A/37/PV.113 General Assembly

The representative of Uganda, Mr. Olara Otunnu, has informed me of the results of the informal consultations I requested him to under- take on this agenda item. I understand that it is the wish of delegations that the item be kept open in order to allow for the continuation of informal consultations, under the chairmanship of Mr. Otunnu, after the suspension of the session. I understand also that dele- gations wish to pursue these consultations on an urgent basis, in order to make possible an assessment of the situation by the end ofJanuary 1983. I therefore propose to the Assembly that agenda item 38 be kept open -and that the Assembly reconvene on short notice.to consider any decisions or arrangements that might emerge from the consultations.• It was so decided (decision 37/438). 2. The PRESIDENT: I should like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Olara Otunnu for his devoted work on this subject. I trust that delegations will con- tinue to support his efforts. 3. I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak on this agenda item. 4. Mr. SOBHAN (Bangladesh): I have the honour, on behalf of the Group of 77, to address this plenary meeting on agenda item 38, regarding the launching of global negotiations on international economic co- operation for development. 5. At the outset, I should like to convey to you, Mr. President, the-very deep appreciation ofthe Group of 77 for your commendable efforts and exemplary devotion in the discharge of the onerous responsibility of guiding the work of the·Assembly. We are particu- larly appreciative ofyour initiative and continued inter- est in regard to bringing about the launching of global negotiations. We are also very thankful to Mr. Otunnu, of Uganda, a Vice-President of the Assembly, for his perseverance, skill and wisdom in carrying out con- sultations on this subject on your behalf over the past two months. 6. Three years have gone by since the Assembly, in recognition of the seriousness of the world economic situation, decided to begin negotiations on the launching ofglobal negotiations as a matter ofurgency. It is a matter of deep concern indeed that, after three regular sessions and one special session ofthe General Assembly, we have still not succeeded in launching 1921 A/37/PV.I13 NEW YORK those negotiations. Our disappointment and anguish are all the greater since, during the past three years, the state of the world economy has deteriorated to a point at which world economic stability has been seri- ously threatened. The developing countries have been the hardest hit by this relentless crisis, which has set in motion a downward spiral. Economic development in the South has come to a grinding halt. Indeed, many developing countries are experiencing negative growth rates for the first time. Foreign Ministers from the developed and the developing countries alike have vividly described, in the course of the deliberations in this very Assembly, the precarious nature of the world economy. We had been promised until recently that some kind of recovery was around the corner; yet this recovery has remained elusive. In the meantime, things have got a lot worse. And things will get even worse unless we muster the political will to take concerted action to reverse this trend and take concrete steps collectively in the reactivation of the world economy. 7. We have always emphasized, in all formal and in- formal consultations,·and negotiations, our continuing commitment both to global negotiations and to their early launching. On behalfofthe Group of77, I should like to reiterate here our unswerving dedication to the effective launching ofglobal negotiations, by means of a conference, open to all States, which in essence will take an integrated, consistent and· co-ordinated approach to problems. The initial stage 'of the con- ference would focus on the establishment of the procedures and the agenda and a time-frame for the negotiations. 8. There is today universal recognition of the fact that the present world economic crisis can no longer be resolved through patchwork solutions for selected problems in selected areas. We have all recognized, on the one hand, the clearlinkage among the various global economic; problems and, on the other,.that these prob- lems should be solved collectively, since we are all affected and must consequenHy work out the answers to these problems together. There now exists nearly unanimous support from our partners in the indus- trialized world for the launching ofglobal negotiations as a matter of priority. We highly value this positive attitude, for it reflects a growing awareness about the phenomenon of increasing global interdependence and about the ever-important role of the developing coun- tries as partners in development and, above all, a logical acceptance of the need for global solutions to global problems. The Ministers for Foreign Affuirs of the Group of77, in their declaration of8 October 1982 [A/37/544. annex I], gave a positive evaluation to this development. 9. Throughout the informal consultations which Mr. Otunnu undertook on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, as indeed on earlier occasions, 10. The Group of 77 firmly believes that the current international economic situation underscores more than ever before the urgent need for the immediate launching of global negotiations-global negotiations that are meaningful, that will provide the international community with the opportunity to tackle the global economic crisis, which is a crisis without parallel, and that will provide us with an opportunity to negotiate solutions to the collective benefit of the ent~re inter- national community. We therefore endorse the con- tinuing efforts of Mr. Otunnu, on the President's behalf, to break the present impasse. We should like to assure the President that the Group of77 will continue to extend all possible co-operation to Mr. Otunnu in this difficult task. We believe that both the importance and the urgency ofthis mission demand a cleardemon- stration by some of our partners of the political will to negotiate. We should, however, like to stress that the continuation of these consultations should be limited to a short period of time. Neither the Group of 77 nor the international community as a whole can afford to wait indefinitely.

