A/37/PV.46 General Assembly

I should like to remind representatives of the decision taken by the Assembly yesterday, at its 44th plenary meeting, to close the list of speakers on this item at noon today.

The situation in Kampuchea continues to be a source of sincere concern for Canada; it is therefore my duty once again to address the Assembly on this subject. I wish first to reaffirm our support for any measures likely to contribute to a solution of this problem. 3. This is the fourth year in succession that this item has been on the agenda of the Assembly. During this time many efforts have been made to find a solu~ tion. An impressive and ever-increasing majority of Member States each year supports United Nations initiatives to this end. In 1981, for example, 100 coun- tries voted in favour of General Assembly resolu- tion 36/5. This outstanding co-operation on the part of Member States testifies to their faithfulness to the spirit and the purposes of the Organization. The quest for peace and respect for the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations are well served by this. 7. The draft resolution before the Assembly [A1371 L./IRev./] calls upon us to reaffirm our support for the principles laid down in United Nations resolutions and in the Declaration of the International Conference on Kampuchea, for the solution of the Kampuchean problem. It acknowledges the work of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Conference during the past year and calls upon it to continue its efforts. Canada supports the draft resolution. I congratulate the Secretary- General on his important contribution to the work and urge him to continue it. 8. I also thank the presiding officers of the Con- ference and of the Ad Hoc Committee for their work on its behalf. Much remains to be done, and the task is a thankless one. Canada remains committed to the restoration of peace in Kampuchea and therefore continues to support the work of the International Conference on Kampuchea. That is why I am happy to join the other sponsors of the draft resolution and call upon all Member States to support it. Despite the iack of co-operation by Viet Nam and its sup- porters, this work must continue. It is essential in order to guarantee stability, progress and develop- ment in South-East Asia and to maintain the integrity of the principles that we cherish. 9. In conclusion, I repeat that Canada intends to continue with determination its efforts to reach a 4. However, as we know, these very encouraging initiatives have been seriously compromised by the intransigence of certain Member States. Viet Nam, which is at the root of the Kampuchean problem, has constantly shown its scorn concerning the restora- tion of peace and stability in South-East Asia. Its lack of respect for the Organization is particularly demonstrated by the fact that it continues to occupy Kampuchea and. to reject all efforts by the United Nations to resolve the problem. As time passes, Viet Nam's recalcitrance perpetuates the Kampuchean tragedy for all the people of the region. We have all expressed the desire to solve the problem, which can be solved. Therefore, we call upon Viet Nam and its supporters to join the rest of the international com- munity in seeking a solution which will allow Kampu- chea and the rest of the region finally to enjoy peace and prosperity. NEW YORK 11. Hundreds of lhousands of Kampucheans took refuge in neighbouring countries, while the thousands that remained behind fled from the invader to inclement areas, abandoning their property and thus becoming prey to another enemy, hunger. Because of the continued fighting and the growing shortage of food, waves of refugees, seeking safety, keep moving towards neighbouring countries in ever-growing numbers, creating an enormous refugee problem. 12. Deeply moved by this tragic situation, the international community has not hesitated to help the courageous Kampuchean people in its time of suf- fering. We pay a heartfelt tribute to the donor coun- tries, the Organization and its specialized agencies, and all the national and international humanitarian organizations that have contributed. We pay a similar tribute to the Secretary-General for his efforts, past and present, to co-ordinate the humanitarian aid for the Kampuchean people and to monitor its distribution. I take this opportunity to express our appreciation to him for the steps he has taken to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the Kampuchean question which will put an end to the continuing violation of the rules of international life. 13. This flagrant violation of the rules that govern relations between States is of concern to all peace- loving countries devoted to the principles of the Charter, to which all Member States have freely committed themselves. That is why Togo was among those outraged by the invasion of Kampuchea by foreign troops and why Togo, anxious to see the inalienable rights of the Kampuchean people restored, voted in favour of General Assembly resolutions , 34/22 of 14 November 1979, 35/6 of 22 October 1980 and 36/5 of21 October 1981. It is also why my country participated in .the Internationa! Conference on Kampuchea, held in this very Hall from 13 to 17 July 1981. My Government believes that the Declaration and the resolution1 adopted at the end of the Con- ference constitute the proper framework for an overall solution. 