A/31/PV.47 General Assembly

The problem of the! truggle against apartheid has become a problem of the con.mitment of the international community as a whole and should not be considered as a problem solely of the victims of the regime. Since the forces of evil and colonialism are trying to support and to maintain the racist regime, it is also necessary to ensure that the struggle against the last bastions of racism should be a world-wide struggle from all points of view. The policy of apartheid is the corner-stone of the economic and political structure on which the racist white minority regime in South Africa is based. Regardless of all that has been said or written on the subject of apartheid, we find it impossible to describe this criminal policy practised by a hateful racist regime which is clearly perpetrating a crime against humanity as a whole and which at the same time is persisting in this practice, thereby violating human rights and contravening the principles of the Charter which express the aspirations and hopes of mankind by emphasizing human rights and the dignity of the individual, his destiny and equality between men, women and all nations under the law. 2. A white minority of adventurers occupied South Africa, and in 1948 started the practice of apartheid, which has now become a closed doctrine whose purpose is to sow division within the ranks of the African people and between the different classes on the basis of race, colour and sex, so that "ie white minority may control all the rescources of the African and thus deprive him of his most funclamental God-given rights simply because he was born black. 3. How, then, can the international Organization, through which the international community aspires to a better future, remain indifferent in face of this flagrant challenge to its existence and contempt for its principles on the part Friday, 29 October 1976, at 11 a.m. N.E W Y 0 R K of a criminal, racist gang which has no respect whatsoever for this Organization and has no faith in the basic principles for which this Organization was established-namely, to reaffirm human values for all people without discrimi- nation? 4. We cannot deny the important role which the United Nations has already played and continues to play with regard to the policies of apartheid. The General Assembly has issued numerous resolutions, the most recent being resolution 3411 (XXX) of 28 November 1975, adopted on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations. That resolution reaffirmed the responsibility of the United Nations and the international community specially towards the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movements, and towards those imprisoned, restricted or exiled for their struggle against apartheid. The General Assembly reiterated its determination to devote increasing attention and all necessary resources to concert international efforts for the speedy eradication ofapartheid in South Africa and the liberation of the South African people. 5. Here we must ask whether the international community has actually fulfilled its responsibilities under this reso- lution and whether the United Nations, after more than two decades, has been able to put an end to the practices of apartheid, this criminal regime with its challenge to human values and its defiance of world public opinion. In fact, the situation is extremely serious-indeed, as grave as any situation with which our Organization has ever had to contend. In fact, the white .racist minority in South Africa has come to realize the progress made by the peoples of southern Africa supported by the peoples of the third world. All these peoples were formerly victims of foreign domination and victims of colonialism. The regime in South Africa has sought increasing military assistance from the United States, Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany and France. These States continue to co-operate economi- cally and militarily with South Africa, thereby Violating the numerous resolutions of the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies. Through this co-operation the Powers concerned are helping to consolidate the regime of racial discrimination and apartheid and are helping it to maintain itself. Hence, this matter has very serious conse- quences which are a threat to peace and security in the African continent and therefore throughout the world. 6. The delegation of my country is attributing to the question of apartheid which is now before the General Assembly particular importance because the Arab people in Libya have likewise and long suffered from the racial discrimination imposed upon it by colonialism in its own country. We support all the peoples who are trying to "The Conference reaffirmed that the minority racist regime of South Africa was not only unrepresentative of the people, but had been declared by the United Nations General Assembly, in resolution 3411 G (XXX), to be illegitimate. The policy of Apartheid practised by it is an international crime. It is the bastion of racism and colonialism in Southern Africa and a grave menace to peace in the region. In this respect the Conference hailed the timely and valid decision taken by the General Assembly at the 29th Regular Session excluding the South African delegation from participating in the As- sembly proceedings." Paragraph 57 goes on to say: "The Conference recognised that the total eradication of Apartheid and the exercise by the people of South Africa of their inalienable right of self-determination is an urgent and imperative need at the present time. The Conference categorically demanded the immediate release of the 1,000 African school children, students, journalists and other opponents of the South African racist regime who have been detained under the notorious Terrorism anJ State Security Acts since 16 June 1976 and further demanded that all political prisoners held by the Apart- heid authorities be unconditionally released forthwith." [See A/31/197, annex1.J 7. The Conference likewise adopted resolution NAC/ CONF.5/S/RES.5 [ibid., annex IVJ in connexion with apartheid and racial discrimination on the African con- tinent. That resolution pays a tribute to the courage of the African people who are fighting for their freedom and independence and also to the action of the Organization of African Unity [OAUJ in its support to the African liberation movement. 'rile resolution likewise reaffirms the need for the non-aligned countries to continue providing support to those struggling against apartheid and racial discrimination as well as to the efforts of the United Nations to ensure success in the struggle against apartheid and racial discrimination. 8. The delegation of my country condemns these desper- ate manoeuvres which certain Powers are trying to engage in through their contacts with the racist and Fascist regimes for the purpose of continuing domination in this region. The forces of colonialism that are trying to impose a new policy at present in southern Africa are in reality trying to consolidate the maintenance of the racist regimes. How then can their action be in keeping with the expenditures of the racist regimes in their defence budgets for constantly increasing armed forces? 9. In this connexion I refer to what was said by Mr. Leslie Harriman, the Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, on this subject. He indicated that: "The military budget of South Africa has increased tenfold from 44 million rand in 1960-61 to 447 million in 10. Why is the racist regime trying to build up this gigantic military strength? We realize the significance of the existence of the racist regime in this part of southern Africa. We also realize why the Western Powers are supplying the arms and technology to this regime. This is done in order to defend the interests of colonialism and to continue colonial domination in this part of the world. John Vorster, the Prime Minister of the Fascist racist regime, confirmed this in an interview with TheNew York Times on 19 October 1976: "Q. You do not foresee the possibility that eventually white rule will cede to black rule? "A. I cannot foresee such a day at all, and I repeat that it is our right to be here on the land we occupy. We did not take away from black people whatsoever."! 11. The racist regimes are entering into a solidarity with each other and the community of interest of these regimes is designed to deprive the indigenous inhabitants of their inalienable rights. The clearest example of this is the alliance between the Zionist entity and the racist regime in South Africa. Indeed, they two are bound by the hideous face of colonialism and racism and constitute a racist axis whose purpose is to destroy the liberation movements. in southern Africa and in occupied Palestine. 