A/35/PV.3 General Assembly

Regarding the schedule of meetings referred to in paragraph 3 of the report, the General Com- mittee draws the General Assembly's attention to para- graph 3 of its decision 34/401. In this connection, I should like to remind the Assembly that rules 67 and 108of'its rules of procedure provide that the President of the General Assembly may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to proceed when at least one third ofthe members are present, and the Chairman of a Main Committee may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to proceed when at least one quarter of the members are present. In this connection, I should like to appeal to all delegations and seek their co-operation so that all meetings can begin promptly at the scheduled time. For my part, I assure the Assembly that, in keeping with the decision of the General Assembly and its rules of procedure, I shall endeavour to open the meetings punctually at the scheduled time and I urge the Chairmen of the Main Committees to do the same. NEW YORK 3. We now jurn to paragraph.d concerning the general debate. May I consider that the General Assemblyapproves the recommendations in paragraphs 4 (a)' and (b)?

In view of the unprecedented number of speakers already on the list, I shall urge represen- tatives to take the floor in the order in which they are inscribed on the list. Those who are unable to speak at the scheduled time will be put at the end of the list for the following day. 5. Regarding the explanations of vote referred to in para- graph 5 of the report, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 7 of its decision 34/401. 6. Paragraph 6 of the report deals with the closing date of the session and paragraph 7 with the records of the Main Committees. May I take it that those recommendations are approved by the General Assembly?

In paragraph 8 of its report, con- cerning the election of the Chairmen of the Main Commit- tees, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraphs 18 and 19 of its decision 34/401. Members may recall that it was hoped that this would be fully implemented to facilitate the organization of work of the General Assembly. 8. The General Committee also draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 17ofits decision 34/401, which is reproduced in paragraph 9 of the report before the Assembly concerning concluding statements in the General Assembly and its Main Committees. 9. Paragraph 10 of the report refers to budgetary and financial questions under rule 153of the rules of procedure. In this connection, the General Committee draws the Gen- eral Assembly's attention to paragraphs 12 and 13 of its decision 34/401. 10. As members are aware, this has been a serious problem especially towards the end of the session; this year. Friday. 5 December. is the target date for the conclusion of the work of the Main Committees. 11. Paragraphs 11 and 12 refer to documentation. In para- graph Tl, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 28 of its decision 34/40I. Regarding paragraph 12. may I consider that the General

We now turn to paragraph 13 of the report before the Assembly. The General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 32 of its decision 34/401, concerning resolutions. 13. In paragraph 14of the report, relating to special con- ferences, the General Committee also draws the General Assembly's attention to recommendation 6 of the Commit- tee on Conferences, adopted by the Assembly in paragraph (b) of its decison 34/405. 14. I now put before the General Assembly the recommen- dation of the General Committee in paragraph 15,concern- ing the planning of meetings. May I consider that it is the wish of the Assembly to approve that recommendation?

I trust that the General Assembly will take duly into account the provisions of its decision 34/401 which the General Committee has drawn to its attention, namely, paragraphs 3, 5, 8 to 11 and 13.

This completes our consideration of section 11 of the report of the General Committee on the organization of the session. 17. We can therefore now turn to section 111 of the report, relating to the adoption of the agenda. 18. May Ijust recall to members of the General Assembly rule 23 of the rules of procedure, which provides that: "Debate on the inclusion of an item in the agenda, when that item has been recommended for inclusion by the General Committee, shall be limited to three speakers in favour of, and three against, the inclusion." I should like to stress that at this time we are not discussing the substance of any item. I should also like to remind representatives that interventions will have to be made from their seats, in keeping with paragraph 1I ofGeneral Assem- bly decision 34/401. 19. Paragraph 17relates to the report ofthe Economic and Social Council, item 12 of the draft agenda submitted by the Secretary-General in his memorandum [A/BUIJ/35/J. para. 22]. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of paragraph 17?

We now turn to paragraph 18, containing the recommendation.of the General Committee on item 25 of the draft agenda, entitled "Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte: report of the Secretary- Item 25 was included in the agenda.

I now invite members to turn to paragraph 19, which contains the recommendation of the General Committee on item 30 of the draft agenda, entitled "Question ofequitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council". Taking duly into account the report of the General Committee, may I con- sider that item 30 is included in the agenda?

