S/PV.2436 Security Council

(interpretation from French): In accordance with the decisions taken at previous meetings devoted to this item [2431st to 2435th meetings], I invite the representative of Honduras to take a place at the Council table. I also invite the representatives of Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guatemala, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Spain, the Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Venezuela and Viet Nam to take the places reserved for them at the side of the Council chamber. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Ortez Colindres (Honduras) took a place at the Council table. Mr. Sahnoun (Algeria), Mr. MuAiz (Argentina), Mr. Alblfn Holguln (Colombia), Mr. Zumbado Jimenez (Costa Rica), Mr. Roa Kouri (Cuba), Mr. Resales-Rivera (El Salvador), Mr. Ibrahim (Ethiopia), Mr. Taylor (Grenada), Mr. Quiirones- Amkzquita (Guatemala), Mr. Rajaie-Khorassani (Islamic Republic of Iran), Mr. Vongsaly (Lao People’s Democratic Republic), Mr. Treiki (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Mr. Traore (Mali), Mr, Maudave (Mauritius), Mr. Mufloz Ledo (Mexico), Mr. Ozores Tvpaldos (Panama), Mr. Cassandra (Sao Tome and Principe), Ms. Gonthier (Seychelles) Mr. de Pinies (Spain), Mr, El-Fattal (Syrian Arab Republic), Mr. Otunnu (Uganda), Mr. Martini Urdaneta (Venezuela) and Mr. Le Kim Chung (Viet Nam) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council chamber.

(interpretation from French): I should like to inform members of the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of the Dominican Republic and Greece in which they request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Knipping Victoria (Dominican Republic) and Mr. Dountas (Greece) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council chamber.

The first speaker is the representative of Argentina. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. 4. Mr. MUl%Z (Argentina) (interpretation from Spanish): I should like to thank you, Mr. President, and the other members of the Security Council for the opportunity to take part in this debate. I should also like to congratulate you on assuming this high office. I am sure that your ability and experience bode well for the debate. 5. Previous speakers at this series of Council meetings, which is taking place at the request of the Government of Nicaragua, have warned us of the dangers inherent in any further worsening of the situation in Central America. This situation is especially marked by political destabilization, violence and the constant threat affecting brother nations. Mounting tension and the clear deterioration in the political climate endanger international peace and security. 6. The Central American region cannot and must not become one more of these chronic zones of conflict that afflict the world today. It is absolutely clear that international security is a basic element in international relations and, therefore, part of the Central American set of problems. But for the countries of the region security is 8, We consider that the situation under discussion in the Council clearly shows that the principle of nonintervention 1s of particular importance in this instance. Latin America is the continent which is trying to assert genuine independence, to develop and to better its institutions and to ensure the social and economic progress of its peoples. At the present time, it is precisely in Central America where the difficulties of these effort5 Clan bC most clearly seen. 9. It is not encouraging that, despite the repcatcd expressions of willingness to talk and the endeavours of the Contadora Group to find ways and means to make that possible, there have as yet been no talks. 10. On 18 April, when consultations were held in Panama by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela with the Central American Foreign Ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religion of my country sent a message to the Foreign Minister of Panama in order to reaffirm, on behnlf of the Argentina Government, our adherence to the principles set forth in the Contadora information bulletin ot 9 January,’ as well as the actions taken after that date to promote a peaceful settlement of the Central American conflicts which are of concern to us all 11, As emerges from the information bulletin on the meetings held at Panama on 20 and 21 April [S/15727, annex], the Central American Foreign Ministers agreed on their joint endeavour for talks and reaffirmed that the responsibility for arriving at agreements ta guarantee a stable and lasting peace lies “mainly” with the Central American countries themselves, 12, In meetings on 11 and 12 May, the members of the Contadora Group appealed for the strengthening ofprin ciples which should guide the activities of States ln the international arena and once again called upon the ccn. tral American countries to help attain the goal of peace and, to that end, to apply their political will to the search for waYa leading to dialogue and understanding to settle their current differences. The success of the peace initiatives 1aWlY depends on such an open-minded and constructive attitude. To achieve those objectives tllcy formab invited the five Foreign Ministers of bentral America to hold a working meeting at Panama from 2g to 30 May. Is. h this regard %:c wish to mention once again the noble and brotherly attitude of the member countries of the C’nntadora Group, whose concern to achieve a final solution IO the conflicts affecting the Central American peoples deacrves the most broadly based and unreserved support. On this occasion Argentina reaffirms its full solidarity with those endcaoours and promises its total support for all the peace initiatives. I6. Wr: are confident that these objectives can be successful-as they deserve to be-so that tension can be reduced and the foundations laid for a permanent atmosphcre of p+%zcful cocxistcncc and mutual respect among the Stntes.

The next spcnker is the representative of the Congo. I invite him to trike a place at the Council table and to make his statrmcnt.

