A/39/PV.31 General Assembly

It is a great honour for me to address the General Assembly. We are con- vinced that the work of this session will be crowned with success and that the statements of the represen- tatives ofthe various Member States of the Organiza- tion and the conclusions and recommendations ar- rived at on the items on the agenda will be governed by reason and justice. 2. As once again we begin our work, I should like to convey the sincere good wishes of Mr. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, for harmonious progress in the work of this session of the General Assembly and for success in the adoption of resolutions and decisions at the end of our work. We express the hope that those resolutions and decisions will become a reality and will not result in mere rhetorical or sterile expressions of ideals which, far from proving viable, fair and equitable, will only give rise to contlicts, worsen divisions and promote extremism, in com- plete contradictiod of the spirit of the Charter signed at San Francisco. 3. Equatorial Guinea, my country, believes that it is essential to increase efforts to promote better rela- tions and respect for the equality of all peoples in the world, to guarantee the sacred principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to achieve its goals. The prestige and the authority of the United Nations must be strengthened. This is particularly necessary at the present time when dialogue is becoming increasingly difficult and forcr. is likely to be used because of the juxtaposition of the interests at stake. 4. The unanimous election of Mr. Lusaka as Presi- dent of the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly is not only a source of pride and satisfac- tion for Equatorial Guinea but also a recogcition of the determination of the country which he repre- sents, Zambia, to remain faithful to the ideals of peace, justice and freedom and to maintain the dignity of man, despite temporary setbacks and difficulties. We are therefore convinced that with his qualities, professional experience and dedication he NEW YORK will fulfil the responsibility of guiding the destiny of this session in a most exemplary manner. 5. Similarly, we express our appreciation and thanks to his predecessor, Mr. Jorge Illueca, who, while carrying out his important and diverse func- tions as Head ofState of Panama, guided the work of the thirty-eighth session of the General Assembly with outstanding competence and skill. 6. The report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization [A/3911] presents a clear and complete description of the complexity of the prob- lems facing the world. It merits our deep apprecia- tion and it can assist us in examining the items of the agenda with which we have to deal. We should like to express our appreciation and thanks to the Secretary- General for the valuable work that he is doing as the head oftne Organization. We wish him every success in the difficult but highly honourable task entrusted to him in bringing about a better world. 7. The admission of a new Member to the United Nations family has always been a source of happiness for my delegation. The recent admission of the State of Brunei Darussalam as the 159th Member of the United Nations gives us great satisfaction since this represents, among other things, a practical step towards the universality of the United Nations. We welcome and congratulate that new Member and look forward to its contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security and the establish- ment of fruitful co-operation in building an empire of justice for the protection and well-being of peoples. 8. As I stated from this rostrum when I spoke at the 30th meeting of the thirty-eighth session of the General Assembly, the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, following the changes which took place in the country in August 1979, has successfully carried out the difficult but noble task of establishing a demot.;ratic system. This has led to the effective establishment of executive, judicial and legislative systems in keeping with our constitution. Notable progress has been made in the social and political life of the country, which is reflected in the peace and tranquillity which prevails. 9. Unfortunately, notwithstanding the unceasing efforts of the Government, the economic situation of my country, which is purely the result ofthe situation we inherited from the previous period and the general world economic crisis, is beset by many difficulties which have yet to be overcome. Equato- rial Guinea, one of the least developed countries, is in a state of devastation and a direct victim of the most harmful effects of the world crisis. 