UNITED NATIONS
SECURITY COUNCIL
Distr.
GENERAL
S/5345
9 July 1963
ENGLISH
ORIGINAL: RUSSIAN
LETTER DATED 9 JULY 1963 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
On the instructions of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I have the honour to draw the attention of the members of the Security Council to the serious situation resulting from events in Northern Iraq and from the interference of a number of States in the military operations undertaken against the Kurdish people by the Iraqi authorities.
The large-scale military operations launched against peaceful Kurdish towns and villages by troops equipped with aircraft, tanks and artillery, which are brutally exterminating the peaceful population, including children, women and old people, and are reducing vast areas of Kurdistan to ruins, are arousing growing indignation in all countries.
In addition, the policy of repression applied by the Iraqi authorities against the Kurdish people, who are fighting for their national rights, is opening the way to interference by external forces in the internal affairs of Iraq, is threatening to spread the conflict and is undermining the already precarious foundations of peace in the Near and Middle East. Even now, certain neighbouring States are interfering in the fratricidal war launched by the Iraqi authorities against the Kurds. There is information that neighbouring States are sending to Iraq military units which are taking a direct part in the punitive operations against the Kurdish people. According to Press reports, a battalion of Syrian troops and aircraft of the Syrian air force are already taking part in military operations in Northern Iraq.
Every day brings increasing reports that the events in Northern Iraq are the result of a deal arrived at between those who have an interest in subverting the independence of the Iraqi State and subordinating it once again to the interests of foreign monopolies. According to statements made by certain representatives of the colonialist military pact CENTO, the bloody repression of the Kurds was the subject of special discussion at a meeting of countries members of this bloc. The leaders of the CENTO colonial bloc must clearly understand that any interference by neighbouring States in the events in Iraq may result in bringing about a serious threat to peace in the region of the Near and Middle East.
For this reason, the interference of foreign States in the events taking place within the borders of the Iraqi State is not the concern of Iraq alone. The involvement in the conflict of other forces and other States and the establishment by aggressive forces of bases close to the Soviet borders are creating a threat to the security of a number of States, including the Soviet Union, a matter which the Soviet Government cannot regard with indifference.
The Government of the USSR, concerned at the evolution of events in the area of the southern borders of the Soviet Union and acting in the interests of the maintenance of peace, draws the attention of members of the Security Council to the dangerous consequences of outside interference in the events taking place in Northern Iraq. The continuance of foreign interference in these events may compel other States to take steps to eliminate this interference and protect their own security.
The Soviet Government feels it essential to bring this matter to the attention of the Security Council, in view of the fact that if interference by external forces in the events in Northern Iraq continues, it may become necessary to convene the Security Council so that the necessary measures may be taken to put an end to such interference.
I have the honour to be, etc.
(Signed) N. PEDORENKO