A/37/PV.61 General Assembly

I call on the representative of Canada, the Chairman of the Sixth Committee, who wishes to speak on a point of order. 2. Mr. KIRSCH (Canada) (interpretation from French): It appears that in regard to the item on the United Nations Conference on Succession of States in respect of State Property, Archives and Debts, some questions have arisen about the financial implica- tions of the conference proposed for next year. 3. I believe it would be wise to defer the Assem- bly's consideration of that item for one or two days to enable delegations to obtain clarification on the financial implications of the Conference. 4. . I would request the General Assembly to agree to defer its consideration of this agenda item. 5. The PRESIDENT: If there is no objection, I shall take it that the General Assembly agrees to the re- quest of the Chairman of the Sixth Committee, that the consideration of this item be deferred for one or two days. It was so decided.

Thirty years ago the General Assembly had to deal for th~ tirst time with the problem of the policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa.. 15. Ten years later, in 1962, it decided, in the light of the worsening situation in South Africa, to establish the Special ComIl1ittee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa. Since then the C~mmittee, today known as the Special Committee against Apartheid, has carried out constant and useful activities to unmask and condemn the crime of apartheid, and has helped to organize the .resistance of the world public to all forms of open and hidden collaboration with Pretoria. 16. My delegation would like to express its apprecia- tion to the Chairman of the Spedal Committee against Apartheid, Mr. Maitama-Sule, for his tireless efforts, and to pay a tribute to the Centre against Apartheid for its active and imaginative work under the experi- enced guidance of Mr. Enuga S. Reddy. We all still have a vivid impression of the important 56th meeting of the General Assembly, devoted to the Interna- tional Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa during [his session, on 5 November, which culminated in the unequivocal call for the adoption without delay of comprehensive and man- datory sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. My delegation expresses its apprecia- tion and congratulations to the personalities who received awards for distinguished service in the strug- gle against apartheid. 17. Three decades of discussion and action have not yet eliminated apartheid, but they have contributed decisively towards mobilizing various forces fpr the struggle against the policy ofapartheid. The resistance movement in South Africa has assumed new dimen- 18. The actions against the racists inside the coun- try are backed by a world-wide movement of soli- darity which is growing in strength and includes the German Democratic Republic. World public opin- ion is unanimous in its belief that apartheid cannot be reformed but must be eliminated. All Pretoria" s reform plans aim only at consolidating and extending the power base of the rulers. For the 20 million black Africans there remains nothing but the cruelty and inhumanity of everyday -life. A feature of that life could be seen only recently--early in July-when the South African police shot dead eight miners who, together with their fellow workers, had demonstrated for higher wages. 19. The brutal torture and murder of the trade union leader, Dr. Aggett, again made it clear for the whole world to see that the racists want to destroy any- body who stands for justice and human dignity in their country. Such a domestic policy is terrorism raised to the level of State doctrine. What is more, with the backing of its imperialist accomplices, Pre- toria wants to turn back the clock of history in the entire southern part of the African continent. 20. A key element of this plan is the continued illegal occupation of Namibia. South Africa makes every effort to block resolution of the question of Namibia, which must be solved on the basis of Secu- rity Council resolution 435 (1978). It wants to gain time in order to install a puppet Government. In this way, the Namibian people is to be turned into a vassal of the racist regime for many years to come. Besides the ruthless exploitation of Namibia's re- sources, the occupation of the country, illegal under international law, goes hand in hand with the growing militarization of public life. Namibia is being used as a staging area of the racist army for aggression against Angola and other neighbouring sovereign States. The insidious invasion of the Republic of Seychelles by mercenaries should be seen in that context. The aim 'is to create a situation of instability in the region. 21. South Africa not only attempts to halt the pro- cess of revo1utionary change but wants also to force the front-line States to cease showing solidarity with and assisting the national liberation movements in southern Africa. The South African rulers regard the aggravation of the international situation, which is sought by those in imperialist circles, as a widening of their scope of action and as encouragement to engage in aggressive adventures against free African States. The aggressive course ofconfrontation pursued by the racist, Fascist regime in Pretoria is fraught with grave dangers to peace not only in Africa but in the whole world. 13.3~ per cent in 1981, to $2.63 billion. 23. Another revealing piece of information is pro- vided by the statistics on South Africa's major trading partners contained in the report of the Special Com- mittee againstApartheid. My delegation has noted with indignation that the IMF will grant Pretoria a credit of $US 1.1 billion. This is a gross violation of basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations; it shows disregard for the resolutions adopted by an over- whe'-ming majority of votes of States Members of the United Nations and is an act of defiance of the world Organization. 