A/38/PV.63 General Assembly

Mr. President, either I am mistaken or else the representatives do not know that meetings start at 3.00 o'clock sharp. At any rate, I wish to congratulate you for putting up with this delay. I will speak despite the fact that there is no quorum and despite the fact that this indicates that some members of the United Nations have little interest in the important question that is on the agenda of the General Assembly today. 2. The General Assembly is seized of the question of apartheid at a critical stage in international relations because ofserious crises that threaten international peace and security in different parts of the world. These crises have been heightened by international imperiaIism-I am happy to see the United States represented here-these crises are, as I say, heightened by international imperial- ism. These crises, which are caused by the threat or use of force, will have consequences for the wotId. For our part, we have devoted our national, regional and inter- national energies in order to liquidate apartheidby peace- ful means. There is no doubt that the United States, by contrast, has not renounced the threat or use of force in international relations, and today more than ever that policy is aimed at safeguarding imperialist interests. This threat or use of force aims at aborting what has been achieved, particularly the progress that has been made in the struggle to dismantle the apartheidsystem by peace- ful means. 3. ThemandateoftheSpecialCommitteeagainstApart- heidhas a basic assumption-namely, ~be elimination of racial discrimination by peaceful means. But this assump- tion has been shaken because of two reasons: first, the failure ofthe Security Council to take any comprehensive mandatory action that would lead to the elimination of apartheidby peaceful means; and secondly, the support of a super-Power-the United States-given to apartheidby every possible means because apartheid is an essentjal condition for the maintenance ofthe imperialist interests . in the political, economic, financial and strategic spheres. 4. As we are debating the question of apartheid in the prevailing international climate, we must remember that our success in eliminating apartheid depends mainly on our solidarity in confronting the policies offorce pursued by the United States, either directly or through its satel- lites. In its use of force, the United States depends prin- Friday, 18 November 1983, at 3.30 p.m. NEW YORK cipally on these satellites, foremost of which are.South Africa and Israel. As proofofthis, one need onlymention the interaction ofand parallelism between the continued occupation by South Africa, with United States support, of Namibia and of Angolan territory and the continued occupation by Israel ofPalestine and southern Lebanon. 5. It must be recalled here that the threats posed by the Pretoria Government to the front-line States are identical to those directed from Washington and Tel Aviv against Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. All this should be viewed as an integral programme aiming at the exten- sion of imperialist United States hegemony. One of the manifestations of this interaction and parallelism is the strategic alliance between Washington and Pretoria, on the one hand, and Washington and Tel Aviv, on the other. However, the logic of force will not dissuade the Africans or the Arabs from continuing their common struggle against United States hegemony. Ratber, it will provide encouragement to us all to increase our solidarity and our co-operation in the common struggle against a common enemy and its supporters, regardless of their size. 6. The report of the Special Committee against Apart- heid [A/38/22) is replete with proof of the deterioration ofthe situation not only in South Africa but in the whole of southern Africa. 7. Within South Africa, the racist regime persists in its policy of uprooting and expelling millions of per- sons from their homeland by force. It is estimated that 3 million persons have been uprooted and expelled in this way-and this is in addition to the imprisonment, deten- tion, torture and assassination engaged in by the racist regime, not even sparing children. Of most concern to us is the fact that the racist regime persists in the estab- lishment ofso-called homelands. The aim of all this is to dismember the land and dispossess the indigenous popu- lation-the rightful owners-and give the white settlers sole ownership. In its report, the Special Committee describes the bantustans as fe.'~ JWS: "scattered reserves into which African people are for- cibly confined on a so-called tribal basis-in an effort to dispossess the African majority and indeed deprive it ofcitizenship. Already four such 'independent' States have been created, purportedly depriving over 8 million Africam ofcitizenship in South Africa. The regime has announced its intention to create another such structure in KwaNdebele in 1984." [Ibid., para. 232.] 