S/PV.2691 Security Council

The Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting today follwing a request contained in a letter dated 12 June 1986 from the Permanent Wpresentative of Angola to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/18148). I should like to draw the attention of the members of the Council to the follw ing documnts: S/18129, letter dated 3 June 1986 from the Permanent Representative of Angola to the United Netions addressed to the Secretary-General; S/18142, letter dated 9 June 1986 from the Charge d’affaires ad interim of the Permanent Representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic5 addressed to

S/18152, letter dated 12 June 1986 from the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the Unitxd Nations addressed to President of the Security Council; and S/18156, letter dated 13 June 1986 from the Permanent Bpresentative of South Africa to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. The first speaker is the representative of Angola, upon whom I now call. Mr. de FIQJEIREDO (Angola): As the Council knows ~61.1, countless are the time0 my delegation haa spoken in this Chamber, in the overwhelming ma for ity of case5 on the same eubject a8 that which faces us today: the question of South African aggression against the People's Republic of Angola. In this context of my repeated appearances, Sir, I have had occasion to salute the different rotating Presidents of the Council and to see their handling of the Council’s work, ranging fran superb to indifferent. However, my delegation has Seldom felt the degree of confidence and pleasure that we do today at your able presidency of this month’s Council proceedings. Your confidence and experience set yO0 apart, and while you are a doyen of the United Nations diplomatic corps by (Mr. de Figueiredo, Angola) virtue of your long stay among us, you are our leader by virtue of your many talents. I cannot close my encomium without mentiaring the warm fraternal links between Madagascar and Angola. Today, 16 June 1986, amnemorates many things. It is the tenth anniversary of Soweto, a day of pride for all of Africa and of infamy fqr the South African racists; it marks the opening of the Paris Carferenae co sanctions against racist 6outh Africa; and, finally, it marks yet another Council debate in the 11-year history of Pretaria’s armed attscks against the People’s &public of Angola. I will not go into the details of this 11-year history. My delegation has placed it on record countless times. Suffice it to say that there is no reason grounded either in history or in geography that explains South Africa’s attacks on Angola - no reason other than the imperative of apartheid itself, which demands military a&venturism and illegal occupation outside its borders to explain and justifu racism and apartheid insids its borders. Rmthermore, Pretoria can Uanipulate its allies by doctoring the truth, by window-dressing, by outright lies and by the creation of bogies and fantasies which few believer other than Preboria itself and its chosen friends. The preoent attack by the Gsuth African racists is not simply an attack on the nation of Angola; it is also tantamount to an act of war against two of Africa’s and Angola*s allies and sympathizere , the Soviet Union and Cuba. At dawn on 5 June 1986, Sauth African racist troops munted a new raid against Angola in the south-western province of Namfbe, hitting oil tanks and cargo ships an&ored at the port of Namibe. The racists were divided into two groups, one made UP Of divers and the other specialising in land-based actions. The racist divers planted high-power magnetic devices on three naval veeeel5 - one Cuban and two Soviet - all of which were carrying foodstuff5 arrd medical supplies for the Afbgolam in the southern part of out country. (Mt. de Flguelredo, Angola) An Israeli-made’ Reahef missile carrier equipped with Iscaell-umde Scorpion missiles hit threa fuel tanks, dmagfng two and partially damaging the third. Of the three vessels attacked, are was sunk and the other two were damaged. That racist attack on Namibe was not an isolated one. It will be recalled that at the end of Way 1986 combined South African troops and bands of South African puppet units killed more than 53 of our courageous FAPLA troope and wounded dozens in an attack neaL: Xangongo in Cunene Province, about 100 miles narth of our border with t4smibi.a. Also at the end of May, racist South African troops launched brutal military strikes against the ewereign Stetes of Botswana , Zambia and Zimbabwe, upon which the &reign Ministers of the frart-line States met in iisrare, condemned the raide and called on the lnternstional community to impose caaprehensive and mandatory economic sanctions against Pretoria. As rscsntly as last week our Government troops repelled yet enother raoist attack in Cablnda. There are still seven South African battaliare Inside Angola. South African troops in varying strengths have been In illegal occupation of parts of Angola since 1981. South Af r lean troops have again and again invaded Angola since 1975. South African troope have repeatedly attacked other frant-line States. Xad those attacks been perpetrated by a non-white regime without the cloee links to Western lmpetlalimn that Pretoria so overtly and bIatantly enjoys, would those acts have gone unpunished and vlrtualIy unnoticed In Western oap1~l.s beyond a few press dispatches? No, there would have been a hue and cry in thcee circles, there would have been immediate calls for sanctions,. there would have been punitive action. Corpses of Angolan clvlllane do not show up on the balance-sheets of transnatlonal oorporatlons, nor in the vote-seeking of Western politicians. (Mr. de