A/39/PV.86 General Assembly

Next year the international community will commemorate the twenty-fifth anni- versary of the Declaration on the Grantmg of Inde- pendence to Colonial Countries and Peoples [resolu- tion 1514 (XV)]. That will give us an opportunity to take stock of the victories scored in the stru~le against colonialism and of the efforts the Orgamza- tion must continue to make in support of the peoples still struggling for self-determination and indepen- dence. 2. It is precisely in the sphere of decolonization that the Organization, on the eve of its fortieth anniversa- ry, can be satisfied with the work done in support of one of the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. 3. In this context, we welcome the accession of the Saharan Arab Democratic Reoublic as a full member of the Organization of African Unity [OAU]. That is a great victory for the Saharan people in particular .and for African peoples in general. 4. In spite of the many achievements in this field, the agenda ofthe Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Dec;laration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples- which does not cover all the Territories to which resolution 1514 (XV) applies-is living proof of the important work that the Organization still must do in support of the struggle of peoples to free themselves from the last vestiges of colonial domination. 5. The most dramatic case is the one we have just completed considering in the Assembly-that is, the question of Namibia. But there is colonialism in the Indian Ocean region, where the Comorian island of Mayotte, the Malagasy Islands and Diego Garcia must be returned to the sovereignty of, respectively, the Camoros, Madagascar and Mauritius. In the Caribbean, we find the most important colonial NEW YORK possession of the United States, Puerto Rico, and other Territories which, under the obsolete term "overseas departments", are deprived of self-deter- mination by various European Powers. Farther down, in the South Atlantic, Argentina is being denied sovereignty over the Malvinas, Georgias and South Sandwich Islands. The so-called small Territo- ries, dealt with by a subsidiary body of the Special Committee, include many colonies, mainly Microne- sia, which are the objects of sophisticated ma- noeuvres orchestrated by the administering Powers to hamper the exercise by those peoples of their right to self-determination and independence. 6. A new type of colonialism-neo-colonialism- imposed by imperialism on many of the young independent States, has been taking new wings in recent years through a brutal policy of pressure and blackmail aimed at undermining the political inde- pendence of those States and firmly tying them as appendages to the imperialist system of dependency and economic exploitation. In these endeavours the imperialist Powers, in particular the United States, try to exploit the tragic economic situation, which in many countries of the third world is made worse by the economic crisis generated in the capitalist world. 7. On the other hand, the policy of aggression and expansion of imperialism and its pawns in tbe Middle East and in southern Africa-Israel and South Africa-has given rise to colonialism of ainew stripe, which can be seen in the Israeli plans to/bring about the definitive annexation ofthe West Bank~ the Gaza Strip and the Syrian Golan Heights, and in the neo-colonial attempts by the Pretoria racist regime against the independent neighbouring States and front-line States. 8. The process ofdecolonization has in fact come to a .:itandstill in some of the most critical areas. particularly in Namibia, where the apartheid regime: encouraged by the policy of "constructive engage- ment" of the current American Administration and the political, diplomatic, economic and military support it receives from Washington, disregards the will of the international community and persists in maintaining by force the illegal occupation of the Territory of Namibia in disregard of repeated Securi- ty Council and General Assembly resolutions. 9. In considering the Territories still under colonial domination, one clearly sees the motivations that explain why colonial Powers resist abandoning those possessions. In some cases they benefit from the ju.icy profits they extract from economic exploitation, especially advantageous in colonial conditions, and in other cases these interests also relate to military- strategic objectives. 10. At this session the General Assembly will reach decisions on the draft resolutions on the Item before us which unequivocally condemn the exploitation of Isl~!1d .of .Grenada, we t:Dust a~d the progressive colomalism and represented international, legal con- m!l!tanzatton ofPuet!0 RICO and ItS use as a base for firmation of the legitimacy of the struggle for nation- mlhtary manoeuvres m thecon.text of the .a~ress~ve alliberation and the inalienable right ofall peoples to plaJ}s of the present ~meflcan Admlmstratto~ self-determination and independence. agal~st peoples of the ~arlbbeanand Central Amen- 20. On the eve ofthe twenty-fifth anniversary ofthe ca, m pa~ttcular .of Nicaragua an.d. C~ba.. adoption of the Declaration, we are indeed gratified 15. .PreCisely thiS aspe~t-the mlhtaflzat!On of the to note the major successes that have been achieved Terntory of Puerto. Rlco--~as the obJect of a in the fulfilment of its lofty ideals. Colonial empires comprehenSive analySIS when m August thiS year the have crumbled and from their ruins have arisen item. was con~idered at pl~nary meetings of the dozens of new 'independent States. They have con- SpeCial Committee. At that time the members of the firmed their status in the international arena as CO~!Dittee had occasion to hear statem~ntsby I!1~my sovereign and equal participants in the world society. petl~lone~s who repres~nted all Puerto Rican p~htlcal Their international authority is growing, and their parties \ylthout exc~ptlOn as well as the most. Impor- positive contributions to the resolution of world tant SOCIal, pr~fes~lO~al and cu~t~ral ~rgantzatlons problems is increasing. This is a great victory for the and by groups,.1~StttUtlO~~ and dlstt~gulshedpersons peoples in the national liberation struggle and an from t~e pohtlcal,. religiOUS, SOCial and cultural important step towards the complete elimination of spheres m that Terfltory. All of those statements are colonialism that pernicious phenomenon in the irrefutable proofof the fact that the people of Puerto history of ~ankind 'W'~ A. __ :~~_...J __ ...: L .1- __ .. __1':.': __ 1 • Kl~O an:: !I0l :sau:m~u wn~J U1.