8. Outside South Africa, the Pretoria regime has been able, because ofa military capability provided by certain member countries ofthe North Atlantic TreatyOrganiza- tion [NATO)-principally the United States-to commit one act ofaggression after another in order to destabilize African countries and to terrorize and intimidate them or subvert them. The report ofthe Special Committeecon- tains a graphic description ofthe aggressive capabilitythat South Africa can use against African countries. It states: "As a result of the military might it has acquired, and assured of protection by certain Western States "It occupied substantial areas of Angola and engaged in open war against that country. In Mozambique, South Africa supported dissident elements and other hostile l~OUPS by supplying them with money, weapons and e,rganizational assistance. Against Zimbabwe, South Africa engaged in destabilization at the eco- nm:rJc, political and propaganda levels. Its acts of destabilization, aggression and terrorism against Zam- bia included support and training of dissident groups, violations of Zambia's air and land frontiers, laYing of mines and abduction of innocent men and women, as well as raids against the refugee camps. Botswana, which has a long common border with South Africa, was obliged to be host to a large number of refugees. Its air space had been violated and there had been cases of kidnapping of people from its territory. Even countries like the United Republic ofTanzania, which have no common borders with South Africa, were not immune to Pretoria's destabilization activities in the political, economic and propaganda spheres. Leaders and members of the national liberation movements were victims of threats and assassinations." [Ibid., para. 27.] 10. In addition, the racist regime has continued its illegal occupation ofthe international Territory of Namibia and has continued its war against the Namibian people, in defiance of the United Nations, which has a special responsibility for the fate of that people. All these tragic developments-and there has been an ever-increasing number in the past two years-would not have taken place had it not been for the encouragement and support received by Pretoria from Washington and certain other NATO capitals. 11. The Special Committee against Apartheidhas taken an important step in unveiling the co-operation between the racist regime in southern Africa and the racist base in the Middle East. In addition to the Special Committee's report on recent developments in relations between Israel and South Africa [A/38/22/Add.1], there is the Decla- ration of the International Conference on the Alliance between South Africa and Israel [A/38/311], held at Vienna from 11 to 13 July 1983. The convening of that Conference was in itself an indication of the increasing concern of the United Nations over the close.collabora- tion between the two racist regimes which resort to aggres- sion and violate human rights, at the same time as they displace peoples and deprive them of their right to self- determination, in order to preserve their colonialist and imperialist presence by resorting to State terrorism, inter- national piracy and institutionalized violence. This col- laboration has gone so far that the Conference recognized that: ~'Thenuclear capabilities of both South Africa and Israel . . . pose an enormous danger to peace in Africa, the Middle East and the world" [ibid., para. 7]. contmc~tal shelf is not exported to South Africa; and decided not to co-operate in any way whatsoever with South Africa in the nuclear field. 32. Humanitarian assistance to the refugees from South Africa and to the victims ofapartheid form an important part of the measures taken by the Norwegian Govern- ment, as does assistance to the front-line States to which Norway has provided close and long-standing co-opera- tion in the field of development. We intend to continue this policy and, together with the other Nordic countries, we are continuously discussing what more can b~ done on our side. 33. A matter of great concern to my Government is the plight of the political prisoners in South Africa. The continued imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and other political leaders and the reports of torture and cruel punishment are in clear defiance of repeated appeals made by the United Nations. My Government is also concerned about the death sentences passed upon oppo- nents of apartheid. We again request the South African authorities, for humanitarian reasons, to listen to the appeals ofthe international community and to spare their lives. 34. Mr. PULZ (Czechoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian): Unfortunately, the Assembly's agenda contin- ues to contain the item on the policy of apartheid, and today we have to consider the serious domestic and inter- national consequences of this system. The white chau- vinists of South Africa and their teachers, led by well- self-det~rmination.In the interests of the United States strategytlirected against the progressive development of the People's Republic ofAngola, it has made inadmissible 39. The apartheid regime continues to pursue a heinous aggressive policy, in spite of the clearly expressed con- demnation by world public opinion and in spite of a number of important resolutions adopted by the United Nations. This is possible only because the major partners of South Africa from a number of Western States have not complied with the decisions adopted. Pretoria con- tinues to be able to rely on their comprehensive political, diplomatic, economic and even, in some cases, military co-operation and support. They are connected with the apartheidregime by many ideological, strategic and eco- nomic links. The intensity of the activities of the West in the South African economy can be shown, for exam- ple, by the data published in the South African newspaper Die Welt of 23 September 1983, according to which for- eign