Your election, Sir, to the presidency of the
thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly is
a tribute to your outstanding qualities as a
diplomat and recognition of your vast experience.
It is also a guarantee that the work of this
Assembly will be conducted effectively and with
wisdom. Please allow me to congratulate you most
warmly. On this occasion, I should like also to
express my warmest wishes to the outgoing
President, Mr. Ismat Kittani. He has earned the
gratitude of this Assembly for the exemplary way
in which he guided its work, for his constructive
initiatives and for enhancing the prestige of his
high office. It also gives me particular pleasure
to congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier
Perez de Cuellar. In this first year of his term
in office he has carried out his mission with
dedication and unusual skill, thereby justly
winning for himself great trust and high esteem.
173. The President of the Council of Ministers
of the European Community, Mr. Ellemann-Jensen,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, has
presented to the Assembly, at the 8th meeting,
the views of the 10 members of the Community on
the main international problems. I should like
to state here, however, that the foreign policy
of the Greek Government is basically guided by
absolute respect for the principle of the non-use
of force in international relations.
Consequently, we attach great importance to the
promotion of detente and disarmament as well as
of international co-operation. We also support in
the strongest possible terms any effort towards
enhancing respect for human rights all over the
world. At this point, I should like to analyze in
detail the position of my Government on problems
which are of particular interest to Greece.
174. In the first place, there is the problem
of the Middle East. Apart from its major
international importance, it is of special
interest to Greece, not only because of our
geographical proximity to the region where the
crisis is evolving, but also because of the
traditional bonds which link us to the Arab
world. This explains the many initiatives taken
by my Government in the past few months, within
the European Community as well as other
international forums, with a view to promoting
the Palestinian cause and restoring peace in
Lebanon.
175. The opening of the thirty-seventh session
of the General Assembly has been marked by an
appalling crimeóthe massacre of hundreds of
innocent Palestinians in the camps of Beirut.
The precise circumstances of this cold-blooded
slaughter will not be known until an appropriate
inquiry into the matter is conducted.. However,
it is an undisputed fact that the massacre
occurred in an area under the firm control of the
Israeli army. Therefore, Israel cannot escape the
blame for what has happened.
176. My Government has repeatedly condemned in
the strongest terms the Israeli invasion in
Lebanon. When the special United States envoy,
Mr. Habib, managed to arrange a peaceful lifting
of the siege of west Beirut, we felt hopeful that
events in the Middle East might take a
constructive turn. Our optimism was short-lived,
since in the aftermath of the assassination of
the President-elect of Lebanon the Israeli
forces, violating the Habib agreement, invaded
west Beirut, throwing the door open to the
appalling massacre of Palestinian civilians that
followed. My country was quick to request the
Security Council to take adequate and effective
measures to safeguard the civilian population in
Lebanon.
177. However, there are still a few
encouraging signs. I am referring to the Reagan
plan, which could be considered as the first step
of a process which might lead to a solution to
the Palestinian problem. I should also like to
stress in this context the proposals of the
Twelfth Arab Summit Conference at Fez, which were
announced a little later. I emphasize the fact
that the Arab countries which participated in the
Conference were unanimous in putting forward a
series of constructive proposals aimed at a
comprehensive solution which would be
satisfactory for the Palestinians.
178. This is a time for action, not only by
the parties to the conflict but also by the
international community as a whole. The position
of the PLO should be enhanced to enable it to
play a more meaningful part in the peace process
if we do not wish to see the strong feelings of
frustration and despair of the Palestinians after
their recent experiences in Lebanon find their
expression in a new wave of international
violence. In this connection we think that along
with the recognition of the right of
self-determination of the Palestinian people,
including the right to establish their own
independent State, the PLO should be recognized
as their representative, with the right of full
participation in the peace negotiations. In
stating this we think that Israel's right of
existence should be affirmed beyond any doubt,
together with its right to live in peace along
with the other States of the area within
recognized and secure boundaries. Israel should
realize that it will achieve its security not
through the use of force but only through
dialogue and nego-tiations.
Recent events have proved that stability in
Lebanon has a direct bearing upon the search Mr a
peaceful settlement of the Middle East question.
For that reason, as well as for the sake of
solidarity with Lebanon, the population of which
has suffered so cruelly, we must encourage all
steps leading to a stable Lebanon through the
return of normality in that country and the
restoration of the authority of the Lebanese
Government over the whole of its territory. It is
in that spirit that we greet the election of a
new President and earnestly hope that this
development will mark the beginning of a new era
in that country.
