A/37/PV.31 General Assembly

On behalf of my Miilister for Foreign AtTairs and on my own behalf I should like to extend to you, Sir, my warm con- gratulations on your unanimous election to the high otTlCe of President of this session of the General Assembly. Your election is a recognition of your talent and experience in the conduct of intemational affairs and a tribute to Hungary-a country with which Sri Lanka has warm and cordial relations. I should also like to thank your predecessor, Mr. Ismat Kittani, who presided so well over the last session of the General Assembly. Similarly, I wish to convey to the Secretary-General our warm appreciation for his un- relenting labours in the cause of the United Nations. 4. We are about to end this year's general debate, during which we have been privileaed to hear distin- guished leaders from several Member States. I make this statement on behalf of my delegation today only • Resumed from the 24th meetilll. NEW YORK to provide security but in truth leading us inexorably to a nuclear holocaust. 7. We have come to this sorry pass because Mem- ber States pursue their exclusive national interests with scant reprd for the obIiptions they have assumed under the Charter. And when this malaise overcomes the permanent IMmben of the Security Council, as the Secretary-General says in his report, "we brina upon ourselves a aIobai catastrophe .- find ourselves without institutions effective enouah to prevent it". 8. In his report the Secretary:-General asks Member States and the Security Council t.. take copizance of situations and act before they reach the point of crisis. He seeks the support of its more influential members to ensure respect for the Orpnization'! decisions. Several leaders have commended the Sec~ cretary-General for his appraisal. We can only hope that Member States will be no less fervent in their "The potential of satellite technology for de- structive uses is the greatest challenge which humanity faces today. We have the word of every astronaut and cosmonaut who looked at planet earth from space that their first response to this view of our planet was a profound realization not only of its smallness in the vastness of the universe but also of the oneness of the human con- dition. The greatest irony of our time is that, even with that perception of our human bond, nations could think in terms of using that very same space to deny that bond. It would be man's greatest injustice to man, man's greatest insult to science to view outer space as another arena of conflict, another medium of mutual destruction. On behalf of all the peoples of our world and in the name of all humanity, I voice our profound hope that this Con- ference will succeed in averting tha: folly:'· 13. We believe that those sentiments wiil find a uni- versal echo; and during this session Sri Lanka will join with other delegations and will give of its best to help preserve peace in outer space. 14. During the last 30 years, no General Assembly session has concluded its business without adopting more than one resolution on the Middle East and Palestine. For over two years now, we have been suspending without closure an emergency special ses- sion on Palestine; the foresight of having resorted to that procedure has become increasingly evident. This year we meet in somewhat different circum- stances. Having invaded and occupied more territory in Lebanon, including part of its capital, Israel ad- vanced int9 west Beirut, ostensibly to enforce order there after the assassination of the President-elect of Lebanon. Having demanded and obtained the with- drawal of the Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO], Israel was in effective control of west Beirut. The world was aghast when an internal faction in Lebanon carried out the massacre of defenceless Palestinians herded into refugee camps. The estimates of the numbers killed have been given in the hun- dreds, but they are believed to be too low and the truth about the scope of the violence may never be known. IS. The parallels and the ironies-the diaspora, the ghettoes, the brandina a~ "terrorists", the annex- ations and now a holocaust-a~'e too obvious to avoid mentioning. The death-camps in Europe hastened the acceptance of a State for the Jewish people, and we had to have the genocide and massacres of Shatila and Sabra to convince the unbelieving that the Palestinians also have a right to a homeland, to peace and 5e<;urity. Their heroism and sacrifICes have also become a legend in our time. I might conclude my remarks on this subject with ab expression of hope that the adoption of the proposals by Arab leaders at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference at Fez and the initiative shown by the leadership of other crucial countries may serve as a new beginning to a solu.tion of this problem. t~o,! 18!2 (XXVI)]. We had hoped that, with the par- count:nance. We would ask only that the United lIclpall.on of the perm~~ent members of the Security Nations resume the role conferred on it by Security Council. and other mantlme users, the Conference on Council resolution 435 (1978). the Indian Ocean scheduled to be held at Colombo . in 1981 would mark a significant beginninl for the 19.. There.are t~ree other Issues on which my dele- implementation of the Declaration. That conference ptIon considers It nece~saryto comment: Two oftbem was postponed to the first half of 1983. At no time concern ~he geoaraphlc area from .whlCh w~ come have we taken the position that a zone of peace in -Afghanistan and Kam~chea-whilethe third CC?R- the Indian Ocean will materialize ovemilht from one ce!"'s Cyp~s. The non-alJlRed move~nt, of wb-:h conference. Rather, we regard the conference in ~n Lanka I~ a member, ~prd~ ~n-Interfere~e In Colombo as the commencement of a process to in- mternal affall'S as a cardmal pnnclple: When In.ter- clude the consideration of such remaining issues as ference ,takes ~he form of entry by forelP. troops Into could not be completed during the preparatory another s. temtory, the threshold has, literally.and meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian ~eta~horlcally, been crosse~. That h~ been the Sltua- Ocean. lion ID those three r:ountrles. While those foreip troops remain, we can take no position other than that which we take year after year in the draft resolutions that come before the General Assembly. In doina 10 we are not only upholdinl a principle, but also re- sortinl to what is perhaps the only safeauard avail- able to smaller States. We wish for the s~cess of the efforts now being made by the Secretary-General to brinl about a political settlement in Afahanistan, and we trust that they will proceed with areater 17. The view that the political and security climate must reach some hypothetical degree of improve- ment, and the recurring tendency to link every initia- tive with global strategies, should not be applied selec- tively. No international conference or negotiation has been deferred until circumstances were ideal, or nearly ideal. It seems appropriate to ask whether the Treaty of Tlatelolco would have come about if its pioneer, Mr. Garcia Robles, had deferred that project until today. On the contrary: conferences and negotiations have been held in the midst of hostilities. None amonl us would claim the ability to forecast that the future holds the promise of better times. If anything, what we have heard during this session is that the interna- tional situation has worsened-yet negotiations in other areas are taking place, As I speak here today, my delegation ~lieves that it is still possible for the Ad Huc Committee to place before the General Assembly a draft resolution thnt will enable the con- ferer.ce to be held in accordance with General As- sembly resolution 36/90 of December 1981. 18. We have waited four years for the implementa- tion of Security Council resolution 435 (1978), which was to have made Namibia free. The five Western States whos: initiative made that resolution possible have been conducting negotiations with the Gov- ernment of South Africa. The United Nations has been in readiness to play its own part with the administrative and operational arrangements. How- ever, at the pre-implementation meeting at Geneva in January 1981 the Government of South Africa showed that it had undergone a sign.ificant change of attitude, a change which even some of the Western contact group found it difficult to entertain. The cease-fire and the free elections, which were to bring about the independence of Namibia, were delayed by new condi- tions which had little relation to the mandate liven under resolution 435 (1978). While it is soulht to accommodate these new conditions, the work en- trusted to the United Nations is held in abeyance. There have been reports that ("ven the Tumhalle II'OUp which was installed in Windhoek has been found by the powers in Pretoria to be less than equal to its task. Once again the authenticity of the South West Africa People's Organization [SWAPO] as the sole representative of the Namibian people has been demonstrated. What does provide a reason for con- momentum. We hope that the new coalition Govem- ment for Kampuchea will offer a new approach. In Cyprus, which has had to endure the lonsest occupa- tion, we would ask that the inter-communal talks prove to be more productive than they have Men hitherto and that the Members of the Organization will remain committed to their own resolutions calling for the restoration to Cyprus of all its territory, (tee from external interference. 20. The time has now come to state clearly that no matter how one describes or determines the miJhty on this planet, their might is of little consequence if it is exercised to the neglect and the detriment of the small and the weak. It is our view that followinl the near total failure of the Conference on Interna- tional Economic Co-operation in Paris in 1975 we have today perhaps one last opportunity to sort out our international economic relations in a alobaI process and thus prevent anarchy. Self-reliance is but, one aspect of the attempt to brinW some order and reason to inten_atfonal economic relations. The case for· reasonable conduct throulh intemat'onal aaree- ments an~ reaulations cannot be dismissed as dan- gerous thinkinl promoted by third world countries in an attempt-but a vain attempt-to claim their share of the pie. A joint effort at achievinl an equitable new order is an imperative if we are to continue to- gether. The Sec:retary-General, in his report on the work of the Orpnization, has cautioned apinst those short-term advantaaes which sometimes dictate political solutions to problems. That same caution needs to be applied in the field of economic relations. The short-term advantaae has too often proved to lead to Iona-term disaster. 21. Sri Lanka has without doubt reaped many hen- efits from its membership of the United Nations system as a whole. It is a matter for regret, however, that those aspects of the Charter devoted to the eco- nomic and social well-heinl of the peoples that are sowing seeds of dissension and division among Mem- ber States. 31. Lebanon has recently sutTered the full force of the imperialist-Zionist conspiracy apinst the Palestin- ian Arab people and the Lebanese llational movement aimed at the definitive elimmation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, led by the PLO, its sole legitimate representative. The aim of that con- spiracy is to alter conditions in Lebanon to bring them into line with the Camp David qreement, which is unilateral in character, and to impose capitu- lation and dependence on the whole of the Arab area. The American Government has provided zionism with all the military and political capability to persist in a policy of eXPansion and auression. 