I am authorized to make the following state- ment on behalf of the delegations of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Hungarian People's Republic, the Mongolian People's Rt:public, the Polish People's Republic, the Ukrainian 13. The socialist countries have taken an active part in the process of the elaboration at the United Nations ofnew political approaches to the solution ofproblems of economic relations. between States on the basis of the principles of equality and democracy. We have supported the progressive trend in such fundamental documents as the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States and the Declaration on the 'Establish- ment of a New International Economic Order, re- garding them as the basis ofall the activity ofthe United Nations for the establishment o( ajust and democratic economic order. 14. Such an order is essential from the point of view of the developing countries, and its establishment would also be in' the interests of the socialist coun- tries. A logical extension of this position of the social- ist countries was their support for General Assembly resolution 34/138, on global negotiations, relating to international economic co-operation for development. . 15. The socialist countries supported the Group of 77's broad draft agenda for global negotiations, and they were also prepared to take part in the consensus on the procedure for such negotiations. Unfortunately, since the adoption of resolution 34/138 not only have there been no positive shifts at all on the question of global negotiations but there has indeed been a dis- cernible movement backwards. This situation can be explained primarily by the unwillingness of certain imperialist circles to renounce their positions and by their desire to continue to keep the developing coun- tries in a dependent state and to weaken their unity and also by the attempts of certain Western States to renounce agreements previously arrived at. If that situation continues, one can hardly expect realization ofthe ideaofglobal negotiations as a contribution to the success of the task of establishing a new international economic order. 16. The socialist countries advocate the prompt launching at the United Nations ofglobal negotiations, in keeping with General Assembly resolution 34/138, which, in particular, empttasizes the need for practical measures to restructure international economic rela- tions on the basis of the principles ofjustice, equality of rights and mutual benefit in order to promote the common interest ofall countries. The practical solution tG the problem of world development, inchiding the economic development of the developing countries, is inseparable from the solution to the main global prob- lem, which is the removal Qf the threat of nuclear war and the achievement of effective measures of real disarmament. 17. The delegations of the socialist countries regret that at the thirty-seventh session it has proved impos- sible to overcome the deadlock on this question of global negotiations. At the same time, the socialist countries are prepared to continue their co-operation with all countries showing a genuine interest in the call~d Bedjaoui text-and the Versailles clarifications are indeed still a very good basis for the launching of global negotiations. We are confident that the con- tinued efforts of Mr. Otunnu will make a constructive contribution to efforts to resolve the remaining out- standing issues, and we stand ready to continue our co-operation with him and to give him ourfull support. 20. Mr. ADELMAN (United States of America): Like so many others here today, my delegation regrets that we are about to conclude yet anothersession ofthe General Assembly without having reached agreement on the launching of global negotiations. That we have all come a long way from our initial positions is un- doubtedly true, but the fact remains, as Mr. Otunnu recently confirmed to us, that there still is a gap to be bridged. 21. The United States stiU believes that the Versailles text for the launching of global negotiations provides a sound and reasonable basis for proceeding on this en- deavour, which is of such interest to so many coun- tries here today. We continue to hope that a way will be found to overcome the remaining obstacles. 22. ~fy delegation takes this opportunity to express our profound thanks and admiration for the remarkably skilled and professional manner in which Mr. Otunnu has conducted his efforts over the past several weeks to bring phout a meeting of minds. Our failure to reach agreement is clearly in spite of the imaginative way in which Mr. Otunnu has proceeded. 23. I should like to stress here that the United States will continue to co-operate closely with Mr. Otunnu in any future efforts which deal with the launching of global negotiations. 24. Mr. MI Guojun (China) (interpretation from Chinese): I listened attentively to the report of the Presidentofthe Assembly concerning the informal con- sultations with regard to global negotiations. The Chinese delegation wishes to express its appreciation 25. We are in favour of Mr. Otunnu's continuing his useful work in striving for an early agreement on a text for launching the global negotiations. We wish to express our willingness to support and co-operate in that effort. The development of the situation over the past year has further demonstrated the necessity for global negotiations. The most widespread and per- sistent economic recession since the war originated in the developed countries. It has, however, brought serious and unprecedented difficulties to everyone, and to the developing countries in particular. The turbulence in the international financial and monetary system has further aggravated the sense of crisis. 26. The old international economic relations could not avert the crisis, nor could they overcome the further development and deepening of the crisis. On the con- trary, it is precisely the malfunctioning of and im- balances in existing international relations that consti- tute important factors in aggravating the economic crisis. As the developing countries have consistently maintained, only a radical reform of international eco- nomic relations and the establishment of a new inter- national economic order can create the conditions necessary for the recovery of the world economy and, in particular, for the development of the developing countries. The gl09JlI negotiations are an important effort aimed at achieving this goal. 27. During the past year, this issue has been ad- dressed in one way or another at a series of important conferences throughout the world. Among those con- ferences, we have taken particular note of the Interna- tional Meeting on Co-operation and pevelopment, held at Cancun in October 1981, the Versailles Economic Summit, held in June 1982, and the consultative meetings at New Delhi. The declarations of those conferences indicate that the international community affirms that the launching of global negotiations is a major political objective approved by all. 28. At plenary r:neetings of the General Assembly and at meetings of the Second Committee held during the current session ofthe Assembly, the overwhelming majority of representatives have expressed concern with regard to the launching ofglobal negotiations, and it has been widely held .that the launching of global negotiations is not only an important historical task of replacing the old with the new in international eco- nomic relations but also an urgent need of the present situation. Therefore, we cannot but express our disap- pointment at the fact that agreement has not been reached on the question of the launching of global negotiations before the adjournment of this session. What has prevented the reaching of agreement on this issuz? What is the crux of the matter? We feel that Mr. Otunnu has already pointed that out in his report. The principal divergence ofviews is in connection with paragraph 5 of the draft resolution. The crux of the matter'is whether the coherent and integrated nature of global negotiations can be maintained. This is the fun- damental difference between global negotiations and the ongoing sectoral negotiations. If this point were eliminated, then global negotiations would lose their original meaning. 30. We have made these comments as a matter of reference for the consultations to be held in the next month or two. We hope thatlQlI sides, and in particular one major developed country, will display political will and adopt a flexible attitude to participation in further consultations.

First of all, on behalf of my delegation I should like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you, Mr. President, for your genuine efforts to launch the global negotiations. My appreci- ation also goes to Mr. Otunnu, of Uganda, the Chair- man of the Contact Group, who has worked so hard for the reaching ofagreement on the launching ofglobal negotiations. . 32. It was truly regrettable for us that we could not reach agreement on this important issue at this session. I believe, however, that we should OQt be discouraged by the stalemate in our negotiatiolliit at this juncture. Rather, I believe that we should renew our genuine and more realistic efforts to launch truly viable and use- ful global negotiations that would be really conducive to solution of the world economic difficulties from which all of us, particularly developing countries, are seriously suffering. My delegation is ready to work hard towards that end in the coming year as well.

The Canadian delegation wishes to associate itself with the tribute paid to Mr. Otunnu for the work he has undertaken on behalfofthe President in seeking a ground for understanding with regard to the global negotiations. We believe that Mr. Otunnu has developed an initiative that is worthy of the esteem of all who have been connected with the global negoti- alions. We must also say that we deeply regret the delay in carrying out that necessary project. 34. The Canadian delegation believes that the pro- posal of the end of March put forward by the Group of 77, as subsequently amended following the Ver- sailles Economic Summit of the industrialized coun- tries, constitutes the most interesting basis for the establishmentofthe global negotiations that we have so far envisaged. We therefore believe that effort[ to reach an understanding on that basis must be con- tinued, and we assur~ all those concerned of Canada's constant support in that direction.

The results of the work of the thirty-seve!ith session have again confirmed that the reason for the persistent deadlock on the question of global negotiations is tho stubborn unwillingness ofthe West genuinely to promote a solu- tion to the economic problems of the developing coun- 37. Appeals for the solidarity of the capitalist and socialist countries in their trade and economic relations with the emancipated former colonial countries are also politically hypocritical. One ofthe main purposes ofthe so-called Western assistance is a desire to retain, by neo-colonialist methods, influence in the developing countries in order to guarantee access to sources of raw materials. Imperialism is making extensive use of such assistance to support reactionary, anti-peoples' regimes. Those developing countries which pursue a cor..;istently anti-imperialist policy are frequently the subject of discrimination by the West and are denied Western aid. Imperialism uses a variety of subversive actions against those countries-methods of economic boycott, embargo and other sanctions. Such an approach to economic relations by a number of West- ern countries directly contradicts the very idea of global negotiations. It has been correctly described in the statements ofa number ofGroup of77 delegations, and in that Group's documents, as discriminatory selectivism and as a double standard. Therefore, it can hardly be considered unnatural that socialism should come to the aid of precisely the victims of imperialist diktat and assist those that imperialism has been trying to bring to their knees, simply because the people of this orthat country chose a path ofsocial and economic development different from the capitalist path. 38. Another important feature of Western aid to the developing countries is the West's use of it as a means for the promotion of the expansion of monopolist capital. At the same time, the West is, increasingly, also trying to use for those same purposes the channels of multilateral assistance through the United Nations. Wherever labour is cheaper, raw materials are abundant and taxes are low; Western monopolies build various enterprises in the developing countries. But are many of those enterprises the full. property of the developing countries themselves? Of course, they are not. More often than not they are organically woven into the spider's web of the productive cycle of the transnatioilal corporations, along whose channels enormous amounts of resources are extracted from the developing count:ies. 45. A very important part of Soviet assistance to developing countries is participation in the training of hundreds of thousands of qualified national cadres for those countries. The Western contribution to the solution of the key problems of these cadres is highly dubious. It is not really a contribution at all; instead, qualified people are drawn out of these countri~s to the advantage ofthe Western countries. It is not a coin- cidence that, at this session, the West concertedly voted against the Group of 77's draft designed to secure practical measures to prevent the brain drain from the developing countries to the Western States. 46. This session, ,Which is about to conclude, has also shown that, at this stage, two problems that have been direct causes of the deadlock in the global negotiations have acquired particular acuteness for the developing countries. One ofthem is the enormous financial los~es of Hie developing countries and the worsening of their general currency 'and financial instability as a result of the selfish monetary policies of those forces which control international monetary and financial systems. The second of these problems was .the subject of a report by the Secretary-GeIie~1 of UNCTAD on world inflation and the development process [set: AI37!518~ annex]; ~t contains eloquent data on the damage done to the developing countries as a result of!~he policy of the developed market- economy countries. 47. Thus, one of the most important conclusions to be drawn from the distmssion of economic questions at this session is the r..eed to take urgent measures to halt the outflow ofreal resources from the developing countries resulting from the activities ofprivate foreign capital, primarily the transnational corporations, and from the policy of protectionism, the lowering of world commodity prices, the voluntarist financial policy of the leading Western countries, the unjust international monetary system, the export of inflation to the developing countries and the luring of qualified experts from the develop!ng countries into the Western States. That, range of problems was the principal subject-matter of the discussion, ami the problems must be solved as a matter of prionty. 48. An appropriate forum to work out such a solution could be the United Nations conference on global negotiations, the convening of which is envisaged in General Assembly resolution 34/138. The Soviet Union, together with the other socialist countries, consistently supports the Group of 77 in its efforts (ii~ Reports of the Secretary-General (j) Human settlements: (i) Report of the Commi9sion Q;t Human, Settle- ments; (ii) Reports of the Secretary-General (0) Implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries: report of the Secretary-General (P) New international human order: moral aspects of development Operational activities for development: (a) Operational activities for devel~pment of the United Nations system: report of tbe Secretary-General; (b) United Nations Development Programme: report of the Secretary-General; (c) United Nations Capital Development Fund; (d) United Nations Revolving Fund for Natural Re- sources Exploration; (e) United Nations Fund for Population Activities; (f) United Nations Volunteers programme; (g) United Nations Special Fund for Land-locked Developing Countries; (h) United Nations Children's Fund; (i) World FOGd Programme; (j) Technical co-operration activities undertaken by the Secretary-General 53. Mr. BAKALOV (Bulgaria), Rapporteur of the Second Committee: I have the honour to submit to the General Assembly, under agenda item 71, entitled uDevelopment an<. international economic co-oper- ation", parts of the report of the Second Committee covering the following sub-items: (a) and (b) [A/37/ 680/Add.l, part Il], (c) [A/37/680/Add.2, part Ill], (d) [A/37/680/Add.3, part IV], (h) [A/37/680/Add.7, part VllI], (i) [A/37/680/Add.8, part·IX], (j) [A/37/680/ Add.9, part X], and (0) and (P) [A/37/680/Add.12, part XllI]. 54. Draft resolution Ill, entitled "Review of the implementation of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States" [see A/37/680/Add.l, para. 16], was adopted by the Second Committee by a recorded vote of 127 to 1, with 4 abstentions. 55. Draft resolution Ill, entitled "Development aspects of the reverse transfer of technology" [see A/37/680/Add.2, para. 35], was adopte.~ by the Committee by a recorded vote of 106 to 21, with 1 abstention.

