UN General Assembly
1996

violence. During the past 30 years of warfare in the Middle East, the victims have been and remain the civilian populations. No one can forget the Gulf war or its consequences for all parties concerned. My country urges Iraq to seek a solution that would ensure the peace and security of its neighbours and include respect for the independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait. In this connection, the question of Kuwaiti prisoners detained by Iraq is a concern, the settlement of which would send a signal of willingness for appeasement. The illegal occupation of the islands of Tunb and Abu Musa by Iran is also a source of tension in that part of the world. The United Arab Emirates is sparing no effort to recover peacefully that integral part of its territory. 18 The embargoes imposed on the Libyan and Iraqi peoples are of concern to my country. Our Organization must seek ways and means to enable the parties concerned to begin a dialogue aimed at a solution that would alleviate the suffering of the civilian populations of these countries.