A/38/PV.67 General Assembly

I have the honour to adcJIesS the Assembly on yet another problem with which this body has been seized for the past few years. 2. Before I begin my delegation's contribution to the debate on this item, I wish to register my Government's , concern that efforts were made to stifle discussion on Grenada in the Assembly. The international community must also view with concern the duplicity of some Mem- ber States, which, when faced with similar situations of military intervention, can find it possible to condemn on the one hand and justify on the other. Such a flagrant display of double standards does not augur well for the impartiality that this body is to espouse. My delegation .is of the opinion that if sovereign States are denied the right to be heard it becomes increasingly difficult for this body to reach a just and equitable decision on many critical issues, such as the one now under discussion. 3. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas in his address to the Assembly on 5 October [19th meeting) referring to the areas of tension existing in the interna- tional community, issued a renewed appeal to Member States for scrupulous respect for the sovereignty, inde- pendence and territorial integrity of the affected States, of which Afghanistan is an important one. 4. The significance of events and their supreme impor- tance have a tendency to be lost with the passage oftime, which also often provides the needed excuse for those whose interests it may serve to attempt to alter the facts. The passage of time also gives them the excuse to be indifferent to their charge, under the Charter of the United Nations, of being the guardians of the rights of the weak. S. This international body must maintain and strengthen its vigilance against the brazen v,olation of the accepted norms of international law and behaviour and friendly relations between States. 6. At the risk of repetition, let me briefly recall some details of the present situation. 7. On 27 December 1979, armed forces of the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. This calculated use of force and the subsequent occupation of Afghanistan violate the Charter of the United Nations and the basic tenets of the established norms of international law and behaviour, threatening the stability of the region and constituting a serious threat to international peace and security. In the aftermath of this invasion, the international community Tuesday. 22 November 1983. at 3.25 p.m. NEW YORK rightly condemned this act ofinterference in the internal affairs of that State. 8. The Security Council's draft resolution 1 deploring the intervention and calling for the immediate and uncon- ditional withdrawal of Soviet troops received overwhelm- ing support, but was vetoed by the Soviet Union. 9. On 14 January 1980, the sixth emergency special ses- sion of the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-6/2, condemning the Soviet Union for Its military intervention I in, and aggression against, Afghanistan and demanding the immediate, total and unconditional withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Additionally, the Foreign Ministers of the Islamic countries, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Foreign Ministers of the European Community, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth nations of the Asia-Pacific region, the Foreign Ministers of the Movement ofNon-Aligned Coun- tries and, yes, the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh sessions, have all spoken on this situation. 10. My delegation supported those resolutions through which the international community overwhelmingly con- demned this interference in Afghanistan. Yet, today, foreign forces still remain in that country-and if present reports are true, despite considerable resMance to foreign occupation. A recent report, in the 26 October 1983 edi- tion of The New York Times, that the village ofEstaIef, 1S miles north of Kabul, had been savagely attacked and several hundred villagers had been killed, is an indication that acts of oppression are still being perpetrated against the Afghan people. According to the 17 September 1983 issue of The Economist, more than 130,000 Afghans- two thirds of them civilians-have died since the Soviet intervention in AfghaniSi:an. It is these accounts which make my Government's position unequivocaIly clear: we categorically condemn interference in the internal affairs ofAfghanistan and any other sovereign State as a flagrant violation of international law. 11. The situation in Afghanistan has also created a vacuum whose tragic human dimension not only erodes the dignity ofpeople, but also creates a burden on States in the region, thus complicating their struggle for stability. For example, it is estimated that the 2 million Afghans now refugees in Pakistan and Iran are wreaking havoc on the economic and social structure of those countries, and if an immediate and final solution is not found it is inevitable that the problem will affect other areas of the globe. 12. My delegation commends the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Governments of Paki- stan and Iran, and all those international bodies and all those countries that have granted assistance to those refugees. My delegation looks forward to the day when the Afghan people can once more return to their home- land in peace, security and dignity. 