A/39/PV.19 General Assembly

Mr. President, allow me at the outset to extend to you the very warm congratulations of the delegation of Burma on your unanimous election to the high o&e which you hold. Your vast experience in the activities of the United Nations and your diplomatic skill and pep ception are certainly well known to all of us, and )t IS most fitting that ou should preside over the thn’tyninth session o ry the General Assembly. We are confident that under your able guidance the deliberations of this session will help further to develop and consolidate moves towards a more peaceful world. 2. The delegation of Burma also takes this opportunity to Jorge I lueca, whose distingmshe P ay a tribute to the outpin President, Mr. cf services have contributed in no small measure to the successful conclusion of the session of the Assembly that has recently ended. 3. We should also like to say how glad we are to welcome Brunei DarussaIam to the family of the United Nations. We offer our warm felicitations and friendly greetings to its delegation, whose R resence in our mtdst will -.urely give added strengt and be a positive contribution to the Organizatlon. 4. We meet in the Assembly once again to examine collectively the problems of our time and, it is to be hoped, exercise our influence for the betterment of world conditions. We are gathered here together in the belief that all Member States, he they big or small, powerful or weak, rich or poor? have a shared responsibility to make their contrtbution to the achievement of the ob’ectivcs of the Charter of the United Nations. The E act that 159 Member State!, irrespective of differences in their political, economic and social systems, gather here each year is proof enough of the interest of Governments in seeing the continuance of the United Nations system as a pervasive force in maintaining world p.:ace. Hope is therefore kindled anew that with the development o mutual understanding and co-operation and the fostering of a spirit of compromise, which are essential for the success of the Charter, the welter of conflicting interests of many nations and peoples may find a dcgrce of order and harmony. 5. Many are aware of ihese requirements, but the irony is that WC have so far failed to translate this awareness into practice. T’hc effectiveness of the cal borders and call for a new dimension in international co-operation. 9. The increasing crisis in international ,$*i~icol and economic relations reflects the slow an painful progress of nations and mankind. Of particular concern is the political tension and growing incidence of aggression in many areas of the world. Equally upsetting are the unremedied economic disparities between the rich and the poor nations and the prowing ineqwlity of international economic relations. 10. As at past sessions, once again the General Assembly is exposed to the same unresolved issues which have been on the agenda for several years. The pattern of difficulties faced by the United Nations in resolving them stems largely from the seriously deteriorating state of relations between the supcr- Powers. which arc the leading Members of the world Organization. The essential co-operation between them has given way to confrontation, which has retarded the work of the General Assembly. The inter-bloc politics which they personify have also hampered the normal functionmg of international relations. The prospects of an early solution to the many questions on the Assembly’s agenda will not be become feasible after a lapse of a considerable number of years should in itself be a source of gratification for us all. It is to be hoped that they will prove to be a harbinger of a new era marked by more intensified co-operation, better understanding and a spirit of motuat accommodation not only between the two super-Powers but between all nations of the world. The delegation of Burma therefore considers the holding of the high-level talks as a step in the right direction which will surely help to place the R resent state of affairs in the world on a more even eel. 12. It is not enough to content ourselves with merely passing resolutions. The time has corn?, we believe, for a more conceptually clear and operatively more effective response to the numerous challenges and dilemmas of contemuorary world oroblems. The time has also come foi the -two super-Powers to ponder the possibility of placing their relations upon a new basis so that they might be put on a more stable and constructive footing. 13. Seen in this Dersuective. the Secretarv-General’s call for holding a-meeting of’the Security-Council at the highest level is both urnely and imDortant for the develoDment of an effectivecommon aDDroach to conteniporary world problems. I: would &a tremendous boost to the United Nations Drocesses if the F rmanent members of the Security Council were orthcoming in support of the Secretary-General. 14. Need we recall that the United Nations was founded on the assumption that the permanent members would remain united, beyond their wartime coalition and, with the United h’ations as the instrument, strive m mutual efforts to ensure world peace ancl contribute to a system of universaJ collective security. So far, this assumption has proved illusory. 