S/31/PV.84 Security Council

Democratic * Resumed from the 41st meeting. Yemen's position has been made c1ear on previous occa- Wednesday, 1December 1976. at 11.05 a.m. NEW YORK Pursuant to rule 66 01 the rules 01 procedure, it was 3. The PRESlDENT: lnterventions w] therefore be limited to explanations of vote. 1 understand that sorne explanatory statements and reservations have already been made in the Fifth Committee in connexion with the draft resolution before uso An account of those statements muy be found in the relevant summary records of the Com- mittee. 4. I shall now call upon representatives who wish to speak in explanation of their votes before the vote.

The Libyan Arab Republic has stated its position on the financing of UNEF and UNDOF at meetings of the Security Council and the Fifth Committee. 6. The presence of the Forces is based on Security Council resollltions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). My delegation thinks those two resolutions do not provide a basis for the settlement of the Palestine problem or the Middle East crisis. 1 should therefore like to place my delegation's position on record, and tg state that the delegation of the Libyan Arab Republic will not participate in the vote on the draft resolution submitted by the Fifth Committee in document A/31/278/Add.1.

The Albanian delegation has on previous occasions made it abundantly clear that it utterly disapproves of, and is resolutely against, UNEF and UNDOF. Therefore, in full conformity with that stand, and for the reasons my delegation explained lucidly at the Fifth Committee's 39th meeting, the Albanian delegation will vote against the draft resolution in paragraph 5 of docu- ment A/31/278/Add.l perta:ning to the financing of UNEF and UNDOf.

My delegation has already very clearly stated its position on the fmancing of UNEF and of UNDOF and we have reaffirmed that the high cost to Member States of fmancing those Forces results from the continued Israeli aggression against Arab territories and Israel's refusal to withdraw from those lands, in violation of the principies of the United Nations Charter and numerous relevant resolu- tions. Bearing in mind that the draft resolution in docu- ment A/3I /278/Add.l, like many other resolutions, does not differentiate between the aggressor and the victim of the aggression, my delegation wiIl vote against the draft in the conviction thai these costs should be borne by the racist and aggressive Zionist entity.

The Assembly will now proceed to take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the FiCth Committee in paragraph S oC its report [A/31/278/ Add.l/. Arecorded vote has been requested.

We shall now take a decision on the two draft resolutions recommended by the Second Como mittee in paragraph 7 of its report [A/31/338/Add.l/. 14. Draft resolution I is entitled "Assistance to the Comoros". May 1 take it that the General Assembly adopts draft resolution I? Draft reso/ution I was adopted (resolution 31/42).

Draft resolution 11 is entitled "Assistance to Mozambique". May 1 take it that the General Assembly adopts draft resolution II?

The General Assembly has before it, in document A/31/365, a note by the Secretary-General regarding the recommendations of the Economic and Social Council. 17. The 12 retiring members of the World Food Council are: Australia, Colombia, Cuba, France, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Libyan Arab Republic, Mali, Pakistan, Romania and the Union ofSoviet Socialist Republics.

I wish to congratulat!: those States which have just been elected members of th,~ World Food Council.

In document A/31/340, the Se· curity Council has recommended the admission of the >lO Rcsumed from the 80th meeting. In fmlour: Afghanistan, Albania, AIgeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bhut:m, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Byelo· russian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Demo· cratic Kar••puchea, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fijl, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea·Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Republic, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papila New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia. Against: None. Abstaining: United States of America.

1 declare the People's Republic of Angola admitted to membership in the United Nations.

1 cOlisider it an honour and a pieasure to offer, on behalf of the General Assembly and on my own behalf, sincere congrll.tulations to the delegation of the People's Republic of Angola on its admission to membership in the United Nations and to extend it a warm welcome. I express the hope that the presence in the United Nations of the representatives of Angola will enable them to make a constructive contribution to the work of the United Nations in all its spheres. 23. 1 now call on the representative of Fiji to speak on behalf of the Asian group as its chairman. 2 The delegations of Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Sicrra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago arid Venezuela subsequently informed the Secretariat that they wished to have their votes recorded as having been in favour of the draft resolution. 25. It is always a source of pride and achievement fOf this Oi"ganization when a country achieves independence. It is also gratifying and a matter of great satisfaction to this Organization to v'elcome a new Member and to add another important voice to its deliberations. It is particularly gratifying and indeed significant that during this session of the General Assembly we welcome among us a country from Africa, a continent that has fought, and is still fighting, sorne of the worst manifertations of colonialism, a problem which has deeply concerned Members of this Organization for many years, and particularIy during this, the thirty·first session. 26. The: People's Republic of Angola brings with its independence not only the achievemellt of its people, but also the hope of an end to colonialism in other parts of Africa. 27. It is always the hope of this Organization that the "coming of age", so to speak, of a State has been a natural one. Unfortunately, all too often this has not been so, and a heavy price has been paid for independence. Angola has been no exception. The people of Angola have paid dearly to take their rightful place in this Orgallization. Angola is today faced with a problem of reconstruction. In spite of thé wilI of its people and the natural resources it is endowed with, the task before it is an enormous one. However, freedom is the first step towards meaningful reconstruction and development, and we are confident that, with the goodwilI that exists towards the People's Republic of Angola among the international community, its national reconstruction will be achieved with the help and under· standing of all of uso We of the Asian region hope that the rest of Africa that is still colonized, or is under illegal or minority régimes, will yield to reality and to the inevitable and that there will be a transfer of power to their rightfui peoples without the cost that has been borne b-y the people of Angola. 28. Although Angola is situated many, many thousands of miles from our shores, we feel we have a lot in common with it and that we have a lot we can share. 'fhis forum has provided us with a place to meet so that our peoples can co-operate and coexist to build a worId of peace and ju~tice. 29. With the admi,ion of the People's Republic of Angola, a new African State of great importance will enter the United Nations. We are convinced that, like many other African countries before it, Angola will bring to om work a spirit of wisdom and generosity, and that it will contribute in the same constructive manner to achieving the purposes and principies of our Charter. 30. 1 take this opportunity once again, on behalf of the member countries of the Asian group, to extend a friendIy hand to the People's Republic of Angola and to wish it 3:¿. Mi'. YANKOV (Bulgaria): The General Assembly has just adopted a decision ofgreat importance in admitting.the People's Republic of Angola as a fuIl Member of the Umted Nations. Historic justice has thus been restored to the valiant and freedom·loving people of Angola. From now on, the People's Republic of Angola will occupy its legitimate place in this world Organization, in fuU conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. Such a decision corresponds to the interests of peace and progress, and is conducive to !he realization of the purposes al'd principies of our Organization. 33. I feel particularly gratified that 1 have the honour to welcome most cordially the representatives of the People's Republic of Angola on behalf of the countries of the Ec:¡tem European group of States. Great is our joy to see the representatives of the Angolan people take their rightful place in this hall. The countries of Eastern Europe have decisively and warmly supported the request of the People's Republic of Angola for admission to the United Nations, considering this request ful1y justified. 34. The admission of the People's Republic of Angola to membership in the United Nations is a major event in international affairs. This young African State, which was born as a result of a long struggle against Portuguese colonialism, had becn compelled to defend its indepen· dence, territorial integrity and sovereignty in a hard·fought battle against imperialist aggresslOn. 35. The Angolan pimple paid a heavy price to win and strengthen their independence and to exercise their ina- lienable right freely to choose the road to their future development. On the eve of the victorious end of the anti-colonial war and immediately foUowing the procla- mation of independence, imperialism and racism rose up in a united front against this yotlng African State. That is why the victory of the Angolan people over foreign intervention and the forces of internal reaction has been warmly haHed by the Ahíca., States and all progressive mankind. 36. Today, the People's Republic of Angola, in consoli· dating its dearly WL.n freedom and independence, represents an important factOl for the strengthening of the indepen- dence and security of the young States in southern Africa. There can be no doubt wha'.soever that the participation of' the People's Republic of Angola in the work of the United Nations wil1 further enhance tIle efficiency of our Organi- zation in all spheres of its activities. There can be no doubt either that Angola's contributior: wiIl hp. particu Jrly valuable and important in the implementation of the tasks related to the fmalliberation of the African continent from colonialism, racism a.,d apartheid. 37. The people of Angola are now focusing all their efforts on overcoming the under·development inherited from colonial domination and to redeem the heavy damages and losses inflicted upon them by the imperialist intervention 38. \Ve are happy to see that the internadonal pres~ige of the People's Republic of Angola has been affhmed so quickly. The faet that the request of the People's Republic of Angola for membership in the United Nations has commanded such wide support is eloquent proof of that. The People's Republic of Angola has been recognized by more tIlan 100 States. 1t is a respected and active member of the Organization of African Unity [OAU¡ and the non·aligned movement. The Government of the People's Republic of Angola has established rellltions of sincere friendship and active co.operation with aU the countries of Eastern Europe in the political, economic, technological and cultural fields, based on the principies of fraternal solid»rity and on the United Nations Charter. Those .close fraternal ties between free and independent Angola and the Eastern European States, established from the time of the inception of the People's Republic of Angola, have been further promoted during the recent visits to the USSR and Bulgaria of Mr. Antonio Agostinho Neto, Chairman of the Movimento Popular de Uberta¡¡:iio de Angola [MPLA/ and President ofrle People's Republic of Angola. 39. The resolution adopted by the General Assembly today convincingly demonstrates how absolutely correct were those who from the beginning have supported firmly and unconditionaIly the admission of the People's Republic of Angola to membership in the United Nations. We feel particularly gratified that the artificial barriers raised to prevent the admission of that young African .St~te to full membership in the United Nations have been ehmmated. 40. At the same time, we cannot but recall that there is no end to attempts to delay the admission to our Organization of another independent peace-Ioving State-the SlJcialist Republic of Viet Nam. Those attempts are in glaring contradiction with the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter. However, we are deeply convinceet t'1at the Just cause of the Vietnamese people wiII triurn .1 the very near future, and that we shall be able to weleo,ne the representatives of the hero},.: Vietnamese people just as \\'e are now welcoming our Angolan friends. 41. I should like, on behalf of the countries 01 .t:.lIstern Europe, once more to welcome warmly the delegatioo of the People's Republic of Angola and to expr.:s~ our conviction that the relations of most fruitful co-operation which exist between our countries will find their expression also in coIlaboration between our delegations in the United Nations, in the common efforts to strengthen the efficiency . of our Organization in the interests of peace, social progress and viable international co-operation.

