S/37/PV.17 Security Council

Mr. President. it gives me great pleasure to convey to you. in the name of the delegation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. our warm congratu- lations on your election to your high office. We have full confidence that your experience and competence will contribute effectively towards a successful out- come to this session. I should also like to pay a tribute to your predecessor. Mr. Kittani. who presided over the proceedings of the thirty-sixth session most. effectively. for which we thank him. I wish to pay a particular tribute to the persistent efforts of the Secretary-General to increase the oppc,rtunities for peace and to alleviate the tensions that prevail in many parts of the world. My delegation takes this opportunity to express its flill support for those efforts and to pledge its full co-operation with him. 40. A careful study of the agenda of this session and the grave issues contained therein. which have serious implications for world peace and security. confirms the bleak foreboding which the Secretary- General has clearly and forcefully expressed in his report. land~. the destruction of ,property and cities and interference in .and manipulation of the internal affairs of other States with a view to serving the interests and aims of the aggressor. 46. It is profoundly disturbing that. instead of taking immediate and decisive action to deter aggressors. assist their victims and prevent the fruits of aggres- sion being reaped. some of the major' Powers cnoose to stand idly by. to condone the aggression or even to obstruct the application against the aggressor of the sanctions fm' which the Charter provides. 47. That approach. with its concomitant weakening of the l)nited Nations. has led to the dangerous situa- tion that the world finds itself in today. It has also led all those countries that obs~rve the Charter and support international law to lose faith and confidence that their legitimate quest for security and just solu- ~ad shouldered their solemn respOi.lsibilities and duties with firmness and sincerity. ' 48. The most glaring example of what I, have just described is to be found in the Middle East. where the situation is characterized by the 'use of force and the imposition of occupation. hegemony and/t,its tl£'('OIn- pli..., to which Israel has resorted persistently. without being subjected to the deterrent action th~t UJould force it to s~bmit to the international will a~d law.. 49. Israel occupied the greater part of Palestine in 1948. and in 1967 it completed the occupation of the remainder. in addition to parts of other Arab lands. In the past few months it has occupied large areas of the sister country of Lebanon. rendering homeless and displacing scores of thousands of its civilian population. Israel has destroyed many of Lebanon's towns and villages. It laid siege to Beirut. devastating large parts of it with unparalleled barbarism by inces- sant land. ~ea and air bombardment. which claimed thousands of innocent victims in dead and wounded. SO. One of the most heinous massacres in history was perpetrated against unarmed civilians. foremost among whom were women. old people and children. The conscience of humanity is still or'!!~iwbelmed with rev~!I£i{in. anger and abhorrence at the \:·lt~ctacle and dimens.ions. of,this barbaric massacre. 'jlihlch has its precedent.in earlier IsraeliJ11a~sacres of Innocent Palestinians at Deir Yassin. Qibya and Kafr Qasim. SI. The main objective of these repeated massacres has invariably been to terrorize and uproot the Pales- tinian people and to silence them. in the vain hope' that such massacres will erase from the conscious- ness of the Palestinian people their yearning to return to their homeland in Palestine. and that they will abandon that homeland to strangers who falsely claim they have a better right to it than its legitimate owners. 52. Israel's ability to persist in its aggressive. expansionist policies. of which the most recent manifestation is the victimization of Lebanon. can be traced back specifically to the time when the whole world. and particularly those great Powers upon w~ich devolves the responsibility'for preserving peace an(l' se~urity• stood idly by or igno~d Israel's aggres- sion ',n lurie 1961.' Atthaf grave momenta'fundi!:' mental deviation occurred in the international col- lective security'system. when the Security Council was prevented from taking action in conformity with its established practice of linking a cease-fire with the imperative demand for complete withdrawal from all the occupied territories. Israel exploited that in order to reap the fruits of its aggression. by continuing its occupation of Arab territories and refusing to withdraw from them. Moreover, Israel refused to are~ ~f SQ$~irity 3.