12. Accordingly, as pointed out in the report of the Special Committee against Apartheid on relations between Israel and South Africa: "... relations between South Africa and Israel, which have ideological' and historical roots, acquired new dimensions and were greatly intensified after the June 1967 war in the Middle East and even more after the October 1973 war. Differences between the two regimes caused by diverging foreign policy objectives toward the Arab and the African countries were set aside when the Mrican States broke diplomatic relations with Israel. Weakened by the advances of the liberation struggle and forced into increasing isolation by growing Arab-African solidarity and world condemnation of their racist policies, the two regimes have resorted to an ever closer collabo- ration in all areas. . . . Politically, this collaboration has aimed at driving a wedge between the African countries and between them and the Arab countries, and at linking southern Africa and the Middle East as common strategic concerns of the Western Powers. South Africa expects substantial political dividends from closer association with Israel, and co-operation in undermining the boycott campaigns; . .. In the military sphere, this growing collaboration has provided each country with an addi- tional source of arms supplies and the technological know-how, as well as access to classified information on strategies ami tactics; ... Economically, Israel has bene- 1 Quoted in English by the speaker. 13. I do not think the co-operation and identity between the racist and Zionist ideologies and regimes could be more obvious. It is clear that the two are bound by racism, a racism practised by the two regimes and condemned by the General Assembly in its resolutions. Consequently the two regimes have found no alternative but to strengthen their ties and thus to challenge the will of the international community. 14. The Libyan Arab Republic is convinced that the struggle against apartheid and racism is a right and a legitimate action approved by international law and the resolutions of the General Assembly with a view to eliminating all forms of racial discrimination. Our country has responded to the General Assembly's call and has made generous contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa, in order to enable the Fund to meet the growing needs for assistance to the victims of apartheid and of racial discrimination in South Africa, in Namibia and in Southern Rhodesia. My country organized an international seminar on zionism and apartheid in Tripoli from 24 to 28 July 1976. The twenty-seventh regular session of the Council of Ministers of OAU, held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 24 June to 3 July 1976, supported the holding of this international gathering, and the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned countries, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in August 1976, likewise endorsed the resolutions adopted by that gathering. Those resolutions were registered as official documents of the General Assembly under the symbols A/31/196 and Corr.l and A/31/197. 15. One of the resolutions adopted at the seminar pro- vided for the establishment of an international organization to combat all forms of racial discrimination and apartheid. This is an independent, non-governmental, popular organi- zation, with headquarters in Tripoli, in the Libyan Arab Republic. Its aim is to alert opinion and disseminate information concerning apartheid and the danger it rep- resents for human dignity and international peace. The organization intends to -pUblish bulletins, hold seminars and resort to other means to achieve its objectives. It also intends to provide support to liberation movements fighting against colonialism, racism and imperialism, and to unmask the various racist ties among all the hotbeds of racism throughout the world. The organization will also try to co-operate and to co-ordinate its actions with other organizations that have the same goals. 17. Among the chief reasons for the outbreak of wars and tensions throughout history has been failure to respect human rights and contempt for these rights. The struggle against tyranny and oppression, colonialism and racial discrimination has long roots in history. Like the voice of man in defence of equality, the voice of fraternity and liberty is of ancient lineage. Neither the struggle nor the call have ever been confined to a given race or civilization. Our faith has taught us that human rights are born with man and that to deprive man of his rights leads to catastrophe. Man's will to ensure freedom and equality is stronger than his desire for life.

Developments in southern Africa have entered a new and decisive phase during the last year, not to mention the last few months. There is today ample evidence that the days of the white minority regimes in this part of the world are numbered. As the former Portuguese Territories gained their independence last year, world attention began to focus on the situation in Zimbabwe. The liberation of Namibia as well as that of South Africa was generally expected to follow a break- through in Zimbabwe. 19. Pepresentatives of the liberation movements and of the Smith regime are now in Geneva for talks about the transition to majority rule in Zimbabwe. At the same time the possibilities exist that similar talks may take place between the South West Africa People's Organization [SWAPO} and South Africa as regards Namibia. 20. The widening internal uprisings in South Africa, where hundreds of people have been' so tragically and brutally killed in Soweto and its aftermath, constitute another, and perhaps the most important, development in southern Africa. It is with deep concern and great sadness that we have witnessed this summer's violence, which is the most significant and widespread uprising against the repressive apartheid system since Sharpeville in 1960. 21. The Norwegian Government is still hopeful that majority rule can yet be achieved by peaceful means in Zimbabwe. 22. The alternative is frightening. 23. Thanks to the efforts by the five front-line States and other Powers, among them the United States and United Kingdom, the situation today does not seem totally hopeless. The Norwegian Government considers it to be of the utmost importance that the Western countries should be aware of their responsibilities in the present situation. The Norwegian Prime Minister emphasized in his statement a week ago in this Assembly [39th meetingJ the necessity of concentrating and intensifying the pressure on the South African Government, so as to force it to abolish its system 25. Since the General Assemblylast discussed the question of racial discrimination in South Africa, the Pretoria Government has adopted even more restrictive and repres- sive measures. The numerous manifestations of internal repression in South Africa during recent months have further demonstrated in all .too clear a manner the continued and increasingly brutal repression of the most fundamental human rights by the apartheid system. The rights of the African population have been even more curtailed than before. The legitimate demands of the people for basic human dignity have been answered by weapons and mass arrests. 26. The Norwegian Government has condemned the use of force by the South African authorities, In a statement issued after the events in Soweto, the Norwegian Govern- ment stated that the use of violence and weapons against schoolchildren and young people clearly demonstrates the intolerable racial situation in South Africa. Furthermore, it was stated that Norway, over the years, has strongly and categorically opposed the apartheid system and the racial policy practised by South Africa, and has appealed time and again to South African authorities to reverse this inhuman policy. 27. Recent uprisings tell us' that the patience of the African population is near the end, and that they no more can accept the suppression of the popular will of the majority. 28. The Norwegian Government strongly urges the South African authorities to draw the appropriate conclusions from what is now taking place and to initiate negotiations with representatives of the African population in order to lay the foundations of a new and just society. However, there is unfortunately no indication that the Pretoria Government has realized the implications of what took place in Soweto. The fact that South Africa has agreed to the Kissinger plan for a settlement of the Rhodesian conflict, and its possible willingness to enter into nego- tiations with SWAPO on Namibia, will not change our assessment of the increasingly dangerous situation. The same applies to the so-called independent Transkei, an invention which further consolidates racial segregation and, at the same time, deprives Africans of the right to live in their own country. 29. No country can be wholly insensitive to outside pressures. The Norwegian Government regrets the vetoing in the Security Council by certain Western countries of a mandatory arms embargo. against South Africa. These vetoes have cast new doubt on the willingness to use the available means in the struggle against the apartheid system. 30. The Norwegian Government is ready to contribute its share to further increase the international pressure on South Africa. In accordance with this readiness on our part, the Norwegian Government supports a mandatory arms 32. The Government has decided, first, not to guarantee export credits for trade with South Africa, and secondly, to deny the necessary currency licences for Norwegian invest- ments in South Africa. 