A/39/PV.10 General Assembly

Before calling upon the first speaker this morning, I should like to draw the Assembly's attention to a letter addressed to me by the representative of Botswana, dated 26 September 1984 [A/39/523]. In that letter the representative of Botswana, on behalf of the Group of African States, requests that the General Assembly consider, under agenda item 31-"Policies of apartheid of the Gov- ernment of South Africa"-the situation in South Africa as a matter of urgency, if possible, not later than Friday, 28 September 1984, in the afternoon. 2. in this connection, a draft resolution has been issued in document A/39/L.2. To permit the orderly conduct of its future work, I suggest that the Assem- bly consider the scheduling of this item during our meeting this afternoon.

Mr. President, your election to the Chair at this thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly represents just recognition by the interna- Honal community of your merits and personal quali- fications and of your political and diplomatic experi- ence, amply demonstrated in the United Nations as well as in other international forums which have had the benefit of your participation. 4. Panama highly values your important efforts as President of the United Nations Council for Nami- bia, a post which you have carried out for the last five years with exemplary dedication and effectiveness and a post in which you have made a most valuable contribution to the complete liberation of Africa and to the stru~gle to uphold the principles of the self- determinatIon of peoples and national independence. S. My delegation would like to welcome most warmly Brunei Darussalam, which became a Mem- ber ofthe United Nations last week. We hail its entry into the Organization as a sign of our era, an era in which we are moving steadily along the path of decolonization and towards the goal ef the universal- ity of the United Nations. 6. I should like to join the voice of my delegation to the unanimous tribute which delegations have paid to the Secretary-General. His tireless efforts to pro- mote peace and his constant dedication to the NEW YORK achievement of international cOooQperation deserve the profound recognition of my delegation. 7. I should like to mention with special gratitude the official visit the Secretary-General made to Panama in April of this year, which ~ave us a greater realization of the dedication with whIch Mr. Perez de Cuellar is carrying out the sensitive responsibilities entrusted to him by the international community. 8. The Secretary-General may rest fully assured that Panama will encourage and support his efforts to turn the United Nations into a more effective Organization for the maintenance of international peace and security as well as the forum for the solution of the grave problems confronting mankind today. 9. Panama is located almost at the very centre of the western hemisphere, where, at the northern end of the Andes, it has a bird's-eye view of Central America and the Caribbean. Having a diversified ethnic, cultural and political make-up, my country has had, from the beginning, pluralistic neighbourly relations. At the same time, it offers the most expeditious route between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and in its settlement it merged men from the four corners of the world. It is precisely because of this geographical and intellectual situation that we at all times identify ourselves with the quest for harmo- ny among the varied peoples of the Americas, who may not be united today but whose destiny is to be united in the future. 10. Inasmuch as it is a country characterized by the national personality of its people, the inter-oceanic and continental communications which are natural to the geographical location of Panama have linked it by culture with South America, the Antilles and the rest of the world. HenGe our history, socio-economic structures and culture identify and confirm us as a Bolivarian and Caribbean nation, while at the same time making us aware of our responsibilities as the neighbour of the Central American region. 11. That was indeed the vision of the liberatclf Sim6n Bolivar, when he aspired for us to be for the new world what Corinth was for classical antiquity. His dream began to forge a new reality when in 1826 he convened the Amphictyonic Congress in my country "to obtain a system of guarantees which in time of peace or war would mark our new destiny". This has been our mission in the past and it will continue to be our mission. In 1815, a well-known Venezuelan wrote about a republic which, criss- crossed by canals, would shorten distances in the world. Nine decades later, after we became a sover- eign and independent Republic, we opened up an artificial waterway, thus speeding up world traffic. 