A/36/PV.94 General Assembly

I shall now call on those delega- tions that wish to explain their votes.

My delegation abstained in the voting on draft resolutions adopted at the 93rd meeting, mainly for the following reasons. 3. Japan has consistently supported efforts to achieve the early independence of Namibia through peaceful means. But, as my delegation has made clear on many occasions, we cannot support armed struggle, even in the settlement of the vexing Namibian question. Further, while Japan recognizes the .significant role being played by the South West Africa P~ople's Organization [SWAPO] in the move- ment for Namibian independence, it continues to maintain the Position that representation of the Namibian people should ultimately be determined by the Namibian people themselves, through free and fair elections. 4. These draft resolutions also contain some paragraphs which mention and criticize particular Member States. My delegation does not believe that this approach will contribute in a positive way to the solution of the prob- lem. Further, in the present circumstances my delegation has doubts as to whether comprehensive mandatory sanc- tions against South Africa would in fact be the most ef- fective and expeditious means of achieving the desired end. 5. In addition, while my delegation attaches importance to the dissemination of information on Namibia, we be- lieve that the information must be accurate, fair and bal- anced. It is also appropriate that close co-operation be NEW YORK maintained between the United Nations Council for Namibia and the Department of Public Information to en- sure that the Department's facilities will be effectively uti- lized and that information will be disseminated in a co- ordinated manner. 6. My delegation voted in favour of draft resolutions A/36/L.25 and L.28. However, our affirmative vote should not be construed as support for all the paragraphs of the resolutions. My delegation's position, which -it has made clear on various occasions, has not changed. 7. For reasons that we have explained, my delegation has reservations about some parts of the report [A/36/24] and programme of work of the United Nations Council for Namibia. Although we recognize and appreciate the important role that the United Nations Fund for Namibia performs, we have reservations about operative paragraph 4 of draft resolution A/36/L.28, which allocates from the regular budget $1 million, a 100 per cent increase over last year's allocation to the Fund, which, it should be re- called, was established as a voluntary fund.

The delegation of Chile voted in favour of the draft reso- lutions on Namibia with the exception of draft resolutions A/36/L.23/Rev.1 and L.24. We could not support those drafts because they contain paragraphs which in substance and in form substantially depart from the line of modera- tion and conciliation which should characterize the work of the United Nations Council for Namibia as the legal Administering Authority of the international Territory of Namibia. 9. In the opinion of the delegation of Chile, draft reso- lution A/36/L.23/Rev.1, as well as the report of the United Nations Council for Namibia which is approved in operative paragraph 1, contains references to and condem- nations of specific countries which are unjustified and most undesirable for the establishment of the atmosphere of co-operation and understanding that is essential to pro- gress towards· a negotiated solution of the question of Namibia. My delegation has always opposed singling out and specifically condemning States Members of the Organization, since in almost all cases this involves ele- ments of discrimination and injustice. 10. For these reasons, the deiegation of Chile places on record its serious reservations with regard to the seventh preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 17 and 31, among others. 11. With regard to draft resolution A/36/L.24, the dele- gation of Chile wishes to reiterate the traditional policy of its country, namely, that only the Security Council has competence under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to impose mandatory sanctions against a State Member of the United Nations. Under the provi- sions of the Charter, the General Assembly is not author- ized to do so. 13. Further, my country unreservedly supported draft resolution A/36/L.28 concerning the United Nations Fund for Namibia. In this connection, I should like to say that Greece has made a symbolic contribution of $10,000 to the fund and to the United Nations Institute for Namibia for the year 1981. 14. Nevertheless, we should like to place on record that we abstained in the vote on draft resolution A/36/L.27 because we have serious reservations with respect to the language and the unjustified attacks against certain West- ern countries, especially in the fifth paragraph of the pre- amble and operative paragraph 4 of that draft resolution.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries-Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland-in explanation of vote on the six draft resolutions on the question of Namibia. 16, The Nordic countries remain firmly convinced that the people of Namibia must be permitted as soon as pos- sible to determine its future through free and fair elec- tions under the supervision and control of the United Na- tions in accordance ·with Security Council resolution 435 (1978). The endeavours to bring South Africa's illegal oc- cupation of Namibia to an end should be given the high- est priority, and the delaying tactics of South Africa must be tenninated. The Nordic countries remain prepared to make their contribution to finding a solution within the framework of the ,United Nations, and they remain pre- pared to make their contribution to the construction and development of a free Namibia. 17. The Nordic countries regret that most of the resolu- tions adopted yesterday did not lend themselves to a positive vote. Our decision has been particularly painful since we have for a number of years consistently sup- ported most of the General Assembly resolutions pn Namibia. We have done so in spite of considerable prob- lems of principle concerning certain elements in the reso- lutions because we wanted to express our support for the overall objective, namely, freedom and independence for Namibia. 18. In our opinion, the General Assembly should do its utmost to facilitate a peaceful settlement. Instead, the wording of the resolutions adopted yesterday appears to be counterproductive as far as that objective is concerned. 19. The resolutions contain a number of elements that cause us great difficulties, which I shall outline in general terms. 20. First, as we have stated on a number of occasions, the Nordic countries cannot accept endorsement by the United Nations of the use of armed struggle for any rea- son. One of the basic principles of the Organization is the promotion of peaceful solutions of international problems. For the same reason we cannot support the calls for mili- tary assistance contained in the resolutions. 21. Secondly, because of our respect for the Charter of the United Nations, we have reservations concernir;.: for- mulations which fail to take into account that o!G~y the Security Council can adopt decisions which are bnnding on Member States. 22. Thirdly, once again we must reject the arbitrary and unjustified singling out of individual countries and groups of countries in a number of paragraphs in the resolutions. 23. Fourthly, some of the formulations in the draft reso- lutions are designed to cast doubt on the present negotiat- ing efforts, to which there is no realistic alternative in sight. We support those negotiating efforts as an essential part of our common aspiration to the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). 24. Fifthly, all political parties enjoying popular support in Namibia must be allowed to participate in apolitical process through free and fair elections. SWAPO is such a party and must be part of any solution in Namibia. 25. Sixthly, we have hesitations concerning some para- graphs with sweeping financial implications. 26. Finally, the Nordic countries wish to put on record their appreciation of the untiring efforts of the Secretary- General and his Special Representative, as well as of all parties which have be~n constructively involved in the ne- gotiating process. We urge them to continue those efforts to find an internationally acceptable solution to the Nami- bian problem within the framework of the United Nations.

Indonesia has consis- tently supported the Namibian people in its struggle for an independent Namibia. My delegation was a sponsor of four of six draft resolutions on Namibia before the As- sembly and voted in favour of all the draft resolutions. 28. However, my delegation wishes to make its position clear. It is not completely satisfied with the wording of some paragraphs in the draft resolutions adopted yes- terday which single out certain countries in a discrimi- natory manner. My delegation would have abstained on those paragraphs had they been vot("'d on separately. 29. U Aung THANT (Burma): My delegation would like to explain very briefly its vote on the draft resolu- tions adopted yesterday on the question of Namibia. 30. The policy of Burma in this matter is clear, consis- tent and unequivocal. From the earliest days when the question of South West Africa or Namibia first appeared 31. We have done likewise here and voted in favour of all the resolutions in which the Assembly in its wisdom once again took important decisions on Namibia at the 93rd meeting. 32. We did so in keeping with our long-standing policy and notwithstanding some reservations which we sincerely entertain on the wording of certain paragraphs. I refer here in particular to the seventh preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 17 of draft resolution A/36/L.23/ Rev. I. 33. It is my delegation's fervent hope that these latest decisions of the A~sembly, coupled with the Security Council's resolution 435 (1978), will go a long way to- wards bringing Namibia to its independence and na- tionhood which have so long proved, to say the least, elusive and which in our view and, indeed, in the view of the world community, are long overdue.

