A/35/PV.68 General Assembly

For the third time this year the United Nations is debating the situation in Afghanistan. In that span of time nothing in that historically troubled country has changed; it remains in the iron grip of foreign forces. 2. Two reasons are invoked for the presence of foreign troops in the sovereign and independent country. The first is that these foreign troops have, upon the request ofAfghanistan, come to the assistance of its Government; and the second is that internal dissension in Afghanistan constituted a threat to the security of a neighbour country. There is a great deal to be said for those reasons if-and only if.-they correspond to the facts of the real world. In the considered view of my delegation, the facts flatly contradict the claims. J. On Christmas Day 1979 several thousand foreign -troops descended upon Afghanistan, presumably on the invitation of the Amin Government. Yet, only two days later the same Amin died under abnormal circumstances, and a stranger in his own land had to be imported from outside and installed as the rightful leader of Afghanistan. The imported leader is not a leader chosen by his people.but a front used by foreign forces in a transparent effort to legitimize their presence in Afghanistan. 4. But the stronger argument does not lie in a hoary legalism. It lies in the attitude of the Afghan people, who from that day to this very moment has been struggling against overwhelming odds to maintain its territorial integrity and affirm its sovereign right to its own land. On the best estimates, the poorly armed and under-organized resistance fighters have managed to pin down roughly 100,000 foreign troops in Afghani- stan in a fierce and determined effort to salvage national honour. NEW YORK development problems can hardly be expected to entertain dreams of imperial glory, especially against one of the most powerful countries on earth. I suggest that the Assembly draw its own conclusions. 7. Having said that, my delegation wishes to invite attention to the fact that we are not assembled here today to score debating points. What concerns us is the latent content of the debate-unsaid yet visible, unspoken yet ever present in our inmost thoughts. We perceive an emerging pattern in world affairs, a creeping desolation which threatens to destroy, if it has not already done so, a full decade's work in establishing the rules of the game. If we assume that competition is a permanent feature of international life, we· also assume its corollary-open-handed co-operation on a reciprocal basis so that benefits shall accrue to all. 8. In the light of recent events, those assumptions take on the garment of innocence and misplaced optimism. Today competition yields to confrontation and co-operation approaches a dead end; and this dictates the disturbing pattern which we may have to cope with for the rest of this uneasy decade. 9. This is of particular concern to our region. With minor alterations, the situation in Afghanistan bears a strong similarity to the situation in Kampuchea. They are indeed the same face of the same coin. Both cases violate the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the faithful observance of which is an indis- putable requirement for a stable world order based on the rule of law. In Afghanistan and Kampuchea,the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of nations has been transgressed. In Afghanista,n and in Kampuchea, the principle of the right to self- determination has been denied the citizens of those countries. 10. Equally significant is the mode of operation in the illegal occupation of Afghanistan and Kampuchea. The most casual observer cannot help but be struck by a seemingly orchestrated effort to acquire territories as bases for the extension of military and political influence in large areas of Asia. If that pattern is not arrested, the dread prospect which confronts us is of Asia again becoming the cockpit of a war far larger in scope and dimension than any in recent memory. 12. My delegation suggests that we can begin to consider a few measures to defuse a highly explosive situation. The first is voluntary restraint on the part of the Powers involved; the second is the initiation of dialogue among the same Powers; and the third is the continued search for political solutions of both the Afghan and the Kampuchean problems. 13. We feel-s-and feel very strongly-that, as in Kampuchea, the complete withdrawal offoreign troops from Afghanistan is a principal element in all efforts to reach a political solution. At the same time, the humanitarian aspect of the Afghanistan problem should not be overlooked. Thousands upon thousands of the victims of war are in neighbouring countries sharing their hardships and miseries with the host countries. 14. It is for those reasons that the Philippines has eo-sponsored draft resolution A/35/L.12. In a critical moment in world affairs, Afghanistan continues to be a focal point of danger. The great Powers will do what they must; the rest of us will do what we can. Our task is to help to ensure that the efforts of the great Powers point in the direction of peace, justice and humanity. IS. Mr. FRELEK (Poland): For reasons deriving from its profound historical experience as well as the principles of its foreign policy, Poland is vitally in- terested in the consolidation of peace, the strength- ening of international security and the development of fruitful and mutually beneficial co-operation among nations. To the best of our ability we have always taken and continue to take part in efforts aimed at reducing and extinguishing' hotbeds of tension and conflicts. Our firm and consistent position has always been in favour of the peaceful and just settlement of conflicts and controversial problems in different parts of the world through political negotiations between the States concerned. Our position is the same with respect to the problems of South-West Asia. 16. That position