S.A., Zionists, Cuba attacked at start of racism conference

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 8

S.A., Zionists, Cuba attacked at start of racism conference

NZPA-Reuter Geneva South Africa's apartheid policies came under heavy fire at a 100-nation United Nations conference against racism, but early stages also sparked a move to condemn Zionism and an attack on Cuba's role in Africa.

The United Nations Secre-tary-General (Dr Kurt Waldheim) opened the two-week conference with a strong attack on the South African race-separation system, describing apartheid as the most extreme form of racial discrimination being practised today and one which "’inherently and inevitably leads to violence.” Lesotho’s Commerce and Industry Minister (Mr Mooki Molapo), unanimously e'ec r ed conference president, followed Dr Waldheim in making South Africa a major target in his speech. The conference, with representatives from 98 United Nations member States, five other countries, and 35 groups, including the Palestine Liberation Organisation, comes halfway through the United Nations-declared decade for action against racism.

As the conference began, some Arab delegations were lobbying for a renewal of a 11975 United Nations General I Assembly resolution which I equated Zionism with racism. Israel, the United States, and the World Jewish Congress have stayed away ‘ from the congress in protest against the 1975 resolution. South Africa has ignored its invitation. The Somali mission in Geneva accused Cuba of “an intensive campaign and lobbying” to be named a vicepresident of the session. In a written statement, , Somalia said that many African and Arab delegations i supported its stand against )Cuba, which it declared had I “engaged in proxy wars in i Africa on behalf of the Sos viet Union in the execution of a. systematic plan to suppress the legitimate aspira-

ttions of African peoples for justice, freedom, and human! ’dignity.” Cuba was declared one of| j the 10 countries to act as| I vice-president. No reference was made to' the protest, and Somalia was; 'not present in the hall for 'the announcement. The former British Liberal Party leader, Jeremy Thorpe, freed on bail earlier this ; month after being charged . with conspiracy to murder, I flew in to Geneva on Mon.day and is due to attend the conference later. I Mr Thorpe, chairman of i the British United Nations I Association and a former ! vice-president of Britain’s I anti-apartheid movement, | will then leave with his [wife, Marion, for a secret I destination in Switzerland I for a few days rest, according to British officials.