32. Israel has occupied Lebanon, violating its inde- pendence and territorial integrity. It has unleashed a war of unprecedented barbarism apinst the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples in violation ofall international instruments and the purposes and principles of the United Nations. At the heipt of its brutal action Israel did not hesitate to use the deadliest weapons, including internationally prohibited weapons, apinst the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. In the middle of last month Israel carried out a massacre that claimed the lives of defenceless Palestinian refugees -the elderly, children and women-in an attempt to displace the Palestinian people and halt its revolu~ tionary march. But the steadfastness and valour shown in Beirut and tlIe strugle of the Palestinian freedom fighters proved incontestably that the Palestinian peo. pie, led by the PLO, will not be dissuaded by mas- sacres, terrorism or coercion from persisting in demanding its right to return to its homeland, to self- determination and to establish its own independent national State. 33. While the direct aim of Israel's agressive war is the liquidation of Palestinian resistance and of the Lebanese national movement, the Zionist dream of expansion in Lebanon and of usurpina its waters are in essence the aims declared by the leaders of interna- tional zionism, as well as the leaders of Israel, a long time 810. Furthermore, the recent Israeli inva- sion of Lebanon is but a further link in the chain of Zionist agression and terrorism. 34. Israel has usurped the entire land of Palestine and annexed the whole of the Ciolan Heights and the City of Jerusalem. It is also establishina settlements and colonies in the occupied land and practising oppression and racial discrimination of all kinds that the American Government plays the role of mediator for the maintenance of peace in the Middle East while it does not hesitate to Provide Israel with all possible sophisticated military devices. 36. The United States is the only State that has used the right of veto in the Security Council apinst draft resolutions aimed at stopping agression and bringina about Israeli withdrawal. It concluded a stra- tegic alliance with the State of terrorism and aaares- sion. It sides with the BIIP'essor and protects it in its eXPansionist greed. Is there still any doubt about American collusion with Israel, as well as \bout c0- operation between Wasbinaton and Tel Aviv, and c0- ordination of their efforts, apinst the Arab peoples? 37. Partial and unilateral solutions have proved to be sterile and a failure. Peace is indivisible. Justice is not confined to one people, to the exclusion of all others. The Palestinian question is at the heart of the conflict in the Middle East. A just, comprehensive and permanent peace is possible only with complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, inc:ludiqJerusalem, as weD as the realization of the inalienable national riahts of the Palestinian people. Those riahts include its right to return to its homeland, to have self-determi- nation, and to establish its national, independent State on its own soil, under the leadersbip of the PLO, its sole legitimate representative. 38. The international community W condemned Israel, which it regards as a State that is not peace- lovina and respects neither the principles nor'the Charter of the United Nations. It is biab time to impose sanctions apinst it, in accordance -with Chapter VII of the Cbarter-or, better yet, to expel it from the United Nations. 39. As it celebrates the fifteenth annivenary of its independence, which it won after a Iona, bitter strIJI- ale, Democratic Yemen can say that from its modeit experience it has learned self-reliance, in co-operation with all peace-Iovina andjustice-1ovilll nations. We are worldna under the Yemeni Socialist Party to establish a new society that auarantees proper livina conditions for our people and raises its material and spiritual standards. In our attempt to achieve that we have encountered certain obstacles. In the past two years we have suffered unprecedented torrential rains and floods which have harmed our overall development plans. Agricultur&: lands were ravaaed, dams, roads and houses were destroyed, and thousands ofcitizens were displaced. However, we "aveevery reason to face 44. As a littoral State of the Indian Ocean, my country wishes to express its concern about the dan,ers to which the area ofthe Indian Ocean has been subjected. The American Government is reinforcinl and expandinl its military bases, especially in Diego Garcia. It sends qaressive fleets and conducts provoc- ative mano:uvres in the Arabian Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. All these actions jeopardize the peace and security of the States of the area. The intention is to prejudice their independence and inter- national peace and security and to return the world to a policy of cold war. 4S'. We reaffirm the need to make the region of .he Indian Ocean a zone of peace. I also emphasize the importance ofholdinl the Conference on the Indian Ocean in the first part of next year. 46. Because of the importance we attach to peace in our area, a question that is vital to the propess and growth of our peoples, our President, AIi Nas~r Mohammed, initiated a proposal in January in 1981 to open the Conference to participants from the Gulf States. the Arab Peninsula and the Horn of Africa to 49. We also call for the necessary steps to be taken to prevent the United States Government from per- sisting in its efforts to produce harmful chemical weapons, and call on it to work towards a comprehen- sive treaty on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new weapons of mus destruction, and to halt the arms race in outer space. We con- sider it essential that an international conference on disarmament, with the participation of all nations, be held as soon as possible. SO. The escalation of the arms race and the military buildup is consuming much of the vast resources needed by mankind and obstructing economic and social development efforts in the developing I;oun- tries. Disarmament should be desiped to promote economic development for all nations, particularly for the developing countries, and the establishment of a new international economic order, so that the impoverished millions of the world can overcome the problems of hunger, malnutrition, illiteracy and disease. SI. Many areas of Asia, Africa and Latin Amelica remain the subject of imperialist threats and inter- vention, and suffer from the remnants of imperialism and every form of persecution, oppression and racial discrimination. Democratic Yemen condemns the policy of apartheid, detention, torture and assassina- tion carried out by the racial regime in South Africa aaainst those in the indigenous population of South 55. My country also supports the efforts of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and its proposals for establishing security and stability in South-West Asia without any intervention in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. We support direct negotiations between Afghanistan and its neighbours to put an end to the current hostilities. 