GA/AP/776, 19 December 1977
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), has sent the following message to the Ministerial Council of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, on 20 December:
On behalf of United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, I wish to address an appeal to OPEC Council of Ministers and OPEC Member States to take urgent action for an effective oil embargo on South Africa.
In resolution 32/105 adopted on 14 December, United Nations General Assembly requested all States to impose an embargo on the supply of petroleum and petroleum products to South Africa and on investment in the petroleum industry in South Africa. It requested Special Committee to take all appropriate steps in co-operation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to promote the oil embargo.
Special Committee is convinced that oil embargo would be important international measure for eradication of apartheid and support of legitimate struggle for freedom in South Africa. Aware of commitment of OPEC Member States to United Nations and cause of freedom, I trust that OPEC will take measures to impose embargo and prevent violations by multinational companies.