It gives me gnut pleasure to congratulate you, Sir, the distinguished representative of Zaire, the worthy President of the Security Council, who since practically the beginning of this month have been constantly eugaged in intensive activities that arc directly relevant to the uncertain times in which WC live and which urgently call for the Council’s mare-necessnry-than-ver assistance. The qualities which everyone recognizcs in you are no surprise to a representative of the People’s Republic of the Congo who knows very well that you have had to draw on them more than once in maintaining the relations between our two countries when you were at the head of the diplomatic service 0r Zaire. 19. I wish also to extend congratulations to Mrs. Kirkpatrick, representative of the United States, for the effective way in which she guided the Council’s work last month. 20. I should like also to discharge an important duty, that is, to salute the memory of Mr. Tsogtyll Narkhuul the rcprescntativc of Mongolia, who died a few days ago leaving a great void in the hearts of all those here in the United Nations who respected his outstanding Persona1 qualities and admired his profound feeling for human xclations and his great diplomatic attributes. May these wards be, for the bereaved family and his colleagues! the expression of the heartfetf sympathy of all members Of the Mission of the Congo. 22. Placed in the American general context, the Sandinist revolution, like the Cuban revolution before it, could in no way be to the liking of the Republican Administration of a neighbouring super-Power, which has made no secret of its options in favour of the forces of reaction and conservatism and which more than once has indicated its firm determination to harass all those who favour change in this hemisphere. 23. Such a situation is not merely fraught with disastrous consequences for international peace and security; it sows the seeds of perpetual suspicion more likely to exacerbate mistrust than to create a climate of trust, although we are convinced that the latter is sought by the peoples themselves. 24. For the simple purpose of subscribing to the proposals for a solution already mentioned in this chamber, the Congolese delegation would like to sum up its statement of today in a simple appeal: an appeal to respect the norms of international law, the only method of guaranteeing peacefttl coexistence and harmony among regimes and States; an appea1 for dialogue and a peaceful settlement of disputes as the key for safeguarding the principle of good-neighbourliness. Indeed, respect for the norms of international law certainly remains the basic guarantee without which differences in political systems and differences in size or economic or military power would in themselves constitute elements of discord rather than complementarity. 25. It is appropriate to stress here the concordance of approaches prevalent in the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and other international forums such as the General Assembly or the Security Council. This concordance derives quite simply from the conviction shared by most countries, which is basic, not merely to show respect for the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of other States, without any interference in their affairs, but also to ensure that force is not used as a way of settling problems. In this context, it is even more specious to consider aggression or premeditated attack as a preferred method of establishing a system of values and lasting and sound relations. 26. In this particular case, my delegation has no hesitation in saying that this is a plot that was hatched with the idea of casting Nicaragua in the role of the aggressor, although it has been subjected to various forms of harassment designed simply to distract that country from its priority tasks and to embroil it in acts of diversion which serve the enemies of its system. 28. Many speakers before us here have elaborated on the idea of negotiation as an essential instrument for safeguarding and promoting peace. As such, negotiation expresses the will to seek the implementation of norms governing relations among nations which are really aware of the mutual advantages of their freedom. 29. The Congo, for its part, cannot fail to give its firm support not merely to the laudable efforts undertaken by the Latin American countries called the Contadora Group-that is, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela-but also to the various indispensable, if not cardinal, initiatives mentioned a few days ago by the Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua to establish fruitful contact with Honduras and other neighbouring countries. Any delaying tactics in this regard must, in the opinion of my delegation, denote an unavowed attitude of confusion designed to play into the hands of the super- Power whose interests coincide exactly with those of oligarchies established on poverty and exploitation of the majority. ’ 30. In conclusion, I should like here to reaffirm the sincere and firm support of my country for the proposal to the effect that the Security Council should play a greater part than heretofore in resolving the crisis in Central America, through the good offices of the Secretary- General and, we sincerely hope, the co-operation of all its members.

The next speaker is the representative of Uganda, and I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. 32, Mr. OTUNNU (Uganda): Mr. President, I am grateful to you and the members of the Council for allowing my delegation to participate in this debate. First of all I should like to convey to you the warm greetings and congratulations of my delegation on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of May. We are delighted and proud to see you, an eminent son of the Republic of Zaire, a State that is a friend and neighbour of my own country, Uganda, presiding over the Council during this very important month. We know that, under your skilled and experience guidance, the Council will discharge its responsibilities with resolve and speed. 34. There is a fire burning in and around the Central American nation of Nicaragua. Over the past months that fire has spread steadily; today it has reached very dangerous proportions, which is the reason for the present debate in the Council. 35. My delegation is concerned about this development for two reasons: first, because this tire is affecting the well-being of Nicaragua, and secondly, because, if unchecked, this fire will engulf the whole Central American region, with some flames extending beyond that region, For the sake of international peace and security, we cannot overemphasize the need for definite and speedy action to put out this fire. Although the situation in and around Nicaragua has reached very dangerous proportions, it has not yet got out of control. The Council therefore has an opportunity to take preventive action in the area by easing tension and searching for a just and durable solution. 36, In our view, three elements are critical to this process. First, the Council must underline the obligation of all States to respect the principles of the Charter and the norms of .general international law, Foremost among these principles and obhgations are the following: noninterference in the internal affairs of other States, selfdetermination for all countries and peoples, strict respect for the territorial integrity of other States, strict respect for the political independence and sovereignty of all States, the obligation not to allow the territory of a State to be used for the commission of acts of aggression against other States, the obligation not to resort to the threat or use of force to resolve conflicts and the commitment to resolve all disputes through peaceful means. These principles and obligations should be self-evident. However, recent events indicate the need for them to be restated even more strongly than ever. 37. Secondly, the Council should reaffirm the right of the people of Nicaragua, no less than the right of all the peoples of Central America, to determine their own destiny in total freedom, without outside interference. This means that all the peoples of Central America must be free to choose their own political and social systems without fear of harassment or interference from outside. 38. Thirdly, the Council should steer the parties involved in this conflict away from the course of war and on to the path of dialogue and negotiation, In this connection, we noted with appreciation the spirit of dialogue and conciliation shown by the Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua, Mr. Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, before the Council on 9 May, when he stated: “We have not come here to engage in recriminations or to seek compensation for damage.. . . The Council must encourage all the parties involved in this conflict to show this constructive spirit of conciliation and dialogue. 39. Fortunately, the,foundation for dialogue and negotiation has already been laid by the Conta.dora Group, consisting of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. To these four countries we pay a special tribute for their initiative and efforts in favour of peace in Central America. By their commitment and impartiality they have shown an example worthy of emulation in other parts of the world where disputes and conflicts are rife. 40. It is our hope that the Security Council will not leave the Contadora Group to carry out alone the task of evoiving a viable framework for peace. After all, the responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security rests primarily with the Council. It should therefore devise a mechanism to build on the efforts of the Contadora Group in order to maintain the momentum for dialogue and negotiation. 41. Finally, I wish to stress one more point. It is well known that the people of Nicaragua have just emerged from a long and harrowing war of liberation that set the country free from the Fascist dictatorship of the Somoza regime. The people of Nicaragua, like the other peoples of Central America, do not need another war; they do not need further destruction and waste. What all the peoples of Central America need is a period of genuine peace-a period in which to devote all their energies to the urgent tasks of economic and social development. 42. I hope the Council will not disappoint the peoples of Central America, who have been brutalized and exploited for far too long. It is our hope that the Council will take definite steps to put out the fire that is now raging in Central America before it gets out of hand. 43. Meanwhile, the Government and people of Uganda take this opportunity to reaffirm their continued solidarity with the peoples of Central America in their just struggle for freedom and social justice.