Draft resolution IV, entitled "Sixth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development", was adopted by the Second Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? 72. The PRESIDENT~ We come now to draft reso- lution V, entitled "United Na!ions Conference cm Conditions for Registration of Ship~".The administra- tive 'and financial implications uf this draft resolution are contained in the report of the Fifth Committee [A/37/779]. The Second Committee adopted this draft ~o the draft decisions recommended by the Second Committee hi paragmph 36 of its report [AI37/680/ Add.2]. The ~~ilmmittee adopted dran \'.l::dsion :C entitied " Speddc action re!lated to the partigular needs and proMcms of ianrj·lo..:;ked developing COlirJ- tries", without a vote, May 1 take it tbaz ~he Generd Assembly wishes to do lhe same? Draft decision j was adopted (decisimz 37/440). 76. The PRESIDEl\!T: Draft decB~io~ in, e~HiUed "Protection~sm and structurr-ii udjust.ment" ~ wa:::; n~so adopted by the Committee wi~hoUJt a vote. M~y I ta~{e it that the General Assembly ai50 adopts i~ w:thout ~~ vote? 77, The PRESIDENT: I caU ilJIn the representative of i"J~nama in explanation of votre.

The draft resolution entiUed "United Nations Conference on Conditions for Registration of Ships" , which we have just a/jo~ted, w~..s the ,:l\P;; of a pains- taking process of cc~..sultations l.1 .legotiations inspired by a genuine spirit of compromise, which is reflected in the very careful balance struck in the text. My delegation is pleased that the Second Committee, as well as the Assembly, adopted this draft reso- lution by general agreement. We supported the adop- tion of this draft resolution because we consider that it contains provisions which, if correctly carried out, will make possible a wide-ranging and constructive process of preparation for the forthcoming Uoited Nations Conference on Conditions for Registration of Ships. 79. My delegation attaches fundamental importance to the provision in paragraph 4 of the draft reso- lution that, in t.he. preparation and recommendation of a draft int~rnational agreement on the conditions of registration of ships, the Preparatory Committee should take fully into account the views ofall interested parties. We believe that this clearly points to the concept of consensus, which, in our view, is essential in deveioping principles enshrined in international law and recogn;zed by the internationaJ community as coming within the sovereign decision of States.

I now invite members to turn their attention to part IV of the report of the Second Committee [A/37/680/Add.3] on sub-item (d) ofagenda item 71, concerning industrialization. The Assembly will take decisions en the two draft resolutions recom- mended br the Second Committee in paragraph 11 of its report. 82. Draft resolution I is entitled 4·Industri~1 develop- ment co-operation". The administrative and financial implications of this draft resolution are containeJ in the rep0i't of the Fifth ComE1E·::tee iAI371780]. 83. I call on the representative of Denmark on a point of onL r. 8&. Mr. IVERSEN (D~nmark): As mentioned by the Rapporteur Qflhe Second ~ommittee,there were some difficunties whe~~ lNe took a separate vote on para- graphs 4 and 7 in the Committee. We should therefore like to have a separ~lte mcc:ded vC' ~e on those para- graphs.here in order that we may l'ave a clear picture t0Jf what we are duil1'g. In crder f.O facilitate the ASQ semb!y's voting, we ''iD accept ~~ ff corc~dvote on both paragraphs at the s:ame time. Q 85. The PRESIDEN f: As I hear no objection to the p":,,opnsal ,of the representative of Denmark for a separate recorded vo~e on paragraphs 4 and 7 of draft r~~soIutionI, I take it that the Assembly is in agreement, and I now put those paragraphs to the vote.

Finally, we come to draft resolution VI, entitled"Study on financing the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification". The Second Committee adopted draft resolution VI without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly also wishes to do so?

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote. ~

The Swedish Government has for many years taken an interest in the problem of remnants of war. This matter was touched upon in one of the three Protocols annexed to the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use ofCertain Conventional Weap- ons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injuri- ous or to Have Indiscriminate Effects [resolution remna~ts of war should concentrate on specific de- mands of certain States and the issue of' compen- sation. We are faced with a practical problem of international co-operation. Let us tackle that problem in a practical way and in a manner that is uncon- troversial and stands a chance of obtaining the COH- sensus of the international community.

I am not speaking in explanation of vote. I only wish to make the fol- lowing brief statement. We had intended in the Sec- ond Committee to co-sponsor the draft resolution entitled " Session of a special character of the Governing Council of the UnEted Nations Environ- men~ Programme", which appeared in document . A/C.2/37/L.49. \Ve would appreciate it if the Sec- retariat would record that fact. .

That will be recorded. The General Assembly. will now consider part X of the report of the Second Committee [A/37/680/Add.9] , on sub-item (j) of agenda item 71, concerning human settlements. The Assembly will take decisions on the three draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 20 of its report. 104. Draft resolution I is entitled "International Year of Shelter for the Homeless". It was adopted by the Committee without.a vote. May I take it that the As- sembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution 11 is entitled "Living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories". The administrative and financial implications of this draft resolution are contained in the report of the Fifth Committee [A/37/ 683]. A recorded vote has been requested.

