A/36/PV.46 General Assembly

In paragraph 2 (a) and (b) of the §ame report, the General Committer. ~comJ'!lends th~ in- clusion in the agenda of an additional item entitled "Equitable representation in the International Law Com- mission and enlargement of its composition" and its con- sideration directly in plenary meeting before subitem (j) of item 17, which concerns the elections of the members of the Commission, is taken up. May I take it that the General Assembly also approves that recommendation? It was so decided (see para. 3 below).

In paragraph 3 (a) and (b) of the report, the General Committee recommends the il!clusion in tr)e agenda of an additional ite~ entitled "New interna- tional humanitarian order" and its allocation to the Third Committee. I take it that the Assembly approves that rec- ommgndation as well. .

The Main Committees concerned will be informed of the decisions just taken. * Resumed from the 40th meeting. NEW YORK 5. I now call on the representative of Israel, who has asked to make a statement at this point.

I wish to register my delegation's objections to the inclusion of the item proposed in docu- ment A/36/243 in the agenda of the General Assembly, for the reasons set out in our statement during the 4th meeting of the General Committee on 3 November.

I should like at this point to recall to the Assembly part of a statement I made at the conclu- sion of the general debate in this hall on 12 October last. It reads as follows: "I hope I may be forgiven if I refer to one particular item on our agenda that was handed to us by the thirty- fifth session, namely, item 37, entitled 'Launching of global negotiations on international economic co-opera- tion for development'. This has been one of the items in which Member States have shown the widest interest and consensus. A very large number of those countries that have participated in the debate have referred specif- ically to it and expressed their aspirations and hope that it would be possible during the current session to adopt a decision on the launching of these negotiations. I wish to associate myself, like my predecessor, with these aspirations and to express my sincere hope that this objective will be realized" [33rd meeting, para. 430). 8. Since that date I have certainly spent more time on this item in private consultations than on all other items combined. I intend to do everything in my power as Pres- ident to se~ch for a consensus on this most important item. 9. Before we hear the first speaker, I should like to pro- pose that the list of speakers be closed tomorrow, 5 November, at 11 a.m. If I hear no objection I shall take it that the Assembly agrees to that proposal.

