A/39/PV.70 General Assembly

We have learned with deep regret and sorrow of the death of the J.{ead of State and Chairman of the Presidiunl of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Mr. Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatcheuko. ;. The late Head of State was an ~du('~tionist. He also devoted much of his life to the development of his country's economy. As a soldier, he played an active part in the defence of his country against fascism. In that way he made a personal and direct contribution to international peace and security. 3. In 1976 Mr. Vatchenko had another opportunity of increasing his contribution to international peace and security, when he became Head of State of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. He performed his duties from the point of view of someone who had experienced war. That is why he worked tirelessly to enhance world peace. 4. On behalfof the General Assembly, I should like to convey our heartfelt sympathy to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the UkraInian Soviet Socialist Republic, to the family of the late Head of State and to the people of the Ukraine. 5. I now request members of the Assembly to rise and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the Head ofState ofthe Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The members of the General Assembly observed a minute of silence. 6. The PRESIDENT: I now call on the representative of Cameroon, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States. 7. Mr. ENGO (Cameroon): It is my privilege to speak on behalf of the Group of African States in expressing our sorrow at the tragic passing of the Head of State, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Ukraine, Comrade Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko. We share our sorrow and express 'Jur solidarity with our colleagues here of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. NEW YORK 8. The occasion of the death of a leader of such importance and distinction may well provide an opportunity for his people and for the universal generation that he served to take stock of the path trod in the quest for cherished aspirations within his country and international peace and security outside it. The best tribute that can be paid would come from a determination to learn from the true meaning attached to the life of the departed leader. 9. We, the African peoples, who continue to struggle against foreign domination, both economic and political-peoples that must bear the impossible but primary burden of overthrowing dehumanizing conrlitions such as exist under prehistoric ideas like apartheid-deeply appreciate the constant support of the Ukrainian leadership in condemning the atrocities on our continent's south. 10. We trust that through you, Mr. President, our condolences and solidarity will be communicated to the Government and people of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic as well as to the bereaved family. 11. The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative of Japan, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States. 12. Mr. KURODA (Japan): On behalfof the Member States of the Group of Asian States, r wish to express our deep sorrow at the untimely passing of Mr. Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko, Head of State and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ofthe Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. He was an eminent statesman and he had occupied the highest office of his country for the past eight years. His death is a profound loss to the Government and the people of his great country. 13. On behalfofthe Member States of the Group of Asian States, I should like to extend our sincere condolences to the people and Government of his country, to the members of the Ukrainian Mission to the United Nations and in particular to the members of the bereaved family of Mr. Vatchenko. 14. The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative of Poland, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States. 15. Mr. NATORF (Poland) (interpretation from Russian): It was with great sorrow that we learned of the death after a long illness at the age of 70 of Mr. Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko, Head of State and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Ukraine and hero of the socialist struggle. 16. Mr. Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko was born in 1914. Until 1941 he was engaged in educational

As representative of the host country to the United Nations, the United States delegation wishes to express its deep sympathy and condolences to the people and representatives of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, a Member of the United Nations since its beginning, on the death of President Vatchenko. His passing gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the importance of peace to the peoples of the world. We who remain behind will continue to work towards world peace and security through the Organization in which the Ukraine has been a Member since its inception. 29. We wish our condolences to be conveyed to the family and to the colleagues of President Vatchenko.

