S/PV.2697 Security Council

I thank the representative of the Isleniic Republic of Iran for his kind words SUUreSSStl to the preefdency. Mr. RAEJBT~IIU (Uedagaecar) (interpretation from French): Hr. Prerident, at the beginning of your term of office, and speaking on bhelf of the Council, you nade some very kind and generous remarks about the way in which I discharged my duties last month. I sincerely thank you and the other utembers of the Council, who edhoed your cummmts. II would, nevertheless, add that 2 take no credit for the qualitien which hem been iaputud to me, &ace I knsw I could count on the co-operation of buy colleagues, for which I am extremely grateful. In turn, Sir, I should like to eay how pleased I em0 ae head of my delegation, to see you preriding over the Coufwil. we are familiar with your tact, your delicacy, and the deep understanding you have of the most complicated QzObkUt3, as well as with your readiness to put forward well thought out original solutions - . - --_-- w'tich airqo &GZ tht Ztm f$ -_ _.._.. - -man. ---_-__ Z winh you every success and hope that our tisetable will afford you route respite. we are the first to retmgnizo the complexity of the situation which Obtains in Central &serica because of the interests directly OK indirectly at etake, the (Hr. Rsbetafika, Madagascar) involvement of all the countries of Latin America, whether they belong to the region or not, and the need to preeerve a balance among the various opinions,’ options and schools of thought, in a world that ie not always to our exact liking. We try to gather and analyse infotnration both at the national level and here at the United Nations. Most of the tire, we cannot obtain oowlete informationt for securiLy reason8 it often reaches us piecemeal or in abridged form - to such an extent that it provides insufficient groumde for making any asrertioue at all. In the course of this debete, we will, therefore, be forced to take a8 our point of reference, apart from the statements made by the parties concerned and implicated, the principles of international law, the past resolutiona and decisions of the Security Council, the successive aetiono taken by the Contadora Group Snd their Support group aud, finally, the recrnt judgemaut of the International Court of Justice. I ehould like to make it clear from the outnet that aa far as the political problems of Central Anmiaa are concerned, the Demoratio Rapublia of Ma&gaacac, . mite naturally recognieee that every State has the right to exemire it8 sovereignty fully, without any foreign interference or ilptcrrvemtion, in s spirit of mutual reepect for political, economic and social ohoioer aml options. This io the epirit which hae alway guided the Uon-Aligned Uovement; our fundaraental solidarity with Nicaragua, as with any other country that finds fitself in similar circumstances, is rooted in our devotion to those prinoipleo. We have come here not to defend Hadagaacar’e position via-&-vie Nicaragua or any other parties, but rather to aecertein what contribution can be made by the Security CouncPl and the United Nation5 family on the beeie of the facto and mean8 available to ~8. It ie very difficult to aeeert that there ie a generalfeed state of civil war in Central America. Nevertheless, the eituation ie extremely unotable and is a source of concern for us all because of the mietruet which eharacterizeo the (Mr. Rabetafika, Madagascar) relations among the parties. Rence the possibility of various types of intervention and interference cannot be ruled out. This is particularly true of Nicaragua, and since we are saying so much about preventive diplomacy these daye, I think it behoves us, parallel with the efforts utdertaken by the Contadors Group and its Support Group, which were described with such consummate clarity by AmbbsSadOr Aguilar of Venezuela , to consider very seriously what the Council should do in order to defuse crises and thus promote the conclusion of an agreement for peace and co-operation in Central America. In this connection, I shall take as my pint of departure paragraph 16 of the judgement handed down on 27 June 1986 by the fnternational Court of Justice, according to which the two parties, that is the United States of America and Wicaragus, are in duty-hound to seek a peaceful solution to their dispute, in accordance with international law. That decision was adopted unanimously and vith no