Figueiredo, Angola) We are left to mOurn and bury our dead. We are left to survey the latest damage, which we can ill afford, tr) our incessant efforts at national recons tructicn. And we are left with renewed determination to fight against the colonialist, racist and imperialist mentality that causes this ruin and havoc in our 1 Ives. This Council has adopted countless mandatory resolutions on the subject of South African aggression against Angola. Is the Council impotent to enforce its own resolutions in keeping with its own mandate under the Charter of the United Nations? Are some of the Western permanent members of the Security council blind and deaf to what is happerling in southern Africa today, where the so-called peaceful negotiations have yielded nothing but escalating conflict in the region, where sovereign borders are no longer sovereign and where §outh Africa is in the midst of a massive civil war, all the while the racist Government holding out the promise of pathetic little reforms while its two major allies applaud? (Hr. de Figueiredo, Angola) Apartheid will win in South Africa and apartheid's military adventuriem will win in 8outhern Africa on the day the sun rises in the west and seta in the east, on the day a bullet can b8 recalled into a gun, on the dey when the entire - I repeat : entire - international contlaunity lose8 all 8ense of dignity and decency. But until that day, and as long a8 there are Angolans to defend Angola, African8 to defend Africa, a Bane international community to give meaning to the Undtod Nations and Validity to it8 Charter, the South African racist8 will know no peace or acceptance. w I appeal to the Council ti3 support our cause , to condemn Pretoria strongly for it8 act8 of armed aggreeeton ayain8t Angola and othee front-line States, to demand the immediate withdrawal of the raciet troop8 and impoee comprehensive mandatory 88nctions. Before I conclude, I ehould like to pay a tribute to those of our South African brothers who gave their live8 10 year6 ago in soweto, to thoae who have sacrificed their live8 since then, and to those who even now face the apartheid machine with courage* hope and fortitude. I would also pay a tribute in the Council to the brave Angolane who have fallen in defence of their country and to those who even now, againet overwhelming cdds, continue to defend our border8 against the racist war machine of South Africa, a country with which Angola ha8 no border& A Luta Continua. A Vitoria e Certa.

I thank the representative of the People’s Republic of Angola for the kind uotde he addressed to me. The next speaker 18 the repreeentetive of Zaire. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make hio statement. Mr. LUDDNGR RADAR1 CRIRI-MWAMI (Zaire) (lnterpretation from French) t On behalf of the African Group and on behalf of my delegation, I express t0 YOU personally, Mr. President, and to the other members of the Security Council our gratitude for giving me an opportunity to participate in this debate by the Council. X take this opportunity, too, to congratulate you , Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of June. There is no doubt that your personal skills and your long experience of questions affecting the United Nations in general and the Security Council in particular point to the fact that the Council is in masterly hands and that the items to be considered by the Council will be dealt with diligently and with determination. Your predecessor, Ambassador Gbeho, the Permanrnt Representative of Ghana, is another worthy Bon of Africa who has guided the Council’s work. I extend my congratulations to him, also, for the very effective way in which he carried out that heavy task in May. Madagascar, your country, and Zaire, my own , maintain exceilent relatione. Our common membership of the African Group cannot but strengthen the fraternity that our two countries place at the service of International peace and security. The Council is meeting on this day when we commemorate the tenth annivereary of the Soweto massacres, during which almost 1,000 peaceful black nchoolchildren - accused by the supporters of apartheid of having committed the Crime Of l&se-majest by organizing a peaceful protest in defence of their right6 - were etruck down in a cowardly way. In that connection, I express the solidarity of the people and Executive Council of Zaire with the black people of South Africa who are struggling against the repression to vhich they are subjected by the criminal apartheid r&ime. (Mr. Ludunge Kadahi Chiri-Mwani, Zaire) Unfortunately, there still exists in Africa a region that does not enjoy peace for the simple reason that it shares a geographical zone with SOI. h Africa, which has elevated the apartheid r&gime to a system of government. The People’s Republic of Angola , a sister country with which Zaire shares a border of 2,600 kilometres and with which it maintains excellent and fraternal political, economic and cultural relations, is part of that region. Since its accession to independence in 1975, it has been subjected to a war of aggression by the backward racist regime of south Africa. Three mths, to the day, have passed since the security Council last met, in March 1986, to consider a complaint by Angola about South African aggression. Despite many condemnations by the Security Council, pact of ..ngolan territory is still occupied by South African forces , which continue to behave like vandals. Thete is no circumstance which could justify that aggression and no pretext which could be adduced for this occupation, which undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Angola, an independent country that is a member of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations. This textbook case Of aggression masks the expansionist aims of South Africa, which, ultimately, would like to extend the apartheid r6gime beyond its borders. Thia aggressive, illegal and irresponsible behaviour not only infringes the independence and security of a soverign State, but also dangerously compromises peace and security in that particularly tense region. Over the past few weeks, South Africa has strengthened its destabilizing power in Angola by dispa’ching new battalions to the interior ot the country. 