A/40/PV.72 General Assembly

I should like to remind representatives that, in accordance with the decision taken yesterday afternoon, the list of speakers for the debate on this item will be closed today at 12 noon. I therefore ~Dk those representatives who wish to participate in the debate to put their names on the list as soon as possible. Hr. WALTERS (United States of Amer ica) : For almost six years now Soviet troops in Afghanistan have waged a relentless war against everything Afghan. Nothing has been spared: not women or children, not animals or crops, not dwellings, mosques, schools or hospitals, not even Afghan history, culture, religion or tradition. An ancient land caught in a modern war, Afghanistan is being subjected daily to the full force of Soviet modern-day weaponry and technology. Reports of the use of deadly chemical weapons use continue to surface. Never in its long tumultuous , history of resisting marauding armies and foreign invaders has Afghanistan faced as remorseless and heartless an enemy. Using a COmbination of military terror on the one hand and psycholqgical manipulation in the form of re-education and indoctrination efforts on the other, the Soviet forces have tried for six years - longer than the duration of the Second World War - to break the Afghan spiri't. We are here today to witness that they have failed. Despite all ef£orts to impose a virtual blackout on news of the war, eyewitness reports of heinous crimes testify to Soviet callousness in achieving the Soviet Union's ultimate goal - the creation of a docile, client State. Unable to pacify or control the countryside, the Soviets, with clinical precision, have in some areas resorted to tactics aimed at depopulating the land. Over 3.5 million refugees - more than the population of many Me~ers of this Organization and one fourth of Afghanistan's pre-war population - have fled the country. -Migratory genocide- is how one historian has described it. High-altitude saturation bombings, the wilful destruction of crops and livestock, widespread use of anti-personnel mines, civilian reprisals and gruesome violations of fundamental human rights and decency have been and continue to be perpetrated against the Afghan ~ivilian population. (Mr. walters, United states) These are not tall tales or propaganda but rather a genuine human tragedy. The United NationS Commission on Human Rights has expressed -its profound concern at the grave and massive human rights violations in Afghanistan,- and this aspect of the Afghan tragedy will be considered by the General Assembly later in this session. But this is not all. In addition to strong-arm tactics aimed at physically crushing the Afghan spirit of resistance, the Soviets have embarked on a long-term effoct to reshape that spirit into a docile, pliable mould. In a word, they wish" to Sovietize it. How else ean one explain the revision of Afghan school curricula in which Islamic teaching is replaced by dialectic materialism and Marxist-Lenirlist ideology? How else explain the introduction of Bnew• history textboOks rewritten by Soviet scholars? How else explain the replacement of Afghan professors by those from Communist countries, who now comprise over 60 per cent of Kabul University's faculty? The effort to Sovietize the younger generation of Afghans explains why children as young as five and six years old are separated from their families for up to 10 years, during which they are indoctrinated in communism and the Soviet way of life. Since 1979 an estimated 40,000 Afghan students have been sent to the Soviet Union. Those efforts to incorporate and absorb the Afghan people augur ill ; for an early solution concerning the war in Afghanistan. There are currently between 118,OaO and 120,000 Soviet troops in Afghanistan and an additional 30,000 poised on the Soviet side of the border. The Soviets continue to escalate their military effort. They continue to upgrade their fire-power. They continue to assume a greater direct role in intensified fighting, rp-lying increasingly on dreaded helicopter gunships, airborne troops and surprise search-and-destroy operations. Their strategy is a long-term one, it is aimed at wearing down the resistance of and eroding international support for the Mujahideen. (Mr. Walters, United States) Despite their military offensives, their brutal scorched earth tactics and their various subversive strategies, .the Soviets are no closer today to achieving their objectives than they were on 27 December 1979 when their invading troops murdered President Hafizullah Amin and installed in his place Babrak Karmal. Hostility and active opposition to the Karmal regime now encompass the entire country. The Soviets cannot operate anywhere in the countryside without danger of attack. Even in Kabul, their most heavi:y guarded garrisons and air bases have been attacked. Unable to find qualified Afghan technocrats who are willing to participate in this puppet Government, the Sov~ets have been forced to abandon the pretence that they are merely advising Babrak Karmal and his regime and now either directly make, or are deeply involved in, every major political, military or social decision of the regime. The Kabul regime's army, rent by disloyalty, desertions, defections, disillusionment and indiscipline, has shrunk to less than half its pre-invasion strength of 90,000 men. What the Soviet Union has failed to realize, and of course refuses to acknowledge, is that the will of a people united in a national liberation struggle capnot be broken by force of arms. Nowhere in the world is this will stronger or more generalized than in Afghanistan. Nowhere is the simple moral issue of what is right and what is criminally wrong more starkly offered. On the battlefield, the Afghan resistance is better organized, better trained and more effective militarily than ever before. In the Panjsher Valley, in Ronar, in Paktia and Paktika, in Herat, in short, throughout the country, Afghan partisans have given a brilliant account of themselves against Soviet legions equipped with a terrifying array of the most modern instruments of war. Mujanideen have fought in other times and in other places. In this conflict the Afghan Mujahideen are proving once more that the.ir defence of their faith and country and their desire for freedom are inqomitable. (Mr. WaIters, United States) Like a number of my colleagues in this body, I was honored to be able to hear first hand of the struggle in Afghanistan from the spokesmen of the Afghan alliance who visited here as a delegation last month. The leader of that delegation and his alliance colleagues not only lead a military struggle against a foreign oppressor but also translate into political terms the will of the Afghan people for freedom. As a former soldier, I know when I am in the p~egence of courage and resolve. The resistance is alive and well. The morale and determination of its members to continue to fight are unshaken. It has been said that "In the moral world, there is nothing impossible if we can bring a thorough will to it. Man can do everything with himself, but he must not attempt to do too much with others." NOtmere is this more evident than in Afghanistan. The Soviets will never succeed in imposing their will on the Afghans. They will not succeed in breaking the . Afghan national will to fight for their freedom and their way of life. The Afghans will never acquiesce in what amounts to their own destruction as a people and a nation. But how long can the world stand by and let this carnage continue? The toll in human lives, not to mention the destruction of homes, crops and the fragile , agricultural infrastructure, is staggering. If both sides remain true to their objectives, the only possible outcome is continued death and destruction. President Reagan, in his 24 October speech to this Assembly stated: "There is no purpose more noble than for us to sustain and celebrate life in a turbulent world. Life - and the preservation of freedom to live it in dignity - is what we are on this earth for." (A/40/PV.48, p. 14) (Mr. Walters, united states) This body, conceived from the ashes of one war of liberation and dedicated to the preservation of peace, has a moral duty to end this war and the agony of the Afghan people. The solution to the Afg~n tragedy is not a military one. The only lasting solution is a negotiated political settlement that encompasses the four elements in the draft resolution to be voted on by this body. These are: the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops; the restoration of Afghanistan's independent and non-aligned status; self-determination for the Afghan people; and the creation of the necessary conditions which would enable th~ Afghan refugees to return voluntarily and with honour to their homes. On six previous occasions this Assembly has voted overwhelmingly for a resolution urging a political solution to the situation in Afghanistan. Yet the war and the ~evastation continue. President Reagan's regional initiative, spelt out in his 24 October speech, was meant to spur diplomatic efforts to solve the Afghan tragedy. It is not enough for us to heap praise on the Afghans for their brave exploits against daunting odds. It is not enough to support the Afghan struggle passively. No country, large or small, can be indifferent to the fate of the Afghans. No country that truly loves freedom can vote against this draft resolution. It provides the basis for a just and viable settlement. It provides the means to stop the Afghan sUffering. The United states is prepared to guarantee a comprehensive and balanced settlement in Afghanistan, consistent with the General Assembly's resolutions and predicated on a complete withdrawal of Soviet forces in a fixed and reasonable length of time. We support and applaud the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative to find a just and viable settlement that protects the legitimate sec'lrity interests of all parties. Considerable progress has been made towards this end. The key outstanding issue remains the establishment of a (Mr. WaIters, United States) ttaetable for the withdrawal of SOviet troops from Afghanistan. without agree-ent on withdrawal" no solution is possible and no guarantees can be given. Instead, the carnage and destruction will continue. We hope that adoption of this draft resolution will serve as renewed evidence of the international community's steadfast commitment to a negotiated settlement &nd will stt-ulate prompt resolution of this vital issue. This is the way to offer the Afghans another chance to live in peace and in freedom. (Mr. Walters, United States) Mr. TROYANOVSKY (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian): The Soviet delegation has noted with regret that at its current session the General Assembly has again'been drawn into the consideration of the so-called Afghan question, included on the agenda despite the justified objections voiced by the delegati9n of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Discussion at the United Nations of questions relating to the exclusive competence of a State Member of our Organization, despite objections frOM the Government of that State, is a clear violation of the elementary rules of international law and of the united Nations Charter. It is nothing but an attempt to make a sovereign country accept what its Government and people reject. It is appropriate to recall that debates of this kind create a dangerous precedent, since they make it possible to use the United Nations to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign States. That is why the Soviet delegation, supporting the justified posi~ion of Afghanistan at this session, has, as before, opposed the inclusion on the agenda of the item entitled -The situation in Afghanistan-. One should not disregard the fact that some countries find it profitable to raise a hue and cry around the Afghan question, both inside and outside the United Nations. Such action shave a very specific purpose - to divert the attention of the General Assembly from dangerous h?tbeds of tension in the Middle East, southern Africa, Central America and some other parts of the world. The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan is, as is evident from widely known facts, a victim of armed intervention involving the use of weapons and economic, political and propaganda tools. In fact, for several years now an undeclared war has been waged against it, one which continues on an ever-increasing scale. The States which initiated the unsavoury manoeuvres around the Afghan question at 'the United Nations and outside the Organization - I have in mind primarily the United States and Pakistan - are adopting the pose of champions of the Afghan people's interests. H~~ever, the specific actions taken against Afghanistan are more eloquent than any