A/37/PV.58 General Assembly

The Soviet delegation believes that the consideration of this item on peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia at this session of the General Assembly is very timely and appropriate. A' constructive discussion of this problem would undoubtedly help to normalize the situation in that part of the world, which has for many years now been the focus of:;erious conflicts, including armed conflicts. 2. In South-East Asia, two trends are emerging particularly clearly, two approaches to - settlement of the problems there. One such trend is ,,'epresented by the forces of socialism-Viet Nam, Laos and the People's Republic of Kampuchea-which advocate good neighbourliness, peace and stability in the region. They consider that between them and their neigh- bours-Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malay- sia and Singapore-the member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations [ASEAN1- there is no objective reason for confrontation, and that distrust and hostility, which lead to disputes and conflict, have been engendered by the intrigues of foreign forces, which have deliberately, for the sake of their own selfish purposes, exacerbated the situation in the region. 3. The other trend, the other approaeh, is repre- sented by the forces of imperialism and hegemonism. These forces are trying to change the situation in Indo-China. They are trying to divide the ASEAN member countries and the countries ofIndo-China and to put one side against the other. The target of par- ticularly harsh attacks has been the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, to which all kinds of designs against South-East Asia have been ascribecl quite falsely. The leaders of Viet Nam have been groundlessly accused of "intractability", of "being aggressive", of "re- jecting" the political settlement of disputes, of trying to worsen the situation in South-East Asia, of creating "refugee problems", and so on and so forth. The sovereignty and security of Laos is constantly being threatened from the outside. 4. In trying to sow this kind of h~stility between the ASEAN member countries and their 1'\eighbours, those in imperialist and hegemonist cil'(;ies are trying to present as the root cause of tension in South-East Asia the presence of Vietnamese troops on Kampu- NEW YORK chean territory. However, they have no proof to support this completely groundless allegation. If we look at the situation o~jectively, we cannot fail to recognize that neither the People's Republic of Kam- puchea nor the Vietnamese troops on its territory are threatening anybody. Peace and stability in South- East Asia are being harmed by something completely different. They are being harmed by the attempts of outside forces to hinder the irreversible process of national rebirth in Kamptlchea and to restore to power the Pol Pot regime, which is now trying to disguise itself behind the label of the so-called Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea. 5. The United States does not conceal the fact that, in jts strategic plans, South-East Asia has a very speci~l place. On 7 June of this year, The New York Times published information about secret strategic Pentagon guidelines for the next dve years. These guidelines, according to the newspaper, stated that the United States should promote the strengthening and unity of the ASEAN m<:mber countries "while developing further the capacity of member countries to support the projection of United States power from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf'. 6. It was precisely to strengthen American military positions in South-East Asia that a recent voyage was made by the United States Secretary of Defense, Mr. Weinberger, to the ASEAN member countries to urge those States Further along the path of milita- rization. The creation /j;f a miiitary bridgehead in the region is the trne wish of Washington. This is visible to the naked gye, so it was quite futile for the United States representative, in discussions on the so-called situation in Kampuchea, to portray the United States as the defender of the peoples of South-East Asia. It was the United States and none other that was guilty of the death of hundreds of thousands of people in Viet Nam, Laos and Kampuchea, and the United States is still pursuing virtually the same policy of aggression and hostility against the peoples of Indo- China. 7. Unfortunately, some other countries are now pandering to the United States:' by following a similar line. In saying this, we have in mind the representa- tive of Australia, for example, who, speaking in this debate at the previous meeting, attacked the policy of Viet Nam and tried to cast aspersions on relations between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Soviet Union. What he said gave the impression that he judges the relationships between socialist countries on the basis of his own experience of the relations between his country and the United States. 8. The Soviet Union and Viet Nam have close ties of brotherly friendship and comprehensive co- operation based on equality and mutual respect. The tri~s that it precludes any kind of hostility against neIghbouring States, and theirforeign policy is directed towards ensuring peace and stability in the region. This policy is enshrined in the Constitutions of the SociaH~t Republic of Viet Nam and the People's RepublIc of Kampuchea, in the bilateral treaties of friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and Laos. and Viet Nam and Kampuchea and in other official documents of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the People's Republic of Kampuchea. 