A/39/PV.13 General Assembly

In accordance with the deci- sion taken yesterday afternoon [11th meeting], the Assembly will consider draft resolution A139/L.2, entitled "Situation in South Africa". I call on the representative of Botswana, in his capacity as Chair- man of the Group of African States, to introduce the draft resolution. 2. Mr. LEGWAILA (Botswana): I stand here on behalf of the Group of African States at the United Nations to commend to the sympathetic consider- ation of the Assembly the innocuous draft resolution contained in document A139/L.2. 3. It is generally agreed and appreciated that the current explosion of violence in South Africa is a direct consequence of the recent imposition of a racist constitution on the people of South Africa, even though the South African authorities may have a different explanation for it. It is quite possible that, true to character, the leaders of South Africa do not see why the majority of the people of South Africa should rise against a constitutional dispensation which, for the first time in the history ofthat country, allows South Africans of Asian descent and Col- oureds to play a role as peons in South Africa's now three-legged Parliament. Indeed, the riots and dem- onstrations currently rocking South Africa are seen by the authorities ID that country as the work of criminals, people without a cause, unemployed tso- tsis who exploit, for no respectable purpose or cause, grievances over rental increases, unemployment and Bantu education. Put differently, the black man, so they say, has no reason to rebel against a constitutIon which negates his existence in South Africa because he has already been taken care of constitutionally, that is, he has been driven into the so-called home- lands, barren waste lands on the periphery of "White NEW YORK vie~,,clearly poses a sen,?us danger to the peace and ty and stability and will allow political participation stabilIty of southern Afnca and the world at large. by all South Africans as equals. 8. The draft resolution rejects South Africa's racist 15. Mr. PIERRET (France) (interpretation from ethnocentric constitution foisted on the people of French): France has certain reservations concerning South Africa three weeks ago-a constitution already some of the terms used in the second preambular declared null and void by Security Council resolution paragraph and also in paragraphs 1 and 3, but my 554 (1984). It points out, in Professor Vale's words, delegation will vote in favour of the draft resolution that "the black majority in South Africa will not be in order to make clear its condemnation of the brutal duped by reforms" which regard them as aliens repression of the recent uprisings in South Africa. withou~ rights in thei,r own country, and the draft 16. Those uprisings coincided with the implemen- resolutIOn reaffirms, m paragraph 6, that tation of consthutional changes which would con- "only the total eradication of apartheid and the tinue to entrench the system of apa,rtheid in that establishment of a non-racial democratic society cou;ntl)'. The~ reflected the exasperatIOn of a black based on majority rule, through the full and ,free maJonty depnved. of ,any prospect~ for a fu;ure, and exercise of adult suffrage by all the people In a they express~d rejectIon of an unjust and ~nhuman united and unfragmented South Africa, can lead to order. The violence unleashed by the forces In power a just and lasting solution ofthe explosive situation will change nothing and will settle nothing. South in South Africa". Africa will live in peace only when its laws recognize We have to repeat this truism, if only to make it equali;y and dig~ity for ~ll its ,citizens. A, p~aceful abundantly dear time and time again that no consti- evolutIOn of the situatIon IS possible, and this IS what tutional artifice designed to modernize apartheid, no France ardently hopes for. . . solution which pretends that South Africa belongs 17. Mr. ,STEFANINI (Italy): We wish to take this exclusively to the minority whites and a handful of opportumty to, state once agaIn our firm support for Indian and Coloured opportunists, will spare South the long:s~andmg call b):' the General As~embly f~r Africa the ghastly consequences of its refusal to learn the abohtl,on of ap,arthezd. and the estabhshme~t In the lessons of history. South Afnca of a Just society based on equal nghts 9 I · h d"l' . for all. . t IS my onour an pnvI ege, In my capacity as ' , Chairman of the Group of African States for this 18. W~ need not recal~ ~Ither our condem~atl(~mof month, to commend to the unanimous support of the aparthezd, or our po.sltIon on the ~onstItu,tlOnal Assembly draft resolution A/39/L.2. changes In South Afnca. Our record IS consistent. , Last year we voted In favour of General Assembly 10. !~e PRESIDENT: T~e Assembly wIll now take resolution 38111; more recently, our views have been a deCISion on draft resolutIon .A/39/~.2.and Add. I.. I reflected in the Declaration on South Africa adopted f)ha~l first call on those dele~atIons wlshmg to explam on 11 September 1984 by the Foreign Ministers of theIr votes before the votmg. the 10 member States of the European Community 11. Mr. MIZERE (Malawi): The draft resolution [see A/39/487]. before us is an embodiment of the world's opposition 19. With regard to the draft resolution before us, to the policy of racial discrimination, and it reminds Italy has some reservations on paragraph 3 and on us of four principal elements: first, total rejection of some of the wording, particularly in the seventh the policy of apartheid, which relegates the blacks of preambular paragraph and paragraphs 4 and 7. We that country to a status of permanent inferiority and also have doubts whether it is appropriate for the humiliation; secondly, reiteration of the international United Nations to decide on the legal validity of community's opposition to tite constitutional dispen- constitutions or of electoral laws, no matter how sation in South Africa which has deliberately exclud- much we disapprove of them. Nevertheless, in ed the blacks from the parameters of political power accordance with our long-standing position, we shall in that country; thirdly, rejection of the policy of vote in favour of the draft resolution, homela~ds earmarked for the ~lacks; and, fou,rthly, 20 The PRESIDENT: We shall now vote on draft expresslO~of sorrow at the cont~nued blood-lettmg,m resolution A/39/L.2 and Add.l. A recorded vote has South ~f~lca and a demonstratIOn of sympathy wI~h been requested. the pohtIcal have-nots, some of whom have laId d d k down their lives in their endeavours to create a A recor e vote ~as ta en., . unitary State in which all South Africans can live in In .t:;vour: Afghat:llstan, Al.bama, Algena, Ango~a, peace and friendship, sharing a common commit- ArgencIna, Austraha, AUStrIa, Bah~mas, Bahram, ment as a people, as a nation and, indeed, as a ~a~gladesh, Barbado~, Belg1U!U, BenIn, Bhutan, ~o- Government hVIa, Botswana, BrazIl, BruneI Darussalam, Bulgafla, , . Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Re- ~2. HJ~tory and,geograp,hy have ~laced my country public, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central In a so~thern Afflcan p~htJcal dest,InY] and therefore African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Ma~~wI cannot and wI~1 not be mdlffere~t to the Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, pohtlcal developments In that part of Afnca. Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Den- 13. It is against this background that my delegation mark, Djibouti, Egypt. El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, will vote for tlie draft resolution. It wishes, however, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Demo- to take this opportunity to reiterate its deep-rooted cratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, belief in the policy of contact and dialogue as a Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, means of solving disputes and to point out that it Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indone- violatio~of.fundamental ~uman rights and a bet~ayal confirms the concern felt by the Government of of the dIgnIty and. conscIence of all South Afncans the Federal Republic of Germany that the majority and of human bemgs everywhere. of those affected fail to see the new South African 34. At the same time, we believe that our strong constitution either as a constructive step forward revulsion against the injustice of apartheid and our or as a sufficiently large concession. From the deep compassion for the victims of the recent outset, the Government of the Federal Republic of disturbances in South Africa does not authorize us or Germany has been greatly concerned that the the General Assembly to indulge in violent rhetoric constitutional reform contains no measures aimed that can only exacerbate an already tragically violent at granting political rights to the black majority, situation. On the strength of this belief, we have in despite the fact that blacks make up 73 per cent of the past consistently opposed language such as that the population. contained in. paragraph ,3 of the resolution before us. "The new constitution has a considerable 'legiti- We opp~se It. now. ThIS language, as wel~ as other macy deficit'. The black majority is fully excluded for~ulatIons In the text ~e,for~ u~, are sImply not from political activity and only a small minority of JustIt:ied by the facts. Nor IS,lt wlthm ~he competence Coloureds and Indians are willing to co-operate in of thl~ bqdy or of the Secu~lty CouncIl to declare the the narrowly defined limits of the new system." constItutIon of South Afnca or that of any other ." Member State "null and void". The latest developme~ts m South Afnca have rem- 35. We believe that the fate of South Africa is and forced our apprehensIOns. should be in the hands of the people of South Africa. ~2. Howeve~, I have to stress our strong reserya- The struggle to eliminate injustice an~ to establis.h a ~Ions concernmg paragraphs 1and 3 of the reso~utIon democratic system that respects the nghts of all IS a Just adopted. As m1;1ch .as w~ may doubt the ,wI~d~m process as complex as it is vital. Recent events of the new constIt,utIon, It cannot for Jundlc~l highlight its urgency but also its dangers. If this reasons alone-that IS, the lack of competence of thIS Assembly's response to that urgency aggravates those body-be declared null and v~id. ,Furtherm.o~e,with dangers, it only increases the likelihood that the ~espect to paragraph 3, we mamtam the posItIon that process of change will become instead a cycle of self- It IS not ~ matter for, the General Assembly to destruction. Because we care about all the people of pronounce,ttselfon ,questIons reserve4 by the C~arter South Africa, we cannot favour such a response. We of the Umted NatIons to the Secunty CouncIl. will continue our efforts to support th~se wh~ seek a 43. Mr. MALINGA (Swaziland): The delegation of more hopeful solutIOn to the South Afncan dIlemma. the Kingdom of Swaziland voted in favour of the We urge all States and Governments here represented resolution which the Assembly has just adopted and to do the same. wishes to make the following points. 36. Mr. KURPE~SHOEK (Netherlands): The 44. The delegation of Swaziland fully supports the Netherlands voted m favour of the resolutIOn Just main thrust of the resolution, which appropriately adopted. addresses itself to the urgent need for the establish- 37. The new South African constitution falls far ment of a non-racial society based on the fundamen- short of the fundamental reforms necessary to bring tal norms of democracy, whereby participation by all an end to apartheid in South Africa. We cannot but the people, irrespective of their colour, race or creed, disapprove in the strongest terms of the fact that no is sacrosanctly observed. The new constitution ex- provision was made in the constitution for the cludes the black majority; and it is my delegation's political rights of the black majority of South Africa. belief that they should be included in the decision- 38. However, we have some reservations on the text making process of the country of their birth. of the resolution.,. sh~ll !efer,to,two of them. Firs~, in 45. We reiterate Swaziland's position that we recog- my .Government, s opmlOn, It IS not for th,e ,Umted nize every nation's right to self-determination and NatIOns to pass Judge!lle~t on the legal v~lIdlty of a independence. But we find it very, very difficult to go M~mber State's cons,tItut~on ~md declare ~t n,ull and along with certain prescriptions designed to solve the VOId..Secondly, the sItuatIon In South Afnca IS not a situation inside South Africa. We stand opposed to col<?mal 0!le; th~refore, we cannot endorse a call for the use of violence, for our geographical position and natIOnal lIberatIOn. economic vulnerability impose a heavy burden on 39. The recent recurrence of violence in South our country. Africa is, in ~y Go.v~rnment's opinion, not .rel~ted 46. Finally, Swaziland strongly believes in the phi- only to t~e l!llposltlon of the new constltut,IOG. losophy of peaceful negotiations, for history has Howev~r, It pomts t~ t~e urge,nt need for apartheid to taught us that violence has never resulted in anything be abolIsh,ed forth,wlth l!l the Interest of the peopl~,of but counter-productivity. South AfrIca and In the Interest of peace and stabIlIty in the region. 40. Count YORK von WARTENBURG (Federal Republic of Germany): My delegation voted in favour of the resolution just adopted because we find ourselves in support of its main thrust. 41. Our position on the matter has already been made clear in the following statement issued by my Government on the result of the parliamentary

I bring to this world forum the fraternal greetings of the people of Ecuador and its a~:rl, first and foremost, the nuclear-arms race, which 75. Ecuador was one of the founding countries of has increased the danger of a new world war which, the United Nations. We are on the eve of celebrating under present circumstances, would inevitably be- 40 years ofexistence ofthe Organization. My country come a destructive thermonuclear war. The switch- reiterates that the United Nations system is of over to deployment by the United States of medium- paramount importance for peace, stability and pro- range nuclear missiles in the countries of Western gress in the world. It is necessary to enhance the Europe and the consequent use of nuclear counter- Organization, refine it and, if necessary, transform it, measures announced by the Soviet Union have so that it may be not only the forum for national further aggravated the entire world situation, and declarations but much more: the grand stage on especially the situation in Europe. which the peoples may reach an ever greater measure 81. The interests of peace, the policy of detente, co- of understanding, friendship and common