Draft resolutions III A, B and C, under the general title (,.'\f "Human settle- ments" ~ are entitled, respectively, "Report of the Commiss~on on Human Settlements", "'Mobilization of financial resources for the development and improvement of human settlements" and "Co-ordi- n~tion of human settlements programmes within the United Nations sys(em".. The Second Committee adopted draft resolutions III A, Band C without a vote. May I take. it that the Assembly wishes to follow suit? Draft resolutions III A, Band C were adopted (reso- lutions 37/223 A, B and C).

The Assembly will now turn to part XIII of the report of the Second Committee [A/37/680/Add./2], on sub-items (0) and (P) of agenda item 71, concerning, respectively, implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries and the new international human order: moral aspects of develop- ment. In paragraph 10 of its report, the Second Committee recommends the adoption of two draft resolutions. 108. Draft resolution I, entitled "Implementation.of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the

Draft resolution 11 is entitled "New international human order: moral aspects of development". The Second Committee also adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? 1iO. The PRESIDENT: The Assembly will now con- sider the report of the Second Committee [A/37/774] on agenda item 72, concerning operational activities for development. The Assembly will take decisions on the seven draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 36 of its report. 111. Draft resolution I, entitled "Operational activi- ties for development of the United Nations system", was adopted by the Second Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly )Vishes to do the same?

Draft resolution H, entitled "Critical situation of financial resources of the United Nations Development Programme", was adopted by the Second Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution Ill, entitled "Role of qualified national personnel in social and ecoQomic development of developing countries" , was adopted by the Second Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly also wishes to do so? 114. "The PRESIDENT: Draft resolution IV, entitled "United Nations Volunteers programme", was adopted by the Second Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution V is entitled "United Nations Special Fund for Land-locked Developing Countries". A recorded vote has been requested.

Draft resolution VI is en- titled "United Nations Children's Fund". The Second Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

We turn now to draft reso- lution VII, entitled "United Nations technical co- operation activities", which was adopted by the Sec- ond Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly also wishes to adopt this draft resolution without a vote?

I call on the representative of Belgium, who wishes to speak in explanation of her delegation's posirion.

The draft resolution concerning op~rational activities for develQpment of the United Nations" system, which has just been adopted, sets guidelines for an overall examination to be undertaken by the General Assembly in 1983 on the basis of a study by the Director-General for Development and Inter- national Economic Co-operation. We hope that this examination will be a fruitful one and that it will in- clude an objective consideration of the suitability of setting targets, as provided for in paragraphs 4 and 6 of the resolution. We do not feel that the setting of unrealistic targets has made a positive contribution to the mobilization of resources or to the programming of operational activities.

Since no candidates have been put forward, I suggest that the General Assembly decide to defer until its thirty-eighth' session the election of the members of the Board of Governors of the United Nations Special Fund for Land-locked Developing Countries. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that that is the wish of the General Assembly. It was so decided (decision 37/320).

I invite members to turn their attention first to a note by the Secretary-General cO!1cenling sub-item (i) of agenda item 17 [A/37/770]. In that note, the Secretary-General proposes to reap- point Mr. Abd-El Rahman Khane as Executive Direc- tor of UNIDO for a further period of two years, ending on 31 December 1984, or until UNIDO be- comes a specialized agency, whichever date comes first. May I take it that the General Assembly decides to confirm that appointment? It was so decide~~(decision 37/321). 122. The PRESIDENT: I now invite members to turn their attention to the note by the Secretary-General concerning sub-item (j) of agenda item 17, on the confirmation of tire appointment of the Secretary- General of UNCTAD [A/37/77i]. In his note, the Secretary-General proposes that the appointment of Mr. Gamani Corea be extended for a further period ofone year and nine months, beginning on 1 April 1983 and ending on 31 December 1984. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to confirm the extensaon of the appointment of Mr. Corea? It was so decided.(decision 37/322). '123. The PRESIDENT: The Assembly will now turn its ~ttention to sub-item (I) of agenda item 17. In his note concerningconfirmation ofthe appointment ofthe .Executive Director of the United Nations Special Fund for Land-locked Developing Countries [A/37/ . 773], the Secretary-General states that he is not sub- mitt!ng an appointment for confirmation by the General * Resumed from the HUh meeting. ** Resumed from the tOOth meeting.

Members will recall that the Assembly concluded its debate on this. item at 'the l06th meeting, held on Wednesday, 15 December. 1 shall now call upon those representatives' who wish to introduce draft resolutions A to E, contained in the report of the United Nati9ns Council for Namibia [A/37/24, para. 786]. 125. I call first on the representative of Guyana, who wishes to introduce draft resolution A, entitled ··Situation in Namibia resulting from the illegal occu- pation of the Territory by South Africa". 126. Mr. SINCLAIR (Guyana): It is 16 years since the General Assembly took the momentous decision to terminate the Mandate which the League ofNations had entrusted in 1920 to South Africa and which South Africa proceeded so shamefully to betray. i refer to the Mandate in respect of the Territory then known as South West Africa and now known as Namibia. 127. It is 11 years since the International Court of Justice, in its historic advisory opinion of 21 June 1971,3 declared that the General Assembly had legally terminated South Africa's Mandate, that South Africa was in illegal occupation of the Territory of Namibia and that South Africa was duty-bound to withdraw forthwith. 128. It is more than four years since the Security Council adopted resolution 435 (1978), ~ndorsing the United Nations plan for Namibia, a plan which had been agreed to by the two parties to the conflict, namely, South Africa, the illegal occupier, and the South West Africa People's Organization, [SWAPO], the sole and legitimate representative of the Namibian people. And yet} at the end of 1982, Namibia ,is still occupjea and resolution 435 (1978) is still unim- plemented. 129. We have seen new initiatiyes by members of the Western centact group, initiatives which, despite even further concessions from SWAPO, have failed to produce any positive results. The plan known as the United Nations plan for Namibia endorsed in reso- lution 435 (1978) was authored and fathered by this very Western contact group. 130. One of the reasons why SWAPO, with the sup- pgrt of the front-line States and the rest of Africa, agreed to make major concessions involving that plan was the assurance that, should South Africa renege on its premises, the Western members ofthe Security * Resumed from the !C6th·meeting. 135. The draft resolution reaffirms the territorial in- tegrity of Namibia, including Walvis Bay and the off- shore islands; it reaffirms the central role of Security Council resolution 435 (1978) and firmly rejects .the manreuvres by one member ofthe contact group aimed at undermining the international consensus embodied in that resolution. 136. In view of recent South African threats to pro- ceed with a so-called internal settlement in Namibia, the draft resolution denounces aI\Y such schemes and calls on the international community not to recognize any authority or settlement imposed upon the Na- mibian people in disregard of the present draft reso- lution as well as of relevant resolutions of the Security Council. 137. Everyone is aware that in the past year there has been a marked increase in the level of assistance provided to South Africa by certain Western coun- tries. The United States pr~ss, among other sources, gives ample testimony to this. Who can deny that the links between the regimes in Tel Aviv and Preto- ria are growing eve'n stronger, as manifested by the visit of General Sharon to the Namibian battlefield in December of last year and the assistance rendered by Israel to South Africa in circumventing the arms embargo? Nor could the Assembly pass over in silence the $1.2 billion loan recently granted by IM·F to South Africa, in disregard of a resolution over- whelmingly approved by the Assembly on 21 October 1982. 138. The draft resolution also condemns South Africa's military buildup in Namibia and its use of Namibian territory to launch military attacks against independent African States, in particular the People's Republic of Angola, and calls upon the international community to extend full support and assistance to the front-line States in the face of repeated acts of aggression by South Africa. 139. The draft resolution also addresses itself to the persistent acts of repression and State terrorism per- petrated by the illegal regime against Namibian patriots, and once more demands the immediate release of all Namibian political prisoners. 140. The plunder of Namibia's natural resources by transnational corporations continues unabated. Hence, the draft resolution declares that the activities of foreign economic and other interests operating in Namibia constitute a major obstacle to its indepen- dence. And here I should point out that this partic- ular paragraph is in keeping with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice,) which states that States Members of the United Nations are under an obligation to desist from entering into economic and other forms of relationship with South Africa on behalf of or concerning Namibia which might en- trench its authority over the Territory. 146. Last year-and I regret having to state this from the rostrum of this Assembly-South Africa was handed another \lseful weapon by the new Admin- istration in Washington through the latter's insistence on establishing a linkage between South Africa's with- drawal from Namibia, which it has been illegally occupying for the past 16 years, and the departure of Cuban troops from Angola, troops which are there at the invitation of the Government of an independent sovereign State. 147. Need I remind the members of the Assembly of the circumstances in which those Cuban troops arrived in Angola? They arrived in the autumn of 1976, at the time when South African forces were at the doors of Luanda and threatening to Pilt in power a puppet regime subservient to South ·Afri~an interests. Need I further remind the Assembly that in the past six years the acts ofaggression committed by South Africa against the People's Republic of Angola have not abated and that therefore the People's Republic of Angola, in common with all other States Members of the United Nations, has the sovereign right, in 148. What had been a non-issue for four years suddenly became an issue as a result of the obses- sive foreign-policy concerns of one country. Not even the united opposition of the whole of Africa has brought about a change in attitude on the part of the United States Administration, as manifested by the recent declaration of Vice-President Bush at the con- clusion of his African tour. 149. Draft resolution B, which my delegation has the honour to introduce to the Assembly, is short and to the point. After reaffirming the neeJ to proceed without any further delay with the United Nations plan for Namibia and after taking note of the consultations whk~h have been held with a view to achieving its early implementation, it reaffirms the direct responsibility of the United Nations for Na- mibia, pending its independence, and reiterates that Security Council resolution 435 (1978) is the only basis for a peaceful settlement of the question of Namibia. In paragraph 3, it firmly rejects the per- sistent attempts by the United States and South Africa to establish any linkage or parallelism between the independence of Namibia and the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Ar.gola, while emphasizing that such attempts are only retarding the long-overdue independence of Namibia. The draft resolution is restrained in language in an effort to command the broadest possible supp(frt. I appeal to every member of the Assembly that is opposed to any linkage issue and that supports the speedy achievement of inde- pendence by Namibia to lend support to this draft resolution, which has been recommended to the As- sembly by the United Nations Council for Namibia and which has been ~ndorsed by the contact group of the Group of African States at the United Nations.

