GA/AP/666, 25 April 1977
The following was received from a United Nations official accompanying Chairman.
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), who is now on a mission to Nordic countries to consult on international action against apartheid, sent the following message to the International Preparatory Committee of the World Conference against Apartheid, Racism and Colonialism, meeting in Lisbon on 23 and 24 April:
"I am happy on behalf of the Special Committee against Apartheid to extend greetings to the International Preparatory Committee of the World Conference against Apartheid, Racism and Colonialism in southern Africa.
"The struggle to eliminate racist and colonial domination in southern Africa and thereby secure the total emancipation of Africa has become one of the central issues of international concern. The minority racist regimes in southern Africa have resorted to increasing savagery in their desperate efforts to perpetuate their domination.
"They are rushing with plans to create Bantustans and puppet regimes-and to widen the area of conflict-in the hope of disrupting the unity of the anti-colonialist and anti-racist governments and peoples, and reinforcing links with the colonial powers.
"The apartheid regime of Pretoria plays the central role in these plans as the main enemy of freedom in southern Africa and the main base for foreign vested interests in the area.
"Despite all its brutality, however, the African liberation movements in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have developed their struggles into new levels.
"I am confident that, if their struggles are reinforced by all necessary political and material support by governments and organizations all over the world, they can finally destroy the systems of oppression and secure liberation in the near future.
"Your efforts in mobilizing such support are, therefore, a great service to the cause of peace and freedom.
"I would like to take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to the Government and people of Portugal on the anniversary of their liberation from fascist rule. The end of Portuguese colonialism as a result of the heroic struggles of the African peoples, and the support of anti-colonial and democratic forces in Portugal, was an event of historic significance.
"The independent republics of Mozambique and Angola have now assumed their responsibilities on the front line as the bastions for the liberation of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
"It is a source of great satisfaction to us that Portugal has joined the ranks of opponents of apartheid and colonialism, and leading personalities in Portugal are associated with the World Conference."