~ VJ~;)"m V':'IJLJ~a~ ,?~aI.U., 21. However, the forces of imperialism and reac- whl~h .hmders the reahzatlon of thetr legitimate tion do not wish to reconcile themselves to the asplfattons.. .. ... realities of the times. They have arbitrarily declared 16. In keepmg With Its hlstoflcal commitment root- certain areas to be zones of their "vital interests" ed in the libertarian thinking of J.ose ~arti, Juarez, including vast expanses of ocean and other peoples; Bolivar, Bustos, Betances and AI~lzu Ca~po~, Cuba coastlines, and are trying to impose their will on h.as for many years been defeJ?dmg the mahen~ble other peoples. The United States aggression against fight of the people of Puerto RICO to self-determma- Grenada the crises in southern Africa the Middle tion and independence, in keeping with resolution East and Central America-all these are results of 1514 (XV). imperialist policies of hegemonism and expansion 17. We remain convinced that sooner or later the and of attempts to erect a barrier to progressive brother people of Puerto Rico will join, as an reforms in the world. It is precisely because of such independent sovereign State, the great Latin Ameri- policies that colonialism has not yet been ended and can family, from whose ranks, history, culture and the sacred right to self-determination ;md indepen- common roots the colonial Power will not be able to dence remains but a dream for the peoples of more separate. it, however much it may do to distort than 20 countries and territories. ~istorical r~ality, destro~ its. nati~nal ide~tity, bring 22. In that regard, we are particularly alarmed at ItS ecC?nomlc struct.ures ID line With the 10terests of the situation prevailing in the southern part of the Amencal! transnatlOnals and use th~ ~ons of the African continent, where the racist regime of South ?uert~ ~Ic~n people as cannon fodder 10 ItSwars and Africa, while sabotaging the numerous relevant Impertahstlc adventures. , United Nations resolutions, is continuing iIleg~lly to 18. In accordance with chapter 11 of the report of oc<;upy Namibia and is endeavouring to sti'fle by the Special Committee [A/39/23], the General As- force of arms the aspirations of the people to Ocean~,.This represents a threat to the security and and the groundwork for independence in other stability. of the. region. With .regard. to the 10c~1 Br!t!sh colonial Territories .ha~ been.laid. By 19~5 all pOpulation, the,new owners, hav10g decided to get rId BrItish dependent Terntones m Africa had achieved , of",witnesses, have expelled all the island's inhabi- independence, with the exception ofRhodesia, which tantsv depriving them of their ho~eland. ' was under an illegal regi~e. Leav~ng asi~e for. the , 32. The island of Puerto Rico is avirtual United mome~t Ho.nlJ Kong, to wh~ch special conslderatl,?ns States colony in ,,' the Caribbean. It is used as a apply su~ce It IS not on t~e lIst of!'lon-Self-Govem1Og mili~ary'beach-he~~ fo~intervention.in the internal TerrItOrIes,. w~at re~a1Os now IS a group of smal~ affaus of other countries of the regIOn. 1~land Ternto~les which together make up a popula 3'·' "'h S' h A I . fi fi . f tlon approach1Og 150,000. 3, ... , Nor IS t, e out t anbc ree rom vestiges 0, • f the'colonial past. The,armed conflict which arose 38. That, then~ !s. ~h~ sum total 0 our pr~sent there' over the' Falkland (Malvinas) Islands was a colon~al responslbl.lItIes..150,000 so~ls..T~ere IS n? --clear demonstration of the true attitude of Great question of the Umted K1Ogd~rn ma1Ota101Og colom- Britain and its closest allies in the North Atlantic al rule over these pe~ple. for Its own sake. We do so Treaty' Organization [NATO] to the problems of becaus~ the people Wish It, ~nd.we do so because we decolonization It was also convincing proof of the recognIze that we have oblIgatIOns pla~ed on ~s by .~ "h . . d' fi' I' I' .' . f I . I Chapter XI of the Charter of the Umted NatIons, pe~d 10r t, ,e Imme lat~, 10a e Im1Oatlon 0 co oma - obligations we take seriously and observe scrupulous- Ism eve~here an~, In, ev~ry form. ... Iy. Yet speeches today have implied, as do the draft 34. "That I~ tbe baSIC, consl~t~nt pOSItIOn which.has resolutions beforeus, thi\t colonialism serves only the always ~otlva~ed the pkra10lan S~R on questIons interests of the administering Powers at the expense co~cermng the' spee~y Implementation of the Dec~a- of those they administer. To the very limited extent ration <,>n the Grant10g of Independen~eto C;olomal thatl1)ycountry is still an administering Power. that Countnes an~ Peoples. We offer ol;lr frIendship to all is far from the truth. those stru~1Og for fr~edom ~nd 1Odependen~e and 39. If I may make a personal comment, the process for, the rIght to deCide theu own future m full of decolonization had been accepted by my country mdependence, and they have our constant, support. and the wind of change was blowing strongly by the 35. Mr. MILES (United Kingdom): Last year saw time. I began my professional life in the British the accession of Saint Christopher and Nevis to diplomatic service 24 years ago. I am perhaps membership of the United Nations. This year we unusual in my gen~ration of British officials in welcomed' Brunei Darussalam as the Organization's having been actively involved in bringing a former I59th Member. The coming to independence ofthese British colony, Aden, to independence. This is a two countries represents classic examples of the matter of pride to me personally, compounded with peaceful change which has transformed what w~s regret that the independent State, most unusually, once. a~empil'e into, a pnique C?mmon~ealth. Their did not decide.to join the Commonwealth. F~r most admISSion .to the United NatIOns !?rIngs us even of my generation, and for most representatives of closer to the~oalof universality. Their emergence as former British Territories in the Organization, decol- new nations IS. ~n occasion, for celebration, yet o~e onization is now a matter of history. ~oul~ hardly th10k so from much that has.been said 40. I briefly mentioned Hong Kong. All present will m thiS debate,. Ope ~ould have thought th~t the remember that on 26 September this year the British p~ocess of decolo~lza~lOnhad hardly advance.d l!l the and Chinese Governments initialled an agreement last 40 years, tha~ 1~st1l1 deserved the same pnont¥ as whereby the United Kingdom will continue to be was accorded to It m the earlv vears of the Or2amza- .........._....._....:1..1.... t'....... ........ ..A-.:_:.........,,:........ .....t' U ....._n V",...n • • • - 1~;,yvll;,UJI~ 1'.11 LII\Oi AUIIIIIU;'UAUVII VI &&'.11>6 &....'.1116 tlon. until 1July 1991. China will then resume sovereignty 36. We are not here to perpetuate myths. The fact is and Hong Kong will become a Special Administra- that the process of decolonization is close to an end. tive Region ofthe People's Republic ofChina. As my The achIevements have been many. The number of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Non-Self-Governing Territories has dwindled, so that Affairs, Sir Geoffrey Howe, said during this year's now only 15 or so are left. As far as the remaining general debate [9th meeting], the agreement is a British dependent Territories are concerned, all have triumph of good sense and shows how, in the search stressecl thattbeyare notyet ready for independence. for solutions to international problems, agreement is Allhave made it clear that they do not wish to break possible only with courage, imagination and political their links with the United Kingdom. We respect will on all sides. The "one country, two systems" those wishes. It is the people who should decide the approach to Hong Kong is a most positive example of pace of constitutional advance. We shall not force thIS. them into ,indcJ!endence again~t their will, a!ld we 41. Last month we reached anot1)er agreement shall not~tand I~ th~ way of 10dependence If th~t involving a British dependent Territory, this time accords with their.wIshes, expresse~ through then with Spain over Gibraltar. The agreement was con- elected representatIves. tained in 'a joint communique issued in Brussels on 37. If anyone harbours any doubts about the swift 27 November [A/39/732, annex] after a meeting pace ofdecolonization,let me point out that after the between the British 'Foreign Secretary and the Span- founding of, the United Nations, but before the ish Foreign Minister. This paves the way for imple- adoption in 1960 of the declaration on decoloniza- mentation of the Lisbon Declaration of April 1980, tion.....a PQintoverlooked bya'number ofsl'eakers- which provided for the re-establishment or direct some 33 colonial and Trust Territories; 10 of them'c6mmunication betweeq Spain and Gibraltar and, :reac~ing9uide".1t wa~ not only its inac~ura.cies and unable to support this draft resolutipn. W~ do not ItS dIstortIon <?f the hIstory of.decolont~atlon. th~t believe what is proposed represents a senSible an~ concerned us; I! ~as ~he offenSive ~~y m ~hlch It proper use of the United Nations fina9ces. Expendl- equated the ebmmatlOn of coloDlabsm WIth the ture of this magnitude on unproductive tasks does era~icat!on of di~ease. !ndeed, co!onialism was ~e. not reflect well on t~e Organization: Nor are we scnbed m the gUide as another kmd of world-Wide convinced, on the basIs of past expenence, that the sickness". . celebrations planned are likely either to highli,ht the 53. This publication summed up what is objection- progress 'so far achieved in decolonization o~ mdeed able in United Nations work on decolonization: it to contribute in a sensible and constructive way to represented little more than a piece ofcrude political tiringing the decolonization process to a speedy and propaganda, grossly misleading and positively insult- peaceful end. .. legiti~acy of the .natio~al liberation ~truggle of the ries in respect of which its resolutions and decisions colomal. peoples m Afr!ca, the ~olomal Powers re- specifically reaffirmed its position of principle that fU,sed to fonow the Umted Nations example. They the Declar&don was fully applicable. Among those stdl do. cases was included the question of Puerto Rico. 69.'Yhe~ the United Nations, unde~ the pr.essur~ of 77. In this Hall and in other United Nations bodies, the obJective. development ~f the nat1~~al hberatlon Member States have kept asking the question: How struggle, decided tore~ogmze the leglt1m~cy of the long will the international community have to listen ~rmed.struggle ofcolomal peopl~s and their natIOnal to such rationalization condoning the racist exploita- hberatlOn m.ove~ents, the colomal Powers refused to tion of millions of people and the plunder of the go. along WIth I~. There were even arguments ad- natural wealth of colonial Territories? vanced at the time that the armed struggle of the . . colonial peoples to achieve their right to self-determi- 78. We cannot brush aSld~ the fact that the history nation was contrary to the Charter of the United of the stru~e of the colomal countries an~ peoples Nations. Why then, we ask, do not those Powers shows th~t mdepende~ce cannot be achieved by admit that the existence ofremnants ofcolonialism is compromises but that It can be won only through also contrary to the Charter? concrete a~tions aim.ed.at ~rirl \ng a.bout the full and Mr. Moushoutas (C)lpruS) Vice-President took the free exercI~e of their mal~em. )l~ nght to freedom, Chair ' , self-determmatlon and natIOnal mdependence by all 70 W· h th U 't d N t' t' 1 t 1 I d available means at their disposal, including armed . en e m e a Ions s IpU a es c ear y an struggle unambiguously that resolution 1514 (XV) is the . . . . constitutional document on the basis of which all 79. Mr. ADHAMI (Synan Arab Repubhc) (mterpre- colonial situations must be resolved, colonial Powers tation frl?m. Arabic): ~he c~ll for the total e.limination have tried, and still try, to distort the letter and the of col~mahsm contamed m the D~claratlon .on the spirit of that resolution. The colonial Powers have Grantmg of Independence ~o C:;olomal Countn~s and not come out loud and clear without any reserva- Peoples has not lost any of Its Importance despite the tions whatsoever, in favour of the right of colonial fact t~at 24 years have passed sin~e the Declaration's countries and peoples to self-determination and adoption..The successes scoreq smce then encourage independence, as stipulated in the resolution. us to pe~slst alol;lg