I now caU on the represen- tative of India, who wm introduce draft resolution C, entitled "Programme of work of the United Nations Council for Namibia".

My delegation has the honour to -introduce draft resolution C, which relates to the programme of work of the United Nations Council for Namibia. The draft resolution enjoys the consensus support ofthe members ofthe Council itself and the endorsement of the contact group of African States, acting on behalfofthe Group ofAfrican States. 158. The draft resolution requests the Secretary- General to direct the Department of Public Infor- mation, in addition to its responsibilities relating to southern Africa, to assist, as a matter of priority, the United Nations Council for Namibia in the implemen- tation of its programme of dissemination of infor- mation. The draft resolution contains a decision to intensify the international campaign in support of Namibia, and to this end the Council is requested to include the following in i~s programme of.activities on dissemination of information: publications, production and dissemination of radio programmes, the pro- duction of material for publicity through radio and television broadcasts, the placement ofadvertisements . in newspapers and magazines, and a number of other activities designed to promote the independence of Namibia. In addition, the draft resolution requests the Secretary-General to give the widest possible publicity to the International Conference in Support of the Struggle of the Namibian People for Independence, and further requests the Council to organize, in 'co- operation with the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, an international seminar of media leaders, with a view to alerting the mass media to the need to increase publicity on the question of Na- mibia. 159. The non-governmental organizations and SlJport groups activelY engaged in supporting the struggle of the Namibian people, under the leadership of SWAPO, are requested to intensify, in co-operation with the United Nations Council for Namibia, inter- national action in support of the liberation struggle. 160. Member States are requested to broadcast pro- grammes on their national radio and television net- works and to'publish material in their official news media informing their populations about the situation in Namibia and about the obligation of Governments and peoples to assist in the struggle of Namibians for independence. 161. The dissemination of information on Namibia represents an important aspect of the overall efforts of the United Nations to achieve freedom and inde- pendence for the Territory. In spite of the long years of illegal occupation of Namibia, the public 166. For Venezuela, a member ofthe United Nations Council for Namibia, this situation is a source of genuine satisfaction. 167. With the expansion of its activities, the Fund has had to channel its resources through three ac- counts: the General Account, which covers the Fund's activities of a general nature; the Trust Fund for the Nationhood Programme for Namibia; and tbe Trust Fund for the United 'Nations Institute for Namibia. The Fund's major source of financing is the voluntary contributions of Governments, organizations and institutions. Since the Fund was established, the General Assembly has every year authorized, as an interim measure, an appropriation from the regular budget of the United Nations to assist in the implemen- tation of the Fund's programmes. Thus, for example, in resolution 36/121 F, of 10 December 1981, the General Assembly decided to allocate to the Fund the sum of $1 million, as a temporary measure. The same allocation is provided for in the present draft resolution, which also appeals to all States, to the specialized agencies and other organizations of tbe United Nations system, to governmental and non- governmental organizations and to individuals to increase tneir aid to Namibians through the United 174~ Given the difficult situations it has sometimes faced, we can only commend the continuing and patient efforts of the contact group, and we are con- fident in its ability to bring about the independence of Namibia. We also wish to express our support for the front-line States, which, in the face of South Africa's intransigence, have demonstrated prudence and restraint. 175. Australia, for its part, has tried to contribute to the creation of a favourable climate within which resolution 435 (1978) can be implemented. As a mem- berofthe United Nations Councilfor Namibia, we have always sought to play a constructive role in the wcrk of the Council. But we would be less than frank if we were to deny that at times we have raised objec- tions to the activities of the Council. One such instance has been in regard to the drafting process by which the Council agreed 'on the draft resolutions to be s\lbmitted to the General Assembly this year. The original draft resolutions were, in general, reasonably worded and, with one exception, refrained frem name-calling and tendentious language. Unfor- tunately, certain countries insisted on, in our view, extra.vagant formulations. This has meant that Austra- lia could not associate itself with the draft resolutions forwarded to the Assembly by the Council. In fact~ on four of them we shall have no alternative but (0 abstain; we shall support the fifth draft resolution. Mr. lamal (Qatar). Vice-PI:eside,,~) took the Chair. 176. We would much prefer that it were otherwise, since Australia, for the most part, has been a sup- porter of the efforts of the Council in facilitating the independence of Namibia. 177. I should like to conclude by reiterating that our commitment to the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978) is a genuine. commit- ment. Our hope is that the conditions which will enable the settlement to proceed with the support of all relevant parties can be achieved without any further delay. 178. Mr. VRAALSEN (Norway): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway, in explanation ofvote on the draft resolutions concerning the question of Namibia. 179. The Nordic countries re~aYn firmly convinced that tlie people of Namibia must be permitted as soon as possible to determine their own future through free and fair elections under the supervision and control of the United Nations, in accordance with Security Council resolution 435 (1978). This bas been clearly stated in individual statements of our dele- gations. t:cm~! consensus on the question of Namibia. Fourthly, all political parties enjoying popular sup- port in Namibia must be allowed to participate in a political proc~ss through free and fair elections. SWAPO is such a party and must be part of any solu- t~on in Namibia. However, we have reservations con.. cerning formulations which prejudice the outcome of free elections. Fifthly, we have hesitations concerning some paragraphs with sweeping financial impli- cations. As relevant documentation has been made' available only at the eleventh hour of the session, a thorough review of those implications has been made virtually impossible. 182. Mr. RAM (Fiji): As in previous years, my dele- gation will once again vote in favour of all the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia. We shall do so because we remain convinced that the right of the people of Namibia to self-determination and indepen- dence should be exercised in accordance. with the appropriate United Nations resolutions, including, in particular, Security Council resolutions 385 (1976) and 435 (1978).. 183. My delegation deplores South Africa's militari- zation of Namibia and South Africa's military aggres- sion against neighbouring States, because such aggression constitutes a serious obstacle to an inter- nationally acceptable solution to the question of Namibia. For the same reason we have reservations regarding reference to armed struggle, as contained, for instance, in paragraph 7 of draft resolution A. We also have reservations regarding the selective singling out of countries, because my delegation is of the view that this does not facilitate the indepen- dence of Namibia. 184. Mrs. NOWOTNY (Austria): In the course ofthe general debate on this question, Austria had the oppor- tunity to reaffirm its position of principle with regard to Namibia's independence and the endeavours of the United Nations to ac~ieve it [/02nd meeting]. We have constantly stated our firm belief that the transition of

