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32 The matter is before the Council itself to determine. Before I ask for observations, I shall venture to offer a suggestion which can serve as a basis for discussion. On the subject matter of this item, the Council has received certain written communications from the delegations of Iran and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, respectively. The world has the right to expect of this Security Council that it will deal with all such matters in a regular way, and in accordance with the principles of justice and fair play which are stated in the Charter. My suggestion, therefore, is first, that the Council should commence its consideration of this item by giving to the delegation for Iran, and then to the delegation for the USSR, an opportunity to make oral observations, either in explanation of or in supplementation of their written communications. In this way, the Council will be fully seized of the matter under consideration.

The adoption of some such practice, as a general procedure initiating the discussion of matters such as this, may be thought to establish best the impartiality and the objectivity of the Council’s consideration of the item.

Then, certainly, after these statements have been completed, the suggestion is that I should throw the subject open to discussion by the Council: It will then be the right of any member to move any relevant resolution within the powers conferred on the Council by the Charter. Does the Council wish to adopt this procedure that I have outlined?

(Union of Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): I raise no objections to your suggestion regarding procedure, but one factor must be borne in mind. May I remind you that, in reply to the Iranian Government’s first statement, the Soviet Government pointed out that the question could be settled by bilateral negotiations? The Soviet Government does not and did not refuse this means of settlement. At the last Security Council meeting, we objected to any discussion of the substance of this question, but we agreed to the manner being placed on the agenda for today’s meeting. That is, we agreed to limit the discussion to the procedural aspect of the question. We raise no objection to the discussion solely of this aspect of the question.


 * I take it, therefore, that the procedure that I proposed to the Council is agreed to.

The procedure was adopted.


 * I now invite the representative of Iran to make such statement supplementary to or in clarification of the written communication that was addressed to the Council in regard to this particular matter.

(Iran): I am handing in a