S/33/PV.53 Security Council

Before calling on the frrst speaker, I should like to propose ~hat the list of speakers in the debate IOn item 32 be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, 21 November, at 5 p.m. Only after the closure of the list shall we be able to determine how many meetings should be allotted for the consideration of the item. If I hear no objection, I shall consider that the General Assembly adopts that proposal.

I now invite the Rapporteur of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Mr. Rao of India to present the report of the Special Committee [A/33/22 and Co".1] and one of the Committee's special reports [ A/33/22/Add1]. 3. Mr. RAO (India), Rapporteur of the Special Committee against Apartheid: I have the honour to introduce the annual report of the Special Committee against Apartheid [A/33/22 and Co".1], ~s well as a special report on oil sanctions against South Africa [A/33/22/Add1]. These reports are submitted to the General Assembly and to the Security Council in accordance with the relevant provisions of resolution 2671 (XXV) of 8 December 1970. . 4. The annual report of the Special Ct>mmittee, which was adopted by the Committee on 15 November 1978, gives a brief review of numerous activities undertaken by the Committee during this International Anti-Apartheid Year. It contains the conclusions and recommendations which the Commi~tee considers essential in regard to the intensifi- ca~ion of concerted and effective international action against apartheid at this critical and crucial stage in the lang struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa. NEW YORK 5. The Special Committee was requested by a unani· mously adopted resolution of the last regular session of the General Assembly [resolution 32/105 B] to promote the effective observance of the International Anti-Apartheid Year, which was launched on 21 March 1978. The proclamation of the Year was a demonstration of the firm commi!ment of the international community to the elimi- nation of apartheid, and the programme of action for the Year [ibid, annex] is designed to provide greater impetus for further action against apartheid. 6. In pursuance of its responsibilities, the Special Com- mittee held consultations with numerous Governments and organizations, participated in many conferences and took.a series of steps to encourage action by Governments specialized agencies and public opinion in all countries. Th~ Special Committee jointly sponsored the International NGO Conference for Action against Apartheid, held in Geneva from 28 to 31 August 1978, in order to promote action by public organizations in accordance with the Declaration of the World Conference for Action against Apartheid, held in Lagos from 22 to 26 August 1977.1 It is now holding consultations on the organization of an international youth and student conference against apart- heid to be held in February 1979 and an international seminar on the urgent problem of South Africa's nuclear plans. In the light of the consultations held in the past year and of the developments in South Africa, the Special Committee considered it imperative that the International Anti·Apartheid Year should mark the beginning of a powerful international mobilization against apartheid, to assist the South African people in achieving the speedy elimination of apartheid and the liberation of their COVY':.y. The Special Committee therefore recommends that the General Assembly issue a call for such international mobilization, a move that has already been supported by many Governments, organizations and individual leaders, including the three living winners of the anti-Apartheid awards bestowed on 11 October [30th meeting]. 7. The Special Committee feels that the continuing col· laboration of certain States with the apartheid regime, in disregard of United Nations resolutions, constitutes the main obstacle to ending the inhuman system of apartheid. It notes in particular that the Governments concerned have done little to revoke the licences under which arms and military equipment was manufactured in South Mrica despite the adoption of resolution 418 (1977) by th~ Security Council, which imposed a mandatory arms em- bargo against that country. 1 Sce !?-eport of the World Conference for Action against Apartheid Lagos, 22·26 A.ugust 1977 (United Nations publication, Sales'No. E.77.XIV.2 and corrigendum), chap. X. A/33/PV.S3 9. The Special Committee feels that the mobilization of public opinion in the fullest measure calls for the expansion of information activity by the Centre against Apartheid and the Office of Public Information. While notin& with satisfaction the expansion of audio-visual information and the initiation of United Nations rl1dio programmes to South Africa, the Committee considers that the information activities must be further stepped up so that they may reach the public at large in all regions of the world. The Committee also feels that the increasing importance and urgency of effective international action against apartheid may require the expansion of the membership of the Special Committee, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, and recommends that the General AssemJly consider that aspect. The Committee feels also that it is essential that the Centre against Apartheid should be adequately strengthened to enable it to cope with its increased responsibilities. In that connexion the Special Committee _h~s .recommended that the General Assembly consider upgrading the post of the head of the Centre to the level of Assistant Secretary-General. 10. I should like to conclude by expressing the warm appreciation and thanks of.the 3pecial Committee to the Secretary-General for his unfailing co-operation in the work of the Special Committee. .