It is my privHege to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 on agenda item 37. We are here once again to confer on the most effective and practical way to launch global negotiations on international economic co- operation for development. 11. We do not wish to dwell at length on lost oppor- tunities. Let us just recall that our meeting today is the result of a consensus and that the great hopes placed in it are what give it all its significance and scope. Thus, it is for us here and now to follow up with constructive and fruitful action the common, solemn commitment made by all to work towards the new international economic order. 13. For 20 years, international economic co-operation has meant disenchantment. The extraordinary changes the world has undergone can no longer be obscured. Decolo- nization and the emergence of the third world are the sali- ent features of the post-war era. It is because the system of internatic.nal relations is based on outmoded geopolitics which take insufficient account of those two fundamental elements that it is deadlocked today. 14. That is the heart of the problem. The emergence of the overwhelming majority of the nations of the world, with their aspirations and their development needs, inev- itably called for a revision of the inadequate structures and obsolete rules of operation of a system which, it must be said, has shown itself to be incapable of forging the instruments essential to peace, prosperity and develop- ment for all. 15. The blackspots of absolute poverty are spreading their shadow overtlle map of the world. Hunger and mal- nutrition are the daily lot of hundreds of millions of chil- dren, women and men, while billions of dollars are swal- lowed tip annually in arms expenditure in the service of war and death. 16. Hidden forces, well known to their victims, manipu- late what are conveniently called the international com- modity markets. A fine illustration of the magic of the market-place is that these fluctuations in the prices of products, the export of which is the source of vital re- sources for so many developing countries, cause those countries to be drawn willy-nilly into the unending spiral of indebtedness. 17. The international monetary system is one of the most worrying examples of disorder enshrined in law. It is a sign of the dominance in thit srhere of the logic of the irrational. 18. International economic co-operation has not eased our concern. There can be no peace while two thirds of mankind are living in marginal conditions because of the present international economic system. This important fact has brought about greater awareness in the North as in the South. But destiny seems to be going round in circles. It is very rare for an encouragiilg sign to be seen without its containing within itself the obverse, which is hostility to progress. Today more than ever the North- South dialogue is at a crossroads. At stake is nothing less than the gestation of a new world based on the right of all to progress; it is the very prospect of peace, in its dy- namic, intimate correlation with development. 19. The Group of 77, the collective conscience and memory of the developing world, reaffirms here once again its confidence in the virtues of dialogue on a basis of equality. It remains available and ready to achieve that purpose. It firmly believes that such a dialogue must re- place dogmatism and injunctions. 20. After the long series of failures and frustrations which have marked the last quarter of a century, the ini- tiative of the developing countries on global negotiation~ draws its strength and its coherence from the lessons 21. In adopting by consensus resolution 34/138 of 14 December 1979 on global negotiations relating to interna- tional economic co-operation for development, the Gen- eral Assembly affirmed, first, the need for global dia- logue open to all countries on the basis of equality, which should focus on the major spheres of international eco- nomic relations-raw materials, trade, development, en- ergy and monetary and financial questions, and, secondly, the neeG for an integrated and simultaneous approach to the full range of questions through negotiations at which these questions would be considered in terms of their in- terrelationship. 22. Two years after having received !he approval of the international community, the initiative on global negotia- tions is more relevant, vital and timely than ever because it embodies the idea of the will to build a future together, because it offers a coherent response to the growing com- plexity of international economic relations, and because it draws its support from mutual interest, solidarity and in- terdependence. 23. This is the place for the Group of 77 to state its firm support for the launching of the gl0bal negotiations within the context agreed to by all, which is that of reso- lution 34/138. From that standpoint, and in order to pre- serve the fundamental characteristics of the global nego- tiations, four essential considerations must be borne in mind. 24. First, there is a fundamental need for a world dia- logue, open to all countries on the basis of equality, which would make democracy on the one hand a funda- mental principle tor the consideration of questions and the taking of decisions and on the other the foundation of the institutional framework for international economic rela- tions. 25. Secondly, the General Assembly remains both the primary authority and the central body with regard to de- cision-making, to direction, to the provision of impetus and to co-ordination at all. stages of negotiations. In this role the Assembly is not compatible with any fragmenta- tion of the negotiations or of the decision-making system. 26. Thirdly, the negotiations form part of the dynamic perspective of the establishment of the new international economic order. It would, therefore, be contrary to the nature of the negotiations and to their essence to remove from their sphere of competence the essential questions of the reconstruction of the world economy and the reshap- ing of the institutional framework of international eco- nomic relations. 27. Fourthly, the integrity and the unity of the element~ making up resolution 34/138 make it necessary for us to ~ deal, with an equal degree of care and in their obvious interrelationship, with the five major areas identified in that resolution. Such an approach has the advantage of taking into account and expressing the synthesis of the interests of all and of thereby strengthening the basis for supporting the launching of glohal negotiations. 28. These are the raison d'etre, the main features and the essential purpose of global negotiations. The overall nature of the action, the universality of participation, the 29. It is essential today that global awareness of the crises is naturally followed by considered and fruitful col- lective action. We must all seek the most effective and most practical formulas for launching as soon as possible the process to which I have referred, in order to avoid involvement in new and useless debates. Dialogue can have meaning only when it ceases to be an end in itself and becomes something that is based upon a daring per- ception and the sincere will to negotiate. The chance for co-operation, which is in the last analysis the chance for peace itself, can be had only at this price.

