Negotiations on Kampuchea gather 'unprecedented momentum,' S-G says.

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar on 24 October reported "unprecedented momentum" in the process of dialogue and negotiations regarding the situation in Kampuchea. Although "peace remains elusive", he said, the results of ongoing intensive diplomatic activity should not be lost. The Paris Conference on Cambodia in mid-1989 had achieved significant progress in elaborating a comprehensive political settlement, he said.

Also stating that Viet Nam had informed him that it had withdrawn all troops between 21 and 26 September, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said total withdrawal of foreign forces from Kampuchea, verified by an effective international control mechanism, would constitute an important element of such a settlement. A verification mechanism acceptable to all concerned had yet to materialize.

In his report to the Assembly (A/44/670), Mr. Perez de Cuellar said there could be no military solution to the problem. The most important outstanding issue was national reconciliation, which must begin with the definition of viable administrative arrangements for the transitional period leading to the holding of free, fair and internationally-supervised elections".

On 15 and 16 November, the General Assembly enumerated the principal components of a just, lasting and comprehensive political settlement" of the problem, including withdrawal of all foreign forces, under supervision and control of the UN; creation of an interim administering authority; promotion of national reconciliation among all Kampucheans under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk; and the non-return to the universally condemned policies and practices of a recent past.

Others were: restoration and preservation of Kampuchea's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and its neutral and nonaligned status; the right of the Kampuchean people to determine their own destiny; and commitment by all States to non-interference and non-intervention in Kampuchea's internal affairs, with effective guarantees.

Resolution 44/22 was adopted by a vote of 124 in favour to 17 against, with 12 abstentions.

Use good offices

The Assembly emphasized that the Kampuchean people should be allowed to "exercise its inalienable right to self-determination through internationally supervised free, fair and democratic elections". Troop withdrawal without UN supervision was "not within the framework of a comprehensive Political settlement", it said.

All parties concerned were called upon to intensify efforts to resolve the problem through a comprehensive political settlement. The Secretary-General is to continue to exercise his good offices in order to contribute to a comprehensive political settlement.

The Co-Presidents of the Paris Conference on Cambodia (30 July30 August 1989) were invited to intensify consultations with a view to reconvening the Conference and its committees at an appropriate time.

Appreciation was expressed to countries, the UN and its agencies, and other national and international humanitarian organizations that had given relief assistance to the Kampuchean people. The continuation of such aid, to those along the Thai-Kampuchean border and in Thailand was asked.