A/39/PV.24 General Assembly

On Lehalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations the President of the Republic of El Salvador, Mr. Jose Napoleon Duarte, and to invite him to address the Assembly. 2. Mr. DUARTE (interpretation/rom Spanish): Mr. President, it is an honour for my delegation, and especially for me personally, to extend to you on this occasion the most sincere and cordial congratulations on your assumption of the duties of President of the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly. 3. This Assembly will deal with many of the major problems of international society, as well as the options and procedures which may enable us to solve them, thus consolidating understanding, peace and security among nations. I should also like to express the gratitude of the people and Government of El Salvador for the constant and tireless work conduc- ted by the Secretary-General in his indefatigable efforts to achieve that peace, security and co-opera- tion among all the peoples. 4. I came before the General Assembly in 1981, at its thirty-sixth session [17th meeting], as President of the Revolutionary Junta of El Salvador to explain to the world the crisis which was facing my country and to explain to you the process of democratization which we proposed to accomplish and which we have indeed fulfilled, in holding the first free elections in El Salvador to elect the National Constituent Assem- bly, which brought back a state of law and received, without any reluctance whatsoever, from the Revolu- tionary Junta, the full powers of a democratic and a republican nation. 5. That message was received with satisfaction by representatives at the United Nations, although scepticism led them to doubt the possibility of free elections proposed by a de facto Government which had committed itself to ensuring that its people would come in large numbers to vote, even under fire, to demonstrate its desire for democracy and its rejection of violence. ~. We fulfilled that commitment, but the Salvador- lan people went further when it established the Provisional Government and held two rounds of presidential elections, which are an historic confir- mation ofthe will ofour people, who want to find the road to peace through the path of democracy. NEW YORK 7. I am very happy to state here before all the peoples of the world that El Salvador, despite having gone through one of the most difficult periods in its history, has given specific examples of what a people can do and obtain when it truly believes in democra- cy as the hest possible way to solve the differences which are inherent in all organized societies. 8. That offering of my people to freedom entails great sacrifice. This process to democracy, peace and social justice culminated on 1 June 1984, a date which is indeed a milestone in the history of El Salvador because, for the first time in half a century, we have established a Government which is truly democratic and which has directly and freely emana- ted from the sovereign power of the Salvadorian people. 9. I now come, bearing the banner of my country as a symbolic gesture of the legitimacy of my Govern- ment, to app~ar before the nations of the world and to speak with the authority vested in me because of the support of my people, to speak of the peace so ardently desired by all Salvadorians, to speak of the benefits ofthat peace to which we are entitled and for which we are striving, to speak of our irreversible desire for democracy. I should like to speak about the peace of Nicaragua, of the guerrillas and Contadora, and to make an appeal to reason and fraternity which we deserve in Central America. I want us to be reasonable and to reconcile our differences. 10. For more than four years, El Salvador has suffered from the effects ofa merciless war which has caused us bloodshed and impoverishment. More than 50,000 Salvadorians have been the innocent victims of a fratricidal confrontation. More than half a million persons have had to leave their homes and their property. Subversive forces have engaged in a campaign of terror and systematic destruction, and our people is tired of it. It must end. 11. One after another, the speakers who have preceded me at this rostrum have referred to peace in the strongest of terms. Peace undoubtedly is the greatest yearning of all men, and its maintenance is the main function ofthe United Nations. I, too, come before the Assembly to speak of peace in the same strong terms. 12. But I shall not refer to the dangers confronting the world as the consequence of the unbridled arms race, nor to the threat oftotal destruction represented by the senseless accumulation of nuclear weapons, although, ofcoune, I share the concerns ofall of you, as well as your frustration in the face of the seeming inability of the community of nati~ns to fulfil not onl}' the letter but also the spirit of the Charter of the UnIted Nations. 13. I shall not speak of nuclear confrontation because others have done so here with great elo- quence and profound knowledge of the problem. cou~se we !nt~nd to take and mf9n:n the world,ofthe negative effect on rational thinking and coexistence reahty of hfe m El Salvador. ThIS IS a task WhICh we in various regions. Unfortunately, Central America must undertake so that the action of democratic has also suffered from such confrontation. However countries may be carried out ~ith confidence and ~n diplomatic efforts are: now being made with regard t~ support of our struggle to achIeve real democracy m our area. In this context, the use of the good offices of our c9untry; in support C?f our de~ire ~or the j~.lfidical the Contadora Group ha~ our support. equ~hty of States, non-mterventIOn .m t,he mternal 23. My Government is grateful for the constructive affa~r~ of States, and th.e self-deterrn~n~tIOn of p~o- work done by the four countries that make up the pIes, m support of our vI~orous oPP9~ltlonto forel~n Contadora Group: Venezuela, Colombia, Panama !nt~rference ~nd an~ kmd of pohtIcal, economIC, and Mexico. We appn~ciate the proposals and efforts Jun.dlcal or IdeologIcal pressure exerted by one undertaken by the Group, which have received the natIon upon another. support of the General Assembly and offer the best 16. The crisis is worsening because of the grave way of achieving the p1eaceful solution of the conflict, situation in Central America: the imbalances in the which is so painful for all of Latin America. We have international economic system, trade imbalances, co-operated fully with those countries in trying to excessive protectionism in the terms of trade, unem- create understanding and unity among all the peoples ployment, external indebtedness and a series of other of Central America. negative factors 'Yhich have an increasin~ effect on 24. We attach great value to those efforts for the o~r w~ak economIc structures and are leadl~g us to a preservation of peace. Thus, we shall, as we have hlstonc crossroads. Thus, El Salvador wIll. always agreed, present before 15 October our comments on support .t~e efforts of the <;Jroup of 77, w~lch has the revised Contadora Act on Peace and Co-opera- ~een strIvmg tI!elessly to bnng .about a.new I~terna- tion in Central America [A/39/562, annex], which tu~na~ econon:l1c ,order more In keepmg WIth the was submitted to us on 7 September last. We are prmclples of JustIce. trying to achieve peace by means of dialogue and on 17. Central America, which is involved in a politi- the basis of regional arrangements within the frame- cal, social and economic crisis, is experiencing acute work of the Contadora process. problems, but these are not irrev~rsible.It is poss!ble 25. I should like, on behalf of the democratic to ~t,ld formul~s for uI?