posturing. For some years now, Washington's foreign policy activities have been aimed at building up tensions around the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Everything is being done to prevent a normalization of the situation in the region and intensify direct subversive activities against the democratic Afghanistan. What is more, no secret is being made of it. The United States press is continually filled with reports indicating that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is conducting against that country the largest United States covert operation since the war in Viet Nam. As for the debate on the so-called Afghan question at the United Nations, it is being used as a propaganda smokescreen for that operation. Those who, either directly or indirectly, contribute to the continuation of the anti-Afghan campaign in our Organization are being drawn, willingly or unwillingly, into the main stream of that policy. The undeclared war against Afghanistan, far from slowing down, is being expanded. In the past year "covert" united States military assistance to the Afghan counter-revolution has more than dOUbled, to reach the level of $280 million. But even that apparently is not enough. According to a report published on 9 October in The Wall Street Journal, the White House has pushed through Congress an additional sum of $200 million to finance the supply of weapons to the terrorist bands. Thus, by the end of this year alone it is planned more than to triple the financing of weapon deliveries to the Afghan counter- revolutionaries. Taking into acount the substantial resources allocated for the same purposes by some other countries, the total allocations already exceed $1.5 billion. (Mr. Troyanovsky, USSR) In addition, $15 million were appropriated by the United States Congress in April 1985 as ·direct and overt assistancew to the terrorists. That formally legitimizes interference in the affairs of a sovereign State Member of the United Nations. The United States Senate is openly debating to what extent that assistance is effective and what additional weapons should be placed in the hands of hired assassins. There are plans to expand the supplies of weapons to include ~nti-aircraft missile complexes, missile and artillery proj~~tiles and recoilless guns. For a long time now, no secret has been made of how the purchased weapons get into the hands of the terrorists. To know more about it, it is enough to read press reports. Thus, in March The Christian Science Monitor revealed the presence in Pakistan of a large group of CIA operatives who supervise the traffic of arms to Afghan rebels. The pages of newspapers and magazines are replete with detailed descriptions of numerous cClq)s used as bases for carI'ying out aggressive acts against Afghanistan. At present subversive and terrorist groups are being trained on the territory of certain countries - primarily Pakistan, but also some others - by local and foreign, above all American, instructors. Those groups are then infiltrated across the border. More than 120 such centres have been set up on the territory of Pakistan alone. There nave been reports in the international media that groups of bandits engaged in armed fighting against the people's power in Afghanistan include American ·volunteers·. The aggression is causing untold sUffering to the Afghan people. The Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, Mr. Zarif, in his statement yesterday cited vivid examples of the atrocities perpetrated by the counter-revolutionaries. In the years of the undeclared war the terrorists have burned and destroyed in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan about 2,000 schools, 130 hospitals and 500 mosques, damaged hundreds of bridges, dams and other irrigation fa~ilities, and set off explosions in cinemas, on public transportation and at Kabul airport. Two thousand teachers and 200 clergymen have fallen vict~s of the bandits. In that context let me recall just two recent wire service reporte. On 4 September in Kandahar the bandit~ shot down a passenger plane of the Afghan airline, which was on a regular flight from Kabul to Farah. All 47 passengers, including women and children, and the crew died in the crash. On 27 OCtober Reuters reported a missile attack on a mosque in the city of Herat, which was t~ed to coincide with day-time prayers. That attack resulted in 14 people dead and 78 injured. There is no doubt that responsibility for those terrorist actions is shared by those who trained, financed and gave sustenance to those groups of bandits. (Hr. Troyanovsky, USSR) It takes an enviable deg~ee of cynicism, given all these facts, to call the Afghan counter-revolutionaries -freedom fighters". It is clear to any unbiased observer that what they are doing is trying by \;error to take Afghanistan back to the Middle Ages and hand power back to big landowners and local feudal chieftans. Furthermore, it is known that terrorists from A~ola and Mozambique, Afghanistan ",.nd Nicaragua, Laos and Cambodia receive the same treatment. Apparently it is not fortuitous that warm greetings were sent by the White House last September to their gathering in Dallas. I trust th~t many in this hall will agree that this is not only a dangerous symptom but also a deliberate St&te policy. Is it not a demonstration of cynicism that the State giving the most assistance to terrorists in Afghani~tan dares at the same time to condemn terrorism louder than anyone else and calls for strong measures against it? Would it not be more logical to begin fighting terrorism by halting assistance to the Afghan terrorists? The territory of Pakistan serves as the main base for the undeclared war against Afghanistan - a fact that is being stated quite openly. Thus the whole region is being turned into a dangerous hotbed of tension. Four years ago ao agreement was signed providing for $~.2 billion in United States military and economic assistance to Islamabad. Supplies in accordance with that agreement are still continu~ng, but details of another agreement of the same kind are already being discussed. In the process, Pakistan h~s long since become one of the leading recipients of American military infusions in Asia. The Pakistani army continues to receive a huge flow of sophisticated weapoils from across the ocean, including helicopter g~nships, anti-aircraft complexes, the most recent types of aircraft, such as the F-16, battleships, and so forth. A large consignment of Sidewinder and Stinger missiles has recently been rushed to Islamabad although it is known that (Mr. Troyanovsky, USSR) reque~ts for such missiles from other regular recipients of American weapons are frequently turned down. Of course, that assistance is far from unselfish. Pakistan, as well as the entire region of South-West Asia and the Persian Gulf, figure proainently in Washington's strategic plans. Facilities for large naval vessels and other installaticns of a strategic nature are being set up in Pakistani ports for use, if necessary, by the United States milit&ry command. The facts cited above indicate that Pakistan is a direct accomplice in the aggression which is being committed against Afghanistan and in the cri~inal acts which a~e being perpetrated by the counter-revolution against the Afghan people. The representative of Pakistan speaking yesterday from this rostrum asserted that Islamabad, as it were, greatly values its relations with its neighbours, including the Soviet Union, and is constantly striving to develop ties with the Soviet Union in all fields. These declarations sound more than strange in the context of the slanderous allegations against the Soviet Union and its policy in Afghanistan to which the representative of Pakistan resorted yesterday. The ruling quarters of Pakistan have on numerous occasions been given the Soviet Union's frank and principled assessment of the policy pursued by the Government of Pakistan from whose territory aggressive acts against Democratic Afghanistan are being carried out. Moreover, the Soviet side has emphasized at the same time that this cannot but have an adverse effect on the state of Soviet-Pakistani relations. Another war has also been unleashed against Afghanistan in Western countries - the propaganda war which is being waged on a daily basis with the participation of numerous mass media institutions. World pUblic opinon is being assailed with literally a flood of lies. One can say without exaggeration that psychological warfare is being conducted in the style of Dr. Goebbels. For instance, if one (Mr. Trgyanovsky, USSR) were to add up all the casualties among Afghanistan's revoluti~nary forces reported in the Western press, the Afghan army would have been destroyed five times over. Let me recall in this context the groundless allegatons concerning "the use of chemical weapons by Soviet forces in Afghanistan". A great deal of rhetoric and loud accusations have "been heard on that score at the United Nations General Assembly and elsewaere. However, in the ond that lie burst like a soap bubble. And that was expected. Meanwhile, the slanderous campaign directed against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Soviet Union, which is helping its friendly neighbour to repulse the aggression, is contin~ing in full swing. New lies are being fabricated including those that concern the alleged "human rights violations". The intent, apparently, is to try to camouflage the real aims of the policy pursued by imperialist circles and to make people forget the crimes of the Afghan counter-revolutionaries. It should be noted that substantial financial and material resourses are being spent on psychological warfare. The United States Congress has decided to earmark about $700 thousand for the years 1986-1987 to finance the new subversive radio station "Free Afghanistan", located on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. It should be clear, however, that subversive operations against Democratic Afghanistan - wherever they come from and whoever provides the money for them - are definitely doomed to failure although they remain extremely dangerous adventures. The counter-revolution and its sponsors do not and cannot hope for success. (Mr. Troyanovsky, USSR) As has been demonstrated by the course of events, the people's power in Afghanistan continues to get stronger while revolutionary processes there are gradually assuming an irreversible character. Despite difficult conditions, the Republic has scored visible successes in the field of social, economic and political development. Progressive changes inside the country have, to a greater or lesser degree, affected a . spheres of life @f Afghan society. The State provides large subsidies to help maintain stable prices on staple goods; housing and day care centres are being built on a large scale and the social security system is being improved. The campaign against illiteracy is being waged with success. After the victory of the revolution over 1 million Afghans have learned to read and write. The Government has developed and is consistently carrying out measures aimed at improving the people's living and working conditions. In brief, a whole complex of democratic changes, familiar to many developing cou~tries which have chosen the path of independent development, is under way. It must particularly be noted ~lat the authorities of the Republic hold in high regard the Islamic religion and the traditions and customs of its people. Every year the Government allocates substantial resources for the construction of mosques and the repair and restoration of religious buildings, including those which have been d~stroyed by counter-revolutionaries. The consistent development of the foundations of democracy in the country is a very important political achievement of the people'S power. Three major political events which have taken place this year in Afghanistan provide vivid illustrations of that. (Mr. Trolanovs~~ USSR) In April of this year, the Loya Jirgah was convened in Kabul. This is the Grand Assembly, which is traditionally convened for the discussion of important State issues. This time, more than 2,000 delegates, representing all nationalities, ethnic groups and tribes in the country and all layers of Afghan society took part in the work of the Assembly. The Assembly clearly demonstrated that the majority of the people support the aims and goals of the April Revolution. Another event was the convening in September of the High Jirgah of the frontier tribes. It was attended by over 3,700 delegates, representing more than 40 nationalities living in the provinces borde~ing Pakistan and Iran. Tribal chiefs and elders, clergymen and commanders of tribal military units participating in that foru~ expressed their intention to give support to State bodies and the armed forces of the Republic in their