A/34/PV.46 General Assembly

The positions of delegati?ns regarding the various recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee's meetings and are reflected in the relevant official records. 7. May I now invite members to turn their attention to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 17 (c), concerning the appointment of a member of the Board of Auditors. In paragraph 3 of document A/341S23, the Committee decided by acclamation to recommend the appointment of the Senior President of the A~dit Office of Belgium as a member of the Board of Auditcrs for .a three-year term beginning on 1 July 1980. May I take It that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation by acclamation?

We turn now to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 96 [A/341586]. We shall now take a decision on the draft resolution recom- mended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 12 of its report and entitled "Financial reports and accounts, and reports of the Board of Auditors". The Committee adopted that draft resolution without objection. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

In paragraph 13 of it~ report, the Fifth Committee recommends the adoption of a draft decision entitled "Organization and professional practices of the Board of Auditors". May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that draft decision?

We shall now take up the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 103 (.4/34/608]. We shall now take a decision on the two draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. 11. I should like to appeal to all delegations to be pa- tient. It would seem that as a result of the arrangements made for the concert yesterday, there is a malfunction in the voting machine. I would therefore ask the Assembly if it wishes to take a decision by show of hands. If there is an objection to that procedure and representatives in- 12. I understand that the representative of Spain has asked for a roll-call vote. If he is suggesting this as a way of expediting our work, I would point out that it would take more time to proceed in that fashion than to go to Conference Room 1.

I wish to co-operate with the Assembly but on one condition, I have no objection to its avoiding taking a roll-call vote, but in that case my delegation, which abstained from voting in the Fifth Committee, would like its vote concerning the scale of assessments to be recorded as an abstention. The explanation I am making now would then be sufficient and provided it is on the record I have no objection to our voting by a show of hands. I certainly do not want to delay our work in any way.

I thank the representative of Spaln for his co-operation. I think perhaps we can follow his example in respect of those delegations which wish to have their abstentions or negative votes specifically recorded. I will call on them, and they can speak briefly from their seats, and that will simplify the process. 15. Accordingly, if the Assembly agrees to follow the fine example set by the representative of Spain, we shall proceed accordingly and I shall call on those delegations that wish their position to be recorded, in particular those which are either abstaining or voting against. If there is no objection, we shall proceed accordingly. /1 11'0.\' .\'0 decided.

We shall now take decisions on the two draft resolutions, both entitled "Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations", recommended by the Fifth Com- mittee in paragraph 9 of its report [A/34/608]. I shall call first on all delegations wishing to explain their posi- tion on draft resolution A.

The Italian delegation would like it to be recorded that it will abstain from voting for the reasons given in the Fifth Committee-that is, that we are not altogether satisfied that the increase in our percent.age adequately reflects the circumstances of our economy from 1970 to 1977 and are worried about the negative consequences that an increase in the assessment might entail for our voluntary contributions in favour of the developing countries, which we would like to in- crease instead. Of course, our abstention does not detract in any way from our support for the reduction in the case of the People's Republic of China, which we fully understand and support.

I ask delegations to ~e very brief simply saying, "my delegation would hke the reco;d to show that we are abstaining" or "we are vot!ng against", because, as members are aware, e.verythmg that is said here will be reflected in the verbatim reco~d of the meeting. Furthermore, members should avoid repeating explanations of vote that have already been made in the Committee. On that understanding, I shall

I wish to say that my delegation is voting in favour. 21. The PRESIDEN' . I know this is a very cumber- some process, but this J::; a completely unexpected situa- tion and one that I am sure will not be repeated. I would appeal to delegations that are voting in favour not to state how they are voting. Only those who are abstain- ing or voting against should do so and they should sim- ply say, "I wish the record to show that we aostain'' or "are voting against". 22. I call on the representative of Mexico, who wishes to speak on a point of order.

I apologize for raising a point of order, but the vote on the scale of assessments is of such impor- tance that affirmative votes are also very important, and if we follow the procedure you suggested, Mr. Presi- dent, we should not know which of the absent delega- tions had voted affirmatively. Therefore, I think that all the delegations will have to be called on to speak here or, alternatively, we shall have to move to Conference Room I and use the voting machine there.

If the members of the Assembly agree, we shall proceed in this manner. Becauseofa malfunction in the voting machine in the General Assembly hall, the meeting was suspended at 3.35 p.m. and resumed at 3.45 p.m. in Conference Room J. ~), ThePRESIDENT: TheAssembly will now voteon draft resolution A, contained in paragraph 9 of the report of the Fifth Committee. A recorded vote has been re- quested.

The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution B without a vote. May I consider that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

'I now invite members to turn their attention to part I of the report of the Fifth Com- mittee on agenda item 107 (a), entitled "Financing of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Emergency Force and United Na- tions Disengagement Observer Force" [A/34/613]. This part of the report refers to UNDOF. 28. I shall now call on those representatives who wish to explain their vote before the vote.

With respect to the financing of the UNDOF, in accordance with the consistent position of our Government on this question, the Chinese delegation will not participate in the voting on the draft resolution contained in document A/34/613, and therefore will not undertake any financial obligations in this regard.

As our delegation did not explain its vote in the Fifth Committee, I should like to express our view very briefly. 31. The People's Socialist Republic of Albania has been and remains against the establishment and dispatch of United Nations forces to the Middle East, because such forces do not serve to contribute either to the just solution of the problems facing that region or to the establishment of genuine peace and stability. In con- formity with this position, the People's Socialist Republic of Albania has not participated in the past in the financing of such forces. 32. The Albanian delegation would like to repeat that it will not participate in the financing of UNDOF in the Middle East for the period from 25 October to 30 November 1979, and therefore will vote against the draft resolution contained in document A/34/613, recommended for approval by the Fifth Committee.

My delegation has already had an opportunity to state its position in the Fifth Committee on the ques- tion now before us. However, weshould like to say once again here that we are not questioning the reasons for the existence of United Nations forces for the purpose of maintaining peace, particularly not that of the disengagement observer force.

Our delegation is convinced of the need to respect the principle of the inadmissibility of the occupation of territory by force, and in line with its constant attitude towards the financing of UNDOF, will vote against the draft resolution contained in document A/34/613. We feel that the expenses involved should be borne solely by the aggressive Zionist entity which refuses to withdraw from the occupied territories, thus contravening the many relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

Our country has already expressed its position on the presence of the United Nations forces sent to the territories occupied by the Zionist aggressive entity. The presence of these forces seems to be assum- ing a permanent character owing to the intransigence of the Israeli enemy which persists in its policy of expan- sion and aggression, in violation of the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter and the resolu- tions of the intemational community. For this reason, our delegation would like to reaffirm its position, name.. Iy, that we reject the policy of aggression and the expan- sion carried out by the Israeli enemy. 37. We abstained in the vote on the draft resolution in the Fifth Committee and we shall take the same position when a vote is taken here since we shall not participate in the financing proposed in the draft.

The presence of United Nations forces in the Arab territories occupied by the Zionist entity cannot be for the benefit of peace in the region. Our delegation would like to reiterate its traditional position, namely that the expenses related to the presence of the emergen- cy forces in those territories should be borne by the ag- gressor itself. Our country will not participate in the financing of this force.

Our delegation will not par- ticipate in the vote on this draft resolution, in keeping with our firm position which we have already stated in the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Fifth Committee.

In the Fifth Committee my delegation supported the extension of UNDOF ap- propriations for five weeks and will again refrain from entering into an ambiguous dialogue with some of the previous speakers. I wish to express my delegation's profound astonishment and distress at the way in which some delegations are continuing to use the consideration of this draft resolution, the function of which is to deal with the budgetary aspects of UNDOF, as an opportuni- ty for political attacks on my country. 41. My delegation made its position clear when the item was discussed in the Fifth Committee. We, like most delegations, supported the Secretary-General's re- quest concerning UNDOF because it serves the purposes of the parties concerned in the area.

The events in Nicaragua during the past four decades culminated in the armed conflict that reached its climax in May to July of this year, which caused enormous loss of human life and material goods and resultant hardships at the economic and social levelsand brought to power the Government of National Reconstruction. 46. The new Nicaraguan Government, in its legitimate undertaking of seeking international technical and financial co-operation to help it overcome the tragic situation faced by Nicaragua, requested last July the in- tervention of the Secretary-General of the United Na- tions and of ECLA, whose Committee of the Whole was convened on an emergency basis upon the request of the Nicaraguan Government. 47. The Secretary-General, Mr. Kurt Waldheim, as of 30 .Iuly 1979'·requested all the departments of the Secretariat and the specialized agencies of the United Nations to study the most effective and rapid means of meeting the request of Nicaragua for an emergency pro- gramme and a programme for the reha'oilitarion and reconstruction of the country. In addition, tile Secretary-General designated an Assistant Ad- ministrator of UNDP in Latin America, Mr. Gabriel Valdes, to contact the Nicaraguan Government in order to meet the initial requirements for international co- operation. 48. As a result of the steps taken by the Nicaraguan Government and the dynamic work of the Secretary- General of the United Nations, ECLA, with the active participation of its Executive Director, Mr. Enrique Iglesias, prepared in August the remarkable report entitl- ed "Nicaragua: Economic repercussions of recent political events". I That report provided the informa- tion and data that were needed for the Committee of the Whole of ECLA and the Second Committee of this Assembly to reach specific decisions with a view to resolving the problem. 49. That report not only provided references to the re- cent past in order to make it possible to assess the events that had occurred, but also succinctly described the priority programme adopted by the new Government of National Reconstruction. It concluded by highlighting priority area" as well as the co-operation required of the international community within the framework of the priorities which the Nicaraguan Government itself has established in deciding on the best way of resolving the grave problems facing the nation. 50. On the basis of that background information, on 21{ August 1979 the Latin American Group unanimously decided to request the United Nations and ECLA to assist ill the task of reconstructing Nicaragua. It also established a Working Group under the able Chairman- ship of Mr. Rodolfo Piza Escalante, composed of Chile, Costa Rica. Cuba, Ecuador, EI Salvador, Nicaragua, 51. It was my country, as Chairman of the Latin American Group for September, that took the initiative, on behalf of the States of the region, that led to the in- clusion by the General Assembly on 21 September [4th meeting], on the recommendation of the General Com- mittee, of the agenda item entitled "Assistance for the reconstruction of Nicaragua" and its assignment to the Second Committee. 52. The resolution on international' assistance for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of Nicaragua adopted by the Committee of the Whole of ECLA 3, as well as the draft resolution on the same item the adoption of which has been recommended to this Assembly by the Second Committee, and which my country has supported, were sponsored and promoted by all the States of the Latin American region. They have also been supported by States of other regions represented here in the Organization. 53. My delegation wishes to state my country's posi- tion in res}: ect of the tragedy in Nicaragua. In the Latin American Group, in the group of non-aligned countries, in the Committee of the Whole of ECLA and in the General Assembly my country has always been guided basically by the Panamanian policy of giving support to the heroic people of Nicaragua in their struggle to free themselves from the odious dictatorship to which they were subjected. This moral imperative is reinforced by our admiration and affection for and fraternal solidari- ty with a people that have set an example that will be recorded in the pages of history, .n example of magnanimous dignity in victory. 54. Indeed, the leaders of democratic Nicaragua and the entire people of that brotherly country have given the victory they won by arms in reality, it would be more fitting to speak of fists, because it was practically with bare hands and breasts that they confronted the power- ful war machine of the dictatorship-the noble aspect of restraint, magnanimity and generous forgiveness. And this despite the fact that, at the same time, they were mourning the death of their own brothers who perished in the struggle. 55. To those who feared a blind and violent repres- sion, the democratic Nicaraguans, despite their wound- ed and their dead, have demonstrated that they were ad- mirable in their struggle and that they have been even more worthy of admiration in the hour or their victory and in their legitimate exercise of popular power. 56. In contemporary history there have been few cases of a dictator or a regime unhesitatingly destroying a country in an attempt to remain in power. In viewing the cities of Nicaragua and assessing the state of its economy and its financial resources - its per capita in- come for 1979 will barely reach the level recorded for 1962 - it is very hard to believe that such desolation and destruction could have resulted from the actions of persons who were and called themselves Nicaraguans. 57. Helping in the reconstruction of Nicaragua is not 2 Hcld in New York on 27 and 28 September 1979. J See document E/CEPALlG.I093, sect. IV. 58. In conclusion, the Panamanian delegation asks the Assembly to adopt this draft resolution by acclamation, without putting it to the vote. We should thus be fulfill- ing a duty, obeying a moral imperative.iand at the same time telling the people of Nicaragua that we do not know what to admire more: their heroic struggle against an army equipped with the most modern weapons or their serene victory, which faithfully reflects the awareness of a people who.through the severe ordeal of blood and fire, have achieved the maturity of civil con- sciousness inspired by the highest democratic ideals.

The draft resolution recom- mended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report [A/34/595] is entitled "International assistance for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of Nicaragua". May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt the draft resolution?

I now call on the representative of Nicaragua.