12. These inter-ocean functions very early linked my country with the international community as a multilateral centre for trade and communication. measu;,-~ which was adopted against its own better by both parties. judgement and which constitutes an act of discrimi- 33. That is not all, but I have given sufficient nation against its own citizens. examples to demonstrate the gravity of the situation 27. This is one more case of violations of the letter and the consequences deriving from it. They are and the spirit of the Treaties, which have been important not only because they are so many further scrupulously observed by the Panamanian side. As in violations of the letter and the spirit of the Treaties the majority of the other cases, these violations are freely entered into between both parties, but also based on the Murphy Law, Law 96-70, which was because they impose onerous conditions which are adopted unilaterally by the United States Congress, harmful to the dignity and the interests of Panama. on 27 September 1979, as internal legislation de- Thus, new, unnecessary conflicts are brought about, signed to govern the conduct of the United States to the detriment of the good relations, understanding Government in the process of the implementation of and co-operation envisaged in the Treaties, the the Canal Treaties. This is a typical case of an illegal proper development of which is thus impeded. law which establishes provisions for one of the 34. The other aspect of the discrepancies is that parties to a binational Treaty, contradicting what was relating to the cO:'lditions of the protection and ratified by both parties to that Treaty. security of the Canal. The Panamanian attitude on 28. We refer only to the most flagrant and harmful this subject has always been based on the recognition aspects of the situation, and should give a few that this is a sensitive Canal, whose best defence is examples. neutrality and the universality of its services and whose best protection is the sympathy of the people 29. First, the Treaty clearly establishes that the residing in the area. Ae r sovereign nation Panama ri~hts and responsibilities of each of the two coun- has a traditional vocation of neutrality and non- trIes will be exercised through the Panama Canal alignment in all matters relating to East-West ten- Commission, which is a binational body, rather than sions and more particularly to its well-known deci- directly by the respective Governments. It also states sion to participate in actIons of conciliation and that the Board of Directors of that Commission, peace-making irl the Central American region. There composed of representatives of both parties, is the is no need to elaborate on this, since everyone is supreme governing body. In accordance with the aware that my country has taken an active part in the Treaty itself, the United States has a majority various efforts leading up to the Contadora process, membership of the Board-five representatives as is part of that process and provides the headquarters compared with four Panamanians. Following the for its activities. Therefore, those who are friends and ratification ofthe Treaties in both countries, Law 96- partners of Panama, particularly those friends carry- 70 attempts to turn the Canal Commission into a ing out activities on Panamanian territory, have the branch of the United States Executive, placing its moral, political and legal duty to respect that stated leadership in the hands of the Secretary of Defense of vocation ot J. country. that country and attempting to turn the Board of Directors into a mere supervisory board presided 35. The 1977 Canal Treaties authorize the tempo- over by a representative of the Secretary of Defense. rary prolongation of the presence of United States Thus it denies the essentially binational spirit of the bases and troops on Panamanian national territory Canal administration. until the last day of this century, with the sole purpose of contributing to the protection of the 30. Secondly, the Treaties from the very beginning Canal as it exists at present. Any activity of these gave a slight numerical advantage to the United bases and troops going beyond their exclusive mis- States side in the composition of the Board of sion of protecting the Canal runs counter to the Directors. Law 96-70 fUIther attempts to establish Treaties allowing for their presence on the territory that there should te a quorum at the meetings of the of my country. Hence we reiterate our protest a~ainst Board only if there is present a majority of United and rejection of the logistics, intelligence, plannmg or States representatives, irrespective of the total num- military training activities which are being carried ber of members attending a particular sitting. In this out on Panamanian territory aimed against other manner, the presence of the Panamanian members is countries in any region. Similarly, we repeat that not taken into account for the determination of a such actions not only violate the letter of the Treaties quorum, and this places us in an inferior position. and undermiile Panamanian policies and sovereignty 31. Thirdly, this United States majority has im- but also harm the interests of the other nations using posed a so-called code of conduct on all the employ- the Canal. threa~ened. 49. From now on the international community will have to redouble the solidarity that it has always given to these negotiating efforts. Its support is today more important than ever in calling on the Govern- ments of all the countries concerned to sign and fully to implement the Contadora Act, and in asking those countries with interests in and links with the region speedily to subscribe to the Additional Protocol, thus committing themselves to contribute to peace and co- operation in Central America. In that way, everyone can contribute to bringing about the peace which the people of Central America, the continent and man- kind deserve. 