S/38/PV.10 Security Council

This afternoon the General Assembly will hear an address by Mr. Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. On behalf of the Assembly, I have the honour to welcome him to the United Nations and to invite him to address the Assembly. 2. Mr. MUBARAK (Egypt) (interpretation/rom Ara- bic): It is my pleasure to address, in the name of Egypt, this solemn gathering of heads of State and representa- tives of nations in this Hall, which is the forum for peace, justice and right and the symbol of the consensus of the international community on the noble objectives and lofty principles guiding relations between States and peoples. 3. I congratulate the people and Government of Saint Christopher and Nevis on attaining national independence and their admission to membership in the United Nations, and on behalf of the people and Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt I wish them prosperity and progress. 4. I also wish to extend to you, Sir, and to your friendly country, Panama, my congratulations on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly during this important session, which witnesses an active move by the international community to face up to political and eco- nomic issues endangering international security and pros- perity both now and in the future. 5. In the present circumstances, it is of the utmost significance to underline the necessity of strengthening the United Nations and consolidating its role in main- taining international peace and security, of enhancing its effectiveness and capabilityin contributing to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and of urging all States to abide by the rule of law in their policies and dealings. 6. In his report on the work of the Organization in 1982,1 the Secretary-General stated: "I believe therefore that an important first step would be a conscious recommitment by Governments to the Charter. "Certainly we have strayed far from the Charter in recent years. Governments that believe they can win an international objective by force are often quite ready to do so, and domestic opinion not infrequently applauds such a course. The Security Council, the pri- maryorgan of the United Nations for the maintenance ofinternational peace and security, all too often finds itself-unable to take decisive action to resolve interna- tional conflicts and its resolutions are increasingly defied or ignored by those that feel themselves strong enough to do so. Too frequently the Council seems powerless to generate the support and influence to ensure that its decisions are respected, even when these NEW YORK are taken unanimously. Thus the process of peaceful settlement ofdisputes prescribed in the Charter is often brushed aside." 7. Egypt considers that the international situation re- quires a serious pause and a dynamic approach that transcends the traditional outlook which has bridled our movements since the Second World War. An objective reassessment of the contemporary international system and a search for an optimum remedy of its deficiencies are strongly warranted by the prevailing circumstances. The early convening of a special session to consider this issue in all its aspects would be timely and appropriate. 8. In our view, the issue is not the performance or the effectiveness of the Organization or its principal organs. The issue is basically and primarily related to the overall international situation, the role of the great Powers, their special responsibilities, the policies they pursue and the interests they represent. 9. The issue involves certain countries' international behaviour and disregard for the purposes and principles of the Chart.er of the United Nations, their deviation from the rule of law and their tendency to resort to the use of force to attain political and economic gains, thus under- mining the basis of the post-World-War international system. 10. Highest on our agenda ;s the elimination of the threat of nuclear war, a subjeCt which should be accorded the greatest attention. Such a war could annihilate human civilization and achievements since the dawn of history; there would be no victors or vanquished; mankind would forfeit its past, present and future. We should therefore redouble our efforts to prevent such a thing from hap- pening, wherever we are geographically situated and whatever are our political or ideological persuasions. It is also incumbent upon both super-Powers, in particular, to exert further efforts successfully to conclude tbe nuclear disarmament talks at Geneva, notwitbstanding the increasing bilateral tensions caused by other issues. The destiny of U3 all is in the balance. 11. My country was among the very first of those that were particularly conscious of the necessity of nuclear disarmament. Our deep awareness of this fact took shape both in our long-standing support for the principles of nuclear non-proliferation and in our accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex), as well as in the devotion of our efforts to peaceful uses of nuclear energy in fur- therance of the objectives of economic development. A case in point is that the call for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East was an Egyptian initiative. 12. The issue of general and complete disarmament cannot be ignored. The spiraling production of conven- tional weapons and their use constitute a serious threat to the security of many medium-sized and small coun- tries and an onerous burden upon their economies. It suffices to point out here that the world expenditure on armaments in 1982 exceeded $650 billion-which equals the revenue of 2 billion people living in the 50 poorest d~termination and on enabling that people to estab- lish their national entity on their soil, as well as on the tori~l1 integrity. We pledge our support to the efforts of the Organization of African UnityJOAU] to put an end to foreign intervention in Chad an to enable its people to direct their energies to the challenge of reform and reconstruction. 