11. Convincbg proof of the interest of the Indo- Chinese countries in establishing an atmosphere of good-neighbourliness in South-East Asia is provided by their recent proposals, drafted and agreed on at the Conference of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, Laos and Kampucheft, held on 6 and 7 July this year at Ho Chi Minh City [A/37/334, annex]. Those proposals were set out in the letter dated 15 September 1982 from Mr. Phoune Sipaseuth, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, to the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the member States of ASEAN [A/37/477, annex 1]. 12. The Soviet Union fully supports the constructive initiatives taken by the Foreign Ministers of Viet Nam, Laos and Kampucheh. One of the basic merits of their proposals is that they open up the way to talks on the normalization of the situation in South- East Asia. As has been emphasized by Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev: "The cause ofpreserving and strengthening peace in South-East Asia would be well served by the f that the Yietnamese troops will be withdrawn provided that Chma puts an end to its subversive activities and disarms the Pol Pot gang8 and other Khmer reactionaries. 14. It is difficult to overestimate, for the establish- ment of an atmosphere ef trust, the importance of the proposal made .by the People's Republic of K~mpu­ chea that secunty zones be established on both sides of. the border betwee.n Kampuchea and Thailand; t~IS would also .Le an Important factor in the regula- tIon of the relatIOns between the Indo-Chinese coun- trie~ .a?d. Tha~land. Kampuchea has shown great flexIbIlIty In thIs matter, as reflected in the fact that when !hailand di~.no! agree to an earlier proposal to establIsh a demlhtarIzed zone along the frontier, Kampuchea expressed its willingness to establish a security zone in the region in which there would be only Kampuchean and Thai armed forces. There would be no Vietnamese troops in the zone and at the same time, of course, the armed Pol P~t gangs and other Khmer reactionaries on the Thai side of the border would not be permitted in the zone. The serious and constructive nature of this proposal has' been underscored by the fact that the People's Republic of Kampuchea has stated its willingness to sign an agreement on this question, which would then be s'!bject to international monitoring. It must be recog- nIzed that the proposal to establish a demilitarized zone or a security zone along the frontier of Thailand and Kampuchea is clear confirmation that it is neither Kampuchea nor Viet Nam which is in any way threatening Thailand's secudty or that of any other country in the region. 15. The Governments of Viet Nam and Kampuchea have confirmed their good will and their sincere desire for normalization of the situation in South- East Asia and for improved relations with neigh- bouring countries not only by their proposals, ·but also by their actions. In July of this year, they withdrew some of the Vietnamese troops from Kampuchea. In connection with the question of the presence of Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea, it should be noted once again that statements have frequently been made by the leaders of the People's Republic ofKampuchea and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the effect 16. It is unrealistic to· demand further withdrawal of .Vietnamese tro<?ps -from Kampuchean territory while at the same tIme preventing the establishment of the conditions which would make such a with- drawal possible. 19. We are profoundly convinced that there is no problem in South-East Asia that cannot be resolved at the negotiating table. Recently, some positive shifts have been noted in South-East Asia. The visits by the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Mr. Nguyen Co Thach, to Singapore, Burma, Malaysia and Thailand in July of this year showed that, despite the differences in their approaches, there are areas where the positions of the parties coincide. There is a general desir~ to continue dialogue and to make South-East Asia a region of peace, stability and co-operation. We also note with satisfaction that all the countries of the region share a general understanding of the fact that the problems which divide them can be settled by exclusively political means. 20. There is no doubt that the present consultations and dialogue among the States of the region are an important element in the process which will lead to mutual understanding and trust. It is the duty of the United Nations to do everything possible to encour- age that process. Those who are truly interested in strengthening international security and in normal- izing the situation in South-East Asia should do nothing that could possibly hamper the dialogue between the countries of Indo-China and the ASEAN member countries. The Soviet Union, for its part, will continue to do everything possible to ensure that the region of South-East Asia becomes a zone of peace, stability and co-operation.

