S/PV.2314 Security Council

The Council is meeting in response to the letter dated 8 December from the Char@ d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Seychelles addressed to the President of the Council and contained in document S/14783. 3. I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the following documents: S/14769 and Corr.1, letter dated 26 November from the Char& d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Seychelles addressed to the Secretary-General, and S/l4777,lettel dated 1 December from the Charge d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Seychelles addressed to the Secretary-General, Members of the Council have before them document S/14793, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s consultations. 4. The first speaker is then representative of Seychelles, on whom I now call.

Mr. President, first of all, on behalf of the Government of the Reuublic of Seychelles and on my own behalf, I wish to express our sincere appreciation to you and to the members of the Council for having promptly agreed to hear the request made by the Government of the Republic of Seychelles. 6. 1 wish to congratulate last month’s President of the Council, Ambassador Slim of Tunisia, for a job well done-under trying circumstances. 7. In regard to you, Mr. President, weareenormously gratified to see a fellow African so ably directing the work of the Council. As a fellow East African, 1 was delighted to have spent two years of my childhood among the beautiful green hills of your country, which reminded me of my main island in Seychelles. What was more confusing to me then was my having to be constantly reminded by my parents that Lake Victoria was not the Indian Ocean. I felt at home in Uganda, and having you in the presidency today makes me feel among friends. 8. As we turn to the real Indian Ocean, I should like to take this opportunity to explain to the Council recent events in the Republic of Seychelles since 25 November, events which violated o;r sovereignty and territorial integrity. 9. At 1430 hours Greenwich mean time on 25 November, a group of 44 foreign mercenaries landed at Seychelles International Airport on board a scheduled flight of the Royal Air Swazi airline via Comoros. Royal Air Swazi has confirmed that the mercenaries arrived at Matsapha Airport in Swaziland by coach from South Africa, posing as members of a sports club, The mercenaries disembarked in the Republic of Seychelles posing as members of ~a beer-drinking convention. As they went through customs,- a customs officer detected a false-bottomed bag containing a submachine gun. In view of the fact that all members of -the group were carrying more or less similar pieces of luggage, the security forces were alerted and the buses which were supposed to take the group to their hotel were ordered not to move. Once the mercenaries realized that their plot had been foiled, they immediately unpacked their weapons and took over control -of the airport, including the air traffic control tower. They also took everyone at the airport-a total of 70 people-as hOSti8gtX. IO. The defence forces of Seychelles then moved into position end contained the mercenaries at the airport. The mercenaries then ordered a scheduled Air India Boeing 707 to land as if nothing were amiss. The defence forces of Seychelles tried to warn the Air India pilot by firing red pyrotechnic flares across the~final app~ oath path, but the aircraft landed upon the instruc- -lions of the mercenaries, who were controlling the tower. The mercenaries, faced with defeat, then hijacked the aircraft and ordered the pilot to take them to Durban, South Africa, with ail passengers on board. In all, 43 mercenaries left on the aircraft for Durban, taking with them one dead. Two were seriously wounded. Left behind were members of the rear guard of the mercenary force, some of whom had infiltrated the country prior to the arrival of the group of 44 and who took part in the fighting and then fled in panic to the mountains. Again, all were foreigners. Six mercenaries have been~captured and detained, II. The 2S November mercenary attack resulted in loss of life, injuries, considerable hardship to the hostages held at the airport, to the passengers on board the hijacked Air India flight and to the whole population of Seychelles, who had to face the rigours of an armed invasion of our country. Extensive damage has also been caused to the airport facilities, control tower, various buildings, grounds and runway facilities, and there have been serious repercussions on the perfor- IIXII~CC of our economy. estimated at around $30 million. not taking into account, for the time being, the structural damage, owing to the unavailability of cxpoc’ts. 12. ‘I’herc is every twsw~ to helievc that South Africa may have been involved in the aggression. One ele- 111en1 of proof is tlmt despite the fact that the regime of South Africa is a party to both the Convention for the Suppression of Unlnw~ul Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, signed at Montreal on 23 Septcmbe. 197 I ,; alid the Convel.,ion for the Sunnrcssion of t.I~~lawful Scizurc of Aircraft. sipncd a~ the Hague on Ih I)ecembcr 1970,’ South .4frica has I~la~;~ntly viola&d the rcpulations c~tablishcd by those convent~ions. 13. 1:urthcrmore. et ‘hc time the hi,iacked Air India $rcrxt’t ilrrivcd in South Africa. the South African rBgime informed the world that the hijackers of the aircraft, which was brought to South Africa OII 26 November, had been taken into custody in South Africa and would be dealt with according to South African legislation-its own stringent anti-hijacking laws-and according to the conventions which I have just mentioned, Yet, only five ofthe mercenaries were charged with kidnapping and released on trivial bail, while 39 others i&e iet free without being charged, despite the request by the Government of the Republic of Seychelles for the mercenaries to be returned to Seychelles to stand trial by an international tribunal appointed by-the~united-Nations. -~ ~~ 14. This in brief is an outliae of the situation as we know-it-as of now. ~~ ~~~ -~~~ 15. My Government has requested the urgent convening of the Couiicil to request it to establish an international commission of inquiry, to be composed of three members of the Council, the terms of reference of which will be to investigate the origin, background and financing of the 25 November mercenary