S/PV.1189 Security Council

In accordance with the decision pxeviously taken by the Security Council, and if 1 hear no objection, 1 shall proceed to invite the representatives of the Sudan, Guinea, Ghana, Belgium, the Congo (Brazzaville), Algesia, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, the United Arab Republic, Burundi, Kenya, the Central Afxican Republic, Uganda and Tanzania

Since at the close of the previous meeting I asked for a vote to be taken at the beginning of the next meeting, 1 shall not take timefor lengthy explanations. The vote in question was to be on an amendment [S/ 6128]ti which would replace paragraph 6 of our draft resolution [S/6123/Rev.1]2/ by a new paragraph. The Council also had before it a proposa1 by the two sponsors that this new paragraph, instead of replacing paragraph 6, should be inserted before that paragraph, which would then become paragraph ‘7. Our proposa1 is still before the Council. 3. Me wish also to tel1 the Council that, on this extremely grave problem whose consequences, in our opinion, cannot be foreseen, our primary concern has consistently been to draw up a draft resolution that would allow bath the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity to work for a peaceful settlement of the Congo question. My colleague, the representative of Morocco, and 1 have steadily sought to prevent any crackfrom appearing between Africans- I do not say any split, because 1 do not think there Will be a split between Africans in any event-and we have concluded, after thorough analysis, that there is no conflict between the paragraph proposed in the amendment, which would become paragraph 6 of the draft resolution, and the last paragraph of our text, which would become paragraph 7. The Organization of African Unity, in accordance with Article 54 of the Charter of the United Nations, Will have to keep the Security Council fully informed of any action it may take under this resolution, particularly, as I said before, concerning the task entxusted to it under paragraph 4. 4. On the other hand, the Secretary-General of the United Nations needs to be able to follow the situation in the Congo as a whole and to report to the Councilshould the situation worsen, or whenever he considers it necessary-on the points which 1 mentioned before and which in our view form the substance of the Security Council’s decisions concerningnon-intervention in the domestic affairs of the Congo, the cease- Pire, the withdrawal of the. mercenaries and, lastly, the request to a11 States to assist the Organization Of African Unity in the attainment of its objective. i/ For the text of this amendment, ses therecord of the 1187th meeting of the Council. 2/ For the text of this draft resolution, see the record of the 1186th meeting of the Council, para. 9. 6. Accordingly, our draft resolution Will be submitted in the following form: the preamble and the first five opesative paragraphs are unchanged. Operative paragraph 6 Will read as follows: “Requests the Organization of African Unity, in accordance with Article 54 of the Charter of the United Nations, to keep the Security Council fully informed of any action it may take under the present resolutionll. This Will be followed by paragraph 7, which Will read: “Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to follow the situation in the Congo, and to report to the Security Council at the appropriate time Il. 7. We hope that this draft resolution Will be adopted unanimously, But after the vote, my Moroccan colleague and 1 shall leave this hall with a deep feeling of pleasure at having worked to prevent a crack from appearing between Africans and at having arrive& despite a difficult and painful discussion, at a conclusion whioh a11 Africans unanimously support. This is the greatest pleasure we could have at the close of this discussion. We are able to announce that a11 the Africans agree on the draft resolution as now submitted. 8. We are confident that the Security Council too Will be able to rally to this consensus of opinion which the Africans have managed to reach sfter a difficult discussion.

1 wish to express the same feeling of satisfaction as was expressed by my fsiend and colleague Mr. Usher at the prospect of a happy and favourable outcome to a vexy long, sometimes painful discussion which for some weeks has taken up the Seourity Council’s time with the examination of this serious matter of the Congo. 10. Our satisfaction is a11 the greater in that the draft resolution which the President Will be good enough to put to the Counoilfor approval, will be adopted by this body, and that weshall thus have a resolution which Will become a victory for the Security Counoil but also, and more especially, a viotory for Africa. 11. We consider that this is indeed a victory for Africa, since the Security Council Will provide Africa with a resolution which deals with this problem according to a policy framed by a11 the Africans-those sitting in the Security Council and those outside itwho have taken an active part in the discussion. 13. After lengthy discussions, we have been able to prepare a draft xesolution which gives everyone his proper role in the settlement of this problem. We insisted that the Organization of African Unity should have its rightful part in the settlement of a problem which was already before it, and we also insisted that tho Security Council should be able to play its role, by requesting the Secretary-General of the United Nations to follow the situation in the Congo and to report to the Security Council at the appropriate time. 14. This peculiarly difficult undertaking, which we began some weeks ago and which has had its ups and downs, has been a success largely because there are really no profound diffexences among Africans in this matter. We delegations on the Security Council and those that have taken part in the discussion have in reality been divided only on matters of form: that is ta say, on secondary issues. 1 never had the impression that there were deep differences among us Africans as to the means which should be used to settle this problem, any more than on the objectives we wished to attain. We a11 thought the Congolese problem should be given an African solution, and we have never disagreed about the fact that the Security Council, for its part, should play the role assigned to it in the Charter of the United Nations-that of maintaining international peace and security-even if the settlement of some problems was a matter for a regional organization. 15. In the Security Council, we Africans rightly wished to avoid exhibiting to the world, a division between Africans-a division which was in fa& purely artjficial-and we did everything in our power to show that, in the last analysis, the Congolese problem did not concern one African more than another but concerned a11 equally and that each one had to make his own sincere effort, in good faith, tofinda satisfactory solution to this grave problem. 16. We may justly take pride in what we have been able to accomplish in this matter; if this outcome proves anything at all, it demonstrates most emphatically the falsity of the tendentious and malicious rumours and items sometimes spread abroad on African matters by certain newspapers which seek only to accentuate the division of Africans and to create confusion. We arepartioularly satisfied, therefose, to have been able to show by our actions, by oux conduct and by the especially high degree of integrity which we have a11 displayed in this grave matter, that Africa is not divided, that it is aware of its role at the international level, and that a11 its 17. This is the happy outcome of a discussion which has sometimes been a difficult tria1 for us a11 but which has taught us valuable lessons and has equipped us to face the future with confidence and to permit no challenge, in any form, to that African oohesion and solidarity which we have consistently sought to maintain bath in the Security Council and in the Organization of African Unity, 18. Morooco, which in a few hours Will complete its terms of membership in the Securiiy Council, is particularly happy to be able to conclude with these words and also to have been able to participate most objectively and constructively in an action which is in keeping with the aspirations of the African peoples and with the interests of the Congolese people.

Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to speak again. 1 promise you that this is the last time 1 shall speak in this debate. 20. It is, you will understand, with some feeling that 1 address you again on behalf of the eighteen oountries which appointed me their spokesman in the discussion on the draft resolution before the Council, After the statements just made by my brothers from the Ivory Coast and Morocco there is really very little to add, except to pay a most sincere tribute to our two friends for the efforts they have made throughout this debate, to enable us to agree on a solution-an African solution, a solution which we believe in good faith to beintheinterest of the Congolese people, in the interest of freedom in the Congo, and in the interest of African solidarity. 21. Our success in reaching agreement after this extremely difficult debate, which has had some rather critical moments, merely confirms the well-known fact that among Africans there is no basic disagreement on the essential objective-the liberation of our continent-even if there are sometimes differenoes of opinion on how to attain it. We are happy to be able to record that fact here today, after certain prophets of doom hadpredicted a split among Afrioans. The fact that we bave reached agreement on this draft resolution is, beyond question Afrioa’s answer to those prophets of doom. 22. We are a11 the more satisfiedin that the proposaIs we made were based on a sincere conviction that they would considerably improve the draft resolution. Our two friends from the Ivory Coast and Morocco have just announced their acceptance of those proposais. That. attitude increases their stature, and the stature of the Security Coucil as well, assuming that this body Will adopt the draft resolution as the Ivory

