A/32/PV.105 General Assembly

We shall now proceed to the consideration of the reports of the Third Committee. Pursuant to rule 66 of the rules of procedure, it lmS decided not to discuss the reports oftho Third Committee.

The Assembly will consider first the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 12, entitled "Report of the Economic and Social Council", which is contained in document A/32/458. 19. I shall now call on those representatives who wish to explain their votes on any or all of the 12 draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 52 of its report on agenda item 12. The representatives will also have an opportunity to explain their votes after all the votes on this report have been taken.

Although my delegation feels that our statement on the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group un the Situation of Human Rights in Chile was quite clear, we should like,·nevertheless, to make known our views now concerning draft resolution 11 (formerly A/C.3/32/L.37), which was adopted by the Third Committee on 7 December and appears on today's agenda. 21. The Government of Bolivia attaches the greatest importance to the most zealous and universal observance of 22. Although the evident intention of the sponsors of draft resolution A/C.3/32/L.37 would seem to be purely and simply the defence of human rights and a well-deserved condemnation of the Government accused of violating them, in the text of the document are to be found allegations, assertions and accusations which, since they have not been duly proved, are not valid as evidence and thus call into question the motivation and the effectiveness of the document. One of the aspects ')f the document that detracts from its value is its discriminatory nature: it stigmatizes one Government and one country and in so doing passes a deliberate political judgement which touches on matters wholely and exclusively within the jurisdiction of that State. 23. In open contrast with that intention and with a flagrant lack of the objectivity that should be inherent in a subordinate body of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, this document omits mention of the progress achieved in Chile in the year that has elapsed since tre previous report was submitted, progress which is known to all. It mentions whatever is abnormal and deserving of criticism but it does not mention the efforts being made to improve the situation. What is even more significant is that it entirely omits mention of the Chilean Government's constantly demonstrated willingness to co-operate with the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Situation of Human Rights in Chile so long as that Group in no way infringes on its authority or its sovereignty 24. My delegation considers that all these factors invalidate the impartiality and the objectivity that should have been the feature of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group If we agree to the investigation continuing on its present course, it is because we believe that the errors of the past, which, have shaken our faith in its effectiveness, will not be repeated~ This is what caused a great many countries to advocate the creation of new machinery. Unfortunately, that view did not commend itself to the majority that makes the decisions in the General Assembly. 25. Filled as we are with doubts regarding the existence of the conceptual error underlying the Ad Hoc Working Group and it being our duty to ensure a correct application of human rights, we have no choice but to abstain. We do so for two reasons: first, because we cannot vote in favour of a draft resolution whose political intent is so blatant and, secondly, because we cannot vote against it however much we should like to do so since what is at stake is the prestige of a sister republic and a Government of Latin America pitilessly placed in the prisoner's dock. We feel, however, that we are supporting, perhaps hypothetically and ideally, rules of conduct protecting human rights. 27. We therefore trust that the progress achieved towards the normalization of the observanCe of human rights in Chile will be strengthened daily and that very soon the exercise of all democratic freedoms in an atmosphere of order and progressive development which are the most positive elements that will lead to the establishment of lasting social peace, will be restored in that country. That is our hope.

Before the vote on draft resolution 11 on "Protection of human rights in Chile", the Government of Chile wishes to explain its vote and to express its views. 29. Not only does the Government of Chile reject the draft resolution adopted by the Third Committee, but it wishes to state for the record of this General Assembly its most determined protest at this iniquitous draft resolution and the way in which the Chilean case has been dealt with over the last tluee years in the United Nations. 30. We wish to state our rejection of it and our protest, first of all, because of the incredible singling out of a country that has occurred in the case of Chile. We are now reaching the end of this session of the United Nations General Assembly at a time when international public opinion quite rightly would have expected this to have been the year ofhuman rights. And yet no other draft resolution has been discussed, no other draft resolution has b~en adopted, except for the one on Chile that we are going to vote upon now. This surely is not a tribute to the legal equality of States, a principle on which this Organization rests, nor is it any homage to the cause ofhuman rights, nor is it proof of sincerity or consistency. 31. We also wish to protest the unheard-of fact that, while the problems of a country like mine are brought to the United Nations, the problems of the great Powers and of the European States are discussed elsewhere, behind closed doors, discreetly and cautiously, thus depriving this international Organization of a competence which is only invoked against smalier countries. . 32. The regional organizations possess-and must possess-competence, and functions in the matter of human rights. But they must be recognized without any discrimination and must be applied equally in all regions. If priority intervention on the part of a regional organization in a matter of human rights in a countrf of that region is accepted, then by the same token we must accept the intervention of all the regional organizations in similar situations. 34. We also wish to protest because not only has the principle of the legal equality of States been gravely and repeatedly violated but because the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group, the debate held in the Third Committee and the draft resolution itself also violate the principles of self-determination and of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of States. 35. The Ad Hoc Working Group violated those principles when it included in its report a number of suggestions, ideas and interventions in fields that are absolutely within the internal authority of Chile. The debate violates these principles beginning with the very representative who introduced the draft resolution when he referred to the economic system adopted by the Government of Chile. The draft resolution violates those principles because, inter alia, it ratifies what has been done by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities that has gone so far as to interfere and to require of the Government of Chile information regarding how its budget is drawn up, the amounts, the sources and the aims and objectives of its internal and external credits and its investment policies. 36. We reject that draft resolution since it does not take into account the real situation in Chile, the information supplied by the Government of Chile and then the co-operation given by my Government to the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Working Group. 37. We reject the draft resolution because we, who recognize and accept the fact that the fmal goal of the United Nations in this field is to co-operate with Member States, have not received from the General Assembly, from the Commission on Human Rights or from the Ad Hoc Working Group, any positive response to our co-operation. Despite three years of full acceptance of international jurisaiction and despite three year~ of co-operation with the United Nations, we have not even achieved acceptance of minimum norms of competence and procedure which would allow us to continue to co-operate with dignity and safeguarding the principles and basic rights of our country. 38. In the Third Committee we described the situation in Chile; we replied to the charges levelled against us; and, finally, we expressed the reasons for our determined rejection of the draft resolution. Today, we repeat: Chile will vote "No". 39. The first reason we will vote against it is because the treatment of the Chilean case is an obvious singling out of a country in open contradiction to the first preambular paragraph of the draft, which alludes to the universal observance of human rights as required by the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations-although the word "universal", when it comes to this subject, has become a synonym for falsehood and hypocrisy. 40. Secondly, the draft ignores the real situation in Chile, as well as the gradual correction of its causes. The draft 42. Fourthly, a number of the provisions of this draft resolution, as we have said, constitute blatant intervention in the domestic affairs of Chile, which no self-respecting country would ever allow, since they go beyond the realm of international jurisdiction in matters of human rights and contravene the clear and binding language of Article 2, paragraph 7, of the United Nations Charter. 43. Fifthly, the context of the draft resolution as a whole violates article 55 of the Charter, which basically calls for international co-operation and for respect for the principles of the self-determination of peoples and of the legal equality of States in all fields covered by this Organization, and particularly iij. matters of human rights. 44. Sixthly, the "draft resolution totally ignores the rules of due process-namely, the minimal rules of procedural guaranteea to which individuals as well as national communities are entitled. Thus it seriously affects the rights of a Member State-indeed, a founding Member-of the United Nations-and permanently sets a highly dangerous precedent adversely affecting co-operation in the field of human rights which might in future be emulated by other Governments. 45. Seventhly, the draft resolution completely overlooks the decision adopted by consensus in the General Assembly of the Organization of American States only a few months ago in Grenada, despite the fact that in the debate in the Third Committee it was invoked by the majority of the States of our region. Thus it shows complete contempt for the competence and judgements of a regional organization having a vigorous tradition of vigilance in matters ofhuman rights-an organization possessing an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that is serious and severe, that is concerned over the situation in our entire continent without discrimination or politicization. 46. Eighthly, generally, this draft was not, in our view, based on a desire to ensure respect for or improvement of the situation of human rights throughout the world or in Chile. On the contrary, as is common knowledge and clear to all, and as can be gathered from the very declarations of several countries that have supported it, it has basically political motives and was politically inspired, politically negotiated and politically drafted. Hence it does not 47. In concluding this explanation of vote, my delegation wishes it clearly understood that our rejection of and protest against this draft resolution do not necessarily imply an end to our co-operation with the United Nations in this very important and delicate field. 48. In future, our co-operation will depend on whether the Commission on Human Rights and its Working Group agree with us on the minimal procedural norms to ensure recognition of our present situation, based on law and justice. Our co-operation will hinge also on whether an end is put to the discrimination and politicization applied to our case, and, in general, on whether United Nations action is consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter; whether it remains within the limits of its international jurisdiction in human rights matters; and whether it respects the dignity and sovereignty of my country, co-operating with my Government instead of trying, condemning and penalizing an independent State. 49. The delegation of Chile, in addition to announcing its negative vote, wishes to appeal to all delegations truly concerned over the human rights situation in the world, and more specifically in my own country, to ponder the consequences of their votes on this draft resolution. 50. This appeal is adrressed particularly to the other developing countries which, for lack of political power, are also vulnerable, at some point in their history, to a conspiracy of great Powers belonging to all ideologies like that which today has made Chile its victim.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the 12 draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 52 of its report [A/32/458]. 52. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution Il is entitled "Protection of human rights in Chile". A recorded vote has been requested.