13. My Government has joined those ofother States in advocating a political settlement to this problem. In doing so, we have recognized that there can be no peaceful and just settlement-until: there is a total and unconditional peopl~ have fled in search of peace, shelter and food shows how much the Soviet presence is hated and feared. It is a tribute to the neighbouring countries that, despite the most difficult circumstances, they have, with the help ofinternational bodies, accepted the burden of providing for these refugees. 59. The invasion and occupation ofAfghanistan by the Soviet Union shocked the international community. It is again~t that country, the United States has decided to embark upon revenge for the loss ofits positions in neigh- bouring Iran and also to use the destabilization of the situation in South-West Asia for intensive military prepa- rations in the region ofthe Persian Gulf, where the United States, as far back as the spring of 1979, began sending naval units on a large scale, as if that region were one involving its "vital interests". 74. The imperialist policy of the United States is result- ing in a threat to the peaceful and independent existence of peoples not only in SOuth-West Asia and the region ofthe Indian Ocean, but also in the Near East, in Central America and in other parts ofthe world. The armed inter- vention of the United States in Grenada, which resulted in the repression in that country of a progressive and democratic regime, is the most recent example of this. 75. American leaders like to speak, relevantly or irre- levantly and at great length, on the subject of freedom and democracy. One may wonder what kind of freedom and what kind of democracy they wish to set up in Mghanistan when they are arming terrorists who are committing murder, destruction and arson in that coun- try, a country which has embarked upon the course of socio-economic development aimed at the establishment of a new system, based on progress and at the same time providing for the retention of the best traditions of its national historical heritage. 76. According to the classification of the United Nations, Mghanistan falls into the category of least developed countries. Before the victorious April 1978 revolution, Mghanistan occupied one of the lowest places in the world according to the criterion of per capita national income. Almost one out of three peasant families had no land. More than 90 per cent of the population did not know how to read or write. The health system did not meet the most elemeniary requirements. Poverty, hard, exhausting labour, disease, illiteracy and a total lack of rights were the lot of the overwhelming majority of the population of pre-revolutionary Afghanistan. 77. The April revolution, which was led by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, had an anti-feudal, anti-imperialist orientation and reflected the wide spec- trum of interests of the toiling classes and sectors of the population. 78. The chief place in the programme of democratic reforms after the revolllticZn. was taken by land and water reform aimed at the elimination ofthe feudal land-hold- ing system. Approximately 300,000 peasant families which had no or very little land received free of charge the land expropriated from the landowners. The land workers were thus liberated from the grip ofthe usurers. hum~mitarianassistance given by States and specialized agendes to alleviate some of the suffering of the Afghan refugees. We call upon the international community to increase this assistance as one of the steps leading to the return of the refugees to their homes. 99. On the basis of those considerations, Kuwait, while supporting all international and' regional efforts as well as those of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, has joined in sponsoring draft resolution A/38/L.17. We believe that this draft resolution contains the internationally accepted basic principles for the solution of this problem. It con- tains other important, positive elements and is moderate and balanced. We therefore believe it will enjoy wide international support. 100. A fInal word is necessary. We believe that, regret- tably, however lofty the principles contained in draft resolutions are and however much intelJl?tional accept- ance they have, what really counts is the <".lmmitmel1t of the parties concerned to these principles and to translating them into reality. What we most fear is the phenomenon of the transformation of current international problems into episodes in the whole pattern ofmajor-Power rivalry .for spheres of influence, at the expense of the existence, security and welfare of the peoples of the countries affected. One manifestation of this phenomenon is the ah~;ady been provided from this rostrum, and today as weH. They convincingly illustrate the fact that in fol- lowing their military and political purposes and in being completely indifferent to the fate of the people of Afghan- istan, these forces ar~ ~peeding up the tempo of the unde- clared war against Afghanistan and are supporting and promoting the counter-revolutionary rabble in every way possible. It should be emphasized that the recruitment, training and equipping ofthe counter-revolutionary rebels on Pakistani territory on the part of the United States aione have cost $217 million, not taking into account expenditures on "covert operations". Having raised inter- national terrorism to all official policy, the United States is sparing no effort for the upkeep of the terrorists. Here, it only conceals the fact that for its so-called beneficence, it is requiring its clients to pay. And the rebels do pay. They pay in the tears of the wounded and the maimed, the blood of the tortured and the slain Afghans. Mer- cenaries are can~;ing out acts of terrorism against the