S/39/PV.35 Security Council

I wish to express to you, Sir, my delegation's satisfaction at seeing you once again demonstrating the qualities that have made you a great diplomat and that have brought you to the presidency of the General Assembly, as a significant step in your fruitful career. 2. We congratulate you also on having scheduled this debate at such an appropriate time, when the international community can bring all the weight of its political and moral authority to bear on encourag- ing the immediate endorsement ofthe Contadora Act on Peace and Co-operation in Central America [A/39/562, annex], and on counteracting the inter- ventionist and militaristic trends that still prevail. 3. A year ago the General Assembly adopted, by consensus, resolution 38/10, in which it reaffirmed the right of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua to decide their own future freely and condemned the acts of aggression against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integri- ty of the Central American countries. The Assembly expressed its firmest support for the efforts of the Contadora Group and urged it to persevere in those efforts. It also urged the States of the region and other States to desist from or to refrain from initiating military operations likely to aggravate the situation and hamper the negotiating process. 4. During the time since the adoption of that resolution, the members of the Contadora Group have been exerting great efforts to promote regional dialogue and to give it material form in a legal instrument expressing political commitments and establishing a basis on which to ensure the stability, peace and progress desired by the peoples ofthe area. 5. The revised draft of the Contadora Act was the result of intense ne~otiations. It is a well-balanced synthesis of the legitImate interests of all the Central American Governments. The process of revision, which was concluded on 7 September, demonstrated the primary role played by those Governments in the peaceful settlement of their disputes and made possible the definition and harmonization of com- mon principles and purposes as well as many points NEW YORK of agreement constituting a consistent framework of understanding. 6. The task undertaken during the past year has been arduous and extremely complex, because it has been carried out in a climate of hostilities, interfer- ence, threats, pressures, clandestine operations and armed incidents. It suffices to recall that on three occasions during this period the Security Council has had to meet in order to examine the serious situation in Central America. 7. The provisions of resolution 38/10 that proscribe political preS;,"'1reS and military activities that are contrary to a negotiated solution have not been respected by all States, and, among other things, a considerable increase in the interventionist activities condemned by the Assembly has been noted. My Government has stressed that the negotiating effort has been severely affected by wide-ranging actions that have exacerbated tensions and created mistrust in the region. My Government has stated that increased foreign military presence and overt or covert support to exogenous groups whose purpose is to overthrow established Governments have been obvious obstacles to detente. 8. Our diplomatic tasks have thus been carried out in a paradoxical situation. On the one hand, the Central American peoples' will to peace and the inclination to dialogue of their Governments are increasingly evident and deserve broader support from the international community. On the other hand, strategies of domination that abet the conflicts from outside continue to prevail and are even being strengthened. In those circumstances the results obtained through the Contadora effort and the favourable position taken by the Governments di- rectly concerned should be viewed as extremely valuable and should be given resolute support by the community of States. 9. We trust that the General Assembly will know how to assess the delicate moment in which we now find ourselves and the importance of signing those agreements. They could mark the beginning of a new era for coexistence in Central America and could further encourage the reversal of the regrettable trends that predominate in the international arena and that have made a norm of non-compliance with international law and the violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 10. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Bernardo Sepulveda, stated in the Assembly [5th meeting] our deep conviction that the Contadora Act faithfully responds to the requirements ofstability in the region and called upon Central American Gov- ernments to assume, as a matter of urgency, the juridical commitments contained in the Act. He stressed that the final purpose ofthis instrument is to safeguard the independence of States, to prevent the tion and not out of imposition. Mr. Sepulveda also appealed to Governments with ties and interests in the region to lend their unequivocal and clear support in order to bring an end to the arms race and the armaments trade, naval, land and air manoeuvres and the presence of foreign military advisers and bases. He noted that respect by the Central American countries for the agreements reached would inevit- ably lead other States to assume appropriate obliga- tions. 11. No pretext can be advanced in favour of political and military intervention. The Act recog- nizes that peace resides not only in the solution ofthe differences existing among Governments in the re- gion but also in internal stability based on pluralism, on improved participatory democracy, on representa- tive systems and on the promotion of legitimate processes of national reconciliation. 12. These are internal commitments to be entered into by the Central American Governments on the basis of sovereignty in keeping with the principle of the self-determination of peoples, a principle that presupposes non-intervention in the internal affairs of those States. One requirement would be the immediate cessation of all forms of foreign interfer- ence in order that peace might be consolidated, and not the inverse, as some would like. What is ultimate- ly at stake is the independence of Central America. 13. The Act further recognizes the right of all States in the region to security based on balance and reciprocity. There is no intention to grant undue advantages to anyone, even less to perpetuate a climate offear and mistrust. The instrument contains specific, interrelated commitments covering the vari- ous causes of breaches of the peace, compliance with which would lead to the attainment of genuine collective security. 14. Among those causes are the deep roots of the Central American crisis, which reach back into a past of colonialism, exploitation and inequity. In that connection the Act recognizes the primary role played in development by institutions for economic integration and provides for a long-range programme to change, with active international co-operation, the livi.ng conditions which underlie the conflicts in the regIOn. 15. The instrument encompasses the creation of a Verification and Control Commission for Security Matters, as well as ad hoc committees to follow up on political, economic and social affairs. Mechanisms for verification, monitoring and follow-up provided for in the Act fully respond to the problems that have been identified in the course of a lengthy process of negotiation. Of course they can be improved and ways could be found of strengthening them, but that is no valid reason to delay the entry into force of agreements that are essential to the establishment of a new system of relationships among the Central American States. Even less acceptable would be pressures in that regard from centres of power whose responsibility for events in the region is obvious. 16. What is of ultimate importance in an interna- tional treaty is the political will to comply with it. That is why we appeal not only for the signature of the Act and the Additional Protocol but primarily for 2~. Contadora ha~ also f~cil.itated mechanisms of global level. There is still time to face up to the real detente to prevent bJlateral InCIdents-the case ofthe causes of the problems and to resolve them ration- border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica is one ally. example-and has taken various initiatives to pro- 3' . mote political communication and economic and 1.. P~ace In Central Amenca co~ld mar~ the social co-operation between the countries of the begInmng of a broader pr~cess of deten!e, ~Isarm- region a~ent an~ ~eaceful coexIstence. ThereIn lIes the . .. ultImate slgmficance of our efforts. 26. All of these steps whIch contnbute to peace . . could be consolidated and others could be taken ifwe 32. The PRESIDENI:. I call on the representatIve made a reality as soon as possible of the commit- of Venezuela on a pOInt of order. ments which are their framework and encourage- 33. Mr. SUCRE-FIGARELLA (Venezuela) (inter- ment, eliminating the presence of foreign forces in pretation from Spanish): I was very surprised to see the region, which obstruct dialogue, limit sovereignty that a document is being distributed to representa- and distort understanding. tives that is apparently official and refers to alleged 27. It was in that spirit that Colombia, Mexico, statements by the Foreign Minister.ofV~nez~ela <?n Panama and Venezuela prepared draft resolution the Contador~ Act ~nd the specI.fic situation In A139/L.6, which I now have the honour to introduce. Central Amenca. I. Wish to make It clear that the The draft resolution urges each of the five Central document was not Issued by .the Embassy of