Portugal, 1982

Sir, may I start by congratulating you on your

election as President of this thirty-seventh

session of the General Assembly. At the same

time, I would like to convey to you our

satisfaction at seeing such an experienced

politician occupy this high post. Your merits

will most certainly help us to achieve positive

results in our endeavors.

2. I would also like to pay a tribute to

your predecessor, who carried out the duties of

the presidency of the thirty-sixth session of the

General Assembly with such competence and

authority. His contribution deserves our

admiration and gratitude.

3. I wish to address a special salute to Mr.

Perez de Cuellar and express my satisfaction at

seeing in this eminent position such an

influential personality, whose human and

diplomatic qualities have already been widely

demonstrated.

4. The importance and complexity of the

questions included in the agenda clearly show

that dialogue among peoples is essential to

international relations. However, a fruitful

dialogue depends on the existence of a climate

of international confidence. Confidence is not

compatible with persistent acts of disrespect

for the provisions enshrined in the Charter of

the United Nations and in the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights, or with violations

of sovereignty, that affect the territorial

integrity of nations and disregard the right of

peoples to self-determination and independence.

Confidence also excludes the tendency of certain

States to impose on other countries, through the

threat or use of force, a certain behavior or

ideological submission, contrary to the

deep-rooted feelings of their peoples.

5. The absence of this climate of confidence

was evident during the second special session of

the General Assembly on disarmament, undoubtedly

one of the most ambitious efforts of the

Organization. Disarmament, understood as a

balanced and controlled reduction of nuclear and

conventional weapons, does not stand as an

autonomous category within the framework of the

relations among States. However, the increasing

tensions in international relations must neither

be an excuse nor a justification for the modest

results attained. Both the security and the

future of humankind require that immediate action

be taken on certain aspects of the arms race, in

order to deflect it from its present course.

6. Accordingly, the initiation of

negotiations at Geneva, between the United States

and the USSR, to control and reduce nuclear

weapons of intermediate range as well as

strategic nuclear weapons, is ah encouraging step

and responds to many concerns. We hope that

important and substantial reductions will follow,

mainly with respect to the ground systems which,

being the most vulnerable, are the most

destabilizing.

7. We also follow with great interest the

Vienna Talks on Mutual Reduction of Forces,

Armaments and Associated Measures in Central

Europe. The new proposals recently presented by

the West offer a possibility to break the

present impasse. We believe they provide a good

basis for progress.

8. The implementation of the provisions of

the Helsinki Final Act would be a decisive

element towards international detente. Such

detente must be global and indivisible, based on

criteria of reciprocity, and must govern

relations among countries with different social

and political systems as well as among

Governments with identical ideological

structures. However, the debates at the Madrid

meeting of the Conference on Security and

Co-operation in Europe, in which my Government is

so deeply engaged, shows that there, too, the

effects of the present crisis of confidence are

felt, thus impairing the attainment of positive

results whenever a solution for basic problems is

at stake.

9. Past and present events in Poland fully

illustrate this state of affairs. This is the

reason why the Portuguese Government has from

the outset openly condemned such events, drawing

there from the necessary conclusions.

10. The position of Portugal is that the

obligation is undertaken in this Held must be

executed in good faith. It is necessary to strive

for the fulfillment of the objectives we

ourselves have proposed, thus contributing to

the full realization of the principles of the

Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights. It is not a question of drastically

changing international reality. That would be

unthinkable. Rather, it is a question of trying

to ease tensions and increase confidence in

relations among nations and peoplesósince these

are also mentioned in the Final Act. Such an

attitude cannot function in one direction only.

It concerns all parties involved and it precludes

proclamation of an official doctrine which,

depending on the areas concerned and according to

one's convenience, interprets coexistence either

as co-operation or as intolerant confrontation.

Only in this way can detente become a reality,

translated into positive acts, and not merely a

dialogue of the deaf.

11. The general considerations I have just

formulated do not diminishórather, they

emphasizeóthe importance of regional tensions

susceptible of jeopardizing world stability. I

shall mention only a few examples. I would like

to refer first to the situation in Namibia, where

the exercise of the right to self- determination

continues to be delayed giving rise to serious

risks of conflict in southern Africa. Portugal

considers that the independence of Namibia, in

accordance with Security Council resolution 435

(1978) is essential to the stabilization process

in the region.

12. The repeated attacks against the

territories of Angola and Mozambique, which

Portugal has condemned in a timely and vigorous

manner, cannot fail to be seen in this context,

hence rendering more urgent a stable solution to

the problem. Given the very special ties my

country has with Angola and Mozambique

Portuguese public opinion follows with deep

interest the efforts made towards achieving

peace, and the subsequent developments in

southern Africa. The interrelationship between

these two elements is made clear by the economic

pressures to which those two countries and

Zimbabwe have been subjected. In this context, we

think that the goals being pursued by the

Southern African Development Co-ordinations

Conference may constitute a very positive

contribution to a balanced development of the

area.

13. I would like to make it clear that we do

not wish any specific role for Portugal and that

we put our trust in the efforts of the

Secretary-General, and in the diplomatic

initiatives and responsible role played by the

contact group of five Western States and by the

front-line States. However, the evolution of

events shows that flexibility and rapid action

are essential. Whenever necessary Portugal will

be ready to cooperate, if requested. This my

Government has already earnestly done. t

14. The search for a solution to the

Palestinian problem which would result in a

global, lasting and just peace in the Middle East

is today an essential element of international

security. The most recent aspects of the problem

emphasize even more strongly the need to respect

the principle of self-determination and to

consider the just claims of the Palestinian

people, who long to create a new independent

State.

15. But in the Middle East crisis it is

equally necessary to state clearly the need for

respect for the sovereignty, territorial

integrity and political independence of all

nations in the area, in particular Lebanon and

Israel, as well as the right of their respective

peoples to live in peace within duly recognized

and guaranteed international boundaries.

16. The Portuguese Government welcomes the

most recent initiatives taken by the

international community, namely. President

Reagan's peace plan and the plan agreed by

consensus at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference

at Fez. Neither of these plans should be

considered separately. Both constitute a

significant step towards the achievement of peace

in the area. The complexity of the Middle East

situation is now viewed on a more realistic

basis which may lead to the compromise solutions

long awaited and much desired by the

international community, thus relegating to the realm

of the unthinkable such horrifying massacres as

those recently inflicted on the defenseless

Palestinian refugees.

17. The Soviet intervention in Afghanistan,

which so clearly infringes the juridical rules

upon which the United Nations is based, has been

repeatedly condemned in the Assembly and still

gives rise to harsh criticism against the

hegemonic purposes which were behind it.

18. The Vietnamese occupation of Kampuchea is

yet another source of tension. My Government

supports the diplomatic efforts either

recommended or already accomplished aimed at

finding a peaceful solution to these conflicts.

19. From what has been said it is evident

that the consequences of the exercise of the

right of peoples to self-determination are of

great importance within the framework of

international relations; therefore it is the duty

of the United Nations to enforce the respect for

that principle so uncompromisingly proclaimed by

Member States and to which the great majority of

the countries here represented owe allegiance.

20. It is in this context that the problem of

East Timor should be seen. In the light of the

principles concerning the rights of peoples,

which the Organization is bound to defend, the

problem of East Timor and the need for the

international community to ensure the exercise of

the rights of that Territory's population are

for my country matters of high priority and

undeniable importance. Portugal, which seven

years ago ceased to be able to carry out its

responsibilities as administering Power, has

repeatedly declared that it makes no claim to the

Territory of East Timor, to which my country is

linked historically and by bonds of human

solidarity that exist to this day. These bonds

are reflected in the deep sensitivity with which

the Portuguese nation as a whole follows this

problem, while it hopes for a solution consistent

with international ethics and justice.

21. The Portuguese State has often said that

its only goal is the fulfillment of a national

and moral duty. Aware of the justice of our cause

and certain that we are interpreting the

unanimous feeling of the Portuguese State and

the Portuguese people, I wish to reaffirm clearly

our desire to co-operate actively with the United

Nations, using all the mechanisms envisaged in

the Charter, so that through an open dialogue we

may all find a solution that truly respects the

interests and cultural identity of the people of

East Timor and enables them to define their

collective destiny.

22. We are going through particularly

difficult times, in which the weight of economic

problems has a growing influence and obvious

repercussions in the political Held. The present

state of the world economy continues to cause

serious concern as we face a sombre reality,

marked by persistent inflationary pressures,

monetary fluctuations, high interest rates,

unemployment and social tensions. The outlook

for the near future cannot but be disquieting.

