United Nations FOURTH COMMITTEE GENERAL 42nd meeting ASSEMBLY held on WednesdSiY, 8 December 1976 THIRTY-FIRST SESSION at 3 p.m. Official Records * New York

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 37th MEETING

Chairman: Mr. VRAALSEN (Norwq)

CONTENTS AGENDA ITEM 86: QUESTION OF SOUTHERN : REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES (continued)

• This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be incorporated in a copy of Distr. GENERAL the record and should be sent within one week of the date of publication to the Chief, Official Records Editing Section, room LX-2332. A/c.4/31/SR.42 10 December 1976 Corrections will be issued shortly after the end of the session, in a separate fascicle for each Committee. ORIGINAL: ENGLISH 76-91682 / ... A/C.4/31/SR.42 English Page 2

The meeting was called to order at 3. 30 p.m.

AG.E:l\JDA ITEl'l 86: QUESTIOn OF : REPORT OF 'rHE SPECIAL COJ1.1fV1ITTEE ON TH:C SITUATION WITH REGARD TO TIIE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES Al\fD PEOPLES (A/31/23/Add.l-2, A/31/61, A/31/62, A/31/66, A/31/71, A/31/77, A/31/155, A/31/197, A/31/237, A/31/258, A/31/274) (continued)

1. lvlr. GIGNAC (Canada) said that his delegation supported the efforts being made at the Conference to achieve a peaceful solution to the problem of Southern Rhodesia. Largely as a result of the efforts of the United States Secretary of State, Ivlr. Kissinger, the Smith l:'egime had announced its acceptance of the joint Anglo-American proposals for a settlement to the Rhodesian crisis. Although the had already adjourned a number of times, and although Mr. Smith's interpretation of the An~lo-American proposals left the seriousness of his negotiating effort open to question, it was to be hoped that the Conference would lead to a peaceful settlement. He urged nationalist delegations to put aside their national, factional, political and ideological differences and to maintain a united front, with the aim of establishing an interim government as a first step towards obtaining majority rule. To do otherwise would result in an escalation of the use of force, which his country opposed. It 1-muld be regrettable if violence continued, either in Southern Rhod0sia itself or in neighbouring countries, during the negotiations or during the transitional Deriod leading to independence. Although his country was not directly involved in Southern Rhodesia, it would give careful consideration to any request for assistance which the parties involved might agree to put to it. l'lith some exceptions) the international community had generally respected the economic sanctions imposed against Southern Rhodesia by the Security Council. For its part, Canada had observed the sanctions scrupulously, and would continue to do so. It was to be hoped that the Conrnittee would adoDt a resolution reiterating demands with respect to Southern Rhodesia's immediate accession to independence and the establishment of majority rule, and urging the participants in the Geneva Conference to direct their efforts towards that end.

2. Mr. BOUZAIANE (Tunisia) said that the negotiations taking place at Geneva had been made possible above all by the armed struggle of the people of and by the various types of pressure which the international community, particularly the Government of the United States, had exerted on the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia. Despite the goodwill demonstrated by the Zimbabwe nationalists, the Geneva negotiations showed no sign of reaching a successful conclusion because the representatives of the illegal regime constantly resorted to stratagems aimed at restoring the status quo and even tried to sabotage the dialogue by insulting their African colleagues. Nevertheless, the nationalist leaders continued to pursue their objectives.

3. The escalation of violence against the Zimbabwe patriots and the acts of aggression against neighbouring countries had continued throughout the Geneva Conference, and demonstrated beyond doubt that the aim of the minority regime was to delay independence and majority rule as long as possible. In Zimbabwe itself, I . .. A/C.4/31/SR.42 English Page 3 (Mr. Bouzaiane, Tunisia) the policies of oppression, terror, imprisonment and execution were being intensified in order to sabotage the Geneva talks. The minority regime was also increasing its military strength, as if the aim of the Geneva talks was to ensure its survival. The regime continued to commit acts of aggression against neighbouring States, particularly Hozambique, and he declared his country's active solidarity with that country. Such acts of aggression apparently constituted the illegal regime's last attempt to resist the efforts of the international community and the nationalists to reach a peaceful negotiated settlement. The illegal regime had no intention of abandoning its oppressive policies, as was shown by the methods it was using at the Geneva Conference.

4. The United Kingdom must assume its responsibilities and lead the people of Zimbabwe to independence. After 11 years of laissez-faire, it had acknowledged those responsibilities and must now ensure that the Geneva talks followed a constructive course. His Government welcomed the administering Power's decision to assurae its responsibilities as set out in the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations. The international community was unanimous in its support for the administering Power's efforts to establish majority rule and independence. His delegation welcomed the United Kingdom Government's decision to fix 1 March 1978 as the date for independence and its commitment to help to ensure the transition towards independence at as early a date as possible.