The delegation of Argentina voted in favour of the draft resolutions A/36/L.23/Rev.l through L.28 be- cause these are in accordance with the fundamental prin- ciples laid down in favour of Namibia's peaceful, just and orderly transition to national independence and sov- ereignty in accordance with the Charter of the United Na- tions and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Security Council. 35. Nevertheless, my delegation wishes to enter the fol- lowing reservations in respect of the texts adopted: 36. First, we have reservations with regard to any refer- ence which prejudges the representation of the people of Na~ibia in an exclusionary manner, since this question is to be settled by means of free elections to be held in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Security Council; 37. Secondly, my delegation is concerned about any ref- erence to the support for armed struggle as a means of achieving independence and self-determination for Namibia, since this is a procedure not envisaged in the Charter of the United Nations' for the settlement of inter- national disputes; 38. Thirdly, we have reservations with regard to all criti- cal and partial references to the conduct of certain coun- tries, since they detract from support for the resolutions adopted and therefore from their effectiveness; 39. Fourthly, as was pointed out in our explanation of vote during the 12th meeting of the eighth emergency special session of the General Assembly, the Government of Argentina wishes to recall once again that the Charter of the Organization has restricted competence in the ap- plication of comprehensive mandatory sanctions to the Se- curity Council. Accordingly, we find unacceptable all ap- peals or requests for sanctions against a Member State except through the machinery strictly provided for in the Charter. Similarly, we disagree with the provisions whereby a control procedure is envisaged within the United Nations for the implementation of sanctions, since this implies, de facto and de jure. their imposition with- 41. This is primarily because of our firm commitment to the right of the people of Namibia to self-determination and independence in accordance with the conditions stipu- lated in appropriate United Nations resolutiong, including, in particular, Security Council resolutions 385 (1976) and 435 (1978). Those resolutions, in essence, provide the framework for a peaceful solution of the question through a process of free and fair elections under the auspices of the United Nations. 42. My delegation therefore deplores South Africa's mil- itarization of the Territory and its ill-advised military in- cursions into neighbouring States, particularly since they constitute serious obstacles to the ongoing search for an internationally acceptable solution for Namibia. 43. In the light of this, we have reservations concerning references to armed struggle, for instance those contained in operative paragraph 7 of draft resolution A/36/L.23/ Rev. I. Moreover, we have difficulties with operative pura- graph 6 of draft resolution A/36/L.24. 44. Our reservations also remain valid concerning the singling out of countries including those named in oper- ative paragraphs 17 and 31 of N36/L. 23/Rev.l, operative paragraph 22 of draft resolution A/36/L.24 and the fifth preambular paragraph of draft resolution N36/L.27. 45. This is in view of the commitment and support that have been widely expressed in favour of an international solution to the Namibian question on the basis of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). 46. Finally, my delegation sincerely hopes that this commitment will soon lead to the implementation, with the co-operation of all concerned, of resolution 435 (1978) which enjoys international consensus.

The delegation of Suriname voted in favour of the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia, specifically A/36/L.23/Rev.l, on the situation in Namibia resulting from the illegal occupation of the Ter- ritory by South Africa, and has in this way expressed the full and unconditionai support of Suriname for the people of Namibia in their just struggle for independence under the leadership of SWAPO, their sole and authentic repre- sentative. With regard to operative paragraph 17 of that draft resolution, the delegation wishes the record to show that it would have preferred this paragraph to have been worded differently. If a separate vote had been taken on operative paragraph 17, the delegation of Suriname would have abstained in it.

The delegation of Brazil voted in favour of the six draft resolutions adopted yester- day on the question of Namibia. We did so despite some of our doubts on the language used in some of the provi- sions of draft resolution A/36/L 23/Rev. I. 49. In connection with draft resolution N36/L.24, while we support the measures that the United Nations has rec- ommended to Member States on the problem under con-

In accordance with its principled support of the liberation struggle of the peoples which are still colonially op- pressed, the delegation of the German Democratic Re- public voted in favour of all the draft resolutions adopted. 52. My country's position on the question of Namibia is well known to everybody and was explained in detail [66th meeting] during the debate on the item. 53. My delegation considers the implementation of the demands embodied in the draft resolutions adopted to be a prerequisite to implementation of the Namibian people's right to self-determination and that country's genuine in- dependence, as those demands are in line with relevant decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. All attempts to remove from the United Nations its special responsibility for that Territory and to under- mine the respective decisions of the Security Council must be strongly rejected. It is inadmissible that, out of all States, the United Nations mandate to supervise the elections for an independent Namibia should be carried out by representatives of those States which are refusing to agree to the General Assembly's decisions on Namibia and have prevented the adoption by the Security Council of decisive measures on the implementation of that coun- try's independence. There is no need to explain here how grave the consequences would be, -if, for instance, the United States sent armed forces to Namibia. 54. The voting behaviour of certain delegations on the draft resolutions before us only reaffirms that they are continuing their policy of collaboration with South Africa, a policy aimed at withholding true independence from Namibia and focused 'on the establishment of a neo-colo- nialist. puppet regime. Recent meetings between high- ranking representatives of those States with representatives of the so-called Democratic Turnhalle Alliance, who are denounced by the international cemmunity, are new evi- dence of that policy. Those puppets in no way represent the people of Namibia but only a handful of the apartheid regime's collaborators-outright racists and proponents of Fascist ideologies. 55. We are convinced that when implementing its right to self-determination the people of Namibia will rebuff those gentlemen. 56. Mr. TALEB (Morocco) (interpretatiOl~ from Frellch)~ My delegation voted, as it was in duty-bound to do, in favour of all the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia to reaffmn its solidarity with and unreserved support for the people of Namibia in its struggle to ac- cede as soon as possible to its right to self-determination and independence. 57. Furthermore, my delegation was a sponsor of many of the draft resolutions. However, my delegation has some reservations regarding the wording of some of the para- 59. However, my delegation wishes formally to express its reservations on those paragraphs in which certain countries are singled out for condemnation, since we con- sider that such condemnation could be considered selec- tive and thus discriminatory. 60. Likewise we consider that the solution of the prob- lem of Namibia must be achieved primarily by peaceful means in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

