S/PV.1796 Security Council

Mr. President, first of all, I should like to say how pleased 1 am to see you presiding over the deliberations of the Security Council at this important juncture, when significant steps must be taken to further freedom and uphold respect for human dignity. Allow me to thank through you the members of the Council for allowinrr me to iddress them on this issue, which has been and remains of the greatest concern to all Africa. 60. Because of its persistent refusal to comply with or to implement United Nations decisions on what was then known as South West Africa, the Genera1 Assembly, in 1966, by resolution 2145 (XXI), terminated South Africa’s Mandate over that Territory and entrusted the responsibility therefor to the United Nations. Consequently, during the fifth special session of the General Assemblv in Mav 1967. by resolution 2248 (S-V), the Coun&l for Souih West Africa was established. 55. The Council meets today in pursuance of resolution 3207 (XXIX) adopted by the General Assembly, which calls upon the Council to review the relationship between the United Nations and South Africa in the light of the constant violation by that country of the principles of the Charter and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 61, In complete disregard of the very comprehensive resolutions adopted during that speciai session, South Africa has not only continued to administer the Territory but has exported thereto its odious policy of rrptrrtlwid and employed therein measures of a most repressive nature. As a result of such irresponsible acts by South Africa the international community is put to considerable expense, Last year alone, the appropriation for the United Nations Council for Namibia was about $209,000. excluding the $100,000 for the United Nations Fund for Namibia. Again, although we are pleased with the wonderful work done by that Council, such monies could have been better used if South Africa had adhered to United Nations decisions and resolutions. 56. The policy of crptrrthoid and racial discrimination ‘of the Government of South Africa is, of course, a most flagrant violation of the principles of the Charter and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That being the case, and given the absolute refusal of South Africa to abandon that policy and the contempt it has displayed for the relevant resolutions and decisioris of the General Assembly, that body, on 30 September 1974, decided to call for this review. 57. South Africa has violated nearly I80 decisions and resolutions of the United Nations and its related bodies. These covered not only the evil policy of ~IpN/&~id but the illegal occupation of Namibia, sanctions and other resolutions on Rhodesia, and decisions taken to isolate and force the formet Fascist dictatorship in Portugal into changing its anachronistic colonial policy. As a result of these violations. the General Assembly and the Security Council took active measures to compel the Government of South Africa to desist from its practices. 62. In 1971 it became necessary for a second time for the International Court of Justice to consider the question of Namibia. this time in the light of the decision of IY66. The cost to the United Nations of that exercise was enormous. 63. The above very short narrative sufficiently illustrates why we are here today to undertake this review. It was with such events in mind that in SX. In 1962. by resolution I761 (XVII), the General ~\s>cmhly recommcndcd economic and diplomatic :mc.ion\ ag;~ins~ South Africa. In Augusl IYh3 the 64. That question still needs to be answered. It is significant that the President and current Chairman of OAU, President Siad Barre, has called for the expulsion of South Africa. Again, before the General Assembly. the Government of Sierra Leone restated that for its part it pledges unfailing support for action by OAU, the liberation movements in South Africa, action by governmental and non-governmental organizations. and the entire programme of work of the Special Committee on rrptrrthitl, particularly the programme for intensitication and co-ordination of United Nations action against qm~tlwitl, which my Government sponsored at the twenty-eighth session of the General Assembly together with 39 other Gocernments. 65. We urge the Security Council in carrying out this review to ensure that the United Nations resolutions and decisions are not flouted with impunity by the Government of South Africa, not only because that is wasteful of the all-tpo-limited United Nations funds-as we have seen-but also for the far more important reason that if resolutions and decisions were flouted with impunity by South Africa, or by any other Member State for that matter, it would destroy the moral basis which alone gives the Organization validity. 66. In accordance with principles of the Charter all Member States are called upon to give the United Nations every possible assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the Charter and to refrain from giving assistance to any State against which the United 6X. It remains only for me to wish all the members of the Council well, and to urge them to carry out their onerous duties with sincerity and without flinching from whatever decision they believe will serve the principles of the Organization and serve to further respect for human dignity. 69. The PRESIDENT (i,lrrl’/~,‘c’ftrlio/i ,/iw~~ Frod~~: 1 wish to inform members of the Council that a letter dated 18 October from the representatives of Kenya and Mauritania to the President of the Council has been received [S///53Y 1. In this letter a request is made that the Council extend an inv.itation, under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure, to Mr. David Sibeko, member of the National Executive Committee of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania. 70. If there is no objection, I shall consider that the Council agrees to that request. 71, The PRESIDENT lirrtc,rprrttrtic)tl .fkm ~wric~/~J: 1 should also like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Morocco asking to be invited, under Article 31 of the Charter, to participate, without the right to vote, in the Council’s discussion. If I hear no objection 1 propose, in accordance with the usual practice and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure, to invite the representative of Morocco to participate, without the right to vote. in the Council’s debate. 72. Accordingly, 1 request the representative of Morocco to take the place reserved for him at the side of the Council chamber, on the usual undertaking that he will be invited to come to the table when it is his turn to speak. 73. The PRESIDENT fi/r/~~,~/,/~~,/~/tic,/l ,/iwrr ~w/rch~: I havc just received ;I letter dated IX October from the representative of Saudi Arabia requesting. UIKICI Article 31 of the Charter. to hc invited to participate \vithout the right to vote in the discussion of the Council. I propose. if I I;c:lr no o!$eclion and in ;~ccord~~~ncc wirh fhc LIW;~ plxtice and rule’ 37 of the provisional rules of procedure, to invite the reprehe will be invited to come to the Council table sentative of Saudi Arabia to participate, without the when it is his turn to speak. right to vote, in the discussion. 74. I request the representative of Saudi Arabia to take the place reserved for him at the side of the Council chamber, on the usual understanding that ?Ac Irlt3ali/rg rosa (il 5.05 p.rli. (Skrrtli Archh) took Ihc plrrcr rcsowti .fi~r him trl th sidc~ 0JIlw C’oriwil cllwhJl.. 74-82001 April 19X3 2.2OC