I call on the representative of Guyana, chairman of the group of Latin American Statea.

It is for me today a signal honour, on behalf of the Latin American group of States at 44. Between the peoples of Latin America and Aftica there are bridges of shared experience. Tite opportunities, as well as the challenges, of nationhood are familiar to tite people of Latin America. The indissoluble Ituman links between our two continents, Africa and Latin America, are of long standing; and our two continents, as part of the developing world, increasingly seek common cause througll joint co-operative action to make a reality of our acknow- ledged interdependence. In this context, ilie people of Latin America are united with the people of Africa, of whiclt Angola is a part, in pursuit of the universal objectives of peace, justice and progress. 45. We in Latin America havc every confidence that the full realization of the universality of membership of this Organization can only enhance the effectiveness of the Uniterl Nations as we seek to find just and expeditious 80lutions to the manifold problems that confront today's troubled world. The admission of the People's Republic of Angola to membership in the United Nations represents a further stage in the progress towards the goal of univer- sality, a principIe which is deeply cherished by all of us and ror which we have so arduously fought in the General Assembly. . 46. Allow me to observe that the struggle for freedom is not unfamiliar to the peoples of Latin America which have ror so long been obliged to toil under the oppressive yoke of colonialism. We stand firmly in support of thm'e who have had to Í1ght for their freedom. The valiant struggles of such Latin American Iiberators and heroes as Simon Bolívar, José Martí, Cuffy, Benito Juárez and José de San Martín bear ample testimony to the contribution which Latin America has made towards the attainment of the goal of total freedom. 47. The People's Republic of Angoia, which a little more than a fortnight ago celebrated the fil'St anniversary of the recovery of its independence, has a positive and significant role to play in the deliberations of this Organization. We are confident that that Republic will make a constructive contribution. 48. Latin America ~alutcs the People's Republic of Angola for its valour and welcomes it most fratemally to par- ticipate in our deliberations. As we seek to intensify our efforts geared towards the cr, ion of an international system based en justice and Ilquity, the group of Latin American States looks forward to a period of friendship and meaningful co-operation with the Pcople's Republic of Angola.

1 call on the representative of Mauritius, chairman of the group of African States.

It gives me great pleasure personally, as permanent representative of Mauritius, on 57. We in the United Nations should offer Angola a11 the support and assistance that it may initially need in its 51. Tltis must be a Itappy and proud day for the people and Government of Angola. It marks tite culmination of their long and hard struggle to assume their rightful place in the international community. It also reflects their ultimate victory over the evil torces of domination, coloninlism and imperialism-a resounding victory for freedom. peace and progress in the world. With great Itappiness and deep emotion I rejoice in congratulating them from the bottom of my heart on reaching this shining milestone on the road of self-fulfilment. 52. By thc same token this is a1so a significant day for the United NatiC'ns. It hrings us a step closer to the achieve- ment of our goal of true universality of membership. It increases our collc¡:tive resources for progress and effec- tiveness in finding common solutions to world problems. It also raises the hope that the voice of re&sen and right will finally prevail and that the world may soon be liberated from the tactics, dictation and obstruction of sorne of tite great Powers. 53. One can only lament the delays, the harm and the damage done to our common objectives that a,-e caused by such tactics and manoeuvres, knowing that the represen- tatives of Angola could have been working with us with a11 their talents and strength since the beginning of this session ofthe General Assembly. 54. One must recall with regret the wastefulness and futile efforts that kept the rightful representatives of the people of China out of these halls for a quarter of a century. One must also point out with pain that a sister Eastern nation, whieh in moral, political and juridical terms is fully entitled to membership in our Organizl!tion, is today being subjected to sueh unjustified treatment in violation of the letter and spirit of the Charter. We feel confident that the course of history in this respeet will be c1ear-cut and irreversible, that the right of al! peace-Ioving peoples to be ¡-epresented in this august body will sooner or later prevail. 55. We strongly believe that a11 our efforts here should be deployed to promote understanding and co-operation rather than division and confrontation, and to build for peace, justice, security and intemational co-operation and development for the benefit of all mankind. 56. It is a great satisfaction to know that Angola, because of its natural resources, its geographic position and me qualititS of its people and its spirited leaders, can quickly overcome the natural initial difficulties of the post- independence era and of nation-building. It can a1so certainly have an important and constructive role to play in the field of economic, social and cultural development in strengthening international security and enhancing the welfare and prosperity of mankind. 58. Long lIve the People's Republic of Angola!

1 call on the representative of Malta, chairman of the group of Westem European and other States.