that path w~th all our s~r~ngth, so 71. It is high time for the colonial Powers to desist that t~~ mternatlOnal commum~y ~ay .declslyely and from their policy of defying the decisions of the defimtlve.ly put.an end to colomahsm m all Its forms United Nations on decolonization and to put an end and mamfestatlons. to their manoeuvres to circumvent the decisions 80. The fact that newly independent States are regarding Namibia and to undermine the efforts of Members of the Organization is a source of satisfac- the United Nations in the field of decolonization. tion to us and due reward to the international The Organization should unswervingly and consis- community for its efforts to bring colonial countries tently take all steps and spare no effort for the speedy and peoples to independence and liberty. I wish to and unconditional implementation of the Declara- take this opportunity to welcome the delegation of tion and for the total elimination of colonialism, Brunei Darussalam, whose country recently acceded racism and apartheid, degpite the attempts to erect to independence and was admitu~d as a Member of roadblocks on the road it has embarked upon. the Umted Nations. 72. A$ain this year the. Ge~eral Assem~ly has 81. The Special Committee on the Situation with b~fore It the SpecI~1 Commltte~ s report on Its w~rk regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on With regard. to !he Iml?lem~ntatlOn of th~ decla.ratlOn the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries on decolo~uzatlon. It IS. eVlden~ fr~m thiS ~eport that and Peoples has played an important role, and the. colomal Powers st1l1 .per~lst In de~a¥Ing, under continues to do so, In terms oforienting the efforts of vanous.pretexts, tht: apphcatlon of decI~lons related the Organization towards the full implementation of to the ImplementatIOn of the DeclaratIOn. that Declaration. My delegation has had the honour 73. The General Assembly has just concluded its to be a member ofthat Committee since its establish- discussion on the question of Namibia. For many ment, and it has been my privilege personally to work years it has been forced to hear time and again the under the leadership of Its Chairman, Mr. Koroma of same explanations for the continuing colonial role in Sierra Leone, to whom I pay a tribute for the Namibia-explanations that have not contributed to competence and skill he has displayed as Chairman a solution of the problem. of the Committee, thus enabling it to discharge its 74. In defiance of numerous General Assembly and mandate successfully. This can ~e seen from the Security Council resolutions, the racist regime of report I ~ad the hono~r to ~ubmlt to the. Assem~ly South Africa continues to rely on the all-round yesterday [85th meetmg] In my capacity as Its support and protection of its allies, pat1icularly ~he Rapporteur. ~mted S!ates and .I~rael, m the economiC, financial, 82. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic is diplomatiC and mlhtary fields. . convinced that that Committee will continue all its 75. The culprit for the existing state of affairs is efforts to put an end to colonialism once and for all. beyond any doubt South Africa, wi)ich tramples We hope that this will happen as soon as possible so underfoot the inalienable right of the Namibian that we may witness this spectacular result. Sta~es. The colomalIst States, m partlcul~r .the sacrifices and the thousands of martyrs who fell for l!mted State~, 1;1se ~very means ~o d~lay the hqulda- the freedom of their homelands, victims of colonial- tlon of colo~lalI~tp.m t.hose Terntones. They seek.to ist arrogance, his attempts to discredit the General preserv.e theIr milItary mtere~ts t~ere, under the §ulse Assembly and belittle the progress towards decoloni- of ~a!lo~s !?rms"of .~ommatlOn-su~h "as f~ee zation and the contempt and mockery directed at the participation or. polItical confederation -whlcp Assembly. His lack ofa sense of humour has put him m fa~t. are n<?thl~g but smoke~~cr~ens. for the~r in an unenviable position. He showed great indiffer- colomal~st dommatlon an~ th~ legitimization of theIr ence to human suffering. To hear this from a annexatIOn of these TerrItories. civilized man is of course astonishing, but to hear it 86. The United States Administration seeks by from the represen~ati.veof a regime th~t has a~o~ted every possible means to exploit the region of Mi- arroga~ce ~nd unlI~lted forc~ as ~he smgle prmclple cronesia, which is under its trusteeship, in order to ~o,:ermng mternatlOnal relations IS not at all aston- serve its own strategic and military interests. In the Ishmg. , past, the United States Government expelled Mi- 92. This reminds me of the story of a humourist cronesians from some of the islands and made about a deaf and mute Martian who visits the Earth nuclear-testing grounds out of the islands of Bikini every 25 years and cannot understand what concerns and Eniwetok. Thus, several generations of Microne- people there. I do not think that the comments of sians will suffer from the effects of this forced that Martian could be more surprising than those relocation and environmental pollution. made by the United States representative. n") ~L_ 'I ,_~... _...1 1:.'.... _ ... ... _ ....!___ _ __ 1__ _L!'_ 87. Apparently, after four decades of United States 7.;). lllti rUIl~l.tiU ';'I.Cll.tiS CtiPl\i~ti~U1UVti ~PUK~ UI Cl trusteeship over that region, the State exercising the num~er o~ thmgs that have nothmg to do wI~h the trusteeship cannot demonstrate that it has made it ques~lon b~fore the .Assembly. He. referred m an possible for the people of the Territory to build a free unfnendly, mappropfl~teand Impertm.ent manner to and autonomous economy that could meet its needs. some States that ~ave Just ac~eded to mdependen,?e. And after four decades the inhabitants of that region ¥ore~ver,. he delIberat~ly disregarded the colomal are still unable to achieve political, economic, social slt.u~tlon m. South Afrl~ and the tragedy of 20 and educational progress and finally to accede to mllll<:m. Afncans. He disregarded. t.he probl~~ of independence and autonomy Namibia as wel! as that of ~he 4 ~dl.lOn. Palestm~ans . who are strugglIng to exerCise their malIenable nght 88. The increase in United States military activities to independence and freedom. He also neglected to in