A/45/PV.29 General Assembly
9. (contimled) GENERAL DEBATE Mr, VAN DYNEM (Angola) (spoke in Portuguese; official English text furnished by the delegat:lon) t First I would like to congratulate ,you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session and to join those who spoke before me in wishing you success, ' Even though the international community is more hopeful today about finding the most efficient ways and means in the quest for justice, peace, understanding and co-operation, we know that the task of leading our proceedings is a hard one, Nevertheless, your wisdom, diplomatic ezperience and capability, as well as your personal dedication, are an assurance that the work of this session will be most successful, Allow me, th6Eefore, to express, on behalf of the Government of tlle P~ople's Republic of Angola and on my own behalf, the trust'we have in you, and to assure you of the full co-oper~tion of my delegation, Allow me also to congratulate the outgoing President, His Excellency General Joseph Garba, on the excellent work carried out during the forty-fourth session. The success of the sixteenth special session, devoted to the subject of ~~ and its destructive consequences in southern Africa, and of the eighteenth special session, on inte~national economic co-operation, particularly for tbe recovery of economic growth and development in the developing countries, is unequivocal proof of the dedication and cap~)ility that have always characterized him. The current trend towards detente in international relations has resulted in important steps aimed at solving some of the major problems of concern to the international community, thanks to the efforts made during the past few years, when the cold war has been increasingly replaced by dialogue, and the use of force in relations between States has been losing gr.ound to the settlement of conflicts through negotiation. In this connection, we salute Namibia's accession to independence, an event that marked the end of the era of traditional colonialism on the African continent. We also welcome the unification of Germany, a country with which we have always had friendly relations. My Government will spare no effort to maintain and strengthen those ties of co-operation. These historic events are occurring concurrently with others which have a profound significance for Africa and the world: the freeing of Dr. Nelson Mandela, the legalization of anti-APartheid political organizations and the transformations taking place in South Africa with a view to the abolition of the policy of racial segregation. All these are signs of the new environment in which we are living and of hope for a better future. However, elements of instability persist in southern Africa. We are referring to the situation of violence which obtains in South Africa, supported and encouraged by the police. We are also referring to the conflicts in Angola and MOZambique, where peace efforts are being opposed by external interference, whose only reason for being lies in the outmoded policies of bloc confrontation. In the case of Anqolan, the summit meeting held one year ago at Gbadolite had created hopes for peace that quickly disappeared as a result of the continued support given t~ the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) by the United States and by South African conservative circles. Throughout this period, the Government of Angola has reaffirmed its dedication to go on with peace efforts through the dialogue a~med at national unity and (Mr. Van Dunem, Angola) reconciliation among all Angolans. It was in that contezt that concessioDs ._re made in Gbadolite and on other occasions. The same cannot be said of UHITA" which Dot only has deliberately violated ad later unilaterally denounced the commitments made at Gbadolite but also has intensified its acts of war, particularly against the economic and social infrastructure, and has ki6napped and murdered defeDseless civilians. Nevertheless, the Government of Angola continued to bet on peace and therefore has decided to establish direct contacts with UHITA. Nothwithst8nding that flexibility, the continued foreign interference and the position of UNITA yis-a-yis the Angolan Government's proponals for achieving peace ~ave been the obstacles that preven~ed the four rounds of direct talks already held under the auspices of the Government of Portugal from producing the expected results. The failure of the fourth round of direct talks was due to UNITA's unjustified demand to be explicitly recognized as an opposition political party. The Angolan Government has already established the principle of constitutional revision and of a multi-party syst8m in Angola under peacefUl conditions, proposing a temporary status for UHITA that, ODce agreed to by that group, would take effect with the signing of th~ cease-fire. Once a multi-party system has been instituted, all political forces would conduct their activities legally UDder the Political Parties Law, to be approved by the competent State authorities• (Mr. Vu Dungm. Angola) Therefore, it is wrong to dcman6 the status of an opposition political party in the present circumstancem, not only because it violates the present legal and constitutional order, recognized by UNITA during the second round of negotiations, but also because nowhere in the world does an official opposition party possess an army of its own. The attempt to blame the Angolan Government for the failure of the fourth round is intended simply to manipulate public opinion and justify additional aid to UNITA for continuing the war in Angola. Unfortunately the political, economic and military might of the United States continues to influence Angola'S internal conflict, contrary to the commitments made by United States authorities during the negotiatio~ process that le~ to the New York agreements on peace in south-western Africa. It is not inappropriate to emphasize the seriousness demonstrated by the Government of the People's Republic of Angola in the process that facilitated the applic~tion of Security Council resolutioD 435 (1978), making it possible to eliminate the tension point represented by the Hamibian conflict. At the same time, it would be unfair not to rec@gnize the important role played by the Cuban Government for peace in south-wastern Africa. Angola and Cuba continue to abide by their commitments on the phased withdrawal of troops from Angola, in a process that has already resulted in the departure of more than 38,000 soldiers in a shorter period of time than had been agreed upon. The war situation in the People'lS Republic of Angola is made 'Worse by nature! disasters, particularly the drought that has been afflicting some central and southern regioDD of the country for about four years, with serious material damage and 108S of human life. According to present estimates about 3.5 million people are in need of emergency food aid and 2.2 million of them are sUffering the effects of the drought. We are grateful for the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in mobilizing emergency aid to Angola~ and we thank the international community for alleviating the suffering of the stricken populations. However, in the face of the difficulties and limitations inherent in the country'm economic underdevelopment, the Angolan Government is unable to cope with that natural disaster by means of its own resources, and for that reason it is renewing its appeal for international aid. Given the interdependence that exists nowadays in the world, no country can remain indifferent to problems that affect humanity. The People's Republic of Angola takes a keen interest in the events taking place in various parts of the globe. The latest developments in Western Sahara show that some positive steps are being taken to break the present stalemate. The Government of the People's Republic of Angola reaffirms the right of the Saharan people to self-determination end encourages the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the POLISARIO Front to proceed with negotiations and congratulates the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the efforts he has undertaken, together with the Organization of African Unity (OAU), to organize a reforendum that can bring an early settlement of the conflict. The continued illegal occupation of the Territory of East Timor is unaccaptoble, unjustifiable and a violation of the ~orms and principles of international law, especially when it is perpetrated by a country which in the past has itself been a victim of colonialism and which has made an important contribution to the struggle of colonizod peoples for their emancipation. My GoverDMnt advocate. the path of dialogue bet...a Portugal u4 IDdoDe81a, including repre.entative. of the people of Ba.t Tt.or, a. the way to flDd • fall' aDd cOllProhenllive .olution that w111 take account of the legltlaat:e right. of the Naubere people. Pro.~ct. ID the Middle Ba.t are not encouraging in 80 far .. finalDg aD early reso1utioD of the Isra.U.-Arab conflict is concorned. we believe that .ettling Jews in occupie4 Arab territories will not help In any way to bring .. honourable end to that conflict. The Government of the Peop1e'D aepublic of Angola considers it imperative to convene aD international conference OD the Nlddl. Baet with the participation of all partie. concerned, inclUding the Pa1••ti~. Liberation Organisation (PLO), the auth.nti~ representative of the Pal••tini&Jl peopl~, which has for decade. been struggling for ita right to self-determination. We cannot fail to mention the crisis that recently &rose i~ the PersiaD Gulf. When 8verything points to a realisation that resorting to the u.e of force is not the IIOst efficient way or lIOans of r.solving conflicts, we are surprbed by the events in. that part of our globe with the invadon o~~ Kuwait by Iraq - Do_thing we emphatically condemn, e.pecial1y since Kuwait ia a member of the Ron-Aligned MOv....nt which, since lte e.tablishmetit, hae 4ef.Dd.~ the princip1. of refraining from the threat or us. of foree In international relations. Thereforo the parti.s involved must honour the resolutions of the Security Couficil rmd it 18 imperati"e that IraCJi troope should be with4raWJl frOll Xuwait in order to facilitate a peaceful and negotiated re.olutioD of the conflict. With regard to Central America~ we r.affl~ that the peopl.s of the region. must freely aecide their destiny; there must be DO ••ternal interference thr~a9h support given to irregular a~d groups, through direct military intervention or through a war of info~ation whose object is to overthrow legitiMately constituted Governments. iD Ce.bodla the contiDuatioD of ~ actioD fre. aeigbbouriag t.