representatives of the authorities, doctors, clergy, work- ers, peasants-against all those who stand on the side of revolution and who are trying to achieve abetter, more just life. 108. Now, the activities of imperialist and reactionary circles, which are directed against the Democratic Repub- lic of Afghanistan, have acquired a new outline. If only very recently, the Administration of the United States preferred not to advertise its comprehensive ties with the terrorist bands of rebels, now, as is known, the bandit leaders are being received in the White House, and the Secretary of State of the United States, in meeting with them in the summer ofthis year in Pakistan, stated: "My message to you from the United States is very simple. We are with you." Well, this is stated with total clarity and, indeed, there is no need for any further comments. Quite vainly, in his statement yesterday [64th meeting], the Min- ister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan attempted~inspite of well-known facts-to represent the situation on a clearly tendentious plane. The role which is played by Pakistan in providing assistance to the rebels has been highly and unequivocally praised by United States Secre- tary of Deftmse Weinberger, who stated in one of the Congressional committees this year that "without Paki- stan, the resistance in Afghanistan would be reduced to nought". 109. It is necessary to emphasize that the undeclared war being waged against the Afghanistan people is a part of the political policy of the imperialist forces in regard to South-West Asia and the adjacent regions. The United States is trying in every way to build up tensions there and it is utilizing the events around Afghanistan as an excuse for expanding military bases on Diego Garcia island and in a number of other places, for intensifying the groupings ofits naval forces in the Persian Gulf area and in adjacent regions. The fuss around the so-called Afghanistan question, including here· at the United Nations, is being used by the United States as verbal camouflage for covering over and continuing its aggres- sivepolicies. 110. That is why we are profoundly convinced that bringing the United Nations into the fruitless and harmful un~oubtedly gone a long way towards the achievement Qfa fair and lasting political solution." [A/38/449, ,para. 11.] tion from their Ov><U aggressive actions in thatregioil and w. other parts of the world. 120. The Mongolian delegation has asked to speak, not at all for the purpose of taking part in any such fruitless and at the same time harmful discussion, but for the purpose once again of confIrming before the Assembly our warm solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in its selfless struggle against internal and fr~e from man's exploitation of man-this, if we were to characterize it briefly, is the main purpose towards which the policy of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan is oriented today. Already there are profound changes in the life of this country, which are in keeping with the fundamental interests of the people of Afghanistan and which are being fully sup- ported by it. Everyone who truly wishes the people of Afghanistan well is bound to be pleased with its achieve- ments in the building of its new life and must reject the actions ofthose external forces which are trying to hinder it from following its chosen course. These forces, first ofall world imperialism, in the form of the United States and its allies opposed to communism and sovietism have for more than five years been waging an undeclared war against the April revolution, while carrying out large- scale and co-ordinated aggression against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, an independent and non-aligned country. 122. Meanwhile, it is to be deeply regretted that the rostrum ofthe United Nations is being used in the present instance principally to cover up such aggressive actions against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, where there is open intervention in its internal afff:lirs, instead of contributing to an effective search for a constructive settlement ofthe situation which has been created around Afghanistan. It is particularly regrettable because at the present time the necessary premises do exist for such a settlement. Here we have in mind the well-known pro- posals ofthe Democratic Republic ofAfghanistan on this question, which fully retain their relevance and which are evidence of its constant and sincere attempt to achieve a peaceful settlement in its relations with its neighbouring countries and normalization of the situation in this part of Asia as a whole. 123. The Government of Afghanistan justly proceeds from· the premise that the only subject of negotiation should be the international aspects of the problem and that the securing of a total and guaranteed cessation of armed or any other interference in the domestic affairs of the Democratic Republic ofAfghanistan are the basic elements of any political settlement. 124. At the same time, it is demonstrating the necessary flexibility and its readiness to take into account the inter- ests ofits partners. It is precisely as a result ofthe flexible position taken by the Afghanistan side that it has been possible to make a start on the encouraging diplomatic process in which the Democratic Republic ofAfghanistan and Pakistan are participating through the intermediary of the personal representative of the Secretary-General. In his report, the Secretary-General states that "the diplo- matic process has moved in the right direction and thr.., a settlement is possible on the basis of what has already been accomplished, provided that the necessary policy decisions are made" [ibid.,para. 12). But therecan hardly be any doubt that the taking of such decisions will not be fostered by yet another obviously fruitless discussion and yet another anti-Afghanistan resolution. 