My delegation wishes for the record to explain why we abstained in the vote on draft resolution N36/L.23/Rev.l. 62. It is a well-known fact that my country has vehe- mently and consistently supported the cause of Namibian independence. We have always advocated the complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of South Africa from Namibia, which would permit the people of Namibia to decide their future freely without any external influence or coercion. 63. In short, we hardly need to make a lengthy state- ment here on how vigorously we have championed the cause of the Namibian people. Thus, we share the main thrust and spirit of the resolution. However, I regret that my delegation had to abstain on the resolution because we faced some difficulty in supporting certain wording in the seventh preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 17 of that draft resolution. 64. Similarly, we should like' to inform the Assembly that, even though we voted in favour of draft resolution N36/L.27, we wish to record our reservations regarding the language used in the fifth preambular paragraph. ~ 65. Mrs. OSODE (Liberia): My delegation, in view of its moral obligation and duty to the country and people of Namibia, voted in favour of all the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia adopted yesterday. We shall con- tinue to subscribe to the thrust of these resolutions, but had a separate vote been taken on operative paragraph 17 of draft resolution N36/L.23/Rev.1 and the fifth pream- bular paragraph of draft resolution A/36/L.27, my delega- tion would have abstained. We would have done so with- out compromising the lofty principles enshrined in these resolutions. My delegation would have appreciated it if a firm but not antagonistic formulation of certain provisions had been adopted, in order not to suggest that States are in confrontation with one another inste~. of with South Africa. We must desist from the practice of arbitrariiy se- lecting countries for condemnation and exposure to the full blaze of publicity, while shielding others. All States have a moral duty and obligation to the country and peo- ple of Namibia, and in this connection we must not just vote favourably but must aiso implement these resolu- tions. . 66. As a member of the United Nations Council for Namibia and as a country that adheres to the principles of

The delegation of Costa Rica voted in favour of all except one of the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia. We very much regret that we had to abstain on draft resolution A/36/L.24, although we share the COnCeril of the international community about the failure of Member States to act in compliance with the mandates and the resolutions of the Organization, a failure to act and lack of results which have obviously made it more difficult to achieve the objective we all pur- sue, to see Namibia soon ft-ee, independent and demo- cratic and occupying its.proper place in the concert of sovereign nations. Costa Rica has always supported, with- out any exception, the struggle of the Namibian people for their independence and freedom, which is also the struggle of the United Nations, so that international order may be respected and complied with. 69. Nevertheless, for my delegation it would not have been responsible or consistent to vote for draft resolution A/36/L.24, because this draft requests all States to take a series of actions and measures which in various funda- mental aspects are not in accordance with the scale of values and principles which my country, like many other States Members of the Organization, maintains and which are fundamental for us, particularly bec~use they are di- rectly linked to the manner in which we see the commit- ments we have entered into ill accepting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international cove- nants on human rights, both of the United Nations and of the regional inter-Americ8Jl system. 70. We could not, without hypocrisy, participate with our vote in resolutions which imply for our country, as does draft resolution A/36/L.24, the obligation to impose on its own citizens sanctions and restrictions which our constitutional system and the covenants on human rights forbid. We accept and share the obligations imposed by the covenants on States and on official organizations, but we could not impose on Costa Ricans, or on private cit- izens of any country, restrictions and limitations such as those proposed in this draft resolution. Our conduct in the matter can and should go as far as is possible for the benefit of Namibia, but without violating our fundamental limitations or the higher principles which we ourselves have endorsed, human rights which should be respected for all human beings, without any exceptio~s or limita- tions, including the worst criminals. 71. In this sense it is important to recall that, in accord- ance with article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, p0- litical or other opinion, natiQnal or social origin, prop- erty, birth or other status. 72. Many of the operative paragraphs in draft resolution A/36/L.24 contain the implication that States must impose on their own citizens, on the citizens of South Africa and on the citizens of other countries limitations which, in our opinion, would be impossible to impose without violating these loftier principles. 73. furthermore, as regards draft resolution A/36/L.24 through L.28, Costa Rica voted in favour becau~ we share, as I said, the concern of the international commu- nity regarding the independence and sovereignty. of the people of Namibia. However, my delegation wishes to place on record certain reservations, since it does not completely agree with some of the paragraphs where the language does not have a proper balance. We have to make a general reservation about all those paragraphs which seek to single out and condemn certain States, be- cause we believe that singling out responsibilities will not lead to a positive solution of the problem and because in these resolutions this is obviously tendentious and partial. If we are going to mention countries which, violating United Nations recommendations, maintain economic re- lations, for example, with the South African regime, let us mention all of them, and then we can agree. Let us not mention only the countries of Western Europe and Ameri- can countries. Let us mention the African countries which, according to the latest report of the IMF, appear to be trading with South Africa in substantial sums, among them-I am going to say this, because it has to be said- ~dozambique, Kenya, Guinea, Angola, the Central Af- rican Republic, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia ~liJd Zaire. All of these countries traded with South Africa in the year 1980. So also did Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the Gennan Democratic Re- public, Hungary, Poland, the Soviet Union and Viet Nam, most of the countries of the American continent and many other countries of the third world, the list of which I have here. 74. We agree on mentioning the countri~s that are trad- ing with South Africa, and if my country, because it has a system of free trade which does not permit it to forbid its citizens to carry on such trade, appears on that list, then let my country be censured also. But either we cen- sure all or we censure none.

My delegation "Joted in favour of all the draft resolutions adopted under the ques- tion of Namibia. We did so because of our primary con- cern about the plight of the Namibian people and our de- termined a~herence to the principle of self-determination. 76. Since 1966, when the General Assembly terminat~d South Africa's Mandate over the Territory of Namibia (resolutioll 2145 (XXI)], it appears to my delegation that our determination to discharge our responsibilities with respect to the Territory until it achieves genuine self-deter- mination and independence has left much to be desired. This reality escapes no one. 77. Therefore it is the view of my delegati~n that we, ;is Members of the United Nations, cannot and must not al- low this Clbvious lack of resolve and action against South Africa to continue. It is therefore the hope of my delega- 79. As for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the Namibian people, they should always be remembered in the Assembly and outside it. It is especially in their name that we should focus our attention on this matter, and it is in their name that a speedy and just resolution gf- the question of the independence of Namibia, under the dynamic leadership of SWAPO must be achieved.

The delegation of the Soviet Union voted in favour of the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia and it entirely agrees with all the provisions contained in them. The Soviet delegation is in favour of the appeal to support the national liberation struggle of. the Namibian people under the leadership of SWAPO, the sole legitimate representative of the people of Namibia, contained in those resolutions. The Soviet delegation, also supports the provisions of resolutions condemning the actions of the Western Powers which in fact are aimed at stopping the liberation struggle of the people of Namibia. 81 . The General Assembly has rejected the manoeuvres of certain members of the group of five Western countries which are actually aimed at preventing the people of Namibia from benefiting from the successes they have at- . tained in their natiOI~al liberation struggle. At this stage the Soviet delegation will not refer in detail to the ma- noeuvres that have been undertaken by the group of five Western Powers, which include expanding co-operation with South Africa and contacts with the representatives of the puppet authorities in Namibia. 82. We wish merely to note that among these manoeu- vres are the spreading of slanderous fabrications in re- spect of the Soviet Union and other socialist States and particularly allegations to the effect that those States have trade relations with South Africa. Unfortunately, these manoeuvres have achieved certain results, insignificant 'hough they may be, as is borne out by th~ ~!~!em~m <:>f one delegation in the General Assembly which repeated the fabrications regarding the ostensible existence of trade between the socialist countries and South Africa. 83. The Soviet delegation, in that regard, would like once more to note and to affinn that no Soviet foreign trade organization has any direct or indirect trade links with finns and organizations of South Africa. We abide strictly by all our obligations in that regard. 84. As to the reference made here to data in the ·IMF trade yearbook indicating that trade supposedly takes