15. We live in a dangerous era. The most important and Dressing Droblem of our times-the achievement of xiuclear -disarmament-does not -appear to be receiving the attention it deserves. T,le world community IS unhappy about this situation. The negotiating processes between the two super-Powers have been at a standstill ever since the breakdown of their nuclear disarmament talks in November last year. Not only is the essential element of mutual trust completely absent; it has been replaced by complete mistrust. It is a distressing oaradox of the world today that all these years, in-s&t:: of the end!ess flow of talks, of conferences and well-meaning st,ltiment in the pursui! of nuclear disarmament,-we are no further removed from the threat of ntic!ear war and no nearer towards promise of its solution. We are now well through the fourth ruclear decade and the Palestinian problems, the conflict between Iran and Iraq, the questions of Afghanistan and Kampuchea, and the unresolved question of independence for Namibia, 20. It is difficult to foresee just how these many s cific problems can be resolved effectively without t P e co-ordination of joint political action on the part of the principal opponents. Each situation tends to become entrenched in their positions with the sage of time and compounded by ever-new deve opp”” ments adding to their complexity. The more thev become nrotiacted the more‘thev become vulnerabh to the diplomatic gambits and stratagems in the interplay of world politics. While the contestants involved contend, and we, here in the Assembly, hopefully debate and draft our texts carefully, the victims of the situations continue to suffer. To them. the desperate need is to survive and live in peace: 21. The present difficulties between various States are to a large extent due to the failure to uphold the principles of mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Both are cardinal norms of international conduct. We must recognize that if States fail to tolerate and resprct the rights of other States to ways of life they security and the rinht to exist in their own 24. A related question is the control of territories. While Israel’s central concern is for the attainment of security, the primary concern of the Arabs is the return of the lost territories. As it stands, essential steps for progress require that Israel withdraw its forces from territories occupied in 1967, change its policies of incorporatin f! Palestinian lands into its State and halt the estab rshment of new settlements in these territories. Equal1 Palestinians to state it would be up to the exp tcitly and clearly their p. willingness to recognize the right of Israel to a secure existence. The reality of the situation calls for the possibility of such an accommodation. Unhappily, the present attitude of both sides does not hold any promise of development along these lines. 25. As regards the situation in Lebanon, the overriding concern is to restore to the country its full sovereignty, territorial integrit pendence. The factor of intema sectarian strife must 7 and political indesomehow be overcome by a process of national reconciliation so as to help to extend the authority of the legitimate Government and ensure the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. 26. At present we face stagnation in the entire Middle Past situation. The recent visits of the Secretary-General to the re ion framework for a renewed MI *% in pursuit of a dle Past peace conference are a welcome initiative in the ri f t direction. The problems of the Middle East have een with the Assembly for the east 36 vears. To our mind. the P uestiod of conveirin fan -international conference or peace in the Midd e East cannot be excluded for all time if we are to work for the goal of a comprehensive and lasting settlement. 27. The delegation of Burma shares the concern of the world community over the escalation of the Iran- Iraq conflict, which has dragged on for the past four years. The recent attacks by both sides on neutral ships in an international waterway show how potentially dangerous the situation has become. It threatens to bring an international dimension to the conflict aud clearly points to the ur envy the hostilities by peaceful means be ore the pressure P of halting of events leads to a wider confrontation. 28. For six years the General Assemblv has been concerned with the questions of Afghanistan and Kampuchea. Both situa:ions continue to cause tensions and threaten regional peace and stability. Like the rest of the members of the Assembly, we are anxious to see improvements in the prospects for i 1978), which provides a United Nations framework or Namibia’s independence. has been accePted in principle b settlement. II all the relevant arties as a baais for owever, South A rtca has not shown the r least inclination to change course, but insists on broadening the question b injecting extraneous issues as a prerequisite for NY amibia’s independence. This linkage is incompatible with the letter and spirit of resolution 435 (1978) and constitutes an impediment to the implementation of the United Nations plan for the iade no breakthrough r ndence of Namibia. Furthermore, as been achieved in the direct talks which took olace this year between South Africa and the parties seeking independence for Namibia. We see no progress likely until South Africa reverses its position and forgoes its repeated assertion that Cuban troops must be removed from Angola before it withdraws from Namibia. 