its duties in relation to the question of Jammu and Kashmir in a way that is conducive to a fair and just settlement of the issues and I trust that it will continue to do so. The present situation, however, requires, in our view, that the United Nations exert what I might call friendly pressure on the two Member States in order that they may set aside, difficult as it might be, the emotional attitudes to which the long and protracted dispute has given rise and employ their statesmanship to explore all possible avenues of agreement so as to bring to an end this most natural litigation.

It was also with hope that we learned of the release of the Kashmiri leader, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, and the ensuing talks between him and the Prime Minister of India. To say that we fervently desire that these talks may come to fruition would be an understatement. According to reports which have appeared in the press in the last few days, a number of very interesting suggestions have been put forward by Sheikh Abdullah. Although I would not by any means comment on their merit at this time, I welcome them as an indication of the serious and constructive way in which these conversations are being held.

These recent developments demonstrate that a realistic approach is perhaps beginning to emerge. In spite of the fact that, in my view, there is no substitute for direct talks in the present case, the parties should keep in mind the fact that the United Nations, through its twenty years of existence, has developed and polished the best available international machinery for the settlement of disputes. They should bear in mind that this well-oiled machinery is at their disposal at all times and can be set in motion at a moment's notice. Moreover, the Secretary-General, as the head of the United Nations Secretariat, is especially well qualified by his background and his personal knowledge of this complex issue to assist both India and Pakistan whenever they themselves request that assistance. U Thant enjoys, deservedly, the trust and confidence of the two great Asian nations. Both the representative of India and the representative of Pakistan have stated, either publicly or privately, that he is welcome to visit their countries whenever he deems it opportune to do so and that, during his visit, he would be at liberty to go wherever he pleased and to talk with whomever he wished to talk. If the Secretary-General, in his wisdom, should consider that a visit to the two countries might be helpful at this juncture, I am sure that, in his capacity as the principal servant of the United Nations, he would undertake to inform, either privately or openly, the members of the Security Council of the situation as he sees it. He might also present any suggestions he might have as to the ways and means of achieving the peaceful and orderly solution so greatly desired by all.

The Council would act wisely, in our view, if, upon concluding this round of talks, it would empower its President to recall some of the positive new elements that have arisen since we last met, to express the fervent hope of all the members for a prompt and fair settlement of the Jammu-Kashmir question, and to remind the parties of the availability of the Secretary General's assistance and the United Nations machinery to aid them in their endeavours.