MiddleEastandAsia. Anumberoftheseconflict continue today. InSouthAfricatherehasbeeninthepastyearanexplosion ofpolitical violence. Hundreds havebeenkilledinclashes between demonstrators andthe policeandinviolence intownships ac~.....;thecountry. TheSouthAfrican Government hassoughttocontrol thesituation bythedeclaration ofastateof emergency - atermthatisshorthand fortheapplication ofarangeofrepressive andbrutalmeasures whichonlyaddtotheturmoil theyseektocalm.Itistrue thattherehavebeensuggestions ofreform. Thatinitselfissomething. But nowhere isthereaclearandunequivocal commitment bytheSOuthAfrican Government toabandon apartheid andtoenterintoaserious political dialogue involving leadersoftheblackcommunity• Fortyyearsafterthefounding oftheUnitedNations weshouldrecallthat apartheid hasbeenthesubject ofdebatefor33ofthoseyears,withlittle tangible progress toshowforit.For23ofthoseyears,NelsonMandela has languished inaSouthAfrican prison.»1B/IO A/40/PV.13 37 (Mr.Barry,Ireland Ireland believes thatthetimeisripetomovefromwords;0international action. Already, withtheaimofincreasing thepressure forchangeontheSouth African Government, wehave,inconcert withourEuropean partners, agreedto iMPlement aseriesofmeasures elaborated atLuxembourg on10September. Beyondthis,however, webelieve thatonlycollective action bythe international communit¥ asawholewilleventually succeed inpersuading thosewho holdpowerinS:s1JlthAfricatomakethecommitment toabandon apartheid. Ireland therefore favours theimposition bytheSecurity Council ofcarefully chosen, graduated andmandatory sanctions against SouthAfrica -tobefullyimplemented by all. OUrgOlllZ?Jstbetheabolition ofapartheid. Itisimperative toendasystem whichisin(l~ectcontradiction toeveryaccepted notionofjustice, equality and theworthofthehumanperson. WeurgetheSouthAfrican Governmant, initsown interests ifnothing else,toacceptthatfact. Elsewhere intheregion, SouthAfricacontinues todefyinternational lawand opinion byitsoccupation ofNamibia anditsaggressive anddestabilizing activities against neighbouring States. Thesetting upofanunrepresentative internal administration inNamibia, already condemned bythesecurity Council, ~z.;i~ars tobeyetanother ploydesigned tocomplicate Namibia's transition to independence. WeinsistthatSouthAfrica impleme~t security Council resolution 435(1978). Weinsist, too,thatSouthAfrica enditsaggressive actions against itsneighbours. Wecondemn unreservedly theSouthAfrican raidintoBotswana and theactivities ofitsforcesinAngola. Political instability, ecohomic injustice andhumanrightsabusescontinue alsoinCentral America. Ireland isconvinced thattheapproach eni>odied inthe Contadora process continues toofferthebesthopeofasolution tothemanifold problems ofthatregion. Wetherefore regretthat,despite thevigorousAKH/IO A/40/PV.13 38 (Mr.Barry,Ireland efforts oftheContadora GroupoverthepastyeartheCentral American countries havebeenunabletoagreeaDDngthemselves onthetermsofanActforPeaceand Co-operation. Thesearchforagreement deserves andneedsallour~upport. For thisreasonIbelieve thattheestablishment ofaContadora support groupbyLatin American nations isapositive anqencouraging development. Forthisreason, too0 Ireland hasbeenaconsistent advocate ofthestrengthening ofpolitical and economic linltsbetween theEuropean Community andtheCentral American countries. ThecosttoCentral America ofabreakdown intheContadora process wouldbevery great indeed~ Thelong-suffering peoples oftheregionmustbegiventhe opportunity todevelop theirsocieties inpeaceandfreedom without external intervention. SotoomustthepeopleofAfghanistan. Thecontinuing conflict there,the suffering oftheAfghanpeople, theplightoftherefugees andtheburdenof neighbouring countries beartestimony totheheavytolloftheSoviet intervention. Ireland welcomes themediation efforts oftheSecretary-General's representative andbelieves thatanysolution totheAfghanistan conflict mustbe basedontheprinciples setoutinsuccessive unitedNations resolutions. Mycounuy remains deeplyconcerned atthecontinuing failure tobringanend totheconflicts intheMiddleEast-bothbecause ofthesuffering andmisery whichthepeoples ofthattroubled regionhavehadtoendure andbecause ofthe gravethreats whichtheconflicts thereposetowiderinternational security.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement by the Irish representative to the United Nations, discussing various conflicts and human rights issues around the world. The main focus is on political and social issues, with specific mention of apartheid in South Africa, the situation in Central America, and the conflict in Afghanistan. The text does not appear to be related to economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations