A/45/PV.36 General Assembly

I call on the Mini5ter for Foreign Affairs of the Comoros, who will introduce the draft resolution. Mr. MAECHA (Comoros) (interpretation from French): Mr. President, once again our Assembly is seized of the question of the Comorian island of Mayotte, As in the past, our delegation forswears any polemical intention in endeavouring to present all the elements of this matter with the utmost objectivity, placing trust more than ever in our Organization and in its Charter, which declares, inter ali~, the determination of "We the peoples of the United Nations to reaffim faith in .,. the equal of :nations large and small." ... rights In our eyes the international community's support for the principle of the sovereign equality ·of 311 its States Members con8titu~as the first of the guarantees conducive to preserviDq small States such as ours from the threat or use of force aqainst our integrity and independence~ It is hardly necessary to str~88 here the consistent determination of the Cornorian authorities to continue to be~efit from the ~ctlva contribution of all delegations so es to be able to ~ut en end ea soon as possible to the unfortunate dispute that tarnisha~ our histor~~al relations ~ith France, a founding Member of our Orqanization and a country r9~pectad by all, which only yesterday was in the vanguard of African decolcnization. ... Yes, we want to believe that Mayotte is an accident of history that it is high time to remedy. Not once in more than a century of its presence in the COlllOros did France dispute or question the fact that Mayotte belonged to the Comoros as a whole. On the contrary, successive Govermnonts in France, basing themselves on history, have empbasi.ed on many occasions the need to respect the territorial unity of our archipelago, in accordance with the conditions set out in article 72 and following articles of its constitution. All the laws and administrative provisions adopted during the colonial period enshrined in the clearest way the unity of our country. Is aot that unity, then, well founded? Some wish, purely for administrative convenience, to believe not. But that unity has its origin and ita basis in the shared history of the four sister islands that make up the archipelago of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros, namely the islands of Anjouan, Grand Comoro, Mayotte and Moheli. (Mr. Moochar CQmor~) That wes Why, when France was brought to recognize our desire for independence, it was decided, through a French law, that the COllOrian people would be consulted on its future. Agreements were then signed, in Pads on 15 June 1973, between the representatives of the French Government and those of the territorial Government of the Comoros. Those agreements provided, first, that a referendum would be held in the Comoros and that, if the majority of the population voted in favour of independence, the results would be accepted as a who16 - I stress "as a whole" - for all four islands. The agreements vere to have the effect of giving the Territorial Assembly of deputies then in office the powers of a constituent assembly, while the President of the Council of the local Government would have the competence and prerogatives of a head of State. Those provisions faithfully reflected the stress laid on the indisputable unity of our country on the eve of its accession to self-determination. Furthermore, they were supported by solemn declarations by the highest French authorities at that time. In this connection, I wish to remind representatives of the statement made by the then President of France, in person, OD 24 October 1974, which seemed to dispel any ambiguity: "Is it reasonable to imagine that part of the [Comoro] Archipelago should become independent while one island, whatever sympathy might be felt for its inhabitents, should retain a different status? I think that today's realities have to be accepted: the Comoros are a unit and have always been a unit. It is natural that they should share the same fate. It is not for U8, at the moment of a territory's independe~ce, to propose to shatter the unity of vhat has always been the united Comoro Archipelago. eo However, this ill exactly what happened in the Comorol! 