A/39/PV.38 General Assembly

Very close to us, and inextricably involved in our feelings, the Central American peoples are the protagomsts in a conflict which, if it does not end, threatens to spread ‘eopardizi and security in the hemisphere. &is conflictnftad its peace origins in a e-old social injustice, but it now contains elements o f the international conflict: the arms mcc and non-compliance with the principles of selfdetermination and non-intervention in the internal affairs of States. 7. One Central x ear ago, in the debate on the situation in merica, we recalled the statement made here in 1982 by the constitutional President of Bolivia, Mr. Hem&n Sila Zuazo, when he stressed that the peoples of Central Americs had already suffered too much under totalitarian rkgimes now to endure the terrible scourge of war. 8. Tension. threats and confrontation have continued to afflidt the region during the past two years. This scene of difficulties is in contrast to the hope raised by the efforts made in the past year by the Contadora Grou .J . which have enjoyed the full support and so11 arlty of the international community, especially the Latin American community. 9. The action taken by the four Contadora countries has shown the ability, imagination and perseverance of the countries of our region in enhancing intemational law while maintaining the lofty principles of the Charter of the United Nations and that of the Organization of American States [CM’) It has also 10. My Government has ahead afXrmad on various occasions its full support T or the Contadon P rocau. The international community has noted with ntorut that the Central American countries have expressed their wish both to ti8n the revised version of the Contadon Act on Peace and @operation in Central America and to shoulder the responsibilities stemming from the Contadora process, which must conclude with the signing of the Act. 11. In that s&it. 1 wish not only to call for a return to respect for iho urinciples of tticharter, but also to anneal to the Central American countries to make a genuine and disinterested effort to proceed as soon as r iblo to the signature of the Contadora Act, which as been put before them for conuideration as a valuable contribution b This would facilitate F the Contadora countries. ful tlment of the commitments under that. Act and the entry into force of the coesscmdmg tmplomontatton and follow-up ma- 12. \ie have read with great interest the Secre General’s report on this auestion W39/562l. 9; share his hoti that the processes of democratitition in the region, which include the forthcoming olections in Nicaragua and Guatamala. will provtdo for the free exercise of citizens’ rights and the building or perfecting of pluralist s active participation of r; stems which guarantee the road majorities. 13. On the other hand, the Secretary-General asks us to think when he reminds us that “the continuation of the upheaval in Central America, with its grievous impact on the civilian population, is still causing a flood of refugees.‘* [Ibid., puma. II.] This tragedy must be ended, and for that purpose tranquillity must return to the region and there must be a cessation of threats, hostile actions or attacks against Central American States, Nicaragua in particular. 14. The situation in Central America is a dificult one. Nevertheless, there are some encouraging signs, among them the initiative and disposition to dialogue which b Y n in El Salvador and the constructive spirit in w tch the five countries of the region are taking part in the Contadora negotiations. 15. In conclusion, 1 wish to reiterate what has already been stated by the Foreign Minister of my country at the current session of the Assembly: “Bolivra has always expressed its solidarit with the people and Government of Nicaragua in t h. en struggle to move ahead with the country’s liberating national transformation” [f&h meeling. para. 91. i6. Bolivia has faith that our Central American brothers will find peace and in each of their countries will achieve the prosperity that is so much desired by them and to which they have a right. 17. Mr. MACIEL (Brazil): During the thirty-eighth session last year, when the General Assembly considered for the first time a spcciftc item on Central America, I had the opportunity (47fh meering] to state how closely Brazil was followmg the changes in the regional scent and to express our deep concern at the growing deterioration of the situation in an area with which my countr) has many traditional relations and tics. My delegation emphasized then a for a solution. In this process a balance must be established between the lessons and conclusions from a past not yet completely examined or understood and any proposals regardmg the future of the countrios and peoples of the @on. 20. Thirdly, it is of the utmost importance for the entire international community to recognixe the essential role of the oountries of the region in the quest for peace and stability. The best way for this recognition to be expressed is the scrupulous observance of the principles of non-interference in the internal flairs of States and of selfdetermination. The problem of Central America must be solved by the countries of the region themselves. 21. A whole consideration o ry ear has passed since the initial the question in the General Assembly. In this period the international community has had a number of reasons to believe that it would be difftcult to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Central America. To justify such a dismal assessment it is only necessary to recall, by way of example, the gravity of the events brought before the Security Council for consideratron during this ? ear. Those oroblems only added to the already Siam rcant difllcuities and strong tensions obstructirig the di a lomatic efforts of the sister nations of the Conta ora Group with a view to a peaceful, negotiated settlement. 22. However, despite all those obstacles the Contadora Group persevered in its negotiations, and it is with renewed hope that my delegation notes the substantial progress in the discussions on many s8r ific details of a comprehensive agreement. My vemment is confident that the very same spirit of unity and solidarity that prevailed in those discussions will in the near future allow the Group to overcome reservations. 23. Allow me to state, in conclusion, that a practical

When we look at the course of events in Central America since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 38110, it becomes clear that in effect that decision has been almost completely ignored; in fact the development of events during the past year has been in a direction entirely contrary to that called for in last year’s resolution. The arms buildup in the region has intensified. military manoeuvres have escalated. and with Nicaragua again as the object. 25. With wrd to El Salvador, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of member States of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries noted, in the communiqu6 issued after their consultative meeting in New York at the beginning of this month, that “the armed internal conflict had aggravated while imperialist intervention had increased. They denounced the attacks which are being carried out against the civilian pulation living in the insurgent*ntroUed areas.” See A/39/560, annex, para. 89.) r 26. What is happenin does violence to more t % in Central America today an solution 38/10. It flies in the face of the very Char+ of the United Nations and of the several instrumc. .s which the Assemblv has evolved over the years as part of a system for f oveming the conduct of inter-State relations. I refer, or example, to the Declaration on the Stnn $ hening of International Securit [resolurion 2731 (X v)], the Declaration on Princlp es of International Law con- 4 cerning Friend1 Relations and Co-operation amon States m actor & rice with the Charter of the Umt d Nations [resolution 2625 (XXV). annex] and the Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal -Affairs of States (resolution 361103, annex]. As always, States cannot Ignore them without creating dangerous situations which threaten peace and security, such as the situation which exists in Central America today. 27. In response to the crisis in Central America, the States of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela-the Contadora Group-have been en ed in an initiative to defuse that crisis and lay the &“yb asis for political solutions to the problems facing the subregion. The efforts of the Contadora Group have long earned broad and enthusiastic support within the international community as a major contribution to peace in the Latin Am&can and Caribbean re@on through a process which seeks Latin American solutions 10 the problems of Latin America. Support for the efforts of the Contadora Group was the issue most touched on in the course of the recently concluded general debate. 28. My delegation wishes to hail in this public forum the elaboration of the revised version of the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America of 7 September last and would like to reiterate its appreciation to the member States of the Group for their persistent and noble efforts in the cause of oeace. especially since those efforts were carried out in theface bf external actions which seemed clearly designed to frustrate the negotiating process and lay tion. the groundwork for military in:erven- 29. The Contadora Act sets out a cohprehensive framework for a peaceful solution to the problems facing Cenrral America and an end to violence and instability in the region. It provides an opportunity for the pursuit of social justice and economic development free from outside interference. Provision is made to guarantee the security. integrity and sovereignty of all the States of the region. It seeks 10 provisions of any agmefnent. 32. GUYAM also cmpratulates the Government of Nicaraaua on the in&cation of its decision to subscribe To the Act immediately and without reservations. 33. Guyana considers it essential that the fresh momentum which the elaboration of the Contadora 34. Guyana will therefore vote in favour of draft resolution A/39&6, presented by the Contadora Stata! which urges each one of the five Central Amencan Governments to accelerate its consultations with the Contadom Group in order that the neg$iati signmg o Y process may culminate in the prompt the Act. 35. We also draw attention to the position cx- R ressed by the Foreign Ministers of the Movement of on-Aligned Countries that all States wishing to contribute to peace and co-o ration in Central America, in particular those wit . %* lmks or interests in the region, should indicate their disposition to endorse the Additional Protocol to the Act in order to ensure its full implementation. What is needed now is more than rhetoric of commitment. 36. It has been consistently stressed both in this forum and in the Security Council, within the United Nations as well as outside it, that the roots of Central America’s Droblems lie in the social and economic ills which have plagued that subregion for more than a century. nose problems must be addressed for what thejl are. Attimpts to superimpose on them the dimensions of an East-West ideological conflict only serve further 10 complicate those problems and to distract attention from their solution. Foreign int:rvention and interference aggravate them. A commttmerit to dialogue, ideological pluralism and unhindered economic and social development by each and every State in the subregion IS a prerequisite for peace and stability there. and security, will play an ap ro international peace riate role in endorsing and promotiq support or t PE c early implementation of the provisions of the Act. 39. We must reject interventionist strategies and discourage the intention of powerful States to wage military and economic aggression against small and weaker States. The Assembly must-it must-exk- ress its support for the Government and pea le of lcaragua in their effort to protect their in a ependence, their sovereignty and their territorial integrity and to defend themselves against external aggression. In this regard Gu ana is pleased to support draft resolution A/39/L. T /Rev. I. 40. The ples of Central America are demonstrating a 8” etermination to co-operate in the achievement of‘s r&ime of peace, which furthermore is their @ht. The elabomtion of the Contadora Act confirms this determination. There must be. and there is. an alternative to policies of aggression and subversionin Central America;. there must be. and there is, an alternative to mtlltary solutions in Central America. 41. In this context my delegation welcomes the response b both the Government and the Farabundo Marti atlonal Liberation Front/Revolutionary k Democratic Front tFMf.N-FDRl to the call for dial ue 38,lT w made in -General Assembly resolution e express the hope that the Drocess of dialogue will -soon be resumed with a view to achieving a comprehensive negotiated political settlement which, in bringing an end to the armed conflict, would also secure lasting peace based on justice and reset for human rights. 42: SO also do we view the conversations between Nicaragua and the United States of America. We hope that these contacts will continue and intensify, always on a basis of genuine mutual respect for independence and sovereignty. 43. My delegation sincerely hopes that the Contadorm Act will be imolemented with the least delav pobalble and that all States will co-operate in order~cb ensure the realization of the longing and the right of the peoples of Central America to live in peace.

My delegation has already congratulated you. Sir. but allow me nevertheless to add my own personal congratulations and best wishes upon your assumption of Ihe president) of the General Assembly. 46. United States support for diplomatic tiorts to achieve an effective and lasting peace in Central America has been - stro and consistent and continues undiminished. Rose efforts predate the Contadom process and go back to the very origins of the resent crisis, when the United States in 1978 USR t actively to help briq the bloodshed in %Tua to a halt. Thp continued when, in Cktober 1 82, the United totes participated in the elabomtion of the San Jo& Accords. whose orincides for a peoCefu1 settlement antici ted the Conteni of the Contadom Document of b1ectives.l And for JP* nearly two years the United Stat& has been repnsented by a s@al residential envoy to promote and support dialogue to of the region. th among and within nations weapons. 48. As the Contadora process iucreasingly occupied centre sta e of efforts to promote dialogue among nations o the region, the United States repeatedly made its support for that effort clear and unequivocal. Followinq the Cancdn Declaration on Peace in Central America, issued by the Presidents of Colombia, Mexico,, Panama and Venezuela on I7 July 1983.2 President Rea Presidents to $ n wrote these. Contadora congratu ate them ?n therr effo+ to promote dialogue m Central America. The President wrote: P “My Government has consistently expressed strong suprprt for the Contadora process. The Can& Declaration, by articulating the crucial isstics which must be treated to reach an effective and enduring resolution of the Central American conflict, is an important contribution to advancing that process.” 49. Following agreement by the five Central American nations on 9 September 1983 on the Contadora Document of Objectives. the United States Govemment took the position that the Document represented a comprehensive statement of the issues which must be addressed and declared 11 “an excellent basis for continued regional negotiation”. We have on series and further meetings will be takin place. Mr. Shlaudeman has, additionally, consult ecf repeatedly with all participants in the Contadora process. 51. When the Contadora participants had under consideration a second draft agreement, the revised Act of 7 September [A/39/562, ortnex], Secretary of State Shultt again charactenxed this dmft *as, a positive development in a continuing n process. Comments on the revised draft ct’% Y submitted b ed by the E the Central American States as requestontadom Group on 15 October. The comments of some of the Central American countries are a matter of nublic record. Thev clearly indicate a stron the e # y f&o~r&le attitude toward the dct and that ort to make it an ef%ctive and comprehensive implementation of the Contadom Document of Objectives should continue. 52: The preceding remarks should suffice to demonstrate that the United States regards the Contadora process as offering the most appropriate forum and the best hope for achieving a verifiable and combrehensive solution to the oroblems of the region. It is a regional effort to sblve a regional oroblem. free from outside interference. As that iregotiating process now goes forward, our support continues undiminished. The Contadora Grou ‘s draft resolution now before us [A/39/L.6] exemph ies f such efforts to achieve peace, and the United States is prepared to support it. 53. in affirming our support for the process, and in applauding the efforts of the nine participating countries, we note with approval the express determination of those countries to continue this effort until a document has been achieved which reflects the views and needs of all the countries in the region. Since this final document will have been drafted to accommodate the views and needs of these countries of the region, they will, of course, be the appropriate signatories of the document. 54. The establishment, strengthening and protection of democracy is an explicit and essential component of the Contadora formula for a Central American regional solution. So it is entirely appropriate that the Contadora countries themselves are dcmocracies. One of the principal goals put forward in the Document of Objectives, signed in September 1983 by the Contadora four and all five Central American Governments. is “To adopt measures conducive to the establishment and, where appropriate. improvement of democratic, representative and pluralistic systems that will guarantee effective popular participation law”.’ ’ * . procesm m accordance mth the 55. Against the expectations of sceptics and pessimists and despite the desperate opposition of ~roupr determined to use violence to frustmte the oonular will Central An&r& is ux&niably unde*ng a proibund democratic transformation fully comoatible with these Contadora objectives. - - 56. My delegation is pleased to note the mcent dramatic progress in Central America towards empowering the people to choose, establish and develop democmtic Governments. In 1982 the military C3ovemment of Honduras peacefully relinquished power to permit free and frir elections for a new President and National Assembly, which were duly and co4- tutlonally elected and continue to govern the COWI: *y democmtically despite pve economic problems and the delibemte destabihxation attempts from neighbouring Nicaragua. This dcterminatron to continue on the path of democmcy-mther than Nicaragua’s purely verbal and propagandistic expressions of support-is what demonstrates Honduras’s acccptante of the Contadom Objectives. 