180. The problem of Cyprus is of paramount
importance to the Greek Government, both because
of the well-known links between the peoples of
Greece and Cyprus and because Greece is one of
the guarantors of the sovereignty, independence
and territorial integrity of the Republic of
Cyprus under the terms of the 1960 Treaties.
181. The main components of this problem could
be summarized as follows: More than 36 per cent
of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus is
occupied by Turkish troops. Consequently, the
Government of the Republic of Cyprus is unable to
exercise its sovereign rights over the whole
territory of the Republic. Thousands of Greek
Cypriots have been displaced and live as
refugees in their own country. On the other hand,
the Turkish Cypriot minority expresses deep
concern over its own security. Similarly, the
Greek Cypriots are deeply concerned over their
own security because of the permanent threat
which materialized in a dramatic manner through
the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of
the island. Moreover, we cannot overlook the
determining factor of the Cyprus problem, namely,
that 80 per cent of the population of the
Republic of Cyprus are Greek Cypriots whereas
only 18 per cent are Turkish Cypriots. Although
eight years have already elapsed since the 1974
invasion, the intercommunal talks, which have
been going on ever since under the auspices of
the Secretary-General, have failed to produce any
results.
182. Faced with those realities and with such
an ominous deadlock, the Prime Minister of
Greece, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, made a
constructive proposal a few months ago the
substance of which is the withdrawal of all
foreign troops from the territory of the Republic
of Cyprus and the expansion of the United Nations
peace-keeping forces, in an effort to allay the
fears that the Turkish minority might otherwise
feel for its security. In this regard the Greek
Prime Minister specified that Greece is prepared
to make a substantial financial contribution in
order to meet the additional expenses that such
an expanded peace keeping force would require.
Once the foreign troops are withdrawn and an
expanded United Nations force is in place, the
conditions will be set for truly constructive
talks to start between the two communities with a
view to achieving a just solution to the Cyprus
problem acceptable to all. The final goalis the
safeguarding of the independence, territorial
integrity, unity and non- aligned character of
Cyprus, in accordance with the relevant
resolutions of the Assembly.
183. The Middle East and Cyprus problems are
not the only ones which have resulted from the
resort to force in contravention of the
principles and obligations of the Charter. Other
major international crises are also the result of
the illegal use of force which has led to the
continuing occupation of the territory of other
countries, notwithstanding the repeated unanimous
condemnations of the Assembly and its calls to
put an end to such occupation, as in the case of
Kampuchea and Afghanistan. Greece has
consistently and firmly condemned all acts of
invasion and foreign occupation, regardless of
who the aggressor is.
184. What I have just said does not mean that
we do not sympathize with the struggle of peoples
which have been denied their fundamental right to
self- determination. It is in this context that
my Government lends its moral support to national
liberation movements. I wish at this point to
express more particularly the concern of the
Greek Government at the situation in Central
America and more specifically in El Salvador and
Nicaragua and at the threat of regionalization of
the conflict in El Salvador. Greece calls for a
negotiated political settlement in El Salvador
and expresses its firm belief that the Frente de
Liberacion Nacional Farabundo Marti and the
Frente Democratico Revolucionario should be
included in such a settlement as representative
political forces.
185. In the same spirit, we condemn in the
strongest terms the continued illegal occupation
of Namibia by South Africa, express our firm
support for the efforts of the Western countries
which make up the contact group and urge them to
do whatever they can to enable Security Council
resolution 435 (1978) to be implemented without
any further delay. It is encouraging that these
efforts have recently led to encouraging progress
and that as a result the independence of Namibia
has come much closer than it has ever been before.
186. The Secretary-General submitted to the
Assembly his courageous, comprehensive and fore-
sighted report on the work of the Organization.
He refers, in no uncertain terms to the decline
of the Organization, and I fully share his
assessment. I feel compelled at this juncture to
express the profound disappointment of my country
at the fact that the United Nations has failed to
contribute to the maintenance of peace and to
protect the sovereignty of Member States. I am
afraid that I am stating the obvious when I say
that if this trend continues the Organization,
which was created to fulfill the hopes and
expectations of mankind, which had been
devastated by the Second World War, will be
transformed into a decorative international
bureaucracy. This is not the moment for me to
deal with the causes of the crisis. However, all
agree that the responsibility of the great Powers
for the decline of the Organization is not small;
nor is that of many States which demonstrate
their contempt for the fundamental principles of
the United Nations.
