A/34/PV.47 General Assembly

We have learned with deep sor- row of the untimely passing of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Major-General Maphevu Dlamini, on Wednesday, 24 October, in Mbabane. 2. The death of Major-General Dlamini is an ir- reparable loss not only to Swaziland, but to Africa as a whole, particularly at a time when the wisdom, leader- ship and guidance of all concerned are so essential in the nations' search for peace and justice with respect to the evolving situation in southern Africa. 3. His passing is also a great loss to the international community; it has deprived us of a committed African leader who had devoted the greater part of his life to the cause of a united Africa and to the restoration of human dignity and equality. 4. On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to con- vey my deep condolences and heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty King Sobhuza II, to the Government and peo- ple of the Kingdom of Swaziland and to the bereaved family on their grievous loss. I would request the delega- tion of Swaziland to be so kind as to transmit to them our message of profound condolence. 5. I invite members of the Assembly to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to his memory. NEW YORK

On behalf of His Ma- jesty KingSobhuza II, the Government and ~he. people ~f Swaziland, I wishto express our deep apprectation of this solemn moment of silence in memory of our late Prime Minister, His Excellency Major-General Maphevu Dlarnini, who was also the Commander of the Swaziland Umbutfo Defence Force, and Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Major-General Maphevu Dlamini had been ill for quite some time and died peacefully in Mbabane Clinic on 24October. Bya strange coincidence, the late Prime Minister passed away when the nation of Swaziland was celebrating the thirty-fourth anniversary of the founding of this Organization. He was committed to the ideals of the United Nations. 7. In 1976, when he had the privilege of addressing this plenary Assembly, he said: "Over the last 30 years we have discussed world peace, justice and progress as pillars of a new gener~­ tion that should 'learn war no more', but our world IS constantly being racked by war . . . ". J 8. His death, as you have said, Mr. President, was a loss not only to Swaziland but to the world community as a whole and in particular to Africa. As a son of Africa, he was personally dedicated to finding a peaceful solu- tion for the troubled region of southern Africa. It will be my sad duty to convey to His Majesty and the Gov ernment and people of Swaziland your message of con- dolence.

As members of the Assembly are aware, the item dealing with the policies of apart- heid of the Government of South Africa is item 28 on our agenda for the current session and is scheduled for consideration in plenary meetings beginning on 6 November 1979. However, there has been an important development in South Africa which relates to:,i~ item. If members agree, I shall put the item briefly to the Assembly at the present meeting, solely for the purpose of hearing the Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid. May I take it that the Assembly agrees to that proposal? 12. The news that South Africa has detonated a nuclear device, thus confirming all our fears that that country has acquired nuclear capability, has come as a great shock to mydelegation, to the anti-apartheid com- munity and, above all, to all Africans. That the news should have been kept from everyone by those who had the knowledge, who had the technological capacity to know and who have special responsibility for interna- tional peace and securityunder the Charter isa sad com- mentary on international morality. 13. This explosion took place reportedly on 22 September 1979 in an area of the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic, including part of the continent of Africa. Nowthe General Assembly - indeedthe interna- tional community as a whole-is faced with a fait ac- compli of tragic and monstrous proportions. Africa over the years has raised the alarm about the fact that the South African racist regime, with the assistance of some Western countries, was preparing to introduce nuclear weapons into our continent. We knew then, as we know now, that its sole objective in acquiring nuclear capability was to threaten and blackmail Africa because Africa opposes South Africa's inhuman policy of apartheid. We emphasized then and we emphasize now that, in spite of denials by South Africa and its Western accomplices in' its diabolical strategy, a nuclear-weapon programme is possible for South Africa only because of the assistance and co-operation it has always received from some Western Powers and lately from Israel, which have consistently supplied it with technology, electronic equipment and other materials. Because of this complicity and collusion, South Africa has not had any incentiveto be a party to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex] or to disguise its evil intentions. 14. When in August 1977, from the photographs taken by Soviet satellite, later confirmed by United States satellite photography, it became obvious that South Africa was planning a nuclear explosionat a site in the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, the Territory that is the only piece of real estate under the control and [urisdiction of the United Nations, some faint efforts weremade to heed the African protests, but no concrete action was taken by those Western collaborators to cut off all nuclear dealings with South Africa. Now that South Africa has actually detonated a nuclear device, Africa holds the suppliers of materials and technology to South Africa, notably the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel, equally responsible for this grave and un- precedentee threat to the continent of Africa. 1:5. The responsibility of the Security Council is clear in this matter because of its earlier resolutions, par- 16. In conformity with its resolution 33/63, the General Assembly must now act decisively, but it must not do so in panic. It must act with facts. Hence, I should like to suggest that the Secretary-General be re- quested to conduct an immediate investigation into the reports concerning the nuclear explosion by South Africa and to report to the General Assembly at this ses- sion on his findings. I see no need at this moment to submit a draft resolution, but I make this humble re- quest on behalf of a number of countries, including my own.

