S/PV.2020 Security Council

First, I wish to take this opportunity as President of the Security Council to express to Ambassador Barton of Canada, on behalf of all the members of the Council, our appreciation for the services he performed during his tenure as President for the month of June and for the effective way he conducted the proceedings of the Council during that month. I request Mr. Lapointe to transmit to him this expression of gratitude for his efforts. 7. Much to my regret, I must point out that the latest issue of the Weekly News Summary published by the Office of Public Information as document WS/821 of 1 July 1977 does not meet these essential requirements for good information. Tile Weekly News Summary to which I am referring is supposed to be a summary of the principal events in the United Nations for the week from 24 to 30 June and starts with the title: “Security Council condemns Southern Rhodesia, urges Material Aid to Mozambique”. In its third paragraph this document states that “the Council’s resolution, sponsored jointly by Benin, India, Libya, Mauritius, Pakistan, Panama and Romania, was approved by consensus”, I stress the words “by consensus”. That is a gross inaccuracy, and it nullifies the impact of the historical fact that the resolution adopted by the Council at its meeting of 30 June [2019th meeting] received 15 affirmative votes, that is, it was adopted unanimously [resolution 41 I (1977)). The members of the Council and, indeed, the entire United Nations family, know what a difference there is between a consensus and the affirmative votes of 15 members of the Council. Unanimity is not a frequent occurrence. It has historical significance, especially in the light of the growing impatience in the world about the intolerable situation in southern Africa. The last time tilere were 15 votes in favour on an item that was really not controversial was six months ago, when Western Samoa was admitted to membership in Adoption of the agenda The agenda was adopted. Statement by the representative of Panama

Tile representative of Panama has asked to be allowed to speak at this stage, Accordingly, I call on him.

It is a matter of particular pleasure for the Panamanian delegation to extend to you, Mr. President, most cordial congratulations on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of July. 4. We consider it an extremely good augury for effective, friendly and peaceful achievements this month that your term as President is beginning with the consideration of the application of the Republic of Djibouti for admission to membership in the United Nations. We believe that your 8. When the International Conference in Support of the Peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia met at Maputo, the Latin American delegations that were present-particularly the delegations of Colombia, Venezuela and Panama-took a strong position in favour of public information on the United Nations as one of the means for creating conditions of peace, understanding and goodwill among all peoples of the world. We believe that one of the weaknesses of the United Nations is that the Organization’s information centres are, through an incomprehensible paradox, much stronger in the highly developed countries than in the developing countries. That is why, at Maputo, the Latin American delegations laid so much stress on the necessity of increasing the United Nations budget for information, in order to promote causes like that of the peoples of southern Africa but not to support situations which are in violation of the Charter. 9. There is also an unpardonable omission in the Weekly News Summary: it has failed to record the fact that the chairmen and spokesmen of important regional groups spoke in the debate in support of the best interests of the indigenous peoples and the vast majority of the populations in southern Africa. Although the press bulletin in question quite rightly mentions the statements of.Mr. ChBrif Bachir Djigo of Senegal, who spoke on behalf of the African Group, and the Minister of Transport of Gabon, Mr. Georges Rawiri, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Organization of African Unity, it is unpardonable, to say the least, that the same press bulletin openly ignores such important statements as that made by Ambassador SBrgio Corr&a da Costa of Brazil, on behalf of the Latin American Group, that of Ambassador Mustafa Medani of the Sudan, President of the Arab Group, and that of Ambassador Ion Datcu of Romania who, when he spoke, necessarily did so in his dual role of representative of his country and Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States. It is also inexcusable that no reference is made to what my delegation believes to be the most important statement made at the 2018th meeting, that of Ambassador Rikhi Jaipal, one of the most prestigious voices of Asia and the third world. I think it was the most important statement, because Mr. Jaipal made the point that it was necessary to eliminate the Ian Smith regime and this should be done, if need be, by military means. It was a very important statement, an extremely significant one, and it has been ignored in this press release. 2 “,

Tile questions raised in the statement of the representative of Panama will certainly be noted by the appropriate units of the Secretariat. Admission of new Members: Application of the Republic of Djibouti for admission to membership in the United Nations (S/l 2357)

On 6 July 1977, the Secretary-General, acting in accordance with rule 59 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, circulated in document S/12357 the application of the Republic of Djibouti for admission to membership in the United Nations. Under the further provisions of rule 59, unless the Council decides otherwise, such applications shall be referred by the President of the Council to the Committee on the Admission of New Members. Accordingly, unless I hear a proposal to the contrary, I shall refer the application of the Republic of Djibouti to the Committee on the Admission of New Members for examination and report. 13. As there has been no other proposal, I take it that the Council agrees to follow the usual procedure. It wus so decided

In accordance with the decision just taken, I propose that the members of the Committee on the Admission of New Members should meet immediately following adjournment of this meeting. 1 request the Committee to prepare its report to the Council at a meeting I intend to schedule for 3.30 p.m. today. The meeting rose at 11.25 a.m.