31. In South Africa today, the Government’s a tkeld policy continues to exclude the majority b c rck population from constitutional reform with a view to creati such, x the so-called independent homeIan& Aa ere is as yet no sign of South Africa turning away from its basic oolicv of uwf-rheid. which b institutioaalized racial disciiminaiion and universally condemned. South Africa’s contemptuous deftance of the world’s moral indignation is a matter of increasing concern to all nations of good will which believe in the essential worth and dignity of the human person. The world would be happy if South Africa conformed with reality, abandoned its policy of apartheid and worked for a more constructive relationship with its neighbours. 32. Permit me to make a few brief remarks on the world economic situation. There is no doubt that. to the greater majority of t:le world’s people, the main issue that interests them IS the economic situation, and not so much the political. The ends for which people strive are food, work, security and housing, which taken together mean freedom from want and the right to survive. To a certain extent, the present trade, have al f export volumes and adverse terms of compounded their external imbalance. Having to curb their essential imports for the familiar reason of balance of payments, their development efforts have undergone serious set-backs. They face difTlculties in obtaming investment for development and in providing employment for their growing labour force, 36. The central problem in the world economy today is the international debt situation of the developin fl countries. Many countries are just unable to reoav t eir debts in the face of hinh interest rates and reduced export earnin s, the only source from which debts can be service 8 mterna!;onally. Massive debt rescheduling is also increasing accumulated debts. International lending, once perceived as a principal instrument for the stimulation of economic growth, has become today the factor causing a reverse flow of capital and retarding the growth prospects of developing countries. 37. As we see it. there can be no lasting world economic recovery’without a solution to the -international debt problem. And the problem of debt cannot be resolved without structural adjustments for a 43, I wish finally to welcome the sister country of Brunei Darussalam-like Senegal, a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference-to membership of the United Nations. Its devotion to the ideals of peace, justice and harmony as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations are the best guarantee t;;at Brunei Darussalam will be able to contribute with determination and effectiveness to the promotion of the United Nations and to the achievement of its purposes. 44, Once again we, the representatives of the world’s peoples, States and Governments, have come together to consider the situation and future of mankind, and to do so despite the differences in our ideological choices, political systems, spheres of cultur6, traditions aiid custonis, awarethat the civilizations of which we are the products and the authors are complementary, aware also that 159 nations cannot in a meeting lastinp, only a few weeks together work out exactly what action must be taken to improve the lot of mankind without first being convinced that common interest must prevail over the obstacles to dialogue and solidarity. 45. Rich countries and poor, wealthy peoples and those stricken with the despair and pessimism which result from the world crisis, are we not all assailed by the same anxieties and obliged, if we are not to be destroyed, to stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of tJ~~n?~any dangers threatening man and his environ- 46. It was in the snirit of the need for such reflection by the international community that the head of State of Senegal, President Abdou Diouf, called on me to come here to address the Assembly. 47. I shall begin by referring to the political problems with which the United Nations is once again ether with the ecofiomic issues with country. 48. Given that risk, are we ca leap forward which the nations o P able of taking the the world expect of us and which we must take if we are to put to good use the immense potential of the human mind and the wealth of imagination granted to us by nature? 49. For nearlv 40 vears. a modus vivendi seems to llave been establishid &ong the industrial nations, In particular those of the northern hemisphere. Those nations have thus achieved technolomcal orogress and economic stability, uaranteed anJ protected by a system of relations w k lch safeguard the essential element: the continuance of that technolo@cal rogress and the maintenance of the economic sta &. . lhty which, despite the ups and downs of our times. we see today. 