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MP/pt 21 (Sir Crispin Tickell, United Kingdom) There have been differences between Iraq and Kuwait for a long time. Why a violent crisis now? Negotiations were in train. We greatly welcome the efforts of President Mubarak and other Arab leaders in that respect. The negotiations have not broken down: they should have been resumed. Instead, we have seen that while the negotiations were taking place men were being mobilized and arrangements made to launch the invasion we are discussing today.

We have co-sponsored a strong draft resolution to condemn an unquestionable act of aggression. We welcome the invocation of articles 39 and 40. Iraqi forces must now withdraw unconditionally to where they were only yesterday.

I particularly pick out the points made by our colleague from Colombia when he said that the Security Council must protect, as one of its primary duties, the small, the vulnerable and the defenceless. The Security Council represents a focus of world opinion. It is the way in which the international community can mobilize itself to maintain the purposes and ideals of the Charter and ensure that acts of this kind do not succeed.

In conclusion, I want to express not just a sense of dismay but also a sense of disgust that this kind of thing can still happen in 1990 in the world community in which we all live and breathe.

The President: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for his kind words addressed to me.

Ms. Rasi (Finland): Mr. President, allow me first to thank Ambassador Razali of Malaysia for the excellent way he guided our work throughout the month of July.

It is indeed a pleasure, Sir, for me to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council.