A/36/PV.49 General Assembly

Statements. if any. will be limited ~o explanations of vote. 3. May I now invite members to turn their attention to the report of thr. Fifth Committee on agenda item 18 (c) IA13615431. dealing with a vacancy in the membership of the Board of Auditors·! 4. In paragraph 4 of its report. the Fifth Committee rec- ommends that the General Assembly appoint the Auditor- General of Ghana as a member of the Board of Auditors for a three-year term beginning on I July 1982. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation'!

We now turn to the report on agenda item 18(d) IAI3615441. dealing with the vacancies on the Investment Committee. 6. In paragraph 3 of its report the Fifth Committee rec- ommends that the General Assembly confirm the appoint- ment by the Secretary-General of Mr. Jean Guyot. Mr. George Johnston and Mr. Michiya Matsukawa as members of the Investment Committee for a three-year term begin- ning on I January 1982. I take it that the General Assem- bly adopts that recommendation.

We now come to the re('Ort of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 18(e) IA13615451. deal- ing with the vacancies in the membership of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. 8. In paragraph 4 of its report the Fifth Committee rec- ommends that the General Assembly appoint Mr. Luis Mariti de Posadas Montero and Mr. Endre Ustor as mem- bers of the United Nations Admin;strative Tribunal for a three-year teml beginning on I January 1982. May I con- sider that the General Assembly adopts that recommenda- tion'! /t nu.\' .\'0 c/c'c:ic/c'c/ h/c·d.\'itm 361312).

The report on agenda item 18(k) IA13616~51 relates to the appointment of an alternate member ofthe United Nations Staff Pension Committee. 10. In pamgnlph ..J of the report th~ Fifth Committee recommends that the Gener.d Assembly appoint Mr. Jobst

I have the honour to present to the General Assem- bly the four reports of the Third Committee on agenda items 77. 78, 80 and 90. 12. Paragraph 10 of the report on item 77 IA/36/635I contains two draft resolutions which the Committee rec- ommends to the General Assembly for adoption. 13. Draft resolution I is entitled "Physical education and sports exchanges among young people". and was adopted unanimously. Draft resolution 11 is entitled "Channels of communication between the United Nations and youth and youth organizations". and was adopted without a vote. 14.· Pdragraph 17 of the report relating to item 78 IA/36/644I contains two draft resolutions which were adopted by the Third Committee. Draft resolution I is en- titled "National experience in promoting the co-operative movement". and was adopted by vote. Draft resolution II bears the same title as the item and was aiso adopted by vote. 15. Pdragraph 8 of the report on item 80 IA/36/638I contains a draft resolution which bears the same title as the item. It was adopted by the CC'mmittee without a vote. Pursuant to rule 66 of the rules (~r procedure. it U'Ci.\" decided not to discus.\' the reports (d' tht' Third Commit- tee.

Statements. if any. will be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delega- tions regarding the various recommendations of the Third Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. 18. May I remind members that. under decision 34/40I . the General Assembly agreed that. "When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting. a delegation should, as far as possible. explain its vote only once. i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting. unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is dif- ferent from its vote in the Committee." May I also remind members that. in accordance with the same decision. explanations of vote should not exceed 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. 19. We shall consider first the report of the Third Com- mittee on agenda item 77. I now put before the Assembly the draft resolutions recommended by the Third Commit- tee. 20. Draft resolution I is entitled "Physical education and sports exchanges among young people". The Third Committee adopted that draft resolution unanimously. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution I was .adopted (resolutio/l 36//6).

Draft Resolution 11 is entitled "Channels of communicalion between the United Nations and youth and youth organizations". The Third Commit- tee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same'!

We shall now consider the report of the Third Committee on agenda item 78. The Assem- bly will now take a decision on the draft resolutions rec- ommended by the Third Committee. 23. I put to the vote draft resolution I. entitled "Na- tional experience In promoting the co-operative move- ment". A recorded vote has been requested. In favour: Albania, Algeria. Argentina, Australia. Aus- tria, Bahamas. Bangladesh. B.arbados. Belgium. Benin. Bhutan. Bolivia. Botswana. Brazil. Bulgaria. Burma. Burundi. Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Cape Verde. Central African Republic. Chad. Chile. China. Colombia. Comoros. Costa Rica. Cuba. Cyprus. Czecho- Against: United States of America. Abstaining: Bahrain, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution 1I, entitled "National experi- ence in achieving far-reaching social and' economic changes for the purpose of social progress". A recorded vote has been requested.

