S/PV.3123 Security Council

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Mozambique, in which he requests 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 that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the Prosident. Mr. Afonso (Mozanbique) took 8 place at_the Counci) table.

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agends. The Security Councii is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Mambers of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Mozambigue, contained in document §/24642. Members aiso have betore them document S/24650, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the following documents: 8&/24406, dated 10 August 1992, which contains the text of a letter from the Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-Genoral; and §/24635, which contains the text of a letter dated 6 October 1992 from the Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary~General, transmitting the text of a letter dated 4 October 1992 f.om the President of the Republic of Mozambique addressed to the Secretary-General and its enclosure. I should like to draw attention to the following amendments to the draft resolution as issued in its provisional form: A new second preambular paragraph should read as follows: "Considering that the signature of these agreements constitutes an important contribution to the restoration of peace and security in the region". In operative paragraph 2 the word "deployment" should be replaced by the word "establishment". The first speaker is the representative of Mozambique, on whom I now call.

Mr. AFONSO (Mozambique): On behalf of my delegation, I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. We are confident that the Council will benefit greatly from your well-known diplomatic skilis and your wide experience in international relations. Needless to say, we are appreciative of the role your country, France, has been playing in, and the contribution it has been making to, the ongoing efforts towards the establishment of a lasting peace in Mozambique. Let me also commend the manner in which your pre. cessor, His Excellency Ambassador Jose Ayala Lasso of Ecuador, presided over the Council's deliberations last month. I should like equally to commend the Secretary-General's personal commitment to peace in my country, and in particular his efforts as reflected in his recent report (S/2°642), which served as the basis for the present endeavours. On behalf of my Government I welcome the Security Council's initiative to consider and take action on draft resolution S/24650, by which the Council would, inter alia, approve the appointment by the Secretary-General of an interim special representative and the dispatch of a team of up to 25 military observers and its support personnel to Mozambique in the next few days. We believe that the sending of this first group of military observers is of paramount importance to our country and our people. It marks the beginning of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique and sets up an international machinery designed to assist in the ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring respect for and the successful implementation of the General Peace Agreement for Mozambique, and in the establishment of lasting peace and democracy in our country. We know that the Council's endeavours today are just a first step, but they are a very important one. As members of the Council know, the whole philosophy and viability of the Rome Agreement hinge on the crucial role to be piayed by the United Nations. This is clearly demenstrated by the fact that under the Agreement three key commissions are to be chaired by the United Nations, namely a Commission to supervise and control the implementation of the General Peace Agreement itself, the Cease-fire Commission, and the reintegration Commission. We feel that it is of the utmost importance that these Commissions should initiate their work as soon as possible. The holding of the cease-fire, which, de jure, will enter into force in just two days, depends largely on the work of those mechanisms and the adequate and active presence of the United Nations observers in the field. We are aware of the current difficulties facing the United Nations in responding to the growing demands and challenges placed upon it with respect to peace-keeping and peacemaking efforts in many conflict-stricken areas of the globe. In this regard, we are also aware of the difficulties involved in dispatching a full-fledged mission to Mozambique as would have been desirable and as called for by the Agreement itself. In view of the complexity and seriousness of the situation we face today in our country, we trust that the Security Council will continue to act as ezpeditiously as possible, so as to ensure that the core elements of the Operation are urgently dispatched to Mozambique to allow them to perform their delicate tasks. The success of this operation, in its confidence-building, military, humanitarian and other dimensions, is vital for the achievement of peace in Mozambique. My Government will continue to do all in its power tc make the United Hations Operation in Mozambique a successful one. In this context, I wish to infora, the Council that yesterday the Assembly of the Republic, after lengthy Geliberations, approved unanimously and passed a law adopting the Agreement reached at Rome. Tomorrow that law will be signed by the President of the Republic and published in the Official Gazette on 15 October 1992, thus marking the beginning of the official implementation of the General Peace Agreement. I shall conclude my remarks by wholeheartediy thanking you, Mr. President, tne other members of the Council and the Secretary-General and his staff for your personal commitment to the cause of peace, especially in my country.

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): I thank the representative of Mozambique for the kind words he addressed to me. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution (8/24650) before it, as orally revised in its provisional form. If I hear no objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now, Ther being no objection, it is so decided. A vote was taken by show of hands. in favour: Austria, Belgium, Cape Verde, China, Ecuador, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Morocco, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America. Venezuele, Zimbabwe

The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution, as orally revised in its provisional form, has therefore been adopted unanimously as resolution 782 (1992). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter. Zhe meeting rose at 4.30 p.m.