Assembly approves three global meetings on southern Africa issues; adopts International Convention against apartheid in sports.

Assembly approves three global meetings on southern Africa issues; adopts International Convention against Apartheid in Sports

The General Assembly has decided to hold in 1986 three special global meetings related to the situation in southern Africa--a world conference on sanctions against South Africa, a special session of the General Assembly on Namibia, and an international meeting to be devoted particularly to the attainment of the "immediate independence" of that Territory.

A 22-article International Convention against Apartheid in Sports, under consideration since 1977, was also adopted by the Assembly.

Urgent appeals for comprehensive mandatory sanctions against South Africa were made in resolutions adopted following separate debates in plenary on two related items--South Africa's policy of apartheid (28 October-1 November) and the question of Namibia (19-22 November).

On 10 December, the Assembly adopted nine texts relating to apartheid; on 13 December, it approved six more on Namibia, including a 75-paragraph omnibus text. Among subjects covered were those related to possible sanctions, "collaboration" by certain States with South Africa, the situation of the front-line States, support for national liberation movements, political prisoners, implementation of the United Nations plan for Namibian independence, the work of the United Nations Council for Namibia--the legal Administering Authority for the Territory--and mobilization of public opinion regarding the situation in southern Africa.

The resolution (40/64 C) calling for the world conference on sanctions to be held in June 1986 was approved by a vote of 137 in favour to 6 against (Belgium, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States), with 10 abstentions.

The conference is to be organized by the Special Committee against Apartheid, in co-operation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries United Nations bodies, including specialized agencies, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are invited to co-operate in organizing the meeting.

The resolution (40/97 F) calling for a special session of the Assembly on Namibia was approved by a vote of 148 in favour to none against, with 6 abstentions (Canada, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Malawi, United Kingdom, United States). The session is tentatively scheduled for 3 to 12 September 1986 at Headquarters.

By resolution 40/97 C, adopted by a vote of 146 in favour to none against, with 6 abstentions (Canada, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Israel, United Kingdom, United States), the Assembly decided that an "international conference for the immediate independence of Namibia" should be held in Western Europe during 1986, preceding the special session on Namibia. The meeting is to be organized in co-operation with the Council for Namibia, and a Secretary-General will be appointed for the conference in consultation with the Council.

"Important question": In voting on the drafts on Namibia, the General Assembly invoked the use of its provisional rule of procedure 84, deeming the matters under consideration as "important questions", and thus requiring a two-thirds majority for the passage of the texts.

All specific references to the United States or Israel with South Africa were removed in the omnibus text and the draft on the United Nations plan for Namibia as a result of separate recorded votes taken on relevant phrases in the texts. Rule 84 was applied, and the required two-thirds majority was not reached in those votes.

The provisions affected concerned the policy of linkage between Namibia's independence and the presence of Cuban troops in Angola, the policy of "constructive engagement", and collaboration by certain countries with South Africa.

A paragraph was added to the text on the plan for Namibia after a separate vote of 81 to 30, with 34 abstentions, which attained the required two-thirds majority. By it, the Assembly strongly condemned the abuse of the veto by "two Western permanent members of the Security Council" on 15 November 1985, "as a result of which the Council was prevented from taking effective measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter" against South Africa. It also appealed to those States "to desist from further misuse of the veto."

The United States, before the vote, said the drafts contained "numerous instances of name-calling" and "direct, hostile and unjustified" references to the United States which were contrary to basic General Assembly principles of "civility, fairness and factual accuracy". It also opposed the singling out of Israel.

Sports Convention: The sports Convention, annexed to resolution 40/64 G, was adopted by a vote of 125 in favour to none against, with 24 abstentions.

Under the text, the Assembly appealed to all States to sign and ratify the Convention as soon as possible; requested all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to acquaint the public as widely as possible with the Convention's text; and asked the Secretary-General to ensure the Convention's urgent and wide dissemination.

By the Convention, States parties, among other things: would not permit sports contact with a country practising apartheid; would take all possible measures to prevent sports contact with a country practising apartheid; would undertake to pursue immediately the policy of eliminating the practice of apartheid in all its forms from sports; would refuse to provide financial or other assistance to enable their sports bodies, teams and individual sportsmen to participate in sports activities in a country practising apartheid or with teams or individual sportsmen selected on the basis of apartheid; would deny visas and/or entry to representatives of sports bodies, teams and individual sportsmen representing a country practising apartheid; would take all action to secure the expulsion of a country practising apartheid from international and regional sports bodies; and would use their best endeavours to ensure universal compliance with the Olympic principle of non-discrimination.

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against Apartheid in Sports, established in 1976, submitted its report (A/40/36), containing the final draft, to the Assembly at its fortieth session.

United States role: In reporting to the Assembly (A/40/22), the Special Committee against Apartheid declared that United States policies towards South Africa were the "most serious hindrance to international action against apartheid". Although that country had condemned apartheid, it also continued to commend the Botha regime for its "reforms", the report stated.

Together with the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany, the United States had failed to take any meaningful measures in response to United Nations resolutions, the Committee said. The limited sanctions announced by the United States and the European Economic Community appeared to be intended only to assuage public opinion, and divert attention from the demands for urgent and effective action.

While pressing for comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against South Africa under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Special Committee urged that, pending such sanctions, national action should be taken by Western countries against South Africa. Voluntary, unilateral, and limited sanctions by individual Western Governments were inadequate to deal with the situation, it stated.

Emphasizing the importance of an effective oil and arms embargo against Pretoria, and cessation of all military and nuclear co-operation with it, the Committee said that "any form of assistance to the military, police, intelligence or other forces in South Africa is nothing less than complicity in the crimes of the apartheid regime". The Committee supported all moves to boycott South Africa in the cultural and sports fields.

Namibia report: The Assembly also reviewed the report of the United Nations Council for Namibia (A/40/24), covering its activities from 1 September 1984 to 31 August 1985.

Acting Council President Noel G. Sinclair (Guyana) said the Council had consistently called for international pressure on and isolation of the Pretoria regime, and had been active in all regions of the world during the past year on behalf of Namibians. Although Western European States in general had endeavoured to match their political expressions with practical demonstrations, in the form of contributions to the Fund for Namibia and the Nationhood Programme, or of direct support to the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), the attitude of a small minority of them was less supportive of Namibia's evolution to independence. Although the forces on the side of freedom for Namibia were greater than those for its domination, he said the outcome of the struggle, though certain, would not be achieved without more sweat, tears and even blood.

Other action: In...