§ encompassing all the lands from Pak~s~~n. in the East. 10 North Africa in the West. is suf,~~~ring from an abundance of security. not from a lack· of it. That is all too dear when we take into account ~~raers military nuclear capability which was documented ir& the Secretary-General's report at the preceding ses~b.rft.1 56. It has ooen the consistent pattern that whenever there appear to be indications on the horizon ofefforts by the international community to achieve a just. comprehensive and lasting solution to the question of Palestine and the conflict in the Middle East Israel resorts to a pre-emptive military strike in order to occupy more Arab lands.~ in order to:thwart any such international -etTorts and· cnmpel the world to divert its endeavours towards deaHng with the com- plexities resulting from the .faits t,ccompli... newly created by Israel's aggression. 57. Hence Israel's invasion of Lebanon and its attempts to !llanipulate Lebanon's political situation arid internid atTairs in a manner which would serve iis objective ofsprea(Jing its"hegemony over the region. Israel was encouraged to launch its invasion by the meek reaction to its earlier invasion of southern Lebanon in March 1978 and its ability to impose its own conditions for a partial withdrawal. Those conditions included the creation of a butTer zone in south Lebanon under the control of mercenaries accountable to its will. When Israel saw that that dangerous precedent had been tolerated by the inter- national community, it embarked upon its further i?~at resolution and the achievement of a cpm- prehensive settlemen~, in accordance with universally agreed principles. 62. Furthermore, Jordan's role was actively pursued in co-operation with sister Arab States, at the Twelfth Ara~ Summit Conference held in Fez in September, in t~e formulation of a collecti' e Arab peace initi~tive compatible with what the international commu.lity has resolved should be the framework for peace. We call upon the internt.tional community 68. We support the solution of the problem of Korea by peaceful means through negotiations between the two parts of Korea, in accordance with the joint communique issued in July 1972.2 69. It is impossible to separate the gloomy climate pervading the world today, which is based on the use of the military option to solve international issues, from the overall thrust of the arms race. The race to devp!op or acquire the mnst modern weapons of legit~matl~self-defence at the expense ofthe satisfaction undermining international peace and security, as has of their pressing economic and social needs. It is happened in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the incumbent upon the major Powers to set an example Middle East. Israel invaded Lebanon and destroyed by showing the political wIll to curb the arms race Beirut, the war in the Falkland Islands broke out, and to work __ guided by the principles of the Charter, the Irano-Iraqi war continues and Afghanistan is still to averting aggression, lhereby providing an atmo- suffering from foreign military intervention. The sphere of confidence and security for all States that situation in Kampuchea is still serious and GO settle- respect international :aw. It is also imperative to ment of the question of Cyprus has been reached. transfer the enormous human and financial resources We live today in a world dominated by selfishness devoured by tlile arms race to the task of reforming and force, the imposition of the will of the victor on the international economic order, which is exposed the vanquished and the reaping by the aggressor of the to huge· strains and is suffering from a structural fruits of his aggression. This situation constitutes disequilibrium. This stale of affairs had led many a serious change in international relations, which countries, particularly developing countries, into a further intensifies disputes and regional and inter- serious situation, made them incapable of servicing national crises. their f{»reign d~bts and brought them to the verge of 74. In our review at the twenty-sixth session disaster. [21st meeting] of international events, we referred to 70. In this statement I have reviewed some of the the establishment of the Gulf Co-operation Council as gravest problems facing our world today and threat- a viable and constructive institution for collective ening its present and future. The family of nations, regional co-operation to meet the aspirations and individually and collectively, must exert seriC'us and ambitions of the people of the region. The six member sincere efforts to deal with the crises. We must not States have agreed in the Charter of the Council to continue to pursue the policies that have brought the abide by their obligations under the Charter of the world to the state of degeneration which we are United Nations, to act together to preserve peace, witnessing today and which the Secretary-General has security and stability in the region without foreign strongly emphasized in his report. It is our earnest interV(~gltion, and to develop political, economic, cul- hope that the imminence of the danger will increase tural and social relations among themselves and with our awareness of the responsibilities incumbent upon other States in the world for their benefit and that of the international community so that it may