As a recent occupant of the chair you now till, Sir, may I say how much I have admired the clarity and authority which you have already demonstrated. These qualities make it easy to understand the value which your Government clearly places on your services. It is evident that the Council will be indebted to you on many occasions in this unusually busy and difficult month. Your predecessor, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, commands our respect and thanks. She presided with tact and good humour and notably advanced the work of the Council on the Secretary- General’s report. 46. We have weighed up as objectively as we can the facts as they are known to us and the arguments that have been put to us. As members of the Council, we feel a responsibility not merely to listen to speeches but to contribute to decisions which will, we hope, reduce the sharpness and extent of differences between Members of the United Nations and at least point in the most promising direction for further progress, 47. To judge from some of the speeches we have heard, the main issue between the parties concerned is whether to try to make progress by bilateral discussion or by multilateral discussion. If that is really the crucial point, it ought not to be too difficult to resolve. At least all seem to be agreed that there should be some discussion. All have welcomed the efforts of the Contadora Group and all have praised the principles upon which the Group has been operating. My delegation considers that there are elements here on which we can build something useful. 48. The first step, in our opinion, would be to reaffirm the passage dealing with principles in the bulletin issued by the Contadora Group on 12 May [S/15762, annex]. I should like to read the relevant part of that bulletin: “The Ministers for External Relations of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela note with deep concern the development of the Central America conflict”-note that phrase, “the Central American conflict”-“ over the past few days and the repeated violation of essential principles of the international legal order. “These circumstances have given rise to various initiatives aimed at seeking the intervention of multilateral organizations. The initiatives include the recent requests made by Central American countries to the United Nations Security Council and the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States. “It would be highly desirable that in the deliberations taking place in the aforementioned forums, and especially those currently under way in the Security Council, there should be a strengthening of principles which should guide the activities of States in the international arena. “These principles include: self-determination and non-interference in the affairs of other States, respect for the territorial integrity of other States, the obligation not to allow the territory of a State to be used for committing acts of aggression against other States, the 49. Immediately following the passage I have just read out, the Contadora bulletin calls upon the Central American countries-and again it says all the Central American countries- “to help attain the goal of peace and, to that end, to apply their political will to the search for ways leading to dialogue and understanding to settle their current differences, This constructive and open attitude will largely determine the success of the peace initiatives.” It goes on to issue a formal invitation to the five Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Central America to hold a working meeting at Panama on 28, 29 and 30 May. We hope and believe that this invitation will be accepted by all. We consider that it would be unwise to try to cut across this apparently agreed meeting. Indeed, we hope that nothing said in this Council will make that meeting more difficult. 50. What we should try to do is help the Contadora Group over the difficulties which its members encountered at their last meeting. These seem to centre on the form of the next meeting in Panama. The Contadora Group bulletin referred to discussion both in working groups and to plenary meetings. My delegation does not know precisely what this means in practice, but it sounds a judicious mix. 51. Everybody admits that there is, in the words of the Conta.dora Group bulletin, a “Central American conflict” or problem, We hope the countries of the area will be able to agree to discuss their conflicts or problems in multilateral talks or, if you will, plenary meetings. It would seem to us sad if all the countries in the area were to assemble in one place but were not able to meet each other in one room. At the same time it has been the experience of my delegation that there has never been a multilateral international meeting which has not been supported by bilateral discussions on the side. Why should the situation in Central America be an exception to this normal practice? 52. Indeed, if I heard correctly, the representatives of Panama, Venezuela and Colombia each in his own way recommended regional solutions to Central American problems. The Colombian representative [2435th meeting] spoke of bringing all the countries of the region to the table. He sought global solutions while in no way being opposed to bilateral negotiations. That, if I may say so, is the right path. We hope that the Council will add its authority to these wise words from the Contadora Group. That is an idea worth considering. Similarly, we were impressed by statements from the Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua [2431st meeting] that he had not come here looking for condemnations and that his Government would resist attempts to isolate it. We found attractive the view put forward by the representative of Guatemala [2433rd meeting] that Central American problems should have Central American solutions. Many speeches have referred to the background of poverty and deprivation in Central America. Clearly, social conditions are the seed-beds of politics. Finally, we were much struck by the concluding appeal of the representative of Costa Rica. I should like to repeat his words: ‘&We do not believe that this Council should weaken subregional or regional mechanisms. Nor do we believe that the Council should, by issuing a mandate, limit the autonomy of the Secretary-General.. 1. “The Council should leave the initiative in the hands of the four Latin American Foreign Ministers.” [,See 2435th meeting, paras. 62 and 63.1 54. It may be objected that there are questions of face involved for one or more delegations. That is, unfortulately, one of the by-products of so much public speechiying. It was with this thought in mind that my elegation threw out the suggestion at the close of our st debate, on 29 March [2427rh meefing], that there ;ght be a role for the Secretary-General. We believe !t if all the countries in the area would declare that in nciple they were ready for multilateral dialogue but nd difficulty in agreeing on certain modalities, such as precise agenda, the date and place for a meeting and )n, it might then be reasonable to ask the Secretaryleral, through his personal mediation, to sort out, in ;ultation with the parties, such modalities. We do not k it is reasonable to throw the whole problem at the ,etary-General without any agreement between the ies as to what the problem is or what his role is to be. t puts him in an impossible position and tends to Ice his usefulness in the future. As X say, it is another .cer if he is asked by all the parties to undertake a ited task after they have agreed in principle. Wit11 these considerations in mind, my delegation s that the most important elements for the fhxritY lncil to emphasize are the reaffirmation of the princiset out in the Contadora Group bulletin and support +e further efforts of the Contadora Group to make ess through multilatera1 dialogue, which will Permit -al talks on the side. If we can agree at least on this