I now call upon the representative of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The delegation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic expresses its sincere gratitude to you, Mr. President, to the Chairman of the Group of African States, the Chairman of the Group of Asian States, the Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States, the Chairman of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Chairman of the Group of Western European and other States and the Chairman of the Group of Arab States, as well as to the representative of the United States of America on behalf of the host country, for the condolences expressed at the demise of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko. We have been deeply touched by the warm wurds and feelings expressed here. 32. The whole of the life and activities of Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko-and especially during the period in which he was Chairman ofthe Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic-was totally devoted to the solution of the most pressing problems of the social and economic development of the Republic and to the systematic struggle for the maintenance and strengthening of peace and the prevention of the threat of a nuclear war, as well as to the strengthening and extension of friendly relations and co-operation among nations. 33. The image of Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko will remain for ever in our hearts. I should like once again to thank all delegations for the condolences they have expressed. We shall transmit them to the people and Government of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, as well as to the members of the family of Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko. (a) Report of the Special Committee against Apartheid; (b) Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Conventiun against Apartheid in Sports; (c) Report of the Secretary-General

First of all, I should like to convey the cond<p lences of my delegation to the Mission, the Government and the people ofthe Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on the occasion of the sad loss ofChairman Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko. 35. Once again, the General Assembly turns to the question of the policy of apartheid, practised by the Pretoria authorities. Once again, the international community finds itself confronted with this standing crime South Africa continues to commit in violation of human values and fundamental human rights, dignity and existence. 36. The policy of apartheid is a constant act of defiance of the international community, but consideration of this agenda item at this particuiar juncture is of special importance because of the worsening of the situation in this part ofthe African continent and the threat it poses to peace and security, both in the region and in the whole world. Our debate on the situation in South Africa is being carried out at a time when the policy of the regime has taken on new dimensions and has become codified by its constitution, having moved from the stage of institutionalized racism. As a result, ever greater vigilance is needed by the international community in opposing the manoeuvres of Pretoria and the practice of that regime to deny the black majority their rights to selfdetermination and sovereignty. 37. The General Assembly was obliged, at an early stage of its work at this session, to take a categorical stand on the so-called constitutional reforms introduced by the Pretoria authorities to consolidate the policy of racial discrimination. General Assembly resolution 39/2 echoes the sentiments expressed in Security Council resolution 554 (1984) regarding the sham elections held by the South African regime, which the Council declared to be null and void. Those elections are further proof of the persistent desire of the racist regime to press ahead with its odious policy of apartheid, a policy that has been condemned by the international community as a crime against humanity. The regime has also sought to sow discord in the natural alliance between the African majority and the other communities ofSouth Africa who struggle against racial discrimination. le: has sought to dupe international public opinion by engaging in a shifty process that was far from being a true referendum among the groups concerned. 38. The mass demonstrations that followed the sham elections were proof of the heroic resistance to the apartheid regime, but they could not halt the barbaric, bloody' .mpaign that resulted in hundreds of victims among students, workers and others who demonstrated against the regime's policy. The op- ~obilize its efforts against this crime against t..uman- Ity. 44. The report ofthe Special Committee reveals the intensive activity which has taken place in the past year. Its Sub-Committees and Task Forces have made considerable efforts at different levels and in different spheres. In this connection, we wish to express our gratitude and congratulations to Mr. Garba, representative of Nigeria and Chairman of ~frical a socie~y bfls~d 0!1 government by the major- 54. Finally, in moral terms, apartheid is a phenome- Ity, WIthout dISCrImmatIOn or bondage. non whose essence is derived from barbarous values 46. Mr. BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA (Gabon) (interthat deny mankind's progress throughout history. pretation from French): My delegation, first of all, Therefore, it is a categorical imperative for Gabon to wishes to offer its sincere condolences to the membe outraged by such an odious