A/39/PV.29 General Assembly

May I first of all congratuiate you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly. With your vast experience as a diplomat and as an outstanding representative of your good country, Zambia, I am sure you will guide the deliberations of the Assembly with success and distinction. 2. Also, I should like to pay a tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Jorge E. Illueca, of Panama, for his skilful leadership of the thirty-eighth session. 3. I join previous speakers in extending a warm welcome to the friendly country of Brunei Darus- salam as it joins our family of nations. I congratulate the Government and people of Brunei Darussalam on t~le achievement of independence and offer them my Government's and my people's best wishes for the future. We look forward with pleasure to working closely with the delegation of Brunei Darussalam in the Organization, its related agencies and the Com- monwealth. 4. Last year, my Prime Minister, in addressing this great assembly of nations, voiced the concerns of the Government of the Solomon Islands about certain international issues. Today, I shall make no apology if I again touch on some or all of those same issues. In my humble opinion, it is our duty not to lose sight of the major issues that come within the sphere of responsibility of the Organization: disarmament for peace and security; social and economic development for human betterment, including human rights; the eradication of the traces and remnants of colonial- ism; and the development of international law and justice. 5. Those are the noble aims and ideals for which this great Organization was founded; those are the issues that we must continue to address in our efforts to achieve those objectives, even if it takes us an eternity to achieve them hoping that meanwhile the world is not blown up by the pressing of a button. 6. It is timely, I believe, to remind' ourselves that four decades ago a single nuclear bomb brought peace to the world and today only man can keep that peace. This is the crucial question that should be answered honestly by those concerned. For us, small peace-loving nations, the threat of imminent bomb- ing brings the nightmarish realization that our planet NEW YORK will no longer be safe unless a genuine effc,;'1 is made to bring about peace in all the corners of the world. Thus, my Government earnestly urges the super- Powers to resume disarmament negotiations at the earliest possible opportunity-not for the attainment of superiority, but for the definition of civilized behaviour in arms control. 7. Twelve months ago, we were concerned about ~lobal peace and securit¥, threatened as it was by the mstabili';~y in certain regIOns. That same threat is still with us today, in spite of the noble resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the coura- geous and diplomatic efforts of the Secretary-Gener- al. My Government's position remains unchanged, in that the unstable situations in southern Africa, the Midd~e East, Asia, the Korean peninsula and Central America are still threats to global peace and security. 8. In s01'Jthern Africa, the question of delaying Namibi& independence is a cause for concern and my Government would like to see the early settle- ment of this question, in conformity with the princi- ples of Security Council resolutIon 435 (1978). Related to the question of Namibia is the evil system of apartheid. Solomon Islands has consistently con- demned that system and will maintain and uphold its condemnation until that inhuman and uncivHh;ed practice is totally eradicated. 9. The situation in the Middle East is also of concern to all of us. Peace in that region is an important objective of the United Nations. The principles of secure territorial inte$rity and sover- eignty are involved here. The positIOn of the Solo- mon Islands has always been that Israel's right to exist must be recognized and that the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination. But the attainment ofthis depends on the search for pea~e by all the parties involved. 10. In the Asian region, the occupation of Afghani- stan by Soviet forces and of Cambodia by Vietnam- ese forces perpetuates the threat to peace in the whole region and m the adjacent region of the South Pacific. Therefore, we call again for the withdrawal of those forces from those respective countries. 11. With regard to the Korean peninsula, Solomon Islands will support a negotiated reunification pro- cess, which should be pursued without outside inter- ference. In the mean tIme, we would see merit in the admission of the two Koreas to the United Nations as a necessary step towards the process of reunifica~ !lone 12. I now turn to the danger we face in the South Pacific region, that is, the danger of nuclear pollu- tion. We are convinced that our reefs and seas are endangered by the nuclear-testing activities that have been carried out in our region. Hence we have condemned and will continue to condemn the nucle- ar testing by France in Mururoa atoll. We are totally certal~ly, for they ~dl manufacture eq.Ulpment and ments. Every care should be taken to avoid overlap machInery for repaIrS and reconstruction. and duplication, and, whatever we do, we should be 17. Thus, in order to come to grips with the mindful of the danger that such institutions, con- problems of economic and social development in ceived in good faith, sometimes tend to lose sight of small island nations such as mine, we have to the purposes for which they were established and appreciate and understand the fundamental and concentrate their efforts on self-promotion and self- practical obstacles to development. perpetuation. 