We turn next to paragraph 20, containing the recommendation of the General Committee on .item 58 of the draft agenda, entitled "Question of the Malagasy islands ofGlorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India: report of the Secretary-General". Taking duly into account the report of the General Committee and the statements made in that Committee, may Iconsider that item 58 is included in the agenda? Item 58 was included in the agenda.

We now turn to paragraph 21, which refers to item 85ofthe draft agenda on the question of Southern Rhodesia. The General Committee recommends the deletion of that item in viewofZimbabwe's admission to membership in the United Nations. I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation.

Next we turn to paragraph 22. The General Committee recommends that the title of item 87 of the draft agenda should be modified to read as follows: ""Activities of foreign economic and other interests which are impeding the implementation of the Declara- tion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun- tries and Peoples in Namibia and in all other Territories under colonial domination and efforts to eliminate colo- nialism, apartheid and racial discrimination in southern Africa: report 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." I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation.

In paragraph 23 of its report, the General Committee merely informs the General Assembly that it has taken note of the suggestions made by the Secretary-General regarding the grouping of related items under a single heading and the staggering ofmore items over two or more years. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of these suggestions? 27. In accordance with past practice, we shall followthe numbering given in paragraph 24 of the General Commit- tee's report [AI351250], and shall consider together several items in groups, where that seems appropriate. I once again remind members that at present we are not discussing the substance of any item, except when such a discussion can assist the Assembly in deciding whether or not to include the item in the agenda. 28. Agenda items I to 6 have already been acted upon in plenary meeting. Therefore, their inclusion has been approved. 29. We come to items 7 to 24, inclusive. I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include those items in the agenda. Items 7 to 24 were included in the agenda.

The question of the inclusion of item 25 has already been acted upon by the Assembly when it adopted paragraph 18 of the report of the General Committee. 3I. We therefore now turn to items 26 to 29, inclusive. May I take it that the Assembly decides to include them in the agenda? Items 26 to 29 were included in the agenda.

The question of the inclusion of item 30 has already been acted upon by the Assembly when it adopted paragraph 19 of the report of the General Committee. 33. We come now to the inclusion of items 31 to 57, inclusive. May I take it that those items are included in the agenda? Items 3/ to 57 u'ere included in the agenda.

The question of the inclusion of item 58 has already been acted upon by the Assembly when it adopted paragraph 20 of this report, as representatives will remember. 35. We come now to items 59 to 84, inclusive. I take it that the General Assembly wishes to include these two items in the agenda. Items 59 to 84 were included in the agenda.

We now turn to item 85, entitled "Question of East Timer". The representative of Indonesia has asked to speak.

In accordance with my delegation's statement at the 1st meeting of the General Committee, I should like to express once again here my delegation's strong opposition to the inclusion ofitem 85 in the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly.

The representative of Indonesia is assured that his statement will of course be reflected in the record of this meeting.

MayI voice my support fort he statement just made by the representative of Indonesia.

Having heard those two state- ments, which will be duly reflected in the record, may I take it that the Assembly decides to include item 85 in its agenda? Item 85 was included in the agenda.

May we now turn to item 86, with the modified title decided on earlier, and to items 87 to 115 inclusive. Can I take it that the Assembly wishes to include these items in the agenda? Items 86 to JJ5 were included in the agenda.

The next item, item 116, is entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for inter- national peace and security". The delegation ofAfghanistan has asked to speak.