efforts to stop the infiltration of the country by caravans with weapons and terrorist groups trained and equipped at bases across the border. Finally, last August stage-by-stage elections began to elect local bodies of authority and government. Those are, in effect, the first such elections in the entire history of Afghanistan. They are of a general nature and are being held on the basis'of the complete equality of all participants. Time is a severe judge. The year that has passed has demonstrated once again that a settlement of the problems related to the Afghanistan situation can be achieved in the most speedy and reliable way through the use of political means. There are possibilities of eliminating tension. The way to achieve that has been shown by the well-known proposals of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, which has consistently pursued a policy aimed at establishing friendly relations on a basis of equality with its neighbours. Negotiations have begun and are being conducted through the good offices of the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General. The Government of Afghanistan considers this process to be positive and is trying to enhance those positive tendencies. (Mr. Troyanovsky, USSR) The report submitted by the Secretary-General in the course of the last round of negQtiations indicates that there has been sUbstantial movement. One could list several questions on which attempts are being made, with the Secretary-Generalis participation, to reach a settlement, but it would probably be difficult to name one among them on which negotiations have made greater headway than on the question of the situation around Afghanistan. The Secretary-General 1 s report quite correctly points to "the overriding advantages of an effective settlement for the peoples of the region" (A/40/709, para. 15). One also has to agree with the observation in the report that what is needed at the present stage is a display of political will. As for the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, as was reaffirmed in the statement by the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan yesterday, it firmly and clearly expresses its readiness to demonstrate goodwill and to do its part honestly. Developments have now reached a particularly important stage, at which direct negotiations . between the sides, Afghanistan and Pakistan, have become necessary if indeed there is 8 ~esire to cut through all the knots. As is well known, the Pakistani side is avoiding direct negotiations. Such a position, which is difficult to understand and even more difficult to justify, calls into question the further intentions of . the Government of Pakistan and its readiness to work for a political settlement , with its neighbour. In order to put an end to the tense situation around Afghanistan and to reach a political settlement, it is neces3ary above all that armed and any other interference in the internal affairs of that country should cease and that the conditions should be created for making such interference impossible in the future. As Eduard Shevardnadze, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, stated in the general debate at the current session of the General Assembly: (Mr. Troyanovsky, USSR) NA political settlement of the situation that has arisen around that country is also possible. What is necessary for this is that everyone should recognize the right of the Afghan people to build their life as they wish and that armed and other forms of outside interference in the internal affairs of the DelOOcratic Republic of Afghanistan should be ended. When such interference is ended, and if there is a guarantee that it will not be resumed, it will then become possible to withdraw ftom Afghanistan, by agreement with the Afghan Government, the soviet military contingent. The sooner a political settlement is achiev~, the better it will be for everyone. M (A/40/PV.6, pp. 72, 73) I would like to emphasize particularly that the Soviet Union's international assistance to the people of Afghanistan in its hour of trial is by no means an isolated or rare episode in the history of the SOviet Union. Representatives of many non-aligned countries present in this forum well know that the Soviet Union has on many occasions come to their aid with political, economic and sometimes military support. Dozens of nations and countrie9 of Asia, Africa and Latin Ame;:ica have asked us to provide such assistance. That was the case at the time when colonial and dependent peoples fought for their national liberation. It was also the case at later stages in history when the forces of imperialism and reaction tried to undermine the independence of newly free States or used arms in order to make them change their course. The right to ask for such assistance is generally recognized. It has been reaffirmed in the United Nations Charter and in a number of other multilateral instruments. It is sufficient to recall those Security Council resolutions which (Hr. Troyadovsky, USSR) ~learlyand' unambiguously proclaim suCh a right. For instance, resolution 387 (1976) recalls -the inherent and lawful right of every State, in the',exercise'of its sovereignty, to request assistance from any other' State or group of States·. As for the Soviet Union, in rendering assistance to young, independent States it has never sought, and is not now seeking, any benefits for itself, whether economic, political or other. The form and scope of such co-operation have always been determined on the basis of bilateral agreement. Those that, like the main sponsors of the agression against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, continue to insist on the idea of the withdrawal of the limited Soviet contingent without taking account of the real situation around Afghanistan or of tne legitimate interests of the Afghan people are only erecting additional barriers to a diplomatic settlement. Drawing the United Nations into a debate on the so-called question of Afghanistan benefits only those forces that would like to perpetuate tensions in South West Asia for the sake of their selfish interests. Another vote on another draft resolution submitted by Pakistan and some other countries would be similarly unhelpful. Support for that draft resolution would only encourages Pakistan in its intransigent position at the talks with Afghanistan , and in rejecting direct negotiations with that countcy. Moreover, such resolutions only play into the hands of those who stand behind Pakistan and are doing their utmost to maintain and exacerbate tensions around Afghanistan and in the entire region. The Soviet delegation strongly objects to the draft resolution that has been presented here and states that it will vote against it, as it has done with regard (Mr. Troyanovsky, USSR) " to siJlil;sr d.aft resQlutiQns in the past. The Soviet. delegation has previously eDpbasized - and we once again reaffir. this belief - that the efforts of the United Nations should·be directed not at. supporting the unsavoury intrigues and ga~s inten~ to justify ar~d interference but at contributing in every way t~ a genuine political settlement of the situation arou~d Af9han~stan. (Hr. Troyanovsky, USSR) Mr. AL-SOGATR! (oman) (interpretation from Arabic): Nearly six years have passed since the sixth em~~gency special session of the General Assembly, held in January 1980. Yet we are again considering the situation in Afghanistan, in circu~stances which regrettably differ little from those which prompted the Assembly to convene that emergency special session to consider the problem. Today's situation in Afghanistan is a cl~~r-cut example of foreign interference in the internal affairs of States and of the use of militarJf force to impose a state of affai~s unacceptable to any freedom-loving people. The Charter of the United Nations and international law embody a set of principles, inclUding respeet for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States, the right of peoples to self-determination, and the right of peoples to choose their own form of government without foreign interference. My delegation fully subscribes to those lofty principles, and we join the majority of Members of this Assembly in calling for efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the problem of Afghanistan, based on the elements identified in the resolution adopted on this question by the General Assembly in 1980. Those elements are: the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan; respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-aligned character of Afghanistan; respect for the right of the Afghan people to determine their own form of government and choose their economic, political and social , systems free from outside intervention of any kind whatsoever; and bringing about the conditions necessary for the voluntary return of the Afghan refugees to their homes in safety and honour. With regard ,to the Afghan refugees, who have been forced to leave their homes, my delegation wishes to express its deep appreciation to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the great humanitarian role it has played by accommodating and acting as host to millions of Afghan refugees, despite its own constrained circumstances and capabilities. We wish once again to affirm our solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, which is undergoing a terrible ordeal in order to be able to live in freedom and independence in its own homeland. We believe that the united Nations and United Nations bodies can play a majo~ role in putting an end to that suffering. Thus, we greatly appreciate the constructive efforts of the Secretary-General, earried out through his Personal Representative, Mr. Diego Cordovez, Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, to find a comprehensive settlement of the Afghan problem, whose persistence poses a threat to international peace and security. My delegation thanks the secretary-General for his report on this subject (A/40/709). We support these efforts, which we hope will lead to a settlement of the question of Afghanistan, based on respect for the Afghan people's right of self-determination, the return of the refugees in safety and honour, and a political settlement guarante~ing good-neighbourly relations and non-interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries in that sensitive area of the world. My country's foreign policy is based on principles of peace, and is opposed to interference in the internal affairs of any other State and the use or threat of force in international relations. On the basis of that policy, my country has condemned the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan. Further, we are supporting and participating in all international efforts to find a solution to this complex problem. Thus, my delegation, from the very beginning, has always joined many other Member States in acting as sponsor of draft resolutions on "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security", inclUding this year's draft resolution, contained in document A/40/L.ll. We hope that the General Assembly's adoption of that draft resolution will contribute to reaching a (Mr. Al-Sogatry, Oman) peaceful settlement guaranteeing the interests of the Afghan people, restoring stability and tranquility to its country, creating a sense of security among neighbouring States, and strengthening international peace and security. Mr. OTT (German Democratic Republic): The delegation of the German Democratic Republic regrets to note once again that, with the discussion of the so-called situation in Afghanistan, the United Nations is being further misused for open interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign State. Consideration of this agenda item is more than a violation of the purposes and principles of the world Organization which emerged 40 years ago from the struggle of the States of the anti-Hitler coalition against war and fascism. It stands in contradiction to the great contribution made by the United Nations to the national and social liberation of peoples, and the Organization's growing efforts to defend the right of peoples to self-determination and independence and to defend peoples against aggression and exploitation. These are efforts the world Organi~ation has been making ever since its adoption 25 years ago of the historic Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Previous debates and resolutions on the so-called situation in Afghanistan have helped neither ,t~ relax the situation in the region nor to promote a political solution of the pro~ems. Indeed, they will be of no avail so long as they ignore the r~alities in the region and run counter to the interests of peoples. The point is not the situation "in" Afghanistan; what is imperative is that the situation around