33. The Norwegian Government will also increase its support of the liberation movements in southern Africa. Almost $2.5 million were earmarked for humanitarian assistance to the oppressed peoples of southern Africa in 1976. A substantial amount of this sum was channelled through various United Nations programmes, to which Norway remains one of the largest contributors. 34. The Government also intends to expand further its relations in 1977 with those who are fighting for majority rule in southern Africa. 35. Today it is more important than ever to distribute information about apartheid and the policy of the South African regime in order further to undermine international support for the minority regime. The United Nations has in this field one of its most important tasks. We are in this respect pleased to see the United Nations trust fund for publicity againstapartheid contribute so significantly to the distribution of information about apartheid. The Nor- wegian Government has doubled its contribution to the trust fund this year to a total of $20,000. 36. I should also like to underline the important work carried out by the Special Committee against Apartheid, and to express our deep appreciation to the Chairman of the Committee, Ambassador Harriman of Nigeria, and to the other members of the Committee for their dedicated efforts during the last year. .37. As to the many concrete and timely proposals in the recent report of the Special Committee [A/31/22 and Add.1-3], the Norwegian Government wishes to support the plan for a World Conference for Action against Apartheid. The holding of such a Conference will constitute an important effort for the mobilization of world opinion against the policy of racial discrimination and economic exploitation by the South African Government. The same applies to the convening of another international trade union conference against apartheid in 1977. 38. As mentioned earlier, Norway is fully in favour of a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa. Further- more, the Government will.support the appeal to Member States to reconsider their economic relations with the South African regime in order to increase the international pressure on this regime. 39. The Norwegian Government supports whole-heartedly the recommendation by the Special Committee and more recently by this Assembly [resolution 31/6 A] not to recognize the so-called independent Transkei. The imple- mentation by South Africa of its plans for the so-called 40. This clearly shows that Prime Minister Vorster and his Government have not yet realized "the gravity of the situation and that they are not yet ready to allow a peaceful transition to majority rule in South Africa. 41. After what happened this summer and this fall the question is not any more whether majority rule can be achieved but rather when and how it can be realized. The only way the population in South Africa can be saved from a violent racial conflict of unforeseeable consequences, with the danger of external intervention, is for the South African regime to accept the realities of the situation. 42. The time has come to demand that the white minority regime finally heed the repeated warnings of the interna- tional community to change the abhorrent policy of apartheid and restore to all people in South Africa their right to human dignity, equality and justice.

First of all, in the name of the Chinese delegation, I wish to express a warm welcome to the two national liberation organizations, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and the African National Congress of South Africa, which are participating in the debate on the question of apartheid in South Africa at the current session of the General Assem- bly. We have listened attentively to the speeches made by the representatives of the two liberation organizations and many African countries. In their speeches, they have strongly condemned the Vorster racist regime of South Africa, expressing the African people's firm determination to eradicate colonialism and racism and liberate the whole African continent. The Chinese delegation expresses firm support for their just stand. 44. The current situation in southern Africa attracts the attention of the whole world. The great African people are staging an offensive on barbarous racism. The Zimbabwe people's armed forces are constantly growing in strength through struggles and dealing heavy blows at the Smith racist regime, thus bringing about a new situation in armed struggle. The Namibian people have also kindled the raging flames of armed struggle, launching ceaselessattacks on the occupation troops of the South African racists. The Azanian people have never ceased their resistance to and struggle against the criminal system of racial discrimination and apartheid. What is particularly encouraging is that since last June the heroic Azanian people have unfolded gigantic mass movements against violent repression in South Africa, which is under very tight Fascist domination. Defying brute force and advancing wave upon wave in mounting struggles, they are vehemently pounding at the Vorster racist regime. Starting from Soweto, the struggles against violent repres- sion have rapidly swept most parts of the country, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and other big cities. The number of participants grew from several thousands to hundreds of thousands, extending from young students to workers and people of other strata and various tribes, from the black people to other coloured people, and even many white students have joined the 45. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of OAU held last July listed as its main topic the eradication of colonialism in all its forms and the striving for the complete liberation of the African continent. The Assembly decided to give the greatest political, economic and military assistance to the national liberation movement in southern Africa, so that they may carry on the armed struggle more effectively. The Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held last August, gave active support to the liberation struggle of the people in southern Africa. In their speeches during the general debate at the current session of the United Nations General Assembly, the representatives of many countries strongly and severely condemned racial discrimination and apartheid and expressed firm support for the liberation struggle of the people of southern Africa. All this vividly shows that the just str.uggle of the people of southern Africa is winning ever wider sympathy and support on the international arena. The handful of white racists like Vorsterand Smith have been heavily besieged by the people of Africa and the whole world. 46. As a Chinese saying goes, "Cornered beasts will still fight". In order to save itself from its doomed destruction, the South African racist regime is stepping up its counter- revolutionary dual tactics for a last-ditch struggle. On the one hand, it continues to engage in political deception by brandishing the tattered banner of "reconciliation" and "detente". Externally, it talks profusely about "dialogue" and "peace talks"; internally it advertises the "improve- ment of racial relationship in South Africa", "the promo- tion of racial harmony" and "separate development" in an intensified effort to push the bantustan policy by stage- managing the farce of the phoney independence of Transkei, a stubborn persistence in the system ofapartheid - . in disguise. On the other hand, it is engaged in frenzied arms expansion and war preparations and is strengthening its war machines to step up the repression of the Azanian people's resistance and struggle. The South African authori- ties increased their military expenditures by another 40 per cent this year in the wake of a 36 per cent increase last year. Vorster openly clamoured that he would try to maintain law and order at all costs. The South African authorities have resorted to most barbarous means for the ruthless suppression of the masses who rise in demon- strations against racial discrimination and apartheid, in an attempt to drown in blood the Azanian people who take part in the struggle against violent repression. In the Soweto carnage of last June alone, according to the obviously minimized figures admitted by the South African author- ities themselves, 176 people were killed, 1,139 wounded and 1,278 arrested; even children were not exempted. The cruelties were indeed too horrible to mention. In order to stamp out the raging flames of the struggle of the Azanian people, the Vorster regime has tried by every possible 4.7. Southern Africa is abundant in natural resources and important in strategic position; and it has always been a place. for rivalry among the imperialist Powers. In recent years, the two super-Powers, motivated by their strategic needs of contending for world hegemony, are stepping up their rivalry in this area, One super-Power maintains a thousand and one links with the racist regimes in southern Africa, and it has always given energetic support to them politically, economically and militarily. The latest evidence of this support is seen in another veto it cast recently in the Security Council against the draft resolution submitted by third world countries which would call for sanctions against South Africa.s At present this super-Power is resorting to the changed tactics of advertising "peaceful evolution" in a feverish attempt to preserve its vested interests. The other super-Power, a late-comer, which styles itself the "natural ally" of the African people harbours even more wild ambitions. Flaunting the banner of "fighting racism" and "supporting the national liberation movement", it is stretching out its tentacles far and wide for active infiltra- tion and expansion in southern Africa. It is doing its utmost to disintegrate the national liberation movements, to split the militant unity of the African countries, and to sabotage the liberation struggle of southern Africa; and it even sent mercenaries to carry out open armed intervention against an African State. After the Angola incident, it went even further in an undisguised way to step up its rivalry with the other super-Power in its attempt to replace the old-line imperialism and colonialism, establish its own spheres of influence in southern Africa and encircle Europe from the flanks. 