S/PV.2579 Security Council

In accordance with the decisions taken at the previous meetings on this item [2577fh ard 2578th meefings]. I invite the represeatative of Nicaragua to take a place at the Council table: I invite the representatives of Algeria, Bali.via, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mexico, Mongolia, Poland. the United Republic of Tanzania, Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe to take the alaces reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber. AI the invitation of the President, Mr. Chamorro Mora (Nicaragua) took a place at the Council table; Mr. Djoudi (Algerra), Mr. Gumucio Granier (Bolivia), Mr. Maciel (Brazil), Mr. Albcfn-Holguln (Colombia), Mr. Oramas Oliva (Cuba), M,r.*Moushoutas (Cyprus), Mr. Knippi,ng Victorta (Do.muntca.!! ---pm Rpublic), .Mr. A!- bornoz (Ecuador). Mr. Dinka (Ethiopia), Mr. Fqiordo- Maldonado (Guatemala), Mr. Rqiaie-Khorassani (Islamic Reoublic of Iran), Mr. MuAoz Ldo (Mexico). Mr. Nyamdoo (iongoija), Mr. Nowak (Polandj; Mr. Lweno (United Revublic of Tanzania). Mr. Golob (Yugoslaviaj and Mr. -Mudenie (Zimbabwe) took the places reserved jOr them at the side of rhe Council Chamber.

1 should like to inform the Security Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Argentina, the German Democratic Republic, Guyana, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. 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. Mutliz (Argentina), Mr. Ott (German, Democratic Republic), Mr. Sinclair (Guyana), Mr. Vongsay (Lao People’s Democratic Republic) and Mr. Le Kim Chung (V&t Nom) took the &cesresewed for them at theside of the Council Chamber.

The Security Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agattda. Members of the Council have before them do&ment S/17172. which contains the text of a draft resolution presented by Nicaragua. 4. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the following documents also: S/17169, letter dated 9 May 19g5 from the repreaeatatlve of Uruguay to the President of the Security Council; S/17170, letter dated 9 May from the representative of Democratic Yemen to the Secmtary-oeneral; S/17171, letter dated 9 May from the representative of Suriaeme to the President of the Security Council; and s/17174. letter dated 9 May from the representative of El Salvador to the Secretary-General. 5. The first speaker is the representative of Burkina Faso, and 1 now call on him.

The delegation of Burkina Faao would !ike !o congra!u!ate yott, Sir, on your assumption! &he presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. We are convinced that, thanks to your far-sigbtedness and your qualities as a seasoned diplomat. the Security Council will be able to fultll its mandate successfully. I wish also to thank your predecessor, Mr. Javier Arias Stella of Petu. for the excellent 7. Nearly a year has elapsed since the Securitv Council met to discuss the very disquieting situation-in Central America. Those meetings [2.525rh to 2529th meetifigs] followed the mining of the ports and territorial waters of Nicaragua, a brother country with which we share the same ideals within the Movement of Non- Aligned Countries. 14. The wisdom of many of the authors of the Charter never ceases to astonish us. 15. A great many reasons have been given to justify the United States embargo against Nicaragua and the coercive economic measures that accompany it. My delegation believes that, as the saying goes, he who wishes to drown his dog accuses it of having rabies. In the name of what kind of democracy does one speak and act thus? Is it that “democracy” in which 25 million blacks bend beneath the yoke of apartheid imposed by the racist r6rdme in Pretoria and declare to the world their hunger?orjustice. freedom and independence? Or is it that other “democracy” which the iniquitous Somoxa regime imposed on-the valiant people of Nicaragua for so many years? 8. The very instructive and constructive debate that took place at that time gave reason for hope that the Security Council would be able to make a positive contribution to the search for a peaceful, negotiated political solution to the problems that beset that subregion. We know what the result of that was: hope vanished because a veto was cast. 9. It was therefore clear that a great deal remained to be done in order to reduce tension and to persuade the parties involved to abide by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations concerning the settlement of disputes. My delegation welcomes the efforts that have been undertaken in that direction by the Contadora Group, to which my country gives unswerving support. We also welcome the reasonable and open-minded a. itude which the Government of Nicaragua has evinced throughout the process. 