37. By the same token, we cannot afford to overlook the existing problems in Asia and Latin America, partic- ularly the question of the peaceful unification of Korea, the situation in Kampuchea, the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, the dispute over the Falkland Islands and the escalating tension in Central America. We cannot afford the luxury of standing aloof from those events. Those events affect us; we suffer from their consequences regardless ofthe geographic distances sepa- rating us. 38. We stand today at the crossroads. The choice is obvious: either we enjoy a comprehensive peace based on justice under which all nations and peoples could live, or we suffer from chaos, denial of rights and lawlessness. 39. The only course open to us is to double our efforts so that we can nurture the tree of freedom, hoist the banners of peace and build for progress. 40. We have to proceed together on the path of equity and virtue. There is no real conflict of interest between nations of the North and those of the South or between East and West. The only contradiction is between life and death, between existence and extinction and between war and peace. 41. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the General Assembly I wish to thank the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the impor- tant statement he has just made. Mr. Pradhan (Bhutan), Vice-President, took the Chair. 42. Mr. van den BROEK (Netherlands): I should like fIrst of all to congratulate Mr. Illueca upon his election to the presidency of the Assembly's thirty-eighth session, and I am fully confident that he will guide our deliber- ations with benevolence and wisdom. 43. With the chair's permission, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, warm words of welcome to the new Member, Saint Christopher and Nevis. c~)Untry, faced with armed intervention, had recourse to the Security Council without gaining any satisfaction on 68. As a first and urgent step to get things moving the Assembly, in my modest opinion, should call on South Africa to stop its military incursions into Angola and to agree to a cease-fire. This seems a first prerequisite, as the Secretary-General rightly advocated, "to reduce the tensions ami contentious issues and to put an end to conflict in the area as a whole".7 After so many years of frustration an initiative of this kind may not seem good enough, but it could serve to put matters on the right track. 69. As far as sanctions against South Africa are con- cerned, the world community simply cannot indulge South Africa's forever defying the principles of-inter- State and human behaviours. Apartheid is one of the most abhorrent examples of racial discriminatio'n and of institutionalized denial of human rights. For ~hatreason the Netherlands has associated itself wiih numerous Assembly resolutions calling for sanctions agaAnst South Africa, provided that these sanctions are selective and compulsory, both being basic requirements for anyeffec- tive impact on South Africa's policies. For some years my country's delegation has sponsored the Assembly's resolutions on investments in South Africa. Moreover, we have supported the call for an oil embargo, also on the basis ofa mandatory decision by the Security Council. 70. I believe the best thing would now be for us to concentrate our immediate efforts on one measure, aimed at strengthening the existing United Nations arms em- bargo against South Africa. We feel it is of the utmost importance to deny this country the means to pursue its policies by force. Its constant pattern of armed interven- tion in neighbouring countries and repression of internal opposition forces obliges us to deprive it ofany assistance in the field of the manufacture or acquisition of arms. The Security Council, in its resolution 418 (1977), has already prohibited the sale or transfer of arms to South Africa. In view of South Africa's efforts to build up its own capacity in arms manufacturing, we should agree to expand the existing embargo by a ban on arms imports from South Africa, since such purchases enhance the economic viability of the South African arms industry and strengthen that country's autarky in the armaments field. 71. This year the Assembly will celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration was the foundation for the International Bill of Human Rights. This comprehen- sive body of human lights norms must be considered one of the greatest achievements of the United Nations and, together with the Charter, as the basis for United Nations involvement with human rights. My Government was encouraged by the Assembly's adoption last year of resolution 37/200, affirming that "a primary aim of international co-operation in the field of human rights is a life of freedom and dignity for each human being, that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interrelated and that the promotion ofone category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the others". By adopting this resolution the Assembly has committed itself to an even-handed and strong policy in the field of Po~and, which in the past has supported calls for co- operation by other Governments, has shown no sign so far of heeding the legitimate concern of the intemational community over the continued violation ofthe fundamen- tal rights and freedoms of the Polish people. 74. It is equally to be hoped that the Government of Chile will co-operate with the Commission's new special rapporteur. Speaking of Chile, I want to add that the democratic forces in that country have my Government's full support and that I feel they deserve the support of other countries as well. It is heartening to realize that no amount of official repression has been able to eradicate the movement for the restoration of democracy. But Chile is not the only country where such a movement has proved to be stronger than the regime it has to resist. 