social system, which bers of the Mission of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist allows a white minority to deny a black majority, of Republic upon the passing of Mr. Vatchenko, Head virtually 74 per cent, the right to exist upon a of State and Chairman of the Presidium of the territory bequeathed to it by nature and previous Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist generations. Republic. We extend our ~ympathyto the people, the 55. As I have already said, there are many similari- Government and the famIly of that great ~tatesmal}, ties between the policy of apartheid and nazism, who has done so much for the well-bemg of hIS which 40 years ago ied mankind into a monstrous country. war. Both involve a system that, sadly, proclaims the 47. A year from now the Organization will be virtues of discrimination and beliefin the superiority celebrating its fortieth anniversary, but before that and special mission of one race. date, a glorious one for the many peoples and nations 56. Thus, since the National Party came to power in that have faith in its noble ideals ofpeace and justice, South Africa in 1948 the repressive machinery of the it is worth recalling that it was from the ashes of the rac:st Pretoria authorities, based upon the guiding anti-Fascist struggle that our universal Organization principles of Adolf Hitler, has ceaselessly and piticame into being: At the time ofits creation nume~ous lessly operated against the black community. peoJ?les and .natIOns based the.If hopes. on the UnIted 57. Apartheid, which is contrary to the moral and Natlon~, ~hlch, as stated pa~Icularly m the purpo~es legal rules of civilized societies, is designed as a and prInclpl~~ enumerated m th~ ~harter, ~as mpolicy of segregation intended to crush the black ten~ed ff .be a cent~e for harmonIzmg t~e a~tIOns of people regardless of age, sex or creed. Its various natIons. m the attaIl!men~ of en~s whIch mcluded manifestations are cruelly imposed in all cultural, !~e solvm~ of the varIOUS mtern~tIOnal problems by artistic, sporting, economic and social activities, encouragmg respect for hu~an rIght~ ~nd for fundawhere the black population is denied the right to take mental freedoms for all WIthout dlstmctIOn as to part race sex language or religion". ' . . , , .. . . 58. As a polIcy, apartheid has a number of aspects, 48. Whe~her It IS !i~ Ifony of fate or a ~alI~nt fact of the most flagrant of which are the removal of mode~ hISt~ry, AfrIca, a contment whIch IS already citizenship, arbitrary arrests, the adoption of an strugglmg WIth tJIe numerous problems of underd~- arsenal of iniquitous judicial and constitutional ,:elopment, c~ntmues also t.o suffer from the at~ocImeasures, the usurpation of fertile lands, the policy tI~S of th.e polIcy of apar~hel(!, whose very close l~nks of bantustanization, violence. terrorism, blackmail, WIth nazlsm have.been hIghlIghted by many preVIOUS threats and denial of the most elementary civil speakers from thIS rostrum. liberties. 4.9. The delegation of Gabon believes it to be only 59. There is no doubt that it is because of the nght, therefore, that for mor~ t~an a qu~rter of a regime's cruelty that the Organization has on a century t~e Assembly has. ~amtamed on l.tS agenda number of occasions described apartheid as a "crime the questIOn of the polI~les of apartheid of the against humanity". This gives valiJity to the justice Government of South AfrIca. of the implacable struggle waged against this scourge 50. That is espechdly true because the Gabonese by the black community in that part of the world, Republic, which is governed in such an enlightened that is, in that part of southern Africa. manner by President En H"dj Om~r Bongo, our Head 60. In this context the delegation of Gabon renews of Sta~e, ~ttac~es !he greatest Importance to the its support for the South African movements recogexplOSIve sItuatIon m th'!t part C?f the world, where nized by the Organization of African Unity [OAU]- the s~our~e ~f .apar~he!d contmues to defy the in particular, the African National Congress ofSouth OrgamzatIon m ItS mIssIon to promote and ensure Africa [ANC] and the Pan Africanist Congress of peace on our planet. Azania [PAC]. Similarly, we once again condemn the 51. At the risk of repetition, may I recall that there racist Pretoria regime for the cruelty of its repressive are three reasons for the interest of the delegation of policy, which is a challenge to the universal con- Gabon in the question we are now debating. science. £': • • something said by Bishop Desmond Tutu, the winner 100. Mr..John Dugard, a prOlessor of. Int.ernatIO~al of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, in the statement he law and D~rectorofthe CeI?-tre ~or StudIes In Apph~d made on 23 October 1984 before the Security Law of Wltwatersrand Umverslty, Johannesburg, In Council He said. a study on the apartheid policy of depriving blacks of ,,' . . . their citizenship, has affirmed that since it is incum- We ?ream of a new S~CI~ty t~at wIll be truly bent on all States to make no distinction between non-racIal, truly democratI~, In wh.lch people count their citizens on ethnic grounds, it would seem that because they are created In the Image of God. the relevant measures applied on a world scale in "We are committed to work for justice, for peace South Africa constitute a violation of international and for reconciliation. We ask you, please help us; law, and that the argument that international law urge the South African authorities to go to the forbids States to deprive their citizens of their conference table with the authentic representatives nationality on ethnic grounds is based on the practice of all sections of our community. o.f States, multilateral treaties and other legal provi- " SIons. "I say we will be free, and we ask you: Help us, 101. The bantustan policy has also resulted in the that this freedom come for all of us in South transfer of populations by force in conformity with Africa, black and white, but that it come with the what the South African authorities speak of as least possible violence, that it come peacfully, that resettlement. According to some estimates, nearly 3.5 it come soon."