The request of some eoun- tries for the inclusion in the agenda ofthe thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly ofan item concerning the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security is unwarranted, unfounded and unjustified, and runs counter to the basic princi pIesofthe Charter ofthe United Nations. 44. There are two basic points which I would like to make and which prove beyond any doubt that the above- mentioned proposal is a gross violation of the Charter and constitutes outright interference in the int.ernal affairs of a sovereign State, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. 45. First, paragraph 7 of Article 2 of the United Nations Charter says: "Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter .. .", 46. It is crystal clear to any unbiased observer that what has happened in Afghanistan since the people's uprising on 27Apri11978, which toppled the despotic Daudregirne and ushered Afghanistan into a national democratic revolution, is totally and exclusively an internal matter, and is entirely within the domesticjurisdiction of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. 47. Secondly, paragraph I of'Article 35 says: ••Any Member of the United Nations may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature referred to in Article 34, to the attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly:' 49. With your indulgence, Mr. President, I will dwell in more detail upon these points. 50. Nobody can dispute that it isa supreme sovereign right of the people to establish their own social order oftheir own free will. That is exactly what happened in Afghanistan when the Afghan people and the Afghan army, under the leadership of the People's Democratic Party ofAfghanistan, launched a national democratic revolution by overthrowing in April 1978the despotic feudal oppressive regime ofDaud. It is true that the April revolution in Afghanistan is not liked in some imperialistic, hegemonistic and reactionary quar- ters. But we cannot help that. 51. The events of 27 December 1979, when the despotic Fascist clique of Amin was swept away by the Afghan people and army, are also entirely the internal affair of Afghanistan. The overthrow by the healthy revolutionary forces of the Amin rule, which had usurped the power and assassinated the first President ofthe Revolutionary Council and the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Noor Mohammed Taraki, could not and did not change the character of the April revolution. It was a corrective action; it marked the beginning of the second, more advanced stage of the revolution. 52. The sovereign right of the Afghan people to change their social system cannot be disputed. It is internationally recognized by all countries, including our neighbours. -53. The revolutionary Government of Afghanistan was recognized by all countries with which we had diplomatic relations, and nobody, including our neighbours, ever dis- puted the right of the Afghan people to choose their social system. We had assurances from the top leaders of the neighbouring countries to the effect that what happened in .. Afghanistan concerned only Afghanistan itself and was entirely its internal affair. 54. Now, some of those countries that unequivocally rec- ognized the right of the Afghan people to choose indepen- dently and to estabiish the social system they wanted are among those who s, -dthe request to include the Afghan question in tf'~enda of the present session. In other words, these countries, at the instigation of imperialis- tic and hegemonistic quarters, are nowdesperately trying to use the United Nations as an instrument for interference in our internal affairs. This is nothing but a crude and gross violation of the United Nations Charter. The Afghan Government resolutely rejects this interference in the inter- nal affairs of its Government and its country. 55. Now, allow me to elaborate on the second point, namely, is there any dispute or any situation around Afghanistan which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security? In other words, is the reference to Article 34 of the Charter justified? We must emphatically say, "No". There is no dispute between 56. It is true that there are certain problems created by the counter-revolutionary gangs which are harboured in those countries and which use their territories for armed aggres- sion against our country. 57. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, in complete accordance with paragraph 3 of Article I of the Charter, proposed to the Governments of Pakistan and Iran the resolution of these problems by peace- ful means, through negotiations. In its most elaborate form, the programme of political settlement of the situation around Afghanistan and of normalization of relations with Pakistan and Iran was laid down in the statement of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan of 15 May 1980, which was distributed on 19 May 1980 as document A/35/238-S/1395 I of the General Assembly and of the Security Council. 1 58. It is perfectly clear that no threat to regional or world peace and security emanates from the events in Afghanistan. On the contrary, it is Afghanistan that is being subjected to armed aggression and other forms of interference from abroad. Such acts of interference in our internal affairs, carried on with the encouragement and direct support of some third countries, should be condemned forthwith. 59. It is exactly because of this continued and intensifying aggression and other forms of interference from outside that the limited contingent of Soviet troops was invited to Afghanistan. It was invited to Afghanistan to help the Afghan people and army to repel aggression from outside. The invitation to the Soviet troops isin complete accordance with the principles of international law, the United Nations Charter and the Afghan-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Co-operation, and their presence is of a temporary nature. As soon as acts of aggression from outside and other forms of interference in our internal affairs are terminated and their non-recurrence is guaran- teed, the limited Soviet military contingent will withdraw from Afghanistan, the limited Soviet military contingent will withdraw from Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, some Soviet troops have already been withdrawn by agreement with the Afghan Government, and we hope that this gesture of goodwill would facilitate the political settlement of the situation around Afghanistan. 60. It is necessary to emphasize at this juncture that there is nothing in the United Nations Charter or in international law that forbids a sovereign State to appeal for assistance to a friendly country to protect its independence and sover- eignty. Moreover, this principle is recognized and confirmed in United Nations resolutions. For example, resolution 387 (1976),adopted by the Security Council four years ago on 31 March 1976 when it was seized of the question of South Africa's aggression against Angola, specifically pointed out 61. On the other hand, there is nothing in the Charter of the United Nations or in international law that permits the arming, equipping and training of gangs and bands of counter-revolutionaries stationed abroad and their subse- quent dispatch into the territories of a sovereign State for sabotage and other subversive activities. According to the definition of aggression approved by the United Nations, such actions are outright aggression. 62. Peace and security in the world are threatened, not by Afghanistan, but by continuing Israeli aggression against the Arab nations, under the cover of separate deals sup- ported by United States imperialism, by the unprecedented build-up of the United States military and naval forces in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, by the continued illegal occupation of Namibia by South African troops, and by the brutal oppres- sion of the South African people by the abhorrent regime of Pretoria. 63. Peace and security in South-East Asia are endangered by the armed provocations and acts of aggression of the Chinese hegemonists against Viet Nam, Laos and Kampu- chea. Peace and security in the western hemisphere are threatened by the imperialism of the United States, which tries to destabilize the progressive regimes of the area and supports military, dictatorial regimes by armed inter- vention. 64. Some of these real, not imaginary, situations that endanger international peace and security are on the agenda of this session of the General Assembly. 65. It is quite evident that imperialistic and hegemonistic forces are trying to divert the attention of the General Assembly from a consideration of these real and acute problems. The United States and China are trying to use the events in Afghanistan as a pretext for and cover-up of their policies aimed at whipping up further tension in the world. 66. The inclusion of the non-existent Afghanistan situa- tionin the agenda of this session would be outright and flagrant interference in the internal affairs ofthe Democtatic Republic of Afghanistan and a gross violation of its sover- eignty. Such a move would run counter to the interests ofa great majority of States Members ofthe United Nations and would not help the cause of peace and security. 67. Therefore, the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Afghansitan moves that the request contained in docu- ment A/35/144 and Add.1 be rejected.

