GENERAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 156 ITEMS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA, WILL MEET TO CONSIDER THREE REMAINING ITEMS

17 September 1997

Press Release
GA/9299

GENERAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 156 ITEMS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA, WILL MEET TO CONSIDER THREE REMAINING ITEMS

19970917 Approves New Items on Administrative Tribunal, Negotiating Principles; Item on Taiwan, Republic of China, Not Recommended, After 47-Speaker Debate

The General Committee this afternoon recommended 156 items for inclusion on the General Assembly's agenda for its fifty-second session. It will meet again tomorrow to consider three pending items and to recommend allocation of the items approved among the Assembly's six Main Committees and its plenary.

Among new items recommended was one on amending the statute of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal and another on draft guiding principles for international negotiations. It recommended that the Assembly retain on its agenda an item on "the situation on the occupied territories of Croatia".

The Committee also recommended that the closing date of the Assembly's current session should be no later than Tuesday, 16 December, and that all of its Main Committees should try to complete their work by Friday, 28 November.

However, the Committee decided not to recommend that the Assembly consider a proposed item on the "need to review General Assembly resolution 2758 (XXVI) of 25 October 1971 owing to the fundamental change in the international situation and the coexistence of two governments across the Taiwan Strait". That decision was taken after a debate involving 47 speakers.

Speakers in support of the proposed item said that the 21 million people of Taiwan should be represented in the United Nations and in the international community. Others, speaking against the proposal, said they continued to support resolution 2758, which had affirmed that the People's Republic of China was the sole legitimate representative of the people of China.

The representative of China said the proposed item seriously encroach on China's sovereignty and grossly interfered in its internal affairs. It wilfully trampled upon the purposes and principles of the Charter and of resolution 2758, distorting the facts in an attempt to carry out activities aimed at splitting a sovereign State and creating "two Chinas".

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The representative of the Solomon Islands, a co-sponsor of the proposal, said the request by the Republic of China on Taiwan for participation in the Organization had been unjustly denied. In view of fundamental changes in the international situation, his country had proposed inclusion of the item, with the support of 14 Member States. The Assembly should consider rescinding resolution 2758, which reflected the ideological excesses of the cold war.

Statements on the proposed item were also made by the representatives of Honduras, Indonesia, Senegal, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Kuwait, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Swaziland, Nepal, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Argentina, Afghanistan, Liberia, Nicaragua, Chad, Bangladesh, United Republic of Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, Dominica, Mongolia, Grenada, Colombia, Libya, Pakistan, Myanmar, Iran, Guinea-Bissau, Syria, Russian Federation, Cuba, Italy, Egypt, Cyprus, Zambia, Malawi, El Salvador, Brazil, Belarus, Mexico and Ireland.

As in previous years, the Committee recommended that the items on the question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India and on the question of East Timor be deferred to the Assembly's next session. It also approved inclusion of a footnote stating that the Assembly would consider the question of the International Conference on the Financing of Developing Countries at its current session.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Togo, Greece, Egypt, Croatia and the Russian Federation.

The General Committee will meet again at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, 18 September, to conclude its consideration of the proposed agenda for the current session.

General Committee Work Programme

The General Committee met this afternoon to consider the organization of work for the fifty-second session of the General Assembly. It is expected to consider the provisional agenda for the Assembly's session and make recommendations regarding the inclusion of new items and the allocation of agenda items to the six Main Committees. The General Committee comprises the Assembly's President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Chairmen.

The Committee had before it a memorandum by the Secretary-General (document A/BUR/52/1) containing the 162-item provisional agenda for the Assembly's current session. The memorandum also reviews the past procedures of the Assembly and decisions dealing with the organization of its work, including the recently adopted resolution 51/241 of 31 July entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations system".

The item on United Nations reform measures and proposals, which appears on the agenda of the fifty-first Assembly's session, is provisionally on the agenda for the current session. Under that item, the Assembly would consider the Secretary-General's wide-ranging proposals to reform the Organization, which he presented to Member States on 16 July.

The reform proposals, entitled "Renewing the United Nations: A Programme of Reform", address such organizational questions as the establishment of a new Secretariat leadership and management structure, including creation of a post of Deputy Secretary-General, the consolidation of United Nations operations at the country level, and the need for a thorough overhaul of human resources policies and practices. The report suggests avenues to streamline the work of intergovernmental bodies, particularly the Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, and proposes methods to bring financial solvency to the Organization, including through creation of a revolving credit fund.