rise to the world as a whole. As a resuit of the continuous the challenges confronting it and the world may efforts and work ofthe leaders of the Gulf Arab States, become a better place to live in. the Council has been able, within the short pednd that 71. Mr. AL-KHALIFA (Bahrain) (illterpret!ltion has elapsed since its establishment in May 1981, to from Arabic:): I take pleasure in congratulating you, co-ordinatf the efforts and policies of the States of Sir, on your election as President of the thirty-seventh the region in regard to international issues. The unified session of the General Assembly. Your effec~ive economic agreement which was concluded in Novem- contribution to the work of the United Nations and ber last year laid down sound bases for economic self- your long service to your country, the Hungar~an sufficiency among these States and for the co-ordina- People's Republic, have won you the confidence of tion of their commercial and economic policies with the delegations participating in this session. We hope those of other States and other regional economic that your work will be crowned with the success groups. The establishment of the Council is a living to which we all look forward, so that the resolutions example of constructive regional co-operation and of this session may reflect the aspirations of the inter- co-ordination. based on the common interests of the national community and deal with the most important people of the region, to provide them with security, questions and issues on the international scene. stability and prosperity. I am pleased also to pay a tribute 'io your predeces- 75. The Middle East region witnessed this 'year 80r, Mr. Kittani, for the constructive efforts he made the recurrence of serious events which threaten to and the ability and great skill with which he led the undermine world peace, as a result of the criminal work of the last session and the special sessions Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which constitutes a of the General Assembly this year. dangerous precedent in international relations and 72. I take pleasure also, on behalf of the State of takes humanity back to the law of the jungle. Lebanon Bahrain, in congratulating Mr. Perez de Cuellar on is e~posed now to the ugliest forms of a~gression, his election as Secretary-G~neral.His election to this occupation and destruction. The Pa~estinian people high international position is a recognition of his face- the danger of physical liquidation and mass outstanding skill and experience in the work of the exterminaiion by unprecedented means. United Nations. I should like here also to commend 76. Israel, which claims to be a small State sur- him on the valuable report he submitted to the General rounded by other States which surpass ~t in number Assembly at this session. It contains a useful analysis and resources claims that it wants peace with its of current international relations and the challenges neighbours. At the same time, it occupies Arab tern- confronting the Organization, and it will assist us in tories one after the other, expelling and killing the dealing with the questions and issues on the agenda. legitimate inhabitants in order to annex such territories 73. Since the last session the world has witnessed to its racist se~tlements. It subjects the rest of the exceedingly dangerous developments in international inhabitants of those territories to the worst forms atta~k contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and many resolutions in ltds respecL We ask the Assembly whether such a poijcy, based on aggres~~ion and expansion, implies in fact a desire for peace? 77. The tragedy of the Middle East arises from the denial of the legitinate rights of the Pale~tinian people. The Palestini~!l question is the core of th~ Arab-Israeli dispute. A just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region can 'i>'; attained onl,y by the withdrawal of Israel from all occup:ed Amb territories and the recognition of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, partic- ularly their rigbt to establish their independent State on their na~ional soil. 78. The question of Palestine. which has existed since the establishment of the United Nations. is no longer unkno'wn to anybody in its dimensions and the tragedy of its people. It is the ques~ionof a people expelled from its home and land, and denied for more than 34- years the ex'~rcise of its inalknable rights. That people, more than any other people in history, is still suffering from homelessnes3, depriva- tiOh' and mass extermination at the hands of worM zionism. In spite of t~1'. recognition by the United Nations of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Pale~,tinian people to their homeland, Israel denies them these rights and ignores aB the United Nat~ons. resolutions which acknowledge even part of the inalienable and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. 