187. Greece, a traditionally peace-loving
country, has followed with genuine interest
recent developments concerning disarmament, and
particularly the proceedings of the special
session of the General Assembly devoted to
disarmament which was convened a few months ago.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that nobody
denied the urgent need for disarmament, the
special session did not produce the results for
which we all hoped. Nevertheless, it should not
be forgotten that it demonstrated the
determination of all peoples to live in peace,
without the scourge of war. All Governments, and
especially those of the super powers, should
understand the real meaning of this message and
increase their efforts. Practical steps should be
taken urgently to promote detente and
cooperation among States and to open the way for
the adoption of effective measures of arms
control and disarmament. The efforts should be
directed to both nuclear andconventional
disarmament. It is essential to remember that the
former cannot be achieved satisfactorily unless
it is coupled with disarmament in conventional
weapons and other weapon;, of mass destruction.
188. In this spirit we welcome the
negotiations which are currently going on in
Geneva between the United States of America and
the Soviet Union. We earnestly hope that they
will result in positive developments. For our
part, we are opposed as a matter of principle to
the division of the world into antagonistic
blocs. It is an integral part of our long-term
policy to overcome this division. In this
connection we express our appreciation to the
non-aligned movement for its role in furthering
the cause of peace. We cannot but congratulate
its members on their decision to keep away from
the military blocs.
189. Peace would not be complete, however, if
it were not accompanied by respect for human
rights and by the development of economic
co-operation between countries. Democratic
Greece, because of its age-old cultural and
national traditions, is strongly and unshakably
committed to respect fbr human rights. Nobody has
ever been persecuted in Greece because of race,
religion or creed. It is with deep regret,
therefore, that we note that in several
countries people are being tortured, disappear
without leaving a trace or are deprived of their
fundamental rights. Furthermore, some countries,
on the pretext of resisting interference in
their internal affairs, refuse to co-operate with
the appropriate international organs for the
control of human rights violations. Greece
condemns any form of racial discrimination, in
particular the policy of apartheid pursued by the
South African Government notwithstanding the
persistent demands of the international
community that it be ended immediately.
190. The adverse economic situation prevailing
throughout the world has caused a serious setback
as regards North-South issues. The recessionary
tendencies in the developed market economies,
which are far from being resolved, preclude any
immediate relief for the developing countries,
whose already weak and vulnerable economies
should be propelled forward at an acceptable
pace. The North-South dialogue appears to be
moribund. Immobility and stalemate have become
the norm.
191. Thus, it is all the more to be hoped that
at this session the Assembly will finally bring
about the agreement on the launching of the
global negotiations that has eluded us for so
long. The meetings of Cancun in October 1981 and
Versailles in June 1982 represent serious
attempts to give impetus to the global
negotiations. Endeavors in that direction must
continue within the United Nations and should be
the responsibility of all Member States. The
developed world in particular must assume its
appropriate share of that responsibility. My
Government will lend its support to any effort to
that end. It is more than obvious that failing to
narrow the gap between the rich and the poor
nations will only increase political instability
and endanger peace all over the world.
192. The United Nations Conference on New and
Renewable Sources of Energy, held at Nairobi,
represents a global challenge in trying to find
new ways for increased utilization of such
sources of energy. The meeting of the Interim
Committee, which was held in June in Rome, has
created a positive climate for the continuation
of the consultations regarding the implementation
of the Nairobi Programme of Action.?
193. A strong and more vibrant United Nations
should carefully examine possible solutions to
the multitude of economic problems facing the
world today, and the Organization needs to be put
to more practical use.
194. It would be an omission if I did not
refer to the Third United Nations Conference on
the Law of the Sea. Greece, being a maritime
nation, welcomes the conclusion of the work of
the Conference. We consider this an important
development, which will, we hope, greatly
contribute to the solution of existing
differences between countries and strengthen
international co-operation. We urge all States
to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea?
195. In the course of this statement I have
expressed the disappointment of my country over
the poor per-formance of the United Nations, and
particularly its failure to discharge its major
missionónamely, to help maintain world peace and
protect the sovereignty of its Member States.
However, I feel compelled also to express the
warm wish that the United Nations shall gradually
overcome its weaknesses, so that it manages to
fulfill the mission entrusted to it by mankind.
Despite its many shortcomings, the Organization
remainsóshould remainóa great hope of
peace-loving people the world over. In this
context I assure the Secretary-General that he
will have the earnest support of my Government in
his noble endeavor to restore the prestige and
effectiveness of the Organization.