14. Such a solution involves, among other things, the withdrawal of all foreign forces now in Kampu- 19. Today, the situation in Kampuchea continues to be a matter of grave concern. The presence of Vietnamese invading forces numbering more than 200,000 persists, and Kampuchea is still governed by a regime installed and sustained by those invading forces. The invasion and occupation of Kampuchea constitute a gross violation of the Charter of the United Nations and run counter to the accepted 20. The Association of South~East Asian Nations [ASEAN] has taken a strong lead in the search for a solution to the Kampuchean problem because we consider it indispensable to the larger issue of peace and security in the region. The invasion and occupation of Kampuchea represent an obstacle to the realiza- tion of the concept of a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality. This obstacle should therefore be removed. A comprehensive political solution as outlined in the various General Assembly resolutions and in the Declaration of the International Conference on Kam- puchea would certainly assist in the attainment of this objective. This would entail the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea. Such a with- drawal would enable the Kampuchean people to exercise their right to decide their own future and destiny free from any outside interference and would provide a breakthrough in the present political impasse. South-East Asia, which consists of many small countries, has seen political turbulence since the days of colonialism. We desire nothing more than to be left alone to pursue the task of nation-building and economic development, to ensure peace and prosperity for our future generations so that they can live in harmony with one another without distrust or suspicion. 21. Since the adopti::m last year ofGeneral Assembly resolution 36/5 and the Declaration of the Interna~ tional Conference on Kampuchea, a number of ini- tiatives have been taken by the Secretary-General to seek a compreheilsive political settlement to the con- flict in Kampuchea. He has dispatched his personal emissary, Mr. Rafeeuddin Ahmed, to the region. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Interna- tional Conference on Kampl:Ichea have visited France, Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Thailand, Sweden and Austria. But all these efforts have not borne fruit because of the lack of willingness on the part of Viet Nam to co-operate in the search for a comprehensive political settlement. On the contrary, Viet Nam chose to disregard and not to recognize the existence of these efforts, creating a stumbling- block to the peaceful solution of the Kampuchean problem. My Government regrets this frivolous atti- tude of Viet Nam towards United Nat~ons initiatives and urges it to play a more positive role in consonance with its declared desire for peace and stability in South-East Asia. 22. Recently, the Indo-Chinese States put forward a proposal in the Ho Chi Minh communique [see A/37/334, annex] ostensibly to provide a solution to the problem of Kampuchea. But the proposal, on closer examination, ignores the root cause of tension in South-East Asia, which is the cbntinued presence of foreign forces in Kampuchea. The proposal is designed primarily to justify and entrench the Viet- namese presence in Kampuchea and is geared towards maintaining the status quo. The proposal is delib- erately as vague as it is impractical. It is meant to confuse the specific issue·,inherent in the Kampuchean problem with a host of irrelevant issues. 28. Before concluding, my delegation would like to reiterate to those that have so far ignored the call of the Assembly the need to respond positively to the continuing efforts of the world community to bring about a just and comprehensive political solution of the Kampuchean problem, before the situation becomes more entrenched and irreconcilable. The resolution ofthis problem would provide a new impetus for ASEAN and the countries in the Indo-China peninsula to devote themselves to the tasks of eco- nomic and social development, thus heralding a new era of peace, concord and amity in South-East Asia.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the ten member States of the European Community. 30. The situation in Kampuchea is a matter which continues to arouse deep concern among the ten members of the European Community" all the more so in that another year has passed without substantial progress towaras a peaceful political solution that could bring about an end to the suffering of the sorely tried people of Kampuchea. For nearly four years, the regime in Phnom Penh has been controlled by and remained totally dependent on the neighbouring country of Viet Nam. 31. The attitude of the European Community to the regime that preceded the Vietnamese invasion is consistent and clear. The atrocities of the Pol Pot regime are unmatched in recent history. This, how- .ever, gives no justification for the subsequ~nt invasion and continuing occupation of Kampuchea by a foreign Pow~r. 32. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the progress which has been achieved over the past year by inter- national efforts to manage the continuing humanitarian problems. The increase in agricultural production inside Kampuchea and the continued general response of the international community have further alleviated the food deficit problem in the country. Furthermore, the prospects for the present monsoon crop are promising. We hope that this positive development will make it possible to terminate the emergency aid programme inside Kampuchea by the end of this year. 33. Meanwhile, in the border area, the Royal Thai Government has continued to demonstrate its gen- erosity by absorbing Kampuchean refugees in large numbers, despite the difficulties this has entitled for the Thai community. We have noted with satisfaction that the programmes in the border area are now fully funded for the rest of the year. The European Com- mUhity will continue to assist the relief operations in the border area as long as a need persists. 