The provisional agenda cites five new items for inclusion on the agenda. They are: draft guiding principles for international negotiations (item 157); amendment to article 13 of the statute of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal (item 158); need to review General Assembly resolution 2758 (XXVI) of 25 October 1971 owing to the fundamental change in the international situation and to the coexistence of two Governments across the Taiwan Strait (item 159); and observer status for the Andean Community in the General Assembly (item 162). There is also a request before the Committee for an additional new item entitled "Towards a Culture of Peace".

The proposed item on draft guiding principles for international negotiations was proposed for inclusion in a letter by the Permanent Representative of Mongolia (document A/52/141). In it, he stresses that the adoption of such rules would promote justice and fairness in negotiations that

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at times fall victim to power politics. It is proposed that the item be added as a sub-item of item 48, on the United Nations Decade of International Law.

The proposed item on the situation with respect to "The coexistence of two Governments across the Taiwan Straight" is contained in a letter from the representatives of Burkina Faso, Dominica, the Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Nicaragua, Senegal, Solomon Islands and Swaziland (document A/52/143).

In an explanatory memorandum annexed to the letter, the representatives urge the United Nations to consider seriously the justification for the continued exclusion of the Republic of China on Taiwan from membership in the Organization. They call on the Assembly to re-examine and rescind its 1971 resolution 2758 (XXVI), by which the Republic of China on Taiwan was excluded from the United Nations, in order to restore without delay to the 21.5 million people of the Republic of China on Taiwan the lawful right to participate in all activities within the United Nations system.

The memorandum stresses that resolution 2758 (XXVI) violates the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; that the Republic of China on Taiwan fully meets the requirements for United Nations membership; and that parallel participation in the United Nations by the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would be conducive to regional security and world peace.

The request for inclusion of the item on a culture of peace, for consideration by the Assembly in plenary session, is contained in a letter from Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Senegal and Venezuela (document A/52/191). They state that the Assembly examined the question at its two previous sessions in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) under the item entitled "Human rights questions". Pursuant to resolution 51/101, entitled "Culture of Peace", the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will report on activities within UNESCO's transdisciplinary project on that subject. That report will also present elements for a draft provisional declaration and programme of action on a culture of peace.

The request for the inclusion of the item on observer status for the Andean Community in the Assembly is contained in a letter by Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, member States of the Community (document A/52/232). It states that the Andean Community is a free trade area without any kind of tariff restrictions. Its objectives include promoting balanced and harmonious development of the member countries on the basis of equity, through economic and social integration and cooperation; encouraging gradual formation of a Latin American common market; and helping to reduce external vulnerability and improve its member countries' position in

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international trade. Those achievements are expected to result in a steady improvement in the standard of living of the inhabitants of the subregion.

Also before the General Committee is a request by Croatia for non- inclusion in the agenda of provisional item 96, entitled "The situation in the occupied territories of Croatia" (document A/52/231). Its request refers to previous recommendations by the Assembly on the elimination of items which have lost their urgency or relevance. "With the establishment of new, democratically elected local government in the region and the ongoing phasing- in of Croatian institutions throughout the region, the occupation of the last remaining territory in Croatia has ended", Croatia's letter states. Stating that the reintegration of that territory has been largely completed, it holds that there is no need for the Assembly to consider the item any further.

Statements on Provisional Agenda

The representative of Togo drew attention to the proposed item on the question of the Malagasy Islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India. He said that, following consultations with the representatives of France and Madagascar, they wished to recommend that the item be deferred until the Assembly's next session.

The representative of Greece supported the proposal.

The Committee decided to recommend that the item be deferred and that it be included on the provisional agenda of the Assembly's fifty-third session.

Question of East Timor

The representative of Egypt cited a recent report of the Secretary- General informing the Assembly of his intention to facilitate the tripartite dialogue between Indonesia and Portugal on the question of East Timor. The item on East Timor should therefore be deferred to the Assembly's next session.

The representative of Greece supported the proposal.

The Committee decided to recommend that the item on the question of East Timor should be deferred to the Assembly's fifty-third session.

Occupied Territories of Croatia

The representative of Croatia said the rationalization of the work of the General Assembly was a common goal of the Organization. The Secretary- General had recently made proposals to streamline the work of the Organization, and it was Croatia's aim to constructively contribute to that

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goal. The item on "the situation in the occupied territories of Croatia" should be deferred to the Assembly's next session, as there had been no discussion on it during the Assembly's two prior sessions and it was no longer relevant to the situation in Croatia. However, Croatia remained flexible to other methods of dealing with the issue.