57. The year 1982 also saw the military reform bua ‘unta in El Salvador,. presided over by Jo& NapoWn rte, peacefully give up power to permit free and fair elections for a Constituent Assembly that was charged with drafti ing a provisional Y a new constitution and choosresident. The winner in the Constituent Assembly elections was not Mr. Duarte’r party but a coalition of the op ition, which elected its own leader as Assembl the provisional President. 1 gker and also chose ust this year the Salvadorian people again were allowed to vote, this time directly to choose their President. The contest was vigorous; there was robust competition among many parties. No candidste received an absolute majority in the first round of voting, and onl run-off campaign was a new after a spirited Salva 6 orian President, Mr. Duarte, chosen. 58. In the Salvador&an elections, which were observed by representatives of 60 nations and intemational organizations and 800 journalists, the Salvadorian oeonle took considerable risks for the sake of estabiishin a democratically elected popular Government. P andidates and voters alike participated in the elections under threats of violence from the Marxist-Leninist &errillas seeking to dominate El Salvador by mihtary force. To demonstrate the deadly seriousness of their threats, the guerrillas stepped up their campaign of violence against civilians during this electoral campai n. Some Assembly members were murdered by t e guerrillas as a R “response” to the election process. Roads were mined, buildin mited in the c s were bombed, bridges were dynatf art to impede the elections. Des P itc these acts of murder and sabotage. 75 per cent o the eligible voters voted. Under these circumstances there can be no question as to who supported Contadora’s objectives and who did not processes in accordance with the 60. Guatemala also has taken si towards establishing a constitutiona, popular and $ iticant steps democratic Government. Just a few months ago the people of Guatemala peacefully, freeI< and fairly ekcted a Constituent Assembly that vromises to #a repare the way for presidential-electioris next ear. t too is progress towards the Contadora o r;. ~ectives. - - 61. hually, m 1982 the peop:c o f Costa Rica continued their proud and admirable tradition of nearly four decades of uninterrupted rule btpopularly elected Govcmmc?ts b,, electing a new I Tt?sldent. And in this rnmt r cent electior as in ewry election but one since the 1940~~ tile President elected was of the opposite palty from thsl 3 the President he replaced. Need!ers to say, no hettpr example of the democratic spirit embodied in thr Cuntadora objectives can be found. 62. The record is i!car that three of the five Central American nations 1.3~ have democratically chosen civilian Governments and that one other has taken foncrete steps towards establishing democratic civil- Ian rule, while promising unambiguously to follow through to the completion of that process next year. The recent elections in these four republics met the key criteria for authentically democratic elections: they permitted open competition under conditions of free speech, press and assembly; they were inclusive-large. nearly univers‘al wrtions of the adult .mpulati&s of these countries were eligible to participztc, a: d their results were definitive-that is, the .‘ltltcl;r,t; of the votes largely determined the partisan composition of the Governments. 63. In contrast to the other Central American nrtions. Nicaragua is omnly defying both Contadora and the movement !otiards Jenioc~atic, civilian and constitutional government evident throughout the region. AT an outward svmbol of its contemot for ci;ilian =ovemment. the -Sandinist leaders noi only prefer !o be addressed by the milita-v title of &~~antlonk~ but even appear before this General Assembly in full military regalia. 64. We must confess we were not surprised. For a number of years mv delepation has been oointine to the arcumuiatmg &ir ke indicating the kal nat’urc of thz Sandinist I $!..; Indeed. the unelected miliary rulers of Nicaragua have a long-standing record of idcl)loglcal contempt for free. fair, Inclusive and compctltivr dcmocra:ic elections ir. iheir own coun- Ir) and In those of their nrlghhours. Althou h one month hcfort* they achfc.1 J poucr ;n IY r) 7 the Sandmlst kaders solcmnl! prom;scd the OAS that they uould hold fret clccrlons after assuming power. the! qurckly reneged on that promlsc and ha\c ncbcr E* * rmanent majority. In July 1980 Sandinist Defence mister Humberto Orteqo announced that there would be no need for electlons, since the already “voted” durina the revolution. he ominous1 ..gg!!f);;!! people had r, declared; “could not be held until the een re-educated.” &6. The following month, in August 1980, Humberto Ortega announced that elections would be put off until 1985. Even then, it was said, these would not be bourgeois elections-which I take to mean the kind of authentically democratic elections called for in the Contadora Document of Objectives and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-but they would be “people’s” elections. Power “will not be ramed off’, insisted the Sandinist Interior Minister Tom6s Barge. 67. On 25 August 1981 Humberto Ortega remarked, in a speech. to the military: “We have not promised the elections that they’*-and I must interpolate here “the tourgeoisie’ --“think we an. going to promote, and we are never going to discuss wer, as we have ahead CL ause this power was ta z said on other occasions, en by the people throu arms, and here the power of the people will never f!l questioned.” 68. Three years later. after enormous international pressure, naiional ektions were scheduled for this coming 4 November in Nicaragua. But how do tir military rulers cf Nicaragua cokeive of these election$? Here is what a member of the military junta, Bayardo Arce, said in May 1984-I must say ;n here that this is on tape and there is no question about the authenticity of what I am about to read out lo you now: “What a revolution needs is the power to enforce. This power :o enforce is precise1 what constitutes the defence of the dictatorship o the proletzriatr the ability of the class to impose its will using the instruments at hand, without going into formal or bourgeois details. From that point of view, the electlons are bothersome to us.” At the same time, Comandante Arce predicted that, folio\ Ing the certain Sandini, L victorv in the November elec%ons, the Sandinists would remove “the facade or’ political pluralism” and tstablish “the party of the revolutionary single party”. 69. In view of all these anti-democratic statements emanating from several of the cotnandunfes. no cne should be surprised when the 4 Ncvember elections in Nicaragua turn out to be a farce incapable of deceiving even those few who still harbour hopes that !he comandunrcs will turn out to be genuine democrats after all. 70. How can these elections he deemed democratic? Who can claim that they contply with Contadora? To put it simply. the conditions for free and fair elections in Nicaragua do not exist. All the news media arc controlled by the Sandinists. with !he exceptkIn of the newspaper La Y~nsu. which is routineI) censoreu. and the radio of the Catholic Church. whrch IS forbrdden to broadcast poiitlcar material. Tt,ere IS evidence that the Draconian mlllta;?; draft IS bclng used as a means of Intlmldating supporters of the political opposition. The electoear. When the military r&ime summarily country in July of this year, the Archbishop of Managua, Monsignor Obando y Bravo, remarked, “We want to state clearly that this Government IS totalitarian . . . We are deahnf with a Government that is an enemy of the Church. ’ The Archbishop of San Jo& Monsignor Roman Arrieta, received the expelled priests into his country in a ceremony and declared, “There were still in the world men and women of ood will who diti not believe a totalitarian regime ha d enthroned itself in Nicaragua. Now those people know the truth.” 73. The Nicaraguan deleg,.ion is fond of quoting The New York Times in its statements. It is mv turn. Let me also quote from The Times. Just today it carried a front-page report quoting Nicaraguan Bishop Pablo Antonio Vega’s statement that “It is said and repeated”-it has been said and repeated here- “that all these calamities and wars are caused only by ‘foreign a p1B ression’ of an ‘nperialism that is the enemy o humanity. “The people, for their part, ask: To what imperialism belong those who impose a r&ime that plunders. ‘ails and issues constant call< to arms? Who has d ecided this’! Who has made the choice to move from one system to another . . . ? .L . . . “Why do they wish to impose. bv force and deceit. -ideologieS which. good -as they:may be, are not accepted by the people? Why are we offered only new oppressions-and more s&ous confrontations? Is this not the basic cause of our growing internal weakness?” Anyone that has tAowed Nicaraguan developments m the last few years will have no difficulty in answering those questions. Certainly, the Nicaraguan people have no doubts about how lo answer them. and %lencc against civilitis, have elicited the 8rave concern of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 76. The militariution of Nicaragua under the Sandinists ir a concrete threat to the peace of the entire region. Since 1979 Nica -trained milita forces have increased from 1 ,000 to over 100, F 08 This is an extraordinary level of militarixation for ; country with a population of only 2.8 million people. Sandinist armed forces outnumber the combined armed forces of all the other Central American countries. 77. Despite the Sandinists’ clear antidemocmtic inteptions, their viola!ipns of human rights, their demal of social and pohtrcal pluralism, their continuing subversion of nei netic arms buildup an % bounng countries their fretheir harbouring of’thousands of foreign troops and advisers, the Sandinist r6gime shamelesslv declares its SUDDOR for Contadora and cynically p&aims its intexifion to sign the Contadora Act as It now stands. Of course it will. But, then, it will sign anything and promise anything that will perpetuate its power and privilege. 78. This expediency in the pursuit of ‘@wet? this reliance on military means to dominate a resisting populace, this ostentatious fascination with military titles, symbols and uniforms sadly reminds us of the era of military dictatorship the world had hoped Nicaragua had already transcended. Regrettably, this is not the case, and that is why in recent weeks crowds of Nicaraguans that have perceived the real nature of the Sandinists have been heard in the city of Corinto chanting the slogan “El Frenre y Somoza son la misma CO&, which, roughly translated, means “The Sandinists and Somoxa are the same thing.” 79. The people are seldc,m deceived, and the Ni&- ra uans are no exception. They see their Sandinist ru ers living in luxury in former Somoxa mansions, P enjoying privileges denied their fellow citizens and partakin tkeir cht dren 7 of sumptuous meals when mothers see grow hungry for lack of milk. So it is not surprising that, remembering the inequalities of the Somoza regime, the Nicaraguans today shout that “El Frenle y Somoza son la misma cosa”. 80. The people remember. Somoza repressed politecal freedoms, censored L.u Prensa. gaoled, tortured and murdered his wlitical oooonents and generally intimidated the p&ulation -into political -acquie& cence. But the Sandinists today are doing exactly the same thing, and, naturally, the Nicaraguan p&pie have concluded that “El Frente y Somozrc son kr m211sma cosu”. 81. Let the Sandinists. (00. remember. Let them remember the fate of the Somoza regime. because if the long-suffering Nicaraguan people are euuatinp thp debate, we find been the case in El Salvador, which, rifler two rounds of voting unprecedented in the number of citizens tPk’nfcg Napo art, elected to the presidency Mr. Jest n Duarte of the Chnstlan Democratic Party. This election was absolutely free and was monitored d b hundreds of impartial observers from foreign ovemments and international political organizations and journalists from man was open on a basis of equ aY parts of the world. It Ity to ail ideological schools of thought that wished to take part and was a real civil electoral contest,. won b the candidate receiving the necessary maJority o ty the votes, who was thus authorized by the peo le to govern for tive ii ears. Since the beginning o P* Its term, President uarte’s Government has worked hard to guarantee civil liberties, maintain public order, guarantee respect for the law and vigorously promote human rights in an atmosphere of democracy and social justice. 83. Moreover, in Guatemala, a nei P bouring brother country,. free elections were held or the members of the Nntlonal Constituent Assembly, and its Government has a timetable for the consolidation of national institutions, thus beginning a promising process towards greater democracy. 84. Honduras and Costa Rica have maintained their democratic structures. Costa Rica enjoys a very solid tradition in this respect. Honduras is governed by a freely elected civilian Government after many years of military r6gimes and has thus been able to preserve its constitutional and democratic systems. 85. El Salvador considers that the effort towards greater democracy should take place throughout Central Amer‘za If we wish to peace arld harmony in the area. enjoy a climate of 86. Democracy is not therefore a mere political style; it is the essential conditiun of the existence in the region of relations between States based on principles and norms of international law. In Central America the policy whereby one State embraces totalitarian ideologies to put into practice so-called international solidarity and gives not only moral, political and diplomatic but also material support and even supplies military hardware to movements brin ing together groups of extremist armed rebels ins] 1 Jother countries is totally out of place. Such groups. despite being small and unpopular, damage the national economy, disrupt public order and lower the standards of programmes of health, employment, education. housing and general welfare. The o up towards democracy and pluralism in P ening entral America means precisely that in no State should a system be imposed. even from within, that is excluslve and excludes other ideologies. Even less is it admissible to follow dictatorial model policy of exporting such a 87. The monopoly of one ideological doctrine imposed from above is not democracy, nor are elections in which wer IS ncu! challenged. Any election is a R rticipants in that confrontation, much less awns. e East-West confrontation in its present orm is P made more acute in Central America whenever weapons are supplied to extremist groups in El Salvador bv Governments of Marxist oersuasion. And this arms tra is continuing. There is ihtermittent from Nicaraaua. as the last link in the chain nf weapons shipment.. 89. What I have said does not mean that I am unaware that in my country in the past there existed economic and social conditions that served as a breedina around for attitudes of rebellion. oarticularly when-the institutional vehicles for poli&al expression were closed off. We admit that besides social injustice there was a lack of political freedom. But that, fortunately, is now past history. Today we are breathing the air of democracy. 90. Experience has shown that an undemocratic Government is more inclined not only to accept but to institutionalize actions that are aggressive and violate the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States. They proceed from the idea that their security is strengthened when similar r6gimes exist-that is, undemocratic oneson their frontiers or near by. In this way they try all :he harder to establish other totalitarian Govemments in the area. Nevertheless, they forget the basic factor in this pattern, which is the decisive determination of the people to reject dictatorships and totalitarianism. When people are given freedom of choice they always choose the path of democracy. 91. We are convmced that the political problems of Central America became more acute when the strategy of exporting revolution was debised and carried out. Conduct of that kind is a basic cause of the critical situation in the region. The scheme of exporting revolution has helped exacerbate conflicts that would never have assumed their present dimensions if the theory of exporting revolution through violent means had not been put into practice. Once the problems worsen, solu!ions become more diffL cult, and those who poured petrol on the first flickers of conflict are the very ones that are engulfed in this increase in tension. The sad thing is that in this ii recess of the complication of political problems uman lives are lost and national wealth is deslroyed: the arms race speeds up; relations of friendship arc -splaced by cnldqess and tension 2nd suspicion commented on this document before the 15 Oct&er deadline set for such comments. These comments were considered by the Governments concerned to be relevant and necessary and were made on the basis of their own nerceotions and needs. El Salvador. which has beenand continues to be the victim of acts of destabilixation from outside and from within the . * %zn:“, 2 7 concerned that the substantive comertaken should faithfully reflect mutual concessions properly and thoroughly carried out. We have every reason to ta distrustful. If some deny what is well known to all-that weapons are being transferred from Nicaragua to El Salvador to supply the guerrillas, besides other actions promoting the destabilixation of the Government, such as tramin camps, logistical co-ordination of military mat&e, .f proviston of sanctuary, and so forth-why should we not be mistrustful of commitments signed but guaranteed almost solely by words? 94. El Salvador has no path to follow in negotiations other than that of demandin 4 the establishment of a competent, strong and flextb e verification and monitoring machinery, truly commensurate with its task. What will ensure the security of the terms of a Central American agreement is the existence of a true verification and control mechanism, in both the political and security spheres. 