435 (1978). The Namibian question is a decolonization problem, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 15 14 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, which recognizes that those countries and peoples have the inalienable right to selfdetermination and national sovereignty. 53. The countries members of the contact arouo should, to that end, bring direct pressure to b&r ti the Pretoria Government, in pursuance of the efforts will be brought to accept the United Nations settlement platr. 54. I cannot conclude this section of my address without welcoming, on behalf of my Government, the praiseworth the Secret imtiatives repeatedly undertakoa by ~-&cral. Thanks to him, the technical aspects of t is matter, involving the compoiiiion status and deployment of the military elemsat of UNTAG and the choice of the electoral s uem Len rovidcd for ia the acttkment plan, iuve roresdIrpon* &cl y 35. Notwithstanding the slow the acknowledged hmits of t e R ace of the talk$ and progress recently made at Lusaka, Zambia, and Sal, Cape Verde, on the way towards negotiations between the B arties involved, Senegal encourages those efforts an advocates a cease-fire conducive to the implementation of resolution 435 (1978) as a whole. 56. South Africa, because of the abhorrent practice of uparfheid, which the Pretoria regime persists in further refining by successive reforms, such as the recent bogus constitutional reform, deserves to be once again unreservedly condemned by the intemational community. My count this inhuman policy of racia *T Senegal., denounces segregation and expresses again its solidarity with the oppressed people of South Africa and its legitimate representatives, the African National Congress of South Africa and the 58. With regard to the question of Chad, we can only hope that the recent developments emanating from the France-Libyan disengagement agreement of September 1984 may load to national reconciliation in Chad and to scrupulous respect for the integrity and sovereignty of that country, under the leadership of its legitimate Government-now recognized by the GAU and by the international communitywithout any outside interference. It is truly high time for that martyred country, rent by internal conflicts and assorted kinds of intervention for the past 20 years, to be able finally to enjoy the unity and stability so essential to the B eace, national ourishing of its people and the development of its economy. en in recent years. The long list of resolutions adopted by the Security Council end the General Assembly 18, in this rcgerd, highly indicative of the indifference and cavalier disregard shown by the Tel Aviv Government for the international community’s decisions. 60. Now, mote then ever before, we must rcefirm the ineIicnablc right of the brother people of Pelcstine, rcgroupcd within the Palestine Liberation O@anlzetion [PLaf, its sole end lc@timatc rcpnscntatlvc. to dig&v. sclf-detcrminet~on and indeoenden&, and fo ihe establishment of a soveieign Palestmian State on the land of Palestine, in keeping with the relevant United Nations resolutions. We must, by all legal means, induce the international community to compel Israel to put an end to the settlements. We must actively support the Lebanese people, which is now gravely divided, to achieve its unity and territorial integritjj and regain its stabilit free from the acts of ag ression perpetrated da1 y 7 a a ainst its sovereignty. u$ e must spare no effort to o tain total withdrawal from the Arab territories occu final y,, foster the conditions for a just and lasting P ied by Israel by force since 1967. We must, peace In the Middle East, with due respect for the right of all the peoples of the region to live within secure and recognized boundaries. . P uchee continue, es is known,, to be subjected to the ews and domination of foreign Powers. It is thcrefore onl roper to hold that the people of Afghenistan en JK t e people of Kampuchea are entitled to just recognition of their lcgltimetc aspiration to the free choice of their political system end their leaders. In this connection, Senegal will continue to press ectively for the withdrawal of all foreign troo ii 8 from those two countries and for just respect for t c Charter of the United Nations with regard to them, through the peaceful application of the good offIces machinery of the Secretary-General end the quest for a negotiated solution bctwcen the pertier concern& go for ec &ncgel is concerned, tn both cescs the main objcctivc is to enable the Afghan end Kempuchcea peoples to exercise their right to decide, in all sovereignty, their own destiny. 