United Nations Security Council Resolution 501 – International peace and security

Resolution 501 (1982) of 25 February 1982

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions 425 (l 978), 426 (1978), 427 (1978), 434 (1978), 444 (1979), 450 (1979), 459 (1979), 467 (1980), 474(1980), 483 (1980), 488 (1981), 490 (1981) and 498 (1981),

Acting in accordance with its resolution 498 (1981), and in particular with paragraph 10 of that resolution in which it decided to review the situation as a whole,

Having studied the special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,

Taking note of the letter of the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the President of the Security Council.

Having reviewed the situation as a whole in the light of the report of the Secretary-General and of the letter of the Permanent Representative of Lebanon,

Noting from the report of the Secretary-General that it is the strong recommendation of the Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and also the wish of the Government of Lebanon, that the ceiling for troops of the Force should be increased, and that the Secretary-General fully supports the recommendation for an increase by one thousand of the troop strength of the Force,

1. Reaffirms its resolution 425 ( 1978) which reads:

“The Security Council, •

‘Taking note of the letters from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon8 and from the Permanent Representative of Israel,

“Having heard the statements of the Permanent Representatives of Lebanon and Israel,

‘Gravely concerned at the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East and its consequences to the mainte-nance of international peace, ‘

Convinced that the present situation impedes the achievement of a just peace in the Middle East,

1. Calls for strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries; “

2. Calls upon Israel immediately to cease its military action against Lebanese territorial integrity and withdraw forthwith its forces from all Lebanese territory; “

3. Decides, in the light of the request of the Gov-ernment of Lebanon, to establish immediately under its authority a United Nations interim force for southern Lebanon for the purpose of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area, the force to be composed of personnel drawn from Member States; “

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council within twenty-four hours on the implementation of the present resolution.”

2. Decides to approve the immediate increase in the strength of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon recommended by the Secretary-General in paragraph 6 of his report, 6 from six thousand to approximately seven thou-sand troops, to reinforce present operations as well as to make further deployment possible on the lines of resolution 425 (1978);

3. Re-emphasizes the terms of reference and general guidelines of the Force as stated in the report of the Secretary-General of 19 March 1978 11 confirmed by resolution 426 (1978), and particularly:

(a) That the Force “must be able to function as an in-tegrated and efficient military unit”;

(b) That the Force “must enjoy the freedom of movement and communication and other facilities that are necessary to the performance of its tasks”;

(c) That the Force “will not use force except in self-defence’ ‘;

(d) That “self-defence would include resistance to at-tempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council”:

4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to renew his efforts to reactivate the General Armistice Agreement between Lebanon and Israel of 23 March 194912 and, in particular, to convene an early meeting of the Mixed Armistice Commission;

5· Requests the Secretary-General to continue his discussions with the Government of Lebanon and the parties concerned with a view to submitting a report by 10 June 1982 on the necessary requirements for achieving further progress in a phased programme of activities with the Government of Lebanon;

6. Decides to remain seized of the question and invites the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the situation as a whole within two months.

Adopted at the 2332nd meeting by 13 votes to none. with 2 abstentions (Poland. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)