95. No country is going to be so irresponsible as to sign something not in keeping with its national interests. That is not a matter of taste, but of necessity. Every Government in the area must be certain that it has achieved at least the minimum to meet its national interests and its concerns. The appropriate substantive norms must have as a corollary rccedural and organixational machinery which will ully guarantee the fulfilment of agreed substan- F tive commitments. Without such suitable machinery, promises about future conduct will remain airy, fragile and weak. Doubts will hang like a shadow over the document and could lead to accusations of bad faith in the fulfilment of the commitments. 96. It is, therefore, in the interest of all parties to the treaty that a set of norms should be devised to ensure the fullest comnliance with commitments entered into. If an international agreement is to be carried out in good faith, why should a State refuse to permit its coritractual obligations to be surrounded with the necessary guarantees of proper fulfilment? Sound loaic tells us that no one intendina lo honour his commitments can object to the establishment of machinery and rapid, effective sanctions for confirming or rejecting complaints of a violation. 97. In the present circumstances, moreover, a strong and flexib!e verification cud control mechanism is the best “a; to dispel suspicion and constitutes the corner-stone of what have come to be ca!led considers that direct dialogue among these five countries at the present stage is an excellent way of advancing the negotiating process. Thus, in the joint communtquC issued a: that ministerial meeting [A/39/599, annex I], the Governments which attended the meeting stated that: “The participants held a broad discussion on the situation in the region, activated by the sincere desire for peace of their who wish to promote pies and Governments, R” t e process of negotiation sponsored by the Contadora Group. “They observed that their meeting demonstmted the favourable attitude of their Governments towards the continuation of the consultation which will ensure t K roccss of political e necessary effective co-ordination. with a view to nivinn leaal force to the commitments formulated &ui<g that process and therefore adopting whatever realistic and equitable formulas for conciliation may be deemed appropriate, so as to facilitate the signing of the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-oneration in Central America, in accordance with the decisions taken at the seventh joint meeting of Ministers for Forei Affairs of the Central American countries and o the Contadora Group, held in Panama City $ on 7 September 1984. “With that objective, they ex ressed their views on the revised version of the 8 ontadora Act and after careful analysis noted with satisfaction that those views were aimed at giving effect to the commitments assumed, and perfecting the mechanisms for execution, verification and control with regard to political and security matters, thereby guaranteeing that the Act will be genuinely operative and consistent with the constitutional provision; of the parties. “They also agreed on the need to establish in the Act an appropriate equilibrium bet Neen the prestations and counter-prestations of the Central hmerican States, so that the instrument will effectively ensure the.performance of reciprocal and simultaneous obligations. “They reiterated that at the current stage it is fundamentally important that the Central American countries should oarticinate directlv in the negotiation and drafting of the text of the Act. TO that end. thev recoanized the desirability of promoting, prior-to the-eighth joint meeting;a period of intensive consultatron among themselves and with the members of the Contadora Group, so that the five Central American States can harmonize their points of view so as to ensure that the Act is accepted by all parties. logue, aimed at pacl matron, democrattzatlon and reconciliation, WIII help to resolve the crisis in the area. “They expressed the hope that the distinguished Government of Nicaragua will ‘oin in the common effort to smooth the path for t h e establishment of conditions of security and coexistence Rovemed bv mutual respect, which are essential for guaranteeing the nohtical stability and economic and social d&elopinent so desired by the peoples of the area.” 99. The foregoing is consonant with the communique of the Foreign Ministers of the Contadora Grou issued in Madrid on 17 October [A/.39/604. unnex , the relevant part of which states: P “The five Governments of the region put forward their positions prior to IS October, the deadline established for that purpose at the most recent Joint Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs. The comments made will undoubtedly be very useful in concludin P; the current stage of the process, through t e tinalization of the legal instrument proposed. All the above too& place in accordance with the objective defined at the Joint Meeting of 7 September 1984 in Panama. “On the basis of the above-mentioned factors, the Ministers agreed Lhat it was appropriate to incorporate the comments made by the Central American countries in order to lend greater precision to the statements without modifying the balance achieved in the document.” 100. There can be no doubt that a great deal of progress has been made in the Contadora process. We have worked tirelessly. animated by the best of good will. with the spirit of understanding for which we are known, in the quest for a genuine solution for the common benefit of the Central American nation. Our Salvadorian identity joins with our Central American background which impels us towards the historic vision of a Central America ennobled by its values of freedom and democracy. We shall collaborate by offering our best thinking on the subject in order to ensure the signing of the agreement. moving towards tbr creation of the atmosphere of concord and peace to whrch our peoples are entitled. Of cuursc. the commcndablc work carried cut by the such things as immediate solutions and that perseverance is a virtue that will lead us to a general F= ment that is the result of the efforts of all and ustly of those of us who have in our own flesh suffered the effects of this situation of conflict and confrontation. 101. The General Assembly has noted with admiration and surprise the generous peace offer made on the eighth of this month, in the statement by President Duarte [2lrh meering], to hold a meetin with the Salvadorian guerrilla leaders on the tifteent it of this month at 10 a.m. in the town of La Palma in my country. That peace proposal by President Duarte received the support and congratulations of the international communit . The meetin was held on the date and at the pace schedule and was r % witnessed by members of the hierarchy of the Salvadorian Catholic Church, who accepted the of direct interest to Salvadorians. 102. 1 have already pointed out that it was not the intention to invite foreign Governments to meddle in affairs which are within the domestic jurisdiction of El Salvador. Those meetings led precisely to lowerin the tone of the East-West confrontation, and Lf mentioned it merely to reiterate our firm determindtion to struggle for peace. 103. In that regard, we do not accept the ideas utilized by the first deleaation sueakinn in this debate. Because of the position its Government takes, with our consent, in delicate diplomacy it should be oariicularlv careful. However. that deteRation not oily referred to a sentence in a communic& that had already been criticized by El Salvador and is in fact now out of date, but also suggested that the reason for President Duarte’s offer was that he was responding to international pressure. They thus showed their lack of diplomatic judgement. 104. We have the firm conviction, and the right to demand. that we Salvadorians should be allowed to settle our own problems ourselves. Of course, the political space created to make a peace settlement possible will be within the constitutronal framework, and it has no other objective than to achieve peace through peace itself. It is a peace that our peoples deserve. This desire for peace needs no arguments. It is a stru feeling o a people which has gone to the polls 9 le to realize the highest expression of the repeatedly for such a praiseworthy objective. 105. The path to such a political solution is open. and we shall follow it with dianrtv and decorum. without passion or a desire for &&gc but without abandonment of principle. Power can be achieved in a democracy only through the polls. and El Salvador has now joined the company of democratic n;tr+- of the entire world. 107. The situation in Central America continues to be volatile. It is of utmost importance that a worsening of the situation be prevented and that ways and means be sought to improve the present state of affairs. This ~111 require efforts by the countries of Central America themselves, as well as by their neiahbourinn countries. Janan shares the view that economic d&elopment based on freedom and demccracv and the attainment of social justice are essentiril to a fundamental solution to theinstability of the region. From this point of view, Japan appreciates and has consistent1 c! supported the peace process being B ursued by the ontadora Grou We are encourage by the recent Contadora Act on g: eace and Co-operation in Central America, which is based on the Document of Objectives’ approved by nine Latin American countries, including the tive countries of Central America. We believe this Act can lead to a major development in the promotion o{~~~E and security in the reqion. I wish to pay hi to the Contadora Gn JP for the efforts an P valuable contributions it has been making over the past two years. 108. Japan sincerely hopes that the countries concerned will auicklv enter into fruitful negotiations on the remainirig issues in order to assure-that the Act will contribute in a real way to peace and security in Central America. It is incumbent upon the intemational community, for its part, to support those regional efforts and to create an environmrnt that wdl be conducive to their success. 109. Japan believes, furthermore, that it is necessary to achieve domestic political stability, based on reconciliation and harmony among the people of a country. and that this, in turn, will promote regional peace -and stability. The democratic procesi and dialogue amon the people, as envisaged in the Act, are essential e ements toward this end. P I IO. Mv Government was aratified that democratic electiondwere held in El Salcador this on 15 October talks were held between J ear, and that restdent JOSC Napole6n Duarte and other government officials, on the one hand, and leaders of the opposition forces, on the other. Japan regards this meeting as a truly epoch-making event, giving us cause to hop for progress in achieving peace and security In the region, and welcomes the agreement by both sides to continue the dialogue. It is our hope that the dialogue will lead to the establishment of harmony, peace and stability in El Salvador. At the same time, Japan strongly hopes that such efforts towards domestic harmonv in El Salvador will generate momentum in promoti& democratization and harmony in other Central American countries. thus bringing peace and stability lo the entire region. I l I. It is widely recognized that peace and security in Central America depend on the economic prosperit!. of the region. Japan has been endeavouring to expand the assistance and co-operation it extends to the count& there. I wish to take this opportunity to assure you that Japan will continue, to the best of its ahlIlt!. to :\(cnd co-operation in the fields of CCOcuaed on the alarminj situation in the Cetitral American region. Over the past year we have witneased with increased aoorehention the uowina tension in the area. The siitition has been chiicted ized by accusations and counter-aocusations, acts of subveriion, destabilization and provocation, and cross-border milituy attacks resuhmg in loss of lives and darnme to the economic infrastructure of certain count&&-At one stage the situation deteriorated to such a level that ports were mined and blockaded. The sovereipty arid independence of countries in the area are bemg violated or compromised. 113. If appropriate action is not taken, there is a serious danger that the area could soon be engulfed in a regional war. Thus. the events in the area constitute a dinger to intemetional peace and security. The challenne to the international community is to assist the countries in the * * - conflict to move awa T and Fose mvolved in the rom the th of confrontation and resolve their dl erences t rounh neaotiations. 114. U Central w” nda’s position regarding thid crisis in merica is clear and well known. U $ nda has always maintained that the countries of t themselves should be encoura e region settlement of their disputes t ed to reach a peaceful % rough dialogue. I 15. In the construction of peace for the region it is imperative that certain prince les be observed. These include the obligation of all l tates, both within and outside the reaion. to resnect the orincioles of the Charter of the-united Naiions, esp&ally non-interference in the internal affairs of States, self-determination for all peoples and respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of all States. We wish to reiterate the view that each country in the region has the right to decide for itself the system or mode of development it should pursue. We reject any attempt by apyone to impose a particular economic, sg~i;~;; pohtlcal system on any country In Central 116. In our view the problems of Central America arise. to a larae measure. from decades of wlitical and ‘&al imbalance. The countries of the region should therefore be helped to redress the basic social problems through a process of fundamental transformation. It is in this respect that we welcome the ministerial meeting held at San Jost on 28 and 29 September between the countries of the European Community, Portugal, Spain, the Contadora Group and the Central American countries, at which increased economic aid was pledged to assist the region. 117. We applaud the Contadora Group for their efforts to defuse the tension and bring about a negotiated solution. Their initiative represents an admirable attempt at finding regional and negotiated solutions among the countries of Central America. My delegation was encouraged last year when the countries of the region ratified a Document of Objectives’ negotiated by the Contadora Group. which laid a firm foundation for serious negotiations. 118. It was our hope that the adoption last year of General Assembly resolution 3X110 by consensus would bolster the Contadora elTorts. Our hop:\ Jcrc further raised a month ago when agreement wa\ p” ce and call upon other parties to res 8” nd positive y as well, both in words and in dae s. 119. The successful conclusion by the Contadora Group of an eement recent meeting sg: on the final Act and the tween the President of El Salvador and the leaders of the FMLN are clear proof of the deter$nation of the pp!e and countries of Central tm..ca$ resolve their dlffqrence? ihrough aceful and w&l (%“? da welcomes this posltlve deve opment r like to express the hope that this spirit of accommodation and reconciliation will receive the total and unconditional support of all States Members of this Organization. ra‘&oup and wish the Group every success in the realization of its noble objectives. 121. Mr. KNIPPING VI&ORIA (Dominican Republic) (interpretation from Spanish): The delegation of the.Dominican !$public wishes once again to set zitrt;; clear posrtlon on the sltuatlon in Central 122. In the General A?-embly, in other bodies of the United Nations and in other forums and intemationai orpanizations, the Dominican Republic has invariably and uneauivocallv maintained that a solution io the crisis can be viable and lasting only if it is the result of dialogue. negotiation and the political will for understanding among the parties directly concerned. Hence, a climate conducive to reconciliation between the parties to the conflict had t? be provided so that, throue dialogue and ne otiation, the social and economic causes of the po ltlcal P. instability of the region could be thoroughly examined. 123. The efforts tirelessly exerted by the Contadora Group in the quest for peace did create the conditions necessary for discussion among the Central American States of the wa means, the problems that t h to solve, by peaceful ey face. 124. From-the very outset, the peace efforts of the Contadora Group had the resolute backing and moral support of ihe Government of the Domynican Republic. It could not have been otherwise because, apart from the fact that WC feel the suffering of our Central American brothers as if it were our own and are in complete solidarity with them. the ueaceful settlement of conflicts and international disputes is an essential part of the foreign policy of the Government that is now responsiblefor -the fate of the Dominican people, which regards peace as the highest of social values tccausc without it social and economic progress. coexistence and harmonious and civilized relatlvns bctwecn peoples are impossible. 125. We wish to cmphasizc that the Dominican Republic’s interest in a peaceful. ncgotiatcd solution lo the Central American crisis is so great that the first expression of the foreign policy of the Govcrnmcnt of Prebidenl Salvador Jorge Blanco. the “Santa Domingo Dec‘laratlon”--sliIl~d h! inflict& Including heads dialogue are essential for a crisis, a solution that should the exclusive result of common efforts and determination, with the aim of promoting and implementing democracy, economic development and, above all, social justice”. 126. The peace process initiated by Contadora, which deserved and continues to deserve the fullest support of the international communit a crucial phase with the adoption of t ti has reached e Contadora Act. on Peace and Cooperation in Central America, an instrument that in our view establishes ap ate bases for the achievement of dttente ropnan cr peace and the promotion of economic and social develop ment in the region. 127. During the just-concluded general debate, the Foreign Mimster of the Dominican Republic, Jo& August0 V Contadora Tr Imbert, referring specifically to the ct, stated: “It is clear that, while the actions of the Contadora Group have received the encouragement and backing of the United Nations and the international community, this final stage of overriding importance reaulres the full. active and comolementan, support bf the countties of the Latin Americai region in particular and of the international community asa whole. We wish to record our gratitude and express our encoura ement to the Central American countries whit have already stated +I their willingness to sign this im [See 17th meeting, para. 273. p” rtant document.” 