Vene- American Governments to speed up its consultations zuela;. V:'e d<? not kno~ ~here It came from, and I feel with the Contadora Group with the aim of bringing that It IS serIOUS or .slg~llficant t~at such a d~u~ent to a conclusion the negotiation process with the early could have been dlstnbuted WIthout authonzatlon. signin$ of the Contadora Act, thereby facilitating full 34. Secondly, with regard to the text of the docu- complIance with the commitments provided for in ment, I wish to state that my country's position has the Act and the entry into force of the various been quite clear, as expressed in the joint communi- mechanisms for implementation and follow-up. It que issued on 17 October at Madrid [A/39/604, also urges all States, in particular those with ties to annex], in which the four Foreign Ministers of the and interests in the region, to respect fully the Contadora Group affirmed that the revised Contado- purposes and principles ofthe Contadora Act and the ra Act was an important step in the process of commitments undertaken by virtue oftheir accession negotiation, but that they also viewed with interest to its Additional Protocol. It calls upon the Secretary- and in a positive light the objections raised by other General, in accordance with Security Council resolu- countries; and that, with a view to reaching an overall tion 530 (1983), to report at regular intervals to the solution to the problem, they were willing to meet Council on developments in the situation and to again to analyse comprehensively the final position submit to the General Assembly, by 15 December vis-a-vis the text of the Contadora Act. ~984 at the ~atest, a report on progress made in the 35. That is why I wish to make it very clear that the ImplementatIon of the resolutIon. document that has been distributed was not issued by 28. In the light of the unanimous support that the the Embassy of Venezuela and that I am totally international community has given to the Contadora unfamiliar with its contents, since I have not received process, we are certain that this draft resolution, like any official information on it from the Government that of a year ago, will be adopted by consensus. of Venezuela. The official position of the Govern- ~or Foreign Affairs, Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, 38/10, Central Amen~a.would have become an oaSIS resolutely repudiated this imperial concept of the use of peace and tranqUIlhty. of covert action, the mo.;t concrete manifestations of 43. Unfortunately, words and political commit- which have been acts of intervention against inde- ments can often be solemn, while the reality, in pendent States through the assassination of political which are reflected the facts and Governments' true leaders, terrorist attacks against defenceless settle- leanings and commitments to peace, is just the ments and destabilizing actions using mercenary opposite. What has prevailed in the end has been the forces. implementation of the military alternative and the 38. With regard to this presidential statement, and pol~tical decision to resolve the problems of the because I consider it of the greatest interest I shall regIOn by force, regardless of the death and destruc- quote a paragraph from Mr. D'Escoto's stateineni at tion inyolved, even for the people of the United the thirty-eighth session [47th meeting], because it is States Itself, and. regardless of the danger of the closely related to another situation that is being outbreak of a regIOnal war. widely discussed and which has ~aused shame and 44. Since the discussion of the item at the thirty- ~larm a~ong the peopl~ of the Umted St~tes and the eighth session and since the early months ofthis year, mternatlO!1al communIty. I am refernng to. the the imperial aggression against Nicaragua has not psychologIcal warfare ptanual for guernllas merely continued, but has been stepped up sharply. [A/39/596, annex]. Mr. D Escoto .sald: 45. The buildup of the United States military "The~efore what concerns .us ~s not merely ,Mr. presence in the waters and on the territory of Central Reagan s :wor~s, but the applIca~IOnof that phI1os- America between January and April 1984 is a matter ophy, WhICh m the fi!1al analYSIS reflects the total of public knowledge. Military manoeuvres became ~epartu~e of the UnIted States from present-d.ay permanent, following hard upon one another; the mte~~~IOnalle~alorder and from ~h~ commumty military presence grew considerably and also became of ~Ivlhzed nat~ons: We have .felt It Important to permanent; the level of armaments was raised to b.egm our contnbutIon to ~he Ite!TI . . . by refer- unprecedented heights; military installations were nng to what future generatIons wIll surely know as modernized and new ones were built· training and 'the Reagan doctrine', because this is precisely technic~l military instruction