16. The Security Council must denounce and combat not only the act that has brought us together today, but also and above ah the tacit complicity of all those Powers which are no longer restrained by any kind of morality and sacrifice everybody to satisfy their thirst for conquest and world domination. In doing so, the Security Councii will, we are quite convinced, protect mankind from this double standard of justice, which 10. It is not our intention to rehearse to the Council the background to the present situation in Latin America. The reasons for the situation have been identifled by the representative of Peru in his statement [2578th meeting) and are still fresh in our memories. weak, the co& judgs one to be right or wrong. 17. For us the solution to the problem of Central America lies not in a trial of strength but in negotiation. No coercive measure can overcome the will and the determination of a people to be Iidly responsible for its destinv. That is why. in its resolution 38110. of 1 I N* vemb& 1983: the G&era! Assembly unequi&cally reafumed the malienable right of all the peoples of Central America to live in peace and to decide their own future, & from all outside interference or intervention. That is also why, in its resolution 3914, of 26 October 1984, it expressed its support for the efforts of the Contadora Group and urged all interested States to co-operate fully with the Group through a frank and constmctive dialogue, in the conviction that that is the best possible way to bring about a just and lasting solution to their differences. 11. The development of the situation in Central America, which has recently been marked by coercive economic measures unexpectedly adopted by the Government ofthe United States against Nicaragua leads us to wonder what is aoinn to hannen to all these efforts. on trade and air and sea communications between &e two countries, will undoubtedly be a heavy burden for of the problem, this unilateral d&isiou, apart from vialating the principles enunciated in the Charter, has further aggravated the situation and threatened the already precarious peace and security in the region. 12. Faithful to the principles of the Movement of Non- 18. Aligned Countries, IJurkina Faso condemns any form In his statement of 8 May [25771/t meeting] the of outside interference or intervention, whatever its representative of Nicaragua informed the Security Council of the situation which his country is now source. Gur position on thr situation in Central America is in keeping with that of the Seventh Conference of facing. He rearmed the willingness of his Govem- Heads of State or Government of Non-~ligtted Counment to pursue its efforts to resume the dialogue with tries, held at New Delhi in March 1983. the Government of the United States, which we hope will show the same readiness. 13. More recently, during the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly, the ministers and heads of del- 19. The Security Council must do everything possible to encourage all parties to take that course.

Let me begin, Sir. by offering you the sincere felicitations of the Ethiopian deiegation on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May and extend to you my best wishes for a successful term. May I also extend the admiration of mv delegation to your nredecessor, the representative-of Pet%. Mr. Javier Arias Stella. for the able manner in which he guided the work of the Council last month. 22. My delegation listened with great attention to the statement made by the representative of Nicaragua on the afternoon of 8 May regarding the situation in Central America and the serious developments arising out of the embargo which the United States recently imposed against Nicaragua. Having also listened with equal attention to all the speakers yesterday afternoon [2578rh meeting], my delegation is of the view that the matter before the Council is one of grave concern not only to the parties to the issue, but to the international community as a whole. What is at stake is the challenge posed to the cardinal precepts of the Charter and the very norms governing inter-State relations. The decision of the Council in the matter, therefore, will indicate whether the world is headed for the continued supremacy of the rule of law or a dark age of brute force wherein chaos reigns. 23. The international community is painfully aware that ever since the downfall of the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua the valiant people of that country have been faced with critical challenges to theirinalletiable right to choose the form of govemmer under which they want to live. External interference in the internal a&in of Nicaragua with the aim of destabillzing and eventually overthrowhtg the popularly elecof the day. To this end, Nica&uan ports have been blockaded and mined, while mercenaries have been organized, trained, financed, equipped and infiltrated into Nicaragua to murder innocent people and destroy the economic and social infrastructure. Furthermore, a sophisticated form of pressure and intimidation is pursued through the never-ending military manoewres by the United States very close to the Nicamguan border, thus creating an ever-present threat of direct invasion. It is in the context of those continuing attempts to reverse the revolutionary process in Nicaragua, a small non-aligned developing nation, that the recent decision of the United States Government declaring a trade and economic embargo against Nicaragua must be considered. 