364 Political and security questions

Chapter VII Americas

Contents

Page Page Peace and security in Central America and the Two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Caribbean area . . 364 Simón Bolivar 375 Other questions involving Nicaragua ...... 372 General Assembly decision 37/443 ...... 375 Costa Rica and Nicaragua ...... 372 Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States. 372 Guyana and Venezuela...... 374 Anniversary observances 375 Related topics: Five hundredth anniversary of the discovery of Regional economic and social activities: Latin America. America 375 Human rights violations: Latin America. Other colonial territo- General Assembly decision 37/451 375 ries: Status of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

cumstances under which it was not compelled to Peace and security in Central take strict measures for defence and survival, the America and the Caribbean area document stated, Nicaragua would hold elections not later than 1985.(5) Honduras transmitted, in a letter of 23 March United Nations consideration in 1982 of peace to the Secretary-General, the main part of a state- and security matters in the Americas focused on ment made that day by its Minister of External tensions involving several States in Central Relations before the Permanent Council of the Or- America and the Caribbean. Letters from those ganization of American States (OAS), containing States to the Security Council and the Secretary- a six-point plan that called for agreements on General described situations primarily affecting general disarmament in the region, reduction in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and the United the number of foreign military and other advisers, States. At the request of Nicaragua, the Security international supervision and monitoring mechan- Council convened in March/April to discuss a isms to verify compliance with international com- complaint against the United States, but because mitments, measures to halt arms traffic, respect of a negative vote by the United States it did not for delimited and demarcated borders, and the adopt a resolution. framework for a permanent multilateral dialogue to create an internal climate that would strengthen Communications. Nicaragua transmitted to (3) the Secretary-General on 8 February the text of democracy and respect for freedom. a note of 7 February by its Minister for Foreign Referring to what it described as the worsening Affairs questioning the motives behind the estab- tension in Central America and the increasing lishment of the Central American Democratic danger of large-scale military intervention by the Community, comprising Costa Rica, El Salvador United States, Nicaragua requested an urgent and Honduras, which Nicaragua said was aimed meeting of the Security Council. The request was at isolating other countries in the region.(4) In a contained in a letter of 18 March from the Co- letter of 24 February, Nicaragua transmitted to the ordinator of Nicaragua’s Governing Junta annexed Secretary-General a peace proposal for the Cen- to a 19 March letter to the Secretary-General; the tral American area presented on 21 February by Co-ordinator reported the blowing-up of two the Co-ordinator of the Governing Junta of Na- bridges on 15 March by terrorists operating from tional Reconstruction of Nicaragua, stressing the Honduras, attacks by Honduran and Salvadorian need for non-alignment, non-aggression and vessels on 15 and 17 March against two mutual security agreements with Nicaragua’s Nicaraguan boats in Nicaraguan waters, and a 9 neighbours, delimitation and joint patrolling of its March press conference at which United States frontiers, and talks with the United States for the officials displayed aerial photographs of an alleged negotiated settlement of disputes and the develop- arms build-up in Nicaragua-shown, the C O - ment of regional economic co-operation; given cir- ordinator said, with the goal of convincing the Americas 366 public that Nicaragua was threatening the intervention(8) and 1966 on non-use of force in in- peace.(6) ternational relations;(9) it regarded those resolu- In a letter of 25 March to the Council Presi- tions as inconsistent with international law and the dent, El Salvador contended that the international Charter, and added that their subjects were cov- problems and disputes in Latin America, and par- ered in the 1970 Declaration on Principles of In- ticularly in Central America, should be solved ternational Law concerning Friendly Relations through recourse to the inter-American system and and Co-operation among States in accordance (10) that Nicaragua should follow El Salvador’s exam- with the Charter of the United Nations. Zaire ple in upholding the principle of non-interference said the draft resolution seemed to reject the ap- in the internal affairs of States.(2) In a letter of 30 proach to settling disputes, outlined in the Charter, March to the Council President, Nicaragua cited that parties should first seek solutions by negotia- articles of the Charter of the United Nations to tion and through regional agencies or ar- support its position that it had the right to bring rangements. its complaint before the Security Council, which The Security Council invited the representatives was a means of protection for all Member States of Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Benin, Chile, threatened by imminent attack, the choice between Colombia, the Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Sal- the Council and a regional agency, it said, was an vador, the German Democratic Republic, inalienable right of any Member State.(7) Grenada, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, the Lao Security Council consideration. The Security People’s Democratic Republic, the Libyan Arab Council met eight times between 25 March and Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, 2 April to consider Nicaragua’s complaint. On 2 Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sri April, because of the negative vote of a permanent Lanka, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United member, the Council failed to adopt a draft reso- Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, lution sponsored by Guyana and Panama.(1) The Zambia and Zimbabwe, at their request, to par- vote was 12 to 1, with 2 abstentions, as follows: ticipate without vote in the discussion. Debate on the item focused on Nicaragua’s com- In favour: China, France, Guyana, Ireland, Japan, plaint against the United States and on the lat- Jordan, Panama, Poland, Spain, Togo, Uganda, USSR. ter’s response, the effect of tensions on the Cen- tral American and Caribbean region and the Against: United States. Abstaining: United Kingdom, Zaire. general situation there. Most States emphasized the need for peaceful solutions based on negotia- By this draft, the Council, reminding Member tion and respect for the principles of non- States of their obligations under the United Na- intervention and the territorial integrity of States. tions Charter, would have appealed to them to Several States, including Honduras, Mexico, refrain from the direct, indirect, overt or covert Nicaragua, Panama and the United States, offered use of force against any Central American or peace proposals. Caribbean country. It would have appealed to all All speakers referred to the tensions between parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation and Nicaragua and the United States. called on all Members to support the search for The Co-ordinator of the Governing Junta of Na- a peaceful solution to that region’s problems. The tional Reconstruction of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega Secretary-General would have been requested to Saavedra, citing what he called a history of United keep the Council informed of the development of States backing of anti-popular Governments in his the situation in the region. country, said the United States had recently been Guyana, introducing the draft resolution, said training and arming counter-revolutionary forces it did not seek to blame any party for the crisis; in the