GA/AP/803, 1 March 1978
Following is the text of a message by the Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), to the International Non-Governmental Organization Conference on Disarmament meeting in Geneva:
I am happy on behalf of the Special Committee against Apartheid to extend my greetings to the International NGO Conference on Disarmament and wish it success.
Effective disarmament has long been the ardent wish of humanity, especially of the oppressed peoples whose leaders have been the outstanding exponents of peace during this century. I note with satisfaction that public organizations engaged in struggle for disarmament have been among the staunchest supporters of liberation.
The Special Committee has been particularly concerned since its inception in 1963 with the tremendous build-up of military forces by the racist regime of South Africa. It has persistently warned of the menace posed by this build-up and called for effective international action. Some governments and economic interests have, however, ignored its appeals and moved by greed for profit or other considerations, assisted that regime to build-up an enormous military arsenal.
The military budget of South Africa increased from 56 million dollars in 1960-1961 to about two billion dollars in the current year. The apartheid regime has acquired missiles and hopes to secure nuclear weapon capability.
No one can honestly doubt that the purpose of the apartheid regime in undertaking this unprecedented military build-up is to preserve racist domination by terror against the great majority of the people who are unarmed and aggression against independent African States who seek to devote their resources to economic and social development.
I would appeal to the Conference and all its participants to consider effective steps to stop the militarization of the South African racists.
I appeal for a world-wide demand for:
(a) the full implementation of the mandatory arms embargo, decided on by the Security Council on 4 November 1977, without any loopholes;
(b) the total cessation of all nuclear collaboration with South Africa;
(c) the withdrawal of all investments in subsidiaries in South Africa which continue to provide supplies to the armed forces;
(d) the cessation of all contacts with the South African Defence Force; and
(e) the prohibition of emigration to South Africa, especially of mercenaries and skilled workers.