1 should like to make a brief statement concerning thenewcircumstances that have arisen as a result of the consultations held among delegations after the previous meeting. 25, We take satisfaction in noting that time, like a good physician, has had a healing influence. Time has made it possible for further efforts to be made and for wisdom to be shown in finding the right solution. 26. It only remains to express satisfaction that the differences of view ancl of interpretation which existed right up to the last meeting of the Security Council, only a few hours ago, have now been eliminated. The parties concerned have shown a spirit of understanding and co-operation, and as a result have been able to formulate the draft resolution in terms which accurately reflect the essence of the problem under consideration; they have arrived at the truth, which is now embodied in a draft resolution, taking into account the positions of the countries most directly concerned-the African countries. 27. Al1 this wis very convincingly expressed by the representatives of the Ivory Coast and Morocco, and by the representative of Guinea, who speaks here in the name of the eighteen African States that approaohed the Security Council. 28. In view of the foregoing, the Soviet delegation Will not press for a separate vote on the amendment of the eighteen African States which it had requested [1188th meeting], since this amendment is incorporated in toto in the revised draft resolution of the Ivory Coast and Morocco. The Soviet delegation made its analysis of and comments on the other provisions of the draft resolution at the previous meeting, and it seems hardly necessary to repeat them now. 29. In the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation whioh has prevailed here today around the Security Council’s horseshoe table, 1 shall waive consecutive interpretation into English and French.

Since the Soviet representative has informed the Security Council that he does not insist on a separate vote on the amendment of the eighteen African States [S/SlZS], The Security Council Will therefoxe vote on the draft resolution as a whole [S/6123/Rev.l], as modified by this amendment and other changes that have been made in the text. However, 1 wish to inform the Council that the representative of France has requested a A vote was taken by show of hands. Operafive paragraph 1 was unanimously adopted.

The Council Will now vote on the draft resolution as a whole. The amendments which have been introduced and approved during the debate are as follows: 32. Operative paragraph 6 Will be the text contained in document S/6128, which reads: “Requests the Organisation of African Unity, in accordance with Article 54 of the Charter of the United Nations, to keep the Security Council fully informed of any action it may take under the present resO1utionlt, 33. Operativepaxagxaph 7-paragxaph 6 in the original draft resolution, modified by the deletion of the words “to foNow the implementation of the present xesolutien”-reads as follows: “Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to follow the situation in the Congo and to report to the Security Council at the ap&opriate time II , 34. 1 now xequest the member of the Council to vote on the draft resolution as a whole, with amendments that 1 have just mentioned. A vote was taken by show of hands. In faveur: Bolivia, Bxazil, China, Czechoslovakia, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Norway, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great B&ain and Northexn Ixeland, United States of America. Agains t: None. Abs taining: France. The draft resolution, as amended, was adopted by 10 votes to none, with one abstention.

Speaking in explanation of the vote just cast, 1 would like first, on behalf of my delegation and with due respect, to state our gxeat appreciation to the representatives of the Ivory Coast and Morocoo for the constructive and patient work which they have together carried out, resulting in the submission of the resolution which the Council has just adopted. 1 think that none of us who have listened yesterday afternoon and today to these two distinguished repxesentatives could have been in any doubt as to the difficulty of the work they undèrtook and of the great value of their efforts. 36. 1 wish to make only one point, very briefiy, on the resolution. This refexs to paragraph 2 of the resolution which appeals for a cesse-fire ‘in accord-

The draft resolution just adopted sets objectives which the French Government approves. We are in favour of a cesse-fire, we are in favour of the withdrawal of mercenaries from the Congo, and we fervently hope that national reconciliation cari at last be achieved in that country which for more than four years has been beset by SO many trials. 38. In addition my Government has consistently abided, and continues to abide more firmly than ever by the principles of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of States; it has therefore given its approval to operative paragraph 1 which, with respect to the Congo, affirms that principle in the clearest terms. 39. But we find that the other paragraphs, praiseworthy though their objectives may be, are couched in terms that, in our opinion, do not follow the rule which 1 recnlled a moment ago and which means that Congolese problems should be solvedby the Congolese themselves, safe from a11 outside interference. 40. For these reasons of principle, andin accordance with the attitude which we have always taken on this matter, the French delegation, while expressing its keen and sincere appreciation to the representatives of the Ivory Coast and Morocco for the effort they made in drafting their resolution, to make the voice of reason and common sense heard above thepassions, was obliged to abstain on the resolution as a whole.