64. In Kampuchea, more particular1 after three years of praiseworthy and sustained lplomatic efd: forts, the implementation of the relevant resolutions on this question is still encountering certain obstacles, but they should not deter us from our goal, which is the restoration of eace to Kampuchea and the region. To that end, it s I: ould be emphasized that the work of the United Nations, through the Ad Hoc Committee qf the !nternational Conference on Kampuchea, presided over by Senegal, far from being directed against this or that State is, rather, designed to secure conditions necessary for a constructive dialogue between all the parties concerned. In this connection, certain States should reconsider their attitude and join the international consensus on the IF 8 akers have already done this and the United ations itself, at various levels, has considered all the aspects of this crisis with admirable conviction and determination. 70. In May 1974, at the the third world, the Qene 2 ng of the countries of Assembl Declaration and the Programme of K adopted the etion on the Establishment of a New Intemationol Economic Order (resolurions 3201 (S-V) and 3202 (S-V) in December that same year the Assembly a cl ; then opted the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States [resolution 3281 (XXIX)]. This new international economic order was and IS still supposed to correct Inequalities, remedy injustices and close the immense gap that exists at all levels between the rich and the poor countries. It is in the light of these objectives that 1 wish, on behalf of. Senegal, to emphasize, in this last half of my statement, two fundamental subjects of particular interest for almost all African countries: the indebtedness of the third world and the phenomenon of drought and desertifi- Cation. 71. Our countries in particular have felt the full force of the world crisis. To varyin Years, they have recorded large ba ante-of-payments f degrees in recent 77. AtkwmonS~~theSecutyGenemI.” took the praisewo y initiative o visitQI se&W countries in the black continent with i vie%? to mobilizing additional resources to support the. alread fragile economies of the African countries. Whr e we congratulate him on this move, we at the 7 same time renew our ap eal to the iniernationa! community and the specla lzed financial institutions .I! to organize a world conference on indebtedness to seek the best ways to study this contemporary phenomenon, analyse its evolution and define the most appropriate remedies, in order to give a new impetus to our countries’ economies and free them of the bottle-necks and other obstacles trapping them in the maze of mechanisms which are now in lace and which have led to the present state of a fF airs. 78. Throuahout this ueriod. drouaht and desertification have-inexorabli dominated >nd invaded our continent. In 1983 no fewer than 35 African countries were afflicted by the phenomenon of drought, 80. Drought is a phcnomonon charactcrized each year by the virtually complete absence of precipitation in areas where irrietition is littlc known or unknown, thus rulinp oiit any chance of normal agriculture and therefore of a harvest. Desertiflcation occurs like a disease that wherever it goes destroys vegetation and watercourses, dries up rivers, streams, lakes and Donds and wiues out the food plants and ;teu$ and land animals on which man usually 81, ivery year the Sahara desert in the north of Africa, from Mauritania to the Sudan, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, moves tens of kilometres southwards making hundreds of thousands of hectares unfit {or agriculture and causin t * the movement of thousands of stock, separating them from t IF ople and their Ive. eir traditions and way of life and causing problems for the people in their new grazing areas. 82. The African countries concerned. thanks to the support and understanding of the inteinational community, have organized themselves into subregional and regional zones to tackle the problem of this dual Ii henomenon of drou een indicated by the !!i t and desertii.cation. As has nited Nations Sudano-Sabelian Oflce (VNSOJ: “The pu drought an r se of the fight against the effects of desertification is essentially to rehabilitate and protect the productive potential of the land, water and other natural resources and, at the same time, to develop and strengthen man’s ability to exploit these resources , . . 9’ It was in this s irit that the Permanent Inter-State Committee on b rought Control in the Sahel, composed of eight West African countries, was set up. 83, In 1973 the Secretary-General created UNSO, which between 1973 and 1978 developed into the leading organ of the United Nations system directly mandated by the General Assembly to co-ordinate the activities of United Nations agencies designed to he1 hiI7 the countries of the Sudana-Sahelian on in t t strug#e against the effects of drouet. TV NSO’s m&&m has since developed to cover, m particular, in addition to the Sudano-Sahelian zone. that situated north of the Equator, and to deal with the implementation of the Plan of Action t9 Combat Desertification, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Desertification, held at Nairobi in 1977.2 84. Just a few weeks a o in July, on the initiative of President Abdou Diou , a mmisterial conference on S’ . the two phenomena-drought and desertificationwas held at Dakay. with the participation of the European Economic Community, the United Nations, FAO. UNDP and UNEP, as well as UNSO. which played a particularly active role in the prcparation and conduct of the conference and in the achievement of results. 