A/39/PV.64 General Assembly

I propose that, if there are no ohjections, the list of speakers in the debate on this item be closed today at 12 noon. It was so decided. 2. Mr. HOANG RICH SON (Viet Nam) (interpreta- tion from French): For the past 40 years, South-East Asia has experienced successive wars of unprecedent- ed scope and ferocity. The volume of bombs and explosives used in Indo-China alone has been five times larger than that used during the Second World War. 3. At the end of the second Indo-China war every- one believed that peace and stability had truly returned to the region. But there once again appeared a threat to peace and stability in Indo-China and the rest of South-East Asia. When the Western aggressors were forced to withdraw from Indo-China, the expan- sionists and hegemonists to the north set their minds to subjugating Indo-China, to satisfy their ambitions. They believed that the countries of Indo-China were too exhausted by 30 years of continuous war to stand up to them, even though they were so much weaker than the Western imperialist Powers. Moreover, they regarded themselves as having certain advantages that the imperialists from the distant West did not have. Therefore, they spared no efforts in their many attempts to subjugate Viet Nam and the rest of Indo- China to open the way to the whole of South-East Asia, in order to realize their long-cherished ambi- tion to "recover South-East Asia at all cost", the "extremely rich South-East Asia, which, with its wealth of minerals, is certainly well worth conquer- ing", in the belief that "once South-East Asia is conquered, the wind from the east will blow away the wind from the west". 4. One of the pernicious manoeuvres of those expansionists and hegemonists is to pit one country against another, one group of countries against another, in order to provoke "un~versal chaos", allowing them quietly to impose their "supreme suzerainty". In so doing, they hope that in the not too distant future the countries of Indo-China and South- East Asia will be so weak that they thei'lselves will be four times more powerful, and then the conquest of the whole of South-East Asia will be near at hand. NEW YORK 5. In past centuries, and especially in the last 40 years, all threats against the independence, peace and stability of South-East Asia always arose from the colonialist, imperialist, expansionist and hegemonist forces outside the region. Between the countries of South-East Asia there exist problems of a historical nature as well as disagreements; yet, such differences are minimal compared to the danger that weighs over the independence, peace and stability of the region. 6. In order to carry out their designs of domination and aggression with regard to the countries of South- East Asia, the colonialist, imperialist and expa:-sion- ist forces resorted to their customary manoeuvre of dividing the countries of the region and striving to train a certain number of them in the wake of their opposition to other States in this part of the world. 7. In the past 40 years, the countries of Indo-China have been subjected to aggression and domination by the colonialist, imperialist, expansionist forces, wPlch believed that once the Indo-Chinese countries were conquered it would be easy to establish domina- tion over the whole region. That is why Indo-China has fallen victim to the most bloody wars of aggres- sion and the most perfidious schemes and ma- noeuvres. 8. Now, however, the forces of peacle and indepen- dence in South-East Asia, steadily growing stronger, are able to defeat those schemes and manoeuvres. The States of the region are today more aware of the threat from outside and realize the need to strengthen understanding and co-operation in the face of that threat. The lesson of history, for which the countries of South-East Asia had to pay dearly, is that they must oppose any division in the region and all attempts by outside countries to provoke confronta- tion between the different groups of nations; they must promote mutual understanding and co-opera- tior. in order to defend the peace and stability of the whole region and safeguard the independence and sovereignty of each country. 9. Having been deprived of peace and stability for so long, South-East Asia, more than any other part of the world, needs peace and stability. The countries of Indo-China in particular, victims of the wost bloody wars of aggression, yearn for peace and stability so that they may heal the wounds of war and devote themselves to national reconstruction. 