action. operation and security demand that everything be Moreover, this fortieth anniversary must be an done to halt this dangerous course of events leading occasion for revising procedures, reducing organiza- towards tension and war, to avoid a nuclear catastro- tional costs and proliferation throughout the system, phe, which, for all practical purposes, would mean and accentuating the technical service role of the the very destruction of human civilization and of specialized agencies, in order to concentrate within those conditions necessary for the existence of life on the United Nations itself responsibility of a political our planet. nature. Any confusion in the matter of objectives, • l': b h . I . I"t· I 82. Romania, and its President, Nicolae Ceau§escu, any mterlerence y tec mca organs m po I Ica believe that the fundamental issue of our time is the matters, will only imply a loss of authority and halting of the arms race and the implementation of efficiency for the entire system. substantial measures of disarmament, first and fore- 76. It is therefore imperative, in the year that lies most nuclear disarmament, thereby defending the before us, so to consolidate concrete actions that the supreme right of man and of peoples to existence, to General Assembly may attain viable results, stressing life, to freedom, independence and peace. common denominators and agreement, rather than 83. In the current international circumstances, Ro- tension, extremism or sectoral interests. The Eco- mania and its President stand for and resolutely nomic and Social Council must be the ideal forum militate for the halting of the deployment of United for development issues, where pro~ress is made in the States medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe and search for higher standards of lIving for the poor the esta:'lishment of a programme with a time-limit majorities in the world, which is the primary and for the withdrawal of those already in place, as well concrete objective of today's international system in as for the ~~'ssation of Soviet nuclear countermea- the economic, social and cultural spheres; and the sures and the el'\tablishment of a programme with a Security Council must fulfil the purpose for which it time-limit for the cancellation and elimination of was established, particularly through an operative measures which have already been implemented. system that enables it to reach peaceful solutions for Likewise, we consider that everything must be done international disputes. for the urgent resumption of Soviet-United States 77. All these criteria and the endeavours I have negotiatic,ns aimed at achievin~ adequate agree- mentioned, among the many others, altruistic and ments, which must ensure the elimination of medi- positive, of the Organization constitute one of the urn-range and tactical missiles and of nuclear weap- substantial elements in the restoration etf balance to ons from Europe. the interdependent and planetary world we inhabit. 84. Romania believes that European countries on It can make the difference between human co-opera- whose territory medium-range nuclear missiles have tion and devastating strife9 between the hope that the already been deployed-or where such deployment is approaching century may truly be better and the envisa~ed-bear a special responsibility for the fate tragic pessimism that misunderstandin~ and of theIr own peoples and for the fate of peace in blindness may pre tail in international relatIOns. It Europe and throughout the world. Those countries E~.,.~".,..d,.,...~...~~,.-d...~.h,~,;."p"'~C.,r,i--:~...;~...t-c-..,.d.,ividin g Confer~nce on Trade and Development in order to complete the drafting and adoption of a code of conduct on the transfer of technology and to finance, through existing United Nations mechanisms, the implementation of technical assistance projects in developing countries in order to assist in creating and improving the scientific and technological capabili- ties of those countries. 119. Romania attaches the greatest importance to the r"oblem of countering the extremely harmful practice of the outflow from developing countries of trained manpower, which is depriving those coun- tries of an essential element of their potential for economic and social development. While we express our appreciation for the efforts of the intergovern·· mental group of experts set up within UNCTAD, we believe it is necessary to increase efforts to work out, in the shortest possible time, an appropriate frame- work for international co-operation to forestall the adverse consequences of the outflow of trained personnel from the developing to the developed countries. We consider that an international conven- tion or agreement to regulate this problem should contain provisions making incumbent on persons with a higher education or on the companies hiring them the obligation to reimburse the countries of origin for the expenses of their training and educa- tion and to compensate for losses incurred. 120. In the endeavours to restructure international economic relations and establish a new international economic order, and to overcome underdevelop- mev!, particular importance must be given to ex- panding and deepening economic co-operation among developing countries and to strengthening their solidarity and unity of action. To this end, Romania favours the convening of a summit meeting of those countries, with a view to developing their economic co-operation and defining a common strat- egy for negotIations with the developed countries. 121. In a world dominated by contradictions and insecurity and by grave threats to peace, the prob- lems of the younger generation should occupy a place of primary importance in the preoccupations of States. The future of each nation and of all of mankind is directly linked to the education of youth in the spirit of the most noble ideals of work, freedom and peace. 122. The observance in 1985 of International Youth Year with the theme "Participation, Develop- mt.mt, Peace" is an expression of the great responsi- bility which devolves on the United Nations in this field. International Youth Year, through prepara- tions and activities carried out for many years, will become a significant event in the life of the young ~eneration, designed to make a contribution of great Importance to the unification of the forces of the younger generation and to increasing its participation in the economic and social development of all 128. As was recently stressed by the President ofthe Socialist Republic of Romania, Nicolae Ceau~escu: "Despite the differences in the social systems of our countries or different political and philosophi- cal concepts, even despite the existing divergences and disputes among some States, we must over- come them all and bring to the forefront the interest of each and every people, of all of man- kind. We must act with great determination and Pre~identofthe General Assembly at its.thirty-eighth 137. The role of the United Nations should not be sesslC!n, conduct~d the work of th~t sessIOn. I should limited simply to stating the prevalence of interna- also hke to mentIOn here th~t PresIdent Illu~ca, as the tional problems and crises. Rather it should be to first Head of State to l?resld~ over a seSSIOn of the articulate practical suggestions which will enable the General Ass,embly dunng his, term <;If office" ~as international community to confront imminent dan- helped to remforce, through his promm~nt positIOn gers and find solutions based on justice and objectivi- and great competence, an enhanced pubhc awareness ty of the increasing importance of the United Nations . , in relations between States and in the life of the 138. The non-acceptance by certaIn ~tat~s, 9f t~e peoples of the world. sup.rema~y of law, the absence of m~ral mhlbltIon In . . . theIr actIons and the lack of preventIve measures are 131. I should lIke also to express appreciatIOn f<;lr among the basic factors that cause such Stuies t.o the gre~t efforts exerted b~ t.h~ Secretary-G~neral m prefer aggression and expansion and to depend on t~e van~us fields and actIvlh~S o,f the Umted Na- force for resolving problems. Therefore, if we really tIons. With con:tmendable ded~cat~on ~m~ persever- want to establish peace and security in the world, we ance, he has gUl.ded the 9rgamzatIon 1!1 ltS endeav- have no alternative but to adopt moral and iegal ou~s through difficult cIrc~~stances m ~ manner principles to guide us through the intricacies and which deserves our appreCiatIon, good Wishes, and complexities of modern international relations. full suppo.rt. ,. 