A/38/PV.65 General Assembly

My delegmon begins by stressing :ne fraternal and constructive relations that Indonesia has long maintained with both France and, since its independence, the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. Furth~rmore, I am pleased to note the positive relationship between France and the Comoros that exists in many endeavours. It is it' !his light that I have asked to speak to express our sincere hope that the question of MayoUe may be resolved as expeditiously as possible and in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. 2. It should be recaIIed that in 1974 the General Assem- bly adopted resolution 3291 (XXIX), which reaffIrmed the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoro Archi- pelago. Subsequent General Assembly resolutions also emphasized that the Comoro Archipelago comprises the islands of Anjouan, Grande-Comore, Mayotte and Moheli, and established the sovereignty of the Comoros over all four of the islands. Thus, the United Nations has emphasized that an equitable solution to this question should be based on the restoration of Mayotte as an integral part of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. 3. Besides the Unite6 Nations, the Organization of African Unity [OAU), the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organization ofthe Islamic Conference have all supported the Comorian position, not only because it is just, but also because it is in conformity with the principle of the territorial integrity of States. In its decisions, the OAU has emphasized that, during the sign- ing of the agreements in June 1973 between the Comoros and France relating to the accession to independence of the Comoros, the French Government undertook to consider the results of the 22 December 1974 referendum on self-government for the entire territory and not on an island-by-island basis. That referendum on self-deter- mination resulted in a total of 95 per cent of the voting electorate opting to accede to national sovereignty over the entire Comoro Archipelago. 4. For its part, the Movement of Non-Aligned Coun- tries has expressed its solidarity with the people of the Comoros in their legitimate efforts to recover the island of Mayotte and thereby preserve the independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros. The Organiza- tion ofthe Islamic Conference has also adopted deemions in line with the same objective. S. My delegation is pleased to note the positive attitude of France, which has demonstrated that the French Government has an open mind in seeking a solution. The Government of France has previously explained that, in Monday. 21 November 1983. at 3.20 p.m. NEW YORK the light of the complexities involved, Mayotte's status is a provisional one and does not preclude its eventual relationship with the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. We welcome the assurances by France that it will make all necessary arrangements to bring the four islands closer together. This is most encouraging as the negotiations between the two parties continue on the basis of their joint determination to reach a successful outcome. 6. Despite those favourable developments and the numerous decisions by variOll$ forums, the negotiations have not yet resolved the outstanding issues. None the less, we beli~ve that we should continue to encourage those efforts as the parties themselves have indicated their confIdence in this ongoing process. In his statement to the General Assembly on 12 October, the Foreign Min- ister of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comm'os, Mr. Said Kafe Madi Soilihi, again reaffIrmed his Govern- ment's sincere search for a negotiated settlement when he said: "As far as we are concerned, we are completely open to dialogue and to a meeting of the minds in an effort to bring about a just solution to this problem, in conformity with the recommendations of the relevant resolution of the Assembly". [29th meeting. para. 36.J 7. Thus, we hope that the negotiations will proceed smoothly and satisfactorily to a speedy, equitable and lasting solution, so that the people of the Comoros may be allowed to live in unity by having all four islands within the sovereignty of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. It is with the goal in mind that Indonesia supports draft resolution Al38/L.19, since it seeks to further the negotiating process initiated in good will by France and the Comoros for the return of Mayotte to the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. 8. Mr. KOROMA (Sierra Leone): The Sierra Leone delegation attaches great importance to the question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, as it involves some of the f",damental principles of both the United Nations and (Le OAU-namely, the inalienable right of all peoples to control their own destiny, and our joint determination to safeguard, defend and consolidate the hard-won inde- pendence as well as the sovereignty and territorial integ- rity of all African States. It is particularly the latter principle with which the question of the Comorian island of Mayotte is concerned. 9. Before proceeding further, however, my delegation would like to commend the Government and people of the Comoros for their faith in and commitment to the United Nations and for the decision to continue to discuss this matter before the General Assembly and to help fmd a peaceful solution to the problem. My delegation would also like to pay a tribute to the Foreign Minister of the Comoros, whose presence here among us is vivid testi- mony to his country's confIdence in the United Nations and the importance which his Government attaches to the matter. 10. The question of the unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros has been outstanding for too long now, and it is the view of the Sierra Leone delegation that 26. In this context, Gabon, as Chairman of the OAU AdHoc Committee of Seven on the Comorian Island of Mayotte, wishes to make an urgent appeal to the French Government to redouble its efforts and to continue its dialogue with the Government in Moroni in order to find the most suitable ways and means ofarriving at a defIni- tive settlement which will take due account of the legiti- mate rights and interests of all concerned, with absolute respect for the full sovereignty of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros over the whole of its territory, including !he Comorian island of Mayotte.

