Missions of Chairmen of the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid to Nordic Countries
1975 - 1982

Notes on Consultations

As Principal Secretary of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, and later head of the UN Centre against Apartheid, I maintained close contact with Nordic countries from 1963 and visited their capitals on many occasions for consultations on action against apartheid and assistance to political prisoners, refugees and the liberation movement. The development of public opinion in those countries, the growing commitment of the governments, and the crucial role they played in the international efforts for freedom in South Africa were a great source of satisfaction and encouragement to me.

I have decided to put together my notes on the consultations when I accompanied the Chairmen of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid on missions to Nordic countries, as they are useful in understanding the evolution of action by Nordic countries for the liberation of South Africa from apartheid.

I had organised all the four missions, prepared briefs for the Chairmen and drafts for their statements and reports, as well as press releases. (I could not accompany Alhaji Yusuff Maitama-Sule on his brief visit to Finland in 1982 as I had to return to New York before the conclusion of the mission.) I have not kept notes on the fifth mission - the mission of General J.N. Garba in October 1984 to consult particularly on a joint initiative by Nordic States and the Special Committee in the General Assembly - as reflected in the resolution on "Concerted international action against apartheid." This resolution, co-sponsored by many smaller Western States, was intended to obtain the widest support and action.

The missions involved a series of private consultations with governments at the political and official level and with many non-governmental organisations. I took some notes at most of the meetings mainly for use in preparing reports on missions or as reminder for follow-up action. The accounts of consultations included here are prepared from these notes and are by no means summaries of all the discussions. My notes were often incomplete or sketchy as I was actively participating in the discussions and omitted discussions in which there were no new elements. These notes were not cleared with the governments concerned.

But I hope that, read together with the statements during the missions and reports on the missions, these notes will help in understanding and appreciating the significance of Nordic support to the struggle for liberation.

E.S. Reddy
Head of the United Nations
Centre against Apartheid
until end of 1984

June 1985

• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Finland, H.E. Mr. Ahti Karjalainen
• Appendix: Statement by Ambassador Ogbu at meeting with the Foreign Minister of Finland
• Meeting with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Finland
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Sven Andersson
• Meeting with the Foreign Ministry officials of Sweden
• Meeting with the Prime Minister of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Olof Palme
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Knut Frydenlund
• Meeting with officials of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Shipping, and the Norwegian Agency for International Development
• Meeting with the Foreign Relations Committee of the Stortinget (Parliament)
• Meeting with the Prime Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Trygve Bratteli
• Meeting with Foreign Ministry officials of Denmark
• Meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark, H.E. Mr. Anker Jorgensen
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Denmark, H.E. Mr. K.B. Andersen
• Meeting with the Foreign Relations Committee of the Danish Parliament

• Meeting with Foreign Ministry officials of Sweden
• Meeting with the Director-General and staff of Swedish International Development Authority
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Knut Frydenlund
• Meeting with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Norway
• Meeting with the International Solidarity Committee of the Norwegian Labour Party and the National Trade Union Federation
• Meeting with the Prime Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Ordvar Nordli
• Meeting with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Norwegian Parliament
• Meeting with the Director of Norwegian Cooperative Society, Mr. Peter Soiland
• Meeting with Foreign Ministry officials in Denmark
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Denmark, H.E. Mr. K.B. Anderson
• Meeting with Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament of Denmark
• Meeting with the President of the Republic of Finland, H.E. Dr. Urho Kekkonen
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Finland, H.E. Dr. Kaijo Korhonen
• Meeting with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Finnish Parliament

• Meeting with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
• Meeting with representatives of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Finnish Parliament
• Meeting with the Under-Secretary of State for International Development Cooperation of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Hans Blix
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Ola Ullsten
• Meeting with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Sweden. Lunch hosted by the Foreign Ministry of Sweden
• Meeting with the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Sweden, Mr. Olof Palme
• Meeting with the Foreign Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Knut Frydenlund
• Meeting with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Norway
• Meeting with the Prime Minister of Norway, H.E. Mr. Ordvar Nordli
• Meeting with the Foreign Relations Committee of Norwegian Parliament

• Meeting with the Foreign Ministry officials of Denmark
• Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Prime Minister of Denmark, H.E. Mr. Kjeld Olesen
• Meeting with officials of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
• Meeting with trade union leaders at Danish National Trade Union Centre
• Meeting with Danish anti-apartheid groups
• Meeting with the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Leif Leifland
• Meeting with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Sweden
• Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, H.E. Mr. Ola Ullsten
• Meeting with the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, Mr. Olof Palme
• Meeting with trade union representatives at the head office of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation
• Meeting with the Association for Development Issues
• Meeting with Mr. Peter Nobel, member of Swedish and international bar associations
• Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, H.E. Mr. Svenn Stray
• Meeting with representatives of Norwegian non-governmental organisations
• Meeting with officials of the Foreign Ministry of Norway
• Meeting with the President of the Norwegian Parliament, Mr. Ordvar Nordli
• Meeting with the Committee on Foreign and Constitutional Affairs of Norwegian Parliament