ceased to'be carried out where we can find the root ca~~e and .esse.nce ofthe only in the Panama Canal Zone and spread to the current Centr,al Amencan cnsls,.w~Ich IS of such regional training centre established in Honduras. concern to Nicaragua, to the regIOn s peoples and There was wide knowledge too of the presence of a ~o the world community as a whole." [47th meet- greater number of military advisers, in contravention mg, para. 7.] of the executive branch's commitments to the 39. It is also important to recall, as it is closely Congress. Moreover, the covert operations carried related to the political, economic and social crisis in out by the United States Central Intelligence Agency the region and the possibility that it may become a [CIA] and its mercenaries reached a high le~el of military conflict with regional ramifications, the sophistication; its attacks increased and a senes of statement by the representative of the United States terrorist actions began, with the goal ofassassination, in the Security Council, Mrs. Jeane Kirkpatrick, kidnapping and indiscriminate destruction. duri~g.t~e debat~ on the invasion of qrenada: ",!he 46. Early in February 1984, the Security Council prO~IbltIons agamst the use of force m the Umted met to take up our complaint regarding an incursion NatIons Charter are contextual, not absolute."l into our territory, on 2 February, by six aircraft ofthe 40. Today, one year later, we are here again to push-and-pull and fighter bomber type, which at- denounce the policy of State terrorism of the Reagan tacked a unit of the Sandinist People's Army and a Administration and to reiterate once again my civilian communications centre at Volcan Casitas; Government's desire for peace, despite the dirty, and regarding an incursion, on 3 February, by undeclared war that we are daily confronted with. undetermined warplanes, which attacked the Ann- al~o. com~I~Ined of the constructIOn of a new $160 year .the Ulli.ted "'taies, in ,:iew of the perplexity of mIllIo~ mIlItary base. ~nd of the permanent presence the mternatIon.2 'ommumty, transmItted to the of "pmted States mIlItary personnel on Honduran Secretary-General ;.i: communication in which it terntory. sought to dislegf:Ad·the jurisdiction of the Interna- 48. Barely two months later, on 29 March, we were tional C01!rt ofJustice. That comm!lnication, whi~h again obliged to call for a meeting of the Security was submitted three days. be~ore NI~aragua SUbl~lIt- Council to complain of the accelerated buildup of ted to t.he Court an applIcatIon agamst the Un!ted military operations by CIA mercenaries using aero- States, IS one of the m~ny attempts ~y t.he Umte.d planes, helicopters and speed-boats in their criminal States to.evade mter:natIO.nallaw and JustIce. In thIS attacks and carrying on an air and naval war which respe.ct, In the presId~ntlal debate on 2 ~ October, culminated in the mining of Nicaragua's principal candl~ate.Mondale sa!d, "w.e ~a4 t<? declIne for the Pacific and Atlantic ports. The mining ofour ports at first tIme m modem hIstOry junSdlctIOn.of the \yorld that time was not only the ultimate expression of the Co~rt ~~cause they would find us guIlty of Illegal dirty undeclared war carried out by a great Power actIons. against a small country, but was a commercial and 52. The last time my Government had recourse to economic blockade intended to weaken our econom- the Security Council to complain of imperialist ic situation; it endangered the right of free navigation aggression was on 7 September,4 after the shooting- and trade, in violation of Security Council resolu- down of an American-made UH-500 helicopter tak- tions and of international law. Because of the level of ing part together with three push-and-pull aircraft in sophistication needed, it also meant the direct ifi- combat operations that cost the lives of two United volvement of United States citizens working for the States citizens, Dana Parker and James Powell, CIA and of United States armed forces, who carried members of the paramilitary group called Civil out their actions with the use of speed-boats operat- Military Assistance, which has with impunity been ing from a United States mother-ship on the high transporting military hardware and taking part in seas. combat alongside President Reagan's "freedom fight- 49. With regard to that debate and to the draft ers".. As memb.er~ will rec~ll, those deaths caused a resolution sponsoreo by Nicaragua2-which gained con~Idera?le ~tIr In the Umt~d States, and a nu~ber 13 votes in favour, I abstention and the veto of the of mvestlgatIOn~ were carned out by the Umted United States-it is important to recall that the States press, whIch found th~t that ~roup had broad United States delegation, notwithstanding the con- freedom of movem~nt I,l0twlthstandmg the. fact t,hat sternation and indignation of the international