-dersta~dmg and appropnate Government of El Salvador, to sign an agreement pohtIcal and dIplomatIc solutIOns. that will be in keeping with the efforts of the 18. Confronted by this complex picture, El Salva- Contadora Group. But such an agreement must be dol' has always acted rationally because of our strong r,ght and just for El Salvador. It must strictly desire for a peaceful, democratic solution in Central guarantee the application of the 21 points which have America which would strtengthen the security of the already been accepted by all the parties in the region by means of understanding, economic and Document of Objectives adopted on 9 September social integration, and consistent respect for the 1983. 1 The agreement must ensure appropriate meas- norms and principles of international law. ures for the verification and control of everything 19. El Salvador's conduct has always been based on t~at is agreed. We must make sure that the obliga- its dedication to the principles and tenets which hons t~at we ~~dertake !o put an en~ t~ the pr~s~nce govern relations between States. We are convinced or foreIgn mlhtary adVIsers aI?-d ehmmate ml~ltary that adherence to those principles is an indispensable aId from abroad must proylde for. the stnctest requirement for the harmonious coexistence of inter- contro~s and, at the same tIme, enta~1 for all ~he national society. El Salvador thus fulfils its interna- c0f!lmltment not ~o su~p~rt or, contmue t.o. give tional commitments and regrets that some countries asslstanc~ to terroflst actpvlty agamst our legItImate that speak half-truths and deliberately conceal their democratIc Government. own violations appear before various bodies of the 26. The history of my country is similar to that of United Nations not in order to settle differences but many of the underdeveloped countrie5 in the world. rather to use thuse bodies as a mere platform for If I describe it briefly, many representatives listening propaganda, regardless of the cost and the degree to to me will find amazing simiiarities with the history which they undermine this body, whose protection of their own countries. It is the history of a common they claim to seek. struggle, of anguish, of triumphs and of failures. It is 20. El Salvador believes that the Contadora process a common history of ideals-it is our history. is the only course open to us. In this context, we 27. El Salvador emerged from colonialism to be- support an honest regional dialogue, so that we come an independent State on 15 September 1821, as Central Americans may determine our destiny on the a member of the Federal Republic of Central Ameri- basis of a consensus. We must not become the tools ca. The struggles between the conservatives and the sun:e~ed by .the peasants led m 1932 to a popular solution. I believe that this attitude was their first up~lsmg, which was put down by force. After that, an historical error: to abandon the democratic political al~Iance emer~ed betw,(:en the arme,d, forces and the struggle and the struggle of the masses and opt ohgarchy, wh,~c~ used n to k~ep poht~cal cont~ol and exclusively for armed struggle. economic prIvIleges. Followmg a dictatorship that . . . . lasted :or 13 years, and after 1944, various military 3.5. In acc~rdance wI~h th~ hlstor~cal an~l~sls car- Governments, Government juntas and provisional ~Ied out.by tne subv~rslves, m applymg tt.elr Ideolog- Presidents came to power. In 1984 the first civilian Ical posl~lOn to reahty they never thought ~hat th.e Government in 50 years was elected by the free vote ~alvaC:or~an ar~ed force~ would break their tradl- of the people. tlOnal alhan~e With the ~hgarchy and that, therefore, . . the economic and SOCial reforms could ever be 28. That IS the .hl~t<?ry of my country ~nd my achieved. They thought that the establishment of a peopl~. However, It IS Important to dwell bnefly on pluralist democracy would continue to be a Utopian the history of the last 20 years. In 1?64 we ~egan a goal and out of the question. more or less free electoral process, With elections for , . . . deputies and municipal councils. That led to a 36. The only l?ohtlcal sector. that did not lose faith growth of opposition political parties. In 1968 they was the ChrIstIan Democratic ~arty-my Party- were on the verge of achieving power when their ~nd by, means of an agreement With t~e armed for~es democratic aspirations were frustrated, and this led It rebUIlt the! 980 Government: Despite t~e negat~v,e to fraud and the imposition of the party officially in for~casts of the extreme left, With the active partlcl- power. In 1972 the opposition triumphed but the patI0!1 of the ,arme~ forces. the most. profound Government again frustrated the will of the people. agrar~an reform m Latm AmerIca was carrIed out, the From that time, all democratJic leaders were persecu- bflnkmg and finan~e sy~tem was reformed and for- ted and political parties opposed to the Government ~Ign trade was nationalIzed. These reforms brou~ht in power were eliminated. In 1977 a last effort was m ~undreds ~~ thousands of peasants a~ a r:naJor made to establish a democratic process and once SOCial ~md poht~cal fo~ce, henceforth or~amzed m co- again the people's aspirations were ferociously operatives and m owmng hle best and biggest ranches crushed. of the country. 29. Thus, frustrated by the lack of freedom, the 37. Faced with the faulty analysis .of the. extreme people lost faith in the democratic process, and the left th~t structural changes were Impo~slble, t.he situation of economic and social injustice drove them subverSive g~oups made a new and fat~l m~sta~e wI~h to despair. Armed opposition as a way to attain the, mO,st serIOUS consequences for their ~bJectIves: III power began in 1972, broke out again in 1977 and led actmg m the same,way as the extreme n.ght they lent to widespread violence in 1978. themselves to brIngmg about the faIlure of the , reforms. Thousands of peasants were murdered, as 30. In t~e face of,the blockmg ~f the l?a~~ to a were hundreds of Christian Democrats; crops were demo~ratIc alternative, and the ImpossibIlity of burnt, houses and machinery destroyed, and the c~angmg t~e economic structures, the theSIS of publicity campaigns of both extremes denigrated, VIOlence ~amed strength as the sole means to free the both nationally and internationally, the reforms that Salvadonan people. had been inh·'d. Their only success, however, was 31. By the end of the 1970s, polarization between a to distance tLe AJeople from extreme positions and to rightist military dictatorship and its possible violent begin to strengthen the democratic revolution. overthrow by Marx~st, sectors seeking power ~ad 38. In January 1981, when the subversives almost completely elImmated a democratic solutIOn. launched the first so-called final offensive, the people 32, In October 1979, a group of officers and ..t=>jected them and the subversive, terrorist actIOn officials acting on behalf of the armed forces over- iailed. We all know that nowhere in the world can ~hrew the ruling authoritarian Government and guerrillas triumph without the support of the people. Issued a proclamation pointing out t,h~ corruption of 39. The second step taken by the Revolutionary the system of government and promlsmg to ope~ the Junta was to call for truly free elections to draft a new path to democracy, as w,ell as t~ undertake a senes of constitution. On that occasion, I came before the structural reforms ,!