anti-apartheid stance.

It said Government helped strengthen sporting and cultural sanctions against South Africa.

The UN statement follows its decision to tear up registers set up to discourage athletes and entertainers from performing in the country.

Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon and Cultural Affairs Minister the. Hon. Leonard Gibbons said they had just been told officially of the decision.

The Youth Ministry has already been in touch with the National Olympic Committee of South Africa.

And it has sent a list of sports approved by NOCSA to local sporting groups.

The sports register, set up in 1981, named athletes performing in South Africa.

These were then open to blacklisting from sporting events around the world.

A similar register for entertainers and actors was set up in 1983.

The UN now feel the registers have served their purpose, and helped the dismantling of the apartheid regime through peaceful negotiations.

It has urged the world to resume academic, scientific, and cultural links with approved democratic anti-apartheid groups and individuals in South Africa.

This includes the NOCSA, headed by Mr. Sam Ramsamy and recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the South African sports authority.

The UN Special Committee Against Apartheid has praised Bermuda for its efforts to defeat apartheid.

And it applauded people who ignored cash carrots and refrained from sport or cultural contacts with South Africa.

"The courageous and uncompromising position taken by the Government of Bermuda helped in convincing many athletes and entertainers that there could be no sports or cultural contacts with South Africa as long as these activities were not integrated on non-racial basis,'' the UN stated.

Last night Mr. Glenn Fubler, co-ordinator of Bermuda's Anti-Apartheid Coalition, said Bermudians should take the credit.

He said they had pressurised Government to take a robust anti-apartheid line.

"Government was a little bit slow to start with,'' added Mr. Fubler.

He said Bermuda became one of the Countries to enforce the strongest sanctions against South Africa.

It was particularly to be praised for "secondary boycotting'' -- blacklisting sportsmen who played with teams which had performed in South Africa.

Mr. Fubler, however, warned there was still a long way to achieving racial integration in the country.

"Until there is one person one vote there won't be true democracy, but there is movement in the right direction,'' he said.

Mr. Fubler added sanctions may have to be re-enforced in South Africa stalls on the path of democracy.