7% &aGi of 53 Angolan soldiers in the province of Cunene was recently announced. On 5 June, missiles were fired on civilian targets - that is, ships transporting merchandise to the port of Namibe; three ships and an oil depot were destroyed. (Hr. Eudunge Kadahi Chir i-Mwani F Zaire) South Africa, which is occupying a part of Angola, regularly carries out barbar-ms acts of aggression against the front-line countries. The most recent were committed hardly three weeks ago against Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Every day, South Africa increasingly extends its cynicism and racial hatred beyond ita borders, in an attempt to bring the black peoples of Afrioa to their knees. The illegal occupation of Kamibia, despite the unanimous disapproval of the international community, and its transformation into a base for attacks and aggression against the neighbouring independent African States continue to be a serious threat to the peace and security of the region. ft is not likely that, in turning itself into a force of aggression against black Africa, South Africa will be tempted tomorrow to occupy a part of Botswana d Zambia or Zimbabwe, or any other independent African State - and from there to attack still other independent States of Africa? Everything lead6 us to believe that this is a great temptation for the glorifier of the shameful apartheid r&ime which, only a few months ago, imposed an economic blockade on Lesotho in order to exert political pressure on that State, which is an enclave within South Africa. All those acts of aggression, eXtOrtiOn and devastation which reeult from that policy and to which the peoples of southern Africa are subjected today, will be nothing but a memory tomorrow. (Mr. Ludunge &tdahi Chir i-Mwami, Zaire) Wlatever the scope of the repression currently practised by Pretoria against the black population of South Africa and no matter hw great the aggression that rdgime cacrieo out against neighbouring independent African countries, those ~icths of aggression are joined by the internatismal community in their determination to fight tenaciously against the criminal apartheid regime until it is completely abolished. South Africa’s impunity in the face of steady unanimous oondemnation by the Security Council contributes , through the criminal apartheid system, to the strengthening of its power as a terrorist State. The Gecurity Council is meeting as the United Nations world Conference on Sanctions against Racist South Africa takes place at Par is. The Council should adopt measures demanding that South Africa immediately cease its acts of aggression against the People’s Republic of Angola. It should demand too that the racist minority South African rdgime immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its forces cccupying Angolan territory. Metre condemnation of that regime is no longer enough. The atrocities, aggression and barbarism against the bkck people of South Africa and against all the independent front-line States have accumulated to the point at which the &curity Council should consider adopting vigorous measures to force South Africa to renounce apartheid, to halt its aggression against the independent countrfee of the region, and to liberate Namibia. lo be effective, those meaeures should be supported by those with the power to put political, economic or other pressure on South Africa. Only then can peace and security return to the rayi*.

I thank the representative of Zaire for the kind words he addressed to me. The next speaker is the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. I invite Mr. AL-ATASSI (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation from Arabic) : I take pleasure in thanking you, Sir, and the other memhere of the Council for having invited my delegation to participate in this debate on Pretoria’s acts of terrorism. We are confident that you will lead the work of the Security Council with your well known wisdom, objectivity, experience and diplomatic skill. Let me also express our appreciation to your predecessor, Ambassador Gbehor the Permanent Representative of Ghana, for the wisdom and objectivity with which he guided the Council’s work last month. The Security Council is meeting again less than three weeks after it last considered the racist rdglmegs terrorist acts against neighbouring countrie8. Moreover, the Council has been permanently eeized of the situation in southern Africa, which ia deteriorating as a result of the continued repressive, racist, colonialist practices of the Pretoria rdgime against millions of our African brethren, whose struggle against enslavement, repreesion and apartheid has not ceased. We asked to partiaipate in this debate to express our grave conaern about the situation in southern Africa and about the policiee of the apartheid r6gimer aimed against the proud revolutionary people6 of aoutbern Africa. Laet month the Pretoria dgime carried out aggreeaion against three neighbouring countr lea, Rotewane , Zambia and zimb&wa, and now it has carried out further aggreseion against Angola. On 9 June, the racist Edgime continued it8 polLzy of State terrorism by attacking unarmed merchant ships of Cuba and the Soviet union, which were unloading