was fully reflected in the Declara- tion of the States parties to the Warsaw Treaty, adopted at the meeting of the Political Consultative Committee in Warsaw on 14'and 15May [seeA/35/237- S//3948, annex 1/]. The participants emphasized, inter alia, the need for a political settlement of the situation that has developed with regard to Afghani- stan. They stressed that such a settlement must unequivocally guarantee the complete cessation and non-recurrence of all forms of outside interference directed against the Government and the people of Afghanistan. They also underlined that once all forms of outside interference directed against the Govern- ment and the people of Afghanistan had completely ceased steps would be taken for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, in accordance with the renewed pronouncements of the USSR. That, in our profound belief, is the only possible and realistic road 18. Therefore my delegation opposed the inclusion in the agenda of the current session of an item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security". We are still firmly against it, as in our opinion both the motives behind it and the way the whole issue has been presented, far from serving to ease the tensions in the region, on _the- contrary are bound further to complicate the existing problems and to create new obstacles in the way of reaching political solutions. 19. This is particularly true since the position of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghani- stan concerning a political settlement of the situation in South-West Asia, especially its proposals of 14May 1980 [see A/35/238-S//395/, annex 1/], which are constructive, regarding the normalization of relations between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, have so far received no positive response. That does not help the settlement of existing problems either. 20. We cannot but make exactly the same appraisal of draft resolution A/35/L.12. A number of key premises for a successful solution of the problem are obviously ignored in the text. First of all there is no mention whatsoever ofthe need to put an end to outside interference and incitement to and support for armed rebellion. That is, after all, the natural pre-condition of any progress. The Government of the USSR has more than once declared its full readiness to withdraw its troops if that condition is met. It is no secret to anyone that it has not yet been met. In fact, the oppo- site is true. It is easy to find in information media of all kinds frequent reports dispatched from the bases of armed subversion situated in the immediate vicinity of the borders of Afghanistan. 21. The draft resolution before us contains an appeal for a political settlement addressed to the strangely defined "all parties concerned". Inasmuch as this is an attempt to put the rebel groupings on an equal footing with Governments and States, it is equally unacceptable. the draft resolutiondoes not include, and thus rejects, the most important factors, which are: the finding of a way to reach a peaceful political settlement and the easing of tensions through direct negotiations and the normalization ofrelations between Afghanistan and its neighbours, Pakistan and Iran. 22. It stands to reason, of course, that the only way to arrive at a realistic solution is through direct negotia- tions based on the principles of sovereignty, non- interference and good-neighbourliness. That is the only way to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. Poland has lent and continues to render its full support to the proposals aimed at achieving that goal put forward by Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. 31~ The national democratic revolution of April 1978 marked an important stage in the development of the struggle of the Afghan people to rid itself of the chains of imperialism and to abolish the feudal rela- tions and the consequences of age-old economic and social backwardness. The appearance on the interna- tional political scene of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan constitutes a positive factor in the strengthening of peace and stability in South-West Asia. 32. Secondly, following the victory of the Afghan April revolution, which dealt a severe blow to the global strategy of the United States of America, those in American imperialist circles, in close collusion with international reactionary forces, feverishly en- deavoured to undermine the young 'Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Within the country they ceaselessly incited and organized feudal and reac- tionary elements of all types to counter-attack the revolutionary and democratic forces. It is no secret that outside the country.those same hostile forces did everything in their power to regroup, maintain, supply, instruct and equip bands of rebels and mercenaries to conduct armed incursions into Afghanistan from sanctuaries in the territory of a country bordering on Afghanistan. We should add that these activities, closely linked to intervention and subversion, in- creased in intensity, particularly throughout 1979, thereby most seriously threatening the very existence of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan as an inde- pendent and sovereign State. 33. It was precisely in that context that the events of 27 December 1979 occurred, which put an end to the oppressive regime of the usurper Amin and marked a new and important stage in the process of the struggle of the Afghan people to defend its revolutionary achievements. Since then, all the revolutionary energies of the Afghan people have been mobilized and guided successfully on the course of eliminating economic and social backwardness, restoring equality among all citizens, building an independent economy and promoting a foreign policy of peace and friendship with other countries on the basis of the principles of non-alignment and peaceful coexistence. 