On behalf of the delega- tions of Bulgaria, the Byelorussian SSR, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, the Ukrainian SSR, the Union of Soviet Socialist Re- publics and Poland I have the honour to make the follow- ing statement. 31. The socialist States have always regarded with un- derstanding and great sympathy the aspirations of the de- veloping countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America to overcome their economic backwardness, to exercise sov- ereign rights over their natural resources and economic potential, and to eliminate poverty, hunger and disease from the lives of their peoples. We also share their con- viction that in order to achieve these goals it is imperative for them to pursue consistently the pwcess of eliminating colonialism and neo-colonialism in the economic field. 32. It is only natural therefore that the socialist coun- tries have taken an active part in the process of formulat- ing, within the framework of the United Nations, new po- litical approaches to the problems of economic relations among States by restructuring those relations on the prin- ciples of equality and democracy. We have supported the basic orientation of such fundamental documents as the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States [resolution 3281 (XXIX)] and the Declaration on the Es- tablishment of a New International Economic Order [resolution 3201 (S-VI]. viewing them as milestones in the efforts to establish a new, just and democratic eco- nomic order. Such a new order is indispensable from the point of view of. the developing countries. Its establish- ment also coincides with the interest of the socialist coun- tries and the interest of peaceful economic relations be- tween all States in the world. 33. Thus, proceeding from the assumption that the aim of the global negotiations is to promote the restructuring of international economic relations, the socialist countries, on whose behalf I am making this statement, have sup- ported in principle both the idea of launching the global negotiations and the broad outline of their agenda. We have also been willing to participate in the consensus on the procedure of those negotiations. 34. The situation as it obtains in the United Nations with respect to the global negotiations is the result, may we repeat, mainly of the unwillingness of certain imperi- alist circles to give up their positions and of their desire to continue to keep the developing countries in a state of dependence. If such a situation persists, there will hardly be a plausible reason for optimism with regard to the real- ization of the global negotiations. 36. We shall continue to co-operate with all the coun- tries which show genuine interest in solving those com- plex matters to the benefit of all nations.

My Government re- gards item 37 on the launching of global negotiations on international economic co-operation for development as pre-eminent among the subjects to be addressed at the current session of the General Assembly. To say that is not to belittle the importance of other issues. Neverthe- less, the Australian Government is convinced that in terms of issues of relevance to the future, the present gen- eration of leaders will ultimately be judged very largely in terms of their success or failure in reconciling the inter- ests of the rich and the poor countries. 38. This plenary meeting of the Assembly i§ timely. We are conferring shortly after the International Meeting on Co-operation and Development, held at Cancun on 22 and 23 October, at which leaders of 22 Governments, of de- veloped and developing countries, committed themselves to co-operation for development. 39. Australia was not a participant at the Cancun meet- ing, but the results were welcome to us. We see that meeting as a further move away from the division be- tween North and South. We see it as paving the way for greater understanding between developed and developing countries. We see it as sustaining international momentum for international action to solve the pressing problems of developing countries. 40. Let me not exaggerate. There were some important areas in which there were differences of approach at Can-. cun. Those differences were not resolvea. Nor was that expected. The Caneun meeting was never conceived as a negotiating conference. Nevertheless, it is true to say that world leaders are now agreed to a unique degree on the need for a sustained attack on the problems of under- development and endemic poverty which have for so long bedevilled relationships between North and South. 41. Let me also invite the Assembly's attention to the unanimous call for progress in the North-South dialogue which was manifested at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held at Melbourne from 30 Septem- ber to 7 October. That meeting was a milestone in rela- tions between developed and developing countries. We believe that the determination and the will evident at Melbourne helped infuse Cancun with the same spirit of co-operation. 43. The Commonwealth leaders called for new ways of thinking and for a breaking down of inhibitions and habits that have thwarted progress in the past. They stressed the need for the requisite political will. They called attention to the fact that this demanded a commitment and an in- volvement. They recognized that full involvement at the political level was a concomitant to translating political will into political action. 44. The Melbourne Declaration is a document which Australia believes will come to occupy a place of impor- tance in efforts to create a more just and effective interna- tional order. It does not itself deal with specific issues; in this sense it needs to be read alongside the economic paragraphs of the Final Communique of the Common- wealth Heads of Government [ibid.]. In that communique, the Heads of Government strongly reaffirmed their op- position to protectionism in all its forms and their support for the establishment of an energy affiliate of the World Bank and for proposals for improved food security, in- cluding through increased food aid and increased as- sistance for agricultural development. This list is by no means exhaustive. Commonwealth leaders addressed the full range of issues in the N011h-South debate and I would commend the document to the close attention of the As- sembly. ~';. On the specific matter of global negotIations, all Commonwealth leaders resolved to make every effort to remove obstacles to an early start to 'the global round, while voicing hope for an unequivocal reaffirmation at Cancun of the commitment to global negotiations. The clarity and purpose of that message are obvious. It was a message carried by the seven Commonwealth leaders who later went on to Cancun, 46. We have studied very carefully the language on global negotiations found in the Summary issued by the Co-Chairmen at the conclusion of the Cancun. meeting [A/36/63I and Carr.I]. Again, it would be a mistake to exaggerate. The formulation emerging from Cancun leaves many differences unresolved. There can be no doubt, however, of the view of the international commu- nityat large. The world community is looking both to the Cancun participants and to others concerned to do their utmost to build the consensus needed to ensure that global negotiations are launched as soon as possible within an acceptahle framework. 47. This may not be easy. There is a need to ensure the widest participation, necessarily including the full in- volvement of the United States of America. In this regard we welcome the willingness of President Reagan at Can- cun to set out his Government's approach and to seek a basis for agreement, Developing countries also showed flexibility, and we need to build on the willingness shown by both sides. However, there are real difficulties and concerns which will have to be overcome if we are to achieve a consensus. It is our belief that with the requisite will on all sides the remaining obstacles to launching global negotiations can be surmounted. At this stage we 49. The rights and competence of the specialized bodies must be respected. But we must also recognize that the Charter of the United Nations has given a role to the General Assembly, and it seems to us that some form of final consideration of the outcome of global negotiations will be needed. The relationship agreements with the agencies are apposite. 50. As for the agenda, this should reflect priorities and the major' issues of concern to Governments of nations at all stages of development. Earlier agenda proposals should be carefully reviewed. It may be that in the present world situation we would not have the same difficulty as we had in 1980 in agreeing on a way of putting energy and finance on the agenda. In particular, the United Na- tions Conference on New and Renewable Sources of" En- ergy,' held at Nairobi from 10 to 21 August 1981, may have laid the ground for a wider energy discussion in the United Nations. On monetary issues, not only has signifi- cant progress been achieved in the recent past, but there is now a greater sensitivity to the constraints involved. 51 . What are the immediate steps which might permit a resumption of the preparatory process? It is our view that progress at the present session of the Assembly might be furthered through the establishment of an open-ended contact group which would permit all int~rested countries to participate. We see such a contact group meeting con- currently with the Second Committee. There might also be a need at an appropriate point to consider-in tandem, as it were-the informal device of the ..group of friends" of the President, which my delegation certainly found most helpful in the past. This might focus on and help devise solutions to the more important or intractable prob- lems. 52. In any event, it is apparent that flexibility will be required on all sides if the resumed negotiations are to produce a result. Australia's appeal in this regard would be that we try to capture here in New York the spirit , which characterized the Commonwealth meeting at Melbourne and the Cancun meetiug and which allowed, at both Cancun and Melbourne, a free-flowing discussion and exchange of views between developed and developing countries. At neither of these meetings were the partici- pants ranged along confrontational lines. The result in each case was a notable consensus. 53. What we are talking about is the advantage fOJ; all sides of maintaining the tone of the recent dialogue. We which permit steady progress towards our mutually agreed objectives.

On the eve of this, the thirty-sixth session, Mr. President, we received the report of your predecessor, I who had pursued since last year his efforts to achieve a consensus on launching a simul- taneous, comprehensive and integrated approach to eco- nomic co-operation and development in the form of global negotiations on the basis of General Assembly res- olution 34/138, adopted by consensus in 1979. 55. The future of development co-operation and the re- activation. of the world economy are two issues that are linked. We all suffer from the present stagnation in the world economy and we would all stand to gain from eco- nomic reactivation, from a vitalizing injection in the world economy. Increased efforts and further measures to promote development in the'developing countries would also create increased demand in industrialized countries and reduce unemployment. Conversely, increased eco- nomic activity in developed countries would result in in- creased demand for products from developing countries and would increase their purchasing power. 56. In a general sense, interdependence, which is now generally recognized as one of the dominating features of today's world, reflects the web of linkages between all countries. This in turn is reflected in the increasing com- plexity of the world economy. It is a matter of interre- lationship over the whole spectrum of development levels, both between and within economic and geographic areas, as well as between different issues and policies. 57. At the same time, we have to recognize that interde- pendence today is sometimes asymmetric. The capacity to participate in and draw benefits from international eco- nomic relations varies. The less developed countries gen- erally have less opportunity in these respects. These dif- ferences require that a variety of policy measures are taken to meet varying needs and to promote greater equal- ity of opportunities as well as improved participation in the international economic interplay. 58. The common interest and mutual benefit underlying the decision of the General Assembly to begin the pre- paratory process for global negotiations are no less valid today than when the process was started two years ago. The areas identified at that stage as requiring action are still the most relevant ones. 59. First, millions of human beings are dying o(hunger and malnutrition in today's world and the average protein intake of the poorest has in many places tend€' j to go down. We must accomplish a rapid, substantial and dura- ble increase of food production. Food production in the developing countries themselves must of course be the basis for this. In many cases, their population policies will also be relevant. However, the intelJlational commu- nity has a human and moral obligation to provide long- term resources for their development, as well as more im- mediate emergency assistance. 61. Thirdly, we must make use to the benefit of all of the advantage that lies in an effective distribution of la- bour among States, which calls for free trade. We must resist protectionism and strengthen the rules which protect free trade and increase the international distribution of work. This means that we will become increasingly inter- dependent, but we will also be able to contribute substan- tially to each other's development and well-being. 62. Fourthly, we must also ensure that the international financial system functions so as to reactivate the world economy and development. Available resources are enor- mous. This also applies to investment needs. We have to develop better mechanisms and methods to channel re- sources to where need exists. For the poorest countries, which attract only limited amounts of investment and where there is little foreign trade, assistance for survival and development is vital. 63. One conclusion that must be drawn from this in- creased interdependence among all countries is that we must consult and co-operate more than we have hitherto. We must make full use of the instruments we have created for this purpose: the United Nations and its development institutions, the World Bank, IMF; GATT, UNCTAD, FAO and the other specialized agencies. They are instru- ments that we have ourselves jointly developed and we must make effective use of them. 64. We have all heard the reports from the meeting of Heads of State and Government that took place recently at Cancun. My Government participated in that meeung and we think that the exchange that took place, with the warm hospitality of the Mexican Government and under the able guidance of the President of Mexico and the Prime Minis- ter of Canada, served a useful purpose. Seldom have world leaders been afforded an opportunity to focus in such circumstances on issues of such crucial importance for our future: the continued development of the develop- ing countries and the reactivation of the world economy. 65. While it was made clear at the outset that the meet- ing was not intended to lead to detailed and technical de- cisions, we hope that it will prove to have revitalized the process towards global- negotiations. In our view. the de- liberations at Cancun confirmed what we had already rec- ognized, namely, the need to involve different interna- tional bodies in negotiations. The proposals for a global round of negotiations aim precisely at such negotiations, initiated by a phase of overview and guidance and con- cluded Lj a phase of compilation and assessment of re- sults. The wish for these introductory and. concluding phases of overview, during which attention can be paid to different issues and their interrelationships, is natural if a comprehensive and integruted approach to such negotia- tions is seen as desirable. 66. At the ~ame time, it might be possible for simul- taneous, integrated and comprehensive negotiations to be carried out in the different forums of the United Nations system, to be followed by an appropriate arrangement for overview. It might, however. be overzealous to try to es- tablish before substantive negotiations have been initiated.

