UNITED NATIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR HALT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA ON FUTURE OF NAMIBIA.

Record ID: 337761

  • Title: UNITED NATIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR HALT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA ON FUTURE OF NAMIBIA.
  • Date: 12th December 1973
  • Summary: 1. GV UN Delegates seated round circular table 0.11 2. CU Niger delegate speaking in French 0.50 3. SV & MV Delegates seated 1.02 4. MCU Nigerian delegate speaks in English 1.52 5. MV Waldheim and Chairman (Chinese) PAN Round to delegates casting votes 2.10 AMBASSADOR JGAU: South Africa's persistence in this policy in Namibia, I ??? of course, only possible because of the support she receives from certain Western countries. This is the continuation of a deliberate policy started since 1950, when the United Nations, in its first real contact with the Government of South Africa and this international body. Namibia is today, for all practical purposes, the exclusive colonial preserve of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, and the two colonial representatives of South Africa and Portugal." Initials AE/12.36 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th December 1973 12:00
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  • Location: UNITED NATIONS
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA8D7Y3CMJVQOFTNLCGB6TUEU2R
  • Story Text: The United Nations Security Council called an official halt Tuesday night (11 December) to Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim's contacts with South Africa on the future of South-West Africa -- known as Namibia in the world organisation.

    Unanimously approving a resolution submitted by Peru, the 15-nation body voted to "discontinue further efforts" on the basis of its February, 1972, resolution which authorised Mr. Waldheim to open talks with South Africa.

    But the Council also requested that the Secretary-General keep it fully informed about any new, important developments concerning the mineral-rich territory.

    By asking that they be informed of any developments, the Council was seen to be making a bid to keep the door open to a possible resumption of contacts if South Africa showed signs of a more flexible position on the U.N.'s demand for self-determination and Independence for Namibia.

    In the debate on Peru's motion that discussions with South Africa be terminated, the Niger delegate, Mr. Abdoulaye Dialla, speaking as Chairman of the African Group, said contacts had failed and should be terminated. He urged that strong U.N. action be taken to force South Africa to comply with U.N. decisions and put an end it "its illegal occupation of Namibia."
    Nigerian Ambassador Edwin Ogbu told the Council it has been clear to may member states that it was "futile" to reason with South Africa over a withdrawal from the territory. A transcript of Ambassador Ogbu's comments on film follows:
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