34. In such conditions, what' can be said of the assistance given to the Afghan people by the Soviet Union in response to the appeal of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan? That aid from the Soviet Union is fully justified and is aimed at co-operation with the Government of Afghanistan as it faces an undeclared war imposed from abroad on the young Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. That assistance is entirely in keeping with the Treaty of 48. That balanced and complete programme is "The Vietnamese people is determined to designed above all to normalize and progressively strengthen its solidarity with the people and the improve relations between Afghanistan and its two Government of Afghanistan in their struggle to immediate neighbours, Iran and Pakistan, on the basis safeguard the gains of their revolution, their inde- of the principles or-mutual respect for sovereignty and pendence and their national sovereignty. We highly good-neighbourliness and. non-interferen~e in e~ch value the wide-ranging aid accorded by the Soviet country's internal affairs, and by undertaking specific Union to the Afghan people and Government to help commitments enshrining the inadmissibility of armed them stand up to the attempts at aggression and activity or any hostile acts directed against the territory acts ofintervention and subversion on the part ofthe of one country from the territory of another. Above forces of imperialism and international reaction." and beyond such bilateral agreements, this programme [11th meeting, para. 103.] ofpolitical settlement provides for appropriate political 54. In conclusion, the delegation of the Socialist guarantees, particularly on the part of the Soviet Union Republic of Viet Nam wishes to express its belief that and the United States of America, as well as specific if the Organization is not able to assist the Afghan conditions and guarantees for the withdrawal ofSoviet people in its struggle to defend and build its country, troops from Afghanistan. Lastly, the Afghan Govern- at least it should refrain from doing anything that ment declares its support for the proposals to might harm the just cause of the Afghan people and establish the region of the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf as a zone of peace, by eliminating the foreign military bases there and taking other measures I See A/C.I/3S/9.

Once again the Assembly is debating the question of Afghanistan. Barely a year has passed since an emergency special session on Afghanistan was held and a resolution was adopted containing a. framework for a speedy and peaceful solution of the crisis [resolution E5-6/2]. We deeply regret that no solution of this continuing problem has yet been found, despite efforts made by the international community through various interna- tional bodies, including the United Nations. 57. The position of Bangladesh is well known in regard to the question of Afghanistan. It is as stated in our national Parliament: "In the case of Afghanistan, we called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from non-aligned Afghanistan and took the position that the people of Afghanistan should be allowed to determine their own destiny without outside interference. This position received the overwhelming support of the international community in the Security Council and in the General Assembly of the United Nations. The extraordinary meeting of Islamic Foreign Ministers endorsed the position taken by the United Nations General Assembly on Afghanistan." 58. Bangladesh has traditional links of friendship with the people of Afghanistan rooted in a commo.i heritage and shared beliefs. We are grieved at the .senseless loss of human life and property following foreign armed intervention in fellow non-aligned Afghanistan. . 59. Since the non-aligned movement came into being, heralding a new era, the policy of non-alignment has become a force in the struggle for maintaining world peace and security and buildinga base for new interna- tional political and economic relations. W"e feel that any weakening of our movement or suppression of its role would inevitably inje~t an element of instability into international relations. We believe that the inexorable transition from an old order based on domination by a few to a new one founded on freedom, equality and social justice for the promotion of world peace and security cannot be halted. In addition to h:lving these historical responsibilities, we are com- com~~nity of nations has accepted, as essential elements for guiding relations between and among nati<;)Q" States, can be ignored only at the peril of creating disorder and instability in the world. We have solemnly undertaken to refrain in our international relations from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political indepen- dence of any State in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. Such threat or use of force constituting a violation of international law and the Charter should never be employed as a means of settling international disputes. We also believe that by virtue of the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the rightfreely to determine, withoutexternal interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every State has the duty to respect that right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. 