Draft resolution III is entitled: "Assistance to South African student refugees". The Third Committee adopted that draft res01ution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution IV is entitled "Measures to improve the situation. and ensur~ the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution V is entitled "Protection of the human rights of certain categories of prisoners". The Third COTtlrnittee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

. Draft resolution VI is entitled "Protection of persons detained or imprisoned as a result of their struggle against apartheid. racism and racial discrimination, colonialism, aggression and foreign occupation and for self-determination, independence as well as social progress for their people". 58. As was the case in the Third Committee, a separate vote has been requested on the word "and" between the words "foreign occupation" and the words "for self-deter- 1 The delegations of Comoros, Equatorial Guinea and Upper Volta subsequentlf informed the Secretariat that they wished to have their votes recorded as having been in favour of the draft resolution. 59. I call on the representative of Morocco on a point of order. According to the rules of procedures, a point of order may be introduced only with regard to the voting procedure.

Please excuse me, Mr. President, for having to interrupt you during the voting. But if I understood correctly, the issue on which a separate vote has been requested should be expressed as follows so that the vote is clear: the issue is between those delegations which are in favour of retaining the word "and" in the sentence, and those against it. My delegation requested the vote, but I am not sure how to vote. So, Mr. President, I would request you to please instruct us exactly how we are to proceed in this vote.

The explanation was very clear. I am putting to the vote the word "and". I shall ask for those who are in favour of retaining the word "and" and those who are against retaining the word "and"

Draft resolution VII is entitled "Observance of the thirtieth anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights". The report of the Fifth Committee on the administrative and financial implications of that draft resolution is contained in document A/32/479. The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise'? 64. The PRES.IDENT: Draft resolution VIII is entitled "Narcotic drugs: international co-operation in treatment and rehabilitation". I put that draft resolution to the vote. A recorded vote has been requested. 2 The delegation of Upper Volta subsequently info~med the Secretariat that it wished to have its vote recorded a" having been in favour of the draft resolution. Against: None. Abstaining: Bulgaria, Burma, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Viet Nam. Draft resolution VIII mlS adopted by 125 votes to none, with 11 abstentions (resolution 32/124].3

Draft resolution IX is entitled "United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control and its programmes related to economic and social development" I put draft resolution IX to the vote. A recorded vote has been requested.

Draft resolution X is entitled "Intensified and co-ordinated efforts to fight the illicit traffic in and illicit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances". A recorded vote has been requested.

Draft resolution XI is entitled "Regional Arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights". The Third Committee adopted resolution XI without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Lastly, we come to draft resolution XII, entitled "Missing persons in Cyprus". The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

I shall now call on representatives wishing to explain their votes. 70. U TIN LAT (Burma): The delegation of Burma abstained in the vote on draft resolution VIII, entitled "Narcotic drugs: international co-operation in treatment and rehabilitation" contained in the report of the Third Committee [A/32/458] under agenda item 12, "Report of the Economic and Social Council". We did so because the basic tenet of our Government's internal policy in regard to narcotics and drug abuse control is to rely on our own national efforts and to do so in conformity with the specific social, economic and cultural conditions in our country. Resort to any other approach is likely to create new facets incompatible with our sovereignty. 71. Burma has long recognized the inherent menace of the narcotics problem. Throughout the years since regaining independence in 1948, Burma has consistently given and will continue to give high priority to combating the drug menace as a matter of national concern and has instituted various measures in that regard. Opium inquiry committees were initially established in 1948 and 1951 to investigate the problems involved~ The difficulties experienced in our efforts at that time were caused by the presence of Kuomintang troops in our opium-growing border areas. The prohibition of the sale of opium became effective throughout the country in October 1965. In 1967 a large-scale crop replacement operation covering 20,000 acres was started, and progress has been made towards converting that land to the cultivation of useful substitute crops. 72. The narcotic drugs law was passed in 1974. The national campaign to eradicate the drug menace at its source has resulted in the destruction of thousands of opium plantations in successive operations launched by our Government. However, we feel that any measures for the destruction of sources of supply will not be fully effective unless they are matched by equally vigorous measures taken 5 The delegation of Upper Volta subsequently informed the Secretariat that it wished to have its vote recorded as having been in favour of the draft resolution.

My delegation voted in favour of draft resolution VI, entitled "Protection of persons detained or imprisoned as a result of their struggle against apartheid, racism and racial discrimination, colonialism, aggression and foreign occupation and for self-determination, independence as well as social progress for their people". 75. My delegation has always opposed apartheid and all forms of racism or racial discrimination, colonialism and foreign occupation. However, in operative paragraph 4 of the draft resolution reference has been made to Israel and the racist minority regimes in southern Africa; this may be misconstrued to mean that all the relevant situations referred to in the paragraph are equally applicable to both areas. The reference to Israel is the direct consequence of its continued occupation of the Arab territories since 1967 and its refusal to respect the right to self-determination of the people in those territories. We urge upon Israel to withdraw from the Arab territories so as to avoid such references in the future. However, my delegation would in no way interpret the situations in Israel and southern Africa as being similar in all respects.