*1 million African citizens have already been the vic- 106. Egypt hopes that the world will respond to this tims of this resettlement and the resultant suffering appeal so that the people of South Africa, whatever and it is expected that by the time this operation is the colour of their skin, and indeed the whole region finished the number will be 5 million, or 20 per cent of southern Africa, may be spared the misfortunes of the total population. These bantustans, which lack that would follow a struggle whose consequences are the means necessary for a strong economy, are totally unforeseeable. dependent economically on the Government of South Africa, not to mention the fact that the 107. Mr. MOHAMMED (Trinidad and Tobago): inhabitants are subject to constant displacement and My delegation joins in paying a tribute to the late that the basis on which the bantustans are established Aleksei Vatchenko, Head of State and Chairman of is contrary to international law. All these things the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainiconfirm unequivocally the groundless nature of the an Soviet Socialist Republic. My delegation offers its South African Government's claim that the bantu- *Quoted in English by the speaker. hav:e.occupi~dfrom ~i~e imm~morial; the nu~berC?f once the. c~J.1stitutio~ h~s been changed this opens up polItIc~1 pnsoners IS mcreasmg and repreSSIOn IS the pOSSIbIlIty that It WIll change again in the future, endemIC. . that in due course the black majority will be permit- 109. Within recent times the emergence ofindepen- !ed repres~ntation in the Go vern~ent, whi~h is its dent States in South Africa has tended to weaken the Inherent nght, and that through thIS mechamsm and hold that South Africa has had over the region since procedure th.e n~ghtmare of apart~eid w~ll go away. the early days of colonialism. In order to maintain Look~d .at In ItS t~e perspectIve th~s so-called this status quo, the South African regime has emconstItutIOnal change IS a ~ubtle but delIberate proployed changing strategies in an effort to impede the ~ess further to entre~ch whIte supremacy by polariztransformation ofthe social and economic conditions Ing the other populatIOn groups, thereby fragmenting in these newly independent States. In addition, it has any conce~ed.opposition to aparthezd. This.so-called succeeded in extending its illegal occupation of new constItutI.on has been courageously rejected ~y Namibia. All ofthis is with the design of maintaining th~ S,;mth Afncans .th~mselves, as attested to by ItS and even deepening its apartheid policies in South rejectIon by the majonty of the Coloured and Asian Africa itself. peoples and by the demonstrations which have 110. The history of South Africa's regional policy shaken the regime in recent months. clearly reveals a convenient shifting from a reliance 115. .We are witnessing yet another stage in the on the economic domination of its neighbours for its evolutIon of the entrenchment of apartheid. Any own nefarious purposes to an increasing use of attempt by the racist regime in Pretoria to placate military and terrorist tactics. In recent years South some members of the international community while Africa has flagrantly violated the territorial integrity ~t the same time tightening the heinous tentacles of of neighbouring States with increasing frequency; it ItS aparth~id policy around the suffering people of has done this 'Yith. a range of actions, including South Afnca,. and any attempt by the minority rulers sabotage, assassInatIons and commando raids. In of South AffIca to frustrate the efforts of thIS body addition, it has taken deliberate measurer to destabiand bring to naught the authority of the United lize the front-line States by disrupting their fragile Nations and its agencies, must be resisted. It is economies. incumbent upon us to strengthen the role of the 111. My Government has serious doubts about the United !'lations system to counteract the po~icies of policy of so-called constructive engagement advocataparthezd. We have to ensu!e that o~r re~oluttonsare ed by some States, by which they maintain diplomatrespected an.d made effectIve and II! th.IS regar~ we ic and economic relations with the Pretoria regime. have to ~btam the support of the entlfe mternatIonal As we understand it, the argument of these Governcommumty. ments is that apartheid could better be subverted 116. We need to maintain the pressure on the racist from within South Africa, that the racist regime regime in South Africa in order to induce change, could be informed directly that those States do not and the elements of that pressure must be the support the abhorrent system of apartheid and that universal diplomatic isolation of South Mrica, an those Governments would be better able to assess the embargo on all military supplies to South Africa, the internal situation to enable them to take appropriate effective social and cultural isolation of South Africa action. and, above all, the institution ofan effective