18. Today's global economic situation must sUlely 24. Turning now to decolonization, I remind the be the reflection of our unstable world. While Assembly of the communique of the South Pacific economic recovery seems to have taken place in Forum relating to the question of New Caledonia, some industrial countries, the developing countries issued after its fifteenth meeting, held in Tuvalu on are still struggling and in the process are becoming 27 and 28 August 1984. The relevant parts for our worse off. purposes are as follows: 19. There can be no universal economic recovery, "The Forum reaffirmed its support for the in my view, unless there is a new international transition of New Caledonia to independence in economic order which aims to bridge the develop- accordance with the wishes of its people and in a ment gap between industrial countries and the heavi- manner which guarantees the innate and active ly populated developin~countries; a new internation- rights of the Kanaka people and the rights, inter- al economic order which allows for a fair and free ests and aspirations of all its inhabitants. It urged flow of trade between countries and relaxed and the French Government and all political and investment-generating regulations for international community groups, including the Independence mt"~t and try to resolve our problems through dialogue instead of confrontation. The United Na- tions holds humanity's last hope of maintaining p~ace and security. It has also done much, and is now doing more, for the development of the developing countries. 32. Solomon Islands is committed to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. That is why, in spite of our difficulties in the areas of manpower and finance, we are trying to participate as effectively as we can. Thus, I am obliged to conclude this brief statement by reaffirming our commitment to this great OrganIzation. 33. Mr. BEYE (Mali) (interpretation from French): Next year we shall commemorate with enthusiasm a double anniversary-the fortieth anniversary of the Organization and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the historic Declaration on the Granting of Indepen~ dcnce to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 34, At a time when we are drawin~ up balance sheets, we must note that the world IS in crisis- political crisis and socio-economic crisis-which seems to arise from self-interest, the power complex and mutual fear. Never have men been dyIng in such numbers for freedom, or from hunger and malnutri- tion in this world of surplus food. 35. Yes, the freedom fighters are still falling under the bullets of anachronistic colonial wars, and the apartheid system is persisting with ever more insidi- ous, virulent and arrogant practices and the flagrant violation of the elementary human rights of peoples. At the same time, for mosl: of the world population, the present and future are immersed ill a situation of absolute poverty because of the absence of appropri- ate solutions to development problems. We are very far from achieving one of the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations, namely, the promo- tion of social progress. 36. The peoples of the world continue to live in a nightm,are of uncertainty and in growing insecurity, because there is no significant progress in negotia- tions on general, complete and controlled disann- ament. Worse still, the nuclear danger raises the ever more threatening spectre of a new holocaust. The world is dumbfounded by crises and is virtually on the threshold of war. DIplomatic language has be- come more and more abrasive. The international situation is explosive. 37. It is therefore comforting that, at a time when there is a growing tendency to turn away from this remarkable institution, the United Nations, a happy combination of circumstances has led to you, Mr. President, guiding the work of the thirty-ninth ses- sion of the General Assembly. It is a pertinent symbol. The eminent President of the United Na- tIons Council for Namibia is a worthy son of the southern part of Africa, which is in the vanguard of t(~e's hope of reviving affected regions of their 40. The United Nations has thus moved one step countries. None the less, as is so correctly recognized further towards th~ al._ ievement of one of the in the World Economic Survey 1984: fundamental goals set forth in the Charter signed at " San Francisco, namely, universality. There is reason in addition to the reforms which these to hope that very soon Namibia will be able to join countries can undertake on their own, others this great family of the United Nations, in accord- require investments which are beyond their capaci- ance with the principles contained in the historic ty at the present time. Adequate external support is General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). therefore essential to help sub-Saharan countries accelerate progress in what has become a painful 41. That would, in any case, be fair recompense for adjustment process."2 the untiring efforts made with great openness by the Secretary-General, to whom we pay a special tribute 44. Twenty-one African countries decided at Da- for his devotion to the cause of the Organization. I kar, last July, to combine their resources to fight am very happy to express to him the gratitude of the desertification, and once again they have appealed people of Mali and its leaders, who will always for international action to counter predictions to the remember his friendly visit to our country. The effect that African countries were running the risk of Secretary-General also visited other countries in the being wiped off the face of the earth because of the Sahel and saw the extent of the disaster there. Then, implacable desert creep. in New York and at Geneva and wherever he had an 45. To be sure, in spite of its relative slowness, opportunity to do so, he found the simple, decisive international support in the struggle against desertifi- words needed to awaken the international conscience cation has not always been