48. An this adds to the difficulty and complexity of the liberation struggle on the part of the people of southern Africa. But this enables the people of Azania and other parts of Africa to see even more clearly that southern Africa, like many other parts of the world, is facing the burning issue of "preventing the tiger from entering the back door while repulsing the wolf from the front gate". Experience shows that in order to overthrow racist and colonialist rule and achieve true national liberation, it is imperative at the same time to carry out resolutely the struggle against super-Power hegemonism and to maintain heightened Vigilance particularly against that super-Power which pretends to support the national liberation move- ment under the signboard of socialism. 49. The three-century-old history of South Africa tells us that the system of racial discrimination and apartheid has been established gradually after the invasion of South Africa by the white colonialists. This system originates "Everything reactionary is the same; if you don't hit it, it won't fall. This is also like sweeping the floor; as a rule, where the broom does not reach, the dust will not vanish of itself."3 The people of Azania have come to realize ever more clearly from their own experience in struggle that in face of the South African white racist regime which is armed to the teeth, there is no other alternative than to pick up the iron broom of revolutionary violence to sweep racism and colonialism into the garbage of history. The thirteenth summit Conference of OAU rightly stressed in one of its resolutions: "... the only effective guarantee for the African people of South Africa against the repetition of the massacres is the launching of the armed struggle for. the seizure of power by the people". {See A/31/196 and Corr.I, annex, resolution CM/Res.476 (XXVII).} This is also the correct conclusion reached by the Azanien people in summing up the experience of their prolonge.i struggles. 50. The history of mankind shows that all reactionary forces on the verge of extinction invariably put up a last-ditch struggle against the revolutionary forces. The road to liberation of the Azanian people remains tortuous, and the white racists are bound to resort to all kinds of conspiracies and inrrigues in desperate struggles. However, "all reactionaries are paper tigers"," From a long-term point of view, in South Africa it is not the handful of white colonialists, but the Azanian people who are really power- ful. The struggle of the Azanian people is not an isolated one, but an important component of the irresistible historical current of struggle of the oppressed peoples and nations against imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism today. We are deeply convinced that so long 2$ the Azanian people who have a glorious militant tradition rely on their own strength, base themselves on fighting, strengthen their unity, persevere in protracted struggle, constantly use revolutionary dual tactics to deal with the counter- revolutionary dual tactics, neither believe the nice words of the racists and the super-Powers nor fear their bluster, the Azanian people with the support of the people of Africa and the world will certainly be able to eradicate the evil system of colonialism and racism, thus leading to the complete liberation of the African continent. The future of the Azanian people is infinitely bright! 51. Chuirman Mao Tsetung taught us: "The people who have tnumphed in their own revolution should help those 3 See Quotations from OIairman Mao Tse-tung (Peking, F~reign Languages Press, 1966), pp. 10-11.

As the attention of the world community is focused on the developments taking place in southern Africa, it is gratifying to see that the question of apartheid is being considered in plenary meetings. We welcome the decision which has enabled the representatives of the national liberation movements to take part in our deliberations. Their moving statements have revealed to us vividly the true dimensions of the tragedy that is unfolding in South Africa. As you have rightly pointed out, Mr. President, their participation in the debate will be conducive to the smooth, expeditious and constructive conduct of the Assembly's proceedings and will be consistent with the resolutions of the General Assembly which seek the co-operation of these parties in promoting the solution of the serious problemsinvolved. 53. The problems of southern Africa today represent the greatest challenge to the hope of mankind for peace and justice. The accession to independence of countries for- merly under Portuguese colonial rule has accelerated the process of decolonization by rendering even more intoler- able the continuation of minority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa's domination over Namibia. It has also created a momentum for rapid developments in South Africa itself. 54. When the policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa were discussed at the thirtieth session, the General Assembly recognized [resolution 3411 (XXX)} that it was crucial to intensify international efforts against apartheid and took further important decisions to that end. It unanimously expressed its solidarity with all South Africans struggling against apartheid and for the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. It alsoproclaimed that the United Nations and the international community had a special responsibility towards the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movements and towards those imprisoned, restricted or exiled because of their struggle against apartheid. It expressed its deep concern over the grave situation in South Africa, which constituted an affront to human dignity and a threat to international peace and security. 5 Ibid, pp. 177-178. 56. Southern Africa is going through a dramatic period, and there is no room for delay. What is occurring in that area has shaken the conscience of the world and requires urgent and effective pressure for a solution if a civil war of frightening proportions is to be avoided. As my Foreign Minister emohasized in his statement to the General Assembly on 28 September 1976 [8th meeting}, we harbour the hope that vigorous condemnation of the policy of apartheid by the international community will compel the South African Government to abide by the judgement of world conscience and will encourage it to adopt a rapid solution which would give the African population of the country the basic human rights which have been denied them for so long. 57. The accession to independence of Angola and Mozam- bique and the intensification of the struggle of the peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia for self-determination and freedom, and the popular upheaval and resistance of the people of Azania, must convince the South African Government that apartheid has no future. The Pretoria Government must know that the tide of history is irreversible and that it will not be able to hold out against the tide of liberation. In this connexion, I should like to emphasize that the granting of so-called independence by the South African Government to Transkei and the creation of similar bantustans is no solution to the problem. It is nothing more than the logical extension of the policy of apartheid and is intended to create satellite black areas without any real independence. This, in our view, will intensify racial discrimination rather than eliminate it. The General Assembly has repeatedly condemned the establish- ment of bantustans as designed to consolidate the inhuman policies of apartheid, to destroy the territorial integrity of the country, to perpetuate white minority domination and to deprive the African people of South Africa of their inalienable rights in their own country. The resolution on the so-called independent Transkei should be a warning to the South African Government that the world community will neveraccept the establishment of Transkeior any other so-called bantustan as a separate political entity. The only viable solution is to turn away from the policy of apartheid and to allowall the people of South Africa to exercise fully their inalienable rights.