10. After 1975 Viet Nam extended the hand of friendship to the other States ofthe region in order to establish good-neighbourly relations and contribute to the immediate establishment of peace, stability and co-operation in the whole of South-East Asia. At one time relations between the countries of the region were making encouraging progress. After- wards, despite the efforts of certain powers behind the scene to set the two groups of countries of Indo- China and of the Association of South-East Asian sta~le. T~ls IS tr.ue not least of South-East ASia, a mitted countless crimes there in the interest of their regl<?,?- which, as IS well known, has not had peace or monopolies. Those that with barbaric air raids, stablhty fo~ the last. four deca?~s. . napalm and ~he use of chem.ical agents brought 5.2. What I~ the.bas~c pre-condltlon for a n~rmahza- untold s.uffenng and destruction to Indo-China, tIOrl ofthe situatIon m South-East ASia? It hes, above whose dirty war of aggression against Viet Nam re~ion must not join the ranks of the propaganda and mIlitary front against the States of Indo-China. 65. There is only one way to strengthen mutual understanding and diminish differences of views, that is, by joint consideration of the problems raised by each side. Negotiations on the basis of equality and mutual respect are possible when they are based s0!ll~ other ASEAN,countne~and the !lleetmgs of the General Assembly on the situation in Kampuchea. MInIster for ForeIgn. AffaIrS <?f, VIet Nam, ¥r. The resolutions adopted by the Assembly, as well as Nguyen Co Thach, WIth the MInIsters f~r ForeIg,n the Declaration on Kampuchea adopted by the Aff~Irs of a number of ASEAN, countnes at thIS International Conference on Kampuchea,2 also take sess!on of the <;Jeneral Assembly gIve us grounds for into account the legitimate security interests of all hopmg, that, dIalogue between the two groups of States in the region, including Viet Nam, by calling, countnes wIll develop further. inter alia, for guarantees ofa neutral and non-aligned 86. The Soviet delegation believes that the efforts K~mpuchea that would not pose ~ threat to its of the United Nations and all those that cherish the neIghbours. The Assembly resolutions also look interests of international peace and security must be forward to a future in which. after t~e settlement, of oirected towards promoting a successful dialogue the Kampuchean problem, th~ countnes ofthe r~gIOn between the two groups of South-East Asian coun- would be able to CL- •.erate m effo!,!s ~o establIsh a tries. We believe that the debate on the question of z0I;le of peace, freedom ~md neutrahty m South-East peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia ASIa, ~hI~h would,contnbute not,only to, peace and in the General Assembly should promote dialogue stabIlIty I~ the regIOn but also to mternatIOnal peace between the countries of Indo-China and the ASEAN and secunty. countries and the normalization of relations between 91. What is now required. therefore, is a sincere them. However. in this connection, we cannot permit effort by all the countries concerned to bring about a the Organization to be exploited for the imposition peaceful, just and lasting settlement of the situation of one-sided decisions, which could only further in Kampuchea. Once the full independence, sover- complicate the situation in that part of the world. eignty and territorial integrity of Kampuchea were Indo-~hlI~a, th~ VIetnamese auth<?nttes had .no scru- implement the relevant United Nations resolutions pies ~n dlstortmg the facts of hIStOry, delIberately on Cambodia. lumpmg together the dIfferent stages of the 40-year. ... post-war hi:;tory of Indo-China and the three Indo- 109. In ItS ~tatements u~der thIS Ite,?, V.let N:am Chinese wars of different nature. They shamelessly constantly reIterates certam themes..FIrst, It.claIms describe their invasion of Kampuchea and control of that there ha~ been some progress I.n the dIalogu.e Laos as protection of the sovereignty and the territo- between the ;)tate~ ~f South-East ASIa. Secondly, It ry of these countries. Claiming to be the representa- re~ers to the d~clsIon of the Move~ent C?f N0l!- tlve of the three Indo-Chinese countries, they have AII~ned Countnes on S~uth-~ast. ASIa. ThIrdly, .It arbitrarily monopolized all the rights of Kampuchea ~lalms that the unstable sltu~tIon 111 ~outh-East ~sIa and Laos in international affairs. Can there be any IS .the result of. external Interve~tIon, espeCIally other explanation for all this than that the Vietnam- Ch10ese hegemomsm. Please permIt me to explore ese authorities regard these two countries as their these three themes. protectorates? 