I now request the Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against Apart- heid in Sports, Mr. Neil of Jamaica, to present the report of the Committee [A/33/36]. 12. Mr. NEIL (Jamaica), Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against Apartheid in Sports: I have the honour to introduce to the General Assembly the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting "f an International Convention against Apartheid in Sports [A/33/36]. 13. The General Assembly will recall that in paragraph 2 of its resolution 32/105 M it requested the Ad Hoc Committee to draft an international convention against apartheid in sports for submission to the General Assembly at its thirty-third session. In the fulfilment of that mandate, arrangements were made by the Ad Hoc Committee for intensive work to be carried out by a Working Group of the Committee. The result of the work of the Working Group, which appears in the annex to the report, shows clearly that 14. However, differences of view on the wording and substance of ~ome of the remainin~ draft articles were not resolved. Those differences are explained in paragraphs 4 to 7 of the annex to the report. As a result, it was not possible for the Ad Hoc Committee to complete its task of submitting a draft convention to the current session and it was felt by the Committee that further time for consul· tations and negotiations was needed for the completion of the draft convention. In that connexion I would draw the attention of the General Assembly to the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee in paragraph 8 of its report, that th~ mandate of the Committee be extended to enable it to continue its work with a view to submitting a draft convention for the consideration of the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session.

(interpretation/rom Arabic): As this is my first statement at this session of the Assembly, Sir, I shocld like to offer you my sincere congratulations upon your election to the presidency. We are convinced that your vast experience and your brilliant talents will enable you to conduct the work of this session to a successful conclusion. 16. May I also take this occasion to express my thanks and appreciation to the Special Committee against Apartheid for its tireless efforts in the preparation of the report now before us. It is a comprehensive report covering all aspects of the policy ofapartheid and racial discrimination pursued by the Government of South Africa. My delegation, which is a member of that COl11Il}ittee and which has taken part in all phases of the preparation of the report, feels that it containst in all its parts, the necessary guidelines for, and charts the collrse of, the efforts· of the international community to put an end to discrimination and radsm. From this rostrum, we appeal to all Members of this Organization t.o examine this report seriously and to study its various aspects patiently in order better to understand all the odious characteristics of the apartheid policy pursued by the racist Government of Pretoria. 17. As it studies this report, this Assembly is once again examining-and I very much hope this will be the last time-one of the most serious of international problems, one that is a blemish on the honour of the whole of mankind and is an odious violation of basic human rights. This is a problem that confronts not only millions. of oppressed persons in South Africa, but also all peace-loving people who believe in human dignity and in human rights irrespective of race or colour. 18. The question before us has been on our agenda for more than a quarter ofa century. ~evertheless the measures 19. From time to time the racist regime of Pretoria resorts to devious measures, which can deceive no one, such as the creation of bantustans or the granting of sham inde- pendence to the Transkei. Such misleading, naive sub- terfuge can only deceive those who are willing to be taken in. Indeed, the United Nations has unreservedly condemned the establishment of bantustans and declared null and void the alleged independence of the Transkei. Moreover, although the General Assembly has called upon Member States not to recognize the Transkei [resolution 31/6AJ, it is deplorable that some countries, albeit in the minority, have failed to heed that appeal. 20. In spite of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions condemning this policy, the racist Pretoria regime arrogantly continues to pursue its apartheid policy and to flout the resolutions of our Organization. Moreover, it displays flagrant contempt for any measure adopted by the international community. The South African prisons are crammed with thousands of heroic iighters 'and black leaders waiting for their fate to be sealed, whether arbitrarily or through subtle subterfuge, as in the case of Steven Biko, who was arsassinated with 21 other fighters. 21. We appeal to the Secretary-General and to all Member States to intervene in order to save the life of Solomon Mahlangu and other heroic fighters currently being detained in South African prisons, and we demand an end to the trial of the "Bethal 18" and of the "Soweto 11" and the immediate release of all detainees. 23. As the Assembly is aware, the United Nations has for a long time been appealing for the ending of all types of co-operation with South Africa, and guidelines for this have been laid down in the resolutions of the General Assembly and, more specifically, in the Programme of Action against Apartheid adopted at the thirty-first session [resolution 31/6 I, annexJ and reaffirmed at the thirty-second session [resolution 32/105IJ. Those texts call for a boycott of South Africa in all fields. The two world Conferences against apartheid, held in Lagos2 and Geneva,3 reaffirmed that appeal. 