60. What has happened in Afghanistan over the past to months gives us enough reason to be sad, unhappy and apprehensive about the maintenance of peace and security in that part of the world which is already beset with internecine conflict. We have seen that foreign intervention has taken place in violation of the aforementioned principles. In this context, we believe, peace and stability can return to Afghanistan only with the withdrawal of all foreign troops. We also believe that real peace can return to Afghanistan only when the people of Afghanistan are allowed to choose their own destiny without outside interference, let alone the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan. 61. We believe that the Organization must bear responsability for maintaining peace and security in the world. The international community cannot be oblivious of its responsibility and efforts must be made to find ways and means for a peaceful solution of this crisis. Wefirmly believe that such a solution is dictated not only by the need to restore peace in a vital area of the world; it is cur firm conviction that a political solution based on the fundamental principles of the Charter, would serve the real, present and long-term interests of all countries of the region, including those of the Soviet Union. Experience has shown that rela- tions of genuine friendship and co-operation between nations and peoples can be built only on the basis of equality and mutual respect and that such relations are the best guarantee of any lasting peace and security. We also believe that a political solution is possible if the countries concerned display the necessary statesmanship and political willto negotiate, and negotiate seriously, and the first element of those negotiations is the withdrawal of the foreign troops, providing the opportunity to the people of Afghanistan to choose their own destiny. That is why my delega- tion has eo-sponsored draft resolution A/35/L.12. We believe [hat itcontains sound provisions pavingthe way towards ajust and honourable solution ofthe problem. 68. This intervention has not only deepened dissen- sion and hatred among the Afghan people, but by transforming Afghanistan into a battlefield it has also disrupted the normal pattern of life and the cycle of development, diverting human resources from the cause of development and progress to the course of resisting the gunfire. The military action aimed at eliminating the national resistance movement in the country, according to reports ofinternational organiza- tions, has led to the devastation of thousands of acres of crops and to the destruction of livestock in that country. In these circumstances the Afghan people has become exposed to famine, and reports of WHO indicate the outbreak among the people of epidemics and fatal diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis, and leprosy, because of the lack of sufficient medical care and the shortage of medicines. All those circum- stances are bound to have produced a human tragedy of frightening proportions. This tragedy is exemplified by the problem of refugees who have fled to Pakistan to escape death. The true magnitude of the proJ'llem is demonstrated by the fact that the resources of Pakistan alone are insufficient to alleviate the plight of those refugees. The problem cannot be solved through gifts of food, medicine and clothing. While those elements are vital in the present circumstances, they are no more than mere palliatives. The only remedy for the problem is that set out in paragraph 5 of the resolu- tion on the situation in Afghanistan ad0l'te,d at the Eleventh Islamic Conference of FoteignMiniste'rs, held at Islamabad from 17 to 22 May 1980, which strongly urged the creation of the right conditions that would permit the early return of the Afghan refugees to their homeland in security and honour [see A/35/419- S/14129, annex I]. It is for us to ask ourselves what those conditions are. 69. Because of its adherence to the principles of non- alignment, its adherence to the principles and objec- tives of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, of which it is a member, and its adherence to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Qatar believes that respect for the principle of the political independence and sovereignty of States demands the ending of the Soviet military intervention in Afghani- stan. Qatar also believes that every country has the right to choose its own social and political system and that no foreign country-even if it is a super-Power- has the right to support a given regime against the will of the people of a country. let alone to impose a certain type of regime by force of arms. 70. Consequently, the State of Qatar appeals to the countries of the world, great and small, to respect the sovereignty, territorial 'integrity, political indepen- dence and non-aligned and Islamic character of Afghanistan. We wish to reaffirm that it is vitally important to respect the will of the Afghan people. The State of Qatar wishes to lay stress again on the provisions of resolution ES-6/2 adopted by the General Assembly at its sixth emergency special session. We also emphasize the importance of the provisions of all the relevant resolutions adopted by Z Enver Hoxha, The Khrushchevites (Tirana, The "8 Nentori" the Soviet social-imperialists mean acceptance of a Publishing House, 1980). certain number of arguments and conditions that they quishinl~ foreign aggression is the national liberation armed struggle. It is thanks to such a struggle on the ba1defield that the Vietnamese people scored a victory over American imperialism. 89. The Afghan people is successfully resisting Soviet occupation by taking up arms. It has the right to oppose any alleged solution to its problems which the occupiers and other imperialists might wish to impose upon it. There is but one just solution to the problem ofAfghanistan. The Soviet army ofoccupation must be immediately and completely withdrawn from that country; any attempt by the Soviet Union to interfere in the internal affairs of the Afghan people or to impose unacceptable regimes upon it must cease; also, that people must be allowed freely to resolve its problems according to its own wishes and without any imperialist interference or foreign influence. 90. Support for the just struggle of the Afghan people and solidarity with its cause are today a duty requiring that a position of principle be adopted. That support is for the struggle that is being waged and must be waged by peoples against the same enemies, against imperialism and social imperialism and all reactionary forces. The struggle being waged by the Afghanpeople is an integral part of that over-all struggle. 