at the Angolan port of Namibe. That act of piracy resulted in damage to the Soviet vetasels, while the Cuban ship was sunk. Angolan reports show that this act of aggression by the racist Pretoria loaders against a port in a neighbouring country and against simple merchant chips belonging to countries friendly to Angola is yet another link in the long chain of crimes perpetrated by the racist r&gime, whose record Is replete with (Hr. Al-Atassi, Syrian Arab Republic) such tertociat acts, which testifies to the barbarous nature of that rdqim and to the necessity of ending its actions and its existence. In our statement before the Security Council on 23 May last, we warned that if the Council did not adopt firm measures against the apartheid rkgime, and if it failed to impose comprehensive sanctions under Chapter VII, that regime would continue to carry out criminal acts of aggression and State terrorism against neighbouring African States. And the r6glme did indeed continue its acts of aggreesion, because tha Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution submitted by the African States, condemning the apartheid rdgims and calling for the imposition af specific sanctions. The draft resolution was defeated owing to negative votes by the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Pretoria could not ha-re continued its repressive policies without the support and encouragement it receives from world impsrialism , and in particular from the united states of America. In defiance of the will of the international community, the United States Administration pereistu in its support, encouragement and protection of that r&ima, providing assistance and co-operation in various spheres. This grave act of aggreesion against Angola and against merchant shipping poses a new threat to international peace and security, and endangers both the southarn African region and the world at large. The reception by the united States Administration of Savimbi - the enemy of the Angolan r6gime - proves that the United States is encouraging the Pretoria rdgime to continue its aggression against Angola. Saoimbi - who epitomises the conspiracy against the people and the Government of Angola - receives various kinds of support for his bandits, whose principal objective is the destabilization of Angola, a progressive country known for its firm stand againat imperialism and in favour of freedom and progress. The Pretoria c&gime’a latest act of aggression against Angola very nearly coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Soweto massacre, whick we commemorate today. That massacre felled many African civilians, including innocent schoolchildren. The coincidence cf this act of aggreosion with that anniversary reflects the apartheid c6gime’s determination to peceist in its planned genocide against African peoples struggling for freedom. (MC. Al-Atassi, Syrian Arab Republic) The imposition of a state of emergency is but a step alcrFlg that path, became it enables the r$gime to tighten its grip, kill people and imprison and detain thousands of citizens fighting for freedam. The Security Council must place on rewrd its wndemnation and utter rejection Of the schemes and policies of Pretoria end Washington, as well as of the act8 Of aggressian carried Out against neighbouring States. It must expose Pretoria’s false arguments to justify its violation of ths swereignty and territorial integrity of the front-line States. The Council must adopt a firm stand and condemn South Africa and register the international communities rejection of those practices. The Council must impose the sanctions provided for in Chapter VII of the Chester because that is the Only language that Pretoria will understand. Just like the rdgime of the Zionist base in Tel Aviv , which practices the 5ame policie5 against the Arab people, the Pretoria regime is supported and encouraged by Washington. The Syrian Arab Eliegublic pays tribute to the victims of South Africa’5 racist cegreeaion and to the heroic stance of the African people against that r&ime. It expresses solidarity with the patriotic people and Government of Angola during the difficult time in tiich their territorial integrity ie being violated- Our Government call0 upon the Security Council to shoulder its responsib:lities and a&pt all necessary measures to deter South Africa and its supporters. We are confident that victory will be the lot of the peoples s ttuggl ing for freedom. The PRESIWNT (interpretation from French): I thank the representative of the Syrian Arab F&public for the kind words he addreesed to me. The next speaker is the representative of South Africa. I invite him to take a phce at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. van SCHIRNDING (South AErica): Please acapt, sir, the congratulation5 of the South African delegation on Fur assuqtion of the presidency for this month. The Security Council is convened once again to discuss an ill-directed canplaint by Angola against South Africa. Once again South Africa is accused of harbouring aggressive intentions against Angola, and once again it is transparently obvious that this complaint has been introduced in an attempt to hide from the world the facts concerning the present situation in Angola. South Africa has repeatedly stated that it is committed to a policy of co-operation and peaceful oPexist.ence with all the countries of our ragi-, and that includes Angola; but, because it is part of the region, South Africa is seriously concerned about the developments which are taking place in the subcmtinent. As far as the latest coraplaint by Angola is concerned, the South African Defence Force baa denied that it operated in the harbour town of Namibe and I wish, for the record, to