Today it is the pleasant duty of the representative of the Republlc of Malta, the European country that is closest to Africa, on behalf of the group of Westem European and other States, to welcome the Republic of Angola and to extend to it our warmest congratulations on this happy occasion. 1 do so with all the more pleasure because in inviting this one hundred and forty-sixth Member of our Organization to join us in our efforts to build a world of peace and justice, we are coming closer to a goal which we hold particularly dear, and which is of especial importance, namely, the goal of universality. 61. Nobody doubts that, regardless of differences in political, economic and social systems, the presence among us of all States without exception is necessary so that through co-operation and collaboration we can arrive at solutions that are acceptable to all and are accepted by alI. 62. The admissl.0n of the Republic of Angola to the United Nations puts an end to one of the darkest chapters of the history of decolonization in Africa and is proof, were any needed, that the continuation of systems based on the domination of one people by another is no longer tolerated. It is also symbolic, because we are living at a time when the grave problems of southem Africa are of the l'tmost concem to the community of nations and when all our efforts must be directed to avoiding a blood:r confrontation. We are convinced that the presence among us of the Republic of Angola is in accord not only with the criteria ofjustice but also with those of necessity. We cannot, therefore, but be pleased when its representatives solemnly affirm their profound attachment to the principIes of our common Charter. 63. The entry of the Republic of Angola into the United Nations will reinforce the already influential voice of Africa in our Organization. This is a cause of satisfaction for the group of Westem European and other States, which has always found that great continent to be a friendly and generous partner, desirous of contributing to the peaceful solution of conflicts. 64. 1 should like, therefore, in conclusion, to reaffirm our desire for frank and loyat co·operation with the Republic of Angola in the attainment of our common goal and to express to it, and to its courageous people, our cordial wishes for peace and prosperity.

1 call C:í the representative of Democratic Yemen, who wiIl speak on behalf of the Arab group.

On behalf of the Arab group of States, 1am 68. We hail the Angolan people, its victory and its attempt to build a new future and to establish a progressive State of Angola capa"b of playing its role in the intemational arena.

1 call on the representative of Sri Lanka, who will speak on behalf of the Ilon·aligned countries.

It gives me great pIeasure to be here this moming to welcome the People's Republic of Angola to join us as a Member of this intemational brotherhood of the United Nations. The delegation of Sri Lanka was honoured to be one of the approximately 70 sponsors of the draft resolution-which was adopted a short while ago by this Assembly without a single dissentient voice-admitting the People's Republic of Angola to membership in this Organization and thereby taking us one step closer to the goal of universality, which all of us believe will be eventually fully achieved in the United Nations. 71. 1 appear here not only as the representative of my Government and my people but also as current Chairman of the group of 86 sovereign States Members of this Organi· zation which belong to the Group of Non-Aligned States. 1 think that it is therefore pertinent for me particularly to single out the distinction which has been cast upon me to welcome the People's Republic of Angola to membership in the United Nations. It was only a few months ago-in August this year-that at the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Govemment of the 86 non-aligned nations Angola was represented by its Head of State, President Agostinho Neto, who carne to my country, and it was at that Conference that Angola was unanimously elected to be a member of the 25·nation Co-ordinating Bureau of the non·aligned group. 72. That Conference also unanimously adopted resolu- tion 15, in which the Conference called upon "... all member States of the Non-Aligned Movement to support coIlectively Angola's application for membership to the United Nations" and urgently appealed "... to all member Siates of the United Nations to support the application for membership submitted by the People's Republic of Angola to the United Nations." [see A/31/197. annex ¡V.I 73. It is with deep gratitude, therefore, that 1come to this rostrum not only to welcome a sister nation, the People's Republic of Angüla, but also to proclaim here that we have aemeved the purposes we set out to achieve in Colombo when that resolution was adopted by the Conference of Heads of State or Govemment of the Non·Aligned Coun· tries. 75. In this hall we have welcomed many new Members to admission during the last few years, but I hope that 1 shall not be taken amiss when I say that this moming we have admitted a country which has gone through considerable suffering in tlle ach!evement of that independence. \Ve are happy to see its representatives sitting amongst uso 76. \Ve extend to the Govemment and the people of the People's Republic of Angola our warmest good wishes. \Ve are convinced that after Angola has bound up the wounds of war, after it has been able to husband its considerable natural resources and after it has built up the institutional structures whieh modem society demands, it will play a vital role not only in the affairs of southem Africa and of that continent, but indeed of the world. 77. One of the mmt important issues which has come up for discussion before the thirty·first session of the General Assembly is that of the events now unfolding in southem Africa. Angola, by its geographical position and by its valiant efforts, has proved to the international community that it is willing, ready and eminently competent to contribute its share to the solution of the problems of Zimbabwe and of South Africa itself. We of the non-aligned group are heartened by the fact that Angola has now taken its rightful place in the international community. \Ve extend every good wish to tlle people of Angola and we are convinced that the entire international communi.ty as one will do aIl it can to ensure that Angola will be enabled not only to benefit from membership in this OrgarJization and the United Nations system but even more to contribute, as I am sure it will, a degree of maturity, wisdom and intemational goodwill to the tasks which the international community, working through this Organization, has set for itself. 78. In conclusion, may I say that, with the admission of the People's Republic of Angola, we stiH have one isolated colony in Africa struggling for its independence. I refer to Zimbabwe. Angola is a neighbour of Zimbabwe and Angola wiII have a role to play in the early and speedy settlement of the problems that are facing that country, and we are convinced that in the case of Zimbabwt" and in the case of Namibia, another Territory adjacent to Angola, the Govem- ment and tile people of Angola will assume their rightful responsibilities and help us of the international community to find solutions which will not only justify what we in this

A few moments ago the People's Republic of Angola became the one hundred and forty-sixth Member of the United Nations. 80. The world being what it is today, when full participa· tion in internationallífe requires an increasing utilization of multilateral channels, we can say that the admission of a State in tllis Organization gives that State a higher status in the international community. As for the United Nations, which obviously aims at universality, the admission of a new Member brings it closer to what it should be. So, ifwe accept the two previous statements, I think that we can correctly conelude that this is a very important event for both Angola and the United Nations. 81. In this respect let me just add that for Portugal also, as a Member of the United Nations and as a friend of Angola, this occasion is in both respects a very important event and a source of deep satisfaction. 82. I shouId like to recan very briefly that on two previbus occasions my country has expressed before organs of the Unit'ld Nations its support for the admission of Angola to this Organization. 83. Although Portugal is not a member of the Security Council, our delegation appeared before that organ on 23 June 1976 in order to sUPPOrt Angola's request for admission to the United Nations. At that time the Permanent Representative of Portugal stated: "The admission of Angola to the United Nations, if approved, will represent the last page of the record of decolonization of tite African Territories under Por- tuguese administ~ation, which, after a long and painful struggle for liberation, during the last few years obtained their independence and their right to become Members of the United Nations as well as full members of the international cornmunity".3 84. And less than two months ago, speaking in the general debate in the plenary General Assembly, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal made the following statement: "The Portuguese Government defends and actively supports admission of the People's Republic of Angola as a full Member of the United Nations. When a State remains outside the United Nations, it is a1ways the United Nations that is incompleto". [22nd meeting, para. 270./ 85. If I may elaborate OIi that last observation, I would submit that, if every State, regardless of its size or geographical situation or the political affiliation of its Government, may contribute through its admission to the United Nations to rendering this Organization less incom· plete, that contribution is particularly important in the case 3 Sec Officia/ Records 01 the Security Counci/, Thirty-first Year. 19.'12nd meeting. 86. May 1 add tltat this event is taking place at a time when tite consideration of tite problems of soutltem Africa in tite United Nations has acquired a particular significance, and 1 think tltat we should welcome tite possibility of tite partlcipation of Angola in tite disl:ussion of tltese problems. 87. This is not tite proper occasion to dwell at lengtlt on tite historical, linguistic and cultural tinks between Portugal and Angola. 1 should like on;y to point out tltat if tltese links are important for tite bilateral relations of tltose countries, they may also prove positive elements in tlteir co-operation at tite United Nations. 88. We hope tltat this co-operation, which naturally will take into account points of view and concerns of different regions of tite world, will contribute to dealing more realistically witlt certain intemational problems, and con- sequently to tite greater effectiveness of tite United Nations. For our part, we look forward with deep interest to this co-operation, into which we intend to put the best of our efforts.

It is a great pIeasure for my delegation to welcome to tite United Nations our friends from tite People's Republic of Angola. We do tltat not only on behalf of our own Government, but also on behalf of the Governments of tite Republic of Capll Verde, the People's Republic of Mozambique and thel Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. 90. This is not tite rust time tltat 1 have had tite privilege of speaking on behalf of Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, and Mozambique; indeed, during the long strugg1e for nationalliberation 1 have had the opportunity to speak in many forums on behalf ofPAIGC4 of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, MLSTPs of Sao Tome and Principe, FRELIM05 of Mozambique and MPLA of Angola. 91_ Today 1 stand here welcoming to this world body tite last member of an organization founded son:e 15 years ago and known as tite Conference of Nationalist Organizations of Portuguese Colonies, encompassing all the ex-Portuguese African colonies. 1 should add that this occasion has a particular significance for me, since 1 witnessed the founding of the Conference as a young man involved in the hard and difficult strugg1e for the dignity of Africn. 96. We do not know the answers to all those questions. We just have an eerie feeling that sorne occult and sinister force is trying to prevent Angola from joining the ranks of the wealthy nations and that interests are working hard to widen the gap between the poor and the rich nations. 92. It is not by accident that it is only now that tite People's Republic of Angola is being admitted to this world body. Angola's path to liberty is covered with the blood of thousands and thousands of Angolans. It has been a particulaily difficult path because Angola represents the crown . jewel of intemational imperialismo Of all the 4 Partido Africano da Independencia da Guiné e Cabo Verde. 5 Mo\imento de Liberta<;iío de Sao Tomé e Príncipe. 6 Frente de Liberta<;1io de Mo<;ambique. 93" Angola's importance goes far beyond Angola's own borders. Angola is the key to Namibia; Angola was the shortest way to Zimbabwe. Angola opened tite doors to Soweto; indeed, Angola is South Africa itself. Ifit had not been for the victory of MPLA and tite valiant strugg1e waged by FRELIMO, change would not have occurred so soon in southern Africa. It is now elear to everyone tltat, tltanks to the sacrifices and the gallant struggle waged by MPLA, a new era is dawning on the southem African horizon. The day when the Africans in that part of the world will regain tlteir dignity is now coming eloser. The strugg1e will be hard, but a vitória écerta. 94. It was very sad for tite delegations of ex-Portuguese colonies to see a State Member of the United Nations utilizing its veto power to prevent Angola fromjoining-this world body. Fortunately this obstaele was overcome last week with an abstention in the Security Council. We do think that the time has come for the United States to forge a new relationship with Angola, a relationship based on respect for each other's sovereignty and each other's right to choose its own allies. As President Neto very ably put it in apoem: "See, here are our hands Open to the brotherhood of man, United in certainty For the future ofman. For right, for peace, for friendship". 95. Angola, because of its natural resources and its size, ranks among the very few countries in Africa-and probably in the third world-tltat can rapidly achieve a high degree of economic development and self-sufficiency. Are we, then, to assume that this natul'al wealth is somehow a curse rather than a blessing; that tltose who not only have refused to extend a helping hand to tltis young nation, but have actively workeu to prevent its political independence from being achieved, would rather see it joining tite ever-swelling number of poor nations? Are we to assume that that heroie country, in spite of its nchness, is condemned to remain impoverished and dependent upon international solidarity? Has Angola been used to prove that the poor will always remain poor and the rich will grow even richer? Are ideology and cold-war tactics being used in an effort to halt the creation of a true, wealthy and sovereigr. nation in the very heart of Africa? 97. During our association with MPLA Jver almost 20 years <lf strugg1e we have seen candid and honest leadership dedicated to the cause of Angola and to the cause of Africa. We have seen courageous fighters laying down their lives on 99. The struggle will continue because Namibia is not free. The struggle will continue because Zimbabwe is still dominated by a minority. The struggle wiII continue because the tragedy of Soweto still exists and a régime is massacring our brothers and sisters in the name of apart/zeid. 100. We are hoping that reason will prevall in the land of apart/zeid and that before too long Pretoria will come to its senses and prevent another war like tbe one which took place in Angola. But i, there ever should be another such war, the people will take things into their own hands and be victorious, as was MPLA. 101. Angola has shown uso It stands as an example to the world and demonstrates that with sacrifice and struggle the enemies of the people-whether they employ colonial machinations or manoeuvres or naked military aggression as did South Mrica-can be defeated. MPLA has made Angola's victory a reality. With a committed and talented leadership, in particular the strong fUld determined Mr. Neto, Angola has won. 102. The Angolan struggle for independence began as a struggle agalnst Portuguese colonialism but grew and became a struggle agalnst the powerful forces of impe- rialism before Angola was able to achieve final victory. The struggle in Angola and the victory involved not just the defeating of Portuguese colonialism and its a1lies. The struggle in Angola hllS been and continues to be a commitment marked by sacrifice to build a new life for the people of Angola free of the exploitation of man by mano 103. The spirit of Angola was very important to the victory over colonialism. It reflects a cor.:lmitment to solidarity and to s~pport for the continuing struggle for freedom in southern Africa. This spirit was captured in the words of President Neto in a poem written sorne 20 years ago. He sald: "Our eyes the life-blood are turned towards hands beckoning love in all the world hands in the future-inspiring falth in the vitality ofAfrica, fue human land of Africa, of far·flung Africa regenerating under the sun ofhope creating bonds of brotherhood in freedom from want, from the yeaming for peace, the blood and the seed.

Although Ambas· sador Jackson of Guyana has in bis capacity as chairman of the group of Latin-American States had the opportunity to express to the Assembly tite feelings of our region on the occasion of the admission of Angola to the United Nations, the Brazilian delegation wishes to add its own welcome to another Portuguese-speaking State as it joins our Organiza- tion. 105. Ov~r the last two years we have had tite plellSure of receiving in our midst Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, and Mozambique. Those are nations to which we Brazilians are closely bound by ties ofhistory and blood. The admission of Angola in 1976 completes the process of tite accession of Portuguese-speaking African States to membership in the United Nl1tions. With aIl those five countries Brazil malntalns diplomatic, economic and cultural relations based on our Iinguistic and historical identity. We share with them common interests and aspirations as developing countries. 106. Admission to the United Nations completes the gradual process of international recognition of a new Stnte. At the same time it is for that State the beginning of a new cyde of responsibilities within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations. To the Orga¡1itation, the entry of each new Member ftlpresents a factor of strength which brings it ever doser to tlle goal of universality. It should therefore be a matter of rejoicing for a11 of us that a new State should seek admission to the United Nations, thus indicating its desire to contribute in a positive way to our efforts and to the acrnevement of the purposes of the United Nations. Our satisfaction is increased when an African State is involved, for we have all witnessed the creative contribution which independent Africa has made to ourwork. 107. Through its admission to the United Nations Angola acquires the possibility of utilizing manifold forms of co-operation and understanding through which its self· determination may be exercised without outside pressures and its national identity may be projected in Obr como munity of nations. 108. It is therefore with well·founded satisfaction that we warmly greet the new Member of the Organization.

On this occasion my delegation wishes to express its great satisfaction at the fact that the People's Republic of Angola has today by a unanimous vote of the General Assembly been admitted to membership in the United Nations, thus becoming the newest Member of the world Organization. 110. The admission of this newly liberated African coun· try to our Organization is first and foremost a great tribute to its heroic struggle for freedom as well as to its policy of independence, non·aIignment and dedication to the prin- cipies on which the United Nations is founded. 112. Even before its admlssion to the United Nations, the People's Republic of Angola bad fully affirmed ¡tself on tlle intemational scene-by its liberation strugg1e and its role in the fight for the final liquidation of co10nialism and racism in southem Africa, and its admission totlle ranks of OAU and, recently, to tIle non·aligned movement at tIle summit conference of non·aligned countries in Colombo, where it played an active role. We believe that Angola will make a significant contribution to tIle activities of the United Nations. 113. We wish to congratulate warmly the Foreign Min· ister, Mr. dos Santos, and the delegation of the People's Republic of Angola, with which Yugoslavia maintains the most cordial relations, on the admission of their country to the United Nations, as one more victory for tIle people of Angola in the strugg1e for independence, for peaee and security and for the building of equitable intemational relations freed from colonialism and from any form of domination.

After a long and cruel domination, lasting nearly five centuries and characterized by racial discrimination, slavery and doméstic serviee, all based on colonialist and imperialist exploitation, the Angolan people, under the leadership of their distinguished party, MPLA, fmally triumphed over all machinations and proclaimed its inde· pendence on 11 November 1975. The various stages which marked this heroic struggle are known to everyone and, despite the use of puppet organizations using the words "liberation" or "total independence" in tIleir titles, such as FNLA7 or UNlTA,8 the truth finally triumphed witll Africa's victory in Luanda. The recognition of the People's Republic of Angola by more than 100 States Members of our Organization at the time was resounding proof of that reality, which is now indisputable. With regard to the legal foundation of this independence, won at such a price, this no longer needs to be demonstrated despite the Machia- vellan attempts of the imperialists to challenge it. 115. Since tIle Security Council and the General Assembly have recognized that Angola's seat in the United Nations should no longer be vacant, the delegation of the Party·State of Guinea takes this opportunity to pay a well-deserved tribute to tIle Angolan people, who have WiOUght their own freedom. Tha Guinean delegation includes in' this tribute all the progressive Govemments and organizations which have always given unconditional sup- port to MPLA, because, without the courage and determi· nation of the Angolan people, mobilized by MPLA, without tIle firmness of the African States wholly committed to tIle stubborn defence of the higher interests of Africs, and 7 Frente Nacional para a Liberta<;ao de Angola. 8 UniilÓ Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola. 116. On tIlis day, which will go down in history, fighting Africa feels itself once again honoured in evoking the memory of the martyrs of Benguela, of Lobito and of Luambo, and in applauding tIle victory of Angola. 117. After Angola it will be the turn of southem Africa. The struggle continues.

Among the countries of Africa which openly declared tIleir alliance with the People's Republic of Angola, the People's Republic of the Congo enjoys pride of place. Between our two countries, our two peoples and our two Heads of State tIlere is such an affinity that tIle victory of MPLA and tIle independence of Angola have been perceived by the people of tIle Congo as a whole as tIleir own victory, their own independence. The same is true today when tIle People's Republic of Angola has officially made its brilliant entry into the United Nations. 119. To those who maliciously wonder about tIle reasons for such entllusiasm, we would reply that the Congo sees in Angola tIle image of its own qualities: hated and despised by imperialism and colonialism, it has tIle will to defend a dearly bought independence and the determination to move forward with a view to promoting general development once peace and security have been restored. 120. The struggle against imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism is a major component of tIle national policy of tIle People's Republic of the Congo, which regards the Angolan people's recent victory over the coalition of puppet, Fascist and racial-imperialist forces as a historie event of major importance. 121. Moreover, in the message he addressed to llis counter· part, the Head of State of tIle People's Republic of Angola, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the independence of tIlat fraternal country, the President of tIle People's Republic of the Congo, Comrade Marien Ngouabi, hailed once again tIle constancy with which the Angolan people had manifested their support for those who were still fighting for their freedom from the colonialist and racist yoke, and expressed rus great admiration for the decisive contribution made by the Angolan people to the great work of liberation of the oppressed peoples. 122. In truth, tIle relations between the peoples of the Congo and Angola do not date from today. To know how tIlese two peoples have been nourished by tIle highest ideals we must neeessarily look into the past and evoke a part of tIleir common history, a period from the life of the ancient "At the end of the Middle Ages, the first European navigators [discovered], in the Kingdom of the Congo, a teeming mass of people dressed in 'silk' and 'velvet'; great States, well-ordered down to the smallest details; pow- erful sovereigns and opulent industries. They were civi- lized to the very marrow of their bones! "9 Further on, the German ethnologist writes: "... vi11ages, the main streets of which were lined on each side for miles by four rows of palm trees, and the dwellings of which, each decorated in a charming manner, were so many works of arto Every man carried elaborate weapons of iron or copper, with inlaid blades, and with handles covered in snakeskin. Everywhere there were velvet and silk materials. Every cup, every pipe, every spoon, was a work of art fu11y worthy of comparison with the creations of the European Roman style... the manners, the moral law of the whole people, from the smallest child to the oldest man... were marked by dignity and grace ..."10 124. What remains, in our day, of that picture with all its many a~cts, rangin~ from power to glory, from charm to dignity, from harmony to peace? The reply imposed by the verdict of history is that slavery, colonialism and capitalist exploitation devoured everything. 125. However, they were unable to prevent the birth of the revolutionary conscience of the descp ndants of the ancient Kingdom of the Congo, who are increasingly fascinated by the ancient heroism. 126. The poot Agostinho Neto and the researcher Théo- phile Obenga, for example, seem to have found in their works the ways by which one may reach down to the roots of that civilization. 127. While the poet Agostinho Neto, in a song entitled "The Raising of the Colours", anticipates his revolutionary action and almost forete11s Angola's adrnission to the United Nations, Théophile Obenga, in his "Pre-colonial Central Africa",' 1 goes right back to the earJiest times and describes with strict accuracy the successive phases in the everyday Jife of the ancient Kingdom of the Congo. If he pores over that past and the g1orious exploits of the time in this way, jt is by no means in arder to lu11 himself with dreams of sorne kind of paradise lost, but rather to gain full possession of them so as better to use them in his relations with the presento

The Republic of Haiti could not have failed to support draft resolution A/31/L.22 and Add.l, especially because throughout our history we have consistently supported the struggle of peoples for independence. Bound to Africa by ties of blood and of history, the Republic ofHaiti is happy and rejoices at the release of a sister Republic from the I •• 9 Uo Frobenius, Histoire de la civilisation africaine, 3rd ed. (Paris, Gallimard. 1952), p. 14. 10 Ibid.• p.lS. 11 Théophile Obenga, Afrique central précoloniale: documents d'histoire vivante (Paris, Présence africaine. 1974). 129. And it is the MPLA of President Agostinho Neto which, over the years, has been able to galvanize, channel and direct the revolutionary struggle of the Angolan people. It was able to rise to the height of that historie act by proclaiming, under fire from a coalition of puppet and imperialist-Fascist forces, the legal independence of Angola and by laying down, even now, the objective bases for true independence. 130. As I have tried to show, the total support of the People's Republic of the Congo for the People's Republic of Angola is not lirnited either to a time or to specific circumstances. It has its roots in the depths of the history of our two peoples, which share the same destiny. Moreover, for ayear now, urged on by Presidents Marien' Ngouabi and Agostinho Neto, the People's Republics of the Congo and Angola have embarked on the course of true co-operation based on strict respect for the independence of each State. 131. It will thus be understood why Congo felt like a dagger blow the veto cast against the adrnission of Angola to membership in the United Nations, just as it will be understood why it is today one of the first to greet with exultant enthusiasm the solemn adrnission of the People's Republic of Angola into the international community. 132. So much courage, so much daring, so much heroism cannot ¡eave us indifferent. The extraordinary experience of its leaders, who so magnificently led the Angolan people to victory over a particularly harmful form of colonialism, will surely contribute to the positive solution of the problems facing our Organization. 133. For us it is a question of 'enriching the United Nations with the different contributions of new Members, and not of impoverishing it by ensuring the triumph of the right of veto. Ideological, linguistic and cultural differences, paradoxically, should be what makes the strength of the United Nations, for without them it would be difficult for us to seek, and especially to fmd, the elements for new spiritual progress. 134. We warmly welcome the presence in this Assembly of the first delegation of the People's Republic of Angola, led by Comrade José Eduardo dos Santos, Deputy Prime Minister. 135. The struggle continues. Imperialism wil1 not succeed.

Today, to the satisfaction of a11 peace.loving peoples around the world, the news shall go forth from tbis podium that once again in the history of this great Organization, founded 31 years ago, the shackles of colonialism and slavery of the peoples of Africa have been broken and destroyed; once again, a people of our own kith and kin has been granted the fu1fl1ment of its greatest aspiration-self-determination and freedom. 138. Liberia, one of the 10ng.freed nations of Africa and a constant supporter of se1f-determination and freedom for all the peoples of this one world, happily rejoices with our brothers and sisters of the People's Republic of Angola. Liberia assures that great country and its people of its support and continued co-operation. 139. May success and peace crown Angola's ilvery effort!

It is a great joy for my delegation to welcome the sister State of the People's Republic of Angola to membership in our Organization. It has been my Govemment's view that Angola should have been admitted to the United Nations as soon as it became independent. We all know why its admission was delayed, and it is not my de1egation's intention to open a debate on that matter on this happy occasion. 141. The peoples of Angola and Kenya have had a long common history; both our countries have waged bitter struggles to dislodge the colonialists from our soll. The brotherly bonds between our two peoples were amply demonstrated during the consultative meetings held by Angola's leaders in Kenya under the chairmanship of my President. What my President stated then I wish to reiterate now: Angola's independence is but one step towards the total decolonization of our beleaguered continent. We pledge ourselves to join hartds with our brothers in Angola to work concertedly towards our ultimate goal of liberating every inch of Africa from the yoke of colonialists. We are confident that, with the admission of the People's Republic of Angola, our Organization will have new ímpetus to push for a just solution in the decolonization of the remaining colonial pockets in southern Africa. 142. It is my delegation's earnest hope that, with the admission of the People's Republic of Angola, the long- desired objective of universality of our Organization and the admission of the oilier States which sti11 rernain outside it will soon be achieved without much difficulty. We are convinced that the admission of those States will gleaíly enhance peace and make the Organization truly universal and international. 143. In concluding this short statement, I should like once again to welcome the People's Republic of Angola to membership in our Organization and to aswre it of our full co-operation and support. I call on the other Member States

I call on the Minister for Foreign Affalrs of the People's Republic of Angola, His Excellency Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos, to address the General Assembly.

12 Recalling here the memory of our heroes who have fallen in the two wars of nationa! liberation, we wish first, on behalf of the Angolan people, their vanguard, MPLA, the People's Republic of Angola and Comrade President Agostinho Neto, to express our natural joy and revolutionary pride at this further victory of being admitted as a Member of the United Nations. 146. Permit me to expreso to you, Sir, OUT most sincere congratulations on your election to the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly. 147. We should like also to convey to the President ofothe previous session our appreciation and admiration for the way he discharged bis difficult mandate. 148. To the Secretary-General we address our greetings :md sincere thanks for the interest and effort he has devoted to the liberation of peoples and the special endeavour he made with a view to the admission of the People's Republic of Angola to membership in this Organi- zation. 149. The Angolan people had been victims of colonialism for almost 500 years, and for about 15 years, led by their vanguard, the MPLA, they waged the longest armed struggle for liberation that has taken place on the African continent. 150. Throughout those 15 years, many were the dis- tinguished voices raised in this Assembly and in all the United Nations specialized bodies and agencies in defence of the Angolan people's legitimate aspiration to indepen- dence, freedom, peace and progress. 151. After the proclamation cf our independence and when the admission of the Peopk ' Republic of Angola to the United Nations was jeopardize by the ímperialists and their direct or indirect collaborators, our young Republic had already eamed the support of a large number of Member countries of this Organization. To them we extend our thanks. 152. Meanwhlle, we make very special mention here of all the countries which, upholding the same ideological prin- cipies as those that guide the Angolan revolution, have long given unconditional support to our struggle. To them we express our most revolutionary greetings, our militant solidarity and thi~ certainty: that the People's Republic of Angola will continue to fulm its internationalist duties for peace and for freedom. 153. For many years now imperialism has been oppressing and exploiting the Angolan people, first through Portuguese 12 Mr. dos Santos spokc in Portuguese. The English version of his statement was supplied by !he delegation. 154. During the Angolan people's first liberation war, not only did imperialism sustain the Portuguese colonial régime, which carne to use arms from the countries of the Nortll Atlantic Treaty Organization to exterminate our people, bllt it also promoted the setting up of puppet groups, a counter·revolutionary weapon to be used inside our country. 155. MPLA was organized under difficult conditions, at a time marked by a cruel colonialism, when forced labour, the total denial of human rights and the plunder of our wealth were the sole law and the only morality of the oppressors. 156. Overcoming all difficulties, MPLA succeeded in bringing together all truly nationalist forces and, labor· iously, started the armed struggle against Portuguese colo· nialism. 157. During that first long national war of liberation started on 4 February 1961, thousands upon thousands of compatriots perished, decimated by napalm, ruthlessly massacred, tortured in colonialist prisons or tom to pieces by counter·revolutionary bands in imperialist payo Not even chemical warfare was overlooked by our enemies, who thus subjected thousands and thousands of Angolans to hunger and disease. 158. After the thwarting of its efforts to perpetuate colonialism as the inteilTlediary for its interests, imperialism organized a vast plot to prevent the true liberation of the Angolan people. Indeed, with utter disregard for the most elementary principies of morality and legality, before and even after the proclamation of the independent and sovereign People's Republic of Angola, our country was subject to invasions supported and perpetrated by United Nations Member countries. 159. Imperialism, not satisfied with its invasion from our northem border, reinforced its contingents and war maté- riel there, sent bands of mercenaries to our country and invaded us in the south with Vorster's neo-Nazi and racist army. 160. Those invasions of Angola from the north and south were witnessed in silence by the majority. of countries following our .liberation process. At no moment did the United States and its satellites protest against such flagrant violations of intemational law and of our people's sover· eignty. 161. Faced with the violence of the invasions, the People's Republic of Angola had no hesitation in appealing for internationalist soJidarity from friendIy and progressive countries. 162. Thus, as a result of our request, carne the prompt internationalist response of the majority of soeialist coun· tries and of progressive African countries, the most out· standing without any question being the d/'1cisive support of the Soviet Union and the Republic of Cuba. 164. And it is surprising that those who either directly or indirectly plotted the invasion of our country should later come and protest the presence in Angola of forces which, at the request of our State, carne for the purpose of driving out the invaders. We do not understand, therefore, why the Ford/Kissinger administration invoked the presence of Soviets and Cubans in our country as justification for non·recognition of the People's Republic of Angola. As a matter of fact, as regards the United States, that is a country which still maintains armed forces precisely on Cuban territory. Furthermore, it is a country which occupied the territory and measured the people of Viet Nam, a country which maintains armed forces in various independent countries, including the Federal Republic of Germany, and a country which has its ~mned forces, on land and sea, in so many parts of the world...1 the name of what morality and what right can imperialism challenge internationalist help for the People's Republic of Angola against invaders which it itself supported? 165. The Angolan people have always shown their admi· ration for the Chinese revolution. They do not yet understand how a soeialist country, which China says it is, can support puppet groups who wanted to counter our people's liberation and who still want to attack OUI' independence. AIso incomprehensible is China's continued attitude of open opposition to the People's Republic of Angola. The unnatural alliance between the People's Republic of China and imperialism and South African racism assumed its most eloquent form in the fact that mercenaries paid in American dollars who were captured by the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola, were killing Angolan people with Chinese weapons, made by the Chinese proletariat. 166. As we have been victims of the intentions of sorne and the lack of understanding of others, it is important to refer herl'! to the principies which guide the foreign policy of our State. 167. On 11 November 1975, in the procIamation of our independence, it was reaffirmed that the sovereign People's Republic of Angola will maintain diplomatic relations with all countri.es in the world, on the basis of the principies of mutual respect for national sovereignty, non-interference in the internal affairs of each State, respect for territorial integrity, non-aggression, equality, reciprocal advantage and peaceful coexistence. 168. And if we defend and fulfIl those universally accepted principies, we are entitled to demand of others that they fulfIl them in relation to our country. 169. The foreign policy of the People's Republic of Angola is founded on the principies of non-alignment, which we have fol1owed since the founding of MPLA. It is non·alignment seen as active and operative~ that is, based on 170. We emphasize, for obvious reasons, arUcle 16 of our constitutionallaw, which states: "The People's Republic of Angola shall not join any international military organization, nor shall it allow the installation of foreigo military bases on its national territory." 171. In the text of the Proclamation of lndependence, thanks are expressed to all the African peoples and countries that were at our side, to the socialist countries, to the Portuguese revolutionary forces and to the progressive organizations and Govemments in Western countries which were able to understand and support the Angolan people's struggle. 172. In this way it is clear that we make a distinction between capitalist States which were and are able to understand our struggle and those which tolerate, promote, assist or practise a policy of direct or indirect aggression against the People's Republic of Angola. 173. Also clearly expressed in the Proclamation and in the constitutional law is our adhesion to the principIes of the charter of OAU and of the Charter of the United Nations. 174. Guaranteeing here and now our scrupulous fulfl1ment of the above principIes, we express the hope that the historic mistakes committed against our peopt::: and State by sorne countries will be repaired in the future in the name ofpeaee and the progress of mankind, because those are the values pursued by the Angolan revolution. 175. Our adrnission to the United Nations is not just a victory of the Angolan people; it is a victory of alI peoples who 10ve peace and freedom, a victory of aH countries and progressive forces that supported our struggIe. 176. Yet it is an incomplete victory, because we are not at the same time celebrating the admission to the United Nations of the glorious Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. 177. It has been once again demonstrated that the veto has been exercised in this Organization more as a form of abuse of power than as a right. For this reason, we also regard the veto as anachronistic and we take the same position as those who are calling for an end to that prerogative, which is, in any event, contrary to the principIe of the equality of States and Members of this Organization. 178. As regards the People's Republic of Angola, the use of the veto by the United States W2S aboye aH an insult to the international community, to OAU and to the non· aligned movement. The People's Republic of Angola was, in fact, already a member of those two organizations, which incorporate a substantial number of countries in the world. 179. At the sa.-ne time, both OAU and the non-aligned countries showed their unconditional support for the admission to the United Nations of the People's Republic " ... the veto of the United States of America against the adrnission of the People's Republic of Angola to the United Nations constitutes a violation of the spirit of the UN Charter and complete disregard for the principIe of universality thus constituting a challenge to a1l OAU member ~:itates". {See A/31/196 and Corr.l, annex, reso/ution CM/Res.492 (XXVIII)./ In its conclusions, it stated, among other things, that it: "Strong/y condemns the anachronistic stand taken by the United States of America which flouts the funda· mental principIes of international law as reflected by the inadmissibility of interference in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of Angola". {!bid./ 181. Also, at the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non·Aligned Countries, held in Colombo from 16 to 19 August 1976, a resolution was drawn up on Angola's request for admission to membership in the United Nations. 182. The United States of America was condemned in that resolution, the veto being regarded as an outraga and a violatiop. of the United Nations Charter and of the principIe of universalitv, as welI as an affront to all member States of the non.align~d movement. Nevertheless, the United States opposed its voice to that of the international community and, in a gesture of inadmissible abuse of power contrary to and in violation of the spirit of the United Nations Charter, sought of its own accord to impede the entry of the People's Republic of Angola into this Organization. 183. And now, out of mere captice, the United States has decided to veto the admission of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam as a way of opposing the legitimate rights of a people who have suffered in their flesh every form of aggression and violation perpetrated by the very country which now exercises the right of veto. 184. This is yet another reason why we consider it inadrnissible that there should still be anyone within the internationaI community who can sit by with folded arms when faced with the abuse of the veto by a courltry which, in the recent past, was also the oppressor of the Vietnamese people. 