MISSIONS OF CHAIRMEN OF THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID TO NORDIC COUNTRIES

1975 - 1982

Notes on Consultations

 

NOTE

As Principal Secretary of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, and later head of the UN Centre against Apartheid, I maintained close contact with Nordic countries from 1963 and visited their capitals on many occasions for consultations on action against apartheid and assistance to political prisoners, refugees and the liberation movement. The development of public opinion in those countries, the growing commitment of the governments, and the crucial role they played in the international efforts for freedom in South Africa were a great source of satisfaction and encouragement to me.

I have decided to put together my notes on the consultations when I accompanied the Chairmen of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid on missions to Nordic countries, as they are useful in understanding the evolution of action by Nordic countries for the liberation of South Africa from apartheid.

I had organised all the four missions, prepared briefs for the Chairmen and drafts for their statements and reports, as well as press releases. (I could not accompany Alhaji Yusuff Maitama-Sule on his brief visit to Finland in 1982 as I had to return to New York before the conclusion of the mission.) I have not kept notes on the fifth mission - the mission of General J.N. Garba in October 1984 to consult particularly on a joint initiative by Nordic States and the Special Committee in the General Assembly - as reflected in the resolution on "Concerted international action against apartheid." This resolution, co-sponsored by many smaller Western States, was intended to obtain the widest support and action.

The missions involved a series of private consultations with governments at the political and official level and with many non-governmental organisations. I took some notes at most of the meetings mainly for use in preparing reports on missions or as reminder for follow-up action. The accounts of consultations included here are prepared from these notes and are by no means summaries of all the discussions. My notes were often incomplete or sketchy as I was actively participating in the discussions and omitted discussions in which there were no new elements. These notes were not cleared with the governments concerned.

But I hope that, read together with the statements during the missions and reports on the missions, these notes will help in understanding and appreciating the significance of Nordic support to the struggle for liberation.

E.S. Reddy
Head of the United Nations
Centre against Apartheid
until end of 1984

June 1985

CONTENTS

Mission of H.E. Mr. Edwin Ogebe Ogbu, 3-17 May 1975

Mission of H.E. Mr. Leslie 0. Harriman, 14-23 April 1977

Mission of H.E. Mr. B. Akporode Clark, 18-30 May 1980

Mission of H.E. Alhaji Yusuff Maitama-Sule, 19-30 April 1982