I call on the Acting President of the United Nations Council for Namibia. 86. Mr. KRISHNAN (India), Acting President, United Nations Council for Namibia: In the absence of Mr. Paul Lusaka, in my capacity as Acting President of the United Nations Council for N~mibia, I should like to make a short statement to thank those Member States which par- ticipated in the debate on the question of Namibia. I should also like to thank those which voted in favour of the resolutions on Namibia prepared !:,~-I the Council, thus expressing their solidarity with and support for th~ noble cause for which the Namibian people are fighting. 87. The participation of more than 80 representatives in the debate which has just concluded is certainly an indi- cation of the extreme concern of Member States with re- spect to the continued illegal occupation of Namibia in defiance of the United Nations resolutions on the question of Namibia. Most delegations have also emphasized the fact that South Africa's continued illegal occupation of Namibia has enabled it to launch repeated acts of aggres- sion against independent African States in the region, thus creating an even greater threat to international peace and security. 88. It follows, both from the resolutions which the Gen- eral Assembly has just adopted and from the statements by Member States, that the international community is well aware of the manoeuvres by South Africa and will not be deceived by them. 89. With regard to those countries which abstained in the vote on the resolutions, the Council wishes to believe that they too subscribe to the spirit and purpose of the resolutions, which are aimed at the early decolonization of Namibia. Differences in perception or approach cannot and should not deflect us from what, I am convinced, is our common objective of enabling the people of Namibia to exercise their inalienable right to self-detennination and independence. 9D. The resolutions which we adopted yesterday analyse the political situation pertaining to Namibia, call for ap- propriate action by Member States and give a mandate to the United Nations Council for Namibia to establish an extensive work programme. They also provide for in- creased action by intergovernmental and non-governmen- tal organizations, a wide-ranging programme of dis- semination of infonnation and an enlarged programme of assistance to Nami0ians through the United Nations Fund for Namibia. 91. Finally, the Council for Namibia will, in confonnity with its mandate, continue its efforts to mobilize world support for the legitimate struggle of the Namibian people for self-detennination, freedoJ}l and national independence in a united Namibia. Without doubt, the present resolu- tions, like those of previous years, will serve as guide- lines for the Council in perfonning its duties as the legal Administering Authority of Namibia until genuine inde- pendence is achieved.

I had intended to make this brief statement yes- terday, but could not do so for reasons well known to the Assembly. I am glad to be able to do so this morning. 94. My initial remarks are cast in the context of yester- day, 10 December, Human Rights Day, a day on which, in 1948, the United Nations adopted the famous Univer- sal Declaration of Human Rights. 95. Ironically, 10 December is a day of mourning and remembrance for the Namibian patriots: on this day in 1959 the trigger-happy Fascist police of racist South Af- rica killed more than 60 innocent Namibians and maimed and wounded scores of others in Windhoek, the capital city, during. a peaceful demonstration against the apart.heid system, bantustan policies and political repres- sion. As a tribute to the memory of those fallen comrades who sacrificed themselves for Namibia's emancipation, we in SWAPO have been commemorating this date for the past 22 years as Namibian Women's Day, honouring the women who played a leading role in that tragic en- counter, lest we forget the Windhoek massacre, which was to be followed 19 years later by the Kassinga mas- sacre of 4 May 1978, in which nearly 1,000 Namibian refugees, most of them women and children, were either killed, maimed or wounded in the People's Republic of Angola. 96. South Africa has never endorsed that Declaration or the subsequent conventions and protocols relative to it. 97. Yet today we see that Namibia's independence is being further delayed at the behest of that criminal re- gime, which, we are made to understand, is insisting on certain constitutional guarantees for the white minority in an independent Namibia. We reject the assumption that individual whites or the white community as a whole would somehow be victimized by a SWAPO government. The struggle has never been against individuals or popu- lation groups, but again~t the system. It is strange, in- deed, that a terrorist, undemocratic, Fascist, totalitarian State such as the apartheid Republic of South Africa should demand of others what the overwhelming majority of its own citizens are denied by law and the Constitution in South Africa. In any case, what about protection and guarantees for the African majority in Namibia, who con- tinue to be victimized? What about their rights and inter- ests? It is in their name and on their behalf that SWAPO is waging the heroic struggle to liberate our beleaguered but beloved fatherland. 98. We can only remain hopeful that, with unn.served support and assistance from the wider international com- munity, the Namibian people will soon be abl~ to achieve genuine self-determination, liberation and the full enjoy- ment in an independent Namibia of its human, political, social and economic rights, as embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 99. May I now say a few words about the business at hand. The weeks following the conclusion of the debate on the question of Namibia have been eventful and signif- icant, to the point of being crucial. Southern Africa has continued to be subjected to aggression by the racist Pre- toria regime and its deadly machinery of State terrorism, 100. True to type, several years ago the Pretoria racists enacted an imperialist law arrogating to themselves the right to attack militarily any African country south. of the Equator. It was on that basis that the Republic of Seychelles recently fell victim to a -South African- hatched, inspired and financed mercenary invasion which resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property. The mercenaries returned whence they came and were promptly released. Those who sent them in the first place, rather than put them on trial, cynically asked "What law did they break in South Africa?" and pro- claimed them innocent, in accordance with the racist laws. So much for the rule of law in apartheid South Africa. 101. The racist Boers must be condemned, punished and further isolated. The African countries concerned must be supported in concrete and. practical ways to strengthen their defence capabilities against these criminal outlaws. 102. Since the collapse of the Geneva meeting in Janu- ary, a number of bold and concrete actions have been taken by the international community in respect of Namibia. We are most gratified by those actions. It is true that Namibia's independence is still far off, but we know that is so owing to the intransigence of the illegal occ::upiers of our country who are encouraged by a lack of meaningful pressure from the five Western countries. During our initial statement last month on the question of Namibia (64th meeting] we stressed how important to us are the statements made in favour of our sacred cause. Together with the resolutions adopted, those expressions of solidarity reassure and inspire our people to continue with the struggle in the full knowledge that the over- whelming majority of the countries and peoples the world over sup~C)rt them and that, therefore, they are not alone in their ~u"Uggle. 103. We have come a long way from the lonely days when we stood alone. We clearly iemember those difficult years when all the Western countries, and others, used to vote against or abstain in the vote on all resolutions on Namibia which then, as now, were intended only to strengthen the efforts of the Namibian people themselves to end South Africa's colonial, iilegal and racist domina- tion over our country. During those years we encountered numerous representatives and spokespersons from the ma- jor trading partners of apartheid South Africa. 104. We have seen administrations come and go and we have seen changes of governments, each espousing certain new initiatives or presenting modified argurpents in order to justify its pro-South African policies or to rationalize why it would not support the oppressed peoples freeing themselves. Thus, we are all too familiar with their flip-- pant excuses, broken promises and betrayed trust. What 105. We have always maintained that, had it not been for Western support and collaboration, the combined pres- sure of the national liberation movements and the world community would have long brought the Pretoria racists to their knees; they would have been forced to change their ways and accept Namibia's independence and the eradication of the apartheid system. But certain powerful countries which have no hesitation whatsoever in taking unilateral punitive measures against certain countries or in calling for them from the United Nations, including through the General Assembly, have persistently refused to support enforcement measures against South Africa un- der Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations-a situation in which the international community long ago reached the consensus that what is called for now is ac- tion, not more empty statements and promises. 106. We see double standards. We know that their com- mitments to mineral rights take precedence over human rights and freedom. 107. Those who profess opposition to armed struggle must also show the courage of their convictions and con- demn the massive militarization of Namibia and the re- pression and terrorism carried out against our people. It is that situation which gave birth to SWAPO in the first place and to the launching of the armed struggle. 108. Moreover, as soon as the Pretoria regime agrees to and signs a cease-fire agreement with SWAPO and co- operates in the emplacement of UNTAG in Namibia, there will be no need in that new situation to talk about SWAPO as the sole authentic representative of the Namib- ian people. But unless and until that situation occurs we expect the international community to continue providing concrete and practical assistance to enable SWAPO to in- tensify the struggle. 109. On the other hand, we see that for the past five years resolutions on· Namibia have not received a single negative vote. That is progress on the diplomatic front. The Nordic countries have been most generous in their support inside and outside the United Nations. We under- stand the difficulties that some of them find in terms of certain formulations in the resolutions on Namibia, but they have shifted away from their previous positions. We are most grateful to them. In this connection, we note also with satisfaction the declaration of intent of the new France to support the peoples of southern Africa in their fight to realize their stated objectives. It is our hope that in the not-too-distant future that declaration of intent will be transformed into concrete policies and actions. We ~ave every reason to believe that the situation is bound to Improve. 110. In conclusion, we thank all the countries which once again voted in favour of the resolutions, thus renew- ing their commitment to expedite Namibia's liberation and national independence. To some of those which abstained, 118. Guinea-Bissau remains faithful to the principles of we leave it to their own conscience but wonder whether non-alignment and supports liberation movements, partic- they may not be undecided in a situation very similar to ularly that of the people of Namibia. that in Nazi Germany-as far as the African majority is concerned-against which they rose up in opposition and 119. Mr. SCHLEICHER (Geman Democratic Republic): exhorted many of us to join them in a war to end" Nazi I want to reject vigorously the completely unfounded alle- f~~:~i::~n_overfue~o:. ~_:~ns~:~e:the representative ofacertain delega~l: 112. In that regard, we appeal to all the States Members of the United Nations to continue to render all support and co-operation to the United Nations Council for Namibia, in order to enable it to implement the mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly until the time when genuine independence is achieved in our country. We hope that 1982 will be the year of Namibia's indepen- dence, but should the South Africa racists continue to persist in their illegal occupation, we have no alternative but to intensify the armed struggle. We hope that our friends, and even those who are undecided today, will next year be able to support the just cause of the Namib- ian people and the legitimate struggle that SWAPO is leading in our country. 113. I send season's greetings and wishes of goodwill to all.