com- s~veral months earlIer It had been un?er.mvestIga- munity~ avoided a. clear response to our complaints, tIon by the Federal Bureau of In~estIgatIon. suggestmg that thiS was a problem among Nicara- 53. Also on 7 September, the Umted States repre- guans. Then, only a few days later, officials of the sentative said in the Security Council, "The United Reagan Administration, in response to pressure from States has not sent personnel to Nicaragua in order to international and domestic public opinion, including destabilize its regime." To make it clear, I repeat, the the press and Congress, publicly admitted-thereby United States has not sent personnel ~o Nicaragua in contradicting their United Nations representative- order to destabilize its regime. He also said, "I shall the direct participation of CIA agents through the conclude by stating once more that the United States employment of the methods we had denounced; an is not trying to overthrow the Sandinist Govern- action which, as former Vice-President WaIter Mon- ment." That declaration astonished us, because we dale said recently at the last presidential debate, could see how they were publicly conducting discus- filled the people ofthe United States with shame and sions on different variants related to their secret war. tore at their conscience. 54. In order to repudiate such affirmations, by way 50. On 9 April 1984, because of increased covert of example I shall simply refer to some of the replies operations by the CIA, we decided to submit an given by the President of the United States, Ronald accusation to the International Court of Justice Reagan, in the recent presidential debate. Referring aga~nst the United States regarding its criminal to the CIA manual he stated: polIcy of S.tate terrorism against the people's Sandin- "We have a gentleman down in Nicaragua who is 1St revolution: On 10 M~~, at our request, the Court o~ .contract to the CIA advising supposedly on ordered a senes of provIsional measures. The Court milItary tactics the Contras And he drew up this decided, inter alia, in paragraph 41.B.2 of its Order, manual. It was'turned over 'to the agency head of that the CIA in Nicaragua to be printed." "The right to sovereignty and to political indepen- Let me repeat that so that members can see clearly dence possessed by the Republic ofNicaragua, like the contradictions between the statements of the any other State of the region or of the world, representatives of the United States here in the should ~e fully. respected and should not in any General Assembly or the Security Council and the way be Jeopardized by any military and paramili- statements of its President and its principal spokes- pe.a~e.. They argu.ed, In thIS connection, that our pressure designed to reopen substantive discussions I~ItIatIve was desIgned m~rely to destroy the effec- and thus delay the signing of the Act. Everyone is tIveness of the Contadoia C!roup and.to block aware that these delaying tactics have no other approval by the <;en!ral Amencan countnes of the purpose than to impose upon Nicaragua unaccept- Document of ObJectives. able conditions and to wait tor a politically more 64. Notwithstanding all the false and obscure warn- favourable time in order to strike a sudden blow in~s fabricated in connection with the inclusion of without the obstade of political and legal commit- thIS item, the results proved once more that Nicara- ments already entered into. Fortunately, the member gua was right, and the objective for which my country countries of the Contadora Group are fully aware of has worked tenaciously was achieved. The intema- the danger involved in this kind of position and have tional community as a whole responded by giving its publicly stated the need for a prompt signing of the support to General Assembly resolution 38/10, which Act after the text has been refined in a manner which in practice meant universal political support for the does not involve reopenin~ substantive discussions. Contadora Group and the cause of peace in the This point was reiterated In the joint communique Central American region. issued at Madrid on 17 October by the Contadora 65. There were similar circumstances and accusa- Group Minister~ [A/39/601,. annex]. It is. necessary tions during the discussion of this issue h. the that Il;0w, at a tIme so decIsIv~ for peac~ m Central Security Council, which met at Nicaragua's request, Amenca, the .whole commumty of nat!ons should which led to the adoption by consensus of resolution close ranks With the.Contadora countnes and not 530 (1983). But those were not the only two occa- allow. manoeuvres alIen to the cause o~ peace to sions on which Nicaragua supported the efforts ofthe prevaI! and preven~ the .pr~~Pt conclUSIOn of the Contadora Group. Every act and every peace initia- commItments contamed In b.e Act ~f 7 September. tive by the Nicaraguan Government was designed to 70. If the Governme~t of the U~llted States truly achieve that end. In that spirit, under the auspices of supports the peace-makmg process m the ~re~ under- the Contadora Group, a joint Costa Rican-Nicara- taken by t~e Contad<;tra 9roup aI?