Mr. President, at the outset I wish in the name of the Chinese delegation warmly to welcome you to New York. I have no doubt that, equipped as you are with your outstanding qualities and extensive political and diplomatic experience, you will distinguish yourself in your important role as the representative of your country on the Security Council and contribute positively to the Council’s work. Meanwhile I am pleased to see you presiding over the Council this month and wish to offer you my hearty congratulations. I would also like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to your predecessor, Mrs. Jeane Kirkpatrick of the United States, for her presidency last month. 57. We have listened carefully to the statements made by the Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua, Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann, and by the representatives of other countries. The Chinese delegation set out its views on the Central America issue at some length during the Council’s debates on 29 March 1982 [2339th meeting] and again on 24 March 1983 [2422nd meeting]. I will recapitulate briefly. 58. Since the Council’s previous consideration of this issue the situation arounci Nicaragua, far from improving, has continued to deteriorate. This has led to increased tension in the whole of Central America, thereby alarming the international community. The Chinese Government and people are greatly concerned over this development. 59. As has been pointed out by a number of representatives, the prolonged tension and unrest in Central America can be traced to various profound factors, domestic as well as external. Meddling by outside forces, especially the attempts of the super-Powers to extend their rivalry to Central America, has multiplied the complexity of the issue and constitutes an underlying cause of the present tension in the region. One super-Power has felt free to intervene on the pretext that the struggles of the peoples of the region for political rights and social reforms are allegedly a “threat” to its own “security and prosperity”. It has stepped up military assistance programmes in the region on the plea of stemming outside intervention. Such a policy can only inflame the contradictions in Central America and aggravate tension there. 60. China opposes any outside interference from whatever quarter, under any pretext or in any form, in the affairs of the Central American States. We are of the view that in order to ease the tension in Central America it is imperative to stop all outside intervention, especially super-Power intervention or intimidation. The independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nicaragua and other Central American States must be respected and the affairs of the Central American States should be left to the peoples of the respective States. 69. I should like to draw the attention of Council members to the following point. The Nicaraguan statement contained nothing about the internal system of the United States, At the same time, official representatives of the United States, including at the highest level, consider it quite normal for them to discuss the exclusively internal affairs of Nicaragua, Furthermore, they cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Government of that country merely because its policies are not to the liking of Washington. Is that not an eloquent example of direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereignty State? 62. Recently Latin American countries, especially those of the Contadora Group, have actively worked towards an easing of the tension in Central America by pushing the parties to the conference table with a view to reaching a peaceful solution there. Those endeavours have been welcomed by the peoples of Central America and widely acclaimed and supported by the international community. We whole-heartedly hope that they will achieve positive results. 63. Some countries have requested the United Nations to play a role in helping to bring about a solution in Central America. We lend our support to all efforts conducive to the easing and elimination of tension in the region. 70. We come across such examples literally every step of the way. Stating its preparedness to negotiate with Nicaragua, the United States puts forward preconditions known to be unacceptable-for example, its demand that the Government of Nicaragua confirm its commitment to so-called pluralism and a mixed economy. It is not difficult to imagine how the United States Government would react if as a pre-condition of certain negotiations, there were to be a demand, for example, that the United States introduce a planned economy.