I shall now call on those repre- sentatives who wish to speak in exercise of their right of reply.

In his explanation of vote, the representative of Costa Rica named my country, the Revolutionary People's Re- public of Guinea, among those countries that have trade and other relations with the racist regime of South Africa. I should like to draw the attention of the delegation of Costa Rica to the fact that my country, independent since 1958, was one of the founding members of the Special Committee against Apartheid and was honoured for many years to presid~ over that body, to the satisfaction of the liberation movements of southern Africa and of the inter- national community. 116. Faithful to its well-known revolutionary choices, Guinea has always made a tangible contribution to the liberation movements. In this connection, we would like the delegation of Costa Rica to inform us of the source of its information with regard to those purported relations Guinea maintains with South Africa..

In explaining his vote, the representative of Costa Rica mentioned my country, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, as maintaining trade and other relations with racist South Africa. I should like to remind the rep- resentative of Costa Rica that my country, which wrested its independence after long years of struggle, has never had any such relations with a regime that has been con- demned by international opinion, namely, racist South Af- rica. My country's political position is that of non-align- ment. Loyal to that tradition, we have contributed, in so far as we have been able, to the liberation of countries still under foreign colonial domination. 120;. T~e Gennan Democra~ic Republic's principled POSltl0!l IS very clear and has Just been stated again be- fo~ thiS bodr. The Gennan Democratic Republic is proud of It~ ~ommltment to the support of the struggle of the Namlbl8:n. people under the leadership of SWAPO, its sole and legitimate representative. The aforementioned alle- gations are so absurd that I need add nothing more.

It is well known to everyone that the Vietnamese fought heroically for dec- ades for their independence, against colonialism neo- colo~ialis~ and imperialism. In that struggle, Viet Nam alw~ys enjoyed the sympathy and support of national lib- ~ratlon moveme~ts and of all other peace-loving peoples m the world. Vlet Nam always stands at the side of peo- ple who are struggling for their national liberation, their mdependence and their right to self-detennination includ- ing the struggle against apartheid and racism being waged ~y the Namibian .people and the people of southern Af- nca. Tha~ stand IS ~learly demonstrated by Viet Nam's sponsorship of all SIX of the draft resolutions that were adopted yesterday by an overwhelming majority. No one, we are. sure, can believe the recent gross and slanderous alle~atlon made by the representative of Costa Rica con- cemmg my country's trade with South Africa, which con- tained not one single piece of evidence or fact. We cate- gorically reject those allegations made by the represen- tative of Costa Rica. 122. Mr. PIZA-ESCALANTE: (Costa Rica) (interpreta- tion from Spanish): I feel obliged to give some clarifica- tion which is, in my opinion, a matter of great impor- tance. 1?3. First of all, in my explanation of vote, at no time ~I~ I sa~ that the countries that I mentioned did not par- tlcltJate m the ~trugg.1e of. ~e international community agamst th~ raCism, Impenahsm and apartheid of the South ~~ncan Government: I confined myself to stating the position of my delegatIOn, namely, that if we are to !lame nam~s and single ?ut countries because they engage m trade With South Afnca, then we must do so in each and every case. 124. Secondly, I mentioned a specific document, a 19~1 IMF .yearbook, Direction of Trade Statistics, in which a ser.les of countri.es is listed with specific figures for ~rade With South Afnca, whether imports or exports. ~n Imporyant fact to be pointed out is that, in the data mcluded m that document relating to South Africa, no mention is made of individual African countries because they ~ included in a single, overall figure: n~r of the countnes of Eastern Europe. In the infonnation assumed ~o ~av~ been gi~en by South Africa there are no figures mdlcatm~ that elthe~ the countries of Eastern Europe or other Afncan countnes have had trade with South Africa. Where the figures appear is ~n the data for each country. 125. I took care to examine this IMF yearbook country 133. Undoubtedly, the allegations were yet another by country. It is strange that it is not in the report on futile attempt to discredit, through false recriminations, a South Africa but in the report on each country that the group of States which are among the main and staunchest Ii~n.worth of goods from South Africa and exporting $13 mdhon worth to that country. Kenya appears, with an in- significant export figure of $0.1 million-that is, $100,000. Guinea appears, also with an insignificant im- port figure of $10,000. Angola appears, with an import figure of about $170 million and an export figure of ap- . proximately $33 million. The Central African Republic appears, importing $100,000 worth and exporting $400,000 worth. Congo appears, importing $1,340,000 worth and exporting $2,330,000 worth. 127. Here I must clarify matters. Guinea-Bissau appears in the list until 1978, but does not appear in 1980. Ma- lawi appears, importing $176 million worth and exporting almost $11 million worth. Mauritius appears, importing some $94 million worth and exporting $3 million worth. Zambia appears, with an import figure of $35 million and an export figure of $3 million, and Zaire appears, import- ing about $167 million worth. with no cxports. 128. I did not claim that any of those countries were ~ro~ecting So~th Afri~a's poli~y of apartheid or its impe- nallsm or racism. I Simply pomted out that they imported goods from South Africa or exported to that country, ac- cording to the data given by the IMF. I have given the year of publication. 129. I turn to the countries of Eastern Europe. Romania appeared until 1978, but not in 1980. The others that I ha,:e mentioned all appear in the report for each country as Importing from South Africa, exporting to it, or both. There also appear most of the countries of America, in- cluding my own. Costa Rica is listed as exporting $100,000 worth of goods to South Africa in 1980. Al- most all the countries of ";\r~stern Europe are listed, as well as countries from other regions of the world, which I shall also ~~!ltion. On the basis of the data in the report, they are FIJI, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, B.anglade~h, Bunna, ~an, Korea, L:banon, the Philip- pmes, Sn Lanka, Thal1and, the MaldlVes and the United Arab Emirates. 130. Those 3l--e the countries which appear in the IMF report, not on the basis of data supplied by South Africa, because, I repeat, the data supplied by South Africa do not identify the African countries and give no figures for the countries of Eastern Europe. 1.31. ~1r. YOSSIPHOV .(Bulgaria): D~ring the explan.a- tlOn of vote on agenda Item 36 certam comments were made about the alleged existence of trade relations be- tween Bulgaria and other Socialist countries on the one hand and South Africa on the other. My delegation wishes to reject strongly these false allegations, these lies, and to reiterate that, as is well known, no organization in Bul- garia maintains any direct or indirect trade links with the racist regime in South Africa. 132. My country has been, is and will be committed to lending full support to the people of Namibia in its just struggle for national liberation, under the leadership of its sole and authentic representative, SWAPO.