-d now In Its final guan verification commission was established, which phase, as It had ~amta!ned untIl days before the has been a useful instrument in dealing with border announcement of l1~.medlateand un.reserved accept- problems, exchanging information and verifying acts ance ofthe Act b~ NIcaragua, the !lmted.S.tates today committed by counter-revolutionary elements which has al'! opportu.n~ty to confirm ItS position ~i: an- jeopardize relations between our two brother coun- nouncmg ItS willIngness to support t~e Ad~ltlonal tries. In the same spirit, we have repeatedly made Proto.col ~o the Act for all those count~les ~eslrous of proposals for direct dialogue with the Honduran conto.butmg to peace an? co-operatlo~ In CeI?-tral authorities which, without pre-conditions ofany sort, Amenca. Only such !in attl.tude can t~rn.mto realIty a would make it possible to establish a b.~]:~~~; for type o~ ;.;upport. whIch, wlt~ ~ome Jus~lfi~atloIl;, has agreements guaranteeing relations of co-opet~idon been Viewed WIth the SUspIcion that It. IS deSigned and mutual respect between the two countrie~. The ~erely 80S electoral rhetonc for domestic consump- purpose of this is no secret, nor is it ditlicult to tlon. explain. We are a young revolution which is threat- 71. We welcome the statement of those European ened and subjected to aggression by a great Power, a countries which, on the occasion ofthe Conference of revolution which every day pays with the blood of its Foreign Ministers held at San Jose on 28 and 29 best sons the price of its survival. September between the countries of the European 66. It is our aeepest belief, therefore, that only a Economic Community, Spain aJ;ld Portugal.and the genuine regional effort, such as that initiated two Contadora ~nd. <;:entral Amencan c~>untnes, ~.n- years ago by the countries of the Contadora Group nounc~d their wtllIngn~ssto pl.ed~e their sup~J;t tor and which enjoys the resolute support of the interna- peace I~ Central Amenca by s~gn~ng that Addl~lonal tional community, will make it possible to find a way ProtocOl. The de~ate on thiS ~tem today IS an to avoid a tragic repetition ofhistory and bring about ex~ellent.opportuI.uty for the Un~ted State~ al~.to a new period of intracontinental and intraregional reiterate.ltS c,?mfl?ltment to peace m Cent~al Am~l.Ica relations. and .do lIkewlse,.tt:l other words, to state ItS deCISion 7 . to SIgn the Additional Protocol. 6. ThIS year, the second year .of Cont~dora, the 72. This year, unlike the previous session of the ~fforts. of that. Gr~up. have contmued With greater Assembly, the member countries of the Contadora mtensIty, culm~nat!ng In the Contad.ora Act for Peace Group have taken the initiative of preparing and an~ Co-operatIOn m Central Amenca~ of 7 Septem- presenting a draft resolution [A/39/L.6] focusing on be. 1984 [A/39/5.62, annex]. That Act IS the ~utcome the peace-making efforts of the four countries and of a l~n&thy an4 mtense process of con~ultatIOnsand stating their points of view on the crucial moment negottatIon~ WIth the Central Amencan Govern- which the process has now reached, trying to win the ments, and It represents a transcende~tal step and the broadest support from the international community fulfilment ofthe arduous peace-making efforts of the for the prompt completion of the process. This draft Contadora Group. resolution, we believe, coincides with our viewpoint 68. Nicaragua, having thoroughly studied the docu- on this matter, and in this respect my delegation ment, an~ setting national interests aside for the sake wishes to state its most vigorous support for it and to ofpeace In the region, notified the Contadora Group encourage the entire community ofnations to state in commu~ity and the .mem~ers of the Movement of 80. Secondly, at the same time as we reaffirm the Non-AlIgned C,- untnes wIll choose peace. right of all countries in the region to peace, self- 75. Mr. AL-ASHTAL (Democratic Yemen) (inter- determination and the free choice of their future pretationfrom Arabic): The importance of the debate without any foreign intervention under any spurious on the situation in Central America is highlighted by pretext, we reaffirm that peace in the region will not the attention given to the political and military be achieved unless there is respect for the right of situation in that region by the majority of countries Nicaragua to sovereignty, territorial integrity and during the general debate at this session. The minis- political independence. This condition will not be ters and heads of delegation of non-aligned