repeat that denial in this Council. However, the situation in Angola gives rise to serious uoncern. The United Natione, eSpeCially this Counail, muet be aware of the civil wat which is waging in that country, slad South Africa cannot be held responsible for that conflict. Surely the international ooskmunity must be aware that, after 10 years, a massive Cuban expeditfanarg force is still inside Angola to bus&in the Government in ~taanda against the wishes of the people. They are there in onntravention of the Alvor Agreement. The Government in Luanda is being constantly supplied with new GCti iG~~~~~ii$ji eG*irititit& etdpns by tie &vi& uniml. The weapon5 dei iver ies are being stepped up, and over the past two years alone the soviet Union has injected at least $2 billion worth of military equipment into Angola. There is (Mr. van Slchirnding, South Africa) evidence that the number of Cuban troops is being increased and that Soviet involvement through tactical and other advisers is growing. Recently a massive new offensive, far greater than that of late last year , commenced against UNITA’s headguarte.rs at Jade. The turn of events in Angola is a matter of great importance for the future of the subcontinent as a whole. The international community must know that the 80uth African government complied in good faith with the Iusaka Agreement of 16 February 1984, despite the Angolan Government’s inability to contain SWAPO’S incursions across the Namibian border. This action by South Africa was taken to normalire the situation in that troubled part of the eouthern African region. Furthermore, in order to stabilise the situation on Ule border, we have explored the possibility of establishing some form of joint South African-Angolen peace-keeping mechanism. Angola has still refused to co-operate in any such venture. By pursuing the military option, the MPLA is progressively impoverishing the laud and its mple. The 8 truggle in Angola is ultimately between those uho wish to live in peace and seek progress and those who wish to impose their will and ideology on an unwilling majority. South Africa has repeatedly ststed that the problems of Angola should be solved by the people of Angola themselves. It has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Angola. It believes that there should be no foreign interference, from any quarter, in the affairs of Angola. But there are thase who have a different goal for the countries of south-western Africa. The strategy which the 8oviet Union is following in AWOlS can no langer be in doubt. The Soviet Union requires a subjugated Angola to extend (Mr l van &hit riding, south ~fr ica) ita influfMoe alcng the weat Gmat of Africa, mouth and north of Angola. If the Soviet Uniar succeedm in it8 aim in Angola, no country in southern Africa will be ufe fra &Met encrcachment. Indeed, the leader5 of the comtriea immediately routb of Angola are deeply concerned about this threat, and urgent action is required ta ward it off. Those are the fact8 which at present obtailr in Angola. There are no others. The Security Council need not, however , acoe~t my word that this is 8o. Could the Council not decide to send a fact-finding mission to Angola to establish the facts for itself? Does the Council not owe it to itself and the countries of Africa to establish what the real threat8 are? Afeke suffered for too long udet imperialism. It does not need to be oubjugated again to a new form of imperialism which brings even mote hardship, deprivation ati de8ttUCtiOn fn it8 train.

The next opeaker is the representative of Cuba. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make hi8 statement. g. VELAZCO SAel JOSE (Cuba)(interpretation from Spanish): First of all, I Should like to thank your Hr. President, and the other membsrs of the Security Council for having afforded my delegatian thie opportunity to address the Council. I should also like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the preeidenoy of the Council for the month of June. Your wisdom, long experienae and devotion to the struggle on behalf of the noblest causes are well known to ua all and, together with your high professional qualities, guarantee that the debate6 in the Council will be conducted in exemplary fashion. I should also like to thank Ambassador Gbsho for the dynamic way in which he guided the Council proceedings last month, dearly deraonstrating Rio excellent capabilities for diplomatic leadership. The Security Council ie meeting at the reque8t of Angolr because of events that occurred on 5 June of thie year in the Angolon port aity of Namibe. On that day, a south African missile-equipped launch fired on three fuel depots, while frogmen mined three civilian ships anchored in the port. As a result of that mining, the Habana, a 6,000-ton Cuban ve88e1, was sunk. The ship was unloading (Mt. Velaaco Bsn Jose, Cuba) foodetuffs for the Angolan people along its coastal trade route in co-operation with the Goverment of the People’s Republic of Angola. At the same time, f&stuffs donated to the children of Angola by the united Nations Children’s Fund (cmICrW) were lost. This new act of aggression perpetrated by the Pretoria authorities against Angola joins the long list of acts of Btate terroriea, the South African racists have carried out against that people and against the neighbouring front-line countriee. The acts of sabotage, the indiscrimi~~ate bombing of defenceless populations and the illegal occupation of territory by the South African armed forces join the activities being engaged in by the mercenary forces of the UNITA bandits that can operate on Angolan territory only because they enjay the military, political and logistical eupport of the Governments of South Africa