lacking. Subsidies or further and, in agreement with the countries con- assistance granted to the Sahel countries by friendly cerned, was able to define a new approach to the countries, international organizations such as the problems of drought and desertification and to World Bank, the European Economic Community, formulate a global strategy for combating those the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the disasters which, I can never repeat enough, constitute United Nations system will never achieve the desired a universal calamity. goals unless the volume and quantity of assistance 42. The agony created among the people of the are adapted more and more both to the rationaliza- Sahel through the constant deterioration of the tion of existing economic machinery and to the ecosystem-the causes of which do not yet seem to extent of the damage. have been studied in depth and the scope of which is 46. The strategy for combating drought is essential- not fully understood-is due to a more disturbing ly composed of two parts: emergency assistance and phenomenon than that attributed to cyclic variations medium-t~rm programming. Among the measures to in the balance of the world ecology. Desertification be taken within the framework of emergency assis- has become a fact, one which presents a challenge to tance is that of giving priority to restoring food our knowledge and which is shaking our belief in our supplies in order to meet the acute and pressing mastery over nature. The scope of desertification can needs of the population. The appeal made in Rome, be found in the frightful spread of the phenomenon, at FAO, last January by the Permanent Inter-State year after year, to the point where drought now Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel is part of afflicts every continent, without exception. It has that strategy, although it also deals with the concerns been established that, in 1983, the vegetation line in for the future. In this context, the food strategy tends peo~les, is undergoing a crisis because of the fact that ing role that country has had to play in its own some negative attitudes are paralysing its essential liberation and in the liberation of other countries organs and preventing them from realizing their under foreign domination and of its capacity as a ideals. At this time, when the Organization has founding member of the African organization. reached the age of maturity, we call upon all nations 53. In these times of grave uncertainties, the OAU, present here to show a little more wisdom and the pride and hope of all sons of Africa, needs to use determination so ,18 to restore to our peoples all the all its resources in order to work towards the hope they have in this remarkable instrument of fulfilment of the aspirations for freedom and pro- close ",u-operation. I refer here to rehabilitating the gress of its peoples-peoples who, in spi~e of the world Organization in terms of scrupulous respect for enormous wealth of our continent, remain the most the sacred principles of non-resort to force, non- disadvantaged peoples on earth. interference in the internal affairs of other States and 54. The principle of the peaceful settlement of abandonment of all forms of political or economic disputes must also prevail in order to end the four- domination. year fratricidal war between Iran and Iraq, two 48. One of the cardinal principles set forth in the brother countries, Members of the United Nations, Charter of the United Nations is, !f} fact, the refusal of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, and of to resort to war, in order to save succeeding genera- the Or~anization of the Islamic Conference. It is Hons from "untold sorrow." time, hIgh time, for those two countries to heed the 49. Refusal to wage war implies resorting to peace- voice of reason and wisdom and achieve a speedy ful means in order to resolve conflicts. Last Yl'~ar, it settlement of that tragic conflict, which is constantly was our task in this very Hall to insist upon the growing, i~ a region where the situation is already creative dynamics of dialogue in the s~~arch for very worrIsome. solutions to disputes arising from the error.s and 55. Similarly, unless care is taken, the Korean vicissitudes of history. That is the keystone of Mali's peninsula is again in danger of losing it~ peace. The foreign policy. Mali constarit!y cultivates and artificially created barriers to reunification of that strengthens its good-neighbourly relations with all the country are unacceptable. They oppose the will of the surrounding countries on the basis of fraternal and Kor~an people, they are contrary to all international fruitful dialogue. comuitments made at the end of one of the most 50. In Africa, a land of dialogue, this step is more painful wars ever fought, and they herald even bloodier conflicts. than ever necessary to resolve the painful crisis of the Western Sahara, especially since the ways and means 56. Fidelity to the Charter of the United Nations of resolving that question were carefully defined by and commitment to its ideals therefore demand not the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of only refusal to wage war but also, and perhaps above the Organization of African Unity at its ninetee.lth all, refusal to prepare for war. Unfortunately, the ordinary session,3 held at Addis Ababa from 6 to 12 proverb that says "Let him that desires peace prepare June 1983. That dialogue, I say, is more than ever for war" has not been disproved. necessary at a time when the Organization of African 57. Thus persists the dangerous illusion of main- Unity [OAU] needs to mobilize all its resources to taining security through accumulation of weapons, preserve its indispensable unity and meet the diffi- through possession of the ultimate weapon. In reality, cult problems of development that