countries attained while Nicaragua faces the perils and aggres- attending the thirty-ninth session have expressed, in sions and threats arising from the escalating covert the final communique [A/39/560, annex] adopted at and overt military activities carried out and financed their meeting held from 1 to 5 October, their by the American Admin:stration in violation of the profound concern that, in spite of the appeals of the principle of the non-u~\e of force in international Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and of the relations. The presence of military bases and the General Assembly, the situation in Central America carrying out of military manoeuvres in the region has deteriorated dangerously as a result of increasing and the training for and organizing and financing of sesslo~ ~n the sItuatIOn I~ Central Amencfl wIll lead 89. Instability, strife and tension are not new to to l?<?sItIve results t~at WIll advance,the process of a Central America; successive generations in that part pohtIc~1 settleme~t In,Central ~ef1ca and lead t~ a of the world hRve not known what it is like to live in relax.atlon of tens!on In that regIOn, thereby servmg peace and to be left to determine one's own destiny ~he mt~rests of It~ people as well as peace and free of external pressures, interference or interven- mternatIonal securIty. tion. The causes of instability in Central America are 85. Mr. KRISHNAN (India): It was almost a year rooted as much in endemic socio-economic problems ago that the General Assembly adopted by consensus as in the propensity of those outside the re~ion to NI~ar,!guans and ~,:a~y economIC .losses WIth the left behind in accepting the l";.~t. W'e should like to objectIve of destabIlIzmg and topplIng the Govern- echo the call made in the draft resolution submitted ment of Nicaragua, increase the dangers of a by the Contadora Group [A/39/L.6], urging each of regional war and obstruct the dialogue necessary the Governments of the Central American countries for a negotiated and political solution to the to speed up its consultations with the Contadora problems of the region" [ibid., para. 82]. Group with the aim of bringing to a conclusion the The ministers and heads of delegation further "called negotiation process with the early signing of that Act for an immediate end to all threats, attacks and on Peace and Co-operation in Central America, 1 :.;tile acts against the people and Government of thereby facilitating fup compliance with the com~it- Nicaragua" [ibid., para. 83]. ments provide~ for m the .Act and. the entry I~tO 91. I can do no better than to reiterate this position force of the vanous mechamsms for ImplementatIOn of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries with and follow-up. regard to the situation that confronts Nicaragua, a 95. In this connection, I should like to invite the fellow non-aligned country with which India enjoys Assembly's attention to the joint communique issued ties of friendship and co-operation. by the Foreign Ministers of States members of the Mr. Abdul Kadir (Malaysia), Vice-President, took Contadora Group after their recent meeting at Ma- the Chair. drid of 17 October [A/39/604, annex]. They have 92. In El Salvador important developments have agreed ~n the desirabihty of incorpor~ting those taken place in recent weeks. We welcome the dia- ob~ervatIons mad~ by the ~~ntral Amenca~ ~tates logue initiated between the Farabundo Marti Front WhIC~ could c~:mtn~ute to g:vm~ greater pr~cI~Ion to for National Liberation-Revolutionary Democratic what IS enu~clated. In the A\.t WIthout modlfymg the Front and the Government. It is a matter of concern, balance achleve~ m t~e docm~ent. W~ ~ope t~'!t however that the armed internal conflict has contin- further consultatIons WIll be ~obducted m "hIS SpInt ued unabated and even intensified. We hope that so t~at the Act can come mto force as early as violence and conflict will abate in the coming weeks pOSSIble. and that the parties concerned will pursue their 96. The situation in Central America remains a dialogue with a view to achieving a comprehensive matter of grave international concern-concern fullv me~t and injustice are all symptoms.of ~ crisis in 104. The Act sets forth basic priorities for action in WhICh coeXIstence anq self-determInatIOn have the economic and social fields, without which any been forgott~n and .WhI~h sees the super-Powers peace effort would be nugatory and short-lived. The shamelessly l1~terfenng In lands where peas~I.1ts document notes the need to restore confidence in the leave the SOWIng of.seeds .to take up unf~mIhar area. We understand that only confidence can create weap~ns-and to dIg theIr own graves. [1?th lasting bases for dialogue and co-operation among meetmg, paras. 