United States and Honduras and had sent it merely sought to crystallize the call made by aircraft to conduct espionage in Nicaraguan air- many delegations in the Council-to bring all par- space, and its Central Intelligence Agency had par- ties to the negotiating table. ticipated in covert actions against Nicaragua such Explaining its negative vote, the United States as the recent demolition of bridges. Calling for a said it did not feel that the draft resolution sup- halt to such acts, he stated that Nicaragua was will- ported the United Nations, the Security Council ing to improve relations with the United States on or the inter-American system for resolving disputes the basis of mutual respect and unconditional among member States, and did not identify key recognition of its right to self-determination, and elements of the problem of Central and South was also willing immediately to begin talks with America created by Nicaragua’s intervention in the the United States Government to reach concrete affairs of neighbouring States. results, but it would reject any United States at- The United Kingdom said it could not support tempt to impose humiliating restrictions on its in- the draft resolution because of references to violable and sovereign prerogatives regarding na- General Assembly resolutions of 1965 on non- tional defence. 366 Political and security questions

The United States said the Nicaraguan charges dence cited with regard to Nicaragua’s involve- reflected behaviour of which Nicaragua was ment in the civil war in El Salvador and its inter- guilty-large-scale intervention in the internal af- ference in the internal affairs of its neighbours had fairs of neighbouring States and efforts to over- not been proved. throw their Governments by force. The United Iran requested all Council members to take States had no intention of invading Nicaragua. If whatever steps were necessary to end United States Nicaragua were genuinely interested in alleviat- intimidation and intervention in Nicaragua. The ing tensions, it would not continue to pour arms aggressive and interventionist policy of the United into El Salvador, declare a state of seige on its own States against Nicaragua was part of its policy of people to eliminate the opposition, or displace increasing international tension and escalating 25,000 Indians from their homes on the pretext threats against independent States, Iraq asserted. of securing them from Honduras. The United The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya said the evidence tes- States offered a five-point proposal involving a tified to the aggressive intentions of the United high-level mutual reassertion of engagements to States to destabilize Nicaragua and topple its non-intervention and non-aggression, a, United Government, and indicated that American mili- States political commitment concerning the activi- tary intervention in Central America was im- ties of Nicaraguan exiles in the United States and minent. enforcement of the Neutrality Act, a regional un- The Syrian Arab Republic stated that the threat dertaking not to import heavy offensive weapons to Nicaragua could not be portrayed as an East- and to reduce the number of foreign military and West competition for areas of influence but was security advisers to a reasonably low level, a pro- an attempt by the United States to strengthen its posal to the United States Congress for renewed grip and hegemony in an area it viewed as its pri- aid to Nicaragua and actions by Nicaragua to get vate domain. Viet Nam said that for some time out of El Salvador. the world had been witnessing hostile actions Nicaragua responded that the United States against Nicaragua and the countries of the Carib- proposal failed to take into account the fact that bean, especially Cuba and Grenada, perpetrated the fundamental problem in Central America did by the United States on the pretext that Nicaragua not lie in the never-proven allegation that arms had helped in the struggle against the dictatorial were reaching the Salvadorian revolutionaries via Salvadorian régime. Nicaragua, while the United States was supply- The German Democratic Republic called ing the Salvadorian army. Nicaragua a special target of the United States Commenting on the dispute, Angola stated that policy of intervention. The USSR said the evi- a threat to Nicaragua was a threat to the princi- dence presented by Nicaragua attested to the ples of non-alignment, and attacks on its presence of a direct threat by the United States sovereignty were attacks on all countries which had to Nicaragua’s sovereignty and independence, and a common past of colonialist domination and a added that the United States made no attempt to similar present of neo-colonialist adventurism; rebut the facts indicating broad and overt inter- Nicaragua had proposed negotiating points which, vention in Nicaragua’s affairs. if accepted by the United States, could have States participating in the debate were unani- brought an end to instability and wars in the area. mous in calling for non-military solutions to the The Congo said there was no established proof of situation and most urged dialogue and negotia- the danger which Nicaragua supposedly con- tion. Jordan hoped the United States and stituted in Central America, used by the United Nicaragua would negotiate as they had expressed States to justify its conduct; Nicaragua must be the willingness to do; a super-Power, it added, allowed freely to exercise the attributes of could afford to seek dialogue. sovereignty without fear of outside intervention. Negotiation was the way to halt the deteriora- Mozambique thought the United States should tion of relations between Nicaragua and the end threats against Nicaragua and other countries United States, said Ireland; on both sides there in Central America, and should accept the good- were proposals and a will to negotiate. Japan sug- will of Nicaragua and Mexico and engage in seri- gested that, to make the dialogue meaningful and ous talks. The United Republic of Tanzania hoped fruitful, the United States and Nicaragua should the United States would demonstrate a desire for undertake frank discussions on all issues of mutual peace in the area by refraining from acts contrary concern. Mexico considered it feasible and desira- to the principles of the United Nations Charter ble to create a system of mutual non-aggression and by reciprocating the offer for a genuine set- pacts between Nicaragua and the United States tlement. Zimbabwe said that evidence had been and between Nicaragua and its neighbours, and produced of the training of counter-revolutionaries called on the two countries to agree to an effec- and that serious acts of sabotage had recently been tive truce in words and fact to permit the creation carried out in Nicaragua; at the same time, evi- of a propitious climate for understanding; it urged Americas 367 the United States to rule out any threat or use of pressive dictatorship and of economic under- force against Nicaragua. Panama remarked that development. Yugoslavia saw the revolutionary negotiated political solutions for the differences be- changes in Nicaragua as the direct outcome of its tween Nicaragua and the United States entailed people’s struggle to overcome past injustices and no risks for national security or the fundamental create a society in which all strata of the popula- interests of the United States, whereas pursuing tion would live in freedom. Zambia said it shared a policy of force entailed serious risks. The United Nicaragua’s desire for peace, adding that social- Kingdom believed that only in direct talks between ism in the world, including Central America, was the United States and Nicaragua could the neces- not a threat to anyone, especially if it came about sary atmosphere of trust be established. through a popular movement or democratic Nicaragua’s demands contained nothing that elections. could be considered unreasonable and were ac- Ireland thought it understandable that those companied by an offer of negotiation, Madagas- who had successfully challenged despotic rule at car observed; it would be a grievous