75. The full horror ofthe scale on which the fundamen- tal right tu life itself is violated became painfully clear in the report on summary or arbitrary executions, includ- ing extra-legal executions, submitted to the Commission by Mr. Amos Wako. Conservative estimates cited by Mr. Wako put the number of known victims of such executions at no less than 2 million in the last 15 years: men and women, young and old, who were perceived in one way or another to be in opposition to their Govern- ment. Since then reports of summary or arbitrary execu- tions and of disappearances, torture and other violations of the sanctity of the human pe~rson continue to be re- ceived. We are reminded daily of the human suffering taking place in various parts of Central America, where the names of some countries have acquired an unfortu- nate connotation of pain and fear. 76. From Iran, tOQ, we hear of the maltreatment and execution of members of the Baha'i faith, in defiance of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief [resolution 36/55]. 77. In many parts of the world the full enjoyment of human rights is undercut by the state ofdevelopment and by sheer poverty. These problems will figure high in the economic section of the agenda of this- session. The President of the European Economic Community has dealt extensively, also on our behalf, with the issues involved in international economic co-operation and North-South relations. 78. The economic issues before this session will once again centre on the ability of the international commu- nity to make a common assessment of the present state of the world economy and to make the necessary recom- mendations for concrete and immediate action. The disappointing results of the sixth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which took place at a crucial moment, given the situation of the world economy, have shown that the international community is deeply divided over the question of how to solve the present economic crisis and in particular on the role that Governments should play in overcoming this crisis. At the same time that session showed broad agreement on the analysis of the present situation. There seemed to be agreement on the interdependence of our confidence-bu.~ildingmeasures. These measures can create more openness about military activities and thereby create a climate more conducive to arms control in general. It is for this reason that I warmly welcome the convening of the Conference on Confidence- and Security-building Measures and Disarmament in Europe, to be held at Stockholm. S8. Nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear war, with ail that this implies, is one of the most chal- lenging issues confronting us all. Here at the United Nations we should not relax our efforts to achieve even- tually a comprehensive prohibition of nuclear testing as an effective collateral measure. Such a prohibition would constitute an important step forward on the road to nuclear disarmament by diminishing the dangers of both horizontal and vertical proliferation. The Netherlands continues to attach great importance to the Treaty on the Non-Prolif~rationof Nuc!ear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex]. We therefore co-sponsored the request to include on the agenda of this session of the Assembly the question of an early and adequate preparation for the third review conference of the parties to the Treaty [see A/38/192]. A failure such as that of the last review conference should at all costs be prevented. An agreement between the nucJear Powers on nuclear security assur- c;ces to non-nuclear-weapon States would constitute a positive contribution to these efforts. 89. The application of space technology evokes admi- ration of man's ingenuity but also fear of his perennial temptation to turn his c?"pacities to evil ends. It appears that we still have the opportunity to prevent an arms race in outer space which, if it took place, would add a new dimension to the existing world-wide arms buildup. Be- fore we are overtaken by rapid technological develop- ments, especially in the field of anti-satellite weapons, we must agree to forego such a dangerous course. The *Mr. Abe spoke in Japanese. The English version of his statement wa'S supplied by the delegation. j 11. The realh;ation of credible disarmament in both nuclear and conventional weapons demands the estab- lishment of verification systems for each disarmament measure. Recognizing this, Japan. Ms consistentlystressed the importance of verification in the disarmament field. 112. Japan suggested a number of concrete measures to this end at last year's second special session devoted to disarmament, including the establishment ofan inter- national verification unit within the United Nations framework,8 and I hope these Japanese measures will be promptly implemented. 113. If verification is to be effective, it is important to promote the disclosure of a broad range of informa- tion regarding military affairs and disarmament. It was in this spirit that the system of standardized reporting for military expenditures was established under resolu- tion 35/142 B, adopted in 1980. Japan hopes as many countries as possible, regardless of their different social systems, will report on their own military spending in accordance with these standards and so lay the founda- tions for spending reductions. 114. With these e~.ements as our basic approach, Japan has made every effo:rt to promote disarmament. I assure you that Japan is resolved to continue to play a positive role for disarmament to enhance global security and hence to create a brighter future for all mankind. 115. In June I attended the sixth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, at Bel- grade. The North-South issue debated there is a theme about which both sides have been concerned and on which they have worked together for a solution. At root, world peace and prosperity cannot be achieved, at this time of increasingly interdependent relations, without efforts by both the North and the South and without co- operation based upon these efforts. The struggles of the developing countries for economic development can be rewarded with success orJy in a sound international economic environment and only with the support of the industrialized countries. Likewise, economic growth in 128. I would emphasize that no country can be indif- ferent to this conflict and that all countries should refrain from any action which might invite its escalation. More- over, I strongly hope that the Secu.rity Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, will take effective measures to resolve it. Japan will continue to work on its own to create a climate conducive to peace, and at the same time it will spare no effort to co-operate with the constructive efforts of the United Nations for an early settlement of the conflict by peaceful means. 