Heads of state or government - addresses at the opening of the thirty-ninth General Assembly of the United Nations

UN Chronicle, August, 1984

South Pacific countries do not want to see "unwelcome external influences" intrude on events regarding New Caledonia, where efforts towards a harmonious multi-ethnic society are now under way. In Southern Africa, by contrast, there is no indication that South Africa is ready to share political power with the black majority.

Dialogue and consensus must be used to resolve the world's economic problems. The need for an overhaul of the present international system is needed. New Zealand favours a comprehensive review of the trade and payments system.

Daniel Ortega Saavedra, Co-ordinator of the Junta of the Government of National Reconstruction of Nicaragua: "Our country [has been] the victim of a policy of extermination manifested over the past three years and eight months in the form of an open war of aggression which the aggressor calls covert." The United States has provided "millions of dollars to go on murdering the peoples of Nicaragua and El Salvador", rejecting United Nations decisions and the ruling of the International Court of Justice.

Casualties to date in Nicaragua total more than 7,000--in relative terms equivalent to more than three times the American casualties in the Viet Nam War. Moreover, economic losses as a direct result of foreign aggression total $237 million. "To these figures should be added the credits, loans, grants and so on that Nicaragua no longer receives as a result of United States pressure on Governments and multilateral agencies."

To prevent the elections on 4 November in Nicaragua, the United States Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency are planning a new military offensive set to begin on 15 October. The plans call for air and naval attacks, seizure of territory and renewed mining of Nicaragua's ports. Central American Governments will "go through the formality of requesting 'aid' from the United States to eradicate the 'Sandinist threat'" from the area. Also ready is the "puppet who would be intended to serve as the future President of the United States in Nicaragua". All this amounts to "an attempt to repeat the destructive and shameful actions against Grenada, but this time against Nicaragua".

To each peace initiative by Nicaragua and the Contadora Group, the United States has responded with terrorist attacks, installation of military bases and a "whole infrastructure for unleashing direct, massive military action against Nicaragua".

The two-year effort of the Contadora Group has resulted in an Act for Peace and Co-operation in Central America, which Nicaragua has decided to sign immediately "without amendment or changes of any kind". It is now up to the Central American Governments and the United States to state their positions definitively. "The world has a right to know if the United States is willing to live in peace with the Central American peoples or if it insists on imposing war on us."

If peace does not come and the war continues, and with it the likelihood of United States military intervention, "the Nicaraguan people--barefoot, ragged and with empty stomachs--are going to fight to the end, until we achieve peace, by either defeating the invaders or immolating ourselves if imperialist aggression leaves us no other choice."