~~lto~i•• ,,111 Dot dvuc. tU •••~ch fo~ a pe.c. 119~"'lllt. .., OOftl1llMDt beU.".. that a pe_coful r••olutioD of the conflict tbe~e D8c••••~ilF ~equir.. the c••••tiOD of all for.ign iDt.~fo~.Dce aDd ~••pect fo~ the couatrF'. iD4epeD4eDC., t.rritorial OD the subject of Ko~.a, ay Gove~"'Dt .uppo~t. thlt .t.p. tutlln towa~d. tho ~.UDiflcatloDof the two pa~t. of that couat~ aDd tho ~.-o~al of fo~.i9D b.s.. aDd cODf.~ODCO du~iD9 a fl~.t pha.. cODstitut. a po.itive slga ~t 4e.o~. the ~••Oll:'t.c1 to, • poopl. with a alagl. id.Dtity ,,111 ..v.~ ~...ill dlvi4ac1. At the begirmiag of thctl••t d.cad., .. c1.cl\1~.d f~OII ~b ~o.t~_ ou~ fir. d••i~. to t.p~ov. the 910bal .coDomic .Dvlro"'D~, aDd we lit."i.. c~itt.4 our••lv.. to .tr.DgtboDiDg iDte~DatioDal ecoDcale co-operatioD lD orc1er to coaqu.r hUDg.r, pov.~ty, ulDutritloD aDd .pid••lcll - that ia, to ove~c... the probl... of uad.rdov.loplltDt and glve IIO~. digaity to SlU'. esi.teDce. Today, a. .. oDte~ the l_.t decade of the tweatieth C.DtUzry, .. should I'enect O~ what "aa our C~taeDt to ••arching fo~ .01utioDS to the critical iDt.~Datio..l GcoDoalc situatioD, which affect. the developiD9 countri•• .c.t of all. the~.for., it la oDly right to raise .OM CODcerDlI1 Must we ha". image. of h...".~ cm4 poverty continu. to appear iD the world of ou~ discussioD. iD Qrd.~ to re.i84 u. of the tabalanco aDd iDjustic. of the pre••llt iDterDatioDal .CODOIIic ay.t..? Do we De.d to ropeat at evory .tep that four fifth. of the wo~ld~s populatioD po••••••• aDly OD. fifth of it. total ..alth, !luagee 0817 10 per c.nt of the world'. iadu.trial output ad cODtrol. DO 1101'0 thu :2 to 3 pe~ CODt of the total re••arch .ffo~t~ ia the world? Khat .peeific jOiDt meaDur.. did we tato to preveDt the gap (Hr. vu Pr', "'18) IMttwHll tile c1eveloplag uel tile developed cowatrlo. fl'e- &-••chlag to4a~'. pJ:opol'tlo.." tftaeD tile I'oceat .1~cla1 ••••10D of tbe GeHl'al AlIae.blF devoted to Illtonatloul ocollOll1c co-opal'atloll ....lyeecJ the r••ulta .chiove4 4ud89 the pailt decade, At fowa4 tbat tile pl'oItl..e wblch had all'oa~ cau.d COlleel'1l to the cOUllt1'10. of the ao-caJ.led tbl1'4 wol'14 at the atal't of the decade "I'~ atl11 proaellt. ne tHtet lov.l Clf Offlclal 4.vel0t-ellt a14 ~" the 4cav&10plag cowatd.c, 'l'04uct (GIP), Ra att.J.-et 01l1~ by a ...11 91'0uP of countd••, a4 the plleral figul'o ... o&l~ 0.35 pel' c.at. ' ID international tra4e we continue to vitae.. a re.urg8nce of protectioni.. a deterioration of the tc~e of trade, .ho.e .ffect. .er!ou.1y cORPrOMi.e all the efforts -ade by the 4evelopiag cOUDtrie. to revive their oconc.ie•• To aggravate thi. picture, tho foreign debt of the developiD; cOUDtriol ha. h.en constantly incre••iag, reaching the monUDental sua of '1,320 billion at the end of last year; that a-Gunt ClDDot be paid .ithout inevitably diminishing the !nve.tment capacity of those countri••• In our vie., the basic questioD lie. In the need for a political will, both OD the part of the developing countries aDd ~D the part of the develoPQ4 countries, as the only .ay to avoids reproduction of the .y.ta. thmt generated the iDe~u.lities ad in'ustlaes. Nbile it. i. true that in order to overcome the challeago. of the world economic .ituation, the developing countries have to adopt more appropriate strategie. gear"",' to I'~ad,u.tlng their econo.le., it i8 eCJUally true that the developed countries should adopt more co~structlv~ attitude•• More recently" with the ongob.g traDlIformation. iD Ba.tern Europe .e have .ltn••••d .hat could be called tllcondltio!:ali••n in couectioZl .ith official &avelopGOnt aid from the countrie. of We.tern Europe. For the GoverDment of tho People's .epublic of ADgola, the economic evolution occurring in the count~i.. of Ba.tern Europe should .ignify a more ftctive participation by tho.e countries in the world economy, .0 that they may make a greater contribution to the improvement of North-South relation•• In the particular ca.e of Africa, the ch&nge. taking place in Bastern Eu~opo .hould .erve •• aD incentive to other industriali.ed countrie. to give greater .upport to AfricAn countrie., taking account of tbe ongoing polici•• of .tructural ad'u.tment aimed at the re~~very of their econo.iel, inltead of opting for neasurea (Hr. VU !bmM. W011) that would further weaken their participation la the ezpaD.ioD of the world Moreover, in the face of the iDaClec)uato re.ult. achlev04 ID iIlpl_DtlD9 the United .atlon. pr09ra:~ for the ecoD~I~ recove~ of Africa. the iDterDational c~lty ha. .een the birth of a De. plan that require. greater flealbl11ty OD th@ part of (IoDor8. ID southern Africa. with the accesDloD of ...lbAa to iD4epeD4auce an4 the orgaDi.atloDs aDd the South African Govel'a.8Dt. new prospects are opeDIDq for the regloD 0 s 4evelopuDt. The ..-bel' countries of the Co-ordinatioD CODfQ~aDCe for the Develo~Dt of SoutherD Africa, In its teDth year of ezlst.Dce a~e eDtering a Dew phase iD the developaDt efforts that ,,111 Doe4 the 9ro"iag a,,}port of the interDatlonal cCHBuity. Important eveDts have tateD place aD4 "ill take place during tho pr.seDt Countries eDdod at Paris with eDcouraging - albeit partial - results. Its conveDiag coa.tltutes ODe -or~ opPOrtunity to seet solutioDS to the pr••slaq proble.s faced b7 that group of countries. The caDcellatioD of their foreign dobt. by the iDdustriali.od creditor countries should be cOD.i4.red OD8 of the -ost urgeDt aa4 Dec•••a~ ..asur.s for aehleving that end. The WOrld 8~it for Childre•• held on 21 aDd 30 Sept.aber. accurately aaelysed the probl~•• that beset the wor14'. children aad it rec~Dde4 sppropriate ..asure. for their protection. The Peopl.va .epublic of ADgola r••ffi~s ita -ost firm C~itMeDt to such principle. ftDd "ill do its u~.t to la acJ41t:iOD. tile elpt:ll1Jal.tMI 'aUo_ COareU8M os b ...... Deftlo..,at: ,,111 tab place ID 1111.. la Ilia tIMIn will .. a c:oafenace ca .-in_.at: ad deYelopMat. u4 la I'M. • coafe~... oa f01"I1aUoa. At tIIo.. 1IIIo~t:ut fo~ ea effoa-t will be IIIM1e to coati_ tile dOat:e .... at tM eiptNatla quia! ••••ioa of t:IMt Ge_~a1 ......11', t:e4 to bt:enaUoul .co"'o co-ote~atl_. Do 1'••1I1u,.. -.eat: f~_ tbo claga abo1l14 .... a fcnwc1atioa fo~ 1'....tuU8b1ag tnat .-01119 aatiou. De nplpm. I Bba11 IIOW call oa tIao•• 1'.,1'••oatati....wIilo wiab to speak la ...~ai.. of the ~l9bt of I'Qpll'. Mal' I I'wD4 ....,.1'. tbat. ia accol'4aace wit;,la _"1'&1 Aa.....1J' dltci.iol1l Hr, AIIII ('funl') I _ deleptioa Du uhcJ to .,.a ia _I'ci.. of tile I'lgbt of 1'-.11'. '!be .tahMDt IN&t _ tile lIlalatel' fo~ rOl'eip Affal~. @f G~_ce OD 27 • .,teIIIHt!: la tINt C01I~•• of t:be ..../l•.1 dUate cou,llated of .., ..... c1noU4 to the fJUatloa of CJpnaa. DIlt Gnek .tee-at colltaiMd aotlal8g ..altl.,.. It vu DOt de.lgMCl to .ootlle 01' to coaclllau.. fte oDJ.:r an ~l...t vu t:!Mt at:u.,t to etUu tile Galf cl'lal. with tU "S~JeOD of CRne. 'Bat 1. l.uc~ou. be. DJ' 91'0••1,. .U.tol'tlDf well-ben. f&Cu. It 1. aot: 1O••lble to tkanr tile *ia4 of ,Hall.1 beWHD await u4 CJpru t:ba«: t:IMt O~..JI .tau.nt t~le4 to .sr•• Kuwait vu lDVlMle4. occupied utl ....... bJ' ita _itbbou. III ....DeC. tUt 1.....t GrHC. triM to do to CJp.... Ol'''c••uov8g'C4 ua 8bette4 t:IMt Or..k Cftrlot. to ...tlro:f ~ pai'tME'ai, ltate 1. o~4G1' to ... CDne to O~..c•• Aa we all bow. tU hp1Ibl1a of CJpne .....t:ebU,ebe4 i. 1110 bJ9 t:IMt ~rad~i.b u4 GI'Hlk CJ'priot. 111 tile ael'ci.e of tbei~ I'• .,.atl". ~lpt. of ..If....tel'lllutloa. IUtbl. tall''' p_a. tile Ol'..k CDl'lot..... ~l'ltat" • cf· .1 vu. .,••t tile coutlt.tloaa1 ol'dltl' uc1 br018Pt "-.t tbe dJ.yloloa of ewns. all la t:M ... of -.f.oa wltb G~_. 'De ualtAcl .adou ... to .... '01'.. to cr.n. 1" 1'" to pnt4tct t.be bel.....I'e4 ~ klall Cfpdota fl'_ belag at.mated 01' drift_ out of tbe!1' ....tl'a! ., tbe 01'''' CJpl'1ota. If t1Mt V.lad .atl.....ace-"'l.., fol'c. la atUl la CJp..... aftttl' _1'. tJaaa 26 reua. GI'-.c. IlUt MQI' a henr 1'••poulbUit7 fol' ~t fact. la all tho•• J'I...a,. .. !law DOt .... u, GrHk laitiatlvo to .DCOUago ncoBcUl.tloD Ntwel'l tH t1fO peoflaa 111 CJpnaa. 'ftMr baft Mftl' 91".. tbell' •.".rt fol' tM 11ftl., of tIMt "'1'90 .,at••t tbe TurlElab cndota 01' fol' toll1Dg ... the bo.tlllt7 ... tM IlMtctlw 41rHucJ &taint the IIol'tb fl'_ tile Gr..k c"l'1ot.. OD tU CODtI'HJ. Atheu bu 91vea ...tedal aacJ _rat .upfOrt to Greek Cfpdot r.anaaaeat .fforta. Atbeu bu backed the ."t cbaavlal.tlc .1...Gta .-0" tbe Gl'eak CJpl'lota 1_ purauiog tbelr rele.tlea. c-.a!....atut tile '.hrlclah Cftdf'U. '!be cpeetlo. of CWnaa vll1 .. l'e.olw4 ..... tile two poopl.. la c:,prua overcOM tllelr 41ffereac... ~ war to tbat 90&1 1••howD la leC1ll'ltr CouacU lIO.tba avo. ftat 1'••OlUUOD cella fol' a fr..l~ raacbecJ u4 -tAllr acceptabl. aolutioD to be acl'lve4 at tbrougb aegotl.tloDa O. .. ~ footlag. Nblle ,.,lDg c~lltalDe4 DO ••tlo. of hC1lJ'lt, Cow=11 r••ol11tloD "' (1110), DOl' UJ' lacUcaUo. of a a..ll'. OD G.....c.·. ,ut to 8ac01ll'898 the GI'Hk CJpdot. to tuna OftI' a .... Tho tired rh~tor1c ('.. the pa.t 26 year. ha. got us Dowhere. My delegation i. very .ad to Dote that the ..'•••age frOll Athen. contiDue. to be iD the ..... veln. Thi. doe. Dot augur ve11 for the Secreta~-GeDsral·.reDewed effort. to get the iDterc~al talk. res~d at an early date. Hr. JPS,pIJ)lS (Cfpru.): I would like to reply to what the repr-m.eDtative of Turkey .aid. tryiDq. 11:. this As.embly. to ~i.tort the picture aDd the que.tion of cyprus aDd, particularly, trying to proaent the late.t r••olutioD of the Security COUllcil oa Cypru•• re.olutioD 6tO (1000), a. at.iag to create a .ituation in Cypru. where there vill be divi.io~ aDd .eparatioD. wherea. the resolutioD. aDd deci.loD. of the United RatioD.. both of the Security COUDcil end of the General b.eIlb1". 