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor. I shall try to be as brief as possible. 42. Before making a few comments on the resolution just adopted, 1 should like to set the record straight on two points in view of certain statements made here lately. 43. The first point 1 want to make concerns the assertion made here that my delegation voted in favour of the resolution of 10 September adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its Addis Ababa session. The truth is that my delegation abstained in that vote, 44. SecondIy, reference has been made here to the existence of a civil war in the Congo. 1 do not know if it is possible to speak of a civil war when confronted with a minority which is active over only a very small part of the nation’s territory. The fa& is that the Government is faced with arebellion which has been stirred up by a few agitators skulking abroad 46, It should be pointed out that the Government, even if homogeneous-as the present Government of the Republic is not, comprising as it does elements from different political parties-cannot be placed on an equal footing with any political faction, because of the powers vested in it by the Constitution. My delegation, therefore, cannot accept the expression “the Government . . . and other political factions Il. 46. m&me s’il est homog8ne - le gouvernement des politiques avec une faction politique pouvoirs ma Gouvernement 47. Furthermore, what is surprising abcut the existence of an opposition to the Government? In any country under democratic rule, opposition to the Government is a perfectly normal feature. The United Kingdom speaks not only of Her Majesty’s Government, but also of Her Majesty’s Opposition. But such opposition should be carried on by legal means, which do not include violence, 47. sition quement opposition parle mais opposition est exclue la violence. 48. Even supposing that the sebellion were led by a political faction, and not by power-hungry anarchists, it should be condemned because it resorts to violence, stands outside the law, and refuses to appeal to the final arbiter: namely, the people. It is doing a11 it cari to prevent elections from being held according to the timing provided for in the Constitution. The Government, then, has no choice but to repress it. 48. conduite anarchistes parce des lois et refuse savoir élections Constitution. ment que de la &Primer. 49. Having made these points, 1 should like to oomment briefly on the resolution just adopted in response to the two complaints submitted to the Council. 49. brievement adoptée deposees 50. First of a11 1 wish to congratulate the members of the Council on the patience they have shown throughout these discussions; it demonstrates the interest they take in the question despite the differences in their approach to the two problems. 1 especially congratulate the two African members on the efforts they made to reconcile the views of a11 the parties who complained to the Council without yielding any ground on the sacrosanct principles of the Charter. 50. du Conseil tout qu’ils d’optique problemes. africains d’abouti.r parties ce qui concerne 51. entiere plainte souhait8 moins, cesser dans trois ceux qui facilitent 51. Obviously this resolution does not give complete satisfaction to my delegation, whichlodged acomplaint here against three specific States and would have wished their intervention to be condemned. 1 hope, nevertheless, that the request made to States to desist from flouting our sovereignty by intervening in our domestic affairs Will be respected by those three Member States in particular, as well as by those that are abetting their illegal intervention. 52. resolution a déjk expliqué gouvernement évident ne bén6ficiera 52. As to the mercenaries whose withdrawal the resolution considers a matter of urgency, my delegation has already explained here why it was necessary for the Government to resort to their services. TO the degree that the opposition cesses to be an armed opposition and, above all, to receive outside aid in men and equipment, the Government, obviously, Will 54. resolution dglegation. auteurs c’est celui d’épargner 54. The cesse-fire referred to in the resolution calls for interpretative comment by my delegation. Iunderstand the concern which prompted the sponsors of this resolution to include that paragraph: it was the desire to save human lives. 55. I am bound to say that the Government’s concesn must be the same, since its primary obligation is to protect thelives of its citizens, of a11 its citizens. But the Government cannot allow a minority of anarchists to threaten the lives of the majority of its citizens. Of course, the Government is the first to hope that this threat cari be dispersed without bloodshed. That is why it has promised safety to any rebels who lay down their arms of their own free Will. 55. Je dois saurait de proteger citoyens. qu’une majorité le premier sans que coule le sang. C’est pourquoi promis rement deposeraient 56. In SO far as this appeal is an invitation to the rebels to desist from violence and corne back within the law, and to the Government to show understanding towards irresponsible people, my delegation takes note of the appeal. 56. Dans la mesure B la rebellion la legalite, compréhensif gation prend note de cet appel, 57. With regard to co-operation by our Government with the Organization of African Unity, my delegation would simply state that such co-operation Will be granted only within the bounds of respect for the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, especially those relating to the sovereignty of Member States. 57. Commentant ment delégation ne sera principes Unies, souveraineté