invasion of the Republic of Seychellrs, as well as to assess and evaluate economic damage and report to the Council with appropriate recommendations not later than 31 January 1982. Weareconvinced that thecommission will be able to gather incontrovertible evidence that will enable-it to h,dict all those involved in this criminal act. 16. The South African rbgime’s own actions to date show that it may have had a hand in the organization of the invasion. In this regard, the absence of a categorical condemnation of the Pretoria rCgime by the Council in no way exonerates that regime of any responsibility for contravening the norms of international law. 17. Mr. President, 011 behalf of the peace-loving people and Government of the Republic of Seychelles I should like to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to you and to all members of the Council and to the Secretariat for the manifestation of solidarity and kind assistance rendered to us during Seychelles’ most critical momerd in its history since the attainment of independence. 18. After Ihe facts have been ascertained, we are convinced that the Council will pass the necessary judgement and condemnation and initiate the necessary action. We do, however, reserve the right to bring the matter again before the Council should the situation Will’l’ant it. 19. The PRBSIDI~N’f: The next speaker on my lisl is the represent;ltive of Botii$ana j\ ho wishc$ to make a slatement in his c;tl)acity as the (‘hairman of the African Group of States at the United Nations for the month of Dccembrr. I invite him to take a seat at the c’ouncil table and 111 make his statement. only too well that they could easily be sent to 30 years’ imprison_me-t for their damnable act of terrorism. 20. Mr, LEGWAILA (Botswana): On 3 December, the African Group issued a statement deprecating the recent invasion ofthe Republic ofSeychelles by agroup of mercenaries who originated in South Africa, Indeed, there wcrE~T3 South Africans in the group. 29. Surely South Africa cannot escape the fact that by its extremely irregular behaviour on this matter it has invited even its friends to cast serious doubts and suspicion on its protestations of innocence. South Africa knows only too well that Air India could not have simply decided to fly to South Africa for nothing. It had to be hijacked there-and hijacking is a very grave crime in South Africa. Yet, we are told that in one court appearance 39 mercenaries had to be released unconditionally because there was no evidence of wrongdoing against them. Even the five who are said to have been released on bail may never be tried, or, if they are tried, the verdict can almost be predicted+ 21. II is an established fact that, their attempt to overthrow the legitimate Government of Seychelles having been thwarted by the vigilant armed forces of that African republic, the mercenaries hijacked an Air India civilian plane back to South Africa-the place of their origin. Although it cannot be said that the 44 so-called dogs of fortune or misfortune were received with a great deal of fanfare in Durban, the fact remains that as we meet here today they are as free as they have ever been. Even the five of them who are said to have been released on bail left the court in style, on their release-by a helicopter, it is reported, which flew them to a wealthy friend’s residence in the suburbs of Johannesburg, for-a celebration, I suppose. 30. It is important that the real truth ofwhat happened in the Republic of Seychelles on 25 November be known in all its dimensions. A thorough investigation should be instituted as soon as possible with a view to digging out the facts on the basis of which the consequences of the invasion of Seychelles by those mercenaries could be understood and dealt with. The participants in that damnable act are known; South Africa has the list of their names and addresses of their homes, which are in South Africa. What remains to be ascertained are the authors of the act. the evil sponsors of the diabolic attempt to overthrow the legitimate Government of the Republic of Seychelles. 22. It is not our intention to prejudge the issue. It is not our wish simply to rest content with empty bluster and emotion-laden rhetoric. Indeed, it is not our intention to turn this meeting into an anti-South Africa festival. But we have every reason to wonder very seriously indeed whether Sduth Africa did not have g role in the planning of the mercenary invasion of the Republic of Seychelles on 25 November. We possess no concrete evidence at this juncture to suggest that the mercenaries were sent to Seychelles by the Government of South Africa, But we have many questions to ask South Africa, and we hope that South Africa wilt answer them. 31. We are, in other words, imploring this Council to set up a commission of inquiry to visit the Republic of Seychelles and wherever the information may be found as soon as possible to find out what happened on 25 November. The commission should, i/r/e/, trlicc. assess the economic damages wrought by the invasion and make the necessary recommendations for their alleviation. There should be no cover-up. Seychelles’ victory in repulsing this criminal mercenary invasion is an encouragement for all of Africa and all others that are threatened by the ,scourge of mercenaries. 23. First. whv were the mercenaries released so quickly despite-the fact that they had arrived back in South Africa on a plane they had forced to fly to South Africa? 24. Secondly, why were South Africa’s stringent socalled anti-terrorist laws not invoked against the mercenaries, at least to punish them for the act of hijacking evidenced by the presence of an Air India plane in Durban of all places’? 32. I should like to end by performing a pleasant duty, that of extending to you, Mr. President, my sincere congratulations on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of December. YOUI capabilities are of course beyond reproach and there is no need for me to say more. The same sentiments go to your predecessor, Ambassador Slim ofTunisia, who also acquitted himself admirably as President of the Council for November. 25. Thirdly, did South Africa really think that the pilot of the Air India plane simply decided to fly to Durb‘ui for fun’! 26. Fourthly. was the presence on the aircraft of armed men not enough evidence IO suggest that the pilot could not have flown his plane to South Africa of his own volition’?