Micronesia; the efforts the United States is making mention that his Government has not recognized the to obtain future military privileges through its mili- General Assembly's authority to terminate South tary presence in the islands; the long-term military Africa's Mandate over Namibian territory, and thus conventions and agreements it imposes on the Tern- it still recognizes the legitimacy of the Pretoria tory to enable the Pentagon to maintain testing regime's authority there. He did not note that his grounds for missiles and strategic naval bases and Government has not recognized the General Assem- airfields there; and the setting up of repositories for bly's authority to establish the United Nations Coun- nuclear, chemical and other weapons of mass de- cH for Namibia, nor, consequently, the authority of struction-all this proves that the United States is that Council to enact Decree No. 1 for the Protection violating its basic trusteeship mandate, which is of the Natural Resources of Namibia.• The United designed to strengthen international peace and secu- States Government has continued to give the racist rity, in conformity with the Charter of the United Pretoria regime political and diplomatic protection Nations. and prevents the Security Council from imposing i~tet:est p~'2cedence over the.right 0C.peoples to liv~ in 104. Thirdly, assuming that the referendum-a dlgmty and freedom~ and It cons~ltutes a wam~ng. referendum which took place under the shadow of 96. The representative of the Umted States claims the colonial administration-was valid the United that i! is tbe supporter~of ~he cold wa~ who rais~ the States has not respected the text of re;olution '748 questIOn of Puerto .Rlco. In the Spf?Clal Comml~tee (VIII), to which it has had recourse to prevent the and that the Committee IS not qualIfied to conSider General Assembly and the international community the qllestion since that territory . . . from considering the question of Puerto Rico. Para- 97. The PRESJr- ~NT: I call on the representative graph 9 of that resolution states thlt the will of both of the United t ;) on a point of order. the Puerto Rican and American peoples must be 98. Mr. F'ELDMAN (United States of America): I taken in~o ~ccount if there is a desire to ~odify the 'd ID hI· - '"'; - ~ _.-...._-- 1.._1.....__ ..1..__ • __.e.40I.<iIOIo" """0 ""'-4...0..,........... ""f thA dl not rea Ize t at was on the agenda tor thiS \;liI"!O)Q 11I11U1I6 ~ll~m LV5~Ul"'A. a u" U"Ug ...v... v~ ua.... meeting. Would you please determine whether I am Umted Stat~s sl~ce that date has ~een progressively and, if I am not, would you ask the representative of more neg~tlve In t~rms of allOWing the peopl~ of the Syrian Arab Republic to confine himself to the Puert~ R!c~ to. achieve self-gove~nm~nt. That IS a agenda for the meeting. st~ndmg .ViolatIOn of the Const~tutlon of Pu~rto 99. The PRESIDENT: I ask the representati've of Rlc,o: I wIllguote what ~as been sa~d b~ Puerto Rican the Syrian Arab Republic to continue, bearing in pebt:,oners In ~he Spec!Bl CommIttee. . mind the statement of the representative of the Puerto RICO c~ntlnues to be coloDlzed. Every United States. day Puerto Rico is further fro~ ~elf-government, lOO. Mr. ADHAMI (Syrian Arab Republic) (inter- bec~use the so-called frre association bet~ee~ t~e pretation[rom Arable): I hope that the representative Umted S~ates of AmehGa and Pu~rto RICO IS ID of the United States understands that I am respond- fa~t nothing but the free associa~lOn"that could ing to his statement and not to him personally. I said eXist bc~ween a shark and a sardme. a few m~meDts ago! as p~rt of my statement, th~t I I ca~~. JlP,~f.. qu~t~ another petiti~n~r; w~o sai~ that respect him, apprecIate hiS knowled,e of the subject that situation IS In fact the ImpOSItion of ~he will of a and respect his diplomatic skill. But In the context of strong country on a weak people and country, and a response to points he raised in his statement that the relationship between the United States and yesterday I do not believe-speaking objectively- Puerto Rico is nothing if it is not colonialist. that I have gone beyond the stope of the ~tem on the 105. Everything I have said she.' that the argu- agenda of the General Assembly. ment that resolution 748 ~VIII) prt tents the Special 101. The representative of the Unit~d States Committee from considering the situation in Puerto claimed in his statement y~st.erda¥·that yt is those Rico has no legal or factual grounds, and paragraph 9 who support cold war in the SpeCIal Committee who of that resolution grants the people of Puerto Rico raise and support consideationof the question.of the right to change that situation and to modify the ~entativ~ can look H~em up. I. w~>nder how~he 110. In the first post-war years there were some mternatlOnal c..ommumty could hesitate t~ prOVide prospects that, except in the case of the Indian total support lor the people of Puerto RICO, subcontinent, decolonization might come gradually i 06. I cannot let this opportunity pass without a.nd ut! terms favour~ble to the,colonial P«;»we~s at the expressing our deep concern over the present policy tIme. After th~ Fre~ch.de.!eat 1!1 l.!1do-Chma.~~ 1951 of the United States, which uses the territory of and the abortive Angl«;»-t'r~nch :suez exp~(llt1~1l; Of Puerto Rico as a forward military base and uses it to 1956, however, decolomzatlo~ took on an IrresistIble implement its policy of aggression in Latin America. mo~entum, so t~at by t~e ~ld-1970~ only scattered We condemn that policy, which constitut~s a very vestiges of colomal TerrItorIes remamed. serious c~allenge ,to t~e sov~rei~nty of the peopl~ of Ill. The reasons for this accelerated decoloniza- Puerto Rlc~ and ItS Will to hve m peace. The Um~ed tion process were as follows. First, the two post-war Stat~s ~as Imposed, on the people of Pue!l0 RIco super-Powers, the United States and the Soviet service ~n~ the Amencan ar!Ded forces, forcmg them Union, took a common position against colonialism, to participate ~n wars with wh~ch. they ~re not and we are grateful that at least on that occasion they concer!1~d, Furtnermore, ~u~rto RIco IS explOIted. for were able to act in unity. Secondly, the mass revolu- the military and strategic m~e.rests of the Umted tionary movements of the colonial world fought States ,and also for t~e