Assembly endorses four principal components of a settlement to the situation in Kampuchea.

Assembly endorses four principal components of a settlement to the situation in Kampuchea

The General Assembly and 4 and 5 November reviewed the situation in Kampuchea, and after hearing 54 speakers, adopted resolution 40/7 reiterating its conviction regarding four elements that are "the principal components of any resolution of the Kampuchea problem".

Those components, as set out in the 1981 Declaration of the International Conference on Kampuchea and reaffirmed in Assembly resolutions, are: withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea; restoration and preservation of its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; the right of the Kampuchean people to determine their own destiny; and commitment by all States to non-interference and non-intervention in Kampuchea's internal affairs.

By the 59-Power text, approved by a recorded vote of 114 in favour to 21 against, with 16 abstentions, the Assembly also authorized the Ad Hoc Committee of the International Conference to convene when necessary and carry out the tasks entrusted to it. The Conference was to be reconvened "at an appropriate time"; all States of South-East Asia and others concerned were asked to attend future Conference sessions.

The Secretary-General was asked to continue to follow the situation closely and exercise his goof offices to contribute to a comprehensive political settlement. Appreciation was expressed to countries, the United Nations and its agencies, and other national and international humanitarian organizations that had rendered relief assistance to the Kampuchean people. They were asked to continue to provide emergency assistance to Kampucheans still in need, especially those along the Thai-Kampuchean border and in holding centres in Thailand.

Countries of South-East Asia, once a comprehensive political solution had been achieved, were urged to exert renewed efforts to establish a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in South-East Asia. The Assembly reiterated the hope that after achieving a comprehensive political solution, an intergovernmental committee would be established to consider a programmed of assistance to Kampuchea for reconstructing its economy and for the economic and social development of all States in the region.

Report: In his report (A/40/759) on Kampuchea, the Secretary-General stated that in his efforts to achieve progress towards a peaceful solution, he had visited South-East Asia in January/February 1985, and had continuing contacts with government officials in the region during the year. Rafeeuddin Ahmed, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Kampuchea, ahd also had discussions with area officials. In those discussions, it had been stressed that the problem could not be solved by military means and that differences could only be bridged by dialogue on the basic elements for a comprehensive...