139. In this regard, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 132. It gives me ,great satIsfactIon, furthermore, to by adhering to Islam as its creed and conviction and ex,press the happ~ness ,?f the GovernmC?nt, of the to the Koran as its constitution and guide, has ~Ingdom of SaUdi, Arabia upon the admlss,lOn of a established firm foundations for its dealings with s~ster State, Brunei Darussal~m, t~ the Umt~d Na- other States. Because Islam is a creed that promotes t101~S. We. are confident that. ItS wise leadership a;nd freedom, stands in the way of aggression and exploi- ancle~t h;lstory Will enable It to make .an ,effective tation, opposes injustice in all its forms and strives contnbutIon to the work of the OrgamzatIon. for equity and fairness, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 133. The capacity of the United Nations to con- deals with others on a basis of equality, refrains from tinue to serve as a safety-valve, trusted and respected interfering in the internal affairs of others and for the preservation of international peace and respects the principles of national sovereignty. In the security on the one hand and for the establishment of international arena of the United Nations, we com- a just basis for co-operation among States in the ply with its Charter, support its efforts and oppose political, economic and social fields on the other any action that attempts to weaken it or to replace hand depends to a great extent on its ability to the authority of international law with the instru- perform its role, not only in confronting problems ments of force and the means of terror. The conduct that endanger international peace and security, but of relations by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also in finding effective solutions to those problems. reflected, and will continue to reflect, its sense of 134. However, if we review the events of the past belongin~ to the whole. inte~ati~nal com.m~nity as 12 months it becomes evident that we have returned one famIly, as well ~s ItS beh~f l!l the pnncIples of to the General Assembly after a year in which there peace based upon nght and JustIce. has been no sign of a breakthrough in resolving 140. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, like all the international and regional conflicts which threaten other members of the international community, peace and security in one region or another. Peoples formulates its position on international matters and who have been robbed of their rights and who have crystallizes its foreign relations through its adherence been oppressed still survive, but in conditions of and commitment to international bodies and organi- deprivation and injustice and in the grip of aggres- zations. In this context, the Kingdom is proud of its sion and expansionism. The world has witnessed no membership of the Gulf Co-operation Council, progress towards the resolution of the problems which was est~blished in conformity with the char- posed by the inequitable economic, financial and ters and resolutions of the League of Arab States and trade relations between States. Numerous countries the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and with are, moreover, now afflicted by critical social prob- the principles of the Movement of Non-Aligned lems, such as the problem of drug addiction, which, Countries and the Charter of the United Nations, in certain areas, has reached epidemic proportions. It The Kingdom's membership of that Council is not a could become difficult to contain such problems mere political commitment or temporary attach- within the geographic confines of specific States. ment; it represents the reality of our destiny, reflect- f'\qs~ .Mosqu~, as. well as. of other MuslIm and have in warding off aggression, they voted on 1 June ChnstIan shrmes m Palestme. 1984 in favour of the draft resolution before the ~ 55. A definitive m~mentum towards peace .exists Council [resolution 552 (1984)]. That important In t~e A~a~ and MuslIm.world. ~he great fear IS th~t stand taken by the Security Council has strengthened the ~nabIlIty of the Umted NatIOns to handle thIS our hope that the Council will pursue its efforts and persIs~ent pr~blen:t, a~ we}1 as the st~bbornness of that the Secretary-General will continue his good Isr~eh e~tremls~ m vI<?latmg the sanctIty of the ho~y offices to bring about the cessation of the Iran-Iraq shrmes m Palestme, WIll force the Arab and IslamIC war with its possible repercussions upon the region natio~s to mo~ilize all their capabilities t~ confront and' the world at large. IsraelI extr~mIs~, at great cost and w.lth conse- 161. Among the major problems confronting the quences whlc? wI~1 not. affect only the MI~dle East. international community and requiring urgent and 156. The. SItuatIOn m L.ebanon rem~ms fully effective solutions is the situation in Afghanistan and c?arged WIth d~nger.s that nsk an e~plo~I.on at any the continuing Soviet military occupation of that tIme..The contmuatIOn of the I~raelI mIlItary pre,s- country. The Soviet presence there has entered its ence I~ Leb~non and the pe~slstence of Is,rael m fifth year. The Afghan mujahidin are waging a fierce fomentmg dIsputes and fflCtlO~ a~ong dlffere~t war in defence of their religion, their fatherland and ~ebanese factIons, as. well as ItS mterference.m their rights. We reiterate our appeal to the Soviet mterna.l l.:eba.nese ~ffalrs, are furt~er pro~f of Its Union, as a super-Power with a correspondingly great expanslomst mtentIOns and aggressIve desIgns. obligation with regard to peace and security in the 157. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its sister world, to withdraw from Afghanistan and let the Arab States have exerted great efforts to co-operate Afghan people determine their own destiny and with the Lebanese Government and to support its choose the system that they desjr~ for themselves. ende.avours to return cond~tion~ to. nor~al. We will 162. The Kingdom of Saudi AraUIa is committed to contmue .to spare no e~fort m thIS ,directIOn! but such the stand taken by the Organization of the Islamic effo~s WIll not. be fruItful and Will not br.l~g ab~ut Conference, which has called, in particular, for the genume pea~e I~ Leban0!1 unlt:ss the IsraelI mva~IOn withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and an~ occupatIOn IS ended m all Its forms and mamfes- the granting to the Afghan people of their right to tatlons. self-determination, this stand being in support of the 158. Preventing Israel from interfering in the inter- Islamic people of Afghanistan, their holy war and nal affairs of Lebanon and the total unconditional their right to liberate their country. Furthermore, we withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territo- support the efforts exerted by the Secretary-General ry are two prerequisites for the normalization of the in this regard and draw attention to the fact that any situation in Lebanon and for the redcdication of such efforts should take into consideration the rights efforts aimed at the realization of a just and total and demands of the Afghan mujahidin, peace in the Middle East. 163. We also wish to express our gratitude once 159. The war between Iraq and Iran has entered its again to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for its great fifth year and continues to rage. The toll it has humanitarian role in offering hospitality to more exacted from both the Iraqi and the Iranian peoples than 3.5 million Afghans. This represents a consider- has been heavy in all areas. It is a senseless and able economic and social burden, which Pakistan totally unjustifiable war. The Organization of the continue~~ to bear generously and graciously, Such a Islamic Conference, the Movement of Non-Aligned noble sta,'1d by Pakistan should not expose it to ~onflIct, to discourage. super-Power D,leddhng or ranean countries which chose to pursue it. Malta's mvolvement.and to mam~am sea and alF lanes fFee experience exemplifies the difficulties we have had to for commercla~ traffic,. wh~le at the same time seekmg surmount and the determination that was required to to protect t~eIr sec.unty mterests and .to enc<?urage secure our objectives. We have had to struggle the contendmg nations to resolve theIr conflIct. consistently to escape from the shackles of post- 196. In Central America the Contadora Group colonial tutelage and ~o ~liminate all foreign military initiative prov~des yet another succesaful example of presence from our soIl, m o~der finally to be abl~ to how developing and non-aligned countries can serve adopt the. status of neutrahty, based on non-al~gn- as a motivatin~ force for a resolution of conflicts and ment, which we defined as the most appropnate tensions in theIr region. The struggle of the peoples of manner in which we could pursu~ our nat~onal Central America to rid themselves of the oppression development .and at the sa11?-e 9me contn~ute of foreign economic and military interference has towards se~unty at ' co-operatIon m the Medlter- been long and arduous. Those who through bitter and ranean regIOn. heroic struggle have achieved their objectives still 202. The policy measures we applied to pursue our face the hidden intrigues and open aggression of objectives have been the object of slander and attack, outside interference. The proposals which the Conta- open and covert opposition, even outright aggression dora Group has formulated for resolving the suspi- from reactionary forces both inside and outside our cions and hatreds, the pressures and intrigues and the country. Our internal social and economic policies outside military interference which harass the region were deliberately misconstrued and our expanding are constructive and far-reaching. They deserve the relations with other countries maliciously misinter- full co-operation of all countries directly concerned preted in an attempt to distort our objectives and and the support of peace-loving States world wide. obstruct our endeavours. Even such measures as the 197. These and other regional initiatives by devel- introduction o~ free hospitals ~~d medical services oping and non-aligned countries share common ~md free educatIOn for. all o~r cItIzens hav~ been and foundations in spite of the different circumstances in m ~ome ca~e~ are stIll bel~g accompanIed by the which they are unfolding. They all stress the need for rabid .opp~SltIon of vested IJ?terests. That we have regional States themselves to take the leading role in prevall~d IS due to our t.enaclt:y and to the strength resolving problems of their region. They prove that we den,ved from (rJ~ fnends m the Movement of approaches based on dialogue and co-operation are Non-Ahgned Countnes and elsewhere. much more fruitful than reliance upon armed might 203. Together with the other Mediterranean coun- in resolving problems. They emphasize the need for tries which have accomplished their national struggle outside Powers, and in particular the super-Powers, for freedom and dignity, we realize that the elimina- to stop meddling in the destinies of different regions, tion of all foreign military presence from our territo- either directly through military presence or indirectly ries is only the first step in ridding our region of the through the use of proxies. tension and con.frontation that.characterize ~t. As 198. It is a great satisfaction to report further on the long as the Medlterran~an remams a focal pomt of meeting which-acting upon a mandate given to super-Power confrontatlo.n we can~~t feel free and them by the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or secure t.o pursue our na:tlonal destinIes and res<;>lve Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New our regIOnal problems In the manner we conSider Delhi in March 1983-the Mediterranean members most approprIate. We c~nnot feel free and secure as of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries held at lon~ as our s~a remams the .playground for the Valletta earlier this month to concert their views and ~mte~ States S!xth Fleet to ~ex ItS muscles whenever devise initiatives for co-operation and for strengthen- ~t desIres, as long as the Soviet Nayy uses ?ur sea as ing security in the Mediterranean. ItS backyard, as long as two major navies a~d a number of smaller ones use our sea as the domam of 199. Since time immemorial, the Mediterranean their ever-enlarging war games as long as our region has been considered by predominant military Powers is riddled with staging posts f~r rapid troop deploy- as a special preserye for their global empire-building. ment, and as long as nuclear weapons beneath and Much of the. fightmg of the Second. World W';lr was above our waters, and even on the adjoining main- u~qertaken m or around our regIOn. A strmg of land, remain the frightening daily reality. milItary ~ases then dotted. <?ur shores. The flow of 204. The concern and dismay voiced by non- commerCial traffic. ~as traditionally been punctuated aligned Mediterranean countries at these develop- by the flow of milItary hardware. ments do not spring from any sense of antagonism to 200. The end of the Second World War spelt the either one or the other of the super-Powers. Neither demise of the colonial era. In the Mediterranean, is it our wish to stand in the way of the pursuit by any however, the withdrawal of the colonial Powers was country, regional or not, of its legitimate commercial immediately replaced by the intrusion of super-Pow- and security interests. Our sea has always been a er presence. First, the United States Sixth Fleet and, point of contact and a means of transit for different Maltese people have succeeded in freezmg both prices and earnings. 