Allow me at the outset, Sir, to welcome you as President of the Security Council for this month and to express my conviction that under your guidance the Council will successfully discharge the many tasks facing it. I should like to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to the representative of the United States for having guided the work of the Council last month. 71. It is not a question here of Nicaragua’s economic system. The fact is that one country wants to dictate to another what economic system it should have. 65. The Soviet delegation would also like to express sincere condolences on the recent demise of our colleague the representative of Mongolia, Mr. Tsogtyn Narkhuu. 72. Something else is noteworthy. It was recently stated at the highest level in the United States that the former Somozist National Guards, well known for their bloody crimes against their own people and now being infiltrated by the United States into Nicaragua, are no more and no less than “freedom fighters”. Apparently their direct armed intervention in Nicaragua, their acts of terror and violence, are virtually sanctified by all the canons of international law and order, while at the same time the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), for example, which has many times been recognized by the United Nations as the sole legitimate representative of the Namibian people, is declared to be a terrorist organization. How many times have we heard it said that violence is inadmissible, that SWAP0 is not entitled to carry on the struggle for liberation from the racist regime of Pretoria by all the means at its disposal, including the use of arms? This is a strange, perverted type of logic. 66. The Security Council has again been urgently convened at the request of the Government of Nicaragua. The reason is the continuing expanding acts of aggression against that country. 67, The Soviet delegation, like everyone in this chamber and many beyond these precincts, listened carefully to the cogent and constructive statement made by the Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua, Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann. The many facts he gave in his statement show incontrovertibly that a second, even more dangerous, stage in the direct armed intervention against his country has begun. The Minister’s statement stressed that that intervention is being directed, financed and armed by the United States. All the facts that the Council has at its disposal testify to that. 73. The Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned countries, held at New Delhi in March, quite rightly denounced 68. Further, what we have here is an unusual situation in which the actual country being accused does not deny, but in fact virtually admits, the charges hurled against it. Direct evidence that the United States is grossly interfering in the internal affairs of Nicaragua is contained in the well-known statements made recently by the President of “acts of aggression against Nicaragua, particularly the violation of its air space and territorial waters, utilization of the territory of foreign countries, in and out- 74. It is clear that it is precisely this dangerous policy of the United States, which seeks by all possible means to prevent peoples, including the peoples of Central America, from determining their own future, which shows how well justified are the fears of the Secretary-General when he said in his annual report on the work of the Organization: “We are perilously near to a new international anarchy.“2 75, The Soviet Union rejects the attempts of imperialist forces to force their will on the peoples of Central America and the Caribbean, to try to repress their desire for freedom and national independence. We decisively oppose the threats, acts of provocation and pressure against Cuba, Nicaragua, Grenada and other countries of the Latin American continent. 76. Speaking in this chamber, the Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua quite justifiably demanded that the United States cease its “undeclared war”, as he put it, against his country. We fully support that just, legitimate demand. Despite the dangerous situation that has arisen, the statement of the Nicaraguan Minister was permeated with faith in the strength of his people. At the same time it contained many constructive and positive elements. He stressed that the main purpose of Nicaragua’s coming to the Security Council was a desire to attain a peaceful political settlement of this dangerous situation, The Minister officially stated that his Government was prepared to engage in honest, constructive dialogue, The Soviet delegation completely supports that approach. 77. Pursuant to its policy of principle, the Soviet Union advocates the just settlement of international disputes at the negotiating table. As has been stressed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the Soviet Union, Mr. Andrei Gromyko: “The Soviet Union has stated many times that it is firmly convinced that the strengthening of peace in Central America and the Caribbean is possible only on the basis of respect for the sovereign right of each people to determine, without interference from outside, its own future and to manage its own natural resources, We commend the proposals of Venezuela, Mexico, Nicaragua and certain other countries, which seek a political settlement by developing a dialogue based on equality.” 78. We believe that the continuing disquieting situation surrounding Nicaragua calls for constant attention. The 7% The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): I call on the representative of the United States, who has asked to speak.

I should like to reply briefly to certain of the assertions made by the representative of the Soviet Union. 81. I should like to note, first, the stunning cynicism of his remarks, because it is indeed stunningly cynical for the representative of the Soviet Union, whose country undertook to flood the region of Central America with heavy weapons which had never been seen there before, and with an extraordinary assortment of military advisers from countries which have in common a particular relationship with his own country, a relationship which is characterized by the hegemony of the Soviet Union vis-hvis its various client States. They are the people who have introduced heavy weapons into Central America. They are the people who have undermined economic progress and development in the region, which were proceeding at quite a steady rate before the deliberate efforts at militarization and destabilization of the region. 82. The suggestion was also made by the representative of the Soviet Union that the United States was seeking to determine the internal affairs of the Government of Nicaragua and that it should be indifferent to-should “bug off’ from any concern about-the organization of the politics and economics of Nicaragua. I should just like to say that the United States does not attempt to influence in inappropriate ways the organization of any country’s economic system. We hope that all countries in the world will organ&e their economic systems in such a fashion that they will be productive of goods and will take care of the well-being of their peoples; but that we regard as wholly their decision. We also regard the form of government of other countries as their decision. We cannot, however, be indifferent to gross violations of human rights by other Governments, and the Charter of the United Nations does not suggest that we should be. 83. The Charter in fact identifies respect for human freedom and other human rights as central concerns of the Organization and of its Member States. The United States also belongs to some other organizations and takes cognizance of obligations which are contracted vi+&is other organizations. We have noted here, for example, that the Government of Nicaragua undertook some solemn commitments to the Organization of American States (OAS) concerning the kind of Government which it would organize were it in fact to become the Government of Nicaragua; it undertook commitments to organize democratic institutions, to provide its people with democratic institutions and respect for their human rights, and rule of law- 84. The representative of the Soviet Union also referred to--” bloody crimes” of the United States I think was his phrase. The phrase reminded me of an item which I read yesterday in a European newspaper concerning the death of some 3,000 Afghan civilians last week due to bombing of civilian populations by the nearly 150,000-I think it now is-Soviet occupation troops in that beleaguered country. The article that I read also stated that neither the Security Council nor any other body of the United Nations had taken any note of this mass slaughter of Afghans, and I should like, while we are talking about “bloody crimes”, to draw attention to the suffering of the Afghan people. 85. I should finally like to say that it has been suggested by the Soviet representative and some .others that there should be and that they support regional efforts to achieve peace. I would emphasize that that is, of course, precisely I think, what we all support. If they support regional efforts to achieve peace then there is indeed unanimity, because certainly the rest of us support regional efforts to achieve peace. The United States, for its part, stands ready at any time to support any agreements designed to end the importation of all arms and foreign military advisers into the region-any agreement to do so which is verifiable and indeed can be verifiedand to support any agreement which provides for the mutual respect of borders by all countries in the region, non-interference in the affairs of one another and an end to all efforts at destabilization.

I still have three speakers on my list. Unless the Council decides otherwise, I shall close the list, I shall, when the occasion arises, call upon those members who wish to speak in exercise of the right of reply, The next speaker is the representative of the Dominican Republic. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

Mr. President, I should first of all like to express the pleasure of the delegation of the Dominican Republic at seeing you conducting the Council’s business, With you presiding over the work of the Council and in view of your acknowledged professional ability and your undeniable diplomatic talents, the Council is guaranteed a successful search for just solutions conducive to peace and harmony among peoples. We also should like to express our gratitude to the representative of the United States, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, for the efficient and dynamic way she conducted the Council’s business last month. My delegation also wishes to thank all the members of the Council for their kindness in allowing the delegation of the Dominican Republic to 89. This latter observation should prompt us to wonder whether it might not be timely to take a self-critical look at the failures of the Organization to promote, foster and take effective measures for the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the guiding principles of the Charter, justice and international law. 90. We again reaffirm our support for creating a climate conducive to conciliation among the parties to the conflict so that through dialogue and negotiation there can be thorough scrutiny of the social and economic causes that are giving rise to instability in the region. Now, in order to promote this climate of confidence which is essential for bringing the parties to the negotiating table, it is imperative that both the parties directly involved and the other members of the international community should refrain from taking any action or adopting any policy that might increase tension. 91. The Dominican Republic’s delegation most fervently appeals to all the parties committed to peace in the region to seek the mechanisms they deem fit to halt such bloodshed among brothers, so much suffering and so much pain. We must redouble our efforts to find peace through the means of peaceful settlement afforded us by international law. 9%. In this context, we wish to express our gratitude for the work which is being done to bring about peace in the Central American region by the Contadora Group- Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. That Group’s work greatly encourages and is very much appreciated by the Dominican Government, and we reaffirm our continued readiness to make an effective contribution in the search for peaceful solutions. 93. We have been following with particular interest the efforts of those brother countries, and we call on them to use to the full their negotiating abilities for the benefit of Latin American brotherhood. If, as we hope, these initiatives lead to a consensus in the Central American region through which the foundations can be laid for a just, viable and lasting peace, the Group will have rendered an inestimable service to the cause of inter-American solidarity and earned not only the support of the entire American continent but also the gratitude of the international community as a whole. 94. Finally, we reaffirm our conviction that any political settlement of the upheavals in Central America must be

Since this is my first statement this month in the Security Council, I wish to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of this body. We are convinced that your diplomatic skill will help us to deal effectively with the difficult tasks before us now and those facing us in the future. I should like also to take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the way in which the representative of the United States, Mrs. Jeane Kirkpatrick, guided our deliberations during the month of April. 96. My delegation presented the position of the Polish Government on the Nicaraguan complaint to the Security Council and on the serious increase of tensions in Central America in its statement of 28 March 1983 [2425th meeting]. Since then the situation has not improved; it has even deteriorated, 97. We followed with great attention the statements made on 9 May [2431st meeting] and 16 May [2#33rd meeting] by Mr. Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, Minister for External Relations of Nicaragua, describing the armed attacks on his country from the territory of Honduras, which were openly supported by United States Government circles. 98. My Government is deeply concerned at the build up of tensions in the Central American region in general and on the Nicaragua-Honduras and Nicaragua-Costa Rica frontiers in particular, Open and covert aggression against Nicaragua may soon lead to open military conflicts, threatening international peace and security. This is the ominous, albeit familiar, scenario used against the Nicaraguan revolution: infiltration of mercenaries financed and trained by some United States agencies, and economic and propaganda aggression, using a neighbouring country for this activity. Unless checked, this might lead to a conflict with incalculable consequences, 99. We have more than once welcomed the readiness of the Nicaraguan Government to negotiate a solution to the conflict. This readiness was reaffirmed by Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann in his statement of 9 May. We have also noted with satisfaction that the four countries of the Contadora Group have taken constructive action aimed at preventing any further escalation. My Government is encouraged by Nicaragua’s acceptance of the Group’s latest proposals. This confirms the peaceful and constructive foreign policy pursued by that country both in general and in the Central American region in particular. 100. It is the strong view of my Government that the Council should undertake decisive efforts to bring about a negotiated, peaceful solution of the problems which have been created on Nicaragua’s borders. The first step 101. Those ideas are expressed in the informal draft resolution which is being drawn up by the non-aligned members of the Security Council. The time has come to adopt an appropriate resolution on acceptable and necessary action to overcome the present crisis. 102. Before I conclude my statement I wish to make two further brief comments. First, it is essential that the Council take action in this case, since the accumulation of political, economic and social problems affecting Central America constitutes a dangerous threat to regional and international security. We share the view that these problems have nothing to do with East-West relations. Secondly, we wish to commend the position taken by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on this issue, both in the Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting at Managua in January and in its Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government, held at New Delhi in March. It is also with appreciation that we follow the efforts of the Governments of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela to find a solution to the problems that affect Central American countries. 103. My delegation hopes that strict adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and a sense of the serious responsibility which falls on the Council will guide us on the path of peace and justice in this case of such vital importance not only to Nicaragua but to peace and stability in the entire region.