sto~kpllm,g of.nuclear weap- colonial wars which were far too expensive and ons, without any conSlderatI«;»n bem& gl'~en to the Will bloody. Thirdly, the war-weary public of E\it~pe of th~ people of P~ert,o ,RICO or ItS ~~terests and eventually refused any further sacrifices to maintain secunty. After all thiS, It IS, truly surprIsmg that the overseas colonir.:s. representative of the Umted States reaches the . . . conclusion that those who support the cold war are 112. In general~ those co~omes which offered ne.l- responsible for including the question of Puerto Rico ther concentrated eco~~mlc resources nor strate$lc on the Li~enda of the Special Committee. advantages and/or addltI~nal h~mes for the c~lo~lal . , " , , settlers won easy separation, with self-determmahon 107. ,At thiS time when the Umted Na~lOns I~ trymg and independence, from their colonial overlords. The to br~n& to ~ final end the l~st mamf~statlons, of others struggled along the long, difficult and frustrat- colomahsm, It IS ,our duty t~ raise ~ur vo~ces agamst ing road to self-determination and independence. new attempts bemg made ,m ce~am r~gl~n~ ~f the Namibia has been walking along that road for ~s Ipng world to return to the policy of ImperIalIstiC mter- as the United Nations has been concerned with ests, to threa~en the it:Idepe~d~nce and fr~edom of decolonization, since its inception in 1945. However, States and to mterfere In their Inte~al affairS, !J!1der there is hope. This hope is in our dream that one day new slogans, and attempts to ~stabhsh new ~mhtary in the very near future colonialism, tO$ether with bases and ,carry out plans which wo,",:ld agalt:I pl~ce racism and apartheid. will be totally eradicated from our ~~u,ntnes and.J?e2ples under co!~n~al d~:nIna!l~n the face of our planet, Earth. The United Nations or WlmIn zones OI !nIIU~nCeor WOUIO oraw mem Into and the world community must act together and arme? con!ront~t1on. The announc,~ment of the urgently in harmony. The plight of the Namibian creation of rapid deployment forces and the con- people must continue to engage our most serious cept of "strategic balance" represent nothing but a attention. new and hideous phase of the new wave of neo- .. ,. . imperialism against the inde{'endence ofour peoples, 113. In l~ne with our. dream !Jf unlversahty In the our national dignity, our fights over our national membership of the U~I!ed NatIOns, we are ~II happy wealth and our sovereignty. This means that the to see the former Bf!~lsh. colony of Brunei D~ru~.. complete implementation of the Declaration con- salam becom~ a s(:lVere~gn l!ldependent ~tate which ,Is tinues to be a fundamental issue, which compels us to already contrIbutmg effectively to helpIng others ID step up our efforts, particularly in the Special Com- the world. mittee, so as to complete our sacred task. 114. The decision by the Cocos (Keeling) Islanders 108. The stru~;gle of the Syrian Arab Republic to integrate wi!h t\ustralia is ye~ a!10ther step towards against colonialism and racism finds inspiration in the total eradicatIOn of colomalIsm. our belief in the unity of the cause of freedom and 11 S. We are all thankful for the important work of our belief that we are on r' front line of confronta- the United Nations in the field of decolonization. tion with mankind's commiln enemy. Whett,er it be Papaa New Guinea government representatives have apartheid. zionism, imperialism or colonialism, the streesed, both here in the United Nations and in enemy is one, and its persistence in aggression and other international forums, the important role the challenge imposes upon us duties and responsibilities United Nations has been playing in the field of which we shall accept without hesitation so as to decolonization. Many of us Member States represen- overthrow all regimes of oppression and colonialism ted here in this Hall owe our emer~ence as indepen- and racism to bring about order and freedom for the dent sovereign nations to the deciSive role played b~' benefit of all peoples. the United Nations. ~uidance the remaining Trust and Non-Self-Govern- mg Territories will soon make their choice and, perhaps, join us in this community of nations. 117. Whilst the remaining dependent Territories are but a handful, my delegation believes that complacency must have no place in the endeavours of the United Nations in the area of decolonization. It is still our obligation as Members of the United Nations to facilitate the work ofboth the Trusteeship Council and the Special Committee in affording the peoples of these Territories the right of self-determi- nation and independence. 118. Without detracting in any way from the intrin- sic importance ofother issues pertaining to this item, I propose to focus on dependent Territories in the Padfic. 119. The implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples continues to be an important undertaking, with regard to which Papua New Guinea's resolve has not diminished. Our seeking of membership in the Special Committee is in line with the priority the Papua New Guinea Government gives to decoloniza- tion. We are realistic about our influence in the world Organization and, indeed, about our ability to effect changes in the decolonization process. In comparison with the United States or the Soviet Union our influence and our ability to effect changes are very minute. But we have not allowed, and we shall continue not to allow, that realism to degenerate into cynical indifference. 120. Papua New Guinea continues to believe that the peoples of small Territories, irrespective of size, population or geographical location, have the same right to self-determination and independence as those of other Territories. Like most other States Members of the United Nations, Papua New Guinea attaches great importance also to the continuing d:spat.ch of United Nations visitin~ missions to coloniai Territories. Papua New Gumea has been very fortunate in having participated in two of these missions. We congratulate the administerin~ Powers concerned for continuing to extend invitatIons and pendt access by such missions to their dependent Territories. 