A/34/PV.99 General Assembly

With this decision, I believe the Assembly has taken another step forward in the implementation of its desire to rationalize and improve the organization of work of the General Assembly.

I should like to propose that the list of speakers in the debate on agenda item 18 be closed at 5 p.m, today. If there is no objection, I shall consider that the Assembly adopts that proposal.

I now invite the Rapporteur of the Special Committee with regard to the Implementation ofthe Declaration on the Granting ofIndependence to CoLonial Countries and Peoples, Mr. Loutf Haydar of the Syrian Arab Republic, to present the Special Committee's report. 11. Mr. HAYDAR (Syrian Arab Republic), Rapporteur of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples: As the Rapporteurofthe Special Committee, I ha ve the honour of presenting to the General Assembly the report of the Special Committee covering its work during 1979. The report, which relates, inter alia, to item 18 of the agenda, is submitted in accordance with paragraph 12 of General Assembly resolution 33/44 of 13December 1978on the implementation of the Declaration, by which the Assembly requested the Special Committee: "to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514(XV) in all Territories which have not yet attained independence and, in particular: •'(a) To formulate specific proposals for the elimination of the remaining manifestations of colonialism . . .' I • 12. The complete report of the Special Committee is contained in document A/34/23/E.ev. 1. An account of the Committee's examination of the situation in individual Territories is set out in chapters VIII to XXXII of the report. An account of its consideration of the other specific questions referred to it in the relevant General Assembly resolutions is set out in chapters I to VII and chapter XXXII of the report. .. Resumed from the 75th meeting. 14. In the course of its work during the year the Special Committee, bearing in mind in particular the specific requests addressed to it by the General Assembly in resolution 33/44, reviewed the implementation of the Declaration [resolution 1514 (XV)] and the Programme of Action [resolution 2621 (XXV)] as wellas the various United Nations resolutions relating to the colonial Territories. On the basis of the review and in the light of developments, the Committee formulated recommendations for the application of further measures by States, by the competent United Nations organsand by the specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system with a view to accelerating the pace of decolonization and the political, economic, SOCial and educational advancement of the peoples concerned. 15. As envisaged in its report to the General Assembly at the thirty-third session I and within the context of resolutions 1654 (XVI) and 2621 (XXV), in which the Assembly, inter alia, authorized the Special Committee to meet elsewhere than at United Nations Headquarters, the Special Committee held meetings in Belgrade in April of this year on the invitation of the Government of Yugoslavia. At its session in Belgrade the Special Committee considered the questions of Southern Rhodesia and Namibia [see A/34/23/Rev. 1, chaps. VIII and IX], once again with the active participation ofthe representatives of the Patriotic Front. the South West Africa People's Organization [SWAPO] and the United Nations Council for Namibia. The representative of the Special Committee against Apartheid also took part in the session. The related chapters of the Committee's report setting out its recommendations have been the subject of consideration in the Fourth Committee in connexion with the question of Southern Rhodesia [agenda item 90] and by the General Assembly in a plenary meeting in respect of Namibia [agenda item 27]. 16. During the year the Special Committee also continued, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 33/40, its study ofthe activities offoreign economic and other interests which are impedingthe implementation of the Declaration in Southern Rhodesia and Namibia and in all other Territories under colonial domination and efforts to eliminate colonialism, apartheid and racial discrimination in southern Africa, In the light of the related recommendation of the Special Committee, the Fourth Committee has already formulated its own recommendations on this question, which the Assembly considered at its 75th meeting and on which it adopted resolution 34/41. 17. The Special Committee, in the lightof the relevant provisions of resolutions 33/44and 33/33,continued its consideration of the military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration which are impeding the implementation 28. I am fully convinced that the emergence of these new sovereign and independent members of the community of nations is a direct reflection of the role that we, the members of the international community, have played in supporting and hastening the decolonlzation process and- In assisting the peoples of the colonial Territories throughout Ihe world in their efforts to achieve their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. At a time when the world community is about to observe the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the successes achieved by the colonial peoples during the past two decades in their long struggle for liberation and the very real progress made in the process of decolonization can be viewed with a certain measure of satisfaction. That much remains to be done, however, is, I believe,as obvious as are the difficulties that are encumbering tne search for a solution to some of the remaining colonial problems. 29. Another important development during the year was the successful series of meetings that the Special Committee held in April in the capital of a non-aligned country, Yugoslavia, at the invitation of the Government of that country. Attended as they were by the representatives of the national liberation movements of Namibia and Southern Rhodesia, by the administering Power concerned and by a number of organizations within the United Nations system, the Special Committee's Belgrade meetings proved most constructiveand, I trust, will be remembered not only in terms of their immediate achievements but also in the broader perspective of further uniting the efforts of the international community to hasten the process of decolonization, particularly in southern Africa. 30. It is evident from the related proceedings of the Special Committee that the active participation of the Patriotic Front and SWAPO in its work during the year continued to enhance the Committee's knowledge of the situation in the Territories and thus its ability todeal with the issues involved effectively and in depth, as has been duly reflected in the recommendations it has placed before this Assembly. [need hardly add that the Committee will continue to lend its full support to the peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia in their continuing struggle to achieve their legitimate rights. 31. As the President ofYugoslavia rightly pointed out in his message to the Special Committee during our meeting in Belgrade; "The eradication of colonialism is not only a matter for the conscience ofmankind but is also a prerequisite for the relaxation of tension in the world, for the strengthening of relations of equality among countries and for the safeguarding of peace in the world. "2 32. These words apply with full force to the critical situation relating to ZImbabwe and Namibia. As mem- 33. In its manoeuvres to perpetuate its illegal occupation of the Territory, the South African Government, during this period, has established a so-called Constituent Assembly with the attribution oflegislative and executive powers, in open defiance of the will of the international community and in direct contravention of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. In order to consolidate its illegal presence in Namibia, the Government of South Afnca has also continued its repression of the Namibian population, the majority of which is openly opposed to Pretoria's illegal domination over the Territory. Furthermore, this deplorable situation has been further aggravated by the fact that South Africa continues to use the international Territory as a springboard for its wanton attacks against neighbouring States, thus continuously and dangerously threatening the peace and security of the entire region. 34. As responsible members of the international community, we remain in duty bound to continue to reject all manoeuvres by South Africa to impose a so-called internal settlement aimed at giving its illegal occupying regime a semblance of legitimacy. For us the only acceptable political solution in Namibia is one based on the termination ofSouth Africa's illegal occupation and on the free and unfettered exercise by all Namibians of their right to self-determination and independence within a united Namibia, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). Clearly, these remain very baSIC propositions, which must of necessity form the bedrock of any internationally acceptable solution to what is one of the most serious and potentially dangerous problems facing the United Nations. 35. I need hardly add that we must continue to give our unreserved moral, political and material support to the struggling people of Namibia, under the leadership ofSWAPO, their legitimate representative. In this, as in other equally important areas, there can be no equivocation and, as reflected fully in the Assembly's recent debate and in the resolutions now before the Assembly, our duty is clear: we cannot and shall not rest as long as the present intolerable situation continues and the representatives of the Namibian people have not taken their legitimate place among us. 36. I do not intend to give an account of the developments which have led to the current situation relating to Southern Rhodesia, since the Fourth Committee has had the opportunity to hear such an account during its recent consideration of the item at its 26th, 27th and 29th to 37th meetings. Members are aware that for the last three months the Patriotic Front, representing the