36. The ten member States of the European Com- munity have noted with appreciation the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the International Con- ference on Kampuchea. 2 Equally, they wish to wel- come the report of the Secretary-General [A/37/496] and the Secretary-General's determination expressed therein to continue to exercise his good offices in the searcn ror a peaceful solution baseo on the funda- mental principles of the Charter. 37. There have nevertheless been developments of interest over the last year which may contribute to the comprehensive political solution we are all seeking. Resistance parties have come together and announced the formation of a coalition under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. We also note that there have been talks recently between Viet Nam and other Governments of the region. 38. The complete withdrawal of Vietnamese forces is an indispensable step in returning Kampuchea to normality. Effective measures must also be taken to ensure that no armed group can either seize power by force or use the threat offorce to intimidate the people of Kampuchea and so deprive them of their right to sovereignty and the exercise of free choice in deter- mining their own future. As we said at the thirty- sixth session [8th meeting], it is for the people of Kampuchea to decide who should emerge from free elections as their new Government. In this connec- tion, we reiterate our abhorrence of the Khmer Rouge regime, which we have no doubt the Kampuchean people will reject decisively when given the chance. 139. The ten member States of the European Com- ~ inunity are prepared to support any initiative designed to establish a truly representative Government in a neutral and independent Kampuchea, maintaining friendly relations with all the States of the region. As ASEAN recognizes, there can be no political solution without the participation and co-operation of all those concerned in the conflict. We hope that all parties concerned will be prepared to play their part in the search for a negotiated political settlement and fully tio~ or coercion. It should not be impossible to find a solution which accommodates the legitimate con- cerns of all interested parties, including Viet Nam. 41. I should like to conclude by saying that the ten member States of the European Community will once again support the draft resolution which ASEAN has submitted, as we supported its draft resolutions at the thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth sessions of the General Assembly. 42. Mr. AANO (Norway): Since the Norwegian delegation addressed the· General Assembly at the thirty-sixth session [39th meeting] in relation to the situation in Kampuchea, little progress seems to have been made towards a political solution to the contlict. The two parties involved continue to be far apart in their respective positioI].s and proposals on how the conflict should be solved. The armed hostilities con- tinue in the border areas and elsewhere in the country. There are disturbing reports that means of warfare outlawed by international conventions are being used against both military and civilian targets. 43. The main responsibility for this state of affairs must be borne by the occupying Power. Even though reports have revealed that the former Government in Phnom Penh was responsible for gross violations of basic human rights, causing innumerable deaths and endless suffering for the whole population, this cannot by any means be used as an excuse for the invasion and continued occupation of a sovereign State by a neighbouring country. Violations of human rights by one Government cannot serve as a pretext for violations of basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations and intemationallaw by another. 44. Norway has repeatedly appealed to Viet Nam to withdraw its troops from Kampuchea. I repeat this appeal today. Such a step would pave the way for the restoration and preservation of the indepen- dence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kam- puchea. It would make it possible for the long-suffering Kampuchean people to enjoy their inalienable right of self-determination and to determine their own future. These elements constitute, together with international guarantees of non-interference, and non-intervention in the internal ct"fairs of Kampuchea, the principal components of any just and lasting solution to the conflict in Kampuchea. 45. A withdrawal from Kampuchea should, in our opinion, also be in Viet Nam's own interest. It would open international contact in the e.;onomic, develop- ment and political sectors on a much broader scale than is possible today. Th~ present isolation of Viet Nam is, in our view, tragic in the light of the need for the reconstruction of Vietnamese society after more than 30 years of war in Indo-China. 46. One positive development during the past year has been the increase in direct contact between Viet Nam and the member countries of ASEAN. We hope that these exchanges of views and consultations will lead eventually to a narrowing of th~ gap between the positions of the two parties and a greater mutual 47. The recent formation of a Coalition Government betwe~n the forces of Prince Sihanouk, Son Sann and the Khmer Rouge has been welcomed by several speakers in the present debate. My delegation also sees this as a positive step, which we hope will lead to the establishment of a regime that will fulfil the aspirations of the people of Kampuchea. 