15 years ago. Fifteen years ago, when the Ccmoros voted 95 per cent in favour of independence, the French Gover~ent nevertheless passed another law, on 3 July 1975, which challenged the origInal draft law ratifying self-dete~ination, and demandi~g the organization of another referendum in which the consultation would take place island by island. The Comorian people were decidedly distressed and shocked by these new provisions, which ran counter to their deepest aspirations and to the commitments made by France. The French Government had~ by this action, violated not only its OWD domestic law, but also public international law. It had violated the sacroeanct rule, so dear to the French ConetitutioD, of the indivisibility of overseas territories and colonial entities. It had contravened the sacred principle of the inviolability of borders inherited from colonial times. In the face of this unAcceptable about-turn and the clearly expressed desire of the Comorian people~ President Abmed Ahdallah AbderemonG unilaterally proclaimed the independence of the Comoros OD 6 JUly 1975. Because our cause was just, there vas immediate recognition by the international communityu inclUding on 18 July, the Organisation of African Unity. Then, on 12 November, the United HatiOlu!I admitted the Islamic Federal Republic of the Corneros as a sovereign State comprising the four islands of the archipelago, includin9 Mayotte, by a unanimous vote of the General Assembly, in accordance with resolution 3385 (XXX). That resolution vas based on resolutioDs 1514 (XV) and 2621 (XXV), concerning the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and thus proclaimed the sovereignty of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoro& over the whole of the decolonized territory. Faced with the verdict of our Organization and to legitimize its trial of strength, the French Government then decided to organiz. two referendums in MaJQtte, on 8 February and 11 April 1976, citing paragrapb 3 of article 53 of the French CODstitution, which statesl "Ro transfer, exchange or addition of territo~ is valid without the con.ent of the peopl•• cODcernedg" Put this vay, the arCJUlMDt was that the people of Mayotte were being enabled to choolle their own future. BQt it is clear to all that in our ca•• there was no question of a truef.r or ezchange of territory, much lesa of any adcUtloD. It vas a clear cale of the arb!tra~ division of a single territo~. Faced with this iJlpropsr' interpretation of the right of trul1fer, our Organisation reacted vigoroullYQ in ita re.olution 31/.., of 21 October 1976, in which the General Assembly state4 that the occupation by Fruca of Ma1'Otte constitutes "a flagrlUlt encroacblllent on the national unity of the COIIOdan State" (third »r'ambullr parlgrlPh) and "Co1l46111DS ad considers Dull and vol4 the referellthlllll of 8 "ebrUllry U4 11 April 1976 Or9aDisea in the COBOrian island of Mayotte by the GoverDa&Dt of Prance IUld re'.ct.. (a) by other fOl1l of ••• consultation which -I' h.r.after be org_had on Coaodan territolr7 in Mayott. by I'ruce". (plta. 1) (Mr. Nucha, eomorol) PollowlDg the .:s:usple of the United Ration., .,.t _ior iatenaat:ioul organlaatio.. that regularly cOl\B!der tho que.tion of Mayotte 414 DOt fall to espre.. a .iailar vi••, in particular la.t July at the .~t confereDc. of Dea4. of State of the Orgu1.atlon of African Unity and la.t Augullt at: the ODDWll _till9 of the Nini.ter. of Foreigc Affair. of the Orguis.tioD of the I.laic CODfereDco. I cumot conclu4e ay r_rkl on the event. that brought U8 to the pre.ent aituatioD an4 ..re the .ource of the di.tre••iag probleM iD Nayotte without oapha.1siug that u (;ur country .uffer. thi. inju.tice voico. are beiag railed iD Pranco vob_ntly coD4e.ill9 this .ituation. Blocted ae.berl of the Sociali.t party, the Oppolition at that tt.e, includlag the pr••ent Pr••i4ent, F~an90il M1tterran4, a44r••••4 to the ConstltutioDAl COUDcil of their COUDtzy a letter 4eBouncing the anti-colllt1tut!onal1tyof the faMOUI la. of 3 July 1975. If ono i. aware ~f the homogeneity of the Couol'ian population and the bloo4 tie. that have alwa1'•••i.te4 Ht..on the iDhabitaat. of the four 111an4a of our archipelago, 0118 can better UD4erltazt,4 the great .uffedag of a Gocially iD41"i8ible people. Pifteen yearll that ia a very 10119 t1&e, u4 oach «ay the que.t for a solution to the probl.. of )layotte beCOII8. IIOre cQIIP1••• Let there be DO doUbt that, in accordance with tIut recoaen4atioDG of the UDite4 Rationa, .. have ne..r failed o~ any occealoll to rail. the ~.tlon of Ma,otte with the Prench .140, al....'