error not to home should sympathize with those of like mind take up that offer and to continue acts of intimi- facing similar opponents in neighbouring coun- dation and destabilization against Nicaragua while tries but, if sympathy and moral support became accusing its leaders of being part of an interna- active intervention, there would be a serious tional machination against the region’s stability. danger of hostilities. Nigeria said Nicaragua must enjoy the freedom Proposals announced by the President of Mex- to develop along the lines and in the direction it ico at Managua, Nicaragua, on 21 February, in- had chosen for itself; there must be no attempt to cluding a plan for negotiations in Mexico between secure a settlement through threats of force or an the United States and Nicaragua, were widely invasion. Seychelles was apprehensive about the commented upon during the Council’s debate. possibility of foreign military intervention in Mexico favoured a systematic dialogue among the Nicaragua, not excluding recourse to the use of parties and a genuine readiness to grant mutual mercenaries. concessions without abandoning essential princi- France said it understood the anxiety Nicaragua ples or legitimate interests. might have regarding national independence and The Mexican proposals were welcomed by both territorial integrity. The United Kingdom Nicaragua and the United States, as well as by Al- remarked that the increases planned for the geria, Benin, China, Cuba, France, Grenada, Nicaraguan armed forces seemed to go well be- Guyana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Panama, yond its defence needs. Poland, Uganda, the USSR, the United Repub- Costa Rica expressed satisfaction at the guaran- lic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia and Zaire. tees offered by the United States to respect Ireland, Japan and Nigeria commended Mexico’s Nicaragua’s security and independence; it added efforts, and the Lao People’s Democratic Repub- that it would go to Nicaragua’s defence in the case lic and the United Republic of Tanzania urged the of aggression or intervention. United States to respond positively. Argentina denied statements by Nicaragua cit- Madagascar thought the Council should sup- ing broadcast information implicating Argentine port the Mexican initiative. Panama said the in- military men in the training of Nicaraguan itiative offered a valuable starting point, the fur- counter-revolutionaries in Honduras; Argentina ther development of which would permit added that there was no limitation on relations be- movement towards solutions. tween the armed forces of States other than respect In other comments on the situation in the region for non-intervention. as a whole, Grenada called for Latin American Many States, including the Libyan Arab Jama- and Caribbean support for action to declare the hiriya, Mexico, Mozambique, the Syrian Arab Caribbean a zone of peace and prohibit the in- Republic and the United Republic of Tanzania, troduction of nuclear weapons, stop all aggressive expressed solidarity with Nicaragua. Others tak- military manoeuvres, dismantle all foreign mili- ing this position, including Angola, Benin, the .Lao tary bases and establish machinery to deal with People’ Democratic Republic and Uganda, cited all forms of aggression, including assassination, their own experiences as States struggling for in- propaganda intervention, diplomatic and eco- dependence or which had undergone revolutions. nomic aggression, and mercenary invasion; the China said the struggle of Nicaragua to over- Security Council should also make a definitive throw dictatorial rule had won the sympathy of the pronouncement on the use of mercenaries. Chinese people. Guyana expressed support for the Honduras reiterated the regional peace plan it Government and people of Nicaragua in their ef- had proposed to the OAS Permanent Council on forts to consolidate and defend their revolution. 23 March and communicated in a letter to the Poland voiced admiration for Nicaragua’s deter- Secretary-General (p. 364), calling for disarma- mined effort to rid itself of the legacy of an op- ment, fewer foreign advisers, verification meas- 368 Political and security questions

ures, a halt to arms traffic, respect for borders and Argentina trusted that it was still possible to a framework for dialogue. Panama offered to serve adopt moderate, rational and just positions based as host to a conference on Central American peace, on strict and realistic application of the essential security and co-operation, attended by all Heads principles of non-intervention and non- of State and Government of Central America and interference. Chile and Colombia, among others, the heads of Central American armies, and culminat- expressed their complete rejection of intervention ing in a multilateral system of detente, neutrality, in the internal affairs of States, regardless of its peace, co-operation and development. form; Colombia added that any country which Benin, Cuba (on behalf of the Movement of suffered direct, indirect or covert intervention by Non-Aligned Countries), the German Democratic another State or group of States was entitled to Republic, Guyana, Poland and the United Repub- defend its sovereignty in any way it saw fit. Guyana lic of Tanzania were among those which viewed said the only solutions could be those which tensions in the region as a threat to international emerged from the subregion itself and respected peace and security. the peoples’ right to self-determination and polit- Many States stressed the need to enforce the ical independence. Panama remarked that principles of non-intervention, non-use of force, negotiated political solutions for the differences be- self-determination, and the inviolability of national tween Nicaragua and the United States entailed sovereignty and territorial integrity with respect no risks for national security or the fundamental to Nicaragua and Central America in general. interests of the United States, whereas pursuing Algeria said the turn of events in Central a policy of force entailed serious risks; it voiced America and the dangers inherent in the risk of concern about reports of the alleged use of bases possible foreign intervention there were a serious in the Panama Canal region to support, execute violation of the sacred principle of the Movement and co-ordinate actions against other countries of of Non-Aligned Countries-to determine one’s the region. own destiny. Nigeria suggested a multilateral com- France considered that tension could be reduced mitment by all States of the region to the basic by negotiation, refraining from the use of force and policy of non-interference in one another’s inter- the reduction of military build-ups in the area, as nal affairs. well as by external economic assistance and struc- Asserting that relations between States should tural reforms. Ireland said it would like to see de- be based on respect for independence, sovereignty tente involving all countries of the region- and territorial integrity, Togo joined in the call for including those hitherto excluded-which could a negotiated solution in Central America. Uganda come about through a major negotiation covering said no attempt should be made to impose a par- political and economic issues and providing for the ticular social system or political preference on the reduction of armaments, restraint, regional co- Central American nations. The United Republic operation, and respect for human rights and of Tanzania said the parties should refrain from pluralism. Spain hoped it would be possible to any acts amounting to aggression and interference reach common ground for a negotiated solution in internal affairs. Zimbabwe observed that respect that would eliminate the basic causes of for such principles implied the right of nations to destabilization-social imbalances, injustice and exist in accordance with their beliefs, aspirations repression; it opposed any type of intervention or and forms of government, which in turn interference in the internal affairs of States. demanded that other nations respect such choices. Several States