79. The Israeli invasion of Lebanon aimed at the complete subjugation of that peaceful country and the destruction of its independence and sovereignty and the integrity of its territory. We warned from the start of the consequences that such aggression could have on Lebanon and the repercussions it would have on the situation in the Middle East in general, and the Palestinian question in particular. To inform the world public of the dangers of such aggression. the Arab States have contacted aJJ States permanent members' of tne Security Council urging them to c'ontain this serious situation, put an end to it and expose. its dangers and repercussions. They have asked them to shoulder their responsibilities under the provisions of the Charter for the maintenance of peace and security, and to stop the massacre and acts of genocide perpetrated by the Israeli forceg against the Palestinian and Le"'!?=1ese people. They Have also asked for an international move to' put an end to such unprovoked aggression. save the inde- pendence of Lebanon and the integrity of its territory. imple,'nent Security Council resolutions 508 (1982) alld 509 ,1982j. which call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the invading Israeli forces frpm aJJ Lebanese territories, and support the efforts of the Lebanes~ Government to ex~rcise its legitimate authority and complete sovereignty within the internationaJJy recognized borders of Lebanon. 82. At this crucial time, we ap~c.~1 ~o the cilmilcience of the world. which :s represeT~'~e... by the illt~mbers here" 10 ~j(..e to it ih~!~ the Org~mf,:e:atiGr! moves frmn the; stage of adopting resolutions of cOl11clemna~bn to t~.a~ QfhnpJcmtfoting those resoh..:~ons. "Ye ccnskh,ar ~hat it is the dety of the General i\ssembly t.f.' req'JeSi the Security Council to i{;con§fd~rthe relations of the United Nations with Israel. which is not a pe';(ce- ioving Men-.her and ;s beul on ~6gression lind e~:p~m­ sionism, a:; shown bJ' it~ vblat.it)n~ of tl1tcrrmdmlal agreements ap.d persistent breaciles of the Charter and resCJfUtions ef the lJ ni~ed Nati~,..!s. 83. ~sr~ei claims th~t peace al1Q Seq~ril" are the reason for its 3n1'la...,ion of Lebanon. its ClJ1nex3\ion of ttl~ Dolan Heights and itf ;;Ihumarr practices again~t the inhabitants of the GC~ up~ed Arab terri- tories of the West Bank &Ild the Gaza Mrip" but it is in f~lct bent on more expans:on. aggression and domina- tion. No Member of the United Naiions may invade and occupy the territory of ano!her Member on the pretext of strcnztheninL its .'t;', ;ty and defending its borders. Isrd~. has made , S ~ecurity the excuse for perpetueting its expansionist policy in Arab terri- tories. 84. Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, in spite of Security Council resolution 497 (1981), means that it has no intention of withdrawing from the Arab territories occupied since 1967 but is aiming at the Judaization of those territories to serve the ambitions and interests of zionism in the region. 85. Israel's occupation of Arab territories does not confer on Israel any sovereignty over those tel ritories. however long that occupation may last. Its attem'pt to legitimize its occupa6:m of those territories i~ in clear breach of the principles of international law. particula.-ly the Geneva Convention on the Protection ofCivilian Periions in Time of.War; of 12 August 1949. 86. It is indeed regrettable that the world has wit- nessed the aggressive and criminal pract!ces of Israel in Lebanon. the West Bank and the Golan Heights without the Security Council having been able to carry out its responsibiliti~s and deter Israel from pursuing its aJgression. because of t~e use of the veto by the United States of America time and time again to prevent the Security Council from adopting det'~rrent measures under Articles 41 and 42 of the Charter. ~l1lings and criminal acts it perpetra'ied by using the United Nations in establishing durable peace in inten.ationaHy banned shells and weapons and the r~g:'ml. It is in line with th,~ caU of the S~~cretary- destroying buildings ove,r the heads of their occu- G~:),eral in his report on the work of the Orga,nization par ~s in or~e of the hars~!est and ugliest "ets of to e~tabHsh a more stable system in the wo~Jd based genodde, which '.vas witnessed daily by the who~e on sn'lem'",tional coHective security ami to encourage world th~'ouglil the mass media,. the useofthe machinery ofthe Charterfor this purpnse. 