10. Neverthf'less, my Government has worked to lay solid fom .dations for harmonious economic de- velopment, to rehabilitate our country and to bring about development in general. Negotiations at the subregional level in Central Africa led to Equatorial ~elevant programmes and pr~jects for hygiene, hou~- 27. We support and encourage the efforts of the 109 ~nd foodstuff produ~tlon to m~et the basIc Contadora Group towards the peaceful and just reqUIrements of the needIest populatlons. settlement of the conflict in Central America, a Mr. Lusaka (Zambia) took the Chair. region tD which Equatorial Guinea is bound by 21. It is not unduly optimistic to acknowledge the historical and ~u1tur~1 ties. We hope tha~ the Co~ta- great work carried out by the United Nations in its dora Group wIll arrIve at ~ comprehenslvf so~utlon almost 40 years of existence, nor to emphasize that of the problem so as to ~rll~g about a ~estoratlon of certain items on its agenda minimize the importance overall peace and securIty m that regIon. and value of its activities. Now that apartheid South 28. We reiterate our solidarity with the Argentine Africa is showing its true colours, the independence Republic with regard to its just and legitimate claim of Namibia recedes further into the distance. This is over the Malvinas Islands, and we hope there will be in flagrant violation of many General Assembly and a resumption of and rapid progress in the negotia- Security Council resolutions and outright contempt tions with the United Kingdom in the spirit and the for international public opinion. context of the relevant resolutions of the General 22. We reiterate our position that South Africa's Assembly and the Security Council. presence in Namibia is illegal and musi b~ ended. We 29. Kampuchea, a State Member of the Organiza- renew our support for the South West AfrIca People's tion, continues to be the scene of violent acts because Organization [SWAPO] and reaffirm that conditions of the intervention of foreign forces in that country. and circumstances outside the Territory of Namibia We reiterate our support for and solidarity with a should not affect or delay the process of its indepen- course of action guaranteeing the return of all dence. Kampucheans who have sought refuge in neighbour- 23. It is surprising to observe that, although every ing countries and the search for a peaceful solution State Member of the United Nations agrees on the ensuring respect for national independence, sover- need to maintain international peace and security, eignty and territorial integrity, not only of Kampu- this unanimity is not reflected in the implementation chea but of all the countries of the region. The of the relevant resolutions. In South Africa, the black relevant resolutions of the five past regular sessions majority continues to suffer the effects of the policy of th~ General Assembly and the Declaration on of apartheid. This system that has been imposed on Kampuchea1 have laid the necessary foundations for the majority is abhorred by all, but many appear to a broad political settlement of the problem. be sele~tive in ~ondem.ning ,it, and various economi,c, 30. In Afghanistan, there are no signs that the strat~glc ~md IdeologIcal mte~ests. seem to be I~ sovereignty, territorial integrity and political inde- conflIct WIth the effoI1s to eradIcate It. ,!ha.t makes It p.endence ofthat country are bemg preserved, ill spite all the .harder to achIeve the great objectIve of the of the appeals by the international community to the protectIon and defence of fundam~ntalhuman. rIghts effect that only the withdrawal of foreign forces from and freedoms: We must ~eQect senously on thIS and, Afghanistan can guarantee the inalienable right of the even th~ugh It may be dlffic!J~t, accept th~ fact that Afghan people to determine the form of Government nature Itself.calls for r~cogDltlon of the nght ~r.all and political and economic system most in k~eping people to e~Joy equal fights, and hence the abolItIon with their interests, without outside interference or of apartheid must be brought about. influence. Accordingly, the efforts of the Secretary- 24. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea hopes that General to find a peac,~ful solution which could African wisdom and the spirit of solidarity will lay facilitate the return of Afghan refugees to their own the foundation so that the various Governments now country should receive support, so as to establish the controlling the destiny ofthe continent will avoid any necessary guidelines for the re:storation of peace and situation that could lead to the collapse of the tranquillity both in Afghanistan and in the nei~h- Organization of African Unity. In this connection, bourm$ countries which are victims of the situatIon we welcome any peaceful and constructive initiative prevailIng in South-West Asia. for res,?lving the conqicts in Chad and \\:'estern 31. The war between Iran and Iraq, brother coun- Sahara m ~ccordance WIth the relevant resolutIons of tries and neighbours, continues to be a caus,e for our OrganIzatIon. considerable concern and anxiety for Eq,uatorial 25. In the Middle East, Israel's occupation of Arab Guinea as for the entire international community. countries continues, and poverty, hunger and death This conflict has gone on for five years. Human lives remain common currency in Lebanon. On behalf of have been sacrificed, and the results of the efforts of those innocent victims who fall day after day in that both countries for the reconstruction of their econo- sorely afflicted area, we appeal to all partip-s mvolved mies have been reduced to naught. This not only in that painful and protracted conflict to end the impedes the harmonious development of their popu- tragedy, through the use of dialo~ueand negotiation, latlons but considerably affects international eco- in a spirit free of pride and passIon and on the basis nomic and commercial relations. From this rostrum, of realism, recognizing the right of the Palestinian we appeal for political will by the Government of people +Q establish its own State in the re$ion and the Iran and the Government of Iraq so that they may right of Israel to continue to exist withm legal and see reason and consider the right to life and the need secure borders, as well as Lebanon's recovery of its to preserve human dignity, putting an end to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. unjust war imposed on Iramans and Iraqis. 