The United States voted against draft resolution VI on the protection of detained or imprisoned persons. In our view the draft resolution has several serious defects and we shall confine our remarks to just a few of them. 77. First, we view the draft resolution as largely a political document. It patronizingly uses the question of political prisoners as a polemical vehicle. 78. Secondly, the draft resolution singles out only certain categories of prisoners for special attention. The silence with which it treats the questions of the rights of prisoners of conscience or of the call for the release of all political "prisoners is deafening. That is inconsistent with the even-handed efforts of the United Nations to secure a general release of all those imprisoned for their beliefs. 79. Thirdly, we feel t.~is draft resolution could be interpreted by some as calling for the blanket release of terrorists, hijackers and others who use political slogans to excuse their criminal acts as defined by international law. The United States cannot support such an interpretation. 80. Fourthly, with regard to the first preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 5, the United States supports peaceful solutions of international problems and opposes any call that recognizes the 1egitimacy of armed struggle. 81. Fifthly, the language of this draft resolution is vague and imprecise. It is difficult to repress the suspicion that this is an effort on the part of certain Governments which themselves hold large numbers of political prisoners to 82. In contrast, we have supported draft resolution V on political prisoners, which was originally proposed by the Swedish delegation, as a small but positiv~ step in the right direction. It is now very important to ensure that that draft resolution VI, which calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to act and to report to the Economic and Social Council, not be allowed to become a large step backwards towards unequal treatment. 83. If we do not protect the United Nations human rights machinery from cynical misuse, we can expect that the whole United Nations human rights effort will be seriously undermined.

On behalf of the delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany, I should like to thank the delegation of Nigeria for the initiative it took on draft resolution XL To promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, is a task that ranks high among the obligations of the international community. The creation of regional machinery and regional commissions for the protection and observance of human rights will undoubtedly contribute to the attainment of these ends. We consider the resolution just adopted to be an important step towards achieving a uuiversal guarantee of human rights and an encouragement for existing and future procedures within the United Nations to protect human rights. 85. We venture to express the hope that even closer co-operation in the field of human rights may eventually culminate in the establishment of institutions such as an international court of human rights-an idea that was put forward by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Hans-Dietrich Genscher, during the general debate at the last session of the General Assembly6 and reiterated in the course of the present session of the General Assembly. Such a development would be truly consonant with the goals set out in Articles 1and SS of the Charter, to which we are all dedicated.

The delegation of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam did not oppose the adoption by the General Assembly of draft resolution XI in doc:Jment A/32/458 Nevertheless we should like to make the following comment. My delegation considers that, since the promotion. of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the achievement of the full dignity and worth of the human person are the ultimate purposes and fundamental principles of the United Nations, included in its Charter and in all its statutes and accepted by all Member States, it is perfectly clear that the entire system of the many relevant bodies of the United Nations, which have borne clearly defined responsibilities in various fields since the system was established, is called upon to exert every 87. Experience of more than 30 years of United Nations activities has shown that, given the complexity, intricacy and scope of human rights problems, co-operation within the international community in encouraging and promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be really effective or constructive unless it is based, on the one hand, on a full understanding of the variety of problems that exist in different societies and on full resoect for the economic, social and cultural state of each nation, and, on the other hand, on the concept· that all human rights, political and civil as well as economic, social and cultural, must be considered globally, fundamentally and in all their aspects. This tremendous undertaking, as noble as it is difficult, cannot be entrusted to one person or group of persons, however competent or impartial. 88. As our delegation made clear in the Third Committee during the debate on agenda item 76 on the question of appointing a high commissioner for human rights, it would be quite illusory, even dangerous, not to say ill-intentioned, whether at the international or regional level, to try to establish any kind of body which would centralize all the work concerning human rights. As we see it, the existing regional commissions set up in this connexion were established in specific historical conditions and in a past to which we shall never return. 89. I should like to conclude by saying that at the present time any institutional approach or arrangement in the field of human rights envisaging the establishment of regional bodies would be illusory, even dangerous, and is not at all desirable.

Although the United Kingdom was able to vote in favour of draft resolution X in document A/32/4s8, the substance of which my delegation considers to be a valuable contribution to efforts to combat drug abuse, the United Kingdom does not interpret operative paragraph 6 of the resolution as prejudicing our non-ratification of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. 91. Mc. O'DONOVAN (Ireland): The delegation of Ireland has voted for draft resolution X, just adopted, concerning intensified and co-ordinated efforts to fight the illicit traffic in and illicit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. My delegation approves of the aims and purposes of the resolution. It wishes to note, however, that there are some practical difficulties which have delayed the ratification by Ireland of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

My delegation voted against draft resolution VI for the reasons we set forth in the TrJrd Committee. We reject out of hand the allegations contained in operative paragraph 4 as regards Israel. In contrast to the situation in other countries, including countries which sponsored this draft resolution, where thousands of prisoners are held in prison or in concentration camps because of their opinions, in Israel not a single person is imprisoned for his political views. Only persons guilty of murder or other acts ofviolence are imprisoned. 94. Fascism, wherever it raises its head, endangers friendly relations among peoples and their peaceful co-operation. We support this resolution because it condemns again the systematic and massive violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Chilean people by the Fascist junta and because it calls for the restoration of human rights in Chile without delay. 95. The report of the Ad Hoc Working Group and the deliberations thereon in the Third Committee have furnished fresh proof of the fact that the Fascist dictatorship in Chile unabatedly continues with all its negative consequences, dIrected against the political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Chilean people. 96. Only recently the public at large learned about new acts of violence by the junta against the working class in Chile and its trade union movement. When the regime in Santiago arrested seven trade union leaders just at the time when the violation of human rights in Chile was dealt with in the United Nations, it proved itself the correctness of what is stated in operative paragraph 1 of draft resolution 11. What is required, among other things, is to make use of the possibilities in operative paragraph 9.

The delegation of the Byelorussian SSR expresses its satisfaction at the adoption by the General Assembly of draft resolution VI entitled "Protection of persons detained or imprisoned as a result of their struggle against apartheid, racism and racial discrimination, colonialism, aggression and foreign occupation and for self-determination, independence as well as social progress for their people". 98. We voted in favour of that draft resolution. 99. The Soviet people have always shown solidarity with those which participate in the noble struggle for social progress, in the name ofthe triumph of the ideals of peace, democracy and national independence. On 1 March 1976, the Twenty-fifth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union adopted a statement: "Freedom to the prisoners of imperialism and reaction". We would now like to stress that we fully reject the slanderous allegations by the delegation of Israel. 100. Of particular importance are the provisions of the resolution adopted by the Assembly expressing solidarity with those who are struggling for national independence and social progress. That resolution also emphasizes that any attempts to suppress the struggle against colonial domination and racist regimes are incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It calls upon States Members of the United Nations to provide support and assistance in all fields to the peoples'fighting for their liberation from colonialism, foreign occupation and racism. 102. In connexion with the adoption without a vote of draft resolution V entitled "Protection of the human rights of certain categories of prisoners", th~ delegation of the Byelortlssian SSR-and here we are also speaking on behalf of the delegations of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSRwould like to state the following. If this draft resolution had been put to a vote, we would have abstained for the reasons set forth by the delegation of the USSR in the Third Committee.7 103. The Byelorussian SSR, like the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR, are parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and we carry out the obligations that we entered into under that Covenant.

