Jarring Mission

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Jarring Mission refers to efforts undertaken by Gunnar Jarring on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General, U Thant, to ensure progress on implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 242 following the Six-Day War in 1967.

Gunnar Jarring was the Swedish ambassador to the Soviet Union when U Thant asked him to act as his special envoy for the implementation of UN SC 242. He maintained his ambassadorship while completing his mission. His report was presented to the public on January 4, 1971, but by mid-November of 1970, it was clear that his mission had failed.

The impasse in Jarring's efforts appears to be related to differing interpretations of the security council resolution. Israel insisted that any efforts should be undertaken with the goal of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states; and that no territory concessions could be contemplated without the prospect of a lasting peace; Arab states and the Soviet Union maintained that there would be no direct talks with Israel (in keeping with the Khartoum Resolution), and that withdrawals were a pre-condition for any further talks.

Critics since then have pointed out that Jarring had to manage a difficult conflict of interest since he had to maintain his duties as Swedish ambassador to the Soviet Union while trying to facilitate talks in which the Soviet Union had its own interests.