90 iD the db-eetioll of havill1g a uait.d Cypru.. Ue d14 .0 even on the particular id.a of ••parate ••1f-detemiDat1oD, which ha. been dealt vith in the Securit~ Council by the Secretary-General him.elf. The qu••tloD of cyprus i. a que.tion of effort. by the Secretary-GeDeral to find & ~~lution OD the basis of the unity aDd the IDtegratioD of c!prus~ aDd not a .olutio~ u. the reprosentative of Turkey tried to pre.oDt it in hi. right of reply. Hr. TIICQOIAIOPOVLOS (Greece). The distiDgui.hed repre.entative of Turkey, iD e••reisiag his right of reply, lauached a .landeroua allegation aqaiDst IIY COUJltry. I would like to aak the 41atingubhe4 representative of Turkey, Mao attacked cyprus? Mbo.e occupation forc.. are .till in Cypru.? Mbo ozpell84 200,000 refugee. from their aDc.atral home? ADd who vas responsible for the 1.600 ai.siDg per.oD.? I would like to point out that the criMe of aggre••ion against Cyprus vas cODmitted by Turkey. There i. DO legal or moral principle to justify this act of cggressioD committed against Cyprus. I would also lite to ask the distiDguishe4 reprosentative of Turkey if he recogni.es resolution 3212 (XXIX). in favour of which Turkey vot.4g and I should like also to ask hila nat Turkey has dOD. so far to bJple.Dt this resolution• ~[t AlSIH (Turkey). Nothing th~t the distiuguiahed ~epresentativ. of Greece has said can obscure the fact that Gr.ece .ust bear the aajor responsibility for bringing about the question of C)prus. Gree~.'s ambitions in Cyprus ~re vell documented, and it theae ambitions which encouraged ~. Greek Cypriots to eng~ge in the actions against th~ Turkish Cypriots whi~ led directly to the present division of Cyprus into two separate States. Unfortunately, ~ are unable to detect any indination of change in Greece's Cyprus policy which would encourage the Greek Cypriots to abandon their policy of implacable hostility against the Turkish Cypriots. Mrs. DABS (Greece). With reference to the last remarks made by the distinguished represeDtativ~ of Turkey, I would like to state for the record that Turkey is responsible for all ~e violations of human rights which toot place in Cyprus, and which are taking place there now. Hundreds of reSOlutions of this Organiza~ion, of the Council of Burope and other regional and internstional organizations remain unimplemented. We would once again ask the distinguished representative of ~urkey to respect and to implement the relevQDt rosolutions which provide for the human rights of all the people in Cyprus to be respected. STA'DMBft BY "lII'B PUSIDDT DB RUSIDm* Me have just heard the last spea1cer in the general debata, which ~Ul on 24 SepteJlber and took 29 ..etings. In the caul's. of the debate we ware privil~4 to 11.te~ to 27 Beads of State and 15 Prime Ministers. The total ~~~ of .peaters .a. 155. Tbis t-pre••ive participation, particularly by Read. of State or Govera.ent, highlights the i.,ortance the international cc.W1ity is attaching to the General Asse!lbly. Th1a in itself also provides a visible renewal of our co-.ltNent to the United Rations and the objectives that it .tands for ba••d on h~anity'a aspiration fo~ peace in freedom. The cri.i. i~ the Gulf inevitably dominated the attention of all speakers. Two co-.on th.... flowed frOQ the unanimous conviction that the invasion an~ anDesatioD of Kuwait constitute a flagrant violatioD of the United Nations Charter as veIl a. a GOat .erious threat to International peace and security. On the one hand, a £i~ d.man4 vas voiced by practically every speaker for the restoration of the sovereignty and terd.todal integrity of Kuwait in full conformity vith the relevant Security Council re.olutions. On the other, there was a videly expressed vie. that efforta for a peaceful outco.. to the crisis should continue on a collective bas!. within the framework provided by the Charter of the United Nations. In .paakiDg about the situation in the Gulf, participents in the debate alBo looked at the videI' regional frBMvork in vhlch the cris1a waB unfolding. Rere again two COJlDOD th_1I CUlMtrge4. On the one hand, there vall an absolute rejection of any direct linkag_ between the invasion of Kuwait and other outstanding issues in the Middle Bast. On the cthar, it was clearly acknowledged that the firm international reaction to the invasion of Kuwait was settiD9 a ne~ high moral standard of ~ction. There was recognition that henceforth this ne. standard of action .u.t be .e.n to be applicable al.o to effort. toward. the .01utioD of the other plrobleu of tho r.,i(;'1,. ••pecially to bring about a ju.t ed peraanent solution to the quoation of Pale.tine tbrough the oarly conveniDg of the 10~-ava1te4 pe&~O ccnference. ne .ober,. Gaba and balanca4 UDDer in which cur debate on thi. highly delicate and COMplex .ubject vam conducted bring8 .harply into focue the unique role of the General "'e...l!'. Indeed" through our Aa.ubly the voice of hUlluity h•• been hearel 10u41y and clearly,. &Dc! the ..eaaqe 18 ODe of sanity,. of juetice,. of fairne•• and of peace. It ha. be_n .ald that every Dation hae it. pride,. aDc1 thie is perfectly true. It is equally iIrlportaDt for ua all too understand that there i. no lo.s of face for aDy State to ab!4e by the Charter. ftere i. DO 10e. of face in devising the Mane ad the atructure within which the return of the State of Kuwait to its sovereignty aDd territorial Integrity Ray be peacefully .ettled. The cri.i. in the Gulf 8QM8~at blunted the Aae.mbly'. attention to other 1••uos of .aior concerD. In hi. reflections at the conclusion of l.et ~ar" general debate,. IIJ' predecee.or,. Allba.edor Garba" spote of the hopeful rolaxation of tendons u4 lIuifeetatioD. of Dutual respect that had been welcoaed and acuo.ledged by all speakere. If it bad Dot been for the iavasion of Euwait the international cOlllllunity Rule!,. Inde.4,. thlB year have had even 1101'0 caus. than lallt year to esq»rolils I.tbfaction a4 opt1rll1... Even so,. lICet speakers found t1lle to loot bact upon the IICIIOl!toU' events of the la.t 12 IIODthlla the draaUc thrust of Bastern Burope towarde liberty and deMOcracy culmiaating in the unification of Geraany as & cogent ~l of a unified Burope, southern Africa's continuing .arch tova~4. juetice and fr••~,. reflected ••pecially in the achieveNent of Raalbian e~.tehoo4 aDd the (De Pr••A4ttnt) ••t~l...n~ in CaMbodia, the continuiug democratisation proc,ss in -oat of C.ntral aDd Latin A8erlca, the definitive abaDdO~Dt of super-Pover confrontatioD in the sto~ wat.re of Malta, aDd the emergenc. of sup.r-Power partnership. Speakers have welcomed th~ ..abership of Liecht••stein in our Organisation and look.d forward to the day. wh.n agr...nt wUl be reached for the people of Korea alliO to take up th.ir rightful representation IUIOng us. MaDy have r.fl.cted upon the prospects ¥bich those positivI de..lopalatsop8n up ,or r••_d .fferts towards r.solutif)n of those 4e.per 1Ul4 1101" fund.-atal probl... which atill confront the int.rnational c~itYI the poverty curtain, wbtre di••as. and .lsarr still holds s.ay over a sigaificant proportioa of mankind aDc! thr.at.u to perpetuate OD UDbri4geable gap bet.en the have. aDd have-Dota of this 1101'14, the ever ilu~reaaing burden of debt, ••pecially lUtOng ~. least develop.d countri.s, the scourg. of drug trafficking, the dangors of a d.t.rioratiag phy.ical enviroDalnt, the plague of t.rror!f~' the continued flouting of huaan rights, the plight of .illions of r.fug•••• De t-pressiv. celebration in our _idst of the World Summit for Chlldre~ broWJht hou to us, in perhaps the lIO.t i..4iate way posdbl., our grave r••ponaibility to .trive relentl.s.ly to tactl. and solve these probllms. It 1. our duty to work to guarantee for our children and g~an4childr.n that common h.ritage of digaity, peace &Dd prosperity to wh1= they are entitled. Meny .peaker. hav. .tres.ld that one important step in this directioD should be taten in tb. cour.. of this s.8sio~ of the General Asseably through the adoption of the ne. international development atratogy for t~e Development Decade that will span tbe last 10 years of the twentieth century. (De Pr.114.nt) I wi.h to take till. opportunlty to thank d81egatlons for the co-operation that they have .hown again thl. yoar i~ ensurlng the Ducc•••ful conduct of the g8a.ral debate. .ot only In que.tion. of .ubatocI but alf!i9 In .attlr. of proc.dur." the CJ8~r.1 debate provl4a1l Q wlndow for the world to vie. the working od effectiveness of our Orgul8atlon. (De Pr••idlnt,) nls year, auch 1101'. the iD prevloua year., the .yea of the wor14 have H.n lootiDg through thi. window with .ff.cti". int.r.st an4 att.nt1oD~ I beUe". that I .. right in observiug that both what we haV8 ••i4 u4 the aanner in which we have ••i4 it have contribute4 to the f~tur. OnhaDC"'Dt of tha .taa41ng of our Organisation. nl. .hou14 be a cau.. fer .ati.factioD for all, becau.. iD .Db.anclDg the atu41DAJ of the Unit.d ifatloDa, we eUlUlce the beat MUll that .... have of guarante.ing a future of peac., frlen4shlp and co-operatioD aaoDg DatioD•• ID conclu.ioD ! wish to ezpro.8 ~ miD~er. thanka and appreciatioD to tho.e apeakerM who are 80 "1'11 ud generous in their rMorltll about .. 04 about .ay couatrr, Malta. I pleOge .., full cOMaitaeDt to eD.ur~ the Mucce•• of the c:ontinuiDg work of the bsallbly iD th~ co.11119 .....1£.. T.b!. • ••alon of the OttD.ral .0" but it is equally true that the hi.torlc circWlstuc.. iD which we are ".UDg r~ire prudence in our actioD. and courage iD our 4ecisions. Our Org8Di.atloD ill ozp&rleDc!1UJ a crecUbility test. NUlloD. aroWl4 the wor14 are puttlag their tru.t in the United Ratione. Many are inv••ting high •.,ectation. in our l.ader.hip. It ia our respon.ibility, an4 iD particular that of the General Aaseably, the lIIOat repr••entative bo4y of our Orgaais.t!on., to fiD4 1'...41••, to fo~ul.t~ .olution., to lnetil into the ob.ervaDc. of the Charter the•• guarant.e. whic:h DatioD. large aD4 ••all are striviDCJ for .0 that peace 81114 fre.40. provail. We have DOW conclude4 agen4a item 9. IMPLBMIftATIOH OF 'lBB DECLARATION OB 1'IIB GRAftING OF IlmBPDDIHCE 'to COLOBIAL CcnnrntIBS 100) PSOPUS. OBSIRVAHC; OF DB TBIRTIftII UHIVBRSA11Y OF 'rim DBCLUA'l'IOH ~ PIBSIDlRTa Thirty yoara ago the General Aaa.ably adopt.d the Declaration on the Granting of IDdGpen4.nco to Colonial Countries and Peopl... As we c.lebrate thb aDDiversary, it 18 1aperatlv. that". r••iod our••lve. of tho.e lI~y countri•• which have attained !nd.pen4.nc~ .inc. then. It 18 e«JUa1ly r.levut, ho_vel', for u. to reflect 011 the iJIportance that the DeclaratioD . attach.~ to the right of the r-ople to .njoy .overeignty in eccordancs with ~their fr••ly .xpr••••d viII and d.sire". Th. 19&0 Declaration contain.d in Gen.ral A••elably r••olution 1514 (XV) i. in it••lf a lacdaark, for it has, throughout th••e years, co~tribut.4 in no ...11 manner to fulfilling the people.' alpiration. to the full .njoyment of fr••40. and th. independence of their hoaaeland.. In _y instance. the path toward. independence ha. been difficult. Yet tha thirst for fr••dola ha. enabled lal11ioDS to surmount all ob.tacle., thus .nabliDg the- to reap the benefit. of ••If-4ot.