In a letter dated 29 November 1979,89 the SecretaryGeneral informed the Security Council that it was his intention to appoint Colonel Gi.inther G. Greindl of Austria Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force as from 1 December. He added that it was the intention of the Government of Austria to confer upon Colonel Greindl the rank of MajorGeneral when he was appointed Force Commander. In a letter dated 30 November,'0 the President of the Council informed the Secretary-General as follows:
"I have brought your letter of 29 November 1979 concerning the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force to the attention of the members of the Security Council. They considered the matter in consultations on 30 November and agreed with the proposal contained in your letter.
"The representative of China has informed me that China, not having participated in the voting on resolution 350 (1974) of 31 May 1974 and subsequent resolutions relating to the Force, dissociates itself from the matter."

Decisions
At the same meeting, following the adoption of resolution 456 (1979), the President made the following statements (S/ 13662) on behalf of the members of the Council:
"In connexion with the adoption of the resolution on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, I have been authorized to make the following complementary statement on behalf of the Security Council regarding the resolution just adopted:
" 'As is known, the report of the SecretaryGeneral on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force42 states in paragraph25 that, "Despite the present quiet in the Israel-Syria sector, the situation in the Middle East as a whole continues to he potentially dangerous and is likely to remain so unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached". This statement of the Secretary-General reflects the view of the Security Council.' "

At its 2174th meeting, on 30 November 1979, the Council proceeded with the discussion of the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East: report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (S/13637)".' 1

At its 2180th meeting, on 19 December 1979, the Council decided to invite the representatives of Israel, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic to participate, without vote, in the discussion of the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East: report by the SecretaryGeneral on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (S/13691)".· 1

Resolution 456 (1979)

of 30 November 1979
The Security Council,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force,'2
Decides:
(a) To call upon the parties concerned to implement immediately Security Council resolution 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;
(b) To renew the mandate of the United Nation Disengagement Observer Force for another period of six months, that is, until 31 May 1980;
(c) To request the Secretary-General to submit at the end of this period a report on the developments in the situation and the measures taken to implement resolution 338 (1973).

At the same meeting, the Council also decided, by a vote, that an invitation should be accorded to the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization to participate in the debate and that that invitation would confer upon it the same rights of participation as those conferred on a Member State when it was invited to participate under rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure.
Adopted by 10 votes to 1 (United States of America), with 4 abstentions (France, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

Adopted at the 2174th meeting hy 14 votes to none.43

B9Jbid., document S/13665.

40 Ibid., document S/13666.

41 Ibid., Supplement for October November and December

1979.

.

42 /bid., document S/13637.

43 One member (China) did not participate in the voting.

Resolution 459 (1979)
of 19 December 1979
The Security Council, Recalling its resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March, 427 (1978) of 3 May and 434 (1978) of 18 September 1978, 444 (1979) of 19 January and 450

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