S/PV.1690 Security Council

l’vlr. Prcsidcnt, I wish llrst of all to cxpross my profound gratitude to you j~orsoiiidly and also to tbo uioinbors horc for gruutlug nit thjs sclcct opporlunity of apjmirlng bcforo the Council at such short nutlco. 15. The second reason for our uskiug for the floor is tluil WC wish to joju In the up]~~l to Uuz a~anborsl1ip of Uic Council und to lntcrnationul oj~lnlon at tarp to take all iicccssury nIcusurcs to ciisurc tlic cffcctivc rcalizalion of UIC highest und uiosl sucrcd uspirutlors of the Afrlcun ]1cojh?s, j~o]~lcs deprived of thclr fundumontul logul riglit to the pursuit of freedom and the sh~j~lng of thclr own destiny. The dcprivutlon of liberty has proved to bc hlstoiy’s n1os.t notorious j~rovocution * ugaiost intcri1etlonal j,cocc and sccurjty. Contcnipt for tlic logal coiiccjlts of the sovcrclgii cquullty of States and thclr tcrrltorlal intcgrlty is just us I~rovcJcatlvc gsbe!ligcrcncy a114 oj1c11 war. IO. It Is particularly gratifying to obsorvc the trcnmdous contrlbutlon hut so-called young countrlos continue to inakc towurds the ostablishcnt of world order and the jmsltivc constructhi of jmicc. January witnosscd a great son of Indonesln guldlng this august body wlUl unudul. toratcd wisdoni and brilljanco. Pcbruery launches Afrlcu’s Kcnyp to reafh tlio oxlstjng truth of tlto capacity of African pooj~lcs to piirtlcipatc on cquul term tiith unjmdlelcd sonsltlvity la the rcsolutlon of intornatlonal probloins and the org;liileatlon of world jmicc, 16, The niottcr of which the Council Is now sclzcd Involvos u comblnutlon of both. The lewd consplrucy bctwcen the rucist chcnts wlthlu Zlmbabwc snd tholr accomplices In Soutj~ Africu is uudcru~lulng the ri&t to ~lf.dctcrioioation of 111c Ziinbubwc j~oj~lc, OII the OIIC hand, uud the tcrritoribl integrity ti11d j)olltical iodcpciidcnce of tl1c paccful und frccdoinhviiig j~~i>plCs of tllc ]~cjXiblic of Zirrnbia 011 the oljicr. 1 I. We wish to cougrululatc the outgoing l’rcsidcnt, A&issador Anwor Sani, for o successful tcrin of offlcc. To uur Joy uud I’clicitaUoos IO you, ou[ brotlicr Odcro.Jowj, we add tlio rcucwcd conl’idciicc that you will cnsurc that the dcljbcratlo11s of tliis Council this toonth rcuch u fruitful conclusion, 17. Our pncrntlon lllllsl rocognizc tllc rlalllrc of Ihc ]lCilCC that tlic Cliartcr co~itc~~~]htes. It is not mcrrly 111~ ul~sc~~cc of wur, It involves tlic rcjccliim of all situiiliims coiiducivc lo bclllgcrciicy illid llie altaitiiitciil of full rcsj~~! for UIC declared j~rlucij~lcs of ]~~ccful COCX~S~CIICC ~IIIIOII~ SIiiics. Tcclmology has u111licd inankiud to sucl~ UII cxtcnl tl!at jstrli~tjo~~lsii~ is Irc~ili aiioclircrtiistlc iuid uridosiralrlc III OIII ugc. The plight of a si11ull, ahost jhysic;illy iiisigiiil’iciii~t I 7 -I My dclcgatlori asked IO sjmk for two mju rci~sor~s. L’hc first is to demoiistriitc o]mily full soljdeiity will1 UIC hjater Afhmi Slule of Zambia in wlrul It is ourrcnlly ~iiduriiig iii the face of jm&mtl~~ii. The I’rcsidcnt 01’ (‘onmom, Ills I~xcclIc~~cy Ul lhdj Alun~~h~ Ahldjo, his :tlrc:rtjy dlspatclicd il reassuring ctrt~~r~~cririci~fio~~ to llis I~xccllc11cy Prcsldcnt Kuundn of %anhia, cxprcssing the 18. Tlic .lndignatlon~Gf Afrlcnn peoples cvgrywhcrc con. thuos to mount with frlghtcnlng Intensity. It would b0 a chgorous miscnlouintlon to suppose that our lcadors spoke In rcsponsc: to vnh and toothloss rhotorlc, The youth within sud outside Afrlcn arc scnslttvc about justtce,. WC must not [land to thorn the Icgncy of inuctlvity, of procrastination> or, \yorsc still, of nicro 111) scrvlcc to the concept of the rule of hw. If this gcncratiou does not tokc immcdiotc and effcctlvc stops to arrest current tronds, the present rcvoit in *Africa wlil, in n matter of a fow years, cxplodc with incrcdiblc conscqucnccs, disruptlvc of the sound structure we drcnm of for the Intornntionrd community. The basis of <q)prcsslon in southem Africa being racist oud imperialistic, Ihcrc can bc IIO telling whst wider conscqucnccs thora hid be outside the prcscnt nrcu of conflict. Both rich and lloor nations have a stake in peace. I am pcrsonaiiy convinced, from their rcnctions in contemporary hlstory, fhat the pcopios of the world want pence rather th the 22. South Africa and oil blind nlllos of fho racist r0glme in --Rlydesia must awaken to the facts of the common that to the pence and wall-being af the internutionnl conlmu&y. Peocc nnd security in -all of Afrlco through full respect for Charter principles as wall as for the dignity and worth of the human person will nlcail prospority for all. including South Africa, Zimbabwe and other areas o: current potential explosion. 23. My nation appeals to all the members of the Security Council to treat the present dcbatc with dcfcrcncc and not merely as another occasion to register a rcsolulion, the worth of which is insigniflcant in the eyes of Inn Smith, his collaborators and accomp!ices, urld to evolve B progrnnmle by which the threat to Zambia will be frustrated and overtakeu by positive mcasurcs. Lot us get away from the menacing thought, “Zambia today, who tomorrow? “, If this Council fails to do this and if the intcrnatlonal community fails to respond co the threatening needs of the day, then we must bc prepared to join in the prophetic lament of Tennyson: 1’11 tility of war. l9. The Govcrnmcnt and the pcoplc of the United I(ingdom guard the ideals of freedom with jealousy and co~:uultmcnt. The Constitution of that nation lcavcs no one In any doubt about their dedication to democracy and liberty. We ask of them no more thm they ask of ~l~en~sclvcs tit home --that thy apply their chcrlshcd ideals to other peopics. hil0cracy ia the context of majority tule is surely cxportablc. Southern Khodcsia is still a colony of the Unltcd Kingdom. It is with that State that the lhnary responsibility rests to rid the nation of Zimbabwe Of the dangerous luxury of racism in public life. It would tlot bc a novelty for the United Kingdom to arrange hdependcl:-e through the cxcrcise by the peoples BS P ~&whoic of sclf~dctcrmhation uftcr a comprch~sivo con. fhonce. A new consiitution can always guarantoc lcgitimatc Iulnorlty rights; but ict the cxprossed will of the majority i uzvuil. Z?O. The time Is now for G rethinking on the part of all hnccrncd, The United Kingdom, known for its mature ‘(lipiomacy abroad and cxpcricncod govcrmucnt at i~o~llc, should tukc the initiative, knowing first hand what senti. !Iieots exist among the majority of the pcoplcs. It io fact I_took the trouble to send in D spccinl commission to get the l:\cts. Ihdistic aid lasting pcm L’UII conic ouiy through ;ll:rccmcrlt rcachcd OII the basis of racial cquaiity auti ~~~st)cct for fimd;imcutiJ IIIII~I:III rights. 1’1 . ihtoric and opm debate is no longer effective. ,‘t.a:tiorl must IX hc tr~.~cst crld ICI cvcry dcciarcd idcul. ‘l’l~c I hlited Kingdom IHIS openly supported the concept 01 ! mce und the p~inciplc of the self-tletcrriiiliatioll 01’ 1 ~~:c~pies, ‘lh rcprcsclltatives ol’ the United Kingdom pinycd iI mijor roic in lilt clabor;itiim of tile principics oorilairicd ill tlic 1~~70 I)ccl;ir;l~ioll. Aay rcluct:iiicc or rcfusnl 011 the 1 MI t of the lhitcd Kingdom Govermncnt to CIII’C this III~I~OI 1 III’SC of IGodcsin cst:lbllsilcs the fact that that (hvclrlnlcllt I’IVCS its uureselved ;Ipprov;d to the sr(/r/~ QIIO. A vctu to 24. Neither assassinations nor arsenals of sophisticated weapons of mass destruction cnu succeed or have CVOI succeeded in destroying the will of peoples for freedom. Thy may-iuid only may-retard the advent of liberty. Thy cannot ~stop nature’s historic processes of change in the balance of powcr and in the inevitability of its attainment, 25. Tlrc PRESIDENT: The next mune ol! the list of speakers is that of the represcntativc of Guyana, whom I invite to tuke a place at the Council table and to make his statcllll?ilt.