24. That action of the United States Administration is. tirst and foremost, in violation of bilatentl agreements between the United States and Nicaragua, particularly the Treaty of Friendship, Commerceand Navigation, which is still in force, It is also contrary to “refrain from threatening or applyine trade restrictions, blockades, embargoes -&cl oiher economic sanctions, incompatible with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations . , . against developing countries as a form of political and social development”. 25. As is well known, Nicaragua is a non-aligned dc veloping country whose fragile economy continues to war imposed upon it by external Powers. To help mitland to assist the Government of Nicaragua in its reeonstruction efforts, the General Assembly adopted rem+ lution 39/204, in which it urged all Goveritmenta to contribute to the reconstruction and development of that “Nicaragua should &&tue to &ive treatment appropriate to the special needs ofthe country until the economic situation retums to normal”. 26. In view of that, it is inconceivable to my delegation that such a small deveMplng country could ~mrae a threat to any of it.; neighbours. let alone to a super- Power. It is indisputable, on the other hand, that the trade and economic embargo da&red by the United States totally negates the letter and aphit ofthat naolutkm. We therefore deplore the trade embargo lmpoaad by the United States agaiaat Nicaragua. 27. The issue before the Cotmell is cry&Mar. CardlnalprhtciplesoftbeCharteraadofM&mmMmd are being systematically Y&ted. mte motive bet!E those Violations is also equally clear. lt is to mtUlfy the ~vmiendecisionafthepeopleaPNicaresueaadover throw their eleeted Govemmeat. No amount ofobfusuuion can hide that truth. Indeed, it was the cl&y of the issues under discussion and th& &a&ance in the relations between States at large that pmmpted the States members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to take the position spelt out in the communiqu6 of the Movement’s &o&mtmg Eureau released on 7 May 1985 [S/f 7163. annal. 28. The question that remains to be answered is whether the Security Council will rise to the challenge or remain impotent in the face of such unwarranted acts of interference and coercion against a small State Member of the United Nations, It is the hope of my delegation that the Council will act with courage and resolve 29. Nicaragua has demonstrated its good faith to the international community beyond any doubt by accepting without reservations the Contadora Act. and it continues to co-operate closely with the Contadora Group, which persistently seeks the establishzrent of a framework of peace and co-operation between tile nations of Central America. Hoping for a peaceful solution to outsuutding uroblems betweeu itself and the United States, Nicaragua participated in bilateral talks at Manxanillo, Mexico, until the talks were unilaterally discontinued by the United States. Nicaraguadeserves the recognition and appreciation of the international community for those peaceful efforts on its part. 30. The Government and people of socialist Ethiopia note with admiratior, tbe determination of the Govemment and people oi Nc‘i -‘arma to protect the gains of their revolution sru! ;hc ter,:torial intr.xritv of their motherland against Z “r: fir;res :.li” d;%unaiioti, reaction and counter-revolution, ruid r&ttm once again their support for and fraternal solr:!~ it) -.t it!t rhe Nicaraguan people in their struggle. We alsu congratulate the Govin the pursuliof ihe peaceful ;:solution oidisputes and their continued commitment to international legality. We are confident that those efforts by Nicaragua will be crowned by impressive victories. 3 I. The Government of Ethiopia is convinced that the Contadora process is thb only path that will lead to peace, security and development in Central America, end it fully supports the efforts of the ContadoraGroup. 32. In conclusion, Mr. President, I should like to thank you and, through you, the other members of the Council for acceding so readily to my delegation’s request to address the Council on this important item. 33. The PRBSIDENI? The next speaker is the representative of Cyprus. I invite him to take aplace at the Council table and to m&e his statement.

