Assembly demands immediate halt of United States intervention in Panama; similar text vetoed in Security Council.

Similar text vetoed in Security Council

The General Assembly on 29 December demanded "the immediate cessation of the intervention and the withdrawal from Panama of the armed invasion forces of the United States".

It also strongly deplored the intervention, calling it "a flagrant violation of international law and of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States".

In resolution 44/240, adopted by 75 votes to 20, with 40 abstentions, the Assembly demanded full respect for and strict observance of the letter and spirit of the TorrijosCarter Treaties on the Panama Canal. Among other things, the Treaties provide for tile transfer of control of the Canal from the United States to Panama by the year 2000.

The Assembly also called upon all States to uphold and respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Panama. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar was requested to monitor the developments in Panama and to report to the Assembly within 24 hours after the adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar told the Assembly a day later that he was in no position to provide the substantive report asked of him, since he did not have at his disposal sources of information "other than those publicly available" (A/44/911).

Thirty-five speakers were heard during the two plenary meetings devoted to the situation in Panama (28-29 December). United States invokes "self-defence"

In a letter to the Security Council President SI21035) released on 20 December, United States Permanent Representative Thomas R. Pickering invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter, saying that his country was acting in exercise of its "inherent right of self-defence", to protect American lives and the integrity of the Panama Canal Treaties.

The United States had acted after exhausting every available diplomatic means to resolve peacefully disputes with Panamanian leader Manuel Antonio Noriega, he said.

After informal consultations throughout the afternoon, the Security Council held an emergency meeting that night at Nicaragua's request to discuss the Panamanian situation.

The Security Council met three more times on the issue during the following days. At the last meeting, on 23 December, three of the Council's permanent members France, the United Kingdom and the United States-voted against a draft resolution by which the Council would have demanded the immediate cessation of the United States intervention in Panama and the withdrawal of its armed forces.

The vote was 10 to 4-the fourth negative vote was cast by Canada-with 1 abstention (Finland). The Council heard statements by 20 speakers.