128. In view of the crucial nature of this phase of the negotiating process, we sincerely u e the Central American Governments to redouble t s eir consultations with the Contadora Group in order to accelerate !he si B ning of the Act; we also urge all States, pa+cular y those with ties to and interests in the region, to respect fully the purposes and principles of the Act as well as the commitments undertaken by virtue of adherence to its Additional Protocol. 129. The Dominican delegation fully and unconditionally supports the draR resolution submitted by the Contadora countries (A/39/L.6]. 130. In conclusion, we wish to say publicly that the Government of the Dominican Republic is deeply grateful for the work done by the member countries of the Contadora Group-Colombia, Mexico, Panama and yenezuela-in the quest for peace and harmony in the Central American region. 131. Mr. VONGSAY (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) (inferprefafion from French): The situation in Central America, which has continued to deteriorate for a year now-indeed, ever since it appeared on the Assembly’s agenda at its thirty-eighth session-is of increasmg concern to the International community for, if it continues, it may threaten international peace and security. The Ministers and heads of dele ation of the countries members of the Movement o B Non-Aligned Countries who met here earlier this month also shared this concern. 132. Many factors have played a part in aggravating the situation. 133. In thr first Inslancc. thcrc is the intensiticatlon of the undeclared war heing waged b, the Pentagon pipe-lines, cities, airports and seaports. The resulting damage has been assessed a1 more than $200 million and more than 3,000 citizens have been killed or wounded. 134. This litany of reprehensible acts of aggression includes, of course, the minin of the ports of Corinto, Puerto Sandino and El B uff in March 1984. 18 Five foreign merchant vessels were damaged by the explosion of those mines. 135. The cruelt and barbarity of that acEt, which must be terme J one of international terrorism, aroused the deepest indignation of the international community. It violated the fundamental principles and norms of international law, in articular that of freedom of maritime navigation. fil e fact that the International Court of Justice, on 10 May 1984, called for provisional measures against the United ;;;tesgbecause of that actlon fully reflects the general communism. Indeed, the peoples of Centml America are not being subjected to any threat from Nicaragua or from outside the their enemy is an hemis here; on the contrary, intema P one, namely, hunger, poverty and social injustice created by imperi&st exploitation. That is the disquieting truth that the detractors of revolutionary Nicaragua are attemptin in vain to avoid. They always see the problems o f Central America from the stand B Grit of the East- West conflict. a view thev shame u!lv oromuhzate to justify their ‘shady inte-wentioaist -ahd agg&sive designs. The people of revolutionary Nicaragua have dared lo rise up against this injustice and against the diktat of American imperialism to follow a path of independent developmenl better suited lo their interests. That is why the present leaders in Washington, in their wounded pride, are attemptin f at all costs and by every means lo overthrow t e Sandinist Government. 136. Along with the hostile activities of its mercenaries, the Pentagon, with its faithful allies in the area, organized several joint large-scale and prolonged land, air and naval military manoeuvres in the vicinity of Nicaragua. Those manoeuvres, known by the code names “Big Pine One”, “Bi Pine Two” “Granadero I “, “Ocean Venture 84”, “guardians oi the Gulf’ and “Operation Lempira”, in which some 30,000 merr and 43 warships participated, were designed to threaten and intimidate Nicaragua. 137. In addition, they were aimed at deterring the Sandinist forces from exercising their right to pursue mercenary units based in Honduras or seeking refuge there. Even more serious is the fact that. according to a communique from the Council for western Heinisphere Affairs, the State Department and the Pentagon have drawn up a plan with the code name “Pegasus”, which entails a series of attacks against Nicaragua from Honduras designed lo provoke retaliatory strikes that would then be qualifted by the leadership of the Central American Defence Council as evidence of a “threat of war” by Managua against all of Central America, Direct American intervention against Nicaragua is to follow in order to “pacify” it, along the lines of what occurred in Grenada. 138. In order to justify its aggression and intervention against Nicaragua lo American and world public opinidn. the Reagan Administration slandeiously accuses that country ot’ being a threat to the security of other Central American ccuntries by “exporting’ its revolution. 139. However. since the victory of the Sandinist revolution. the Nicaraguan Government of National I\cconstruction has continuously proclaimed its forelgn policy of pcacc and non-alignment. and, on the domestic Ic\cl. notwithstanding :he many am! varied problems lcli b\ the Somozist regime. it has expended enormous cfi‘orts In the ccononaic and social lields with a \icw to Improbing the well-being of its people. There ~3s thu+ a rcmarkahlc growth in the produc- 141. The publication by the CIA of the manual “Psvcholotzical Onerations in Guerrilla Warfare” [A/f9/596~onnex]; intended for use by the Somozist counter-revolutionar mercenaries and which envisages in certain cases the assassination of political personalities or even civilians, well illustrates the Machiaveliiaa mentality of the opponents of revolutionary Nicaragua. It should be noted that in the past few days several American television networks have broadcast information about similar reprehensible activities by the CIA. 142. Another factor worsening the situation in Central America is the increasing military involvement of the United States in the civil war in El Salvador on the side of the existing regime against the progressive forces of the country. From $5 million in 1979. American military aid to that country has grown to $ I96 million this year. American military personnel in El Salvador are not there simply to train the Salvadorian army but are actively involved in operations. making reconnaissance flights over areas controlled by the revolutionary forces and directing artillery fire against revolutionary lighters and civllian targets. But, despite all that. the Salvadorian revolutionary forces, grouped around the FMLN-FDR. continue to gain in strength and to consolidate their bases in the rural arcas. whilr at the political level for the past three scars the\ h;lv~~ October was recognition by the Salvadorian @me of those two national fronts as an important pohtical force in the country, and the will have to be taken into account from now on. %h e next meeting will show us whether that move resulted from a true desire for peace or was a mere manoeuvre by the r6gime to hoodwink public opinion. For the fact is that the civil war is continuing and that the Salvadorian army, supported by the United States, is still bombing areas controlled by the patriotic forces and massacrmg innocent, defenceless civilians. In any case, in the interests of the Salv?Cori!n pea le. the I%. r ir must negotiate In good faith with the % MLN- 144. The whole international community is in agreement in recognizin Lb that the Central American conflict must be settled y political means and that that is the only means possible. That feeling was reaffIrmed last Year when the General Assemblv adopted by continsus resolution 38/lO, thus ex res& ine Its suuoort for the efforts of the Contadora 8 rouo in-the se&h for peace and co-operation in Cent& America, efforts that led to the drawing up of the Contadora Act of 7 September 1984. Demonstrating its good will and sincere desire for peace, Nicaragua agreed to sian that Act without reservation and without ametidment. But that acce tance b ua led e the United States and its althful rlends in F. 6 Nicaraentral America, which had originally said that they were in favour of the Act, to do an about-face under the pretext that the Act had to be amended and completed. That was the moment of truth. What happened simply revealed more clearly the true imentions of the leaders in Washington, who have never wished to settle the situation in the region by waceful means. From now on the international community will see who really wants peace and who wants to obstruct it. The threat to peace in Central America comes not from Nicaragua but from the intervention and interference of the United States in the internal affairs of the countries of the region. 145. Furthermore. the orovocative acts of the Pentagon along thi coasts o(Nicaragua recall the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964, which pretext to order the bombing o I@ ave Washington a North Viet Nam. The Pentagon wished to relive that experience with Nicara ua, but, as in the case of Viet Nam. it will inevita % ly suffer defeat, for Nicaragua is not Grenada and we have confidence in the determination with which the heroic people of Nicaragua will defend the achievements of its revolution. 146. However. as a peace-lovin People’s Democratic Kepublic k country. the Lao ully supports the Contadora peace proces!. just as II unreservedlv supports the attempts of !qlcaragua’s Government df National Reconstruction to reach a harmonious understanding with its neighbours. The Lao delegation welcomes draft resolutions A/39/L.h and L.7. which are before us for consideration and whose adoption will contribute to the satisfactory solution of the problems of Central America. 147. Mr. Gl~HINOVICH (Byelorusslan So\lct Sociallst Kcpiihlic) (rnlc*rprcVal~n Iro~t Hfcsrrtrrr): Al- II~OSI a !<ar has passed slncc the debate at the la\t resri~n of the (ieneral :\~wrnhl~ on the bltuallon In Central America. 148. All of this provides the re-conditions for improving the situation in Centra P America, but the good will of all, and primarily of the culprit mainly responsible for the tension in the region-the United States-is essential if they are to be imolemented. It is not of the region, it is true, but the-malice of its actions is felt in all the unresolved problems of the Central American countries. 149, The White House has been continuallv and relentlessly stepping up its policy of aggression and subversion and what amounts to an undeclared war against Nicaragua, as well as its policy of interference in the internal affairs of other States of the region. This policy has led in the past year to many new examples of loss of life and property. 150. It is suff%ient to recall in this respect such acts of piracy as rhe minin approaches, causing oss of life among sailors and f of Nicaragua’s ports and their damage to shim from a number of countries. These actions were cbndemned by the International Court of Justice. In paragraph 41.8.1 of its decision of 10 May l9843 we read that “the United States of America should immediately cease and refrain from any actiolr restricting, blocking or endangering access to or from Nicaraguan ports, and, in particular, the lavina of mines”. I iI. - There have also been cases of artillery fire from the sea ag<\inst targets in Nicaragua, of air-raids on oil-storage facilities in Nicara uan ports and attacks against Nicaraguan territory % y gangs trained and equipped by the United States from neighbouring States and under the leadership of American advisers. The CIA has issued extensive manuals for the piratical activities of its mercenaries with guidance in the techniques of economic sabotage, murder and attacks against the leaders of the Sandinist revolution. using criminals for this purpose. 152. For more than a decade now United States imperialism has been building up tension in the situation around revolutionary Cuba. 153. Grenada remains under the boot of the occupying Power. and it was that same boot that trampled underfoot General Assembly resolution 3817, adopted a year ago. containing an appeal for the immediate cessation of armed intervention and the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Grenada. 154. By its actioils In respect tif Grenada the Government of the United States has demonstrated 11s complete contempt for generally accepted norms of lntcrnatlonal law and the loft); principles of the C‘hartcr of the Unltcd Nations. This IS char ebidcnce In Central America is continuing. 156. The cutting edge of this imperialist policy is now aimed rimarily at Nicaragua. Why? The explanation for t IS by the United States is as simple as it I? is cynical. They argue that the United States finds “unacceptable” the policy of the Government of Nicaragua within the country and in the intemational arena. They find unacceptable its desire to pursue a policy in keeping, not with the interests of the United States, but with the interests of the Nicaraguan people. .ln the Umted States attempts are bein made to cultivate an atmosphere of “anything goes with regard to Nicara P ua. In fact, the situation is now such that the issue o whether American interference in Nicaraguan affairs is permissible or not is not even being discussed. Instead they are drilling into pie’s heads the idea that it is “normal” and “law ul . F Attempts are being made to force people to reconcile themselves to the aggression that is being prepared and to the inevitabihty of its being for the protection of the “vital interests” of the United States. With fulsome rhetoric they have been hypocritically holding forth about the need to defend democracy. We have already heard about that at this meeting. But one might ask quite legitimately: defence against whom. the defence of what democracy? The Nlcaraguan workers and people have overthrown the dictatorial ore-American regime and for the first time thev have ‘established a frze, democraticsociety which they are now building. Thev have real&d that the “defence of democracy” Amirican-style means broad and comprehensive support of counter-revolution, of gangs of thugs killing women, old men and children a!!d burning down schools, hospitals. oil-storage facilities and coffee olantations. 157. The United States policy with regard to Nicaragua. Cuba. El Salvador, Grenada and other Latin American countries is a manifestation of the hegemonistic foreign policy of the United Slates and its desire for world domination and 10 suppress the national liberation movements. 158. As usual. the) are dragging out the “red threat“ bogyman. In WashIngton they are hypocritically trying to cxplaln the anti-Am&can’ sentiment In Central America and elsewhcrc in the world as resulting from the scheming of others. thus acting in accordance with the well-known Drooaaandlslic r,lo\ of shlftlng the gull1 to where it d&s’&1 helong.‘B;I enough 1s enough. The problems of Latin Gmcrica and Ccnlral Amcr~ca car& In10 hc!ng long hcforc lhc (‘uharl rc\olullon and hcforc the Nlcarnguan and triumph of the Cuban people. It is none other thur United Stata policy toward the peopkr of Centml America and elaewhen, which seeks to derly them the chance to decide their own flairs freely. as wall as the exploitation by United States mom&ies, which perpetuate poverty and social injustice. which are the source of anti-American, anti-imperialist sentiment. 159. The countries of Central America and the Caribbean basin and other ‘ons of the world have long been considered by the Y!F tuted States as its own kind of nrivate meserve. For many decades these States h&e been-victims of the hemonistic policy of American imperialism. Throughout all that riod there has been not .a sin#e instance qf the F n+ed States actually helping r SI$’ pecpl~ m a%*rcgmn of the world to ree ltsel from dtctato ID and oppression. Gn the contrary, whenever a peddle in any country has risen up Y mst slavery and sion, the military might oft e United States has Tz promptly at hand, ready to brin8 its own deathdealing club crashing down on those strqgling for the people’s freedom in order to return the deposed t # rants to power and make their rule even harsher. he long list of such crimes by the United States against the peoples of Central America and other peoples of the world has already been referred to in past and present General Assembly debater. All of these i Y ominious facts are now part of the sorry pages o the history of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. 160. In carrying out its dangerous intrigues in Central America. the ruling circles in the United States have been disregarding the opinions of the peoples of those countries and taking no account whatever of the ooinions of the States members of the Movement of non-aligned countries and other countries. In the tinal communiau6 of the meetintt of ministers and heads of delegation of the Non-Aligiied Countries to the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly, held in New York from I to 5 October, with reference to the situation in Centml America, we once aaain find an aooeal for “an immediate epd to all threats, attacks irnd hostile acts against tile people and Government of Nicar ua” A/39/560. annex. para. 831. The Foreign 8 [see misters of Central America, of the Contadora Group and of Western Eurow declared that the Droblems of Central America “cannot be resolved bi armed force, but only bv political solutions springing from the region itself” and that they supported “the pacification measures which are being developed in the Contadora process” [see A/39/539. anne.r, para. 61. 161. It is well known that the Nicaraguan Govemmcnt has given its unreserved support to the final document of the Contadora Group. It would seem only natural that the Latin American countries themselves should take the initiative in resolving their own problems and that they si.tiuld themselves dcvisr specific wayr oi #loin thi$. But the United States has gro*z accustome $ to Its big-stick policy and to dictating its own ter’ s and would lind this unacceptable. That IS wh! thl United States has been cxercismg its power of veto In the Security c:ouncil and rrfusing to comply with the decision of the lntcrnatlonal (‘our1 of JustIce or with unantmouslv 163. We shall therefore support the drafi resolutions proposed respectively by Nicaragua and the Contadora Group, which are closely interrelated.