110. The first major theme that Viet Nam has put 104. The maintenance of peace and stability in f?rward is that there is a g~owing dialogue between So.ut~-East Asia is a p~essing and seri.ous matter. On the States of South~East!'-sla. We agree. !~ere hac-ve thIS Issue, no country IS allowed to dIStOrt the truth, been. regular. meetmgs oetween the MI!1Isters tor confound right and wrong and divert public attention ForeIgn AffaIrS of many South-East ~sIan States. for its own ulterior purposes. The Chinese Govern- O~ly one State ha~ be~n excluded, dehbe~ately, by ment has all along adhered to the five principles of Vlet. Nam from thIS dIalogue..That State IS De,?o- peaceful coexistence and is ready to join all the other cratlc Kampuchea, led by Pr10ce Norodom Slha- justice-upholding and peace-loving countries and nouk. peoples in the continued endeavour for peace and Ill. If Viet Nam is really sincere in its claim that it stability in South-East Asia. China has consistently wants to see a dialogue between the countries of stood fOll" a fair and reasonable settlement of the Indo-China and the countries of ASEAN, we invite Kampuchean question at an early date and holds that Viet Nam to convene a meeting where the three the key to the settlement lies in the complete Indo-China States Members of the United Nations withdrawal of all the Vietnamese troops from Kam- and the six ASEAN States Members of the United puchea. China wishes to see a peaceful. neutral, Nations get together for a dialogue. As soon as Viet independent and non-aligned Kampuchea after Viet Nam agrees to such a dialogue, tremendous progress Nam's troop withdrawal. will have been made towards a peaceful and stable 105. Both the relevant General Assembly resolu- situation in South-E~st Asia. IfViet Nam decides not tions and the Declaration on Kampuchea have long to accept such a dIalogue, we .should perhaps ask: since pointed to the correct way to the settlement of Why. no~? Why sh0!lld C~J!lbodIa not be represen~ed the Kampuchea question and the relaxation of at thIS dIalogue b.y Its legItImate 90vernll!ent, WhICh tensions in South-East Asia. If only the Vietnamese h~s been recogmzed at the Umted NatI<;ms? Even authorities abandon their policies of aggression and VIet N~m has not chal.lenged the credentIals of the expansion, withdraw their aggressor troops from delegatIon ofDemocratIc Kampuchea for the last two Kampuchea and agree to settle the Kampuchean years. question in compliance with resolutions of the Gen- 112. We in ASEAN firmly believe that South-East eral Assembly, the situatio!1.in ~outh-Eas.t Asi~ will Asia is o~.the verge. of a new era of peace. p~osperity be relaxed. peace and stabIlIty m the regIOn wIll be and stabIlIty. Through a process of close regIonal co- restored and the fundamental obstacles to inter-State operation. the ASEAN States have been gradually co-operation in the region will be eliminated. This is developing their societies. ASEAN has worked be- bo(~ia, perhaps Viet Nam's withdrawal from Cambo- dia could solve this one major problem that worries Viet Nam. 117. We also agree with Viet Nam that South-East Asia has been the focus of external intervention. We agree with Viet Nam that such external intervention should cease. We firmly believe, however, that the external intervention will cease only when Viet Nam agrees to resolve the problem of Cambodia. By invading Cambodia, Viet Nam has flung not only itself but also the rest of South-East Asia into the Sino-Soviet conflict. It would have been wiser for Viet Nam not to ju~p into this conflict between two major Powers. By proposing a reasonable compre- hensive political settlement to the Cambodian prob- lem, ASEAN hopes to extricate both Viet Nam and the rest of South-East Asia from their involvement in ~oubt that such ~ctions are not in keeping with the 136. Any attempt by any State or group ofcountries !nterests of ThaIland or the prese!1t or long-term of South-East Asia, alone or with outside support, to mterests of the peoples of that r~f~Ion. compel the States of Indo-China to accept one-sided 128. Everyone knows that the ,,~ctory of the Viet- terms will inevitably be duly rebuffed and doomed to namese, Lao and Kampuchean peoples in their failure. This applies fully to the continuing provoca- th~ S~ates of Indo-Chma and ~helr reahstIc and East Asia and that the political climate in that region objectIve approac~ to the solutIoI?- of !he urgent remains exacerbated and tense. problems ofthe regIOn can be found m theirextreme-· . ly clear proposals which take account of the interests 1.47.. WI~hout ~ doubt, the maIn. cause fo~ that of all parties, proposals that were put forward at the sltu~tIOn IS the II?