125. The Mongolian delegation considers that draft resolution A/38/L.17 contains the same negative aspects as made previous resolutions on the subject completely unacceptable to certain of the principll1 parties. The document is devoid of political realism; it ignores the (59th meeting], and in 1982, at the thirty-seventh session 79th meeting], the concern 9fFrench public opinion. We cannot but be sympathetic to those who have chosen to resist. Their struggle has popular support the extensive- ness of which has been attested to by impartial observers. What could be more legitimate than to wish to remain the master ofone's own house? What could be more legit- imate than to reaffmn, if I may repeat myself, the right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of government and to choose their own economic, political and social system free from outside interference, subver- sion, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever? 134. The French people cannot understand how an eminent Member of this Organization, one which bears special responsibilities as a permanent member of the Security Council, could depart from the Charter of the United Nations, disregard the resolutions of the General Assembly, and not make a greater effort to resolve this crisis. 135. That attitude can only exacerbate the international climate, which has already been unfavourably affected, mainly by the imbalance of forces and the attendant tensions. In such a context, the military occupation of Afghanistan and its tragic consequences is now more than ever a matter of concern. No one should count on obli- vion, resignation or diversion making it possible to continue trampling underfoot universally recognized prin- ciples. This explains why the President of the French Republic, Mr. Fran~ois Mitterrand, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Claude Cheysson, have found it necessary on several occasions to reaffmn our condemna- tion of the foreign intervention in Afghanistan. It goes without saying that the situation in Afghanistan and the concern to which it gives rise affect the climate of our traditional relations with the Soviet Union. 136. The international community has spared no effort in seeking a solution, in the context of the meetings of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the initiative ofthe Council ofEurope, whose proposals remain valid. 137. In this very forum, the General Assembly has called upon the Secretary-General and his personal repre- sentative to carry out their good offict!s. We are fol- 10winS'closely the efforts of Mr. Perez de Cuellar and Mr..Cdrdovez to fInd a political settlement by means of what have been termed "indirect negotiations". req-.:~st of its Government, the Soviet Union fulfilled its obligations under the Treaty ofFriendship, Good-Neigh- bourliness and Co-operation, signed between the two countries in December 1978. To help the Government and the people of Afghanistan to repulse aggression agflinst that country was and continues to be the sole objective of this assistance. 151. The positionofthe People's Republic of Bulgaria on the problem under consideration stems from the pro- found belief that every people has the inalienable right to decide its destiny for itself. There is no doubt that the constant interference byimperialist, hegemonic and other reactionary forces in the internal affairs of Afghanistan is the reason why the situation around that country has not yet been normalized. In fact, it is precisely those subversive acts, rather than the Afghan revolution, which threaten the peace, security and independence of the States and peoples of South-West Asia. 152. The present propaganda campaign, designed to discredit the Democratic Republic ofAfghanistan, includ- ing the inscription of the so-called question of Afghan- istan on the agenda of sessions ofthe General Assembly, har the same destablizing aim. Insistence in bringing up this question is not inspired by a general concern for the well-being of the people. It has unhealthy and selfish objectives: to intensify tension in the region, poison the international climate and divert the attention ofthe inter- national community from the acts of the aggressive and militaristic forces ofimperialism in various regions ofthe world. 153, The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan needs peace and tranquility in order to continue, and subse- quently to promote, the process leading to progress in !75. Thailand, which is also shouldering a heavy refugee burden created by the neighbouring Indo-Chinese States, pays a warm tribute to the Government and people of Pakistan for their humanitarian efforts on behalf of the uprooted Afghan people. My delegation fmds it appalling that those who have created the refugee situation should be the ones to make slanderous allegations against Paki- stan on account ofits refugee policy. My delegation takes note, with deep appreciation, that Pakistan, despite its enormous burden, has pledged a contribution to assist refugees along the Thai-Kampuchea border, thereby demonstrating its genuine concern for refugees wherever they may be located. 