A/39/PV.44 General Assembly

It is my sad duty to inform the General Assembly of the tragic death of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. 2. I call on the Secretary-General. 3. The SECRETARY-GENERAL: We meet today in the shadow of a great tragedy. With the death of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India has lost a great and courageous leader and the international commu- nity a wise and dedicated citizen ofthe world. I speak with deep personal grief as one who knew and worked with Mrs. Gandhi and greatly appreciated her remarkable qualities. 4. Throughout her long and distinguished career Mrs. Gandhi was a highly respected figure at the United Nations, which she supported staunchly. Following in the tradition of her illustrious father, Pandit Nehru, she represented, on the international scene, the spirit of moderation, tolerance and under- standing. Many of us recall vividly her statements last year as Chairman of the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi from 7 to 12 March, and later at the thirty-eighth session of the General Assembly [9th meeting], as models of the kind of principled realism that is so vitally needed in our world today. 5. The eminent international role of Indira Gandhi stemmed from her mission as a leader of the world's largest democracy. We have followed with admira- tion her untiring efforts to guide and promote the peaceful evolution of her great and ancient country. In that infinitely complex and difficult endeavour, she has now given her life. Once again, the world stands aghast at a shocking act of political violence. The assassination of Prime Minister Gandhi brings home to us once more the absolute necessity of turning away from and rejecting such methods. 6. I wish to extend to Mr. Rajiv Gandhi and the other members of the family and to the Government and people of India my heartfelt sympathy and condolences in their great loss, in which we at the United Nations fully share. . 7. The PRESIDENT: On behalf of the General Assembly, I should like to express our deep sorrow at the death of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of India, who fell victim to assassins' bullets earlier today as she left her home for her office. As I stated in a NEW YORK message to President Zail Singh, her death is a great loss not only for the people of India, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Commonwealth but also for humanity as a whole. She was among the great world leaders of this century. 8. Mrs. Gandhi was born in one ofthe cradles ofthe concept and practice of non-alignment. The daughter of one of the founders of the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries, she herself worked tirelessly to help nurture the movement in an international environment which was, and unfortunately still is, clouded in many ways by East-West rivalry. It is significant that she died while Chairman of the Seventh Conference. 9. Her faith in the United Nations as an arbiter of inter-State conflict and the most important centre for harmonizing the actions of nations cannot be chal- lenged; for, as she herself said, firm faith in the United Nations is central to the non-aligned. The aim is the same: to maintain peace by removing the sources of tension and to bring out the humanity in human beings. 10. Mrs. Indira Gandhi is no more, but her dream of the course the Organization should take remains. It is enshrined in the records of the Assembly, in her last words in this Hall, 13 months ago. She said: "What form the future will take is being moulded right now by our actions.... We must create a new international order of humanity, where power is tempered with compassion, where knowledge and capability are at the service of all humanity." [Ibid., para. 31.] May her soul rest in peace. 11. On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to express heartfelt condolences to the President, Gov- ernment and people of India and to the late Prime Minister's family. 12. I now invite members of the Assembly to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to her memory. The members of the General Assembly observed a minute of silence. 13. The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative of Ethiopia, Chairman ofthe Group of African States for the month ofOctober, who will speak on behalfof the African States. 14. Mr. DINKA (Ethiopia): It was with a deep sense of sorrow and shock that the Group of African States at the United Nations heard of the sad, tragic and untimely death of l\~rs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minis- ter of India. The late Prime Minister played a historic and glorious role not only in the promotion of the social and economic advancement of her own people but also in the larger cause of the maintenance of international peace and security. largest.democ~acy, chose from its very beginning as a 49. Mrs. Gandhi's commitment to the United Na- sovereIgn n~tIon to ~e governed .by the method of tions and its Charter was exemplified by the constant consent. ThI~ has gamed for IndIa the respect and support she extended to the Organization, its role deep admIratIon of my country and, I would venture and its many programmes in various fields. Her to say, of the entIre world. presence at the United Nations last year, her address 41. The assassination of Prime Minister Indira to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session Gandhi is an intolerable intrusion of murderous and the informal gatherings of heads of State or violence upon the process of consent so cherished by Government over which she presided in her capacity the Indian people. As Prime Minister of the world's as Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned largest democracy and as a leader of the Movement Countries all testify to her personal devotion ~nri

