A/38/PV.43 General Assembly

In connection with agenda item 145, theAssemblyhas before it a draft resolution in document A/38/L.8, an amend- ment to that draft resolution in document A/38/L.~, and a further draft resolution in document A/38/L.I0. 2. i call on the representative of Seychelles on a point of order. 3. Ms. GONTHIER (Seychelles): It seems to me that human life gets lost in the tide of political events. It has been the customary procedure here in the General Assem- bly to respect a dead leader with a minute of silence. I therefore request you, Mr. President, to invite us to maintain that tradition and to give the late Prime Minister of Grenada, Mr. Maurice Bishop, a minute of silence before we begin these deliberations. 4. The PRESIDENT (interpretationfiom Spanis;): If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Asse~hlbly decides to observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of Mr. Maurice Bishop, the late Prime: Minister of Grenada. The members observed a minute ofsilence. 5. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): Before I call on the first speaker in the debate, I should like to propose that the list of speakers in the debate on this item be closed at the end of this afternoon's meeting. 6. I call on the representative of Democratic Yemen on a point of order. 7. Mr. AL-ASHTAL (Democratic Yemen): The ques- tion before us is both urgent and important. Last week the Security Council held a number of meetings to discuss the invasion ofGrenada. Sixty-five representatives spoke in the Security Council, after which a draft resolution was presented I and in the end was vetoed by a permanent member of the Security Council. 8. The invasion of Grenada is still going on, and the question remains urgent and critical. Therefore, my del- egation deems it necessary that no time be wasted before the General Assembly pronounces on developments in Grenada. Therefore, whilst apologizing to all represen- tatives who have put their names on the list of speakers, I move, under rule 75 of the rules of procedure of the General Assem.bly, that we close the debate and start voting on draft resolution A/38/L.8. 9. The PRESIDENT (interpretationfrom Spanish): The representative of Democratic Yemen has proposed the closure of debate on the item before us. Under rule 75 of our rules of procedure, "A representative may at any time move the closure of the debate . . . Permission to speak on the closure of the debate shall be accorded only to two speakers NlEW YORK opposing the closure, after which the motion shall be immediately put to the vote." I call on the representative of Antigua and Barbuda. 10. Mr. JACOBS (Antigua and Barbuda): The matter before the Assembly, the situation in Grenada, concerns my region, the Caribbean, and my country, Antigua and Barbuda. My Government has anked me to make a state- ment on the matter before us. There is additional infor- mation which needs to be brought to the attention of representatives in the Assembly. I notice that once again a foreigner far removed from the Caribbean region is trying to stifle debate on this important subject for his own purposes. 11. I oppose the closure motion. 12. The PRESIDENT (interpretation/rom Spanish): I call on the representative of Saint Lucia. 13. Mr. FLEMMING (Saint Lucia): My delegation also opposes the motion of the representative of Democratic Yemen. 14. The events in Grenada, which began on the morning of 25 October, when a pre-emptive defensive force made up of troops from some Caribbean States, and with logis- tieal p,nd personnel support from Barbados, Jamaica and the United States of America, landed on Grenada to protect civilian lives, restore domestic order and nullify a major security threat to the islan':1S of the Caribbean region, were inaugurated well within the international legal constraints of the Charter of the United NatiODj and the charter of the Organization of American States and, more s9ecifically, within the purview of the 1981 Treaty establishing the Organisation ofEastem Caribbean States, to WhiC~l Grenada is a party. Therefore, Saint Lucia rejects all (;!Jegations designed to portray this pre-emptive action as dther ultra vires or contrary to the principles of international law. 15. The actions called for and co-ordinated by the Defence and Security Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States [OECS] are consistent with the provisions of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, and, as we all know, the Organization ofAmer- ican States [OAS] takes cognizance of Article 51. 16. Saint Lucia ts a non-aligned State, both in the for- mal sense of being a member of the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries and in the practical sense ofmaintain- ing a non-aligned foreign policy. Consistent with this, we belong to no military bloc, nor do we take any actions to exacerbate great-Power rivalry in the international theatre. 17. In that context, Saint Lucia has not in the past engaged in international adventurism or displayed a pro- pensity to intervene in what is expressly within the internal affairs ofany State, so long as that State does not threaten Saint Lucia's security concerns. It does not at present do so, and it has no future plans to do so. 18. Saint Lucia had closel}" monitored events on Gre- nada since the overthrow ofits constitutional Government on 13 March 1979. While we expressed no value judge- ments on tbe merits ofthe 1979coup d'etat, we were filled 19" In the past four years Grenada had built up its armed forces, with the assistance of both regional and non-regional totalitarian States, to a level unmatched by any other country in the Eastern Caribbean. History has shown, and ourownintelligence reports have confmned- 20. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): I call on the representative of Mozambique on a point of order. 21. Mr. dos SANTOS (Mozambique): Mr. President, I wish to apologize to you personally, to the Assembly and to the representative who was making a statement, . but I want this meeting to take place under the most serene conditions. I feel that we are straying from the question under discussion. A motion has been presented and, as you rightly said, Sir, two speakers may speak against it. I am not sure, however, whether in these cir- cumstances speakers can be allowed to make the state- ments they had already prepared. Hence I seek your assistance, so that we may keep to what we aTe discussing now. 22. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): I have taken note of the remarks just made by the repre- sentative of Mozambique on a point of order. I now. ask the representative of Saint Lucia to continue his <;tatement. 23. Mr. FLEMMING (Saint Lucia): In the past four years Grenada has built up its armed forces, with the assistance of both regional and non-regional totalitarian States, to a level unmatched by any other country in the Eastern Caribbean. History has shown, and our intelli- gence reports have confirmed, that the microcosmic ter- ritory ofGrenada was becoming far too small to contain both its revolutionary zeal and the mounting tons of military hardware. 24. The brutal coup in Grenada only a few days ago, when over lOO Grenadians were killed, including the Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, and several Cabinet members, made it abundantly clear- 25. The PRESIDENT (interpretationjrom Spanish): I invite the representative of Saint Lucia to try to refer only to the reasons for which he opposes the motion for the closure of the debate. I have not put any time-limit on those statements, even though that is allowed under the rules of procedure, because we are considering a motion for the closure of the debate. But I appeal to the repre- sentative of Saint Lucia to express his thoughts as briefly as possible. 26. Mr. FLEMMING (Saint Lucia): In deference to your request, Sir, I shall certainly cut my statement short. However, as the representative of Mozambique rightly pointed out, we came here prepared, because we have witnessed the constellation of forces here which attempt to muzzle those countries which are most directly inter- ested in this affair. The representative of Mozambique, who, it will be recalled, voted against the draft resolution condemning the invasion of Afghanistan, lias, surpris- ingly enough, denounced this invasion. We see where the objections from .the floor are coming from.

My delegation supports the motion made by the representative of Democratic Yemen con- cerning the rejection of the amendment proposed by the representative of Belgium. 44. I believe that this proposed addition is not logical and not acceptable. It is not logical because it calls for elections to be held during the occupation. Who is going, practically speaking, to organize such elections? The occupation forces, which have eliminated the legitimate regime there and have imprisoned its leaders? The amend- ment is not acceptable because it relates to tt e internal affairs of an independent country, a Member of our international Organization. 45. Therefore, my country supports the rejectionofthis amendment, and I state again our support for the motion made by the representative of Democratic Yemen.