24. Collaboration in the military and nuclear fields as assumed particularly dangerous dimensions. It is widely known that for many years those h the ruling circles of South Africa have been striving to obtain control 0f nuclear weapons. Therefore it is all the more alarming to see that leading imperialist States provide them with the required technologies and instal- lations. World peace is thus jeopardized for selfish expansionist interests. The international community cannot and muse not look on at this development without taking action. Resolute steps on the part of the United Nations are needed to call a halt to this situation. 25. The German Democratic Republic maintains no relations whatsoever with South Africa. It advocates tt:.at the Security Council impose comprehensive sanctions against Pretoria in.conformity with Chap- ter VII of the Charter of tlie United Nations. This position is fully in line with the purpose of the Inter- national Year of Mobilization for Sanctions against South Africa. The German Democratic Republic is devoting special attention to the preparation of the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, which we expect to make a vital contribution to the struggle for the eradication of the evil of ~partheid. 26. As a member of the Special Committee against Apartheid, the German Democratic Republic has con- tinuously worked with others on the broad-based political-diplomatic front for the elimination of apart- heid. The International Seminar on Publicity and the Role of the Mass Media in the International Mobilization against Apartheid, b.~ld in the capital of 30. Freedom of political expression is, in our view, vital to the democratic process. The recurring political trials, the number ofpoliticalprisoners ;n South African gaols and the deaths in custody testify to the sys- tematic and ruthless repression which is imposed on many of those who are working for a just and equi- table society. Nelson Mandela and others have now spent more than 20 years in prison. The members of the Community reaffirm their support for those imprisoned because of their opposition to apartheid. They again call on the South African Government to release immediately and unconditionally all those who are impriso~edfor their political.beliefs; they urge the Government to permit open political debate among all South Africans on all social, economic and political matters. 31. The members of the Community condemn the bantustan policy of the South African Government. They have not recognized any of the bantust~ns; Through this device blacks an: denied their South African citizenship and are assigned to so-called home- lands. Large numbers of people have been moved from one part of the country to another against their will and without regard for their interests and wisher.. 32. The Government of South Africa alienates the vast majority of it5 own citizens and makes them strangers in their own country. Black South Africans 33. The Community continues to beli~ve that fun.. damental change in South Africa is necessary and inevitable. It will not be satisfied with mere modifi- cations to the system. The entire system of apartheid must be eliminated and give way to a Gm emment based on purely representative democracy. Ail the efforts of the international community should he directed towards this gcal. This makes it necessary to maint.ain channelS of communication with South Africa. 34. With regard to the particular forms of discrimina- t:t>n against black workers i~ South Afriea, the members of the European Co~nmunity adopt(~d in '1977 a code of conducf~ fi:)f subsidiarie~ of cn~~"4paniesdoing '.Jug~tiess in South Africa. These cOffif'anfes br.ve continued to respond in an emcQuraging WaY to th~ standard~ 5et by the co;:1,e. 35. Thll~ members of the Community wIB maintain pressure to promote the prores~ of p~aceful change in South Mrica. Tbe~l will .;ontinue to examL~e W~\ys in whkh their coHectiv{;; We!g~l~ may be u:~ed to in- fluence the Gevemment of Soutb Afrk:a. 36. The United Nations ha§ :1111 imporlam role to play in the effort~ to elitlli!'.late apartheid. 'j he member Stat~s of the Commudty' rCffi:iin ready to assist in this endeavour. Fmthermcrr,;, they remain com- miUed to strict abservance of tte arms embargo against South Africa imposed by Se1curity Council resolution 418 (l977). 37. The Community continues to support and con- tribute to the .mmy Ldited ,. J 4 :':11S organizations that help the victi:;'lS of aparthe_1.4 both inside and outside South Africa. It deplores any recourse to violence in the region. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States in southern Africa must be respected. The European Community and member countries reiterate their readiness to contribute to efforts desig- ned by the States neighbouring South Africa to strengthen their regional co-ordination and self-suf- ficiency in the economic sphere, such as, for exam- ple, the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference. 38. The members of the Community feel that encour- agement should also be given to those non-govern- mental organizations, including Churches, trade uni~ns and other groups, which are in close contact with South Africans who suffer under apartheid. Their efforts have been especially useful in increasing public awareness of the abhorrent nature of apartheid. 