~ination. In 1945 the founding father. of our Organisation had alr.ady ••tabli.hed priDciples under Chapter XI of the Charter of the Unit.d Ration. relative to the adnllnlstratlon of Non-S.l:f-GoverniDg Territorie.. Tce!ay, with only 18 Hon-Self-Governicg Territorie., .. aay be te.pt.4 to say that the principl•• embodi.d in the Chart.r and later eDhanced b7 the 1t60 Declarction aI's to a largo ext.nt re.pected. The proc.ss of docoloDi.ation ba•••en the ...rgence of 80 D.W State.. Vast territories have attain.d ind.pendenc., thus 'olDing the community of nation•• Many of us here have lived through and contribut.d toward. this proc... and hence ch.ri.h the memory of the day Wb.D cur countries bec....overeign Stat••• Seven hundred and fifty million people vere living under colonial rule in 1945 - populations whose numberm have grown since then. In 1990 only about 2 million live in Non-Self-Governing Territories - a significant and remarkable feature of the international community'S commitment to the Charter of the United Nations. This year ue have vitnessed a historic event in the decolonization process - the peaceful tr~'1sition that led to the independence of Namibia. The role played by our Organization in assi~ting the people of Namibia to achieve the right to govern themselves has atrengthened the determination and the commitment of the United Nations to uphold the principles of the Charter and to proclaim the right of all peoples to self-determination as embodied in the 1960 Declaration. They are principles which are worth recalling, for their main thrust was the right of the people fre.ly to espress their will and desire. They are principles which are thwar.te4 each and every time the people are denied the democratic right to elect a government which reflects the will of the majority and ensures the rights of the minority. An important role in the decolonizatioD process Is that played by the Special Committee. Established in 1961 to monitor the implementation of the 1960 Declaration on decolonization, the Special Committee over the years has assiduously pursued its assigned task and considered the situation in no less than 46 Non-Self-Governing Territories. Nbil. the work of the Special Committee continues, many agree that, even though certain basic problems remain to b& solv.d, time has proved that, with political vill and mutual co-operation on the part of all concernod, questions concerning Non-Self-Governing Territories can be settled peacefully. (Tb' President) Two years ago the General Assembly de~lered tn& 19908 the International Decado for the Bradication of Colonialism. It is important for the intarnational community to give special attention to the fate of peoples living in the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories that seek enjoyment of the right~ inherent in the principle. of equal rights and .elf-determination. However.. as we look back with desGrved pl'ide at the achievements during the past three decades it is imperative that we remind ourselves that the Declaration OD the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples was nut drafted ad voted for in a vacuWl. That Declaration vas draft1td and approved by an international community which was becoming more and more aware of the importance of ensuring individual human rights and dignity. ID 1948 the same General Assembly over which I now hsve the honour to preside spelled out a warningI "disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous act$ which have outraged the conscience of mankind". (resolution 211 (Ill), A, second »reambulA[ »aragraRh) Thus.. in acknowledging the great strides achieved by the United Nations in the d.colouisation process.. let us today.. OD this the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples .. renew our efforts and commitments in resolving in harmony and co-operation the colonial vestiges of the r~mainiDg Non-Self-Governing Territorie. - not 4isregar4ing our responsibility~ however.. towards those people who rightfUlly feol cheated when the full sovereignty of the State is not matched by full respect for the obligations t.posed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations 23 years ago. On this solemn occasion I should like to announce that mesnageD have beon received from the following Member States. Afghaniatan, Chile, Colombia, Mongolia, .igeda,. Peru, the Philippinos, Sudu, Vanuatu and Ven••uela. ne Massages will be circulatea as a document of the General Assembly. I no~ call OD tb. Secretary-General of the United Notiona. De UCIn'DIX-QIIDNe (intel'pret.Uon fr_ Preftcb)a I _la,.. the the thirtieth aDDivel'8al'1' of the Decl"z:oatioD OD tU GrantiD9 of lDC1ctpeDC1ence to ColoDial Countrie. aa4 .eople•• When thi. Declaration wa. adopte4 on I" De~.aber 19GO, it c0D8titute4 a landaart iD the application of one of ~ b..ic principle. of OUl' Or9aD1••tioQ - that ~f equal right. and .elf-d6te~lD.tioD of peopl... It pl'oclat.e4 the nec•••ity of briDgimg a apee4y oDd to colonial!.. and aeclar-« tha~ tbe subjectioD of people. t~ alien rul~ wa. cODtrary to the principle. of the Cbarter aDd aD 1I8ptt41Mnt to the prOllOtion of 1I'Orl4 peac~ u4 ••cuE'1ty. Equally U!portut, by 14eDtlfyin9 eololftial1.... a _jor ob.tael. to IDterDatioul peace u4 .ecurity, it cOMMitted the Ol'9aDlsation to play a contral aDd actl~ role iD the proce.. of 4ecolonbation. . ThQ.~ to coloDial people. everywhere, thQ aaoption of the Deal.ration b7 thi. right. for all peopl••• ID the year. that have elapuGd aince tho Doel.ratioD wa. adopted, thG wor14 Ron-Self-Governing Territorie., .-br.cimg a total population of 1,.0 million people in all region. of the worl4, have beon enabl.d to ezsrci.. their right to .elf-dete~iutloD. The ovenrhe1lltiAg ujority of the Territorie. al'. I\01f playlDCJ their pert a. indepeD4eDt .0vEnreiga Stat•• iD the .ffair. of our world Or9uiaation. The adlliaaion of the MW Stats of ...ibla, after 80 many year. of bl004••4 a4 Buffering, repre••nta • fittiD9 clt.az to a year which .ark. the thirtieth aDDivel'.ary of th. Declaration• '!be latonatloDal cOllt~t~ bu "'17 r..UOD to bo '1'01Id of ~ !IIfIoittaat 1'01. Uaat It ha ,1a:f')4 i. _lp!,. tile peopl•• of f01rM1' coloalal 2'el'l'ltol'ls. to wlD _teclal ea-lttM of at, wIal~ hu 4l.cbU'~ with CJI'••t Cl'adlt Ita Qeclal I'IIMpoulbillti.. fol' raoutodag the !llpl_DtatloD of the Deel.Atio... It IIu .ucaH&14 iD 1101)111.1119 lateuatlaaa1 lIupport fol' the 14lg1t1lute u,ll'atlou of tile colosla! peopl••• far 1101'. 1'..1'••••tati"., aa4 .tl'ofiiiPl' ~ tbu It .. tbI'.. cJlacaa.. ago. ~ ••cIa, It 1. bottel' etUlppecJ to 'I'ovlde a coll.ctlve approach to tile 1Ilrp.t ~I£. wblcla atlll CODfl'o.t tU 1.bl'_tioD! cGllillUDlt)'. MIdi. _ take ,dckt ID pa.t aclaiwa..ta.. tbe UA!ted .atiou coati••• to upIIo14 ita ce-!tM.t: to tile poUtieal, ecoDMle u4 aoclal actnac_.t of tile 1'~a11MJ 11 .0.-8elf-Goft1'1l1ag ~.rrltod".. Mo.t of tu. ar. 1. tJIe .aclflc u4 C_ll»bea reglo.. uc1 h• .,. ulcru ,robl_ O. HC01lDt Gt the!1' -.11 al•• aac1 pop1l1atlo., 4JH9rApb!Cal r.-ate.a., laolatioD uc1 U ..!te4 utva! r••ouc... '1'U obj.cti.....t forth ia tIut Declalratio. co.tl•• to H .. appllcab18 to tIMa todaJ' .. theJ' ..r. __D that h!atodc 4oc....t vas adopted. 'DeiI' .pecial clrc_tuc•• will r84J'l!re the coat1aue4 co-oper&tioa and u.i.~c. of the Valud ••tlo.. 1. _lpl89 ~ to ovel'COll8 tU chellelll9tt. that fac. th_ ucI 1. chutiag .a ~.tuo that will ...t the wi.be. ea« upil'atioa. of their PeO,l••• 2'be uldlag COllc.rD that the U.lted .atio.. hu i...te4 la colol21al ball adopted fol' the _lfar. aad aocial a4v&ae..at of their ,.,1.... SIDce lISt, tU o...r81 Aa• .-1>17 ha ••cIa ,..r iDvlt.d Mlllber Stat•• to offer ROD-Self-Goveralag 2'.rritori.. tralDlag la teCbD1cal aDd vocatloDal fl.1ds IID4 81.0 uaoclat1oa with tIMIa. 2'.rrltod.. &arlDJ tile 44,eoloal.etloD r--30... .... MttD of 'J'errltorl•• ID coDfomlt~ with r••olutlcpu of tbl.......17. IIIdNcJ. tllelr tile cJaa11..... tbat r..uD ID thi. ~rtut fl01\4 of bUMD ac1eavou. ID 41-..1.. latenaatloul etteDtJ.oD to till. -.lwrlla!"7. tbe ~.t of lD'oa..A11CJMC1 Coatd.•• Jau atl'••HcJ It. !IItortuc. u a "'DtDOt oD1l' {to look back" 1Nt: to look fonrucl. ID 0111" approaeb to 1'••olvlDg eM r..uaflDC) eoloDla1 ,r_l_... IlUt act with ~.,...lo..te ob'ectl"lt,.. p14ec1 ao1.17 h;y tM .10.. u4 tile ..11-HiDg of tbtt ,.opl. fir.et1!, coacene4. It 1. la tlala apirlt that .. .at r... u4 reaffln1 OUl' e--.ltaaDt to tile pdDclpl. of ••1f-diaumlutloll" 'De pgaXPlI'J'1 I call OD tH Cub... 01~ tba Spoc!al Co-lttM OD tile Iltutlc;:.a .1tb rtlCJ8r4 to tbti IlIpl..atat.lou of tile Deel.atloD OB the GI'ut1av of I""'~DC. to Coloal81 Coutd•• and Peopl••• Mr. .,MUO (Itblopla) (Qa1nau of tbe l,paela1 c-.ltt.. OD tile 11tuatioD with rtHJU4 to tile b1pl_Dtatlo111 of tINt IDGclal'atloD OD t:IMt GrutliMJ of 1:DdeJeDC1&acll to Coluaial Coutd•• u4 Poopl•• (1,..:1&1 C~ttH of 2th It .la 1114••4 • tr.at ho_v ucJ ,rlv11... for _ to partlcll,ato 1. thi. special _tll!19 I.,.,....DO. to COlODla1 Cow:atd.. aacJ Peopl••• Tbl. cla7 .JIIboU••• tile .0Udad,t!, of tU Itat.iI 1'. of this OI"CJU!••tl0D ID tball' det.mlutloD to boUD the 1IDcoDdlt1oDal a~tal t of free40ll u4 ID4epeDdeDc. by all "erdtorl•• UDder coloalal nale. It 1. a 6a)' fo(~ ~r ltate. to reda41cat. tae.eel... to the prlDc1ple. ~104 ~D ca. DeclaratloDi ~rlucl,l•• wblc:b 4a8ucJ t.be llMratlolll of coloala1 2'errltod.. fr_ for81... doIdutlolu principles vhich d&rive from the purposes and tenets onshrined in t:h& Ch&rter of the United Nations. It is a day for looking back at past achieveMnts, not in a self-congratulatory .anner but in order to lay firmer ground for future action with respect to the remaining vestiges of colonialism. It is self-evident that the Declaration has had a wide-ranging effect on. muy aspects of international life and, particularly, on the evolution of this Organization itself. The importance of the United Nations as tho etandard-be~rer in this realm of endeavour vas strengthened by the assignment to it of a central role in the achievement of one of the fundamental purposes enunciated in the Charter, namely, to uphol~ the principle of e~ual righta and self-~etermiDation of peoples all over the world. MOrdover, the progressive implementatiQn of the Declaration has resulted in the Assembly's boco~ln9 a more truly reprsontative world forum. Adopted by the overwhelming majority of Member State., the Declaration vas both an expression of the determination of the community of nations to 8pe~~:. up the process of liberation of colonial peoples and a signal of a new hope for freedom and independence to the millions who were still living under tho colonial yoke. During the 30 yearo that have elapsed aince resolution 1514 (XV) came into effect there have been remarkable developments in the Dt~uggle of the colonial peoples to achieve self-determination Md independence. In these three decades the Declaration has provided the basis for end served aa a catalyst in the liberation of more than 50 depondent Territories. The composition of the membership of tne United Nations today is eloquent testimony to this outstanding achievement: over one. third of the 159 Members are former colonial Territodea which have joined the C07ftmunity of nations aa sovereign States mince 1960. In many instances the liberation movements had to pay the ultimate price to break the chains of subjugation and domination. Many