5. Every effort must be made to thwart the manoeuvres of the Smith Government, to support the Zimbabwe nationalists and to encourage the administering Pm·rer in the exercise of its prerogatives. The international community must continue to exert pressure by imposing a general embargo and by providing both moral and material assistance to the Zimbabwe liberation movement, in order to show the Smith regime that it had no alternative but to enter into peaceful negotiations.

6. Mr. PAYPOOL (Papua New Guinea) said that his Government was greatly appalled by the acts of aggression perpetrated against humanity in Zimbabwe and Namibia by the racist regimes of Southern Rhodesia and South . It was beyond anyone's comprehension that countries which professed to uphold human rights and justice in the world could remain tranquil while millions of black people were indiscriminately machine-gunned and slaughtered because they claimed what was already rightfully theirs. The issue of Zimbabwe was yet another challenge to the credibility and effectiveness of the United Hations.

7. His delegation commended the unselfish and courageous acts of the front-line countries, Botswana, lvlozambique, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia in rendering assistance to the just struggle of the people of Zimbabwe and expressed the hope that the peace-loving peoples of the world would also contribute towards the process of liberation and, where possible, offer economic and material assistance to those countries to compensate for the losses they had suffered as a direct result of their involvement in the struggle.

8. His delegation did not favour bloodshed and loss of life, which seemed inevitable in Zimbabwe: it therefore earnestly hoped that a speedy solution would I ... A/C.4/31/SR.42 English Pae;e 4 (Mr. Paypool, Papua New Guinea) be found to prevent further human misery. Since the world Powers were in a better position to exert pressure than a country such as his own, he appealed to those countries which had diplomatic and trade links with both South Africa and Southern Rhodesia to apply greater pressure with a view to achieving a positive and negotiated solution.

9. He also appealed to those countries concerned to prevent further recruitment of mercenaries, who committed wanton aggression against black people, including women and children.

10. His delegation greatly deplored the violation by some countries of the mandatory sanctions imposed on Southern Rhodesia by the Security Council and appealed to those States Members of the United Nations to reconsider their actions.

11. Finally, his delegation appealed to the different factions of freedom fighters in Zimbabwe to unite against the racist regime and not to allow the enemy to benefit from their division.

12. ~4r. HR~KA (Czechoslovakia) said that political changes in southern Africa had rocked the racist regimes, and the Southern Rhodesian regime was now trying to ccnvince world opinion that it vas interested in negotiating with the national liberation movements. Events in Angola showed that there was little room for tactical manoeuvring, and the allies of the Southern Rhodesian regime had therefore had to come to its aid. That, however, was nothing new for the national liberation movements. The anti-colonialist forces had not been deceived by the various tricks employed by the colonialists in Southern Rhodesia and in the metropolitan country. As had been the case in the Middle East a few years earlier, diplomatic attempts were being made to maintain the status guo in Zimbabwe. Such initiatives had, however, come too late; although they might delay independence, they could not prevent it. The United Nations must reaffirm its unqualified support for the people of Zimbabwe and for African States such as which had been subjected to acts of aggression by the racists. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), his country gave its unqualified support to the demands of the people of Zimbabwe.

13. ~tr. DIAB (Sudan), referring to the Geneva talks, welcomed the fact that the United Kingdom had assumed its responsibilities. His country wished to pay a tribute to the Zimbabwe nationalists participating in those talks and to the Heads of State of the front-line States. The struggle in Zimbabwe demonstrated that all countries must work together. Any settlement of the Southern Rhodesian situation must meet the requirements of the Zimbabwe liberation movements and must not be concluded at the expense of the people of Zimbabwe; the armed struggle would continue until independence had been achieved. The situation in Zimbabwe was one of the most important elements in the world political situation. It was inconceivable that a handful of men could exploit an entire country and challenge the whole world. Such a situation would have been difficult to imagine even in the Middle Ages. The valiant struggle of the people of Zimbabwe and the determination of Africa to liberate that country had shown world opinion that the I . .. A/C.4/31/SR.42 English Page 5 (Mr. Diab, Sudan) only solution was to acknowledge the inalienable right of the people of Zimbabwe to their own land. His country had consistently opposed the white regime, and proposed that severe economic sanctions be imposed against Southern Rhodesia and all support be given to the struggle for liberation. Sudan would be among the first to support an independent Government in Zimbabwe.

14. Mr. Smith used delaying tactics and sought to sow dissension among his opponents, but Geneva provided a real opportunity which should not be lost. The Committee should reaffirm its support for the nationalist negotiators, confirm the role of the State responsible for the administration of the country until legitimate authority had been given to the majority, and impose sanctions of greater severity until majority rule had been achieved. The Committee should also condemn the acts of aggression committed by Southern Rhodesia against other States, and express its support for I!lozambique and the efforts of the latter to undermine the Smith regime.

