Iranian airbus tragedy

US Department of State Bulletin, Sept, 1988

I call on Iran today to reroute civilian air traffic away from areas of active hostilities. Yesterday, the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization advocated an investigation by the ICAO into the Iran Air incident and immediate consideration of appropriate measures to ensure the safety of civil aviation in the gulf

The terrible disaster of Iran Air #655 fills our hearts with sorrow. Our reaction to this tragedy transcends political differences and boundaries. As Americans, we share the grief of the families of the victims, whatever their nationalities.

It is that strongly felt sense of commonhumanity that has led our government to decide that the United States will provide voluntary, ex gratia compensation to the families of those who died in the crash of Iran Air #655. We make this offer as a humanitarian gesture-not as a matter of legal obligation but out of a sense of moral compassion, reflecting the value we place on human life. We hope that compensation will help ease the pain of those who have suffered a loss, even as we recognize that nothing we can do or say can ever bring back their loved ones.

In the case of Iranian victims, we will take appropriate measures to ensure that the money nows directly to the families and not to the government; we will provide none of these funds to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Indeed, we will provide no compensation until mechanisms are in place to ensure that the money goes only to the families of the victims.

The time has come-indeed, the time is long past-for us to rededicate ourselves to the cause of peace. The Iran Air tragedy should reinforce our determination to act. It should remind those who would prefer to ignore the terrible human cost of the Iran-Iraq war and the threat it poses to the security of the Persian Gulf-those who find reasons to delay rather than reasons to act for peace-that their complacency carries a heavy price.

The United States has one overarching goal in the Persian Gulf That goal is peace. Peace means cessation of the killing. Peace means a definitive end to the war. Peace means total freedom of passage through the straitstotal freedom of ships to sail without risk in international waters. Peace also means nations living without the fear of threats or intimidation from their neighbors.

To this end, we will continue to defend our interests and support our friends while remaining steadfastly neutral in the war. As long as this conflict continues, we and other Western nations will work to contain the threat to freedom of navigation and peaceful commerce in a waterway that is vital to the economies of the world. Our naval presence is welcomed by peaceful nations and is a threat to no one. But we will respond firmly if we are threatened.

The implementation of Resolution 598 would enable the United States to return to the modest naval presence in the gulf we have maintained for more than 40 years, with the support of the gulf states. We look forward to that day.