The head of my delegation will be extending our warm congratulations to you on your unanimous election as President of the present session ofthe General Assembly. But I take this opportunity to tell you personally how pleased I am to.see you presiding over our deliberations. I am convinced that, with your great expe- rience in the United Nations and your distinguished quali- 70. Last year, by accepting the inclusion of the item con- cerning the situation in Kampuchea in the agenda of the thirty-fourth session [item 123]-a matter that remains on the agenda of the present session [item 22] in disregard ofthe opposition of the People's Revolutionary Council of Kam- puchea, which is the true master of the country, and of the disapproval of a number of delegations, including my own-the General Assembly, far from solving the problem, only increased the gross interference of certain States in the internal affairs of the people of Kampuchea. 7I. There is every reason to fear that this situation, which jeopardizes peace and stability throughout South-East Asia, will spread beyond the borders of Kampuchea if those responsible for interference in the internal affairs of Karnpu- chea do not put an end to their dangerous activities. This situation, contrary to all expectations, willcertainly not help Kampuchea's neighbours, who must live with Kampuchea, but will instead help those willing to fish in troubled waters in order to realize their dark expansionist andhegemonistic designs in this part of the world. And, through their current loud propaganda regarding the so-called problem of Kam- puchea, a problem that they themselves instigated and are trying to keep alive, they are exposing their guilt. 72. These evil forces are again exerting great efforts to revive their .broken scenario with regard to the so-called situation in Afghanistan. 73. My delegation wishes to warn all those who really care about the principle of non-interference and the noble objec- tives of the Charter not to be drawn down this slippery road, so damaging to our Organization. The situation in Afghani- stan concerns only the people and the Government of Afghanistan and no one-I repeat, no one-has the right to concern himself with this situation except on the express request of the people and Government of Afghanistan, and certainly not in the face of their opposition. If we did that, it would be a dangerous precedent for all countries, expecially middle-sized and small countries, including those which, willingly or not, are bolstering and consorting with the hegemonistic, aggressive and retrograde imperialistic forces. 74. History has shown that quiet diplomacy is far prefer- able to an acrimonious public debate, which only hardens positions and solves nothing at all. 75. in view of what I have just said, my delegation is strongly opposed to the inclusion of the item concerning the situation in Afghanistan in the agenda ofthe present session: 77. It is quite obvious that raising such an issue against the will of the legitimate representative of Afghanistan can only be described as a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, and can only serve the interests of imperialist and hegemonist forces which are attempting to use this inflated propagandistic and slanderous campaign against Afghani- stan in order to perpetrate their own counter-revolutionary aggression against this country. All those who cherish the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter and the lofty ideals of our Organization should heed the voice ofthe representatives of Afghanistan who have demanded that an end be put to foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, a State which has embarked upon the path of building a new life for itself. 78. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan has put forward a constructive programme for a political settlement. It has applied to its neighbours and proposed that negotiations for a settlement be initiated. However, those who have refused such negotiations and have tried to encourage further aggression against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, are exerting every effort to involve the General Assembly in a discussion that might well further heat up the situation in Afghanistan, but would in no wise promote any political settlement therein. It is essential that we emphasize quite clearly once again that the way to such a political settlement is available, as indi- cated by the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in its statement of 15 May 1980. 79. As we have stated, Member States of the United Nations which have proposed the inclusion in the agenda of the thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly of the so- called question of the situation in Afghanistan, whether deliberately or involuntarily, will be the accomplices of the obviously propagandistic designs of imperialistic and hegemonistic forces that are attempting in this way to justify the policy they have adopted in order to destroy detente and increase tenmm; ~.Q attempt to involve the United Nations in this hullaballoo which nas e,~ raised over the so-called Afghanistan question has been made by those who are against international co-operation and in order to distract the attention of Members of our Organization from the really urgent problems ofthe present international situation. 80. The Soviet delegation is profoundly opposed to the inclusion of this item in the agenda of the thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly. 82. First, we all regard what has happened in Afghanistan as an outright invasion, asintervention and interference by a foreign Power-and a major Power at that-in the affairs of a non-aligned country which is a member of the Conference of the Islamic Community. For this reason we believe the world community must give serious attention to the obvious violation of an important tenet of its Charter. 83. Secondly, it is obvious that this invasion has aroused great concern in the world community. The sixth emergency special session of the General Assembly was devoted to the issue and the Conference of the Islamic countries also met in emergency session' to consider what could be done in re- sponse to this invasion. Both bodies adopted specific resolu- tions calling for the withdrawal of the foreign forces from Afghanistan, for respect for that country's territorial integ- rity and sovereigntyand for the right ofits people to exercise self-determination. 84. Thirdly, this particular intervention by foreign forces in Afghanistan has caused serious instability in the area and has in fact threatened peace and security. 85. Fourthly, the evidence of this instability is the flow of more than I million refugees into neighbouring countries- in particular, Pakistan-which has caused considerable dis- location to those neighbouring States. In fact, the problem of these refugees has become of major concern to the world community, and in particular to the United Nations itself. 86. Fifthly, we all know that the intrusion offoreign forces into Afghanistan has resulted in increasing tension in the world community and in a number of developments which threaten world peace and security. 87. Sixthly, the special session of the General Assembly has adopted a specific resolution [resolution ES-6/2] calling for the withdrawal of those foreign forces, but those resolu- tions have not, so far, been complied with. 88. For all these reasons, my delegation is of the view that it is most important for this thirty-fifth session of the Gen- eral Assembly to deliberate this question again and to con- sider what we should do next. Our delegation therefore supports the inscription of this item in the agenda of the present session. 89. Mr. LING Qing (China). (translation from Chinese): The Chinese delegation has already expressed at the 1st meeting of the General Committee its unequivocal support for the inclusion of item 116 in the agenda of the General Assembly. The Soviet representative has arbitrarily des- 2 Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Minis- ters. held at Islamabad from 27 to 29 January 1980. 91. Last January, the sixth emergency special session of the General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority, adopted a resolution calling for the immediate, uncondi- tional and total withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghani- stan and reaffirming respect for the inalienable right of the Afghan people to determine their own form ofgovernment and social system, free from outside intervention. However, the Soviet Union has not only refused to pull out its troops from Afghanistan but has continued to escalate its war of aggression against Afghanistan, in an attempt to turn Afghanistan into a --:pring-boardand an outpost for aggres- sion and expansion in south Asia and the Gulfregion by the Soviet Union. 92. Under such circumstances, it isquite proper and neces- sary for Pakistan and 31 other countries to put forward an item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implica- tions for international peace and security" and to call on the thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly to continue its consideration of the matter. The sponsors rightly pointed out in their explanatory memorandum [A/35/144 and Add.J] that the situation in Afghanistan posed a grave threat to regional as well as international peace and security. With a view to upholding the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and maintaining international peace and security, the Chinese delegation fully supports the inclusion of the said item in the agenda. of the current session.