176. Together with the humanitarian consequence, the situation in Afghanistan is fraught with dangerous impli- cations for the region of South-West Asia, as well as for the world at large. The present conflict, if prolonged, threatens to bring about a long-drawn-out rivalry between major Powers. The situation offers fertile ground for such rivalry, partly because it already directly involves one of the super-Powers. In recognition of this danger, the neighbouring countries in the region have responded posi- tively and have actively co-operated with the initiative of the Secretary-General and his personal representative In trying to achieve a comprehensive political solution to the problem. In so doing, they have accepted, and the Gen- eral Assembly at its thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth and thirty- seventh sessions has endorsed, the following principles for a settlement: first, the immediate, total withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan; secondly, the right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of government and to choose their economic, political and social system, free from outside intervention, sub- version, coercion or constraint of any kind whatsoever; thirdly, the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-aligned charac- ter of Afghanistan; and, fourthly, the creation of the necessary conditions which would enable the Afghan refugees to return voluntarily to their homes in safety and honour. 177. The above principles have also been reaffirmed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Move- ment of Non-Aligned Countries has, as in the case of the Kampuchean problem, repeatedly called for a political settlement of the Afghanistan prot~em, based on the withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan and respect for its independence, sovereignty, territorial integ- rity and non-aligned status. 178. My delegation notes with regret, therefore, that despite the praiseworthy efforts of the Secretary-General and his personal representative, there remain differences of attitude an~ position on a number ofissues, including some crucial ones, which need to be bridged on the road towards a settlement. It appears that, as the Pakistan Foreign Minister stated, the indication of a reasonable time-frame for the withdrawal of troops would give a decisive impetus to the United Nations process, thus leading to an early solution. My delegation fully endorses this view, and earnestly hopes that the indirect negotia- tions conducted by Mr. Diego Cordovez will progress in that direction. In this connection, my delegation is happy "half of all schools in ihe country, 50 per cent of our hospitals, 14 per cent of public-transport motor vehi- cles, 75 per cent of all communir..ation lines, a number of hydroelectric and thermal power installations ofthe country, and other public facilities have been destroyed" [21st meeting, para. 112J. This is clear testimony to the agony and suffering of the Afghan people. 251. . The adverse impact of theSoviet military inq,rven- tion in Afghanistan on international peace and security is clearly visible. The intervention has created dangerous uncertainties and tensions in a highly volatile region. It has figured prominentlyin East-West relations and caused damage to detente and efforts aimed at halting the arms race. In the United Nations we have seen how the inter- vention has affected the relations between the major Powers, which necessarily also hampers the effectiveness and lessens the credibility of the whole Organization. Pakis~an and Iran. The Afghuns in Pakistan constitute the laI,qest refugee population in the world, estimated at 2.9 million. 256. In Pakistan alone, more than 51 million arebeing spent eve.~ day on the upkeep of the Afghan refugees, 55 per ceni of this being borne by Pakistan and placing an enormous burden on its limited resources. Permit me in this connection to pay a special tribute to Pakistan. Special recognition should also be given to the humami- tarian operations of the United Nations and others for their untiring efforts to alleviate the suffering of the unfortunate Afghan refugees! particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Inter- national Committee of the Red Cross. It remains our sincere hope that conditions will soon be created in Afghanistan to enable them to return to their homes. 257. Norway has for its part provided 40 million Nor- wegian kroner-approximately 5550,OOO-in humanitarian assistance over the last three years. We stand ready to continue and to increase our assistance to the Afghan refugees. 258. Mr. MOUMIN (Comoros): The Assemblyis today for the fifth time discussing the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. Considering that all that has to be said on this issue has already been said, it is not the intention ofmy delegation to be verbose. However, we wish to recall that the sixth emergency special session of the General Assembly was ~.gencies for their valiant efforts on behalf of the Afghan peo;ple, but also and especially to the peoples and Gov- ernments of Pakistan and Iran. Turkey, for its part, will continue to extend humanitarian relief assistance to the Afghan refugees and urges all others to do so also. Pend- ing a political solution in Afghanistan, it is our duty, and the obligatory expression of solidarity with the Afghan people, to try to help alleviate the hardships and the plight of the refugees. 277. The problem of refugees, like all other facets of the Afghan question, can be resolved only through nego- tiations aiming at a political settlement. At the same time, for a political solution to be lasting it must address itself to the legitimate concerns of all the parties to the conflict. 