48. Let me conclude by saying a few words about the interrlational humanitarian relief c~eration in Kampu- chea~ In the summer and fall of 1980, when States Members of the United Nations were alarmed at the prospects of an impending famine in Kampuchea, an impressive international relief operation was'estab- lished with UNICEF and the International Com- mittee of the Red Cross as lead agencies and with the co-operation of the parties involved, both within and outside Kampuchea. It now seems that the danger of a famine in Kampuchea has subsided. The flow of refugees to the border areas is much less than it was, and in some areas the refugees are now travelling back to Kainpuchea. In ot!r opinion, this relief effort is one of the most important successes of the United Nations family in the past few years. I would like to take this opportunity to express my Government's admiration for the persons and agencies which have been involved in this operation. I should like to pay a special tribute to the neighbouring countries-in particular, Thailand-for the way they have handled the enormous burden of receiving so many refugees in such a short period of time.

Once again an agenda item concerning the so-called situa- tion in Kampuchea has been imposed on the General Assembly for consideration at this year's session. The discussion of this pseudo-question net only runs counter to all efforts undertaken with a view to normalizing the situation in South-East Asia but at the same time amounts to a grave violation of the Charter of the United Nations, especially with respect to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign States. It is consequently detri- mental to the prestige of the world Organization. 50. Rather, it is necessary to face the facts, the reality. What, then, are those. facts? The People's Republic of Kampuchea has been in existence for almost four years now. Tremendous political, eco- nomic and social changes have taken place in that country. After the dark years of terror under the Pol Pot regime, the Kampuchean people have success- fully embarked on a difficult road of national and social reconstruction. In the general, democratic and free elections of 1 May 1981, they expressed full support for the new oriemation of their country's social development. Thanks to systematic efforts by the legitimate Government in Phnom Penh, life is being restored to normalcy in all spheres ofactivity. Distinct progress has been made in the agricultural, industrial and handicraft sectors, as well as in the development of education, health services and the national culture. The Government of the People's Republic of Kampu- chea exercises effective power and control in the country. ~tween the German Democratic Republic and the P~ople's Republic of Kampuchea have been devel- oping successfully on the basis of a treaty of friend- ship and co-operation. Only a few days ago, in Berlin, representatives of the two Governments signed an agreement on economic assistance for the People'q Republic of Kampuchea from the German Demo- cratic Republic. Aid and relief shipme.nts financed from donations by citizens of the German Democratic Republic, made as a token of their solidarity, help the Kampuchean people in rebuilding their country. 53. The march of evenls during the past few years has proved that no strat~gy of military provocation and blackmail or politico-diplomatic and economic boycott can bring the People's Republic of KamplU- chea to its knees. Nt~vertheless, an attemp'l has been made to achieve that end with the establishment of a so-called Coalition Government of Democratic Kmnpllchea. Vlhat so.t of thing is this Coalition Gc verament construction, anyhow? It has no territory of ~ts own; it represents no people and possesses' no power in the country. It represents only itself and the followers of the Pol Pot regime who have fled the country. Yet, it is indeed a coalition-namelY, one with the very forces which are responsible for the assassination of 3 million men, women and children. Neither the enormous ballyhoo in the lNest(~rn mass media nor any amount of demagogic rhetoric or hypocritical declarations can conceal the true char- acter and intentions of the representatives of a crimina~ genocidal policy. But there will be no come- back -for the Pol Pot regime under any flag. The Kampuchean people have not made countless sacri- fices fighting against imperialism and hegemonism and battling a genocidal regime only now to open wide the door for their executioners to return in the guise of a coalition. world-p~.1icularly the peoples of Indo-China- tion is based, are being flagrantly violated and three forgDtten that as re,-;ently as a few years ago hundreds consecutive resolutions adopted overwhelmingly by of thousahJs of United States troops were stationed ~ the General Assembly remain unheeded. The situation in South Viet Nam, fighting a cruel war against the in Kampuchea continues to be the root cause of peoples of Viet Nam, Laos and Kampuchea. But grave tension in South-East Asia, thus threatening today, two sovereign States are to be de f lied the to rupture the fragile fabric of international peace right jointly, and ~n complete accordance with the and stability. Charter of the United Nations as well as on the basis 58. As the front-line State affected by the conse- of existing agreements, to defend their sovereignty quences of the conflict in Kampuchea, Thailand has and independent national development against foreign joined with the other member countries of ASEAN in interference. Such a pGHcy runs counter to all norms seeking a comprehensive political settlement of the of international law and ignores the realities in South- Kampuchean problem based upon the principles of the ~l~. ilJlriI~~~.n-iiti· ~, -""IjIl·'.!!!!