The representative of the Russian Federation said it was premature to say that the item had lost its relevance or lacked urgency. United Nations operations were continuing to peacefully integrate the regions in question, and quite a few problems remained in that effort. In fact, reintegration of the populations had hardly begun. The item should therefore be kept on the Assembly's agenda for the current session.

The Committee agreed to include the item on the agenda of the Assembly's current session.

Macroeconomic Policy Questions

The representative of Venezuela said the proposed agenda of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) had been the subject of exhaustive review. He drew attention to its item on macroeconomic policy and its sub-item entitled, "Financing of development, including net transfer of resources between developing and developed countries". In connection with that sub- item, he said a footnote should be included on the Assembly's agenda stating that the question of the International Conference on the Financing of Developing Countries would be considered at the Assembly's current session.

The Committee agreed to include the footnote, as proposed by the representative of Venezuela.

Draft Principles for International Negotiations

The representative of Mongolia requested that the item on draft guiding principles for international negotiations be included in the provisional agenda as a sub-item of item 148 on the United Nations Decade of International Law.

The Committee decided to recommend to the Assembly that it include the item on its agenda.

Statute of Administrative Tribunal

The Committee decided to recommend to the Assembly that it include on its agenda the item entitled, "Amendment to article 13 of the statute of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal".

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Review of Resolution 2758 (XXVI)

The representative of the Solomon Islands said his Government had repeatedly called on the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China to reopen negotiations to resolve the issue of the exclusion of the Republic of China from the United Nations. Both parties had offered proposals that were similar, but there had been no decision on negotiations. Bringing about such negotiations would be a long and difficult process.

In view of fundamental changes in the international situation, the Solomon Islands had proposed the inclusion of the agenda item, and 14 Member States had supported that request, he said. The Republic of China's request for participation in the Organization had been unjustly denied. The Member States which supported the proposal sought the reunification of China and had acted to prevent a slide towards armed conflict.

Resolution 2758 (XXVI) reflected the ideological excesses of the cold war, he said. It was poorly drafted and stripped the Republic of China of its rights. The Assembly should review the resolution and consider revoking it -- there was precedent for that. The Republic of China was a major donor of development aid and maintained diplomatic relations with 30 countries, yet its offers of development aid had been rejected by the Organization because of its status. A review of resolution 2758 would represent an important start in reopening negotiations; it would be the Assembly's contribution to resolving the situation between the two parties.

The People's Republic of China's position was that it supported reunification of the "motherland", he said. Citing what he called a "threat by a Permanent Representative of the United Nations", he said there was no place for threats at the end of the cold war. China's actions regarding Taiwan had included the use of its veto in the Security Council on matters which involved the Republic of China, as well as recent actions regarding the conference on the Panama Canal. Would the Assembly continue to remain silent in the face of such actions and threats on the part of China? It should reply with "a resounding no", he said.

The representative of China said a very small number of countries, after having been defeated for four consecutive years, had once again put forward the proposal on Taiwan's so-called "return to the United Nations", requesting a review of resolution 2758 (XXVI). Those countries were acting in disregard of the norms of international law, the United Nations Charter and a resolution of the General Assembly. Their proposal distorts facts in an attempt to make use of the United Nations to carry out activities aimed at splitting a sovereign State and creating "two Chinas". The Chinese Government expressed its strong indignation and condemnation of that proposal, which not only

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seriously encroached upon its sovereignty and grossly interfered in its internal affairs, but also wilfully trampled upon the purposes and principles of the Charter and of resolution 2758.

Taiwan had been a part of the Chinese territory since ancient times, he said. The 159 countries that had established diplomatic relations with China recognized that there was but one China, that the Government of the People's Republic of China was the sole legal Government representing China in its entirety, and that Taiwan was part of China. At its twenty-sixth session, the Assembly, by an overwhelming majority, adopted resolution 2758, which recognized that "the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China were the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that it was one of the five permanent members of the Security Council. The resolution reaffirmed the "one China" principle and settled, once and for all, the question of China's representation at the United Nations.

He went on to say that the question of Taiwan fell entirely within China's internal affairs and that it could only be settled by the Chinese people. To end the state of separation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and achieve national reunification, Chinese President Jiang Zemin had put forward an eight-point proposal on 30 January 1995; it dealt with developing relations across the Straits and advancing the process of peaceful reunification. On 12 September, President Zemin further stated, at a session of the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, that the concept of "one country, two systems" was a basic policy for the advancement of national reunification and that the return of Hong Kong would create favorable conditions for the settlement of the Taiwan question. President Zemin appealed that, as a first step, the two sides should hold discussions on ending the state of hostility under the "one China principle" and come to an agreement. He also suggested that they should jointly commit to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and plan for the future development of relations across the Straits.