-terferenc~ of outSide forces In the eighth and ninth conferences of Ministers for Foreign affairs of States In the re~IOn, the a~temJ?ts on the Affairs of Viet Nam, Kampuchea and Laos, held at part of.those forces to Impose their wIll on the Vientiane on 28 and 29 January and 2 July this year, peoples In tha.t part of the world ~nd t<? prevent them respectively. from embarkIng on a constructIve dialogue. 140. These proposals provide for the possibility 148. It would appear t~at those forces ~ave not both of a comprehensive solution to the problems learned the lessons of ~lstOry .and t~e disastrous connected with peace and stability in South-East Asia consequen.ces.of aggress~on ag~ms~ V~et Nam ~nd and oftheir partial solution with individual countries endeavoU.l. to Impose their domInation m that ~egIOn of the area. They are based on the principles of !hrou&h .other means taken from the repertOIre of peaceful coexistence among States and good-neigh- Impenahsm. . bourly relations and on the premise that the borders 149: The course o~ eve.nts thiS y~ar has shown once of the countries of Indo-China with Thailand should agam that that polIcy IS the main obstable to the be borders of peace and friendship and that all normalization of the situation in that region. outst~n~ing issues should be resolved by means of 150. One aspect ofthe imperialist policy of interfer- negotiatIons. These proposals have been favourably ence is the application of the classical principle received and approved by people of goodwill, who according to which it is necessary to divide so as to view t~em as ~ c0l!crete and busine.ss-like approach rule. A clea~ illustration is provided by its continued to eaSIng tenSIOn m South-East ASIa. efforts to Pit the States of ASEAN against those of 141. In 1983, the States of Indo-China displayed Indo-China and provoke confrontation between their readiness to adopt as a basis for dialogue the them. proposal of the ASEAN countries put forward in 151. The obvious target of that poHcy of imperial- 1971 that South-East Asia be made a zone of peace, ism are the three countries of Indo-China, and in freedom and neutrality, free from outside interfer- order to achieve it they resort to the good offices and ence in any shape or form. territory of neighbouring countries. 142. Undoubtedly, positive changes in South-East 152. We are witnessing continued direct interfer- Asia would be facilitated by the implementation of ence in the internal affairs of the People's Republic certain proposals of the USSR, the Mongolian Peo- of Kampuchea aimed at undermining the achieve- pIe's Republic, the countries of Indo-China and the ments of the Kampuchean people, destabilizing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, covering country and overthrowing its legitimate Govern- re~IOn an~ can onl~ pOIson relatIOns between two to transform South-East Asia into a zone of peace, nelghbounng countrIes. stability and co-operation. As proofof their goodwill, 155. At the same time, pressures against the Social- those countries have confirmed their readiness to ist Republic of Viet Nam have increased, namely, accept as a basis for discussion between the two armed attacks against its territory and a slanderous groups ofStates, together with their own proposals of campaign on the pretext of a Vietnamese danger, the 29 January 1984, those. contained in the joint purpose ofwhich is to discredit Viet Nam in the eyes statement Issued by the Mmisters for Foreign Affairs of other Asian States. of the ASEAN countries on 21 September 1983.4 156. We are also witnessing another dangerous f1!~h~rmore, with a vie\y to ~acilitating the earli~r trend, that is, endeavours to revive militarism and 1OItIatI<?n of a constructIve dIalogue, !he People s the formation ofnew military and political groupings RepublIc o.f ~ampuc~ea ~as declared. I~S rea~1Oess in South-East Asia and the Pacific region. not t9 ~vaIl Itself of ItS nght to participate m the . . h f negotIatIOns. 