My delegation had thought that this meeting was for explanations of vote on the draft resolutions relating to the question of Namibia adopted yesterday. Unfortunately, the representative of Costa Rica had indulged this morning in a debate on the problem, citing some countries, including my own, which, accord- ing to him-he bears full responsibility for this-sup- posedly have trade relations with South Africa. 136. The representative of Costa Rica does not know what has been happening in my country since 1979. As his delegation is a member of the United Nations Council for Namibia, why did he not ask that all countries which have relations with South Africa be mentioned in the rele- vant draft resolution'? Can he tell us the exact number of countries which engage in trade with South Africa'? 137. My delegation can only categorically reject the false allegations of Costa Rica.

The Soviet delega- tion has already had an opportunity to refer to the ques- tion raised by the representative of Costa Rica-the alleged existence of trade between the Soviet Union and other socialist countries on the one hand and South Africa on the other. I have nothing to add, apart from the fact that the figures that he gave and repeated are taken from data of IMF, the very organization which only a few days ag~ was condemned by the General Assembly for its col- laboration with South Africa. We must be very cautious about the information about South Africa in various pub- lications of that organization, since they are in keeping with the line of co-operation with South Africa pursued by the leadership and influential circles of that organiza- tion. 139. I should like to refer to the last statement made by the representative of Costa Rica and ask what aim he was pursuing in this final stage of examining the question of Namibia, by submitting obviously falsified data which should not have been given here at all, for the reasons that I have indicated. 140. The representative of Costa Rica said that he does not allege that the countries he mentioned defend apartheid. Well, thank God, he has not quite reached that stage yet. But his statement really sounded like a defenc,e of apartheid and of the protection that is given by West- ern Powers to that regime, and it really was unseemly of him. 141. I should like once again to emphasize that the es- sence of the problem of economic collaboration with South Africa is first and foremost that the entire economic system of South Africa is built on close ties with the mo- nopolies of the Western Powers, and first and foremost those Powers that are members of the so-called group of 143. The Soviet delegation can only express its pro- found regret that the representative of Costa Rica has be- come embroiled in this unseemly task. 144. Mr. TSHAMALA N'JILAMULE (Zaire) (inter- pretation from French): After what has been said, my del- egation would like to reject the insinuations of the repre- sentative of Costa Rica. My delegation considers those insinuations to be manoeuvres whose sole purpose is to lessen the impact of the resolutions which the General Assembly has adopted. 145. As regards specific action to change the situation in southern Africa, I should like to remind the represen- tative of Costa Rica that the Constitution of Zaire is the only one containing a precise provision concerning the surrender of a part of national sovereignty in case of com- mon action undertaken against southern Africa.

In his explanation of vote the representative of Costa Rica cited my country among those that allegedly have trade relations with South Africa. I should like to remind members that we categorically reject those false statements and repeat that we' have never had relations with South Africa.

My delegation rejects ~ll the unfounded information pro- vided by the representative of Costa Rica. My country, the Revolutionary People's Republic of Guinea, remains faithful to its anti-imperialist struggle and could in no way or in any form maintain trade or other relations with a regime against which it has always fought. 148. We should like the representative of Costa Rica to look carefully at his documents, since at the present time there is more than one Guinea, but my country has never had and could never have relations with the abject regime of South Africa. 149. My delegation reserves the right to speak again, if necessary, after the clarification which the representative of Costa Rica will be making.

The information given by the representative of Costa Rica, which he claims comes from the so-<.;alled IMF yearbook seems rather far-fetched to us because in his second statement the representative of Costa Rica mentioned the name of my country. Everyone knows that my country isa land- locked country-I stress "Iand-locked"-and has been 151. Mr. PafOCKI (Poland): With respect to the alle- gations made by the representative of Costa Rica that Po- land maintains trade relations with South Africa, my dele- gation wishes to reject resolutely those unfounded allegations which are aimed at diverting the attention of the Assembly from the substantive topic of the discus- sions. 152. Mr. KALlNA <Czechoslovakia) (ill1erprellltion from Russian): As already said by the representative of Czechoslovakia in his statement on the question of Namibia 167th meetingl, my country severed diplomatic and other relations with the racist regime of South Africa in 1963. As regards the allegations made by the represen- tative of Costa Rica, my delegation very much regrets that he has been fooled by United States propaganda.

I have asked to speak in order categorically to reject the allegations we heard this morning in a statement of the representative of Costa Rica. 154. I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to assure all present here that the policy of the Hungarian People's Republic with regard to the South African apartheid regime is in full conformity with the relevant United Nations resolutions.

On behalf of my delegation, I should like to re- ject the allegations made by the representative of Costa Rica regarding the relations that my country allegedly maintains with the racist apartheid regime of South Af- rica. 156. We do not accept these allegations. Romania, as we have repeatedly stated, maintains no relations, trade or otherwise, with South Africa. Romania's position of sup- port for the liberation struggle of Namibia as well as for the struggle of the majority of the South African popula- tion for its national and social emancipation is well known.