26. We are disturbed at the tension prevailing in 32. We note with consternation that the results Central America. We urge all the parties involved to hoped for concerning some questions that have been have recourse to dialogue to find solutions to the considered by the United Nations in past decades a~encies,with particular emphasis on those which are modern technology have now complicated our search dIrectly involved in the social, economic an~ cultural for solutions to mankind's ageless problems. d~velopment and advancement of developmg coun- 43. Some feel that they know all the answers and, in tnes. their arrogance, arrogate to themselves the role of 35. Mr. MOLISA (Vanuatu): On behalf of the purveyors of absolute truths. "Do as we say", they Government and the people of Vanuatu, I congratu- admonish us-but they certainly do not wish us to do late you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of as they do. Others believe that most of us do not even the thirty-ninth session. Your election is a tribute to know what the questions are, let alone have the you and to your outstanding work as President of the faintest idea of how to answer them. One arrogance is United Nations Council for Namibia. It is also a as bad as the other. Perhaps, of mankind's many most fitting tribute to the country you represent. shortcomings, arrogance and lack of humility are at Zambia and the other front-line States continue to set once the worst and most obvious. examples ~f pat~en~e, pe~sevcrance and strict adher.. 44. If arrogance is not such a prevalent flaw in ence to hIgh p~lllclples m .the fa~e of ex~reme and international relations today, then why is it that the seve~e p~ovocatlOns. For thIS, the mternatlOnal com- threat or use of force is still the corner-stone of the mumty IS grateful. foreign policies of so many States? Large and medi- 36. I also congratulate your predecessor, Mr. Jorge urn-sized Powers, developed and developing coun- Illueca, of Panama, for the excellent manner in which tries, aligned and non-aligned States, east and west, he discharged his very difficult duties. north and south-with far too much frequency-see 37. I extend warm congratulations to Brunei Darus- their r~spective military e~tablis~ments as the ult.i- salam the newest Member of the United Nations. mate mstruments of theIr foreIgn and domestIc We a;e particularly proud to greet a neighbouring policies. State as the Organization's 159th Member. We wish 45. The arts of peaceful advocacy and persuasion its people and its Government well and assure them are too often forgotten or ignored. This is r t a new of our continuing friendship, respect and co-opera- problem, but, given our current level of knowledge tion. and the current as well as the future technology of 38. As this is the first time I have had the privilege destruction, ~re these the values we wish ~o bestow of representing my country here at the United upon our chIldr~n?.Haye we not yet arrIved at a Nations, I wish to add my voice to those who have hIgher level of cIVIlIzatIOn? already spoken in praise of the Secretary-General. In 46. If arrogance is not such a prevalent flaw in the days to come, all of us will need to draw even international relations today, then why is it that the further on his experience and considerable diplomat- sincere and legitimate strivings of so many people are ic skills. I only hope that we will all heed the words of consistently cast in, and confused by, east-west his report on the work of the Organization, which is contradictions and the power politics of the world's very thorough, and exhibit the same devotion to duty two super-Powers? Some who should know better and candour for which he is so well-known. even continue to insist that smaner nations must 39. As we stand poised to enter the fifth decade cho~se in which "bed. to li~':, a~ ifth~re were no other since the end of the Second World War and the chOIce bu! to belong In s.P!rIt, If nOlt III fact, .to one of establishment of tIle Organization, we, the nations of the world s two great mIlItary and economIc ca~ps. the world, face new and unique challenges. In a sense, 47. We, in Vanuatu, know better. Our polItIcal the problems we discuss here today are fundament- independence, our membership in the United Na- throu~h no more than their studied indifference to and is maintained by force and violence. It was the plIght of their fellow human beings, practise their illegitimately conceived and constituted. And it own form of violence. continues consistently to violate major principles of 68. Each year, the agenda of vital human concerns the Charter of the United Nations, fundamental seems to grow and grow to almost unmanageable provisions of international law and standards of proportions. Few things are resolved, and few sincere common decency and civilization. efforts are made by those in whose power it lies to 77. In short, in a very real and meaningful sense, it mobilize the international community. There seems is a bandit regime which has institutionalized and to be greater faith placed in crisis management than elevated to State level the very terrorism every nation in crisis avoidance. in this chamber condemns. How, then, can