89. Th~ Palestini~il people ~.u ••;e proved their fight;'lg 94. We believe tha! '-his plan provides a good oppor- ability by their heroic stand ,.gainst th~ Israeli invasio;:. tunity fOl" the solution of a question which has proved They have prov~u lO th1" world that they are not diffic:ult to solve during the past three :>~~~ades-a me~eiy a tirHl go"vap of t ~rmrists, as Israel claims question which, if it remains unsolved, will tht~aten but people stl~~tfitlg to reJa~n yheir legitimate rights. the whole world with grave dangers. Therefore, we The Pa!esthk~ian people' ~ i,eroic struggle, under the appeal to all States to support this plan and work ieademhip of the Palestine Liberation Organization towards its implementation, in order to maintain [PLO], has enhanced the prestige of that organization peace and security in that sensitive part'of the w,orld. as the sole and legitimate representative of the Pales- 95. The Iraqi-Iranian war has now en~ered its third tinian people and 3trengthened the loyalty of the year, since it broke out in September 1:·80. This war Palestinian people to the PLO. has begun to take on new and more dangerous dimen- 90. Early last month, the leaders of the Arab States sions threatening to create· an explosive situation in held the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference at Fez. the whole region. There is no doubt that if this war My country was one of those Arab States that parti- continues, it wiil spread and drive the whole region cipated in the Conference. The Conference issued a into the turmoil of an international conflict. unified Arab plan for the solution of the Palestinian 96. We have on more than one occasion expressed question [see A/37/696]. This plan represents a genuine great concern and deep sorrow at the continuation desire to find a durable solution of the 'Palestinian of the dispute between Iraq and Iran and called for question and the problem of the Middle East. It con- a stop to this long and bloody conflict in order to sists of eight points, which, in our view, are a good avert more bioodshed and rescue both countries basis for the solution of the problems relating to the from the ravages and destruction of war. situation in Palestine and the Middle East. It is based on international legality as represented by the prin- 97. We e~rnestiy hope that these two neighbour ciples and re~evant resolutions of the United Nations, States will be able to negotiate a just and durable starting with General Assembly resolution 181 (11) solution to their dispute, particularly after the witl)- on the partition of Palestine. drawal by Iraq of its forces from the international border and its declaration that it is ready to neg9tiate 91. The plan ensures respect for international resolu- with Iran. and solve the differences existing between tions and guarantees the Palestinian people the them by peaceful means. We also hope ·~ar the good minimum of their rights as prescribed in United offices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Nations resolutions, including their right to sover- the non-aligned countries and the United Nations wiIJ eignty, self-determination and the exercise of their succeed in securing a ce~se-fire between the two inalienable national rights on their national soil. It countries and finding a solution to their differences guarantees freedom of worship to all religions in the by peaceful means. We continue to welcome, as we Holy Places. did before, the response of the sister country of Iraq 92. The plan consists of the following eight' points. to the mediation efforts of the Good Offices Com- First, the withdrawal of Israel from all Arab territories mittee t particularly its readiness to observe a cease- occupied in 1967, including Arab Al Quds; secondly, fire and withdraw its forces to the international the dismantling of settlements established by Israel border. We hope that the Islamic Republic of Iran on Arab territories after 1967; thirdly, the guarantee will also respond to the mediation efforts of that Com~ of freedom of worship and practice of religious rites mittee in the same manner as Iraq has already done.. for all religions in the holy shrines; fourthly, the 98. The situation in the Horn of Africa is still a reaffirmation of the Palestinian people's right to self~ source of concern and instability. We hope that dis- ~~acefully, and we hope that collective efforts will be !Deet th~ needs of the ~orld without changing current made to find a just solution to this dispute so that mternatlonal economic relations to remove the peace and stability may prevail in the region. injustice and. inequality that exist in the present international economic order. lOO. We welcome the efforts for the independence of Namibia made by some Western States in the 104.. It is i~deed regrettable that the second special contact group. We welcome the positive steps taken sessIOn on disarmament, held last June, ended without to implement the United Nations plan for the inde- any appreciable results in the efforts of the United penden.ce of that country pursuant to Security Council ~ations to adoJ:!t a comprehensive programme of resolution 435 (1978), which is the proper legal frame- disarmament vahd to the end of this century. The work for the peaceful settlement of the Namibian failure to adopt effective measures at that session question. We should like to reaffirm Bahrain's support is the result, in our view, of the deterioration of the for and solidarity with the just struggle of the people international situation, regional conflicts and the of Namibia under the leadership of SWAPO. We policy of confrontation in the relations between the appeal to all States Members of the United Nations great Powers, shrouded as they are in suspicion as to put pressure on the Government of Pretoria