56. We confirm that it 's important to respect the independence and sovereignty of Cyprus, together with its territorial integrity and its non-aligned status, as well as to ensure the withdrawal of foreign troops from Cypriot territory. 57. We demand the withdrawal of United States troops from South Korea and support the proposal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the peaceful reunification of Korea. We see in its pro- posal a proper and reasonable approach to the reunifi- calion of that country. 58. Democratic Yemen condemns the policy of aggression and intervention, as well as the imperi- alist and colonial pressures used by the United States Government against the peoples of Cuba. Nicaraaua and Grenada, in an attempt to destabilize those States. We also condemn th~ oppreuive United States prac- tices against the peoples of El Salvador, Puerto Rico and other countries of that area. We underline our support for Argentina in its efforts to exercise its 61. Thus, these countries find themselves in a vicious circle in which they are subjected to more backwardness and dependence, while the capitalistic developed countries see only their own interests and those of their transnational corporations, and create obstacles and set forth restrictions, both ofform and'of substance, to proposals desianed to resolve this in- tractable issue. We must stress the necessity of de- velopina a genuine' political will for chanae. Serious and responsible stands must be taken on these issues, in order to provide the proper climate to launch global negotiations without delay. 62. With the potential and capabilities which all the developinl countrie:s have, they can overcome the many obstacles placed in their path by the capitalistic countries. They can do this by exercisina collective self-reliance and increasina their economic and tech- nical co-operation; in this reprd I am thinkina espe- cially of the least developed countries. But this re- quires a practical consecration of their resolutions, as well as concrete proarammes both for the short and the Iona term. 63. The lrave deterioration- in international rela- tions calls for action to strengthen the role of the United Nations in Promotinl international peace and security. We welcome the re~rt of the Sec- retary-General on the work of the Orpnization, which advocates the strenathening of United Nations orpns, especially the Security Council, which must sho~~lder its responsibility under the Charter. At the same time, we wish to stress the important role the United Nations must play in finding solutions to the prob- lems facing the world. In that way the hopes placed by our peoples in the Orpnization could be strength- ened. To that end, we assure the Assembly that our country will spare no effort in co-operating with all States that sincerely desire international peace and security to be maintained. 66. The past year has been less than reCl.~~uring in many respects. The world political situation has not shown any sign of improvement. East-West relations and, in particular, relations between the two super- Powers have further deteriora~ed, affecting a whole range of relationships in the international arena. Foreign military interventions in some parts of the world have not ended. Regional conflicts containing potential threats to international peace and security have assumed more dangerous proportions. The arms race, especially the competition in nuclear weapons, continues uncontrolled. Negotiations on vital eco- nomic issues remain deadlocked. These are ominous developments which cause us concern. 67. The world economic situation continues to be grim. International economic co-operation and the system of multilateral co-operation continue to erode at an alarming rate. Although there has been a greater awareness of the need for development, continuing world economic stagnation has actually resulted in a decline in the per capita incomes of a large number of developing countries. As a result, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people living in ab- solute poverty. This situation of continuing and in- creasing poverty constitutes a grave threat to interna- tional stability and peace. 68. The plight of the least developed countries re- mains particularly acute. This group of countries has been suffering serious setbacks in the form of slower growth and widening payment derlCits as a result of the world economic crisis. The United Nations Con- ference on the Least Developed Countries, held last year, agreed on the need for special measures, in- cluding concessional assistance for such countries. The Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries,) adopted by that Conference, is an important link in the vitally needed interaction between the developed and the developing countries. We appeal for the urgent imple- mentation of that Programme. Programme of Action," especially in its institutional and financial aspects. 72. The difficulties facing the United Nations Fi- nancing System for Science and Technology for De- velopment are still far from overcome. My delegation regrets the negative attitude adopted by some devel- oped countries towards contributing to the resources of the system, in spite of the great flexibility shown by the Group of 77. 