-nd, III particular, to lay the bases General Assembly. The 1982 parliamentary elec- for thorough agranan reform. . tions, in which the rightist and other political parties 33. The Revolutionary Junta that was set up that participated, attest to the will of a people to accept year included, along with the armed forces, the the path to democracy to solve its problems and to p?htical parties and the social, economic and reli- repudiate the path of violence. Thousands of interna- glOus forces that still believed in a democratic tional observers verified the legitimacy of the electo- solution and that had harshly criticized those who ral process and all were able to see how the Salvadori- had, taken up arms. The Communist Party, the an people went out to vote in the midst of guerrilla National Revolutionary Movement-of social demo- attacks, This new mistake by the subversives with cratic orientation-and the Christian Democrats respect to the electoral process, in which nlore than 42 At th t t· 't Id b d th t th wIthout work or hope. . a Ime 1 cou e argue a e. . objective and subjective conditions were in keeping 50: It IS so easy to de~troy w~at took years to be with the historical dia!ectics of the class struggl(: and bUllt for the pe.ople! ServIces whIch are nee~ed by the that, in response to rightist totalitarianism, the people and WhICh to~k so many years t<? buIld u~, the concept of revolutionary violence should gain validi- mfrastructure that ~s part of our natIonal hen~age ty and force. and that was estabhshed by the ~ffort~ and sacnfice . , of our people, can be destroyed m an mstant by the 43. Th~ Ma~Ist ~tr~tegy of a prol0!1ged ~eople s criminal hand of the terrorist, who uses dynamite war agamst Impenahsm and, the ohg,!-rch.les, the and is financed by nations that have in mind only oppressors of a people depnved of JustIce and world domination and are perhaps labouring under a freedom, was bas~d.on that concept, and thousa~ds misunderstanding of history. of young people jomed a process that began wIth . , SOCIal confrontation anet civil disobedience and went 51. Unfortunately, the RevolutIonary De!D0c.ratlc on to the use of arms in the various phases of the Front do~s not understand ~h'!-t w~ are e.xpenencmg a destruction of life and the destruction of services and ne:w reahty, and therefore ~t IS stIll t~mg to chat:tge firms, until it resulted in the greatest crisis in our thmgs that no 10!1ger eXIst: a medIeval. agranan country's history. ~tructure, a fina!1cla~ structure at the servlc~ of the , . . mterests of a mmonty, an army at the servIce of a 4~. I. am conVInced th~t the hIstorIC path of ma~- political system dominated by an economic elite. All kmd I~ not one of vIolence but of democratIc those things no longer exist. In 1979 a profound revolutI?n. . process of change began, and it has been consoli- 45. It IS understandable that those compatrIots who dated. Today we have a new agrarian structure which left El Salvador y~ars ago cannot or refuse to has placed our best lands at the service of the understand that thmgs .haye changed; h<?wever, I peasant. We have a new financial structure which know that the. great majonty of Salvadonans, ~nd supports and strengthens the new agrarian structure. even t~e guerrIlla cot:Jlmanders and fighters roammg We have a new trade structure for die products that abou~ lti the I!l0u~tams of our homeland, are aware we traditionally have exported, and this makes of thIS new sItuatIOn. available to the country the hard currency thereby 46. I wish at this point to address some observa- generated. We now have an armed force that works tions to the nations that have committed themselves, for the people. And we have a people that has in one way or another, to undermining my country, demonstrated its unshakeable faith in democracy and as well as to the guerrilla leaders-not to those who has elected a Government by its own free will; we are living comfortably in and are giving orders from have a people that is working, suffering and dying to Managua or Havana, or from other nations that achieve peace and justice. claim to be democratic but i,?- fact export violen~e 52. From this rostrum I ask those who advocate the and murder:-but to the guernlla leaders wh~ are m ideology of armed subversion in El Salvador to the mountams of my country, those who wIthstand change their strategies becausti of the new reality in the elem~'?-ts, unsh~ltered,thos.e who are aware of the my country. The El Salvador that they left in 1978 real pOSItIOn of the Salvadonan people when they and 1979 is not the El Salvador that exists in 1984. attack the villages ~md who are waiting-in va,in-to Today our country is breathing the air of freedom. be .welcomed a~ hberator~, when the truth IS that Political parties are respected and encouraged. The theIr p~rpose IS to oppress those people: ~ am people freely choose their leaders. Abuses of authori- addresslp.g myself to the leaders w~o take theu Ideals ty and violations of human rights have been reduced for reahty; to those who a,re mlsta~en about the to the very minimum, and those who commit them people because they have a dlffer.en.t vIew. of ~ruth; to are prosecuted and punished. Banks are lending large the leaders who are now commlttmg thIS hlstoncal sums to peasants who are actively participatin~in the error. social and political struggles. There is a very dIfferent 47. The guerrilla leaders in the mountains are aware society in El Salvador today. of this dilemma, but they are egged on by. subversive 53. This new reality is misunderstood by the mem- le.aders fr~m abr<?ad ~ho try to con,cea! thl~ t~th an~ bers of the Revolutionary Democratic Front, because d!st0T! thIS r~~hty m order to JustIfy theu anti- they live outside our country; it is being experienced hlstoflcai posItIon before the whole world. today by all the Salvadorians who have not aban- 48. The people of El Salvador now have no doubt doned their homeland. But it has penetrated the that subversive violence has lost its mystique and its guerrilla forces. We know this from the testimony of raison d'etre. Terrorist violence has become an end the guerrillas who have abandoned their weapons in itself, which proves that its objective is no longer and violence and have set out on the path to peace. liberation, and certainly not democracy. We know it because the guerrillas are not getting so com~ to put an end to that conflict. I am. more 64. Mr. MBOUMOUA (Cameroon): At such a cor.vl~ced toqay than ever before that th~ eXistence critical crossroads in history, when international of thiS .confllct. not