91. The people and the Government of Albania have condemned and continue to condemn with indignation the Soviet aggression and occupation in Afghanistan. They support the just national liberation struggle of the Afghan people and are convinced that that people will, in spite of all difficulties, continue successfully to fight and eventually to drive out the aggressors from its soil. 92. Mr. BANZAR (Mongolia) (interpretation from Russian): The Mongolian delegation has from the very outset firmly objected to the inclusion of the so-called question of the situation in Afghanistan on the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly as an Afgh~nistan, Mr. Dost, quite clearly once again expressed the protest of his Government with respect to the discussion at this session of the General Assem- bly of' the question of the situation in Afghanistan. The total inconsistency ofraising that question and the true picture of events taking place in Afghanistan can be seen convincingly from that statement. 94. The position of principle of the Mongolian People's Republic with respect to this question has on more than one occasion beep expressed in Government documents and statements of its representatives in the United Nations and other international organi- zations. 95. The reasons behind the malicious and slanderous campaign unleashed by the forces of imperialism and reaction against the Democratic Republic of Afghani- stan and the Soviet Union can be seen, in the first place, in the fact that those forces do not find to their liking the progressive transformations being effected by the newGovernment ofAfghanistan which has been established as the result of the victory of the national democratic forces of the revolution in that country. 96. As is known, from the very first days of the April 1978 revolution Afghanistan has been the object of aggressive designs and attempts. 97. It is no secret to anyone that such actions are directed at destroying the revolutionary conquestofthe Afghan people and restoring the old feudal order in that country. A futile attempt is being made to present to the world community the situation in Afghanistan in such a light as would benefit the interests of imperialist and hegemonist circles. Aidingand abetting the internal counter-revolution by all possible means, those forces are attempting to represent the bloody deeds of the bandits and mercenaries as some sort of "struggle by the Afghans for freedom against the Marxist regime of Babrak Karmal and the Soviet occupation forces" and so on. Thus everything is being done to undermine the current process of normalization of the situation and of organizing social and economic life in the country. 98. Extensive interference in the affairs of Afghani- stan is being conducted from abroad. The United States of America and Beijing, are rlragging other countries into the orbit of their actions. By financing and systematically organizing the training, equipping and dispatch ofarmed bands of Afghan mutineers, the imperialist circles and the Chinese hegemonists are continuing to wage an undeclared war against the people of Afghanistan. The "White Book" and the "Green Book" published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan have factually demonstrated the perpetration of criminal acts against that country. Numerous facts reveal that the bands of mutineers are being supplied with various types of modem weapons, including chemical weapons manufactured in the United States ; ,·Vi.• 99. The so-calted question of refugees has .been artificially created and is being deliberately promoted. Allegedly, refugees have been expelled from .their country and found refuge in Pakistan. That is contrary to the facts. The Pakistani authorities have stepped up their border controls and do not permit persons who have for one or another reason turned up in Pakistani territory to return to Afghan territory and are forcibly holding them back on the Pakistan side by means of threats and bribes ar•...; directing them to so-called centres where foreign instructors are training diver- sionary groups for the purpose of infiltratingthem into the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. China is displaying great zeal in this respect and the training of extensive numbers of Afghan counter-revolu- tionaries is tak,ing place in that country. 100. The presence of a limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan upon the oft-repeated request of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan must necessarily be viewed precisely in the context of the intensification of imperialist inter- ference and the emergence of a genuine threat to the independence of Afghanistan. The assistance of the Soviet Union has frustrated the designs of the impe- rialist circles to convert Afghanistan into an obedient instrument of aggressive policy and created a reliable barrier to any attempts upon the independence and territorial integrity of that country. 101. In this connexion I should like to refer to an article which was reproduced in The New York Times on 10August 1980, in which we read, inter alia, that " ... no one can deny that it is the legitimate right ofall sovereign States to choose their own allies and make treaties involving military.aid. We ourselves" -speaking here of the United States- "have 60alliesbytreaty and more than 400important foreign bases occupied by many hundreds of thousands of our troops ... For our government" -that is to say, the United States Government- "to condemn Soviet troops in Afghanistan as a criminal invasion is a classic instance of the double standard." 102. We would also remind those who are unleashing all manner of propaganda campaigns that the request of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, like any such request by any Government, and the fulfilment of such a request are the exclusive prerogative of the Government in question and in this present instance that request is fully in accord with the Charter, which affirms the inalienable right of States to individual and collective self-defence. 103. However surprising it may be, the Afghan question is being raised by precisely those elements which themselves interfere in the internal affairs of other States. It is typical that among the sponsors of the draft resolution on the subiect under discussion 107. The delegation of the Mongolian People's Re- public is firmly against the artificial magnifyingof the so-called Afghanistan events, which is being used by some to camouflage and justify the intensification of the arms race and their expansion into Asia and other parts of the world.