We turn next to the ·report of the Third Committee on agenda item 90. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolutions recommended by the Third Committee. 28. I first put to, the vote. draft- re,S9lution I, entitled "Crime prevention and criminal justice and develop- ment". A recorded, vote bas ;been ,requested.,:, . >

Draft resolution 11 is entitled "ar- bitrary or summary. execut~oqs". ~e Third,,(;Qm~~ttee . adopted it without a vote. May I con'~lde~ thaf· ~e qe.pe,I;~, Assembly wishes to do the same?_ .' . _. .

In connection with this item the Assembly has before it the report of the Secretary-General [A/~61!84] and draft resolution N36/L.8. ·31. I call ori the representative of Iraq, who wishes to introduce the draft resolution.

As chairman of the group of the Islamic States, It IS my ho" nour to ·introduce, on beh~lf of the States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the draft resolu- tion on co-operation between the United Nations and the Organi.zation of the Islamic Conference. contained in doe- .urnent A136/L.3. 33. The draft resolution is aimed at strengthening co- operation between the United Nations and the Organiza- tion of the Islamic Conference-which is made up of 40 · members. The Orgflnization of the Islamic Conference is 'convinced that it is necessary to strengthen the purposes and pIiiiciples of the Charter of the United Nations•.as our organization has sinc~ its cCC?ation in 1969 devoted}ts efforts to strengthening mtematlOnal peace and secunty. We are sure that fhe promotion of co-operation between · the ,\Jnited Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference wiU ·benefit not only them but also the world as a whole anfl will contribute largely to the. achievement of the eCQnomic, social, cultural and humanit~an objec q lives of both organizations, inasmuch a~ ~ember ~tates are convinced that the role of our orgamzatlon should be piaced within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations and be in keeping with fundamental hu~an ,rights. This was co~firmed in the ch~rter of th~ Orgamza- lion of the Islamic Conference-adopted ID 1972- which lays stress on the efforts of the Islamic states to promote the well-be~ng and progress of man an~ on the need to guarantee hiS freedom. We have also !ald ~tress on our detennination to promote efforts to achieve mter- nali~l peace and security, liberty and justice for our peoples and all the peoples of the world. 34. Our organization seeks to eliminate colonialism in an its foons, as well as the policy of racial discrimination wherever it may appear. Our policy is to strengthen the struggle of the Palestinian people to recover its legitimate and inalienable national rights, to free its homeland and £0 create a national independent State in Pe1lestine, under the leadership of the Pe11~stine Liberation Organization [PW]. The Organization of the Islamic Conference. on the .basis of the awareness of its member States of their resPonsibilities towards the national liberation movements .. and the peoples still suffering .from imperia~ist oppres- sion. has adopted several resol~tlons condemmng the Jl?1- icy of 'racial discrimination and apartheid in South Affl~a and Namibia. The Islamic Conference has expressed Its solidarity with the peoples of these two countries in their struggle to put an end to foreign and ra~ist domination and to achieve independence and freedom. 35.· In conformity with the Charter of the United Na- tions and with its own charter, the Organization of the · Islamic Conference has striven to serve the cause of inter- · national peace .and security and has taken several positive · initiatives. With regard to certain questions of intema- stantive New Programme of Action for the 1980s ID a manner in keeping with the decisions of the United Nations. 37. The Organization of the Islamic Conference wel· comed the granting in 1975 of observer status in the United Nations to our organization [resollllion 3369(XXX»). We have co-operated constructively with the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations family. We seek to strengthen this co-operation with a view to giving practical effect to the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and promoting existing relations between the United Nations and our organiza- tion. 38 The Secretarv-General of the United Nations was in- vit~d to participate in the Third Islamic Conference held at Mecca-Taif from 25 to 28 January 198I. In his address on 26 January to the kings and· heads of State of Moslem countries, he expressed his satisfaction at the strengthen- ing of links between the United Nations and our organiza- tion. He emphasized the need to initiate efforts to find solutions to economic and political problems affecting the Islamic community ana the United Nations. in order to promote internutional peace and security. 39. The Secretary-General of the United Nations also sent a special representative to participate in the Twelfth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. held at Baghdad last June. I would add that consultations and exchanges of views are going on between the Secretariat of the United Nations and the Office of the Permanent Observer of our organization in New York. 40. Our organization officially maintains firm and close relations with the non-aligned countries. the Organization of African Unity [OAUl and the League of Arab States, and it will strive unceasingly to strengthen these relations in the interest of the well-being of mankind and peace in the world. We are convinced that the positive participa- tion of our organization in the activities of the United Na- tions will make possible the realization of the aspirations of the peoples of the world to freedom. well-being and pros[l)erity. 41. Draft resolution A/36/L.8. which I have the, honour of submitting to the General Assembly on behalf of all the 42., . The draft resolution, in its preamble, takes intoac- count the desire of both organizations to contribute to the search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights and the establishment of a new international eco- nomic order. 43. The draft resolution refers in its operative part to the effeCtive contribution of the Organization of the Islam- ic Conference to the financing of a number of develop- ment projects in co-operation with UNDP, UNCTAD and UNEP. The specialized agencies are invited to send to the Organization of the Islamic Conference experts in the field of combating desertification and the elimination of poverty, hunger, illness and ignorance. Finally, note is taken of the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General to study the best way of co-ordinating the activities of our organization and the United Nations and the bodies in the system. 44. We hope that this draft resolution will be adopted unanimously by the members of the General Assembly.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/36/L.8. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that draft resolution?