I should like to reiterate briefly what my delegation has already stated at the 1st meeting of the General Committee, concerning our position in support of the inscription of the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security" in the agenda of the thirty-fifth session. 94. The request for inscription has been submitted by 32 Member States, including my own country. As has been pointed out by my colleague from Malaysia, the situation in Afghanistan was considered by the Security Council fol- lowing the armed intervention-which in itself was a fla- grant violation of the basic principles of the United Nations Charter-but, because of the lack of unanimity among its permanent members, which prevented the Security Council from discharging its primary responsibility for the mainte- nance of peace and security, the General Assembly was convened in an emergency special session. At that emer- gency special session the General Assembly adopted resolu- tion ES-6/2, which was supported by an overwhelming majority of 104 States Members ofthe United Nations. That 95. The same resolution requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to keep Member States and the Security Council promptly and concurrently informed on the progress made in the implementation of the resolution. 96. But that resolution remains unimplemented. The for- eign intervention persists in Afghanistan. The situation within Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, thus posing a serious threat not only to regional stability but to interna- tional peace and security. The large influx of Afghan refu- gees also continues. They now number nearly I million in Pakistan alone. 97. Therefore it is imperative that the General Assembly remain seized of this grave situation and tha. Member States be given an opportunity at the thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly to give their full consideration to this deteriorating situation. 98. My delegation, as one of the sponsors ofthis proposal, therefore strongly supports the inscription ofthis item in the agenda of the thirty-fifth session. 99. One of the previous speakers, who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the genuine people of Afghanistan, raised several substantive matters with regard to the situa- tion in Afghanistan. I know that at this time the General Assembly is concerned only with the inscription of items and the adoption of the agenda. The rules of procedure of the General Assembly do not permit delegations such as my own to enter into any substantive discussion of this item at this stage, but my delegation reserves the right to respond in an appropriate way to the substantive issues which have been raised by some of the previous speakers when the item is ultimately taken up for consideration by the General Assembly in subsequent plenary meetings.