My Govemment has been following with great concern the evolution of the situation in Latin America, particularly that in Central America. During the last three years we have learned about the constant escalation of confrontation and of acts of destabilization and aggression in the subregion. The hostile acts and pressure a contribute r inst the countries of the region have veatly to endanpring peace and security, not only tn Central America but in other regions as well. They have also resulted in exacerbating the economic atd social constraints now confronting the sub-continent. 165. The intcmational community has become increasingly conscious of the seriousness and gravity of the Central American crisis and the threat it noses to international peace and security. It is not by chance that the United Nations and the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries have on many occasions deplored the worsenin of the climate of tension in the region and have cat ed for urgent, appropriate measures to f reverse the trend of events in the area. But these calls by the international community have met obstacles set UD bv those who are oarticularlv reswnsible for the pies&t situation in Central Ambrica.‘Evidence of that is the fact that we still have the auestion of Central America before us today. . 166. The situation we are confronted with in Central America is that of non-compliance by some States within and outside the region with the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law. particularly those concerning the right of peoples to 1 loose their political. economic and social systems freely and without external interference and refraining from the USC or threat of force against the independence and territorial integrity of States. as well as other relevant principles. 167. The Organiratlon should not remain indiffcrcnt to the violation of 11s own principles. My tielegation is convinced that we have reached the stage when SC all nct’d to reaffirm the United Nations concept that thrsai., :o ‘nkcrnatl&nal peace and sccurlry. fio,n %b?tcver source or In whAtever rcylur. uf the *orid. cn!rill an obli*::u.~~:l ;j,. 3il States IO s&rcc 2nd to to-.>pcr:l~. rcgar&ss i~i‘ thctr J;ITcr- Ln~~‘r. fhcr&rc. !I’: LI\ dll agree 3no CC’-0pcrdIP in the !~x,~~gvnl~nt of t!w crI\It tic; arc controrltcd r\lth. efforts towards the establishment of a climate ol peace, security aad stability ia the sub those resolutioas re&irm the r&t of all ’ a, for Tit tries in the area to decide freely their own fat= clearly condemn the acta of aggression against the sovereignty, independence and terri*&&l integrity ol the Central American States. Full corn Member States with the provisions o P liance by all these resoiutions would undoubtedly constitute one of the waya out of the crisis situation now prevailing in that area. 169. When mentioning the situation in Latin America. and aarticularlv in Centfol America. we cannot help conimendin the valuable and tireI& efforts ol the Contadora 8 roup. a very active and Dractical regional instrument -in the &arch for a -peaceful diplomatic solution to the problems sc~u tral America. The example set by the 2t ‘ng Ceaatadon Group is one that Latin America and the whole international community should be proud of. It constitutes clear evidence of how delicate and complex questions can find a negotiated settlement if there IS willingness on the part of all the parties concemea to co-operate. 170. It is now UD to the countries of Central America urgently 16 make the legal commitments contained in the Contadora Act on Peace and Cooperation in Central America, which is annexed to the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Central America [A/39/562]. In this context, my delegation commends Nicaragua’s immediate aceeptante, without any reservations or modifications, of the Contadora Act. We look forward to seeing other countries of Central America adopt similar positions. That would be the main foundation for a just and lasting peace in the area. I7 I. As to the situation in El Salvador. we welcome the recent balks bet&en the Government of El Salvador and the FMLN-FDR. We consider this to be a step towards the establishment of a climate of peace in El Salvador. 172. Allow me beiore concluding my statement to reiterate the position of my Government concerning Central America. When addressing the General Assembly durin Minister for & its general debate early this month, the oreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Mozambique stated: “The People’s Republic of Mozambique is in favour of a peaceful settlement of the problems in the region. Direct talks between Nicaragua and the United States are encouraging. While vehemently condemning the aggression perpetrated against the Nicaraguan people, we reiterate our support for the efforts being undertaken by the Contadora Group. Nicaragua’s acceptance of the revised text of the Group’s proposal is a msitive step”. [See 15th mcwtin,~. para. 64.1 173. In‘conclusior.. iet me once again make a strong aoocal to all Member States to co-operate in the s%ch for a peaceful and negotiated setilement of the problems facing Central America. The establishment oi a clim3tc of peace. security and prosperity in Crnlral Gmenca demands total commitment from all of u5. 174. TI-K 5:ru@c ccintlnucs. ing to our untirin y contribut- * f* search for mtemational peace, security and socla Justice. 176. The credit for the present developments must go, first of all, to the Contadora Act on Peace and Cooperation in Central America [A/39/562, annex] and those responsible for it-Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela-who have shown what can be achieved by good will, persistence, professionalism and sheer hard work. They have, I might add renewed respectability to the profession of ,p ~plomacv. 177: Credit must also go to the five Central American countries themselves. What is at stake is their own inde-ndence, territorial int life-in short, their own survival. % ‘ty and way of ere can be no higher stake than that. It must give the utmost satisfaction to all of us that, despite mutual suspicion and antagonism and recrimination, and despite the inherent complexities of a situation that is the product of historical, some of which come rom beyond their shores and P litical and economic forces, 180. Another dimension in facing these problems is economic. Malaysia is pleased to note that the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America is comprehensive in nature and includes commitments ~th reuard to economic and social affairs in which co-op&tion on a regional basis has been stressed. We believe that, aside from the *nomic aspects, such c+prati& would represent important steps m bulldmg a sense of regional cohesion and regional identltv. which are essential elements in enstiring long-terrii peace and stabilit We also hone that such co-operation would contn 2 ute to stretigthening the e&nomies of the Central American countries. In the final analysis, peace can be ensured only in an environment of progressive development and social ‘u&ice. Stwation and injustice are breeding groun d s for confluzt, which external actors oRen are only too happy to exploit. 181. Lookin back at recent events in Central America, M af aysia for the present allows itself the luxury of cautious hope. All this is due to the efforts of the Contadora Group. At this delicate int in their labours, we believe everything should viz done to encourage, and nothing done to obstruct, the Contadora spirit of careful conciliation, moderation and good will. It is for that reason that my delegation supports whole-heartedly the draft resolution submitted by the Contadora countries [A/394,.6],. which we hope will be adopted by acclamation. It IS for that reason also that my delogaiion hopes that the delegation of Nicaragua will feel able to withdraw or at least not to insist on a vote on the draft resolution it has submitted [A/.?B/L. 7/Rev.I]. My de1 “5” tion in fact has no problem in supporting many o the elements of t’:e proposed resolution: we do understand the sen,iments of a country which feels-rightly or wrongly-that its sovereignty is threatened; and we note wtth satisfaction that Nicaragua has expressed its willingness to sign immediately and without reservation the Contadora Act of 7 September. Nevertheless, we believe that in the present circumstances, draft resolution A/39/L.7, even as revised, does not contribute in a positive way to the Contad+ ra process. If this draft resolution is pressed, it can be expected that other countries in the region which also beyor5 their immediate re ion, the countries of Central America have worke 8. m earnest to follow the path of conciliation and co-operation. That path, we all know, is fraught with difficulties, and considering what is at stake, which, as I have already noted, is nothing less than national survival, it can only be expected that there may be many detours and hesitations. But it is the only path to peace, and the United Nations must lend its support to that effort and, above all, not place any obstacles in its way. 178. Malaysia also believes that the Contadora process and proposals have relevance far beyond the Immediate issues facing Central America, Important and urgent as these undoubtedly are. It 1s a genuine regional effort which seeks to isolate the region from the East-West ideological conflict. It seeks to deal with one of the fundamental auestions of our times, namely, how to ensure that thd awakening of peoples to freedom in all its msnifestations, political as well as economic, and the management ofiheir internal as well as external affairs and of their national resources, social justice, territorial inte rity and selfdetermmation can be conducted truly % y and for the people directly concerned and in their own interest, without external interference in any form from near or far. The efforts of the Contadora Group, which have been as sophisticated as they have been painstaking, deserve the gratitude and support of us all. 179. For all thcsc reasons. the people and Government of Malaysia. although physically far away from feel-again, rightly or wrongly-that their soverei ntv is threatened will surelv also find the need f or similar res&t’,ons to be *adopted by the United Nations. Rhetoric, recrimination and rancour would again be introduced, and the diflicult and comnlex #i resents the best opportunity to achieve a compreensive political solution to the emergin t crisis in Central America throu olombia, Mexico,, Panama and 9 political means. enezuela deserve our commendation for their efforts to achieve a solution. The Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America, of 7 September 1984, is a draft comprehensive agreement which, if carried out by the parties concerned in the spirit in which it is intended, will assist in the process of establishing the conditions for peace and security in the region. 184. As the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Contadora Group have observed, the objective of this effort was to find viable formulas which would reconcile the various interests and promote appropriate and firm political understandings that would guarantee regional securit and respect for national sovereignty and indepen d ence of the States of the region. It IS our :,ope that the political will exists to implement the understandings which have been arnved at. 185. As a small State in a region where the Cambodian conflict continues to be a major preoccupation, Singapore firmly believes that no State should be permitted to impose its will on its neighbours. Absolute security for any State must mean absolute insecurity for all other States in the region. The States of the Central American region can coexrst only in a climate of relative security. 186. It is these concerns which have led my Government to SUDDO~~ the view that the Central American Governmkhts should speed up their consultations with the Contadora Group with the aim of concluding the ne otiating process and permitting the early signing o 1B the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America. It is our hope that this would lead to full compliance with the commitments provided for in the Act and the entrv into force of the various mechanisms for its implehentation. We would also urge all States with ties to and interests in the region lo endorse the purposes and principles of the Contadora Act by acceding to its Additional Protocol and to uphold the letter and spirit of their commitments. 187. While the approach taken by the Contadora Group represents the best hope of success in the search foi a comprehensive poiitical solution to the problems of Central America. it is necessary for us to look at the root causes of the conflicts within the region. M! &legation shares the view that the turnloll has it3 origins in the grave socio-economic crisis in Cc.ltral America and the prcs\urcs for potlticat c!;rrlgc‘ arising from a dcsirc for more Just and the presence of foreign milita 7 forces, as noted m the Secretary-General s report A/39/562]. 189. There have also been several positive develop merits which deserve attention. The dial ue between the Government of El Salvador and the TM LN-FDR on I5 October 1984 represented a major breakthrough in the search for national reconciliation in El Salvador. While the process of attaining a broad, effective and lasting political reconciliation is likely to be a difficult one, my delegation is encouraged to know that the first steps have been made. 190. Secondly, my del logue which was initiate Tr tion welcomes the diaat the end of May 1984 between the United States and Nicaragua. Six meetings have been held between the special envoy for Central America of the United States and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua. It is the hope of my delegation that these consultations will allow both Governments to arrive at an accommodation which would take into account their respective interests while facilitating the creation of mutual understanding, leadin and co-operation in t a to the restoration of peace e region. 191. Thirdly, it is encouraging to note that elections are being conducted in Nicaragua and Guatemala. We hope that these elections will have the broadest possible participation, enabling a genuine democratization to occur in these States. process of 192. My delegation wishes to reiterate that it believes that every State in the region must have the right lo determine its own future, free of foreign interference and intervention. It is for the peoples of each State to decide their own future. We reaffirm the need for strict adherence to the principle of nonintervention and non-interference in the internal and external affairs of States. My delegation therefore condemns acts of armed aggression and subversion. We do not believe that militarily powerful States, particularly ihe super-Powers, should be permit:ed io enforce their will on smaller, militarily insignificant and economically weak States. Nor dd we b;lieve in the notion of revolutions without frontiers, of the right of States to impose their political will on neighbouring States. It is vital in this era of a multipolar state system that we accept the existence of differing models of political, social and economic organization. Onl real threat of con Ict and war in Central America be K, if this reality is accepted can the avoided.

Central America is today. without any doubt, a region of the world where there is a disquieting boiling-up of all the clcments of a conflict that threatens to degenerate suddenly. at any time. into a conflagration with unforeseeable and unwontrollable I onsequences for intcrnztional peace and security. It is as if the events in Central Amcrlca. propcfllecj 11~ the irrepressible logic of confrontation. wcrc ascending the steps of tension almost at the i an increased manifestation of their support for t e quest for a n tiated political settlement. Such a quest required ram the 7 very outset a clear and lucid analysis of the events in Central America, as was stressed by the heads of State or Government of the non-aligned countries durin Marc f their seventh conference, held at New Delhi in 1983. They stated: “Central America faced a serious political, social and economic crisis brought about for the most part by the traditional repressive power structure and by national economic structures that produce poverty, inequality and misery and aggravated by the interference and intervention to which those countries have been subjected since the end of the last century”.’ 195. Indeed,. the least that one can say is that Central America has for a long time been one of the reaions of the world most subiected to the traaic triad ofexploitation, poverty and oppressio 1. Thu$ it was inevitable that there should emerge and develop there traditions of stru because of an P ineluctab e es experienced and waged necessity, but also pursued in a stubborn quest for a peace that would respect the legitimate rights of the peoples, above all the elementary and essential right to self-determination and to the pursuit of economic and social development free from all foreign interference. 196. That assessment by the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries of the situation in Central America and its call for a negotiated settlement were taken up and emphasized by the Security Council, which in Its resolution 530 (1983) reaffirmed “the right of Nicaragua and of all the other countries of the area to live in peace and security, free from outside mterference” and commended the efforts of the Contadora Group and urged the pursuit of those efforts. Similarly, the General Assembly, in its resolution 38110, reaffirmed “the right of all the countries of the region to live ;n peace and to decide their own future, free from all outside interference or intervention, whatever pretext may be adduced” and expressed “its firmest support for the Contadora Group and urged] It to persevere in its efforts, which enjoy the e if ective support of the international community and the forthright co-operation of the interested countries in or outside the region”. 197. In a turbulent international atmosphere characterized by the recrudescence of power policies and by .a tendency to replace the logic of dialogue b cr the logic of confrontation, the peace initiative etermmedly undertaken by the Contadora Group was certainly a wager, because it had all the symbolic value of a true effort to rehabilitate dialo ue as a me!hod for the political settlement of con Icts. By 8. Patiently encouraging an exchange of views among the countries of Central America, Colombia, Mexico. Panama and Venezuela were able, by means of an agreed initiative. to impos? the optimism of determiyation on the pessimism engendered by the compLx- 11~ of the conflict and the realities of the stakes. 1! renew its support for the Contadom Group and or the Contadora Act on Peace and Cooperation in Central America, which that Group arrived at throu8h an effort of imagination, pemeverante and a devotion to which it is approprmte to pay a deserved tribute here. Similarly, we must welcome the positive attitude of the Government of Nicaragua, which has expressed a willingness to adhere to the Contadora Act without any reservations. 199. Even if there are still difiiculties connected with the adherence by countries concerned to this Act, we are convinced that it is an adequate basis for the advent of an era of peace and cooperation amow the countries of the region, if only forei interference and intervention are neutralized and $ t e right of the peoples of the region to decide their fate freely is respected. 260. By the same token, a striking example will have been given of the adequacy of the natural 7 onal frameworks for the quest for negotiated so utions to conflicts among third world countries, which also know that solutions are facilitated when a fallacious East-West dimension, artificially introduced, is removed. That is the very meaning of the deep conviction expressed b the non-aligned countries, during their ministen *a! meeting at the present session of the General Assembly, when they “rejected attempts to eroueously character& the struggles of I!- pies for Independence and human dignity as alhng within the context of East-West confrontation that denies them the right to determine their own destin and realize their legitimate aspirations” [see A/J9&5ll annex, para. 61. 201. Moreover, the same concern was enshrined in a very timely way by the International Court of Justice in its Order of 10 May 1984,’ in which it reaffirmed, among other things, with all the solemnity stemming from its loRy posltion as the universal legal authority, Nicaragua’s right to the sovereign exercise of its political independence. and enjoined that the destabilizing activities carried out against that country should cease. 202. On the same lines, since the dynamics of negotiation seems to be spreading through the region, we must express the hope that a true desire to respect the right of peoples to dignity and a genuine determination to put an end not only to the armed conflict but also to the centuricsa,ld oppression and exploitation will guide the negotiations tha! have begun in El Salvador. Mr. Moushoutas (Cyprus), Vice-President, look rhe Chair. 