I should like first to congratulate you warmly. Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May and to thank you and your colleagues on the Council for allowing us to participate in the debate. We are co&dent that under your most able guidance this body will discharge its responsbilities effectively and successfully. I should like to take this opportunity to express to your predecessor, Mr. Javier Arias Stella of Peru, my deleption’s appreciation of the excellent manner in which ne conducted the Council’s proceedings during the month of April. 35. The situation in Central Americaand in Nicaragua in particular has be~e Lonsidered i-epearedly by the 36. The Security Council, by its resolution 530 (1983), reatllrmed, inter aLa, the right of Nicaragua and of all other countries of the area to live in peace and security free from outside interference. In that same resolution the Council commended the efforts of the Contadora Group and appealed to the interested States to cooperate fully with that Group so as to resolve their differences. 37. Moreover, the General Assembly in resolution 38/lO of II November 1983 reaBirmed, inter alia, the right ofall the countries in the Central American region to live in peace and to decide their own future free from all outside interference or intervention. It afllrmed that respect for the sovereignty and independence of all States of the region was essential for ensuring the security and peaceful coexistence of the countries of Central America, and at the same time it expressed support for the efforts of the Contadora Group. 38. We regret to note that, despite such resolutions, decisions and declarations which reflect the overwL,lming wish of the international community, the situation in the region is deteriorating. The fact that the Government of Nicaragua has felt it necessary to brhtg the matte. before the Security Council many times during the past two years is deeply disturbing and evidences the degree of gravity which Nicaraaua attributes to such negative developments. The representative of Nicaragua, Mr. Chamotro Mora, explained the extent of the new hostile economic measures and acts of subversion launched against his country. We fullv comprehend the seriousness of the situation and, in a non-aligned spirit of solidarity, share Nicaragua’s grave concern. 39. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has persistently and consistently advocated and abided by the principle that bilateral, regional and international problems must be solved peacefully, by negotiation, not by recourse to the threat or use of force, and that the sovereignty, lttdependence, territorial integrity and unity of all countries must be fully respected. Thus. in his address to the Seneral Assembly on 3 October 1983 on the situation in Tentral America, the Resident ofthe Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Spyros Kyprianou. said: “We follow with grave concern the events in Nicaragua and other countries in Central America and sincerely hope that efforts within and outside the United Nations; including those of the Contadora Group, wiii succeed. What is of paramount importana is that the right of all States in the region to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity be fully respected, as well as the sovereign tight of the peoples of the region to choose freely their own oolitical, economic and social systems without any foreign interference.” 41. My delegation hopes that the Security Council, which is primarily entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security, wig exert every effort to achieve, finally, an immediate end to the hostilities in the region and to the threats directed against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Nicaragua. 4%. Mr. OUDOVENKO (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation from Russian): First, I should like to welcome you, Sir, to the responsible post of President of the Security Council and wish you every success in your work. I also wish to express our thanks to your predecessor, Mr. Arias Stella, who so skiIfuUy and tactfully discharged the duties of Resident of the Council last month. 43. At this time the fortieth anniversary of the historic victory over fascism and naxism is behtg widely commemorated, a victory that was achieved by the joint efTorts of the countries of the anti-HitIer coalition. The Soviet Union made a decisive contribution to that vicpe&e f&t& side by side with the Union in the Fames of the Second World War. The victory indeed cost us dear. One out of every six inh&ants of the UkrainelaiddownhisBfeforthefreedomandhtdependence of his motherIand and for the kiiott of other peoples t?om the yoke of fascism. 44. Unfortunately, the main lesson of the Second World War-that States must strive for peace &kctively, with respect for each other’s so&reignty and independence-is beii more and more frequently forgotten today by those who subordinate everything to their ambition for world hegemony. 45. A typ~ka! exantpk in the &ration prevailing in Central America. To serve its ambitions, Washington, in pursuing a policy of State terrorism and subve&ive activity agahtst other States and propks, has for many years now been aggravating the situation in that area and virtually waging an unde&red war against a smaR non-aligned country. 47. The latest actions of the United States Administration are a violation of the existing United States- Nicaragua Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, the Charter of the United Nations and the charter of the Organixation of American States. These subversive activities run completely counter to a number of important documents approved by the General Assembly, such as the Declaration on principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations [resolution 2625 (XXV), uanex], the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States [resolution 3281fXXfXJl and the De&ration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order [resolurion 3201 (§-VI) and 3202 (S-WJ], as well as all the universally recognized norms in established international practice. 