For the third successive session, the question we are now con- sidering has been included in the agenda of the General Assembly. As we have repeatedly said, Malaysia has no difficulty in supporting the objective embodied in this item, for we all aspire to, and dream of, peace, stability and co-operation in our region. We take cognizance of the fact that our region is mainly made up of small countries and that its major preoccupation is to feed its teeming millions and to 22. Malaysia has always recognized that we have no alternative for the future than to build an edifice of peace and harmony among the States in the region. South-East Asia, a region at the crossroads between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is well endowed with natural resources of every kind, such as natural rubber, tin, palm oil, petroleum and natural gas, to name but a few. In terms of human resources, the region as a whole has a total population of more than 300 million people, all of whom share in varying degrees a common value and outlook deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Asia. 23. With the resources at our disposal, the economic potential of the region is indeed enormous. Given the political will and sincerity of intention, we can bQild an edifice of co-operation which could be t~~ envy of all. It is with the recognition of this potential tt.at we in ASEAN have taken the necessary initiative to strive for the establishment of a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in South-East Asia, known as ZOPFAN. Such a zone of peace would, in our view, create condi.tions conducive to peace and stability, and eliminate super-Power rivalry for spheres ofinfluence, thereby preventing the region from being embroiled once again in conflicts which are not of our choosing. For ZQPFAN to succeed, however, all must genuinely appreciate the fundamental intraregional, as well as extraregional, constraints. 24. Among ourselves, there must be readiness to live up to the lofty ideals and principles of international relatlons-inter alia, the sanctity of national sover- eignty and integrity, the non-use of force and the' peaceful settlement ofdisputes. These are fundamental ingredients for ensuring the development of mutual trust and confidence among ourselves before any agreement whatsoever or any plan for the future can be envisaged. Without these ingredients, ,what- ever understanding or agreement was reached could not be expected to be permanent or durable. 25. We have also to take into account the need for external constraints if peace and harmony in the region are to be assured. After all, it cannot be denied that we live in an interdependent and complex world. The legitimate interests r. others in South- East Asia will have to be given equal recognition. Postures of confrontation or taking sides in what are essentially super-Power conflicts cannot be viewed as beneficial to the long-term interests of the region. In fact, such a policy would bring about divisiveness and surely involve the region once again in confronta- tions and conflicts. The success of the zone of peace in the future can be achieved only on the basis of \lur recognition of these constraints on regional solidarity and cohesiveness, the recognition of the legitimate interests of others, and a definite commit- ment to keep away from super-Power rivalry. Only then can we pave the way for meaningful regional co-operation in the economic, social and other fields, and build a region that is truly peaceful, stable and prosperous. 36. Each interference from the outside will serve only those forces desiring to impose a foreign diktat upon the peoples of South-East Asia. They must take into account, however, that the peoples have learned their lesson from the experience they gained as a result of the imperialist policy of oppression and violence in the past. 37. The vestiges ofcolonialism and the consequences of decades of war and natural disasters have brought a heavy burden to the peoples of Indo-China. Com- plicated problems in the f1elds of economic and social development are still waiting to be solved, and im- portant tasks have still to be fulfilled. The achievement of aJI this requires peace, stable and constructive relations with the neighbouring countries and inter- national humanitarian aid. 38. Close economic, fDJitical and cultural ties have always existed between the States of South-East Asia. In the future also, these ties can play an important role in the development of friendly and mutually advantageous relations among the States of that region. However, this is possible only in conditions of peace and the cessation of interference from the outside. Only the peoples and Stites of that region themselves are able to solve t~eir problems. It is high time to develop a constructive dialogue between the parties involved s requiring patience and a sense of realism Rnd responsibility on all sides. It is neces- sary to avoid all activities tending to complicate the situation even further. 39. In the view of the German Democratic Republic, the proposals submitted at the Conference of the Ministers for Foreign Mfairs of the three countries of Indo-China, in July 1982 [A/37/334, annex], are a good basis for the development of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia. These proposals constitute a reasonable alternative to the policies of confrontation in S\.mth-East Asia stimulated by imperialist forces. They include the elements and starting-points necessary for understanding and the reduction of tensions. These initiatives are aimed at achieving an atmosphere of confidence and at promoting dialogue. The conclusion of bilateral or multilateral agreements on peaceful coexistence and the convening ofan international conference on South- East Asia would no doubt have positive consequences with regard to the situation in the region. 40. The German Democratic Republic supports every initiative aimed at settling controversial ques- tions by negotiation. It therefore fully backs the proposals made by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the People's Republic of Kampuchea and the Lao People's Democratic RepurIic. These States are striving for continuance of the dialogue with the member States of ASEAN, which would be in the ~ries and the majority of the Member S!qtes of the Organization to see peace, security and stability in the region but also points out where the crux of the problem lies. At present, the greatest obstacle to the realization of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia is the armed invasion and military occupation of Kampuchea by a foreign country. Unless this root cause of tension in the region is removed, obviously there can be no peace or stability in South-East Asia. The debate on this item and the vote on resolution 37/6 have shown that this fact is acknowledged by an increasing number of States. 