It is a sincere concern that prompts my delega- tion to take part in the debate on the question of the Comorian island of Mayotte. The persistence of this problem constitutes both a denial of the tradition here- tofore followed by France in the field of decolonization and a breach of the principles of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), of 14 December 1960. However, my delegation is one of those that believes that we should not give this debate an unnecessarily emotional character which might make it difficult to achieve a peacefl~l solu- tion of the question before us. 28. Clearly, all the spea,lcers who have preceded me have taken an objective approach to the situation created by the uncompleted decolonization of the Comoros, which is really the issue. By selectively interpreting the results of the referendum organized on 22 December 1974, the Government of France is seeking to justify its decision to occupy the island of Mayotte-wiGch is and continues to be an integral part of the territory of the Islamic Federal Republic ofthe Comoras. It is doing so by invok- ing specific regional characteristics or feelings, which are to be found in all countries of the world. We believe th:::-,t. the time has come for France to look beyond short-term interests and to concentrate on co-operating with the United Nations in seeking a just and lasting solution to this problem ofdecolonization. It has been invited to do so by several international conferences, most recently the Meeting of Ministers and Heads of Delegations of Non- Aligned Countries to the Thirty-eighth Session of the General Assembly, held in New York from 4 to 7 Octo- ber 1983, which reaftirmed: cc. • • their active solidarity with the people of the Comoros in their legitimate efforts to recover that island and preserve the independence, unity and terri- torial integrity of the Comoros" [A/38/495, annex, para. 41). 29. There are no doubt many factors which attest to the ever-growing solidarity with the Comorian people in its quest to defend its territorial integrity. We are fully convinced that France, whose policies have been very positiv~ with regard to the developing countries and is alway~: deserving of our encouragement, will without further delay prepare the way for a final solution to this matter.

As representatives will recall, at its 40th meeting the A~sem­ bly elected 16 members of the Economic and Social Council for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1984. 48. As the result of the third unrestricted ballot taken at the 41st meeting was inconclusive, we must, in accord- ance with the rules of procedure of the General Assem- bly, proceed to a series of restricted ballots. This will be the eighth ballot and the first restricted ballot. 49. There remain two seats to be filled. In accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure, we sh~l proceed to a second series of restricted ballots limited to the four States which obtained the largest number of votes in the last ballot, namely, Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua. 50. Ballot papers will now be distributed. I would request members to write the names of only two States. Ballot papers bearing more than two names will be declared invalid. At the invitation of the President, Mrs. Ashton (Bolivia), U Ko (Burma), Mr. FO/detik (Hungary), Mr. Ferntindez Torrej6n (Spain) and Mr. Kitikiti (Zim- babwe) acted as tellers. A vote was taken by secret ballot. 51. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): The meeting will now be suspended while the ballots are being counted. The meeting was suspendedat 4.20p.m. and resumed at 4.40 p.m. 52. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from ~panish): The result of the voting is as follows: Number of ballot papers: 151 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 151 Abstentions: 4 Number of memb2rs voting: 147 Required majority: 98 Number of votes obtained: Costa Rica 91 Nicaragua 85 Haiti 62 Cuba 18 53. The PRESIDENT (interpretation/rom Spanish): As none of the candidates obtained the required two-thirds majority, the Assembly will now proceed to a second restricted ballot. As in the case of the first restricted ballot, only Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua are eligible. Any ballot papers containing more than two names will be declared invalid. 54. I caU on the representative of Cuba on a point of order. 55. Mr. LOPEZ DEL AMO (interpretationfrom Span- ish): I wish to remind representatives that Cuba is not, and does not intend to be, a candidate in this election. At the invitation ofthe President, Mrs. Pinto de Casap (Bolivia), U Ko (Burma), Mr. F6ldetik (Hungary), Mr. Ferntindez Torrej6n (Spain) and Mr. Kitikiti (Zim- babwe) acted as tellers. A vote was taken by secret ballot. NOTE 1The delegations of Guyana, Jordan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Panama, Sudan and Zaire subsequently informed the Secre- tariat that they had intended to vote in favour of the draft resolution. !