48. As history has proved, a policy of economic diktat, bIackmail and threats is fraught with very serious consequences which run counter to the interests and progress of mankind and involve a further deterioration of the international climate, in the final anelysis constituthtg a threat to universal peace and security. 49. Recently we have been seeing that arbitrary and dkcriminatow sanctions are beim used aminst the deveMping c&ntries in order to ca&e them&cutontic difftcuhies and thus ro “punish” them for certain acts thatarenottothelikingoftheimperialiste.Whcnsvera devaloning country chooses the indenendent gatb of develoimt&tt and ih the exorcise of itasover&nty naticmakes the property of foreign mono@ks, it may securhtg the hrvuhmrability of foreign political and economic poshions in particular countries and at preventing progressive so&I and economic reforms, thus maintainingthosecountrkshtastateofeconomk depend=Y. 50. Simply because the present Government of Nicaragua; which was dected by the peopk af that courttry, chose the democratic and independent path of development-a choice that dit not suit the United States-the United States has openly set itseIfthe task of topplhg the lega! Government of Nicaragua. In choosing the means to achieve this end, the United States Administration did not shrink even from dii 55. Such a constructive attitude on the part of Nicaragua is the only way in which Central American problems can be resolved-the path of negotiations, taking into account the legitimate interests of all parties with full respect for their sovereignty. 51. World public opinion is deeply concerned over the range and possible consequences of this policy in international economic relations as a whole, and in particular in Nicaragua, and demands its immediate cessation. The heads of State or Government of Non-Alinned Countries, at their Seventh Conference, held at hew Delhi in March 1983, reiected all forms of economic aggression, the use of threats in commerce, and all types of blockades and coercive measures or blackmail as a means of exerting political pressure against nonaligned and other deveioping countries. They reiterated the right of all States fully to exercise national sovereignty and to choose whatever social and economic systems they felt best served their own development goals. 56. The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic stands squarely behind Nicaragua’s just struggle against imperialism’s aggressive inroads and supports its inalienable right to free and democratic development. We vigorously condemn the United States escalation of intervention in Central America and its subversive activities against Nicaragua, and we believe that the Security Council should take steps that will lead to the cessation of these acts of aggression and subversion agaiust that country. 52. The General Assembly, in resolution 39/2lO appealed to countries to “refrain from threatening or applying trade restrictions, blockades, embargoes and other economic sanctions, incompatible with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations”. The most recent hostile acts committed by the United States against Nicaragua quite clearly indicate why the United States voted against that resolution, which was supported by 1 I6 States.

I am sure you will readily understand my personal satisfaction, Sir, at seeing you presiding over the work of the Security Council because of the friendship that has existed between us for some time. I should also like to avail myself of the opportunity to say how much I value the political sense and exquisite courtesy to which we have-all become accustom&l. To our Pre& ident for the month of April, Mr. Arias Stella, I should like on behalf of my delegation to pay him a sincere tribute and to express our thanks for the sure-handed, well-thought-out and responsible way in which he directed our work. We expected no less of a person who was kind enough to make available to us his political experience and humanistic qualities. 53. In their communique of 7 May this year, the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries vigorously condemned the actions of the United States and emphasii that “these new acts of political and economic coercion, ib addition to the military action, are to be seen in the context of a larger plan to destabii and topple the Government of Nicaragua and that they further endanger peace and security in the region.” [See SII 7163, annex. ] 58. It has become a commonplace to say that in recent decades most Central American countries have had to suiTer social, economic and political injustice and that the situation there becomes more and more precarious as long as it remains subject to the caprices of intemational circumstances. The judgements that we can make about the underlying reasons for tha? crisis differ according to our ideologies, our options, our systems of values and the solidarity we share with others. Nevertheless it is a real crisis and it has, unfortunately, become a virtually permanent feature and has lost none of its acuteness. In less than three years the Council has taken up the matter nine times, while the Contadora Group. despite all the demands and counterdemands, has been trvine to get all the parties inside and outside the region to accept a political and contractual ftamework within which normalization and stabilization of relations among the states concerned would be achieved. S4. It is extremely significant and suggestive that, at approximately the same time that Washington was proclaiming its measures aimed at aggravating the situation in and around Nicaragua and in Central America as a whok, in Managua a series of measures was also proclaimed which wer? directly aimed at creating a climate of peace and mut;lal trust in the area and which are a logical continuation of the peace-loving policies of the Government of Nicaragua, something which was also very cogently stated by the representative of Nicaragua in his statement. Unfortunately, Washington has turned down any constructive proposal put forward by the Nicaraguan Government. The latter was the first 60. The Council cannot overlook nor treat lightly the matter of trade and economic sanctions. The nonaligned countries have learned this to their cost whenever they have attempted to call for the application of such sanctions to the Pretoria r&ime, whose apartheid policy has, after all. been universally condemned and rejected. 