Mr. President, 111~ dcleg* tion wishes to thank you and the mcmbors of the Security Council for the opportunity which you have offordcd mc to address the Council on the question now under consldcratiori. uric whicll calls for al unrcscrvcd cxprcssiotl of solidarity with o peace-loving and friendly State, the Republic of Zambia, and at the sync time confronts the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council, with special chalicngcs. 27. I take this uppurtuuity tu COIIVC~ to you tltc fclicitations trf 111y dclcgatkm upu11 your nssunlptioll of the prcsidcrloy of the Council. We wish, through you, to convey shihr fclicitakrrla to the dcicgation uf Indonesia, whcil, in the pcrso~l of Ambassudor Anwar Saui, yesterday completed its term us President of the Council for tlic month ol’Jm~n~p. ing Stutc, a Mcmbcr State. of tills Orgunlzatlon, Its condnct in this Instuncc follows tllc now cstnbllsbod puttorn ~of rutlllos~ncss in sccklng to mulntnin tbc powor so wantonly upurpod, Smltb’s action uppcurs us a plcco of blutunt contldcncc tllut ho could proccod on Ids robclllous course, Ncvcrtboloss, In tbc VICW of my dclcgation, the opportunity is still uvallublc to the udminlstcring lknvcr to dlschargo its rosponslblllty to the pcoplc of Zimbubwc. One stop In tbut dlmction would bc the immcdlutc wltbdruwul of tbc contempt for tbls Orgunlzatton und univorsul public opin. Ion. It Is, in tbc vlcw of my dclcgution, u fnrthor dcmonstrution of a rcsolvc to persist in rucism, oppression coniniitn~cnt not to us0 force in tlic pirsult of tbc stutcd obj~ctl~~n of ~IIC Unltcd Kingdonl Govcrnmont to cstublisb and uggrcssio~~, dcmocrutic gWCrlllllOilt in Zimbubwc. A furtbcr step would bc to sunnnon u constltutlonul c0nfcrcncc, fully rcl~rcsen. 29. But the rcbcls .In Sullsbury urd not alone In thut tutlvc of tllc pooplo of Zlmbubwc, us udvocutcd by mny dclcgutions during tlic twenty-srvcntb scsslon uf tbc Gcn. oral Assembly and rcitorotcd during tllc conrsc of this dcbatc, rcsolvc, Won notc is tukcn of the letter dutcd 26 Junuury addrcsscd by tbc rcprcsonttitlvc,of Sostb Africa to the I’rcsidcnt of the Security Council /S/10870/ und ln~vlng rcgurd to tbc record of South hfrico’s internal opprosslon und oxtcrnul collaborutlon with similarly mlndcd Fascist rdgimcs in tlic r&on, u frlglitcning picture of riiclst tyrunny In soutbcrn Africa cmcrges. Tbis lcttcr is un invitation to 36. Wbutcvor muy bc the uction that tllc udmlnistcring I’owcr tukcs in rcgord to tl~c rcbcllion in Zimbubwc, let mc say tInit the Covcr~nncn~ und pcoplc of C:uyu~ld stund rcudy to play Ilicir purt in any intcrnutionul collcctivc uction Ian Sl1lltll to colltill~lc alo11g the pall1 Im I1as clroscll, fully ussurcd of tbc support of South Afrlcu. wbicb will bul\ tlic rupc of tbc rule of I;IW in Zimbubwc and uslicr In lo - tllut Territory s rdginic c)Jlong uwuitcd dcmocrucy, l~cucc and jnsticc, 30. My dclcgution, thcrcl’ore, joins with all tbo otbcr dclogntlons wbicl~ buvc condcmncd the uggrcssion snd tyrulliiy of the racists ill suutbcrii Africa and ussocintos itself with tbcir demand for appropriate action by this Orgunlzution and particularly tbc Sccurlty Council it) bring to u halt tlicir reign of \cTroT. 37, ‘TllC I’IIESIDENI’: I’lliJt CXllUllStS tllC i;St Gf Xi:KSOlJ* tstivcs who wisllcd to mukc gcncrul stutcmcnts 01) tllc Item on the ugcndu. I now cull on tbc rcprcscntutivc of tbc Sudan 10 Intruducc tw0 draft rcsnlrltions, contained in documents S/l0875 uod S/10876, wbicb birvc just been dlstrlbutcd. 31. Let tberc bc 110 doubt about tbc c0nm~itn~ent of the Government and people of Cnya~~u to tbc G0vernmcnt and people of Zambia. Our l’rlmc Mlnistor, i~pon bolny apprised of this most rcccnt uggrcssion by Ian Sr,4tb against Zambia, immcdlutcly connnunlcated to its I’rcsidcnt, Mr. Konnctb Kunndo, OUT sulidurity with the courugeous Covernmcnt 38, Mr. AUDULLA (SU~II): I sbuuld like lo star1 by offering tlic congrutululions of my dcleguliun 10 our frlcnd Ambassador A~war Surii of Jlitkwcsia for tl~c wonderful wdy lie zcquittcd blnisclf us ibC 1’rcsid.W of tllc SCcllrllY and pcol~lo of Zambia in their refusal tr; submit to lntlmldatlon and tbrouts, and OUT support of rbe principled f,‘ouncil during tbo r.