some 69. When will the few remaining States that have continue to rationalize and excuse the actions of that not yet done so finally sign the United Nations State? How, then, can some continue to qualify their Convention on the Law of the Sea? When will there support for the General Assembly's resolutions be- be uniiVersal participation in the vital tasks of the cause of what they term "imperfect language"? Preparatory Commission for the International Sea- 78. How, then, can some support armed insurrec- Bed Authority and for the International Tribunal for tion in Afghanistan, but not in South Africa? How, the Law of the Sea? then, can some support armed struggle against the 70. When will there be a final commitment to abide Government of Nicaragua, but not against the terror- ists in power in Pretoria? How can those who have by the international community's standards of equity helped make South Africa strong and its neighbours with respect to the exploitation of the mineral resources of the international sea-bed? After so many weak applaud South Africa's ability temporarily to years of painstaking negotiations and such careful impose its will through the use of its military and drafting, is it not reasonable to expect nations to economic might? How can those who trade with refrain from separate undertakings which will under- South Africa by choice equate their actions with mine the Convention? We urge all States to think those who are compelled to deal with South Africa? again before acting in such a manner as to subvert 79. Finally, what will those who today are indiffer- this very lofty breakthrough in global economic ent to the plight of the people of South Africa-all of relations. the people ofSouth Africa-say to those people when 71. The pressing need for maJ'or economic reform is they finally do triumph and drive the Fascists from 11 k power? Will they then claim to have always sup- we nown and has been well articulated in this and ported and loved the people of South Africa, as they other forums time and time again. How long must now claim to have always loved and supported the the world wait for concrete measures to be taken? What calamity must occur before realism replaces people of other countries who have succeeded in myopia? overthrowing their own dictators? 80. For us, declarations of any kind can never 72. The growing menace of organized crime and the substitute for action. With respect to southern Africa, international traffic in drugs threaten to engulf and we do what we can. Our major regret is that we can destroy us all. Again we ask, what are we waiting for? do no more. Perhaps our greatest contribution lies in Must personal crisis strike before we open our eyes to our efforts to make Vanuatu a better society and to this clear and present danger? promise our people a brighter future than the current 73. The war between Iran and Iraq drags on at a regime in South Africa is able to promise all of the terrible cost in human life and material destruction. people of that troubled land. We wish that those who Why can no solution be found? How do the parties to have it in their power to change South Africa this tragic conflict manage to replenish their respec- peacefully would use that power. tive instruments of destruction? Whose interests are 81. In the absence of such action, we believe that served by the continuation of this senseless carnage? the international community is left with no alterna- 74. In the Middle East, we must ask again, why tive but to support the liberation movements of cannot the Palestinian people return to their homes Namibia and South Africa. SWAPO and the African and live in peace? Why must they be displaced and National Congress of South Africa are in reality disenfranchised? What was their sin? How much acting for all of us. They are, in effect, soldiers of the Stat~ in the tegion, ~t is a crucial in~redient for our 107. Since the founding of the Organization, its survr~'al. We are aware ~f!he connec!lon between !he usefulness and effectiveness have continually been colomal and nuclear pO~lcles of certam Powers ~~I.ch called into question. The resolutions it has adopted, ~re curre~tly undertakm~ vanous nu~lear a~tIvltIes the solutions it has worked out, the recommenda- m our regIOn.. We not~ wI!h extr~me dlsappomtment tions it has made, have never really fulfilled the that the consistent objections raised by' the Gove~- hopes cherished by peoples stricken by crises and ments and .p~,?ples of the South PaCific to certam conflicts; they have never completely allayed the nuclear a~tlvltles seem to have falle~ on deaf e.ar~. tensions and upheavals in the world. Therefore, T~us, testmg of nuclear weapons contmues, and I! IS despite the heterogeneous nature of the Organization stIll proposed that our waters be used for dumpmg and its complexity, it should show a more definite nuclear wastes. spirit of consensus and return to its original objec- 99. Arguments of relative safety do not impress us. tives, namely, the noble ideals of peace and develop- Who can truthfully state with absolut(~ly no equivoca- ment laid down in the Charter of the United Nations. tion that. o.u~ en~ironment will not be harmed by 108. The sweeping currents of ideas, discoveries these aC~l':l~les?, We know that the proponen!s of and technological innovations should lead to a these activIties do ~ot even understand ~ur et:lvIr~n- change in the relations between nations; all such