HC Deb 15 June 1976 vol 913 cc308-9
Q3. Mr Ioan Evans

asked the Prime Minister when he plans to visit the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation.

The Prime Minister

I have no plans to do so at present. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will, as usual, take part in the general debate at the beginning of the UN General Assembly, which is scheduled to start on 21st September 1976.

Mr. Evans

Will my right hon. Friend consider visiting the United Nations at an an early date? Will he seek to speak to the Assembly and reiterate that the United Nations is the cornerstone of the Government's foreign policy and express wholeheartedly the Government's support for its objectives? Will he take the opportunity of expressing appreciation to the member states of the United Nations for the support that they have given to the Government's policy on Rhodesia?

The Prime Minister

I shall consider that, but it is not normal for Heads of Government to address the United Nations. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be able to convey those sentiments, as I did last year. It is part of the foreign policy of the Labour Government and the Labour Party that the United Nations, with all its weaknesses, should be one of the cornerstones of our foreign policy.

As regards the future of Rhodesia, I was very happy that some members of the United Nations took up the statement that I made to the House on 22nd March, and particularly that the United States Secretary of State did so, he having such influence in these matters.

Mr. Rifkind

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that several thousand Cuban troops are still entrenched in Angola, and that according to recent reports both Cuban and Soviet personnel are exercising increasing control over day-to-day administration there? Will he take steps to have this matter raised in the United Nations Decolonisation Committee, as it appears to be a particularly relevant matter for that committee?

The Prime Minister

The Angolan Government, which is now a legitimate Government, would not accept the terms of the hon. Gentleman's question, in the sense that they invited the Cubans to be there. Therefore, a propaganda exercise in the United Nations would not be likely to yield much benefit.

I think that the sooner Cuban troops are pulled out of Angola, the better. But with the withdrawal of Portuguese technicians from Angola, it is to be expected that the other technicians—the Cuban technicians—who are there are preferable to some whom the hon. Gentleman might like even less.