\ontb of Jenuury. Ambassudur Anwur Sun1 Hvsd up to wbu: w bed cxpcctcd of bim wbcn JIG usstimed tbc presidency und, to our fill1 sutisfuction, stand they IIUVC taken in upholding the cun0ns and prccel~ts of justice, freedom and buman dignity. conducted 111s work us Prcsldcnt wi~b outstandbig ability, flr~~mss and grcut conscicrl tlousncss. Tl~ercf0ro, to l1im and to his dclcgution, WC ugaln cxprcss OIII’ ;idmiraliun snd 31. Like so many dclcgations wlllcb have spoken before 11s wc rccognize that the Intcrnationul conin~iinily ciln. al 111 s congrutulatioris. jnni:!nTe, d0 110 ICSS III~II support the GOVOIIWEI~~ ur:d l>eol,lc of Zarnbi:l rn~d assist tbcm III all t)le ways open :o It, 30. To you, Sk, as you ussumc tbc prcsldoncy for tbc month of Februury, my dclcgullo11 would wisli to cxl~rcss its Iie:rrtfclt plcasurc in seeing you in the Cliair -Orstly more esl~clally to 0vcrc01nc tbc c~ono11ric diff:cilltics WIIICII buve rcsultcd from tbc closure uf 111e border and tllc imposition of u blockade !)y Ion Siiiitli. becotrsc you we 311 African u11c1 secondly because yolr urc u national of o country uiid ;I t)col~lc will1 wliom my coiriilry 33. UuI evcii us wc cotidcnii~ llic ;iggrcssors and cxprcas our solidarily willi lllc Gowrriincl;l slid pcoplc of Zimibiil, uiid my p~plc ciilerluiil tlic besl of brotlierly rclatioiis. Ywr cowmy ;III~ mine. like utllcr African counlrics, urc linked IJY fute IO pertJetu;d fricndsllip ;III~ to CW~IUII luf~y it is ncccssary for IIS not IO be divcrlcd by syrn~~toms, but to seek to crud tbc tltrcat IO ilrlcrnational pcucc arid security in IIIC region IJY lnkirtg uclio11 wllicll will crudlcutc tl~e root urns, tllul is. lllc urlily ~rrlil ~rccilorn of Africa ilS il IVIIOIC. Tlicrclbrc. I wisli you tlic bcsl (II’ siicccss itI your term of vfficc and I wibli lo uwlrc you (If llty dClcg;~lioll’s f(dl cf~liscs which lcil lo lliosc distclrboiiccs. cu.opratioii during this pcritrtl. 34. If we fi~ct~s attention 011 llie silualion iii Ziiirl~abwc, wc colile 1(t lllc itlevi Iilldc conclusion lllol it is flit lililurc of tlie :Idirliiiislcririg I’owcr tlic t;ovcriitncril of’ tlic LJ,.itccl 40. Ilaving said tb;lt, I sl~oultl like IO recall ~II;II, fbr tltc paI lirn~ days. Ibis c’camcil liiis becrl occci@l iii ilcltatiiil: tl~c COIIICII~S of tbc Ictler uf’ 24 Jmwy 1073 from IIIC Kingdom lo take decisive ;rcfitrlr tlr fcrrnitr;rtc tbc rcbclllorl iii tllul urlll;lllpy comitry 1ll;i1 Ilas Ial (0 Ilic prcscril rcprcScril;itivc of %;lllllliil. coril;iiiicil iti tl~lctllll~llt SllOMS. 41. Before I come to the specific provisions of the draft resolutions, allow me to state, for the purpose of emphasis, that the most significant problem that has loomed largely in our deliberations has been the threat to international peace and security in southern Africa. Members might have different attitudes and different positions on other things but, judging from the thrust of the statements made by many delegations, we are agreed that. the recent provocations committed by the illegal regime in Salisbury aggravate an already dangerous situation in the area. These are developments which call for the most urgent and decisive action by the Council in its capacity as the organ whose primary responsibility is to maintain world peace. 42. Speaking specifically on the draft resolutions before the Council which, I believe, members have had time to consider, it will be realized that the draft in document S/ 10875 contains proposals regarding primarily the political aspects of the complaint. The other draft, in document S/ 10876 pertains to assistance to Zambia. In presenting the proposals in draft resolution S/10875, we have four significant points in mind. The first is how the Council should express its strong disapproval of the provocative actions of the fan Smith regime. The second is what the Council should do about the presence of South African armed forces in Southern Rhodesia and on the border with Zambia. The third point is what the United Kingdom responsibility for Rhodesia really means. Finally, we have to address ourselves to the veracity of the statements of South Africa denying its military intervention in Rhodesia. 