policy of 112. My delegation is of the view that such hopes mandatory economic sanctions against South Africa. are at best naive and at worst a rationalization 117. We reiterate that apartheid cannot be remotivated by the lure of economic profits and formed; it must be entirely dismantled. The possibiliec~nomic . gains-econo~i~ profits an~ e~onomic ty of dismantling.apartheid through peaceful means gams denved from polICIes of explOItatIOn and seems to be recedmg or already to have receded. It is subjugation. This policy of so-called constructive time for the Organization to put an end to the engagement has not worked in the past, it cannot machinations and prevarications of that repugnant work at present and it will not work in the future. In regime and determine to deal with it effectively and fact, it would have the contrary impact, in that it unequivocally in accordance with the provisions of would give the racist regime a measure of interna- Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. !ional support w.hich wou~d; then be translated on the 118. Mr. KI (Burkina Faso) (interpretation from Int~fJ.lal scene Int~ a VICIOUS enforcement of the French): I~ was w~th deep distress that my delegation polICIes of aparthezd. learned thIS mornmg the sad news ofthe death of Mr. 113. A new stratagem introduced by the racist Aleksei Fedoseevich Vatchenko the Chairman of the regime is the adoption of a "new constitution" and it Presidium of the Supreme So~iet of the Ukrainian has proceeded to condu~t elections giving th~ .so- Soviet Socia~i~t Republic: We express ?ur sympathy po~icy of .apartheid, its acts ~f aggressioIf a~ainst ty, thus making them foreigners in their own country, nelghbo~nng Indep~n.dent Afncan States, Its !llegal has been accelerated in recent years. Thus, the pass occupatIon of NamIbIa and ItS. savage .re1?res~IOn of laws have been strictly applied and forced transfers the black, Coloured and IndIan maJonty In the of population have been stepped up. It is estimated country. that between 1960 and 1982 more than 3.5 million 120. In a 1978 report concerning political imprispe.rs~ns w~re displaced by fo~ce and that another 1.7 onment in South Africa, Amnesty International mIllIOn wIll soon be thus dIsplaced. summ~rized the underpinnings of apartheid in the 124. It should be noted that this year South Africa followIng way: has a military budget of 2.86 billion pounds, an "It is because it holds the reins of power that the increase of more than 21 per cent over last year's white minority has been able, through the structure budget, and that it has entered upon a programme of of institutions, to consolidate its economic and sophisticated militarization, including efforts to acsocial advantages, leaving the black community quire nuclear weapons. The obvious purpose of this only a tiny part of the national reS0urces, a part over-armament is, on the one hand, to provide quite out of proportion to that community's numeans ofrepression ofthe innocent population ofthe merical size. Similarly, many laws prevent the country and, on the other, to intimidate independent blacks from evolving in any field whatever. For African States by brandishing the military threat over example, in order to prevent Coloureds from them. If the South African Government wants us to seeking jobs on the same footing as whites, a believe in its alleged desire for peace, let it start by system of reserved employment has been set up, engaging in a dialogue with its own population, and discriminatory labour legislation has stifled which calls only for equality and a little more social the upsurge of black trade unions. Budgetary justice. appr<?priation~ f~r 7~u~ation go as a m~tter of 125. At one point, reeling under the impact of the pnont~to w~lte:nsthlltIOns. Blacks are traIned for economic crisis, the minority regime adopted meassubordlIfate.Job... ~oreover, ~h~ 1953. decree on ures designed to put an end to what has come to be segregatIon In ~ouslng makes. It Imposs!ble. for the known as "petty" apartheid. Attempts were made to blacks to exercIse freely the n~t ~o resld~ ~n. most present and have us accept these tiny reforms as a of the cou!1trr· The res~lt of thIS IS the dlvl~lon of large step forward, which would sound the death ~outh Afnca mto a sene~ of homelands: It. IS only knell ofthe system ofapartheid. But we did not allow In thes~ enclaves of terntory that the .Indlgen0.us ourselves to be fooled. The same "magicians" are populatIOn, grouped together on ethnl~ o~ r~clal now presenting the "constitutional reforms" recently ~ounds, a.re entItled to own land. ThIS dlstnbuenacted as harbingers of a will for change. But this is tIo~-carned out, of course, ~y th~ G~vernment, obviously only another subterfuge used to perpetuate whIch emanates from the whIte mlnonty aloneh . 1 ... f b 1 awards 87 per cent of all the land to the whites. In t e racI~ dlvls!on 0 the c<?untry, ecause t~e egal that part, where the main industrial and mining and phIlosophIcal foundatIons of aparthezd have complexes are located, Africans cannot own land never for a moment been shaken. or move around freely, nor can they ever be 126. Indeed, the South African people were not without their identity documents, which they must fooled either. They quickly saw through this trickery. show on demand at all times. In a mass movement, they rejected it by refusing to "While many of these types of discrimination go !O t~e.polls. ¥oreover~ th~y decided to show the were already current between 1910 and 1948, they raCIst. regIme th~Ir ~etermm~tlOn to fi~t on, e,:e!1 at became institutionalized in 1948 after the National the fIsk. of theIr ~Ives, agamst.the unjust pohtIcal, Party came to power and introduced the proeconomIc and SOCIal measures Imposed upon them. gramme of apart~eid. That .sys~em est~blish~s the 127. The white minority regime ofSouth Africa has complete separatIon of t.he. mdI~eD;ous Inh.abltants also continued its practice of political and economic ~nd. t~e EuroI?eans and IS m prmclple deslgne~ t.o pressure; of threats and even military aggression hmlt InterraCIal .contacts. In fa~t, h0"Yev~r, It IS against the neighbouring independent African States; through aparthezd that the whIte mlnonty has it has also continued its illegal occupation of stayed in power and thus been able to protect its Namibia. social and economic status." . . . 