It is particularly significant that this debate is taking place for the first time directly in plenary meetings of the General Assembly. The crucial importance today of the struggle against apartheid justifies that. That is why my delegation wishes to reaffirm its position in this supreme world forum, which encompasses all the Members of our Organization. 61. Firstly, we should like to say that the delegation of Peru is particularly pleased that the African National Congress of South Africa and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania are participating in this debate. That is not only a tribute to their courageous struggle but it is also a recognition of their right to represent the South African majority. 62. The General Assembly has before it a valuable report from the Special Committee against Apartheid [A/31/22 and Add.l-B] which mern ions the achievements of the United Nations over the past year. One noteworthy achievement was the entry into force, on 18'July last, of the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, which was adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-eighth session in resolution 3068 (XXVIII). 63. I might also mention the hard work of the C;,ecial Committee, to whose Chairman, Mr. Leslie O. Harrim in, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the Unitd Nations, we extend our congratulations. 64. In South Africa, the Soweto events were a milestone marking the beginning of the final stage of the struggle for the elimination of apartheid. The incidents at Soweto, which later spread to much of South Africa, have demon- strated the firm determination of the South African people not to continue under a system which strips them of the elementary right to live in dignity. There is a lesson to be learned from the fact that among those who protested were young people and children, who represent the future of that courageous people. Against overwhelming odds, armed only with reason and justice on their side, they coura- 66. For that reason, the Pretoria regime has had to resort to the most brutal forms of violence to stay afloat. It employs violence against anyone standing in its way, regardless of race, and violence against the international community and the United Nations, in the sense that United Nations resolutions have been flouted and the protests of the international community spurned. 67. A few days ago we all saw how the racist regime in South Africa, defying even international law in its anxiety to consolidate its policy of apartheid, put on a show of creating an artificial State. That was a violation of the territorial integrity of the country and an attempt to perpetuate domination by a white minority by setting up a pseudo-independent entity. 68. For that reason, my delegation welcomes the adoption without opposition by this Assembly of a resolution rejecting and declaring invalid the declaration of "indepen- dence" of the so-called Transkei, 69. At a time when the general thrust of history seems to require fundamental changes, the policies of a minority which has seized power in South Africa are designed to maintain by force a situation which goes against the tide of history and is a grave threat to peace in the area and a threat to international security. This source .Jfinternational tension has obliged the major Powers to join in the search for a solution. If that solution is to be just and lasting, in the opinion of my delegation, all the elements of the difficult problem of southern Africa J1l1~St be borne in mind. That means, as a matter of pn the final and complete elimination of the system ofc, .eid, which has made it impossible for the legitimate representatives of the South African people to satisfy their just aspirations and protect their interests. At the same time, the situation in Namibia, where our Organization has a special responsi- bility, and over which my delegation is constantly con- cerned, cannot be solved in a positive manner without taking into account SWAPO, which is the body representing the Namibian people. We also hope that negotiations on Southern Rhodesia will reach a successful conclusion which would redound to the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe and make for peace and tranquillity in all of Africa. 70. The peoples of Latin America have always tried to abide by the standards of international law, which we think should govern relations among States. It was after all as a result of similar sacrifices and struggles that our peoples achieved freedom, the essential value which cc.rstitutes the foundation of the emerging nations, which have been built on a multiracial basis in fraternity and equality. In this long and difficult process leading to freedom, a contribution has been made by courageous men of all races and all cultures 71. Our experience has undoubtedly ledto our conviction, which has been translated into the foreign policies of the Peruvian Government, regarding the need to support firmly all peoples who are fighting against any form of domination by racism, and for that reason we fully identify with the aspirationsof the South African people. 77. Only a few days ago the President of our Assembly, on the occasion of the observance of the Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners, said among other things: 72. This is the approach underlying the policy of Peru in the Special Committee against Apartheid and in this world Organization. In that spirit and with this firm conviction, Peru, which wishes today to pay a further admiring and respectful tribute to the African freedom fighters, will maintain the position of firm support and solidarity with that heroic struggle until apartheid is finally eliminated.

At the outset, I should like to express the appreciation of my delegation to this Assembly for recognizing the urgency and gravity of the situation created in South Africa as a consequence of the heinous practices of apartheid and for showing the serious concern of humanity through discussion of this item in the plenary meetings of the Assembly. 74. The question of South Africa has been the concern of this Organization ever since its inception. There has hardly been a General Assembly session that did not discuss the question of apartheid. On the subject the General Assembly and Security Council have passed innumerable resolutions of wide variety and intensity. This Organization has condemned apartheid in all its forms as a crime against humanity, a crime against justice and human dignity, a threat to international peace and security. 75. Ten years ago the Assembly called upon the Security Council to act under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to solve the problem of apartheid {resolution 2202(XXI)J. In 1968 this Organization recognized the right of the people of South Africa to self-determination and majority rule {resolution 2396 (XXIII)}. In 1970 it recognized the legitimate rights of the people of that country to eliminate apartheid by all possible means and declare the racist regime illegal {resolution 2671 (XXV)). In view of these appealsand decisions one would expect the racists of South Africa to heed the voice of reason and to start a peaceful trend, immediately abolishing apartheid and freeing the remaining victims of its repressive and insane policies. However, the world should know by now that the perpetrators of apartheid are far removed from sanity, a fact which is clearly demonstrated by the massive and savage killings in Sharpeville in 1960, and the recent bloody massacres of innocent men, women and children at Soweto, Alexandra, Cape Town, Durban and elsewhere in that country for the crime of peacefully demanding the inherent and most basic rights of man, that of Iiving in dignity and equality in their own land as they were meant to by their Creator. 76. Merely asking for these rights has become a crime punishable by death, or at best by relegation of the people en masse to Robben Island and other South African mfernos to languish and die under the most brutal torture "The practices and policies of the South African regime ... when examined in the sober light ... of social and political relations, both national and international, as well as the obligations imposed on all those who have declared their support for the Charter of the United Nations and numerous other relevantinternational coven- ants, made it the clear duty of peoples throughout the world who still genuinely believe that all men are born equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, to unite in a demonstration of solidarity with the people of South Africa and with the South African political prisoners. "Thirteen years after the adoption of General Assembly resolution 1881 (XVIII), the prospect of ridding the world of the pestilence of apartheid was more remote than ever. The events of recent months clearly demon- strate that the South African Government was becoming even more desperate, ruthless and indiscriminate in its repression of legitimate resistance and that the measures adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council had failed to deflect that Government from its insane course." 