I had been trying to catch your eye, Mr. President, even before you called on the representative of Democratic Yemen. However, I am not going to make an issue of that. 47. I have asked to speak not, certainly, to contest the right of any delegation present in this Assembly to intro- duce an amendment to any draft resolution before us. In fact, with specific regard to the amendment proposed by the delegation of Belgium, my delegation would like to etate categorically that we'find the amendment to be an interesting, thoughtful one. I would express my dele- gation's appreciation to the delegation of Belgium for the interest taken in the draft resolution, which was sponr sored by Guyana also at the level of the Security Council -an interest which led the deiegation of Belgium to consider ways in which it could improve the text now before us for consideration. However, my delegation finds the motion presented by the delegation of Demo- cratic Yemen irresistible, and I shall state why. 48. My colleagues will noticethat draft resolutionA/38/ L.8 is almost identical with that which was presented by three delegations to the Security Council last week. The draft resolution that was presented to the Council was not adopted, for reasons which are no secret to anyone here. It means that the international community has not so far had an opportunity to pronounce itself on the events that took place in Grenada last week. In view of the fact that the Security Council was so prevented last week, it was the wish and the intention of the sponsors of the draft resolution now before us that the General Assembly should be given just such an opportunity to pronounce itself on those events taking place in Grenada. Therefore, with the draft resolution that we are now considering, the sponsors are simply seeking to have the Assembly pronounce itself on what has happened, on the events of last week. 49. It seems to my delegation that draft resolution A/38/ L.1O has a differentthrust, a different emphasis. Draft res- olution A/38/L.IO, presented by Trinidad and Tobago, looks to the future. It looks forward. One of the elements in draft resolution A/38/L.IO is precisely that of elec- tions, to which the delegation of Belgium has so thought- fully referred in its proposed amendment [A/38/L.9]. Therefore I should like to suggest that the amendment of Belgium could properly be considered by this Assembly when we are dealing with the draft resolution presented t~e best of intentions and in all sincerity, but I should like to suggest very humbly that its consideration would be more relevant when we are taking up draft resolu- !ion A/~8/L.I0, presented by Trinidad and Tobago. It IS for this reason, and no other, that I say that I find it hard to resist the motion by Democratic Yemen. 51: Mr.s. KIRKPA",fRICK <t!nited States of America): It IS particularly sad, If symbolically appropriate, that the action on this issue concerning Grenada in this body should be accompanied by attempts to stifle free dis- cussion of the issues and to reject an amendment which calls for free elections. It is particularly appropriate that those efforts should be made by a country which calls itself "De~ocratic Ye~en". I~ is particularly appropriate that questions shoulu be raised by the representative of Libya concerning how the persons now in Grenada- t~e Governor-General, presumably, and the representa- t~ves ofOECS-would be able to organize free elections, smce the Government of Libya is singularly unqualified on that subject. 52. The motion by Democratic Yemen has been de- s~ri~ed as "irresistible". If indeed this body finds irre- sistible a proposal, first, that debate be stifled and pre- vented and, secondly, that an amendment proposing free ele~ions for a liberated people be rejected, then we have arnved at a moment of truth. ?3. Has it come to this, that the Organization, founded m the wake of a great war against tyrants, comprising from the moment of its birth nations liberated by force from the troops and quisling Governments of tyrants, should be asked to deplore the rescue of the people of Grenada from the grip of a small band of murderous men ?,hos~ clear intention wa.s to secure the permanent sub- Jugati0p. ofGrenada ~d Its people, putting this small but strategIcally located Island at the disposal of foreign tyrants? Ifyesterday's victims of yesterday's tyrants and tomon:ow's victims of tomorrow's tyrants should join in deplonng the liberation of today's victims from today's tyr~ts, and should do so in an organization founded precisely to ensure that there be no more victims and no more tyrants, then surely we would have arrived at the end. of the dreams and the hopes of the founding generation. 54. Free discussion, free elections, rule of law and due process of law are precisely the questions at issue in Grenada and precisely the questions at issue in this body today. Maurice Bishop and his Cabinet were murdered without a trial, without a right to defend themselves without a court, without a judge. They were murdered in cold blood. If this body today attempts to stifle dis- cussion of the issues invo!ved in the establishment of democracy in Grenada ~,aer a terrible experience with lawlessn~ss and tyran~y, then the majority here is an accomplice to the death of the dreams which we all brjng to this great AssemlJly. 55. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): I now put to H~e vote the motion by the representative of Democratic Yemen, submitted under rule 74 of the rules of procedure, that no decision be taken on the amendment submitt~d by the representative of Belgium (A/38/L.9]. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken.· In j'!vour: ~fghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bemn, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cape Yerde, Congo, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, ~a, Pol~d.' Sao T?me ~d frincipe, ~yrian Arab Repub- lic, Ukratman Soviet SOCialiSt RepublIc, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" United Republic of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Vanuatu, Vlet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Zimbabwe. ' Against: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Canada Chad, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Democratic Kam: P?chea, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Fmland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of Greece Guatemala~ Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel: Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Mal2.ysia, Mo~occo, Nepal, Netherla!lds, New Zealand, Norway, r~~lstan, Papua Ne~ Gum~a, Paraguay, Peru, Phil- Ippmes, Portugal, Saint Lucla, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Turkey United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' United Republic of Cameroon, United States of America' Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire. ' Aqstaining: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, CentralMrican Republic China Co~ombia, Cyprus, Do!fiinican Republic, Eq~atoriai GUInea.' Ghana, IndoneSia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Malaw~, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Niger, Oman, Panama, Qatar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Spain, Sri Lanka Sudan, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda. ' The motion was rejected by 63 votes to 43 with 34 abstentions. ' 56. Th~ PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): The motion by the representative of Democratic Yemen has not been adopted. We shall therefore proceed in accordance with the rules of procedure to vote first on the amendment contained in document A/38/L.9. 57. I call on the representative of Vanuatu on a point of order. I should like to recall that the representative of Vanuatu may refer only to a point of order regarding the conduct of the. voti~g. If it is on any other point, he would have to Wait until the end of the voting process. ?8. Mr: VAN LIEROP ~anuatu): I apologize for the mterruptIon, but I was trying to get ble President's atten- tion before the voting began in order to propose a sub- amendment to the Belgian amendment. 5~. T~e PRESIDENT (interpretationjrom Spanish): I Wish to mform the representative of Vanuatu that we very much regret that his action concerning a sub-amendment ha4 not been communicat~dbefore the beginning of the votmg process on the BelgIan amendment. Since we have begun the voting process, we cannot accept his sub- amendment. However, after the voting process is over, we shall hear any proposal that he may wish to make. 60. I call on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on a point of order with regard to the voting process. 61. Mr.. RAJAIE-KHO~SSANI (Islamic Republic of Iran): It IS my underatandmg that the Assembly has not suffic~entlydeba!ed the amendment made by the repre- sentative of BelgIUm. I have a lot to say about it. I have not had a chance to speak on it; My understanding was that we were in the voting process only with respect to the motion by Democratic Yemen. I understood that the amen9r(lent was not included in that voting process, and I have a sub-amendment to sul.>mit to it. I have it wiitten out in f~0t:tt of me and I. have not had an opportunity to submit It. Has the votmg process with respect to the Against: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Congo, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iran r'~,}w Zealand, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Cameroon, Zaire. Paragraph 1 was adopted by 106 votes to 8, with 25 abstentions. 87. The PRESIDENT(interpretation/ram Spanish): We shall now vote on paragraph 2 of draft resolution A/38/ L.8. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In/avour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangla- desh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hun- gary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (IslaInic Republic 00, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Sao Tone and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swazi- land, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Upper Volta, Uroguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Against: Barbados, Dominica,'Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. AbstaiJting: Germany, Federal Republic of,2 Guate- mala, HOnduras, Japan, Malawi, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, Sao Tome and Prin- cipe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Swe- den, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand~ Toga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Repub- lic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Cameroon. United Re- public of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Against: Israel, United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America. Abstaining: Germany, Federal Republic of, Guate- mala, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Malawi, Nether- lands, New Zealand, Pan~guay, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Turkey. Paragraph 6 was adopted by 122 votes to !, with 14 abstentions. Thlmeeting wassuspendeda(6.05p.m. andresumed at 6.15 p.m. 131. The PRESIDENT (interpretation/rom Spanish): During the suspension of the meeting, I have had an 167. The United States will withdraw from Grenada as soon as the island is fully secured-not before. There never was, and there still is not, any intention that United States troops would remain in Grenada for longer than is absolutely necessary. 168. Our own men will be out of Grenada in a matter of weeks, turning the country over to a broad-based civilian Government, which will immediately prepare for general elections. Grenada will have democracy restored and the will of the people shall prevail, free from tyranny, free from despotism. 169. Mr. JANNUZZI (Italy): I should like first, Mr. President, to thank you for your very wise ruling and to express to you our deep appreciation for calling on us at this time. 170. The Italian delegation voted in favour of all the paragraphs of the draft resolution sponsored by Nicara- gua [A/38/L.8) and for the resolution in its entirety out of respect for the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law, which should not be set aside for any reason, the application of which we have consistently favoured at all times in the past and to which Italy intends to reaffirm its full and determined adherence. As a friend of the United States and as a member of the same free alliance with the United States, we feel at liberty to dissent whenever necessary from its decisions, without that having to imply any stress on our relations which are the basis of this free alliance and of the principles which inspire it. 171. In the same spirit of frankness, one cannot forget the reality ot the situation which arose in the island of Grenada as a result of the tragic events which led to the killing of Prime Minister Bishop and of other eminent representatives and leaders of that country, and the con- cern that such a situation might have arisen in neighbour- ing countries. Wetherefore approve the reference made to those tragic events in the preamble of the resolution just adopted. 172. I think we should look at the future now; it is above all important that everyone work constructively for the prompt re-establishment of the principles of interna- tionallaw, and to bring Grenada fully back to normal. To this end, it seems to us essential that the people of Grenada be put in a position to express itself freely and to choose, in full sovereignty and autonomy, through free elections, its own system of government and its own destiny;",I 173. ,Mrs. KIRKPAtRICK (United States ofAmerica): The United States did not oppose the inscription of the Latin America and the Caribbean. No consideration of human rights or preservation of the lives of United States citizens, or of those whom they were attacking, was in the minds of those who ordered the invasion. 198. Grenada is today an occupied country. Its inde- pendence has been flouted and lives solely in the hearts of its sons and fighters, in those who have inherited the tradition of struggle from Maurice Bishop. Neither hon- our nor victory has been obtained by the United States in this ignominious battle. Washington has tried through this military adventure to obtain votes for the re-election of its present Government and will try to set this as a precedent for new aggression and interventions in Central America and the Caribbean. In the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency they are in fact beating the drums of war against Nicaragua and El Salvador. 199. Today's vote in the Assembly may help to stop such acts. If it does not, then, in the words of a commu- nique from the Revolutionary Government of Cuba: "We hope that the heroic resistance of the Cubans and the Grenadians to the treacherous surprise attack will have taught them that their adventures throughout the world can no longer be taken as military prome- nades, that the peoples of the world are no longer frightened of them and that, determined to fight, the people are now invincible." 2OJ)' Mr. KORHONEN (Finland): The delegation of Finland voted in favour of draft resolution A/38/L.8, as amended. 201. This is a matter of principle for us. The Govern- ment of Finland has followed with concern the develop- ments in Grenada which have led to the use of force and to outside interference in the internal affairs of that country. International disputes should be settled by peace- ful means, through negotiations, without resorting to force which is prohibited in the Charter of the United Nations. The situation should be normalized as soon as possible by withdrawing the foreign forces and re-estab- lishing the right to self-determination of the people of Grenada. . Mr. Koroma (Sierra Leone), Vice-President, took the Chair. 202. The debate in the Security Council has clearly demonstrated that there is a broad consensus on these principles. We I'~gret the fact that the implementation of these principles in relation to the situation in Grenada has become subject to controversy, in particular between the great Powers. We wish to stay outside these contro- versies, in accordance with our policy of neutrality. 203. The Government ofFinland has repeatedly voiced its concern over the increasing number of developments endangering peace among nations. We have emphasized the responsibility of the United Nations and especially ofthe permanent members of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. 204. Mr. FONSEKA (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka voted in favour ofdraft resolution N38/L.8, including the amend- ment indocumentA/38/L.9, which has justbeenadopted by the Assembly, in order to reaffmn our commitment to two vital principles of the Charter of the United Nations. ~ 278. OECS, particularly, reacted to this situation which also had as a consequence international action that, 295. Czechoslovakia maintains relations of friendship and co-operation with Grenada, relations based on mutual advantage, respect and the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs. In that spirit a governmental delega- tion headed by Maurice Bishop made an official visit to CzechoslovakiainOctoberthis year. Thatvisitoccurredat a time when the Revolutionary Government andthe people of Grenada were successfully countering the increasing political, military and economic pressure of world impe- rialism, particularly that of the United States, and its attempts to isolate Grenada in the international arena. That visit occurred at a critical time in the international situation caused by the aggressive actions of imperialist forces undertaken on a global scale and leading to a perceptible deterioration of the world situation, particu- larly in Central America and the Caribbean. In that region particularly, the United States fOf some time has been inciting open hatred of Cuba, Nicaragua and the national liberation movements. The results achieved by the people of Grenada since the revolution of 13 March 1979 have shown that the Government of Grenada had chosen the correct course for the building of a new econ- omy and the forming of a new,political awareness. 296. Czechoslovakiagreatly appreciated the active efforts made by Grenada in the international arena, particularly in the United Nations and within the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries, in the interests of presemng peace, strengthening security and achieving social and economic justice. Grenada, like Czechoslovakia, realized that the struggle for peace is one of the dictates of our time, and disarmament accordingly is the most urgent question of the day. The course embarked upon by the people of Grenada was interrupted by violence in that act of aggres- sion. There can be no justification for it. After all, the recent events in Grenada, which served as a pretext for the aggressor, were exclusively within the internal juris- diction of that country. Furthermore, as emerges from the statement of the Military Council of Grenada, these internal matters did not threaten the course undertaken by Grenada or security in the Caribbean region, not to mention the security of the United States itself. The true reason for the aggression that was committed is entirely different. It was the ambition of the interventicnists to suppress the revolutionary process in Grenada and to establish in Central America and the Caribbean area their own imperialist and colonialist domination. This was realized by Maurice Bishop himself, who, in the course of his official visit to Czechoslovakia on 4 October this year-that is, just before the events which were exploited by the aggressor as a pretext-pointed out, interalia, "the increasing threat of imperialist armed aggression against Grenada". 297. For that reason, Czechoslovakia voted in favour of the draft resolution, and the results of the vote, as was to be expected, make abundantly clear what Members of the United Nations think about the United States aggres- sion against Grenada.

My delegation would like to explain briefly the vote it cast on the Belgian amendment [A/38/L.9] to draft resolution A/38/L.8, concerning the situation in Grenada. The meeting rose at 8.35 p.m. NareS 1OfficialRecords ofthe Security Council, Thirty-eighth Year. Sup- p/ementforOctober, NovemberandDecember1983. document S/16CY17/ Rev.I. 2The delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany subsequently informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour of the paragraph. 3The delegation of Senegal subsequently informed the Secretariat that it had not intended to participate in the voting. 4The delegation of Australia subsequently informed the Secretariat that it had intended to abstain in the vote on the draft resolution.