It is mv understandinn that the Council is ready IO proceed tb the vote on the draft resolution which is before it [S//47931. Unless I heal any objection, I shall put the draft resolution lo the vote now. 27. Fifthly. was the pilot ever asked to tell his story and to explain. in particular, why he had armed men on his phe? 2X. Sixthly, and 1110~1 importantly. we have every reason to WNII tt) know why the mercenaries were so elated to be hack in South Africa, where they knew

I shall now call on those members of the Council~whp wish to make statem_epJs. 35. Mr. NlSIBORI (Japan): Mr. President, since this is the first !ime that my delegation has formally spoken in a meeting of the Council this month, allow me at the outset to congratulate you most warmly on your assumption of the presidency for December. We have already had occasion to witness the great diplomatic skill, wisdom and insight you bring to yom office. My delegation particularly appreciates your tireless efforts which succeeded in breaking the deadlock so that a Secretary-General could be elected in a fair manner and in a very short period of time after you had assumed your high office. My delegation trusts that under your presidency we shall be able to dispose of the diverse questions still before us with equal success and efficiency. My delegation, for its part, will continue to render its full co-operation in your efforts during this particularly busy month. 36. I should like to take this opportunity to express my delegation’s deep appreciation to Mr. Slim for the excellent manner in which he conducted the business of the Council during the difficult month of November. 37. According to reports and the detailed statement we have just heard from the representative of the Republic of Seychelles, on 25 November a group of 44 mercenaries arrived at the international airport of Seychelles and, in a violent but unsuccessful attempt to topple the Government, caused material damage and human injury and then fled the country. 38. My delegation regards this as an extremely regrettable incident. We condemn this act of terrorism, which appears to involve a clear violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Seychelles and a threat to its political independence. 39. It is also reported that before they fled the terrorists took a number of civilian hostages. This too should be condemned by the international community, which in recent years has been making great efforts, particularly through the United Nations, for the prevention and control of acts of hostage-taking. 40. The terrorists fcrthermore forcibly seized and took control of a civilian aircraft, in which they fled to South Africa. As a p;irty to the Tokyo,’ the Hague and the Montreal Conventions relating to acts of terrorism on board or against aircrafts, my Government is seriously concerned by this latest unlawful seizure of iin aircraft. 41. Those are my delegation’s preliminary comments on the events of 25 November. It appears, however, that there are a number of factual uncertainties surrounding the incident, and before the Council can determine which measures would be most appropriate it is essential that all relevant facts be presented to its rncmbers. Thus my delegation whole-heartediy supports the idea of setting up a commission of inquiry to investigate the facts and has just voted in favour of the draft-resolution to that effect. 42. My Government has in various forums of the United Nations repeatedly stressed thnt the factfinding capacity of some of its organs, including the Security Council, should be strengthened in order to enhance the effective performance of their functions in the maintenance of international peace and security as well as in the peaceful settlement of disputes. A recent example of such an appeal was the statement made by Mr. Sonoda, then Minister for Foreign Affairs of my country, at the thirty-fourth session of the General Assembly.J At the 1980 lession of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and 011 the Strengthening of the Role the Organization. my delegation submitted a working paper5 on this question which set out certain specific-measuresto-put these ideas into-practice. 43. Before concluding, let me express my sincere hope that the Commission of inquiry just established will perform its duties successfully and in an expeditious manner and that in so doing it will have the full co-operation of all concerned.