229. Obviously we are not prepared to see our years of effort and sacrifice undermined through the unjust and biased trac:I"g systems the industrialiL~d market economy com;· les are seeking to perpetuate. To those countries that enjoy a continuous a9d substan- tial trading surplus with us we have made !t clear that means of redress must be found on P mutually agreed basis. We are not prepared to keep on purchasing goods and services from those who are not ready to ~ive us something in return-be it in terms of Increasing their purchases from us, or in terms of a transfer of technology in our favour which would help us operate more effectively on their markets, or stateme~t to the Assembly [8th meeting]? to supp<?rt 263. The developing world, a realm of poverty, is and put mto effect the proposal to establIsh a specIal also becoming the rea!m of violence. The third-world fund. Such a fund would be used to support the countries are also, unfortunately, the testing grounds programmes of structural reform and recovery mea- for the new weapons of the Powers that produce sures which the majority of African countrIes are them. now courageously undertaking. 264. Every year at this rostrum we deplore the state 255. This also seems to me to be the moment to ofwar that has now become a familiar background in make a new appeal to the sense of responsibility of certain regions. The Middle East, the Persian Gulf, the leaders of those developed ,countries that have Central America, southern Africa, South-East Asia- not yet met the target set by the United Nations for to mention but those few-have gradually become ~ffici~ devclopment as~.anc~ In th~ ~nnectio~ ,~a~c~c~u~s~~~m.~e~d,~~t~o~w~~a~~~~~~j~~?~~~~'~~~~~~ c~uld not lend legitimacy to a blatant act of aggres- SIOn. 275. In any event, the situation which results from the policies of oppression applied by the Pretoria regime against the Namibian people and the policy of intimidation and terrorism against neighbouring countries constitute in themselves a serious threat to international peace and security and should therefore discourage support of Pretoria by its allies. 276. For its part, the Government of the Republic of Burundi reiterates its support for the struggle of the Namibian people under the leadership of SWA- PO and calls for the application of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). It rejects the policy of Preto- ria, with all its forms of oppression, explOItation and domination based on inequality and discrimination. 277. The southern part of Africa is unfortunately not the only danger point in the continent. The situation which prevails in north-west Africa is a cause of great concern to my Government, which condemns all manoeuvres aimed at blocking the process to self-determination of the Saharan people under the leadership of the Fren/Le POLISARIO.6 278. The resolution adopted by the Assembly of HearJs of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its nineteenth ordinary session~ held at Addis Ababa in June 1983, and endorsed by the General Assembll in resolution 38/40-which contains the text 0 that resolution-should be followed up. My Government hopes that the parties to the conflict will enter into negotiations with a view to reaching a just and lasting solution. That is the only way to restore peace and stability in the region and avoid foreign intervention and the international- ization of the conflict, which could only increase the suffering of the peoples involved. The OAU has done everything possible to bring about the decolonization of Western Sahara. The obstruction of the process is the fault not of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic but rather of the party which has rejected the organization of the referendum. 279. Also in Africa, Chad is a cause of particular concern and interest, especially for my country's region. The peace plans prepared outside the region, and satisfying foreign interests only, should give way to a Chadian plan drawn up within the society and based on the desire for unity and national reconstruc- tion. In line with this, the international community ~mty was bro~en ~O years ago, has legitimate aspira- 292.. It is clear that the future of the world depends hons to reumficatIon..My 90vernment firmly sup- on d~sarmament, bec~use th.at will guarantee not only ports the .peaceful reumficatIon of Korea. Aware that survival but the qualtty of lIfe for future generations. the. ~olutIon of the Korean problem requires a It is no longer necessary to prove the considerable polItIcal settlement, Burundi encourages the holding impact that it would have on the socio-economic of talks to permit a reduction of tension in the progress of peoples. ~orean peninsula and the peac.eful re~nific~tion of 293. I could not conclude without stressing that the e country. It.supp~rts the holdmg oftnpartlte talks. ~orld today lo~gs .for peace, securi.ty and co-opera- 28~. Buru~dI contInl;les to be concernt:d about ,the tIon. The aspIratIons expressed m 1945 remain ~eflous tensIons resultmg fropl the ongomg conflIcts unfulfiH~d. The world must also return to its roots. m Kamp~chea and Afghamstan. l\1y povernment Only by ~ecomin~ convinced that the three purposes ~hile living under the threatening shadow of oppos- task. mg systems of nuclear weapons. They may well 329. We should like also to convey to his predeces- ponder the priorities of an age when unimaginable sor, Mr. Jorge Illueca, our full appreciation and our sums were spent on the production and refinement of gratitude for the capable and intelligent manner in weapons capable of gJobal destruction while million~ which he guided the work of the thirty-eighth session of human beings suffered the deprivation and indig- of the General Assembly and for the sense of balance nities of abject poverty. The consequences of the which he brought to the analysis of the questions nuclear-arms race and of the arms race in sophisticat- debated by the Assembly during his term of office. ed conventional weapons are evident in every aspect 330. To the Secretary-General we reiterate our deep of world affairs. We see their effects in world appreciation of his commitment and dedication to inflation, in the widening gap between rich and poor the promotion of the ideals of the United Nations countries and in regional tensions, which have in- and for the dynamism which has inspired his action. creased under the pressures of super-Power confron- T~lis has contributed greatly to the strengthening and tations. the effectiveness ofthe United Nations. We also want 324. It is clear that a new resolve is needed on every to thank him for the enlightened and responsible way front-political, humanitarian and technical-to in which he has undertaken new initiatives for the work for the attainment of the goal of disarmament. peaceful promotion ofjust solutions to the problems Sanity and common sense call for a comprehensive raised by the important questions of our time. test-ban treaty and, as a further step, a freeze in the 331. Similarly, the admission of Brunei Darussalam production, testing and stockpiling of nuclear weap- as a Member of the United Nations is another step ons. Nor should a supposedly advanced civilization towards the achievement of the Organization's goal have any place for chemical weapons; they should be of universality. In welcoming this new Member, we totally prohibited without further delay. are certain that our capacity for collective analysis in 325. The difficulty of containing the quantity and the search for peaceful solutions to problems will be destructive capacity of existing