stressed that the changes taking China considered that the independence, place in Central America were internal and not sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Central the result of outside influences. Making this point, American countries should be respected and ques- Guyana said that any external attempt to dictate, tions concerning the region should be settled by influence or frustrate the nature of that change its peoples, free from outside interference. India would abridge the right of self-determination of counselled restraint and encouraged a serious ef- peoples and distort the domestic impulses for fort to defuse tensions in Central America; it stated change. Costa Rica said the real inequity being that the broadening of controversy by involving committed against the peoples of Central America extraregional and global forces could only com- was turning them into chips on the table of the plicate an already difficult situation. Japan felt that ideological and political interests of other regions. the instability prevailing in Central America In Grenada’s view, there would be no peace if it should be resolved by the people of each State; out- were believed that the revolutionary processes un- side intervention could aggravate the situation and folding in Central America and the Caribbean had hamper the healthy development of each nation. been parboiled somewhere else. Jordan noted that the Charter specifically man- Mexico observed that the social revolutions of dated non-interference in the internal affairs of the day could not be encompassed within the States, either overtly or covertly. framework of East-West rivalries. Nicaragua Americas 369 remarked that the peoples of Central America cluded Cuba, Grenada and Nicaragua and were determined to free themselves in the face of weakened the efforts of other Governments, mak- resistance by privileged minorities who sought to ing it impossible to respond to the urgent request halt the changes which, sooner or later, must come of the Central American countries for a minimum to those unjust societies. Panama considered it ar- of $20 billion in financing and credits needed for tificial and facile to ascribe the social and politi- survival. The United States said that, during its cal crisis in Central America to foreign influences first 18 months, the current Nicaraguan Govern- or infiltration in an effort to disregard or conceal ment had received more economic assistance from the dramatic imbalances, documented injustices, the United States than from any other Govern- poverty and oppression endured by the peoples of ment; however, support from the United States Central America. had not changed the Nicaraguan leaders’ image Poland disagreed with the tendency to see events of it as the Yankee enemy of mankind. in Central America as a result of imaginary Regarding United States involvement in Cen- Cuban, Nicaraguan or other influences; it believed tral America, Cuba asked whether the United the nations of Central America should be allowed States was willing to recognize the vital need for to enjoy their sovereign right to determine their far-reaching changes in the economic and social political, economic and social system without ex- structures of Latin America and the right of peo- ternal interference. Yugoslavia regarded the situ- ples to choose and rule freely over their own des- ation in Central America and the Caribbean as tinies. The German Democratic Republic said the an anachronism in an era when the aspiration of United States and reactionary forces in the region peoples to emancipation and the right to decide constantly violated the sovereignty and territorial their destiny freely had become predominant. integrity of the Central American States, interfer- A number of States cited the economic and so- ing massively in their internal affairs under the cial situation in Central America as a major fac- guise of the struggle against so-called international tor in the region’s problems. Algeria saw the cri- terrorism and totalitarianism. Iraq held the United sis as basically the result of many decades of social States aggressive and interventionist policy respon- injustice, tyranny and poverty. Cuba said the sible for endangering peace in Central America. causes of political and social upheaval in Central The Lao People’s Democratic Republic said the America lay in illiteracy, unemployment, infant United States had actively bent its efforts to mortality and poverty. Jordan commented that destabilizing and replacing the Governments of there could never be a military solution to socio- Central America. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya economic issues. Mexico said the distinctive fea- said the United States was not aware of the neces- ture of the region was the struggle to change sity for change in some countries of the region and centuries-old conditions of poverty and exploita- had demonstrated no encouraging response to the tion. Poland said the causes of civil war in El Sal- efforts by some, especially Mexico, to seek a po- vador and the tensions and upheavals in other litical solution to the problem of El Salvador and countries of the region were deeply rooted in in- relations between the countries of the region. ternal issues such as economic backwardness and Mexico felt that a new intervention by the extreme social inequalities. United States in Central America would represent According to Ireland, since many problems of a gigantic historical error leading back to the bit- Central America derived from long-established ter days of continental relations. The USSR hoped economic and social conditions which required re- the United States would realize that a reliable way form, economic assistance, including the Carib- to develop relations between States was not bean Basin Initiative announced by the United through stepping up tension but by respecting States, should be part of any overall settlement. sovereignty and removing discord by peaceful Japan welcomed that initiative and other forms of means. Viet Nam believed that the situation was international co-operation to assist national efforts the result of United States policies which had for economic development and social justice, deliberately ignored the far-reaching social, eco- which it regarded as essential to the fundamental nomic and political changes in the region; the solution of instability in Central America. United States must put an end to intervention and Cuba remarked that the United States squan- aggression and respect the right of peoples to self- dered on naval exercises many more millions than determination. the sum it offered the countries of the region al- The United States expressed solidarity with all legedly for development within the framework of those who hoped for change, democracy and the its Caribbean Basin Initiative. Nicaragua stated development of Central America, and hoped that that Canada, Mexico and Venezuela had proposed change would be as peaceable as possible. a joint non-discriminatory economic programme Discussion of the United Nations role in rela- but, instead of taking up the initiative, the United tion to the situation in Central America focused States had pursued a unilateral policy that ex- on two issues: whether the Security Council should 370 Political and security questions

