unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/04/89)
itself of those aspects.
ION DIACONU, expert from Romania, stressed that chemical weapons should
not be used either in time of war or in time of peace. It was equally
important to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass
destruction, along with the chemical weapons.
ALFONSO MARTINEZ, expert from Cuba, agreed with the expert from Romania
that all weapons of mass destruction should be eliminated, including nuclear
and chemical weapons. Noting the importance of the report presented by the
Secretary-General, he spokke about his concerns in connection with certain
points raised in that report. Selectivity in dealing with that problem, he
said, be it the alleged use of chemical weapons in Angola or any other alleged
case, should be avoided by the Sub-Commission.
EYA NCHAMA, of the International Union for Fraternal Union among People
and Nations, focused on traditional practices affecting the health of women
and children, noting that his organization paid a great deal of attention to
that very important problem. The conclusions contained in the expert from
Morocco's report were objective and could be helpful in overcoming such
practices in the countries of Asia and Africa by the end of the century.
MAGDA BAUTA SOLES, observer from Cuba, focusing on that part of the
report presented by the Secretary-General relating to the alleged use of
chemical weapons by Cuba in Angola, categorically rejected all allegations to
that effect, and said that Cuba had never used chemical weapons.
Contradictions contained in the report were obvious. She said that Cuba fully
supported the Geneva protocol on chemical weapons of 1925 and international
efforts aimed at prohibiting those weapons. That question was presented in a
biased manner, she said, with the view to covering up the intrusion of South
Africa in Angola, as well as its use of chemical weapons in 1986.
HALIMA WARZAZI, expert from Morocco, expressed her regret that the report
on traditional practices had not been issued by the Secretariat in full format
and hoped that it would be available to the Sub-Commission by the end of the
session. She then informed the Sub-Commission about the extremely useful
consultations she had had with the Governments and all interested
organizations.
Mr. MARTINEZ, expert from Cuba, wondered why the report by the
Secretary-General did not mention the use of chemical weapons by South Africa
in 1986. He asked the Secretariat to respond to that question.
Ms. PALLEY, expert from the United Kingdom, pointed out that she had
spoken about the need to prohibit all weapons of mass destruction. She shared
the view expressed by the expert from the Soviet Union, that the
Sub-Commission should support the efforts aimed at the elaboration of the
Convention against chemical weapons. She also shared the views expressed by
the expert from the United States.. Referring to the statement by the
observer from Cuba, she stressed that she had had no intention of covering up
the alleged use of chemical weapons by South Africa in 1986. It was just that
she had been unaware of that use.
TEIMURAZ RAMISHVILI, expert from the Soviet Union, suggested that when
the Sub-Commission came to the discussion of the resolution on the right to
life, that resolution should also include the question of chemical weapons.
Mr. MARTINEZ, expert from Cuba, noted that the questions raised in his
remarks had not been completely understood, including the question of
selectivity in dealing with the use of chemical weapons.
Ms. PALLEY, expert from the United Kingdom, in response to the expert
from Cuba, said that in her statement she had focused on Angola because it was
relatively an unknown situation, while there was already a great amount of
information on other situations.
A representative of the Secretariat asked for more time to allow it to
respond to the points raised by Mr. Martinez of Cuba.
Ms. BAUTA SOLES, observer from Cuba, reiterated that allegations made
against Cuba were motivated by support for South Africa.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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