and well as rivalry, the arms race and non.adherenc~ to to impose sanctions against it \lnder Chapter VII of the concept of collective security pres(:ribed in the the Charter in order to compel it to abandon the Charter. detested po!icy of apartheid it practises against the 105. In this context, we applaud the n~port of the black maJonty of the people of South Africa and to Independent Commission on Disarmament and support the struggle of that majority to regain its Security Issues prepared under the chaj~·manship of legitimate rights to freedom, equality and human Olof Palme and entitled "Common Security-a pro- dignity. ~ramme for disar~amenr'.3 That report stresses the 101. Faithful to the principle of non-intervention Importance ofsurvival, rather than the annihilation that in the domestic affairs of States, the State of Bahrain !hreatens humanity, in ~m objective, impartial and has called for an end to the Soviet intervention in mdependent way and pomts out the fatal dangers in Afghanistan. We have made clear before the Assembly the manufacture and trade in arms. It emphasizes our stand with regard to the settlement of the Afghan the need for confidence among States before an question. We are still convinced that there should be attempt is made to achieve international disarmament. a political solution iD this question in accordance 1~. We hope that the General Assembly will con- with the United Nations resolutions that ca)) for the slder the report with the attention it deserves so that withdrawal ,?f foreign. forces from Afghanistan, for the huge amounts of money spent on armaments re.spect for Its sovereignty, independence and non- may be rechannelled to projects for economic and ahgned status and for respect for the right of the social development, for the maintenance of security people of Afghanistan freely to choose their political, and for affording prosperity to mankind. economic and social sys~em free from any foreign 107. After nine sessions of negotiations and exhaus- intervention in their domestic affairs. tive discussions, the Third United Nations Conference 102. With regard to the Korean question, the State 0!1 the Law o.f the S~a ~as able to adopt a comprehen- of Bahrain, respecting the will of the Korean people, slve convention which IS regarded as a great achieve- welcomes the efforts made to settle peacefully the ment by the United ~tions in the field of the regula- di~pute between Nort~ and South. We hope these tion and codification of the rules of the law of the sea wdl lead to .the establishment of peace and security and the exploitation of the resources of the seas and undc::r a umfied State free from any foreign inter- oceans, which are the common heritage of mankind. ventlon. We hope that alJ States participating in the Con- ference will accept the Convention4 after it is signed 103. The world economic situation is no better this at the final session of the Conference. year than it was last year. The world economy still suffer~ from recession and inflation. The gross national 108. In spite of the failure of the United Nations product of some developing countries has diminished to acc~m~lish many ~f the pUll?oses and principles because of the scarcity of national resources and the for which It was established, particularly those having decrease of financial aid and loans from developed to do with international disputes and crises, it has to develcping countries, particularly to those of low been able ~o do great and positive things in many income. The global negotiations for the establishment fields--economic, cultural, humanitarian and others. ofa new international economic order stilI face difficul- This emphasizes the importance ofits existence and the ties that are caused by the policies and positions of need to support its principles and activities and to the developed countries. The hopes that were pinned act for the implementation of its r~solutions so as £0 on the International Meeting on Economic Co-opera- strengthen its role in interna,ional life. tion and Development, which was held at Cancun 1~9. My country's delegation hopes that at t}}js ses- in 1981, to estabHsh a just and fair new international Slon the General Assembly will adopt appropriate IW. Mr. BOUCETTA (Morocco) (interpretation from Arabic): Itgives me great pleasure, Mr. President, to extend to you, on behalf of the delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco and in my own capacity, our congratulations on your election as President of this session of the Assembly. There is no doubt that your diplomatic career and your knowledge of both inter- national and United Nations affairs will assist you in bearing the considerable responsibility that is now yours. The delegation of Morocco assures you of its full co-operation in making your presidency a success, particularly because of the relations offriend- ship and co-operation our two countries enjoy. It also giv,~s me pleasure to commend your predeces- sor, Mr. Kittani, for his untiring efforts during an event- ful year in which he evinced admirable foresight and patience, which was very much appreciated. Ill. i should like to avail myself of this oppor- tunity to extend my cordial congratulat~ons to Mr. Perez de Cuellar on his election as Secretary- General. I am sure that his considerable experience in international affairs and the respect and confidenc~ he enjoys among the world community qualify him to work creatively and positively in the defence of international peace and (0 ensure the triumph of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. I wish also to congratulate his predecessor, Mr. Waldheim, on his action and efforts at a time characterized by tension and danger. l~lr. LlIsllka (Zambia), Vice-President, took th'.! Chair. 