Mr. President, first of all I should like to say a few words to you. You do not need any compliments because you have already won yourself great authority and the admiration of all at the way in which you have pprformed the functions of representative of Uganda and now those of President of the Council. Under yotn assured and skilful leadership the Council has already performed the most important task of electin! a Secretary-General of the Organization. The Soviet delegation wishes you many new successes in your post as President. 45. We should also like to mention the great qualities displayed by your predecessor in that post, the representative of Tunisia, Ambassador Slim. 46. The delegation of the Soviet Union voted in favour of the draft resolution just adopted by the Cowcil, which vigorously condemns the recent act of aggression committed by mercenaries against the Republic of Seychelles. We were guided in this by the facts that were so convincingly set forth by the representative of Seychelles at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 4 December” and here today in the Council. 47. Those facts are as follows: an incursion by agroup of mercenaries into the territory of ;I sovereign State Member of the United Nations, armed actions by that group on the territory of that State, actions that took human life and cause serious material damage. and the seizure by the mercenaries of a civilian nircraft belonging to another State and their hijacking it to South Africa. 48. The Soviet Union supports the decision to send a commission of inquiry of the Council having the task of determining the origin, background and linancing of the act of aggression committed by the mercenaries on 25 November and of assessing and eva!uating tl!e economic damage caused. by means of mercenaries against the independence ol developing Slates Members ofthe United-Nations. 55. Mr. LING Qing (China) fi/r/c,r?,rc,/rr/ic,,r ji~r C’lriwsc,): 011 25 November, a group of nierccnarics from South Africa arrived by foreign commercial flight at the island of Mah6. the main island of Seychelles, in an attempt to take over the international airport of Seychelles and stage a military coup to subvert the Government. After intensive fighting, the armed forces of Seychelles crushed the invasion plot of the mcrccnaries, some of whom fled in panic to South Africa in ;I hijacked aircraft. Disregarding the request made by the Republic of Seychelles to have the mercenaries handed over for trial and breaching the law concerning the prevention of air hi,jucking, the South African autholities set all the mercenaries free, 49. The naked act of provocation committed against Seychelles is a violation of the universally recognizcd norms and principles of international law and a furthel manifestation of the policy of international terrorism pursued by imperialist circles against young independent States that have embarked on a course of independent national development. This dangerous military adventure not only is a violation of the sovereignty of Seychelles but also represents a serious threat to inter: national peace and security. ~~ ~~ - 56. The invasion of Seychelles by mercenaries is a serious incident which violates the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and poses a grave threat to the sovereignty and security of an independent State. The Chinese Government and people have always firmly supported the just struggles waged bk African countries and peoples in defence of national independence, State sovereignty and territorial integrily. tin I December, Zhao Ziyang, Prime Minister of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. sent a message to President France Albert RcnC of the Republic of Seychelles expressing congratulations on and support for the victory of the Government and people of Seychelles in crushing the invasion by the mercenaries from South Africa. The message pointed out that “All criminal acts of invasion of III~Cpendent African States through foreign mcrcenarics are doomed to failure.” 50. The delegation of the Soviet Union camiot fail to note that the gangster raid was carried out at a time when the General Assembly was considering the question of working out an international convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries. It was precisely at the time that the United Nations was undertaking measures to rid the developing countries of the scourge of mercenaries that yet another African country found itself having to fight mercenaries inorder to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and its chosen policy of political, economic and social development. 51. Speaking in the plenary meeting of the General Assembly, the representative of Seychelles stressed with every justification: _~ .-~~~~ “Certain people continue to harbour evil desiqns on the Seychelles-to seize this independent African country physically and transform it into a client State in order to use it as a base for subversion and aggression against free Africa, encircle the front-line States and tighten the stranglehold of the forces of imperialism over the Indian Ocean.“’ 57. The Chinese Government is convinced that, with the support of all justice-upholding countries and peoples of the world, the people of Seychelles will certainly achieve new success in their struggle against aggression and subversion from outside and for the safeguarding of national independence and security. 52. The Soviet Union declares its solidarity with. and support for, the people of Seychelles, who displayed valour and coolness. The People’s Defence Forces of Seychelles displayed a high degree of vig ilance and swiftly routed the gangs of armed mercenaries. thus defending the sovereignty and the security of their State. 58. In conclusion, the Chinese delegation is of the view that the Council should strongly condemn the invasion of Seychelles by armed mercenaries from South Africa. We cast an affirmative vote on the draft resolution contained in document S/14793. 59. Mr. FLOKIN (German Democratic Republic) 53. From the bottom of our hearts we wish the friendly Republic of Seychelles success in its chosen course of constructing a new society in conditions of peace and tranquillity. fi/rl(,r./,l’c’ltr/iorl ,/?orr~ /tr,ssitr/r): 011 behalf of the delcgation of the German Democratic Republic, I congrutulate you. Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for Deccmbcr. We have had occasion to familiarize ourselves wiIh your rich diplomatic experience, your capacities and your energy. ‘I‘hcy will all promote the compleIion b) the Sccuriry Council of the important work before it. I am happy to greet in you. Mr. President, the reprcscnIaIive of an African State with which the German Democratic Republic maintains friendly relaIions. 54. The delegation of the Soviet Union expresses its conviction that the Security Council will. upon rcceiving the report of the commission of inquiry. take the necessary mcasurcs not only to dcfcnd the SOVereignIy of the Republic 01’ Scychcllcs but also IO prevent any acts of international terrorism carried out -61. In the letter of the ChargC d’affaires of the Per., manent Mission of Seychelles of 8 December 1981, the Council was informed that oII 25 November there had hcen an armed attack on Seychelles. In her statement, Ihc representative of Seychelles has provided detailed information about that act of aggression. We learned from this information that n 25 November a serious act of military aggression had been committed against the Republic of Seychelles, in the course of which a large group of heavily armed mercenaries invaded the international airpo:t of that country but was repelled by the defence forces of Seychelles. 