\iJIIliii;'r-j1IfiW!11!1·>'-~· ,~., ~~,,::L.n~-·<y~~. +~:;NCI1J1i1.lilM!lLiI!_B'1.nJJ.m_""lIABI£j.lfi.\fti¥l:.r~. ~."ti~'Jl\" ~upervision; appropriate measures for the main- tenance of law and order in Kampuchea; and holding of U'.lj~~d Nations-supervised free elections with appropri.1.te measures to ensure that the results are respected by all parties. 02. This constructive and reasonable negotiating framework for a comprehensive political settlement of the Kampuchean problem established by the Inter- national Conference on Kampuchea remains open to participation by all countries. The Ad Hoc Committee established by the Conference has been meeting regularly and has undertaken missions to several countries in pursuit of a just and durable settlement to the conflict in Kampuchea. There can be no justifiable reason why any Member States of the United Nations, especially those directly involved in the Kampuchean situation, which are full-fledged Members of the United Nations, should refuse to respond to these efforts on the part of the international community. 63. As an alternative to the United Nations nego- tiating framework, a limited international conference on South-East Asia has been proposed. Prior to the convening of such a conference, the members of ASEAN and Indo-Chinese countries would meet to discuss the agenda, topics and other procedural matters. Upon closer examination, this seemingly conciliatory gesture has hidden flaws and serious pitfalls. First and foremost, there is no assur- ance that the core issue of foreign military occupation of Kampuchea and the right of the Kampuchean people to self-determination would be the focus of attention at such a conference. While it has been repeatedly alleged that the situation in Kampuchea is the internal affair of the Heng Samrin puppet regime, it has also been said that the foreign invasion and occupation of Kampuchea was necessitated by the so-called Chinese threat against Viet Nam and the Indo-Chinese countries. Yesterday, in his statement before the Assembly, the representative of Viet Nam said that: "In fact, there is no such question as 'The situation in Kampuchea' ,,* [45th meeting, para. / /5.] 64. Thus, the nature -of the conference and its agenda can be subjects of interminable discussions and pre- varication. Such a limited international conference would thus only serve to legitimize the continued military occupation of Kampuchea, promote a con- frontation with those whom Viet Nam perceives to be a threat, undermine the negotiating framework established under the United Nations and, in effect, prolong the suffering of the Kampuchean people. 65. The announcement of a partial withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Xampuchea was at first noted with interest. However, subsequent developments and persistent reports of a continuing build-up of infantry, mechanized and air units, as well as intro- ductions of fresh Vietnamese troops into Kampu- chea, in apparent preparation for a major dry season offensive in the coming months against the patriotic (.!~.neral Assembly resolution:s have been ignored; the armed conflict in Kampuchea continues; a foreign 71. Once again the General Assembly is called upon to com~ider the continuing tragedy in Kampuchea, and a draft resolution was eloquently introduced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines on the first day of the debate [44th meeting]. My delegation believes that draft resolution A/37/L.1/Rev.l merits the support of all peace-loving countrie,s, It incor- porates the essential elements for a coMprehensive politica! settlement of the Kampuchean· problem. Its endorsement would reaffirm our common com- mitment to the process for resolving international ~isputes within the United Nations framework and would keep alive the hopes of the Kampuchean people for a just, peaceful and durable solution of the tragic situation in their motherland. . . 72. Mr. LOS (Papua New Guinea): Once again the international community is confronted with an agenda item entitled "The situation in Kampuchea··. 73. Papua New Guinea has on previous occasions made known its views on the situaHon in Kampuchea. We did this in our statement two days ago in relation to the- credentials of Democratic Kampuchea [42nd meeting]. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, in his statement to the Assembly [23rd meeting], also referred to !this question. 'Ne have also supported the various United Nati10ns re'solutions on this matter. All this we have done in both the. spirit and the letter of the Charter of the United Nations. We will not repeat much of what we have said, but we refer to, and confirm, that which we cannot raise today. 74. The intolerahie situation in Kampuchea is the direct result of the invasion by Viet Nam. Viet Nam has been trying to convince the world community that it was the saviour, that its invasion has prevented 75. Papua New Guinea participated actively in the deliberations of the International Conference on Kampuchea, held here last year, and it fully endorses the Declaration of that Conference. 