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 75, entitled "World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination". The report is contained in document A/32/422. 105. I call on the representative of Israel, who wishes to explain his vote before the vote

My delegation has been and is on record as opposed to any form of racial discrimination Likewise, Israel is in favour of the Decade for Action to Combat..Racism and Racial Discrimination and is for the struggle for the elimination of discrimination that is based on resolution 3057 (XXVIII). My delegation, however, will vote against the draft resolution in paragraph 10 of document A/32/422 because it cannot accept the implications arising out of its first and second preambular paragraphs and its operative paragraph 5. We wish to express the hope that in the future, when elements extraneous to the resolution and repugnant to its spirit are eliminated, Israel will participate in the activities of the Decade. 107. Mr. President, with your permission, and in order to save the time of the Assembly, I wish to use this occasion to state that our negative vote on draft resolution IV in document A/32/440, dealing with the United Nations Decade for Women, is motivated by the same reasons as guided our attitude to the draft resolution in document A/32/422.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 10 ofits report [A/32/422]. The draft resolution is entitled "World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination" A recorded vote has been requested.

I invite representatives to turn now to the draft decision contained in paragraph 11 of the Third Committee's report [A/32/422J. The Third Committee adopted that recommendation without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft decision was adopted (decision 32/433).

I shall now call on those representatives wishing to explain their votes.

On agenda item 75, the Chinese delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution contained in document A/32/422. With regard to operative paragraph 5 of that draft resolution, the Chinese delegation wishes to take this opportunity to state again that the invitation of observers to attend the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination by the Secretary-Gene:cal must be made in strict conformity with the provisions of resolution 2758 (XXVI) of 1971, The Chinese delegation requests that the foregoing position of ours be included in the records of the Assembly

The United States viewed the Decade for Action to Combat

The nine States members of the European Community, on whose behalf I have the honour to speak, voted in favour of the draft resolution on the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, contained in document A/32/422. The sponsors of that draft, all members of the African group, had at the sixty-second session of the Economic and Social Council shown a great spirit of conciliation, which enabled them to develop a text able to command very broad agreement today. We should like to assure them that we appreciate this very much, 114. The States members of the European Community have frequently stated that, if the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination were to remain faithful to its objectives and to its original programme, elaborated and adopted jointly in the framework of General Assembly resolution 3057 (XXVIII), they would be willing to reaffirm their support both during the Decade itselfand also at the 1978 Conference, which is to be the highlight of the Decade. 115. In our opmlOn, the resolution that has just been adopted gives us reason to believe that the Cocference will be able to be held within the context of the programme established by resolution 3057 (XXVIII) without the introduction ofany elements extraneous to the resolution. 116. Our affirmative vote today is based on our confidence that this very positive factor will be preserved. If for any reason whatsoever our confidence is found to be misplaced, we should with great regret be obliged to draw the inevitable consequences. 117. It will be recalled that the Federal Republic of Germany, France and the United Kingdom participated last March in the work of the Preparatory Committee for the Conference and were led to make certain remarks concerning the agenda of the Conference proposed by the Committee. I should like to say here that our nine delegations still fully stand by the comments made at the time by their three partners. 118. Lastly, with regard to the question of inviting non-governmental organizations to the Conference, our delegations fully agree with the opinion expressed on that subject in the Economic and Social Councii on 2 December 1977 by the representative of Denmark.9 120. At recent sessions of the General Assembly the Canadian delegation has opposed the inclusion of an aliei. and unacceptable element in the consideration of various resolutions on the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination ~.nd the World Conference to Combat ~acism and Racia', Discrimination. In our view, these elements compromised thp. objectives of those resolutions and threatened their eventual success. This year we are conscious of the concerted efforts which have been made to restore the Decade a.1.d the Conference to their original purposes~ as defined in resolution 3057 (XXVIII) of 2 November 1973. For this reason, we supported resolutions on these questions at the sixty-second session of the Economic and So..:ial Council and, more recently, in the Third Corunittee of this session of the General Assembly. The basis of our support for the Decade and the World Confeience is our interpretation of the term "raci~m", as defmed in article 1 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ~s "any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin" [resolution 2106 A (XX), annex]. This defmition will contmue to be understood as the basis of Canada's support of the Decade and will be one of the elements which will eventually determine the decision of the Canadian Government with respect to participation in the World Conference to be held in 1978. 121. We are especially plfased to note that the questions relating to the venue of the Conference and to participation by non-governmental organizations in the Conference have now been settled. As regards the latter issue, the Canadian delegation considers that it is of the utmost importance to ensure the most effecpjve participation possible so that the most comprehensive range of views can be taken into consideration in the results of the Conference. The Canadian delegation, therefore, interprets the rule that has been adopted with re3pect to participation by non-governmental organizations in the World Conference as including the ability of non-governmental organizi:'.tions to make oral presentations. 122. Tile Canadian d~lesation wishes to affirm at this time Its strong support for all efforts to promote a climate of opinion in which the evils of racism and racial discrimination can be successfully combated. These are the aiMS of established Canadian policy, and this is the basis m' our support for resolutions on the De-cacte and the World Conference.

The General Assembly will now consider the report oftr.e Third Committee on agenda item 76, entitled "Alternative approaches and ways and meailS 124. I shall now call on those representatives wishing to explain their votes before the vote.