nuclear weapons enhanced. points to the folly of extendin~the nuclear-arms race 332. Cape Verde has been following with deep to space. We hope that negotIations for the banning concern the systematic deterioration of the political of ~pace weapons along with other weapons of mass climate and the progressive worsenin~ of the interna- destruction will soon be undertaken. My Govern- tional situation. The present climate m international ment has always welcomed initiatives such as the relations and the recent alarming increase in tension establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, which between the major Powers have made the interna- can make a valuable contribution to general and tional political sItuation very precarious and disturb- complete disarmament. As an Indian Ocean State, ing. In several regions of the world we are witnessing for ex~mple, we stron~ly support th~ principles that the use of force as a means of resolving conflicts uurterhe the DeclaratIon of the IndIan Ocean as a *Mr. da Luz spoke in Portuguese. The French version of his Zone of Peace [resolution 2832 (XXVI)]. statement was supplied by the delegation. socI~I. and polItIcal consequ~nces are threatenmg the only, instrument for establishing a permanent stabilIty, progress and peace m the world. political dialogue maintaining and strengthening 333, The arms race, especially the nuclear-arms international peace ,and securit~. , race, is ever more increasing the I?ossibility of a 339. Inde~d, in sl?lte of the .dlfficultles and obs~a- nuclear confrontation. At the same tIme, partly as a cles the Umted N:atlons faces, It ~as demonst~ated ItS consequence of that situation, the economic and ~sefulness as an. mstrument ayaIlable to ,the mteryta- social gap between the developing and de~eloped t!onal co~m~mty for pursum~ coIlec~lvely obJec- countries is widening. The enormous matenal and tlves; and It IS through the Umted Nations that for human resources consumed ev~ry ye~r ~y the war ~he first ~ime i~ history small,countries have an input industry could be used to contrIbute sIgmficantly to m the dIscussIOn of world Issues. alleviating the hunger and underdevelopment affect- 340. As the international community is preparing ing the majority of the world's population were they to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the put at the service of the well-being and development United Nations, we think it is time to carry out an in- of peoples. Given such a situation-which has not depth analysis of the system of international institu- been experienced since 1945 and which some have tions. We are convinced that the United Nations likened to real anarchy-it is becoming more evident constitutes the most valuable instrument for the that in today's world there can be no alternative to creation of a climate of peace and co-operation the policy of peaceful coexistence, detente and co- among peoples. As indicated in the report of the operation among States, regardless of their economic Secretary-General on the work of the Organization and social systems, region or geographic location. [AI3911], its role in this area, in spite ofobstacles, has 334 Faithful to the principle of peaceful coexis- been ct:Ucial. In,deed, the results ,thus far show that . h b 'h' the Umted NatIons has become m today's troubled tenc~, Cape Verde as een advocatmg t e practIce world a irreplaceable instrument for dialogue on the of dIalogue and entente as the only way to solve ,n h' f Id international conflicts, and it has been categorically mamten~n~e and strengt enmg 0 .wor . peace. and firmly rejecting the positions and attitudes of 341. It IS m that context that we vle~ WIth c~ncern those who would build a system of international the pre~en~ trend to a~andon.the Umt~d NatIons as security based on strength. the mam mstrument m seekmg solutions to worl~ ,. , . ,problems, for there can be no doubt that .t~e Orgam- 335. , The current CflSIS SItuatIon ~as also contnb- zation is the appropriate framework for Jomt efforts uted m ]~r,ge mea~ure to ~he we,ake~m~, and now, the and for harmonizing the interests of all, provided we vulnerabIlIty, of mternatlOnal mstltutlOns. The Idea accept the im~lications of our interdependence. For of an organized world, where war would no longer us a world Without the United Nations would be a have a place, was at the root. of all the declafati<?ns set-back for international morality and legality and and all the plans developed smce 1941, culmmatmg would give licence to the strongest to rule as they in ~he, San Francis~o Conference. The,hopes a~d pleased. aspIratIons of mankmd, based on the Will to, aY~)ld 342. The survival of mankind and the acuteness of th.e catastrophe of,a ~ew wa~, led to th.e prohibitIon international relations at present make it incumbent o! the use of force m mtern~tIonal r~latlOns and g~ve upon all of US, without exception, to do everything ~lfth to the Idea ofa collective sec~n~y system which, possible to strengthen our commitment to the United ~n ~Ufl1, presupposed the renun~latlOn ~f force ,by Nations system. Common sense and the need to mdlvd.ual States who~e protectIOn agamst foreign preserve peace in the world require all countries ~md agg~esslOn ~ould contm~e to be guaranteed by the the international community in general to be un- UnlLed NatIOns through ItS enforcement machmery. yielding in d~fending the United Nations system. 336. We are witnessing a blocking of that system by 343. The fragility of international relations at pre- the unjustifiable use of the right of veto, with the sent is having an impact on the African continent, consequent bipolarization and political instability of worsening conflicts the solution of which must be the world. In r ractice, the Security Council has been found within a regional framework without foreign rendered incapable of meeting its responsibilities as interference. Cape Verde, which is an integral part of the guardian of international peace and security. that region, is making every effort, along with other '. f . . . I . African countries, to promote negotiated solutions to 337- IneffectIveness I,n the us~ 0 l.n~t!tutIona ma· conflicts and to preserve our regional unity. chmery has led to an mcrease m cntlcIsms recently . . , directed against the United Nations, stigmatizing its 344., The sltu~tlon In. the sout~~rn pa!1 of the incapacity, often even its paralysis, in resolving the contme~t .remams esp~clal!y sens~tlv~. With regard great problems facing the international community. ~o Nam!bla, South Af~lca IS cont~numg t~ defy th.e While some of these criticisms from certain sectors l~ternatlO~al comm~mty and United Nations .decI- are meant to denigrate the role of the United Nations SIons relatmg to the mdependence of that TerrItory. and to justify activities contrary to the Organiza- 345. Given its constant concern to make its contri- tion's goals, others legitimately voice the concerns bution in the search for negotiated political settle- and questions '0f a large part of the international ments to international conflicts, the Republic of community about the proper functioning and effec- Cape Verde has done everything in its power to assist tiveness of the United Nations as an instrument for interested parties in finding a just and peaceful result~nt nsks to thelf sovereIgnty and terntonal between Iran and Iraq, the grave consequences of Integnty. which are reflected in the loss of thousands of lives 347. Nor can those developments be dissociated