121. Like other independent Pacific island coun- tries, Papua New Guinea is partic,'larly concerned with the remaining dependent Territories of the Pacific region. When he addressed the Assembly during the general debate, on 1 October 1984, the Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea stated that: "Successive Papua New Guinea Governments have taken a particular inteff :,t in developments in the French Tejritories-N.·,. ~a!edonia, French Polynesia and WaHis and FW'~~-and in the last ofthe United Nations trust te;-: ,r,ies-the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Is- lands ... New Caledonia has been of special concern to us, and to the Governments of the South Pacific Forum." [See 15th meeting, para. 351.] • ~c 1_ ..... :~ ..a~_4n. ........,. £"!ru,/,o, rno.... i" ftIDO~.aA tn ... .,}. 1.11 LllliJ l"'~ "'''' , 1111 '""v .. "' "'••" .~ .,A"W.;J"''''' "'''' note that the administermg Power is doing all it can to achieve peace and maintain order in the Territory of New Caledonia. My Government is pleased too that the French Government has appointed a special representative and High Commissioner for New Caledonia, Mr. Edgard Pisani, with specific terms of reference to restore order, develop dialogue among political groups and prepare the Territory for the eventual act of self-determination and independence. We understand that the French cabinet has charged Mr. Pisani with proposing to the Government within two months, and then implementing, measures con- cerning the institutional evolution and the economic, social and cultural development of New Caledonia, as well as the modalities for the exercise of the right to self-determination. 126. The political developments surrounding the territorial assembly elections of 18 November have been a cause of serious concern to my Government. Of particular concern are the election results, which seem not to be representative ofall the people of New Caledonia. Information available to us indicates that less than 50 per cent of the estimated 140,000 population of New Caledonia participated in the 18 th!=~selves. from the clutches offoreIgn State monop- sian SSR must emphasize that the historic Declara- ohstlc capItal. tion should be fully implemented. We support the 155. It is well known that in a number of instances programme which has been prepared by the Special the administering Powers have tried to use the Committee in connection with the twenty-fifth anni- extremely difficult economic situation in the Trust versary of its adoption, and we believe that if it is Territories to impose on them and perpetuate new acted upon this will help to promote the further forms of colonial dependency under the labels of mobilization of United Nations efforts and, indeed, "association", "commonwealth" and various types of the efforts of the entire international community to "integration". This is particularly true ofMicronesia, struggle for the final culmination of the decoloniza- an analysis of whose situation might also serve as a tion process. response"to tho~e who ~re q~ick to take offence 162. With regard to today's misplaced-not to say b.ec~use the Umted Nations fads to .unde~t~nd the provocative-remarks by the representative of the slgn~ficance of !he .alleged benefiCIal .mlsslon. of United Kingdom, in which he referred to the Byelo- f~relgn monopohes m Non-Self-Governmg Ternto- russian SSR, we recommend that he re-read the .nes". beginnin~ of his statement, particularly that part ofit 156. Approximately four decades ago the United which saId that the question of independence should States received the mandate to administer the Trust be resolved by the peoples themselves. I should like Territory of Micronesia, in order, as the Charter of to believe that he was being sincere. I would remind the United Nations says in Article 76, paragraph b: him that the Byelorussian people, as' far as its "to promote the political, economic, social and freedom and independence are concerned, decided educational advancement of the inhabitants of the the matter fully and finally in the period ofthe Great trust territories, and their progressive deveiopment October Sociaiist Revoiution and proved the cor- towards self-government or independence". I should rectness of its choice in the years of the Second like to emphasize those last words-"self-govern- World War in the struggle against fascism. He could ment or independence". In the interim the United satisfy his pathological interest by reading at leisure States has not only failed to create an independent the relevant part ofany elementary course in history. an~ viable ec~nomy in t~a.t Te~ritory but is in ~act 163. Mr. ADDABASHI (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) ~01Dg everythmg to turn It mto Its own neo-colomal- (interpretation from Arabic): When we meet next year 1st appendage. to consider this item a quarter of a century will have 157. In this connection, the delegation ofthe Byelo- passed since the adoption in 1960 by the General russian SSR would like to reiterate that a solution to Assembly of resolution 1514 (XV), which contains the question ofMicronesia's future is part and parcel the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to of the overall problem of decolonization and the Colonial Countries and Peoples. This was a signifi- question of granting colonial countries and peoples cant step in strengthening the struggle of colonial their ri~ht to self-determi~ation and independence. peoples and speeding up the decolonization process. Accordmg to the Charter, any alteration in Microne- That Declaration, as a premise from which the sia's status as a Trust Territory can be carried out United Nations has proceeded to act in the area of solely by decision of the Security Council. No decolonization, was reaffirmed in December 1980 in unilateral action by administering Powers in Trust resolution 35/118, to which is annexed the Plan of Territories or individual components thereof can be Action for the Full Implementation of the Declara- considered proper or as having legal force. tion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial 158. The ongoing colonial exploitation of small Countries and Peoples. Territories by imperialist monopolies and their use 164. Since the adoption of resolution 1514 (XV), by the administering Powers as military bases are we have witnessed the growth of the liberation tlon~ o,fcolC?Dlal States m the Terntor~es und~r th~u through the recruitment of ASians and Coloureds, admlDlstrahon, su.ch as the b~ses an~ mstallatl(~ns m using them in acts of suppression against.their black Guam, Puc:rto RICO and ~Icrones~a. There IS no brothers. The international community has not been doubt that ~uch bases and ms~allatlll:ms represent a deceived by this ploy. Both the General Assembly sword hangmg over the coloDl~1 peol?les .that pre- and the Security Council have rejected this attempt vents th~m fr0ID: freely expressmg.the~r wlshe~ and and have underlined the fact that the policy of demandmg the nght to self-determmatton and mde- apartheid is irreparable and should be eliminated pendence. altogether. ~67. Thirdly, there is.the abuse of the right ofv~to 172. On this occasion the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya m the Secu!