Security Council supports direct talks between Iran and Iraq.

On 27 February the Security Council expressed full support for the Secretary-General's efforts to hold "appropriately structured direct talks" between Iran and Iraq under his auspices. The talks would be held with a specific agenda that the Secretary-General would propose to the parties, on the basis of concluding observations in his report of 22 September 1989 SI20862) on the UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG).

Such talks, over a period of two months, would aim at achieving an implementation plan including timings and procedures for all aspects of resolution 598 (1987). The implementation plan would reflect the understanding of the two sides on how the implementation should be carried out.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar stressed the need to implement resolution 598 as an integrated whole. Each side must be assured, he said, of the other's firm commitment to its full implementation.

Resolution 598, adopted unanimously on 20 july 1987, calls inter alia, for a cease-fire, an end to all military actions on land, at sea and in the air, withdrawal of' forces to internationally recognized boundaries, dispatch of a team of UN observers to supervise those actions, and release and repatriation of prisoners of war.

The Council expressed appreciation to the Secretary-General for his "integrated approach" to the format, agenda and timetable for direct talks.

Iran and Iraq were called upon to co-operate fully with the Secretary-General in his ongoing efforts, considering that 18 months after the cease-fire between the two countries, resolution 598 had not yet been fully implemented.

Following the statement by the President of the Security Council, the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative continued contacts with both sides, which included separate meetings in late April with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran and the Under Secretary of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, to arrange a new phase o direct talks. Both sides have been seeking clarifications from United Nations officials, though neither side has said those requests were preconditions. Mandate of UNIIMOG

renewed

The mandate of the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group UNIIMOG)which monitors the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq-has been renewed until 30 September 1990. In unanimously adopting resolution 651 1990) on 29 March, the Security Council called on Iran and Iraq to implement immediately resolution 598.

The Observer Group, established on 9 August 1988 by the Council to supervise the UN-sponsored cease fire between Iran and Iraq and withdrawal of troops to internationally recognized boundaries, is made up of' some 400 personnel from 26 countries. Its cO is Major-General Slavko jovic, a national of Yugoslavia.