First, let me also express the thanks of my delegation to our colleagues, Mr. Usher, the representative of the Ivory Coast and Mr. Sidi Baba, the representative of Morocco, for their indefatigable, patient and resourceful work in bringing this long debate to a conclusion by a resolution which, 1 believe, expresses in general the anxiety of a11 the members of the Security Council to see law and order restored to an independent and stable Congo. 58. M. STEVENSON de l’anglais]: à mon tour les remerciements nos collegues, d’ivoire, pour leurs efforts gr%ce B eux, le Conseil, a adopté une resolution vif souci de tous ses membres public dans un Congo stable et indbpendant, 59. The United States believes that the resolution we have just adopted is a positive and constructive step towards the establishment of a better climate in the Congo, which in turn Will facilitate an eventual solution, and that it is also a step towards improved relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighbours. The resolutionis consistent with past resolutions on the Congo in that it explicitly reaffirms the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Congo. It is also consistent with the resolution of the Organization of African Unity of 10 September 19 64. 59. De l’avis venons constructif Congo et, partant, de compte, temps les relations du Congo et ses harmonie passe la souverainete Elle adoptee le 10 septembre l’unité africaine. 60. Perhaps the most important provision, as the rspresentative of France has pointed out, is operative paragraph 1, which requests a11 States to sefrain or desist from interfering in the interna1 affairs of the Congo. It is clear that the Congolese Governmentcannot successfully restore law and qrder and pursue a . . 3 .O 60. Comme le représentant la disposition du paragraphe Etats de s’abstenir affaires Gouvernement 61. With respect to paragraph 2, my Government subscribes to the view that fighting must cesse. In this connexion I wish to recall that the OAU resolution of 10 September, which provides the setting for this paragraph, remains in full effect and that one of the primary objectives of that resolution was to stop the fighting in the Congo. 1 am sure that we ail share the hope that bloodshed Will end and peace Will be restored to this sorely troubled country. At the same time, 1 think we ail recognize that it is not the intention of the resolution we have just adopted to restrict the freedom of the Government of the Congo to govern or to exercise its responsibilities for maintaining the sovereignty and the unity of the country. This paragraph seeks only an end to the fighting which has SO disrupted the Congo and which has made governing difficult and at some times and places impossible. nement tiens l’OUA, dans reste combats objets, qu’il paix meurtri, que la résolution a empêcher ou d’exercer vue de préserver Ce paragraphe impossible prises mément africaine les membres le pays, Le Premier qui permettront que stipule ces conditions de cette résolution. 62. I also draw attention to the fact that paragraph 3 calls for action with respect to mercenaries in accordance with the OAU resolution of 10 September. Like the members of OAU, we should prefer to see the mercenaries withdrawn. The Congolese Prime Minister has also expressed agreement with the OAUresolution. Therefore it is up to a11 the States to help create the conditions which would enable the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take action in accordance with this provision. Compliance with a11 provisions of the resolution would help to create those conditions. 63. l’Organisation efforts sa tache de conciliation, adoptée l’OUA pr&s organisation paragraphe 63. Regarding paragraph 4, which encourages OAU to continue its efforts to assist the Government of the Congo in the conciliation process, we believe that the resolution we have adopted Ill provide a firm basis for effective OAU action in this direction. We stand ready to co-operate in any appropriate way with OAU as requested in paragraph 5. 64. Je crois dant au Seorétaire du Congo courant souligner cessez-le-feu organe d’observation. ne négligera est nous tiendra est le Conseil affaires 64. 1 believe that the Council has acted wisely in asking the Secretary-General to follow the situation in the Congo and keep the Council informed as appropriate. In this connexion 1 wouldpoint out in particular chat, if there is to be any meaningful cesse-fire of any duration, it cari be achieved only by a proper observation by a neutral and impartial body. Therefore I trust that, as part of his mandate, the Secretary- General Will do whatever is possible and feasible tc help ensure compliance with this provision and keep us informed of the results. The same oonsideration of course applies .to the Council’s appeal for nonintervention in the interna1 affairs of the Congo. 66. Finally, let me say that 1 cannot agree with what the representative of Guinea said, if I understood him correctly, to the effect that the United Nations had failed in the Congo, Perhaps he spoke this morning more in temper than in reflection, for, on the contrary, the United Nations has a long history of constructive involvement in helping to develop a central government in the Congo, in helping to deal decisively with several secessions in several provinces of that country and in helping to achieve unity, progress and development in the Congo. That there is rebellion, violence and death there now is not the fault of the United Nations, Let us not deprecate what the United Nations has done in its greatest and most difficult peace-keeping operation, an operation that was authorized by this Council. Rather let us now strive to fulfil the promise of that great collective effort in which SO many Members of the United Nations participated SO gallantly. Let us strive in good faith to finish what we started in this Chamber and do our loyal best to ensure that all those who have died for the preservation of the independence and integrity of the Congo shall not have died in vain.