The next speaker is the representative of Greece. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

It gives me great pleasure to join the speakers who have preceded me and to extend to you, Sir, the congratulations of my delegation on your assumption of the office of President of the Security Council and express our appreciation of the manner in which you have conducted the Council’s deliberations this month. I fee1 confident that the Council will c0ntinu.e to benefit from your experience, ability and diplomatic skill in its consideration of the issue before it. I should like also to take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the exemplary way in which your predecessor, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, representative of the United States, conducted the Council’s proceedings last month. 106. The reason I asked to participate in the current debate is that it concerns respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a Member State of this Organization. This is a matter on which, as is well known, Greece is extremely sensitive, since respect for and application of 107. My country has friendly relations with all the countries involved in the problems which are so sadly disturbing Central America and, in accordance with its attachment to the principles 1 have mentioned, would like to voice its support for the peaceful solution of these problems. 108. In this spirit, the Greek Government gives its full encouragement and support to the initiative undertaken by the Contadora Group and expresses its earnest hope that this Group will be able to find peaceful solutions, to the benefit of all the parties concerned. It is also our hope that the appropriate organs of the United Nations will continue to follow closely the whole matter at present before the Security Council.

The representative of the Soviet Union wishes to speak in exercise of the right of reply.

I should like to say a few words in connection with the recent statement of the representative of the United States. Unfortunately, as often happens, having made her statement, she has abandoned us. This has been called “hit-and-run tactics”. 111. The representative of the United States dredged up what in the United States is called a red herring. She is a great specialist in that. I wish to point out that her statement contained a number of allegations which have nothing to do with the actual facts, in particular, allegations that the Soviet Union is interfering in the affairs of Central America. She said, for example, that the reason for the lack of economic progress in that region was interference by the Soviet Union. 112. That was said by the representative of a country which for decades dominated that region and bled its peoples white. I should like in that respect to quote from a statement by General Smedley Butler of the United States Marine Corps: “I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba decent places for the National City Bank boys to collect revenue in, I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras ripe for the American fruit companies in 1903. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints.“* * Quoted in English by the speaker. 114. The statement of the United States representative contained some other allegations, too, but I do not think it would be right to answer them because their purpose was to divert the Council’s attention from the very serious and important matter which we are discussing.

The representative of Guatemala asked to speak in exercise of the right of reply and I invite him to take a place at the Council table in order to do so.

May I begin by thanking the Council for its kindness in allowing me to speak for the second time. Rest assured that I shall not take up much of the Council’s time and that my statement will be brief. 117. I listened closely to the statement made by the Minister for External Relations, Mr. D’Escoto Brockmann, when, two days ago [2433rd meeting], after my statement, he described as false the assertion in the Guatemalan speech [ibid.] that in Panama there had been a meeting of Central American Foreign Ministers at which there had been discussion of some of the problems to bc included in the agenda to be drawn up and of the appropriateness of a comprehensive approach to the problems. Since, semantically, falsehood means lack of truth or authenticity, in order to clear up any misunderstanding about our position, may I say that there was, indeed, a meeting of Central American Foreign Ministers-a meeting which was not attended by Nicaragua-and the Central American Foreign Ministers made a joint statement, with which perhaps because of some error Minister D’Escoto Brockmann is not familiar. That statement read as follows: “Having met in Panama City, the Foreign Ministers of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, in response to the kind invitation extended by the Foreign Ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, the countries which make up the so-called Contadora Group, issue the following joint communiqut”. I would draw the Council’s attention to the fact that this joint communiqui says at the beginning “meeting”, so there was indeed a meeting, It goes on: “1. On Tuesday, 19 April of this year, we came to this city, prompted by the highest spirit of Central Americanism and inspired by our sincere desire for peace and concerned by the regional conflict, in search of solutions capable of restoration of harmony and security to the area. “3. A relevant occurrence prior to the beginning of the meeting was a discussion of the methodology to be adopted in carrying out the consultations on the regional problems. “4. As a result of the consultations at that meeting, the participating Governments will jointly discuss, at a forthcoming meeting, the procedure and the agenda that will serve as a basis for the talks aimed at seeking constructive and peaceful solutions guaranteeing harmonious coexistence within the framework of respect for the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States and the self-determination of peoples. “5. We reaffirm our readiness to continue to make efforts to achieve effective understanding among the Central American countries, and in that spirit we are prepared to meet next May. “6. Lastly, we record our appreciation for the valuable conciliatory work done by the Foreign Ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, and we express thanks for the hospitality extended to us by the Government of Panama. 21 April 1983.” 118. It is also worth making clear that the points covered in our statement, as well as those agreed to by the Foreign Ministers, are the same as those referred to by the representative of Panama in his statement yesterday morning, from which I quote the following: “As a result of that trip, the Foreign Ministers said that among the matters which require the most attention the following should be mentioned: “ ‘the arms race, arms control and reduction the transfer of armaments, the presence of military advisers and other forms of outside military assistance, actions aimed at destabilizing the internal order of other countries, threats and verbal aggression, warlike incidents and frontier tensions, the violation of human rights and individual and social guarantees, and the grave economic and social problems which are at the heart of the region’s present crisis”’ [sea 243&h meetirlg, para. 541. 119. In other words, where is the falsehood? There was indeed a meeting of Foreign Ministers and there was indeed discussion of the points that we have mentioned. I admit it should be made clear that, although Nicaragua’s delegation was in Panama, it did not take part in the joint declaration. But, just because Nicaragua did not participate, it cannot be said that there was no meeting of For- 121. My country wishes to take part in a multilateral dialogue in all good faith, a frank dialogue to seek solutions so that there should be no use of force. Oppressed peoples are different from free peoples in that the former appeal to strength and not to law. Strength has to be sought in the conscience of our peoples and the principles of international law. Our desire is to help end a situation of violence in Central America which destroys the flower of our youth, ruins the life of our nations and calls for superhuman efforts. Let us seek our own identity without foreign interference.