My delegation deems it appropriate to make a few comments on the portion of the report of the Economic and Social Council concerning the need to encourage universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, which led to the preparation of the draft resolution that was examined and adopted by the Third Committee. While at the appropriate time we clarified some of the aspects that we felt might not have been positive, the amendments proposed, the majority of which were accepted with great understanding by the sponsors, smoothed down the rough edges and polished the document until it became acceptable to the majority of Member States, incluct:':;, my own. I should now like to refer to another point contained in the draft resolution which is a matter of prime importance to Bolivia: that is the direct and determining incidence of the economic factor in the maintenance of social peace and the full enjoyment of human rights. 126. Mine was one of the first countries to become aware of that reality because we experienced it personally. We are a developing country dependent on foreign markets, and thus we know how the scarcity of essential goods divides peoples lamentably" impoverishes them further, and creates deep-rooted social unrest. 127. Fortunately, it is an actual fact that the third world is no longer an open reservoir from which all types of renewable and non~renewableresources, bought at arbitrary prices well' below their real value can be drawn in order to benefit the industrialized nations that process the raw materials and, in turn, export manufactured goods of which the developing nations stand in great need. 128. The political systems of many of our countries were built on anachronistic foundations out of touch with our hopes and objectives, small gains and great frustrations, and thus became artificial. This situation was almost always the r;~sult of the absen~e of a solid, and therefore stable, social structure, and therefore our sodal peace was shaken whenever any outside event that we could not ourselves control, reduced our national income and inflicted harsh suffering on the weakestD most vulnerable and poorest sectors of our population. 129. As far as the economic history of Bolivia in this century is concerned, we have been like a pendulum that has swung between a relative prosperity, which generated social peace, and periods ofuncertainty and dissatisfaction. The latter led to domDstir upheavals brought about by the sudden drop ill the prices paid for our exports, and the consequent need to resort to emergency measures such as the lowering or freezing of salaries that in turn resulted in a lack of incentives and unemployment which, to a large extent and as the document we have before us ind:cates, we know to be symptomatic of insufficient respect for human 131. Great was our surprise and disappointment when the stocks accumulated by the great Power and administered by the General Services Administration became a kind of sword of Damocles permanently hanging over the expectations and hopes of the Bolivian people, as well as over peace and social order. 132. The former Minister of Mines and Metallurgy, General Alfonso Villalpando, in a recent statement Lefore the International Symposium on Tin, held at La Paz, spoke of the General Services Administration as follows: "It has become 'the mine with the greatest reserves in the world' and the lowest possible extraction costs. It has repeatedly interfered in world market prices, producing all the damage that that entails for nations like Bolivia, where tin is the most important product in its economy." 133. The refusal of the General Services Administration in the 1950s to raise !lie price of tin from $1.05 to $L20 a pound created a situation of serious imbalance which was followed by the upheavals of 9 April 1952. The result was a situation of violence but, at the same time, the profound social transformations whose consequences Bolivia is still experiencing. 134. However, as a highly authorized spokesman, the Minister of Mines and Metallurgy of Bolivia, has stated, the evil has not been redressed. It is still there and it will remain until those reserves, which were obtained almost gratis are dealt with by those who hold them in the same spirit of generous co-operation which made their accumulation possible, and until fair compensation is negotiated in that same spirit for those who provided the raw materials at such ludicrous prices. 135. My delegation believes that the redress of those injustices was the aim of the sponsors of the draft resolution in paragraph 24 of the report, which we now have before us. We are encouraged to note among its supporters in the Third Committee some of the industrialized countries that could do so much to alleviate the anomalies that I have referred to. Indeed, the Teheran Proclamation recognized that "... the full realization of civil and political rights without the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights is impossible".1 0 To that we must add that the freedoms and rights inscribed in docurr..:nts have no vaiue if no one is vigilant to guarantee 10 See Final Act of the International Conference on Human Rights, Teheran, 22 April to 13 May 1968 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.68.XIV.2), chap. Il, para. 13. 137. Miss M..~YA (Colombia) (interpretation from Spanish): Tht. ~'Jbject of international co-operation in solving i~ternational problems of an economic, social, cultural nr humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights has for many years been a matter of deep concern to my Government. We have felt it indispensable to stress the importance of other human rights-that is, economic and social rights, and not only political rights-since they are the essential bases of any improvement in the dignity of the human person. These rights may seem obvious and even superfluous to affluent and sometimes even wasteful countries. I am referring to the right of a roof over one's head, the right to an education, the right to receive the proper remuneration for the work one does, the right to enjoy leisure time. The developing countries can achieve such rights only when they have solved their economic problems, many of which have been exported to them by the affluent nations. That is true of the present economic situation, in which there are many disturbing questions, such as the deterioration in the terms of trade of the developing countries, the restrictions on trade among nations, the imbalances in world income, the control over scientific and technological progress and its effect on the exploitation of the new resources of the planet, such as the wealth in the seas, or the use of outer space. 138. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Mr.lndalecio Lievano Aguirre, expressed these ideas in the following way in his statement to the Assembly on 5 October, during the general debate~ "While international organizations devise, without insurmountable difficulties, important concepts in matters of political democracy-as in the case of the protection of human rights, the struggle against racial discrimination, or the equal representation of States-on the other hand obstacles systematically aris~ whenever the powerful vested interests of a small group of affluent societies are involved, as for them the con~epts of equality, equity and human rights are subjects that can be, and in fact are, excluded from the economic sphere, deemed by them to be a reserved area for inequalities, the predominance of pow~r and the maintenance of the privileges and advantages acquired under the old international economic order." [21st meetir.g, para. 205.J 139. Hence, my delegation trusts that new trails to international co-operation will be blazed and that we shall be able to reduce the economic tensions between the rich nations and the developing countries so that those countries can enjoy social and economic human rights, as envisaged in the draft resolution in the Third Committee's report. We shall of course vote in favour of the draft resolution in the General Assembly.

In view of the importance that my delegation attaches to this item, we wish. to place on record Costa 142. The framework of the dignity of the human person is made up of a minimum number of human rights whose integrity depends on their being treated as a single whole: the right to life, to freedom of thought, to moral convictions-religious or otherwise-to the expression of opinions, to equality, to mental and physical well-being, to health, to survival, to education, to adequately remunerated work, and to fraternal treatment by the other members of society. 143. In view of the challenge which the international community faces because of the need to achieve economic and social development, we must today place more emphasis on the economic and social than on the purely civil and politic.!1 human rights. That emphasis CCi..11. be explained if it does not serve as a pretext for the suppression of civil and political rights in the name of economic and social development that actually does not require the suppression of such rights. 144. My delegation does not share the view that, in order to overcome the obstacles to development, civil and political rights must be ignored" My delegation does not believe that in the search for solutions to these grave problems certain rights must be suppressed in order to defend other rights. Rather, we believe that there must be progressive advancement towards the full enjoyment of all these rights. Costa Rica can make such a statement because of its own experience-the experience not only of the past, dating from the historic moment of its achievement of independence, but also of the present. Hence, logically speaking, we believe that international co-operation for development and international co-operation to promote respect for human rights are no longer purely domestic obligations but a major international duty. 145. It was on the basis of those considerations that the delegation of Costa'Rica approached the proposals on this item which were before the Third Committee. Costa Rica considers that the draft resolution in paragraph 24 of document A/32/423 contains a series of concepts that are of undoubted interest and value. These concepts are summarized in the preamble and operative paragraphs of the draft resolution; we fully agree with some of them. However, in assessing the direction and purpose of this document we must note that there is a restrictive apprc-ach to :':he way in which the United Nations would in iuture engage in a considerat:on of the various alternative approaches and ways and means to improve the effective enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all. 146. Despite the fact that we regard this document as too limited in its approach to make possible a:l examination of all the possibilities inherent in th~s item, we supported-and shall support today-the draft resolution in question because of the amendments that were accepted by the 148. My delegation continues to believe that this alternative is appropriate and would allow us to activate the work of the United Nations in the promotion of and search for p/)sitive solutions in the matter of respect for human rights. 149. We venture to hope that in th ~ future the General Assembly will finally agree to tackle the problem with a political will and with an urgent desire to make more effective the application of human rights all over the world. 150. Regarding the decision contained in paragraph 23 of section III of document A/32/423, which states: "The Committee decided Hot to vote on the draft resolution contained in document A/C.3/32/L.25/Rev.l on the understanding that the said proposal and all docume7its related to it that have been before the Third Committee during the thirty-second session of the General Assembly, as well as the opinions advanced in the course of the debate on the said proposal, are to be transmitted to the Commission on Human Rights to be considered at its thirty-fourth session...." my delegation would like note to be taken in the record that the proposal mentioned there relates to the establishment of a post of a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. My delegation voted against that proposal, submitted o'iginally by the delegation of Cuba in the ':.hird Committee, and we shall do likewise in the Assembly. We wish to express our appreciation to those delegations which voted together with us at that time, and urge them to do likewise tod"W. 151. We should like a recorded vote to be taken on this decision.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on the recommendations contained in the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 76 [A/32/423/. 153. I invite representatives to turn first to the decision of the Third Committee referred to in paragraph 23 of its report. The representative of Costa Rica has just requested thaj 'a recorded vote should be taken. 154. I call on the representative of Cuba to speak on a point oforder.

My delegation would like some clarifica- 157. As my delegation sees it, the procedural situation confronting us now is very clear. This is, I insist, that what we have to do is to vote on the sole draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee and contained in paragraph 24. If my delegation understands the procedure properly, the General Assembly has no pronouncement to make either for or against paragraph 23 of a report that the plenary Assembly has decided not to discuss. 158. I should like some procedural clarifications regarding the situation in which we find ourselves, and I reserve my right to speak again if I feel it appropriate to do so.

I call on the representative of Costa Rica in order for her to explain her proposal.