39. In the field of sports, the Cotr.munity adheres strictly to the Olympic principle of non-discrimina- tion. It rejects any kind of apartheid in connection ~vith sports. It will continue firmly to discourage any sporting contacts which would have the effect of per- petuating racial discrimination. .12. The developments that have recently taken place in South Africa and in southern ... urica in general require. in !he Romanian delegation's opinion, decisive intervenHon 'Jy the United Nations in order to elimi·· nate a very dangerous hotbed of tension which seri·· ousty aftects international relations. As is emphasized in the~ repo: ( of the ~pecial Committee agabst Apartheid, the :':JOlicy (f oppression carried out by the Pretooia ~11tholi!ie8 af,ainst the majority African popu- lation-,·~"tlich t1nd~. e.tternal expression in the co~cnial dominativii. a~d ruthh~ss r~pression of the liberation struggle of the Namioian people and in continuous acts of .aggression against independent neighbouring States-represents not only a source of national con- flict and animosity but also a sericlls threat to tran- quillity in the area and to international peace and security. 43. South Africa's system of institutionalized op- pressiC'n, which poses such a serious threat to peace and raises the theory of racial supremacy to the status of law, depriving the African population of the most elementary political and social rights, the ruthless exploitation of the majority population by a racist minority, the forced relocation of the native popu- lation and the establishment of bantustans on tribal grounds, denying the native population its inalienable rights and citizenship, have been stigmatized and condemned in the most forceful terms by the whole international community. 44. The resolute rejection of this scourge has found expression in the fact that the policy of apartheid has been rightly qualified by the United Nations as a crime against the human conscience and dignity, absolutely ,~ncompatible with the norms and principles ofinternational law which proclaim the equality ofmen irrespective of race, colour or faith. Needless to say, such a policy is in blatant contradiction with the Charter of the United Nations add the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the many resolutions adopted by the United Nations in connec- tion with the situation in South Africa and southern Africa. 45. The measures adopted by the United Nations, to which my country has made an Rctive contribu- tion, have fostered the mobilization of the efforts undertaken by the international community to eradi-

The year 1982 was de· clared International Year of Mobilization for Sanc· tions against South Africa at the thirty·sixth session of the General Assembly. This resolution signifies that the policy of apartheid of South Africa has become one of the most vital issues on the agenda pf this body. The resolution also signifies that the Member States of the Uni~ed Nations want above all action 61. Apartheid, which is a crime against humanity, is the most brutal form of racial discrimination. It is rather astonishing that, in our time, when the struggle against racism has been successful in many parts of the world, such an anachronistic form of racial dis- crimination should exist in one country. The system of apartheid is not simply a remnant of the past; it is a remnant of the past which has significance inside South Africa as well as outside the country in the international sphere. 62. It would be a mistake to consider the system of apartheid simply as a case of the violation of human rights. Yes, it is true that apartheid is the brutal mass violation of human rights of the vast majority of the population of South Africa, but in fact the system of apartheid is more than that. The humiliation of many millions of people is connected to an even more deep-rooted cause which is inseparable from colo- nialism and imperialism. This is the economic exploita- tion of the victims of apartheid. We cannot ignore this factor in the analysis of the racist regime in South Africa. We cannot ignore the fact that the so- called separate development, bantustanization and the pass law system are designed to ensure a cheap labour force for the benefit of the racist white minority regime and for the foreign economic interests which are also present in South Africa. 63. It has been repeatedly emphasized in the United Nations that without the help and collaboration of its Western allies the Pretoria regime could not defy the will ofthe international community and could not even survive. That is why many resolutions of the General Assembly have, called for comprehensive and man- datory sanctions against South Africa. Since 1977, with the adoption of Security Council resolution 418 (1977), a mandatory arms embargo has been imposed on South Mrica. The Security Council, by its reso~ lution 421 (1977), established a committee to monitor effectively the arms embargo. 64. However, in spite of all' these efforts, collabo- ration with the racist regime of South Africa not only continues but is intensifying in all fields, including the economic, cultural, scientific, sports, military and nuclear fields. It is most deplorable and deserving of censure that certain Western States and Israel are taking steps towards the intensification of nuclear collaboration with South Africa. The latest example of this collaboration is that, according to press. reports, the United States has delivered shipments of arms. to the South African police. Such steps constitute clear violation of United Nations resolutions, at the same time contributing to the tension in the southenl part of Africa, where the Pretoria regime is the main source of tension and the major destabilizing factor, with its constant aggression against Angola and other front-line States. The acquisition of nuclear capability by the Pretoria regime would contribute to the further deterioration of the situation in southern Africa. report~ who indeed its authors are and what viola- tions of basic human rights are currently condoned by some of their Governments. 