Those proposals took into consideration the long-term interest of the entire Chinese people and also accommodated and safeguarded the interests of the people of Taiwan, he said. However, the Taiwan authorities had intensified their separatist activities aimed at creating "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". Those activities included abetting a small number of countries in bringing up, time and again, the proposal on the so-called "Taiwan's representation" in the United Nations. His Government had always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other Member States and had never done anything to hurt any country, including the co-sponsors of the proposal. China hoped that they would join the overwhelming majority of Member States in safeguarding the authority of the United Nations Charter and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and return to the basis for

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normal relations among its Member States.

The representative of Honduras said that Assembly resolution 2758 prevented the 21 million inhabitants of Taiwan from enjoying the rights of members in the international community. The absence of Taiwan from the United Nations meant that the situation was an exception, and it should be considered a serious matter to find a just solution to the problem. There were precedents for the Assembly to review its own decisions. The matter should be examined because of the new situation in international relations and the reality that existed across the Taiwan Straits. Such a review was important to promote a climate conducive to possible unification. The citizens of a sovereign State should not be deprived of the just aspiration to participate in international organizations.

The representative of Indonesia said his Government had adopted the "one China" policy, recognizing that the People's Republic of China was the legitimate authority governing the entire territory of China. In its resolution 2758, the Assembly decided to restore to the People's Republic of China all its rights and accorded recognition to the representative of its Government as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations. Attempts to seek the participation of the other entity representing China or other parts of China in the United Nations would be contrary to the Charter. Indonesia saw no need to review resolution 2758.

The representative of Senegal said that, in view of the fundamental changes in the international situation, he supported the efforts of the people of the Republic of China to take their seat in the United Nations and to participate in the work of its specialized agencies. It was anachronistic that the Republic of China, as a major economic power in the world and with a commitment to democracy, should be left out of the assembly of nations. The history of the United Nations had shown that two Governments could represent a people divided by the vicissitudes of history, as in the case of North and South Korea. He insisted on the need for a broad debate on the issue and supported the arguments put forward by the representatives of the Solomon Islands and Honduras for inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic said the question of the representative of China in the United Nations had already been settle by resolution 2758. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the People's Republic of China to membership to the bodies of the United Nations had already been established. Any action to take up this question would not be in keeping with that resolution. His Government opposed the inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Kuwait said the issue of Taiwan and its participation in the United Nations had already been settled by resolution 2758. Any attempt to include the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda

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represented a flagrant violation of that resolution and of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The representative of Iraq said the Assembly, at its twenty-sixth session, had adopted resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority. The request for the inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda violated that resolution and interfered with the internal affairs of a sovereign State. His Government was firmly opposed to inclusion of the item.

The representative of Kazakhstan said his Government recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole Government of China. Taiwan was part of the territory of China. Kazakhstan opposed inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Kenya said only one China should be represented in the United Nations. Kenya strongly opposed the inclusion of the item in the Assembly's agenda. It was only as one China that the aspirations of the Chinese people would be fully respected. It was hoped that the Chinese people would amicably resolve their internal matters on their own.

The representative of Swaziland said it was inaccurate to say that the inclusion of the proposed item was supported by a very small number of countries. His Government fully associated itself with the call to review Assembly resolution 2758 owing to the fundamental change in the international situation and to the coexistence of two Governments across the Taiwan Strait. The United Nations could "provide a cure to the ills of resolution 2758" and the plight of a country and people who were desirous of leading a normal life.

The representative of Nepal said that inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda would undermine its decision 26 years ago and would also represent interference in the internal affairs of a Member State. The question of China's representation had been decided by resolution 2758. Nepal rejected the request for inclusion of the item.

The representative of Burkina Faso said he had requested inclusion of the item, along with a number of other delegations, owing to the fundamental change in the international situation over the past 26 years. The Republic of China was already an actor on the international scene and it was asking that its status be recognized. The Assembly should examine the reality of the situation.