riders. It is, furthermore, fully in keeping with the constant position Of the United Nations that there is a need to find a just and negotiated political settlement to the problems of Central America. Having accepted this proposition, the Council cannot fail to denounce direct or indireot intervention or interference in the internal affairs of any country and the resort to force, in violation of obligations under customary international law, and in this case, of Nicaragua’s sovereignty. In the content of the present complaint of Nicaragua against the united States, my delegation = I stress; with the data available to it - uannot understmd how anyone can train, arm, equip, finance and supply the so-called contra forces, as well as encourage, support and assist in military and paramilitary activities inside and against that country. The International Court of Justice rendered its opinion on this matter in paragraph 3 of its judgement, and we subscrit, = to the communiqd of the non-aligned gBxpreeeIed] its grave concern and regret at the recent vote in the . . . iiSUO0 of Repreeentativeo . . . the Bureau condemed any such funding as a violation of the sovereignty and political independence of Nicaragua...“. (s/18196, annex) We recognize that Member States can exercise their natural right of collective or individual self-defence. In this particular case, it ie essential, according to Article 51 of the Charter, to have irrefutabk proof that there has in fact been armed aggression; it must also be borne in mind that the exercise of that right iS valid Until the Security Council hae taken the neceeeary measure8 to maintain international peace and eecurity. Let us for a mo@ant postulate the validity of collective self-defence. That would warrant intervention, which might reeult in a counter-intervention, which in turn could ala0 clala to be based on the same principle. This kind of chain reaction and escalation is Zor ua a matter of extreme disquiet and we cannot afford to overlook the negative, even perilous, consequences that it might have for international mace and uecurity. A State ie aleo in duty bound to protect its national interest& In full UOVeteignty, it is free to choose the mo6t appropriate means of self-defence. But that freedom, to paraphrase Alexis de Togueville, must be defined in the context of morality, law, justice, the uxmonweal and civil reoponsibility - and, in this particular came a just reepcneibility. What wae true during the past century ie ettll true today, particularly in view of the obligation0 incumbent upon every State to nerve a just am9 orderly international miety. Thok3e are our thoughts at the preoent stage in connection with our COnaideratiOn Of the situation in Nicaragua. (Mr. Rabetrf i ka, Hadagaecar) It ie not alwaye a good ider, we have been told, to end with questfone. However, in the light of the feelings exprereed about the Security Council’6 role in the field of preventive diploaacy, we muat aak oucaelvea, despite our limited mean8 and the variour conatcainto under which we operate, whether we are really prepared, first, to demand that all States reapeat the obligations incubnbent upon them under the Charter) eec~ndly, to ensure that intervention and interference arc not allowed to be automatically justified on the pretext of the defence of national iatereets, as construed unilaterally; thLtdly, to eupport the principles that constitute the foundation of internationel rociety in which pluralios can slao be accOn&wdated~ and, foucthly, not to teat oontant with giving a purely formal, a&met ritual, support to the Contadara efforts but, rather, to aceate all the political, legal and other condition8 necesrary for them to macead. We hope that those queltime will not go unanrwered for ever; otherwire we shall have fallen #hart oi our teeponribtlitieo once -ta. The DRESIDBWlQ I thank the representative of Madrgawac for the kind wocde he addrerred to the pteoiden0y. Mr. BXERRfM3 (Dmaack): It ie indeed a great pleasure for my delegation and me to congratulate you, Sic, as President for a recond time during our -n tenure of off iae in the Security COUnCil. Your way of guiding our deliberationa, firm and gentle at the am tirae, and your wealth of diplorscrtic wisdoar end experience augur well foe the Council’s work during your presidency. (spoke In French) I l houM alao like to thank your pcedeceoeor , Ambacmdor Rabetafika of nadagaacor, for the skilful way in uhiah he conducted the Council’6 buurineea during the month of June. (Hr. Bierring, Denmark) (COntinuUd in English) The continuation of the seriouo oituation in Contra1 America gives rim to grave concern. Unfortunately, no immdiate solution to the conglex prohle:m of the region udlps to be in right. On the contrary, recent deVelO&?Wnt~ have dsmmstrated the urgency of intensifying negotiationa, without which the tensions and conflict8 of the region will no doubt eecalate. The Danish Government continuea to believe that there is no realistic and acceptable alternative to the Contadora peace proceos. The effofto of the Contadora countries are baaed on a recognition of the fecte that it is the rerponeibility of the countriee of the region theamelvee to uolve their diffarencee an8 that a lasting solution must be achieved by peaceful mean& without any militcrry pressure or other forma of coercion. Thus my country has coneietently aupported and encouraged the efforts of the Contadora countrieo and their Support Croup. This has been reflected, inter alia, by our participation in the mgoing political and economic co-operation between the member St&em of the European Community, the Centre1 American Btatee and the Conttira Group aimed at strengthening economic development and rociel atability in the region. A lasting solution to the conflicts _ Central America met be baaed on a commitment to demwratic system of govermnent, free elections, freedm of the Preset and respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Outside interference of any kind in the internal affairs of the Central American cmWiesr the ~0s of force or violation of the sovereignty of any State in the rmion will1 not contribute to a just and waceful solution and met be rejected. (Hr. %irrrinq, Donrurk) itmpact for thou prinuiplm tbme bmn ufu%mrlinad by tim dedaion of tha Xnt~mational Court of Justices •IUYHI~ on 27 JUM. We hwe not yat had an 0pportunity to rtudy in detail tb Coucte8 ooqrcrhanriva docmentatiar. ft i8 ~11 know, houevw, that Denurrk towminr camittd to the co10 of th8 Iat*rnatiuml Court of Jurtice fn mottling intwnatiarul Qirpute8 and to tha rtziat obmrvanaa of intemrt ional lav. ft i* th *inaero hopm of my Gomrrmt that the ‘WwQorr aountti~8 anu tlm Support Qooup will continrw thoic l ffottr in rpita of t.iqJotary aetbdcr. Ik oommd them for their tireleu efforta and roitacate our amal to all aauntrieo aonaornecl to s&w reotrrtnt, to rmov tha neaosemry dialogue, l nU to uak a solution to tlm Qioputem im Cantral A8etiaa by peaceful mana, in wxordancm with int*rnatioMl lrv. wr ark that all intoterted partioo mot in gwd faith in bringing tha ContaUora process to a ruccasrfu‘ul comlusim. * QRB~ID~#~: I ttmnll tJu reptwontatlrr of Dmmmrk foe tha kind wocUm b WlroaHd to tho porsidoncy. UC. BROCW~ (France) (interpretation from French) r I should like to cangratuPate you, Sir, and to l xprora the ratimtactlon felt by the French delegation on your arsurption of tha Council’s presidency for this month. your outrknding akill and talent, which I have pmmonally appreciated for a long time, will once aaain, I am sure, lm affirmed in the service of peace and the intarnatlonal camunity. I chould like al8o to voice my doleqation’s gratitude to your predeceesop, Ambamdor Raktafika of Udagamcar , who, in exocciaing hi8 delicate mission, dirplayed hi8 customary, well-known wisdoa, far-aightedness and courtesy. Gnw again the Security Council is called upon to discuss a question wh! h #erioumly aftact Cantral hmerica. That region, while it legitimately wlaheg to devote itwlf aI) a mattor of priority to itm development and to ilaproving the life of it@ people, ir taoed with a mrier of political conflicts and violent struggles which, for &everal yamem, have foreatallod any prorrpecte for peace and stability. France, a permrmnt mmbar of the security Council, obviously cannot remain indifferent to what ir occurring at prerent In Central America, even though ite intererto are not dtteotly l ffe&xtd. Concerned by the deterioration of the rituatlon in the rugion, my a3untry ham constantly proclaimed its commitment to a peaceful Bettlement of the confliotm occurring there, a settlement barred on dialogue and leading to reconciliation. That is also the approach followed by the Contadora Group. It enjoys the broad uuyport of the international community, which mntinuem to promote it dripitr the obstacles along the way. It hehoves the Central American countries in particular to seek ways and means of rrrivi~ at rolu~.tcmm anA we a)~si nlrmnnA tya CUJ~ th5.e ehpir Fivc. uorrtv c@ a~rer c --- -.-.-- -_. - -.___- -----, at the Initiative Of the Premfdcnt of Guateaala, recently met in Esqoipulas to lay the foundatfono for a regional. rapprochement that would be both political. and ecmom2c in nature. (Hr. Brachand, France) Fr8Iml haa l lreudy intorwd the Council of its mncern over the arms race in tht region. It regrew the new wave of escalation which could, no doubt, have been avarted it the neceaaary overtures had heen tie. In reattirring its support tot the action undertaken by the Contadora Group, Prance wishes to underscore the importance vhich it attachea, on the one hand, to the developsent of democrwy in the countries of the region, uhich prerupposea reapact tot fundamental freedoms and huuan righta, and, on the other hand, the quemt for a comprehensive and lasting settlement whereby all the States concerned would know that their sovereignty ia guaranteed and their security is not in jeopardy. The PPESIDBNF~ I thank the reprementsltive of Prance too hia kind vorda sddreraed to the prerfdency. Hr. OAYAMA (Congo) (interpretation from French)2 Mr. President, it is a sincere plearure for my delegation to see you presiding over the Security Council aud to tell you how ruch your person81 and profeaahnal qualities, which we have already been able to gsuge in the work of this body, tit ycu eo adairably for the oftic.. We alao respect your country, Thailand. Its centuries-old diploaatic traditions in which you mre brought up l re eteeped in the reapact for peace - that rare comodity no dear to the group of developing countrfea, to which Ye belong. We chould alao like to pay a wall-deserved tribute to the Permanent Rltprerentative of Hadfgaacar, Aabaamador Bloise Rabetaffka, uhofm talent and l ffectivenem need no proof end who has again amply demmatrated those CIualities during hia term of office as President of the Council last month. I should like nov to eat forth the basic position of the Congo in COnneCtiOn with the item before the c”wucil. a.vetyofm is avare, I believe, that the cosplaint of Nicaragua against the United States ix based on a set of fracta with which the Csunc&l is very fami~.f?+t- (Ht. Gayama, Congo) and which it ha8 taken up a number Of times in the paat# the General Assembly hae ala0 d&ated it under an iter entitled “The situation in Central Americag Threats to international prace and l acurity and peace initiatives.. As recently as last year, the General Aaeeably adopted a oignificant resolution, resolution 40/188, which expreraed it@ disapproval Of tha UnilStSr81 embargo taeiaaurea ilPpoeed by the United Stator againmt Nicaragua in May and Nwember 1985. With reap& to sacurity Council resolution 562 (198s) dated 10 Hay 1985, it is in agreement with General Asseably resolution 39/4, at leaat in ao far as thorn two aain bodies of the United Nations confirm their interest in the Contadora Group and in the diplomatic proceao whioh ia ConMcttd with the efforts of that Group as 8 preferred way of ushering in a climate of peace , security and co-operation in Central America. However, since tha Republican Adxin$atration caxe into power in Washington a& deopite the adoption in SeptdXS 1984 Of the Contadora Agreement, the attitude and behaviour of the United Statea, far from being constructive with regard to the mwial, acmcmic and cU&mxl problea8 beaotting Central America, which e.re the root causes of the political conflicts in tL area, have only dexonatrated a oyatematic desire for ubatruution, if not rawnt Interventionism. Indwd, in deliberately ComUeitting the Very acts it imputes to Nicaragua, the Covernaent of the united state8 has dimplayed unprecedented freney Pn Its intolerance, provocation and aggrearion , in conrtant violation of th42 rules for co-operation and oaexietence l rtablirhed bilaterally between those cmuntrfee, and, of coura0, in equal violation of the norma and principle8 of international law. The recent dsciSion by the United StateS Rouse of RepreSentativea to authorize extensive financial and military arsiatsnce to the tune 0f 6100 million to those rebels who hwe been treined by the nnftcd States, is aI% additional violation of (Mr. Gayama, Congo) those norms and principles which the People’s Republic of the Congo can neither accept nor absolve, without making nonsense of its declared devotion to the sacrod concept of the sovereignty of States , a concept which iuplieo the Mvecsity of political, social and economic choices. As stated in the judgement of the International Court of Justice of 27 June last on thie matter, the acts mitted or engineered by the united States Government amount, purely and simply, to interference in the internal affairs of an independent and uovereiqn couniry. As such, the Government of the Congo cornleans those acts out of hand and urges the united States to put an end to them in the interest of international peace and security. Like the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, wo express our solidarity with Nicaragua and earuestly desire the 8ucce6is of the peace process initiated by the Contadora Group, to which we should like to pay a sincere tribute. There can be no doubt that it is the Council*8 responsibility to deal with all current world conflicts. It is equally true that, pursuant to the provisions of the 1979 Declaration on the peaceful settlement of disputes, the achievement of regional agreements is one of the most fruitful ways of preventing and settling thae conflicts. The paradox to which we have unfortunately grown aumetomed in the case of Central America is that with last year*0 augmmentation of the Contadora Group, Sy the Support Group - thus encompassing the majority of the countries of Latin America - the international community had every reason to expeot that instrument to pursue its stated goal of prorating peace and security, fundamental to the develom?nt and progress of! the poples of Latin America in general, and of Central wo ohould Pike to take this cccaeion tc axprese our thanks to and addniration for tboae Latin Wrican countries, whose leaders, at different level@, at different time and in various placeb, have stinted neither time nor effort to find the most equitable and lasting colution poooible to the problems besetting their region. No other subregion in the world which has experienced -arable tension haa amde as wmh progrem in the diplomatic pzocesm a8 has the eubregion of the Contadora Group. No subregional political co-operation involving all the parties to the conflict ham yet been achieved, for example, in South Africa - where the raciot minority r&gime rejects any negotiation - or in the Middle daat, or in south-East Asia, where no compromise formula has won the support of all the partieo concerned. The paradox to which I refer ie that, despite the fact that the State5 and peoplea cOncerned proved - by their adoption in Panama on 7 June of a new verrion of the Contadora agreement - that they can succeed, a major extertral Pouer, which claiu to be directly threatened by just one of the mall cOuntties involved, hea adapted the policy of ignoring the Contedora procere and sticking doggedly to its own interprOtatiOn of the facts, to ite own goal: the overthrow of the GovernW!nt of Nicaragua and the ippoaition of a single development model on that country, which had &cancely errerged froa a long struggle against thr Somosa dictatorship. The Aaericaa Adainiatration’s self-induced idea of an aggressive Nicaragua that pates a danger to it8 neightours , reainds my delegation of the cynical morel of the fable ab~ul: the wolf and th* lamb, in which the strony always get the better of the utbk, even if the strong art in the wrong. (Mr. Gayama, Congo) Tha attitude of the present &metican Adminiettation which has alwaya declared itself in favour of a peaceful settlement, ae in the ca8e of South Africa, io l urpriaingly different when it comes to Nicaragua8 In South Afrioa there are apparently no gfraedoat-f ightere” . Yet that ia the term Washington u6m1 to deocriba thooe who long for the *good old days’ of Somoza. Their only counterparta in Africa are the controversial Jonas Savimbi and his dubious UNITA elemetnte, who also are very much in favour with the White House. Nicaragua her known all foras of aggreaeion , not 80 much on the part of its immdiate neighboura, which the Unitad States wants to keep under its protective %mbtella~ , but rather from its powarful northern neighbour itself, which - by mining Nicaragua’8 ports, by imposing an econmic and comarcial embargo againet it, by fraguer, Ly violating ita sovereignty and territorial integrity, by rejecting any dialogue with it, in spite of the diplomatic links which e&Set between the two countries - hao thua deliberately placed itself in a otate of undeclared war rgainrt it. That powerful neighbour then doee everything it can to blase tha am11 country against which it is committing aggreseion for any attempt to defend iteelf and to defend its liberty and independence. Nicaragua nurt today ch8nfml a conoiderable portion of its ceaourcea to defending its sovereignty and integrity. Washington claims to accept the principle of self-defence; yet it getr upset when Nicaragua wants to defend Itself against the aggresoion of a more powerful country. Is this not asking Nicaragua to deliver itself titd hand and foot to the mercenaries which art being controlltd from outside? The People’s Republ!r: of the Congo ic concerned by all the 8uffering that haa heen visited upon the people of Central Atwcica, partimlarly on the Nicaraguana, whcr, to enjoy their right to freedom and independence, have had to m&gage in a Pratricidal Vietnamese-t.yp struggle, pitting Sendfnictao against cantras. --- (Hr. Gayam, Congo) We are oven mom concerned by the pent-up griovancaa end cesenbaant of the proud Latin Amtarican people against the United states, ukoae polities& selfirhnaro megalomania have uade it an intecnatioual outlaw - with all the tiaks which that involves for international life in general. We hopa that 88 a result of thia debate, which ay delegation wiahed to be a frank and open one because of the threats to Central Uerica, tha usa of Cocoa and ooecoion 08 a pcaforced means of settling probleu, pecticdarly problem which ace essentially part and parcel of tha intwnal jurisdiction of States, will soon k banished from inter-Auacican relations and, indwd, international relationa. We hopa also that all States Membera of the United Nations will c-it theamelver to tha pcovioioas of the Chatter and make the Intecnatimal Court of Justice ttm final arbiter of their dispute& The PBBBIDRWP: I thank the representative of tha Congo tot him kind words addcessed to the presidency. The next opeaker la the representative of tha United Arab Emirates. I invite him to take a place at the Council table ard to make hio rtateaent. Hc. At-SHMLI (unitad Web Emirates) (interpcetatiar from Arabic) t nc. Pceaident, it ia my pleasure to congratulate you on your aroumption of the preaidancy of the Council Cot this month. You are among the tow known by everyone to enjoy a vaot kntxhdge of United Watiarra affairs. Wring our friendship in thu Seourity Council, I too have come to know your wisda, modecaticm and faicneaa. It is aim my plearuca to exprers thanks an3 appreciation to uy friend, Ambasaado~ Blaiue Rabetafika, Pecuuent Representative of thdagawrr, for his win and creative presidency of the 8ecurity CaunciP during the lart mmth. (Hr. Al-lhaali, United Arab IQniratem) Our meting coinoidee with the American people’8 centennial celebration of the Bt8tue of Liberty a8 the 8-1 of freobor. A8 ue 8hare the Awrican people*s mlebtation thim day w mhwld like to r-r the people@ that heve ken 09 still are being l ubjeeted to colonial opptereion. To thm, freedom i8 the ‘supreme walur. They are looking forward to the day uhen they ~6’ celebrate that freedom and be able to determine their own deotiny. I have in mind the pecplee of Namibia, ltouth Africa and Palestine. %kmxrou~8 celebratiorr 8hOUld be an CMXa8iOn to oontogl8te the ba8ic Iwaning of free-. PtWdW 8hOUPd nOt b8 th0 vrnopcly Of a 8ingle pat8On) it 8hOUM IlOt k enjoyed by 8ame plop10 rather thn by OthOr8t nations, large and smell, arc amal. i?8~8, the flags Of freedom cannot flutter ml088 Ran'6 On~laV8SB8nt Of his follow 8an -8 to an end.’ A8 John Bonne 8aid: (8mke in Englirh) %o 8mn i8 an 18l8nd, entire of itulft every wan is a piece of the continent.. (Mr. Al-Shaali, United Arab Emirates) Thir makes UB think of the tragic uituatiou in Central Aserica, which i8 the result of attempts to interfere in and control the internal affaira of States, in olaar breach of the Charter of the United Nations and the rulea of international conduct. My countryrs position on the item before the Council rests on the artabliahed pillar6 of our foreign policy, which in turn rest on the Charter of the United Nation8 and the norms of international law. These are also the min principles and purposes of the Non-Aligned Movement. Forem& among them is the right of every people to aelf-determination