A/31/PV.35 General Assembly

After a long and persistent struggle the people of the Comoros regained their country's independence in 1975. The people and Government of Democratic Kampuchea, like all peoples and Governments who love peace and justice throughout the world, warmly welcomed that happy event. In admitting the new State to membership on 12 November 1975 the United Nations reaffirmed the need to respect the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros. The Comoros are made up of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli and Grande-Cornore. No one doubts the historical, legal and de facto unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros. The island of Mayotte is an integral part of the Comoros. 2. Because of the failure to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of that country by the Government of France, which is in military occupation of the Comorian island of Mayotte, the people of the Comoros have been unable to enjoy the complete independence of their country. A country's sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacred. No pretext can justify a policy of interference, intervention, aggression, expansion, dismemberment or annexation of another country. Quite apart from constitut- ing a threat to the peace and security of the region, the problem of Mayotte concerns all countries devoted to the principle of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Because we, too, have fought and made enormous sacrifices in defence of the indepen- dence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country and our inalienable right to decide our own destiny, the people of Democratic Kampuchea firmly support the cause of the complete independence, genuine sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros. This cause, for the success of which the people and Government of the Comoros are waging a stubborn struggle, is just and legitimate. The struggle of the Comoros falls within the context of the vigorous and victorious struggle being waged everywhere by the countries of the third world and the non-aligned countries against imperialism, colonialism, neo- colonialism, racism, apartheid, zionism and all forms of NEW YORK " foreign interference, aggression, expansion and foreign exploitation and for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to be masters of their own fate. 3. Through its own persevering struggle, and enjoying the sympathy and support of the non-aligned countries, of the countries of the third world, and of all those throughout the world who prize peace and justice, the people of the Comoros will surely be able to recover the unity, sover- eignty and territorial integrity of their country. No force, no manoeuvre, can prevent it from so doing. The only correct solution to the problem of Mayotte is respect on the part of the Government of France for the indepen- dence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros. The delegation of Democratic Kampuchea supports the initiatives of the Government of the Comoros and of friendly delegations to ensure respect for the national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Comoros through the reintegration of the island of Mayotte in the archipelago.

The problem before the General Assembly at this moment is of capital importance. In asking to speak this morning, Egypt was prompted by some very important considerations. 5. First, Egypt and the Comorian State have close ties of friendship and brotherhood. Furthermore, the Comoros' candidature for membership in the Organization of African Unity /OAUj causes Egypt to feel very strongly about, and to share with the members of OAD, the various problems that confront all African States and that must be overcome by them. 6. Secondly, Egypt and the Comorian State are both members of the non-aligned group, and of course Egypt attaches the greatest importance to the working out of the principles which underlie the non-aligned movement, as well as to their efficient and practical implementation. 7. Thirdly, as a Member of the United Nations and mindful of the commitments it has undertaken to respect the Charter and the resolutions of our Organization, Egypt feels impelled to contribute as much as it can to the solution of international problems on the basis of United Nations decisions and principles. 8. Fourthly, the ties of friendship and co-operation between Egypt and France encourage us to seek a rap- prochement of views on the conflict which we are considering, so as to meet the interests and aspirations of all interested parties. 10. That resolution was followed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government· of DAU,held in Mauritius in June of this year. That Assembly dealt with the problem which is before us now, and adopted a resolution which demanded that the French Government withdraw imme- diately from the island of Mayotte, which is an integral part of the Republic of the Comoros, and respect the sover- eignty ofthat new State. 11. Subsequently the question was again submitted for the consideration of the Fifth Conference of Headsof State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Colombo this past August. That Conference adopted a resolution inviting the non-aligned countries to establish contacts with the French Government in order to urge it to put an end to the separation of Mayotte from the rest of the Republic; the resolution also contained an invitation to the non-aligned States to endeavour to prevail upon the French Government to create a propitious climate for resumption of the dialogue between the interested parties [seeA/31/197, annexIV, resolution 7J. 12. This issue, which was dealt with first by OAU and then by the Fifth Conferenceof non-aligned countries, was fmally approved by the General Assembly for inclusion in its agenda, a fact which is strong evidence of the interest which our international Orranizatlon takes lin this very delicate problem. We are -convinced that the French Government is well aware of the interest evoked by this issue. 13. Yesterday [33rd meeting] we listened to the state- ment of the Minister of Interior of the Republic of the Comoros. We are satisfied with the position taken by his 14. In this light, and even though the peace efforts have not yet produced the desired results, we still hope that a just and durable solution to this problem will be achieved, in conformity with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Indeed, on the basis of our recent experience, we are convinced that the French Government will respond favourably to all these efforts to bring about the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros. France, which has already acceded to the desire of the Comoros for indepen- dence and to its right to self-determination, as a result of which the Comoros has attained independence and has been admitted to membership in our Organization, is in a position to respond to the will and appeals of the international community, OAU and the non-aligned States. 15. Egypt is fully prepared to do all in its power to contribute to all peaceful and positive endeavourslikely to achieve this objective because we hope that the day will come when the complete independence, founded on terri- torial integrity, of all States and peoples of the African continent, from north to south, from east to west, will become a reality, so that the people of our continent may be able to settle their internal problems as well as the problems of the international economy, which of course, have placed heavy burdens on all the peoples of the world. Solidarity and co-operation among peoples are required to overcome those problems, so that prosperity and well-being may reign in our continent and throughout the world.