beset the conti- the safeguarding of international security resides III nent on all sides. confidence among nations. It is strengthened by the 51. It has already been our task to recall the deep desire to bring peoples ever closer and not make historic wellsprings from which Western Sahara and them live in the nightmare of uncertain days. It is Morocco have drawn their common civilization. strengthened by a firm political will in negotiations That civilization, which is shared by our entire on disarmament and not by research and the abusive subregion, elevates man to his full grandeur, in all his stockpiling of weapons, the perfecting of which is dignity, with strict respect for his ideals-ideals constantly postponed by ever newer findings on the which imply in particular respect for political and part of science and technology. economic choices, and therefore the principle of self- 58. Thus we see the perpetuation of the arms race determination for all peoples. It is only natural, with the development of anti-satellite and anti-mis- therefore, for both parties to the conflIct in the sHe systems. Dialogue has virtually ended in the Western Sahara to have accepted the principle of the Conference on Disarmament. Reciprocal accusations organization of a general, free and orderly referen- made bv the major military Powers with regard to dum on self-determination. disturbing the balance of forces do not deal with the weapo~ry, only thr~aten that security. 66. It is impossible to overemphasize the fact that 60. Dlsarmam~n~!s depende~t on trust a!1d .accept- the solution to the tragedy ofthe Afghan people must ance of resp~~slb!hty for s~vmg ~nd ennchmg our be a completely political one. Only peaceful negotia- commo~ clvdIzatl.on. The mcredIble waste of re- tions carried out with Cl true political will to achieve a s~urces. m the serVice ofwar thus becomes more than genuine solution ~an enable Afghanistan to regain its d.ls.turbl~g. I need m~ke no comment on the ever- unity and its status as a non-aligned country. Mali n~m~ sptral of expendIt:ure ~n weapons, .but we must pursues the same objectives regarding the disturbing hlg~h8!tt t~e fact th~t, m thiS world whlc:h l~ngs for situation of the Cypriot people. My country is a s~clal Justice, 30 chtldr~n-I repeat, ~O chtldren- member of the contact group of non-ahgned coun- dl~ from hung~r ~ac~ mmute whtle durmg that same tries on the Cyprus question, and, while welcoming mn:tute $1.3 mtlhon 18 s~ent ~n weapo~5. The cost of the Secretary-General's tireless efforts> we invite the a smgl.e nuclear su~marme IS the equivalent or the two communities to negotiate and engage in fruitful operations and equlpm~nt budget of the .world s 23 dialogue so that this conflict the source of intema- least develop~d countr~es. .All ~he studle!'l on the tional tension, may be resolv~d in a way that is just world economic ~nd SOCial sltuat,ton have shown.that and will protect the unity and territorial integrity of senseless expenditure on arms IS one of the duect C rus causes of the present world crisis, which is itself the YP... ... cause of so many nightmar~s both in the developed 67. In Latm ~m~nca and .th~ Cartbp~a.n,Just as m countries and in particular in the developing coun- SouthrEast ASia, mterventIOnIst actIvities are also tries " taking place. In the Final Communique adopted by 61. .It seems to my delegation that, in the light of the . Ex~raordinary Ministerial ~eeting of tpe Co- the disturbing developments in the international ordmatmg Bureau ofthe Non-Ahgned Countnes held situation, rejection of preparations for war should be a~ M~nag':la from !O to 14 January 19835 ,on the as much a duty as non-interference in the internal situatIon m C~ntral AmerIca and the. Canbbe~n, affairs of other States. among o~her thmgs, and, more rec~ntly, m ~he QUItO . . .. . . Declaration, adopted by the Latm Amencan Eco- 62.. Regardmg ,thiS prmclple, the conflict m Chad- nomic Conference held at Quito from 9 to 13 W.hlCh for us IS a cause for great conce~ an~ January 1984 [see A/39/118, ar.nex], the attention of distress-can only, we repeat, be settled nationally. the international community was drawn to the Therefore, we. u~ge the people <:>f Cha~ to. resume the fundamental problems facing South America and the p~th of negotI~tlons to ~ec~nctle thel~ dlfferences- Caribbean. To the problems of development, unfor- differences which can anse. m any society but should tunately, another must be added. I refer to interfer.. not be allow~d to destroy It-and not to stray fr0!D ence of all kinds. H~re, as elsewhere, this is a matter th~ path o~~I~d<?m and honour. W~ support them m for the peoples alone. They demand only to live in thiS n,?ble.mltlatlve, for .th~ s~verelgnty of Chad c~n peace, with respect for their chosen political, eco- be mamtamed and remam mVI01~"le onl¥ by.the Will nomic and social systems, the differences in which of the peopl.e of Chad, free fro~ all outSide mterfer- sometimes show originality and are a source of en~e. T~e Withdrawal ofall foreign forces from C~~d, further progress. which IS now under way, should make a positive .. . contribution to national reconciliation. Then the 68. Reason al~ays ~numphs m relations among sons of Chad will be reconciled and the external men of go~d Will. It IS 0t:l the baSIS of ~t,~;on a,nd aspect of the crisis will be more easily dealt with, understandm$. of the true mterests of Latm Amen~a because with unity peoples have always known how and th~ Can~bean that the C.ontadora Group IS to respond to threats to their sovereignty, integrity atteml?tmg, wI~h remarkable l'atl.ence, to put all; end and mdependence. to futlle confllc~s over. boundanes an~ sovere~gn,ty 63. Outside Africa, ClLfter long years of wastage of bet~een countfJe~ whIch are the heIrS of Slmon energy and resources in terms of human lives, peace Bohvar, who conSidered them all to be one and the has yet to be restored in Afghanistan and Kampu- same homeland. chea. The intercommunity talks have been suspended 69. Year after year, in the face of the many in Cyprus. Central AmerIca is more deeply engulfed problems that we hav~ just outlined, we end up in armed conflict. We must accept the fact that these believing that the United Nations is incapable of unfortunate situations cannot be resolved by military resolving the crises that break out in various places means. and spheres. ~l. The th~rd world, the Gr~up of 77,. must con- the dualogue between North and South in order to tmue to demonstrate open-mmdedness m order to settle the Korean question by peaceful means and achieve steady progress. without any external interference. 