A/38/PV.55 General Assembly

The General Assembly is considering this year the question of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia at a time when the struggle of peoples to consolidate peace and the general trend towards dia- logue are developing strongly throughout the world and are widely reflected in this very Assembly. Faced with the adventurist designs and activities of the warmongering forces opposed to peace and security for the peoples, the most urgent n~sityat this time is to eliminate war from international .;:te and to settle all disputes at both the world and regional levels by peaceful means. 2. Fortunately, this beneficial trend at present charac- terizes developments in South-East Asia. Despite all the obstacles piled up by the forces ofinternational reaction, the comforting wind ofpeace and dialogue is blowing ever more strongly in that region. 3. South-East Asia has been since ancient times the object ofthe greed and the desire for conquest of Powers from outside the region. For the past four dec~desit has been continuously deprived ofpeace and stability, despite the fact that there has been no world war. Subjected for thousands of years to the imperialist designs of the Chinese dynasties, since the eighteenth century it has been the victim of Western colonialism with all its evils of aggression and domination. During the Second World War it fell to the occupation of Japanese militarism, and immediately thereafter the imperialist Powers came back in force to carry out their activities of reconquest. 4. With the failure of the United States in its war of aggression in Indo-China, the situation was ripe for reac- tionaries among the leaders in China to carry out in South-East Asia the expansionistic designs they had long been hatching. On various occasions Chinese leaders made revealing statements about those designs, which were confirmed by the publication-until quite recently -by the State services of that country of maps of China including a good part of the territories of a number of countries of South-East Asia. 5. The Peking authorities not only worked through the intermediary of the genocidal Pol Pot clique to make of Kampuchea a testing ground for their theories and a springboard for expansion against neighbouring States, .. but als(~rsistin supporting pseudo-revolutionary grOt,pS and their armed gangs in many countries of South-East Asia. At the same time, in collusion with the United States, they are waging a war of attrition in many forms against the countries of Indo-China. To facilitate their attempts at conquest and domination, the reactionary imperialist forces in South-East Asia, as elsewhere, have NEW YORK resorted to the classical weapon ofevery oppressor, divide and rule. The centuries-old history of South-East Asia, and in particular the history ofthe last four decades, has given abundant evidence of tbis aspect of their harmful policy. 6. In the past the three countries of Indo-China have always been victims ofacts of aggression by Powers from outside the region, and they still are. They have not committed aggression against any other country and have never allied themselves with aggressive forces from out- side to oppose other countries in South-East Asia. 7. In countering the policy of aggression and division . of the imperialists and reactionaries and the opportunistic behaviour ofcertain countries ofthe region, the countries of Indo-China have consistently pursuoo. a policy inspired by a clear view of the long-term interests of all the peop~es of South-East Asia. Having all suffered under colonialist domination and having made similar efforts to secure their independence, all the countries of the region have the same primordial interest in peace, freedom and development. 8. Resolved to defend its independence and sovereignty and to fulfil its duty ofsolidarity with other Indo.,Chinese peoples, the people of Viet Nam is more committed than most to the peace which it needs to devote all its resources, natural as well as human, to the reconstruction of its country ravaged by nearly 40 years of war. Having made innumerable sacrifices to turn into reality the sacred aspiration of the late President Ho Cbi Minh, who said, "nothing is more precious than independence and free- dom", it deeply respects the inGapendence and frl~dom of other peoples. 9. FinrJy comrmtted to the five principles of peaceful coexistence, the Indo-Chinese countries have worked tire- lessly for mutual understanding among all the countries of South-East Asia, wbich, despite differences in political and social systems, must live as good neighbours in the same region, settle their differences by peaceful means and continuously improve their relations, with a view to achieving friendly co-operation in the common interest of the peace, stability and prosperity ofthe entire region. 10. Ever since its liberation from the neo-colonial yoke in 1975, Viet Nam, together with the other two countries of Indo-China, has consistently followed a policy ofpeace and friendsbip with the other countries of South-East Asia. It very soon put forward its well-known four-point position, which is designed to strengthen friendly relations with the members of the Association ofSouth-F.ast Asian Nations [ASEAN]. This position, based on good will, has had a reassuring echo and is embodied in joint documents published following friendly visits undertaken at the time by Vietnamese Government delegations to the different countries of South-East Asia. After 1979, despite divisive manoeuvres intended to push the ASEAN countries into new opposition to the countries ofIndo-China, Viet Nam preservered in its consistent policy of peace and worked unceasingly. for a better understanding for dialogue between "the two groups of countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Asia. 42. Mr. STRUCKA (Czechoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian): The General Assemb~yis now examining a question which, because of its repercussions, is impor- tant