50. The amphictyonic vocation which Sim6n BoHvar gave to my country forms an indelible part of the national consciousness \)f Panamanians. Like the other Latin American countries, Panama is closely linked with its sisters in America, not only by our historic and cultural traditions but also by the present similarity and interrelationshjp of our struc- tures, problems and aspirations, because of which nothing that affects other Latin Americans can be a matter of indifference to us. Moreover, since we share similar difficulties and ~oa1L., it is of course of necessity the duty of our natIons ',0 act together in ever more effective ways, so ttat we may save ourselves and develop together, for otherwise we shall sink separat~ly. 51. As is well known, very serious trade and financial difficulties are part of the current problems of Latin America. The main causes of these problems are to be found beyond our borders and outside the control of our couptries. There is a wi5e Japanese saying that the first thing a good businessman must desire is the prosperity of his customers. Indeed, that is the only thing that can develop the market, and only equity in the terms of trade can guarantee it. However, mistaken economic strategies by certain industrialized countries have resulted in turning their partners into debtors, stifling the market instead of contributing to its prosperity. 52. It is well known that the unjust and disorderly structure of interuational economic' relations no longer corresponds to contemporary reality, resulting in harm to all the developing countries. To make matters worse, there is a growing deterioration in the terms of trade between the poor countries and the industrialized countries, the effects of which are worsened by the protectionist and restrictive mea- sures imposed by the major economic Powers, and 59. The extensive involvement of the United Na- tions in world affairs and development!» is deter- mined by the very mission of this forum, which was brought into being in order to unite the political will and potential ofStates for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security. 60. The conclusion reached by the founding Mem- bers ofthe United Nations was very simple indeed. It was born of the experience of the most bloody and destructive war that has ever befallen mankind. systen~ of a~gresslve.mlh~ary blocs with the North cannot confine themselves merely to stating that AtlantIc AllIance as It.S PivOt. Those States .r~ledged there exists a threat of nuclear war. It is necessary to themselves to. a polI~y based. on a posItIon of pin-point the source of that threat. Clarity in this s!rength, a polIcy of bnnkmanshlp. They are respon- regard is not merely a matter of historical fairness. s~ble for the advent of the cold ~ar, WhI,ch for .a long An understanding of the factors that are pushing tlIl~e froze the normal flow of mternatlOnal lIfe for mankind towards a nuclear abyss also determines the which the peoples of the world yearned. answer to the question whether or not this calamitous 64. As a result, in the post-war years the world has process can be stopped, and how. been. in a state of fever. And whenever intern~tional 71. It is of fundamental importance to compare the relatIOns were marked-as was the case durmg the two political trends and the two approaches to the period o~ dete!lte-by bu~ding co-operation between problem of nuclear weapons. States with dIffer.ent socIal sy.s~ems, no effort \yas 72. Right after Hiroshima and Nagasaki the world ~pared to undermme those posItIve processes, which witnessed the inception of a policy of ever-greater IS exa~tly what happe~ed .at the whim of .the North stockpiles of nuclear weapons and nuclear blackmail. At~antIc Treaty 9rgamza.tlOn [NATOl ~lllhtary.bloc. The Soviet Union forcefully called for the outlawing It IS precisely !hls ~rend m world pO!ltICS th~t IS the of these most deadly and destructive weapons. In- s!Jurce 0'£ the situatIOn that charactenzes the mterna- deed, as early as 1946 the Soviet Union submitted at tlOnal clIma~e todar· The threat of war has grown and the United Nations a draft international convention the foundatIOns of world peace have become more on the prohibition for all time of the production and shaky. use of nuclear weapons and on the destruction of 65. This course, which is manifest as never before their stockpiles. I am sure there are some present in the current policies of the United States and of here in this Hall who witnessed the discussion of this those who choose to be its accomplices, is opposed by item at that time. a broad front of peace-loving States and forces. 73. Yet our former allies in the struggle against 66. The Soviet Union b in the vanguard of active fascism did ~ot haye the heart to vote for that champions of peace. It has been and remains faithful proposal. TheIr re~ctIon th~n ~as bound t!J make the to its solemn pledge taken right after the criminal peop.les apprehensIve and It did cause serIOUS appre- Fascist swastika was crushed and the Hitlerite war henslOn. machine smashed. The essence of that pledge has not 74. And what is the situation today? Statements are faded with the years; it is to fight resolutely to ensure being openly made at the highest official le vels that that the flames of world war never flare up again. The the United States has the right to deliver a first fact that it has been possible for almost 40 years to nuclear strike, that is to say, to unleash a. nuclear war. wa~d it off is large~y to the credit of the ~ountries 75. Our country sought a ban on nuclear weapo~s which pursue a pohcy of peace amon~ natIOns and both when it did not possess them and after It frustrate-by .their internation~I'prestI.ge and