ment, ~nd, we senously doubt that, theIr sCle~tIsts changes should lead to a true world balance, Unfortu- ever Will ~Ither. We are at peace With ~ur env,lron- nately, reality is quite different. We are, in fact, ment, whde they seem to be at war With theIrS. witnessing a resurgence of intolerance, insecurity, 100. Accordingly, our Parliament has resolved selfishness and violence. Despite that gloomy picture, unanimously to declare Vanuatu a nuclear-free State. we shall not give in to either defeatism or scepticism. We have therefore established a policy of not allow- Despite numerous stumbling-blocks, the United Na- ing nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed vessels to call tions continues to be the forum in which discussions at any, of our ports. We are deeply co~mitted to.the and negotiations on the fate of the world are held. establi~hn:tent of a nu,clear-free. zon,e m our regIOn, 109. In today's world, which is characterized by and thiS IS one step m that dIrection. diversity, the right to be different should be recog- 101. History teaches us that every weapon mankind nized as a fundamental principle governing relations has developed has eventually been used. The human among States, a right to be different that the United race is now at a turning point. We, the Governments Nations fosters and develops, the right ofeach people and peoples of this earth, must let our would-be to flourish within the context of its own history, its protectors know that reasonin~ and understanding own culture, its own beliefs and the political and are better protectors of human lIfe than any weapons economic system it has freely chosen. When denied system devised or yet to be devised by the military- to others-as is so often the case-this right to be industrial complex. different becomes a source of turbulence, hatred and 102. In our search for justice, we must leave no confrontation. stone unturned. In our search for equality, we must 110. In Africa, in Asia, in Europe, as well as in leave no stone unturned. In our search for peace, we America, evidence ofsuch intolerance and selfishness must also leave no stone unturned. We must remem- is all too common. Often, peoples are stifled. Their ber that we live in an imperfect world, and that we legitimate struggles for their inevitable emancipation are imperfect beings. Only the most arrogant of us and their power to decide their lot in full exercise of believe that we can pass judgement on our Creator's their sovereignty are being thwarted by sordid per- \York. We must learn to respect our differences and sonal interests. ~Ixth sessIon of the UOlted NatIons Confe~ence on listened to the statements, and from my assessment rrade and Development, held at Belgrade m 1~83, of the various bilateral discussions and dialogues and.of the Fourt,h General Conference o,f th~ Umted which have taken place during the past three weeks- NatI<?ns Indust!lal ~evelopment OrgaOlzatIon, held in hotel rooms 9 along the corridors of the General at VIenna earher thIs year. Assembly Hall, on the thirty-eighth floor, in the 131. A joint definition of new international eco- offices behind this Hall and even at cocktails, nomic regulations by t~e industrialized countries a!1d luncheons and dinners-I ~ave. the fe~ling th8:t we by the third world IS needed today. The entIre are off to a good start. ConSIderIng the mternatI0!1al international community would benefit from the political climate immediately before the sessIOn beginning ofglobal negotiations designed to putting a began, and taking into account the formidable tasks halt to this crisis. which confronted and still confront us, I can say that 132. The results achieved in three years by the developments over the ,Past three weeks augur well Military Committee for National Recovery in work- for the rest of the sesslol1, ing to restore and rebuild the Central Afncan Repub- 14.2., The heads C?f State, and Government, the lic are very encouraging and are a cause of satisfac- Mmlst~rs for ForeIgn AffaIrS and other heads of tion for us because th"''' result first and foremost del~gatlOn ~ave set the scene and plotted the path from our own efforts whIch I belIeve we ca~ pursue. Now we ~re ~bout to , embark on the more dIfficult task of deahng m depth 13~. But ~uch succ~ss IS also d~e to the ,;aluable with the various issues on our agenda. If we can a.C\slstance glyen,by fr~endly .countnes ~nd by ll'l;terna- mair !c1in the atmosphere which has pervaded the tlOnal o~gantzatlOns~ mcludmg the UOlte~ NatIOns, I session so far, I believe that by the time we conclude should lIke once agam to, pay a heartfelt trIbute to the our work we will have taken one, perhaps two or even ~ecretary-Gener~land hIS co-~orkers for the unceas- three, small steps towards achieving the Dbjectives of mg concer~ whIch they contmue t<? sh~w for the the Charter of the United Nations. Central AfrIcan RepublIc. The road IS stIll long and , . ' I Id l'k the task an arduoH" one. That is why we should like 143. Before adJournmg the ':Deetmg, w0l;l I e to to be assured of "i ". continuity and stepping up of thank the Assembl~ for fulfilhr 6 the commIt~entwe , . ; .~:" made earher, that. IS, to enhance the proceedmgs by mternatlO~al aSs1SLt!.nce. ,. refraining from the practice of congratulatin~speak- 134. WhIle obsef'l1ng the thIrd anOlversary of ac- ers in the General Assembly Hall after theIr state- cession to power of the Military Committee for ments. It i~ 'y earnest hope that the commitment National Recovery, the Head of State, General Andre will rt;' J[1T in force throughout the rest of the Kolingba, began hi~ speech as follows: "For three session, and that the Mail.