for many regions of the world. We are considering this question with the agreement of the peoples of South- East Asia and in accordance with their interests. Evidence of this is to be found in the discussions on this issue at preVious sessions of the General Assembly, for in this case we are talking about the developments in ~ region which for four decades already has suffered damage because of wars, armed conflicts and unceasing tension. The armed aggression by the United States ofAmeri:a in Viet Nam, licizin~fal .md wide the "assistance" that they claim to have gIven them; they are in fact enemies ofthose peoples and of the countries of South-East Asia in general. Eut neither their statements and false propaganda about friendship nor their demagogic proposals for making South-East Asia a region of peace, stability and co- operation can conceal their real aims and the respon- sibility they share with the United States and China for the situation prevailing in the region. 78. The Albanian people and Government have sup- ported and will always continue to give their strong sup- port to the just struggle of the peoples of Indo-China and the other countries ofSouth-East Asia against the threats, interventions and all the aggressive activities ofthe super- Powers and other imptrialist Powers. 79. The delegation of Albania deems it necessary to reiterate that the occupation by the Government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea of its own seat in the United Nations-a seat which is unjustly held by the representatives of the Pol Pot gang-would serve to strengthen peace and stability in the region. 80. The People's Socialist Republie of Albania has supported and will continue to support the right of the pu~heaand the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. We have been following with great interest initiatives and proposals such as, inter alia, those concerning the establishment of a zone of peace, stability and co-operation; the expression of readiness to develop good-neighbourly relations with countries of ASEAN; the setting up of a safety zone along the Kampuchea-Thailand border; as well as other efforts aimed at meeting the concerns of their neighbours and safeguarding the interests of all peoples of the region. 84. Today, as the question of peace, stabiiity and co- operation in South-East Asia is being discussed by the General Assembly, the good will of the three Indo- Chinese States is once again being displayed. The Mem- bers of the United Nations can see anew that these States consistently spare no effort in their attempts to overcome the difficulties and obstacles on the road to peace in South-East Asia. 8S. In the two statements of the Summit Conference of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the People's Republic ofKampuchea and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, held on 22 and 23 February 1983 at Vientiane, the position on a comprehensive solution for all South-East Asian problems was put forward. 86. The first of these statements said, among other things: , . "The three countries of lndo-China are prepared to develop good relations with their neighbouring coun- tries as well as with countries ofdifferent political and social systems on the basis of principles of peaceful coexistence. South~EastAsian countries? Who has provided the Soviet Union with facilities so that the air and naval forces of this ~mper-Pcwerare able to push southwards more than 4,000 kilometres, causing great turbulence in the whole of South-East Asia and the Asian-PacifIc region? Is all this of China's making? 96. The Chinese Government has always stood for friendship and good-neighbourly relations with the coun- tries in South-East Asia and for sincere co-operation with them. The well-known five principles of peaceful coexis- tence were flfst put forward nearly 30 years ago by our late Premier Chou En Lai together with the leaders of some Asian countries. China has all along supported the idea of the ASEAN countries of making the region of South-East Asia a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality. It does not have a single soldier stationed outside its borders. China abides by the principles of the resolutions of the General Assembiy and of the Declaration of the International Conference on Kampuchea3 for the solu- tion ofthe Kampuchean question. It seeks no selfISh end of its own. How can it be said that the root cause of the present tense situation in South-East Asia lies in China? 97. It is thus crystal clear that peace, stability and co-operation in the South-East Asian region can be achieved only with the elimination of the roots of tension. In other words, it is imperative to compel the Vietnamese authorities to stop their aggression against Kampuchea and withdraw their troops totally and unconditionally from that country. This would not only rid the Kampuchean people of their sufferings and restore the independence,

Before adjouring, I should like to inform the Assembly that I have received from the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of African States, the following letter: "I have the honour, on beha!f of the African Group of States, to convey our grave concern over the moves of the racist regime of South Africa to impose a new racist constitution which will inevitably further aggra- vate tension and conflict in South Africa and in south- ern Africa as a whole. "I have the honour, further, to request urgent con- sideration of the matter in the plenary meeting of the General Assembly on Tuesday, 15 November 1983."· 103. A draft resolution has already been distributed on agenda item 32, entitled "Policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa"; as document A/38/L.15. 104. In view of the urgent character of the request addressed to us by the African Group I consider that an 105. Consequently, consideration of agenda item 37, entitled "Question of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia", will be concluded on Wednesday morning. NOTES