investments-that is, Western investments-in South Africa last year were 10 times more than 10 years ago, and were increasing by 13 per cent a year. Last year the capital investment of the United States alone, which lends the Pretoria regime most support, was $US 2 billion. United Nations documents show that, for the period 1978 to the beginning of the 1980s, the number of companies directly investing in economic support for apartheid was 1,152. In this connection, it is known that 80 per cent of those companies belong to monopolies of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, France and Switzerland. They are responsible for almost half the industrial production of South Africa. A working paper prepared by the Secretariat2 clearly shows that Western States are also helping Pretoria to expand its military machine. The document points out that, for example, South Africa produces under licence versions of French and Italian military aircraft, French military transport vehicles, missiles and other equipment. A number of Western States continue to make direct arms shipments to South Africa in spite of the arms embargo proclaimed by the United Nations in Security Council resolution 418 (1977). Western States have also helped give South Africa a nuclear potential. Thanks to assist- ance from ,the United States, there has been set up in the city of Pelindaba a national nuclear research centre. The United States has not only ensured the provision of all the necessary equipment for the centre, but is also training more than 100 South African nuclear specialists. The reactor now being installed not far from Cape Town will produce 400 kilogrammes of plutonium per year, pluto- nium which can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. It is enough for the production of40-50 nuclear warhe.'ids for intermediate-range missiles. South Africa's increased military and nuclear potential is an extremely important factor which is a threat to peace and security not only in southern Africa but in all parts of the world. 40. We are also concerned about the ever-closer collu- sion between the apartheidregime and Israel. In the plans of the United States, both countries are being given a 62. After committing one flagrant act of aggression after another against independent African States, the regime has the effrontery to propose a so-called non- aggression pact with them. Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozam~ique, Botswana and Zambia-to mention but a few-not one of these States has sent a single soldier to fire a single shot in South African territory. Yet, Pretoria is constantly sending its assassination squads, comman- dos, war planes and submarines to murder ANC leaders, commit massacres, and violate the airspace of its neigh- bours, 1J:hereby exacting a terrible price in blood. 63. No people in the world long for peace more than the oppressed people of South Africa, who have always lived under the tyrannical rule of violence, and no organ- ization has worked more patiently for a peaceful solution than the ANC. But the massacres to which our people have been subjected, the refusal to let them participate in any democratic process, the tribal fragmentation of our motherland into bantustans whose tribal armies are to be set against the liberation efforts, the forced removal and denationalization of millions of black people, the daily hangings of our people, reaching a level of 129 in 1980 alone, the continued imprisonment of our leaders such as Nelson Mandela, the prohibition of public meet- ings, Ithe muzzling ofactivists and leaders at present exiled or under house arrest in remote areas, the frantic war preparations and full-scale militarization, the gigantic campaign to isolate the ANC through massive dissemi- nation of forged printed matter purporting to be by ANC and espousing intentions to kill men, women and children and strengthen the ruthless apparatus of the policestate- all this has taught us one thing, namely, the apartheid regime and its policies are the obstacle to peace, security and stability in southern Africa and to liberty, justice, peace and prosperity in South Africa itself. As resolu- tion 38/11, adopted by the Assembly on 15 November, declared, "only the total eradication ofapartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democratic society based on majority rule, through the full and free exercise of adult suffrage by all the people in a united and non- fragmented South Africa, can lead to a just and lasting solution of the explosive situation in South Africa". 64. By itself, the Pretoria regime, whose policy ofapart- heid stands universally condemned as a crime against humanity and a threat to world peace and international security, could not affordto defytheinternationalcommu- nity by escalating this crime, to commit endless breathes of the peace against independent African countries, to continue its illegal occupation of Namibia, to occupy part of Angola, to wage an undeclared war of economic and armed aggression to destabilize and topple independent African countries, to legislate, to arrogate to itself the right to intervene in all African countries and publicly to pressure, intimidate and blackmail African countries to evict the ANC and enter into so-called anti-terrorist agreements with it. 65. While we call on all Member States to join in paying a glowing tribute to the independent countries ofsouthern Africa for the sacrifice they are daily making in resisting agains~ apartheid in general and to strengthen the cam- paign for the unconditional release of Nelson Mandela and all other South African political prisoners have taken the following forms: the establishment of close bilateral consider~ble efforts they have made in order to bring about the imposition ofsanctions against the ra .ist regime in South Africa, to provide greater assistance to the liberation movements in South Africa and to mobilize international public opinion in support of the struggle of the freedom fighters, as well as the Committee's efforts to secure the release of the political prisoners in South Africa. 