1 In accordance with th~ principal objective of that Declaration, we believe that ajust and lasting settlement of the Kampu- chean problem can be achieved if the two basic prin- ciples are implemented first. These are the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea an( the exer- cise by the Kampuchean people of its right to deter- mine its own destiny. We also believe that such a settlement should take into account the legitimate security concerns of the States in the region, including a commitment by all States to non-intervention in the internal affairs of Kampuchea" 76. For three successive years, the General As- sembly has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, for respect for the sovere~gnty, inde- pendence and territorial integrity of Kampuchea, and for the free exercise of f.elf-determination by the Kampuchean people. We regret to say that the main instigator of the Kampuchean problem has bluntly refused to accept the wb}hes of the majority of the Organization, of which that country is a Member. Instead of responding to these repeated calls for withdrawal, it still maintains its forces them. 77. Apart from t"e political and security problems that have been created, the Vietnamese invasion has resulted in lmiold suffering among the Kampuchean people. Thi.s has created enormous problems both within Kampuchea and among neighbouring States of the region. Kampucheans in large numbers have fled to the Thai-Kampuchean border in search of food and safety. In this connection, my Government would like to place on record ;~r ;appredation of those Mem- ber Statt-J and intem~t:;'Jnal organizaHons that have given ass~stance to tite Kampuchean people. We believe that the humanitarian aspec~ of the Kampu'- chean problem can be settled if, in the first instance, a comprehensive political settlement is brought about. f 1 78. rlecause of-these concerns, my Government has already welcomed the formation of the new Coalition Government, under the presidency of Samdech Norodom Sihanouk. We believe that he is a leader who commands respect not only within Kampuchea but also internationally. 79. In this regard, my delegation is particularly happy that this body, in its wisdom, decided at the 43rd meeting that Democratic Kampuchea should retain its seat in the United Nations, despite repeated attempts by some to take that seat away from it. 82. This is contrary to the principles of th~ Charter cIf the United Nations and the principles ofthe policy of non-alignment and peaceful coexistence. The United Nations and non-alignment have m8\de inde- pendence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, free choice of internal system and free choice of foreign policy inalienable rights of all countries and peoples. 83. It is irr~sponsible to pretend that local wars and foreign interventions are isolated events that do not. influence international peace and securit,!, There is no such thing as a harmless local W9~ or harmless foreign intervention. An end to such wars and foreign interventions C;innot be brought ablJut through 80- called regional settlem~nts if they are made at the expense of other peoples and countries. Without jealous regard for the sovereigniy and independence of peoples, no !as£lng soluOon can be achieved. 84. The situation in Kampuchea is a case in point. The crisis in South-East Asia created by the inter- vention in Democ:;rat~c Kampuchea gives cause for widespread grave concern. It is another link in the chain of battlepelds throughout the world. The frame- work for a poHtical solution to the problem pf Kam- puchea as the core of the crisis in South-East Asia has been elabomted in the United Nations~ as well ~_5 at conferencr;:s of non-aligned countries. It is clear that a political solution can be based only on the withdrawal of foreign troops ,and the elimination of foreign intervention. The Interriational Conference on Kampuchea, held last. year in New York, amal- gamated those positions in a programme for the political solution of the crisis. The International Con- ference took into account all the legitimate interests of the parties and countries of the region directly involved, as well as security in that part of Asia and in the world at large. 85. In the meantime, a very significant and positive development has occurred in Kampuchea. A Coali- tion Government has been formed, headed by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, a personality known, respected and recognized far beyond the borders of his country as a fighter for a free, independent and non-aligned Kampllchea. This has strengthened the unity of eith~r in the region of South-East Asia or beyond it. 89. Again this year, I should like to conclude by stating that these principles are not abstract notions. 94. The Philadelphia Enquirer of 7 September 1982 They are the basis of a world of peace and a world described the situation, which was the result ofa spirit of equals. In the family of nations, no one should of restoration, as the rebirth of a nation from the ashes remain indifferent and stand aside when independence of an Asian holocaust. The Christian Science is denied or blatantly violated." Monitor, in its edition 3 February 1982, referred to 90. Mr.. TROYANOVSKY (Union of Soviet So- the baby boom, stating that Phnom Penh was fuJ) of cialist Republics) (interpretation from Russiarz): The one-year-old and two-year-old children and that for discussion in the General Assembly of the item some of the older children, life in the city had meant entitled "The situation in Kampuchea" is completely discovering toys for the first time. illegal. The Soviet delegation, "as is well known, 95. The Government of the People's Republic of op!1osed its inclusion on the agenda of the present session. In that connection, we fully support the Kampucnea created as a result of ge:neral elections position of the Government of the People's Republic and exercising complete contro.