44. However, for some time now, the Vietnamese authorities have deliberately tried to confuse the issue. While evading the basic fact of Viet Nam's occupation of Kampuchea, they have presented a number of fallacious arguments. One moment they attribute the tension in the region to the differences between two "regional groups''-the ASEAN mem- ber countries and the Indo-Chinese States-and the next moment they describe it as a question of the relations between Cnina and the Indo-Chinese States. They have been shifting from one allegation to another so rapidly that they cannot even justify themselves. 45. Viet Nam's military occupation of Kampuchea not only has violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country but also has threatened the peace and stability of South-East Asia. In recent years, Vietnamese troops have con~tantly encroached on the territory of Thailand from across the Kam- puchean border, causing heavy losses of life and property to the Thai border inhabitants. Furthermore, 48. China has always pursued a foreign policy of peace. We endorse the ASEAN proposal for the establishment of a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in South-J:ast Asia, and we support the South-East Asian countries in strengthening their co-operation through consultations on an equal footing. In supporting the just struggle of the Kampu- chean people against Vietnamese aggression, China proceeds from its position of safeguarding the basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations and ~he norms of international relations and of opposing hegemonism and safeguarding pe ,,;e in Asia and the whole world. 49. As to what poEtical system or what kind of government Kampuchea may choose to establish after the withdrawal of Vietnamense troops, that is entirely the internal affair of Kampuchea and should be left to th~ Kampuchean people to decide them- , selves. The Chinese Government wishes to see the· Kampuchea of tomorrow an independent, peaceful, neutral and non-aligned country. China does not seek any selfish interest on the question of Kampu- chea; stin less does it intend to include Kampuchea in its fictitious sphere of influence. China only Dopes that, after regaining its independence and liberation, Kampuchea will maintain friendly and good- neighbourly relations with all its neighbours, including Viet Nant. 70. It is perfectly clear that the presence of units of Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea is made neces- sary by the real need to strengthen security there in the context ofthe continuing threats from hegemonism and imperialism. The partial withdrawal of the Viet- namese troops from Kampuchea in July of this year clearly demonstrated the high degree of good will of the States of Indo-China and a willingness to satisfy the concern, in fact groundless, of some countries of the region. 71. Another important result of the conference was, in our view, that the Foreign Ministers of the three countries of Indo-China demonstrated maximum willingness to find a way out of the abnormal situation that developed as a result of the holding of the Inter- national Conference on Kampuchea in July 1981. Eloquent confirmation of their position was the proposal that an international conference should be held to consider the problems of South-East Asia, with the participation of the two groups of States of the region-the States of Indo-China and the ASEAN member countries-as wdl as Burma and the six States that participated in the international con- ferences on Indo-China, namely the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and India. 72. We believe that such an international conference could be convened and that its work could be success- ful provided those directly involved-that is, the countries of Asia and Indo-China concerned-agreed on the participants, the agenda and other organiza- tional matters. 73. We agree with the comments and conclusions contained in the letter of the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, dated 15 September 1982, addressed to the Foreign Ministers of the five member countries of ASEAN. We con- sider it particularly important that the letter empha- sizes that:

It has been 10 days since, in the course of five meetings, the Assembly carried out a thorough consideration of agenda item 20, entitled "The situation in Kampu- chea", and, by an overwhelming majority of 105 votes in favour, 23 against and 20 abstentions, adopted resolution 37/6, sponsored by 49 countries, including .the five member countries ofASEAN which promoted the resolution. In that resolution, the Assembly once again deplored and condemned the invasion of my country, Democratic Kampuchea, by Vietnamese troops in December 1978 and the continuing occupa- tion of Kampuchean territory, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of non-alignment and the established and recognized norms governing international relations. In the eleventh preambular paragraph, the General Assembly has made it clearly known, for the fourth time since 1979, that "to bring about durable peace in South- East Asia, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive 80. I should like to stress two facts. First of all, resolution 37/6 of 28 October last is a reminder of resolutions 34/22 of 14 November 1979, 35/6 of 22 October 1980 and 36/5 of 21 October 1981 and of the Declaration of the International Conference on 89. Even after the great historic victory of the Viet- namese, Lao and Khmer peoples, which waged a long, heroic struggle against armed intervention and aggression by American imperialism, the United States did not renounce its efforts to re-establish its influence and to deprive those peoples of the time and opportunity to reconstruct their countries, so terribly destroyed by war. It has made use of all its agents and incited and armed the reactionary forces of the region in order to attain its hegemonistic and colo- nialist goals and to get its claws once again into the peoples and countries of Indo-China and of South- East Asia as a whole. With that in mind, it has con- tinued to increase and consolidate its presence and its military bases in this strategically important region. In the framework of its counter-revolutionary alliance with the.Chinese social-imperialists, it is co-ordinating its positions and actions, and those countries are plotting together against the freedom and indepen- dence of the peoples of South-East Asia. 90. The two other imperialist super-Powers, the Soviet Union and China, even during the struggle 95. We hope that among the peoples and countries of this region there are no problems which cannot be resolved. The solution of those problems must in no circumstances be left in the hands of the imperialist super-Powers, because they would use this to intensify their aggressive activi~ies. The peoples of South- East Asia have a great need to live in freedom and independence, in good-neighbourliness and harmony, because only that will enable them to concentrate all their efforts on their development and their progress.