92. ,The w9rld h,?rizo.n i~ dangerously. un,certain. 99. The question of the Middle East is becoming !he I,n~ern~tlOnalsItuatIon IS one ofgrowmg msecur- even more complex. Ever since its inception, the Ity, I~Justlce and hum~n tragedy. Monetary and United Nations has sought a just, comprehensive and fin~ncIaI c~ao~, the slo~mg-down of trade, po,,:erty, lasting peace in the Middle East, but a solution has s~cIal depnvatIon-partIcularly hunger-desertlfi~a- eluded the Organization to this day. tIon and poor employment prospects for commg , . . ~enerations are the ills which threaten to destroy our 10q. The questIOn of t~e Palestml~~ people r~- mternational society. In the face of these real dan- mams at the core of ~he Mld~le East cnsls. :rhere ~Ill gers, I wish, on behalf of the people of Mali and be no durabl~ peace m the MIddle East .unt~l the fIght President Moussa Traore, to make an appeal to ofthe PalestIman peoI?le to self-determl~atlOn an~ to reason and unity of action. Indeed, while we fear that ~ hom~land,and the nghts of all States m the, regIOn, the developing countries are headed for disaster, we ll~clu~mg I~rael, are assure~.. To move m that doubt very much that they will be alone. d1fe~tIOn., dialogue and negotlatIOn~ between all the ,... ' partIes dIrectly concerned are essentIal. But, for them 93. Mr. RADRODRO (FIJI). T9day, Su, ~y ~oun- to succeed, conditions conducive to peace have to be try celebrates t~e ~ourte~nth anmversary of ItS mde- created. To this end, the most immediate need is the pendence and It IS a smg~la~ pleasure fo~ me to withdrawal of an unauthorized forces from occupied extend to. you my ~elegatIon s c~ngrat~latIons .on Arab and Lebanese territories your electIon as President of the thlrty-nmth seSSIOn . ofthe General Assembly. It is also a great pleasure to 101. As a Member of the United Nations, Fiji welcome to the Organization, on behalf of my remains fully committed to doing all it can to delegation, the 159th Member State, Brunei Darns- contribute within its modest means to the attainment salam. of peace and s~ability in the Middle East. Our 94. All Member States have solemnly undertaken to participatio,n in the U~ited N~tions p~ace-k~eping maintain international peace and security and to ?~eratlOns III Lebanon IS a tang!ble mamfestat~on of settle international disputes by peaceful means. I.hlS. ~t would, h,?wever, be. re~l11ss of me. If I did not Events around the world indicate a drifting away mentIon the dram on, ~ur l!mIted financial resou~ces from that undertaking. The list of crises and conflicts as a result of our partICl~atIon.9ther troop c9ntn~u- is ever increasing. This trend must be checked, and it tors also feel the t)nan~Ial stram. Yet thIS SItuatIon can be ifthere is an international resolve to act in the w01;1ld not h~ve an,sen.lf all Member States had met interest of peace. The United Nations resolutions on theu finanCIal oblIgatIOns. these crises and conflicts provide ample basis for that 102. It is, regrettably, all too clear that serious kind of resolve and action. violations of human rights are taking place in many 95 A manifestation of the lack of resolve to parts ofthe world. We, the Members of the Organiza- undertake negotiations and dialogue as a means of ti~n, ~ave a special r~sponsi~ility to take action on settling disputes between States is seen in the upsurge ViolatIons of human nghts, wnerev:er they occu~ and of terrorism and terrorist activities throughout the to ende.avour to find solutIon~ Wh.ICh can contrIbute world. Respect for the rule of law and the principles to puttmg an end to such ViolatIOns. and r1;1les ~f international law ~overning norms of 103. Nowhere is such violation more flagrant and beh~vl.our IS of s~ch paramount Importance that any agonizing than in southern Africa, where the evil de":latton or perSIstent breach of th<?se .norms could policy of apartheid is systematically perpetuated and easl1Y,lead to anarchy. The recent. mCI~ents of the consolidated. The international community must bombmg of the AmerIcan Embassy m BeIrut and the redouble its efforts to work towards the dismantling a~palling .bomb a,ttac~ on the Republic of Korea's of that policy and it must reject categorically the hIgh-rankmg offiCIals m Rangoon last year should be recent so-called constitutional reforms which in- condet:Jlned by all. For its part, my Government .has stead of eliminating the policy of apa~theid. ~erve uneqUivocally condemned those acts of terrOrIsm only to consolidate it further. and urges all States to contribute to the elimination 104 Th U 't d N t' h dd' th of such acts. . e 111 ~ .a Ions as a prou recor m e , . area of decolo111zatlOn, yet we cannot become too 96. A n1;1mber of Items on our agenda refer to cf1~es. complacent. We must continue to work towards the I ~ould lIke to refer to ~ few of them..My delegation elimination of the remaining vestiges of colonialism Will no doubt be refernng to others m due course. in all its forms and manifestations in various areas of 97. With regard to the situations in Afghanistan, the world. Undoubtedly, our biggest challenge