I would merely refer to one precedent that has just lately occurred here, when the Assembly first of all adopted the draft resolution on the HWorld Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination". The President addressed himself to paragraph 11 of document A/32/422 and asked whether the General Assembly was ready to adopt the draft decision without a vote, and in fact the Assembly did adopt that draft decision without a vote. ""hat was done: the President act ~ the Assembly whether it wishp.d to approve the propOSf without a vote. Availing myself of tl'e s:nne right, I think that the decision in paragraph 23 ~: the report on agenda item 76 [A/32/ 123J preceding the draft resolution adopted by the Third Committee on this subject does warrant being voted upon. My delegation has the right to ask for the same re",orded vote as was asked for in the Committee. I do not think we are debating anything; we are merely asking the Assembly to pronounce itself.

I call on the representative of Cuba to speak on a point of order.

My dehgation's surprise is growing. The representative of Costa Rica has just invoked as a precedent to the request she made the decision adopted in the plenary meeting a few moments ago-a decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 11 of document A/32/422. A mere reading of that paragraph will clarify the 163. The case cited by the representative of Costa Rica, namely, the decision contained in paragraph 11 of document A/32/422 on item 73, read as follows: ''The Third Committee also recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft decision ...". That recommendation of the Third Committee quite rightly required a procedural decision on the part of the Assembly, and the President was correct when he I!oted that the Assembly must pronounce itself on that decision by the Committee. 164. In the case, however, of paragraph 23 of the report on item 76, nowhere does it state that after the pl~nary Assembly had decided not to discuss the report the Assembly should have to go back to vote on it, when there is no recommendation by the Third Committee that the plenary Assembly take a decision on it. I must press my point, Mr. President, that my delegation still requires some clarification. from you regarding the procedurd situation in which we find ourselves.

The situation is very ckar: paragraph 23 of the report before us [A/32/423j is before th~ Assembly not for the purpose of having the Assembly take a decision by voting on it, but only for the purpose of having it take note of that paragraph. 166. The example cited by the representative of Costa Rica concerning paragraph 11 of the Comnittee's report contained in document A/32/,.;22 is complet~ly different, because in that paragraph the TIiird Commit~ee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft decision. That is '(,,,".i1.y the representative of Costa Rica can modify her motion for a vote only on the whole report of the Third Committee on the item before us, and not on paragraph 23, of which the General Assembly should only take note. Therefore, I s.llall not ask the Assembly to vote on paragraph 23. My !ntention was to ask the Assembly only to take note of paragraph 23 of document Ai32/423. 167. I call on the representative of Costa Rica again on a point of order.

I must apologize, Mr. President, for the undue delay I am causing, and I accept the explanations you have given. I was merely interested in having the record show the situation and the reason for which my delegation was interested in having the Assembly pronounce itself on what is to be done with our propGsal, since in any case it is always the General Assembly that decides where to send proposals and confirms the decisions or recommendations of the Committees on each item. Therefore, I accept your explanations and rulings, Sir, and am satisfied with them.

I call on the representative of Morocco on a point of order. Since this particular matter has already been decided, under the rules of procedure her point of order should pertain to something other than this. 171. I would point out that we have several decisions relating to this in other documents, and if we \:ould not express ourselves on the question of whether or not these documents a.re to be transmitted to the Commission on Human Rj~ts, then my delegation would not b~ able to vote on the decisions relating to document Aj32/438, concerning the inclusion of an item on "Human rights and scientific and technological developments" next year. 172. So it is quite clear that it is not a question of voting on a draft resolution: if is a question of voting on the decision to transmit the documents to the Commission on Human Rights. 173. My delegation will cast a negative vote if there is a vote, as indeed there must be.

The representative of Costa Rica has already withdrawn her request for a vote on paragraph 23 of document A/32!423, and, as I have announced, it was not my inte:'ltion to put that cj" ~i~ion to a vote, but only to ask the General Assembly to decide to take note of that paragraph. Now the representative of Morocco is asking, ifI understand her correctly, for a vote on paragraph 23. 175. Because a request that the Assembly vote or not vote on a given paragraph is a procedural motion, I shall put to the vote first the motion of the representative of Morocco, following the withdrawal of the same motion by the representative of Costa Rica, for a vote on paragraph 23 of the report in document A/32/423.

Mr. President, I think your decision was the right one. If you want to humour my good friend from Morocco, I think the procedural debate will lead us into reopening the whole substantive question. That is something which I am sure neither the representative of Costa Rica nor the representative of Morocco wishes to be done. I think you very wisely mentioned that the request of the representative of Costa Rica dop-s not apply, for the reasons you adduced. 177. Now, may I prevail on my colleague from Morocco not to have us get entangled in this procedural debate, which will lead us into a substantive debate-and in case we do reopen the question, a two-thirds majority will be required-but just to have what she said recorded, without .any vote whatsoever. 178. She is right in wishing to state where she disagrees with the Committee, or a good part of the Committee; and since our colleague from Costa Rica acted in the manner of noblesse oblige, I hope my colleague from Morocco will agree to be satisfied with merely r.aving what she said 179. So I warn the representatives, whether they are for or against, to be satisfied with the decision of the Third Committee, taking into account that the remarks of our colleague from Morocco have been taken note of and so will be the decision ad infinitum or ad nauseam. It is in your hands. But the President W1S correct. I do not curry favour with anyone here in the United Nations and if the President were not correct I would tell him so, in sr>ite of the fact that i fmd that this question has to be referred back to the Economic and Social Council.

Several points of order have already been raised, and in ans\\·~ring the points of order, on the basis of rule 71, I have already made a ruling that the vote on paragraph 23 will not be taken, after listening to the arguments expressed by the representatives of Costa Rica and Cuba. After making this ruling, on the basis of rule 71, I should like to ask the representative of Morocco whether she insists on appealing against that ruling, or whether she would perhaps agree to take note of the ruling. I take it that that appeal is withdrawn and therefore, the Assembly will not vote on paragraph 23 of its report. I take it that the General Assembly agrees to take note of paragraph 23 of the report.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 24 of its report in document A/32/423. The draft resolution is entitled "Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". I put the draft resolution to the vote. A recorded vote has been requested.

I shall now call on representatives who wish to explain their vote after the vote.

I should like to speak on behalf of the nine members of the European Community. In the Third Committee, four draft resolutions were put forward under item 76. One of them was adopted, and it has now been adopted by the General Assembly. 184. I should like to recall that the nine members of the European Community had given their views on this subject in a joint statement on 5 December 1977.12 Two other draft resolutions were rejected in "a roll-call vote. That is a perfectly democratic way to do things, and we would like to emphasize that. The fourth proposal, relating to the creation of the post of a High Coramissioner for Human Rights, a proposal of great interest, was unfortunately not put to the vote which would have resulted in its adoption. 185. The delegations of the nine members of the European Community feel that the General Assembly's refusal to take a decision on the substance of a matter which has been before it for over 10 years is regrettable.