As the members of the Security Council are well aware, the Soviet delegation has exhaustively explained in a series of statements, its position on and attitude to thequestion under discussion, and has in particular advanced a number of considerations and given some explanations in its statements today. 68. The positions and considerations which we have put forward in the Security Council remain valid, and we shall now merely reaffirm them. We have also stated that, thanks to the efforts made by the parties concerned and the spirit of understanding, co-operation and goodwill that has been shown, an acceptable resolution has at last been arrived at which meets the interests of the countries most concerned, the African States. 69. We repeat that the Soviet delegation takes note with satisfaction of the positive outcome of the work done by the Security Council with the participation of representatives of the African countries. 70. With regard to the statements made here by those speakers who commented on various paragraphs of the resolution adopted, and who gave their own inter- 72. 1 should like to set this matter straight. As we know, the African States appealed to the Security Council in connexion with the armed intervention by the United States and Belgium in the Congo, the Stanleyville tragedy and the flouting of a11 international principles and of the Charter of the United Nations. The interventionists were unmasked here on the basis of well-documented testimony concerning the monstrous crimes they committed against the African peoplss and against the conscience of a11 mankind. 73. It therefoxe appears to us that paragraph 1, which reads: “Requests a11 States to refrain or desist fxom intervening in the domestic affairs of the Congot’, refers primarily to those whom the Security Council found guilty of armed intervention and that this means, in the first instance, none other than theunited States and Belgium. 74. It might logically have been expected that some kind of admission would be made, As far back as ancient times it was observed that if a mistake was made it should be not only acknowledged but corxected. The United States representative has not found the courage either to rectify or even to admit the crime that has been committed, lesquels le Conseil de securite note avec inquiétude événements qui s’y sont produits. ‘75. 1 should like therefore to maire it perfectly clear thatparagraph 1 refers precisely to the interventionists who committed this crime, This is fully consistent with the paragraphs of the preamble which note with concern the aggravation of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and deplore the recent events there. 76. What were those events? What happened there at that time? What darkened the atmosphere in the Congo? The answer is: armed intervention by the United States and Belgium. produit récemment? Qu’est-ce qui a aggravé la situation au Congo? L’intervention et de la Belgique! 77. We do not think it necessary to go into other aspects of the subject which might also gain by olarification, because the hour is late and, of course, because the substance of the mattex has already been exhaustively analysed in the statements of a number of delegations, primarily those of the African States themselves. The principles involved have also been analysed in the statements of the Soviet delegation. 77. Nous ne croyons pas utile d’évoquer les autres aspects de la question, qui auraient cependant besoin, eux aussi, d’être précisés, et cela d’abord parce qu’il est trop tard, et ensuite parce que de nombreuses délégations, et notamment celles des Etats africains, ont déja presenté une analyse exhaustive Les mêmes considerations de principe ont 6té également exposees par la delegation sovi&tique dans ses interventions. 78. Je n’irai pas contre la regle Etablie aujourd’hui et je renoncerai donc à l’interpretation consécutive en anglais et en français. 78. 1 do not intend to violate today’s golden rule and shall not press for consecutive interpretation into English and French.

The representative of the United States wishes to speak, and 1 give him the floor. 79. Le PRESIDENT (traduit de l’espagnol) : Le representant des Etats-Unis désire intervenir. la parole.

1 had not assumed that we were going to reargue this case 80. M. STEVENSON (Etats-Unis d’Amérique) de l’anglais]: 81. He said that the interventionists had been unmasked here in the Security Council. The interventionists were not unmasked; they admitted their intervention-with pride, indeed with exultation. They were not the United States and Belgium. He said that he had expected that thexe would be some recognition of the crime perpetrated by the United States and Belgium. The crime, in the case of my country, was helping to save the lives of two thousand innocent hostages held illegally. 82. 1 have nothing more to say, Mr, President.