·of the territory of the of Kampuchea as set forth in the telegram dated entire country, has been making every effort to over- 17 September 1982 from the Foreign Minister of that come the dire economic: social and political aftermath country, Mr. Hun Sen, to the President of the General ~ of the leadership of the Pol Pot clique. Despite tre- A bl d h S G 1 Th I mendous difficulties, the Kampuchean peasants ssem y an t e ecretary- enera. at te egram have been reviving their agriculture. Hundreds of emphasizes that industrial enterprises and communal farms and arts "The so-called ~Kampuchean problem', which ~md crafts workshops have begun working again. The does not exist, is simply a plot hatched by the circulation of money has been restored. The educa- American imperialists and the Chinese and regional tional &ystem and the health system have been brought reactionaries in order'to interfere in the internal back again. One out of every four citizens of Kam- affairs of the Kampucheau people. All resolutions puchea is now studying. The vast construction efforts concerning Kampuche& adopted in the absence of going on in Kampuchea testify ~o the faith of the 91. If the 'Soviet delegation is speaking now, it is certainly not to make any. remarks on this artificial, non-existent matter. The purpose of our statement is to emphasize the true motives of the instigators of the present debate and that it is unnecessary and futile. Those who are really interested in the ques- tion of Kampuchea can get a very good idea of it from many sources, including Western publications, which can herdly be accused of sympathizing with the Government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. 92. The life-giving a~d healthy nature of the new regime in Kampuchea became apparent very quickly after its establishment. Only a little more than a year after the ousting of the Pol Pot dique, The Wash- ington Post, in its edition of 3 March 1980, stated that journalists who had visited Kampuchea in recent weeks also had been impressed. Kampuchea, they felt, was coming back to life under the Heng Samrin Government. At about the same time, another United States newspaper, The Los Angeles Times, stated in its edition of 16 March that all that had been banned under Pol Pot was being restored and that the return of saffron-robed monks and the gradual repair of monasteries and pagodas had led to a reviva~ of Buddhism. It also states that although about half of the country's teachers had perished, schools had reopened and that markets had sprouted near. most towns. 93. That was the situation two and a half years ago. Now, since the victory of the Kampuchean people over the Pol Pot clique, almost four years have elapsed, and ~.H these historic changes have become more established and have begun to yield tangible results. 97. That is the truth; those are the incontrovertible facts about the situation in Kampuchea and the external policy of that country. But the true insti- gators of today's debate do not want to see that and do not want to mention it. The question is why -because they are obviously interested in completely different things, in particular,-and primarily, how to ensure that developments in Kampuchea are reversed. That is the obvious conclusion when we see how some countries are doing their utmost to keep the representatives of the odious Pol Pot clique within the United Nations. Can people really be so naive as to believe that a restoration of the Pol Pot clique could bring to the Kampuchean people anything but hundreds of thousands of fresh murders, anything but hunger and suffering? 98. While the General Assembly is once again involved in a futile discussion about the situation in Kampuchea, more and more new evidence is coming to light of the horrendous crimes of the genocidal Pol Pot clique. In the province of Kandal, quite recently, mass graves were discovered, with the remains of more than 16,000 brutally tortured Kam- pucheans. In Svay Rieng province, south-east of Phnom Penh, the remains of almost 40,000 people were found. In Prey Veng province, a huge pit measuring 15 by 80 metres \Was found, filled with the remains of those killed. 99. In fact, in the General Assembly we are wit- nessing an ongoing attempt to use the United Nations machinery to legalize interference in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, a sovereign State which has proved its vitality and its right to be a member of the international community. In our opinion, if this agenda item were to be re- formulated more accurately so as to be more in keeping with the intentions of the instigators of the debate, its title would be something like this: "The question of how to return Pol Pot and his group to Kampuchea". 100. The fact that this is the situation is clearly reaffirmed by the creation of the so-called Coalition Government of.Democratic Kampuchea. That apology fCIT a coalition was knocked together by foreign Govern- ments in various capitals of that part of the world. We'must perforce agree with the comment by The New York Times on 10 July of this year that: "Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge retain firm cor..:ol of the main guerrilla armies. Prince Sihanouk's function is but to prettify them..." 101. The declaratyon on the formation of the noto- rious coalition itself formally enshrines the principle that, among the three coalition factions, the Pol Pot group plays the main role. 103. The tension that exists in the South-East Asian region has been caused by the policies of the impe- rialist and hegemonist forces, which are aimed against Viet Nam, Laos and Kampuchea. The attempts by the United States, China and those in certain circles in the ASEAN countries to use the United Nations to interfere in the internal affairs of Kampuchea have complicated the normalization of the situation in South-East Asia and are contrary to the fundamental interests of the peoples of that region. 