61. If we are to abide strictly by the Charter and the solemn declarations and reshuiions adopted by the United Nations, we wonder whether Nicaraaua ouaht to be punished because it has decided its oh f&e without any foreign interference under any pretext or in any context. Is it not true. accordillp to the Declaration in the Internal Affairs of States, annexed to General Assembly resolution 36003, that it is “The duty of a State, in the conduct of its international relations in the economic, social, technical and trade fields, to refrain from measures which would constitute interference or intervention in the internal or external affairs of another State, thus preventing it from determining freely its political, economic and social development”? international law which state; that “no State may ipply measures to constrain another Staie to subordln& the exercise of its sovereign rights and to 0btaIn from it any kind of advantage whatsoever”? 62. It is thereforedl&ult to agree that the trade sanctions decreed by the United States agahsst Nicaragua and the embargoes on air and sea traffic do not contravene these principles-some of which, we should recall, were solemnly reaffhmed at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Grganizatiot+and it is also difficult to agree that invoking the concept of national securitv is a suflicient argument to justify them. We deeply regret this step and believe that the Council cannot give its approval to the measures tIowittg therefrom. 63. The same considerations led the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on 7 May to adopt a communiqut [S/17163, onner] 64. That is also why we support the draft resolution submitted by Nicaragua, for it contains the essential elements to which the Council has the right and the duty, in this particular case, to draw the attention of all parties concerned, that is: the necessity for respect for international law; the need for relations of friendship and co.operation among States, in accordance with the Charter; the pre-eminence of dialogue over direct or indirect confrontation; and, finally, the peaceful settlement of disputes. 65. If there is no desire to be mindful of these elements, we fear that the Contadom process is now replace it. Nicaragua will therefore be quite right to come before the appropriate international bodies to seek the necessary arbitration, and we shall be conin Central Am&a takes on such dimensions that it will be beyond our control and undoubtedly endanger reglonal and international peace and security.

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

Mr. President, my delegation thanks you for having &en us the opporrunity to take part in this meeting to consider a matter that is of concern to my country, respectful as it is of international law and a staunch supporter of peace and collective sea&y. I wish also to express our satisfacticm at seeinn YOU. Sir. nresidii over the Council. At the same t&i eipreii our gra%tude to the re~resentative of Peru and his delegation for the skilful at&lance of the deliberations of 6 CounciI last month: 68. Fiist, 1 wish to read out the statement issued ln La Paz on 8 May by the Government of Bolivia: [The speaker read the text contained in the annex to document Sil718!2.] 69. The Government of Bolivia has on many oecasions publicly demonstrated its concern about the Central American situation. For instance. at the thbtyseventh session of the General Assembly, the Constitutional President, Hem&n Siles Zuazo. said: “The grave crisis affecting the brother countries of Ceutral America is a cause of deep concern for my Government. Tension, threats and escalating violence are all 75. For the countries of the region, peace and collective security can be based only on the principles of inter-American and international law. The Charter of the United Nations, the charter of the Grganization of American States and many other legal instruments enshrine the right of the peoples to self-determination. non-intervention in domestic alfairs and respect for the territorial integrity and political and economic independence of States. I must specifically mention the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendlv Relations and Co-operation among States in accord&e with the Charted of the United Nations, adopted by General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV); the -Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention and Interference in the Internal Affairs of States, adopted by Assembly resolution 36/103; the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, adopted by Assembly resolution 37110; and. finally, Assembly resolution 39/210, adopted at the last session. In all those resolutions and declarations the principles of the coexistence of States are reaffirmed; some of them provide that States must abstain fmm the threat or the use of trade restrictions. block- 70. Furthermore, the Government of Bolivia has in many forums expressed its solidarity with the Government and people of Nicaragua in their efforts to carry out fully the process of their liberating revolution, which entails the establishment of a democratic, pluralistic system and of a mixed economy system, guaranteeing a more equitable distribution of income so that a new society may be built on the basis of genuine participation by the people. 