have taken up Nicaragua’s complaint and what the area, investigate charges by Nicaragua and the Council should do in view of the increasing ten- United States and report within two or three sion in the region. weeks. Zaire also suggested that the Council ask Regarding the role of the Council in the area, him to follow the situation and report on it. Nicaragua urged it to issue a pronouncement Differing views were expressed as to whether the regarding the obligation to seek a peaceful means Security Council or OAS should deal with the of solving the region’s problems, to reject any acts Nicaraguan complaint. of force or threats and to repudiate any direct, in- Guyana, the Lao People’ Democratic Republic direct or covert intervention in Central America. and Yugolsavia were among those arguing that it Nicaragua’s appeal was supported by Iraq, was proper for the Council to address the situa- Mozambique and the USSR. A number of States, tion, in the discharge of its primary responsibility including Algeria, Benin, Guyana, the Lao Peo- for the maintenance of peace and security. ple’s Democratic Republic, Mauritius, Poland, It was up to the United Nations, rather than Uganda, Zaire and Zambia, called on the Coun- a regional organization which had ostracized cer- cil to reaffirm the principles of the United Nations tain States in that part of the world, to make an Charter relating to non-intervention, the main- effective contribution to settling problems in Cen- tenance of international security and friendly re- tral America and the Caribbean by peaceful lations among States. means, Benin said. Cuba believed that no regional The Council was also called upon by many organization or pact lay above the Council or could States to help bring the parties to negotiation or be invoked to the detriment of its supreme other peaceful settlement. Among them were the authority for the maintenance of international Congo, Ireland, Mexico, Panama, Seychelles, peace and security-even less so when the regional Togo, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, organization lacked universality, excluding some Viet Nam, Yugoslavia and Zaire. and denying entry to others while admitting a Algeria observed that the Council had, for once, Power that had nothing to do with Latin America. been called upon not to consider a de facto breach France believed that the situation was so disquiet- of peace but to exercise its authority to prevent ing that it fully warranted Council consideration. a crisis, putting it in a position to fulfil its primary The German Democratic Republic said that in- responsibility for maintaining international peace terventionist activities had assumed such propor- and security. India believed the Council debate tions that Nicaragua had felt compelled to call for would have been in vain if it inflamed passions, the urgent convening of the Council in full accor- deepened mistrust and ended in mutual recrimi- dance with the United Nations Charter. nation; it urged constructive consideration by the Mauritius stated that the Council could not lock Council, directed towards dialogue. In Ireland’s its door against those who preferred to take their view, the Council should try to ease tensions be- case directly to it. Mexico made the point that tween Nicaragua and the United States, reduce every Member State had a right to bring before the danger of conflict and restore the previous the Council any matter which threatened inter- friendly relationship between the two. The Lao national peace and security; parties to a regional People’s Democratic Republic said the Council agreement were not obligated to refer problems should take steps to remove the threats of direct to that machinery before submitting them to the or indirect aggression and to safeguard Council. Whatever other arrangements there Nicaragua’s sovereignty, independence and ter- might be for dispute settlement, Sri Lanka said, ritorial integrity. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya no Member State could be expected to forgo its called on the Council to adopt all necessary meas- right of recourse to the Council. ures to help Nicaragua maintain independence, Togo pointed out that the United Nations sovereignty and territorial integrity. Charter opened the way for recourse to regional Speaking for the Movement of Non-Aligned agencies, but it also authorized the Council to in- Countries, Cuba said the Council must unequivo- vestigate any dispute brought to it; the Council cally state its opposition to the threat or use of force thus had two options. Uganda felt that the Coun- against Nicaragua and other peoples of the region, cil had a positive role to play in the situation to and must call on all States to refrain from taking ease tension and prevent conflicts. Zaire thought such steps and to respect the right of peoples to it only natural for the situation in the historically determine their destiny. Cuba, speaking on its own sensitive area of Central America to be of concern behalf, said the Council must urge the United to the Council, since it was difficult to detach the States to rule out the use of force against Central many hotbeds of local or regional tension from the America and the Caribbean and to restrict itself context of cold war, distrust and a crisis of confi- to negotiation. dence in international relations. France suggested that the Council call on the On the other hand, Chile said the Council meet- Secretary-General to follow developments in the ings ran the risk of drawing Nicaragua and the Americas 371

United States farther from the chance of achiev- conflict. Nicaragua stated that, through sacrifice ing understanding; no one could deny the Coun- and great effort, the people of El Salvador were cil’s competence to deal with problems, but it continuing a struggle begun many decades ago— would have been legally fitting to take the matter one that had been repressed and suppressed on to the regional organization first. Colombia ac- different occasions but which had always been just. cepted the right of Governments to present their Poland abhorred the suffering and massacres of problems to the Council but believed that taking innocent people in El Salvador and believed that that as a first step weakened the regional system, a just solution must be found by the people them- to which the problem before the Council should selves through negotiations with the patriotic forces have been brought. Costa Rica, expressing con- and without outside interference. Viet Nam was cern that Nicaragua had bypassed the more effi- convinced that the just struggle of the people of cient inter-American system, said the Council de- El Salvador for democracy, freedom and self- bate had become a sad display of political rhetoric, determination would triumph. where a series of delegations had come to parade Regarding relations between Nicaragua and El their ignorance of the situation in Central Salvador, Nicaragua stated that aggressive actions America. El Salvador said the problems of inter- by naval units of El Salvador and Honduras national relations in the inter-American sphere against Nicaraguan fishing vessels had taken place should be solved through the organs created by as a result of the campaign of false accusations the regional system. Honduras also believed that about purported traffic in weapons from such matters should have been taken to OAS. Nicaragua to El Salvador. Seychelles said the peo- Japan believed that efforts to resolve the issues ple of El Salvador were rising against oppression should be made first through bilateral talks or dis- on their own and that no country, including cussions among countries in the region or in such Nicaragua, which had its own projects and de- regional organizations as OAS. The United King- velopment plans, was fostering a revolution or in- dom questioned whether the airing of issues in the surrection there. The United States, on the other Council would help promote peaceful solutions, hand, said Nicaragua sought to subvert and over- when it was negotiations that were needed; throw neighbouring Governments and El Salvador moreover, it was not for the Council to determine was the principal target; arms and ammunition for how negotiations should be handled. The United Salvadorian insurgents, reached Nicaragua by States said that, while any Member State had the ship, and occasionally by direct flights from Cuba right to bring before the Council an issue which to Nicaragua. seriously threatened international peace and secu- Commenting on United States policy towards rity, it was equally clear that the Charter en- El Salvador, Cuba said the United States sent couraged the resolution of disputes through weapons there while raising a hypocritical outcry regional arrangements. about the so-called arms build-up of Cuba and The situation in El Salvador was referred to by Nicaragua. The Lao People’ Democratic Repub- several speakers. El Salvador said it