only affects. t~e lIfe of my peace and security are threatened by illusions created compatnots but IS an ele~ent of fflctlOn ~hat threat- by advancements in science and technology, when ens the peace a~d securIty of other natIOns. of t~e preoccupation with conflict ctmong the powerful world, and p~rtlcularly of our brother natIons m nations of the world creates a leadership vacuum in Central AmerIca. the international community, th-- well-deserved elec- 56. Hence, there could be no more appropriate time tion of a son of Africa to the presidency of the than this, when I am at this rostrum, to make before General Assembly is singularly important. There are the peoples of the world an offer of peace, which signs that from Africa, the cradle ofcreation, a peace- would ensure for all Salvadorians-without any sustaining wisdom may light the darkness of misun- distinctions flowing from political or ideological derstanding, of belligerency and of underdevelop- position-social harmony and security. ment. 57. This offer is made within the framework of the 65. Mr. President, you have been a source of pride Salvadorian Constitution, which has established the for Africa as 8 result of your activities in the United system of democracy and political pluralism, under Nations. Your election is also a tribute to your ~reat which the most varied ideologies can coexist. nation, Zambia, and its noble leader, PreSident 58. Of course, the acceptance of this proposal by all Kennet? Ka~nda, .w~ose. dedication to. productive sectors-those that are in opposition to my Govern- humamsm brmg~ dl~tmctIon t~ our ~ontmentand to ment, within the constitutional system, as well as contemporary thmkmg. In sharmg thiS gr~at moment those that are fighting by violent methods-will of opportu~1Jty, the Cameroon de!egahon. ~xte~ds require a change of mental attitude, under which fr~ternal wlshe~ f,?r your success ID prOVIdIng m- hatred will be replaced by understanding and toler- sptred leadership in the months ahead. ance. For, after all, the peace which is manifested by 66. We also share the sentiments of gratitude and outward signs is but the result of an individual and the felicitations expressed to your illustrious prede- social state of mind which rejects aggression and all cessor in office, Mr. Jorge Illueca, President of forms of violence and promotes dialogue and the Panama. By bearing with such distinction the dual democratic politicai struggle whose results are seen at burden of President of the General Assembly and the ballot box. President of his nation, he demonstrated the tradi- 59. Qu;te naturally, it is hard to convince those who tional Latin capacity for dedication at its qualitative up to now have viewed weapons and violence as the best. only way to ensure their political space that there can 67. Permit me to pay a tribute also to the Secretary- be a climate in whkh they can expreS3 their own General, whose person and offic~ symbolize the lofty thoughts without thereby suffering reprisals from ideals that launched the Charter of the United their adversaries. Nations. In spite of the grave odds he must face in 60. But I have come here to affirm that, as Presi- trying to promote the harmonization c~the actions of dent of the Republic and Commander of the Armed States for I?eace, we would encourage him never.to ~e Fo~ces, I am in a position to maintain those measures frust.rateq m that noble cause. We feel sure that I~ will WhIC.h, within our constitutional process, make it !nsptr~ him to know tha~ there are many' nations, pOSSible for them to abandon an attitude that runs mcludmg Cameroon, whIch seek to prOVide suste.. counter to the history of the political evolution of the na~ce for th~ quest for lasting peace as a matter of people of El Salvador. Furthermore, in due course I natIOnal polIcy. shall propose to the Legislative Assembly general 68. The Cameroon delegation also wishes to take amnesty for political crimes. We are exercising this opportunity to welcome Brunei Darussalam as control over abuse of authority and eliminating all the! 59th Member of the United Nations. [The the methods of repression that have existed in our speaker continued in French.] country in the .past and t.hat have,in part been at the 69. It is a matter of grave concern that we have root ofa rebellIon for which there IS no longer a need. today arrived at the point where the very raison 61...This means that I am offerin~ the security of a d'etre of the United Nations is continually being polItIcal place within a pluralistIc, constitutional, called into question by the incessant arms race in all stablhtY;~!1 th.e co.ntrary, It constIt~t~s a m~Jor factor Disarmament at Geneva, which embraces 40 nations, ~fdestablhzatIon m contemporary mternatIonal rela- or in bilateral negotiations in the East-West context tIons. has any noteworthy result emerged to give promise of 70. It is encouraging additional military expendi- a better future. The arms race is worsening, threaten- tures, increasin~ suspicion and mistrust between ing the security of States and hindering social and States, stimulatmg war preparations, exacerbating economic development, particularly that of small and political tensions and endangering social and eco- medium-sized States. Never has the need for disarm- nomic structures that are already highly precarious, ament been so ~cutely felt; never has effective in particular those of the developing countries. disarmament been so remote. In spite of the sus- 71. As we hold this session the international situa- taine~ efforts ~f the international community, prog- tion continues to be marked by violence or the threat ress m the. d!sarmament field has for years been of violence, and the storm-clouds of a nuclear extr.emely hmIted, and we n9w seem actu~lly to be holocaust constantly hover over us because of the shdmg towards.the .abyss WIthout any ghmmer of qualitative and quantitative proliferation of nuclear hope that the sItuation can be resolved. weapons. This alarming situation, added to the 77. It is impossible to overemphasize that disarm- absence of progress in disarmament efforts and the ament is an essential element of any arrangement for limitation of arms, is casting considerable doubt on true world security. the deliberations of the Assembly. 