GA/AP/622, 10 December 1976
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), issued a statement today regarding his meeting, on behalf of the Committee on Thursday, 9 December, with Olof Palme, until recently Prime Minister of Sweden, and at present the leader of opposition in the Swedish Parliament.
He recalled that the Special Committee had on several occasions in the past commended the government and peoples of the Nordic countries for their strong opposition to apartheid. He expressed thanks to Mr. Palme for the many years of support, leadership and inspiration in the cause of human dignity and freedom in southern Africa. He also thanked Mr. Palme for the personal and very warm receptions which he gave to his predecessors whenever they visited Sweden in the past when he was Head of Government.
Mr. Harriman stated that the Special Committee was happy to note that the new Government of Sweden has continued to take a strong stand against apartheid. He said that the human values of the Nordic people go beyond leaders and government but are deeply seated in the Nordic people themselves.
Mr. Harriman commended the role played by the Nordic countries especially Sweden during the current session of the General Assembly and also their initiatives on the resolution on the cessation of new investments in South Africa in order to bring additional and necessary pressure to bear on the racist regime of South Africa. He said that it was heartening to learn that the five trade union organizations and labour parties of the Nordic countries at their recent meeting in Helsinki have gone further and called for legislation to prevent new investments in South Africa. This he said was an example to all those who stood against apartheid.
Mr. Palme informed Mr. Harriman of the greater and greater interest being generated now in Europe in the affairs of southern Africa as demonstrated by the recent Socialist International Congress held in Geneva on 26-28 November 1976. He assured Mr. Harriman of the unswerving support of the people of Sweden and particularly that of his party to the struggle against apartheid and racism. He said that Democratic Socialism should never stand on the side of colonialism and racialism but should assist the nations and peoples in their efforts to gain independence, social justice and human dignity.
Mr. Harriman said he had noted with satisfaction the statement made by Mr. Palme at the Socialist International Congress in Geneva last month and commended Mr. Palme's analysis of the problem in southern Africa and his seven-part programme of action by which the Social Democrats can assist in the struggle against apartheid.