62. It is not the first time-that ‘;Iat kind of attack by mercenaries has been carried out against an independent sovereign State, I recall, for example, the aggression against Benin in 1977, a.question with which the Council dealt. -m 63. The motive behind these acts by mercenary gangs certainly was not a thirst for adventure. Behind these acts lie the interests of intluential political and financial circles. These gangs are financed. supported and maintained by forces with an interest in destabilizing rlgimes which are exercising their independence and which have decided to pursue an independent course of development. The mercenaries who committed the altask against Seychelles came from South Africa, where they fled, after the failure of their invasion, by hijacking an aircraft with passengers on board. It is typical that the South African rCgime set them free. 63. The delegation of the German Democratic Republic vigorously condemns the treacherous attack on the Republic of Seychelles. The Council should duly respond to the serious threat to international peace and securi:y and condemn the act of aggression. The invasion of Seychelles by the mercenaries once again stresses the need for the urgent adoption by the United Nations of a convention against the recruitnicnt of mercenaries. 65. The delegation of the German Democratic Republic supports the proposal contained in the statement ofthc representative ofSeychelles for the sending to that country of a commission of inquiry which would submit to the Council a report on the aggression and its conscquenccs. For this reason, WC voted in favour of thc resolution just adopted. 66. The dclcgation of the German DemocI’dlic Republic would like to tokc this opportunity to congratulatc the Government and people of Seychelles on their successful repulsion of the aggression and to ;Is,IIrc thcIn ofthe solidarity of the German Democratic Republic. 68. The French delegation listened most attentively to the statement of the representative of Seychelles. France is particularly devoted to respect for the territorial integrity land political independence of States, regardless of their size or geographical situation, as well as to non-interference in their internnl affairs. Those principles, which are among the main pillars of our foreign policy, Inusl suffer no exception. Moreover, France has condemned any form of mercenary activity-anywhere, any time and under any circumstances . ~. .~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~ - 69. That is why France unreservedly condemns the armed attack cominitted by mercenaries on 25 November 1981 against the Republic of Se) ‘lelles and why it wishes to assure the Government and people of the Republic of Seychelles, with which it maintains close relations of friendship and co-operation, ofts wholehearted sympathy and support. 70. My delegation is wholly in favour of sending to Seychelles a commission of inquiry coInposed of members of the Security Council to prepare a report on the events and make recommendations to the CotIn,. cil. That is why we voted in favour of the draft resolut@~ju~~ adopted by_the Council. 7 I. Mr. MUNOZ LED0 (Mexico) (i/i/crp~c~/tr/iorr fbor~ Sprr~ish): Sir, at this first public Ineeting for the Inonth of December, I could not fail to congratulate you on your assmnption of the presidency of the Council. We are all gratified to have your firm and brilliant guidance both in the difficult political circumstances that, thanks to you. we have been able to overcome, and in the situation that is before us at the present time. We should also like to extend our appreciation to AInbassador Slim of Tunisia for his very persevering and excellent work during the month of November. 72. All members of the Council have been concerned over the complaint put before us by the Government of the Republic of Seychelles concerning an attack by merccnarics from abroad affecting the territorinl integrity of that country and threatening its political independence. 73. The Mexican delegation has thoroughly studied this issue and agrees with other delegations that it deserves an immediate response OII our part. We should lose the trust of the international community wcrc WC 74. The Republic of Seychelles,~ like many other States Members of the Organization, is a vulnerable country whose best defence is found in the Charter and in the machinery provided by it to give due protection IO States which, as in the case now before us, suffer interference in their internal affairs, -~ -. -~~ 83, But if it is not a purely internal affair and involves allother State-and that is the assumption on which the resolution is based-are we then perhaps prejudging the very question which a commission of inquiry may be established to investigate’? 75. 111 accordance with the initial evidence submitted. the aggression that we arc now considering is part of a fra!~lework of a long chain of attacks from South Africa which have affected neighbouring countries. Now it seems to he extending-to archipelagos through the use of mercenaries in what may constitute a geographical expansion of what the Pretoria rCgime considers, against all principles, as its national security zone. 84, Our third question is as follows: is it always legitimate for a Govermnent which survives an attempted coup to seek an investigation in the United Nations, and perhaps redress? What about a Government that does not survive a coup? Could it seek an inquiry from the Security- Council, land damages? 85. As I have said, we have already supported the resolution, but we do helieve that the Secul,ity Council. like the General Assembly and all other bodies, should always take care IO think beyond the specific case to the implications of a speciFic action for fulure activities. We therefore invite our colleagues to considei with us these questions for the fu!ure, 76. That is why the Council has clearly pronounced itself and why it must take appropriate action to clarify the facts so that once those responsible arc identified, needed decisions can be applied in keeping with the gravity of the events that have occurred and the threat they may represent to international peace and security. 77. I wonder whether we are not facing a dangerous modality of international terrorism. a long-distance one, which if tolerated may put at risk the integrity of many Slates. - 86. Sir Anthony PARSONS: (United Kingdom): Mr. President, I had the occasion to congratulate you with great sincerity at a closed meeting last Friday and &bsequently.- more privately. in the darkness outside the General Assembly building. It sives me great pleasure in a public sessibn like this to renew my congratulations on the way you have managed OUI affairs this month. At the same time, 1 should like with equal sincerity IO thank my very good friend Amhassador Slim ofTunisia for the tenacity and perseverance with which hc constructed the edifice of our work during the previous month. 78. The resolution that we have just unanimously adopted reflects a growing awareness on the part of the Council of the dangers posed by the impunity with which some constantly violate international legality. 111 that sense, our resolution hears witness to a positive evolution in the Council that should be stIengthened ho as to make us really ready to resolve, thoroughly and at its origin, the problem of-southern Africa. 87, Immediately after the attempted coup in Seychelles, my Foreign and Commonwealth Secretarv. Lord Carrington. sent a message to the Govcrnm& of Sevchelles expressing the United Kingdom Government’s concern at the recent eventsthere and deploring the attack on MahC airport. We condemn that violent act, and we extend to the Government of Seychelles our sympathy for the loss of life and the damnge done.