I shall now call on those repre- sentatives who wish to explain their positions.

My delegation would like to indicate that had draft resolution A/36iL.8 been put to the vote, Israel would have had to abstain. 48. Let me make myself very clear. The Government of Israel has the greatest respect for the Islamic faith, but it draws a clear line of distinction between the Moslem faith, the Moslem peoples and the Islamic Conference. The Government of Israel seeks mutual understanding, peace and co-operation with the Moslem peoples. The Is- lamic Conference, on the other hand, endeavours to pro- mote aims which are sometimes in glaring contrast to those of the Charter of the United Nations. 49. Israel also has reservations about attempts to institu- tionalize further differentiation among Member States of the United Nations on the basis of religious affiliation, an activity that can only lead to religious incitement and in- ternational tension.

The Philippine delega- tion wishes to make an observation on the resolution just adopted concerning co-operation between the United Na- tions and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. 51. Since its inception in 1969 the Islamic Conference has dedicated itself to parallel efforts in the furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Since being granted observer status in 1975 the Organization of the Islamic Conference has developed 52. Outside the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference has undertaken its own initiatives to promote the cause of international peace and security. In- deed, the Organization of the Islamic Conference has adopted numerous decisions on important global issues relating, inter alia. to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, funda- mental human rights and the establishment of a new inter- national economic order. 53. Because of the all-encompassing character of the ac- tivities of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which are directed to global issues, some delegations have entertained difficulty in approving all of them without res- ervation, inasmuch as they could not necessarily be bound by decisions taken by the Conference. 54. The Philippines has supported the efforts of the Or- ganization of the Islamic Conference. As a country which suffered foreign domination under three colonial Powers for about 400 years, the Philippines is without question committed to supporting, among other things, the struggle of peoples for self-determination, decolonization and fun- damental human rights. We have been doing this in the United Nations since 1945.