did not con- lic said the United States was trying to stifle the stitute an international threat or source of friction legitimate aspirations of the Salvadorian people to for anyone, nor had it ever violated the principle independence, freedom and dignity. The Libyan of non-intervention in Central America, but it had Arab Jamahiriya said that, despite its defeat in been the victim of acts of intervention and aggres- Viet Nam, the United States was still contemplat- sive behaviour which, if continued, would com- ing the possibility of direct military intervention pel it to use its right to bring into operation the in El Salvador and continued to support the ré- machinery of the inter-American regional system gime against the will of the people and their right in order to preserve its sovereignty and national to adopt political, economic and social systems of dignity. their choice. Nicaragua stated that Salvadorian Cuba denied that it was sending weapons to the patriots had authorized Nicaragua to convey their Salvadorian revolutionaries, though it did have the willingness to begin immediate negotiations right to help in the liberation of a brother people without pre-conditions. since the United States arrogated to itself the right Statements were made by several States regard- to arm counter-revolutionary gangs in Angola and ing elections in El Salvador on 28 March, at the finance the destabilization of various revolution- time of the Council debate. El Salvador said the ary countries. Guyana believed that a just and last- voting, for a constituent assembly that would have ing settlement of the problems facing El Salvador the power to draft a constitution and lay new foun- must be worked out by its people, without any out- dations for government, had been held in the face side pressure or interference. of threats by extreme leftists wishing to boycott the Mexico remarked that the overwhelming process; for the first time in 50 years there had majority of the international community favoured been genuinely free elections, with a massive voter a negotiated political solution to the Salvadorian turn-out. The elections were welcomed by Costa 372 Political and security questions

Rica as evidence of the massive participation of terests were determined to create tension be- El Salvador’s people, even in defiance of death. tween the two countries with the aim of justifying The United States called the elections a tribute foreign military aggression.(1) to the Salvadorian people and the vitality of the Letter. (1)Nicaragua, 24 May, S/15113. democratic idea, and said that, despite the possi- bility of massive violence at the polling places Honduras, Nicaragua and the United States and threats of retaliation by guerrilla forces Between March and July 1982, Nicaragua ad- against voters, they had voted in unprecedented dressed a number of letters to the Secretary- numbers. General and the President of the Security Coun- In Cuba’s view, the El Salvador elections cil protesting what it described as acts of aggres- seemed to be only elections on paper; it was over- sion against it by the United States. A series of optimistic to think that, in a country shaken by letters on relations between Honduras and a deep civil war, where human rights were not Nicaragua, complaining of armed attacks in the respected, there could be the minimum guaran- frontier areas of both sides, was sent by the two tees for holding elections. countries between July and December. Speaking of relations between Cuba and the In a letter of 16 March, Nicaragua conveyed United States, Cuba said a criminal economic the text of a communique issued on 9 March by blockade and a policy of harassment, aggression its Ministry of External Relations protesting the and intolerance had been maintained against it violation of Nicaraguan airspace by United by six United States administrations. Mexico States spy planes, as disclosed on that date by the commented that the solution of the Central Deputy Director of the United States Defense American problem required a substantial im- Intelligence Agency in connection with charges provement in relations between Cuba and the of a Nicaraguan arms build-up.(15) In a letter of United States; the Cuban revolution was an ir- the same date, Nicaragua transmitted the text of reversible fact and keeping Cuba out of regional a decree it had issued on 15 March declaring a decision-making was a mistake. 30-day suspension of certain rights and guaran- The United States said Cuba maintained tees in response to what the decree referred to as 1,800 to 2,000 security and military personnel in acts of aggression against Nicaragua, including Nicaragua, and was attempting to export aggres- the blowing-up of two bridges on 14 March.(16) sion, subvert established Governments and inter- In a letter of 15 April, Nicaragua described 23 vene persistently and massively in the internal further acts between 14 March and 12 April, in- affairs of more than one Central American na- cluding 11 ground incidents involving attacks on tion. Cuba responded that the presence of 3,000 frontier posts and other armed assaults from Cuban technicians in Nicaragua, including a Costa Rican and Honduran territory; annexed small number of military personnel, represented was a letter of 15 April from the Minister for Ex- normal practice and was based on agreements ternal Relations to the United States Secretary of between independent and sovereign Govern- State demanding the immediate withdrawal of a ments; it denied that the origin of the Central United States destroyer and other warships American crisis lay in an alleged surge of subver- which had entered Nicaraguan waters on 12 sion controlled from Cuba and Nicaragua. April.(17) A letter to the Security Council Presi- Draft resolution not adopled. (1)Guyana, Panama, S/14941. dent on 19 April stated Nicaragua’s belief that Letters. (2)El Salvador: 25 Mar., S/14927. (3)Honduras: 23 negotiations with the United States, with Mexico (4) (5) Mar., S/14919. Nicaragua: 8 Feb., A/37/104; 24 Feb., as a participant, must begin immediately in view S/14891; (6)19 Mar., S/14913; (7)30 Mar., S/14936. (8) of violations of Nicaragua’s waters by United Resolution. GA: 2131(XX), 21 Dec. 1965 (YUN 1965, (18) 94): (9)2160(XXI), 30 Nov. 1966 (YUN 1966, p. 67); States warships. The Council President was (10)2625(XXV). annex, 24 Oct. 1970 (YUN 1970, told in a 16 June letter from Nicaragua of its in- p. 789). tention to continue to strive for a peaceful solu- Meeting records. SC: S/PV.2335-2337, 2339, 2341-2343, 2347 (25 Mar.-2 Apr.). tion despite repeated violations and acts of in- timidation by the United States, notably the presence of a United States warship in Other questions involving Nicaragua Nicaraguan waters between 7 and 10 June.(19) Costa Rica and Nicaragua A number of letters by Honduras and In a letter of 24 May 1982 to the President of Nicaragua were addressed to the Security Coun- the Security Council, Nicaragua transmitted a cil President between July and December. communique issued on 21 May by its Ministry In a letter of 28 July, Nicaragua said it had of External Relations denying reports attributed been the target of attacks by counter- to government sources in Costa Rica that troops revolutionaries, resulting in 114 deaths, launched of the Sandinista People’s Army had infiltrated from Honduran territory between 19 and 27 Costa Rican territory, and stating that alien in- July; the attacks, it said, had been promoted by Americas 373 the United States in order to provoke a war be- Nicaraguan Navy against a Honduran patrol boat; tween Nicaragua and Honduras and justify more a press release by Honduras describing the inci- direct intervention against Nicaragua and El dent was annexed.(4) A letter of 22 September by Salvador.(20) Honduras contained the text of its response to In response to what it called a campaign in the Nicaraguan claims regarding the incident, ac- mass media to make it appear that Honduran knowledging that there was no legally defined armed forces were intervening in the internal boundary in the Atlantic between the two coun- problems of neighbouring countries, Honduras tries but asserting that there was a tacit agreement sent a letter on 30 July reaffirming its commitment on a dividing line from which Nicaragua had to non-intervention, reiterating its desire for peace deviated.