and the United States, which supply them with the most sophisticated means of wreaking death and deetruction. The South African act of aggression in the port of Namibe. like earlier incursions against the capitals of Botswana , Zambia and Zimbabwe, are a direct consequence of the policy of *constructive engagement. that abets South Africa and guarantees its impunity in the perpetration of its criminal activities against its neighbours. If the Pretoria r&is@ did not feel itself backed up and protected by its Weetern partners and if it not know th-dz its deeds would enjoy the overt or covert support of those who, inter alia, prevent the Council Prom imposing the smctione provided for in the United Nations Charter, its international conduct would not be so blatant and aggressive. Such acts of aggression against Angola and other African States, posing as they do a threat to international peace and security, rpring frm the very nature of the South African r$gime, which, in its own (Mr. Velaaco San Jose, Cuba) territory, has established a shameful system founded on racial discrimination and social injustice, a r&gime that oubjecte millions of Africans to the nm6t cruel forms of oppression, and which is impeding independence in Namibia in open contempt of United Nations resolutions. South Africa continuer to lPoCk the international conrmunity by refusing to heed the urgent appeals addreesed to it by variou8 forums to abandon it8 shameful rBgirae of apartheid, to cease its acts of aggreeeion againat neighbouring African countries and to grant independence to Namibia. How much longer will the South African raciete be allowed to act with impunfty? Bow many more victims will %onetructive engagementm and the lacrk of sanctions cost? Exactly 10 years ago today a massacre of black etudente occurred in Soweta, and the international oomunity has had to look on in shock a6 South Africa’8 racriet policy has stepped up represeive meaauree and swelled the number of African citiaene who heve given up their lives in the fight against the abhorrent system of apartheid. South Africa today face6 inevitable crieie in its ayetern of domination. Wlth each passing day amrtheid claim another victim, but this serves only to widen the abyee between oppressed aud oppressor. On this anniversary of the Soweto massacre, we recall with respect and deep emotion %he thousands of men# wmen and children who have given their live8 in the struggle against apartheid. We aend a meeeage of solidarity to all who are daily facing repression and death merely becauee they refuse to allow a racist minority to deny them their most fundamental rights. We should also like to pay a tribute to the heroic struggle being waged by the freedom-fighters of the African National Congress of South Africa :ANC) who, in difficult and adverse conditions, are pureuing the struggle of their people for a better future. (Mr. Velazeu, San Jose, Cuba; Today, in Paris, began the World Conference on Sanctions againet South Africa. Similar maetings have been held in other European capitals at which there have been discussions of the arm embargo and the oil embargo against the racist r&i*. In a few weeks there will be a conference on the speedy independence of Namibia. The international community, meting eiaultaneously in those various forums, is calling for the iuposition of real and effective sanctions agaiwt the apartheid r&iue. The Security Council, therefore, in keeping with its lofty responsibilities, must condemn this new act of aggression against Angola. It must impose upon the South African regime the sanctiona stipulated in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and, in so aoing, demonstrate that it has heard the appeals of the black population of South Africa. TM ?RESIDENT (interpretatian from French): I thank the reprmentative of Cuba for the kind words he a&dressed to IDB. Mr. SAFI?lJNCfltlR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian) : ft is symbolic indeed that today - when we are marking the tenth anniversary of the massacre of the peaceful inhabitants of Soveto carried out by the apartheid rkgime, the Security Council ib) obliged to meet to consider the question of yet mother act of aggreesion by South Africa against a sovereign African State, the People’s Republrc of Angola. We see in this the ominous logic of apartheid - combining bloody repreesfon against its own people, against the majority population of South Africa , with acts of aggression against the peoples of neighbouring States. Thus at dawn on S June 1986 the Pretoria raciet r&ia!e carried out another arime against Angola. This time the terrotiet action occurred in the Angolan port of Naroibe, where the targets were fuel store8 and port installation6 and unarmd Soviet and Cuban mxchant ships which were unloading. According tc; the Angolan authorities, the trail of this act of sabotage lead8 to South Africa. That r4gim has proceeded to carry out sabotage, which my have far-reachian8 dangerous consequences. South Africa has carried out a fresh act of armed aggreaoion, this time ageinet Angola, following immediately upon air attacks by Pretoria on the capitale of Botswana, Sambia and zilslbabve, thua signalling a further escalation of aggressive actions by Me racists not only againat the sovereignty and integrity of Angola but also civilian ships of the Soviet Union and Cuba. Such act8 of !.aternational terrorism cannot be tolerated by the internationai comuni ty . In its etatement of 8 June 1986 the Soviet Government stressed that (Mr. Safronchuk, USSR) . *Those who embark on a course of terrorism and violate the generally accepted rules of international law, including the freedom of navigation, must realize where this may lead.’ (s/18142) The criminal actions of the South African racists divers, directed against the fuel storage facilities in the Angolan port of Namibs and against unarmed Soviet merchant ships - Captain Chirkov and Captain Vislabokov - and the Cuban ship - Havana - have been added to the list of the many other previous operation8 that have been carried out by groups df South African commandos in Angola. AS a result of that attack, there has been major destruction of the docks and major damage caused to the soviet ships, while the Cuban ship sank. By pure chance, none of the crew was victim of that criminal act by the South African racists. Under cover of darkness, the racists saboteurs left the region of the port of Nsmibe in high-speed launches and reached Namibia. This new criula by the racists rdgime is yet another link in the general chain of act6 of aggression by Pretoria against independent African countries. The essence of these racist actions is the sames to intimidate free neighbouring States and subject their peoplee to its will and to destabilise the front-line State8 and force them to renounce,their support for the just cause of the patriots of south Africa resisting apartheid. We cannot but note the organic link between similar aggressive acts by the South African racists and other actions similar in style and method carried out by influential patrons of South Africa. This action of Pretoria is by it8 signature reminiscent of aggressive actions against Libya carried out by the United States Air Force, with the assistance of the United Kingdom, under cover of night in A,ril this year - exactly two months ago. It is the policy of State terrorism pursued by (Mr. Safronchuk, USSR) the American Administration in various regions of the world which serves as a model to follow by its historical ally - the racists of Pretoria. It is quite clear that the racist regime took as direct encouragement for continuing such policies the vetoes of the United States and the United Kingdom in the Security Council against the draft resolution introduced by the Africar; countries in connection with the recent aggression by South Africa against the three front-line States. For the united States Administration, which vociferously advocates the eradication of State terrorism, this is a good opportunity really to help suppress terror and violence dealt out by the South African racist8 and to put an end to the Pretoria r&g?.me’s policy of aggression. This would require very little, even just abstaining in the vote on a draft resolution on sanctions against South Africa. The unceasing crimes of the South African racists, which have been possible in conditions of the policy of *constructive engagement. of the United States and of connivance by other Western countries, pose a challenge to the whole civilised world. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the soviet Union, Comrade Ryzhkov, in his message today to the participants in the World Conference on Sanctions against South Africa, noted in particular *The South African regime is defying the whole world, refusing to grant independence to Namfbia - which it illegally occupies - and carrying out direct acts of aggression and subversive actions against Angola and Mozambique and other independent neighbouring African States, The recent attacks by South African troops against Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana have once again confirmed that this regime is a serious threat to comprehensive peace and security.” (Hr. Safronehuk, USSR) AS Nikolai Ryehkov stresses: ‘They have again shown something else: although the United States Administration in words comlema the actions of South Africa, it is in fact . its direct protector/patron and is hindering the ilPpleaentation of effective international sanctions and encouraging Pretoria to increase its violence within the country and escalate the policy of state terrorism. ‘@We are faced with double standards which are characteristic of United States foreign polioy.. In the statement by the Soviet Government on 8 June 1986, *The Soviet union cimdemns most categorically the aotions of South Africa, which are creating a threat to peace and international security, and demands that they should cease immediately. South Africa is responaible for the set of terrorism committed in the Angolan port of Namibet such actions cannot be left unpunished.. (S/18142) The Soviet Unicm calls on the Security Council ettcngly to candentn the Pretoria dgime foe its piratical acts in the port of Namibe and take strong mecx-ces to halt the criminal policy of terror, violence and aggression pursued by South Africa against neighbouring States. The Soviet Union also calls on the Security Council to imglement the demand of the world community for the application against the reCiSt regime Of Seth Africa Of comprehensive mandatory 8aMtionS under Chapter VII of the Charter. The PRBIDENT (interpretation from French): The representative of the w United States has asked to speak in exercise of the right of reply, and I now call on him. A&. ORUN (United States of America): It ie ironic and incredible to listen to the Soviet delegation attack another country for gross and fundamental violatiara of human rights. Nevertheless, so long as the Soviet Union sticks to criticising human rights violations in South Africa we feel no need to respond. That country can speak for: itielf. We are confident that the irony of the pot calling the kettle black is apparent to all, and by chance the Soviet Union is occaaicnally right in its criticism. The opportunity ar.d the opportunist & brie fly coincide. When, hmever, the Soviet Union has the effrcntiry to criticize the United States for its role in a situation the core of which is