i"1flu- developed them. Today, as before, the Soviet Union ence-a;g~resslveand adyentun~tlc ~eslgns wherever favours prompt measures to reduce anq ~ventua~ly they ongmate. The SOVIet Umon IS one of them. eliminate nuclear weapons altogether. ThIS IS the aim 67. Together with other socialist countries, we shall of a.compr~hensiveset of initiatives advanced by the continue to work in the interest of improving interna- Soviet Umono tional relations. This is precisely the thrust of the 76. Whenever the United States side showed real- documents of the meeting of the Political Consulta- ism and the will to come to agreement on the basis of tive Committee of the States Parties to the Warsaw the principle of equality and equal security-some- Treaty, held at Prague on 4 and 5 January 1983,S and thing that did happen before-it proved possible to of the high-level Economic Conference of the mem- reach important accords. Thus, a major step forward ber countries of the Council for Mutual Economic was taken with the conclusion in 1972 by the Soviet "Inadm~ssibility of the p~licy of State terr~ri~m and missiles intended for use as first-strike weapons. any, actI<?~s by States aImed at unqermmmg "the 180. Nor can one overlook the fact that in some soclo-polItIcal system of other sovereIgn States. quarters hopes have not yet been abandoned of 172. We propose that the United Nations resolutely revising the post-war realities in Europe. Recently condemn the policy and practice of State terrorism as such revanchist sentiments have been fuelled by a method of dealing with other countries and peo- statements which seek to question the commitments pIes. It is necessary to renounce any action aimed at assumed by the members of the and-Hitkr coalition. changing or undermining by force the social systems We would caution against yielding to that dangerous of sovereign States, destabilizing and overthrowing frenzy and we appeal for sober-mindedness, No one their legitimate Governments, or initiating military has the right to disrupt what has not merely become a ~ndia a de~p. sense of pa~tic!pationan9 com~itment 198. The escalating arms race, the rise in interna- m ~~termm..n& .the natI.o~ s economIC, sO~Ial and tional tensions and the absence of willingness for pohtIcal. pnontles. IndIa s ec.onomy e~vlsages a constructive dialogue among the major nuclear- pre~o~mant role for the pubh~ s~ctor .10 areas of weapon Powers have increased the risks of the basl~ mdust~ :as well as a .flounshm~ pnva;te sector outbreak of a nuclear war. Clearly, the dangers of the co~slste~t wIth our ~oclo-economlc p~Ilosop~y, total annihilation of mankind, indeed, of any life on ~h19h alms at p~ospenty and growth Wlt~ SOCIal this planet, are so great and increasing with such ~ust.lce. The pl~nnIng process adopted by IndIa as an inexorable rapidity that we cannot permit ourselves mdlspensable mstrume~t for the developm~n~ of.all the luxury of either indifference or despair. Danger- sectors ofour economy mvolves the full partIcIpatIon ous doctrines, such as those of nuclear de\.errence and of our people.. . .. of limited nuclear warfare, are being propounded. No 194. In ~ur mternat~onal relatIOnshIps, ad~ere.nce country will remain unaffected by the horror of t~ the pol~cy o.f non-ahgnment has been both mstmc- nuclear conflict once it is unleashed. By the same bve and mevltable. Even before the Movement of token none of us can remain indifferent to the need Non-Alig~ed C~u~tries held its f)rst summit in 1961, to sp~ed up disarmament negotiations. It is ironical the essentIal pnnclples of non-alIgnment had become that the principal justification for adding new and the basis for the conduct of our foreign policy. costly weapon systems to the arsenals of the great 195. Today the Movement of Non-Aligned Coun- Powers has been that it provides better negotiating tries, with its membership of 101 countries, consti- positions for those countries in any arms limitation tutes the vast majority of the membership of the talks. The logic of this position is that disarmament United Nations. It is an indication of the intrinsic can commence only after countries have armed appeal and relevance of this Movement, as well as its themselves fully. Such bizarre logic cannot be expect- significance and its achievements to date, that almost ed to serve as a basis for any serious arms limitation every newly independent nation seeks membership. exercise. 196. As Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said in her 199. A fresh and concerted world-wide effort must address!! to the Seventh Conference of Heads of therefore be made to halt the arms race. Nuclear- State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held weapon States bear the greatest responsibility and at New Delhi from 7 to 12 March 1983: must adopt urgent, practical measures to prevent a "Its significance is not to be measured by the nuc~ear war. Specific ~roposals ha,:e been made by number of divisions or the megatons of destructive IndIa and other non-alIgned countnes for a conven- power we command, but by the intensity with tion under United Nations aegis I?rohibiting the use which we desire peace and freedom, development of nuclear weapons under any CIrcumstances. The and international justice. idea of a freeze on ~he p~o~uctionand deployment of "Other Governments may have conflicting opin- nuclear weat?0ns IS gaI~mg popu~ar support and ions on right and wrong. We the non-aligned have needs to be ~lVen a I?ractIcal shap~ 1~ order