(5) as demonstrated by the peace proposals it had On 23 September, Nicaragua transmitted the presented in March (p. 364) and repeating its text of a note it had addressed to Honduras pro- proposal for an international mechanism to testing an incident on 22 September in which a (1) monitor frontier areas. Honduran Army unit was said to have fired on In a message of 2 August from the Honduran a Nicaraguan observation post at La Ceiba, and Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Security Coun- appealing to Honduras to end such challenges.(23) cil President, transmitted on 4 August, Honduras A letter of 24 September by Nicaragua transmit- charged Nicaragua with attacks against Hondu- ted the text of its note to Honduras concerning ran property and territory during July, including a second frontier incident on 22 September in a border penetration by a Nicaraguan army patrol which, Nicaragua said, two vehicles of its Minis- and an artillery attack that had wounded five try of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Re- peasants; the Minister stated that Nicaragua was form had been ambushed by counter- making a serious mistake in using any problems revolutionaries from Honduran territory and two it might have with its people as a pretext to justify Nicaraguans had been killed; Nicaragua held such acts of aggression.(2) These charges were Honduras indirectly responsible for such acts as called unfounded in a 16 August letter by long as it tolerated the use of its territory by Nicaragua, which also said that it regarded as posi- counter-revolutionaries and stressed the need for tive the peace initiatives by Honduras and that it dialogue between the two countries.(24) was ready to set up machinery for monitoring of Nicaragua transmitted, by a letter of 5 Novem- (21) the frontier areas by United Nations observers. ber, a message from its Foreign Minister to the The Foreign Minister of Honduras annexed to Security Council President expressing concern that a letter of 23 August a document summarizing 34 military aggression against Nicaragua was no incidents between 30 January and 20 August in- longer a matter of isolated and sporadic actions volving alleged violations of Honduran territory, by small groups but had become, with United territorial waters and airspace by Nicaragua and States backing, a gradual, silent invasion combin- attacks on its citizens resulting in two deaths and ing Nicaraguan dissidents, the Honduran Army, a number of abductions; Honduras reiterated its and joint military manæuvres organized by Hon- willingness to begin a serious dialogue towards duras and the United States; annexed were copies peace.(3) Nicaragua, in a letter of 21 September,(22) of articles from The New York Times and The responded that consolidation of social tranquill- Washington Post, which the Foreign Minister said ity, economic reconstruction and defence of its proved the existence of a plan to destabilize the frontiers were priorities that did not allow it to Nicaraguan Government.(25) divert its limited resources by launching cam- Nicaragua transmitted on 10 November the text paigns against its neighbours; annexed were a let- of a protest note sent on the previous day to Hon- ter of 6 August to the President of Honduras from duras regarding the abduction on 8 November of the Co-ordinator of Nicaragua’s Governing Junta 42 peasants from Nicaraguan territory by counter- of National Reconstruction, inviting him to a revolutionaries from Honduran territory; the note meeting at Managua on the problems between the also stated that the Honduran Foreign Minister two countries, and a communiqué of 2 Septem- had not gone to Nicaragua during the first week ber by Nicaragua’s Ministry of External Relations in November as he had agreed to do in a conver- listing actions against Nicaragua by the United sation with the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister held States and offers by Nicaragua to improve rela- in the office of the United Nations Secretary- tions with its neighbours and with the United General.(26) By a letter of 11 November, Honduras States. transmitted a note of the same date from its For- On 21 September, Honduras transmitted a pro- eign Minister, stating that the Nicaraguan Foreign test which its Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister had been unable to meet with him on sent to Nicaragua on 18 September concerning an several dates on which he was prepared to visit exchange of fire in Honduran territorial waters, Managua.(6) On 19 November, Honduras transmit- said to have been initiated by a patrol boat of the ted a 17 November letter from its Foreign Minister 374 Political and security questions

affirming that Honduras would not allow acts of which Nicaraguan attacks on Honduran territory aggression against Nicaragua to be carried out had been answered by Honduran fire and reiter- from its territory and that its willingness to con- ating Honduras’ neutrality in Nicaragua’s domes- tribute to the relaxation of tensions was shown by tic dispute.(14)

the Foreign Minister’s official visit to Nicaragua (1) (2) (3) (7) Letters. Honduras: 30 July, S/15331; 4 Aug., S/15344; 23 on 12 November. Aug., S/15384; (4)21 Sep., S/15417; (5)22 Sep., S/15423; (6)11 Four letters from Honduras in December in- Nov., S/15487; (7)19 Nov., S/15495; (8)9 Dec., S/15516; (9)l0 (l0) (11) cluded the texts of protest notes to Nicaragua Dec., S/15518; 10 Dec., S/15519; l0 Dec., S/15520; (12)21 Dec., S/15536; (13)21 Dec., S/15537; (14)30 Dec., regarding attacks against Honduran territory. A S/15545. Nicaragua: (15)16 Mar., S/14908; (16)16 Mar., letter of 9 December conveyed a note of 22 Novem- S/14909: (17)15 Apr., S/14992: (18)19 Apr., S/14993: (19)16 ber stating that a Nicaraguan Air Force plane had June, S/15245; (20)28 July, S/15319; (21)16 Aug.,S/15365; (22) (23) (23) on 5 November bombed a frontier area west of 21 Sep., S/15422; 23 Sep., S/15431: 24 Sep., S/15432; (25)5 Nov., S/15484; (26)10Nov., S/15489:(27)13 Ahuasbila, Honduras, and adding that Honduras Dec., S/15521; (28)13 Dec., A/37/758. remained read to reach agreements to avoid simi- lar incidents. (8)On 10 December, Honduras trans- mitted a letter of 8 December protesting attacks on 30 November and 2 and 3 December against Guyana and Venezuela Honduran soldiers and civilians near the front- ier.(9) Two further letters of 10 December transmit- The Security Council President received four ted notes of 9 December requesting the return of letters from Guyana and Venezuela between May the body of a Honduran farmer killed by and September 1982 relating to the territorial dis- Nicaraguan soldiers on that date(10) and protesting pute between the two States over the Essequibo an incident of the same date involving hostile fire (Guyana Esequiba) area. by Nicaraguan troops against the Honduran front- In a letter of 11 May, Guyana reported that ier village of El Coyol, wounding three Venezuelan troops had crossed onto the Guyana (11) children. mainland on 10 May in an incident which, in By a letter of 13 December, Nicaragua trans- Guyana’s view, constituted a violation of its mitted a letter of 2 December to Honduras reject- sovereignty and of two bilateral agreements-the ing two earlier protest notes, and saying that it was Geneva Agreement of 1966 and the Port of Spain up to Honduras to respond to the many protests (Trinidad) Protocol of 1970—containing commit- by Nicaragua concerning frontier attacks and to ments to seek a solution by peaceful means.(1) An- dismantle the counter-revolutionary camps on nexed to a 1 June letter from Venezuela was a reply Honduran territory.(27) Aggression by counter- by its Ministry of External Relations stating that revolutionary military units operating from Hon- Guyana’s charges were untrue, that Venezuela duran territory, with the economic and military desired a peaceful solution and that, instead of im- support of the United States, was denounced by agining warlike intentions, Guyana should negoti- Nicaragua in a 13 December letter to the ate a solution to the frontier dispute inherited from Secretary-General, annexed to which was a com- colonialism.