May I consider that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Fourth Committee on agenda item 26) contained in document A/39/615? It was so decided (decision 39/404). 53. The PRESIDENT: I propose that, if there is no objection, the list of speakers in the debate on this item be closed at 4 p.m. today. It was so decided. 54. The PRESIDENT: Before calling on the first speaker in the debate, I shall ask the Rapporteur of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Mr. Farouk Adhami, of the Syrian Arab Republic, to introduce the report of that Committee. 55. Mr. ADHAMI (Syrian Arab Republic), Rap- porteur of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declara- tion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (interpretation from Arabic): I should first like to join you, Mr. President, and other representatives in expressing grief at the tragic loss of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India and current Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. 56. We were deeply shocked at the news of the assassination of Mrs. Gandhi, who was one of the most prominent leaders of the third world and of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. With her death, we have lost a great supporter of the cause of justice and the liberation of all peoples. This loss has therefore caused great grief in the Syrian Arab Republic. 57. I ask the delegation of India to transmit the heartfelt condolences of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Government and people of India, as well as to the family of the great departed leader. [The speaker continued in English.] 58. Now, on behalfof the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. I have the honour to introduce to the General Assembly chapter XXVI of the report of the Special Committee [.1/39/23]. which contains an account of the Committee's consider- ation of the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvi- nas). activ~ rol~ in this con.nection. Th~ G~vernment h,as ~3. Ho~eyer, we insist that.these negotiations must pro:f;llls~d Its .own ParlIament that It wIll !1~t settle ~ts not be lImIted to the questIon of sovereignty, but terr~to~al dIsputes ~y force. In. addItIon to Its m.ust, as I have already said, cover all the issues that dedIcatIon to peace, It has statea Its firm resolve to WIll ensure the re-establishment of relations between work for peace within the Conference on Disarm- the two States on a permanent basis. Prominent ament. among these issues is the status of the present 85. All of this means that Argentina not only inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands. accepts peac.e but is striving for it..Knowing that, 94. For all these reasons, I hope that I may be when peace IS at stake, verbal co.mmltments are not permitted a final thought, perhaps an unusual one. enough o~ a funda!Dental questIon that ~ffect.s the Argentina would like the vote of all the Member country dIrect!y, as In the c~s~ ofth~ ~alvIm~s,.It has States present in support of the draft resolution. But taken a practIcal and realIstIc polItIcal deCISIon. the affirmative vote that we most desire is precisely 86. Who can doubt that my Government seeks that of the United Kingdom, for it would mean not peace and is truly committed to it? Who can believe only that the United Kingdom was supporting in fact that a nation stricken by internal violence, a nation the will expressed in the Charter of the United in which democracy was reborn through the will of Nations-binding upon all Member States, but mor- its people, can ignore the fact that peace is not merely ally much more binding on the permanent members desirable but indispensable? of the Security Council-but that it was ready to 87. It is therefore clear that, with regard to the begin a ~e'Y nistorical e~a with Argentina, ~i~ed at Malvinas, we join the whole international commu- re-:establIshmg the relatIons th~t have tradItIonally nity in rejecting force as a valid alternative means to e~Isted b~t'Yeen the two countrIes, an~ that to~ether resolve the conflict, but it would be politically and WIth .us It IS resolved to do ~way WIth the bIggest logically difficult to understand what path to follow c~mflIct we have ever had m our long common to end this sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas if, hIstory. while everyone rejects the use of force to settle the 95. If that happened, we should be giving the world controversy, the method of diplomatic negotiation is good news, because we should have affirmed by not accepted either. deeds that peace has reason as its method, and that 88. In these circumstances, what is to be settled is the method of international reason is called diplo- something much more important than the interest of macy. one or another country in the territory of the 96. Mr. MUNOZ LEDO (Mexico) (interpretation Malvinas Islands, South Georgia and the South from Spanish): We learned with great sorrow of the Sandwich Islands. For here we have the opportunity death of the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira to establish genuinely whether the Member States of Gandhi, whose fruitful political life was distin- the United Nations are willing, in a specific, concrete guished by active militancy for peace, co-operation case, to support the purposes and principles of between States and international justice. It is particu- Article 1ofthe Charter signed at San Francisco. That larly regrettable that her death should have occurred is precisely the Article that gives meaning and at a time when, while international tensions are being purpose to the United Nations, to its very nature. exacerbated, the developing countries need greater 89. Peace is too precious to be confined to words solidarity, a spirit of struggle and committed leader- and rhetoric; it must be affirmed whenever neces- ship. sary, in every situation. 