The representative of Gambia expressed support for the statement by the Solomon Islands. The Republic of China had a contribution to make to the international community and the United Nations. It was time to re-evaluate and change resolution 2758. The Republic of China deserved just and fair treatment. Gambia had therefore requested inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

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The representative of Argentina said his country had supported the adoption of resolution 2758 and was one of the first States to restore relations with the People's Republic of China. The question of the status of Taiwan was an internal affair of the people of China. Argentina did not favour inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Afghanistan said the question under discussion had been raised over a number of years and had been defeated. The revocation of the earlier status of the Republic of China had been a very important step. The proposed agenda item encroached on the principle of "one China". The "two China" policy could be dangerous to the Organization. The people of mainland China and Taiwan were the same people. The situation could be resolved by the idea of "one country, two systems", proposed by the Government of the People's Republic of China. Member States should reject inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Liberia said that for several years, like-minded Member States had asked that a fresh look be taken at the matter of the continued exclusion of the Republic of China on Taiwan from the United Nations. His Government was a co-sponsor of the current request for inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda. The time was opportune for Assembly resolution 2758 to be reviewed and updated, to end the isolation of the Republic of China on Taiwan from the United Nations and its agencies. His Government respected the People's Republic of China and had no interest in interfering in its internal affairs. In the post-cold-war era and pending the reunification of China, every effort should be made to ensure that the United Nations was no longer constrained by ideological considerations.

The representative of Nicaragua said a state was an entity which should be recognized by law. A state had sufficient economic power and was energetic enough to have international relations. A state should also be sovereign and independent and it must have a peopled territory or governmental authority. The Republic of China on Taiwan had all the elements of a legitimately constituted state. In addition, the Republic of China on Taiwan had completely complied with international law and conducted diplomatic relations with others States.

Nicaragua asked that the proposed item be included on the Assembly's agenda. The full participation of Taiwan in the United Nations would create benefits for the United Nations in promoting peace internationally. It would also make contributions in such areas as the environment and international drug trafficking. Any other solution would run counter to the principle of universal representation in the United Nations.

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The representative of Chad said the United Nations must be a reflection of the world and that the international community must seize the opportunity to achieve the ideal of universality. Yet since 1971, the Republic of China on Taiwan had been excluded from the United Nations. The Republic of China on Taiwan met the characteristics of a state as described in the Charter. His Government therefore supported inclusion of the item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Bangladesh said that resolution 2758 had resolved the question of the membership of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. There was no further need to include such an item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of the United Republic of Tanzania said he opposed the request to reopen consideration of resolution 2758. That resolution which put an end to more than 30 years of debate about China's representation at the United Nations, remained relevant. It had also confirmed the just claim of the People's Republic of China to China's seat in the United Nations. Political problems within any territorial jurisdiction were matters for the parties themselves to resolve peacefully. The international community should not aggravate such problems by encouraging dismemberment. It should promote dialogue.

The representative of Sri Lanka said there was only one China. By resolution 2758, the People's Republic of China became the sole representative of the people of China. Sri Lanka had voted in favour of that resolution and opposed the request for inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Sudan said the proposal now being considered had kept the General Committee busy unnecessarily for the past four years and it had been rejected each year. The proposal contravened the issue of sovereignty. Sudan continued to support resolution 2758 and recognized the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of the people of China in the United Nations. It opposed the inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of the Bahamas said his country recognized one China and the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of the people of China. It would not support inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Papua New Guinea said the political differences

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between the two parties should not be used to prevent Taipei from playing a meaningful role in promoting international development and technical cooperation for the mutual benefit of all peoples. There was merit in the bold attempt to review the 1971 resolution. The option of allowing Taiwan's parallel representation in the United Nations, within terms agreed to by both parties, could facilitate the process towards a peaceful resolution of the question and the eventual unification of the Chinese people in accordance with their aspirations.

The representative of Dominica called for a review of resolution 2758 with a view to admitting the Republic of China on Taiwan to the United Nations. The Republic of China on Taiwan adequately met the conditions for membership in the Organization in every respect. Over several decades, it had demonstrated a remarkable willingness and ability to accept and carry out the obligations of the Charter. Those who opposed its membership had advanced one legal argument, which stated that United Nations resolutions were meant to be followed and that resolution 2758 had settled the question of the United Nations representation of China for all time. However, that view ignored the fact that all legislation was the product of the prevailing factors at the time and that the resolution in question had been adopted at the height of the cold war. In view of the changes in international relations following the ending of the cold war, resolution 2758 should be reviewed during the Assembly's current session.

The representative of Mongolia said his Government saw no valid reason for the proposed item to be included on the agenda of the Assembly's current or future sessions. Resolution 2758 had already settled the question of China's representation in the United Nations.