157. Those are, In our View, t e true causes 0 . . '" tension and conflict in South-East Asia, not the 165. In additIon to that,. I~ keep1Og. with t~e situation in Kampuchea as certain circles claim and agreement between ~he Socla!lst RepublIc of VIet endeavour to prove. N~m and the ~eople.s RepublIc of Kamp1!chea, the .. .. thIrd consecutIve wIthdrawal of a contmgent of 158. ,!helf assertIOns are the frUIt ~f theIr refusal to Vietnamese volunteers from Kampuchea took place ~e~ogmze that the People's. RepublIc of Kampuchea this year. IS m the process of redress10g and strengthemng the . ..... country's political structure and that the changes that 166. The constructIve 1OItIatlv~s ~f VIet Nam, have taken place in the life of the Kampuchean Kampuchea and Laos m~et the vital 1Oter~sts of t.he people are irreversible. That people has chosen the people~ or.South-East As;a. They are consistent with path of its own development and no repudiated the. obJectn:es and pnnclple~ .of the Charter of the politician or outside force will change its destiny Umted NatIons and the decIsions of the l\-10vement . . .. . of Non-Aligned Countries embodied in the Political 159. The posItIve co~ollary t~ the conSIstent polIcy Declaration issued by the Seventh Conference of of peace and good-neighbourlIness among the three H d f S G f' Indo-Chinese countries has been a radical change in ea s .0 tate or overnl!lent 0 Non-AlIgned . ... Countnes, held at New Delhi from 7 to 12 March the sIt~atI~n m the regIOn..'Yhether there ar~ tho.se 1983 1 Those proposals are based on the premise that who lIke It or not, a polItIcal centre exert10g ItS th '. b' t' £". h t'l't d f Positive influence on international relations in fa- e.re IS no 0 ~ec Ive reason ~or os 1 I yan con ron- f d · h k h . S h tatIOn between the Indo-Ch1Oese and ASEAN coun- vour 0 .peace a~ secu~Ity as ta .en s ape m ou! - tries and that their differences and disputes stem East ASIa. The InternatI.on.a.ll?reshge. ~f the co.untnes from the intrigues of outside forces that deliberately of Indo-Ch1O.a grows dally, It IS a polItical realIty that exacerbate the situation in their own interests. That cannot be dIsregarded.. . is the meaning of the urgent appeal launched to all 160. Allow me to take thiS opportumty to declare the States of South-East Asia at the Meeting of from. this import.ant rostrum that t~e People's Re- Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Non- publIc of Bulg~na supports and Will ~ot cease to Aligned Countries to the thirty-ninth session of the su~port the. e~orts of the. three countrIes of Indo- General Assembly, held in New York from 1 to 5 Ch1O~ to elIm10ate the J?amful conseq.ue~ces of the October 1984, for the establishment of a dialogue colomal past and to bUIld a new SOCialIst society. that could enable those countries to resolve their 161. In the light of the present deterioration of the differences and establish lasting peace and stability in international situation, the question of peace, stabili- the region, as well as to eliminate the interference ty and co-operation in South-East Asia has become and threats of interference from outside. more topical and important than ever. 167. Bulgaria welcomes that important appeal to all 162. Bulgaria is convinced that it is possible to find the countries in the region and fully supports it, ways and means that will lead to a normalization of because we believe it to indicate the most appropri- the situation in that part ~~~~e=o:I~:~: our vie:'w_~te_:a~ tos:~e_~~a~regiOn~~~:bl~~~~a:eI~:_ dlfficultI~s and dIfferences that eXIst, the bIlateral Laos and-even more to the point-to Viet Nam consultatIOns and co.nta~ts under. way. between the these past five years here in New York, in the region two. g~oups of count~I~s m the regIon gIve reason for and elsewhere; we are talking and we will continue to optImIsm. That posItIve trend deserves encourage- talk .to them. We need no urging from anyone to ment and support. contmue the process of dialogue and discussion. The 169. We therefore welcome the agreement reached difference between us.and Laos. and Viet Nam is not between the two groups to be represented in the whether to talk; the dIfference IS what to talk about. negotiations by ~he Sociali.st Republic of Viet Nam 175. These were the circumstances which led the and by IndonesIa, respectIvely. General Assembly at four previous sessions to adopt 170. We also greatly appreciate the efforts of all n~ draft resolut!on o~ decision beyond remitting States desirous of contributing in one way or another dIScussIon. on thIS subject to the f~llowing s~ssion. to the success of the dialogue between the two groups The questIOn before us, therefore, IS: Have CIrcum- of South-East Asian States. stances changed to justify any other decision? 