U.N. set to impose arms ban on S.A. today

Press, 5 November 1977, Page 9

U.N. set to impose arms ban on S.A. today

NZPA-Reuter New York The United Nations Security Council will today impose a mandatory arms embargo on South Africa in the first such action against a United Nations member in the 32-year history of the world organisation.

A resolution expected to be adopted by consensus also calls on all states to review existing contractual and licensing arrangements with South Africa for the manufacture and maintenance of arms, ammunition, military equipment and vehicles, with a view to ending them. All States would also be obliged to refrain from any co-operation with the Pretoria Government in the manufacture and development of nuclear weapons. The draft was formally submitted as a United Nations document yesterday after council members put the finishing touches to the text at a closed-door meeting. The council began its latest debate on the crisis in South Africa on October 24 after the white-ruled republic’s crackdown against opponents of apartheid. The resolution is based on a Canadian-West German draft, toughened by a number of amendments submitted by the three African members of the council — Benin, Libya, and Mauritius — in consultation

with the other countries of the 49-nation African group. The Western membeis of the council, including Britain, France, and the United States, last Monday vetoed three African-sponsored resolutions which, in addition to a mandatory arms ban, would have called for a halt to investments, loans, ‘and credits to South Africa.

The 15-nation body, hpwever, unanimously adopted a fourth draft strongly condemning the Pretoria Government for its resort to violence and represslion against opponents of apartheid. It also demanded the release of political prisoners and the lifting of a ban on various organisations and publications. The resolution to be approved today requests ,the United Nations SecretaryGeneral (Dr Kurt Waldheim) to report on its implementation by next May; 1, the council retaining the item on its agenda for further action, “as appropriate in the light of developments/’