The delegation of Chile will vote in favour of all the draft resolutions pertaining to the question of Namibia with .the exception of draft resolution A, which we cannot support because it contains certain paragraphs which in both form and substance depart, in our judgement, from the line of moderation and conciliation that should characterize the work of the United Nations Council for Namibia. 188. My delegation, during the work of the Council for Namibia, has already expressed its opinion and its reservations with respect to certain paragraphs of draft resolution A. As we pointed out in our statement in the generaldebate here on this item [/04th meeting], the cause of Namibia is one which all of us in the Organization support and with respect to which all of us bear responsibility. We therefore oppose the ref- erence to and condemnation of specific countries, as we feel that to be most unwise ifwe wish to achieve the climate of co-operation and understanding that is essential to the attainment of a negotiated solution to the question of Namibia. That is why we also express reservations with respect to paragraph 3 of draft reso- lution B. ~ontact group to achieve that goal. The United Nations plan endorsed by resolution 435 (1978) does not contain a detailed blueprint for the future relations of the Siates of southern Africa and dearly it win not resolve all the issues in the region; but its implementation will be an important step in that direction. 209. Ireland has always accept~d that it migh~ be necessary for the international community to bring incn.~ased pressure to bear on South Africa to end its illegal occupation of Namibia t'hrough a series of graduated and carefully chosen measures adopted in due form by the Security Council. That is the general approach that has guided our attitude to the draft resolutions before us. I shall take each of the draft resolutions in order and refer to each. 210:- My delegation can support many of the-provi- sions contained !n draft resolution A, the omnibus political draft resolution on the situation in Namibia. h is with regret, therefore, that we shall abstain on this text, as we were obliged to do on similar drafts in the past. We feel obliged to abstain as the draft resolution includes several formulations that we cannot accept. In particular, it condemns the collusion by certain Governments with South Africa, including one Government which, as a member of the Western contact group, has been engaged in a major negotiating effort this year which we hope will bring Namibia to independence in accordance with resolution 435 (1978). We find this condemnation unwarranted and divisive at a time when we believe the international community should strive to present a united front against South Aftica's illegal occupation of Namibia. The tenth preambular paragraph and paragraph 2 of this draft resolution give explicit support to armed struggle. We know well that Namibians have so far been denied their rights and we understand the frus- tration that drives them to take up arms to secure independence. However, as we have mad,:; clear in the past, we do not want to see the Assembly ;;adorse violence, especially at a time when the h..t~rnational community is anxiously awaiting a successful conclu- sion of the negotiations aimed at bringing Namibia to independence through peaceful means. 212. We have decided our position on draft reso- lution B in the light of our strong support for the United Nations plan endorsed in Security Council resolution 435 (1978). We do not think that its imple- mentation on its own merits should be further delayed. At the same time, we recognize that those who have been trying to negotiate implementation of reso- lution 435 (1978) must be given a certain latitude in regard to it-which may include separate efforts to resolve other issues, but without, of course, changing the terms of the plan itself. For that reason, we should not wish our vote in favour of this draft resolution to be read as endorsing the excessively categorical state- ment about delaying the decolonization prQl;ess or as specific criticism of the efforts of the Unit~d States to secure implementation of resolution 435 (1978). Nevertheless, because of our strong feelings .about Namibi~n independence and our strong support for the otherparagraphs ofdraft resolution B, we have decided to vote in favour of the draft as a Nhole, despite our misgivings on certain aspects. 213. My delegation will vote in favour of draft resolution ~. We shall do so because we generaUy support the activities of the United" Nations Council for Namibia and many of its recommendations. How- ever, as our voting on some of these draft resolutions on Namibia will indicate, we do have difficulties about certain recommendations ()f the Council and, as we have pr~viously indicated, we also have some reservations about the powers of the Council in regard to certain issues. 214. My delegation continues to believe that it is important that the Council should consider further ways and means of increasing the dissemination of information relating to ,Namibia so as to mobilize pl~blic opinion in support of the struggle of the Na- mibian people for self-determination and indepen- dence. We should h\ve therefore liked to be able to vote in favour of draft resolution D, which deals with this subject. We note, however, that the divisive element which brought us to abstain on a similar draft resolution at the last session occurs again in the present draft. We cannot accept" the decision in paragraph 5 whereby an international campaign to expose and denounce the collusion of certain Western countries with South Africa is to be intensified by the Assembly. We continue to feel-as we did last year when the Assembly first decided to launch the campaign-that this course of action will be harmful rather than helpful to the objectives which we all share in practice. Accordingly, and to our regret, we are obliged to abstain on a draft resolution which we could other- wise have supported. 224. We do feel, however, that it is important for every member ofthe international community to stand on the side of justice and equality rather than on the . side of apartheid, or on the sidelines. We recall the fight against fascism which led to the formation of the United Nations. We recall, as well, the digg:fied legal manner in which the people ofNamibiapetitioned for a redress of their grievances, and we recall the words of others uttered here in these chambers on behalf of causes far less clear-cut than is the illegal occupation of Namibia by Sonth Africa. 225. We reiterate here today our:abhorrence of violence-all violence. We do, however, understand and recognize that the people of Namibia have been compelled by South Africa to wage armed struggle. South Africa made the decision that armed struggle would be the vehicle for its withdrawal from Namibia, and South Africa still has it in its power to choose a different path. The question is, does South Africa have the will to choose a different path? Is that State, as at present constituted, capable of choosing a dif- ferent path? 226. We are voting today against South Africa and for Namibia-nothing mQre and nothing less.

We are profoundly pleased to vote in favour of Na- mibia in relation to the draft resolutions 'before the General Assembly. On the basis of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we support all liber- ation movements and anti-imperialist struggles, as well as all the oppressed peoples of the world. Mr. Hollai (Hungary) resumed the Chair. Jamah~riya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Gui- nea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grena- dines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Against: None. Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Repub- lic of, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Papu~ New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Siena Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Repub[c of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Va- nuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Against: None. Abstaining: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg: Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.