171. The delegation of Bulgaria is convinced that 176. My delegati<?n believes that the answer is the United Nations can make its contribution to the clearly no. These dIfferences continue to ~xist. And establishment of peace and stability in this region. these differences, it be~rs repeating, are not differ- We therefore believe that the pres~nt debate could ences merely between Vlet Nam and Laos on the one contribute to the normalization c:(" the situation in hand and the ASEAN countries on the other. The this region and to its transformation into a true zone fact is-and it is a vital fact-that the differences are of peace, stability and co-operation. bet~e~n Laos and Viet Nam and the overwhelming 172. Mr. ZAIN (Malaysia): As has already been said major!ty of the ~embers of th;e As~e~bly, whic~, in many times in the course of the debate, this is the adoptmg resolutIon 39/5 e~homg ~ImIlar resolutIons fifth occasion on which the General Assembly has adopted at.!he five pr~cedmg seSSIons of t~e Assem- considered the item entitled "Question of peace bly, urged ~he co~~tnes of ~outh-East ASIa, once a stability and co-operation in South-East Asia". W~ com~reh~nslve pohtlcal solutIon to the Kampuchean also all kn~w that at the conclusion of each of the conflI~t IS achIeved, to exert renewed effory:s !o debates a'i: previous sessions the Assembly did not establIsh a zo~e,?f peace, freedom and neutrahty In proceed to consider a draft resolution. Indeed, no South-East ASIa . draft resolu!i~n has ever been submitted and instead 177. It follows from th.is that, if the Assembly the Assembly has agreed to remit the item to the ~hould adopt any resolutIon at all on the present f<:>llowing session. My delegation believes that, in the Item, ~he only resol~tion w~ich it can adop~ consis- CIrcumstances that then obtained that decision was tent WIth the resolutIons WhICh have been adopted on justified and, as I shall explain later, even generous. Kampuchea ~ould again urge; Viet Nam.first of ~ll to It seems to us therefore that the question before the respond .to lhe .repeated. calls of the mternatIOnal Assembly today is: Have circumstances changed to commumty to WIthdraw Its forces from Kampuchea, justif¥ any other decision? And, in answering that to resto~e ~a~puc~ean sovereignty, independence questIOn, we need to ask ourselves a prior question and terntonal mtegnty, and to allow the Kampuche- namely: What were the circumstances that led to that an people to exercise their legitimate right to self- decision by consensus at four previous sessions ofthe determination. These indeed constitute the indis- General Assembly? pensa~le starting-point for ~eace, stability and co- 173. In the course of the debate at the thirty-eighth operatIon a~ong the countnes of South-East Asia. se~sion, the representa~ive ~f Laos said, among other 178. D~splte t~e fa~t that spme or. the statements thmgs, "whether one lIkes It or not, there are in fact m~de thIS mornmg gIve the ImpreSSIon that we are two different schools ofthought, two divergent points gomg through a second debate on Kampuchea, my ofview, in this respect" [see 59th meeting, para. 258]. delegation does not believe that it benefits the We agree with him. However, he was referring only ~ssembly yery ~uch to make that call for a spcond to differences on the principal cause of tension and tIme at. thIS seSSIOn. But my delegation also insists instability in South-East Asia, which Laos and Viet that thIS debat~ must not be allowed to become a Nam attributed mainly to the policies of two Powers subterfuge to CIrcumvent the clear decision that the external to the region-I prefer to use this neutral General Assembly had earlier arrived at. In a very expression rather than the more colourful language of real se~se, the Gener~l .Assembly,.havin.g adopted our Lao colleague. My delegation believes that he resolutIOn 39/5 and SImIlar resolutIons smce 1979, should have gone further to note that there were also has also pronounced itself on the particular item that differences on how best to proceed. On the one hand is .b~fore us today; and we can assert therefore that Laos and Viet Nam indicated that they were pre~ thIs Item has been dealt with and that we need not do pared to talk generally about the problems of peace any more. That is what I meant when I said earlier ~tabil~ty an~ co-operation in South-East Asia, sub~ that.the. Asse~b~y ha~ been generous because, in jects m whIch, somehow or other, the question of con~Idenng thl~ Item, It. has ~ccepted a procedu.ral Kampuchea would be subsumed. That still remains dev~ce to remIt the dIScussIon to the followmg their p.osition. On the other hand, Malaysia and the seSSIOn. Malaysi.a ~ould .raise no objection if the countrIes members of ASEAN-and, indeed the Assembly were SImIlarly dIsposed to be generous this overwhelming majority of the States Members ~f the year. United. Nations, as they showed o.nce again in 179. We take this view because, while the General NOTES