73. The growing trend towards protectionism and unilateral trade practices has aggravated the already difrlCult economic situation of the developing coun- tries. My delegation hopes that the forthcoming meeting at the ministerial level of GAIT will succeed in establi~hing a fair international trading practice ~sponsive to the particular needs of the developing countries. 74. Economic co-operation among developing coun- tries has assumed even greater significance in the pres- ent context. The 1981 Caracas Programme of ActionS has charted the course for collective self-reliance to break the cycle of dependence, poverty and under- development. In this context the meeting of the Inter- governmental Follow-up and Co-ordination. Commit- tee on economic co-operation among developing SO. The adoption of the United Nations Conven- tion on the Law of the Sea has been a major achieve- ment of the United Nations. After years of intense 84. The Middle East situation continues to dominate the atTairs of the international community. The past year has ~rettably seen no sign of progress towards a comprehensive peace, which alone can ensure a just and peaceful future for all the peoples and nations of the region. Nepal remains convinced that a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East has to be based on three basic principles: recogni- tion of the right of the Palestinian people to self- determination, and their participation in the overall peace negotiations; withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied since 1967; and recognition of the right of all States in the region, including Israel, to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries, free from threats and acts of force. In this respect, Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) have lost none of their validity with the passqe of time. Given aood will and accommodation, it is not impossible to achieve early artd full implementation of these resolutions, together with a pledge by the international community to assure the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Nepal hopes that the momentum generated by the recent important pro- posals for the settlement of the problem will not be allowed to dissipate. 85. When we talk of the Middle East our attention naturally turns to Lebanon. The Israeli invasion of Lebanon came as a big shock to my delegation. Nepal has strongly denounced the Israeli military invasion 102. Saint Lucia is convinced that nothing short of a halt to this senseless expenditure on arms and armaments can avert the sevt.le economic crisis \1Ihich faces us, as we hold most steadfastedly that therein lies the root cause of our current economic difficul- ties. The Government of Saint Lucia will therefore support with zeal any initiative to bring the World Disarmament Conferen~e to a successful conclusion. And we note with joy that the crown of honour has been placed upon the work of one of the most per- sistent workers in the cause of peace, Mr. Garcia Robles, the Permanent Representative of Mexico, for his efforts in the Committee on Disarmament. 103. Within recent times, members of this body. in violation of their oblig&:ions under the Charter, have resorted to or threatened to resort to the use of force in the settlement of disputes; in some instances, as in the case of the Falkland Islands, while the dispute was under the mediation of the Security Council and within sight of a peaceful solution. Such action will find no support from the Government ofSaint Lucia but on the contrary will be visited with swift condemna- tion. On the specific case of the Falkland Islands, 104. This means of mediation and restraint we com- mend to all Member States and in particular those within our hemisphere. Although the territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, the Government of Saint Lucia notes with approbation that both countries have be;;n most restrained in the pursuit of their competing claims and have expressed their willingness to seek resolution through mediation. We urge them to continue on this course of conciliation. 10S. This restraint is not apparent, how~ver, in the claim by Guatemala against the territorial integrity of Belize. The Government of Saint Lucia notes with regret the bellicose attitude which Guatemalacontinues to exhibit with resi'Cct to the sovereign State of Belize and urges other States to give no aid, comfort or assistance concernina such intentions against a State Member of the United Nations. 106. In the very bosom of the Americas, a region for over a century protected by the ocean from great- Power conflict, there are now ominous rumblings and this must cause us some COdcern. The problem of un- equal distribution of land and wealth, a legacy of the colonial PaSt, cannot be solved by the introduction of armed conflict into the region. But the social order of "the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his 121'," can no longer be tolerated in our hemi- sphere. It must be accepted, too, that social and econom~c problems are not amenable to military solutions. Natk"" in which such manifestations of social and economic imustice exist must seek through structural chanaes in the society to deal with this by conciliation and mediation within their own societies. and no natioh should seek, by the introduction ofarms and military advisers into the relian, to extend its sphere of influence by takina advantage of this traaic situation. Any assistance to the region should be direct.ed, rather, into avenues which assist in the removal of the root cause of the problem: instead of being ~hannelled into arms, training camps and military advisers to fuel tM conflict and exacerbate human sufJenng, it should be used to replenish the resources of the International Development Associa- tion and for financina land reform and other measures for the restructuring of the economy of the countries concerned. 