We now turn to draft reso- lution C, entitled "Programme of work of the United Nations Council for Namibia". A recorded vote has been requested. wit~ulrawal of Cuban forces from Angola. Our dele- gation condemns that type of manreuvre by American imperialism and the South Mrica racists, the purpose of which is to delay, complicate and undermine ~ so~ution to the problem of Namibia, But my dele- gation also wishes to emphasize that its condemnation of these manreuvres by the American imperialists and the South African racists does not in any way mean that Albania regards as just or approves the continued presence of foreign military troops on Angolan territory. From the outset we have dis- approved of such acts, and we maintain that stand, which is oased on our position of principle and our view that the sending and stationing of foreign mm- tary forces in the territDry of another country is inadmissible and unjustifiable.

Sri Lanka voted in favour of ail the draft resolutions contained in the report of the United Nations Council for Na- mibia. We did so out of full sympathy with the objec- tives and the general thrust of those draft resolutions. 247. ~Iowever, in keeping with the· f~reign policy of Sri Lanka, my delegation wishes to reiterate and reaffirm its view, which has been expressed in the Assembly on numerous occasions, that it would prefer that there be no specific condemnation by name of individual countries and institution,) in these draft resolutions. In this connection, my delegation wishes to make special reference to the nineteenth preambular paragraph and to paragraphs 26 and 31 of draft reso~ lution A.

My delegation voted in favour of all the draft resolutions under agenda item 32, in conformity with my Government's position on this issue; which is consistent and has often been repeated. It fully supports the right to self-determination of the Namibian people in a united Namibia, s'~rongly condemns the illegal oc~upation of Namibia by South Africa and endorses the call tor that iHegal presence to be withdrawn immediately from the Territory of Namibia to enable the Namibian people to achieve self-determination, freedom and na-- tional independence. 249. The illegal occupation of Namibia by South African armed forces and their repressive measures against the local population, in defiance of the United Nations Charter and the just demand of the interna- tional community, has made it necessary for the Namibian people to engage in an intensified armed struggle under the leadership of their repr~sentative, SWAPO. On this occasion, my delegation wishes to reaffirm once again its unconditional su~port for the 250. At the same time, South Africa should be put under sustained pressure to halt its oppressive acts towards the Namibian people, as well as the front- line States. Its recent aggression against Lesotho was rightly condemned by the world. In compliance with the rel,~vant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions calling for mandatory sanctions against the Pr~toria regime, Thailand has withheld all dealings with South Africa and has for several years been applying a voluntary trade embargo against that country. 251. Although my delegation voted in favour of all the draft resolutions, we have reservations on parts of ~ectainofthem, particularly the nineteenth preambular paragraph and paragraphs 26 and 30 of draft reso- lution A and paragraph 3 of draft resolution B, which make specific references to some countries with which my countrj enjoys diplomatic relations. My delegation sincerely believes that the General Assembly should present a collective stand in dealing with this issue. Had countries not been named on such a selective basi~. the draft resolutions would have enjoyed the broadest consensus, which they fully deserved.

Although Bot- swana voted in favour of all the draft resolutions, we reserve our position on paragraphs 31, 34 and 37 of draft resolution A.

Samoa has supported all the draft resolutions, in line. with our strong support for the speedy aitainment 01 independence by Namibia. 254. On draft resolution A, however, we have reser- vations regarding the texts of several paragraphs, a,~d especially wht~re there is a selective singling out of countries for condemnation.

My delegation ~bstained in the vote on draft resolution B. Belgium duly appreciates the efforts undertaken by the United States Government to reach a positive solution to the Namibian problem. How- ever, Belgium has already expressly rejected the establishment of a linkage between the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola and the achievement of Namil :!:'n independence. Indeed, we find it unwise to set any pre-conditions for the implement~~ion of the plan that has already been approved by thte Security Council. I would add that where this question is con- cem~d B~lgium sees no alternative to a negotiated solution.

My delegation voted in favour of draft resolutions A to E. 257. Over. the many years that the question of Na- mibia has figured as a perennial item on the agenda of the Organization, Burma .has consistently advocated and striven for the speedy emergence ofan independent and sovereign State of Namibia. To allow it to con- tinue to remain in its present anomalous status of dependence, tutelage and illegal occupation will not only make a mockery of the principles enshrined in

My delegation voted in favour of all the draft resolutions with regard to the question ofNamibia, con- sistent with its position in favour of putting an end to South Africa'silteg.~1occupation of Namibia and of enabling the Namibianpeople to accede to indepen- dence. We should like, however, to point out the importance of giving priority to the use of peaceful means in the solution of internatiooal conflicts, in keeping with the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. Similarly, my delegation wishes to express its reservations with respect to references to certain countries by naL:~e. Singling out those countries for condemnation can give the text a biased and, therefore, discriminatory meaning.

The cause ofNamib~ais, above all, an African cause and thus it is an Ivory Coast cause. The Ivory Coast, which is a founding member of the OAU, will spare no sacrifice to make its modest contribution to the solution of that problem, a fact that will one day be recognized by the various protagonists that are struggling on every front to hasten the dawn of Namibian independence, whi'~~J is the true wish of the entire community. My delegation, however, abstained in the vote on draft resolution A, since we feel that some of its wording is inappropriate and untimely and contributes little to progress f"f.)wards the common goal we seek.

Now that the General Assembly has adopted the draft resolutions cOdcerning the question of Namibia, it gives me pleasure to express my delegation's satisfaction with the results of that voting, which show that the struggle of the Namibian people enjoys increasing support from the international community. This can only bolster the will of that valiant people and their resolve to attain their right to self-determination and independence. 262. My delegation voted in favour of all the draft resolutions, and we wish to commend the United Nations Council for Namibia for the meritorious efforts it made in preparing them. 263. Certain countries, however, did not support the draft resolutions and explicitly stated that they opposed reference to the fact that SWAPO is the sole legiti- mate representative of the Namibian people. Thus, they have attempted to support the racist South African regime in order that it can carry out its schemes in the Territory and attempt to set up certain puppet 265. One delegation, which expressed it.s point of view with regard to SWAPO and the armed struggle, attacked my delegation last week in the Security Council, accusing us of not contributing to solving the problem of southern Africa. At the same time, that delegation expressed his country"s commitment to the search for a solution to the problem ofsouthern Africa, although we note today that delegation's opposition to the draft resolutions. That is not unusual for that country, whose history is replete with tragedies it has inflicted on the peoples it colonized during its long colo- nial past. With regard to the problem of the Middle East, it handed over Palestine to the Zionists; and with regard to the problem of southern Africa, it has enabled the racists to entrench themselves in Namibia. In addition, there are other problems in the world, including that of the Malvinas Islands, which result from the policy of that country. One statesman has said that without that State the United Nations would not have come into existence-in other words, there would have been no problems requiring the setting up of the Organization. 266. The affirmative votes by my country and other peace-loving countries on the draft resolutions flow from a firm belief in the justice of the cause of the Namibian people. These draft resolutions support the Namibian people's struggle. A vote against them con- tributes nothing to a solution to the problem and is tantamount to support for the racist regime in its occu- pation of Namibia. 267. We hope that the draft resolutions the Assembly has just adopted will contribute to awakening the conscience of the imperialist countries and will influence them to change their position and join the international support for boycotting the South African apartheid regime and putting pressure on it to withdraw from the Territory of Namibia.