The Assembly has heard state- ments concerning the inclusion of item 116,all of which will be duly recorded in the verbatim record. May I take it that the General Assembly includes item 116 in the agenda? lOt. The PRESIDENT: We now turn to items 117 to 120 inclusive. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to include them in the agenda? Items JJ7 to J20 were included in the agenda.

The General Assembly has adopted the agenda for the thirty-fifth session [decision 35/402]:'

We nowturn to the question of the allocation of agenda items which is dealt with in section IV of the report of the General Committee [A/35/250]. In this connection, the General Committee, in paragraph 25. 104. The modifications indicated in paragraph 26 of the report are reflected in the proposed allocation, so we shall consider them when we come to the relevant items under paragraph 28. 105. May I therefore now invite members to turn to the list of items recommended for consideration in plenary meet- ings, which will be found in paragraph 28ofthe report ofthe General Committee. 106. With regard to item 18 on the list for the plenary meetings, I should like to invite the Assembly's attention to the recommendation of the General Committee in para- graph 26 (a) (i) that the Assembly should refer to the Fourth Committee all the chapters of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementa- tion of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to specific Territo- ries so that the Assembly might deal in plenary meeting with the question of the implementation of the Declaration as a whole. May I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation?

Also in connection with item 18 on the list for the plenary meetings, the General Committee recommends that a special plenary meeting of the General Assembly should be held during its thirty-fifth session to commemorate the twentieth anniversary ofthe Declaration. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts the recom- mendation of the General Committee?