112. It is traditional in this Hall at the beginning of each session of the General Assembly for our common hopes and aspirations for the strengthening of peace and understanding, the triumph of justice and right and the emergence of an era of prosperity and well-being for mankind to be expressed. It is regrettable to note at the beginning of this debate that hotbeds of tension are still giving rise to serious threats to international peace and security and that the international situation is deteriorating because of the new obstacles wh;ch have recently almost shattered our hope of establishing genuine and comprehensive detente. 113. This state of affairs will persist as long as there are those who wHfully violate the principles of the Charter and flout international law, infringing the dignity of man and his b8sic rights; as long as colo- nialism, racial discrimination and the deterioration of the international economic situation, which results in ir.creasing impoverishment of the world population, continue. In addition to this, the arms race and its 119. In the face of this human tr.:Jgedy it is more necessary than ever for the General Assembly to take all the measures called for, including the imposition of sanctions, to compel Israel to put an end to its aggression against the Palestinian people, to withdraw forthwith and unconditionally from the territory of 123. The Arab nations, out of their concern to use all ways and means at their disposal to re-establish in the Middle East peace based on justice and to contribute to the efforts exerted by all the .peace:. loving forces in the world, in the vanguard of which is the United Nations, and on the basis ofintemational law, adopteri the Arab peace plan, with the foHowing elements: first, Israel's withdrawal from all the territo- ries it has occupied since 1%7, including Jerusalem; secondly, the right of the Palestinian people to self- determination, to the exercise of its inalienable rights under the leadership of the PLO, its sole legitimate representative, and to the establishment of an inde- pendent State on its land; thirdly, the establishment by the Security Council of guarantees for peace amocg the States of the region. 124. A study of those principles should convince the Assembly and the world public that the Arab nation desires peace based on justice ~md a solution to the Middle East problem that guarantees to the Palestinian p~ople its right to self-determination and to establish itS own independent State and that makes it possible for all the States of the region to live in peace, with Security Council guarantees. 125. Morocco, whose Sovereign. His Majesty King Hassan 11, presided over the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference, calls upon all peace-loving States, and especiaJly the great Powers, permanent members ofthe Security Council, to support right and justice, to study the Arab peace plan carefuJly and to adopt the prin- ciples contained in that plan as the basis for the solution of the Middle East and Palestine problems. We hope that there will be a favourable reaction t9 this Arab initiative and that it will usher in a new era .that will restore peace and stabiJity to the Middle East region and bring to an end the state of war which has afflicted the people of the region for so long. 126. The favourable reaction and the broad support with which the Arab peace plan has met on the inter- national scene is encouraging. We hope tbat all States especially the great Powers ~rmanent members of the 133. The Implementation Committee met again on 8 and 9 February 1982, to decide on a time-frame for the cease-fire and referendum. In co-operation with African leaders, Morocco worked with sincerity to put the final touches on this African effort, which would have ended one of the disputes which have been the concern of the OAU over the past years. Good will dictated that all efforts made by the African leaders should be given a chance to bear fruit, but there are those who do not wish to find a solution to this problem, and that fact led to the can- cellation of the initiative. When it became dear that there was a serious turn of events which would lead to the derailment of failure of hegemonist expansion plans and confirm the inalienable rights of Morocco through free consultation under United Nations and OAU auspices, attempts were made to abort that process and to undermine the resolutions adopted at the OAU Assembly at Nairobi. The well known plot thus took place at Addis Ababa which immobilized the work of the OAU and its activities halted when certain countries. in secret collaboration with the OAU administrative Secretary-General, tried to impose a group ofmercenaries as participants in the thirty-eighth 'ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of .the OAU. That wanton act was in flagrant violation of the QAD Charter, which stipulates in more than one place that membership is confined to independent sovereign States. That act was. furthermore, a con- spiracy to undermine all the practical measures adopted by Africa to solve the Saharan problem in a peaceful manner. 