I call on the representative of Nicaragua, who wishes to speak in right of reply.

Bearing in mind your appeal for brevity, Mr. President, and the time we have spent in various meetings discussing this item in the Council, I have no intention of speaking at length, but I have a few brief points to make to define or clear up a few aspects which may lead to better understanding among our colleagues in the Council. 124. We are aware-and that is why we shall be briefthat both our colleagues in the Council and the members of the international community are perfectly aware of who is the aggressor and who the victim in this complaint brought by our Government, We are also aware that the members of the Council and of the international community know very well who in Central America is usurping the power of the people and who in Central America governs with the people. We are further aware that the members of the Council and the international community fully understand why our Government and our revolution have to have recourse to the Council in the cases of invasion that we have denounced on two occasions at the end of one month in this very forum, 125. Nicaragua, as a member of the Security Council, believes that it is the inherent obligation of this body in the first instance to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security. We believe that is an unavoidable responsibility of this body. In this regard, as members of this organ we must make the proper and necessary contributions not only in this particular case that affects Nicaragua, but in any situation where that is necessary. Our country has therefore come to the proper body, to the organ which the very Charter of the United Nations affords us, for recourse as a sovereign country, We have therefore avoided going to the premises of the State 126. I believe that all our colleagues in the Council and in the international community know very well what I am talking about. They know very well that abut a year ago, when General Alexander Haig was the Secretary of State, a situation arose in the State Department in which an attempt was made to provide evidence to justify to his own public opinion at home and to international public opinion abroad his warmongering attitude towards Nicaragua. They took a young Nicaraguan captured in El Salvador and tried to use him to demonstrate that there was clear reason to say that Nicaragua was involved in arms trafficking and assisting the Salvadorian patriots. We know what the outcome of all this was. We can all perfectly well remember that the United States press interviewed the young Nicaraguan after one year of imprisonment, and he stated how he was taken to the United States, how he was taken to the State Department and how pressure was brought to bear on him to make him state something that was not so. 128. Similarly, this is not merely an assertion on the part of Nicaragua. I believe most, if not all, the speeches made by representatives of the countries members of the Contadora Group have made it clear to the Council that what took place in Panama was a second round of consultations, in which the Ministers of Central America were in Panama at the disposal of the Contadora Ministers. In other words, the Contadora Ministers met individually and bilaterally with each of our Foreign Ministers-a stage begun previously at a working session at which the Contadora Ministers had gone to each of the countries of the region in order to establish the same mechanism of consultation. 129. I think I have made absolutely clear what the position of my Government is and also just how true and correct our Minister’s statement yesterday was.

I apologize to the representative of Nicaragua if I ever gave the impression that I wanted delegations to be brief. I’do not remember asking delegations to be brief. On the contrary, I think it is normal and useful that on such a serious and important matter as this all delegations should speak from their heart and their conscience and say what they really believe. In the name of the Council I thank all delegations who spoke and said everything they considered ought to be said. 127. In closing, I wish to make it quite clear, for the record, that the statements of the representative of Guatemala once again confirm the correctness of the statements made by our Minister for External Relations yesterday [2435th meeting]. He said, accurately, that there had not been a meeting of Central American Foreign Ministers in Panama, unless Costa Rica, .Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala claim that only they are Central America. Nicaragua is and intends to remain part of Central America, and we understand that Panama and, indeed, Belize are part of Central America. We have to define our premises and we have to be clear about our concepts, particularly when dealing with the geography of a region, To sum up, these statements made by the representative of Guatemala bear out the truth of what I once again bring before the Security Council for consideration, that there was no meeting of Ministers of Central Africa. If it is decided to have a meeting of four Minis- The meeting rose at I.15 p.m. NOTES I A/38/68, nnnex.