97. On behalf of my Government, I should like to 90. Therefore, Argentina is simply asking that all of express our great appreciation of the work of Mrs. us tell our peoples that the negotiated solution, the Gandhi, the example ofwhose friendship will remain diplomatic solution is the only appropriate way forever with us. I wish to convey to the Indian definitively to resolve conflicts. Such is the form and delegation and to all the members of the Movement essence of the draft resolution [A/39/L.8] that we of Non-Aligned Countries my country's most sincere have submitted to this session of the General Assem- condolences on this grievous loss. bly. 98. For the third year in succession, the General 91. In this way, we call for a reaffirmation of the Assembly is considering the dispute between the __ principle that created and gave vitality to the Organi- Argentine Republic and the United Kimuiom of rel~vant resolutlO~s of. the Assembly. There IS ~o ments of Brazil and of Switzerland, which led to a pOInt, ~herefore, m. u.smg th!s argument to aVOId meeting at Berne in July between high-level officials emba:kmg on n.egotI~tIons whIch would embrace the of Argentina and of the United Kingdom. The questIOn of!he mhabItants and ~outd have to lead to Secretary-General states, in paragraph 8, that though a result satIsfactory to the partIes. "the Berne talks did not achieve the desired progress 106. It should also be pointed out that last year I regard it as a positive sign that the two countries many speakers referred to the consequences of estab- should have held their first direct contact since the lishing military bases in the Islands, not only because end of the 1982 conflict". He considers encouraging of the indications that such installations could serve the desire, expressed by both sides, "to seek a way to as a link between the racist regime of South Africa resume their dialogue as well as . . . their avowed ~ and our continent, but also because they are clearly commitment not to resort to force in connection with designed to serve global strategic ends. the dispute". !!!I con~tItutes an ImpC?rtant contnbutlOn to the searc~ United Kingdom interests, respectively, attended the for i1 peaceful solutIon of the. problem of the.Malvl- meeting that took place in July this year at Berne. nas. T~e General Ass~mbly, It?- the te.x~ of thiS ~~aft Although that opportunity produced no tangible resolutIon, ~ot only reiterates ItS traditIonal posItIon accomplishments it can be regarded as a positive on the subject but also broadens the scope of the . f'" . . dialogue in calling upon the Governments ofArgenti- sl~n 0 wIllmgness to seek ~Ialogue, wh!ch. we hope na and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations w!ll. resume soon a~d fruitfully. BrazIl IS always with the aim offinding as early as possible a peaceful wlllmg to co-operate m any future efforts to that end. solution to the sovereignty dispute and the outstand- 138. The international community cannot accept ing d,ifferences with regard to .the questi~n of the the delaying of substantial negotiations on the mat- Malvmas Islands. My delegatIon appreciates the ter. An immediate resumption of ta.lks should be spirit ofconciliat.ion demonstr~ted by the sl?onsors of attempted in a spirit of true dialogue;, with an open the draft resolutIon, and particularly the Important exchange of reasonable views and proposals. role assigned in it to the Secretary-General's mission . . . of good offices, and we trust that its adoption by the 1~9. Twenty Latm A~encan delegatI~ns hav~ sub- Assembly will finally pave the way to an authentic mltte? th~ draft resolutl(~n before us with a view to negotiating process. contnbutmg to the carrymg. o.ut of ~he work of the 133. In the debate that preceded the adoption of General Assemb.ly. In.our opmlOn? thiS body can c:mly resolution 38/12 at the thirty-eighth session, the profit from dealIng ~I~h the questIo~ of the Malvmas delegation of Spain, along with many others, referred In a. moderate, pos~tl.ve, constf1;1ctIve manner, and hopefully to the return of democracy in Argentina as that I~ exa~tly the SPIrit that preSided oyer th~ efforts the best contribution of that country to the easing of resultIl!g m the balanced text contamed 111 draft tension in the South Atlantic. For the past 12 resolutIOn A/39/L.8. months,. the ArgentiJ:?-e Re~ublic ~as confirmed, by 140. Our main objective is to restore the atmos- deeds, .ItS p~aceful !ntentIC:ms with ~egard to t~e phere that led the parties to the negotiation table this resolutIon of I~ternat~o.naldisputes. It IS now for thiS year. The continued pursuit ofgrounds for agreement ~ssembl~ to give deCISive ~~mentum to the resto.ra- is absolutely essential, and we are confident that, tIon of dIalo.gue an.d negotIatlC?ns between ArgentIna despite all difficulties, progress can be achieved. In and !he Umted Kin~dom which would lead to ~he this spirit, I welcome and support the proposals for solutIo~ of the cC?lomal.problem and th~ restoratIon negotiations that Mr. Caputo, Minister for Foreign of relatIOns of fnendshlp and co-operatIon between Afii-irs of Argentina, has just made-or, rather, the two countnes. renewed-to the General Assembly and to the 134. Mr. MACIEL (Brazil): The Chairman of the United Kingdom from this rostrum. He did so on Group of Latin American States has already ex- behalfof the Government of President Alfonsin, who pressed our grief at the death of Prime Minister has all our support in his search for a negotiated Indira Gandhi. I myself have no words to express peace. adequately my own sorrow and that of the Brazilian. . . people and Government. ~41. Fmally, ~y delegation als~ ':lnderlInes the ... Importance attnbuted to the contmumg role of the 135. My 4~legatIon IS now .t~kmg the floor. to Secretary-General in carrying out the mandate en- restate BrazIl.s well-known pO~ltIon C?~ the questIon trusted to him with regard to the question before us. of th~ Malvlnas Islands. ThIS posItIon was first We are sure that all Member States share this view, in e~tabhshed over a.ce1?-tury and a half ago. In fac~, the light of the responsibilities of the Organization smce the very ~egmnmg of the controversy that IS with regard to the maintenance of peace and, in now b~fore us, I~ !833? my Government adopted.an particular the settlement of disputes by peaceful uneqUIvocal pOSItion m support of the Argentme means ' Republic's claims to sovereignty over the islands. . That was immediately after the Islands had been invaded and their inhabitants expelled. The meeting rose at 1 p.m.