to break chosen peace, which surely is the right and inevita- the present Iml?asse m arms negotIatIons. Efforts for ble choice. We have sought and continue to seek a comprehensl.ve nuc~e~r-weapons7te~t-b~n treaty friendship with all, except Governments which are must be expedIted. EXlstmg arms hmltatIO.n agree- racist or threaten the hard-earned freedom of ments mu~t be observed and new ones negotIated. At others. Non-alignment is not vague not negative the same tIme, a concerted ~ffort ought to be made to not neutral. " preven.t .a. new and potentIally more qangerous and " . ... destablhzmg round of the arms race m the area of Non-alIgnment IS natIonal mdepend~nce and space-based systems. Diplomats and experts engaged freedom. I~ stands .for peace a!ld the aVOIdance. ~f in arms limitation and disarmament negotiations confr0t:\tatIOn. It alms at ke~pmg away fn?m mlh- must now take due note of the mass popular upsurge tary allIances. ~t ~.eans equ~hty am~ng natIOn~ and in the world against nuclear weapons. the democratIzation of mternatIOnal relatIons, . . ... . . economic and political. It wants global co-opera- 200. A major peace I~ItIatlv~ ~n thIS reg~rd was tion for development on the basis of mutual tak~n recently. by the Pnm.e MInIster of IndIa, Mrs. benefit. It is a strategy for the recognition and Indlra GandhI, togethe! wIth the Heads. of State or preservation of the world's diversity." Government. of Argentm~, Greece, M~XICO, ~weden 197. The question of disarmament has always re- and .the U~I~~d .Repubhc of TanzanIa. ThIS five- mained a basic concern of India and other countries contmt:nt mI~Iat!Ve, lau~ched on ~2 May 1984, ofthe Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. Govern- states, inter alza, m the Jomt DeclaratIon [A/39/277]: ments and peoples all over the world are becoming "As leaders of nations, States Members of the increasingly aware of the grave threat posed to the United Nations, we have a commitment to take very survival of mankind by the development, accu- constructive action towards halting and reversing mulation and deployment of nuclear weapons and the nuclear-arms race. The people we represent are their delivery systems. Two special sessions of the no less threatened by nuclear war than the citizens General Assembly have been devoted exclusively to of the nuclear-weapons States. It is primarily the this question. Yet new weapons of mass destruction responsibility of the nuclear-weapons States to and their Jclivl:ry systems are continuously being prevent a nuclear catastrophe, but this problem is researched. tested, produced and deployed. A new too important to be left to those States alone." ~ions the world over but also contribute to recovery harmony in the whole area. and growth in the world economy and could be used 207. While on the subject of South Asia, it is with to augment the currently decreasing levels of assist- considerable regret that I find it necessary to refer to ance to developing nations. The proposal for a world recent developments in Sri Lanka which have taken a conference on disarmament and development de- turn for the worse, have caused us deep anguish and serves to be taken up seriously by Member States. have aroused global concern. There has been a 203. India attaches great importance to general and recrudescence of indiscriminate violence and killing complete disarmament, particularly nuclear disarm- by the armed forces on a scale which recalls the ament, and the prevention of nuclear war. A number tragedy ofJuly 1983. Reports indicate that the armed of proposals submitted by my delegation to begin a forces in that country have conducted large-scale serious nuclear disarmament programme are already operations in areas where the Tamils constitute the before the General Assembly. It is our earnest hope overwhelming majority of the population, resulting that during this session our proposals, as well as in heavy loss of life and property of the innocent others in this field, will be considered in all serious- Tamil population. If the spate of violence in the ness and that meaningful decisions will be taken. northern province continues, it is bound to have 204. In our own neighbourhood, the Indian Ocean serious repercussions in other parts of Sri Lanka and continues to be an area of competitive attention and precipitate an influx of refugees into our country. We mounting great-Power military presence, posing a already have 40,000 Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil direct threat to the security and integrity of the Nadu. littoral and hinterland States. Th~ increasing militari- 208. The ethnic problem in Sri Lanka cannot be zation of the Indian Ocean and its use as an arena for solved by military action. It is a political problem strategic power-play is a matter of immense concern involving the just rights of the Tamil minority, ,md to us. The establishment of new command structures only the determined pursuit ofthe political process of has been accompanied by the introduction of sophis- consultation and mutual accommodation can lead to ticated weaponry into the area. The 1971 Declaration a constructive way out. of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace [resolution 2832 (XXVI)] remains unimplemented. 209. After the communal violence of 1983, the 205. Ever since the expansion of the Ad Hoc Prime Minister of India offered her good offices to Committee on the Indian Ocean in 1979, it has been help find a political solution to the problem. Presi- dent Jayawardene of Sri Lanka accepted that offer, the earnest hope of the littoral and hinterland States and the efforts of our special envoy to promote the that the permanent members of the Security Council process of dialogue have been undertaken with the and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean full concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka. would contribute towards the early convening of the While talks within the framework of the All Party Conference on the Indian Ocean and to the early d' . realization of the objectives of the 1971 Declaration. Conference are continuing, innuendos an tnstnua- The evidence of the last few years has belied this tions are repeatedly being made against India. expectation. On the contrary, efforts are afoot to 210. We have reaffirmed our stand in favour of Sri distort the fundamental structure and elements of the Lanka's integrity and unity and have expressed 1971 Declaration. We believe that the Conference, to opposition to all forms of violence and separatism. be held at Colombo, should be convened urgently to Because of the large number of Tamil refugees from begin the process of elimination of great-Power Sri Lanka in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and military presence from the Indian Gcean in realiza- ~ecause of the many age-old links between the Tamil tion of the objectives of the Declaration. During the populations of the two countries, the repression and ~low. ~~I1~, there ,IS uDlversal. reaffi~matlOn of t~e security; it CL " if anything, only have the opposite madmlsslbllIty of mterferenc~ m the m~ernal affal!s effect. A compl'ehensive solution comprising the total of States, as also of !he mductIon of forelg~ tro~ps !D and unconditional withdrawal of Israel from all Arab any country, th,ere IS no doubt that the sItuatIon m territories occupIed since 1967, the exercise by the South-West, ASIa can be resolved only !hr~ugh an Palestinian people of their inalienable national and over~ll polItIc~I, settlement ~ased on prmclples set human rights, including the right to establish an out I~ the Pohtlcal.peclaratlOn adopted at the New independent State in their homeland, and mutual DelhI Con~erence. The efforts of the ~ersonal guarantees of security among States of the region RepresentatIve of the ~ecretary-General m p~~t must be achieved. months have sought to Impart momentum to tdS 218. We support the convening of an international process and deserve our support. peace conference on the Middle East under United 214. Of equal concern to us are the continuing Nations auspices for finding a comprehensive, just difficulties that have come in the way of peace in and lasting solution in accordance with well-estab- South-East Asia. The ev~nts of the past ye~r have lished principles laid down in United Nations resolu- made us only more conscIOus of the opportumties, as tions. The situation in the region does not br.ook any well as the pitfalls, that lie in the search for a solution delay and urgent preparatory measures should be of the problems afflicting that region. India is undertaken so that the conference can be convened at co~vince~ that ther~ can be ~o military solution to the earliest possible time. In this context, India is thIS questIOn. What IS needed IS a balanced approach appreciative of the efforts being made by the Secre- that takes into account the security and other consid- tary-General towards the convening of the confer- er~ti~ns of all. th~ countries in the region and ence and the process of consultations initiated by ehmmates outSIde mterference. We ~re hopeful that him with the parties concerned to find a comprehen- the new processes of dIalogue opemng up between sive solution. \Ve stand ready to extend our full the .c~untries of, Indo-~hina and A~EAN will yield support and co-operation in this connection. posItIve results m commg months a~~ ~ake for a 219. It is now a century since Namibia fell prey to IPuch-need,ed sense of tru;st and reconCIlIatIOn among colonialism at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. the countrIes of the regIOn. For the larger part of the period and up to the present 215. The futility of war as a means of settling day, this Territory and this valiant people have disputes has been highlighted in the tragic fratricidal suffered a particularly brutal and repressive colonial conflict between Iran and Iraq, The continuing war presence, an extension of the abhorrent system of has involved great sacrifict";s by both sides, resulting apartheid. Eighteen years of direct United Nations in enormous losses not only of material wealth but jurisdiction over Namibia have brought the Territory also of precious and irreplaceable human lives. The closer to independence only in theory, as the United critical situation in the region threatens not only the Nations plan for Namibian independence remains security of the Gulf but also the safety and economic unimplemented in spite of its universal acceptance as The meeting rose at 1.25 p.m. NOTES lPanama Canal Treaty and Treaty concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, signed in Wash- 100fjicial Records ofthe General Assembly, Third Session. Part I, Plenary Meetings, 154th meeting, para. 49. l1See N38/132 and Corr.1 and 2, annex. 12United Nations publication, Sales No.E.84.II.C.I. 13See Report ofthe International Conference on Population. 1984 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.xIII.8 and corrigen- da), chap. I, sect. B.