Afghanistan be relaxed. That means, above all, a halt to interference in the internal affairs of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, an end to the undeclared war against that country, and the provision of guarantees that the Afghan people may e~bark on its self-chosen road of development and that all peoples and States in the region may live together in security and good neighbourliness. (Mr. Al-Sogatry, Oman) The efforts of States and of the united Nations, in the fortieth year of its existence, should be geared exclusively to this end. This is the position of the German Democratic Republic. The underlying intention of the draft resolution before us is, in contradiction of the Charter of the United Nations, to deny the sovereign Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan people the right to self-determination and independence. The draft plays into the hands of those die-hards who are opposed to any social progress and would do anything to preserve outlived concepts. They are the same forces which, by confrontation and arms build-up. seek world domination, while not shrinking from yet another mortal danger to mankind - the militarization of outer space. The German Democratic Republic strongly rejects the present draft resolution and will vote against it. Despite many efforts made by realistically-minded and peace-loving forces, including the legitimate Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, it has not been possible so far to defuse the aggravated situation around Afghanistan. On the contrary, there have been growing attempts, by allocating ever larger sums for financing and recruiting counter-revolutionary gangs and by equipping them with most sophisticated weaponry, to terrorize the population and destabilize the situation inside the country. Almost 2,000 schools, 130 hospitals and 11 health centres have been destroyed. The permanent representative of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Ambassador Farid zarif, yesterday gave a graphic account in this forum of the extent of the unde~lared war against his country. It was also clear from his statement that all attempts made by imperialist quarters to put the Afghan people off its course of building a new, human society free of exploitation and tutelage, are doomed to failure. The people of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan have achieved considerable results, in (Mr. Ott, German Democratic Republic) particular in the fields of education and health, in implementing land and water reforms and in food supplies. In industrial enterprises initial social improvements such as annual leave, health care and wage increases have been introduced. Unbiased observers cannot but recognize these successes, even in the face of increasingly massive attempts to denounce in anti-Afghan propaganda campaigns the achievements made by revolutionary Afghanistan. In fact, the outlines of a new society are becoming ever more apparent in Afghanistan. The highest and most representative body of the Afghan people, the Loya Jirgah, comprising more than 1,800 members of different social background, creeds, nationalities·and tribes, reaffirmed in April this year its unanimous support for the course taken. The people of the German Democratic Republic feels high esteem and sympathy for the accomplishments of the fraternal people of Afghanistan. Together with other socialist countries we will continue, within the bounds of our possibilities, to support the Afghan people and to help them overcome the effects of backwardness and cou\·~r-revolution, especially in such fields as the training of personnel in health and education. The German Democratic Republic consistently stands up for the implementation of the peoples' right to self-determination, for outlawing the policy of force, and for peaceful coexistence between States with different social systems. That is why we are striving to bring about the peaceful settlement of conflicts by way of dialogue and negotiation. And it is for the same reason that we support the initiatives of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, which are aimed at a political solution to the situation that has emerged around Afghanistan. with it~1 proposals of 14 May 1980 and 24 August 1981, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan has outlined a constructive basis for negotiations between all parties concerned. (Mr. Ott, German Democratic Republic) The main purpose of these proposals is to put an end to the undeclared war and to provide guarantees that it cannot be revived. This policy is in conformity with the efforts of all forces of peace to generate a climate of detente in international relations, to prew~nt a nuclear catastrophe, and to thwart the assaults madE" by imperialism on the freedom and independence of peoples. It is ~':J thie~d that the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan is also active in the movement of non-aligned countries. We hold thu view that esPecially in the fortieth year of the existence of the United Nations, an impetus must be given by this forum of States to peaceful solutions servi~~ the interests o~ the Afghan people. It may be recalled in this context that the activities of the United Nations Secretary-General aimed at a just political se~~l~ment of the situation around Afghanistan are highly appreciated in the German t~fu?Cratic Republic and other socialist States. This general position was affirmed once again by the States parties to the Warsaw Treaty in their most recent Declara~ion, which states: RThe p~~ticipants in the meeting support the efforts for reaching a political solution at the negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan through the mediation of the pe:sona1 envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General. R It is abf;olutely imperative '0 continue the talks which have been initiated. The German Democratic Republic regards this dialogue as a first step in the right direction; this was confirmed by the outcome of the fourth round of negotiations held in July this year. My country shares the view that there are no problems existing between Afghanistan and its neighbouring States which cannot be solved by peaceful means. The Government and people of the German Democratic Republic reaffirm their solidarity with and support for the Governme••t and people of the Democratic (Mr. O~t, German Democratic Republic) Republic of'Afghanistan; who are waging a long ana' bitter struggle against the imperialist policy of interference in the internal affairs of their country. We viI! continue to side firmly with fraternal Afghanistan in its struggle for peace and progress. (Mr. Ott, Geraan DellOCratic Republic) Mr. LESSIR (Tunisia) (interpretation from French): The General Assembly is called upon once again to consider the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. The six resolutions that it has already adopted by a large majority have invariably called for the cessation of military intervention in Afghanistan and a negotiated solution to the problem. We note with regret that the repeated appeals of the international community have not yet produced the desired result and that, in spite of the diplomatic process under way, foreign forces remain encamped on Afghan soil. Since the situation in Afghanistan has not evolved favourably, my delegation must recall the position of principle that it has adopted in this regard. Indeed, in spite of the complexities of this situation, in our view the problem of Afghanistan amounts to foreign military intervention with all its internal and external implications. That is a fact which various international and regional bodies cannot afford to disregard at a time when interference in the internal affairs of States, the use of force, the persistence and worsening of conflicts are all assuming disquieting proportions. From the outset, we have clearly explained our position on the substance of the problem we are discussing today, just as we did in similar previous cases, regardless of the political tendencies or allegiances of the regime or regimes responsible. Our opposition to such use of force is based on the unassailable principles of our foreign policy. Tunisia is guided in this matter by the united Nations Charter and the rules of international law which prohibit the threat or use of force, interference in the internal affairs of States, and violation of the territorial integrity of countries. For, whatev~r the motivations and pretexts, the military intervention in Afghanistan is a serious violation of the territorial integrity of that country, and therefore contrary to the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law. Like other cases of military intervention condemned by this Organization, the one now under consideration reminds us that such use of armed force unfortunately sets a bad precedent in international relations and thereby induces small and weak countries to divert part of their development funds to the acquisition of increasingly costly weapons. It is that kind of precedent that my country would like to see the international commu~ity prevent, if it really intends to strive for the establishment of an era of peace and security in the world which would enshrine a genuine process of detente and international co-operation free of any pressure. While the situation in Afghanistan has an adverse influence on the established order in the South-West Asia region and at the international level, it is also characterized internally by an armed conlfict that has persisted for six years now and which continues to claim innumerable victims and drain the resources of the Afghan people. One of the serious consequences of that conflict is undoubtedly the increase in the number of Afghan refugees who, over the years, have been forced by the hostilities to cross the border into Pakistan and Iran. Naw numbering over 5 million, the Afghan refugees provide proof - were proof needed - of the injustice that has befallen their homeland. This growing mass of refugees aggravates an already critical situation, which is becoming an increasingly heavy burden on Pakistan, among others, which is sheltering over 3 million Afghans.* My country cannot fail to empathize with those masses of displaced persons who have fled their homes. The solution to tneir problem is not to be found in the * Mr. Moreno-Salcedo (Philippines), Vice-President, took the Chair • (Mr. Lessir, Tunisia) charity provided by the international community or in the hospitality offered them by Pakistan and Iran, but in a comprehensive political solution that recognizes the right of the Afghan people to decide freely its own destiny, without foreign interference or coercion from any source. Known for its courage and independent spirit, the Afghan people throughout is history has shown remarkable maturity and a fierce will to preserve its identity in spite of all vicissitudes. It is the duty of us all to allow it, without constraints and pressure, to decide on its own system of Government and the social order which best suits it. That condition cannot be met in the shadow of foreign forces. The security that each Member of this Organization would like to preserve for itself cannot be obtained by fo~ce of arms to the detriment of the vital interests of other States and peoples. That is a serious illusion which persists in spite of the lessons of history. We believe that the solution to the most murderous and complex conflicts is not beyond the reach of conventional diplomacy. Moreover, the united Nations Charter and the rules of international law daily remind us of the need in case of disputes.to use the many peaceful means of settlement. My country still hopes that the process of political settlement defined by the relevant resolutions of this Assembly will be backed in coming months by concrete action which will reassure the countries of the South-West Asia region and the international community at large. The efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative, Mr. Diego Cordovez, deserve our praise and support. The diplomatic process which began in 1982 under their aegis has made it possible to advance slowly along the pa~h towards a negotiated solution. (Mr. Lessir, Tunisia) The proximity talks in Geneva described by the Secretary-General in his report on the evolution of the situation in Afghanistan have made it possible virtually to complete work on three instruments relating to non-interference and non-intervention, the voluntary return of refugees, and international guarantees. That progress does honour to the parties concerned, but it also requires a redoubling of efforts so that the remaining aspects of the problem can be resolved. HOwever, Tunisia believes that the political solution to the problem now under discussion must establish and preserve