185. The Angolan people's victOlY over imperialism and its agents has had the practical effect of increasing the area of freedom and peace in the worId. But imperialism cannot accept the fact of each people choosing its own destiny by itself and for itself. Hence it is still seeking, at all costs, to impede the irreversible advance of the Angdan revolution. Thus the threats and provocations against the People's Republic of Angola continue; close to our country's northern and southern borders, bases of puppet armies and 187. Seeking to weaken the liberation struggles of the still oppressed peoples and knowing that the nationalists will pursue the struggle unti! final victory, the imperialists are trying to deceive· revolutionaries with a purported policy of dialogue. 188. But meanwhile they continue direct or indirect support for the Sallsbury and Pretoria régimes. And it must be asked here if it is by supplying armaments and nuclear reactors to the racist minorities in South Africa and so-called Khodesia that one defends the legitimacy of the .majorities. 189. Imperialism sees in the southem part of our con· tinent a kind of reserve permitting it to pursue oppression and exploitation. 190. The plunder of our resources, with special emphasis on raw materials for military purposes, and the setting up of military bases to facilitate the policing of the world are decisive factors which explain the tragic situation now being experienced in southern Africa. 191. After the independence of Angola and Mozambique and the consequent reduction of imperialist zones of influence, together with the redoubled efforts of the patriots of Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, the United States of America and South Africa, basing them- selves on the fiction of an imminent danger, threw themselves into the adventure of creating a South Atlantic pact and drawing Latin American countries into it. We wish to have it dearly on record that this is an avowedly offensive military pact against southern Africa and there· fore a threat to world peace, and should be vehementIy condemned by all peace·loving peoples. 192. As is well known, the invasion we suffered from the north and south by regular armies, puppet movements and mercenary bands caused a drain on our country's economic activity. 193. The South African invasion alone destroyed a large number of bridges which are important for distribution networks of essential goods and ruined a large part of our stock of trucks, while the rest were stolen and taken across the border. The same happened to our fishing fleet. 194. Nor did factories, public institutions and so forth escape the bloody tide of Vorster's army, which, in the depths of despnir and defeat, transformed its flight into a kind of re'l'enge against our people. The wave of crimes did not fnil to inc1ude the extermination of thousands upon thousands of head of cattle whenever it was not possible for the enemy to take them across the border. 195. Due compensation for the material damage caused to the People's Republic of Angola has already been de· 196. The Angolan people reiterate their demand in respect of the due reparations to be made by South Africa and hope that the Assembly will show solidarity with our claim, once again condemning the execrable Vorster régime which, in addition to oppressing, massacring and plunderin~ the peoples of South Afríea and Namibia, wished and still wishes to export the disgrace of our times to our free, independent and sovereign Angolan land. 197. The material damage suffered as a result of the South African invasion has already been estimated at a minimum of $6.7 billion. 198. As world opinion is aware, our country and people also suffered invasion by bands of mercenaries who, as has been more than praved today, spread de:ith and destruction and were engaged and paid by imperialismo 199. Considering the current phenomenon ofthe employ. ment of mercenaries and the absolute necessity to punish all future manifestations of it, we think that the draft Luanda convention on the menace of mercenaries to Africa, calling for the prevention and suppression of this practice, which was drawn up by a commission of inquiry made up of eminent jurists and intellectuals fram every continent and which has already been adopted by OAU and \.he non·alignment movement, merits due consideration and subsequent adoption by all international bodies. 200. But despite all difficulties, in the 12 months of independence, sorne of them lived in war, our people, our revolutionary vanguard, MPLA, and the Government of the People's Republic of Angola, have been working intensively and selflessly to eliminate the aftermath of war and bliJ1d the foundations of a new society. And in this frrst take-off for national reconstruction the reason for our victory has once again been proved: MPLA's identification with the masses of the people. Indeed, in every province nf the country the people are engaging in the tasks of national reGonstruction through voluntary work campaigns; agricul- ture is starting to be rebom out of chaos, and the same is true of industry, a sector which was virtual1y pa.ralysed at the time of independence. 201. Having very recently passed our first year of indepen· dence, we take pride in having placed in our pev2i·s hands health and education which, now nationaliZed, have be· come free of charge. Banking has been nationalized. Large agricultural and industrial units abandoned by the coloni- alists have also been nationalized. 202. The people's power law having been promulgated, it has already started to be P'lt into effect, so t~at power may indeed be exercised by the worker and - \ass. 205. Within the context of a practically destroyed econ- omy, boycotted by certain capitalist countries and demo- graphically weakened by the death of a large number of compatriots, among them highly vU:uable cadres, we pro· claimed independence and started national reconstruction. We therefore eount on the help of the intemational community and the United Nations and submit ror the consideration of this Assembly the setting up of an intemationaJ national reconstruction fund amounting to $300 million which, we hope, will be welI received among countries Members of this Organization. 206. During the fIrst liberation war, thousands of Angolans found exile the only way to flee from colonial tyranny. In the second liberation war, too, many Angolans leffthe country, a large number of iliem because they were forced to do so by the puppets or because they were taken in by their demagoguery. The present number of refugees, who are now speeding up their retum to our liberated country, is about 1 million. Our Govemment, in aceordance with the limited means at its disposal, has been planning the requisite facilities for the retum of such. a large number of compatriots. We are a1ready starting to benefit from the help of the Office of the United Natiolls High Cornmis- sioner for Refugees, a1though this help faUs very far short of meeting our minimum needs. 207. The present intemational situation is characterized by an appreciable change in the balance of forces in favour of national liberati~n, peace, progrells, social justice and, in particular, the ellinination of the exploitation of man by man, and is conducive to the consolidation of détente on 8. world·w~de seale, the elimination of the threat of war and the progressive development of eonditions favouring dis· armament-aIl of which are absolute necessities. 208. The progress aemeved in the field& just mentioned, together with the gradual tendency to abolish all ma.nifesta- tions of inequality, discrimination and exploitation in intemational economic relations through the effeetive estabiishment of a new world economk order, merits our unequivocal adhesion ¡¡nd consequent support. 209. The People's Republic of Angola, conscious oí its responsibilities before Africa and tlle world, cannot fail to express from this intemational rostrum its total solidarity with ihe oppressed peoples of the whole world and particularIy with those still subject to the colonial yoke, as in Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Djiúouti and Puerto Rico. 210. We are especi""ly ccmcemed about Zimbabwe, where the colonial Power is alToiding its responsibilities by looking ::! ! l .• We also avail ourselves of the opportunity to con· demn most vehemently the violations of the territory of the People's Republic of Moznmbique by lan Smith's racist anny. 212. With regard to Namibia, owing to its geographical position, it represents for intemational imperialism not only a source of wealth but also a support base for the countless acts of aggression to which our young Republic has been subject. 213. We 'herefore regard it as fundamental to give unreserved support to the conditions stipulated by the Souili West Africa People's Organization as a viable solution to Namibia's self·determination and independence, al· though we do not cease to consider that armed struggle is stiII the soundest way of winning ilie legitimnte right of.the peoples of southem Africa to independence in the face of the obstinacy of the minority, racist and Facist Pretoria and Salisbury régimes. 214. The South African régime, together with certain well-known news agencies, is clamouring about thousands of Angolan "refugees" in Namibia, hiding the real facts, which are: the daily violations of our tenitory, tIle infilt:ation of armed bands with officers and training provided by mercenaries und South African lUmy officers, the destruction of entire villages near the border, and the massacre and confinement of members of the defenceless population, including mingled elements from the defunct puppet groupings iliat went with the S(lut~ African anny during the military counter·offensive launched by our glorious anned forces and that are now transfonned into and presented as "refugees". 215. In Souili Africa, where ilie people are still subjected to the ignominious apartheid system, the struggle is assuming new prospects and proportions, after the bloody events in Soweto. The South African people, directed and guided by their legitimate representative, the African National Congress of South Afriea, will know how to destroy the current régime, the last bastion of racism and fascism on our continent. 216. Thus we once again affinn our unconditional support for and our solidarity as militants with the struggle of the peoples of Zimbabwe, Namibia and Souili Africa for their ir:dependence. 217. Within this context of tIle liberation of peoples, we do not wish to fail clea,'ly to rcaffirm: our militant solka.-ity wiili the fighting people of East Timor, under the co: ' 'lr t il'sdersmp of their vanguard, FRETILIN,' 4 fighting w':pons in hand in defence'of the Democratic Republic of ;:as~ T~mor. invaded by foreign regular forces; our uncondi· 14 Frenltl Revolucionária de Timor Leste Independente. 218. For the Angolan people, the t\Vo liberation wars they waged were in thcmselves an important contribution to 219. The glorious People's Armed Forces for the Libera· tion of Angola will remain vigilant against a1l violations of our borders, ready to crush any new imperialist adventures aimed at hampering the consolidation of our independence. The armed forces will never direct their efforts outside our national territory. On the contrary, they will remain at the service of our people, natioaa! reconstruction and peace. 220. We must express thanks here for the great regar',! shown for the delegation of the People's Republic of Angola on this historic day for our people and our country. 221. We are living at a time when the international scene is characterized by the advance of the progressive forces and desperate imperialist attempts to halt the march of history. The Angolan people, MPLA and the People's Republic of Angoh solemnly reiterate from this rostrum-on this first day of December, Angolan Pioneer's Day, the day of those who will continue our revolution-the intention to fight alongside the other peoples and progressive countries of the world against the exploitation of man by man and for freedom and peace. 222. It is not without reason, therefore, that we end with our people's watchwords: the struggle continues; victory is certain.