203. Thus, the Ger;eral Assembly must manifest its support for every ste:, in the right direction, every bit of progress towardc the fulfilment of the ‘ust aspirations of the peopl :s of Central America. + hat would be an excellent wzv of showing renewed encouragement of the assiaucQs pursuit of the common objective of all peoples, namely, peace with freedom. peace with social justice, peace with economic wellbeing and political independence. Unfortunately, recent developments make that seem unlikely. It is difftcult to believe that, as has been stated at another time in another place, a “democratic solution is the main and sole objective” sought in Central America, when acts and facts constantly deny that assertion. 208. In point of fact, Central America does not need others, no matter what their reasons, to solve its problems for it, because those problems can find real solutions only through a genuine Latin American effort. As the President of Mexico rightly said, “The region is ca broblems t K able of finding its own ways of facmg the at confront it.” Therefore, what Latin America needs is that we refrain from sapping its efforts to find its own solutions. Never has that region been closer to the solution it seeks, aad the United Nations must make its own contribution. 209. In the past, an appeal was made by a bipartite national commission in favour of a vigorous diplomatic strategy and an effort at negotiation to settle the conflict and include Nicaragua in a regional settlement that would guarantee lasting security and national indeoendence for all the ueooles of Central America. We-are firmly convinced tliat that appeal did not fall on deaf ears. We believe that the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America fully meets the concerns of all because it is above all the result of a process of intensive consultation and a wide-ranging exchan e of views with the Governments of all the States o P Central America. It is the result of an effort to inte rate contributions and brin together t 6 c the different e points on which there was still some isagreement. 210. The international community must not miss this opportunity to make a positive contribution to stren thening the foundations that have thus been laid or peaceful coexistence, detente and the promo- P tion of economic and social development in the region. We believe that this is a unique opportunity to reduce the threats to international peace and security posed by the situation in Central America. 21 I. In sayin 8. that we are not closing our eyes to the fact that rffrculties. and by no means minor ones, still stand in the wa,y of the successful outcome of two years of effort. patience and dedication. Those diffricultrcs were obvious when Nicaraguan harbours were mined. and they are still clear today from the manual prepared by specialists in foul crimes in 220. Recently we have learned of the so-called handbook prepared by the CIA for the bandits who are fighting against the Government and the people of Nicaragua. Indeed-if one may call it teachtng material-one finds instructions on how to kidnap and kill offtcials, destroy public buildings and blackmail the peaceful population. These are manifestations of the policy of crude pressure on Nicaragua. a country whose only “crime” has been that its people chose the path of independent development not to forces resolve these dificult problems peacefully on the basis of justice and without external interference. 23 1. The Ukrainian SSR is decisively in favour of a just political solution to the problem of Central America b position o T negotiation; it supports the constructive the Government of Nicaragua and the efforts of the countries of the Contadora Group for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Central America. We feel that an important role in this process should also be played by the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole. 232. Mr. MASHINGIJDZE (Zimbabwe): The rap idly and progressively detenoratin f situation m Central America causes a great deal o concern to the international community. Indeed, the General Assembly, the Security Council and :he Movement of the Non-Aligned Countries have been unanimous in describin security. t-h it as a threat to international peace and e concern and anxiety of the intemational community over developments in the volatile Central American region have also been clearly demo?strated by the fact that this item on the Security Council s agenda has receive:! greatest attention during the past two years and b) the consensus adoption of resolution 38110 by the Assembly last year. 233. Alarmed by the relentlessly and critically worsening situation in the r ion, four Latin American Governments have embar 2 ed on a courageous initiative to search for waceful and lastine solutions to the problems threateiing the peace, stabllit s of the region. I am referring here to t and se&r& e Contadora initiative jointly conceived and undertaken by the Governments of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. All people of good will in Central America, and indeed in the entire international community. expressed and lent their support to the Contadora peace efforts, as eloquently demonstrated by General Assembly resolution 38110. Security Council resolution 530 (1983). and the Political Declaration adopted by the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries at New Delhi in March 1983.” 234. Regrettably, however, the unanimous wamings and appeals of the international community do not seem to have had much positive impact on those concerned. Accordin report [A/39/562] su H serious threat to the vital interests of the peoples and countries of the of a source of tension t T ‘on and led to the emergence and security. reatening international peace 224. It is perfectly natural that such a policy and practice should encounter increasing reststance on the part of the peoples of the ‘on, who have been aroused b the aggressiveness o Americ&n imperial- T ism. Con ry ronted by this American threat, the people of Nicaragua has ‘oined ranks with its Government of national rebirt h and is resolutely determined to repel the aggressor. Despite the difficulties caused by the harshness of the Somoza r&me and the policy of destabilization conducted by the United States, there have been major social, economic and political transformations in Nicaragua and the first economic successes have been achieved. Its people is preparing for a genuine democratic election, and Nicaragua has been enjoying well-deserved authority in the intemational arena. 225. In response ressive intent of the United States, the peace-loving peoples o uba, along with other the region, also are manifestmg a high degree of alertness and self-restraint, by favouring a peaceful settlement of the problems of Central America. 226. In El Salvador the struggle against dictatorship and for creating a democratic society is broadening. The national patriotic Tortes are steadily seeking a way to achieve genuine freedom and independence for their country. 227. The freedom-loving people of Grenada have not accepted the continued occupation and American diktat. X8. A positive contribution in the search for a solution to the Central American problems has been made bv Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. The r&&d version of the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America droposed by the Contadora Group [.1NS’./.(62. anner] has been broadly supported both Inside and outside the reeion. as can he s&n from the statements of representayivei of the overwhelming majority of States at the current session of the General Assembly. ??Y. It is quite significant that Washington r!as KJccted the positive efforts of the Contadora Group to the Secretary-General, in his t mitted to the Assembly and to .v, ‘f/as ?lG.extended to-the n of this al Court o rganizatlon, the Internation- Justice, again to no avail. 235. A truly dirty war is raging in and around Nicara ua. f and in this the involvement and role of forces oreign to the region are well known to the international community. The air raids against Nicara an % ua, the mining of that country’s territorial waters main seaports, the planning of political assassinations in that country, and all the campaigns of misinformation and subversive propajtanda against Nicaragua’s Government are all conceived, planned, directed and financed by a neighbouring Govemmerit and a Member of this Organization. in blatant violation of its Charter. - 236. The Assembly must once again make it very clear, in one strong voice, that intervention and interference in the internal affairs of Nicaragua of, for that matter. of any country in Central America, is a violation of Charter principles, which are rhe basis of accepted inter-stare relations. Nicaragua and all the countries of the region have enough problems of their own, even wiahollt those e:.ported from outside. The peoples of the region know those problems very 237. As already stated, the rontadora Group’s peace efforts are an eloquent demonstration of the strong desire of the peoples of Central America for peace and their ability to analyse their problems and to find realistic solutions to those problems. My delegation wishes to join the many voices which have already paid a tribute to Ihe Governments of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela for their efforts and especially fcr having produced the revised Contadora Act on Peace and Co-owration in Central America. This revised Act is a v&y we%conceived, balanced and reatictic aooroach to the auestion of the situation in Central America. We also wish to commend those countries of the region, such as Nicara ua. for example. which have already expresse c! their readiness and preparedness to sign the new document immediatelv and without chal:tina it. It is our sincere hope in th’is regard that Nicsra 6a’s statesman-like example will be emulated py al ‘I the other countries directly concerned. - 238. Another example of a 1 encouraging local initiative towards defusing internal and regional tenslon is the recent meeting between the President of El Salvador and the leaders of tbe FMLrU-FDR. Although no tangible results seem to have come out ot’thc meeting. we r,everthcless feel that it represents an Important Inltlatl\c by the people of El Sa!vador region. My delegation therefore does not wish to go into the details of the situaticn. However, we em hasize that Bangladesh fully shares the concern o P the international community over the present serious situation in Central America. We also share the overwhelming perception that any outbreak of hostilities would further a avate the situation and threaten both regional an Y mtemational peace acd security. 243. Recent developments have once again demonstrated the need for a constructive debate directed towards a meaningful dialogue aimed at understanding and reconciliation. At the same time, we should be careful not to get involved in any deliberations which might result in further polarization and the deepening of mistrust and mutual recrimination. The situation clear1 Ii demands self-restraint, moderation and vision on t e part of all the parties concerned. It is our firm conviction that peace and stabilit ty in any region can be built only on the basis o shared aspirations and mutual accommodation. 244. Last year the General Assembly adopted by consensus resolution 38110, which comprehensively covered various aspects of the issue. We are all aware that the resolution was the oroduct of orolonned and painstaking efforts, notably’on the paA of thi member States of the Contadora Grouo-Colombia. Mexico. Panama and Venezuela-wiih a view to reconciling the existing differences between the countries of the region and In developing a consensus in the Assembly. We also commend the admirable spirit of accommodation and compromise which was dem meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs a / the Cantadora Grouo and of the Central American countries, held on’7 September 1984 at Panama City, has already been transmitted to the heads of State of the five Central American countries with a request ta communicate their views by 15 October. This sianificant Contadora initiative is the outcame of a-long and arduous process of dialogue and discussion between the countries of the region and has been pursued in accordaa;: with thg principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The document. we are happy to note, reafirms. inter dia. the vital principles of the inadmissibility of the threat or use of force against the territorial intearitv or oolitical independence of States: the sover%gi eqiality of States: the peaceful settlement 01 disputes; and noninterference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States. These principles have universal application and are particularly rele.vant in the context of the Central American region. 248. My delegation shares the perception expizssed III the Contadora Act that peace and confidence in the region can he restored only through unconditional rcspccl for the principles of international law, particularly the principle of the right of peoples freely to choose their ov;n form of political. economic and social syslcms. The document al50 recognizes the 7 ion have yet been able to accept all the provisions o the revised Act. The patient and uduous Contab m efforts, therefore, have not et been able to achieve final success. Given the camp 1 exities of the situation, we should approach it with patience and understand- In6 250. My delegation believes that from the current debate on the situation in Central America could come a renewed aeoeal to the countries directly involved to speed & their consultations with thi Contadom Grout with a view to reaching a regional consensus for thi restoration of peace tid se&it and the enhancement of economic and so&I deve if opment in the region. Any undue delay will further aggravate and compound the situation, thereby making it more ditrcult to reach an agreement. 25 1. In conclusion, permit me to reiterate our conviction that everything possible should be done to P romote and encourage the current process of diaogue and consultations, with the assistance of the Contadora Group, in order to expedite the conclusion of a final agreement on the issue. It will indeed be a red-letter day in the history of this strife-stricken world if the noble efforts of the Contadora Group are crowned with success to usher in the fortieth anniversa ful r of the United Nations. My delegation 3 Iits support and co-operation to the Press ent m his endeavours to that end. 252. Mr. BLANC0 (Uruguay) (interpreturion from Swnish): The United Natrons has made known its o’pinion’ on the matter before us in the form of decisions adopted unanimously by the Security Council and by consensus by the Genehal Assembly. Among the provisions of these resolutions I think we should stress the following: the reaffhmation of the fundamental principles of the Charter that are applicable LO the case. wrticuladv those cancernina nonintervention, self-determinaiion and the non-use or threat of force; the reaffirmation of the right of all countries in the regicn to live in peace and security and to decide their own future, free from foreign interference; the condemnation of ail acts of aggression against all the States of the region, includin terrorist acts and sabota P d e; and the ranting of ful 4 support to the efforts o the Conta ora Group. 253. The debates in the Security Council and the General Assembly, including the present debate, have allowed and continue to allow the majority of the States Members of the Organization td express their views. Despite the wide divergencies which undoubtedly exist. a number of imoortant areas of agreement have been revealed which I wish to stress and on the basis of which it was possible ta work out and adopt the resolutions without opposition. 254. My delegation prefers to hi blight what unites us rather than what separates us. fhus it is useful to stress some of :hesc press of agreement. The situation in Central America IS the result of a comolex series of internal. bllateral. re all of which should 1 ional and extra-regional factors, c tackled by means of just and equitable solutions. It is the right of all States to find irreversible deterioration or, at the best, to-stagnation and chronic violence. 257. To this we must add as a very important element the various bilateral contacts that have contributed to reCucing tension and solving particularly sensitive aspects. These efforts combine with the multilateral ones and help support the general process towards peace and security in the area. 258. All this progress was achieved despite the manv difficulties that undoubtedly exist and it is an imp&ant step in the effort to bring about peace. This effort should be continued. 259. First of all,, we must reaffirm the determined suuuort of the International community for the Cdlitadora Group and strongly encourage Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela to continue their efforts until the process is concluded. In this connection, the delegation of Uruguay lends its fullest support to the draft resolution submitted by the countries of the Contadora Group [A/39/L.6]. 260. The joint communiaut issued in Madrid bv that groupof countries - on I7 October 1984 [A/119/604. anne.rl outlines the present stage of negotiations. which are intended 16 lead tc the-early signing of the Contadora Act. These pr. vided an opportunity for consultations between the countries of Central America and the Group, which has taken into account those comments made by the countries concerned that are in keeping witfi the spirit of Contadora and could contribute to making the provisions of the 4ct more precise without aliering the balance achieved in the document. The communique explains that some topics mentioned as open to clarification and modification are those referring to the machinery for verification and control of the commitments undertaken and thclr chronological implementation. %I., Bearing in mind the stage now bc f: inning. it is pertinent to reaffirm our full support or the joint effort> of Colombia. hlexico. Panama and Venezuela ami at the ~arnc time ta urge all the partIe> directly zonccrned to bpccd up their consultations w that a 265. The people of Central America have a right to peace and stability; they have a right to democratic processes and institutions; they have a right to choose their own systems and values; and they have an inalienable r&t to human dignity and human rights. My delegation affirms that these rights must be upheld and respected. 266. My delegation has studied the report of the Secretarv-General IA/J90621 very carefully. We should Like to commend tne S&reta$-General-for his active interest in tnis matter and, like every other member of the international community, wish to pay a tribute to the members of the Contadora Group for the strenuous efforts they have made, and continue tc make. to resolve the crisis in Central America. We are convinced that it is only within this framework that peace and stability can come to the subregion of Central America. 267. My delegation has noted the very promnt response by the Government of Nicaragua, which has subscribed to the revised Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America, of September 1984. Even though the Government of Nicaragua mav have entertained some measure of doubt and difficultv with some aspects of the revised Act., its shift acceptance of it is. in the view of my delegation. an indication of its urgent desire for peace. stability 3~d sccurit). in the implementation of some of its provisions. We also appeal to all parties concerned to show a spirit of accommodation and of compromise so that the efforts of the Con!adom Group, resolution 38110 and an resolutions that may be adopted at this session WI I not become dead letters. *r 270. In the view of my delwtion, the present crisis in Central America can be satisfactorily resolved only by political and diplomatic means. A military solution is &tally unacceptable, and any attempt to impose one can lead only to deepening the wounds and rendering the situation more intractable. 27 1. My de1 tion joins in the universal appeal for a restoration o peace and stability in the subregion, T for non-intervention in its internal affairs, whether by countries outside the subregion or by those within it! for social justice and the recognition of the human dl %” ity and human rights of the people in the su region, for economic advancement and rosperity, and for the resumption of the efforts K t at were being made prior to the present crisis by the Central American sub-region to achieve economic and technical integration. 272. Finally, the Trinidad and Tobago delegation considers the Contadora process to be the only viable mechanism for a peaceful resolution of the problems of Central America, and we urge the international community to endorse the efforts of the Contadom Group. 273. Mr. RAJAIE-KHORASSANI (Islamic Reoublit of Iran): The situation in Central ‘America, which is similar to the overall situation in the entire Latin American continent, is dangerously sad and painful in spite of all the efforts made and good will demonstrated by the countries of the region in order to resolve the existing conflicts. 274. When this issue was debated at the thirtyeighth session of the General Assembly, everyone here was earnestly looking forward to an end to United States intervention in the internal affairs of the countries of the region and hence to an end to the prevailing hostilities. A vear has eiapsed, and the situation has become w&se instead of better. 