85. Amon a the conclusions of that conference, which we ave communicated to the comoetent a resolution d&in to the internationa f precise-measures asid appealhig community to make available increased resources to give effeit to the conclusions of the Dakar conference. We are glad that the question of countries stricken by desertification and drought has bcon included in the agenda of this session. 86. The three fundamental ideas of UNSO-and here let me pay tribute to the ofircials of that agency for their hard work in seeking solutions to the thorny problem of countries stricken by desertification-are the following: first, aid to the various countries and their regional institutions in the field of planning and formulating fight the R rejects and programmes desi ned to e ects of drought and desert1 ication; *F secondly, aid in the mobihzation of the necessary resources for the implementation of the various pro’ects and programmes, either on a bilateral or a mu tdateral basis or through the United Nations 1. Trust Fund for Sudano-Sahelian Activities. with a considerable increase in the resources made available to UNSO, which at Dresent are insianificant compared with the magnitude of the problems; and, thirdly, the mana ement of the Trust Fund and the implementation, 1 t rough the resources of that Fund, of the projects and programmes to which UNSO contributes. 87. It is obvious that the work of UNSO cannot exclude a range of decisive actions jointly conducted by the countries concerned to help them work out and implement a coherent policy for combating this phenomenon. 88. In conclusion let me say that our world is today burdened with dihculties of all sorts. Besides our political problems, we now have many questions to ask about the economic future of the peoples whom we represent. Should we not at last be emphasizing what unites us and casting a veil of reason over what divides us in order to concentrate on what is essential: fostering our solidarity and giving each other reciprocal su act together to era d! port, This means that we must lcate focal points of war, reduce tensions between peoples and turn a deaf ear to the a e peals of the sirens of discord and over-armament. o support each qther reciprocally means that we mu+ pool the lmmenw tech~ol~al qp-ess achieved by mankind for the service o mankm and against the policies of the mass destruction of the resources of our planet. To support each other reciprocally means to be responsible and show solidarity with the poor peoples, impoverished b nature or threatened by calamities, those living in t h e more arid areas of our world or in islands surrounded by the oceans but without rainfall. We must help them to confront this real everyday hardship. 89. Only then need we not despair of ourselves, for we shall be men-men of peace, men of dialogue, men of generosity; men of a generation which will not have lived for nothing and which, having explored the moon. skirted the planets Mars and Saturn, circled Venus and admired Orion, will come back to Earth to ccntro!. with head held high, its own destiny, the destmy of mankind. 92, With the admission of Brunei Darussalam as its 159th Member, the United Nations has moved another step closer to the goal of universalit In welcomin !I# this new State, Guyana extends the Ii and of friends rp and co-operation. 93. Each year the Assembly’s general debate provides an opportunity for a review of the state of international relations. For the past few years, this review has indicated persistent negative trends and tendencies. This year the situation offers little reason for optimism. 94. The scourge of war, from which there is a pledge in the Charter of the United Nations to “save succeedin generations”, pressing t a is a danger now more an it ever was. It is a prospect made grim not only by the gruesome rumination over the use of nuclear power on a limited basi!, but also, even more chilling, by the awesome capacity possessed by some States to annihilate us all. 95. The Charter also expresses a resolve “to employ international machinery for the promotion of tbf economic and social advancement of all This is being seriously undermined, for t K” er+!?: i single-minded determination to demand that all of us pursue the same model of development. 96. The militant resurg?nce of the power politics of ye$epyear has donq,vlolen<e to another Charter ppl2 that $f the equal nits . . . of nations a e an small , and re egate that principle almost toyhe realm of myth01 ‘cat musings; and the naked pu of power ,ir invo ed in circumvent@ “the f !i lig@ons ansin& fro* treaties and other sources of ’ tmtional law , sometimes even with the aim of bnderlnn such law effete. 97. A state of generalized crisis permeates intemational relations. The use and the threat of the USC of force in conflict resolution are on the increase. There is today aggravated resort to the milita as a means of achlevmg nationally determined PO ltlcal objec- F tives. Indeed, some Member States may already have reached the stage where, especially in relation to small States, diplomacy and negotiations have been made subservient to the exercise of military might. What we are witnessing is a re-emergence of the militarization of foreign policy and the use of organized violence as an instrument of State policy. 