34 and 35.] nations. It also sets forth the factors that are the root 100. In a joint work which the world knows as the causes of destabilization, and it creates, inter alia, a Contadora philosophy, the heads of State of the four Verification and Control Commission for Security countries, with the co-operation of their foreign Matters to ascertain compliance with its objectives. tIO~, the fiye Governme~ts of the r:egIOn ~ade clear closing offoreign markets and their deterioration and theIr p.osItIonS, a~d theIr observatIOns WIll be very the low sales price of domestic products have led to a usef~l In cOJ;1cludIll~ the present stage of the pro.ct!ss serious crisis that weighs heavily upon all the coun- and III refinmg the mst~m~I,lt pro~osed. The.MInIS- tries of the region. The Central American people ters agreed on the adVIsabIlIty .of mcorpo~atmg ~he need economic aid and do not understand why they comments of the Central Amencan. c.ountnes WhICh do not receive it, bearing in mind that, since their would contnbute to a gr~ater preCIS!On of the lan- population is not an overwhelming burden for any guag~ of the document WIthout altermg the balance system resources in friendly countries could be achieved therein. offered to them. 107. The draft resolution in document A/39/L:6, 114. The political and economic crises made possi- which was submitted by the four member c0l;lntnes ble the exploitation of a situation that had been of the Contadora Group, attempts to su~manzethe brewing for some time, under the covetous gaze of statements made here by representatIves of the those who always take advantage of turbulent situa- various States. It strives to le~d ~ery ~ecessary tions. sup~ort to the peace effort, WhICh IS a~ Its most 115. For two years the Governments of the Conta- cruCIal stage, and urges the Central Amencan States dora Group have devoted their determined efforts to to welcome the .term~ of the Contadora. ~ct..?n Peace consolidating democratic institutions, stimulating an~ Co-operatIOn III Central Amen;.a. J~nc~ the the economy, restoring social justice, confirming the reVIew process has been concl,uded. ~olombIa re- right to self-determination and returning peace to the quests that that draft resolutIOn be adopted by area. We have not been motivated by the selfish consensus. desire to dominate, by the vanity ofthe rulers, by the 108. The member countries of the Contadora lust for wealth or by the desire for preferential Group are proud of their work, for they know that treatment. We wanted to take part in this crusade for they did not betray either the hopes of the peoples of peace simply because we wish to help countries that Central America or those of the world community. are our neighbours and friends to find tranquillity, Colombia expresses g~eat satisfaction wit~ th~ peace prosperity, happiness, freedom and peace. !alks that have begun In El ~a!vador, and It wIll lend 116. When the Contadora Group completes its task ItS support that they may be successful. it will have the satisfaction of knowing that the 109. The profound concepts contained in the Con- Central American countries will be the masters ~f tadora Act will make them a positive contribution to their own destiny. But the seriousness and. complexI- international law. Armistices almost always occur ty of the current problems forces us to gIve ~~reful when one of the parties to the conflict is the victor attention to the matte~and to be c~ntinually ':Igtlant, and the other the vanquished, and the terms general- since a setback would Increase tensIons to theu worst ly reflect t~e wil~ of tp.e victor. ~n the Contadora A~t levels yet. we find ne1ther; It stnves to achIeve a broad reconctl- 117. Of all the conflicts in the world recorded year iation in order to arrive at negotiated solutions to the after year at the United Nations, the only one to differences in that it joins fundamental value.s with a which a solution has been found through a serious rea~i~tic approa~h. The Act iJ?cludes proviSIOns f<?r legal instrument in less.than two years from .the polItIcal commItments, secunty matters, economIc beginning of the process 1$ that of Central Amenca. and social affairs and for the implementation and No one has cast doubt on the pure intentions of the follow-up of its provisions. Contadora leaders who decided to involve their 110. Colombia ~as always put it~ ~rust in t~e countries i,n the qu~st .for pe,~c~. As President B~tan- effect;··eness of dIalogue and negotIatIOn, even m cur has saId, our.contInent wlsh~~ t~ be a terntory circumstances in ~hich.serious periods of confusion not.ofconfrontat.IO.n but of re~oncllIatIon.. We do not and violence prevaIl. It IS pleased to note that the Act aspue to the pnvtlege of bemg the settmg for thp NOTES 6Ibid., Supplement for July, August and September 1983, docu- ment S/15877, annex. 7Ibid., Thirty-ninth Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1984, document S/16633. 8Ibid., para. 4.