102. My delegation reaffirms Egypt's unswerving posi- tion in support of the heroic people of South Africa and countri~s. The Special Committee against Apartheidhas con,qta'Lltly kept us aware of these stark realities. A spe- cial tribute is due to the Chairman of that Committee. Mr. Maitama-Sule. of Nigeria. who has guided the work of the Committee in an admirable way. 124. Apartheid generates violence. both internal and external. Members of liberation movements recognized by the Organization ofAfrican Unity have been languish- ing in South African prisons without recourse to due legal process. some of them for most of their lifetimes. Execu- tions of the opponents of apartheid take place. in spite ofappeals by the Security Council. the General ksembly and individual Governments. Externally. South Africa continues what is aptly called a "destabilization policy" of the neighbouring countries. Angola is under constant siege. Lesotho. a peaceful country valiantly trying to respect its obligations under international law• is black- mailed. Maputo is attacked. 125. In these conditions. the mandatory arms embargo against South Africa is not enough. FUlther measures by the Security Council are needed. Further pressure must be applied on South Africa. Finland continues to study such possibilities in the framework of the joint Nordic programme of action. 126. The international community cannot afford to despair in the face of the grim situation in South Africa. Racism is one of the anachronistic remnants of the past. If we look back but half a decade. we clearly realize that the trend in the area of southern Africa as a whole is towards freedom. equality and independence. This trend cannot be reversed, and it is the task of the United Nations to sustain and accelerate it. 127. Mr. KURODA (Japan): It is profoundly regret- table that the Member States of this world body must once again consider the hateful policies of apartheid. which the Government ofSouth Africa clings to so tena- ciously. Ever since it was admitted to the United Nations in 195§-:/Japan has joined the Member States in calling for an end to those policies. How many more years will it take before South Africa heeds the voice of the 133. First, Japan has no diplomatic relations with South Africa, nor does it r~cognize the so-called bantustan States. 134. Secondly, in the field of ~onomicrelations, Japan cloes not permit direct investment, including the estab- lishment oflocal corporations in South Africa, by Japa- nese nationals or corporate bodies under its jurisdiction. This position is maintained despite Japan's general policy of maximum liberalization of direct investment abroad. ~gainst the black majority in education, health and other services. 141. In carrying out its policy of bantustanization, the racist regime is striving to deorive ofcitizenship the whole African majority and thus to perpetuate the rule of the white population. Pitiless exploitation, unemployment, poverty, hunger, serious illnesses and a continuous threat to life are what apartheidbrings to the Africans-80 per cent ofthe population-in the Republic of South Africa. The upsetting news of killings and mass repressions in Ciskei are a further and convincing piece of evidlIDce of the true situation of the African population in the bantustans. 142. The political manoeuvrings ofthe racist regime in respect of the so-called new constitution cannot delude the world community. The African majority is, as before, deprivedofits civil rights. Therefore, General Assembly resolution 38/11, adopted on 15 November byan absolute majority ofthe countries ofthe world community, justly states "that the so-called 'constitutional proposals' are con- trary to the principles -ef the Charter of the United Nations, that the results Ilf the referendum are of no validity whatsoever and that the enforcement of the proposed 'constitution' will inevitably aggravate ten- sion and conflict in South Africa and in southern Africa as a whole". 143. In the opinion ofthe Soviet delegation, the peoples of Africa justly continue to demand the complete elimi- nation ofapartheid, the liberation of political prisoners, the liquidation of the bantustans and the ensurance of general and universal suffrage in the country. The apart- heid regime not on\y imposes enormous sufferings on the people ofsouthern Africa, but has created a genuine and growing threat to world peace and security. What is more, world public opinion is seriously concerned with the policy of aggression, destabilization and terrorism carried out by South Africa against the independent States ofthe region, and also with its continuing illegal occupation of Namibia. The account of the mission ofthe Special Com- mittee agains~ Apartheid to front-line States [A/38/22. paras. 