HKK 2 4 3/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 55
13 UN 1974
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Press Release SG/SM/2722 24 May 1979
QUESTION: Do you have any comment on the recommendation of the Credentials Committee to the resumed session of the General Assembly on Namibia
to suspend South Africa's participation when this country is a party to the
dispute?
The SECRETARY-GENERAL:
You know that as a matter of principle I am
in favour of universality. But in this case it is a special situation and, as you know, it is because of South Africa's policy of apartheid that the African Group decided to make this move. I think that has to be kept
in mind if one Judges the request of the African Group to the General Assembly in this regard.
QUESTION : After your talks at the Vatican, do you expect a visit
from the Pope at Headquarters this fall?
The SECRETARY-GENERAL:
I think
that His Holiness has not
He stressed
yet decided definitely in this regard. He expressed great interest to me in the work of the United Nations. He firmly supports our efforts here in
the Organization for peace and international understanding. especially the humanitatian aspects the refugee and human rights problems and related questions. But, as I said, it seems to me that his decision
in regard to your question has not yet been made.
Before concluding let me say something about a subject to which I attach
great importance,
During my trip I had to deal with one very seribus humanitarian problem, that is, the question of refugees in Indo-China and in the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This question came up repeatedly in the ASEAN countries, especially in Thailand, which is suffering most from this situation. llundreds of thousands of refugees are in the area.
We have at present more than one quarter of a million refugees in the region. So this is a very serious situation. Last month alone, 25,000 boat people arrived and thousands more crossed into Thailand,while only 8,400 left for countries of
With this resettlement. This month the influx is likely to be even higher.
(more)