78. This is an eloquent assessment of the situation, but will it be met by equal eloquence of action by those Members of this Organization who still genuinely believe that all men were born equal and are entitled to equal dignity, by those who have strenuously declared their commitment to our Charter and other relevant covenants? Through the years in the life of this Organization we have heard many representatives of Western Powers standing at this podium and other national and international forums, demanding the attention and applause of the world community when they, in high-sounding words, expounded on the depths of their commitments to universal justice, peace and security-how greatly concerned they were at the turn of events in South Africa, even how horrified they were by, and how greatly they lament the massacres of recent months in South Africa. These are noble rvords, but can we honestly believe that they will be m, tched with noble deeds? We think not, because the deeds we see, in spite of the United Nations resolutions and appeals to refrain at least from supporting apartheid, are those of intensified trade co-operation, affording facilities for ac- quiring sophisticated weapons and armaments, and so on-in brief, strengthening the vicious arm of apartheid, thereby allowing it to strike even harder and encouragingit to continue to do so with added momentum and savagery. This encouragement has become an irresistible temptation to the insane architects and perpetrators of apartheid to go ahead and firmly establish their oppressive racist practices i'J. An exemplary showcase of these "independent ban- tustans" is the Transkei, which is supposed to have been given its sham independence the day beforeyesterday, and which, according to a United Nations document on the subject, at best boasts a supposedly constitutional govern- ment with its own identity but subject to dictation by the Government of the South African Republic. It has a 'legislative assembly-65 per cent of whose members are puppet chiefs-appointed by the racist regime. Moreover, the' senior staff administering the "self-reliance in local matters" are white officials, seconded from the Pretoria Government, which also controls the finances of the bantustans. 80. The area where the bantustans are and will be located is 12 per cent of the land area of South Africa, for the over 75 per cent of the black and coloured population of that country. These areas are devoid of an adequate water supply or fer me land, and no income-producing mineral sites have been incorporated into these areas. Theyhave no ~ldustrial base of any kind, but-as if to let it be remembered that these bantustans are nothing but labour camps under the guise of the well-publicized independent bantustans-the racist regime has conveniently established its industrial enterprises around their frontiers to draw the necessary labour force. As such, we totally reject and condemn the shamindependence of the bantustans. 81. Is it conceivable that some Powers are co-operating with South Africa because they believe that the insignifl- cant and peripheral concessions conveniently made by the racists, their bogus manipulations such asseparate develop- ment, the mockery of independent bantustans and the propaganda of dialogue and detente are developments in the right direction? They are not that naive. Neither are we. The fact, as it seems to my delegation after all is said and done, is that the co-operation of Western Powers with South Africa is based on their selfish political, economic and strategic interests. This co-operation emanates from their belief that the exploitation of the people of South Africa and the wealth of their lands is best served through the continued policies and practices of apartheid and co-operation with the racists. In this manner,and in spite of their commitments and the role of keepers of world peace, security, justice and human dignity which these Powers arrogate to themselves, they continue to help frustrate the praiseworthy and persistent efforts of this Organization at all levels of its institutions. In this manner the feelings and appeals of humanity are totally disregarded and held in contempt by the Pretoria regime. The mechanism of apartheid is allowed to grind on ruthlessly, crushing the fragile bones of women and children and continuously feeding on the lives of innocent Africans--fellow members of the communityof man. 82. At this juncture one would wish to indicate :0 all those who,throughassociation with the crimes of apartheid, directly or indirectly contribute to the continued sufferings and degradations of man that it is not contrary to their interests to hear the voice of the oppressed African masses in South Africa crying out for justice and human dignity, that it is, indeed, in the long run in no one's interest to offend Africa's sense of dignity and antagonize 83. If I have spoken mainly of the support given to apartheid by the Western industrial Powers, it is because my delegation firmly believes that the lease of life that the racist regime has acquired is due to the non-co-operation and outright violation by these Powers of the implemen- tation of the resolutions adopted by this Organization; because, if that support and encouragement was not afforded the racist regime, it would have been eaten away by the inherent disease that apartheid bears within itself and the victories of the gallant sons and daughters of that land would have come earlier, not that it is going to be much retarded whatever the price of that Victory may be. The fight for freedom, justice, human dignity and against colonialism and racism has come a long way and has won many victories. A fleeting look at the politico-geographical map of Africa alone as it was only about 15 years ago and as it is today bears me out on that. The composition of this Assembly and the overwhelming growth of the number of its members is added evidence indicative of the course the compelling wind of history has taken and is still sweeping through the continent of Africa since the late 1950s. This trend is irreversible. It shall continue to swell until it has swept from the continent the remaining vestiges of colo- nialism and racism as incarnated in apartheid. Today, the gallant freedom fighters of South Africa and the true representatives and spokesmen of its masses, together with the people of that whole continent and indeed all peoples who believe in human dignity, freedom and peace, stand before this Assembly to appeal and to urge the nations of the world and all Members of this Organization without exception to rise in unison, not to pass sterile resolutions which shall only be added to the eloquent dead letters of this Organization, but to draw a plan of effective action to bring about the victory of man over the evil institutionsof apartheid; to avert a terrible blooo , ..th in South Africa which will be the inevitable consequence of oppression and the deprivation by a small minority of the most basic human and civil rights of the massive majority in its own land; to rise and destroy apartheid, as they destroyed Hitler, one of the greatest protagonists of the crime of racism; to rise and uphold the principles and image of our Organization as the hope of oppressed peoples and the towering monument of justice, human dignity and world peace, and not as a decaying symbol of the failure of mankind, a stage where political hypocrisy, lost hopes and frustrated expectations are the highlights of the play.