I wish to thank the Chairman of the Special Committee, Ambassador Clark of Nigeria, for his important statement and to associate myself fully with the serious concern expressed in this connexion. If the report provesto be valid, this develop- ment willclearlyconstitute a serious threat to peaceand security in Africa. Such a development would clearly also have very serious implications for international peace and security. 18. I shall therefore take it that the Assembly has no objection to the proposal submitted by the represen- tative of Nigeriathat the Secretary-General be requested to look into this development urgently and to report thereon to the Assembly. As I hear no objection, I take it that the Assembly agrees to this proposal. /1 was so decided (decision 341404). AGENDA ITEM IS Elections to fill vacancies in principal organs: (a) Election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council

The first item this morning is the election of five non-permanent members of the SecurityCouncil to replace those whose terms of office expire on 31 December 1979. The five outgoing members are the following: Bolivia, Czechoslovakia, Gabon, Kuwait and Nigeria. These five countries can- not be re-elected and therefore their names must not ap- pear on the ballot papers. 20. Apart from the five permanent members, the Security Council will include until the end of 1980 the following States: Bangladesh, Jamaica, Norway, Por- tugal and Zambia. Therefore the names of these States also should not appear on the ballot papers. 21. Of the five non-permanent members who will re- main in office in 1980, two are from Africa and Asia, one from Latin America and two from Western Euro- pean and other States. Consequently, in accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 1991 A (XVIII) of 17 December 1963, the non-permanent members to be elected should be as follows: three from Africa and Asia, one from Eastern Europe and one from Latin America. The ballot paper takes that pattern into ac- count. In this connexion, there is an understanding to the effect that of the three States to be elected from Africa and Asia, two should be from Africa and one from Asia. 22. In accordance with existing practice, the required number of candidates receiving the largest number of votes and not less than the majority required will be declared elected. In case of a tie vote for the last place,

In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election shall be held by secret ballot, and there shall be no nominations. 24. I call on the representative of Guatemala on a point of order.

I have asked to speak before the vote on the election of new members of the Security Council to make a statement on behalf of the delegation of Guatemala. 26. Upon instructions from my Government, at the beginning of April of this year I formally presented to the group of Latin American States the candidacy of Guatemala for the seat which will be left vacant by Bolivia in the Security Council at the end of its term of office. We requested the endorsement and support of our regional Group. 27. Guatemala still aspires to occupy a seat in the Security Council in the sincere hope of furthering the at- tainment of the lofty goals and the principles of the United Nations, to the establishment of which we con- tributed in 1945. We also base that aspiration on our • desire to share the complex responsibilities of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security. To that end, we promised, in the group of Latin American States, our utmost dedication in servicing to the best of our abilities the highest interests not only of the region but of the entire international community. 28. At that time we drew the attention of the group of Latin American States to the just nature of our aspira- tion, which stems from the principle of the sovereign equality of all Member States as laid down in the Charter of the United Nations and from which is de- rived the principle of geographical distribution and the equitable rotation of seats which is applied in the United Nations. 29. Guatemala has not held a seat in the Security Council in the 34 years of the existence of the United Nations. It has proposed its candidacy several times but in spite of the support of many Member States it has had to set aside its aspiration, in a brotherly spirit because of the requirements of other States that needed to be present in the Security Council to further the solu- tion of national problems. 30. None the less, on this occasion, other States in the g.roup of Latin American States .expressed their aspira- tion to occupy once again a seat m the Security Council and the regio~al group wa~ unable to reach agreement on one candidate. That IS why the group of Latin American States has offered three candidates to the Assembly so that the decision which was not possible in the group may be reached through a vote. 31. The delegation of Guatemala feels duty-bound to support the regional group, although it was not able to 32. In the conviction that Guatemala will satisfy its aspiration in the future, I request that it not be con- sidered as a candidate now in the election of members of the Security Council which is being conducted at this meeting of the General Assembly. I therefore ask the delegations which are about to vote to take note of this withdrawal. 33. Lastly, I should like to put on record Guatemala's gratitude and that of our delegation to those States that most generously promised to support with their votes Guatemala's candidacy for membership of the Security Council, which I am now withdrawing on behalf of our Government.