104. The United Nations can play an important and positive role in the revival 01 Kampuchea and in ensuring its progress. The long-SUffering people of Kampuchea need the United Nations above all to promote the establishment of favourable external con- ditions for their peaceful economic and social development. . 105. There is also no doubt that in order to bring about a sp~edy revival ofKampuchea and to strengthen the successes already obtained in developing its eco- nomy, we need to continue the humanitarian assis- tance to the people of that country. This assistance, which has been granted on a bilateral basis and through international organizations, has undoubtedly been of great benefit to the Kampuchean people in their struggle against hunger and in the restitution of their ruined economy. It is important that this assis- tance is not diverted from its correct purpose and turned into a means of fattening up and maintaining the followers of Pol Pot. Those countries which have attempted to adopt that course will doubtless uncover the truth about the Pol Pot policy and the hypocrisy of that cl3que's statements about concern for the fate of the people of Kampuchea. ~ 106. The Soviet Union firmly intends to continue all- round assistance to the People's Republic of Kampu- chea. In order to help them in their work of resto- ration, the Soviet Union will, up to 1985, grant assistance for work on 50 programmes. Among the most important of the facilities on which we are co- operating is a 5OO-bed hospital and a polyclinic equipped to deal with 500 patients a day, an institute of higher technology for 1,000 students and an agri.,. cultural institute for 250 students. A telecommunica- tions system for the railway will be set up, a State construction organization will be established and a vocational technical institute for 350 students will be founded; the rubber plantations wHl be restored, covering an area. of 10,000 hectares, and the cotton plantations, covering 6,000 hectares. co-opera~ionand assistance in putting right the purifi- cation equipment for the drinking water supply for the cities ofPhnom Penh and Kompong Som, rehabilitating the- power supply systems for those cities and other industrial centres of the country, organizing the hydro-meteorological service, and much more. 108. An important condition of guaranteeing a favourable situation for the speedy development of Kampuchea and the other countries of South-East Asia is a political settlement of the problems which affect the normalization and stabilization of the situa- tion in that region. Our delegation reserves the right to go into more detail about this when it is taken up under the appropriate agenda item. But today I should like to stress that a reliable basis for such a settlement is provided by the constructive and flexible proposals of the countries of Indo-China as set out in a letter from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Phoune Sipaseuth, dated 15 September last and addressed to the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the five member countries of ASEAN [A/37/477, annex I]. A major feature of those proposals is the just and truly impartial account taken of the national interests of all the countries of South-East Asia. 109. The Soviet Union, for its part, has repeatedly voiced its conviction that in order to normalize the situation in South-East Asia there must be an end to foreign interference in the affairs of that region carried out through the policy of inciting the two groups of States to confrontation. The solution of the problems of South-East Asia can and should be brought about by developing dial~gue between those States, on the basis of non-interference in their internal affairs, mutual respect, and the renunciation of attempts to force. their will on others. 110. The feelings of profound solidarity between the Soviet Union and the peoples and Governments of the countries of Indo-China were graphically expressed recently during the meetings that took place in Moscow between the Party and governmental delegations of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Soviet Union, headed by the Politburo member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Chairman of the State Council of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Truong Chinh, and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, Leonid llyich Brezhnev, and also during the meeting between Leonid I1yich Brezhnev and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the People's Re';~lutionaryParty of Laos, Prime Minister ~ of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Kaysone' Phomvihane. 111. The joint Soviet-Vietnamese communique dated 8 October 1982 stated: "The Soviet Union and Viet Nam have given and will continue to give all-round support to the Kampuchean people in the construction of a new life. They condemn the provocative clamour about 116. In this connection, and indeed with deep admiration, my delegation applauds the undertaking given from this rostrum yesterday by Prince Noro-dom Sihanouk, President of Democratic Kampuchea, that in accepting the resolution of the Assembly, which calls for general elections under the supervision of the United Nations, . "[his] country seeks to give a public guarantee of honest and truly democratic election proceedings. In this way it seeks to remove any pretext that NOTES 1 See Report of the International Conference on Kampuchea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.I.20). 2 A/CONF.I09/6.