A/41/PV.32 General Assembly

We have heard the last speaker in the general dehate. I now call on those representatives who wish to speak in exercise of th~ riqht of reply. I remind members that, in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, statements in exercise of the right of reply are limited to lu minutes ff)r the first intervention and five minutes for the second and should be made hy delegations from their seats. Mr. OKUN .lynited States of America): In keepin9 with the desirp. of the Assembly to shorten debate and end early, I will make a brief reply to the multitude of malicious and false accusations made by the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua. Neither the twisted logic nor the rhetorical flourishes which characterize the Nicaraguan statement will distract anyone from two key problems: Sandinista repression of the people of Nicaragua and Sandinista subversion of Nicaragua's neighbours. Nor will they conceal the absence of any response to auestions posed by Ambassador Walters to the representative of Nicaragua in the Security Council on 30 July during the most recent episode in Nicaragua's continuing efforts to use thp united Nations as a forum for Sandinista propaganda. One key auestion relates to the Nicaraguan resistance. We have all heard thp. Sandinistas refer to the democratic resistance as, at best, a tool of the United States. We have also heard many references to the International Court of Justicp.. We have waited, however, in vain for any reference to the finding by the International Court that the resistance is an independent force not controlled by the United States. Let the leaders of the current Nicaraguan regime, those who stole a genuine, popular revolution and substituted in its place a dictatorial tyranny, face the fact that the domestic opposition to their r~ime is real. What has produced that opposition? Well, the answer is simple: many Nicaraguans are disgusted by this unconscionable betrayal of their revolution. The democratic resistance is a political expression of that disgust. How does the regime explain that the resistance survived and prospered even when it received virtually no outside aid of any kind? How does that regime explain that the resistance has continued to grow in numbers, in strength and in effectiveness during the past two years, a period in which the Sandinista regime received extraordinary quantities of tanks, helicopters, artillery and other military eauipment fra. its SOviet and Soviet-bloc allies, while the r~sistance hao received only non-ailitary aid? The representative of Hicarag:.:a h::e tried to make Much of tile dovninq of an aircraft with, he notes, American citizens on board. Confirmation of the exact status of the person taken into custody awaits access by American consular personnel, something that the Sandinista Government has been at pains to delay, presumably while it decided how best to manipulate the facts for its international propaganda machine. The Sandinistas have already paraded him in front of the pre~5 four times. Clearly, he is a prisoner, under their total control and under duress. He cannot speak freely, and nothing he says under these conditions should therefore be accepted as an accurate statement of his views. The Sandinistas have also displayed a total disregard for decent human behaviour in the theatrical manner in which they delivered the remains of the two dead Americans to our Embassy in Managua yesterday. My Government has stateo clearly and unequivocally that: WThe plane and crew in auestion are not affiliated in any way with the tJnit@d States Government and neither the flight, the plane, the crew nor the carqo was financed by the United States ~70vernment.w Further, it ~~s stated: WThere are no United States Government supply flights to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance. Such flights are prohibited by law, and we are in full complianc~ with the law. w 50 let us focus on the real issue: how to bring about national conciliation and democracy in a country ruled by an unresponsive dictatorship. As the Contadora process expreSSly recognized in its 1983 Document of Objectives, national reconciliation and democracy are essential to an enduring peace in Central America. Let the 5andinistas recognize this. In their eloauent statements before the Assemhly Nicaragua's neighbours have offered valiant testimony to their desire to he left in peace. Let the Sandinistas honour this appeal. Does anyone here doubt that until the Sandinistas efite~ into dialogue with the democratic opposition, until the Sandinistas end their subversive actions against their neighbours, until the Sandinistas accept peace in the reqion, the civil war in Nicaragua and the conflict will go on? I do not think anybody can doubt that. It is not only with regard to events in Central America that the representative of Nicaragua's statement unmasks the true nature of Sandinista policy. He affects to describe the American response to Libya's repeated acts of terrorism as -reprehensible and unjustified-. Unjustified? Are the innocent victims of hand-grenades thrown at the Rome and Vienna airports figments of our imagination? with respect to Afghanistan, I note tha~ he calls for a political solution, but he did not mention by so much as one word that a foreign army has invaded and is occupying that country - not one word, not even one crocodile tear about the rule of international law when it comes to Afghanistan. There is an answer to all these points I have posed. The Contadora Group and the Support Group