The Mongolian People's Republic, as an Asian State, attaches great importance to the con- sideration of this item, for the question of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia is one of the most acute problems now affecting the interests of peace and security in Asia and throughout the: world. 97. Consideration of this item is important because the situation in South-East Asia remains extremely tense; indeed, there is still a threat to peace and stability in the region. The Government of the Mon- golian People's Republic considers that the main reason for this situation is, first and foremost, the policy and actions of those foreign forces which have· set themselves the goal of establishing hegemony in the region. The parallel nature of the interests of imperialism and hegemonism can be seen in the flagrant intervention of those forces in the internal affairs of States of the region and in their sowing of strife and distrust among those States. These foreign forces are acquiring military bases in some countries~ maintaining enormous troop concentrations on the frontiers of other States in South-East Asia and carrying on subversive activities against the legiti- mate Governments of those -States. Unfortunately 1 . some countries in the region are being pulled into the' orbit of the policies of those foreign Powers and are' making their territory available as bridgeheads for armed action against neighbouring States. . 98. It is imperialist and hegemonist purposes that are to be served by the recently forged so-called Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea. Such attempts to bring back the past lead only to increased tension and make the situation in South- East Asia fraught with the danger of the outbreak of armed conflict. It is perfectly clear that the establish- ment of this coalition of Khmer reaction, in which power would virtually be given to the Pol Pot hang- men, is a consequence of the dangerous disregard for political l~alities and also of the flagrant inter- soon~r concrete measures are taken to improve relations between the two groups of countries in South-East Asia, the closer the peoples of the region will come to achieving their ar.pirations and seeing their dream of living in peace and tranquillity come true. Making South-East Asia into a zone of peace, stability and co-operation would undoubtedly be of tremendous historical significance for peace and security, not only in the vast Asian continent itself but throughout the world. 105. Mr. ZARI? (Afghanistan): For the third con- secutive year, the General Assembly is considering the very important item entitled "Question of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia". 106. After nearly four decades of war and misery, the peoples of South-East Asia seem to be determined to do away with not only the remnants of the past but also all the elements which may lead once again to the creation of tension and hostilities in that war- torn region of the world. This is not to imply that at present there are no difficulties in relations among the countries of the region; on the contrary, there is a series of questions requiring statesmanlike responses in order to normalize relations among South-East Asian States. Therefore, the item under discussion gains all the significance which the international community should invest in the search for peace in the various corners of the world. 107. In order effectively and realistically to tackle the pertinent problems, we must define the scope and causes of the present abnormal situation. The roots of tension and destabilization have been attributed equally to the situation in Kampuchea and to the presence of the Vietnamese contingent there. How- ever, my Government believes that the internal events in Kampuchea which resulted in the collapse of the inhuman Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphan regime and the establishment of the Popular Govern- ment there have not negatively affected the situation in the region, and could not do so. That is because, first of all, it was entirely an internal development of that country; secondly, the ousting from power of the criminal gang of Pol Pot, which had served as an extended arm of the Chinese hegemonists, eliminated the threats to the other neighbouring countries of the region; and, thirdly, it now constitutes a major obstacle in the way of the hegemonist ambitions of China. 108. We believe that the real threat to the sover- eignty, independence and territorial integrity of the States of the region comes from imperialist and hegemonist sources. After all, it was precisely the colonialist and imperialist Powers that for 37 years turned that region into a battlefield, bringing untold destruction, death and devastation to the people and the land. Those were the forces that used the facilities of some countries of the region to launch their bar- The meeting rose at /.35 p.m. NOTES 1 See Report of the International Conference Oil Kampuchea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.I.20), annex I. :z A/36/116, annex. 3 A/36/561, annex.