the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and non-aligned nature of Afghanistan. That is an essential condition which can be satisfied only after the withdrawal of foreign forces and the reaffirmation of the right of the Afghan people to choose its own form of Government and its own economic and social system, without any interference. We hope that the forthcoming talks planned for December this year in Geneva will advance the cause of peace in the South-West Asia region by overcoming the structural and political difficulties that remain in the way of the completion of the negotiating process. We understand those difficulties and hope that the process will not be thwarted by any attempt to make one of the parties concerned lose face. We hope that the signs of detente that today characterize super-Power relations will have a positive impact on the situation in Afghanistan if the parties concerned show sound political will • (Mr. Lessir, Tunisia) On this fortieth anniversary of our Organization the Sdccess of the peace process painstakingly planned and pursued by the Secretary-General would contribute greatly to the restoration of a climate of confidence in the region and would reduce tension in the world. It would give renewed hope to the United Nations system, which is today confronting complex political problems whose solution requires mobilization of the conscience of the world. Mr. GOLOB (Yugoslavia): The international situation continues to deteriorate owing to acute crises and tensions and also to resistance to the legitimate aspirations of peoples and countries to self-determination, emancipation and unfettered development. Crises, conflicts and instability continue to afflic~ various parts of the world and particularly non-aligned and other developing countries. The extension of East-West confrontation to local and regional disputes complicates them further, renders their resolution more difficult and jeopardizes peace at large. Against such a sombre backdrop, it is encouraging that the international community is not reconciled to the existence of international crises and the violation of the independence and sovereignty of countries and that it is emphasizing the quest for political solutions in the spirit of the United Nations Charter. It remains clear that decisive efforts are needed in order to start the process of the solution of crises and to ensure the right of peoples to live in peace, independence and freedom. Confrontations of wider proportions fraught with consequences for international peace and security would thus be avoided. For the two and a half decades since its inception the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has resolutely opposed all forms of pressure, intervention and interference. The non-aligned countries are committed to scrupulous respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter, on which international relations (Mr. Lessir, Tunisia) are based. This is the only way to ensure lasting peace and security for all peoples and countries, peaceful coexistence and constructive international co-operation. It may be recalled that non-aligned countries initiated the adoption of the Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States. That Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly four years ago by an overwhelming majority of votes. It contains the clearly formulated provision that no State or group of States has the right to intervene or interfere, in any form or u~der any pretext, in the internal affairs of other States. Yugoslavia proceeds from the principles of the inadmissibility of foreign military intervention and the unacceptability of the imposition of alien will on sovereign countries and peoples. Each people and nation has the inalienable right to self-determination, to independence and to free choice of social and political development. The denial of that right contravenes the basic values enshrined in the Charter and reduces international relations to a patchwork of loose rules, or rather an absence of rules. Such an approach is shortsighted and dangerous and is dire~ted against the interests of all countries, including those that may elec.t to support it. The principles of the United Nations Charter should not be defended or applied selectively, depending on who violates them and who is the victim of the violation. So-called security reasons or vital interests of the internal political and economic systems of individual countries cannot be accepted as pretexts for intervention and the use of force. In international relations, we submit, there can be no justification for the use of force or for intervention, regardless of who resorts to them or where. At the Seventh summit Conference in New Delhi, India, and at the recent Ministerial Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Luanda, Angola, the participants expressed their deep concern over the situation in South-West Asia and stressed the dangerous consequences of that situation for peace and security in the region. In particular, they voiced their concern over the situation in Afghanistan. The non-aligned countries pledged their support for a peaceful political solution based on the withdrawal of foreign troops, the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Afghanistan, and consistent adherence to the principles of non-intervention and non-interference. Furthermore, they reiterated the right of the Afghan refugees to safe and honourable return to their homes and the need for a speedy solution of this important humanitarian problem. Regrettably, there has been no significant development in the pr~ess of finding a political solution to the situation in Afghanistan. United Nations decisions and resolutions are not being implemented, although they contain just bases and an adequate framework for a peaceful solution~ Those resolutions proceed from the widely acknowledged fact that the supreme criterion is the will and aspirations of the people and that crisis issues cannot be resolved on a lasting basis by outside Powers. It is, however, encouraging that negotiations between the parties directly involved are going on, than~s to the good offices of the Secretary-General, Mr. Perez de Cuellar. The efforts of the Secretary-General are, we believe, always to be welcomed. The proposed draft resolution again contains the basic principles and framework for a political solution of the situation in Afghanistan. Guided by the policy of non-alignment and the positions of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, Yugoslavia will vote in favour of the draft resolution, convinced that it is thus contributing to the solution of the problem. (Mr. Golob, Yugoslavia) Mr. RACZ (Hungary): Here we are again discussing an item which, by its very title, t.plies interference in the internal affairs of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, a soveriegn State Member of the United Nations. As we have repeatedly pointed out, we disagree with this procedure, which we consider to be contrary to the relevant provisions of the Charter. It is not the situation in Afghanistan, which as the title of the agenda item suggests, has -implications for international peace and security· but rather the continuous intervention from outside, aided and abetted by outside forces. It is this intervention th~t must be stopped so that the Afghan people can devote all their talent and energy to the peaceful development of their society. Even in conditions of fighting counter-revolutionary bands, Afghanistan is developing in many areas. The Government, supported by the Afghan people, is making determined efforts to lead the country from its inherited backwardness to material and cultural advances. Despite the disruptions caused by the undeclared war, industrial production has increased by 15 per cent in the past two years. Land and water reform is Deing successfully implemented. In the fight against illiteracy more than 1 million people have completed literacy courses. Important steps have been taken to draw the working masses into the management of the affairs of the State. In the foreign policy field all that the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan want is to have peace, to have normal, friendly relations with their neighbours, with which they have traditional historical, economic, cultural, religious and linguistic ties, with common roots and a common heritage. We sincerely believe that no differences exist between Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries that cannot be settled in the interest of their people through peaceful means, through negotiations. Already on 14 May 1980 the Gove~nment of the Democratic Republic of A~ghanistan put forward a comprehensive programme for a political settlement of the situation around Afghanistan and the normalization of relations between Pakistan and Iran. That initiative was supplemented on 24 August 1981 by another constructive statement, in which the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan expressed its readiness to participate in trilateral talks with Pakistan and Iran and to accept the presence of the Secretary-General of the united Nations at such talks. From those initiatives grew the negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement through the intermediary of Mr. Diego Cordovez, Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. As can be seen from the report ~f the Secretary-General (A/40/709), understanding was reached on 9 November of points at the very outset, and on that basis negotiations started on a document containing draft texts of all the provisions necessary to resolve· the issues involved. Pfter painstaking negotiations, another important understanding was reached this year: that the political settlement should consist of a set of instruments that would include a bilateral agreement on non-interference and non-interventionJ a declaration on international guaranteesJ a bilateral agreement on the voluntary return of the refugeesJ and an instrument on interrelationships. We note from the report that during the June round of talks it was possible virtually to complete the formulation of the two draft bilateral agreements and to conclude the formulation of a declaration on internatio~al guarantees. At this crucial stage it would be of paramount importance if the instrument on interrelationships could also be discussed. This requires that the parties choose the best and most efficient way of reaching an agreement - that is, the holding of (Mr. Racz, Hungary) direct negotiations. On the other hand, we welcome the agreement to hold another round of talks from 16 to 20 December 1985 and would like to believe that this is proof that the parties are committed to the diplomatic process in search of a peaceful solution. At this juncture let me express our appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary-General and Mr. Diego Cordovez, his Personal Representative. In conclusion, I will deal briefly with draft resolution A/40/L.ll. As we have repeatedly stated, a solution can be based only on respect for the sovereignty of countries, non-interference in their internal affairs and mutual interests. Unfortunately, the draft resolution before us does not meet those criteria. It is one-sided, it repeats without change all the unacceptable elements of last year's resolution and, in our view, it will harm rather than help the diplomatic process. Therefore my delegation will vote against it, as it did against last year's resolution. Mr. WDOLCOTT (Australia): The continuing conflict in Afghanistan and the persistent presence of Soviet troops in that troubled country remain a cause of concern and disappointment to the Australian Government. Six successive resolutions of the General Assembly have now called for the immediate withdr~wal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the continued presence of a large number of Soviet troops there are unacceptable to the Australian Government and to the overwhelming majority of countries in this Organization. For six years now the General Assembly has listened to a web of excuses woven by the Soviet Union in defence of its actions. Those excuses are no more than an unconvincing rationalization of its actions, an attempt to explain away the essential reality - namely, the direct military intervention by a great Power in the affairs of a smaller neighbour. That is precisely the type of situation that the United Nations system was established to deter. (Mr. Woolcott, Australia) There is no genuine basis for the Soviet Union's claim that its troops entered Afghanistan at the invitation of the Government of that country. Even if the soviet Government thought otherwise, Afghanistan has never posed a threat to Soviet security. The great majority of the members of this Organization, despite their ma~y differences on