71. MY Government. for those reasons, has constantly supported the process undertaken by the Contadora Group; we believe that it is the only valid and still viable option, within the Latin American family, in the quest for real and specific solutions to the Central American conflict. The real meaning of Contadora is that it is a genuine reply of the region, without the participation or distortion entailed by interference by protagonists from outside the region. 72. Bolivia, which in 1952 underwent a profound social transformation achieved through the establishment of a model of a national liberating revolution, fully understands the present difftculties in Central America, difficulties which are the result of social tensions arising from the attempt to overcome injustice and backwardness through the building of a more just and equitable order. incompatible with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and infringe bilateral commitments. 76. For those reasons, my Government deplores the decision of the United States Government to impose an economic and trade embargo agahtst the Republic of Nicamgna. That action can only increase even more the suffering of the penpIe of Nicaragua, the victim of the Somoza dictatorship, one of the worst and most shameful ever to have been seen in Latin America. We also urge the United States and Nicaragua to resume diiogtte and negotiation in the context of international law and, in particular, the legal norms that have been created and perfected in Latin American law. 73. The experience of the Bolivian revolution also has enabled us to realize that the establishment or strengthening of basic institutions takes a certain amount of time and requires the right atmosphere. It is worthwhile mentioning that during the early years of the Bolivian revolution there were certain sectors within and outside the country that rejected the revolution and conspired against it. At that time. they even tried to impose an economic blockade and to jeopardii the free transit ofgoods, taking advantage ofthe structural problems that Bolivia was experiencing because of its maritime isolation resulting from an unjust war ofconquest. Today. 33 years after the epic event of April

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

I sincerely congnuulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of May and wish you every success in the performance of your duties. 1 should also like to take this opportunity to thank your predecessor, Mr. Arias StelIa, the representative of Pent, for all he did as >..!a--’ -f-t- . CSWDL v t K Secittiy Count,. ,-. . . ..n.... ..:I lr.. ..sa *IQ 1952, the revolutionary changes are irreversible; they are the basis of the new national State. 74. I must note that those who opposed the revolutionary changes in Bolivia-that is, the counterrevolutionaries-knocked on the doors of Govemments of neighbouring countries and sought aid from them, including the United States. Fortunately, they cyere not head, and here I must comment that in the case of the United States the wise and timely advice given by Mr. Milton Eisenhower, who recently died, was very important. He pointed out to the Administration in Washington that the deep social changes that were being experienced by Bolivia and that undoubt- 79. The sups recently taken by the United States Administration against the Republic of Nicaragua, in particular the comprehensive trade embargo and the cessation of air and sea communications between the two countries, have rightly been judged by intemational public opinion to be crude acts of coercion and 81. The measures of economic pressure adopted by the United States therefore represent a further dangerous escalation of its interventionist policies against Nicaragua. Judging by what we learn from the United States pr.:ss, these measures are only the beginning of an even more far-reaching aggressive plan on the part of Washington. 82. This situation has caused serious alarm in the international community. As the Council is aware, the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement adopted a short time ago a communiqu6 [S/17163, annex] vigorously condemning the steps taken recently by Washington and its aggressive policy towards Nicaragua. 83. The Mongolian People’s Republic, in keeping with its policy in favour of peace, totally rejects any policy of diktat directed against sovereign, independent States. The unilateral imposition by the United States of an embargo on trade and economic relations is a gross violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the fundamentat principles and norms of international law and specific obligations undertaken by the United States both bilaterally and multilaterally. 84. The Mongolian People’s Republic fully supports the position of the Government of Nicaragua as set 85. The Mongolian People’s Republic has consistently supported the Government and ueode of friendly Nicaragua. This policy was reiteratedm the declaration made by the Ministry for Foreign Alfairs on 22 April, which was recently issued in an offtcial General Assembly document. A/40/269. It states, inter alia: “If the United States is really interested in establishing peace in Central America, it should fast refrain from attempts to strangle the Sandiist people’s revolution, cease its policy of State terrorism against Nicaragua and resume the talks with that country which it broke off. “The Mongolian People’s Republic fully and whole-heartedly supports both the just struggle of the Nicaraguan people, who are defending their freedom, independence and revolutionary achievements from the encroachments of imperialism and reaction, and the peace initiatives of the Government of Niearagua aimed at fmding a peaceful solution to the problem of Central America. “The Mongolian People’s Republic f&y de mands that the United States Administration should stop its criminal activities, which amount in effect to an undeclared war against the Republic of Nicaragua.” The meeting rose at 12.40 p.m.