Proposal to set up a special committee on the problem of European ships detained in the Suez Canal

Resolution 391 (1968)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 13 December 1968 (see Doc. 2475, report of the Committee on Rules of Procedure).

The Assembly

1. Having before it a motion to set up a special committee :

a to report on the physical conditions alleged to be preventing the emergence either to the Red Sea or the Mediterranean of fifteen vessels, the property of nationals of member countries of the Council of Europe, forcibly detained in the Great Bitter Lakes of the Suez Canal since 6 June 1967 ; and

b to consider the possibility of inviting the Governments of Egypt and Israel to attend immediate discussions with representatives of the Council of Europe, either jointly or separately, on the conditions necessary to secure the release of those vessels ;

2. Having regard to the report of its Committee on Rules of Procedure (Doc. 2475) ;

3. Considering that its Political Affairs Committee has reported on several occasions on various political aspects of the crisis in the Middle East ;

4. Considering that the problem of the European ships detained in the Suez Canal can be solved only through diplomatic and political channels,

5. Decides that there is no case for setting up a special committee ; and

6. Instructs its Political Affairs Committee to undertake a study of the questions referred to in paragraph 1 above.