15. Mr. MWASMQ\FYUKA (United Republic of Tanzania) said that, since the unilateral declaration of independence in 1965, the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia had committed serious crimes against the African people of that British colony; hundreds of them had been sent to detention camps where some had been tortured to death, others had been rounded up and forced to live in so-called protected villages, while others had fled Southern Rhodesia. In short, the racist regime had used its illegal independence to threaten the peace and security of the region and to deny the African people of Zimbabwe any hope of freedom and independence, and even the most basic human rights.

16. Free Africa, supported by the international community, had called upon the United Kingdom Government to take all appropriate and effective measures to end the rebellion in Southern Rhodesia. Zambia had even offered its territory for use against the illegal regime to put an end to the rebellion. Unfortunately, the response of the United Kin~dom Government had been negative.

17. Against that background of British inaction, the nationalists of Zimbabwe had decided to embark upon armed struggle as the only alternative available to them to alleviate their sufferings and liberate their country. Since early 1975, in particular, the armed struggle had been gaining momentum; it had not only received the complete support of the African States, but had been recognized as legitimate by the United Nations. Many countries and organizations throughout the world had continued to offer material and moral support, and those States which were geographically close to Zimbabwe were now convinced that the armed struggle had reached a very crucial stage at which it could be intensified and escalated at will.

18. Although his Government had reiterated its preference for the liberation of Zimbabwe by peaceful means if that were possible, it would support escalation of the armed struggle since all peaceful means seemed to have failed. It did not view the current Geneva talks as an alternative to the armed struggle but as one aspect of it.

19. At the Geneva talks, his delegation expected the United Kingdom Government to assert its responsibility and authority over Southern Rhodesia. It could not be I . .. A/C.4/31/SR.42 English Page 6 (Mr. Mwasakafyuka, Tanzania)

satisfied with the United Kingdom playing any role other than that of transferring power to the nationalists. should not be given undue importance and had, in fact, conceded defeat when he had stated on 24 Sevtember 1976 that the United States and United Kingdom Governments, together with the major Western Powers, had made up their minds as to the kind of solution they wished to see in Southern Rhodesia and were determined to bring it about. The United Iungdom Government should therefore now act not as a mediator between the nationalists and the rebel regime but as the administering Power determined to transfer power to the majority. The success of the Geneva Conference would depend to a considerable extent on the action of the United Kingdom.

20. The nationalists were in Geneva not to negotiate how to share power with the rebel regime but to take over power from the administering Power. The interim government to be established in Zimbabwe must be effectively under the control of the majority~ power could not be transferred in stages. Therefore the details announced by Ian Smith concerning the structure of the interim government were as meaningless as they were unacceptable to the nationalists and to free Africa. They would, for all practical purposes, guarantee that the white rebels remained in effective control of the Government, vThile enabling Smith to secure the lifting of sanctions against his regime. According to Ian Smith's proposals, the Suvreme Council of State would have a white Chairman and would appoint the Council of Ivlinisters, which would prepare the independence constitution and in which the portfolios of defence and la~

21. His delegation considered tha_t majority rule meant the transfer of all power from Ian Smith to the nationalists. Since experience had clearly demonstrated that Ian Smith would use every weapon available in support of minority rule and exploit every offer of peace talks to strengthen his own position, the United Kingdom Government must be on its guard and take its last chance to solve the Southern Rhodesian problem, for which it was responsible because of its failure to take effective action in 1965 or soon thereafter.

22. The pressure which the international community had brought to bear on the illegal racist regiwe of Ian Smith over the past 11 years should continue. Ian Smith was, however, a clever rebel and could exploit the desire of the international community for peace to his own advantage. It was therefore imperative that the international community should deny him such an opportunity by taking concerted action against racism and minority domination.

23. Although economic sanctions against the illegal regime had never been fully implemented, the strain had been felt particularly in the transport and communications sectors. The decision of the People's Republic of Mozambique to close its border with the rebel regime had made a significant contribution in that connexion. The intensification of the sanctions could help to convince Smith further of the hopeless situation of his regime and the repeal of the Byrd ameuument A/C.4/31/SR.42 English Page 7 (Mr. Mwasakafyuka. Tanzania) would go a long way towards demonstrating the commitment of the United States to majority rule in Zimbabwe. Practical action was required, as well as political statements.

24. The time had come to intensi~ international pressures on Smith so that majority rule was achieved in Zimbabwe. The current talks in Geneva should not serve as an excuse for relaxing those pressures. The continuation of the armed struggle was having serious consequences for the illegal regime, since it had necessitated a massive military call-up, endangered the supply lines, and forced the speedy emigration of whites from Southern Rhodesia. All that had happened during the short period of time since the war had been intensified. His delegation was convinced that, although the Geneva Conference could shorten the war, majority rule would still be achieved even if it failed.