278. The position of the Government ofTurkey on how a just and lasting solution can be found to the Afghan question has been enunciated with utmost clarity and consistency. The \\-ithdrawal of all foreign troops from that country is undoubtedly the principal requisite for any solution. The sovereignty, territorial integrity and polit- ical independence and the non-aligned status ofAfghan- istan must be re-established and respected. The Afghan people must be free and allowed to choose their own form of government and way of life without outside interven- tion, subversion, coercion or constraint. Still another element of vital importance is the creation of those con- ditions that would permit the Afghan refugees to return to their country in safety and·honour. 279. As I said at the beginning of my statement, the impasse concerning Afghanistan persists. But we take Vietn~nlf.~seinvasion of 25 Dt.-cember 1978; and the prob- lem ofAfghanistan, which arose from the Soviet invasion of 27 December 1979-that is, one year later. 283. On that day, armed forces of the Soviet Union crossed the borders of Afghanistan in the hope of sub- jugating the Afghan people in a few': ; >nths. But for almost four years now they have been ....'lbliged to wage a war that has lasted even longer than the Second World War, and they have not seen the end of it yet. The Red army-not to speak of the weak, divided and p"ppet army of Kabul-cannot venture far from the large towns and the main communication routes. The Kabul adminis- tration has collapsed and its authority is non-existent in the major part of the country. In Kabul itself, the mujahidin, with the help and support of the people, are increasing their activities, which range from passive resist- ance to an ever-increasing number of attacks. 284. This situatir,il, in which the army of the most expansionist world ,tJower has been bogged down, has only exacerbated the divisions and the bloody quarrels between the two puppet factions establhhed in power in Kabul, between the Parcham, led by Bllhrak Karmal, and the Khalq. There have been many battles between those two factions, leaving hundreds of killed and wounded; the latest, and certainly not the last, of those battles was the one on 17 August last in the town of Herat. "T)re- Russian policy of aggression is slow and steady but f'mn and unchangeable . . . Their habit of forward ~fr. Scotland (Guyana), Vice-President, took the Chair. 304. Mr. ALBORNOZ (Ecuador) (interpretationfrom Spanish): From the time when the United Nations fust began to discuss the question of the situation in Afghan- istan, almost from December 1979, Ecuador has main- tained a clear and unswerving position in accordance with the principles that shape our international policy-tllose same principles that guided us in rejecting other cases of the use or threat of the use of force in international affairs, as well as in all situations in which Ecuador's voice has joined the voices of other free countries in calling for the withdrawal of foreign occupation forces so that the peoples themselves, free of any outside pres- sure, may decide their own destiny. 305. This has been the position of principle maintained by Ecuador in the case of Afghanistan, as well as in the cases of Lebanon, the Middle East in general, Cyprus, Kampuchea, Namibia, Chad, Grenada, and the Malvinas. 306. What we call for is a return to the rule oflaw and a correction ofthe illegitimate situation ofGovernments created and maintained solely by the action ofoccupation forces, whose imposed presence disproves the fiction that the ad hoc Government called for those troops. 307. The valiant Afghan people is countering with its scarce forces foreign armed occupation. The exodus of that people and the alarming number ofrefugees, amount- ing to 4 million-which constitutes the clearest rejection by the people of foreign occupation, even at the cost of what is most precious to any individual, the right to live in one's own country-is a terrible consequence of the military situation created by those foreign forces, in fla- grant violation ofthe principles enshrined in the Charter of the Unitf:d Nations. 308. For these reasons, Ecuador associates itself with the representatives ofthose cOWltries that have appealed from this rostrum for the super-Power to withdraw its forces of occupation from the territory of Mghanistan and for the Mghan people to choose its system of Gov- ernment in free elections without any outside pressure. We also associate ourseh'es with the representatives of countries that have aff"rrmed that a negotiated political solution should be sought to the problem rather than the militarysolution that has been attempted by force, so far unsuccessfully. 309. Among the principles ofinternational coexistence embodied in the Charter, of which the Government of Ecuador is a loyal defender, are those of the prohibition of the use of force in international relations, respect for the sovereign equality ofStates and their territorial integ- rity, non-intervention of any type in internal or external affairs, and the self-determination ofpeoples. This is why we condemn armed aggression, wherever it occurs, and occupation by foreign forces, which can only aggravate ttle already critical world situation. Hence, my country urgently appeals in each of these situations for an end to The meeting rose rat 8.15 p.m. NOTES 2lbid.• Supplementfor April. May and June 1980, document 8/13951. 3Ibid., Thirty-sixth Year, Supplementfor July, August andSeptem- ber 1981, document 8/14649. 4Ibid., para. 1. 5Conv,ention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, and three Protocols.