78. We therefore think that the cdebration next 72. The United Nmjons was, I have no need to year of the fortieth anniversary of the United Na- remind the Assembly, created following the massive tions, four decades after the end of the Second World destruction caused by the Second World War, with War, should provide a good opportunity to undertake the primary objective to "save succeeding genera- an exhaustive examination of the Organization's role tions from the scourge of war". Those who drafted in disarmament. Such an analysis would make it the Charter of the United Nations, witnesses of the possible to identify new ways and means of stnmgth- agony of the world as a result of that tragic conflict, ening the central role and responsibility of the clearly understood that, without peace and security, United Nations in disarmament and of promoting no constructive activity was possible in any field. substantial progress in this field. We propose, there- 73. In other words, disarmament is the essential fore, that at th~s session the Gene~al. Assembly call path we must take in order to attain the primary upon. one of Its compet~nt Sub~Idlary organs to objective of the United Nations, the maintenance of e~amInethe role of the Un~ted NatIons In t~e fiel~ of international peace and security; it is therefore easy dIsarmame!lt and t9 submIt a report on thIS subject to understand why, ever since its founding, the at the fortIeth seSSIOn, next year. Organization has devoted particular attention to this 79. This proposal reflects our profound conviction goal. In so doing, it has always provided a forum for that, in a world that is today threatened with a deliberations and negotiations, as well as a focal nuclear holocaust, the United Nations alone consti- point for proposals, recommendations and other tutes the ideal framework for global negotiations in initiatives by the international community, aimed at the interest of our collective security. For the small contributing to disarmament and awakening public countries in particular, the Organization represents a opinion in a greater number of Member States and in genuine ray of hope. the world in general tc? the dangers of the arms race 80. Throughout the world, agriculture, animal hus- and the benefits of dIsarmament. bandry, education, health and so on are in tremen- 74. In the Final Document of the Tenth Special dous need, while at the same time countries are Session of the General Assembly [resolution S-}012], spending vast sums on armaments. I am thinking not which was adopted at the first special session devoted only of the economically and militarily powerful to disarmament, in 1978, and confirmed in 1982, at countries, but also of small countries that are forced the second special session devoted to disarmament, to purchase armaments for their own security, to the General Assembly stressed the central role and protect the integrity of their territory and to stand primary responsibility of the United Nations in the firm against all kinds of destabilizing factors. In so field of disarmament. Such initiatives served to doing, they are forced to divert their attention from enhance the authority of the Organization even productive goals. fUI1h~~ and to expa~d the range of multilaterel 81. In Africa, urgent measures are needed to elimi- actIVItIes related to dIsarmament. nate theJfowing threat posed by the South African 75. Notwithstanding their scope, such actions-and aparthei regime not only to the region but to this includes the series of partial agreements on international peace and security as well. We note disarmament that have already been concluded- with concern the facts set forth in the report on South represent no more than a few very limited first steps. Africa's nuclear capability [AI391470], ""hich again In fact, they have neither done away with the arms confirm South Africa's ability to manufacture nucle- race nor reduced the military capabilities and poten- ar weapons and its determination to increase that tial of States. On the contrary, that race has been capability despite the solemn Declaration on the stepped up to a dangerous degree and is now being Denuclearization of Africa, adopted in 1964 by the extended to space itself. States have continued to Organization of African Unity [OAU],2 and the solv~d, dangerously undermme t~e steps now under of major international issues. way In favour of nuclear non-prolIferatIon and could 88 W h h .. f d~t t Th' . fuel the arms race in Africa. . e. ave ere. a cr~sls C? e en e. IS. IS . . accompamed by the IntensIfication of confrontatIOn 82.. We appeal, therefore, to all countnes, and In in the old hotbeds of crisis and the expansion of paf!:lcular t~ the nuclear Powers, as well as ~o the tension to all parts of the world, which entails the Umteq NatIOns a~d the IAEA, to ,?o-op~rate.wIth the emergence of new hotbeds of conflict. Moreover, the OA~ ID combatIng nuclear prolIferatwn In South deepening of the world economic crisis and the Afnca. persistence of injustices which are prejudicial to 83. At this moment of grave international concern, economic relations. amon~ nation~ are exacerbat!ng there is no need to stress the importance of the the already grave dIfficultIes affectmg the developmg Declaration on the Denuclear;zation of Africa. That countries. The security and independence of many Declaration testifies to Africa's firm determination States have been threatened by interference in their to protect world peace through disarmament-first internal affairs, military intervention and attempts to and foremost, nuclear disarmament. We therefore impose different social systems. support the recom~endationsof the National Semi- 89. In the face of these dangers besetting the world, nar on Peace and Dls~rm~ment,held at Lo;ffie from 6 there is a need to bring about global solutions, while to 9 August 1984, whIch mclude the establIshment of taking action as a matter of urgency to halt the arms a regional institute for re~ear,?h on peace and dis.arm- race, to put ~ brake on the use of force, to prevent ament and the convenmg In 1985 of a regIOnal intervention and interference in the internal and se~inaron peace and disarmament, with the P3;rtici- external affairs of sovereign States, and to co-ordi- patton of the States of Central and West AfrIca. nate efforts to free peoples from colonial oppression 84. We believe that all these initiatives can help to and foreign domination. arouse and focus public interest in our region on the 90. Thus, in Namibia it has become quite clear that dangers of the arms race and, at the same time, serve one more year has elapsed while the prospects for the to promote efforts to strengthen security and devel- independence of that international Territory are just opment at the subregional level. as remote as ever. South Africa continues to resort to 85. We are convinced that disarmament should be new st~atagems!o prevent the application ~fSecurity at the epictntre of any collective effort aimed at CouncIl resolutIOn 43? (1978): In the vIew of !J1Y promoting security and development. In order to Government, ~my polIcy tendmg to .c~eate a hnk achieve that goal, we must have a comprehensive b~tween the Independence of NamIbIa ~nd the strategy bringing together at one and the same time a wIthdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola .IS unac- commitment on the part of the international commu- c~ptable. Ca~eroon, a r.n~mbe~ of the Umted N:a- nity to attack the problem of the arms race at its roots tlOns C<?uncIl for NamIbIa, wIshes to rea~sert ItS by combating fear, suspicion, distrust, oppression, un~wervmg,support for the S~ut~ West AfrIca Peo- racism, colonialism, inequality, injustice, hunger, ~le s qrgamzatlOn .l~WAPO] m It~ struggle .for the ignoranc~ and disease; by strict respect for the non- hberatlOn of NamibIa. !~e SecurIty Council mu.st use of force in international relations; by the estab- take the urgent and deCISIve measur~s called. for !n lishment of a system of collective security based on Chapter VII of the Charter of the U~!ted Nations m the Charter of the United Nations; and by the orqer to en,force respect for resolutIon 435 (1978), elimination of all weapons of mass destruction and whIch .remams the .o~ly ac~eptableframework for the the reduction of all military arsenals to the strict accessIOn of NamibIa to mdependence. minimum necessary for the maintenance of internal 91. In South Africa itself, we are witnessing with order and the protection of territorial integrity. In culpable indifference the worst extremes of brutality, this connection, the nuclear Powers should formally massacre and imprisonment of those brave enough to and unconditionally undertake not to use or threaten oppose an odious system. That inhumane system has to use nuclear weapons against countries that do not strained its efforts to combine so-called constitution- possess them. We therefore support the conclusion of al reforms-which, incidentally, were flatly rejected a formal international legal instrument on this sub- by their alleged beneficiaries-with a policy of ject, as advocated by the non-aligned countries. satellization of neighbouring countries through mili- 86. At the same time, the great Powers that bear tary pressure and economic intimidation. particular responsibility for the maintenance of inter- 92. The application of oppressive laws is being national peace and security must renounce escala- pursued tirelessly. We condemn this illusionary re- tion, the race for supremacy, hegemonist ambitions form ism, and we are gratified to note that the and the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. It is Security Council did the same in its resolution on the also imperative that they resume dialogue, both subject adopted on 17 August [resolution 554 (/984)]. bilaterally and within the framework of the United We call for the immediate liberation of all those Nations, with a view to bringing about the quantita- imprisoned by the South African racist authorities liberatin~an oppressed people. Our resolute.support Palestinian resistance. for .the lIber~tlOn movements of South A,fnca-the 102. In Cyprus, Afghanistan, Kampuch~a and C~n- AfrIcan NatIOnal, Co~gress of South Afn~a [ANe] tral America, no solutions can be found Without strIct and t~e Pat:l,Afncamst C;ongress of Azama-finds respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and here Its polItIcal and ethical foundatIOn. territorial integrity of States and non-interference in 94. With regard to Western Sahara, where the the internal affairs of States, as laid down in the situation remains a matter of concern, we think that Charter of the United Nations. this problem should be dealt with on the basis of the 103. The deterioration of the international climate principle of the self-determina~ion, of peoples.. A has had very grave repercussions on the already solution can be found by the applIcatIon of resolutIOn highly alarming economic crisis. Indeed, in spite of AHG/Res. 104 (XIX), adopted by the Asse~bly. of the projections of the developed countries during the Heads of State and Government of the OrganIzatIOn thirty-eighth session of the General Assembly with of African Unity at its nineteenth ordinary session, regard to the end of the present economic recession, held at Addis Ababa from 6 to 12 June 1983.3 the advantages resulting from the so-called recovery 95. With regard to the situation in Chad, the hav.e not ext~nded to the whole ~f !he community of position of Cameroon was recently r~affirmed by Mr. ~atlOns, p~rtlcula!ly the v.ast majorIty C?f t~e develop- Paul Biya, President of the RepublIc of Cameroon: mg countrIes, which continue to lang,lJlsh m poverty. our Government is encouraging the efforts of, t~e 104. The economic asphyxiation confronting most regime in N'djamlma to promote national reconcllIa- young countries and the dangers and disorders to tion and unity in Chad, with a view to the reconstruc- which the international monetary and commercial tion and development of the country. As m the past, system is prey constitute disturbing factors which Cameroon is ready to contribute to all effor:ts, add to an already stormy international climate the bilaterally, subregio~ally or ~m the African level" w~th prospect of generalized instability. ~ vie~ to safe~~ardmg the m~ependence, terntonal 105. This inadmissible situation is not simply the mtegnty, stabilIty and peace ID Chad. result of cyclical fluctuatiom "he international 96. The recent evolution of the situation in that economic system. It reflects t "adequacy of the country, marked by the withdrawal of foreign troops, structural balances inherent in me current economic while removing a political-ideological impediment to system. the op~ning of d~alo~ue among the Chadians, ~t the 106. The experience of recent years proves that the same tIm~ also highlIghts the fact th~t, the solutIon t,o world economy cannot be healthy if the development the C~adlan p~o,blem cannot be a mIlItary one but IS efforts of the developing countries continue to come essentIally polItical. up against ever-increas,ing protecti~nism, high ra~es 97, It is up to the Chadians themselves to make an of exchange, lower pnces for theIr products, high effort to rise above individual, ethnic or racial interest rates, a deterioration of the terms of trade, differences personal ambitions and ideological in- severe balance-of-payments problems, a decline in transigenc~, in order that the supreme interests of the financial capital and a swallowing up of vast re- Chadian nation may prevail. Having said this, we sources in arms programmes. fear that the ~isen~ag~ment of f~re~gn troops-the 107. The accumulation of these problems .has dras- presence of WhiCh, lI~e ~t or ~ot, d,ld, m fact, preserve tically reduced the capacity of the developm~ coun- a "no war, no peace SItuatIOn-IS leavmg a danger- tries to undertake important investment projects or ous ,void, whi.ch max very well exa~e.rbate the state of to continue to support projects and programmes th~t bellIgerence In a clImate of ambItIon, conquest or are necessary for economic growth. Furthermore, It territorial reconque~t. We would ventur~ to hope that has obliged those countries to reduce the volume of all possible preca;utlOn~ haye been o~ wl,lI be taken to their imports from the industrialized countries. That prevent any pOSSIble VIOlatIOns of thIS disengagement in turn has adverse consequences for the recovery agreement. process. In addition, it gives the clearest proof that 98. In the final analysis, it seems to us that the there can be no ,lastin.g economic, recovery in the withdrawal of foreign troops from Chad should have deve~oped countnes WIthout the ~Imultane~us eco- been preceded or followed by the setting up of a nom,l~ development ~f the developIng co~ntnes. Tl~e neutral force which could have intervened. Why not stabIhty of any sustaIned global economic growth IS a United Nations peace force capable of facilit~ting inextricably linke~ to the in~erdependence or ~evel- the process of dialogue with a view to natIOnal oped and developIng countnes. Although thiS, Inter- reconciliation? dependence has often been reaffirmed, as In the fr<?~ 7 t<? 12 Mar~h 1983, and reaffirmed by the Fifth by our Government, which recently submitted to the MInlstena;l MeetIng of the Group of ,77, held at UNHCR three projects whose implementation would B,uenos Alr,es from 28 March to 9 AprIl 1983, can contribute greatly to improving the position of gIve a new Impulse to the search for ways and means refugees in Cameroonian territory. to break the current deadlock. 