Mr. President, let me begin by saying very briefly. as I have told you privately, that I personally and the United Stales Government are grateful to you for the marvellous job that you did to expedite our. selection of a Secretary-General and the skill with which you ordered and led us during that difficult period. X0. We should like also to thank the previous Presi- 88. We also condemn the mercenaries involved, both for their attack on the airport and for the mannct of their escape from Seychelles. de111 of the Council. the representative of Tunisia, whose work with this Council during a difficult and stuhboln phase of our activities was also, we think, mal’ked by high ccmpctencc XIK~ to whom we are also grateful. X9. hly delegation supporled the resolution whicll th; Council has just adopted. We think it entircl:. apt~~c:- priate that the Council should respond to rhc w’ct~rc~~ of the Government of Scychcl’es in this \v,iy :.ntl M’I support the early dispatch of iI COI~I~I~~S~~II~ 1.f ;llq:~il 1 to investigate rhc events of 15 No\ cmbci XI. Vcrk briclly I should like to say that the United Slates (io~crnmenl has joined the consensus on this draft resolution, but. as I stated yextcrday, we believe that this rcsohition posts questions of a more general sort. which we think the (‘ouncil should in fitct take cogni/.ancc of and reflect on. 90. I SllWlltl ds0 nicntion tlliil Ill? Govcrtl~l~~lll \\ ill make cvcry effort to render assistance 10 11,~ ! 1~1, L‘I II ‘)I. our tllought? ’ VC been with the Government and people of Seycuelles at this difficult time, and we hope that the action the Council has taken today and the early dispatch of the commission of inquiry will help them fully to clear up this atrocious episode. 92. Mr, OUMAROU (Niger) (irlterprc~/cr/icJ/i $wu FvvK/~): Mr, President, permit me first of all to convey to you my congratulations on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of December. Your distingcishing qualities have been unanimously recognized a?(! appreciated and 1 am happy to have this opportunity to express the great jo.y I:f&el at seeing one more son of Africa hodouring that continent with talent, honour and dignity. mu Y3. Uganda, which you so well represent here and with which my country shares the same ideals and concerns in the Organization of African Unity, in the Islamic Conference and in the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries, can take pride in having given to the Organization and to the Security Council a brilliant diplomat, a man of balanced and lucid judgement. You succeed another African, our brother Ambassador Slim of Tunisia, whose wisdom and expertise did so much to help our work in November, when we were considering the delicate question of a recommendation from the Council on the election of a Secretary-General of the United Nations. I should like to convey to him the sincere appreciation of my delegation for the work he did. 94. The events in Seychelles are terrifying and inadmissible in that they arc an armed attempt to overthrow an established Government, a violation of the territorial integrity of a sovereign State and an attempt to destabilize a peaceful country devoted entirely to the concerns of development. Those events were also conceived, prepared and executed thanks to mercenaries wlw had been recruited, financed, trained SKI armed abroad who, outrageously, found ~vfugc abroad after having hijacked a civilian aircraft. 95. 1:~. all those reasons, Niger denounces them and IIIX~II~I~ contlemIls that act. We consider it appropriate thcreforc that a commission of inquiry be sent to Scychcllcs to investigate the events there in order to dctcrmiilc rapidly what subsequent action the Council 41oul~l envisage in this serious matter. ,I is good Iha 111~ (‘\luncil cane to il unanimous decision along tho\c II..LS in the resohrtion it has just adopted. Yh. hlr. lJf)KI< (Ireland): Mr. President, it is a Wit- (tilI,lIl:Il C.IIIII’ICSV in the (‘ollncil to c(~~~~KItIIli~tC the’ 97. 1 should also like to thank very sincerely my friend and colleague Ambassador Slim of Tunisia, who handled the business with great dispatch during his term as President and, if I may say so, prepared the ground for the work which we have already accomplished in-this month of December.-- ~ Y8. The representative of Seychelles and others have recounted before the Council the circumstances which led the Government of Seychelles to have recourse to the Council. I do not need to repeat those points here, I would simply say that we have before us a letter and a request which refer to a threat to international peace and security and an attack on a small country, 99. We see those events not simply as an attempted co,,,) t/‘&r, but specifically as an attack from outside on a State Member, The specific aspects which cause us concern are that this appears to have been an attack from outside; it involved the use of mercenaries; it involved a hijacking; and it was directed at a small State which is particularly vulnerable to such an attack. It is true that the numbers involved may appear small, but proportionately-that is to say, in proportion to the size of the country-this was a major attack, 100. We have heard the request of the Government of Seychelles and we commend the approach that that Government has taken in having recourse to the Council. It first had recourse to the Council and it then requested, in a moderate manner, that the Council establish a commission to ascertain the facts. We therefore have voted in favour of the resolution which the Council has just adopted, and we believe that the commission, the composition of which is to be decided by the President after consultations should get to work quickly and should report back to the Council carrying out the mandate accorded tc it in pilEl~l3ph 3 of the resolution. 