107. But, while some countries ho~d the footliahts of the world stage, the centre stqe and the spot- light are still occupied by the events in the Middle East. The trqic and sav. events in Beirut and the continued haemorrhaging of Lebanon cannot bul arouse the riahteous indipation of the civilized world and the condemnation of the Orpnization. ~ can be absolutely no justification for this sarlaaery. These events are the more lamentable in tlultinvolved in them, however indirectly, is a nation WRose cen- turies ofsuffering have introduced into the lan....s of the world the words "diaspora" and "holocaust". 109. The racist regime in South Africa cannot, how- ever, be permitted to live in peace by segregating itself from the rest of the civilized world. How long can this racist and (lP~.-essive regime continue to thumb its nose at the Organization? How long will it be permitted to occupy the United Nations Trust Territory of Namibia and impose upon its people the abhorrent doctrine of apartheid? These are questions which cry out for answers,-answers that the con- tact group of Western States is slow to provide. South Africa not only has subjugated its people by opp~s·, sion, leaislative acts and naked police terror bl..t, like any outlaw, has sought to extend its reign of terror beyond its boundaries, threatening the stability of States in the regi~n. Until the activities of South Africa can be brought within the pale of c.ivilized con- duct neighbouring States will harbour uneasine!'s reprdina their own security and seek appropriate measures in this regard. South Africa cannot be per- mitted to impose conditions for Namibian indepen- dence, and the Government of Saint Lucia awaits with eaaerness the long-delayed admission of this country t~ the community of independent nations. 110. i believe tbat I voice the sentiment of all third world and developing countries when I say that we are tired of conflict, tired of wars end rumours of War!, and we look forward to the time when nations will beat their swords into ploughshares, and when the rich products of man's mind, the products of science and tecbnolocY, will be put to man's service in the rllht apinst his uncient enemies, poverty, hunger and disease. We look forward to the time when such technoloaY, now so triumphant in the exploration of space, will be extended to the exploration of the riches of the sea-bed. It is a tribute to the statesmanship of Members of toe 'Jrpnization that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, after years of patient negotiations, is now within our grasp. This act of statesmanship is intended to prevent the kind of rapacious colonialization and exploration of the 112. But not only is our economic well-being threat- ened; our political structures may well be convulsed, if the international community does not face up to the need to provide mechanisms for global manage- ment of the world economy and assist in its recovery. The mechanism for ~covery was adequately analysed and d~umented in the Brandt Report,6 and it should form the basis for urgent negotiations. The pro- cedural objections being used as delaying devices should be beneath the contemplation of some of the m~or countries of the North, but unfortunately this is not the case. In the three or so years since the Brandt Report was published, and in the many months since the International Meeting on Co-operation anlt Development, held in 1981 at Cancun, there has been no discernible progress or meaningful discussion on this initiative. 113. Here again we stand transfixed without will, huddled in our own igloos, hoping that the more rabid manifestations ofworld economic disorder will pass us by. But we live in one world. The vast m~ority of the consumers of manufactured goods live in the South, ano unless this vast potential is mobilized an our efforts at economic readjustment, al. the aid to keep the teeminl multitudes from starvation, will be no more effective than putting a band-aid on a cancer. What is necessary, and what the Brandt Report urges, is to re;;truclure a system created many years ago to satisfy the needs of a few industrialized countries so as h.' meet the present-day realities of the' emergence on the international scene of a hundred or so new nations, which are now the mlUority in this world Organization. no such argument IS used when bilateral aid is offered as an extension of foreign policy and in the extension of spheres of influence. These multilateral aaencies have been specifically designed to assist poorer nations to extricate themselves from the bonds of poverty, and it is by the support of these programmes that tM righteousness of one's utterances can be judged. liS. We live in one world, the frontien of which are being shrunk daily by the advance of science, a world which now lIemands an answer to the question "Am I my brother's keeper?" It is because it 5eeS it as being in keeping with that question and as a tenta- tive attempt at an answer that the Government of Saint Lucia welcomes the Caribbean Basin Initia- tive outlined by President Reagan. Some aspects of this initiative still require refinement and qualifica- tion, but in principle it affords the countries of the Caribbean covered by the proposal a unique oppor- tunity to help themselves. It is by giving people an opportunity to develop themselves and contribute to the world's stock of resources, by initiating and sup- porting programmes that give people that sense of participating, that sense of ownenhip, that sense of belonging, that an era of peace can be ushered in-an era whe.. the war drums will throb no longer and the battle flalSs are furled. 116. We in our part of the world, in the blue and placid Caribbean Sea, wish to be no one's satellite or ideological appendage. Left out of the ideological strugles, we wish to devise an economic system uniquely our own, and to live in peace under the protective mantle ofthis unique organization, of which we are a proud member and a staunch supporter.

On behalf of the General Atsembly I thank the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign AtTain of Saint Lucia for the important state- ment he has just made.

