Release of Mandela a "turning point" in South African history.

Mr. Mandela's freedom, however, would remain incomplete until the majority of the South African people could enjoy equality, dignity and justice, the Committee stated. It urged prompt implementation of all measures required to establish a climate conducive to negotiations.

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said the freeing of Mr. Mandela, together with other measures announced by South Africa, market "a turning point in the process for the peaceful settlement of the South African situation".

South African President F.W. de Klerk's "positive move", he said, should be followed without delay by lifting the state of emergency and releasing all other political prisoners.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar hoped that the momentum for peace created by recent South African initiatives would accclerate the dismantling of the apartheid system and its replacement by a non-racial democracy, in which all the citizens of South Africa, regardless of race or colour, will be able to participate fully, a system which would ensure justice and equality for all". He expressed confidence that Mr. Mandela would play an important role in advancing such a democratic process. At a special 16 February meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid marking Mr. Mandela's release, the Secretary-General said that event was "not an end in itself, but a milestone in the democratic process which must lead to the liberation of the people of South Africa from the system of apartheid'. It was now possible that the people of South Africa, working together, could establish a non-racial democracy with equal rights for all. General Assembly President joseph N. Garba of Nigeria called Mr. Mandela's release "most propitious and of immense significance" towards realizing the desired objective of peacefully attaining a non-racial and democratic South Africa. He warned, however, that it would be ill-advised and counter-productive" for any UN Member State to lift sanctions against South Africa now.

That should be considered only after the state of emergency had been fully lifted, all remaining political prisoners released, and meaningful negotiation commenced among all people of South Africa in order to end the apartherid system, he said.

Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria, in his first statement as the new Chairman of the Special Committee, said that Mr. Mandela personified "the yearnings of the people of South Africa for freedom, equality and justice". He stressed that when Mr. Mandela had come out of prison, "he did not talk revenge, he talked about reconciliation". international Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed on 21 March at Headquarters at a solemn meeting of the Special Committee against Apartheid. Proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1966, the Day marks the anniversary of a 1960 protest by civilians at Sharpeville, South Africa, against the pass laws". Some 69 persons were killed and 180 wounded after police fired on the crowd.

Secretary-General javier Perez de Cuellar hoped for a normalization of the political process, including a national dialogue on the country's future.

General Assembly President Joseph N. Garba of Nigeria said until apartheid as eliminated, international pressure on Pretoria must be maintained, and assistance and support for South Africa's oppressed people provided. "The day will certainly come when the black people of South Africa .. can point to a new constitution which guarantees all people their fundamental rights under the democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities", he stated.

Call for effective

programme against apartheid

A three-day seminar on "East Asian action against apartheid'; held at the UN University (Tokyo, 23-25 january), called for greater pressure on South Africa by the countries of the region to dismantle the apartheid system. Among other things, participants favoured strict observance of the mandatory arms embargo; embargoes on the supply of all military products and technology, including oil and petroleum products; and cessation of credit loans and equity investment. Special Committee urges

continued sanctions

The continuation of sanctions against South Africa and an end to its collaboration with Israel in the nuclear and military fields were urged on 9 March in New York at the first meeting of 1990 of die Special Committee against Apartheid

In opening the session, Committee Vice-Chairman Guennadi I. Oudovenko of the Ukrainian SSR said any change of policy now by the international community towards South Africa would be premature. Lifting sanctions-the most effective means to eliminate apartheidwould undermine the process-seeking democratic change in that country.

He called for the release of all political prisoners; the return of exiles; lifting of the state of emergency; removal of troops from the townships; and repeal of repressive legislation.

On 16 February, Ibrahim Gambari of Nigeria was elected as Special Committee Chairman for 1990. Reelected as Vice-Chairmen were Gladys Saint-Phard of Haiti, Jai Pratap Rana of Nepal and Mr. Oudovenko. Virendra Gupta of India was re-elected Rapporteur.