75. Among the members of that Coml!:!ittee are countries such as Algeria, where a native people, the Berbers, are still oppressed by their Arab masters and denied the right to separate cultural expres- sion. In other member countries people are still down- trodden for their ideological and religious beliefs ard are .denied their basic rights to liberty of movement and free expression. Is there really any great differ- ence between the pass laws of South Africa and the curtailment of free movement in the Eastern bloc countries? 76. There are also countries represented in the Com- mittee, need it be said, that have countenanced with equanimity widespread imprisonment without trial of political opponents of their regimes. Is it not ironic that among the critics of Israel should sit Syria, that paragon of all the virtues lauded by this Organiza- tion, whose brutalities perpetrated by its Alawite minority Government reached an horrendous climax only this past February, when, as reported by the BBC on 11 April 1982, 15,000 Sunni Moslems died at the hands of the Syrian army in Hama. 77. A.s is well kl}ow!1' of t~e 18 f!lembe~s of t~i~ Committee, 11 mamtam no diplomatic relations With Israel, while three continue to regard their relations with Israel as those of belligerency. 78. As in previous years, the authors of this report tediously contend that Israel's alleged coilaboration with South Africa has "assumed increasing scope" [A/37/22IAdd.l. para. 1]. Perusal ofthe special report of the Special Committee on the alleged "special" relations between Israel and South Africa, however, reveals that although the report pretends to sub- 79. For instance, let us take the allegations about economic collaboration between Israel and South Africa. As introduction to a tiresome list of minor events culled from the pages of the South African press, of which the members of the Committee are apparently avid and ingenuous readers, the report makes it clear that in fact Israel accounts for less than 1 per cent-I repeat, less than 1 per cent-of South Africa's total trade. 80. If we were to accept the report m the same spirit of self-righteous indignation in which it is presented, we might justifiably assume that th'e re- maining 99 per cent of South Africa's foreign trade was conducted with the moon. In fact, of course, South Africa's trade continues to be with the earth- bound. From the statistics published by the IMF we learn, for example, that it is Africa which last year accounted for as much as 8.6 per cent ofSouth Africa's exports-up by more than 3 per cent over the previous year. We leam that the USSR and Eastern Europe account for an ostensibly smaller percentage, but then of course, in the words of the IMF report, such 'figures do not include "oil, diamonds and gold". As I had occasion to ask in this debate last year, how many East European and Arab countries do indeed continue surreptitiously to trade billions of dollars worth of their oil and other products against gold, diamonds, foodstuffs and buildings materials from South Africa? These, needless to say, are figures which the Committee chooses not to reveal. But then the point of the entire exercise is not to question apartheid but to exploit the United Nations machinery to vilify Israel and to harness the Special Committee against Apartheid to serve the relentless Arab campaign against my country. 81. One of the most misleading sections of the 1982 special report deals with alleged military and nuclear collaboration between Israel and South Africa. There is not one single item of verified information in this section. Indeed the key words used by the authors of the report seem to be "reported" and "possibly". The words "substantiated" and "probable", however, continue as in past years to be conspicuous by their absence. Once again it is clear that those who drafted the report have been unable to produce any real evidence for their accusations. In the interests of fair and accurate reporting, therefore, I would once again refer representatives to document SIAC.20/17, dated 14 September 1979 and circulated as a document of the Security Council Committee established by reso- lution 421 (1977). In that document my Government reconfirmed its undertakings of 7 December 19771 and 3 April 19782 namely, that it would comply with Security Council resolution 418 (1977), and accord- ingly, Israel would not provide South Africa with arms or related material of all types, including the sale o~ transfer of weapo~::nd am=:.::a:~: 94. The living conditions of blacks in urban areas are hardly more enviable. Some steps have indeed been taken to give these blacks a say in their own affairs on the municipal level, and some of the restric- tions on the labour market have been eased. How- ever, any positive impact these measures might have had was nullified by the accompanying wave of arrests, detentions and bannings of opponents of apartheid, by the enactment of more repressive legislation and by the further muzzling of the press. The foreign press has not been spared in the process. Only a few weeks ago the South African authorities decided not to extend the labour permit ofa permanent Netherlands news media correspondent in South Africa. A further recent development that caused indignation in my country was the extension of the banning of the Reverend Beyers Naude. 