other issues, are united in perceiving the essential facts of the situation in Afghanistan: that a small, developing, non-aligned country was invaded by the soviet Union, so that a more compliant regime could be installed in Kabul. Australia believes that the solution to this tragic and continuing problem must be based on the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan. Until that happens, there can be no normalization of relations between the countries most directly concerned. Until that happens, there can be n~ feeling of security on the part of other small, developing, non-aligned countries about their own immunity from external intervention. The consequences of the Soviet Union's refusal to implement the General Assembly's former resolutions on this matter are far-reaching. The Soviet union, a super-Power and permanent member of the Security Council, is failing in its duty to maintain international peace and security. The Soviet Union, which is itself quick to criticize others for alleged failures to observe General Assembly resolutions, refuses to recognize the General Assembly's competence in this case. The Soviet Union now finds itself ensnared in Afghanistan, and it seems clear that the great majority of the Afghan people do not regard the Soviet troops as liberators. On the contrary, they have mounted a very effective resistance, with the result that Soviet troops do not have control of the countryside, and travel there at their peril. The Soviet Union has engaged in deplorable military tactics inside Afghanistan in its attempts to subjugate the Afghan people. It has indiscriminately attacked and bombed the civilian population, and has used methods which have provoked widespread cOh,aemnation within the international community. Moreover, we should not f~rget that the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan was a major factor in stopping the process of detente and tn aggravating tensions between the two super-Powers. While the Afghan people themselves have, of course, been most directly and adversely affected by the Soviet action, the entire international community has also felt the consequences for these past six years. The burden has fallen with particular weight on Afghanistan's neighbours, which have had to offer shelter to the massive numbel' of ref..gees who chose to flee from the situation the Soviet union has caused. The refugees number hundreds of thousands in Iran. In Pakistan there are more than two and a half million refugees. The situation has clearly placed very considerable strains on the economy of Pakistan. The entire international community should acknowledge with gratitude the way in which Pakistan has shouldered those responsibilities. Humanitarian relief organizations, particularly the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have also distinguished themselves in relieving the sufferings of the Afghan refugees. Moreover: many countries have strongly supported efforts to ease their plight. Austri~lia itself has contr ibuted some $30 million in humanitarian and relief aid to the Afghan refugees. We shall continue to bear a fair share of that burden. Against that background, we need urgently to restore a proper climate of international confidence. We need to rectify a historical wrong. We need to reassure the small nations of the world that their sovereign rights will not be violated. And we need to enable the people of Afghanistan freely to decide their own future. Those needs can be met only if the Soviet Union accepts a political solution in Afghanistan. we believe that would, after all, be in the Soviet (Mr. Woolcott, Australia) Union's own intereats. We can only hope that the negotiated political settlement which has proved so elusive in recent years will r in the near futu~e! be achieved~ In this context, the Australian Government has continued to follow with hope and interest the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative, Mr. Diego Cordovez, to facilitate such an outcome. Even at times when progress has seemed impossible, the Secretary-General and his officers have persevered. Australia commends those efforts. We have also been pleased to read the Secretary-General's observation that the Governments of the soviet Union and the United States have reiterated their support for a negotiated political settlement and for the continuation of 'his efforts. The Secretary-General has not underestimatad the difficulties confronting him in his task. We endorse his observation that the political will to reach a negotiated settlement is ~~aential to carry forward this issue. We note, too, his expression of regret that procedural difficulties have impeded progress on substantiv& matters. It is also the hope of the Australian GovernmrHt that all parties concerned will indeed press ahead, under the Secretary-General's auspices, to achieve a negotiated settlement. We trust that all parties, and particularly the Soviet Union, whose actions lie at the root of the problem, will approach the next round of discussions, scheduled for December, with a seriousness of purpose , and a forward-looking determination which will enable the Secretary-General to repoLt real progress towards a settlement of this long-standing problem. No delegation would be happier than the Australian delegation to see the removal of this item from the General Assembly's agenda. Since 1983 the Australian Gover~ment has been seeking to improve its relations and widen its contacts with the Soviet Union, Which had b~en greatly curtailed by the former Australian Government as a direct result of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. While the (Mr. Woolcott, Australia) passage of time cannot rectify a violation of the Charter, the present Australian Government is adopting a more pragmatic approach to its wider relationship with the Soviet union. This desirable process could be accelerated by genuine movement in the near future by the Soviet side towards the withdrawal of its troops and the search for a political settlement. In the meantime, there can be no drawing back from the General Assembly's responsibilities in this matter. We have here a clear case of a breach of the peace, a violation of basic Charter principles and the abdication by a great Power of its special responsibilities to the international community. The General Assembly has a responsibility to reiterate to the Soviet Union its accountability to the international community for its actions. The Assembly has done so in the past by adopting resolutions with very large majorities; it should do so again this year. Australia, for its part, endorses the draft resolution now b~fore us and will vote in favour of it, in the sincere hope that the Soviet union will heed, in the near future, the moral force of the Assembly's actions. (Mr. Woolcott, Australia) • Mr•.CESAR' (C~echoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian): Counter to the fundamental principles of the Charter of the united Nations, counter to the legitimate interests of the Afghan people, this year yet once again the so-called Afghan question has been included on the agenda of the General Assembly. In the view of Czechoslovakia and a number of other delegations this is crude interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. What is the aim pursued by those who tirelessly raise the so-called Afghan question at the United Nations? There can be no doubt that these are attempts to support the activities of counter-revolutionary gangs which kill the civilian population. These are attempts by all possible means to reverse progressive development in that country, to prevent the Afghan people from developing the political, economic and social system they chose during the April Revolution of 1978. Prior to the revolution Afghanistan was among the most backward countries of the world. It was considered one of the 13 least developed States. The masses could no longer endure the inhuman tyranny, the venal despotic regime and medieval oppression which reigned in the country, which explains the victory of the revolution which began on 27 April 1978. The Afghan people, however, were not destined to enjoy the fruits of their historic victory. , Soon after the April Revolution the forces of imperialism unleashed an undeclared war against this new Afghanistan. The acts of aggression perpetrated against Afghanistan from abroad caused enormous losses and untold suffering on the Afghan people. Counter-revolutionary gangs terrorize and kill the peaceful civilian population. Subversive actions cause great losses to the Afghan economy. The damage sustained by the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan already exceeds 35 billion afghanis. An enormous number of Afghan citizens h~ve left their ha-eland as a result of hostile propaganda~ d~eit and false promises: The character of the counter-revolutionary forces is illustrated ~ their ·military operations· which took place most recently. These include the explosion in the mosque of the Kabul Technical Institute at a time when teachers and students had gathered there~ the explosion of a charge in an overcrowded city trolley bus; the bombs which exploded in the Kabul International Airport at a time when 100 young Afghans were preparing for departure for study abroad, the treacherous shelling of heavily populated areas of KabulJ ~ugust 1985 saw the bombing of a market and hospital buildings in Mazar-Sharif. The most recent in this list of crimes perpetrated by the counter-revolutionary groups took place on 4 September with the shooting down of a civilian aircraft while on a regular flight from Kabul-Kandahar to Para. The forces of the counter-revolutionaries can only carry out these hostile activities against Afghanistan thanks to comprehensive assistance from abroad. The volume of material and financial assistance and services rendered to the counter-revolutionary elements ~ imperialist States, headed by the United States, amounts to more than $1 billion yearly. Thus they are supplied with the most modern types of weapons, inclUding heavy arms and missiles. The gangs are taught by American instructors at nearly 200 centres. There is an increase in hostile propaganda directed against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Subversive radio stations are on the air 24 hours a day. Counter-revolutionary pamphlets, cassettes and tapes with statements by counter-revolutionary leaders calling for the overthrow of the people's Government are distributed on Afghan territory. (Mr. Cesar, Czechoslovakia) External encouragement of armed acts directed against the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and official statements regarding assistance in carrying out terrorist acts are considered by Czechoslovakia to be the major destabilizing factor in the region. At the same time, this activity runs counter to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding regulation of relations among States. External aggression against Afghanistan is the sole reason for the presence of a limited contingent of Soviet troops. The highest Afghan representatives have asserted on numerous occasions that as soon as external interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan ceases, and as soon as the Democratic Republic of Afghani, :an is given firm guarantees that attacks against it will not be repeated, the limited contingent of Soviet troops will be withdrawn from the country. Despite unceasing attacks by the counter-revolutionaries, Democratic Afghanistan has achieved outstanding success in strengthening domestic political stability, numerous examples of which have been cited in many statements made in this forum. The results achieved in the socio-economic development of the country attest to the fact that the policy chosen is a correct one. Last year, for the fir~t time, more goods and services were made available to the population than in the year prior to the revolution. National income, as compared to the pre-revolutionarYFeriod, has gradually been increasing. positive results have been achieved, in particular in the area of agriCUlture. From the time of the April Revolution more than 600,000 hectares of land were distributed to landless peasants. The area of land under cultivation already exceeds 500,000 hectares. This year, in accordance with the State plan, there will be a further increase in the use of agricultural mechanization in grain sowing and harvesting. There will also be increased assistance rendered by the State to agricUltural co-operatives and individual peasants. (Mr. Cesar, Czechoslovakia) At the same time, there has been a notable improvement in the situation of the workers. There have been salary increases. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan workers have the right to pensions, paid leave and free medical care. These services have been considerably expanded this year. starting in March, the Government has been covering expenditures incurred in the treatment and prevention of eye disease, one of the most frequent ailments in Atghanistan, particularly among children, for which this year there has been an'all~ation of $10 million Afghani from the State budget. A systematic modernization of the educational system is taking place in Afghanistan. Despite strong resistance on the part of counter-revolutionarie~ there has been a gradual expansion of the network of primary and secondary educational institutions. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan there is instruction in the languages of national minorities. Another outstanding success is the access to education given to the most underprivileged strata of the population and the fact that education has reached out to the most far-flung regions of the country. Quite a few successes.have been achieved by Afghan society in democratizing the political system. Of particularly great importance is the decision of the Government to hold the first democratic elections to local people's bodies in major regions of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the start of the electoral campaign. (Mr. Cesar, Czechoslovakia) During the pre-revolutionary period, there was virtually no centralized system of state administration and power in individual provinces was in the hands of feudal and reactionary religious leaders. The new elected bodies will effectively promote co-ordination and efficient economic development, the creation of a single national market, and also the improvement of transportation, education and health services. At the same time, there continues to be strict observance of traditional forms of tribal self-government, whose main expression will be the highest consultative council of derdOCratically elected elders. The active participation of the population ~n preparations for the elections, as well as in the elections themselves - recently in April in the elections for the High Jirgah - the traditional supreme assembly of representatives of the entire Afghan people - and for the Jirgah of frontie~ tribes, which took place on 14 and 15 September of this year, is compelling proof of the broad support given by the Afghan people to the policy of the State leadership of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. This gradual consolidation has opened the eyes of many Afghan citizens, who, under the influence of demagogic counter-revolutionary propaganda, left Afghanistan. Last year alone, several thousands of emigres returned to Afghanistan. The national Government has shown its humanism by giving the returnees - even those who participated in actions hostile to the system of , government - guarantees that they will not be punished. Moreover, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan grants these people the right to recover their property and the right to full participation in public life. Czechoslovakia attaches the greatest importance to the efforts undertaken by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan to democratize Afghan society and to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the country while respeding national traditions and popular beliefs. In our view, these efforts deserve full international support. On the other hand, there is a need for (Mr. Cesar, Czechoslovakia) the firm condemnation of those states which support the counter-revolution, which sow discord and which prevent a normalization of the situation around Afghanistan. We are most appreciative of the peace-loving foreign policy of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The representatives of Afghanistan, guided by the will of their people, have at all forums been persistently working to strengthen peace in Asia and throughout the world. The major efforts of Afghanistan are directed at resolving thorny issl.~ '3 at the negotiating table and at normalizing relations with neighbouring states. This is keeping with the interests of the peoples of the countries involved and in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region and throughout the world. The best way to achieve a normalization of relations between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran would doubtless be direct negotiations among these States in the spirit of the construetive proposals made by the Afghan Government on 14 May 1980 and on 24 August 1981. In this context it seems to me appropriate to quote the foilowing part of the Declaration adopted on 23 October 1985 in Sofia at the meeting of the Political Consultative Committee Of the States parties to the Warsaw Treaty: -Peace is indivisible, and any local conflict in the present tense international situation is fraught with the danger of growing into a major and even a global confrontation. There is a need firmly to end the imperialist policy of force and interference in the internal affairs of other countries, to end acts of aggression, to resolve conflict situations and disputes among States by peaceful means, and fully to respect the right of each people independently to chart its own destiny.- In this connection, another part of the Declaration states: -The participants in the meeting support the efforts made during the negotiations undertaken between Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the united Nations to achieve a political settlement.- Its progressive domestic and foreign policy has been increasing the international authority of Afghanistan. There has been a clear strengthening of the position of Afghanistan in international organizations: 15 specialized agencies in the United Nations system are participating in programmes for the development of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan; since 1983 the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan has once again been participating in the work of the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement. Nevertheless, this year, once again, we are witnessing the abuse of such an important forum as the General Assembly of the United Nations - abuse which is directed against the interests of the Afghan people. The draft resolution which has been submitted for our consideration is no more than crude external interference in the affairs of the Democratic Republic o~ Afghanistan~ its ~~rpose is not to improve the situation in that region but rather artificially to maintain tension in the region and to serve as a political cover for those who oppose sceial progress and the implementation of the right of the Afghan people to self-determination. For this reason Czechoslovakia will vote against this draft resolution. Mr. SHIHABI (saudi Arabia) (interpretation from Arabic): Here we are approaching the IDOnth of Decemer 1985. It was DeceDlber 1979, when the people of Afghanistan, in their mountains and gorges, were awakened by the roar of tanks breaching their northern border and crossing their country in order to instal in the seat of government at Kabul agents who had usurped power in the darknes~ of the night. Six years thereafter the war is still raging and there is no certain end to be seen on the horizon: six years during which the Afghan people have been engaged in a war and a jihad for which they are paying with their blood, security and livelihood. They are engaged in a struggle against a super-Power that itself was subjected 40 years ago to a foreign invasion that it then resisted for four long years. The Afghans were fortunate to be spared during the five years of the second World War and that they were not tested in their religion or their day-to-day life. Little did they know that their neighbour, a victor in that war, would forget the lessons of the invasion of its own country and invade their land. They have held out against that neighbour for the past six years with characteristic heroism and determination. They are scoring victories in their war with the smallest number of weapons and the simplest of equipment, through belief that cannot be subdued and faith that crushes steel. The presence of one out of every four Afghan citizens as a refugee in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan speaks for itself as testimony to what has happened and is happening to the Afgha~ people= The struggle of those valiant patriots - in whose country throughout history no attempt at cOnquest has ever succeeded - to return to their land and to resist occupation by all the means available to them is a manifestation of human nature. We can imagine the situation of those millions of brave Afghans, sitting in their camps while their country is subjected to foreign occupation and their families are SUffering all sorts of oppression and . deprivation, which they consider to be a challenge to their right to existence itself. What must their situation be after six years of such suffering? It is a simple scenario. The moment a super-Power mobilizes its troops in order to expand, to invade and to extend its spheres of influence a new rationale is born for the counter-balancing concerns of competing Powers, which are automatically drawn into the arena of conflict. If the Soviet Union is intent on not allowing the influence of the other big Powers to reach its borders, it would have been wiser not to cross those borders and occupy the Territory of a friendly (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) neighbour, thus irritating the countries of the region~ not to stand as an invader on the lIOuntain-tops of Afghanistan, thus enabling neighbouring countries to see the results of the good-neighbourly relation that the Soviet Union has with Afghanistan. : The SOviet occupation of Afghanistan was a great shock to the world in general and to the neighbouring countries in particular. That occupation opened the door to an infinite variety of fears, and to opportunities in the big-Power competition for spheres of influence, to which the countries of the region are very sensitive. One realistic look at the lie of the land should demonstrate to the great Powers the impossibility of moving into vacuums in that area. The question is what such movements will lead to if it proves impossible to achieve peace in Afghanistan? OCcupation in order to support a conspiratorial group seeking to establish in Afghanistan a new system opposed and resisted by all the Afghan people is merely a pretext for expansion, which is unacceptable in this d~y and age and is contrary to all the principles of the United Nations. It is regrettable that, when they take stands on issues which are sUbstantively similar but regarding which they have differing interests, some big Powers forget that what they say on one issue because it is <:ompatible with their position should apply also and always to all similar ISSUE/So The rejection of interference in the affairs of other nations and peoples is a basic standJ the right of peoples to self-determination and to live under a system of their own choice is a basic right. Moreover, the legal and moral immunity from foreign occupa~ion of every country is an absolute immunity. Reliance on manipulating interpretations and on the short memory of nations is the shortest road to a situation of international tension, world crisis and, ultimately, war. (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) The invasion of Afghanistan constitutes a violation of all rights. Siallarly, . the invasion of Palestine, Jord:n,. L::b:r.on and Syria an4 the !!ttack8 on 'l'Yni~!1! I!nd Iraq constitute a violation of all rights. While we appreciate the SOviet Union's (X)sitive and correct stand on Israel's violation of all Arab and Islamc rights in Palestine and other Arab countries, we sincerely hope that the SOviet Union, reeponding to the appeals and resolutions of the Organization of the Islaaic Conference and this international organization and to the appeals of the world co.