The Canadian delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution entitled "Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". That resolution is intended to establish a set of priorities or concepts to guide future action in the human rights field within the United Nations system. The Canadian delegation agrees that the establishment of priorities is a valuable exercise. While there exist throughout the world flagrant and systematic violations ofhuman rights it is only reasonable that the United Nations should a.ddress itself principally to the most serious abuses. The exercise of establishing priorities is not, in our view, in any way 187. Despite Canada's positive vote on this draft resolution, however, there are certain difficulties in its balance and approach, which we wish at this time to clarify. First, we do not agree that the range of priorities as outlined in this resolution is as balanced as is desirable. Although we concur with the priorities accorded to the rights enumerated in the operative paragraph 1, we believe that more recognition should be accorded to gross and persistent violations of the worth and dignity of the human person, such as torture and systematic genocide. 188. We also believe that more emphasis should be placed upon the fundamental human rights of individuals, so that the United Nations might act against limitations on freedom of thought, of speech and of religion, which are abuses of human rights all too pervasive in many areas of the world. The Canadian delegation will continue to work in the future towards establishing a range of priorities which, in our view, represents a more comprehensive view of the needs of both persons and peoples. 189. Certain parts of the resolution also knd themselves to the interpretation that there are prerequisites to the enjoyment of rights and freedoms. The Canadian delegation accepts that the full and complete enjoyment of rights is made more difficult in the absence of certain economic and social condition~. But we do not accept the premise that the attainment of such circumstances is a prerequisite for the promotion and protection of such rights. States should promote and defend human rights, irrespective of their social and economic conditions, and we believe that the international obligations in the field of human rights must be taken seriously if we are to render justice to all our fellow men. 190. The Canadian delegation also regrets that the resolution contains Httle concerning the establishment of effective machinery in the human rights field. In our view, the process of establishing priorities and setting standards must be accompanied by the creation of means whereby the international community can assist in the promotion and protection of human rights. The creation of the post of a High Commissioner for Human Rights, as discussed under this item in the Committee, might have greatly assisted in the process of promoting human rights as well as of re-examining the priorities of the international community. That is why the Canadian delegation saw a link between the proposal to create the post of high commissioner and the approach to human rights set forth in the resolution. We hope that all delegations will be in a position shortly to re-examine the proposal to e:>~ablish the post of High Commissioner in the light of the debates that have taken place this year. Equally, we hope that the work of the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly at its next session will see the emergence of proposals to enhance the effectiveness of United Nations machinery for the benefit of all Member States. 191. The collective determination of the international community to combat the gross and constant repetition of resolu~ion apply in every case where there is flagrant abuse. To prove our faith and our commitment to the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights we shall have to translate the spirit of that text into specific and effective measures for the benefit of everyone and of the international community as a whole.

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 78, concerning the elderly and the aged. The report is contained in document A/32/436. We shall take a decision on the two draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 12 of its report. 193. Draft resolution I is entitled "Question of the elderly and the aged". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resGlution 11 is entitled "International Year and World Assembly on Aging". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 82, entitled "International Year for disabled persons: report of the Secretary-General". The report is contained in document A/32/437. We shall take a decision on the draft . resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 10 of its report, entitled "International Year for Disabled Persons". The report of the Fifth Committee on the administrative and fmancial implications of that draft resolution is contained in document A/32/478. The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 32/133).

We shall now take up the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 83, entitled ."Human rights and scientific and technological developments". The report is contained in document A/32/438. The Assembly will pronounce itself on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 9 of its report; Under that recommendation the Assembly would decide to include this item in the provisional agenda of its thirty-third session and to consider it with appropriate priority. The Third Committee adopted that recommen-

We now turn to the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 84, entitled "Policies and programmes relating to youth: reports of the Secretary- General". The report is contained in document A/32/439. The Assembly will now take a decision on the two draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 12 of its report. 198. Draft resolution I is entitled "Youth in the contemporary world". The Third Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution 11 is entitled "Channels of communication with youth and youth organizations". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

I now invite representatives to turn their attention to the draft decision recommended in paragraph 13 of the report of the Third Committee [A/32/439/. The recommendation deals with the United Nations Volunteers programme. The Third Committee adoptec1 that recommendation without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The General Assembly will now consider the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 85, entitled "United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace: reports of the Secretary-General". The report is contained in document A/32/440. We shall take a decision on the seven draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 26 of its report. 202. Draft resolution I is entitled "United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We turn now to draft resolution II entitled "International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution III is entitled "Interagency programme for the United Nations Decade for Women". The Third Committee adopted draft resolution

We now turn to draft resolution IV, entitled "Pledging conference for the United Nations Decade for Women". The Third Committee adopted draft resolution IV also without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes 'to do likewise?

Draft resolution V is entitled "World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution too without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We now turn to draft resolution VI entitled "Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women." The Third Committee adopted draft resolution VI without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution VI It.'aS adopted (resolution 32/141).

Lastly, we come to draft resolution VII, entitled "Women's participation in the strengthening of inten:ational peace and security and in the struggle against colonialism, racism, racial discrimination, aggression, occupation and all forms of foreign domination". A recorded vote has been requested.

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 86, entitled "Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance". The report is contained in document A/32/441. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled "Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance". The Third Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

I call on the representative of Israel who wishes to explain his vote after the voting.

Although my delegation joined in the consensus on item 86 it did so with a good deal of uneasiness. The elimination of religious intolerance should be viewed as a subject of the utmost importance, yet years pass by and until today the United Nations has failed to take any concrete action on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief. Therefore my delegation wishes to express its hope that this serious matter, which means so much to millions of people all over the world, will receive at the next session of the General Assembly the priority that it deserves. 212. My delegation likewise wishes to express the hope that item 88 on freedom of information, which also has been so often postponed, will be dealt with substantively at the next session of the General Assembly.

We shall now take up the report of 6e Third Committee on agenda item 88 on freedom of information. The report is contained in document A/32/ 442. The Assembly will now pronounce itself on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. Under that recommendation the Assembly would decide to include this item in the provisional agenda of its thirty-third session and to consider it with appropriate priority. The Third Committee adopted that recommendation without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We now turn to the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 89, entitled "United Nations conference for an international convention on adoption law". The report is contained in document A/32/443. The Assembly will now pronounce itself on the draft decision recommended by the Third Committee in 13 The delegation of Upper Volta subsequently informed the Secretariat that it wished to have its vote recorded as having been in favour of the draft resolution.

We have thus concluded our consideration of agenda item 89 and of all the items allocated to the Third Committee. I should like, on behalf of the General Assembly, to express my gratitude to all the members of the Third Committee for their dedicated work and active role in the consideration of all the items allocated to the Third Committee and for the spirit of co-operation and accommodation shown in the fmal fulftlment of its task. I thank them on behalf of the General Assembly.

The Assembly will fIrst consider the report of the SL'tth Committee on agenda item 100,

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 113, entitled "Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its tenth session". The report is contained in document Aj32j402. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 44 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled "Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law". The Sixth Committee adopted that draft resolution by consensus. May I take it that the General Asseinbly adopts that draft resolution?

I now invite representatives to turn to the draft decision rf'~ommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 45 of its report [A/32/402J. The draft decision is entitled "United Nations Conference on the Carriage of Goods by Sea". May I take it that the Assembly adopts that draft decision?

We now turn to the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 114, entitled "United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law: report of the Secretary-General". The report is contained in document Aj32j412. The General Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled "United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law". The Sixth Committee adopted that draft resolution by consensus. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that draft resolution?

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 118, entitled "Measures to pre~:ent international terrorism which endangers or takes innocent human lives or jeopardizes fundamental freedoms, and study of the underlying causes of those forms of terrorism and acts of violence which lie in misery, frustration, grievance and despair and which cause some people to sacrifice human lives, including their own, in an attempt to effect radical changes: report of the Ad Hoc Committee on International Tcrrori:;m". The report is contained in document AI?-2/453. 229. I shall now call on those representatives wishing to explam their votes before the vote. 231. The draft resolution in paragraph 8 of document Aj32j453 is not satisfactory in our view. We consider that once again the basic question of the prevention and repression of international terrorism has been side-stepped and priority has been given to a study of its causes. This makes the aim of the draft a purely theoretical exercise, drained of all power truly to prevent and combat terrorism, if only in one of its most cruel aspects, namely, the one relating to innocent victims. 232. When the cyclical phenomenon of violence has disappeared, only then will we have the means of remedying it, that is to say, through appropriate measures for the eradication of something that will no longer exist, which, of course, will not restore to life the thousands of victims of this evil we do not have the courage to face or the will to solve. 233. The item as submitted subordinates the existence of the phenomenon to the study of its underlying causes. It overlooks the truly criminal fact which can be easily identified and diverts the international community from the objective reality to the subjective, which, because of the very nature ofhu~an beings, is varied, broad and elusive. 234. When the Secretary-General, shortly after assuming his functions, proposed this item, he did so by interpreting precisely the clamour of the whole of the international community which, incidentally, has not been heeded. 235. We were asked to consider a type of crime that is typified by cruelty and by actions that are committed in darkness and with premeditation and treachery. None of this has been taken into account. On the contrary, because of the subtle way in which terrorism is dealt with it is increasingly more likely to be committed with impunity than be considered a crime deserving of punishment. This is u~reasonable, because we were not requested to prepare a socio-criminological treaty of purely intellectual scope. We were dealing with specific cases, horrible acts, events that were condemp.ed by the international community as it condemns with equal vigour attempts to eliminate and eradicate through appropriate channels the criminal forms of racial discrimination and the heinous crime ofapartheid. 236. The intention was to avoid recourse to terrorism as aweapon mercilessly used against innocent victims, to fight it anywhere and against anyone who commits those awful crimes in order to achieve specific ends or to give free rein to violent instincts. 237. Because this is the view of my delegation on terrorism, ~t is unable to vote in favour of the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth CommIttee. There are a number of elements I disagree with, in particular the

The affmnative vote of the Argentine delegation ·on the draft resolution to be found in paragraph 8 of document Aj32j453 on measures to prevent international terrorism is cast with the understanding that this text contains a condemnation ofinternatiOl.dl terrorism which is at present a scourge virtually throughout the world. 239.:>ur support is also an endorsement of the work of the Ad Hoc Committee in the hope that as soon as possible it will be able to recommend effective measures to combat this scourge. 240. To that end, it would appear to be necessary to differentiate clearly between violence generated by criminal terrorism and the acts of legitimate national liberation movements.

The delegation of Nicaragua, which condemns international terrorism as a heinous crime, repudiates the use of force in international relations, and prohibits all interference in the internal affairs of States and any violation of human rights, was compelled to abstain in the voting on the draft resolution in paragraph 8 of document Aj32j453. 242. We did so because we feel that postponement of practical measures that should be taken to combat, eradicate and condemn international terrorism and which have been recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee, will now delay and postpone indefmitely our treatment £ so important a question for the international community. 243. We believe that the draft resolution, which gives priority to the study of the underlying causes of international terrorism, is another delaying tactic which would allow this repugnant crime to continue to be perpetrated in the world. 244. It would appear that since 1972, when the General Assembly referred this important question to ~l ad hoc committee, from the rhetoric it would seem that there was a consensus on tackling this question dynamically, but today, five years after the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, the Sixth Committee has adopted a draft resolution that does not meet the aspirations of mankind and which, far frurn preventing the perpetration of that crime, will allow it to pro1iferat~ unchecked from day to day. 245. It is for those reasons that my delegation will abstain in the vote.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report [A/32/453]. The report of the Fifth Committee on the administrative and ~en requested.

I call upon the representative of Jordan, who wishes to explain his vote.

My delegation voted in favour of the draft resolution in document A/32j453, and in view of the fact that we did not participate in the debate on agenda item 118 in the Sixth Committee I should like to explain our vote. 249. We think it necessary, ifthe international community is to succeed in eliminating international terrorism, to study its causes. To be sure, we do not expect such a study defmitively to determine links between causes and effects but this, in our view, should not deter us from pursuing the attempt. Certain situations are conducive to violence, and 14 The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic subsequently informed the Secretariat that it wished to have its vote recorded:l'i having been in favour of the draft resolution. 250. Theze is also the consideration that to look at the problem ofinternational terrorism purely from the point of view of penal law would give attempts at international codification in this field an unbalanced character that would result in a lack of acceptability and would therefore ultimately prove ineffective.

The Assembly will now take up the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 119, concerning the drafting of an international convention against the taking of hostages. The report is contained in document A/32/467. 252. I call on the representative of the United Republic of Tanzama, who wishes to explain his position before a decision is taken on this item.

We have all along maintained that the taking of hostages is an aspect of international terrorism. Therefore, international terrorism and the taking of hostages should be taken as one subject, and they should not be treated in isolation. Unfortunately, in the efforts to negotiate for a draft consensus on international terrorism certain delegations did not display the same spirit of compromise we displayed with regard to the draft resolution against the taking of hostages. We were therefore very tempted to call for a vote ~n the draft resolution on the taking of hostages as a symbolic protest against this double treatment of one and the same subject. But out of respect for those of our friends who were prepared to negotiate genuinely on the draft resolutior on international terrorism, we have refrained from doing so. But we want it to }-\e on record that in future, when this item comes up along with one on international terrorism, if the same attitude is displayed, we shall be compelled to call for a vote because we see no justification, logical or otherwise, for treating these two related subjects in a different manner when we consider procedures.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report [AJ32/467J. The report of the Fifth Committee on the administrative and financial implications of that draft resolution is contained in document A/32/476. The draft resolution is entitled "Drafting of an international convention against the taking of hostages". The Sixth Committee aJopted the draft resolution by consensus. May I consider that the Asseml'ly adopts that draft resolution? 255 The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative of Togo, who wishes to make a statement of position.

;~1y delegation wi3hes to tell the Assembly how happy it is th3t the eight French nationals taken hostage and held by 257. My delegation, which joined in the adoption by consensus of the draft resolution in the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 119, would like to see real co-operation within our Organization in the future work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against the Taking of Hostages and the Ad Hoc Committee on Internation'11 Terrorism.

We now turn to the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item. 120, concerning resolutions adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Representation of States in their Relations with International Organizations. The report is contained in document A/32/468. The Assembly will now take a decision on the recommendation contained in paragraph 4 of the report of the Sixth Committee. In accordance with that recommendation, the Assembly would decide to include the item in the provisional agenda of its thirty-third session. May I consider that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation? The recommendqtion was adopted (decision 32/439).

The Assembly will now consider the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 121, entitled "Consolidation and progre~sive evolution of the norms and principles of international economic development law". The report is contained in document A/32/469. The Assembly will now take a decision on tile recommendation contained in paragraph 5 of the report of the Sixth Committee. In accordance with that recommendation, the Assembly would decide to include the item in the provisional agenda of its thirty-third session. The Sixth Committee adopted that recommendation w:thout a vote. May I take it that the Ceneral Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Lastly, we turn to the report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 13-, entitled "Draft Code of Offences against the Peace and Security of Mankind". The report is contained in document A/32/470. The Assembly will now take a decision on the recom- '11endation contained in paragraph 4 of the report of the Sixth Committee. In accordance with that recommendation, the Assembly would decide to include the item in the provisional agenda of its thirty-third session. May I consider that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation? . 15 Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el Hamra y Rio de Ora.