128. The front-hne States, such as Lesotho, have 121. Thus, as can b~ seen, aparthezd w~s ~eslgned been the victims this year of intense pressure, fn?m .the very start 'Ylth all the charactenstIcs of an particularly because of a policy known as "construc- InIqUItouS system ~Ithout para~lel. of any sort anytive engagement", which merely seeks to build up w~ere elsezas a vehIcle for a faSCIst Ideo~ogy based on apartheid and destroy the hopes of the Africans. In abject raCIsm. order to put an end to the flagrant aggression against 122. Since then, a lot of water has gone under the their countries, some front-line States have thus been bridge, but nothing has changed in the land of induced to sign so-called security agreements with apartheid. Its underpinnings are still there and are South Africa. But can sheep really live together with being strengthened through international support wolves for any length of time? 1~84, has returned to the J?ath of.umty In dealIng ofthe United Nations", commit us all, irrespective of WIth the true problems facmg Afnca. racial origin, geographical location or economic 146. We believe in the light ofthese considerations, circumstance, to join the battle against a system first, that all States should be invited to respect based on the very antithesis of the fundamental scrupulously the United Nations resolutions concernprinciples of the Charter. We-and I mean all ing the arms embargo on South Africa; secondly, that Members of the United Nations-have no other the Security Council should adopt vigorous measures choice if we are to be faithful to our commitments under Chapter VII of the Charter; thirdly, that the and if we are to be true to ourselves. legitimacy of th~ arms struggle in So~th Africa 153. It is therefore natural that since 1946 the should. be recogmzed, and fourthly, that m the last policies of apartheid of the regime in South Africa a.nalysls we shou~d fully support all.the recom~endahave been a subject of concern to the United hons of the Sl?eclal ~ommlttee agamst Apartheid and Nations. Since that time, the increasingly multiracial congratulate It on ItS work. nature of world diplomacy has undoubtedly contin- 147. The people of Burkina Faso are mobilized to ued with time to induce a correspondingly increased give whole-hearted political support to the national hostility to racism and, in particular, to the instituliberation struggle in South Africa. We have been tionalized form of racism called apartheid. What is following the developments of the struggle step by required today, after years of discussion of this item step. Our heart is beating in unison with their hearts by the United Nations, is a translation of that because it is our struggle also-the fight for the expressed hostility into effective action to replace the dignity of the black man, indeed, of mankind. Our minority regime in South Africa by a Govenlment in purpose in so doing is the establishment of a which all the citizens of that country will and can democratic society without racial segregation based participate. on government by the majority in that part of Africa. 154. The United Nations is aware that the situation 148. Mr. ADENIJI (Nigeria): I should like at the in South Africa has never been more explosive than it outset to express to the delegation of the Ukrainian is today; nor has it ever constituted a greater threat to Soviet Socialist Republic the condolences of the international peace and security. The police brutality t~a~ wh~n apart~eld came under severe pressure the 159. The solution to the South African problem regIme In P~etona would not.stop at.any measure to cannot be found in appeasement, whatever name is p~rpetl;late Itself. The warmng whIch ma~y have given to it-direct communication, dialogue or even gIven In the Assembly. th~t. any. collaboratIon that constructive engagement. For this approach presups~rengthens the apartheId r~gIm~ mcreases the.pote!1- poses the rationality of those who operate apartheid. tIal for a ~loo?bath .of ~nlmagmable proportlo~S m It presupposes that they can be persuaded by argu- South AfrIca IS begmnmg .t? prove only too nght. ment to see the folly and pitfalls in the system. It ~ho can .now doubt the abIlIty of the ruthless group ignores the fact that to remain in power by all means m PretOrIa to resort even to the use of the nucleari' h"gh f . . ' weapon capability with which it has been endowed to m~ nt.aln t elr hI sta!ldard 0 hvmg through through years of collaboration by certain We5tern explOItatIon of t~e .non-whIte populace, are fund.acountries and corporations? mental to th~ thI~km~ of the apostles of apartheId. 