For more than two years, the modalities for the launching of global negotiations have been the subject of extensive and arduous consulta- tion and debate. Although these efforts have contributed to a better understanding of the issues involved, final agreement has eluded us. 68. Mv delegation has already had ample opportunity to reiterate Austria's commitment to global negotiations, which in our view could provide the opportunity to effect a significant improvement· in the functioning of the inter- national economic system and further the development of developing countries. Our support for this initiative is based on the conviction that the growing interdependence of countries on different levels of economic development and the existing linkages among many of the issues pro- posed for negotiation make necessary a broader and more integrated framework for an action-oriented dialogue. 69. At the same time, we realize that the problems re- lated to global negotiations are manifold and extremely complex. They can only be dealt with successfully if the interests of all countries are given due consideration, for only a mutually acceptable process of global negotiations offers the prospect of concrete and substantive results. 70. We are gratified that after two years of continuous efforts to launch global negotiations it. now seems that we have arrived at the point where a fresh and flexible ap- proach offers the prospect of a genuine meeting of minds. The fact that the leaders of 22 developed and developing countries recently met at Cancun at a time of deep eco- nomic crisis and increasing political instability and ten- sion in many regions of the world testifies to the impor- tance attached to the search for viable solutions in the field of economic co~operation and development. The grave problems of developing countries-hunger, mal- nutrition, acute poverty, serious balance-of-payments and debt problems, compounded by continuing recession, growing unemployment and high inflation rates in indus- trialized countries-can no longer be looked at in an iso- lated and selective fashion. 71. Interdependence is a reality and was recognized as such at the Cancun meeting, which also underlined the imperative need for international consultation and con- certed action. This meeting also confirmed the desir- ability of supporting at the United Nations, with a sense of urgency, a consensus on launching global negotiations on a basis to be mutually agreed upon and in drcum- , stances offering the prospect of meaningful progress.. Austria, as one of the initiators of the Cancun meeting, greatly welcomes this agreement, which has received world-wide attention and f.:onstitutes a source of optimism and inspiration as well as a responsibiIity-a responsibil- ity which compels us here at the United Nations to trans- late the expression of political will to embark on a mean- ingful dialogue into concrete and positive action. I am aware that this task is an extremely difficult one. But· it 72. It is our hope that in the course of consultations following this debate we shall be able to agree on the scope, the priorities and the working methods for global negotiations. However, we should avoid getting bogged down once again in a futile search for detailed and spe- cific guidelines for every stage of the negotiations. What is essential at this stage is to arrive at a consensus on the b'lsic elements for an ambitious but, at the same time, realistic process of negotiations. 73. No elaborate and extensive new institutional ma- chinery is needed to launch global negotiations next year. The existing institutional framework of the United Na- tions, in close co-operation with the specialized agencies and other relevant organizations, provides the necessary basis for devising a comprehensive policy for develop- ment and economic co-operation. 74. In conclusion, I wish to refer to the message ad- dressed by Chancellor Bruno Kreisky to the participants in the North-South meeting, in which he expressed the belief that we might have reached a watershed in the his- tory of the North-South relationship. He added: ..Let us seize this unique opportunity, let us meet the expectations of nations in the South and in the North and let us begin a new chapter in our relationship. For only a courageous and imaginative new approach to our common problems will allow us to overcome the pres- ent global crisis."