We regret very much that an attempt was m~de this morning to make a plaything of the question of Namibia. For us this is a very important matter and it is not a mudslinging match. 158. When we address ourselves to the question of those who strengthen or lend succour to apartheid, we are thinking of figure~ of the order of millions and billions, and I do not think it is of any profit to the Organization to wish to score points over this important issue. 159. I wish to emphasize that the question of Namibia is of cardinal importance for African States in the Organ- ization. and I hope that in the future no attempt will be n~ade to disparage it 0' to relegate it to the level of a circus.

I have just checked with our mission and found that in the IMF yearbook, Direction of Trade Statistics, for 1981 there is no mention of Bangladesh on the page for South Africa. However, I 161. I think the yearbook and the basis for it are un- founded, and I wish to reaffirm that we in Bangladesh do not have any links with South Africa, whether in eco- nomic, cultural, trade or any other form.

When draft resolution 11 was adopted by the Sixth Committee my delegation was unavoidably absent. I therefore wish to take this oppor- tunity to place on record my delegation's position on this draft resolution. 170. First of all I would say that we have some reserva- tions about operative paragraph 1 of that draft resolution. Our reservations relate not to its aim and its objective but to its fonnulation. For example, we believe that the use of the word "abuse" in that paragraph and in sub- paragraph (c) thereof is very subjective. Nevertheless, while we have reservations about the language of the paragraph, we are fully sympathetic to its aim. 171. May I say at once that my delegation accepts that the existence of the veto is a fundamental condition of the. viable existence of the United Nations. This draft resolu- tion, as we understand it, does not question the existence of the veto as an institution of the Council: it seeks to call into question the manner ill which it has been used over the years. I believe that the use of the veto is germane to any serious consideration of the Charter of the United Na- tions and the strengthening of the role of the Organization and I venture to say that there must be a few delegations in the Organization that, in its thirty-sixth year, are satis- fied, given the extent to which the intensity of the use of the veto has impeded the attainment of essential objec- tives of the Charter of the United Nations, including those referred to in the preambular part of the draft resolution. , 172. It is because the permanent members have ex- clusive use of this institution and because we think that at this point in the history of the Organization we need to take stock of the use of the veto, that we believe in good conscience that we should support this draft resolution. We have the best of relations with all the permanent members, but we ought to indicate to them the extent to which we feel that the extensive use of the veto has im- peded the achievement by the Organization of some·of its essential objectives. To the extent that this draft resolution 174. We were, however, greatly dismayed that the Sixth Committee, despite appeals, including one by my own delegation, proceeded to adopt a second draft resolution on this selfsame subject. That draft resolution was carried by the narrowest of margins in the Sixth Committee-by a single vote-with a very large number of abstentions. We regarded this second, controversial draft resolution, draft resolution 11, as both biased and unnecessary. It tends towards confrontation in the Special Committee, something which my delegation is most anxious to avoid. 175. My delegation wishes to co-operate fully with the Special Committee in discharging its important tasks, but we cannot accept the underlying concept or the approach or the wording of draft resolution 11, put forward by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. 176. This morning we are in the position of considering first draft resolution I and only later coming to consider draft" resolution H. In these circumstances, my delegation, to its regret, finds itself unable to do other than reserve its position fully on the question of the mandate of the Spe- cial Committee. Common prudence alone dictates this course of action. While uncertainty remains over the fate of draft resolution II we are -unable to' maintain the gener- ally positive stance we have, previously adopted towards draft resolution I. Were the Assembly to adopt both the draft resolutions before it this morning, (hat is to say, draft resolution I and that put forward by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the United Kingdom would have to reassess its position generally in regard to this work. My delega- tion wishes to make it very clear, however, that, if draft resolution II were not to be adopted by the Assembly, the reservation which I have just expressed would be lifted immediately. My delegation would then proceed as if draft resolution II had never been adopted in the Sixth Committee. In other words, we should be willing to co- operate in the work of the Special Committee next year on just the same basis as we co-operated earlier this year. While at this moment we feel impelled to reserve the United Kingdom's position by changing our vote on draft resolution I, allow me at the same time to express the hope that the Assembly will not adopt draft resolution II.

My delegation will abstain in the vote on draft resolution 11. It is the considered opin- ion of my delegation that the thrust of that draft resolu- tion has been taken care of by operative paragraph 4 (1I) of draft resolution I.

We shall now take a decision on draft resolution I. The administrative and financial im- plications of that draft resolution are dealt with in docu- ment A/36/817. A recorded vote has been requested. Against: Afghanistan. Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Czechoslovakia. France. German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Poland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. United States of America. Viet Nam. Abstaining: Central African Republic, Cuba, Seychelles.

I shall now call on those delp • gations that wish to explain their vote.

The United States delegation voted in favour of this draft resolution in Committee. We did so because we believed the text contained an objective mandate which should per- mit the Special Committee to get on with its sensitive and important tas15 in an objective manner. Unfortunately, the Sixth Committee chose to ad~pt an additional, wholly un- necessary draft resolution on the same subject. Draft res- olution 11 is unnecessary in that it deals exclusively with issues already .before the Special Committee. It is un- acceptable because it is an attempt to prejudice the man- dateofUic··Special Committee. In the light of this devel- opment, we have been forced to reassess our attitude towards the exercise. That reassessment includes our de- cision that, unfortunately, we can no longer vote in favour of the instant draft resolution but must rather vote against it. Of course, if draft resolution °11 were not adopted by this plenary meeting, we should be pleased to revert to the positive attitude we recorded in our state- ments and vote in the Sixth Committee. 18l. Mr. PIRIS (France) (interpretation from French): The French delegation abstained in the vote in the Sixth Committee on draft resolution I, which renews the man- date of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. 183. However, we should like to make it clear that if, as we hope, draft resolution 11 is rejected by the General Assembly, this change of vote will be unnecessary. There- fore, if this happens, the delegation of France will be pre- pared to co-operate actively with the Special Committee at its next session.

We come now to draft resolu- tion 11 recommended by the Sixth Committee in its re- port. 185. I call on the representative of Finland on a point of order.

I rise on a point of order in connection with draft resolution 11 recommended in the report of the Sixth Committee. The purpose of my point of order is that the Assembly not vote on that draft resolution. The reasons for my delegation's proposing this are as follows. 187. First, Finland shares with the overwhelming major- ity of the General Assembly an interest in the orderly and constructive continuation of the work of the Special Com- mittee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. For the first four years Finland had the honour of providing the Chairman for that Committee. 188. Secondly, all members of the Committee and in fact all the States Members of the Organization have re- garded the work of the Special Committee as useful. It has covered a wide variety of questions concerning the Charter and the strengthening of the role of the United Nations. The Committee has made considerable progress in fulfilling some of the central tasks of its mandate, par- ticularly on the question of the peaceful settlement of in- ternational disputes. So far the General Assembly has been able to agree on the continuance of the mandat~ of the Special Committee concerning proposals the aim of which is to strengthen the role of the United Nations. Throughout its work the Special Committee has also ad- hered to its basic mandate as set forth in resolution "351I64, which enjoins the Committee "to examine pro- posals which have been made or will be made in the Committee with a view to according priority to the con- sideration of those areas on which general agreement is possible". 189. Thirdly, it is obvious that, to be productive, the Special Committee must continue its work on that basis. Issues which are deeply divisive cannot contribute to the achievement of that aim. Draft resolution 11 has caused sharp controversy, to the extent that the overwhelming majority of the Sixth Committee was unable to support it. In fact in the Committee that draft resolution was adopted. by the narrowest possible margin, with 34 delegations 190. It is our view that the adoption of this draft resolu- tion not only would be in contradiction of the basic man- date of the Special Committee to which I have referred but would also jeopardize the whole of its work. We do not believe this to be the wish of the General Assembly. 191. In these circumstances. and in view of the over- whelming desire that the Special Committee continue to make its full contribution to the strengthening of the role of the Organization, it is clearly advisable that draft reso- lution 11 should not be pressed to a vote, and I make a formal motion to that effect.