No one, in principle, will have any objection to co-operation between the United Nations and regional organizations, but it is essential that such co-operation be based on the universal principles en- shrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Anything short of that would, in our considered view, lead to in- creased polarization of the international community, to the detriment of the promotion of peace and brotherhood, to which the United' Nations is so thoroughly committed. 56. We are all members of the United Nations family. That being so, our actions must be in keeping with the principles of the Charter. That goes almost without say- ing, but not quite so in the case of the resolution just adopted. EndQrsement of the decisions of an organization that is based on religious affiliation will, we feel, limit the scope and obstruct the vision of the United Nations as an all-embracing international body, free from parochial and sectarian outlook. 57. In so saying, I am by no means suggesting that a religious organization of the type under consideration can have no useful role to play in our present-day world. The contrary is the case. The point is that its outlook, position and decisions should not run counter to the universally accepted norms and principles which bind us all here. It is high time we did some hard thinking on this and on other kindred matters that crop up in this' body from time to time. Failure to do so, we submit, will dilute our com- mitment and slacken our resolve to uphold the basic prin- ciples of the United Nations. 58. I need hardly point out that the principles enshrined in the Charter encompass all aspects of international life~ If we are to commit ourselves to those principles truly and whole heartedly, it is imperative that our loyalty not be divided. The United Nations must, we feel, guard it- self against such dangers, or run the risk of having a split personality. 60. It is because of the views I have just expressed that my delegation wishes to address itself in all candour to !he resolution just adopted by the Assembly. We have se- rious misgivings as regards its content, its intent and its perceived motives. There is a recurring theme that runs all through the document and to which my own country has been unjustly subjected. There is hardly any need to mince words in this respect. Certain members of the Or- ganization of the Islamic Conference have been mounting a vicious campaign against Ethiopia, a fonnding Member of the United Nations. The campaign, based on religion, goes to the extent of calling for the dismembennent of a sovereign country. This is diametrically opposed to the Charter, to which all Member States are supposed to ad- here. Or are we to understand that United Nations princi- ples should occupy a secondary role and that regional or- ganizations based on religion and other sectarian motives should command preponderance? 61. Co-operation assumes a common denominator. That common denominator for mankind as a whole is provided by the United Nations. Anything short of that will not only be shortsighted, but self-defeating as well. Should the United Nations endorse decisions and resolutions that run· counter to the principles of its own Charter? This is precisely what we are being prodded to do. We cannot, if we are to keep faith with the Charter, do that at all. That is why, if the draft resolution has been put to a vote, we would have cast a negative vote on the document as a whole. States Members of the United Nations should not compromise on principles. It is in this light that the ob- servations of my delegation should be viewed.

With regard to the resolution adopted on the question of co-operation be- tween the United Nations and the Organization of the Is- lamic Conference, the Soviet delegation would like to make the following statement. 63: The Soviet Union maintains good relations with many Moslem countries and takes a positive view of their efforts to resolve major problems such as those concerned with disarmament, the strengthening of international peace and security, decolonization and the establishment of a new international economic order. We regret, how- ever, that the question of co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference has from the outset-that is, alreadu last year-been placed on the wrong level. It is most regrettable that again this year that course is being continued. What· we 64. If the draft resolution had been put to a vote, we should have been unable to support it for the reasons I have enumerated.

India ranks today among the three or four countries with the largest populations of Muslims in the world. Within India Islam has over the centuries become part of our composite cultural tradi- tio~s. Our ties with the world of Islam have also been varied and multifarious. India's contacts with the Islamic nations have been positive and productive. We have adopted common approaches to some of the issues of cru- cial importance to international peace and security, such as those relating to Palestine, western Asia and Africa, as well as on the wide range of the economic, social and humanitarian questions that have emerged in recent years. 66. While saying this, we should like to reaffinn our conviction that adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations should be the start- ing-point for any co-operation between the United Nations and any other intergovernmental organization. Article I of the Charter explicitly calls for "international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and .encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, lan- guage, or religion". 67. We have always sought to discourage a narrow sec- tarian or denominational approach in dealing with politi- cal, economic, social, cultural or humanitarian questions, or the use of religious sentiments as a cloak for fanati- cism or for the expression of selfish national or local am- bitions. The teaching of religions and the activities of organizations based on religion should serve to unite rather than divide peoples. 68. We interpret the decision of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to seek co-operation with the United Nations as an indication of its preparedness to accept the Charter of the United Nations as the chief repository of the ideals and principles that should govern the progress of mankind. We believe that, as with other bodies with observer status, such as the OAU, co-operation with the United Nations can assist the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its constituent members in their striving for a more progressive, tolerant and just socieiy and for a world order based on freedom, equality, justice and broth- erhood. 69. India is not a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and does not consider itself bound by the charter of that organization or by the resolutions or decisions of States members of it. However, India appreci- ates very much the activities of that Organization.. In our judgement, it has contributed to the enhancement and fur- 71. When this item was introduced at the thirty-fifth session we had occasion, at the 63rd meeting, to give our views on the subject in extenso. We should like to reiter- ate that position today. We find that the draft resolution which we have just adopted contains some elements the objectives of whose inclusion in the draft are not quite clear. For these reasons, if the draft resolution had been put to the vote my delegation would have abstained.

In connection with agenda item 132 the General Assembly has before it a draft resolution, contained in document A/36/L.9. 73. I call on the representative of Qatar to introduce the draft resolution.

