we want to do so before the violence now happening in South Africa spreads its effects beyond South Africa’s borders. If the South African Government does not respond to the selective sanctions and voluntary measures so far applied to it, it is Australia’s strong view that the Security Council should consider the next step: mandatory economic sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. 290. This brings me to a final important point. It con- cerns the role and effectiveness of the Council and particu- larly the remarks about this in the latest report of the Secretary-General. 291. We owe the Secretary-General a serious effort to translate his proposals into effective action. He has played a valuable and constructive role in dealing with major disputes, using powers assigned him by Article 99 of the Charter to bring disputes himself before the Council. He sent a mission last year to investigate allegations about the use of chemical weapons in the war between Iraq and Iran. In 1982, he undertook an initiative to end the hostilities over the Falklands. The Australian Government supports proposals that the Secretary-General be more intensively involved as mediator, arbitrator, negotiator or catalyst in seeking solutions to international problems which threaten to disturb the peace. 292. Since Austrafia has been a member of the Council, we have tried to help improve the Council’s capacity for quiet diplomacy, through the reduction of the number of speakers in Council deliberations, for example. We have suggested that periodic meetings should review in a syste- matic way the state of international security. It is not responsible of the Council to wait until crises actually arrive before calling on the Secretary-General to try to settle them. 293. We agree also with the Secretary-General’s approach that the Council make a concerted effort to deal 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations and diplomacy, specifically the role of the United Nations Security Council in addressing conflicts and imposing sanctions. It does not seem to be related to any of the economic, social, or environmental categories.

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