and to its own choice of a ayntem of government. Compatible with and stemming front that principle i8 the inadmiseibility of interference by any State in the internal affairs of another. Lt is therefore the right of the wople of Uicaragua, as of all peoples, to choose the eyetea of government it Ueaires without direct or indireot outside premmre, advice or interference. We reaffirm that all the State8 of Central America pooeess that right. No State, eupm--Power or not, hae the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other State8 in order to destabilize, modify or laplace exirting rbgimes. That iu affirmed in Article 2 (4) r,f the Charter, which states that “All Masabers shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner imoneistent with the Purposea of the United Nationem. Allocating fumfe to assi8t , organize ancl arm such groups as the conttau with a view to fomenting trouble in any country constitutes interference in the internal affairs of another State and rune counter to General Aammbly resolution 2625 (XXV), whLch contains the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-omration among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nationa. (Hr. Al-Shaali, Dnited Arab Emirates) Political and ideological disputes are a fact of modern life. Diaagrecment On or disapproval of a given political oc ecortomie system must not be used 48 a prrt4nt for violating the rule8 of conduct among States, lest the world descend into chaos, with all countries subject to foreign intervention. There is no doubt that third-uorld countries, being the weakest militarily, would be the firat victiw. Article 33 refer8 to the settlelaant cl! disputes by resort to regional agencies or arrangements, eince they are better able to understand the circumstances and cam48 of a given conflict. The Contadora Group, a8 a regional group of Central America devoted to the settlement of conflicts, has shouldered a special rerponsibility. It has worked tirelessly and unceasingly to communicate with khe patties to the conflict, including the United States. In co-operation with the Support Group, it h45 succeeded in formulating the Contadora Act on Peace and Co-vperation in Central America. It hae also eucc44d4d in tormulating the Panama M4rrage of 7 June 1966, which reiterates 19 principles and nine form8 of action Lhat au& be fully realised if peace, democracy and security am to be secured in C4ntral Am4r ica. we appreciate the efforts of the Contadora Group and th4 support Group and call upon all the Statea concerned to accapt thair approach and r4fr4in frCW obstructing its realisation. Article 33 of the Charter aleo calls for the eettlam4nt of dieputaa by peaceful wan8 and sate forth the means and machinery to that end. Thus, unflat4ral action outride tht framework of such means and machinery - most iFg?cr%?tIy t!!e aeerrty Prr?lnFi! - canntitutaa a breach of the Chatter. We note Nicaragua’s responsiveness and its desire to negotiate, and wish the United States to reconsider its posi?ion in keeping with the principles of the Charter md the nornm of internatfenel I.aw RC) that a final. aettl.ewnt of the (Hr. Al-Shaali, United Arab Emirates) Ccitiaal eituation in Central Awrica can be reached in mutual respect for independence and national Mvereignty. The ongoing volatile situation in Central America threatens not. only the beace and security of the region but international peace and security aLt well. Thus, it is the primary responsibility of this Council to halt and settle such conflicts pwmanently and comprehensively. I reaffirm my delegation’e rejection of the threat to the independence and national Poveteignty of States on the pretext ot an East-West conflict. we reject the imposition of any conditions for the independence , sovereignty and political optiome of States. Major Power8 in particular met respect these principle8 80 that small nations may build their independent syetem6 free from oppression and pressure. The ORESfbEUTt I thank the representative of the United Arab Erairate for the kind words he addterwd to the precidency. In viev of the lateneae of the hour, I intend to adjourn tho meeting. The next meeting of the Security Council to continue consideration of the item on its agenda will take place thin afternoon at 3 o%zlock. I appeal to members kindly to exercise punctuality to the beat of their ability. The meeting rolre at 1 p.m.