It is my privilege to introduce draft resolution A/36/ L.9 on co-operation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States on behalf of the Arab States which are sponsoring it. Its aim is to strengthen co-operation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. 75. As members know, the Arab League was one of the first regional organizations to be established. We are sub- mitting this draft resolution under article 3 of the charter of the League of Arab States, which provides for co-oper- ation between the League and the international organiza- tions to guarantee international peace and security and to reinforce economic and social relations, in order to achieve the objective of the League, which is to seek ways and means of settling disputes and of ensuring world peace, security and development, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and with that of the League. 76. We wish to refer to resolution 477 (V) adopted by the General Assembly on I November 1950, which re- quested the Secretary-General to invite the Secretary- General of the League of Arab States to attend sessions of the General Assembly as an observer. 77. In operative paragraph 7 of the draft resolution the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to strengthen co-operation at the political, economic, cultural and administrative lev- els between the United Nations and the League of Arab States in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. 78. We hope that the General Assembly will adopt the draft resolution unanimously so that the purposes and

I now call on the Observer for the League of Arab States, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 477 (V).

I take the opportunity of the in- troduction of a. draft resolution which provides for con- tinuing and strengthening co-operation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States to congratulate you, Sir, most warmly on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly. Arab diplomacy finds in you one of its most competent representatives, and the just and legitimate Arab causes find in you one of their most eminent defenders. You were among those who made the most important contribution to meetings which laid down the basis for the charter of the League of Arab States. That is not at all surprising, since Iraq, your country, was one of the founding States of the League, and has at- tempted to strengthen its role so that it may occupy its rightful place in the Arab world and in international bodies. furthermore, Mr. President, you acquired wide ex- perience of United Nations affairs as assistant to the Sec- retary-General and as a participant in the negotiations in the General Assembly and in the Security Council, an of which account for the prestige you enjoy, which makes the Arab nations proud of your achievements and assures us that you will lead the General Assembly's work wisely. 81. Since its establishment the League of Arab States has emphasized its willingness to reinforce co-operation with existing international organizations and those which may be established later, in accordance with article 3 of its charter. In other words, those who drew up the charter were aware of the priority importance of international co- operation. In addition, the League was the first regional organization whose Secretary-General was invited to at- tend meetings of the General Assembly as an observer, under resolution 477 (V). The beneficial effects can be seen in the close co-operation in various fields not only between the United Nations and the League but also r;- tweeri the various specialized agencies affiliated to .r two organizations. 82. Relations between the United Nations Secretariat and the secretariat of the.League of Arab States have been characterized by thorough consultations between the Sec- retaries-General and officials of both organizations. Both our organizations have co-operated in the preparation and implementation of various joint agreements in parts of the Arab world. The United Nations has shown a willingness to ensure the success of these programmes in achieving their noble objectives. 83. The co-operation between the two organizations has continued. The League of Arab States has endeavoured to contribute to all United Nations activities and to all dis- cussions taking place in the General Assembly or in the Security Council in order to keep the international com- munity informed on the cause of the Arab countries and to maintain effective and fruitful contacts with the world. 84. It seems opportune to make it clear that the League of Arab States. while structurally a regional organization, 85. The League of Arab States is aware of the impor- tance of the structures which govern the administrative, social and economic bodies of the United Nations and of the regional organizations. That is why the League has been better able to benefit from those organizations and their methods in the area of technical training and ex- change of information and consultations. That is another reason why the League of Arab States is determined fur- ther to strengthen its relations with the United Nations, in order to increase its effectiveness. 86. The Council of the League of Arab States, at its seventy-eighth session, in September 1981, asked the Secretary-General of the League to invite the Secretary- General of the United Nations to take part in the inaugu- ration of the Arab Conference, which will take place in Fez on 25 November. We hope that the Secretary-General will be in a position to take part in that conference. 87. We take this opportunity of expressing our gratitude to the Secretary-General, who has always encouraged and urged co-operation between the League of Arab States 88. From this rostrum, we appeal to the General As- sembly and to the member States to adopt unanimously the draft resolution concerning co-operation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States so that we may realize our aspirations to development and a just and global peace, and so that the principles of the Charter of the United Nations may serve as a basis for the attain- ment of our objectives.

May I take it that the Assembly adopts draft resolution A/36/L.9? NOTES I The delegations of Egypt. Ghana. Guinea-Bissau. Iraq. Ivory Coast and Portugal subsequently infonned the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour of the draft resolution. l The delegations of Egypt. Ghana, Iraq, Ivory Coast and Portugal subsequently infonned the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour of the draft resolution.