THE SITUATION IN NAMIBIA13

In the course of its meetings in Africa14, the Security Council adopted the following resolutions relating to this question.
Resolution 309 (1972)
of 4 February 1972
The Security Council, Having examined further the question of Namibia, and without prejudice to other rewlutions adopted by the Security Council on this matter, Recognizing the special responsibility and obligation of the United Nations towards the people and Territory of Namibia, Reaffirming once again the inalienable and imprescriptible right of the people of Namibia to self-determination and independence, Reaffirming also ·the national unity and territorial integrity of Namibia, 1. Invites the Secretary-General, in consultation and close co-operation with a group of the Security Council, composed of the representatives of Argentina, Somalia and Yugoslavia, to initiate as soon as possible contacts with all parties concerned, with a view to establishing the necessary conditions so as to enable the people of Namibia, freely and with strict regard to the principle of human equality, to exercise their right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;
2. Calls upon the Government of South Africa to co-operate fully with the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the present resolution not later than 31 July 1972.
Adopted at the 1638th meeting hy 14 votes to none.15

Resolution 310 (1972)
of 4 February 1972

The Security Council,
Taking note of the statement of the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania,16 in his capacity as current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity,

13 Resolutions or decisions on this question were also adopted

by the Council in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971.

14 See above, pages 2 and 3.

15 One member (China) did not participate in the voting.

16 See Official Records of the Security Council Twenty-

seventh Year, 1627th meeting.

'

Taking note of the statement of the President of the United Nations Council for Namibia,17
Gravely concerned over the present situation in Namibia and the repressive measures of the South African Government, following the strike of the African contract labourers in the country and the widespread and increasing manifestations of African resistance to the illegal occupation of the Territory by the South African Government,
Convinced that the Security Council, as a matter of urgency, should find ways and means to enable the people of the Territory to achieve self-determination and independence,
Conscious of .the need for full co-operation of all Member States, in particular the permanent members of the Security Council and the main trading partners of South Africa, for this purpose,
Recalling its previous resolutions and those of the General Assembly pertaining to Namibia,
Conscious of the special responsibilities of the United Nations towards the people and Territory of Namibia,
Mindful of its responsibility to take necessary action to secure strict compliance with the obligations entered into by Member States under the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming the inalienable right of the people of Namibia to self-determination and independence, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,
Reaffirming also the national unity and territorial integrity of Namibia,
1. Strongly condemns the refusal of South Africa to comply with the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council pertaining to Namibia;
2. Reaffirms that the continued occupation of Namibia by the South African authorities is illegal and detrimental to the interests of the people of Namibia;
3. Declares that the defiant atti.tude of South Africa towards the decisions of the Security Council undermines the authority of the United Nations;
4. Strongly condemns the recent repressive measures against the African labourers in Namibia, and calls upon the Government of South Africa to end immediately these repressive measures and to abolish any labour system which may be in conflict with the basic provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
5. Calls upon all States whose nationals and corporations are operating in Namibia notwithstanding the relevant provisions of Security Council resolution 283 ( 1970) to use all available means to ensure that such nationals and corporations conform, in their policies of hiring N amibian workers, to the basic provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
6. Considers that the continued occupation of Namibia by the Government of South Africa in defiance of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and
17 Ibid., 1628th meeting.

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