Takifll part in the general debate as it comes to an end may be a disadvantage, in that one may say things tlvlt have aJready been said and therefore be boring. However, what is important is not to try to be novel but, rather, to reaffirm our belief in principles that we hold dear and to state precisely .ur position with regard to the state of the world. 119. The annual session ofthe General Assembly is a high point in the live~ of people throughout the world. It offen everyone, through their delegations, not simply the illusion but the reality of taking part in the management of the world, through dialogue, con- 124. When the Zionist State ofIsrael sweeps through a whole country to invade, attack and destroy a sover- eign State and massacre its population; when racist South Africa elevates apartheid into a government doctrine, pillages neighbouring independent States, oppresses and slaughten black people blithely and with impunity, then we feel we have been thrown back into the dark night of barbarism and savagery, totally divorced from our own age and from a con- science that only yesterday, with astonishing strenlth, fought the war against Nazism and other attacks ~n mankind. i2S. At a tim~ when many attempts are being made to challenge the liberation and self-determination movements of the peoples, it is clear that the deprived world, the poor world, the world that is struggling for survival and freedom, needs more than ever before a more effective, more dynamic and stronger Organi- zation. In Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America there is a trend now to challenge indepen- dence won at such cost and to deny freedom. The retrograde imperialist forces are competing with one another, with utter COl.tempt for intemationallaw and ~ N 'b" 1983 h Id . ~ and unmistakable terms, in the language of truth. _or anu la an s ou not permit us to lorget to without exception condemning Israel for its crimes in place the Namibian problem in its proper context. Lebanon. It is highly desirable that that condemna- The future of that country is a matter for the Nami- bian people and SWAPO. its sole and authentic rep- tion lead to positive action. that is. the recognition resentative. That has been ~ufficiently demonstrated of the Palestinian people and their national rights. by the heroic struggle waged so valiantly for EO many in particular the right to return to their homeland. years and by the great sacrifices made. The pro- 136. My country's position on the Palestinian issue crastinations of the countries in the contact group. is well known. The recent events in Lebanon are one the various deals delaying this long awaited out- stage in a vast plot against the Palestinian people. come, are pure and simple violations of the right of and they prove once again that our analysis of the peoples to self-de(ermination. The terms of resolu- situation is the correct one. Peace in the Middle tion 435 (1978) must be respected; there can be nu East requires a just settlement of the Palestinian bargaininl away or amendment of its terms. The problem. No solution that does not involve the Pales- Un5ted Nations. as the international organization tinian people and its sole authentic representative. wbich has set itself among other objectives that Qf the PLO. can be effective or lastirig. We reaffirm enJurin. the inalienable rights of the peoples. must the right of the Palestinian peop'e to national existence not tolerate such violations. and the restoration of its inalienable and inviolable rights. Neither weapons nor mass destruction can ever force the Palestinian people to abandon their sac.-ed right. their dignity as a people. 132. The situation in northwest Africa. specificall)' in Western Saharcl. must be viewed io the light of that same principle of self-determination. The question of Western Sahara is one of decolonization. and it must be seen as such; any distortion, any policy of annexa- tion or of military occupation amounts to the crushing. 137. I should like to say once again to those gallant people of Latin America. who are struggling for the free exercise of their right to self-determination. that the people of the Congo support them. 139. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in its legitimate struggle for the peaceful reunification of its great homela~.d of Korea, also merits our respect and esteem. 140. I have so far been dealing with matters of de- colonization, the free exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, because my country believes that full and final decolonization is a prerequisite for the promotion of peace and relationships favour- able to development and co-operation. 141. The profound crisis in the world economy and the inability of the world to apply the necessary remedies give rise in our various States to reactions of self-preservation and protectionism as a result ofwhich the gap between North and South is widening. 142. We are going through a difficult time; every- where our economies are finding it impossible to keep pace with events. All the reports submitted, whatever economic body they come from, including the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-oper- ation and Development, emphasize the danger into which the world is rushing. 143. Such a danger should make us stand by and sup- port each other, but how many hopes have been dimmed by the ambitions of some and the egoism of others? The United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Paris in 1981, aroused more hope, as did the meeting at Cancun, which offered some possibility of a resumption of the in- dispensable North-South dialogue. But unfortu- nately this is the hour of disenchantment. Global negotiations within the United Nations on the defini- tion of the new rules that should govern international economic relations have reached a serious impasse. 