A similar proposal was submitted two years ago by the delegation of Finland with regard to a draft resolution that was submitted by Guinea and my country concerning the review of the right of veto. 193. The argument on which the proposal was based at that time was that it amounted to reviewing the veto in general and finding a replacement for it, that it was not possible to do so in the light of the existing international circumstances and that certain countries had not really had enough time to study that proposal. Consequently the proposal by Finland two years ago was adopted by a cer- tain number of countries for the aforementioned reasons. 194. Today, after two years, we, together with Mauritania. have submitted a draft resolution that calls for reviewing the abuse of the right of veto, especi~IJy concerning issues relating to the inalienable rights of the peoples struggling against racism, including apartheid, and other forms of domination and"occupation. That text . was prepared and submitted on the basis of what was expressed in the statements of the majority of the Mem- ber States in the Sixth Committee. These statements af- flIlited, at the very least, the following: first, the exist- ence of certain cases where the right of veto was misused, especially relating to issues concerning the in- alienable rights of the peoples struggling against all forms of racism and against foreign occupation and foreign domination; secondly, the desire to strengthen the role of the OrganizatiQn, especially the Security Council, and to render it more "effective and more positive as regards the maintenance of international peace and security and the settlement of chronic and complicated crises. 195. We have affirmed and emphasized, in formulating the draft resolution, ideas and proposals submitted by the group of African States, as well as by the group of non- aligned countries as a whole, at two meetings that were held especially for that purpose before its adoption by the Sixth Committee. L~Q._. _Experience and previous practice have shown ttfat the abuse of the right of veto has obstructed in many cases the process of protecting the maintenance of inter- national peace and security. Consequently, this has weak- \ ened the power of the United Nations and especially the . S~curity Council to deal with chronic and complicated CrIses. 198. That resolution was adopted by the General As- sembly by a majority of 129 votes. with only 4 coun- tries-the United States of America. the United King- dom, France and Israel-opposing it. Of course. if South Africa had had the right to vote, it would have voted against that resolution, and if it now had the right to veto draft resolution 11, it would vote against it too, together with its sister-country, Israel. Of course, those two racist regimes are the first to reject opposition to abuse of the veto because they are the first to benefit from such abuse. 199. Unfortunately, the veto is used mostly by some of the permanent members of the Council to protect the in- terests of those two regimes and to obstruct the imple- m~ntation of sanctions against them. Consequently. to support the proposal by the representative of Finland is actually to vote against this draft resolution, which pro- vides that there shall be an examination of the abuse of the right of veto in matters relating to the inalienable rights of people struggling against racism. including apartheid. and all other forms of foreign domination and occupation. 200. In spite of the procedural form of Finland's mo- tion, to vote on it is tantamount to our voting on the substance and content of the draft resolution. Whoever thereby votes against the draft resolution, whether on sub- stantive or procedural grounds, is, irrespective of the ar- guments that are adduced to convince himself or" to con- vince others, actually supporting, be it directly or indirectly, those cases where the right of veto is abused, especially when it comes to the inalienable rights of peo- ples struggling against racism, apartheid. foreign domina- tion and occupation. 20 I. Some countries have threatened to withdraw from the Special Committee if the draft resolution concerning examination of the abuse of the right of veto is adopted. ,We consider this threat an attempt to coerce certain coun- tries to change their stance. The four permanent mem- bers-that is, all but China-that support this are the first to benefit by maintenance of the Special Committee in its present form, because termination of its mandate would mean, of course, opening the way for an interna- tional conference to review the Charter. The permanent members of the Council know that; consequently, they prefer to maintain the Special Committee in its present form so that it will be unable to take any positive action. This is clear from the opposition of those States to an examination of the functions of the Security Council. In addition, they also oppose giving the Special Committee a mandate to make recommendations. Those two posi- tions clarify the intention and desire of those States to see thar the Special Committee merely '"egetates. 202. Therefore, we would appeal to Member States to support the principle by voting for the draft resolution and against the Finnish motion.

On this question my delegation would like to say that we are fully aware of the historic~l circumstances and desiderata surrounding the adoption of Article 27 of the Charter, particularly its 204. It will be recalled that, this year alone, some per- manent members of the Security Council cast a triple veto against a series of draft resolutions calling for comprehen- sive sanctions against South Africa for its illegal occupa- tion of Namibia. It will also be recalled that, again in August of this year, South Africa, after launching a mas- sive act of aggression against Angola, was not even punished by the Security Council, the organ responsible for the maintem:.•. ~~ of iQternational peace and security. Even a draft resolution calling for the withdrawal of South African troops from Angola was vetoed in the Se- curity Council. 205. It was therefore obvious that the draft resolution sponsored by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Mauritania and adopted by the Sixth Committee would eventually come before the Assembly for consideration as to how the veto was being used in the Security Council. So we fully appreciate the position taken by those two delega- tions, and in fact we voted in favour of their draft resolu- tion in the Sixth Committee. 206. But, in the light of the developments which have taken place here and of the statement made by the repre- sentative of Finland, we hope that the members of the Security Council, particularly its permanent members, will have been put on notice that such use of the veto will no longer be accepted with equanimity. Therefore, I hope the Assembly will agree that we must reserve the right to raise this issue in the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, in conformity with para- graph 4 of the resolution just adopted. It will be recalled that subparagraph (a) of that paragaraph asks the Special Committee to· consider the fupctioning of the Security Council. 207. I want to believe that. -in the interest of maintain- ing equanimity and productivity in the Special Committee we can, in that Committee, look into that paragraph on the use of the veto. But. again. most importantly, as I have said. we reserve the right. if the veto continues to be used contrary to the principles and purposes of the Char- ter in the future. to bring up the matter again in the As- sembly. 208. I hope that the explanation we have just given will suffice to enable us to move forward and consider the matter further in the Special Committee.

Representatives have heard the motion by the repre~;;iltative of Finland that the General

The General Assembly will now turn its attention to draft resolution III recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 16 of its report. The Sixth Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I t~ke it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? NOTES I D.t1icial Records (!r IIr£' G£'I/£'ml Assell/bly. Tlrirl.":rO/lrllr S£'ssiol/. 5/11'1'1£'11/£'1/1 No. 33. para. 13. ~ The delegations of Malawi and Singapore subsequently informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour of thc dmft resolution. , The delegations of Burundi and Guyana subsequently infonncd the Secretariat that they had intended to vote against the motion.