275. Throughout this year, the UniL;d States press and other media have been denigrating tF q Sandinist fevolution of Nicaragua. They have been disseminatmg distorted information about the Government of Nicaragua, thereby deceiving and misleading public opinion in the Umted States m order to try further to justify the unjustifiable United States military and lntelhgence operations in that count mercenaries and the remnants of the 5. The herds of omoza regime. v:ith shamelessly advertised American support. have been trying-although tn vain-tu destabilize that n10st popular rC Nicaragua sacrl xed so much to establish snd for f ime. which the oppressed people of from the arrogant This attitude is definitely contrary to ali accepted international norms. 279. The United States Government ruled out bilateral n otiations with the Sandinist Government and, in or % er to delay the ongoing peaa process, emphatically pro sed that the differences should be resolved regiona ly. Of course, when the Contadom p” Group started its process, the United States imperialists were not exoectina an internationally recognized and comprehensive Contadom Act on P&cc alid Cooperation in Central America; they were simply trying to buy time for their acts of aggression againnit the revolutlonaries of the region and to find an oooortunitv to fiaht and roll back the real freedom li- IF ten and to dgfeat the revolutionary movements. T ey wanted time to send more mercenaries to the region, more military advisers to El Salvador, more armed forces to Honduras, more CIA operatives and hated counter-revolutionaries to the southern and northern parts of liberated Nicaragua, more naval task forces to the waters of the region and, above all, to send their army of occupatiqn,to the tiny islan! of Grepaga, as if to.pla): 51~ M+on Dollar Man or “MIssIon Impossible , which IS popular nowadays. However, in spite of all those evil actions, they failed to halt the Contadora process, as we see in the re rt of tte Secretary-General. The revised version o r the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America is the result of a process of intensive consultations and a broad exchange of views with all the Central American Governments and reflects the efforts to integrate the various contributions and to reconcile those aspects on which divergencies remain. Yet, after the announcement by Nicaragua that ance for the r dimensions o F ‘on. Therefore da by day we see new aggression,. The IA manual entitled z “P chological operations in guerrilla warfare” $791596, rmnex], which clearly gives instructions to counter-revolutionary agents in Nicaragua for assassination of political figures, is another example of how the mythical super-Power of our time is confronting a small country of 3 million people who want to bc independent and free from outside intervention and to bring social justice to their own society. 281. Ni Contadora e 7 ua has wisely and openly welcomed the orts for peaceful negotiations and is receptive to the Contadora Act at;d its Additional Protocol. Yet the United States Government is resisting this peace orocess, desDite the opinion of its own people and contrary to the views 0-f those who favour political rather than military solutions. The oresent Administration of the United States violates iven the verdicts of its own Congress, which limited the CIA activities in Central America. However, the question remains unanswered why Central Ameiican affairs should be discussed and decided upon by the United States Congress. 282. The Muslim people of Iran, who have for more than a quarter of a century suffered from United States intervention. domination and influence in every aspect of life, can well appreciate the problems of Central Amellca and the sufferings of the heroic people of Nicaragua. 283. The tragedy that has been taking place and is still going on in that part of the world is a manifestation of a real-life confronlation between a resolutely determined, valiant, aware and responsible but op Dressed revolutionarv nation of about 3 million, on ihe one hand, and, oh the other, a gigantic, sophisticated, rich, technologically most advanced and intellectually best equipped, bit oppressive and arrogant Power which cannot tolerate a breath of independence in any nation. This arrogant Power has selfishly and arbitrarily decided that others must remain American puppets, pay tribute to “made-in- U.S.A.” democracies, and complement transnational corporations, or else they have ‘LO look over their shoulders because international arrogance can always use some neighbouring regimes in order to break down or at least tame the revolution. 284. In the face of this uneaual. uniustified and absolutely unnecessary involvenieni and intervention on the part of the Llnited States Government. Nicaragua has maintained the highest standard of morality in its defensive F’TU strated the highest degree o pie. ,I! has dempnpolltlcal maturity, prudence and consistency of policies. sagacity and wisdom. Without forgomg any of its revolutionary principles. the Government of Nicaragua has been most receptive to peaceful means while it remains and Venezuela-recently pro exico, Panama to the five C$rl Amencan !Y sed a draft peace Act tates. The treaty would bar outside intervention m the area or any support for insurgent forces, while providing for free elections and other democratic reforms. The draft Act atkns the sovereign equality of States, the r aceful settlement of disputes and the rejection oft e threat or use of force, the export of terrorism or subversion, support for democratic. ‘Qitutions and promotion of social justice. We realize thai there are still outstanding &t ed in a way which will make it possible to reach P roblems, but we hope that these problems can be a r eement on a stable and durable solution accepta le to all parties concerned. 288. My Government has welcomed and expressed its stron support for the efforts of the Contadora Group. & e believe the Contadora process provides the best hope for an end to violence and for the restoration of co-operation amon the nei P P bouring Central American .States. We ully eq arse this f;grpt to find regional solutions to regional prob- 289. In line with the views exnressed in the Contadora Act, social change and edonomic propress are fundamental to oeace in Central America. The meeting at San Jo& on 28 and 29 September between the Foreign Ministers from Western European, Central American and the Contadora countries reflects, in our view, the growing and positive interest in finding alternative ways out of the regional conflict by addressing social and economic problems. Over the past few years my country has also strengthened its social and economic co-operation with Central America. 290. My delegation would also like to offer some comments on other positive developments towards a stahilization of the situation in the region. 291. We welcome the dialogue between Nicaragua and the United States of America initiated earlier this year. We also welcome the encouraging talks which took olace at La Palma. on I5 October. following the invitation extended by President Duarte in his address to the General Assemhlv 1_74/h progress. 298. However, with regard to the complexity of the problem, we must understand that the conditions which h&e made the present crisis so serious have been gestating for decades. Throughout Central pmerican his&y there has been dir&t or indirect Intervention by the great Powers in the affairs of the nations of the region. 299. Therein lies one of the most valuable as of the initiative taken by the countries o P ects the Contadora Group to solve the problem. Colombia. Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, with the backing of the other Latin American nations, are erovina that a regional approach is the most appropriate way of finding the solution to the problem. No one is better able 10 understand the prbblems of Latin America than the Latin Americans. No one shares the problems and the anxieties of Central America to a greater extent than the sister republics of Latin America, especially the four mcmbcrs of the Contadora Group. 301. A&ntina reiteratea it8 t&l support for the Contadora years ot’ e f? reposal. The results of less than two orts show that political will and understanding are tools that can produce m&s in the settlemart of international conflicta. 302. The intensive,.fruitfW work of the Contadon GNXID has resulted m a set of international nrovisalons assembled in the Contadora Act on Pea& and Co-oneration in Central America [R/39/562, annex]. Thisdocument. submitted for ‘rign8ture by thi r ies conccmeii, constitute the most viable compreensive solution to the problems of the area. We trust that the process of n tiations on the texts will culminate speedily in t elr signature. T* 303. Geography and history have made ~&~l.~ American nations neighbours, and F s ence is imperative if they are to deve op hannonious- IY. %l4. Argentma is ready to co-operate in order to achieve a iust and neaceful solution of the Central American &is, and we ap UP to the entire intemational commumty, partic arly those countries that have interests in the region, to act similarly. 305. It is essential that in the solution of the Central American crisis we bear in mind the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, to-which the five Central American States are parties. We advocate full ri;spect for the principles of non-intervention, the sovereignt and territorial integrity of all States, the non-use o iy force or the threat of the use of force in international relations, the peaceful settlement of international dis utes, respect for the human ri ts and fundament af freedoms of all peoples, and i i? eological luralism, which is the logical corollary of the right 0 f! peoples to self-determination. 306. All these elements are clear1 reflected in the proposals of the Contadora Grou ance with these principles by p’ #he strict complia I States is the best guarantee of peace and well-being for the peoples. 307. The Argentine Republic is united with the countries of Central Arr:rica by close ties of friendship-indeed, of fraternity, strengthened by recent R roof of solidarity. It fervently hopes that Peace and armony among their peoples and increasmg development will become a permanent and promisitlg reality for all of them. 308. Mr. ADENIJl (Nigeria): The continued volatile situation in Central America is a tzreat disaopointment to my delegation, considering the cornmendable efforts which have been made tc settle it. particularly by the member States of the Contadori Group. 309. In adootina iesolution 38110 last Year. the General Assembly expressed its firmest suppoti for the Contcidora Group and u ed it to wrsevere in its % efforts, which enjoy the e ective support of the international community and the forth&t co-operation of the interested countries in or outside the region. Since that resolution was adopted, Ni eria has followed with great interest the exertions o k the tias resence of foreign military forces, the cause of peace been well served bv the adroit StatesmanshiD which resulted in the dr& Contadora Act on Pea& and Co-operation in Central America. In the view of 3 I 1. In this connection we have noted in paragra h 5 of the Secreta -General’s re rt the affirmation #.i the Ministers o Forei r! y JII A&& of the Contadora Group that the revise version of the Act was the result of a Drocess of intensive consultations and a broad exchange of views with all the Central American Governments and reflected an effort to integrate the various contributions and reconcile those aspects on which divergencies remained. 312. It is in the interests of all concerned that the momentum created by the draR Act be maintained. In this connection the Central American countries, we believe, should bear in mind a very pertinent observation in the joint communiquC of the Foreign Ministers of the Contadora Group at the conclusion of their meeting at Madrid on 17 October 1984. The Foreign Ministers observed that “the essence of any negotiation requtred each side to yield to some ex?t, in the Interests of a higher purpose, . . . that the Contadora Act would have to reconcile the positions and the interests of the f?e countries directly involved” [see A/39/604, annex, p. 31. Insistence on absolute cast-iron guarantees may only delay the process of peacemaking. We hope, therefore. that countries directly concerned will bear ‘,“ihiTry pertinent observation of the peacemakers in 313. Several analyses of the problems of Central America have, of course, been made. We have heard quite a lot of them in the last two days. There seems to be a consensus, however, that whatever other complications have compounded the situation, the root cause is to be found in deep-seated socioeconomic issues. It is clear, therefore, that unless these issues are addressed, no lasting solution can be expected. There seems to be consensus also that the situatio?, as it presently exists, poses a threat to intematlonal peace and security and is a great hindrance to regional stability. The continued introduction of more weapons and outside military personnel into the region can only serve to further inflame, rather than to ameliorate, the situation. Exertion of undue pressure and attempts at destabilization thrcugh sabotage or assassination can only strengthen the resolve of peoples who are determined to preserve their right to an independent choice of a system of government that will serve their best interests. To interprer such a legitimate quest in ty. - 314. In conclusion, may I reiterate my de1 tion’s view that the. Contadora process provides t e be? T wpf to peace m the T.ye therefore hope that rt wd be concluded wit minimum delay. 3 IS. Mr. DAZA Chile) (interprelatio~ from Spant ish): The features o the present debate on the agenda item entitled “The situation in Central America: threats to international peace and security and p” ace initiatives*‘. and the statements made bv virtua Iv all Members of the Organization, are a cl& indicaiion of the importance which the intemat ional community attaches to the events taking place in that region. The violence that was unleashed there has not only extended its adverse consequences to the peoples of Central America but become a serious threat to peace and security in the region. 316. M closely. 4 country ha; watched these events very here has existed between Chile and the Central American nations, despite the distance between us, a long and tradition+ association of peoples which makes us appreciate rn all their Intensity the nations. We #i roblems and sorrows suffered by those ave a historic friendshiD of which we are proud. 317. In his report [A/39/562] the Secretary-General put before the Assembly a very objective narration of the persistence of certam serious problems, as well as the success !hat has been achieved in the search for peace in the region. 318. We cannot set aside or ignore the problems, but if we look back in time and consider the view that was held two gives us J ears ago, we do note progress which con rdence for the future. Among the successes we must stress the consolidation of the institutions of Honduras and the progress in that area achieved in Guatemala and El Salvador, and also the very important reconciliation that has occurred domesticaliy in those countries. Without foreign influence, each of them has resorted to its own cultural roots, has faced its own realities and the needs of its own people and has made substantive progress in its institutional order. That progress guarantees that the life of those countries could be channelled harmonious1 the rifts that now exist, t ii to overcome violence and ereby turning their national potential towards the search for a better future. 319. We believe that the process of institutionalization of El Salvador warrants special mention, not only because of its political significance, but because oi the courage shown by the people of El Salvado!, whose electoral process was an expression of their desire for peace and their final rejection of violence and foreign ideologies that have tried to disrupt the coexistence of the people of the country. 320. May I refer now to the efforts being made by the Contadora Group for a peaceful settlement through dialogue of the problems aftlicting the Central American re 8 ion. Consis!ent with the traditional policy of my ovemment to support oeaceful .: 325. When analysing the conflict, the perspective from which one starts is fundamental. Depending on that perspective, one can arrive at different conclusions and different recommendations. The mistaken perspective leads to wrong conclusions. Is it a conflict between good democrats and evil totalitarians? Are the roots of the conflict to be found in the East-West competition? 326. Mv Government believes that the conflicts have th&r origin in the social, economic and political conditions in Central America itself-problems that often go back more than a century. 327. It is often said by Central Americans themselves that Central American countries must not become the tools in a struggle of interests and ideologies of foreign Powers. The Government of Sweden fully agrees with this view. The interests of the Central American people can be defined only by the Central .!mericans themselves. Any solution has to be based on the social and political realities of Central America and on the efforts of the people in the area. 328. It would be a serious mistake to attribute this conflict to a competition between the two major Powers. If this perspective is applied. regional ten- -_ G..,_ 330. The five Central American countries also deserve praise for their willingness to work on a comprehensive settlement and for their flexibility, which have made it possible for the Contadora Group to present the Act for si ment welcomes the fact that t ature. My Govemip” e Central American Governments have expressed their readiness to sign the Contadora Act as soon as possible and notes that Nicaragua has agreed to sign it without amendments. 331. This important political document should provide a sound basis for reducing military tension and the level of armaments in Central America. The Contadora Act also establishes basic guidelines for develooment towards democracy, for respect for human rights and for better ec&omic arid social conditions in Central America. It covers all aspects of the conflicts in the reaion. It should be oossible for all the interests of the sates concerned tb meet within the context of the Contadora initiative. The Act could lay the foundation for a real Pax Centroamericana. The work behind this Act clearly demonstrates that the regional approach is feasible and desirable. 332. My Government urges the Governments of Central America to accelerate their consultations with the Contadora Group with the aim of obtaining an earlv sinning of the Act. It is my Government’s ferventho-p &at all other parties with primary interests in this re and Cuba, will en lf ion, especially the United States orse this process without altering the basic elements and principles of tt.: Act. 333. The fundamental -principles of international law. as embodied in the Charter, must be the common guidelines for relations among all States, large or small. All nations have equal ri ts and equal duties. There is no excuse and no justi ication, under any circumstances, for one nation to violate the Independence or the territorial inte rity of any other sovereign State. Therefore, my I ovemment has reacted strongly against such acts as the mining of the ports and territorial waters of Nicaragua. 334. The respect for international law and the right of all naiions to develop their own society without outside interference are fundamental to the settlement of the conflicts in Central America. However. as long as democratic rights are denied, human rights not fully respected and economic injustices prevail. there is ground for tension and violence. tBh that a diakgue between thi, Government and the oolitical oDuosition in Nicaragua would be facilitated if the extc%ally supported -ion a@nst Nicaragua were terminated. We urge all parties concerned to pursue policies to promote this goal. 337. The United States has a great and undeniable influence in the region and, consequently, a special responsibility to contribute to peaceful develo Ii ment. The Swedish Government believes that this in uence should be used to promote the signing and implementation of the Contadora Act. In this context, we Lt ‘oin in welcomin% the fact that bilateral discussions ween the United States and Nicaragua have entered into a substantive phase. 338. The establishment of the Border Commission between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is a direct result of the Contadora process. M Government welcomes the recent talks between J resident Duarte of El Salvador and leaders of the FDR and the FMLN in participation of the FMLN-FDR. We encourage the parties to continue the talks until the achieve a comprehensive negotiated political r sett ement. 339.- My Government believes that the Secretary- General’s involvement in and support for the Contadora process is valuable and represents an important contribution to that process. His report is itself a clear exoression of his strong commitment. MY Govemnient has also high1 of the member countries o r appreciated the suppoit the European Economic Community and Portugal and Spain, as is shown in the joint communiqut of 28 September from San Jo& [A/39/539, annex]. 340. After decades of violence and human suffering in Central America, the Swedish Government hopes that decisive steps towards peace have now been taken. The Contadora Act deserves the wholehearted support of the international community. My Government sincerely appeals to all those directly or indirectly concerned to show restraint-military and verbal restraint--to facilitate the attainment of peace in the region.