in this Cyprus and Kampuchea, the international commu- area is in southern Africa. In defiance of the United oity has repeatedly called for comprehensive.politica! Nations and of the global consensus on the urgent solutions, and we fully subscribe to this. The relevant need for independence for Namibia, South Africa resolutions of this Assembly call for the withdrawal continues its me~al occupation and exploitation of ~f all foreign forces and respect for the sovereignty, that country. Fiji is of the firm view that Securitv mdependence, territorial integrity and non-aligned Council resolution 435 (1978) must be implemented status of those countries. In this connection, we fully and urgently and that attempts to link the continue to support the determined efforts of the indl.:pendence of Namibia to what IS happening in Secretary-General and urge all parties dhectly con- another country must be rejected. peo~le. of ~ew Caled,o~ua and cal!ed for fu~her in the South Pacific. This it has done persistently for admInIstratIve and polItIcal !eforms m the Ternt<;>ry the last decade now, disregarding the overwhelming as a preparatory measure for mdependence. In callIng opposition and condemnation of my Government for those additional measures, the Forum leaders and the Governments of our South Pacific neigh- rec~gnized ,t~e c!itical impo~a~ce of ensuring !he bours. Needless to say, the nuclear tests carried out in actIve p~rtl~lpatlOn of th~ mdlgell;0us Melan~slan the region pose real threats to our marine environ- commun~t~ m t~e T~rn!o~ s educatIo~~I, vocatIonal ment and our peoples. At their meeting in Tuvalu a!1d a?mlDlstratlve mstltutlons! to faCIlItate .the Ter- recently, the Sout~.Pacific Foru~ leaqers reiterated ntory s early and peaceful achIevement of mdepen- their strong oPPosItIon to the contmuatIon of nuclear dence. testing by France in our region. We are heartened in 106. In this regard, Fiji and other members of the this regard by the support of the shared concern South Pacific Forum would welcome an unequivocal expressed in a declaration conveyed to the Secretary- affirmation by France of its. commitm~nt .to t~e Ge~eralby the P~rmanent.Commission fo~ the S~uth independence of New CaledOnIa and to bnngmg thIs PaCIfic, our Latm Amencan South PaCIfic neIgh- about speedily, in accordance with the wishes of the bours. Terri~ory's, entire multiracial population, including 114. With the combined calls of the Pacific and espeCIally Its Kanak communIty. Latin American countries for the cessation of all 107. Ifthere is a single issue which alarms the world nuclear testing in the South Pacific, my Government today it is the nuclear-arms race and the threa~ of a had hoped that France would abandon its nuclear nuclear holocaust. The lack ofany real progress m the testing in the South Pacific. Instead, in complete arms negotiations leading to disarmament and the disregard of the feelings of the peoples of the region, strained relations between the super-Powers have France has announced its intention to continue its heightened that alarm. nuclear testing programme in our region for the next 108. It is true that nuclear disarmament will de- 15. ~ears. In resp<?nse to ~his announcement, our pend primarily on the nuclear-weapon States, and M,lnIster for ForeIgn Aff~l~s, only two days ago, especially the super-Powers. This forum, however, relterat.eq the strong opp~sltlon of my Govern~en~. provides an opportunity for all States to voice their The MI~I~ter ~lso mad~ It. clear that If t~e testm~ !S concern. The nuclear-weapon States cannot and safe, as It IS claImed t~ be, It would be loglc~l-asIt IS should not ignore that concern; the survival of advls~ble and expedIent. for all concerned-to con- everyone is at stake. duct It on European soIl. 109. It is my delegation's hope that the concern and 115. In recognition. of the overwhell1)-ing desire of deliberations in this forum will provide an important our peoples to remam free from the fisk of nuclear and necessary impetus to meaningful negotiations fallout! the S~u~h Pacific Forum leaders have,taken a leading to the halting of the arms race and eventually collectIve deCISIon to work toward~ the est~bhshment to arms reduction and disarmament by the nuclear- of a nuclear-free zone for the regIOn. TheIr concern weapon States. It is with t~at hO\Je that!DY delegation for the safety,of their,peoples an~ ~heir environment welcomes the continuing mcluslOn of Ite!TIs that ~re IS als~ mamfested m the posItIOn, that mem~er pertinent to this issue on our agenda. It IS also WIth countrIes of the Forum have taken ID the ongomg that hope that we once again urge the reconvening of negotiations on a treaty on the development and the stalled Geneva and Vienna negotiations between protection of the natural environment of the South the two super-Powers. Without any mean'ingful Pacific region. agree~ent, the arms r~ce will c~n.tinue. Ulti~ately, 116. Our commitment and resolve in the South the faIlure to check thIS unremlttmg arms. buIld-up Pacific to protect our environment from nuclear ~md thereby avert ~ nuclear holocaust WIll render contamination stem from our anxieties and concerns Irrelevant all other Issues on our agenda, as island peoples. With the limited land area of most 110. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nucle- island States in the region, our seas and their ar Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex] is an resources are of overWhelming importance to our important security measure and we hope that the survival. We therefore reiterate our request to the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty United Nations and its agencies for assistance to the on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to be small island countries in the South Pacific to enable held in 1985, will promote positive co-operation to them to elaborate and implement ocean development prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. We policies that will ensure the optimum and rational look to the nuclear-weapon States to demonstrate utilization of their living and non-living resources, their good faith in our disarmament efforts. for the benefit of their peoples and their region. Ill. A moratorium on the testing, production and 117. As a small island developing country, Fiji deployment of ~uclear weapons c<?nstitutes, in my attaches great importance to the United Nati<?ns Government's View, the most baSIC and the most Convention on the Law of the Sea. All-encompassmg essential element of our disarmament efforts. in its nature and scope, it is in our view one of the 112. The conclusion of a comprehensive test-ban very few legal instruments that attempt to redress the treaty should continue to have high priority on our inequity of the past, in favour not of one but of all 134. Finally, as regards Lebanon, a country with which Gabon maintains excellent relations, we wish to express appreciation for the efforts at national reconciliation made by President Amin Gemayel, who has always worked very hard to help his country recover its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Here, the important thing is that all foreign forces should withdraw from the territory. 135. \Ti;'ith respect to South-East Asia, and more specifically the situation in Kampuchea, Gabon reaffirms its support for the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty and the inadmissibility of the use of force in international relations. All States of the region must embark upon a dialogue leading to a settlement of their disputes and the establishment of lasting peace and stability, as well as the elimination of interference, threats of intervention and the hegemonistic designs of outside Powers. 136. Concerning the Korean peninsula, I should like also to stress that Gabon is following with special interest the development of the situati.Jn and we remain committed to the idea of a negotiated solu- tion designed to bring about the peaceful reunifica- tion of the two countries. 137. Finally, my delegation favours a political settlement ofthe question ofAfghanistan on the basis of the withdrawal of foreign troops, full respect for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and strict observance of the principles of non-inter- vention and non-interference. 138. We cannot examine the hotbeds of tension which in our times are threatening world peace and security without mentioning the disturbing events in Central America and the Caribbean. Gabon believes that, despite the progress achieved recently by the Contradora Group and the five countries of Central America through the adoption of the document stating the objectives worked out in Panama,7 the situation in Central Al'nerh.:a continues to be a matter of concern and we believe that we must put an end to it on the basis of the universally recognized princi- ples we have just mentioned and, in particular, dialogue. Better understanding among all peace-lov- ing men largely depends on this. 139. It was on the basis of this same spirit of dialogue, understanding and rapprochement among peoples bound by the same culture and ideals that our Bead of State undertook the felicitous initiative of proposing to his counterparts in Central Africa the establishment of the International Centre for Bantu Civilizations, grouping together some dozen coun- i 59. My delegation welcomes to our midst the State of BruneI Darussalam, whose admission to membera ship strengthens the universal character ofthe Organa ization. We assure its people of our friendship, wish them every success as an independent nation and are ready to establish with them frank and mutually beneficial cOaoperation in all areas. 160. We meet here again in this forum to reassess, as we do each year, the work done by the Organizaa tion since the thirtyaeighth session and also to sketch out a picture of the world political and economic situation. 161. To our great regret, we are forced to acknowa ledge that not only have our efforts been slow in yielding results but that, far from having improved, the international situation, both political and ecoa nomic, has considerably worsened. Indeed, all over our planet, hotbeds of tension persist and in some instances show a tendency to spread. The increasing superaPower riviilry as well as the unbridled arms race do not contribute-quite the contrary-to relaxa ing the climate oftension that prevails in mternationa al relations. Any hope we might have had of the abatement ofthe economic crisis was quickly dashed. And, as always, it is the weakest countries, in particular the countries of the third world, that are bearing the heavy cost of this tragic situation. In one place and another, might prevails over right, and fait accompli replaces dialogue and joint effort. In other words, in a world in such turmoil, the role the Organization must play is even more important. it must pley a primordial and capital role if we want to avoid our planet being subjected to a new war-with consequences that everyone agrees would be disasa trous for the very survival of the human race. 162. In Africa, certain hotbeds of tension remain explosive and are ofthe ~reatest concern to the OAU, as well as to the internatIonal community as a whole. In southern Africa, although certain recent events- such as the Nkomati Agreement,8 the motivations for which we can understand-have contributed to advanta~es that will surely be absent in any resolu- 225. With respect to the situation in Korea-a tion arnved at by military means. country that has been divided for nearly as long as 219. The efforts of the countrier; of the Contadora the Organization has been in existence-there is an Group-Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezue- urgent