134. The leaders of the African nations. represented by the "wise men". the founders ofthe OAU, opposed whic~l is one of the founders of the OAU-would very much like that organization to continue. Morocco will thus do its utmost to maintain and support the CAU so that it may continue to play its vital and effective role as an instrument of common African action. Morocco is extremely concerned that legitim~cy be restored to the OAU and that the organization's administrative bodies should concern themselves with the implementation of African ;esolutions with in~~g.­ rity and neutrality, free of any bias and without 'be'- coming involved in current disputes among "certain member countries. .- 139. The United Nations followed closely the African meetings held last year to discuss the question of Sahara. Its representatives gave to the African leaders, useful help by describing the experience of the United Nations in the holding of referendums. They know the 'stages that must be gone through In arriving at a cease-fire and holding a referendum. 140. Morocco. which has always proclaimed its adherence to international legitimacy, reaffirms its c :.~mmitment to the resolutions of the eighteenth session of the OAU Assembly concerning Sahara. which were supported last year by the General Assembly. It sees the way chosen by Africa as the best means of ending the artificial tensions in north- west Africa. Proceeding from that .premise. Morocco 144~ Morocco reaffirms its support for the people of South Africa, which must regain its dignity and free- dom. It calls on those countries which have relations with Pretoria to break off their economic and military collaboration with it in order to induce it to end that regime, which is a chaJlenge to the most basic legal and ethical principles. 145. Morocco, which is pledged to defend all strug- gles for liberation, reaffirms its determination to defend all struggles for liberation in Africa, in the south, the Horn of Africa, Eritrea or elsewhere in the cOl'i:~inent. 146. For more th~n two years a destructive war has been raging between two neighbouring Islamic countries, Iraq and the Islamic Republic .of Iran. Those two countries were the cradles of ancient civilizations tliat helped to develop the thinking, science and progress of humanity. If is regrettable that the war between those two countries should still be going on despite all the untiring efforts to bring it to an end. We hope that it will soon be possible to reach a settlement that win effect a cease-fire, safe- guard the inalienable rights of the two States, and restore stability and security to the area, within the framework of Security Council resolutions 514 (1982~ of 12 July 1982 and 522 (1982) of 4 October 1982. . 147. The ~nitjative taken by our sister nation of Iraq recently, which took the form of withdrawing its army to the borders it had held before the hos- tilities, is, we believe, a positive step towards the restoration of peace and the consolidation of rela- tions of good-neighbourliness. Iraq's response to all mediation efforts to end this conflict deserves our encollJragement and praise. We also pin great 154. Morocco, associating itselfwith those who work for disarmament at the regional or the international level, appeals to the super-Powers, which bear a special responsibility for the maintenance of peace, to redouble their efforts to reach agreement on a comprehensive programme of disarmament, with a carefully prep~red timetable, so tbat disarmament does not become a mere theory which cannot be put into practice. 155. The utmost attention must be paid to tackling the chronic injustice of the world economic system. particularly since the developing countrie§ are the NOTES I See A/36/43I. 2 Official Recorcls of the Gellf?ml A.'isembly. T",enl)'-.'ie,·elllh Sess;oll. Supplemellt No. 27. annex I. 3 See A/CN.IO/38 and A/CN.IO/SI. 4 Offidtt! Rf!("(]rcls of the Th;rcl UIl;tec/ Ncll;mrs Cm:/erem'f! cm tll(' Le",' ofthe Sett. vol. XV!!. document A/CONF.62/122. !l See Offidc,1 Re("(]rcls olthe Secur;ty Cmmd/. Th;rt)'-.'i;:cth Yf!ttr. Supplemelll for J,d)'. August emcl September 1981. document S/14692, annex. 6 R~/port of the IllIerllClt;mwl Ccmferellce cm Kttmpu('hett. Ne'" York. 13-17 Ju/~' 1981 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.1.20), annexes I and 11.