-xnlty as a whole, "Ul roconeiCler iu position after the experience of the past six years. withdraw frOll the land of Afghanistan, thus freeing the Afghan people fr.OII ailitary occupation and relieving the neighbouring countries of their worries, and try to regain the f~iendship of those countries. Certainly! none of thea would wish to earn the an'l...,slty of a neighbour such as the Soviet Union, with superio: strength and irifiuenc:e, provided it could preserve its rights, protect its security and feel safe frOll surprises sprung upon them out of the dark. : wish to express our appreciation to the secretary-General and his Personal Representative for their efforts and for the patience and sincerity with which they are undertaking a rtission which is vital for the peace of the region and the world in connection with a problea that tOuches on the sanctity of the principles on which international relations are based and on which the United Rations was established, for the purpose of protecting the rights of peoples and States and Upholding international conventions and conte~rary hu.an values. (Mr. Sbl~abi, saudi Arabia) we applaud the Afghan people and the Afghani Mujahideen who are demonstrating the greatest examples of sacrifice and heroisa against one of ~~ strcr~est military Powers in history. They are fighting with the fortitude of righteousness and faith in defence of their Isla.ic religion, their hoaela~a and their right to live freely and with dignity. We support their demands and call upon the international community to raise its voice in the united Nations in order to express its support for the right and the justice of the Afghan people. We reiterate our gratitude and appreciation to ~~e Islamic Republic of Pakistan for ita endeavours while it is the host to more than 3.5 million Afghani refugees. Their numbers are increasing, and while shouldering the obligations of a neighbour, Pakistan is" bearing an econoMic burden that is beyond its capacity. We call upon all organizations and Governments to participate with Pakistan in this great humanitarian endeavour. We also support its efforts to reach a solution of the problem in order to restore to the Afghan people peace, dignity and independence, as well as to strengthen the security of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the sanctity of its borders. The facts concerning the problem of Afghanistan today are clear and the positions of the countries of the world towards it are also clear. The Moslem States have declared at the highest levels through the Conference of the Organization of Islamic States their support for the rights of the Afghan people and their just demande. This has also been reaffirmed by the resolutions of the united Nations in a manner that leaves no room for justification or interpretation of such intervention. Today we repeat those affirmations and appeal to the Soviet Union, one of the States responsible for international security, which is regularly called upon to preserve that security, to respond to our appeal and to withdraw from (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) Afghanistan, the land and country of the Afghan people. We call upon the international community to express those d~mands once again and to take a collective stand so that a just and speedy solution can be achieved and the problem solved. That stand should be a lesson to the invaders of any country and their supporters to reconsider their plans so that calm may ~e restored to some of the areas of extreme tension that are threatening regional and world peace around the globe. I should like to reaffirm here the extent of our concarn in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the gravity of the problem of Afgha~istan and the need to restore all the rights of the Afghan people. And as I salute from this international rostrum the Afghani Mujahideen, who.are writing the most glorious pages of heroism in defence of their religion and homeland, I hope it will not take long for us to stand here again to applaud the end of the foreign occupation of Afghanistan and the enjoyment" by the Afghan people of all their rights in their homeland. Mr. VELAZCO SAN JOSE (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish): History has shown us how any process of social change inevitably has to meet with strong . . oppositiQn from the most reactionary forces. This has been the case since the very first rebellions in the ancient world. It applied to the French revoiution, the war of independencli! of the 13 American colonies and the great OCtober revolution in Tsarist Russia, up to the Chinese, Vietnamese and Cuban revolutions and, more recently, the Nicaraguan revolution, which is today resolutely standing up to the acts of a~g~ession of the mightiest imperialist Power of our day. The Afghan revolution has met with the same type of resistance on the part of reactionary forces and ir;.~~~rialism since the beginning of the very first social eh~nges for the benefit ot the people. Reactionary interests, aware that what was at issue was real change, began, under the leadership o~ the Central Intelligence (Mr. Shihabi, Saudi Arabia) Agency (CIA) of the United states, to do everything in their power to destroy and abort the process of change. All of the acts perpetrated by the CIA and the United States GOvernment against Afghanistan and the clumsy way in which the reactionary forces of the region have been dealing with the issue demonstrate their blind hatred of the national democratic April Revolution. In fact, since the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, its most faithful ally ifi the region, imperialism could not bear to see Afghanistan also shake off the feudal yoke that oppressed it. Afghanistan appeared in all international statistics as one of the most backward countries of the world from every standpoint, with an illiteracy rate higher than 90 per cent an~ with one of the highest child mortality rates in the world, an average of 23.5 per cent, in other words, almost one fourth of the infants born were inevitably dooroed to premature death. Furthermore, the disproportion in land distribution left no doubt as to the unjust nature of the regime: 70 per cent of the land was concentrated in the hands of some 2,000 families, out of a population of more than 16 million inhabitants. In these conditions, the turn toward revolution is inevitable as well as the radical transformation of feudal structures and of the exploital.~.~:"\ that had been in force for centuries. 1~e answer of the imperialists could not be far behind. The United States Government, dragging others into its plans, placed all its economic and military might at the service of the counter-revolution, making use of differences among the revolutionaries themselves in order to block efforts at renovation and to dash any hopes of redemption. (Mr. Velazco San Jose, Cuba) For that purpose mQte than a billicn dollars has boon allooatea to ui:gCiiibie, support and supply counterrevolutionary bands, perpetrators of countless crimes and terrorist acts that have taken the lives of innumerable innocent civilians, including over a thousand Muslim priests, and caused heavy material losses. At the present time there are approximately 150 training camps for those bands abroad, where instructors from the United States and other countries train them in murder, sabotage and destruction. They have also made unscrupulous use of religious feelings and used all kinds of dirty tricks from their limitless arsenals of deceit in order artificially to create problems in the process under way in Afghanistan, including infiltrating thousands of bandits across borders, just as they do with the ex-SOmoza Guards which are acting against Nicaragua. Those ~ople even have the impUdence to proclaim themselves to be advocates of peace and to be inspired by genuine concern for the well-being of the Afghan people, whereas all their actions are aimed at promoting tension in the region and preventing the achievement of a negotiated solution among the countries of South-West Asia. Our country has always been prepared to help in the search for a negotiated solution and to contribute to reducing tension in South-West Asia. It was in that spirit that it acted when it hosted the sixth summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1979, and when it held the office of President of that Movement. But we must affirm that no solution can be based, as international reactionary forces would have it, on the Afghan people's renouncing its revolutionary gains, or on a return to the conditions of servitude that it suffered before April 1978. Any settlement must be based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, guaranteeing its non-aligned character and its right freely to decide its own destiny. (Mr. Velazco San Jose, Cuba) In this respect we share. the concerns of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries moderation in order not to increase the <tangers ~ the peace and security of the region, and to take measures that can allow for the creation of c~ndi~ions conducive to stable and harmonious rel~tions a~ng the countries of the region based on the principles of non-alignment and of the Charter of the United Natio~s. In conclusion we welcome the efforts made by the United. Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Representative, Mr. Diego Cordovez, in their persevering efforts to guide the talks that may as soon as possible lead to the formulation of a general agreement and the attainment of the objectives to which we all aspire. ~. DAZA (Chile) (interpretation from Spanish):. The voices that spoke. out during the special commemorative session on the fortieth anniversary of our Organization are still resounding in this hall. The leaders of the world came here to confirm with their presence their adherence to the principles of the united Nations Charter and to emphasize the need to regulate the international conduct of nations by means of universal legal rules. They came here to speak of peace, to speak of respect for the sovereignty and equality of States, to speak of the self-determination of peoples and of rejectipn of the use of force in international relations, and to speak of the dignity of , human beings. The aggression suffered by the people of Afghanistan for nearly seven years now at the hands of the troops of the Soviet Union is the most dramatic negation of everything that we have been celebrating in this hall. The flagrant aggression of which Afghanistan has been the victim constitutes an act of disdain for international law and for the. principles inspiring the Charter of the United Nations. We may well consider l~e case of Afghanistan to be the antithesis of the fortieth anniversary. In ap1te of all the i:hetodc etilployea and the statements which attempt to conceal the situation of Afghanistan, the facts reveal a forMidable reality, that nullifies rhetoric and mere words. The people of·Afghanista~ cannot exercise its right to self-determination. One third of its population has had to leave the country and a large number of its youth are being ·sovietized· by force. Thousands of Afghans have been murdered or detained, but the spirit of the Afghan PeOple remains' indomitable in spite of the brutality of the occupation. The military solution planned by the Sov~et union, morally unacceptable, will come to grief against the unswerving resistance of the people of Afghanistan and the repudiation of the international community. At this meeting we wish to express our solidarity wi th the people of Afghanistan in its just struggle to achieve independence and, to recover freedom for its homeland, and its non-aligned character. We also express our support for Pakistan in the vast humanitarian and peace-making task it has performed throughout the conflict, and for the invaluable assistance it has given the Afghan refugees. The crisis created by-the Soviet aggression not only affects Afghanistan but also threatens the stability of the entire region, as well as international peace and security, as has been indicated in the resolutions adopted by our Organization yesr after year 0 As in earlier years, we have attentively studied the Secretary-General's report contained in document A/40/709 of 7 OCtober 1985. The diplomatic process begun by the Secretary-General with the assistance of his Personal Representative, Mr. Diego Cordovez, merits our full support. His efforts demonstrate the right direction to be taken in seeking a solution to the problem. We have seen the progress made in working out and promoting (Mr. Daza, Chile) an agr....ftt an the In.trwaenta tbat COI.!14 constitute a political agreeJIeftt ailled ,. . ....: -' at resolving the conflict. we hope that the tenacity and objectivity of the . . ' Secretary-General will be auccuuful ift alleviating the situation of the Afghan people. (Mr. Daaa, Chile) '.. .' , .. .. ~ ,;: ~ . ": ... ,.' r" tha leGs we see Cl serious difficulty in spitE! of th~. forMl or proc:edural Hone • ... . t • • ~ c • arguments put forth as a reason to hold up the negotiations. The fact is that what . .. is at issue is a lack of will to put an end to the military occupation of Afghanistan. That is the crux of the probleJI and until that point is resolved there will be no peace in the region. As in earlier years, we are a sponsor of the draft' resolution on the agenda item now being considered by this Assembly. We are convinced that the elements contained in it, which we hope will once again receive the support of a great majority of Member states, are essential for peace to be restored to the region. They are a moral and legal imperative which the international cONaunity owes to the people of Afghanistan. The meeting rose at 1.30 p.m. (Nr. Daza Chile)