129. Japan has been concerned over the oil spill from the Nayruz oil-field, and I sincerely welcome Iran's suc- cessful capping of one of the damaged wells and its halting the outflow in response to expressions of concern by the international community. Japan very much hopes that the other damaged wells also will be capped as soon as possible, and we are prepared to extend all possible co-operation to this end. 130. Turning next to Lebanon, Japan sincere~y wel- comes the cease-fire recently agreed upon by the various 144. However, it is also true that the United Nations has compiled a proud record of achievement on behalf of world peace and prosperity in the 38 years since its founding. We have a grave responsibility to pass on to future generations not only the brilliant achievements of the United Nations but also an even more effective and more vital Organization. 145. Japan would like to pledge, together with all other Member States, its rededication to the revitalization of the United Nations, reaffmning its own international responsibilities. 146. The questions of war and peace have been con- sidered eternal throughout human history. Since ancient times, people have lived either in intervals of peace be- tween wars or in intervals of war between peace, and this fate s~med unavoidable. 147. However, even though we cannot yet eradicate from this earth a certain level of hostilities, the interna- tional community has now entered a time when it is virtually inconceivable that the super-Powers, possessing destructive capabilities equivalent to more than 1 million Hiroshima-type ato~c bombs, would mobilize all their resources and engage in a war of annihilation. Never- theless, there is still that one-in-a-million chance that such a war may be started, and we must employ every conceivable means to prevent it. At the same time it SO~4e progress has already been made. But much more needs to be done. We should give a high. priority to this since it is the poorest people who will benefit most. Aid too has a vital part to play, but food aid is only first aid. The main requirement is for aid to increase production where it is most needed, and it is on this that the interna- tional community should concentrate. . 162. Production alone is not enough. We cannot afford not to make the best use of the resources at our disposal, and therefore we cannot afford to relent in the fight against protectionism. Barriers to trade are barriers to economic efficiency and the creation of wealth. We all need to fight more resolutely against them. There must be no new upward twist to the spiral of protection. Instead, I should like to see a vigorous programme of commercial disarmament. 163. I have mentioned the word "disarmament" in an unusual context. That is not because I underrate its importance in the more normal one. Indeed, nothing cquld illustrate more vividly the link between the eco- nomic and the political world. thwarted~ 189. In Afghanistan the Soviet Union continues to use military force to suppress a small and non-aligned people. But after nearly four years of brutal military occupation in support of an unpopular and unrepresentative regime, the struggle of the Afghan people for national liberation continues to inspire widespread admiration. Only a com- plete and prompt Soviet withdrawal can open the way to the return of the Afghan refugees and to the estab- lishment of an independent Government, in accordance with the true wishes of the people and with the resolutions atiopted by the General Assembly. r~placed by the language of dialogue and negotiation between the parties concemed, on the basis in particular of respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial S~urity Council resolution 435 (1978), and who so far have not been able to keep the promises they have made us, explanations and indications of their intentions. 223. Similarly, we expect explanations of the action undertaken or to be undertaken to put an end to that major aberration of our time, the inhuman practice of apartheid which the Pretoria regime continues to elevate to the status of a system. We believe that this scourge of mankind constitutes a political, economic and social problem, but also and above all a problem ofciviIization. To those who are relentlessly waging a genuine struggle for liberation and civilization, to the people of South Africa and its leaders from the African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress, we would like to reaf- firm here our active support and solidarity. 224. As I said at the beginning of my statement, in this era of tension and conflict no continent is spared. 225. In South-East and South-West Asia there persist conflicts which are a'challenge to the Organization and the principles of its Charter. To this day, foreign troops continue to occupy Afghanistan and Kampuchea. The peoples of those two countries are still being prevented from freely exercising their right to decide on their own system of government. It is time for the Afghan and the Kampuchean peoples, as for other peoples, to have re- stored to them the right to speak. 226. In the Gulf region, for three years now we have witnessed the continuance of a fratricidal.and unjustifi- able war between Iraq and Iran, with an increase in the cruel loss of human life and property and an exacerbation of the danger to stability and equilibrium throughout the region. In Tunisia we are extremely sensitive to the effects of this murderous confrontation between two peoples which are both so close to us. We call on the leaders of those two brother and neighbour countries to have recourse to peaceful means ofsettling conflicts, as advo- cated by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and in the Charter of the United Nations. We exhort them to bring about peace, peace with honour and dignity, in which there wiU be no victor and no vanquished. . 