The representative of Grenada said Taiwan was a peace-loving and democratic country which was willing and able to carry out the obligations of the United Nations Charter. Consideration should be given to its membership in the United Nations. The Assembly should review resolution 2758 during its current session.

The representative of Colombia said resolution 2758 established that the Government of the People's Republic of China was the sole representative of China to the United Nations. Colombia opposed inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda, as it violated the Charter. The future of China must be decided by the Chinese people themselves.

The representative of Libya said his Government opposed the proposed item on a review of resolution 2758, which had been adopted by an overwhelming majority and was based on historic and political justifications. Any questioning of that resolution would weaken the Assembly's resolutions. Taiwan was an integral part of China; inclusion of the proposed agenda item would trample the prestige of the Assembly.

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The representative of Pakistan said his Government firmly held that China was a sovereign Member State of the United Nations and that Taiwan therefore had no right to be a member of the United Nations. Pakistan opposed inclusion of the proposed item. The request for its inclusion only resulted in a tremendous waste of the Assembly's time and resources and sought to undermine the Charter of the United Nations.

The representative of Myanmar said his Government recognized the existence of only one China, and Taiwan as a part of China. China's representation at the United Nations had been settled by the adoption of resolution 2758. He therefore opposed inclusion of the proposed item in the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Iran said he supported the position of the Permanent Representative of China and opposed the inclusion of the proposed item.

The representative of Guinea-Bissau said his country supported inclusion of the proposed item. More than 20 million people of Taiwan lived on a distinct territory and had built a modern democratic society. The United Nations should no longer ignore their rights. That situation should be corrected so that Taiwan could enjoy international recognition. The proposed item should be included on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Syria said resolution 2758 had established the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of people of that country. The request for the inclusion of the proposed item was not in line with the Charter or with that resolution. Any attempt to create two Chinas was a distortion of fact and an attempt to spark cold war issues. The proposed item should not be included on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of the Russian Federation said his Government's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China remained unchanged. Resolution 2758 adequately settled the problem of the representation of China and did not require revision. The Russian Federation opposed the proposal to include the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Cuba said the question of China's representation had been resolved 26 years ago by resolution 2758, which made clear that the People's Republic of China was the sole and legitimate representative of the Chinese people. Cuba was opposed to inclusion of the proposed item.

The representative of Italy said his Government was strongly attached to the principle of "one China". It was the responsibility of the Chinese Government to pursue dialogue for peaceful solutions in its internal affairs. The proposed item should not be included on the Assembly's agenda.

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The representative of Egypt said the question of China's representation had been decided in a final and decisive manner when the Assembly adopted resolution 2758. That matter should not be reconsidered. Egypt opposed inclusion of the proposed item.

The representative of Cyprus said his Government opposed inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda. The question of China's representation was settled without any ambiguity by the adoption of Assembly resolution 2758.

The representative of Zambia said his Government categorically rejected the notion of Taiwan's inclusion in the work of the General Assembly. Resolution 2758 had served to put to rest any notion of the existence of "two Chinas". Taiwan was a province of the People's Republic of China, and only the Chinese people could resolve the issue of Taiwan.

The representative of Malawi said there had been a fundamental change in the international situation since the adoption of resolution 2758. The discussion of the current proposal was therefore not a waste of time. His Government wished to encourage both sides towards reconciliation and healing. Malawi favoured discussion of the issue in the Assembly and inclusion of the proposed item on its agenda.

The representative of El Salvador said his Government, along with others which supported inclusion of the proposed item, were trying to find a solution to an international problem. By requesting a review of an Assembly resolution, they were attempting to correct the situation by recognizing the rights of the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Inclusion of the proposed item did not run counter to the interests of China and the United Nations. The state of international relations had changed since resolution 2758 was adopted; the proposed item should be included on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Brazil said his Government recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of China to the United Nations. There was no cause to include the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Belarus said his Government fully supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. Taiwan was an integral part of the territory of China. Belarus opposed the inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Mexico said his Government also supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. Inclusion of the proposed item would not be compatible with interests of the United Nations. Mexico saw no justification for questioning the validity of the decision adopted by the

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Assembly 26 years ago. It therefore rejected the proposal to include the item on the Assembly's agenda.

The representative of Ireland said his Government was committed to a "one China" policy, with the People's Republic of China as the sole

representative of the people of China in the United Nations. Ireland opposed inclusion of the proposed item on the Assembly's agenda.

The Committee decided not to recommend the inclusion of the proposed item on a review of resolution 2758 on the agenda of the Assembly's current session.

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