RESTRICTED
111240 MDLIAN 1459
TRIBUTE TOWARDS THESE EFFORTS.
8. AFGHANISTAN
TO BE FORMULATED AT A LATER STAGE.
9. MIDDLE EAST
THE MINISTERS DISCUSSED THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND EKSPRESSED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. THEY REFERRED TO DECLARATIONS AND DEMARCHES MADE BY THE TWELVE, INCLUDING THE DECLARATIONS OF FEBRUARY 23RD
JULY 13TH, 1987, AND FEBRUARY 8TH, 1988, AND TO RESOLUTIONS OF THE UNSECURITY COUNCIL. THEY SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF AN INTERNA- TIONAL CONFERENCE AS A SUITABLE FRAMEWORK FOR A POLITICAL SOLUT- ΙΟΝ. THE TWELVE AND ASEAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SOVEREIGN- TY, INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF LEBANON. THE IRAQ-IRAN CONFLICT IS CONTINUING TO CAUSE GREAT HUMAN SUFFERING AND HEAVY MATERIAL LOSS. IT THREATENS THE STABILITY OF THE WHOLE REGION. THE MINISTERS REAFFIRMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR A SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT ON THE BASIS OF SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 598.
10. SOUTHERN AFRICA
WITH REGARD TO SOUTHERN AFRICA THE MINISTERS REJECTED UN- EQUIVOCALLY THE SYSTEM OF APARTHEID WHICH VIOLATES HUMAN DIGNITY AN REITERATED THEIR CALL FOR ITS TOTAL ABOLITION. THEY CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA TO INITIATE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE WITH THE GENUINE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PEOPLE. THE PREREQUISITES OF THIS ARE THE LIFTING OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, THE UN- CONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AND THE UN- BANNING OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE CONTEKST OF A SUS- PENSION OF VIOLENCE ON ALL SIDES. THE MINISTERS ALSO COMDEMN- ED ALL AGGRESSIVE AND DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES ON THE PART OF SOUTH AFRICA AGAINST ITS NEIGHBOURS IN THE REGION AND CALLED FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF REGIONAL PROBLEMS BY PEACEFUL MEANS. THE MINISTERS CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE INDEPENDANCE OF NAMIBIA IN ACCORDANCE WITH UN RESOLUTIONS 435.
CENTRAL AMERICA
11. THE MINISTERS DISCUSSED THE SITUATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND
IS NO THE PEACE PROCESS IN THE REGION. CONVINCED THAT THERE ALTERNATIVE TO THE EFFORTS FOR ACHIEVING PEACE IN CENTRAL AMERICA BY POLITICAL MEANS AND FOR STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN THE REGION, THEY URGED THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES TO FULFILL ALL THEIR COMMITMENTS UNDER THE ESQUIPULAS ROEM2 AGREEMENT. THEY ALSO APPEALED TO COUNTRIES WITH LINKS AND INTERESTS IN THE REGION TO LEND CONSTRUCTIVE SUPPORT TO THE PEACE EFFORTS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND TO MAKE
PAGE
RESTRICTED