This session might prove to be decisive for the fate of the global negotiations. The Norwegian position with regard to these negotiations is unchanged. On this occasion I shall, however, emphasize briefly once more some positions of principle. 76. Our common starting-point is resolution 341138 which provides a basis for the negotiations from which we should not depart. This implies, inter alia, that the negotiations should take place within the United Nations system and be open to universal participation. An equally important prerequisite is ·that the negotiations encompass all the five major subject-areas mentioned in the resolu- tion and that all efforts be made to ensure a coherent and integrated approach to the issues under negotiation. 77. For a very long time-in fact, for two whole years-we have wrestled with the preparations for these negotiations. Although we have not yet agreed on all points with regard to agenda and procedures, substantial common ground has been established, most recently through the consultations led by the preceding President of the General Assembly, Mr. von Wechmar. On the basis of the momentum of Cancun, as reported in the two Co- Chairmen's Summary, and with further flexibility by all parties involved, it should, in our opinion, now be possi- ble to solve the remaining problems. In this context it seems important that further efforts to reach agreement be based on common positions already established ad refer- endum, so as not to have to start from scratch. 78. Preparations for the· global negotiations have been going on for much longer than foreseen. As long as these preparations continue, they tend to have a dampening ef- fect on North-South negotiations in other forums. This is 79. I should like to add that the broad and integrated approach to global negotiations laid down in resolution 34/138 should not be seen as a hindrance to the singling out of certain emergency questions for priority treatment. Such an approach, which has been advocated on several occasions during the preparutory process, would also seem to have received considerable support at the Cancun meeting. My Government has a positive attitude towards the question of pursuing this approach during the prepara- tory negotiations to follow. 80. It has been stated and restated from various ros- trums over the last few years that the North-South dia- logue has reached something close to a stalemate. The lack of results also affects to a certain extent confidence 82. Those are some of the reasons why my Government strongly supports the launching of the global negotiations early in 1982. We hope that the spirit of Cancur. will make this possible. NOTE