227. Central America cannot remain outside this inter- minable list of hotbeds of s~rioustension throughout the world. We would remind those who are tempted to resort to a show of force and violence that lasting solutions can be brought about only by means of political negotiations soch~ty, which we should like to sec capable of respecting a disci9line freely agreed to. Let us hope that we can gird ourselves to restore faith and vigour to this international system, which was established on the basis of so much hard work. Let us be convinced. that development, inde- pendence, ciisiiI'mament and peace are closely linked together and that they are our only means of salvation. 265. Mrs. FLESCH (Luxembourg) (interpretation/rom French): It is a very agreeable duty as well as a true pleasure for me to join my colleagues in congratulating the President on his election to the presidency of this thirty-eighth session of the Assembly. Convinced of his outstanding qualities as a diplomat and aware ofhis long experience in international affairs, I have no doubt what- ever that in the weeks and months to come he will lead the work of the Assembly with authority and tact. 266. I wish also to thank Mr. Hollai, the President of the thirty-seventh session of the Assembly, for the skill and dedication with which he guided our debates. 267. Furthermore, I take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation ofthe exceptional dedication, lucidity and foresight of the Secretary-General and to assure him of the sincere and constructive co-operation of the Gov- ernment of Luxembourg. 268. Finally, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, which has just joined the Organization. 271. Furthermore, recent events have been marked by a particularly outrageous act: the destruction of a civilian aircraft by Soviet armed forces. That inhuman act has been severely condemned by the Government and people of Luxembourg. We expect the Soviet Union to co- operate fully in the inquiry decided upon by ICAO and pay fair compensation to the families of the victims. It ought also to participate freely in a better definition of the rules of conduct to be observed in such cases, which must in any event forbid the use of force against civilian aircraft under any pretext whatsoever. 272. The tragic event I have just mentioned concerned a Korean airliner, and I should like to take this opportu- nity to express the fervent desire that a dialogue may at last begin without preconditions between the two parts of Korea and that as a gesture of goodwill and as a humanitarian measure members of families divided by the 38th parallel will be permitted to be reunited and to bring their family units together again. 273. Luxembourg also supports the candidacy of the Republic of Korea, which for so long has wished to become a Member ofthe Organization. It will not oppose the admission of North Korea. 274. Equally vigorously, we condemn the attacks and atrocities of which the populations of Afghanistan have been victim, and we strongly deplore the fate of the countless Afghan refugees who have had to flee abroad. The fact is that the occupation of that neutral, non- aligned country by the Soviet Union goes on in spite of the many resolutions adopted by nearly all the States Members of the Organization. In the name of all the principles which form the foundation of the United Nations, we de~and that the Soviet troops be withdrawn and that th~ Afghan people be allowed to exercise its fundamental right of self-t.tetermination. 275. Another problem, and Gne which has concerned us for a long time, is that of Kampuc;\}ea, which remains under the domination of Viet Nam despite repeated appeals by the United Nations for a negotiated political solution. It is time to put an ,end to,the ten:-);,. suffering that the Kampuchean people has had to enJ:.te and to make it possible for that people to control its own destiny in a neutral, independent Kampuchea free from all for- eign interference. We welcome the formation of a coali- tion Government as an important step in that direction. 2~4. Furthermore, the establishment of an international convention prohibiting the development, production -and stockpiling of chemical weapons seems to, us to be a petent. bodies of the UnL ,.j Nations, including the Secu- rity Council and the Secretary-General. 299. The AfriclUl continent continues to be shaken by other conflicts and crises which require solution. In the southt especially, two ~.bjectives remain to be achieved: the independence of Namibia and t~":' elimination of the racist policy of apartheid. 300. As for Namibia, mtr hopes have been disappointed once again. At the thirty-seventh session, from this same rostrum [9th meeting) I expressed cautious Op'~?:;nism as to the chances of success in the near future of the initia- tives of the contact group. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible for those negotiations to succeed. None the less, in a report drawn up by the Secretary-General fol- lowing his recent visit to that part of the world,7 we find positive elements which give us grounds to hope that the people of Namibia may soon take control of its own destiny. 301. Unfortunately the illegal occupation of Namibia does not constitute the only problem in that region. Apartheid, that institutionalization of racism, seems nowhere near an end. That policy, aimed at maintaining the privileges of a minority, can ~n the long run have only tragic and violent consequences, which must be averted. This is why we have always condemned that flagrant The meeting rose at 7.35 p.m. 11 See Weekly Compilation ofPresidentialDocuments, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1982, vol. 18, no. 35, p. 1081. 120fficial Records of the Security Council, Thirty-seventh Year, Supplementfor July, August andSeptember 1982, document 8/15317. 13Ibid., document 8/15403. 14Ibid., Supplement for October, November and December 1982, document 8/15510.