22-32J provides evidence of the escalation by the racist regime ofits acts of aggression, economic sabotage and terror against the neighbouring States. 144. The Soviet delegation notes the fact that, with the direct connivance of and in close co-operation with the Wcstern Powers and Israel, the racist regime continues to increase its military power. For example, the 1983/84 military budget of South Africa was 15.9 per cent larger than the 1982/83 budget and is now more than $3 billion. The world community is particularly concerned over South Africa's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. As was noted in the report of the Special Committee against Apart~eid, in the current year there was a substantial increase in the nuclear potential.of South Africa, which also possesses missiles with a radius of action of up to ~:"..a from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, from 1970to 1977 alone South Africa imported $780 million worth of weapons, including armoured vehicles, ships, missiles and aircraft. The major role in supplying the South African military-industrial complex is played by transnational corporations. Thanks to their capital investment in South Africa, the Pretoria regime is able to meet about 75 per cent of its present military needs. The rest of its requirements in weapons, mat/riel and so forth is willingly sold to South Africa by the transnational corporations. The dangerous consequences of the growing military and nuclear co-operation between Israel and South Africa were noted by the international communityattheInternationalConferenceontheAlliance between South Africa and Israel, held in Vienna from 11 to 13 July 1983. The facts show that the continuing co-operation by the United States and certainother West- ern Powers with South Africa is a principal obstacle to the eradication of apartheid. ]53. The international community can no longer toler- ate the existence of the apartheid regime, which has caused so much suffering to the oppressed peoples of South Africa and which threatens international peace and security. The increasingly explosive situation in southern Africa requires the taking ofdecisive measures to prevent a catastrophe. 154. The interests of peace demand that South Africa end its aggression against the neighbouring countries, that it withdraw its troops from the territory of the People's Republic of Angola and that it put a stop to its racist, apartheid system-that shameful phenomenon. ]55. The Soviet Union is in favour of the strict and complete observance by all States of the arms embargo adopted by the Security Council against South Africa and supports the demand of the African countries for the imposition by the Security Council of comprehensive mandatory sanctions against South Africa, under Chap- ter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. 156. The immediate ending of nuclear collaboration by Western countries with South Africa must be demanded. The Security Council must adopt the measures necessary to prevent South Africa from acquiring nuclear weapons. 157. The present General Assembly session must play an important role in the further development of the strug- gle against apartheid. The implementation of the Pro- gramme of Action against Apartheid adopted by the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held at Geneva from 1 to 12 August 1983,1 could be of major significance. 158. The United Nations must take decisions supporting measures adopted by Governments and by intergovern- 184. Why do we persist in this exercise? It is because there lingers in our breasts the hope that those who can still find it in their conscience to support this racist and brutal administration will somehow see the light and desist. Those few but powerful States which still aid and abet the successors of Hendrik Verwoerd do so from a narrow, short-term and myopic position. They calculate with a cool and complacent cynicism that this last bas- tion of white supremacy can endure at least for another 10 years, and while it lasts it best serves their interests to support it. 185. Such States and such leaders have not learnt the grim lessons of history. No people will languish indefi- nitely under the iron heels of oppression and exploitation. All this, the system ofapartheiddoes, and more. It denies the quintessential humanity of the African. Essentially, therefore, what we are doing here today is seeking to create the conditions in which the vicious and inhuman system can be replaced by a more humane and egalitarian one, with a minimum of human suffering. We are seeking to reduce the buildup of hatreds; we are seeking to mute- indeed, to obviate-the explosion of revenge, that very wild kind of human justice. Barbados has appealed on man~"previous occasions to, and once more caUs in ear- nest'on, those States that support and even encourage the I I 210. "Such steps as 'these are aimed at ensuring that South Africa's black people will have the ability to exploit 238. I should also like to comment briefly on the state- mentmade by the representative of the United States that the problem in South Africa is moral and that, in fact, the South African racists are oppressing, exploiting and dispossessing us because they are having some psycho- logical or moral problem. It has nothing to do with a psychological problem. It is a colonial question. The entire aim is to dispossess the rightful owners ofthat land, just as the rightful owners of this land, the Red Indians, have been dispossessed. NOTES