Assembly, council support steps to promote first non-racial, democratic elections.

• Position: UN General Assembly and Security Council actions to assist South Africa's first democratic elections, Apr 1994 - Includes related article on UN special seminars on South Africa

In important steps towards supporting the process of peaceful democratic change in South Africa, the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted resolutions to help Promote the success of South Africa's first non-racial, democratic elections in April.

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros, Ghali, in a major report of 10 January (A/48/845-S/1994/16), detailed the expansion of the mandate and size of the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA), giving an account of its activities and the framework of the electoral process.

In other action between 1 January and 31 March, the Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid warned that any postponement of elections could cause confusion and resentment among the South African people and aggravate tension, violence and loss of life. Despite the enormous progress that had been made in talks by the multi-party negotiators, differences among the parties persisted, he said in statements on behalf of the Committee.

Of particular concern was the continuing insistence by the Conservative Party and the inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) to suspend their participation in the multi-party negotiations and, perhaps, withhold their participation in the elections.

The UN observed the international Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, with speeches by the Secretary-General, the General Assembly President and others, expressing their opposition to any form of discrimination based on race, colour, creed and national or ethnic origin. "For the United Nations, the elimination of racial discrimination remains a long and exacting task that requires constantly renewed action", the Secretary-General said.

Security Council action

In unanimously adopting resolution 894 (1994) on 14 January, the Security Council urged all parties in South Africa, including those that did not participate fully in the multi-party talks, to respect agreements reached during the negotiations, adhere to democratic principles and take part in the elections.

The Council further called upon all parties to end the violence and intimidation, and thus contribute to the conduct of free and fair elections, and to respect the safety and security of the international observers and facilitate the carrying out of their mandate.

The Council also widened the mandate and enlarged the size of UNOMSA, so it could better monitor the elections scheduled from 26 to 28 April. Numbering 100 observers in march, the enlarged UNOMSA was to consist of nearly 3,000.

The 15-member Council also welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal to set up a trust fund to finance the participation of additional observers from Africa and other developing countries.

Before the resolution vote, South Africa welcomed the Council's participation in promoting the country's transition to a Government of national unity. More international observers would ensure that elections would be free and...