~ Committee'. will emulate years now the Central African Republic has seen the the example of the Assembly. I also hope we shall Military Committee for National Recovery at work. improve on our record of starting meetin~s on time. I These three years have been imbued, above all, with now call on those representativesh J Wish to speak peace,"-I repeat, with peace-"a factor working for in exel'cise of <}heir right of repl) stability and ~,sil1e qua non condition for any kind of 144, Mr. LOHIA (Papua New Guinea): Mr. Presi- development. dent, may I thank you most sincerely for allowing me 135, That equ~tionof peace a!1d development is the to exercIse my, delegat~on's r~gh~ of reply to the basis of the phtlosophy of actIon advocated by the st~tement made m exercIse of hIs nght,ofreply by my Central African Republic, on both the domestIc and fnend and collea~ue, the representatIve of t~e R~- the international level. public of IndoneSIa, on 3 October [19th meetmg] m 156. We would, indeed, have preferred to i~nore this seasonal farce anci not lend dignity to It by respondin~. However, the constant repetitIon of even the most ndiculous charges or claims, if not rebutted, has a tendency to make them appear in the end as "facts", even to those who originally fabricated them. 157. One delegation sug~ested that it was time for the international commumty to address itselfserious- ly to finding a durable solutIOn to a problem which, it was said, had dragged on for nine years. We whole- heartedly agree, for we believe that It is high time for the Organization to decide once and for all to let facts triumph over fiction and falsehoods and to allow the wishes of the overwhelming majority of the East Timorese people to prevail over the self-serving interests of but a few. 158. It is high time for those who still cling to myths and wishful {hinking to accept the fact that decoloni- zation has taken place in East Timor and that its people have determined to choose independence through integration with Indonesia, in conformity with General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and '541 (XV). Far from invading and occupying anoth" er independent State as has happened elsewhere, Indonesia's role was precisely one of contributing to that process of decolonization by helping to ensure that in its essence and realization the democratically expressed will of the majority would not be overruled by the armed terror, intimidation and unilateral imposition of a ruthless minority, posing as pseudo- revolutionaries but in fact collaborators with the former colonial Power. 159. It is high time for those who espouse the lofty principles of self-,Jetermination and of democracy based on majority rule to realize that they cannot at th~ same time continue to support the obsessions ofa sm~.ll, unrepresentative group of political adventur- ers in exile without doing grave injustice to the real interests of the East Timorese people. 160. Indeed, it is high time to bring to a definitive end this s0-called question of East Timor and to remove the item once and for all from the agenda, where it should never have been inscribed in the first place. 161. Allow me nflW to direct my remarks to some of the statements made by the representativf of Vanua- regardin~ our nuclear tests and the future of New Caledoma. First, regarding the nuclear tests, I remind . the Assembly ofthe main conclusions ofthe comm.it- tee ofeminent foreign scientists, open to all countrIes of the South Pacific region and presided over by ~r. Atkinson, which visited the French testing ce~tre. ID Or",ber of last year. The verr. f~ct that the .scI~ntl~c committee took the responSIbIlIty of publIshmg Its conclusions proves that it found its reception and the working conditions at Mururoa satisfactory. 173. Moreover, those internationally known sci~n­ tists noted-and I should like to draw the attentIon of the Assembly to this very important point-that the level of ionizing radiation at Mururoa and in the South Pacific is lower than in other regions of the world. In particular, it is lower than irA the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United States and other geographical regions of the world-and I am speaking now of all continents. 174. Regarding the transfer of radioac~ivit~ that could take place, acco~ding, to the conclUSIons m. the committee's report, thIS mIght occur, at the earliest, in 500 or 1,000 years' time, that is, in five or 10 centuries hence, or in 10 or 20 generations-and I ask the Assembly to reflect on this-this is based on the hypothesis that the power of all the tests carried out in Mururora would be 100 times greater than that of all the tests in the past 10 years. 175. Those, therefore, are the conclusions support- ed by the eminent experts from the scientific com~~­ nity invited by the French Government to VISIt, freely and in the best possible ~ondit!o~s, the French testing centre at Mururoa. TheIr statIstIcs and obser- vations need no further comment. NOTES IReport of the International Conference on Kampuchea, New York. /J-17 July 1981 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.8I.1.20), annex I. 20jJicial Records ofthe General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Ses- sion. Supplement No. 27, annex I.