At the beginning of my statement I feel in duty bound to pay a tribute to the memory of the martyrs of Sharpeville, of Soweto and all those who elsewhere have given their lives in the struggle against apartheid and racial discrimination so that human freedom and dignity might prevail. 86. It has become clear that universal respect of funda- mental human rights is the most necessary condition to bring about the establishment of international peace and understanding amongpeoplesand that discrimination based on race is unquestionably an infringement not only of the rights of those who are its victims but of their humanity itself. In its resolution 2922 (XXVII), the General As- sembly reaffirms the conviction of the United Nations that apartheid constitutes a total negstlon of the purposes and principles of the Charter and is a crimeagainst humanity. It is not superfluous to recall the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishmentof the Crime of Apartheid whichstipulates that: "The States Parties to the present Convention declare that apartheid is a crime against humanity and that inhuman acts resulting from the policies and practices of apartheid and similar policies and practices of racial segregation and dtscrimination, as defined in article 11 of the Convention, are crimes violating the principles of international law, in particular the purposes and prin- ciples of the Charter of the United Nations, and consti- tuting a serious threat to international peace and secu- rity." {Resolution 3068(XXVIJI), annex, article I.} 87. The Head of State of my country, General Felix Malloum Ngakoutou Bey-Ndi, President of the High Mili- tary Council, had occasion, in conformity with the pro- gramme of action of the High Military Council and the Provisional Government, to reaffirm the co-operation of Chad in the efforts at the international level to fight against apartheid and racism by addressing a message to the Special Committee Against Apartheid of the United Nations in March last in connexion with the celebration of the sixteenth anniversary of Sharpeville. He expressed great hope regarding the concrete acts of the international community that would contribute to the total elimination of apartheid. 88. Chad has thus condemned apartheid, which is a crime against humanity as a whole and a serious threat to international peace and security. 89. Furthermore, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation and chairman of the Chad delegation, con- firmed the position of our country on this point before your august Assembly on 8 October last when he said: "In South Africa a national movement has arisen which sufficiently demonatrat.a tlte reaolv. ftifthe bl,ack masses to rid themselves of the inhumanand tYrannical apartheid 90. In November 1963, the United Nations adopted a Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination [resolution lvtla (XVIII)}. This Declaration affirmed that any doctrine of racial differentiation or superiority is scientiflcally false, morally condemnable,and socially unjust and dangerous. Since then, the Organization has adopted numerous resolutions, the most recent of which, namely, resolution 3411 (XXX), declared the minority racist regime of South Africa illegitimate and non-representative of the population. Indeed, it has become impossible to sit in the United Nations with persons who systematically flout its Charter and who ignore all of its declarations and resolutions on apartheid. The disturbances this year, during which hundreds of innocent persons including schoolchildren were killed or wounded in cold blood, and the clashes which followed, display quite dramatically that apartheid can engender only violence, because the South African people, denied their funda- mental rights, will resist this policy as long as it is practised. 91. The policy of apartheid is not a question peculiar to the people of South Africa, nor is it simply a subject of preoccupation to the African continent. It is a problem of concern for us all and it is quite appropriate to point out here that it has reached such seriousness, that it is 110 longer possible to close one's eyesto the consequences to which it may lead throughout the world. 92. The prospect of a lasting peace in southern Africa is intimately tied to the necessary changes advocated by our Organization, changes whose backbone is the abolition of the crying injustice of which the South African people are the victims. This injustice must disappear for all time, failing which, the situation will dangerously deteriorate in the region, to the detriment of those very samepeople who are practising apartheid and those who are supporting it. 93. I now wish to deal with the policy of "bantustans" or "separate development" which is one of the criminal plans of the apartheid regime directed against blacks and which the international community has constantly and unam- biguously denounced. 94. At the thirteenth session of the OAU Assembly, held in Mauritius in July, the Heads of State and Government of Africa adopted a resolution categorically rejecting "ban- tustans" and calling on aU States which oppose apartheid not to recognize the puppet Itate of Tranak.l, who.. independence was set by its promoters for 26 October 1976. " 96. However, the goodwill shown by Western Powers and by Powers following in their wake is contributing, on the contrary, to helping' the white regime to realize its diabolical schemes. To do so it had to look for accomplices abroad and it is regrettable >'1 note that certainMembers of the United Nations have been deluded into this, and for that, the regime had to seek Internal accomplices as well as to enlist so-called "tribal chiefs" of their own creation, It subjected those who opposed them to constraints and oppressions of all kinds in order to prevent them from reacting. 97. The first result that it achieved on 26 October 1976,is the sorry spectacle of Umtata, of whicha few pictures were televised and about which some are already commenting in highly laudatory terms. 98. It is for this reason that the Government of Chad has Vigorously denounced this masquerade on 26 October 1976, asmy delegation did here, by totally supporting draft resolution A/31/L.5, introduced by Nigeria. The adoption of this resolution by a strong majority shows once more that the Umtata farce in fact is only designed to display a semblance of freedom for a few hundred thousands of blacks in order to persuade the tens of millions grovelling in wretchedness rendered more and more unbearable, as in Soweto and other areas, to resist no longer and to follow the example of Transkei. But the Transkei is a very dastardly blow at the geographical and national unity and racial harmony in South Africa, whereas its economy is subtly placed in a colonial-type structure. In fact it j!; not Umtata, but Pretoria which will hold the essential attributes of the fictitious independence of Transkei, suchas,defence, police, justice, currency, trade, and so on. Pretoriawill thus administer this territory through the intermediary of " bigots that it has set up at Umtata. 99. The Republic of Chad refuses to endorse the ban- tustan policy which is strangely reminiscent of Hitler's lebensraum and does not recognize the fictitious indepen- dence imposed by the apartheid regime upon the popu- lation of Transkei under the constraint of the army and the police. 100. Chad considers, therefore, that ~he Transkei is stillan integral part of the Republic of South Africa and must remain so until the South African people as a whole have had an opportunity to express their self-determination. 101. The Transkei affair places us before another serious challenge, that of endorsing an odious doctrine, and thereby giving it strength. There has, however, never been, nor will there ever be, any questionfor my Government or 102. It is no longer possible to close our eyes and ears to the plots and machinations now being carried out openlyin Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. 103. The situation prevailing now in South Africa, if we are to come back to Transkei, leads us to adopt a logical attitude: first, to isolate and eliminate apartheid and firmly condemn those who support it and make it possible for it to survive, as well as the organizations and the foreign interests which openly collaborate with the Vorster regime in the economic, military and nuclear fields; secondly, to transform the right granted to the blacks in Transkei to go and poison themselves with alcohol in the white hotels of Umtata into a right to transform that city into a veritable bastion of struggle for the achievement of majority rule; and thirdly, by all available means to help the South African liberation movements and the overwhelming majority of the Transkei people, who reject racial discrimi- nation and colonization, to establish themselves rapidly in the place of the traitor, Matanzima and all hishenchmen, in order to solve the real problem, which is that of settingup at Pretoria a majority government, whose first task will be to bring social justice to South Africa and to preserve its unity and territorial integrity. 104. Because of equivocation and failure to apply all the measures adopted, the black people of South Africa, who could no longer bear injustice, have been led to take up arms in order to put an end to the apartheid system and to fight for their self-determination and the integrity of their territory. 105. Today the escalation of violence has reached a point of no return. The repressions, the manoeuvres and the machinations will be of no avail, because the black South African people, compelled to take up arms,know that they are defending a just and legitimate cause, and history has always shown that a just and legitimate cause ultimately triumphs.

