Peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia discussed by assembly.

Peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia discussed by Assembly

The question of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia, an item first put on the agenda in 1980, was discussed by the General Assembly on 6 November 1985. As in previous years, no resolution was tabled. Eighteen countries participated in the debate. The Assembly, without a vote, decided that the item would be considered again in 1986.

Debate: Five countries from South-East Asia participating in the debate were Democratic Kampuchea, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam stressed that all countries in South-East Asia wanted to make the region a zone of peace, stability and co-operation. A practical basis for talks between the States of Indo-China--Viet Nam, Laos and the People's Republic of Kampuchea--and ASEAN (Association of South-East Nations) countries was provided by the 1971 Kuala Lumpur ASEAN Declaration concerning a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality in the region; the principles of the 1976 Bali ASEAN summit declaration; the principles put forth by the States of Indo-China in 1981; and the Final Declaration of the 1983 New Delhi non-aligned summit.

The two countries maintained that several common denominators had emerged that could serve as the basis for a political solution in South-East Asia: the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Kampuchea without permitting the return of the "Pol Pot genocidal clique"; national reconciliation among the various Khmer factions on the basis of the "elimination of the Pol Pot clique"; organization by Kampucheans of free general elections with the presence of foreign observers; the building in South-East Asia of a zone of peace and stability; cessation of all foreign interference in the affairs of regional countries; and an international guarantee of the agreements concluded.

Laos and Viet Nam also referred to the talks between the United States and Viet Nam on the question of American soldiers who had disappeared during the Viet Nam war and on other questions of common concern. The talks would help facilitate the restoration of peace and stability in South-East Asia, they indicated.

Laos said the States of Indo-China were prepared to sign, separately or together, with Thailand a treaty based on mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's domestic affairs, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each State within its present borders, rejection of the use of the territory of one State against the others, and peaceful coexistence. Restoration of relations of friendship, co-operation and good-neighbourliness between Viet Nam, Laos and Kampuchea on the one hand, and China on the other, would constitute an important factor in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Viet Nam said exchanges of views between the two groups of countries in South-East Asia had produced encouraging results, initiating a process of substantive dialogue for the purpose of finding equitable solutions to all the problems of the region. The only way to settle the problems among the countries of South-East Asia was to strengthen those substantive talks "in a spirit of constructive good faith". The opening of bilateral talks on the normalization of relations between Viet Nam and China, as proposed by Viet Nam, would contribute to a lasting political solution to the region's problems.

Viet Nam stressed that there had been four partial withdrawals each year since 1982 of Vietnamese "volunteer forces" from Kampuchea. Those forces would withdraw completely by 1990. However, if a negotiated political settlement of the Kampuchean question could be reached, the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces would take place "simultaneously with the elimination of the Pol Pot clique, politically, militarily and as an organization".

Democratic Kampuchea, Singapore and Thailand were of the view that only a speedy end to the present conflict in Cambodia could lead to peace, stability and co-operation throughout South-East Asia. Viet Nam should withdraw its forces and talk directly with the Kampucheans, who should be allowed to determine their own future, free from any coercion. A solution should take into consideration the legitimate interests of all sides, but must not be at the expense of the Kampucheans.

Singapore stressed that there was no regional dialogue in South-East Asia on the Kampuchean problem. The Indochinese States did not form a free association of States as did the ASEAN States.

Thailand said the essential element of mutual trust between countries in the region must be in place before regional co-operation could thrive. It was ready to discuss with Laos any issue that caused a genuine problem. However, both sides should abide scrupulously by their obligations not to resort to subversion or any hostile act against each other.

The Philippines said the Vietnamese occupation of Kampuchea remained the central source of tension and insecurity in South-East Asia. The situation invited intensified rivalry among outside Powers. Viet Nam must do its part if it truly desired peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia. It must demonstrate through concrete actions, not with mere unsupported pronouncements, that it observed the rule of law, in order to gain the trust and confidence of its neighbours. That was the key to any meaningful dialogue of peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

China said there could be no tranquility or peace, stability or cooperation in South-East Asia so long as Viet Nam refused to pull all its troops out of Kampuchea. To confuse public opinion, Viet Nam had resorted to the myth of the "China threat" and "Chinese interference". While professing a desire for a negotiated settlement, Viet Nam accused China of obstructing the tendency for dialogue in South-East Asia. Actually, it was trying to extricate itself from isolation and was covering up the intensification of its aggression.

Other speakers in the debate--Afghanistan, Bulgaria, the Byelorussian SSR, Cuba, Czechoslovia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, the Ukrainian SSR and USSR--supported the views expressed by the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. Among the points made by those speakers were that:

--The presence of Vietnamese "volunteers" in Kampuchea was a temporary and unavoidable measure made necessary by the ongoing outside interference in Kampuchea's affairs. They did not threaten ASEAN countries.

--The real problem in South-East Asia was the continued interference in the internal affairs of the sovereign State of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, with imperialism trying to regain lost positions and implementing far-reaching plans of expansion in the region.

--Together with Viet Nam and Laos, the People's Republic of Kampuchea was making an important contribution to transforming South-East Asia into a zone of peace, stability and co-operation.