We should like to take this opportunity to record our gratitude for the complete support that has been given by all nations in adopting this resolution under agenda item 124 on the reconstruction of Nicaragua. 62. We should like in particular to commend the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kurt Waldheim, for the work he has done. We thank him for the concern and the human interest he has shown. 63. We should like also to emphasize the intelligent and efficient work that has been done by ECLA, which just a few hours after the end of the glorious uprising in our country embarked on the task of analysing and assessing the damage done. Its work culminated just a few days ago at its twelfth special session of the ECLA Committee of the Whole held here at Headquarters. 64. The resolution that has been adopted here on assistance for the reconstruction of Nicaragua is of special significance because it involves broad support for the gargantuan task of social and material recon- struction that is now being tackled by our people. The international will expressed in this vote means approval of the enormous efforts and sacrifices of our people and will no doubt give a strong impetus to those efforts. 65. This international support-open, honest and sincere-will undoubtedly obstruct and undermine the attempts to give assistance that is tied to something else, assistance that amounts to meddling-the kind of assistance that has been given by certain Governments and private institutions. The fact is that our inflexible 66. This international support, expressed here, strengthens our clear resolve to recognize our foreign in- debtedness and to pay our foreign debts, but without allowing the time-limits and amounts of the pay- ments - many of which are owed to those who are politically and morally responsible for our past social debacle - to become an instrument that will increase our indebtedness, by means of new loans with harsh and un- . just terms; for that would inexorably worsen the prob- lem of our dependence. 67. Lastly - but not less important - this support ex- pressed here today, when translated into specific plans and actions for assistance to Nicaragua, will help us to achieve progress in the three major tasks that our people now face: first, to increase agricultural production so that, with financing and technical assistance, the 6 million hectares of arable land, which will soon be the property of the people and promote their well-being, will be cultivated and rendered fruitful by our hard- working citizens; secondly, through an emergency pro- gramme, to eliminate in the near future the inexorable succession of endemic diseases that have been a scourge to our people, and proceed immediately to the rebuild- ing of six hospitals and 167 health centres, destroyed by the war; thirdly, to overcome the obscurantism of our people, basically by means of the accomplishment of the enormous task given to the national literacy campaign entitled "Nicaraguan Heroes and Martyrs", which in four months-from April to July 1980-and through the work of 200,000 members of the brigade now in training, will teach 1 million Nicaraguans between the ages of 10and 60 to read. This last fact will be the most important political and human accomplishment of our nation since the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship. 68. For all those reasons, and because we are fully aware of the importance of international assistance and solidarity in the determined struggle of our people to overcome the effects of war, poverty and under-devel- opment - the legacy of the dictatorship and of the ex- ploitation and plundering by the imperialists - W~ again express to all the peoples and Governments represented in this Assembly our deep and sincere gratitude.

I shall first put before the General Assembly the question of the inclusion of an additional subitem to agenda item 17. 70. In paragraph I of the report now before the Assembly [A/34/250/Add.2], the General Committee recommends that the following subitem should be add- ed to agenda item 17: • Resumed from the 191h meeting. 7J. The PRESIDENT: We nowturn to the recommen- dations of the General Committee in paragraph 3 (a), (b) and (c) of its report, relating respectively to the documentation, the organization of work and the plan- ning of meetings. 72. In the General Committee, there was fruitfu; ex- change of views and a, general feeling that our methods of work could be improved. Weare ofcourse verymuch indebted to the Secretary-General for his initiative and important contribution. 73. Since no one wishes to speak, ~ invite members to take a decision on the recommend~tlons of the General Committee in paragraph 3 (a) of Its report concernmg documentation. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts those recommendations?

We turn now to the ,recommen- dations of the General Committee relating to the organization of work, in paragraph 3 (b) of its report. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts those recommendations also?

The General Assembly has thus taken a decision on the recommendations of the General Committee in paragraph 3 of its report [A13412501Add.2), regarding the rationalization of the procedures and organization of the General Assembly [decision 341401). 77. In paragraph 4 of its report, the General Commlt- tee indicates that it decided to defer for a period of two to threeweeksconsideration of the following paragraphs of the note by the Secretary-General [AIBURI3412): 5 (d) and (j), on documentation; 6 (a) and (b)" on organization of work; 8 and 9, on resolutions; and 13 (a) and (b), concerning subsidiary organs of the General Assembly, in order to allow time for consultations. I should like to appeal to members of the Asse~bly to participate in the above-mentioned consultations as much as possibleand to givetheir most seriousattention to the various recommendations in question so that, during the present session, the General Assembly may be in a position to take action on them. 78. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the General Committee's decision in paragraph 4 of its report.