The delegation of Uruguay voted in favour of the draft resolutions on the question of Namibia. In the annual consideration of this item, we in- creasingly observe a simplification of positions, with less attention being paid to the many aspects in- volved, so much so that the vote, rather than being an expression of position on the text, takes on the character of a political statement on the substance of the Namibian question. It is in this context that the vote of my delegation should be interpreted, a vote which has been cast to show clearly our p')c;~_ tion with respect to the substance of the question a position that has been explained on a number of occa- sions-namely, the inalienable right of the people of Namibia to self-determination, freedom and indepen- dence, preserving its territorial integrity; the respon- sibility of the United Nations in the administration 269. However, my delegation wishes at the.same time to place on record its strong reservations about vari- ous aspects of the text. For example, armed struggle cannot be institutionalized as a .normal remedy; the representation of the Namibian people should be de- cided upon by that people itself, in the exercise of its self-determination; relations between States are con- ducted in a sovereign manner by those States, and the limitation or restriction of that right is exclusively within the competence of the Security Council; and international economic and financial bodies are governed by their respective statutes and should not be politiCized. Similarly, my delegation dissociates itself from the specific references to Member States. In particular, we place on record our reservation con- cerning.paragraph 3 of draft resolution B. 270. Finally, my delegation would have liked the draft resolutions to contain reference to the progress made through the negotiations conducted to date with the participation of the front-line countries, the West- ern contact group and SWAPO. It is to be hoped that the way of peace and law will be the outcome ofthe attempt to attain the aims ofthe United Nations.

In keeping with our strong position over the years on the question of Na- mibia, my delegation voted in favour of draft reso- lutions A to E. However, I wish to state categorically that had we voted separately on the nineteenth pre- ambular paragraph and on paragraphs. 26 and 30 of praft resolution A, my delegation would have abstained, because -each of those paragraphs single out certain Member States. The paragraphs are counter-productive and certainly do not contribute positively to an early solution ofthe Namibian problem.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 31/152, of 20 December 1976, I call on the Observer of the South West Africa Peo- ple's Organization, who wishes to make a statement.

I am grateful to you, Mr. President, and to the members of the Assembly for once again allowing a relJresentati~ of our movement to make a statement to the Assembly. 274. in the debate on the question of Namibia, con- cluded last week, no fewer than 86 delegations par- ticipated, and the international community resolutely reaffirmed its unswerving solidarity with, and support for, the heroic struggle of the people of Nali~ibia, under the leadership of SWAPO, their sole and' authentic representative. Virtually all the speakers commended the Namibian patriots for the sacrifices they are making in their struggle for the right to self- determination, freedom and genuine independence. At the same time, most of the representatives con- demned t~e racist, illegal regime of apartheid South Mrica for its State terrorism, aggression and general- ized repression against the Namibian people, in total disregard of the numerous resolutions of the United Nations, which demand the immediate and uncondi- 281. We listened just now to the same broken re- cords signifying nothing--except to cover up manreu- vres and machinations, while the Namibians continue to suffer as hostages in their own fatherland. 282. I must make reference to a strange but pre- dictable thing that happened during the first few days of the Assembly's debate on Namibia. On the very day that the debate started, misleading articles were planted in major Western newspapers, especially The New York Times and The Washington Post, in a sinister attempt to upstage the debate and to create the impression that serious efforts were afoot which would produce Namibia's independence in the near future. Ofcourse, that was not true. But that kind of cheap antics underlines more clearly the cozy relations that exist between the politicians, opinion- makers and the mass media in the West, with their interlocking interests. Needless to say, our support in this regard is for the establishment of a new world information order. in~erests. 276. We welcome and appreciate this continued close association of progressive and justice-upholding mankind with the sacred cause of Namibia, a Territory which is the direct responsibility ofthe United Nations until its independence. 277. The moment of truth has finally arrived. The Assembly has just taken a series of decisions on the draft resoiutions introduced so brilliantly by the rep- resentatives of Bulgaria, Guyana, India, Nigeria and Venezuela on behalf of the United Nations Council for Namibia. We are grateful to them, and wish to express our.gratitude to the Council for the splendid work done to produce these drafts. 278. As in prev!ous years, a clear and convincing majority has emerged, unreservedly supporting the Namibian people and SWAPO in the patriotic struggle to regain theirfreedom and national independence. The vote clearly underscores this fact. 279. A group of delegations pressed the ambivalent yellow button, which is a polite way of saying "no". This group consists of two types. On the one hand, there are those countries that are among our friends, providing invaluable humanitarian and financial assist- ance, thus enabling SWAPO to cater to the needs ofthe Namibian refugees residing primarily in Angola and Zambia. These countries have customarily expressed difficulties that they have encountered in some of the draft resolutions, owing, they says to certain in- ternal constitutional and legal· constraints. It is our sincere hope that they will in the near future rise above those temporary ;mpediments and show the courage of their convictions, which they otherwise so ably and repeatedly articulate, by voting in favOl~r of draft resolutions on Namibia. Promises and kind words are heartening, but actions are most imperative to us at this critical stage in our struggle against fascist domi- nation and foreign exploitation. 280. On the other hand, there are the members of the contact group, who conveni~mtly use the pretext of being the "political brokers" in the Namibia talks and who therefore cannot, supposedly, join the over- whelming majority by voting affirmatively. This .position has never been convincing to us. In our view, what hamstrings them are their widespread relations of collaboration with the apartheid regime and their preoccupation with' strategic interests and other global considerations, which have always proved to be obstacles to Namibia's freedom. These are people who, in strong words, condemn and reject apartheid and illegality from one side of their mouths but, at the same time, whisper encouraging words from the other side of their mouths to the racists as friends and allies, and continue business as usual 283. In conclusion, I wish to thank all those dele- gations-the majority-which voted in our favour. I reassure them that, with their support and the co- operation of numerous other forces the world over, we are waging an international struggle against impe- rialism, colonialism, racism, apartheid, Zionism and hegemonism. The struggle will and must continue until that certain final victory. . 284. In particular, we appreciate the categorical rejection of the linkage issue-which is a false and extraneous issue-to the settlement of the Namibian problem. 285. SWAPO reiterates its readiness to work with the United Nations Council for Namibia, as in the past, in the common struggle leading to the decolonization of Namibia without further delay. In this context, we wish to congratulate Mr. Mishra upon the recom- mendation for his reappointment as United Nations Commissionerfor Namibia. We trust that the Assembly will endorse him unanimously.

The representative of Zam- bia, in his capacity as President of the United Nations Councii for Namibia, wishes to make a statement, and I now call on him. 287. Mr. LUSAKA (Zambia), President of the United Nations Council for Namibia: On behalf of the United Nations Council for Namibia, I should like to thank all those Member States which participated in the debate on the question of Namibia. 288. The draft resolutions which the United Nations Council for Namibia recommended to the thirty- seventh session-and which were endorsed by the contact group of African States acting on behalf of the Group of African States at the United Nations- have been adopted by large majorities. We thank those who voted for the draft resolutions, thus making it clear to South Africa that the international com- munity stands solidly behind the Namibian people in their struggle forjustice, liberty, freedom and indepen- dence. , 296. Therefore, if there are countries-and I now know that there are-that are still in doubt about the legality of the Council being the legal Administering

I have been informed by the Chairman of the Latin American Group that the Group has decided to take measures to commemorate in an appropriate manner the two hundredth anni- versary of the birth of Sim6n Bolivar. May I assume that the General Assembly takes note of that decision of the Latin American Group? It WlIS so decided (decision 37/443). I See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Least De,'elopecl Countries. Paris, 1-14 September /98/ (United Nations publication. Sales No. E.82.I.8). part two. para. 88. AGENDA ITE~117 3 Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (Somh West Africa) notwithstc",ding Security Council Resolution 276 (/970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.I. Reports /971, p. 16. Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments (continued): (k) Appointment of the United Nations Commissioner for Namibia 4 Report of the International Conference on Sc",ctions agclinst South AfriCll, Paris, 20-27 May 198/ (A/CONF.107/8). sect. X. 5 The delegations of Lesotho and Swaziland subsequently in- formed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour of the draft resolution.

In his note in document A/37/772, the Secretary-General proposes the exten-