156. This year's debate therefore carries a greater 160. The sItuatI~n IS then further compounded sense of urgency and gravity, given the current crisis w.hen those wh.o s~ould. convert through s~-called in South Africa sparred by the implementation of the dIrect communIcatIon, dIalogue or constructIve enso-called new constitution. It was predictable that ~agement the~selves become converted: Inves.tments this constitutional ficti~n would prov~ke, as ~t did, 11}- .South AfrIc;, and other collaboratIOn WIth the one of the most maSSIve acts of reSIstance m the regIme are JustL,led on the grounds .that these help history of the liberation struggle in southern Africa. the oppressed people of South Afnca. Such argu- The savagery and brutality shown by the racist ments s~rv~ ~erely to enco,,!rage and strengthen the regime did not deter black expressions of defiance of apo..rtheld regIme ~y confirmmg that Western Powers the so-called new constitution. Several blacks were W.hlCh are both mv~stors and the proponents. <?f killed in the process, babies were attacked and police dlalog~e or c:onstructIve eng~gement .lack the polttIeven swooped down on funeral processions. Unfortucal .wIll to Impose eCOnOI~llC sa~ctIons on So"!th nately, instead of totally condemning this blatant Afnca. Ye~ unles~ South A~rIca reah~es that the pn~e sham, some States Members made strenuous efforts o~further IntransIgence on ItS part WIll be very hIgh It to persuade the international community that what WIll n<?t be amenable to a.ny ~ngagement.. ~estern took place in South Africa was an encouraging sign of countnes should shed the IllUSIon that theIr Investdemocratization. Well, that must be democracy stood ments s.erve any <?t~er purpose ~han to str~i'lgthen on its head. Certainly it is a strange democracy which r:zpartheld a~d unwlttmgl¥ t.o sustam V/estern mterest enshrines in its constitution the exclusion of 73 per m the survIval of the regIme. cent of its population-23 million of its own citi- 161. In the view of the Nigerian delegation, the zens-from the electoral process. Indeed, those secultimate solution to apartheid lies in armed stru~le tions of the population that the apartheid regime by the South African nationalists coupled WIth sought to bring for the first time into the electoral sustained and concerted action by the internationai process in order to give greater legitimacy to its community to isolate the apartheid regime totally. strange brand of democracy were not deceived. The The Federal Military Government of Nigeria will massive boycott of the elections by the Asians and continue to exert its utmost endeavours towards this the Coloureds was a clear rejection of the so-called end. In furtherance of the efforts of the United constitutional reform. It should be a clear signal to Nations through its Special Committee against Apartthose that refused to join the Security Council in its heid, whose Chairman is a distinguished Nigerian, condemnation of the elections, whose results the the Federal Military Government was a co-sponsor in Council thereby declared null and void. Rather than Lagos in August this year of a Seminar on the Legal seeing progress in South Africa where none has taken Status of the Apartheid Regime and Other Legal place, all countries should resolve to render all Aspects of the Struggle against Apartheid. That necessary assistance to the oppressed peoples of Seminar brought together jurists and social scientists South Africa in their legitimate struggle for a nonrepresenting the main legal systems ofthe world. The racial and truly democratic society. r.onclusions of the Seminar should provide a new 157. There is no ray of hope that the rulers in impetus fOF con~erted internation~ efforts aime~ at Pretoria will give up power simply through a liberalthe total IsolatIon of South AfrIca. The Semmar izing process, in spite of the wishful optimism in this acc~pte~ th~t r:zpa~theld, tlJ.e most monst~ous form of direction on the part of some States. It would indeed raCIal dI~cnmmat~on, WhICh ~lso contams e!eme.nts be an exercise in self-deception to believe that the of ~enoclde,constItutes a spec~al case of the v~olatlOn white-dominated regime in Pretoria will peacefully ~f JUS cogens and pose~ a senous threat to mternaor willingly accept the principle of the equality of all tIonal peace and secunty. races. Years of self-delusion that they are the master 162. The South African regime by its persistent race implanted in South Africa to do God's will have violation of international law has isolated itself from hardened the racists in Pretoria into a group capable the system of fundamental values which constitutes o.fperpetrating any c:rime in God's n~me. Let delegathe very essence ofthe internation~l community. The tIOns hear the openmg words of theIr so-called new General Assembly, as the mouthpIece of the interna- Stat~, the ChaIrman.o~the Pre~IdlUm.of.the Supre~e South Africa have portrayed the cosmetic constitu- SOVIet of t?e Ukram!an SOVIet SOCIalIst Republ!c, tional changes in South Africa as a step in the right Mr. AlekseI Fed~s~evIch Vatchenko, Depu~y Chalfdirection. It has also been argued by some that it is ma~ of the Pr~sIdlU~ ~f the Supr~me SOVIet of the not for the other countries to prescribe how a free Umon of SOVIet SOCIalIst RepublIcs. and equitable society in South Africa can be organ- 165. My dele~ation notes that this is the second ized. The entrenchment of the apartheid apparatus time during thIS session it has expressed sympathy cannot be defended as a step in the right direction. upon the loss of a world leader. Indeed the people in that country have revolted 166. Mr. Vatchenko was a leader who served his agai~st that inhumane policy. It is incumbent on us Party, Government and people faithfully and conto gIve them the support they