are attempting to find a peaceful resolution of the problems created by Nicaragua and its mentors. This means a comprehensive regional solution SUbject to a reliable verification procedure and with obligations placed at the same time on all of the participants, not just on those who ar~ threatened by the swollen military forces and destabilizing actions of the San~inista regime. This also means simultaneous internal reconciliation in accordance with democratic processes. If those steps were taken, peace could come to that strife-torn region. My Government is ready to collaborate in all serious efforts to achieve those objectives. Mr. de KEMOULARIA (France) (interpretation from French): Th~ Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea, speaking on the sUbject of the Frpnch presence in the Pacific and, in particular, in the territory of New Caledonia, made exaggerated and erroneous remarks that are deliberately hostile to my country. Such remarks from that delegation are not, unfortunately, anythinq new in this forum. France regrets that the representative of a country with which it wishes t'l maintain relations of co-operation and friendship should repeat such remarks. The French delegation has already had occasion to put on record its refutation of such unfounded allegations. We shall therefore refrain from enterinq into debate with an interlocutor who so clearly and studiously eschews objectiVity in his remarks. I would, however, point out to him, among other elementary facts, that the French nuclear tests are not - I repeat, not - being held in the atmosphere, as he would have us understand. I would also point out to the representative of Samoa that such tests occur on French territory under safe and controlled conditions, as was clearly noted in lqRl in the report of the Atkinson Commission, which w~s made up of eminent scientists from the South Pacific region itself. Mr. MELENDEZ (El Salvador) (interpretation from Spanish): In connection with the statements made today by the Nicaraguan delegation, I should like to inform the Assembly that the Government of El Salvador categorically rejects any accusations that El Salvador is somehow being used as a base for interference in the internal affairs of other countries, in particular Nicaragua, or for the supplying of anti-Sandinista forces. He claims that the Salvadorian pilot was in the service of the 5alvadorian armed forces. That too is a falsehood. At no time has that person Peen in the service of the Salvadorian Government. As we all know, the illegal traffic in weapons is outside the control of many coun~ri~s, particularly small countries such as El Salvador that really do not have enough resources effectively to control this type of activity. At this time I should like to observe that the Government of Nicaragua perhaps remembe~s bow the Sandinista Government was supplied in the period of the anti-Somoza struggle. None the less, when the Government of Nicaraqua says that we are supposed victims and the Government of the United 5tates wants us to be seen as victims of the situation in Central America, well, we can say yes, we are victims of interference in our internal affairs. I can say that because of the many types of activities carried out by the Government of Nicaragua, including the use of its t~rritory to support armed groups in El ~alvador. El Salvador does not consider itself to be an -alleged- victim of interventionist activities; rather, constant events and actions known to the Governmen~ of El Salvador and to the international community, and even recoqnized and affirmed by the President of Nicaragua, constitute a fact of life whose only result has been the continuation of the Salvadorian conflict, which prevents our people from achieving peace and stahility and prolongs the tragedy of an entire people, as it has for more than six years. I should also like to say that a mercenary has no principles, no ethics. That is true of those acting on Nicaraguan territory. Therefore, under pressure, or without any pressure at all, in their own interests they can make statements that affect other countries and will, logically, given the problems existing in Nicaragua and in the Central America region, be used maliciously to try to invol~e the Government of El Salvador and discredit it internationally. El salvadcx is now cmc:lJcting investiga tions to determine the facts and to CiOO1* appropciai:e Measures to ~event our i:et'riwry froil oeing used, nOW ur in u'ii? future, as a base for any interference in other CO\8'ltries. That is heing donp in accordance with our oo..itment to respect the pcinciple of noo-interfp.rencp. pursuant to the principles of the Charter. I wish to repeat that the President of the Republic, Jose Napoleon nJarte, has IIBde statements to the press in wich he has said that there has been no participation on the part of the salvadorian Government and that the individJal cQ'lcerned was not in the servi~ of our GcNernment. As to the claim tha t he had identity papers related to the salvador ian armed forces, well, that could not he the case. Groups that are acting illegally, in causes good or bad, normally do not have any kind of identity papers. That would be true in the case of any foreigner in the same situation elsewere. That is why we once aga in reject any cla im that would impl y involvemen t hy El salvadcx in the recent even ts in Nicaragua. Mc s. ~'lRO de BARISH (Costa Rica) (interpreta tion from ~an ish) ~ I shall be brief, because there will be further opport\Di ties to clari fy the~p matters. We were not surprised at the statement of the fbreign Minister of Nicaragua befcxe the Asserrbly, which cmtained accusations against Coota Rica of the I(ind that always serve the purposes of the subtle prop..'\ganda of Nicaragua, with which we are all familiar. As the President of Costa Rica recently told the Assembly, -The GcNernment of Nicaragua has accused my CO\Dtry before the International Court of Justice ~t the Hague of supposed compl ici ty of rtrf GcNernment in warlike actions from Costa Rica. ·We are going to the Court at he Hague to defend ourselvesa We are familiar with the publicity manoeuvres of (Nicaragua).· (A/4l/PV.9, p.8) He said we were tired of the propaganda, and tired of the insincerity behind it. The Preside::t of Costa Rica thus expressed the real state of affairs in an unarmed country, a co~ntry that does not seek to arm itself because it does not believe in war or violence or in dominating other countries and does not believe In the supremacy of arms. It believes in peace-making actions such as Contadora. Costa Rica has based its hope for a positive outcome on the diplomacy of Contadora and the support Group. Costa Rica will continue to suppo~t those efforts as long as there is any breath of hope. It is necessary to struggle to ensure that the thoughts, words and deeds of Governments tally with one another in the world of international affairs. Costa Rica sees that here the gulf between words and deeds has widened in recent years. But at The Hague Costa Rica will have a chance to refute the accusations of the Hanagua regime. Mr. LOHIA (Papua New Guinea): Since you have been presiding since 10 o'clock this morning, Sir, I should not like to labour the Assembly with further facts. I would simply note that Papua New Guinea became independen~ in 1975, and in OCtober of that year it became a full and committed Member of the united Nations. In 1978, Papua New Guinea began providing infor~~tion on the question of New Caledonia to this Assembly. With great difficulty we h'··~ set forth the cause for self-determination and independence for the people of New Caledonia today. There is ample information, with facts and analyses of those facts, and P!oj~=tions based on t~ose facts, to suppott our belief that Ne~ Caledoni~ is ~ colonial territory as defined in instruments of this Assemhly that have been universally accepted - for instance, the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of (Hrs. Castro de Barish, Costa Rica) In11ependence to Colmial Comtries and pf!Qples and resolution lS41 (XV), which speaks of the pc inciples of self-determination. New Calpdon ia is 20,000 kilometres from France. The people there speak languages that are different from French~ thPy are cUlturally distinct from French cultural traditions. As my delegation will be addressing the Asse1l!bly mder agenda item Iq, on thp question of New Caledonia, 1 shall keep further information for the del iberations of this body at that time. (Mr. Inh ia, Papua New Gu inea) Ms. MAUALA (Samoa): The representative of France auoted yet again the report of a scientific ftission regarding France's nuclear testing in the Pacifi~. He has asserted yet again that these tests are being carried out under unauestionably safe conditions. This is not so. The 1983 mission's report gives no such unaualifierl assurance. In fact the scientific group made a very short visit and was not able to undertake a comprehensive study of the French nuclear testing programme, and in any event long-term ~esults cannot be predicted. 50 the conclusion of France that testing can go on indefinitely without damage has absolutely no basis in fact. I would add that this testing does take place in our region, in the heart of Polynesia, as I pointed out in my statement. The very fundamental point here is that France h~s no right to impose on the 50uth Pacific a programme of testing nuclear weapons to which we are all totally opposed. Mr. MARTINEZ ORDONEZ (Honduras) (interpretation from Spanish): My delegation wishes to refer briefly to the remarks made in this Assemhly hy the Foreign Minister of the RepUblic of Nicaragua. In his statement he produced a number of false statistics pertaining to an alleged increase in the size of the Honduras Army and accumulation of a mass of weapons, some of which have never been heard of in my country. I wish to declare emphatically that those figures do not reflect the truth. However, even if they did, within the pattern of the discussions we have had in the Contadora Group my country has repeatedly stated that it is prepared to set a limit on the armaments of each of the countries so as to make possible fraternal coexistence. It is Nicaragua that does not wish to set such a limit. As for the number of troops which according to the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, has more than doubled, Honduras has repeatedly stated that it is ready to set the number at a level which would permit peaceful coexistence in Central America. We reiterate our continuing invitation to Nicaragua to act like us so as to ensure that peace will pcevail in Central America. However, the Nicaraguan Minister does recoqtize that there is internal peacp. in HcnciJras, and he would have to recogn ize that HonciJrans are not fleeing from the situation in our COlmtry, because there are no Hcnduran refugees in any country. Nicaragua could not say the same. My country, with full fraternal generosity" has been mar ing its meagre resources wi th a vast nUnDer of thousands of Nicaraguan emigres who have been crossing our bocder s pcecisely on account of the socia 1 injustice they have encolSltered in their own cot.l'ltry. Hooduras, on the other hand" reiterates in this Assembly that" if in order to achieve peace in Central America what is needed is that the last ;.nternational adviser leave our country" Hooduras is ready to do so at precisely the same moment ~en Nicaragua is pcepared to act likewise and to sign with us the Cootadoca agreement with in a scheme which would be ver ifiable and which would set limi ts on the excessive arms build-up which, wi th the aid of the Soviet bloc" has been occurring ever since the revolution expelled the dictator Somoza from Nicaragua. Mr. ICAZA GALLARD (Nicaragua) (interpretatim fran Spanish): As the hour is late, I do not wish to tax the patience of the representatives here. Therefore I will not make full use of the exercise of my right of reply. I say th is because I do not consider it necessary to respond to the accusations made by countr ies which, unfortlmately" are lmder the cmtrol of others and offer the sorry s~ctacle of merely repeating the falsehoods uttered by the United States in an attempt to justify to its own people and to the wocld at large something that is Nicaragua, declared illegal and in violation of the principles of customary international law by the International Court of Justice. (Hr. Ma~ tinez Ordonez " Hondur as) Unfo!'t!!!!.:!tely~ a OOI.Jnt!"y yh!ch MS a d~lROCratic and peaceful tradition and which could he playing a constructive role - since it is actively involved in the Central AJlerican crisis - seeas to be embarked on ideological crusades the inflexibility of which give the lie to the pluralism in which it seeas to take pride and .erely serve the interests of those fanning flames of confrontation and war in Central ~rica. ! say that I a. not going to make full use of ay right of reply because there are two clear facts that do not require explanation. One is the decision handed down on 27 June of this year by the International Court of Justice, which declares illegal the military and paramilitary activities of the united States against Nicaragua and states that these must cease forthWith. The other fact is the recent incident involving the United States aircraft loaded with weapons which was downed over Nicaraguan territory and the statements made by Eugene Hasenfus, a United States military adviser and crew .eMber, who is today a prisoner in Nicaragua. The representatives of the United States, instead of coming here to repeat their custoaary lies and practise disinforaation, should be concerned with responding clearly to the Senators and Congressmen of the United States, to various groups of public opinion and to the IllEdia in this country, which are all demanding, and rightly so, an explanation with regard to the information given by Hasenfu8 af~ the evidence provided by the Government of Nicaragua on the involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon in these operations. All this leads to a single conclusion: President Reagan and his Adainistration, in their obsession with fuelling war in Central America, in their policy of aggression against Nicaragua, are violating not only the international legal order but also their own doaestic law, thus becoming offenders not only before the international ca.munity but also in the eyes of their own people. (Hr. Icaza Gallard, Nicaragua) question that he raised concerning how the contras have been able to survive in recent years even though, it is alleged official trnited ~tates assistance was suppressed or restricted to humanitarian aid.

We have heard the last representative speaking in exercise of the right of reply. As I have said, we have concluded the qeneral debate. At t'l~ conclusion of this general debate, I should first like to thank all delegations for the co-operation they have extended to the Chair, a co-operation that has taken tangible form in that we have concluded the debate one meeting early and all speakers were able to take the floor on the days listed, without recourse to excessive extension of meetings or the scheduling of night meetings. I have been impressed by the seriousness of purpose and the constructive attitude evinced in the debate, as well as such innovative attempts to cut both costs and time as those shown by Angola and the United Kingdom. Perhaps others may wish to consider taking similar action in the future, not only for next year's general debate but perhaps during the deliberations on other issues at this session. We have heard 12 Heads of State, as well as 137 other speakers, of whom seven were Prime Ministers, eight were Deputy Prim~ Ministers, three were other Ministers and 103 were Foreign Ministers. (Mr. Icaza Gallard. Nicaragua) No doubt Viat has been said will have great bear ing on our succ~dinq deliberations. I have been particularly impressed by the widespread recnqn itinn of the fact that our Organizatim faces a critical time and that Mellbers l'Ilust facp thp current challenge with ser iousness of purpose and determination to ensure that th is session leads to a $lore efff!ctive, credible and usl!ful instruaent to advance thp PJrposes of the Charter. we have concluded our consideration of agenda item 9. ORGAN IZAT ION 0 F WORK The PRESIDmrt': FoIICling consultations, it is my under standing that there is general agreement that IIOCn ing plenary meetings should begin at 10 cl .m. instead of 10.30 a.m. in order to ensure effective organization of the wor k of the AsseJd:>ly. If I hear no objection, it will be so decided. It was so decided. The aeeting rose at 12.55 p.s. (The Pres ident)