lack of respect for human rights, it goes too far. We cannot and will not sit silent before that gross slander. The United States is a multiracial society which has worked to achieve racial justice at home and to further it abroad. It has not al-rays been easy. our society, like all others, is not perfect. But, true to our founding fathers, we t ?ieve in the ultimate good of humankind, and, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, (Mr. Okun, United States) we seek to call M the better augels of our nature in achieving that. merica’s CoPaitaent to fundarmntal huaren right8 is evi&nt in our society, our laws and our foreign policy. Lib.erty and justice for all remain our goal, and we call on all others, including the Soviet Uniar and South Africa, to join us in its pursuit. Ye8, we believe that Nelson Mandela should be freed. His detention is as short-s&h-d, self-revealing and repugmut as is the detention in internal exile of Nobel Price laureate Andcei Sakharov. Xndeed, all political priscmers in both South Aftice and the Soviet Union should be freed, for the route to racial justice - indeed, justice of any kind - is by tiay of the free expression of ideas. There is uo other route to the goal of justice. Iat the Soviet Union begin to Caply with internationally accepted standards of humu rights in its own domins before it presumes to attack the nature of our comnftment to human rights and fundmental fretdms at home and abroad. Yes, we ale0 condemn South Africa% raids into the territory of its neighbours. I4ren a State’s policies are so bad that it must attack its neighbows in or&r to feel safe the root causes of the weaknests are &viouta. We must also cardew Jlat the Soviet Union has dare again and again to its neighbours and supposed allies. This is a seasof anniversaries, but there are also tragic mea to obeerve. November 1996, for example, is the thirtieth annivereary of the invasion of Bungary by the Soviet Union and the reimposition of the Soviet yoke. Similar invasions, md worser occurred in Czechoslovakia in 1968 and more recently in other fashions in Poland and Afghanistan, to oite cmly a few excmpleo. If the Soviet Union wants to ummemt cm the pli9ht of the African front-line S-tee, it would be better placed to do so if it cemed invading its own neighbours (Mr. Okun, united States) and forcing them ti be unwilling satellites, in vicJ.ation of the basic prOViSiOM of the Charter, and in stark contrast with its pious pronouncements on self -&termination. Short cf that, we utterly reject those crocodile tears wept for the fate of others. The -IDENT (interpretaticn from French): The representative of the Soviet Union has asked tc speak in exercise of the right of reply, and I now Call on him. Mr. SAFRONCROR (Union of Soviet acialist Repblics) (interpretation from Russian) t % our great regret, the representative of the United States is trying to distract OUT attention hoan the questiar under discussiar, South Africa’s aggressian against the satereign African Stete of Angola, through standard Inventian about the Soviet kfnian% m-called violation6 of human rights. If we followed that pth we could epnd hours talking about the real violations of human ti&hts in the Unitid StaCeet the milliake of homletae and unemployed, the harsh oppression of national minoritiee, the general, al-t Miversal, extermination of the Indians, and the harsh oppressLcn of other minorities. -ever, we do not wait to follow Uist path, which the mited States reWeSentE8tiVe is trying to pteh ue alarg, because we are concerned about the question we are considering - South Africa'8 aggression against Angola. M are concerned that the racist rdgime is blcodily suppressing the country~s indigenous populationr resorting to truly mass violation8 of human rights. The representstive of the united States affirmed that his Administration was acncerned about the fate of the prismers in South Africa - Nelson Mandela and other 8. If the United States Mninistratiarr were really concerned about them it (Mr. Safronchuk, USSR) could l wily make tbo Rretaria tdgime give then their free&an, pt an end to the Wartheid ay%wr and lead the comtry into real democracy. That requires very little, and that vety little the mited State8 representative can & in a few hours, at tbo next meting, by voting for the Security Council resolution on the applicrrtion of mandatory aanctione against Pretoria. It would be enough for the whited States reprmentative to raise him hand in favour of a demand to introdse m&tory eanctiono uader Chapter VII. It would be such a blow to the Pretoria rigime that it uould not be able to Gthetand the international community*s anger. It is not by words, darmgoguery or slader of other States but by real actions that tho position against apartheid ir, rtrengthemd. By blindly supporting that bankrupt rdgiaae, ita so-called historic ally, with vbich it carries out a policy of l conmtrwtive engagemnt., the United State8 Mministration ie not considering the will of its om people, aho dee+nd the cardamation of the apartheid regime and the appliostian of man&tory sarctiaps ag8iIWt it mdetr Chapter VII. Until the United Sates Mministcatiar follow8 that rational md reaecmable course - 80 long as it l voide it@ respon8ibilitiorr a8 a member of the Gacurity Council - and does so without any kind of varbcl gynmaetic~, there will be no changes in the shameful peitim of the Unitad States Wainisteatiar towards Pretoria. The kBESfWBlT (interpretatim frw Wend%) I There are no further @makers on the lict for thio meeting. The next meting of the security Council to cartinue conmideration of the iten o-n it@ agenda will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, at 11 a.m. The meting rcse at 5.20 p.m.