text: UNITED NATIONS S -_-- ---.^ -w---_ --_. Security Council Distr. GENERAL S/17426 29 August 1985 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH LETTER DATED 29 AUGUST lY85 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECHETARY-GENERAL At the request of the South African Minister of Foreiqn Affairs, the Honourable R. F. Botha, I am enclosinq the text of a letter he has addressed to Your Excellency on 28 August 1985. I should appreciate it it this letter and the annexure could be circulated as a document of the Security Council. (Siqned) Kurt Von SCHIHNDING Permanent Representative 85-23956 1670s (E) / . . . S/17426 Enq 1 ish Paqe 2 ANNEX Letter dated 28 August 1985 from the Minister for Foreiqn Aftairs Of South Africa addressed to the Secretary-General I have the honour to refer to resolution 569 (1985) adopted by the United Nations Secuti ty Council on 26 July 1985 as well as to the declaration read by the President of the Council on 21 Auqust 1985 at its 2603rd meeting and wish to comment as follows: Inasmuch as this recolution and the declaration violate the principle ot non-interference in the internal aEfsirs of a Member State, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the South African Government rejects them both as illegal and unacceptable. Furthermore, they set a dangerous precedent whereby the Security Council purports to prescribe to a sovereign State under threat of sanctions, a particular course of domestic action. The criteria applied by the Security Council in the resolution are also suspect .in so Ear as one of the demands made on South Africa for a “free, united and democratic society on the basis ot universal surfrage” Is a test that cannot be 
analysis: This text appears to be a diplomatic communication between the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations and the Secretary-General, regarding a Security Council resolution and declaration. The letter rejects the resolution and declaration, citing violations of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a Member State. The content suggests a political or governance-related issue, rather than a specific economic, social, or environmental topic.