need for a peaceful solution. In our view, this la-in the search for a formula for negotiation and can be done only through direct negotiation among dialogue must Je considered the only real hope for the different factions. Dialogue can dispel the exist- some measure of peace in the region. Those efforts ing antagonisms and distrust and lead ultimately to should command the active support of all nations reconciliation. To this end, this thirty-ninth session that desire an end to the tragic loss of lives and should consider favourably the admission of both wanton destruction in Central America. Koreas to the United Nations fold as full Members, 220. Despite ihe ter:.1porary lull in the fighting, the thereby fostering their peaceful existence. Middle East remains an area of tension threatening 226. Even as this session got under way, the stark international peace and security. Year after year we realities of the pernicious system of apartheid wer~ have taken note in this body of the situation in the forced upon the consciousness of the world by the Middle East and the threat that it poses to the larger violence of the forces of the South African Govern- international community, but the central questions ment against the black majority peacefully attempt- remain unresolved. The adverse claims of the antago- ing to assert rights recogmzed by everyone. On the nists are not irreconcilable; but decades of fear and day before the beginning of the general debate, 500 suspicion have precluded the realization that the black South Africans were arrested and detained by nations of that region have a community of interests the police of the minority Government of South which, if recognized, should lead them to abandon Africa for no other reason than that they had confrontation and embrace reconciliation and pro- attended the funeral of a 22-year-old man. gress. 227. The abominable system of apartheid has re- 221. The Commonwealth of Dominica, having ceived the justifiable condemnatirn of the civilized ~ained its freedom less than six years ago, values its world but the internationally ostracized regime of mdependence and unequivocally supports the princi- South Africa, in defiance of world opinion, has pie of self-determination fOk" all peoples. Therefore, embarked on a policy of further entrenching that we cannot but support the claim of the Palestinian odious system by a shameful constitutional arran~e- people to a homeland and its right to decide its own ment that isolates the black majority of South Africa future under the leadership of men and women freely and fixes it permanently, as it were, beyond the pale chosen by it. At the same time, there is a correspond- of popular representation. ing right of the State of Israel to exist in peace within 228. The defiance of world opinion by the apart- secure borders. The assertions of those rights are not heid regime of South Africa is made possible by the mutually exclusive. It only requires courage and glaring inconsistency of some nations which, wl"ile statesmanship from the leaders of the region and condemning the international canker that is apart- balanced commitment and support from the rest of heid, eagerly conduct business as usual with the the world. That is the task which faces the peoples of ~outh African regime. The Commonwealth of Domi- the Middle East and the rest of the international nica believes, therefore, that in condemning apart- community, and it does not appear to be beyond our heid we must also deplore the actions of those collective effort and resolve. nations that serve as an underpinning for the system, 222. As we assemble today, Lebanon, once a pros- and we must also reject the reasons advanced for perous country of the Middle East, remains divided, their actions. Otherwise, many might justifiably its once flourishing institutions in shambles, and its ~ccuse us of sophistry and of crystallizing formal- territory occupied by foreign forces. No nation Isms. deserves the fate of Lebanon. The Commonwealth of 229. The apartheid regime of South Africa con- Dominica condemn~ the continuing violation of the tinues its ille~al occupation of Namibia despite the territorial integrity and independence of Lebanon clear responSIbility of the Uni~ ed Nations for that and joins with other Members of this body in calling Territory and notwithstanding hie many resolutions for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Leba- of this body calling upon South Africa to bring its nese soil in as expeditious a manner as possible. illegal occupation to an end. The people of Namibia 223. The war between Iran and Iraq has dragged on have a right to self-determinatIOn, freedom and for four years, and there does not appear to be any national independence, in accordance with resolu- end in sight. Thousands of lives, including those of tions 1514 (XV) and 2145 (XXI), as well 8S subse- NOTES (See N37/422, annex. 2See World Economic Survey 1984: Current Trends and Policies in the World Economy (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.II.C.I), chap. I, p. 20. 3See N38/312, annex, resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX); see also General Assembly resolution 38/40. 4Frente Popular para la Liberaci6n de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro. sSee N38/106, annex. 6Lagos Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its second extraordinary session, held at Lagos on 28 and 29 April 1980. For the text, see NS-11I14, annex I. 'See N38/599, annex 11. 8Agreement on Non-Aggression and Good Neighbourliness between the Government ofthe People's Republic of Mozambique and the Government of the Republic of South Africa, done and signed at the common border on the banks of the Nkomati River on 16 March 1984. 9NS-11I14, annex 11. (OUnited Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.I.8, part one, sect. A.