The Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, has said the Non-Aligned Movement faced a new threat of interference and pressure from power blocs and called for the strengthening of the UN to resist pressures from powerful nations. Addressing the plenary meeting of leaders of the movement at the UN headquarters, Gandhi noted that the NAM had undergone “a generational change” as dilemmas posed by bloc antagonisms became more complex.
PM, Zhao & Zia
The Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, conferred with the leaders of the two important neighbouring countries, China and Pakistan, in New York. Gandhi and Zhao Ziyang, Prime Minister of China, during their hour-long talks, resolved to settle the long-standing border dispute between the two countries. Gandhi conveyed to Pakistan President Zia-ul-Haq his concern over Islamabad’s nuclear plans, which India thought were heading for the development of a bomb.
Arms Control
The seven-nation Warsaw Pact ended a summit with a call to the West for joint reduction in all arms categories. Soviet spokesman Vladimir Lomeiko denied that his country was violating the spirit of the SALT-II agreement on deploying nuclear weapons but stopped short of contradicting US Secretary of State Caspar Weinberger, who claims the Soviets are using SS-25 intercontinental missiles.
Apartheid Must Go
The Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, asserted there was no alternative to the removal of South Africa’s apartheid regime but warned the world, “Let us not underestimate the regime’s brazenness”. He was addressing the UN special committee for apartheid hours after arriving at the United Nations from Havana to begin a three-day visit. The meeting was convened to hear Gandhi in acknowledgment of India’s historic role against racism since Mahatma Gandhi launched the struggle in South Africa in 1893.