The ballot papers are now be- ing distributed. 35. May I request representatives to use only the ballot papers that have been distributed and to write on them the names of the five Member States for which they wish to vote. As I have indicated, the ballot papers should not include the names of the five permanent members of the Council, the five outgoing non-permanent members or the five countries that are already non-permanent members for 1980. Any ballot paper containing more than five names will be declared invalid.

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are counted. The meeting was suspended at 1/.25 a.m. and resum- ed at noon.

The result of the voting for the election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council is as follows: Number ofballotpapers: 148 Invalid ballots: 0 Number ofvalidballots: 148 Abstentions: 0 Number ofmembers voting: 148 Required majority: 99 Numb~r. of votes obtained: Tunisia 143 Niger 140 German Democratic Republic 133 Philippines 131 Cuba 77 Colombia , 68 yugoslavia............................................ 2 Bulgaria 1 Democratic Yemen 1 Jordan................................................. I Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.......................... 1 Romania I Zaire I

There remains one seat to be filled. In accordance with rule 94 of the rules of pro- cedure, we shall proceed to a second ballot restricted to the two candidates who have obtained the greatest numbers of votes. Those two countries are Cuba and Colombia. 39. Any ballot paper containing any other name will be declared invalid. Ballot papers will now be distributed.

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number ofballot papers: 148 Invalid ballots: 0 Number ofvalidballots: 148 Abstentions: 3 Number ofmembers voting: 145 Required majority: 97 Number of votes obtained: Cuba 79 Colombia 66

As neither of the two can- didates obtained the required two-thirds majority, the General Assembly will continue the voting and will hold a second restricted ballot. 43. The only countries whose names may be included on the ballot papers are Cuba or Colombia. Any ballot papers containing the names of other countries will be declared invalid. The ballot papers will now be distributed.

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting wassuspended at 12.30p.m. and resum- ed at 12.35 p.m.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number of votes obtained: Cuba 78 Colombia 66

As neither of the two can- didates obtained the required two-thirds majority, the General Assembly will continue the voting and will hold a third restricted ballot.

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. The meeting wassuspended at 12.45 p.m. and resum- ed at 12.55 p.m.

The result of the voting is as follows: Number ofballot papers: 148 Invalid ballots: 0 Number ofvalidballots,' 148 Abstentions: 4 Number ofmembers voting: 144 Required majority: 96 Number of votes obtained: Cuba 79 Colombia 65

Since the result of this third restricted ballot did not produce a candidate with the re- quired two-thirds majority, we must proceed to an unrestricted ballot in accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure. For the benefit of the members of the Assembly, I shall read that rule: "When two or more elective places are to be filled at one time under the same conditions, those can- didates obtaining in the first ballot the majority re- quired shall be elected. If the number of candidates obtaining such majority is less than the number of persons or Members to be elected, there shall be addi- tional ballots to fill the remaining places, the voting being restricted to the candidates obtaining the greatest number of votes in the previous ballot, to a 51. We shall now proceed to an unrestricted ballot in accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure. The ballot papers will now be distributed.

I propose now to suspend the meeting while the ballots are being counted. Number oj votes obtained: Cuba•.. "' •.....•..................•..........•............80 Colombia 61 Peru 2 Brazil.· 1

As none of the candidates ob- tained the required majority, the Assembly will hold a second unrestricted ballot. In view of the lateness of the hour, I propose to adjourn the meeting and to continue the voting at 3 o'clock. The meeting rose at /./5 p.m