For the second consecutive year the Assembly is dealing with the situation in Central 348. ‘The international community cannot be denied tMlment of its hopes, nor can tbe peo !m;i Central America be deceived about their eel. n dnR Contadora Act on Peace and Q-operation in Central America should, however, ctill be impmved. No effort should be 8plued to make tbat Act an effective guarantee that peace, justice and progruss may reign at last in our countries. 349. While one party is hesitating to sign the revised version of the document, it retend not to know that c08t8 Rica ir already fti dhn# tb? ovep Pa whelming majority of the commitments contamed in the Act. 350. Altbougb at resent we have no difiiculty in complying with the etter and the spirit of the revised P version, what is causing us concern i8 tbat a document weak in verification and control machinery rnifau tv schedule for the entry into force of the $ t be subscribed to. We are also concerned that a mtiures envisaged in the Act may render the comprehensive agreement a dead letter. 351. We Cost: Ricans want to be sure that the commitments assumed by Statrs by si ing the Act will in fact be corn Central Americans eserve that security. No.qne in f lied with. We be leve that all F this Hall should be surprised at our lwtlmate concern over the verification of fulfilment of commitments contained in the Act. We have an adage at home which says: “A man who pays his debts does not fear for hii collateral.” 352. We are concerned at the schedule for entry into force of the commitments. because we Costa Ricans want the regional plan to be fulfilled in every aspect. We would be muleading the intematlonal communitv and deceivink the oeonles of Central America were-we toacc;pt a $ari the imperfect machinerv of which would doom it to becoming a dead let&. We would have lost all Sense of justice and equity were we to claim that we would put into force onlv those commitments that were reauired of ourselves with the Act and would not-concern eaually important aspects that must still be negotiated afier the document is signed. 353. We are convinced that a negotiated solution to the conflicts of Centcal America presupposes necessat-y obligations that are verifiable, mutual and simultaneous. We emphatically reject the argument of those who claim that our concerns over the achievement of an effective and complete commitment are mere delaying tactics. Those who wpuld d&guise our concerns in interventionist and mrhtarlstlc clothing are misguided. 354. Our concern is legitimate. Costa Rica is the State in Central America that has achieved the highest degree of social, political and insti!utional development. Thus. it is we rhat have most to lose in Central America. 355. It is totally Icgitimate, and we are sure that the majority of States represented in this Hall so see It. that a country that unilaterally disarmed 35 years ago 708ta v .A6areauitofthe fratracidalwarragi Nicaragua we in intiz !guri 83 l ttempt8tou8eourterri tof&~m~ on our territorial by one side and assaults tbe other. It i8 for tbic reanon that we are concern for national reconciliation. 357. Our concern for democratization ir ala0 legitimate. We are convinced that only when all can puticipate in guidi the necemary polite *zl tbe national &tiny, with all guaranteea and freedoms, will there be mace. Election8 do not make democracy. It is in delhocratic societies in which all tbe pebple tmrticbate that the peoole tbrouah their election8 can ixpti themselves; Then and Only then is lqitimate; then and only tben is peace the re8lKx national umsensus. 358. Since the item on Central America was first proposed for inclusion in the agenda of the General Assembly we have expressed our concern over the ibility tbat the United Nation8 might weaken the E? ntadora Latin American initiative. If, as appears possible, the Assembly adopts a resolution which give8 precedence to a ri Y!Be With, our fears will bave e aspect of a complex n well founded. 359. When the United Nation8 was born it8 founders understood and 8treqtbened the role of regional oraanixations and initiatives. Forty years later the A&mbly is on the verge of den injj the value of those regional efforts; it is also a lo ut to forget the regional approach, analysing the Central American c&s from a univer!falist standpoint. The saddest and most t ‘c feature of the Central American crisis is thus hi lighted, namely, the East-West confronta. tion. 3 360. The East-West confrontation does not explain the crisis in Central America, but it is an important feature, an element of our misfortunes. The existence of a second drafk resolution, different from that s nsored by the Contadora Group, implies thah t r ere is a strong East-West component which also characterizes the Central American crisis. 361. All the Contadora ceace-makina efforts and the best will of the Cent& American States were aimed at takinn that Central American crisis out of the bipolar confrontation. We, the nine Governments participating in the Contadora process, understand that to the extent that our differences are allowed to fall within the context of the confrontation between the two great blocs, to that extent they will become insoluble. 362. We believe that the task that the international community has entrusted to the Contadora Group should be completed by the ado the draft resolution submitted g tion by consensus of y the four countries of th?t Group for consideration by the Assembl IAN9/L.61. We are extremelv aoorehensive that sue i+l iction could be hindered tjy cbnsiderations which some may consider legitimate but which none can deny make up only one part of the complex scenario of the Central American crisis. We are concerned about the effect on Central American Governments. on the Contadora Group and on international public opinion if the General Assembly decision was In anv interven!ion of the Washington Administration in national, domestic and inter-State relations in Central America are very well known thanks to the detailed factual reports we have heard in this debate and the reports we watch on television and read in newspapers. We have also had them straight from the horse’s mouth, since those facts have been revealed by offtcial sources in the Washington Administration. 367. One year a United States o o today the great super-Power, the k America, deployed its military might to topple the legitimate Government of Grenada. The aim was and remains the launching of a campaign of intimidation-the big-stick policy-and the message to the peoples of the region, the Caribbean as well as Central America, was: do not displease the almighty in Washington, DC.-or else. 368. I shall not mention the facts but will try to analyse them and the aims, and maybe the results. 369. The debate on the situation in Central America and the covert and overt interference and intervention in one way or another of the Reagan Administration can be considered as a sign of the international solidarity with the people of the United States in their cries of protest at and their condemnation against the policies and practices of their own Governmcr,t. Thus debate is in support of the heroic oeooles of Central America in their sincere endeavburs. efforts and struggle in defence of their right to self-determination, in defence of their homes and of 37 1. Nicaragua is not an “infected iece of meat”. All of UC here who support the peop e of Nicaragua P are not “insects”, despite what Mr. Curtin Winsor, Jr., of the United States believes. We are humans, and we do sup Washington is str I Infected with pre-Darwin theoreti- P rt the people of Nicaragua. If rians, so be it; but the protests of the people of the United States against their Government’s policies give us comfort and reassurance. 372. Not only are the policies and dreams of the Washington Administration bringing disaster to Central America and the Middle East, but also they are a threat to international Deace and securitv. An advance base has already been established ou occupied Palestinian territory, where Judaeo-Nazis are in strate ic alliance with their counterparts in Washington, b .C. Billions of United States dollars and thousands of tons of United States military hardware are stockpiled in the homeland of Christmas-the land of milk and honey, the land of peace that is our occupied Palestine. - 373. Similar arranaements are beina made to convert Central America into another advance base of United States military intervention. The instructions are to destabilize those countries and “let brother kill brother”; rejoice in the “fruits of mischief’; spark reaional wars and deDlete national resources so that those third-world-or rather “third class”-peoples will fail in their efforts to develop and their children will grow in ignorance and darkness and in a subhuman, if not an inhuman, habitat. 374. The Washington Administration is criminally involved in the activities against the peoples of Central America. Evidence of their criminal involvement in Nicaragua is abundant. The A-B-C of criminal involvement has just been released-a pocket-sized booklet-and Washin ton cannot and should not be permitted to go Scotf ree. “CIA” reads “Criminal Involvement of the Administration”. 375. The Washington Administration. like Israel. treats with disrespect and contempt international opinion, the norms of international behaviour and even the International Court of Justice. The United Nations, the International Court of Justice and all internatronal organs are not, and were not meant to serve as, instruments in the service of the Warh*n= 376. The ‘Washington Administration claims that the Sandinists departed from their early promise of rebuilding Nicamguan society on a pluralistic and democrattc basis. We wonder, since when has the Washington Administration been anti ed the task of ensuring that a!l Governments and 8 puticvry out their promtses? Who bestowed those powers on the Washington Administmtion? The people of Nicaragua and only the peo le of Nicaragua-and I repeat, only the people of i ica TiG!l;: ‘ohf” Gl% to elect and to question the Government. It is this right of election and the establishment of a free democratic society that the Nicaraguans are invited to exercise in a few days’ time, on 4 ,Novembery plesse let fhem ,do it in ro;; 2; I the Wash1 rxant that “$. n#on Admuustratt; cop e Nicaraguan peo le will consolidate t eu support for those who 11 rated them from Somoxa and the like, for those who give ;$heEiope, and more than mere hope, for a better 377. If anything it is the United States Government that has fatled to honour its commitment to respect and ensure respect for international conventions. Need I refer to its concrete and unconditional support for Israel, an occupying Power, and Israel’s persistence in violating the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949’7’ How much respect and interest does the Washington Administration show towards the provisions of United Nattons resolutions-resolutions supported by the United States itself-concerning the nght of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, or concerning saf 3 uards of the fundamental rights of the Palestinians. The United States Administration should be the last to pontificate. 378. The countries most direct1 involved and concerned, the Contadora Group, K ave formulated wa r s and means to ensure peace and development as we 1 as non-interference and non-intervention. We a P preciate the endeavours of the members of the ontadora Group. We commend the positive response of Nicaragua in signing the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-owration in Central America. We regret that this positive responik is not mentioned in the draft resolutions. We wish the Contadora GrOUD success in its efforts and hope that all the other parties will do the same as Nicaragua. We equally appreciate the concern of the members of the EEC, a concern that confirms the international dimension of the situation in Central America. It is a situation which is not exclusively regional, or parochial, or feudal, and the international community, in particular the permanent members of the Securtty Council, including the United States of America, are under an obligation to help in the peace-making not to obstruct it, as the Government o P recess and the United States has decided to do, in the endeavours to convene a peace conference on the Middle East under the auspices of the United Nations. 379. In conclusion. the Palestinian people, through its representative the Palestine Liberation Organization, joins in the demand: hands off Central America! d I. The hour is too late and we are too tired, but en has been an extraordinary distortion of our history, our policies and our practices by the representative of Iran. 382. The United States is a Government of laws. We freely submit ourselves to our laws. our coutts. our leg&ton and our for nothing better for t E” pulations. We c&Id bs e neople of Iran than that they be permitted the same freedoms. 383. As our statement earlier this otternoon described, the United States support for diplomatic efforts to achieve an effective and lasting peace in Central America has been strona. conststent and continuous. Contra Iran has told the xse to what the?epmsentativeof mbly. we have. within the framework of the Comadora process,. engaged in a series of high-level bilateral discussions with the Government of Nicaraaua. That process aoes on. Most representatives who have spoken in tfiese two full days of debate on this important question have spoken of the serious and root causes of the conflict in Central America, but the representative of Iran has laid all the blame on the doorstep of my country. Few will accept that version of history, especial1 *& coming from a r6gime which has violently deme its own citizens the most basic human rights. which has otten been in violation of international law and which has souaht to snonsor terrorist acts all over the world. 384, The representative of Iran is fond of quoting Scripture. I would like members in this Hall to hear a P assage of scripture from the Christian tradition, and quote Matthew 12:37: “For b be justified, and by thy . thy words thou shah d war s thou shah be condemned.” I leave it to the ‘udgement of this body whether the representative o c Iran has condemned or justified his Government and his position with the words he has expressed here today about my Govemment. 385. Mr. MONCADA ZAPATA (Nicaragua) (interpretafion from Spanish): The United States representative is continuing in this body the dirty war of the Reagan Administration against Nicaragua. He has started an offensive of calumny and insults because false accusations and military aggression are all the United States offers to Nicaragua. The United States representative complains of the militarization of Nicaragua. We are only trying to defend ourselves against-the most powerful &i&y on Earth, which spends $350 billion a year on the military. 386. Surely they are concerned b the fact that repeating the invasion of Grenada in more expensive. t;icaragua is far 387. How can the representative of a country that for 45 years supported and maintained the Somoza dictatorshio swak of democracv? The reorescntative of the United States, heir to Fulgenc’io Batista’s didomacv. dared to say that the Sandinist Front is the same thing as thk Somoza regime. We are satisfied to know that even they themselves do not believe in their view of history. If we were the same, doubtless. we too would have had the unconditional support of the Government of the United States. YAP ts be the beat allies of the racist r6gime of %uth &.a, with which they have joined in a repugnant constructive engagement? How can the represeatative of the United States criticize us if we prepare to defend ourselves and our county from the country that finances and trains mercenaries for its war town;. that pqnued for mercenaries a manual for terronat operations-of which, I presume, the representative of the United States is probably proud? 390. The representative of the United States should be taught to read The New York Times. It seems that his eyesight was clouded when he read the editorial page opinion relating to that criminal manual and the dirty war. 391. For the Government of the United States to critic&, it should first regain the moral authority that it has lost. Its leaders are already closer to despotism than to democracy and e&m day are getting closer to becoming genuine fascists. 392. The representative of the United States criticized our position regardin the Contadora process, trying to divert attention rom the fact that it was d that Fouqtry’s shameful p-sure that prevented the culmmatlop of the n Nicaragua IS the last t % otlatmg process. At this stqe, at can be accused of blockzng the Contadora efforts, but there is much to be said in this respect about the United States. Some of our $ea lies in the region.can offer firsthand proof of .b or example, this afternoon we heard the representative of El Salvador, to whom we shall not reply because, personally, that representative is worthy of great respect and. sincere appreciation. We F;a;wjt;t he does not believe m what he was told to 393. Mr. ZAMANI NIi\ (Islamic Republic of Iran): We heard the representative of the United States claim that the rehresentative of Iran had distorted the facts. However, during the last two days we have all heard what the facts really are and the numerous representatives who spoke about the violations of international law by the United States, statements which, apparently, the representative of the United States did not hear. I would be more than pleased to show anyone interested that all the facts and figures included in the statement of the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran were drawn from United States pubhcations. It would seem ridiculous for the representative of a Government that publishes a manual on assassinating political figures of other Governments lo talk about human rights. I would like to reserve my right to make a full reply tomorrow.

As members heard my drlcgation state earlier this afternoon, one of the common chants now heard in the dictatorship of Somoza. Many Nicaraguans and suppotiers of the revolution in other rcantries, inc1udk.g my own, had high hopes that the new Government would improve the lives of all the country’s citizens. 396. The Sandinist Government, heir to the coatition, has violated these promises made to the OAS and to the Nicarquan people because of the licies of the National &ectorate of the Sandinist r* atlonal Liberation Front. The Front’s nine Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leaders, declaring themselves the “vanguard of the revolution”, have imposed their programmes on the Government and people of Nicaragua. To consolidate their power, the Sandinists have established a pervasive security apparatus and auxiliary organizations. The resulting repression has caused tens of thousands of Nicaraguans to flee their homeland. In additicn, some 10,000 Nicaraguans have taken u arms to resist the Sandinist dictatorship. Thus, ive years after the revolution, we hear P the refrain “El Frente y Somoza son la misma cosa”. 397. Mr. ROSALES-RIVERA (El Salvador) (inferpretationfiom Spanish): I had .lot intended to speak m exercise of my right of reply, but as the representative of Nicaragua used some offensive phrases I should like to reply to them. 398. He may be giving proof of the truth of the old saying that the burglar believes that everybody is a thief. Perhaps because he is given a series of orders and propoations that he must voice and cannot depart from. he has to act as a kind of ouooet in delicate situations, situations that require‘cdrisideration. We act after careful consideration and say what we believe at a given moment is relevant and will enlighten those who hear it. 399. If the representative of Nicara ua believes that another person’s opinion is despica % le and that no weight need be given to what is said here, that is his busmess and it does not disturb me. What does disturb me is the dictatorial and virtually anti-democratic way in which problems dre dealt with and smoke-screens put up here and accusations are levelled at le itimate representatives of Governments and at the 3. nlted Nations, a body whose purpose is to co-ordinate and bring together divergent views in the Assembly. 400. If what the representative of El Salvador said was not pleasing to the represerrtative of Nicaragua. that is his affair! but we have always spoken truthfully and will contmue to do so ever. though I( may not please the representative of Nxaragua. 401. Mr. TELLEZ ARGUELLO (Nicaragua) (rnrc~rprerulion from Spanish): The representative of the United States mentioned a meeting of the OAS in 402. As for the representative of El !klvador, it must bc very awkward for him to speak of puppets, because the General Assembly clearly understands who is the pup even more dt R t and who has been the puppet, and tcult to speak of democracy, for we know who it is that exercises democmcy in El Salvador. 403. Mr. ROSALES-RIVERA El Salvador) (inrerprerutionfiom Spanish): I find 6 e feeble argtun&n; of the representative of Nicaragua mther bccausc it seems that he does not understan t-P the trud meaning and content of democracy. He believes that democracy is mercly a word. He does not believe that democracy means the coming together of political parties striving for power, he considers that democmcy is, because our concepts are compbtely different. The mewin8 NW I 8.45 p.m. ‘cylicior Rawds qf rk SumMy Council. TBirty.&hIh Year. Sw&lv~.u.~obu. NowmbmwtdDrccmbu M83, docuntatt W&q&near jkr July. Alyur a& Sq#mbu 1983, Qeumeat s/15877. ulocs. Wilitary and Potmmikaty Activities in and apina h’!w (Nicmgm v. Unit& Sum of Americ@, Pmvisiomi Atmmm, ol& of IO May 1984. I.C.J. Rqom I984. p. 169. ‘See A/38/132 and c0rr.l and 2, UWI, pus. 134. ‘Q&iol Rccad of rhe SmwUy CouncU. l%irt.wdnth Year. SupPcmcn~ Jii July. Ayul and Se$iembu Ipdl. ‘See N3U132 and Con.1 and 2, annea. net. I. ‘United Nations, 7-y &ries, vol. 75, No. 973.