deserve. tributed a great deal to world peace and security. We 172. It is to us a matter of profound regret that the in Uganda have lost a dear friend and a champion of efforts of the international community to eliminate peace and progress. We join the Ukrainian people in that crime are being seriously undermined by a mourning the death of this great leader. May his soul deliberate refusal on the part of many powerful rest in peace. countries that are in a position to put pressure on 167. The General Assembly has before it the report So~th Afric~ to comply with the decisi<?ns of the of the Special Committee against Apartheid. We are pnIte~ NatIOn~. Instead, t~ey haye contmued an.d grateful to the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. ll~.t~nsIfied theIr collab,?ratlOn WIth the apartheid Joseph Garba of Nigeria, and its members for the r~gIme. Such collaboratIOn obstructs the eff~rt~ to commendable work they continue to perform in the dIs!TIantle the system. I! emboldens the regIme, services of national liberation. This report comes WhICh sees such collaboration as a stamp ofapproval. before us for consideration during a very critical South Afri~a se.ems to hav~ acquired.immunity from phase of the liberation struggle in southern Africa. condemnatIon ~n the ~ecu~Ity C~uncIl bec~use of the The peoples of South Africa and Namibia are blanke! prot.ectIon bemg gIven It by certam Western mourning hundreds of fallen compatriots. countrIes WIth the power of veto. 168. When last year at about this time the General 173. The report of the Special Committee against Assembly took up the item concerning the policies of Apartheid has outlined the various acts of repression apartheid of the Government of South Africa, a perpetrated by the racist regime. The situation in white-only referendum had just taken place in South South Africa is becoming more explosive. Each Africa to adopt a new constitution. That constitution passing day brings acts ofterror into the houses ofthe was aimed at bribing certain sections of the opoppressed masses of South Africa. Fresh acts of pressed majority with a view to co-opting them into torture, death, imprisonment and detention are unthe apartheid power structure. Under that constituleashed upon them. The policy or bantustanization tion racially segregated chambers were fabricated for continues unabated. Entire villages are razed to the the Coloured people and people of Indian origin. It ground and their occupants di~patched to starve in tightened the reins of oppression around the necks of arid lands. Lately, as my Minister of State pointed the African majority and entrenched racist minority out when he addressed the Assembly during the rule. The clear design ofthe fraudulent constitutional general debate [21st meeting], the racists have even changes was permanently to deprive the African been contemplating the reduction of the African majority of their inalienable right to citizenship. population through forced sterilization. Faced with foment internal conflict among the oppressed and the increasing brutalities of the apartheid regime. the impede the emergence of unh,ersal suffrage. The oppressed masses have intensified their struggle. General A~sembly and the Securitx Council quite 174. The racist regime has not confined itself to properly rejected and condemned thIS development. oppression of its own population; it has continued its 169. As we deliberate today, the Indians and sosubversive activities and aggressive actions against called Coloureds. before whom this bribe was danthe front-line States. The illegal occupation of Naembar~o was imposed a Committee of the Security CouncIl was established under Security Council resolution 421 (1977) to monitor the operation of the embargo and to make recommendations to close any loopholes. The Committee's work has, since its inception, been frustrated by those that violate this embargo and are eager to give a protective shield to racist South Africa. . 179. Fourlears ago the United States embarked on a policy 0 constructive engagement with South Africa. We were assured then that the policy would 180. Coupled with the collusio& with South Africa, there have been strenuous efforts to rehabilitate that pariah State. Recently, Mr. Botha, the racist Prime Minister, was treated to a full diolomatic fanfare as a peace broker when he visi~~d certain European capitals. Africa and the rest of the international community must object to and categorically condemn all moves aimed at conferring legitimacy upon apartheid South Africa. 181. Like the fascism and the nazism that preceded it, apartheid is a crime against humanity. Just as fascism was led to its demise by the global opposition it aroused, so must apartheid be crushed. 182. The danger posed by the racist regime not only to regional but also to international peace and security must be clear to all. The international community must mount all-out opposition to apartheid until it is eradicated from the face of the earth. All those that four decades ago united against fascism must join in this struggle. 183. In conclusion, we wish to thank the front-line States for the great sacrifices they have made in the struggle carried out against heavy odds. I wish also to reaffirm my country's unswerving support for the peoples of South Africa and Namibia in their determined stru~le, under their national liberation movements, agamst racism and colonialism. Uganda will continue to render them all support in their just cause. 184. History is on their side. The struggle continues. Victory is certain. The meeting rose at 1.45 p.m. NOTES