and the destruction of goods and property acquired from the sincere desire for peace and development on with such great effort by the p,eoples of those the part of the peoples and Governments of the front- countries. Unfortunately, per$istent efforts at media- line countries or from their urgent economic needs, tion, which have taken place because of this war, which demand action now. The developments also have not yet achieved appr~ciable results. On the reflect the acute sense of responsibility that moti~ates contrary, we see a trend towards the intemationaliza- the peoples and Governments of those countnes. tion of the conflict, in view of the fact that it is taki!lg 348. We repeat our condemnation of the apartheid place in a very sensitive region of the world. syste~, the basen~ss,ofwhichis ~epugnan~ to, human 357. We view with concern the situation that has conscle':lce and dlgmt¥. T~e demal of theIr nghts on developed recently in Central America, and we the bas~s of race, whlc~ IS the fate of most of the therefore support ~he efforts of the Contadora Group populatIOn of South Afnca, can ~nly get worse from to establish conditions that will permit the people of da~ to day and lead to fut:ther VIOlence such as that that region to come up with the best formulas for whl~h recently brought gnef to the martyred South restoring peace and promoting economic and social Afncan people. development. 349: W~ think that ~ny !lleasure that do~s not have 358. With regard to Korea, it is our opinion that as It~ aim, th~ er,adlcatlOn .or apartheid and the replacir!g the armistice agreement by a peace agree- creatIOn of ~nstltut~onal conditions th~t,would guar- ment would open the way to a negotiated solution antee equ~lIty or ,fights and opportumtles for every between the parties concerned with a view to the S~uth Afncan CltIz~n, ~egardle~s of race, sho~.Jld be peaceful reunification of the territory and re-estab- rejected by th~ en.tlre l?ternatIonal, co~mumty. lishment of the national unity of the Korean people. 350. DecolomzatlOll Will g~ do~n In hIstory as ~ne 359. The situation in East Timor is a typical case of of t,he most valu~bl~ contnbutlOns of the Umted a people deprived of freedom. The territory con- ~at~ons t~ the bUilding of a world of free.dom and tinues to be occupied by Indonesia in flagrant jus~lce. HiStOry, none the less, also recor~s In several violation of the Charter of the United Nations and of regIOns. of ~he world attacks ,upon the nght to self- intel'nat' ~ ... I law. The occupation of the territory, det~rmlnatlOn ~f peopl~s ~hlch have thus far been which is ,\ JtJstacle to the free exercise of the right of subject to foreIgn, dommatlOn. self-determination of the Maubere people, should be 3,51.. We, would hke to express our ~oncern ove~ the rejected by the entire international community. SituatIOn 1!1 other parts ~f our continent, espeCIally Many of us here have in the past experienced the bec.ause ~he .repercusslOns those events have on situation which the fraternal people of East Timor regIOnal sohdanty. are now going 'hrough. The most elementary rules of 352. With regard to the situation in Western Saha- justice impose {n us the moral duty to co-operate in ra, the spirit of consensus which prevailed at the the creation of the necessary conditions for the free nineteenth ordinary session of the Assembly of exercise of the right to self-determination in this Heads of State and Government of the Organization territory. We would like to reaffirm our firm support of African Unity, held at Addis Ababa in June 1983, for the cause of the Maubere people and its avant- mmJ be maintamed as the only way to achieve a just garde, the FRETILIN,8 which has managed, at enor- solution. Cape Verde renews its appeal to the two mous sacrifice, to maintain a firm and courageous parties to the conflict, Morocco and the Frente position in the face of the forces of occupation. We POLISARIO,6 to join as soon as possible in the would like also to express our appreciation to the search fOf a satisfactory solution on the basis of Secretary-General for the efforts he has made to carry respect for the principle of self-determination of the out the mandate given to him by the General Saharan people. Assembly in its resolution 37/30. It is still our hope 35:;. With regard to Chad, we still firmly hope that that in contit:luing ~is efforts with the parti~s con- the urgent need for peace for the martyred people of cerned., espeCIally, ~l~h re~a~d ~o Portugal, whIch has that country will triumph over external influences a speCial .respons~blhty Vis-a-ViS ,the Maub,ere pecjJle and internal dissensions, regardless of their origin or and t~e mternatlOnal commum~y, ~e ~111 be able reason. Cape Verde encourages every effort under speedIly to find wl;lYs of restoring JustIce and the way in the African context to find understanding flgh~s of people whIch ha.ve been tram~led UpOIl by among the different parties to the Chad conflict. th.e invasIOn and o~cupatlon of the terntory of East 354. The Middle East remains one of the most TImor by IndoneSIa. dangerous hotbcds of tension in the world because of 360. The present international economic situation thl' continuing bellicose and expansionist policy of is the consequence of structural .Qnbalances the the Government of Israel. Cape Verde reaffirms its repercussions of which have a negative effect on the conviction that peace can be found in that region economy of the developing countries, especi,\lly the affectin~ the world. It is immersed in internal extent. of the consequences of the drought and the contradictions which are typical of a phase of extens.lOn :year after ~ear of the phenome!10n of accelerated change. Africa is undergoing a phase in dese~lficahon, the senous da~gers threatemng the which it is laying foundations for an economy which surVival not only of the populatlOns of the Sahe! arc:a will be in keeping with national realities and objec- but als,?, and more anq more, of those countrIes ID tives and will satisfy the aspirations of its peoples. It the per~pheral zone which thus far had not suffered is therefore no surprise that the crisis should be felt such disasters. in Africa with special intensity. 373. Over and above an ~wareness and limited or 367. We are deeply concerned at the alarming sporadic i~terventions, the international comm~nity proportions of the economic and social aeterioration mus~ acqUIre the necess'!-ry means to act effechv~ly in the African region. It is becoming urgent to seek and m concert and to assist ~h;e peoples and countries solutions to meet this situation. Although the main affected to fkce .these calamltl~s and to protect other responsibility for solving these problems lies with the area~ from theIr. tffects. ThiS should be done by African countries themselves which are affected- f!ndmg global, Simultaneous and permanent solu- because we are aware that realizing national obJec- hons. tives for economic development is a task which first 374. In this context, there is clearly a need for the of all nes with our countries-we think that, bearing States concerned to define coherent development in m~, ~d the collective effort required in the search policies, to find adequate formulas for more activ~ NOTES IThe delegations of Burkina Paso, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Jamaica, Liberia, Panama, Qatar and Samoa subsequently informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour of the draft resolution.