43. On the first point, the sponsors feel very strongly that the Council should condemn the actions of the Smith regime, leaving it in no doubt that the Council will not stand by while it provokes its neighbours and indulges in excessive repression of the people of Zimbabwe. Therefore we suggest unanimous approval of the provisions of operative paragraphs 1 and 2. 44. The second point is not new to the Council. As far back as 1970, the Council demanded of South Africa that it withdraw its armed personnel from Southern Rhodesia. The grave implications of South African military intervention on the side of the white minority regime in Salisbury cannot be over-emphasized. If I may, I should like to.quote a one-time British Prime Minister, who said: “I believe the greatest danger ahead of us is that the world might be divided on racial lines. I see no other danger, not even the nuclear bomb, which could be catastrophic as that”. Those were the words of Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1964 when he was the British Prime Minister. It is our earnest hope that the Council will approve operative paragraphs 4 and 5, which are specifically addressed to this particular problem. 45. The third point, regarding British responsibility for Rhodesia, is not a new element in any debate involving issues touching on that Territory. However, the question that we shall continuously voice is how serious the United 46. Finally, we have to address our thoughts to facts as they are or are alleged to be in the area under our consideration. The sponsors believe that our conduct of these affairs will be helped a great deal if, under rule 28 of the provisional rules of procedure, the dispatch of a mission to the region is approved by the Council. The purpose of the mission is stated in operative paragraph 9. 47. Coming to the draft resolution in document S/10876, I can do no better than quote my friend, the representative of Austria, who said yesterday: “Zambia has undertaken the greatest efforts in order to comply with sanctions, and these efforts were not least among the acts which earned Zambia and its President, Mr. Kenneth Kaunda, the sympathy and admiration of many countries, including my own. Zambia certainly has borne the brunt and .has been in the forefront of the struggle of Africa to gain full freedom and independence of the continent. “As the result of severing its last economic ties with Rhodesia during recent weeks, Zambia today faces a new and more serious situation. My delegation is therefore convinced that the request expressed by Zambia, based on Articles 49 and 50 of the Charter and on the aforementioned provisions of resolutions 253 (I 968) and 277 (1970), for economic assistance by United Nations organizations and by Member States deserves most serious consideration by this Council.” [1689th meeting, paras. 60 and 611 48. In concluding, I should like to say that the issue facing the Council today is whether it is willing to accept the fact that the question of Rhodesia represents a real threat to world peace and constitutes a problem of such profound importance to the future of the United Nations that the Council should put its prestige behind all efforts to bring an end to the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia. The sponiors believe that that is the course the Council must take. Let this Council not earn for itself the harsh judgement that the best it could do when there was no oasis in sight was to create a mirage, 49. 1 wish to terminate by saying that the s$onsors of these two draft resolutions are prepared to discuss with other delegations any points which could facilitate their unanimous adoption.