Regarding item 26 on the list for the plenary meetings of the Assembly, concerning the ques- tion of Namibia, in paragraph 26 (a) (ii) of its report the General Committee recommends that the item should be considered directly in plenary meeting on the understanding that hearings of organizations concerned would be held in the Fourth Committee. May I consider that the Assembly adopts that recommendation?

In connection with item 27 of the list for the plenary meetings, concerning the policies 'of apartheid of the Government of South Africa, 'invite the Assembly's attention to the recommendation contained in paragraph 26 (a) (iii). The General Committee recommends that this item be considered directly in plenary meeting on the understanding that the representatives of the Organiza- tion ofAfrican Unity and of national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity would be permitted to participate in the discussion in plenary meeting and that organizations having a special interest in the ques-

In connection with two items on the list for the plenary meetings of the Assembly-item 29 on the Draft World Charter for Nature, and item 35 on the historical responsibility of States for the preservation of nature for present and future generations-in paragraph 26 (a) (v) the General Committee recommends that the two items should be considered directly in plenary meetings as separate items in the course ofthe same debate. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt that recommendation? Ill. The PRESIDENT: May I now considerthat the Gen- eral Assembly approves the allocation of the other items listed for consideration directly in plenary meetings?

We can therefore now turn to the list of items which the General Committee has recom- mended for allocation to the First Committee. 113. Regarding item 18on the list, concerning general and complete disarmament, the General Committee recom- mends in paragraph 26 (b) (i) that the relevant paragraphs of the annual report of IAEA, which is to be considered directly in plenary meetings under agenda item 14,should be drawn to the attention of the First Committee inconnection with its consideration of agenda item 48. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?

May I consider that the General Assembly approves the proposed allocation of items to the First Committee?

We come now to the items recom- mended for allocation to the Special Political Committee. May I consider that the General Assembly. approves that recommendation?

I now invite members to examine the list of items recommended for allocation to the Second Committee. 117. In connection with agenda item 2 (/) on the list for the Second Committee, concerning natural resources, the Gen- eral Committee recommends, in paragraph 26 (c) of its report, that, while the subitem would be referred to the Second Committee, the ceremony to launch formally the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade should be held in plenary meeting on 10 November 1980,and, further, that the heads of United Nations special- ized agencies or bodies which are directly concerned with the

May I therefore take it that the General Assembly approves the proposed allocation of items to the Second Committee?

We now come to the items pro- posed for allocation to the Third Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve the proposed allocation?

Are there any comments on the proposed allocation of items to the Fourth Committee? I take it, then, that the Assembly approves that proposed allocation.

We turn now to the list of items recommended for allocation to the Fifth Committee. May I consider that the General Assembly approves the proposed allocation?

We come now to the list of items proposed for allocation to the Sixth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves that proposed allocation?

Finally, I invite the General Assembly to turn its attention to paragraph 27 ofdocument A/35/250, which states that: "The General Committee decided to consider at an appropriate time after the conclusion of the general May I consider that. the General Assembly wishes to take note of paragraph 27?

The General Assembly has thus adopted the agenda and the allocation ofitemsfor itsthirty- fifth session [decision 35/402]. 125. I wish to thank the members of the Assembly for their co-operation, which has made it possible for us to complete our task in one morning meeting. 126. Each Main Committee will receive promptly the list of agenda items allocated to it so that it may begin its work as soon as possible, in accordance with rule 99ofthe rules of procedure. 127. I should like to make a brief remark in connection with the opening of the general debate next Monday morn- ing. As representatives know, the main participants in the general debate willbe distinguished foreign ministers, heads of Government and even heads of State from Member States. I should very much appreciate it if heads of delega- tions could see to it that their delegations have at least one representative present here in the General Assembly hall when the first speaker is scheduled to make his statement. I think that we owe it to the foreign ministers. and other dignitaries, as a matter ofcourtesy and politeness, to ensure that they do not address a half-empty hall. 128. I intend to start morning and afternoon meetings punctually at the scheduled time. I believethat only thus can we accomplish our task ofconcluding the present Assembly session as scheduled, on 16 December. The meetingrose at 12 noon.