(3) munique describing an incident of 9 December in On 14 September, Guyana again protested at- which 75 children and 9 adults being transported tempted incursions, on 3 and 5 September, by away from the frontier in a Nicaraguan helicop- Venezuelan military personnel into Guyanese ter- ter had been killed.(28) ritory, stating that they had occurred at a time Two letters of 21 December were sent to the when Guyana was seeking to reach an agreement Security Council President by Honduras. One with Venezuela on the choice of a method for (2) conveyed a 20 December note from the Foreign peaceful settlement. In a letter of 30 September Minister to the Council President charging that and an annex on the status of the controversy, Nicaragua had intensifed its campaign of verbal Venezuela indicated that it had rejected on 30 Au- and material aggression against Honduras and gust Guyana’s proposal of 20 August to place the that its Army had made frequent incursions into matter before the International Court of Justice, Honduran territory. (12) The second transmitted a and maintained its insistence on direct negotia- note of 17 December from the Honduran Foreign tions; as the time-limit under the Geneva Agree- Minister to the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister re- ment for agreeing on a means of settlement had jecting charges that insurgent forces were operat- expired on 18 September, it was necessary to apply ing from Honduran territory and stating that the the other provisions of the Agreement, by which fighting between such forces and the Nicarag uan the decision on means was to be referred to an in- (13 ternational organ agreed upon by both countries Army was occurring in Nicaraguan territory. A (4) letter of 30 December from Honduras to the or to the Secretary-General. Council President transmitted a 29 December note Letters. Guyana: (1)11 May, S/15072; (2)14 Sep.. S/15398. to Nicaragua recalling three incidents during Venezuela: (3)1 June, S/15208; (4)30 Sep., S/15439. Americas 375

the item in its provisional agenda for the follow- Anniversary observances ing year.(1) (1) Decision (1982). G.A: 37/451, 21 Dec., text following. Draft resolution not pressed. (2)Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Five hundredth anniversary Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia. Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colom- of the discovery of America bia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El The General Assembly decided in December 1982 Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, to consider in 1983 an item on the observance of Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Vin- the quincentenary of the discovery of America. cent and the Grenadines. Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and A request to include the item in the agenda of Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela. A/37/L.36. Letter. (3)Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile. the Assembly’s 1982 session was forwarded to the Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba. Dominican Republic, Ecu- Secretary-General in a letter of 12 October by 30 ador, El Salvador. Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guatemala, States, mainly from North and South America and Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, the Caribbean.(3) The signatories of the letter stated Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, 12 Oct., that the arrival in 1492 of three ships under the com- A/37/244. mand of Christopher Columbus had opened up op- Meeting records. GA: General Committee, A/BUR/37/SR.4 (11 portunities for contact and understanding between Nov.); plenary, A/37/Pv.65, 83, 115 (12 Nov.-21 Dec.). the world’s civilizations and peoples, culminating in the ideals of universality reaffirmed in the era General Assembly decision 37/451 of the United Nations. They considered that the Adopted without vote anniversary should be observed by the United Na- Oral proposal by President: agenda item 140. tions and that the intervening decade should be used Observance of the quincentenary of the discovery of America for organizing activities equal to the occasion. At its 115th plenary meeting, on 21 December 1982, the General As- sembly decided to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth In November, 36 States submitted a draft reso- session the item entitled “Observance of the quincentenary of the dis- lution@) to have the Assembly declare 1992 as the Year covery of America”: of the Fifth Centennial of the Discovery of America and request the Secretary-General to prepare ap- Two hundredth anniversary propriate observances so that the United Nations of the birth of Simón Bolívar and those Member States most directly concerned On 20 December 1982, on an oral proposal of could co-operate in commemorating the event. The its President, the General Assembly decided without draft-sponsored by most of the countries of the vote to take note of the decision of the Latin Ameri- western hemisphere as well as Equatorial Guinea, can Group to take measures to commemorate the Italy, the Philippines, Portugal and Spain-also called two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Simón for the submission of annual reports by the Secretary- Bolívar on 24 July 1783.(1) General and the inclusion of the item in the provi- An item on this observance was placed on the sional agenda of the 1983 Assembly session. Assembly’s agenda at the initiative of 22 Latin Ecuador introduced the draft resolution in the American and Caribbean States and the United Assembly, noting that the initiative for the proposal States, which requested its inclusion in a letter of had come from the Dominican Republic. Other 26 November.(2) The letter stated that the political sponsors-the Dominican Republic, Italy, the Philip- thought and inspired vision of Bolívar, the Liber- pines, Spain and the United States-urged support ator, had stamped him as a precursor of the United for the proposal to commemorate the arrival at San Nations and the League of Nations. Salvador, Bahamas, on 12 October 1492 of three (1) Spanish caravels under the command of Columbus. Decision (1982). GA: 37/443, 20 Dec., text following. Letter (2)Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil. Chile, Colombia, Costa Iceland and Ireland questioned whether com- Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, memorating that event as the discovery of America Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, would ignore earlier explorations by Vikings and Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suri- possibly Irish monks; Ireland also thought the re- name, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, 26 Nov., A/37/246. quest for an annual report by the Secretary-General Meeting records. GA: General Committee, A/BUR/37/SR.5 (1 over the following 10 years might be excessive. Spain Dec.); plenary, A/37/PV.88, 113 (2, 20 Dec.). responded that the intention was not to deny earlier explorations but to commemorate the fact that those General Assembly decision 37/443 who had begun arriving in 1492 had left settlements Adopted without vote and brought about the merging of races. Oral proposal by President: agenda item 142. After the President announced that the sponsors Observance of the two hundredth anniversary of the of the draft resolution had requested deferral to the birth of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator 1983 session to allow for further consultations among At its 113th plenary meeting, on 20 December 1982, the General As- sembly took note of the decision of the Latin American Group to take regional groups, the Assembly decided without vote measures to commemorate in an appropriate manner the two hundredth on 21 December, on his oral proposal, to include anniversary of the birth of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator.