chances forapeaceful solution totheSouth Afri~an question clearlyexist. Any delayintheprocess ofnegotiation leading toaconscious effortaimedatthe dismantling ofQPartheid willundoubtedly haveominous consequences forallsectors ofSouthAfrican society. ItisnowuptothosewhoareatthehelmofpowerinPretoria toactin favourofpeaceanddemocracy inSouthAfricaorfacetheconsequences ofthe violence, instability anduncertainty inherent intheverynatureofapartheid. In theiractions anddeedswehopethattheywillchoosetheformercourseofaction. Mr.MORTENSEN (Denmark): Ihavethehonourtospeakonbehalfofthe fiveNordiccOllntries, Finland, Iceland, Norway, SwedenandDenmark. Ninemonthsago,atitssixteenth special session, theGeneral Assembly adopted byconsensus theDeclaration onApartheid anditsDestructive ~onsequences inSouthern Africa. TheDeclaration constitutes astrongandunanimous signalfrom theworldcommunity thattheabhorrent systemofeeartheid mustbeabolished. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryPMB/13 A/44/PV.99 51 (Mr.Mortensen, Denmark) Thecontinued struggle against ~partheid insideSouthAfrica, andthe unanimity demonstrated bytheworldcommunity onthatoccasion played, inourview, asignificant roleinpersuading theSouthAfrican Government toembarkupona political process thatholdsthepromise thatprofound political changeinSouth Africaisfinally withinreach.Itistherefore allthemoreimportant atC~: present session topreserve thisconsensus andaimataconstructive andbalanced resolution inthespiritoftheDeclaration oflastDecember. WehavebeforeusthereportoftheSecretary-General ontheImplementation of theDeclaration onApartheid anditsDestructive Consequences inSouthern Africa. TheNordiccountries wouldliketotakethisopportunity tothankthe Secretary-General forhisverycomendable workingivingacomprehensive, well-balanced andinformative picture ofdevelopments andopinions inSouthAfrica sincetheadoption oftheDeclaration. Although significant developments inSouth Africahavetakenplacesince,thereportwillformavaluable basisforthe General Assembly's deliberations onthequestion ofepartheid atitsforty-fifth session. TheNordiccountries havewelcomed thereforms thathavetakenplaceinSouth AfricaunderPresident DeKlerk,aswellasthedialogue initiated between the SouthAfrican Government andtheANC.Theforesight andcourage displayed by President DeK1erkandMr.NelsonMande1a inthisprocess havebeenwidely applauded. WiththePretoria Minuteof6Augustanewmilestone wasreached, and thetwoparties havestatedthatthewayisnowopentoproceed towards negotiations onanewconstitution. TheNordiccountries haveconsistently heldtheviewthatprofound and irreversible changes mustbebrought aboutthrough negotiations andwithout theuse ofviolence. Wewelcome theimportant decision bytheANCtosuspendallarmed Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryFMB/l3 A/44/PV.99 52 (Mr.Mortensen, Denmark) actions. Allparties inSouthAfricashouldfollowtheexamplesetbytheANCand theGovernment andcommitthemselves tofinding peaceful solutions without resorting toviolence. Alongside thepolitical process nowunderway,theSouthAfrican Government shouldtakeurgentmeasures aimedatredressing theimmense socialandeconomic inequalities whichexistinSouthAfricaasaresultoftheAPartheid requlations. Aspointed outbytheSecretary-General inhisreport~ thewidespread violence and thehugeeconomic andsocialdisparities couldpresentdifficulties forthe political processiftheyarenotrecognized andaddressed urgently andatthe highest level. Theviolence inSouth Af~ican society hasincreased tragically inrecent weeks. Allparties shoulddotheirutmosttobreakthistragiccycleofviolence, stabilize thesituation andsolvetheirdifferences through dialoque. TheSouth African Government hasaspecial responsibility inbringing thissituation toan endinanimpartial manner. Itisevident thatamomentous process hasbeensetinmotioninSouth Africa. However, alonganddifficult roadliesahead. Important pillars ofthe eeartheid systemhaveyettoberemoved. Itisagainst thisbackground thattheNordicForeign Ministers attheir meeting inNorwayon11and12September thisyearreaffirmed thattheirpolicy towards SouthAfrica.continues tobebasedonthecentral elements ofthe1988 NordicProgramme ofAction. TheNordicGovernments willthusmaintain thepressure ontheSouthAfrican Government, including economic sanctions, untilthereisclear evidence ofprofound andirreversible changes inSouthAfrica.
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the political situation in South Africa, specifically the struggle against apartheid and the efforts towards a peaceful solution. It discusses the importance of negotiations, the role of the international community, and the need for the South African government to take urgent measures to address social and economic inequalities. While it does not directly address economic development, natural resources, or other specific sectors, it is clear that the text is concerned with the broader social and political context of South Africa.

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