110. In Africa, a continent rich in natural resources 116. In December 1,982, a ,documen~ of historic and development potential, the persistence of the scope c~eated a ~ew milestone m tl~e achlev~ments of economic and social crisis continues to cause the the ~mted NatIOns. The new ~mted !'TatIons Con- international community grave concern. For some yentlOn on the Law of the S~a, , c~rta~nly the most years our continent has suffered an unprecedented Important an,d most complete Jundlcal l~strume!1t to and prolonged drought and the most adverse effects be adopted Since the C:harter of the ~nIted Nations, of the world economic recession, This critical situa- represent~ the first universal recognition of the rule tion is aggravated in particular by the acute food of law With regard to the oceans. crisis in mOSL of the African countries. In this 117. We are hap~y that a growing number of States context, the recent intiatives taken by the Secretary- are signing or ratifying the Convention. The results General and other heads of orgamzations in the of the meeting of the Preparatory Commission for United Nations family deserve our appreciation and the International Sea-Bed Authority and for the support. These initiatives in support of the efforts of International Tribunal for thr Law of the Sea, held at the African countries themselves should be based on Geneva from 13 August to 5 September 1984, are permanent resources available in the long term if very encouraging. They will surely open the way to they are to bear fruit. It is therefore desirable that the the signing of the Convention by a number of various institutions concerned take the necessary industrialized countries. We believe that all countries measures to give the various African programmes in with the means or potential should have the opportu- the system the appropriate scope, priority and re- nity to join the group of pioneer investors ID the sources. exploration of the sea-bed, tur~s.of th~ OrgamzatIOn, It IS particularly th~ lack of international scene and will continue to offer the pohtIca~ Will o~ ~~mber States that has c0!1slder~bly world the reassuring and edifying picture of a ~roded ItS credlblh!y: As a corollary, mul,ttlaterahs,m young, united, peaceful, stable and prosperous IS qangerously dechnmg; ther~ are clear signs of thIS, nation, which is making a modest contribution to maI,nly the ~urr~nt,decrease m the resources made the maintenance of peace, the strengthening of avaIlable to msttt~tlons such as UNDP, thr fact that understanding, friendship and co-operation among many States, particularly the mo~e powerful ones, do nations and the promotion of civilization th~ough- not. hasten t<? resort to the ma~hmery offered by !he out the world." Untted NatIOns to resolve Issues of world-wide ' , interest and, to some extent, the difficulties experi- 1,27: Mr. Gl!RI~OVICH (.~yelorusslan S?vlet So- enced now by UNESCO. We support the appeal clahst ~epubhc) (tnterpreta~10n fro,!, Russ~a~): The launched by the Secretary-General, in his report on dele~atto~ of the Byelorusslan SOVIet. Soclahst Re- the work of the Organization [A/3911], for a strength- publ~c Wishes t'! congratulate you, SIr" upon your ening of multilateralism, renewing the position of his el~ctlon, to the I,mportant post of PreSIdent of the colleagues on the Administrative Committee on Co- th,lrty-nmth sesslo~ of th~ General Assembly an~ ordination in its overview report for 1983/84 6 WIshes y,?u succe~s m the dIscharge of y?ur responsl- ", ., . ble functIons, which you have assumed m the year of 122. We are hvmg m an,era m which proble~s tend the twentieth anniversary of the independence of to take on globa! proport.lOn~ bec~use of th~ mterde- Zambia and its entry >"1) the United Nations. pe~dence of nat,IOns,.whICh IS bemg consohdated by 128, The near univer' :: J of the United Nations, dally advan~es m, sCience. and technol<?gy, ~hus we which now has 159 Members, and the content of the must 1;1se rehable mternatlOnal mechantsms m o~der items on its agenda impose upon the Organization to derIve the greatest profit for our common destmy. the task of working on the basIs of strict observance 123. We must therefore strengthen our faith in the of the Charter of the United Nations for the solution purposes and principles of the United Nations and of urgent problems such as international disarm- ~as made these peaceful principles the very basis of so-down the road of disarmament negotiations. But Its foreign policy and is ready at any time to ~()me to this American road-map do\.:s not show either the an agreement with che other nuclear Powers on the routes or the final destinations. All it shows are the joint recognition of such norms and on making them barriers, old and new, plus he intention to get binding. The United States and its partners in the whatever it can out of anyone who chooses to travel North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] refuse to along this toll-road. Meanwhile, the United States do this. The Soviet Union and its allies have called keeps coming up with more and more military for a treaty between the Warsaw Treaty Organization programmes. Physical preparations for nuclear war and NATO on the non-use of force and the mainte- are in full swing: ever new nuclear-weapon systems cle~r that they have be~n desIgned f~r use as hrs~- position-no matter how nebulously phrased-can stnke weapons. The UnIted States mIlItary budget IS be sold as evidence of a constructive and serious reaching fantastic heights: $300 billion. approach on the part of the United States Adminis- 138. With all this disarmament rhetoric, has the tration to the central problems of peace and security. United States Administration halted or scrapped The unwillingness to engage in constructive negotia- even one of these progr~mmes? Quite the contrary, tions has also been demonstrated by the United they are in a hurry to stake out new ground for the States position at the Conference on Disarmament arms buildup. They are now extending the arms race and at the Vienna Talks on Mutual Reduction of to new environments and are making no attempt to Forces and Armaments and Associated Measures in conceal their intention to follow a policy of heighten- Central Europe, where it has blocked even the ing tension and confrontation for decades to come. slightest progress in these matters. At Stockholm, They repeat over and over again their fallacious instead of seeking ways of strengthening trust and argument that it is only by carrying out such danger- security and achieving disarmament in Europe, it has ous and adventuristic programmes that it will even- been attempting to facilitate the efforts of its special tually be possible to create the conditions for agree- services to find out about the structure and activities ment on arms reductions-on Washington's terms, of the armed forces ofthe Soviet Union and its allies. of course. 143. If one looks at what Washington has actually 139. There is a growing movement in the world in been doing-whether it be in the field of nuclear, favour of freezing nuclear arsenals. On the initiative chemical or conventional arms, zones of peace or of the Soviet Union and other countries, the General nuclear-free zones, or reductions in military expendi- Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions tures-everywhere the picture is the same. The calling for this. However, the representatives of the United States is against solving these problems on United Stat~s are always ~gainst it. The leaders of six the basis of the principle of equality and equal States on different contments have appealed, III a security. Joint Declaration [A/39/277], for an end to th~ arms 144. It is time it learned the lessons ofthe history of race. and ~or a nuclear-weapo~ fr~e~e. WhIle the the last few decades, namely, that attempts to impair Sov,let UnIon w~lcome~ thiS mltlatlve and once the security of others inevitably leads to the dimin- aga,m reaffirm~d Its read!ness to take suc~ steps on .~ ishing ofone's own security. There can be no winners reciprocal baSIS, the UnIted States has Ignored thIS in the arms race. alP4POealc.. t h . h'gh' 't Mr, Tsvetkov (Bulgaria), Vice-President, took the . lfcums ances ave given a I pnOrI y on Chair the international political agenda to the question of' . preventing an arms race in outer space. The Soviet 145. To c<?nclude thiS part,of my statement devoted Union has put forward a number of initiatives-in t'? the subject of pre~entmg nuclear ~ar and of the United Nations and elsewhere-designed to solve disarmament, I wo~ld lIke to refer to a pomt recently this problem and has unilaterally undertaken not to made by Konstantm, Chernenko, Genera! Secretary be the first to deploy any type of anti~';MC '!ite of the C,entral.Commlttee <?fthe Commumst.P~rty of weapons in outer space, whereas the United States the Soviet UnIon.and Chalrm~n of the P~esldlU~ .of has refused to engage in talks on preventing the the Su~reme Soviet of the Umon of Soviet SOCialIst militarization of outer space. The United States has RepublIcs: tested anti-satellite weapons and is now preparing to HWe make an unequivocal appeal to the United continue those tests. It has set up a special space States and its allies: it is time for them to reaffirm command and is now in the process of establishing a by concrete deeds their share of responsibility for joint armed forces space command. It is building a the fate of the world, to realize the futility of a command centre for military operations in outer policy based on a position of strength and on space. A new presidential directive has been signed reliance on the arms race, and to demonstrate real, on the deployment of new weapons in space. rather than a mere ostensible, readiness to engage 141. The Soviet Union has submitted to the United in dialogue and negotiati~ns in order to find Nations for its consideration a new proposal entitled mU,tually acceptable sol~tlOns to problems ~n HUse of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes whl,ch t~e future of. mat:tkmd dep~n~s. The ,~ovlet for the benefit of mankind H [see A/39/243]. It Umon 13 not wantmg m such wIllIngness. provides for urgent measures to be taken to prohibit 146. The declarations by' the United States about its for all time the use of force in outer space and from desire for peace and stability cannot be reconciled in space against the earth, as well as from the earth any way with the increased intensity with which it is against targets in outer space, and for the prohibition extending its great-Power ambitions to embrace the and elimination of all types of attack systems in whole globe. Furthermore, the United States is space. The idea is that outer space should be used for increasingly using NATO in these efforts. Steps are solving major prvblems of economic, social and being taken to extend the geographical range of cultural development, such as studying the earth's activity of this bloc and to use it as a tool of the non~aligned State. 160. The only way to ease tension in South-East Asia is to renounce the policy of State terrorism. We strongly support the well-known proposals by Viet Nam, Laos and Kampuchea for a peaceful settlement natIon~, WhICh WIll be In ~ve~ gr~ater dIfficulty the fortieth anniversary ofthe founding of the United tomo~row. The ar~s race, WhIC~ ~s ~emg ~scalated by Nations, which is part of the post-war peace arrange- ~ashmgton and ItS ~ATO allIc", IS ,havmg a I?erm- ments for the world. We must take advantage ofthese CIOUS effect, too, forcmg the developmg count~Ies to forthcoming events to strengthen our ranks on the spend more m,oney on arms than they receIve as basis of unswerving observance by all peace-loving development aId, forces of the Charter and the progressive decisions of 165. The whole world is aware who is working for the United Nations, so that by concrete deeds we peace and who is dreaming of military solutions. In may promote the stren~thenIng of international this context, we cannot but point out that all sensible peace and security and ehminate the nuclear threat. ,ne time, the PLO, like every liberation movement, t' going through a difficult period which the play of l-wers in the region have not helped. Thus, there is os, ,'taHon between solicitude and ostracism, between sym.>athy and indifference, between ambiguity and support. Finally, the programme drawn up by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is relegated to dead-letter status, as is the international conference proposed by the non-aligned countries. Prospects for negotiations at the Security Council level are hampered by the exclusion of the PLO. 192. The result is a diplomatic void on the interna- tional level, one that cannot be filled by reaffirming Security Council resolution 242 (1967)-at this point largely outdated-nor by the increasing number of unilateral or bilateral initiatives. Such negative fac- tors reflect the internal and external tensions in the region and are being used either to force us to accept faits accomplis or to make us better accustomed to the state of latent war, or even to accept the worst of paradoxes in which a people who have been prom- ised a homeland now have a State, while another people, whose right to a State has been expressly recognized by the United Nations, find themselves being offered a homeland as a kind of consolation prize. In the face of this impermissibl~ disparity, the only solution is the restoration of the rights of the Palestinians and an international guarantee of tho~~ rights in order that an end may be put to the suffering and devastation to which the Lebanese and the Palestinians have been subjected for so long. 193. For the same reasons, in the Iran-Iraq conflict we are following very closely the response to the Secretary-General's three-part appeal for the protec- tion of the civilian populations victimized by a co~trary to the oft-expressed will of the States of the Africa, which is at the very bottom of the scale of regIOn, would constitute a flagrant violation of that development, is now the focus of attention of assist- Decl~ration. Such activities are liable to jeopardize ance organizations. There are many programmes of the mdependence, sovereignty, territorial integrity action, and so-called emergency assistance measures and peaceful development of the States of the region. are proliferating. NOTES