95. My Government believes that the apartheid system is aoomed and that it must give way to a multiracial society in which all citizens participate on a footing of democratic equality. Without arrogating to itself the right to advocate a particular political configuration for South Africa, the Netherlands does its -utmost to encourage peaceful change in South Africa's society and in its political system. On the national level, .my Government follows two complem~ntary policies in the pursuit of this objective: the continua- tion of our dialogue with the South African auth.ori- ties, and the exertion of effective pressure on tnem. Priority will always be given, however, to our sup- port for the efforts of the United Nations to put an end to apartheid. At the request of the Security Coun- cil. the Netherlands implemented a national voluntary arms embargo a year before the Security Council imposed a mandaVlry arms embargo against South Africa in 1977 by the adoption of its resolution 418 (1977). My Government attaches great importance to the scrupulous observance of that resolution. The Netherlands would view favourably the adoption by the Security Council of selective economic measures -under Chapter VII of the Charter, or a voluntary embargo instituted by a sufficient number of coun- tries capable of using their influence in a significant way in the economic field concerned. Needless to say, South Mi'ica, which recently announced its intention to start exporting arms, will find no buyers in my country. My Government remains ready to consider participating in the implementation of a non-man- datory ~ effective embargo on oil supplies to South Africa applied by countries relevant in this sphere. 102. Individually and through international pro- grammes, my Government will continue to give priority to helping these countries to pursue their right to development. B'ut prosperity and stable, peaceful conditions will come to the region only when the root cause of its problems has been removed. It is our fervent hope that the concerted action of the inter- national community will finally persuade the South African leaders to abandon their collision course with history while there is still time. Their choice is between further entrenchment at home and abroad, with all its inevitable disastrous consequences, and salvaging their own future by setting in motion a process of rapid reform leading to a multiracial, truly democratic society that will command the loyalty of all its citizens, irrespective of the colour of their skin.

There are few subjects as disturbing and revolting as that which we are dis- cussing today; the indescribable policy of apartheid of the ruling minority in South Africa. 104. Today, 37 years after the crushing of fascism in the sall!e year as our Organization was born, the world described as civilized still accepts as a worthy partner-indeed, a member in good standing-a regime whose declared philosophy is overt, sys- tematic, institutionalized racism. South Africa, which categorizes men according to totally irrelevant criteria and which denies the humanity of millions of men on the sole ground that they are not very white, is still, unhappily, given a hearing by many Members of this Organization. 105. Moreover, South Africa has diplomatic rep- resentatives in many of those countries, receives unimaginable quantities of sophisticated weapons, has access to nuclear technology, and is thus encouraged ~n its continued annexation of Namibia, its continued occupathm of Angolan territory and its periodic acts of aggression against the other brother front-line countries. In addition, it seeks and frequently receives significant financial aid the better to bolster its policy of racial discrimination and aggression, which is contrary to our Charter, to any interpretation of international law and to the simplest expression of human rights. 110. Fourthly, we call for the intensification of the international campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela and all the other political prisoners, and we pay homage to the memory of all the martyrs of South African terrorism. 111. Fifthly, we reaffirm our active solidarity with all our brother frcmt-line countries, victims of daily acts of provocation and terrorism of all kinds at the hands of South Africa. 112. Sixthly, we draw attention to the growing collaboratim. between South Africa and Israel in many areas, particularly in the nuclear field. 113. Before I finish I should like to thank the Spe- cial Committee against Apartheid and its Chairman, our brother Mr. Maitama-Sule of Nigeria, for the excellent report in which are described all the hor- rors ofapartheid. We believe that the report deserves c,:lfeful reading and that deep thought should be given to the long night which is stretching ahead fer mil- lions of our brothers in that country-wide concen- tration camp known as South Africa.

The policy of apartheid, which has become a despicable symbol or slogan of the Pretoria Govern- ment, is not a policy that should be merely con- demned and denounced. Indeed it is a system of anachronistic colonial government, one which has been overtaken by h~story. To be more precise, it is the last weapon used by the colonialists in South Africa to perpetuate the domination by the white minority of the black majority, which is ceaselessly exposed to the most barbaric and inhuman methods of perse- cution, employed to stifle any flame in their soul which would make them call, not for revolution or rebellion, but merely for social justice and equalityo ~nd perhaps some of this Organization's Members at :ransom, because it has been so generously endowed 'with natural resources. Although so much of the wealth of that country has been and continuf';s to be prod'lced by a labour force of black people, against whom these policies Jfapartheid are aimed, they have them- selves benefited little from that accumulation of wealth. This year at least that tide has ebbed, if not turned, and the Government of South Africa has been compelled to seek a substantial credit of $1 oil- 2 Ibid., Thirty-third Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1978, document S/12475/Add.1. NOTES