My delegation stated the position of the Government of the Ceechoslovak Socialist Republic in the course of the general debate. However, since several delegations have chosen to explain their vote a.fter the event, my delegation would like to explain why it voted as it did. 84. In conformity with the policy of our country and the sentiments of ourpeople, we condemn ail colonialist or neo-colonialist intervention in the development of the Young nations of Africa, and particularly the military operation in the Congo by Belgium -cl the United States on 24 November 19G4, which prompted twenty-two non-alignednations to make a joint approach to the Security Council. It was on the basis of their complaint that this debate was held. Weentirelyagree with the eighteen African nations whose representatives have SO convinoingly stated the facts concerning the sinister attempt by the perpetrators of the recent operation in the Congo to employ once again the methods of a bygone era against the Congolese people. In our opinion, operative paragraph I of the resolution just adopted is directed mainly at intervention of this kind, 85, It has been our thesis that the Congolese people have sole competence and sole responsibility, within the context of African solidarity, for solving the problems of the Congo and of its relations with its African neighbours. The Organization of African Unity which in seeking the soiution to thoseproblems, has proved its devotion to the cause of freedom for the Mrican peoples, as well as its maturity and political wisdom, has also shown moderation and a well-oonsidered attitude here in the Securi@ Council. 86. We consider, then, that the task of the United Nations should be to afford the Congolese people and their brother African peoples an opportunity to seek and find a Congolese and African solution, repelling a11 colonialist or neo-colonialist intervention, direct or indirect. It is for that reason that we voted in favour of the other paragraphs of the resolution, especially paragraphs 4, 5 and 7. 87. Lastly, we continue to viewwith sympathy theposition of the eighteen African States, which insisted 88. Such are the reasons why we wished to explain OUF affirmative vote. In casting that vote we took into account the opinion of the African peoples and wese gratified to note that the representatives of those peoples were at last able to reach agreement on a joint text for our resolution. SS. C’est pour toutes ces raisons que nous avons tenu à expliquer notre vote positif. Nous avons tenu compte, lors de ce vote, de l’opinion des peuples africains et nous nous sommes rejouis de constater que, finalement, Btaient parvenus ;I un accord pour un libelle concerté de notre resolution.

Since no other representative wishes to speak, 1 shall do so myself. 89. Le PRESIDENT (traduit de l’espagnol): Puisque aucun représentant ne demande la parole, je souhaite dire moi-méme quelques mots. 90. Unless its members decide otherwise, we may assume that the Security Council Will not meet again in what is left of this year. 1 therefore feel called upon to express to the representatives my best wishes for their personal well-being in the new year and for kl-îe prospérity of their countries. 90. Il est probable que, sauf avis contraire de ses membres, le Conseil de sécurité ne se reunira plus d’ici reprbsentants mes voeux de bonheur personnel pour la nouvelle annee, ainsi que les souhaits deprosperité que je forme pour leurs pays. 91. Je voudrais Egalement dire une parole d’adieu amical expiré, quitteront cette table, et dont tous ceux qui restent collaboration travaux. 91. 1 should also like to say a word of cordial farewell to those members of the Council who are about to leave us on completion of their term. Those of us who remain Will sorely miss the co-operation and &ficiency which they brought to our work. 92. Aun nom de la délegation bolivienne, je forme aussi des voeux pour que, pendant l’annee qui va commencer, discuter de problémes graves et que, les peuples de la terre jouissant des bienfaits de la paix, le Président qui me succédera connaisse une période plus calme. 92. 1 also wish to express the hope of the Bolivian delegation that in the coming year there Will be no serious problems for the Security Council to discuss, that the peoples of the world may enjoy the benefits of peace and that my successor as President may lead a happier life. The meeting rose at 5.30 p.m. HOW TO OBTAIN UNITED United Nations publications distributors throughout the Write to: United Nations, Sales COMMENT SE PROCURER LES Les publications des Nations Unies agences dépositaires du monde entier. ou adressez-vous à: Nations Unies, COMO CONSEGUIR PUBLICACIONES Las publicaciones de las Naciones casas distribuidoras en todas partes diriiase a: Naciones Unidas, Seccian Printed in UN, Price: $U.S. 0.35 (or equivalent in other currencies)