-'lty CouncIl, where ~!e see the col0!ltal confirms that it is necessary to impose comprehen- Powers havmg rC?course ~o the ....ght <?f veto. ailamst sive mandatory sanctions against the apartheid any ~raft resolution not m keepmg With their m~er- regime in South Africa in order to compel it to ests. Consequently, they 0l?pose any draft re~olutl0!l abandon its policy of apartheid and put an end to its t~at would help th~ co.lomal p~oples to attall~ theu illegal occupation of Namibia, thus enabling the rl8.ht to sel.f-~eteJ1!lmatl0!l~nd mdependence, If they peoples of the two territories to regain their rights to !hmk th~t It IS agamst t~elf mt~rests, re~ardless ofthe self-determination and independence. mternattonal commuDlty's pomt of view. We have . . seen ample evidence ofthis as, for example, when the 173~ ~any other peoples are stdl ~tru~mg to C!_.......:..... 1""......_ ..;1 ...,.." "..;",..1'1 ....r th... rl.....dinn nf attam mdeoendence and self-determinatIOn. The N;.;;aibfa ,""vuu"'u ......'" """&&0"'," ..,,, ..."... ...-................. Palestinian people heads this list. This people is still . displaced, leading a tragic life after its expulsion from 168. All of these reasons taken together have im m its territory. So far, the United Nations has not been peded the process of decolonization, resulting in the able to help it regain its right to self-determination, fact that a certain number of peoples are still recover its territory and establish its own indepen- oppressed and denied their freedom. The peoples of dent State, like the other peoples of the world. Namibia, South Africa and Palestine are foremost amon$ those still striving against imperialism, racism 174. Equally, the people of Puerto Rico is still and Zionism. struggling for its right to self-determination and 169. In Africa,· the Namibian people is still strug- decolonization. Its cause was the subject of lengthy debates by the Special Committee on the Situation gling to achieve its independence and its right to self- with regard to the Implementation ofthe Declaration determination, despite all the efforts exerted by the on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Coun- international community, as well as the initiatives of tries and Peoples, in respect of which many resolum the Secretary-General aimed at implementing Securi- . d 11 ffi . h . h f h' ty Council resolution 435 (1978). This is the result of ttons were adopte , a a Irmmg t .e rig tot IS the intransigence of the apartheid regime in South Territory to self-determination in accordance with Africa in its persistence in illegally occupying Namib- General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). ia. It is crystal clear that the apartheid regime has 175. Many other Territorie's all over the world are used !he ~egotiations conduc~ed in the pa~t few years still colonized. In particular, I wish to address the to gam time and delay the Implementation of that subject of the Malvmas. Colonialism there should be resolution by resorting to flimsy pretexts and prevari- eliminated and Argentine sovereignty upheld. The cations, as well as manoeuvres aimed at diverting Comorian island of Mayotte should be res~ored to attention from the essence of the problem and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comaros. The impeding Namibia's accession to .independence. military base on Diego Garcia should be dismantled 19L The second point I want to mention is the question of the armed struggle and the complaint by the representative of Bulgaria that none of the administering Powers had ac<;.epted appeals for rec- ognition of the legitimacy of the armed struggle against colonial domination. I am glad to say that the United Kingdom does not face any such problem in any of the Territories administered by it. But I am reminded of the saying that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist, and I would like to remind the Assembly that this emerged very clearly from the statement made in the debate on Afghani- stan by the representative ofthe Soviet Union when he said that those States which assisted people who are resisting the occupation of Afghanistan are indulging in a policy of State terrorism. Not much recognition of the legitimacy of the armed struggle there. 192. Finally, I just want "0 comment on the re- marks I made and the reply which was made by the representative of Byelorussla on the question of self- determination. I would like t",) say in all sincerity that I was in no way meaning to suggest seriously that Byelorussia should declare its independence, or something of that kind. I was making a different point. I fully accept that it is for Byelorussia to decide Appoilltmellt 01 Members 9/ the Advisory Committee 011 the United Nat;ollS Progrtlmme 01Assistallce ill the Teach;lIg, Study, Dissem;lItlt;oll alld Wide, ApPRc;at;oft oII"te'lIat;ollQl Law (Concluded)

I should like to draw the attention of members of the General Assembly to resolution 38/129 of 19 December 1983, whereby the Assembly decided to appoint 13 Member States as members of the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law. I should like to recall that at its 67th meeting, held on 20 November, the Assembly appointed 10 members of the Advisory Committee. In this connection, I have now been informed by the Chairman of the Group of African States that that Group has endorsed the candidacies of Ghana, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Sierra Leone. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to appoint those States ali members of the Advisory Committee? It was so decided (decision 39/308). NOTES /