24. In spite of all this, we feel bitter and frustrated because a small group of countries with political, economic and military significance continue to co-operate with the racist regime of Vorster, which draws its strength from that co-operation. Of course, we are pleased with the measures adopted by those countries to reduce the volume of their co-operation with South Africa, but we feel that the crimes perpetrated by the Pretoria Government against mankind as a whole, and its violation of all values and ethical principles call for more energetic measures and require that all military, economic and political relations with the Govern- ment of South Africa be broken off so as to isolate it totally and induce it to renounce its racist policy. From this rostrum we make appeal for the continuance of the military .boyc.ott of South Africa and the cessation forthwith of all co-operation with that Government in every economic field. On the other hand, material and moral assistance should be provided to the liberation movements in South Africa so that those movements may do away with the odious form of racism prevalent in South Africa, which is a cancer threatening the whole of the continent. 2S. My delegation asks that all liberation movements in South Africa be recognized and prOVided with the necessary facilities, including in particular an opportunity to open offices in all the capitals of the world, and that the information media be mobilized in order to make public the crimes committed by the Pretoria, Government. We feel that Western countries must prevent any co·ope~ation with 2 World Conference for Action against Apartheid, held in Lagos from 22 to 26 August 1977. 3 World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held in Geneva from 14 to 25 August 1978. 26. [n making this appeal to those countries to help the liberation movements, we wish to exprel'lS at the same time our gratitude for and satisfaction at t1l(') positive measures adopted by a certain number of countries, in particular tlte Scandinavian countries, to exercise greater pressure on the racist rc!gime of Pretoria. Those positive measures are a completely normal reaction and a response to the voice of reason and conscience. The other countries must follow that example and must freeze all their relations with that racist regime. We are optimistic as we follow closely the effective role carried out by the popular non-governmental organizations in this field, because that co-operation ex- presses the soUdarity of peace-loving countries with the heroic people of Azania. Indeed, t1lose organizations are providing valuable assistance in alerting the conscience of tlte world and makin~ it understand the various aspects of the South Africun problem. Those organizations denounce the Nazi and Fascist metllods used by that regime, and it is our duty to provide all possible aid and '\ssistance to those organizations so that they may carry out tI.l~ mn~sion they have undertaken. . 27. The liberation movements in Azania must be given assistance.. in view of tile growing accumulation of arms in tIle huge arsenal of South Africa. The report presented by the Special Committee against A;Jart1reid last year reveals that the racist South African el1'tity increased its military budget within the last 17 years from 44 million rand to some 17 billion rand.• Moreover, the major Powers are exporting weapons to South Africa and helping it to acquire military aircrnft, tanks, submarines and rockets; and the transnational companies are also assisting it to arm itself and to devel~p a South African armanlents. munitions and military equipment industry. Press reports reveal that the l"3cist entity has an anny of 50,000 men and devotes $2 billion ~ year to defence-in other words, 20 per cent of dle whole of that Government's budget. Purchases of annaments from outside amount to SI billif1n, which covers 45 per cent of the needs of the Pretoria Government in the military field. 28. Birds ofa feather flock together, and we wish to draw the attention of the world to the dangers threate"'ing it as a result of co-operation and co-ordination between the racist r6gimes .ofPretoria and Tel Aviv. The collusion between the Israeli and South African Government in a number of • SeeOfficbl R~cards of the General Assembly, Thirty,seCond Session, Supplement No. 22. para. 225. 29. The co-operation between the Zionist and the racist regimes derives from their similarity in terms of their philosophy, their thinking, their mentality and their concepts. Indeed, their common philosophy is entirely based on discrimination. It is a policy that was condemned by the international community, more than 30 years ago, following the terrible nightmare of nazism. The similarity of the two regimes is evidenced in more than one area. According to news reaching us from time to time, the violations by South Africa of the territorial integrity of the front-line African States, namely, Zambia, Angola and Mozambique, constitute for Israel just so many means of justifying its own ~agression against Lebanon and other Arab countries, which, in fact, is carried out on such pretexts as territorial security and tlte fight against revolu- tionaries. 30. I do not wish to dwell at length on this matter because it does not require any detailed explanation. It is a scourge that is of concern to the whole human race, and we must all act in order to eliminate and uproot this scourge. We do not want simple condemnations and ineffective resolutions; we want all tlte efforts of tlte international community to be combined in order to implement those resolutions and apply them effer.tively and purposefully. We hope that the conscience of certain countries which continue to co- operate with the racist entity will be awakened and that tltey will co-operate with us in order to isolate the odious Pretoria regime and, ultimately, uproot it. 31. We are soon to celebrate the, thirtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the same time, we must recall that the Pretoria regime, too, has been in existence for 30 years. Are we going to ensure that our celebration of human rights has significance for millions of people in Azania, who are displaced or persecuted? The meeting rose at 4.25 p.!'11.