25. Finally, he expressed the hope that all those States which had helped to bring the struggle in Zimbabwe to its present level would continue to support it until the objective had been achieved.

26. Mr. QUARLES van UFFORD (:·letherlands), speakjng on behto.lf of the nire countriPs of the Ruroperm Corr.muni ties, said that, since the unilateral and unconstitutional declaration of independence 11 years earlier, the situation in Southern Rhodesia had continued to be a matter of grave concern to those countries. They had without hesitation rejected the intolerable policies of the minority regime, which had perpetuated racial discrimination and denied basic human and political rights to the majority of the people of Zimbabwe. They shared the deep concern of the international community over what had increasingly become an anachronism, namely a minority regime which imposed its will on an overwhelming majority. The objective remained the realizat~on of a solution acceptable to the African majority in Southern Rhodesia.

27. The nine countries of the European Communities had therefore welcomed the convening of the Geneva Conference in which all the parties concerned were taking part. In particular, they had welcomed the intention to establish an interim government in Southern Rhodesia to pave the way for early independence and majority rule. On 18 October 1976, the Foreign Ministers of the nine countries had welcomed the speedy action taken by the United Kingdom Government in convening the Conference, under the able chairmanship of Mr. . Mr. Smith's acceptance of the concept of majority rule within two years demonstrated the effectiveness of concerted international action. He wished to place on record the unqualified support of the nine countries for the efforts of all those who had contributed to the preparation and progress of the Conference. They were particularly encouraged by the fact that all the parties had seized the opportunity to seek a settlement so as to bring about an orderly and peaceful transfer to majority rule and independence, and they urged them to spare no effort to bring the Conference to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible and thus avert further bloodshed and hostilities in the area. It would be tragic if the opportunity to reach a solution were lost.

/ ... A/C.4/3l/SR.42 English Page 8 (Mr. Q,uarles van Ufford. Netherlands_)

28. He reaffirmed that, until a sat is factory solution was reached, the nine countries would continue to comply strictly with the sanctions imposed by the Security Council against Southern Rhodesia and would look forward to establishing links with a legal government in Southern Rhodesia, and in due course with the government of an independent Zimbabwe, to which they offered their support, co-operation and friendship.

29. Mr. DOLJINTSEREN (Mongolia) said that the victory of the Angolan people over the internal forces of reaction and the interventionist forces of South Africa served as an example for all oppressed peoples and radically altered the situation in southern Africa. In the aftermath of the total collapse of Portuguese colonialism; the racist regime in Salisbury was doing everything in its power to maintain its position, and its security forces were intensifying their repressive measures. While pursuine its punitive operations against both the national liberation movements and sovereign States, the racist regime was constantly increasing its military strength. By committing acts of aggression against neighbouring States, the racists were trying to aggravate the situation in southern Africa, introduce an element of instability in certain progressive States and undermine the anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist campaign. Such policies created tension in southern Africa and poisoned the international atmosphere as a whole. His country particularly condemned recent acts of aggression against Mozambique, and demanded that the racists and their protectors put an end to such activities. The economic sanctions adopted by the United Nations against Southern Rhodesia must be strictly observed by all States, and should be strengthened by the implementation of the measures provided for in Article 41 of the 8harter of the United Nations. His delegation welcomed the decision of the People's Republic of Mozambique to implement comprehensive sanctions against Southern Rhodesia. The acts of repression committed by the Salisbury regime could not break the will of the African people in their struggle for independence, since it was the growth of the national liberation movements and the armed struggle which ~ad forced the racists to make the concessions and which had thus made the Geneva Conference possible. It was to be regretted that the racists and their protectors were trying to use that Conference to delay the advent of majority rule and to strengthen their position. The international community must support th~ oppressed people of Zimbabwe and, in that connexion, his delegation fully supported the decision taken by the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Ali~ed Countries to the effect that all freedom-loving and peace-loving countries should give political, moral, material and diplomatic assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. His delegation also approved the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the Special Committee (A/31/23/Add.l), and would support all efforts aimed at achieving the speedy transfer of power to the majority in Zimbabwe.

30. Mr. RICHARDSOli! (United Kingdom), spealdng in exercise of the right of reply, thanked all those who had expressed the hope that the Geneva Conference would prove successful. His Government fervently shared that hope and would do all it could do to ensure the success of the Conference.

31. As to the remark by the Czechoslovak representative that the current diplomatic initiatives were an attempt to preserve the status quo in Zimbabwe, he said he was not sure what initiatives had been meant. The recent efforts made by his Government were designed to change the status quo, not to preserve it.

The meeting rose at 4.50 p.m.