144. The industrialized countries seem to be dealing with the crisis by means of a few palliatives, but the third world countries are weaker and they are increasingly exposed. They are bearing the burden of the economic inadaptability and anachronisms in a way that is not really j'Jstified. The constant reduc- tion in aid, the increase in the food deficit, the limits on access to technology, the deterioration in the terms of trade, and an accumulation of similar handi- caps, constitute but one aspect of the ills that afflict us. 14,5. All these factors urge us to move toward a world-v'ide dialogue, because we belie~'e in the inter- depenQ~nceofthe countries of the world. But we seem to be bogged down in the negotiations for the estab- lishment of a new framework for international eco- nomic relations. This should make us think about our current practice and devise more flexible and effec- tive formulas. The establishment of regional sub- groups such as those recommended for Africa in the Lagos Plan of Action7 and the search for ways of redefining all our regional economic policies could, we feel, constitute a first approach. However, such a ISO. We have faith in the future, faith in man and his creative ability, his intelligence and his wisdom. But our faith cannot be a blind faith; it must be supported by constant efforts made by everybody to prevent a catastrophe. ISI. We believe that it is possible to avoid a third' world war by signing strategic arms IiJilitation agree- ments and establishing conventions and agreements that would link the nations of the world together through non-aggression pacts. 152. We also believe that it is possible to find some area of agreement among nations to overcome the economic crisis, working for a new international economic order by replacing the present rules of com~tition by co-operation and co-development. 153. Lastly, we believe it is possible to reduce dis- trust among nations and political systems and to pre- vent confrontations becoming inevitable by working towards peaceful coexistence. .54. The work of peace, detente and co-operation among nations is a great humanitarian effort, and in- dividuals, nations and peoples that contribute to this deserve our admiration. International bodies such as the United Nations which devote all their energies to this deserve our full support. We shoula like to 1S5. The PRESIDENT: I should like to make an announcement reprdilll the programme of pienary meetinpt to enable delegations to plan their work. The apnda items I shall be referrina to are among those which are to be considered directly in plenary meetina. It is, of course, understood that reports of the Main Committees will be considered as they become available an~ as the work of the Committees proceeds. 156. On Tuesday afternoon, 19 October, the General Assembly will hold elections for the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. I hope that, if there are still diffICulties concerning nominations for the vacancies to be filled in the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, representatives will be able to use Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning in endeavouring to overcome them. 157. On Monday, 25 October, the Assembly will consider the first report ofthe Credentials Committee. 1S8. At a subsequent meeting, I shall make an announcement regarding the scheduling of the re- maining items to be considered in plenary meeting. 159. I call Dn the representative of the United States of AlMrica on a point of order. 160. Mr. LUCE (United States of America): Mr. President, the United States delegation wishes to state its disqreement with your decision to post- pone to 25 October the consideration by the General Assembly of the first report·of the Credentials Com· mittee. I say this with considerable respect for the task of any President of the General Assembly in guiding the work of this body. 161. You, Mr. President, told the General Committee last week that you proposed that the General As- sembly should take up the report of the Credentials Committee following the conclusion of the general debate that is, on Monday afternoon, 18 October. This agreement was recorded in the Journal on Monday, 11 October. We and other delegations made our work phm.s accordinalY. When eventually my deleption was consulted, we clearly made known our objections to a postponement. 162. We know that other members of the Assembly similarly expressed reservatK>ns or objections, par·

The statement of the rep- resentative of the United States on a point of order will be duly recorded in the records of the General Assembly. 165. For the sake of clarity, I should like to say that the date given in the Journal for the Assembly's consideration of the report of the Credentials Com- mittee was a preliminary date. It was based on in- fc-rmation given in the General Committee by the Presi- dent on a personal basis, and no decision was taken in the General Committee or, for that matter, in the General Assembly. 166. However, as I said, the reservations of the rep- resentative of the United States will be reflected in the records of the General Assembly. NOTES I See R~port 0/ Ih~ S~('ond Unitrd Nations Con/~r~n('r on th~ Explora/ion and P~a('~/ulUsrs ,,/Outrr Spacr, Vi~nna, 9-21 AURust 1982 (A/CONF.IOl/IO and Corr.l and 2). pp. 1St and 155. J OjJicial R~cords 0/ tM Third Unit~d Nutions Con/~rrnc~ on th~ La..' 0/ th~ S~a, vol. XVII. document A/CONF.62/122. ) R~port 0/ th~ Unit~d Nations Con/rr~ncr 011 th~ I..i'ust D~"rl­ op~d Countri~s, Paris, 1-/4 S~ptl!mbu 1981 (United Nations publi- cation. Sales No. E.82.1.8). pan one. sect. A. • R~po" 0/ th~ Uni/~d Nations Con/""ncr on N~... and R~nt'...- t,b/~ SoUI't:~~ o/£n~rg.", Nt,irobi. 10-21 August 1981 (United Nations publicatiofl, Sales No. E.81.1.24). chap. I. sect. A. S Adopted by the HiP-Level Conference on Economic Co- operation amon. Developin. Countries. See A/36/333 and Corr.l. • NOI'tlt-Soutlt: A program/or sun'i"al; repon of the Independent Commission on International Development Issues. under ahe Chairmanship ofWilly Brandt (Cambridae. Massachusetts. the MIT Press. 1980). , Lqos Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strateay for the Economic Development'" Afliea. See "',/S-1I/14. annex I.