Our position regarding the agenda item under discussion is well known. We have clearly explained our stance on several oCCaSi0i.1S in the United Nations and elsewhere. Our basic position in similar cases has always been, as it is in this case, in harmony with the principle of the rejection ofany use of force, regardless of whether it manifests itself in the form of military intervention " ... unacceptable, unjustifiable under any circum- stances and incompatible with the obligations assumed by the United Nations Members under the Charter of the United Natlons".! Ill. They have also resolutely rejected any attempts to justify such a policy under any pretext whatsoever from any source. In that respect, the declarations of the conferences of the non-aligned countries are unequivocal. Therefore in our options we proceed from the principles and values that the policy of non-align- ment has built into international relations and made a component part of international life. It has affirmed them as a basis for finding a way out of existing crises in various parts of the world and wherever there is a tendency to legalize the 'use of force on the basis of "might makes right". 112. We are concerned about the ever more frequent practice of recourse to the use of force in over-all international relations, as reflected in direct infringe- ment of the sovereign right of countries and peoples to free development, in the unabated arms race, in the policy of spheres of interest, in the imposition of various forms of dependence and domination and Inthe maintenance of the existing system of inequi- table international economic and political relations. All this poses a constant threat to the economic and social emancipation of a number of independent coun- tries and results in local, regional and so-called limited conflicts and hotbeds of crisis directly threatening peace. 113. The present general deterioration in the interna- tional- situation is due to precisely such a policy. For this reason we see opposition to all forms of the use of force and efforts to find political solutions as a means of preserving detente as a' universal process, con- solidating it and transforming,it into an irreversible movement towards world peace. Otherwise, detente will be constantly jeopardized by the emergence of new hotbeds of. crisis, liable, since an indivisible process is involved, adversely to affect stability in every part ofthe globe. Actually, detente can be stable only if every country, large or small, regardless of its size, level ofdevelopment, social system or military or economic might, can ensure its security and free national and social development. 114. Developments in the world have confirmed that it is not possible to find solutions either to regional or "1-, , 115., <.A,s a matter of fact, the principles of indepen- de~c~~sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to free" ~velopment and free cho~~,e of social system represent the essence of the struggle for new interna- tional political and economic relations. Non-respect for and violation of these principles have the effect of weakening this struggle in all spheres, including those of detente, disarmament and the establishment of the new international economic order, and wherever there is a need for common efforts to solve crucial interna- tional issues. 116. It is obvious that, in the contemporary con- ditions of a general awakening of peoples and coun- tries no problems can be solved by force and still less can solutions be sought in attempts to impose an alien will on independent countries. Therefore, the solution of the Afghan crisis should in our view be sought within political frameworks. Such a solution in order to be realistic 'andjust, must involve the with: drawal offoreign troops, respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-alignment of Afghanistan and for the right of its people to choose freely its own social system, the obligation of all coun- tries not to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghani- stan and other countries in that region and to respect their independence, and the establishment of normal relations among the countries of the region. 117. We consider that the role of the United Nations as a catalyst of positive efforts towards negotiations is irreplaceable with regard to the achievement of a peaceful solution. 118. My delegation will vote in favour ofdraft resolu- tion A/3S/L.12 as it is essentially an expression of efforts to move forward' towards the solution of the crisis. We are convinced that, provided all parties make constructive efforts and provided all legitimate interests in security, independence and free develop- ment are preserved, the way can be paved for a political solution of this crisis which threatens the peace in the region and beyond it. 119. The worsening situation in the world, especially in the region of central Asia and in the Gulf, impels all of us to approach this problem with a high sense of responsibility and urgency. Otherwise, as a result of the very logic of confrontation, it will become ever more difficult to eliminate this focal point of crisis. The danger is becoming ever more immediate, as tensions in the broader region are rising, military presence is strengthened, overt or covert forms of pressure are increasingly exerted against sovereign countries, military bases and other strong points are established-all this having the effect of gradually altering the physiognomy of the whole broader and narrower region. 