The gradual deterioration of the economic

situation has affected all countries, regardless

of their political, economic or social system,

but it is the poorest among us that have been

most severely harmed.

23. The experience of the last few years has

shown that global interdependence is an

inescapable fact and as such requires greater

solidarity among nations. This immense task is

vital and demands the realistic, co-ordinate and

untiring efforts of all members of the

international community, without exception.

24. My Government believes in the importance

and usefulness of a realistic, productive and

action-oriented North-South dialogue. We are

facing global problems which demand a global

approach and global solutions. We trust therefore

that it will be possible to reach agreement on

the conditions which would make possible the

launching of global negotiations in a spirit

guided by common interest and respect for

existing organizations. North-South relations are

usually reduced to a formal and strict

distinction between developed and developing

countries, but such a dichotomy is far from the

present reality.

25. Portugal, south of the North, is at an

intermediate stage of economic and technological

development: a donor country within the limits of

its capacity, it is simultaneously a recipient of

assistance essential to the process of national

development in which it is engaged.

26. Being an Atlantic country, an active

member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,

a European country and a candidate for membership

of the European Economic Community, Portugal is

in a position in which it can understand not only

the needs of the developing countries but also

the difficulties facing the more advanced

economies. Portugal's membership in the European

Community, one of the priorities of our foreign

policy, will, we are certain, enable 3s to

reinforce our capacity to under-stand both sides

of the problem and at the same time collaborate

actively towards its solution. On the one hand we

shall pursue more resolutely Portugal's

development process and on the other wider

perspectives will be opened for the privileged

relations we maintain with many areas of the

world other than the Portuguese-speaking African

countries and the African continent.

27. My Government is engaged in increasing

and diversifying its bilateral aid, but it is

equally interested in developing co-operation

projects, with the assistance of specialized

agencies of the United Nations and with the

co-operation of other countries. Aware of our

limitations and possibilities, but conscious also

that, besides quantitative aspects, there are

also the qualitative ones, we shall strive to

achieve these goals.

28. If the role played by small and medium

enterprises has become increasingly important

within our economy, in the international

political system, too, the role of small and

medium countries must be acknowledged as

increasingly relevant.

29. Indeed, the perception and impact of

questions such as the energy crisis, problems of

investment and technology and protectionist

policies are common to this group of countries

and constitute, in their particular case,

conditioning factors of a qualitative and not

merely quantitative nature. This reality draws a

distinction between us and the larger countries.

We believe that, with a view to creating a

realistic and useful basis for dialogue, it is of

the utmost interest that we undertake a common

consideration of this issue.

30. Like the others, my country is

particularly sensitive to the energy problems

that affect our balance of payments in a very

negative way, reducing our possibilities of

carrying out the measures necessary to pursue our

development process. A sustained economic growth

depends to a great extent on intensification of

productive investments, increased productivity

and the maintenance of an open trade system.

31. Although one must admit that the

seriousness of the world economic situation has

not caused a radical increase of protectionism, I

should like to stress the concern of the

Portuguese Government regarding some

protectionist measures which affect exports from

developing countries and from countries in an

intermediate stage of development, like Portugal.

We hope that during the next ministerial meeting

of GATT important decisions will be taken

contributing, in a decisive way, to fostering

free international trade between all countries

and groups of countries.

32. I should also like to refer to the United

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Last

April Portugal voted in favor of the Convention.

This decision was taken in the light of our own

interests as a coastal State. It also took into

account the interests of the international

community, which may be greatly affected should

an adequate regulation of these matters not be

established. This does not mean that my country

is satisfied with all the provisions contained

in the Convention, namely, those regarding the

composition of the International Sea-Bed

Authority^ In fact the interests of

semi-industrialized countries are not taken duly

into account, especially in the case of those

countries that, like Portugal, has ? face serious

emigration problems. These considerations do not,

however, impair our intention to sign and ratify

the Convention, thus contributing towards

avoiding chaos in international maritime

relations. Accordingly, Portugal calls upon every

country to make an additional effort to find a

compromise formula which would render the

Convention universally acceptable.