. Itre.a.ing our redilUtllJ to Cloui4er any concrete propo.al a1M4 at C)8ttlll9 u. Qut of tb!a 41Btre.Miug lituat!oD• • ecently, when Pro.i«aat Pruvola Mltterranc1 came to tiw ID41u OCean iD Jwut, the Bead of the COImria State, Hr. Sai4 MohaM4 Djour, readn4.4 hie French counterpart, within the fr.....rk of relation. of confidence bet..t~ our two (Hr. MaIM.. CgworOI) countries, of the urgen~ of finding a definitive solution to the problem of Mayotte. Bis Bzcellency Pr.sident Fren;ois Mitterren4, who has long known our country and who has .h~ himself to be sensitive to our conCGrn., once again cODfi~d Frlmce' IS deteminl1ltloll to work In the intereats of both aid.s. TIlls ls what he .a14 OD that occaslonl "tre shall talk about it, but I thlDk that right now we must take lleaaures that wUl pel'lllt cOIBUIllcation 8IU! constant ezchBDgo8 between the 1alandsa Meyotte and the others, the other. and Mayotte. Let no DOre barriers be erected - even theoretical oa••, for they arG difficult to overcome - BmODg Co~rian., and let France a.sist you In recov.riag your f~rMer solidarity. There are aany fOnlll of waity, believe ., and .. shall saek thom." I need hardly toll the Aaaembly how Many hopes this statement ralsed in the CQJlOr08 and beyond. We "lah to ..sure ....r. that .. 81"e rea4y to ontertain all siMple lmpleM:atation of international lav, since n are convincecJ of the soundne•• of our cla1ll. Since he re.uae4 ponr ia March.. the Sead of the COIIOdn State, Mr. Said Nob_d Diollar, has been .tdvlDtJ to .et our COWltry OD thit cJifficult but nece••a~ cours. of 4euccracy aa4 aultlpartyi... ID this n.w n3tloael political contezt~ an4 deslriag not to neglect aDJ' pos.ibility of fostering the ~eturn of Mayotte to our fuU!', our Pre"i4ent la vorkiD9 to convince peeple ~f the noe4 for a tripartite c~i••io., inclu41ag the Maorl people, to work to t.plomDDt a proc.es for the .ettl...t of tIli. dispute. ". ar. well aware that thi. is a generoulJ 14ea, there are Il.ftl'thel••• "1' obstacl•• to It. la 15 yeaI'. the gap has w1d8ne4 (Hr. Ha.ghOt Comerol) between Mayotte and the rest of the archipelago. It .Ul DOt be eaay to close it, but nat CaD ..,. (io, if Fruca dee. Dot tue the initiative to gather the three parties around the negotiating table? However, porhap. 1101'0 thaD ever, the climate of trust, peace and UIlc!eratu4ing that underli.. the relations bet...n our eountry and France glve= U8 roason for hope. ~e political determination of our P~'8140Dt to build democracy and the presfint re~isioD of our Constitution are pledges of a ne. course likely to lea4 finally to that long-awaited solutloDi the restoration of the sovereiqDty end territorial integrity of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. The ne. constitutional fraMework we are now stUdying aim. only et prot.ction against the h898110Dy of ODe ia1u4 over another. At a tt.o when the Unitod Ration. is strengthening its credlbilit~, wheD real solidarity 1s beiKlCJ built with r.gard to the cris•• in the Mid4lct East and the Far Bast~ we CaDDot believe that oDly aD arsod conflict CaD move the international co-unlty to Itction. May our Or9anisation OD the ~.lItlon of Nayotte - as in the 00 face of aBy violation of a peoplo's sovereignty - eDDur. ODce aDd for all the pr!Jlacy of international law over forcel law an4 IlOthiDg bu.t the la•• ODce again we request the good offic08 of our OrgaDlaa'ion, who.. ea.ential tast it ia - is it not? - to foster peace and UIlderstu4ill9 among people. and nations, to as.ist U8 in our que.t for the moat appropriate ways and meana of giving a n•• illpetus - a crucial iapetu8 thia tiM - to thG resclutioD of the case of Nayotto anc! finally to draft aD agr....nt that vill en8ure the restitution of that sister island. (Mr. _,gha, eomorol) I shall cODclude by expressing the deep gratitu.de of the GoverlWent of the Comeros to our Organization for the attention it hae constantly pald to the question of Mayotte. The draft resolution submitted to our Assembly and which is 8i-.4 at justifying the pre.ent debate is completely in accord with all our earli.r recommendations 011 this subject. Bellce we fervGntly de.ire its adoption. Mr, RAZlLI (Malaya1a)a May I offer Malaysia's beat "ishea ad ita particular happiness at seein9 Mr. de Mareo elected a. President of thls aeasioll. The General As.embly listened just now with rapt attention to the ferveat appeal of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Federal aepublic of the Comoros. The Malaysian delegation eztende its full solidarity to thet appeal of th~ Foreign Minister and would commend in particular the 4ete~iDation and steadfastn.s. of the Comoros in the pursuit of ita objectiv.s. For the last 15 years this As••mbly has made repeated call. for a peaceful solutioD to the questioD of the Comodan Islud of ~l'otte. T04a7, with the De" international order of co-operation and understanding, there la evell more reaSOD to reaffirm such aD appeal. Our intereat in this iasue lies ia the fact that Malaysia ls a clo.e frlend of both Prance and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. In the spirit of that friendship and continuing co-operation, we place our confidence in an honourable and just political settlement of the problem. The Islamic rederal Republic of the Ccmeros, comprised of the four 88in islands of ADjouan, Grand-Comera, Mayotte and MOhsll, ls a peaceful, ...11 island-State, struggling to build ita nation and committed to eDhanc!Dg the welfare of ita people and its national development. Jusc aa it had asll1mta4 iD the decoloni.aticn of other natioDs, the United Ratione must en8ure that the Coaorlana vill succeed iD achieving their national aspirations. ~i. is to say that all responsible Members of the United H&t!ons must recogni.. ~be legitimate rights of the people of the Comoros not only to ind.pendenee but also to a single integrated entity that "ill e~sure t~em a peaceful existence and political stability. Dec~loni.ationmust not be a half-way proce~s; it must be a complete process. AB urged by the United Nations, the Organisat.ion of African Unity (OAU), the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIe), the MOvement of BOD-Aligned Countries and many other individual Dations, the colonial Pover must carry out it. re.poDs~bility and obligations in keeping with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, adopted in 1960. After considering the Comorian referendum held in 1974 "hereby 95 per cent of the people voted for independence, Malaysia recognised the .overeignty of the Islamic Federal lepublic of the Comoros over the island of Mayotte. The continued separation of Mayotte from the rest of the Islamic Federal Republic creates political instability and "ill affect the territorial integrity of the Comeres. The pre.ent partition must end, for it is to a great degre. depriving the Comorians of their already scarce resources, which are vital for the proce.s of nation-building and the well-being of its peeple. Despite the Secretary-General's repeated efforts. to find a peacefUl solution to this problem, there ham not been tangible progre•• so far, a8 inoicated in the Secretary-General's latest report (Al45/5~O) of 27 September 1990. Malaysia is concerned over this situation. We therefore call upon all the parties involved to resolve this problem aa soou as possible so as not ~o de.troy further the national unity of a country whos. homogeneous people share the same language, culture and religion. My deleqatioD pays special attention to the commitment of both parti.. to continue having a dialogue and intensify th.i~ efforts aimed at achieving a political solution, Malaylllia hopes that that dialogue .ill be accelerated od result in the affl~ation of the territorial integrity of the Islamic r.4eral Republic of the CO:IQros. We would like to ezpre!ls our continuing' support for the efforts of 'the Secreta~-Gen&ral to acbievo the aforementioned objective. Me also support the mediation aDd good offices of ths OAU in a6s1stiDg in the re80lution of this problem. In the same mmmer and fOll: the fSBIfte objective, Ma1.:r81a i8 pleased to support the draft resolution on the questioD of the Comorian island of Mayotte. Mt. IBRABIM (Egypt) (iaterpretation from Arabic). Igypt's interest in the question of the ComDrian i~lan4 of Mayotte and our 4esir. for a just and speedy solutioD to be reached the~.to stGm from the close ties of friendship which bind us to both the Comeros and to France, in addi~ioD to our adhorence to the resolutioDS of the Orgu1:latioD of African Unity (OAU). Aa always6 our position has been based OD principles we believe in and upon which the United Nations wss founded. Egypt 81llpports the sovereignty of the Islamic Federal aepublic of the ComoroIJ over the Ccmor1an island of Mayotte. Ife have cODsiatently affirmed this po~ition in a number of international and regional forums. It is a position that i8 supported by all those regional and international forums that al'. cODcerned with the qu~stion ae i8 .een from the resolutions adopted by the United Rations and the Afri~an an4 Non-aligned summits, all of which call for respecting the unity sad territorial integrity of the archipelago. Through our constant contacts with the two parties concQrned, we understand aDd appreciate the concerns of the Government of the Islamic rederal Republic of the Comeros which arise from tho fact that no tangible progress haa been made in finding a just SOlUtiOD to the problem. Rothing new haa taken plac. since 1975 .s far as the situation Is cODcerned. We are aware that the perslatence of a situation that 18 atin to a stalemate, carries with it d8D~r8 of political l~.tability, which may adversely reflect on the prevailing clt.ate in the territo~ as a whole. Aa far aa we are concerned, h01fOvel', there ia always roOll for opt1ll1aa a4 hope. We still believe that there ia Cl possibility of reaching a :luat a4 negotiate" selutioD. Through our cODtacts with tho two friemuy GoverWleDte of COIIOros Islands 8Jl4 'rance, we feel that thar& 18 a alDcore do.ire to CODtiDue the dialogue aDd to teep the cheJmel. of cC8I1IIlicatioD betweeD the two GoverJilMtDts Opelll. '!his dfilllODstrates the go04 faith of both parties aD4 their inteDtion to iDteDsify the effortll ailled at reaching & political solution that would affi~ aa4 ..intain the territorial uity of the COJlOroe Ial&llCls &lld, at the s_ t1ae, tate illlto cona.lClel!'atioD the inter••ts of all parties. If. wiah to take this opportmaity to aupport the o:a4eavours of the Secretary-GeDeral iD this cOMecUoD. W8 r8CJ1l.st him to continue his contacta with both parties a4 co..n4 his reacUD... to ezart efforts in or4er to reach the 4.sire4 solutioD. We believe that the curreat lnteraatioDal c11Jlate which is orientea towards furtJu..~ peace aD4 security iD several geoqraphic regions lIuat eDcouraqe both partie. to believe that with good lDttlDtions aD4 persisteDt CltD4eavcuxoIIJ they .Ul achieve tangible end commendablo re.ults in the Dear future. Mr. DAJ«jDI ''''AD (Gabon) (iDterpretatioD froll I'reDchh Ife are meetlnq t04ay to cODsi4er ODCO aga1D the questiOD of the Comorlan islaDeS of Mayotte. Let UII say at the very outset that there have beeD DO developllOlllta OD this question. ADd wheD I. lIay that, I am DOt sayin9 aaythiDg De.. In4eed, for too 10Dg DOW the Islamic l'e4eral aepublic of the Comeros hall beeD fighting for the return of Mal'otte to the reat of the Comeros, for too 10n9 D01l the General Assembly has beeD calling upon the Government of France to abide by commitmeDts Cltntere4 iDto OD thG eve of the s~lf-4eterlliDat!ODreforeD4um h&14 iD the COllOros archipelago OD 22 December 197"; for too 10Dg Dew the General Assembly has been appealing to France to put into practice the deteminatioD it has ezpreasec1 OD IIIC)re than ODe occasiOD to aeet a just ODd lastiDg solutioD to the problem of Mayotte• While there are so_ encouragb.g deveJ.CpllttDta on othsr quSStiODS it must be sai4 that in this particular cana, despite efforts that hava been made since 1977 by the Organbatiolll of African Unity's AA Hoc COIIDittee of Seven, presided ~ver by ~ country, the question of Mayotte has been hopelessly bogged down. Nevertheless, the COIIIIittee does not intend to give up. ThusI' it is contemplating reactivating ve~ soon negotiations with the French a~thoritiea in order to lI~ee4 up the return of the Comorian island of Mayotte to the Islamic Federal Republic of the COllOrosc The Ad Bcg C0III111ttse of SeveD of the Orqubatioll of African Unity calls upon the General Assembly to adopt Ulumilllo'llsly the draft rellolution now before it, ae a way of len4iag Ilupport and comfort to the Co~tt.G all it continuell itllmission. Mr. JAB;N (PakbtM) I The CIU••tioii. of the Ccmorian island of Mayotte has beert on the agenda of the Gei1&i'al IoIlllombly since 1976, aoon aftel" COlilOros attained independence. Bver II1nce, the r:aeolu'ticn: of the Goneral Assembly OD thia que.tion have, int;oE' aliI., underlined the noeesalty of rellpectiDg the unity and terrltorialiategl'ity of the Comorian archipelago and have reaf,irmed that a lallting solution to the probl.. CaD be found only illl reetorstion of the diaputod island to Comeros. The territcricl integrity aDd unity of CONOroe am a whele have alllo been reaffi~4 in resolutloaB adopted over tho rears iD othe~ international forWlIi such all that Non-Aligned Movell8ni:,. the Orqanisatio!i of the IslBllic Conferenco and the OrqaDisetion of African Unity. Laat year, the General Ass&mbly, In its ~••olutieD 44/9, adopted OD la Oct~ber 19a9, onco again reaffi~d the eovereignt7 of tha Islamic Republic of the COllOros over the islaDC1 of Mayotte mu!, beadllUJ ID .il14 the wish ezpreased by the President of the rrench Republic to lI.et actively a just solution to that problell, urged the G~w" l"Dment of France to acce',erate the process of DegotiatioDs with the Government of Comoroa with a vie. to .nlluriDg the effective and prompt return of the island of Mayotte to the CONOrOIl. This position W3S cgain roflected in the Conference of Heads of State &nd Government of the Organization of African Unity held in Addis ~~Ma in JUly 1990 and the nineteenth Islamic Conferenco of Forei~. Miaisters, held in Cairo from 31 JUly to 5 Augu~t 19900 Such demonstrations of internatiohsl support leave no doubt regarding the validity of the Comoros claim to the island of M&yotte. The problem of the Comedan blend of Mayotte b not just a bile-teral problem between France and Comoros but ia essontially Q question of decolonization and therefore a matter of concern for the international community. In this context I recall General Assembly ~esolution 3291 (XXIX), of 13 December 197.; and resolution 1514 (XV), of 14 December 1960, on the granting of independence to colonial ceuntriea and peoples, These resolutions clearly maintain that the granting of independence or of the right to exercise self-detsrmination applies to colonial entities as a whole and not selectively. This principle remains equally applicable to the Comorian archipelago. In our view, constructive dialogue and peaceful noqotiations are the bost posdble means of resolving differences and dispu'ces. In this contezt we note with a great deal of satisfaction the cloDe contact maintained by the Secretary-General with all parties and his readiness to make available his good offices in the search for a peaceful solution to the problem. Pakistan has traditional ties of friendship and co-operatioD with France and, aa a fellow member of the Non-Aligned Movement and of thl! Organization of ti1e Islamic Confere~ce, enjoys close and fraternal ties with the Islamic Federal Republic of Comoros. A dispute betwe~D those two friendly countries i8 certainly a matter of concern to us. Pakistan has been following ve~ closely the developments that are taking place on this issue. We are encouraged by the ongoing dialogue between the two Governments at the highest lavsl, particularly the meeting between the Presidents of France an~ Comoros held in Moroni in June 1990. Such a dialogue, imbued with a spirit of co-operation and understanding and built on the foundations already laid by the relevant General Assembly resolutions, provides the best possibility for & peaceful solution to the problem. This demonstration of political will on both sides must be supported by tha. international community at large• The draft resolution before us in docWMtnt Al45/L.13 i. both MOderate and balanced and reiterates the principled position maintained by varioua international forums. ~ dslagation supports the draft resolution aDd ezpresses tho hope that it will accelerate the process of negotiations leading to an early solution of the problem on the basis of th~ recognized principles of intornational law and the Charter of the United Nations. ID conclusion, my deleqation would alao like to avail itself of this opportunity to commend the Secretary-Genoral's efforts towards solving this problem, and to join others in reCJUGetin9 him to continue his efforts and eztend his good office. to the Organization of African Unity Ira the search for a negotiated settlement. Mr. BLANC (France) (interpretation from French)1 Once again France ls obliged to express regret that the CJu8stion of the island of Mayotte 111 an item 011 the General Assembly's agenda. We shall be compelled to vote against the text before us, in particular because of its operative paragraph 1. However, my delegation has listened very attentively to the representatives who have spoken on this CJuestion. It i. clear that everyone wants a just and lasting solution to be found to the question. This is a180 France'. pr~ition. We are committed actively to seek a satisfactory solution to the problem of Mayotte and we rule out DO solution in keeping with our Constitution &nd with the aspirations of the peoples concernedo Kith a sense of responsibility and in a spirit of openness, the Freneh GoverDment i8 continuing a constructive dialogue with the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros. This dialogue is based oa the strong ties of friend~hip and co-opGratioD which exist batween our two countries end which were borne out ~uite recently, at the meetinq in June 1990 at MOroni between Presi4e~ts Djohar and Mltterrand. We are cOllvinced that this dislogue, continued with an abidinq determinotion to seek conciliation and a peacoful solutiolll, can, despite thG difficulties, lead to progress in the coason search for a 'ust solution. For ita part, France vill spare no effort in this endeavour. Do PRISlpm (interpretation frQII French) I The Asaellbly w11l now tako a decision OD the draft resolution in doc~nt AI"5/L.13. A recorded vote has been r~u••ted. A.. rec;or40d yote us takop• .ID favou[.1 Afghanistan, Albenle., Alqeda, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, BuraiD, Bugladesh, Barbado:!, BeU.•e, BeDln, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botsvana, Bra.il, Brunei Deruasalam, Burkina Fa:lo. _~rUJldi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, CamerooD, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Child, Chile, China, Colombia, Comor08, Coata Rlca, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, D'ibcuti, Bcuador, Egypt, 11 Salvador, Ethiopia, Fi'i, Finland, G~D, Gambia, Ghana, G~.Da4a, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bis.au, Guyana, Baiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (I8lulc Republic of), Iraq, Jallaica, JOlrdUl, KeDya, X_ait, Lao People's Democratic .epublic, Lesotho, Liby1m Arab JUahiriya, M~;'a~ascar, Malavi, Malay8ia, Maldivell, Mali, Mauritania, MauritiuG, ~',:dco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nol!!lallbiCJU., Myctaar, Buibia, Repal, NS\J Zealad, Blcaraqul1, 8igor, Bigeri8, 0IIaD, Pakistan" PIUI'''I~·u, Pcpua 8ev Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippinee, Qatar, Rvuda, Saint KittIB and .evis, Saint Lucia, Saudi ArMia, Soneqal, Sierra Leone, SiDgapore, SOlOlllOD Islands, SOIial1a, Sri Lanka, Sud8l1, SUriD", S"a.llan4, Swelen, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trini4a4 and Tobago, TuD.i.8ia, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist aepublic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Unitecl Arab Emirate., Unit~d Republic of Tan.ula, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vl.~ Ham, Yuaen, Yuqoslavla, Z"irelJ Zambia, 4i1rtlbabwe Against: Prance Abpt;ainiugl Austria, 881gi1llll, &ulgada, Canada, Cyprus, C.echoslovakia, DeDlllark, Dominica, Domlnicu Republic, GerllaDy, Grefice, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israol, Italy, Japan, LioChtenstein, Luzembourg, Malta, Reth.6rlandll, 50rway, Poland, Portugal, Romula, Saint ViDc8nt aDd the GreDadines, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Rorthern Ireland, United Stat.. of Allictrica The draf~ re,olutioD "0' odo,ptQ4 b.7 U8 to 1, "itb 30 ablt'nt!OJlAl (resolution t5/1l).* * Subsequently, the delegation of Congo &D4 Uganda a4vise4 the Secretariat that they had inteDeled to vote in favour. (Mr. Blanc, Fronce) Do PUSJPIlft (iDterpretat:lon frOll French). ft. AaIlGllbl,. ha. thUII concluded It. cODa14al"aUOD of agenda iba 27. AGDDA IDN 15 EUCTIONS TO PILL VACAJICIKS IR paIIJCIPAL OllWlS (a) ELECTION OF rIft BOi1-PDlQBlft NDmlrlS OF 'f8B GICURIft COUltCIL Th. mSIDms ne GeDoral AB.8llbly will DOli proceed to the elllctlolll t)f five non-pemaneDt ..ReI'. of the Security COUDcl1 to replace tho.e -.bel'S whose ter.a of office oaplr.. on 31 Deceaber 1910. The fiVft outgolllCJ .-bel'. are. CUDda, Cole-bl&, Bthlopia, Finland u4 Malay.ia. Tho.e five Statea caanot be re-elected aD4 therefore their D.... .hould DOt appear OD the ballot p.pers. Apart from the flv" panusneDt MIllber8, the Security Co_cll will include iD 1991 the following Stat••! Cote cS'Ivolro, Cuba, 10000la,. Y...D u4 Zabo. Therefore, the Dames of tho•• Stat•• should not appear OD the ballot paporm. Of the fl". IlOn-p&nauent ....1'. that wUl ruaia ia office ID 1911, threo are frOlll Africa and AIIla, 0.. is frOll BasteI'D Burope ud OM i. frOll Latla Allerlca Coas8CJuently, pursuant to paragraph 3 of Ge_ral .b•.-1!' .bould be elected aceor4!ng to tbo folIo-lug ,att.rDI two froa Africa aDd Aala, States. Thi. patterD iti reflected ia a 8iaqle b6110t paPGr. la accorduco with the e.tabUIIUcS practice, there 18 aD aderat.aa41Dg to the effect that of the two State. to be elected fros Africa aDd Aa!a 0.. *bouleS be frea Africa u4 0110 from Asia. ezc••41D9 tha Ilu.bel" of aoatll to M fIlled, roc.lvlag the great.at Iluaber of vot.a u4 a two tb1r4a _jodtJ' of tho•• pI'O••llt u4 vot!Dg .111 be 4eelU'e4 elocted. la May J: tue it that the Goneral Aaae8bl,. &91'811 to that procec1ure'l 11; yal IQ dtcl4e4. (Da 'uel"pt;) The PlISIQIU: In aecordance with ru1s 92 of the ruleD of procedul"e, the election shall be held by ••cret ballot and there shall be DO nominations. Ballot papers are DOW beiDg distributed. I request rep~esentatives to use only those ballot papers that have just been distributed aD4 to write OD th.. the Ill..... of the five Member States for which they wish to vote. Aa I have indicated, the ballot papers should not inclUde the Dames of the five pel'llanent _"rll, the five outgoing nOD-pel1lUU1ent IIMtftlbtn:s. or the five non-perJlallent I118111bera that will remain in office in 1991. Votes for more States than tba nuMber of seats allocated to each region will be declared invalid and votes for State. outDid. the rel.vat regioD will Dot be counted. At. tihI ipyit.Dt.in of the PreI!4.Jlt., Mr. hROY· (1)>190;10), Hr, Koun1cou (Congo), Ms. JOMI (GreDada) ADd Mr. CAlMlY nrelapsS) Mt.I" al qllers. A,YQte VI' t.akeR br ,ocret ballot. Tbe PRBSIDlNT (interpretation from French) I The result of the votiDg for the e18ctioD of five non-permanent members of the Security Council is IS followsl Humber of ballot plRftr'l Humber of inyelid bDllotsl UYmbtr of yalid ballotgl AbstentioPAS lfumbttr of members voting: B,gyired two-thirds msjorit21 Number of votes obtainedl Austria Bcuador Zimbabwe Belgium India Sri Lanka Australia Spain Hungary. Islamic Republic of Iran Japan LiechteDstein Mexico Peru Unite4 Repubu'c of Tanzenia Sweden Vene.t~mr1!3 Yugoslft.vla* • The President had .tate4b~fora the balloting bogAD that votes for State. outside the rolevant region would not be counted, conse,uently, the votes for this Bastern Buropean State should not have been included in the results. o o Haying obtaiDJd the r,gulred two-thirds majority, th' following States vere olected Don-permanent members of the Seguritr CQungil for a tWQ-yapr period beginning on 1 JanuAry 19P1; Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, India and ZimbabVO.

I congratulate the States which have been electsd Don-permanent mem'lers of the Security Council, and I thank the tellers for their assistance in this election. That concludes our consideratioD of agenda item 15 (a).

I should like to inform members that the Permanent Representative ef Kuwait, on behalf of the Arab States, has requested that consideration of agenda item 3 (b), concerning ths first report of the Credentials Committee be postponed. Unless there is an objection, the Assembly will postpona consideration of that item to a later date, to be announced. It was so decided.