120. Therefore it is indispensable that increased efforts be exerted in order that conditions may be 124. Although the peoples of the third world have been grateful to the Soviet Union for its assistance and support and their just wars against imperialism and for independence and freedom and in their struggles against the policy of apartheid, and for its support for liberation movements in Palestine, Namibia and South Africa, those people cannot but feel a deep sense of disappointment when they see a major Power, committed by virtue of its permanent membership in the Security Council to certain responsibilities in the safeguarding of international peace and security, commit armed intervention against a developing non- aligned nation of the third world, a people that cannot possibly constitute any direct or immediate threat or 126. That is why the non-aligned movement has rejected the struggle of the major Powers to divide the world into spheres of influence. That movement realizes the adverseeffects that such a struggle would have; it would deprive the peoples of their national right to sovereignty and to the exploitation of their natural resources. That rejection took concrete form in the adoption of a number of basic principles to govern the policy of non-alignment in. international relations: the principle of total commitment to the right of every State to safeguard its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its right to non-intervention in its internal affairs; the principle of the inadmissibility of the use or threat of the use of force; the principle that there should be no recognition of'the results of aggression or the usurpation of territory by force. 127. We have referred to the principles of non- alignment, which are enshrined also ·in the Charter and the constitutions and charters of various regional organizations to which the majority of non-aligned countries belong. On that basis, the Sudan, which has the honour of belonging to various regional and interna- tional organizations, unreservedly denounces and condemns any and all forms of intervention in the internal affairs of States, regardless of their source, size, justification or location. The Sudan, which has chosen to adopt this attitude, affirms once again its rejection of the use of a double standard in connexion with these situations-that is, on the one hand con- demning foreign intervention and, on the other, main- taining silence about it. 128. The current crisis in Afghanistan is linked to the crucial question of the sovereign right of the Afghan people to self-determination and to administer its own aff~rs. Hence, it was only naturalfor the Organization of the Islamic Conference to seek a peaceful solution to the crisis. To that end, the Foreign Ministers of the countries members of that organization held two meetings this year. The resolutions adopted during those meetings did not go' beyond what was said in resolution ES-6/2, adopted by the General Assembly at its sixth emergency 'special session, held in January of this year-a resolution supported by the majority of the non-aligned countries. Hence, we cannot but eff~cts ofthe Soviet armed intervention in Afghanistan, which run counter to the Moslem faith and ideology, the people of Afghanistan found in the Islamic Con- ference the understanding and assistance they re- quired. The Islamic Conference, in exercising its responsibility, was not alone, it received the support of the international community represented in the General Assembly. 131. During the current session, the international community is called upon to champion the sacred prin- ciples enshrined in the Charter, principles which are threatened in Afghanistan. It should resolve to support the people of Afghanistan, to restore their sovereign right to self-determination, to decide their own future. The United Nations should exert every effort to safeguard full recognition of and respect for the principles of national independence, sovereignty territorial integrity and equality of rights, as well a~ the right of peoples to social and national develop- ment in freedom. To that end, the General Assembly should support draft resolution A/35/L.12, which the Foreign Minister of Pakistan introduced here. By adopting that draft resolution, the Assembly would be reaffirming the sacred principles enshrined in the Charter and would be signalling a victory for the will of the international community, which has chosen these principles to govern its international relations. 132. Mr. KIRCA (Turkey) (interpretation from French): This is the second time this year that the delegation of Turkey has come before the Assembly to set forth its view on the subject of the situation in Afghanistan. That has been made necessary by the fact that the Afghan people, so devoted to the prin- ciples of freedom and human dignity, are still deprived of their fundamental and inalienable right to self- determination and to decide their own destiny, and by the fact that the country remains the victim of foreign military intervention and interference. 133. As a nation that has always maintained tra- ditional brotherly ties with the Afghan people, Turkey is deeply sensitive to the suffering endured by that people on its own soil, and is particularly disturbed about the physical and spiritual fate of the ever- increasing number of Afghan refugees forced to seek shelter outside their country. 134. Turkey has followed the development of events in Afghanistan with the greatest concern. From the very beginning, it disapproved of the foreign military intervention and interference in the domestic affairs of that country, describing those actions as grave violations of the basic rules of conduct governing ~s .such! ~an. ~. neither partial nor geographically limited: ItsIndivisible character must be recognized and respected by all. 135. Accordingly, Turkey feels that it is both im- perative and urgent to bring about a political settle- ment for Afghanistan. Such a settlement must involve inte~ alia, the withd~awal of all foreign troops from th~ terntory of Afghanistan and the re-establishment of conditions that will make it possible for the Afghan people to take in hand their own affairs and to become masters once again of their own destiny without any foreign interference. Moreover, this settlement must provide the refugees with an opportunity to return to their homeland in security and dignity. It goes without saying, along this line of thinking, that any lasting solution must guarantee for all time the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, political indepen- dence and non-aligned character of Afghanistan. 136. Turkey has from the beginning maintained and encouraged the efforts aimed at a political solution of the problem of Afghanistan and has supported all resolutions adopted for this purpose, in particular those within the United Nations and at the Islamic Conference. 137. We are convinced that.the United Nations must make its contribution to the creation of conditions that will lead to the elaboration of a politically negotiated solution for Afghanistan. We are of the opinion that draft resolution A/35/L.12, of which Turkey is a sponsor, contains the principles and essential elements necessary for a just settlement of the question of Afghanistan. We feel that such a resol~tion must not itself seek to present any given solution. It must try only to promote such a solution through negotiations. In this sense we feel that the general content of the draft resolution is both constructive and balanced. We are of the opinion that the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General who would carry out his task within the framework of the mandate assigned to him by that resolution would represent not inconsiderable progress towards a negotiated political solution. 1,38. We call on all States to have particular regard to the moderate style and the realistic and constructive formulation of the draft resolution before and, above all, after the Assembly votes on it. Our action within the United Nations must bring us closer to a political settIe!Jlentin Afghanistan and not lead us further away from It, because, as we have already said, it is impera- tive and urgent to find a solution to this problem so as to restore their rights to the people of Afghanistan and make it possible for the refugees to return to their country. This solution is just as essential for the restoration of peace and stability in the region as for the elimination of a source of conflict that threatens imperialist and reactionary forces, we are witnessing for the second time, unfortunately, an attempt to push the General Assembly into discussing the so-called situation in Afghanistan. This constitutes a violation of the Charter in view of the opposition of the Govern- ment of Afghanistan, which represents the Afghan people and its aspirations and is a Member of the United Nations. This debate constitutes interference in the domestic affairs of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and is a deliberate attempt to cast doubt on the national choices of the people of Afghanistan and on other liberal and progressive regimes. It there- fore constitutes an open attempt by the imperialist forces to justify their presence in the region and their acts of aggression, the object of which is to dominate the peoples in the region and obstruct their liberation movements. 140. What has taken place in Afghanistan since the revolution of 27 April 1978 is an internal matter con- cerning Afghanistan and falls within the competence of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The Afghan people are today building their new society, which is serving the toiling masses that in the past suffered injustice and oppression under the monarchy, which has now been overthrown. Those toiling masses were forced to remain 1\ . a very long time in conditions of under-development and priva- tion. The democratic and progressive reforms in the political, economic, social and other fields and the guaranteeing of the rights and democratic freedoms of the masses in Afghanistan are evidence ofthe funda- mental principles on which the April revolution was based. When the imperialist forces realized the true scope of these reforms in Afghanistan and their effects on their interests in the region, they started to put into operation their plots and schemes designed to frustrate the Afghan revolution, using reactionary forces inside the country and assistance from abroad, taking advantage of counter-revolutionary forces whose interests had suffered as a result of the revolu- tion of April 1978. So these forces were exploited to carry out acts' of sabotage and to prevent the Afghan people from following its chosen course. 141. In Democratic Yemen we fully understand the nature of these imperialist plots, because since the attainment ofour independence in 1967 we have had to deal with similar situations. 'Thanks to the alertness of our people, we have frustrated all those imperialist plots and designs and have been able to fulfil the aspirations of our people and its ambition to live in peace and improve its living conditions both materially and spiritually. This has been accomplished through radical revolutionary reforms in all fields. Our people has made many sacrifices and is making more to this end. 142. The people of Afghanistan, in pursuing its goals, which are set out in the Fundamental Principles of the April revolution, and exercising its right to freedom and independence and to choose its own social regime in complete freedom, has had to deal with numerous