33. If, on the one hand, economic matters are

intimately linked to political problems, it is

also true that from them arise very serious

consequences concerning human rights. Thus, when

discussing here the best way to achieve the

objectives we have pro-posed Cor

ourselvesónamely, the creation of a more

equitable international orderówe cannot overlook

a basic fundamental principle: that the United

Nations is, above all, a body at the service of

humankind. Beyond the diversity of traditions,

cultures and systems, man attains universal value

as a subject of rights and fundamental freedoms,

through intrinsic dignity. Conse-quently, in

addition to those factors, there is yet another

concern: we continue to be faced with the

persistence of policies that ignore the essence

of human rights and lead to serious violations of

such rights, as a result of local conflicts or of

situations of instability or intolerance.

34. Of such situations, the system of

apartheid is a paradigm. This system is condemned

by us, as it is our belief that any form of

discrimination, besides being unacceptable on an

ethical and human plane, is a denial of progress

and culture.

35. As I have already stated, there are many

areas in the world where the rights to

self-determination, free choice of regime,

independence and security of States are not

respected. When it comes to human rightsómeaning

relations between the Government and

individualsóthe situations in which human beings

are denied their basic rights are regrettably

multiplying. I am referring to political

repression, racism, foreign domination and

poverty. The international community acknowledges

the fact that human rights are inseparable from

the rights of peoples and of nations and that

both are closely related to peace, security and

prosperity in the world. In order that

international stability may be attained, States

must respect the rights of other nations and

those of their own citizens. In this context, the

United Nations has a dual responsibility: the

definition of principles through the enunciation

of a code of conduct and supervision of their

effective implementation.

36. The Portuguese Government attributes the

greatest importance to the achievement of that

aim. Accordingly, Portugal has adhered to the

main international instruments concerning human

rights, the latest one being the International

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Racial Discrimination, to which we acceded on 23

September.

37. The United Nations has created a system

and institutions to promote and protect respect

for human rights the world over. However, the

number of cases that are violations of the moral

conscience of nations is regrettably increasing.

38. In this context, we are deeply concerned

with the difficult living conditions suffered by

the Timorese people as well as with the

violations of its cultural identity and its

rights, caused by the present situation in the

Territory of East Timor. Convergent reports and

information reaching us from East Timor leave no

doubt about the moral and physical sufferings

endured by the people of Timor. The problem of

East Timor was only recently discussed at Geneva

when the Sub-Commission on Prevention of

Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

adopted resolution 1982/201 on this question, in

which it acknowledged the diplomatic efforts made

by Portugal to redress the situation in the

Territory and called for international

co-operation to defend the rights of the Timorese

people. In this context as well, of great

significance in the sphere of international

morals and law, I wish to reiterate the

Portuguese will to co-operate in the settlement

within the wide framework of humanitarian

questions, of several problems brought about by

the situation in East Timor. I wish to reaffirm

here that the Portuguese position as to

principles and human rights is clear and that it

constitutes the pursuit of an ethical and

political duty which cannot be overlooked if we

do not want to put in jeopardy the values that

govern us. Likewise, I reiterate Portugal's firm

determination to reach a global solution to this

problem within the framework of the Organization,

through an open and frank dialogue.

39. The history of the United Nations stands

as an example of endeavor to give mankind its

full dimension, free from the yoke of political

domination, urgent material needs and deadly

wars. Many are the difficulties that have been

encountered when pursuing these aims. Some

achievements have even brought about new and

complex problems.

40. To admit that reforms must be introduced

in certain structures and habits does not mean

that we should question the provisions of the

Charter. On the contrary, within the limitations

imposed by the framework of international

relations, those provisions still offer the best

means of overcoming institutional impediments,

and are at the same time an irreplaceable frame

of reference when it comes to settling certain

types of conflicts. The Portuguese Government

sincerely believes that the Organization can

handle confrontations and pave the way to their

settlement by means of dialogue, at the same time

and provide the necessary impartiality as a forum

for negotiation.

41. If the Organization is affected by some

shortcomings, that is not its fault. Those

shortcomingsóso sharply described in the report

of the Secretary- General on the work of the

Organization óare caused by those who find

them very convenient. That is why, when there is

a common will, the United Nations offers the

appropriate institutional means for the search

for multilateral solutions. It is for the

reaffirmation of such goals that all of us

gathered here must strive, without any weakening

or preconcep-tions, without any demagoguery or

procrastination; the moral force of those who are

in the right will always triumph in the end.