of those freodom fighters did not live to see the triwnph of the ,c8uee for which they fought. On this colemn occasion I wish, on behalf of the Committee, to pay a special tribute to them, all of them, to the thousands of known and unknown heroes who have sacrificed their lives in the cause of freedom, justice and indepcndonce. The valiant deeds and actions of these heroic men and womon will, I am convinced, live on for generations, long after the word "colonialism" h~5 become an anachronism in the annals of inte~national relations. The liberation of Namibia - the moat recent decolonization process, in which the United Nations took the most active part ever because of its unique responsibility for that former Territory - is still vivid in our memory. The presence of the delegation of N~~ibia amoDg us today as the representative of a sovereign Member Stata of this Organization is a symbol as well as a source of encouragem~nt for us to purSue our dete~ined action until the last remnants of colonialism have been eliminated-from the face of the Earth. Therefore, while the United Nations takes pride, and rightly so, in ita contribution to the historic achievement of the Namibien people, we believe thBt this commomoration of the thirtisth anniversary of the Declaration should be an opportunity to renew our commitment to the cause of the 18 remaining Trust and Non-Self-Govarning Territories. As ~~mbBrs of this Assembly are aware, the large majority of these colonial Territories are small islanda scattered in the Caribbean and Pacific regions with relatively small populations and limited resources. Yet the basic provisions of the Declaration remain equally applicable to them all. On behalf of the Special Committee, I wish to reiterate the Committee's steadfast commitment and determination to continue its search for the most effective ways and means to implement the provisions of the Declaration in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. In this respect, while our actions continue to be guided by a full commitment to the principles contained in resolutioD 1514 (XV), ve have not lost sight of the fact that realism in approach is nece.sary to chart an effective course of action that will enhance the objectives of decolonization in the case of these remaining Territories. Thus we maintain that the approach we adopt regarding those Territories should teke due account of the mpecific needs and particular conditions of the Territories concerned. In its annual review of the situation obtaining in the Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territoriaa, the Committee has endeavoured to asseSB the full extent of such peculiarities in an attempt to determine the stage reached by the Territories, in particul~r. in the conduct of their respective affaire end in the broader area of self-90vernment. Hence it is our conviction that any approach to be taken in regard to any Territory must be based on an in-depth appr~ciation of the realities obtaining in that Territory_ In this regard, the obligation of the administering Powers to provide relevant information (H~. Tadesse. Chairman. Speciel Committee of 11) through regular reports and to facilitate visiting missions cannot be overemphasi3ed. This solemn meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration is in fact the final act of a s.ries of activities which, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 44/100, were carried out earlier this year. Among these activities were the two regional Beminars which the Committee held at Port Vila, Vanuatu, and at Bri4getoWD, Barbados, respectively. The reports of these seminars will be before th5 Assembly when it considers 8genda item 18. One of the main purposes of these seminars waa to ascertain at firsthand the wiohes of tho representatives of the remaining Territories in respect of the future status of their respective countries. The Committee has carefully considered the outcome of the seminars, in particular the views expressed OD thoDe occasions by the representatives of the populations concernod. Heedless to Bay, those views, together with the objectiv.s set out in the Declaration, will guide the Committee in the pursuit of its mandate. Yet, however constructive and appropriate the results of these "minars may be, their implementation would require the full co-operation of the administering Powers concern.d. I wIsh to take this opportunity to ezpressthe appreciation of the Special Committee to the administering Powers, in particular those that actively facilitated the carrying out of the seminars, and appeal to them all for a renewed spirit of co-operation as we move closer to the ultimate goal set by the General Assembly in its resolution 43/411 complete decoloni.ation by the year 2000. The success achieved in the field of decolonizatioD can be attributed mainly to the protracted struggle waged by the inhabitants of the coloD!al Territories, as well as to the support they have enjoyed from the intornational eommunity, more particul~rly the United Nations, the Non-Aligned MOvement, ~'9ional organizations and non-governmental o~qani.ations throughout the world. The rolo played by successive Secretaries-General of the United Nations in enhancing the process has beln nDnumental. On this solemn occasion we should like to pay a particular tribute to the current Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar, for his sustained commitment to the cause of decoloniaat!on and especially for the Herculean task he successfully accomplished in the process that led to tho iD4ependence of Namibia. It is ~ earnest hope that as the Assembly meets during the course of this finol decade of the twentieth century the Committee of 24 will be able to report that no more Hon-Self-Governing Territories remain on its list and that all such Territories have exercised their right to self-dete~lnatioD. It is also my ardent hope that the 9lob~1 partnership which has brought us this far on the road to fre~dom and independence for all colonized peoples vill ultimately enable us to attain our lofty goal. The PRESIPBBTa I now call on Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid. Mr. GIMBARI (Nigeria), Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheida On behalf of the Special Committee against APartheid, I should like to thank the Special Committee OD the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial eouatrie. and Peoples for extending this invitation to me and to the Special Committee against Apartheid to participate in the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the ~doptioD, on 14 December 1960, of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV). liberation .truggl. which gath.~e4 aomentua through the concert.d .ffort. Na4e by a vast number of African coloni•• to ••cure their fre.dom and independenc.. The adoption of r••olution1514 (XV) s.t the framework and direction for the political, .cono..1c and 80cial dov.lopmentAl that dominated the agenda of international, and .v.n national, politics in the following thirty yeaI'm. The efforts of the United Ration. in facilitating 4.colonization caxmot be denie4. The vorld body resolved that colonialhm vas an infringement of the principle of self-d.te~inatioD~ and called for immediate st.p~ ~o be takeD in all Territories not yet independent to transfer power to the local people, without any conditio~s or reservations, in accordance vith th3ir freely expressed vill to be free and independent. It vas not by aecident that oaly a fev years later, the G.neral Assembly went a .t.p further, taking into account the deteriorating situation in southern Africa, marked by South Africa's persistent illegal occupation of Namibia, its defiance of United Nations resolutions, it. brutal repression of the South African and Namibian p.ople, and its acts of aggression and destabililation against neighbouring independent African States. The General Assembly declared that racism and aparth.id were incompatible vith the Charter of the UDit.~ Ra.tiODS ad illeSe84 were a crime again8t humanity. Sinc. then, the Committee of 24 and the Special Committee against ARafth,i4 have developed a co-operative relationship aimed at the elimination of the last v.stiqes of colonialism, emuth.14 and radg. While, over the years" the Committee on Decolonization ha. been eztremely 8u~c.s.ful in accomplishing its ~rtant task, tha Special Committee against ARarthtid DOW stands at the beginninq of a process that will ultimately .neS with the complete eradicatioD of Qglrtheid. Aa positive develOpBeDtS in the iDternational arena created a cliaate favourable for resolviug ezistlDg coaflicta by peaceful ..an.~ South Africa finally recogDi••4 that it vas futile - and politically and ecoDOMlcally too costly - to cODtiDue to resiat aDd repress the indomitable will aDd the fighting spirit of the people of B8II!bia. Today, HUlibia is a young and c~itted IMIlIber of the fully of aatioD. here iD thi. world body. ~e independence of Huibia is a fillip to tho efforts of the Committea of 24, the United HatioDs Council for Namihia, the Fourth Committee and the iDternaticDal community .s a whole, repre.eDted in thiu important Assembly. The thaw iD iDt.rnatiDal rolatioD' has had an4, I believs, will continue to have, a positive impact OD our work. The Special Ccmsittee, ID partic~lar, i' gratified to see its effortB in building CODS.D8US OB South Africa withi3 the UDite4 HatloDs croWDed with the adoption, last December, of the DeclaratioD on Agartheid and it. Destructive CODsequenc.s in SoutherD Africa. The adoption ,gaiD by COD.eDsue oDly a &Oath ago, of a resolution OD the progress m.de .0 far iD South Africa, is yet another .1l.,toDe ID the interDatioDal community's effort. to eradicate A;lrthtiA. WhUe the consellBUS 8IIODg MfJmber States waa the result of a cOlllplez chlUlget iD attitudeu aDd perceptions, nobody CaD deny the role of the concerted pr••sure brought to bear OD the a»arthei4 regime by the international conmunlty at large. The positive step. taken by Pr••ideDt De Klark siace laat February have beeD welcomed. However, they fall short of the demand. of the international community. Rot all political prisoners and detaino.. have beeD r.18.8ed, the state cf emergency vaa only partially lifted and the Internal Security Act ha. DOt yet beeD repealed. Violence is at!ll a cause for cODt!Due4 fear that the proce.. towards aegotiatio.. could be derailed or delaye4. (HE. g·.bad, Qalmap, ~alal Cggplttee agaiD.t aaartbet4) Against thim bactground~ this meeting provides another occaBlon f~r the r8d8dication of ourselvee to the principles and obj~ctivea of r~~ution 1514 (XV), All well as of the Declaration on bartheid. The international community should continua to bring pressure to b~ar on apartheid South Africa until it fully ce-pl1e. with our well-known demands and pre-conditions. The Special Committee ha., OD various occasions, expressed strong concern about the efforts being made to r.laz .zisting sanctions and restrictive maa.ures, and considers these to be entirely premature. According to the Declaration on Apartheid, there has to be clear evidence of profound and irreversible change in South Africa before the eziating .~ctiODS and restrictive measuree can be relaxed. Me know that the Special Committee on Decolonization viII stand at our side in our cO.mGn endeavour to further the cause of the South African people, in partiCUlar, oa this relates also to their right to solf-determination. By virtue of that right, and we hope thim wlll occur in the not too distant future, they will b§ able to determine their political future fr~31y and to pursue their economic, 80cial ana cultural development unimpedod, IS called for in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. U~til there is a free" non--racial and democratic society established in South Africa, the people in that hapless country Deed our continued solidarity and un.....tying support" Let u~ be unrelentinq in sending' a strong 51gDal to the people of South Africa, as well as to the people of Africa as a wholeg that we vi!1 not abandoD their just and legitimate struggle. ~ith courage and ~ptimiem, the day will come vhen we can all celebrate the total eradication of apartheid. I feel sure that this will happen in the not too distant future. The PRBSIDBNt: I call on Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo of Sierra Leone, who will speat on behalf of the Group of African States. Mr. WGBO (Sierra IAcna) I Mr. 1?re.ident, allow., on behalf of the African Group, to .xpr... our pl.asure at IJeeiD9 you contlnu(!l to pr••ld. with incomparable .till and flu.... over thl. forty-fifth a•••ion of the General Jo.eph Garba of 1figer1a for hi. deft handllDlJ of the forty-fourth ••••iOil. Thirty year. ago, th. Orgu!satioD adopted in it. re.olution 151.. (XV) a body of principleD, now unqu.stionably recognised au a charter of fr••d08 for the iDhabltants of the Trust aDd Ho~-Self-Govcrning Territorio.. Tb••ffect of th.t Decl.r.tion contiDUQ. to echo down the year. •• ita ••••rtion by subject pe~~l•• •••WM. an urgency of applic.tion which la wadeDiule. Mhether ths Bucce••ful ezerci•• of tho.e rights h•• ~.D pe.ceful or bloody, it cannot be di.puted th.t the D&claration chuged for ever the r.latioDahlp of dependence aDd Dub.eryi.Dce bat..en countries which dOMinated international intercour•• until the fir.t h.lf of thill century. The -ior part of thi. Aa.ellbly of nation. pre••nt here today 1. t••timoDy to the eD4ur1n9 val~dity of this thirty- year-Old prescription. What has transpired over the years since the adoption of the Declaration is an affirmation of the irreversibility of the liberation process. We have came to witness, through the emergence of new States# the progressive attainment of the primary objective of the Organization, and that is its universality. The experience has been a unique one - rich with the variety of cultures and systems that only a world organization can lay claim to. Unfortunately, the road has not been an easy one: it is 8t~ewn with the souls of fallen martyrs like Mahatma Gandhi and Amilcar Cobral and others whose resistance to colonial domination continues to spark the aspirations of freedom lovers all over the world. Their contribution to the emancipation of peoples is a living story of dedication to the finest values in man, etched with patience and unequalled courage. No greater tribute can be paid to their memory than to commit ourselves to bringing about the full application of the provisions of General Assembly resolution 43/47 of 1988. Much has happened since 1988, when the Ganera1 Assembly declared the period from 1990 to the year 2000 as the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. Not the least of those happenings has been the spirit of ~ccommodation and understanding vhich has evolved and continues to pervade international relations. It has arisen from the well-spring of human rationality which finally has been emboldened to a~~ept, a prior!, the futility of tension and conflict. As we approach the end of this century, there is an overwhelming sense of purpose and responsibility which we must now display t~ those who still carry with them the weight of the colonial experience. We must realize once and for all that the world cannot be at peace if we continue to deny others the opportunity to exercise those rights which we ourselves consider inseparable from our heritage. The choice has never been clearer: to ensure that this thirtieth anniversary i. the last that we shall commemorate, so that we shall stand at the dawn of the twenty-first century, not as our predecessors did on that December day in 1960 to proclaim those inalienable principles# but to usher in a world free from colonialism. The PRESIQE6T: I now call on Mr. Dia-Allah EI-Fattal of the Syrian Arab Republic, who will speak on bohalf of the Group of Asian States. Mr, EL-fATTAL (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation from Arabic): I am privileged to speak as Chairman of the Asian Group for this month before this Assembly on the thirtieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This anniversary takes place at the beginning of a United Nations Decade, in implementation of General Assembly resolution 43/47 dated 22 November 1988, which we hope will conclusively and promptly eradicate colonialism. We would like to seize this international occasion to express the solidarity and resolve of the Asian Group to accelerate the unconditional attainment of freedom and national independence by all countries, all non-self-governing territories and those which are under foreign rul~. On the occasion of this anniversary, we reiterate our resolve to implement the principles of this Declaration which call for the liberation of colonial territories from the yoke of foreign domination. A look at the membership of the United Nations will confirm clearly that the struggle against colonialism, as embodied in the Declaration, has had a great effect on the relations between States which are now based on co-equality and mutual respect as envisioned by the Charter. The Asian Group's share in this struggle has been great. Several Asian countries have been liberated from foreign rule and are participating actively now in the building of a better world of justice and freedom. , The world's peoples look up to this international Organization as the highest forum of international co-operation and their best hope in granting freedom to those peoples that still live under foreign domination. We can measure the level of successful implementAtion of the Declaration by noting that the Declaration, since 1962, has made it possible for 46 non-self-governing territories to exercise the right of self-det3rmination. There remain only 18 cn the list of non-self-governing territories now. The increasing number of Member States of the United Nations is the best evidence that domination, exploitation and oppression cannot halt the inevitable historic tide of liberation struggle, that colonial domination is doomed to failure and that it is impossible to suppress the aspirations of colonial peoples to freedom and independence. The future of any colonial territory cannot be determined without takinq into account the genuine wishes of the inhabitants of that territory, which they must freely express. The will of those valiant peoples and their continued struggle are the factors which will eventually enable them to free themselves from the stubborn shackles of the colonial system. Free Namibia is the best example.' Despite all the positive developments that we have witnessed on the international scene, it is sad indeed that there are still millions of people in several territories and countries who do not enjoy self-rule and are still subjected to exploitation in their motherlands. More than 6 million Palestinians, in their Asiatic Arab country, are still deprived of self-determination in their own land. More than 28 million Africans in South Africa are still subjected to the most heinous forms of persecution and discrimination in their own land and are deprived of citizenship and are living under APartheid. We are confident that the Committee will continue to discharge its task until (Mr. El-lattal. Syrian Arab Republic) the finol disappearance of the last vestiges of colonialism. Towards that end, the lntern&tioDal community is required, to implement General Assembly ~esolution 41/43 dated 22 November 1988 on the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism by adopting specific specific measures to rid the world ef every shape and form of colonialism.
I now call on Mr. Stanislav Pevlat of Poland, who vill
speak OD behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.
(Mr. El-Fottol, Syrian Arab Republic)
Decl.at.loD OD the Gl'aDt.1Dg of IDdepeDdeDce t.o ColoDial COUD~rie. u4 hoplGt••
fte Declerat.loD i. wuJoubt.e4ly 0.. of t.he IIOcst fUAd_atal ad laDdllal'k
c1oCVMDt.. adopt.ed by the Ol'gulaat.loDe It. Dot olll}' te.t.ifles to the Dobl. goals
that. iu,il'8 the activities of the United Ration••• a wholo, but alao idicate.
the _,. the.. goal. My be - ucl ahou14 H - achieved through t.Iut 4tttendud
co-opel'atioD of the c~lty of aation•• ...cUe•• to aay, the vol'1d .. liw la today 1. INch better thu at the thle
the Declal'atioD vu a40pted. The iDcl'euingly rapid pace of c:huge haa _4e the
world alIIo.t fre. t.1'0lI coloL~al doMiDatioD Bel .ubj1J9atio~.. It vu ollly ia March
tbi. year that .. vitu•••4 ID _.ibia tho victo~ of Ita peoplo la the struggle
for it. dght to ••If-4etel'lllDat!oD and the tduaph of the pdDciple. of tho United
••tlOD. Charter over the scourge of coloDiali... Today.. .e. a free aD4
'rileI'. 111 DO doubt that this irreversible pl'oceaa hu beeD foatel'ed .lao by the
the cold val'~ which gave way te cODstructlve Baat-We.t dialogue, aDd to the
dotemiMd .i11 of the Stat.a MeJIIlber. of tJut United Batio.. to give 0111'
Orgulaatioa real _aa11lUJ.
We -1' ••1' with 91'0.1119 .atlafactloD today that 1101'. ad IIOr. oftea the UDited
_etiollll ia takiDg coaaol16atec1, 1U1u!moua poaitlou OD i.a•• of priDciple. AD
••upl. of thi& 18 fowad ID the qu••tiOD of Ulrtihe14, which vas ao cloa.ly
related, before B.ib18 obtained ita independenc., to the problo of
a.colODiaaticD. %be adoptioD bJ' COD••DSUB, almost a year &qo, of the historic
.
Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Soutbtirn Africa gives
us hope that APartheid will soon be eradicated froM the face of the earth.
Our present-day world is al~st free from the yoke of colonialism, but the
word tlalmost U makes a differencti. The remaining Non-Self-Governing i'erritorie.
still require the continuous dadication, commitment and ongoinq efforts of the
international community. In particular, the administering Powers should act in the
best interests of ~e people of those Territories~ to bring about suitable changes
in Accordance with the realities and demands of the present-day world, thus
enabling them to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
the PRESIPBNT: I now call on the representative of Bolivia, who will
speak on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group.
~~~~~~JAS MQGRO (Bolivia) (interpretation from Spanish). It i8 a qreat
honour for me to ~ake part in this commemorative meeting, which is such a
siqnilicant event, and to speak on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean
Group. In political, cultural and geographical terms, our Group itaelf represents
,the proces~ of the last 30 years which we Blre now honouring. From being some
20 States whicb had already come of age as sovereiqn States, we have witnesBed the
birth and growth at our side of a new generation of free netions which enrich our
political region, and justify those who with heroisM and devotion to freedom have
given us a place of honour in the geopolitical order of the world.
Moreover, the new nations have encourag8d us, by uniting for the noble cause
of ushering in an era of peace, freedom and prosperity, an era from which racial
prejUdice and unjust ezploitation will have been banished for ever. This has been
the ideal for which we have fought and which will continue to be our objective.
Today, the th~rtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Q··:.iDg of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, is a day of rejoicing for the ------
(Hr. Pawlak, Poland)
United Rations. nis dat.e marks a most remp.rxable fact. It 18 the ~o-..oZ'ation
of a starting-point in time and in history, ODd the periodic verification of
compliance with one of the basic objectives of the United Rationss the universal
realization of the right to freedom of peoples still subjected to colonialism and
their inalienable right to a life of dignity, free from !ea~.
Year after year, Assembly after A4seMbly, we hav~ ratified and restated our
determination to free ell the pe~ples of the world who are still BUfiering from
dep$Ddenc& and foreign ezploitation~ with their aberrant conaequonces of racial
discrimination, religious intolerance and limited if any accesa to 8ducation,
health end socia... development.. "'hleh are unacceptablo barders in the age in which
we live. We bow that all those 111s derive from the deliberate cOllltinuBtioD of
colonial sye~em~ of exploitation of peoplee through practices which run counter to
the right of every human being to live in freedom end in full enjoyment of the
wealth which nature has bestow~d on the lend of his birth, end in enjoyment of his
!.'lght to work the mineral and other wealth of his territory.
Despite the 30 years which have elapsed and the periods of discouragement end
uncertainty which have occasionally impeded our efforts, the work of the United
Nations for human dignity and the full enjoyment of bs&ic values has Dot ceased.
We have moved forward with our eye fized on the broad horizoD. of our task, without
eny geographical limits, with a feeling of UDiversal cOIlillUJiityol' and "ithin the
reasonable goals and aims that are In confo~ity with respect for the traditions
and lifestyles that constitute the spiritual identity of each paoplo, the very
essence of its nationality.
The task of liberation has been ca~ried on by great freedom fighters who,
interpreting the desire of the peo~l~=, have succeeded in leading them to victory
cnd have enriched tho group of nations that now cODstitutes the community of
natiens representod here. It hae not always been po.sible to reintegrate
dismemberti4 nations in thsir original form or to restore them within thsir original
cultural bouadarie3, but the future of those nations will depend on the w1ll4011 anI!
sagacity of their own leaders end on the natural inclination of the people, who
will ~eek logical forms of coezistence based not only on the purpose. of
development but also on spiritual affinities and cultural identity.
Our job is not over. There are still some occupied territories. There are
~till aberrant pra~tice8, such aa apartheid. There Are atill nameless
natioDalitie~ and subjugated people.. Some are fighting hard for their freedom.
Others hav~ already achieved it, among them heroic Namibia, whoae flag already
flies in space lit, a tribute to fre.dom. We ahare the joy of this day, which la
ds4ic&ted to commemorating the historic decision to struggle for the freedom of
peoples .ufferi~g from economic and cultural dependence. On this solemn day of
commemoration we wiah to renew our promi.e to continue to fight every form of
colonialism, wbether it be that which mlUlifests itself opeDly, without any attempt
at a cover-up, or the kind which ia camouflaged in anachronistic paternalism.
(Ht. NAya'as *9ro, BQ1iyia)
I call on Mr. Yves Fortier of Canada, who will speak on
behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.
Mr. FORTIIR (Canada): It is an honour for me, as Chairman of the Group
of Western European and other States for the month of October, to speak at this
special meeting commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the
Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
When the United Nations was founded in 1945, the principles ef egual rights
and self-determination of peoples were at the forefront of the minds of its
creators. Indeed, these principles are enshrined among the purposes of the United
Nations in the ve~y first article of the Charter, while the responsibilities and
obligations concerning Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories are detailed in
Chapters XI and XI! of the Charter.
In the years between 1945 and 1960, when the General Assembly adopted
resolutions 1514 (XV) and 1541 (XV}, the membership of the United Nations grew from
51 to 99 Member States. Many of these new Members had obtained their independence
from the Administering Power during those 15 intervening years and then sought full
membership in the United Nations. But in 1960 there remained many other
territories whose peoples had not yet attained a full measure of self-government.
Today, 30 years later, the membership of the United Nations stands at 159,
with almost all of these new Members having obtained their independence through the
exercise of their right to self-determination. The Group of Western Eur~pean and
other States welcomes the progress that hae been achieved in this regard. The
Group also notes that in some cases former Non-Self-Governing Territories have
chosen ether options, inclUding free association with an independent State.
In particular, the Group of Western European and other States notes with great
satisfaction the successful conclusion of the transition to independence of Namibia
and the essential role played by the United Nations and the Secretary-General. The
presence today in this General Assembly of Namibia as a full Member of the United
Nations is testimony to the determination of the Members of our Organization to
promote the ideals embodied in the Charter and to seek the implementation of the
principles of equal rights and self-determination amonq all peoples.
I declare this special commemoration in observance of the
thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoples concluded.
154. (contlnueg) ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE TO HAITI (A/45/L.2)
A draft resolution has been issued as docwnent A/45/L.2.
I should like to remind representatives that it was introduced at the 26th plenary
.meeting. The following States have become sponsors of draft resolution A/45/L.2:
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname.
Mr. ALARCON DE QUESADA (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish): Haiti is a
close neighbour of my country. In fact it is, strictly speaking, our closest
neighbour. From our eastern shore it is quite easy to discern Haitian territory.
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians live in my country, and they have the same rights
as the rest of the Cuban popUlation. They came to Cuba from our neighbouring
country.
Throughout history our brother country has had to contend with factors alluded
to in the Secretary-General's report: some of its people have been forced by
economic and social considerations to emigrate to other countries.
(ML. Fortier. Canada)
It is not just geographical proximity that unites us with the Haitian people.
We are united by bonds that have existed throughout our history. As a result, our
peoples' cultures and traditions have much in common.
Therefore from the very outset my delegation worked actively with the other
members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States aa they were engaged In
a joint effort adequately to meet the request of the Government of Haiti and
Haitian institutions, including political parties, for the material, technical,
economic and financial help Baiti needs for the electoral process it has decided
on, and also to tackle many prQblems related to its economic and social
development.
In that context we join the other countries of our region in supporting the
request that the international community provide economic, financial and technical
assistance to meet Haiti's needs.
At the same time, together with our colleagues in the Group of Latin American
and Caribbean States, we have t~ken the very firm position that we cannot accept
any attempt to interpret or manipulate, in any way that could affect international
peace and security, the Haitian electoral process for which the Government of Haiti
has requested United Nations assistance.
In this regard I believe it is appropriate to refer to Article 2 (7) of the
Charter, which retains its full force and~ as we all know, clearly states that
"Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United
Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic
juriSdiction of any State."
My delegation, like the other fraternal delegations of the regioD, therefore
opposes any intention to use or ~eek to use this question of assistance to Baiti in
any way that would imply, OD the ODe hand, a clear breach of the Charter - since
.ecurity - or, on the other, encouragement of interfer.nce in the domeatic affair. of the State of Haiti.
III thi. CODn.ctiOIl, we lIust .ay that it has H'D D.c.s.ary to foil s.veral
auo.\1vr.s OVlll:" the past ftw IIlODthS, ecl that, IUIOng othor things, is the r.a.oll
why the Gen.ral Aas~ly has beaD unebl. so far to approve the roqu.st lIa4. by that
MeJaber Stat.. IYeD today, "hen .. have ..t to a40pt dx-aft r.solution Al45/L.2, the
Aasubly 40ea Dot have aD operational plan which would eaplaill to us .xactly the
nature, cont.nt and scope of the ais.lon to be carri.cl out there by the United
Rations.
In this cont.xt" it i, worth roca11il19 1011I remarks lIa4. by the
Secr.tary-General in his report on the work of the Organization" which h. r.c.nt17
.uhmitt.cl to us. Speaking of situations in which the Organisation might po.sibly
involve its.lf" he aai41
"••• ,houlcl they involve the IIIOnitoring of an election or referendum" th.y
should cov.r the Intir. .l.ctoral proc.ss ill ord.r to s.cure conditions of
fairn.ss aDd i~artlallty. Nb.r. the introduction of a Unit.cl Rations
pr•••nc. in the .l.ctoral proce.s of a State at a critical point in Its
political life is sought by the Gov.rllWnt eODc.rDod and approved by tha
COllpet'Dt organ of the Unit.cl .ations, it is D.c.ssar,. that there be brod
public support in the State for the Unit.cl .ations .s.u.1Dg auch a 1'01••"
(Altlll. p.12)
We un4.rltan4 this to ...an that iD the caa. iD point thi. critorioD should be
reflected in the acc.ptanc. by all the r.l.vant iDstitutloDe in Balti" iDclu4iDq
its political parti.s, of the 81••10D our Organisation is to carry out th.re.
Th. Ala.ably is cOllsicl.ring this subject just a few aiaut.s aft.r
c~mor.tlDg the thirti.th DIlDivorsarr of the adoption of the o.claratloa in
re,olutlon 1514 (XV)o Tb!. la aD occasion on which ~ rQc.ll the ~nt when the
Organisation proclai..4 tho right of all peopl.s to .slf-a.te~lD&t!O.and
independence, and when the United Nations comaitted itself to carrying forward the
proc••s of 4eoolonisatioD world-wido.
He are 51so considering this item almost on the eve of the two hundredth
anniversary of the moment when the Haitian alaves on Boia-Caiman were the first to
call for independence In Latin America and the Carribean. On that memorable
occesion, tho.e .laval, who had bean dragged from Africa to the Carribeau, not only
broke their chain. but also .tarted out on the road to independence and liberation
for the wbole Latin American continent and the Carribean.