101, We think, as 1 have said, that this is a commenclable approach by the Government of Seychelles, and we think it was the duty of the Council to respond: we shall now be prepared to await the report of the commission to consider what further action might be taken. IO?. Mr, de PINII% (Spain) (irrrcrp,Pfariorr ,jhrr .Sptrnis/r): Mr. President, a great deal of praise has been extended to you about the outstanding way you have [:uided our deliberations, and I should like to 103. We should also like to comincnd your prcdcccssorI my collcaguc. Ambassador Stun. for the skilful, brilliant and capable way in which he guided om dclibcrations during the month of November, 104. My delegation has listened with particular attention lo the statcmcnt made by the rcprescntative of Scychellcs. WC should like to thank her for the cleo~ and convincing way in which she put bcforc us the cvcnts which occurred on 25 November and which all of us here in the Council deplore. 105. We belicvc that there is a need IO stress that the principle of territorial integrity and the political independence of States must be upheld-in this particular GISC. those of Seychelles. The use -of international banditry, the use of mcrcenarics, only endangel international peace and security, the security not only of those SIMII ccuntrics that have no resources for theit own defence but also the peace and security of the world, with all the risks that that. harbours. 106 My delegation wishes to congratulate the people of Seychcllcs for having succeeded in this trial, and wc should like to congratulate the Government and the people of Seychelles for having repelled an attempted invasion which was a threat 10 peace and security, 107. Mr. SLIB (Tunisia) fi/r/z~/)~c’rctli~~/l jhu F/~c~rrc~/r~: Without .ndulging in any sort of vanity, I do note that, owing tc a certain complicity of the alphabetical order. Africn is once again presiding over the Council at a time w?lcn questions of particular importance to the United Nations itself as well as to peace and security in the world are on its agenda. IO& Mr. President. when Africa is represented by a man of your talent it can look to the future with confidencc and serenity. Your personal contribution to the Council’s deliberations is unanimously rccognized. Your competence. your intelligence and your skill have enabled the Council to complete, within the time allotted. the consideration of dclicatc questions on its agenda: your dynamism. together with your scnsc of initiative. have set an intense pace of work for us which the prcscnt situation demands and which the Council is showing itself capable of following. I am thcrcfore very plcascd to cxprcss my warmest fraternal congratulations to you as well as those of the Tunisian delegation on the occasion of your nssumption of the presidency of the Council. Through you we also wish to co~lvcy those coiigratul;itions io )WUI country, with which Tunisia has trustful and fratcrnnl relati0ii.s. 109. May I also. Sir. thank you and the members of the Council for the kind and wt~c~‘o~~s word\ addrcsscd 110. The Council has just adopted tin:rr~iniously a resolution in which it condemns the act 01’ aggression committed on 25 November against the Iccpublic of Scychcllcs and dccidcs to send a co:nmi~Gon of inquiry in order to determine the origin, background and financing of that aggression. I I I. My delegation has given its unreserved support to that resolution. In the view of Tunisia, the aggression lo which the Republic of Seychelles fell victim is extremely serious, for it calls into question the territorial integrity and political independence of a sovereign State Member of the United Nations. 112. This aggression also has specific characteristics whose consequences on the conduct of international relations, on ethics and unanimously recognized law are of a gravity which escapes no one. This was an attack committed by mercenaries recruited, financed and organized in order to destabilize rCgimes whose po~tjcapp!~is~~~e n-o!- s&aced. 113. The Organization, which in its various bodies is concerned over the scourge that the question of mercenaries Constitutes, cannot, on the occasion of this outright cowardly act of aggression, fail to reaffirm its principles and take timely and vigorous measures to put an end to a practice which is particularly dangerous for international relations. Moreover, the attack in question was followed by the hijacking of an aircraft and the taking of hostages. Unfortunately, these are issues already familiar to the Organization which we must more than ever consider with utmost seriousness and vigilance, 114. The Council has decided to establish a commission of inquiry in order to establish the facts and IO find out who was behind thc.,I. I IS. When we examine the geopolitical context in which this aggression took plncc. when we considet the point of deparlure and the point of return of those mercenaries. as well as what happened lo those among them who escaped. we become quickly convinced illltl our doubts are dispelled as to the origin of the aggression. Other precedents and other similarlyinspired iiCtS 0T aggression perpetuated by different 1iiClli0Js immediately come to mind. Suffice it to mention the acts of which Mozambique, Zambia and Angola arc daily victims. Ilh. II will of course be up to the commission of inquiry officially to establish the facts illlll to inform the international community of those responsible fol thi\ breach of tX!ilCC and sccurit!, in that particularI) scIusi1ivc region of lhc world. After tl,c Council bus ~iudicd thc~~~.cporl of the coni,i,issionl it will hilvc 10 1:1kc the n~cusurcs rcquircd by lhc gruvily gl‘sllch WI>, us pruvitlcd for in the Churlcr. 117. II, 1111: n~cuntil,,c’. my dclcpation wishcs to rc,tl’lirn, to the Ilcpuhlic of Scychclles ‘I’uuisia’s :~ynipiill,y d uclivc solidarity. I IX. The I’I<ESI DENT: I shall now mukc ;I sliltcn~c’nt in 111) capacity us the rcprcscntativc of U(;ANDA. I IO. On 2.5 Novenhx. an act of ugprcssion wns con~n,ittcil against the Republic of Scychcllcs. This unprovoked and wanton nggrcssiun not only violntcti the tcrritorid integrity of the Republic of Scychcllcs but ;dso 1hrculcnctl the stability and well-being of lIti nalioii. I20. ‘I‘hcrc ilI’C fullr fcnlllrcs Of this aggrcssivc cpisodc that urc CSpCCiillly ilislurhing lo the dclcgation of Ugnnde. I2 I. FirsI. we cannut ignore (lie overwhelming/~,~ir,rtr /ircjc evidence widely rcporled by many inilcpcndcnt sources, that the viciou.\ h;md of South Africa was involved in this t:pisode. This development is all the more grave given the dcclnred design of South Africa to intimidate end destnbilizc any and all African countries which have chosen the path of genuine independcncc for themselves and solitlority with the struggling peoples of southern Africa. Clearly, by this act. the frunticrs of the front-line Stutcs have been cxpunded I;, cncon~p;\ss not only Seychelles but all those CWIItries which rernuin steadfast in their commitment to the GINSI: of freedom rind dignity in southern Africa This is the first fcnture of the uggressive episode about tihich the Council is mccling today. I??. The second f’wture. which is cqunlly disturbing. i!. the 1‘:1ct thnt the aggression was perpetrotcd through the i,,bt,.un,cntnli1y of ;I hund of mcrccnaries, No continent bus suffered untl continues to suffer so grievously from the IIXIIIWI of rnr:ccn;uics as Africa. ‘I’tiis I;ilcbt cpisodc is once again a painful rcniindcl of ths collective vulnernbitity of Africn :md. by the WOW token. undcrlincs the III'~CII~ need for the United Nations IO take comprchcnsive and effective tnci~surtls to put an cnrl to 1hc ilctivitics of imcrccnarics. 123. ‘I‘hc third fe;itiirc i’r the fact tli;it the aggrcssivc cpi\~de \\‘a\ lidlowcd hv lhc scriouh crime of hij:lcking. hl) tlclcgnlion is :i5ton’i~hcd lo nole (hut. contrury lo I!W provirion\ of t hc I Iaguc, i~4ontrcul ;md Tokyo Conventions. those rcsponsihlc for this scriuus crinic WCI’U bet free by the Soulh Af~ici,,lautlio~~!iljc_s. I24. l’he fourth fculurc is the fuct tlml lhc victim of this uggrcssion is ii snliill, vulncrnblc ulld non-nligwxl Africun country whose hope for u ~CXX~III ;rnd in&- pcndcnt cxistcncc Iics in the United Nntions. It is in this spirit (hut the Govcrnmcnt of the Republic of Scychcllcs uclcil with speed illlll juiliciousncss in bringing the prcscnt compluint hcfore 1hc Security Council. I I is in tl,c suinc spirit lhat the clcle~ition of U&llldil was plc:~scd to supp0rt the rcholution we have just OLlq~lcd. -~ 125. The tlclcgution of Ugandu wilt give its COW prehonsivc views on the prcscnt compluint when the “ouncil comes to consider the report of the corn- ._ mission of inquiry which has just hecn cstnhlished. IX. I wish to take this opportunity to express the StlUllg :Uld llnc~~liV0cill solidarity of the people illld Govcrnmcnt of U~t~lld~l with the people and Government of the Republic of Scychcllcs during this thci, hour of need. which is also the hour of chultenge IO the whole-of Africa. 127. I now resume my function as PRESII~ENI of the Council. 128. The rcprcscntative of Scychclles has asked to speak und I now call on her.

The cor~fide~~cc I cxprcsscd in my btateincnt curlier this afternoon hns heen rnorc than uniply justilied. On bchdf of my dclegntion, I continue IO rely on the Council’s sense of fnir play, in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations. Again I thank atI the manhers for thei, assistance.