In the context of the present political situationin southern Africa, it has become more than ever obvious that 108. Romania, which actively combats apartheid, has welcomed and supported the initiative of the African peoples, to discuss the problem in plenarymeetings because it considers that this will strengthen the action taken by the United Nationsto abolishapartheid. 109. The problem of the policy of apartheid practisedby the Government of South Africa has been on the agenda of the United Nations for 30 years. Over these three decades world public opinion has become ever more aware of the inhuman nature of the policy of apartheid and of the serious threat that it constitutes for the peace and security of the African continent and of the world as a whole. Apartheid has rightly been declared to be a crime against humanity and an affront to human dignity. 110. A large number of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council have con- demned the retrograde policy of the Government of Pretoria. That Government, for racial motives repudiated by the whole of the international community, is imposing by the force of arms the domination of the white minority over the overwhelming majority of the South African people. Throughout the whole of this period, the minority regime of South Africa, in defiance of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as of numerous resolutions adopted by the United Nations, has not only continued to practise apartheid but has actually intensified its policy of racial oppression and has extended its evil influence beyond South African territory. Ill. The policy of the Pretoria regime, its racial discrimi- nation and apartheid, its support of the racist Government of Rhodesia and its illegal occupation of Namibia are a permanent source of tension in southern Africa and a serious threat to neighbouring African States. 112. The racist regime has recently undertaken a number of desperate manoeuvres to divide the South African people and to delude world public opinion. 113. It has inzensifled its programme for the creation of bantustans, st.irting with the Transkei, in order to fragment the country and to consolidate its domination over the population of these territories. 114. But the oppressed people of South Africa and its liberation movements, as they stand up to terror and segregationist laws, have succeeded in frustrating these manoeuvrec and have continued their heroic fight for their 115. The more recent events have shown that the racist regime of Pretoria does not intend to renounce its policy of apartheid and racial oppression and that, in its desperation" it is becoming increasingly more brutal and inhuman. 116. In these circumstances the international community as well as this Organization must intensify their efforts to abolish apartheid and must take more effective action against the racist regime of Pretoria. 11 7. The Romanian delegation has very carefully studied the report of the Special Committee against Apartheid, the Dec1aration and the Programme of Action adopted by the International Seminar on the Eradication ofApartheidand in Support of the Struggle for Liberation ill South Africa, held at Havana /A/31/104, annexes I andIlJ as well as the other documents of the Centre against Apartheid on this question and has found these documents to be most valuable. 118. We wish to focus attention on the tireless activity of the Special Committee against Apartheid and on this occasion we congratulate the members of that Committee and all those who have dedicated themselves to the noble cause of riddinginternational life of apartheid. 119. We also welcome the presence in the work of these plenary meetings of representatives of the South African liberation movements as legitimate representatives of the South African people. 120. The heroic attitude of the South African people, whose active resistance extends to the whole of the country, imparts a new dimension to the struggle against apartheid and is thus an important feature in the action to liquidateapartheid and social injustice in South Africa. 121. The Romanian people once again expresses its . solidarity with the heroic resistance struggle of the op- pressed people of Azania against racial discrimination and for its national emancipation. 122. In our opinion apartheid brings together the worst aspects of racism and colonialism. Raised to the level of a state policy by the South African regime, the policy of apartheid ignores the most elementary humanitarian nOnDS and therefore constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. It is for this reason that the Govern- ment of the Socialist Republic of Romania and the Romanian people have always condemned the policy of apartheid practised by the South African Government and have done everything possible for the abolition of this policy. 124. Romania supports the non-alignment movement and is actively participating in the Group of 77 developing countries. "We most resolutely condemn the racist policy of apartheid practised in South Africa and in Rhodesia and we support the just struggle of the peoples of Namibia and other areas under colonial domination to conquer their right to be free and to be masters in their own country and to decide upon their future without any foreign interference whatsoever. We consider that it is now necessary for all States to display utmost energy in supporting the subjugated peoples in completely elimi- nating colonialist and neo-colonialist policies, racial dis- crimination and apartheid. " 126. Faithful to this stand, the Romanian delegation to the United Nations has made its contribution in the Security Council, in the United Nations Council for Namibia and other United Nations forums, together with African and other Member States, to the efforts made by this Organization to find solutions consistent with the principles of the Charter and rules of international law. We consider that all the nations of the world must co-operate in order to hasten the elimination of racial discrimination and to stop all moral, economic and military assistance to the racist regime of South Africa and must contribute to the solution of problems in that area. Any attempts to support oppressive regimes in southern Africa are doomed to failure; they will never be able to check the momentum of the enslaved peoples thirsting for freedom. They will merely lead to further suffering on the part of the oppressed masses and at most they will simply postpone the final victory of the South African people. 127. Those who lend their assistance to South Africa are assuming a heavy responsibility in view of what is now taking place in southern Africa. 128. The United Nations and the international community cannot remain indifferent when the fundamental principles of international ~8W and the provisions of the Charter are flouted in such a flagrant fashion and the most elementary human rights are brutally violated by the racist minority of South Africa, 129. It is high time for the United Nations to do its duty towards the South African people, oppressed and exploited by a racist minority, and to undertake as soon as possible the decisive and effective measures against the Government of Pretoria that will abolish apartheid and resolve the situation in South Africa. 130. In the present circumstances we consider that the question of apartheid must be dealt with in the general 131. As for the most recent manoeuvre of the South African Government, the so-called independence of the Transkei bantustan, the Romanian delegation reaffirms its position: we reject this manoeuvre and we firmly condemn the policy of bantustanization, whose only purpose is to consolidate apartheid. 132. By this manoeuvre the racist Government of Pretoria is infringing upon the integrity and territorial unity of the country and is attempting to perpetuate the domination of the majority, thus dispossessing the African population of South Africa of its inalienable rights over its own country. 133. Romania was a sponsor of the draft resolution adopted as resolution 3411 D (XXX) which "calls upon all Governments and organizations not to deal with any institutions or authorities of the bantustans or to accord any form of recognition to them". Romania was likewise a sponsor of the draft resolution adopted a few days ago by the General Assembly as resolution 31/6 A which rejects the so-calledindependence of the Transkei, a State invented and made from whole cloth by the racist regime of South Africa. 134. The international community must not and ought never to accept the existence of the so-calledTranskei or of any other bantustan or separate political entity established in defiance of the sacred rights of the African people of South Africa. The racist Government of Pretoria will have finally to understand that the only viable solution is to forsake its policy of apartheid and of racial discrimination and to establish the necessary conditions under which the South African people will be able fully to exercise its inalienable rights in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The delegation of the Dominican Republic wishes to express its firmest support for the peoples of southern Africa in their just struggle for genuine independence and racial equality. 136. The Dominican Republic is part of a racially mixed continent, the only one which cannot be identified by any particular colour of skin. Ours is a land where individuals and cultures mingle freely, which will eventually, wc trust, be the case everywhere. 137. Consistent with our history and our culture, the Dominican Republic rejects the so-called declaration of independence of the Transkei, which we consider to be one further instance of the application of apartheid and a feeble attempt to disguise it. My country has always stood by the people of Azania and we shall continue to do so in the 139. Whatever else may have been said by various delega- tions, it is obvious that Pretoria is trying to maintain control over the means of production in the country without any respect for the dignity and the rights of individuals. 140. "Separate development", as it has been called, is a useless invention which cannot prevent the establishment of a government by the black majority in Azania. The same is true of bantustans and all forms of apartheid. It is a pity that this remarkable capacity for social inventiveness which, if it were not a tragic reality would surely belong in the realm of science fiction, is being used to foment strife and increare suffering and not to promote co-operation and the well-being of blacks and whites. 141. The people of Azania, who have suffered greatly under the system of racism, are struggling with increasing strength and courage and earning the growing support of all the peoples of the world. 143. The blacks in South Africa, it is true, are not livingin peace at the present time; but then neither are the whites, although they may have some economic affluence and a certain degree of physical security which, however, is growing ever more precarious. , 144. It may well be that by denying the blacks their rights the whites are in fact denying their future sons those same rights. 145. But there is still time to lay the groundwork for a multiracial community with a government reflecting the human realities of Azania in which persons of all races and cultures will enjoy equal rights and opportunities. 146. If the racist Government of Pretoria does not, however, accept the peaceful channels offered by the United Nations, the human tide of Africa may well eventually sweep away not only everything that should be done away with but also those things which should be kept active and alive in the common interest of blacks and whites alike. Themeeting rose at 1.20 p.m.