Row, when thG Asaembly is possibly about to adopt a dec18ion about electoral
as..i8tuce to Baiti, ay GovorDllNtnt wisheD to give its support for suitable
international action to help Baiti cope with ita problems and assist it in its
efforts at econollic reconstruction and ~ith whatover technical aspecta Baiti deems
useful in the proper organisation of its electoral process. However, at the same
time, we want to .ake it quite clear that we ontirely reject any attempt to use
this United Rations re.olution or activity a. a pretezt for interfering in the
internal affairs of Haiti, a fraternal country.
Yhe people which 200 years ago was the fir~t to ri.e up against colonial
opprassion and raci.. and for independence .in Amedca will surely be capable of
repelling any attempt whatsoever by anyone who might seet at this stage to violate
the sacred principle of Don-interference and the sovereignty and independence of
countries.
De PllSIDU'la .. have heard the last speaker oD. this itell.
I shall now call on those representative. who wish to explain their votes
before the voUDg. May I rlB/lnd 4eleqationa that, in accorduce with General
As.embly deci.ion 34/401, such explanations are limited to 10. minutes and should be
made by delegations fre. their seats.
H[I. PILLIeE! (Mexico) (interpretation from Spanish)a The delegation of
Mexico will vote in favour of the draft resolution now before UI, convinced as we
are that efforts mUlt be made to establish better conditions for the economic and
80cial developmant of Haiti. We have a large debt of international solidarity with
Baiti. Little has been done by the international community to help Baiti overcome
the difficult problems of extreme poverty and instability which have weighed it
down in recent decades.
The United Nations involvement in Haiti is indicative of the greater attention
the Organization is paying to the least developed countries. The improvement of
living conditions in those countries should have pride of place in the United
Nationa programme for the 19901.
We hope that solidarity with Haiti will go beyond the electoral process and
will be reflected in a clear commitment on overcoming its economic difficulties.
However, we wish to set forth our views on how this draft resolution came to
be submittad and on its implications for future United Nations activities.
My delegation finds that unlike other cases, in which the sending of a Unitod
NatioDs observer mission was preceded by an extensive process of consultations with
all partiea concerned and an account was given of this in good time to Member
Statel, on this occasion there was limited eODsultation. We have not ~eceived a
report from the Secretary-General to 9ive us any idea of the conditions in which
the mission would be working. Also, the draft resolution envisages seading two
types of observer. In one case, there is no doubt about what kind of work is going
to be done, but in the case of the observers with solid experience !~ the public
order field, there i5 some uncertainty about what functions would be aSligned to
them and how far these functions would be distinct from those of the peace-keeping
forces.
we await further infomation frOll the Secretary-GeDeral on this _tt.r. 'rhe
MesiCD delegation ucJerstud. that .en4iDCJ this aission "ill not Clet & precedeat
in r.spect of the ao..atic 'uriadictioB of State.. ~ aelegation wisboa to r••tate
its ~~h&k.abl. conviction that el.ctoral process.. lie .ithin the doMain in which
408a.tie legislation iD each State is .0~r.igD. ne UAite4 RatioDs .is.lon ie
balug aeat iD this calls only becaulIe it was request.d by the GoverDMnt of Baltl.
we are allo concerned that In document Al45/l3, s~itt.4 to the I'ifth
C~ltt.e, the electoral process in Balti i8 labued with ea InternatioDal
4t.8n8ioD, and it is .ta~ed that the holdiDg of election. with aD international
pre.ence could be helpfUl iD r.stralniD; the massive e.igration of Haitian
(Mt,. 'elliqer, Mallqo)
We believe that the cau.e of the ....ive outflow of II1grut. shou14 be sought
in the state of sxtr... poverty aff11ctiag the Baitian people aD4 the .01ution of
the prob1.. of that migration should co~.i.t of re.olute effort. for International
econOllic co-o~rat1oD which v111 help revitaU.e 4evelo~nt in Baiti. To avoie!
confrontlDg it. .overe 8co~ic plight an4 to relegate the probl.. to. electoral
matter. would, it ••e•• to UII, be rather iaappropdate aD4 politically unwille.
Finally, we wish to reiterate that, as has been l.'epeat841:r eaphasbe4 in the
1nfo~a1· conllultations lea4in9 to the pre.ent.tioD of this draft re.olutloD an4 itll
actual aubllill.ion, the elsetoral p!'OC••1I in Balti 11 not a 8ituation which pollea a
threat to international peace an4 lI.cudty" Conllequently, the r.solution doe. not
presuppose DJ' Security COUilcll iDvolv_Dt ia the utter. 'rhe repolrt by the
Secretary-General referre4 to ia operative paragraph 3 applieD to the General
AII••llbly, and there ill no reallOD why it should be brought before the Security
COUDci1.
De PIISIPIUI We have haar4 the la.t .peaker: ia esplanatioD of vote
before the vote.
~~e Aallambly will now tahe a 4~ci.ion on draft re.olution Al45/L.2. 'rhe
raport of tho Fifth COIIlIIlIltte. on the progr.... budqat iJlpl1clAtloa. of the 4lraft
re.olution 1, coataine4 la cloe_nt W4S/50e, which was circulated ia the Aa••llbly
Ball. May I tat. it that the Ae80Rb1y4eci4ea to a40pt draft re.olution Al45/L.Z7
Praft r.,olutlgp Al45/L.2 va' a4QRt14 (r••olution 45/2).
The PIISIQIR%I Before ca11!Dq OD the fir.t llpeaker la explanation of
vote, I would remiad 4e1egations that, ira accordance with GeDe1'a1 AIIaUlbly
4ecisioD 3<1/tOl, exp1anationll of vote are 111l1lite4 to 10 II1nut•• an4 IIhou14 H 1IUl4.
by delegation. froll their: .eata.
I ehal1 DOW call OD tho.. repr•••atative. who .illh to e:plaia their po.ition.
OD the re.olutioa just adopte4.
(Mr', Polligaf, "I_Igo)
Hr. N,.TSOB (Unitecl States of America) I The GoverDMnt of Baiti has
appealed to the United Nations for assistance to help it conduct free &Dcl fair
elections. Tbis appeal clearly merits a positive ancl rcpicl response from our
Organisation, in acl4ition to others, inclUding the Organi.ation of American States,
which have already so re.ponded.
The situation in Haiti commands our attention for a number of reasons. The
Government of Baiti has requestecl assistance, including security personnel, for its
lauclable effort to concluct elections. The prolonqed period of instability in Haiti
has swampecl neighbouring countries with Haitian refuwe... MOre than 1 million
Haitian. reporteclly are currently in the Dominican Republic, &Dcl aa many as one
thircl of the population of the Bahamas may be Haitian refvgees. Many countries in
the region have characteri.ecl the situation in Haiti aa a threat to regional peace
ancl stability.
Therefore the Unitecl Stmtea strongly supports a prompt and affirmative
response by this Organ1liation to the request aade by the ao"er...nt of Haiti for
electoral assistance. Ne believe that such aid should include technical and
security assistance, as well as internationcl observers, ancl should be co-ordinated
with the assistance progrUll!l88 of regional organisations. Ne agree with the
Secretary-General's vie", as inclicate4 in the stateDent of programme buclget
implications, that the cost of such aD assistance programme constitutes aD
extraorclinary expense.
The United St~tes Dotes that this matter has been cons14erecl by the members of
the Security Council in response to letters from the Secretary-General and i8 the
subject of a written reply from the President of the Security COUDcil to the
Secretary-General. Ind••d it was this development which facilitated the
consideration of this matter by the forty-fifth se88ion of the General Assembly.
In these circumstances the United States wae in a position to support the
draft resolution introduced by the representative of Bolivia on behalf of many
members of the Latin American and Caribbean Group. We do not believe that General
Assembly authorization alone is sufficient for dbpatch of the security component..
which falls within the purview of the Security CouncIl,
My delegation urges the Secretary-General to implement this resolution as
~uictly as possible in order to facilitate free and fair elections in Haiti only a
few weeks from now.
Hr. RQCBEREAU DE LA SABLIEU (France) ('interpretation from French): The
French delegation welcomes the affirmative reply given by the United Nations to the
re~uest for assistance made to it by the Haitian authorities. The process that has
been initiated by the Government of Baiti for holding in the ne&r future free and
democratic e~ &ctions in that country provides the Haitian people with an
opportunity to recover institutional stability and also a climate of civil peace
and freedom, which are necessary prere~uisites for economic and social developme~~
in their country.
The support the international community has offered through the United Nations
now makes it possible for us to hope that this process will be successfully
conducted in satisfactorily eguitable conditions, in accordance with the wishes of
the Haitian authorities,
France, which has very close ties of friendship and co-operation with Haiti,
has given constant and firm support to its reguest to the United Nations and today
it is pre9ared to contribute in the process that has thus been initiated in
particular within the framework of the operationB to provide asoistance we have
just approved in principle.
We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position.
I now call on the representative of Haiti,
Mr. AVGQSTI (Haiti) (interpretation from French), !he last time I epoke
I said that I hOJ?9d I should not have to speak further unless it be to their. the
Assembly. !hat is precisely the reason why I am here now.
I must pay a vary particular tribute to tha Ambassador of Cuba, who haft a w~de
knowledge of tho history of my country and who has reminded us that there will
shortly occur the 200th anniversary of tho Bois Caiman revolt, which took place
in 1791. His aquaintauce with Haitian history p~ompts me to request f~om him 3
further mark of solidarity in the future, as we celebrate in 1991 the 200th
anniversary of that Bois Caiman ravolt, which was the origin of the black ptiople's first breakthrough in history.
The difficult circumstances in which my country is now living have been
commented on in various ways by many speakers. There is of course a crisis. That
is why, while oafeguarding our national sovereignty - as we have done ~hrou9hout
our history - and while making it clear that our actions in no way impinge upon or
alter the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the country, the Provisional Government
felt that, in these specific circumstances, it was necessary to su~~ound the
elections with all possible safeguards.
In full exercise of its sovereignty, the Government could have called upon one
of its partngrs or a particular State. It did not feel it should do 60 because we
have this international organization which is made up of all States and offers the
soundest possible guarantee that count~ies will ba protected f~orn all types of
intervention. That Y8S the purpose of our request to the United Nations. I do not
want to expatiate on the various stages of the process. I have already stated that
it dragged out over a lonq period but this afte~noon we finally arrived at what I
would call the end of the long, four-mouth tunnel. Let us hope that, wita the
assistance of the United Nations, the entire country will at last emerge from this
lonq tunnel - this process of democratic tran~ition which has already lasted more
than four and a half years.
I hope that in other circumBtances the solidarity we have felt so tangibly
here will continue to produce results that will benefit my country and the prestige
of the entire international community.
PROGRAMME OF WORK
We have concluded our consideration of agenda item 154. The PRESIDENt:
I should like to inform members that i:l.genda item 32, "The situation in
Cambodia", will be considered in plenary meeting on Monday, 15 October, in the
morning.
The meeting rose at 5.45 p,m.
(Mr. Auguste, Haiti)