98. Deep-seated economic problems aggravate and are aggravated by political tensions. Freely embraced International co-operation is under serious threat. The evolution of a sense of global community seems 103. what is Un8eai$je, too isthatt&ifltmm tional community cant nues to iace an accumulation of severe econoniic problems. Indeed, some of these problems have worsened precise1 of policies pursued in the name o i! as a consequence national recovery. I will, however, refer to only a few of those problems: debt, trade issues and interest rates. 104. The international community is divided on how the debt probJem should be proached. At the heart of this , fp”““rly “p dl unwillingness of some States to lculty IS tie reco ciate that the debt problem is a g obal one which P nize and apprere in 2. uires joint action. It is no longer sufficient for lvidual debtor and creditor countries to meet and agree on debt P eneral policy guidelines for resolvin the prob em. Rather, a consensus should be ound P within the framework of a multilateral political dialogue which includes the participation of con- & reductive activities so that such countries might be etter enabled to discharge their debt obligations. Additionally, increased returns from ex when applied in some cases to debt tM rts can, serv cmg, pro. duce the classic treadmill situation, that is, moving faster to avoid falling backwards, and in effect standing still. 110. So dramatic are the conseouences of hiuh inter8st rates that the President of ih* world Bank noted that the punishing effect of to&~‘s hkh interest rates on devdopiiig countries stood out In atUt relief, and he e&d upon develo p”d countries tomake their reduction a priority po icy matter. 1 I I. One unchallenged growth point of intemational economic relations, however, has been the progressive development of economic and other forms of cooperation among developing countries. South-South co-operation has been ursued in an effort to reap the value of enhanced se1 -reliance, both individual and P collective. Organs of the United Nations system have rendered valuable assistance in this regard. It is a matter of regret that the postures of some developed countries have been at best ambivalent or a? worst downright hostile to the involvement of the United Nations system in schemes and programmes encouraging South-South co-operation. It seems inconsistent to contend that developing countries should do more to help themselves and, at the same time, withhold support from, or deliberately obstruct, speaks against disarmament. Yet in the professed cause of security, armaments become more sophisticated and more numerous. At such levels of refineabsence of agreed restraint, such armaments are thenselves purveyors of msecurrty and vectors of 118. A prime task is, therefore, to decelerate the feverish preparations for war. International efforts must be urgently intensified to put a stop to the arms race and to accelerate the process towards genuine disarmament. 119. It is perhaps in the Middle East, a continuing hotbed of tension and instability, that we see demonstrated most vividly the futility of policies which seek security based on force of arms. Durable peace in that region will remain an elusive goal so long as Israel pursues, and is encouraged so to do, policies of occupation and annexation and continues to stifle F roblems of colonialism and apartheid pers st and ester. 123. The recent convulsions within the South African society, engendered throu h oppressed, stand as incontrovert ble evidence of the H protest by the disposition of the majority of the country. The lukewarm reaction o F eople of that the so-called Coloureds and the Indians to the vaunted constitutional changes also point unmistakably to the deep malaise that aMicts that society. The vast arm of the disenfranchised and despised in South A nca is ty* entitled to ask whether the international communitv cannot do more to sup hasten the demise o $ ~~~~ rt their own efforts and so the abominable amrfheld s stem. & hat Condemnation of apartheid is not %nough. is required is practical action to abolish it. 124. There can be no more tempo&in in relation to Namibia. The independence of t at ii cannot be linked to an country extraneous issue. Security Council resolution 435 1978) must be implemented r in its entirety. The people of Namibia, led b SWAPO, must no longer be frustrated in their mart E to freedom and independence. This vestige of colonialism must be extirpated once and for all. 125. How much longer must the % ple of Korea suffer the division of their country? e situation in the peninsula remains tense. It can, however, be improved if sincere efforts are exerted for the pe-sceful and independent reunification ofs Korz without outside intifference. The earlier this pro p”’ of Korcr t% ear by the Democratic Peep e’s Republic r tripartite taks are constructive and wrmlt our support. 126, Qenml AssembIy resohttion 3212 (XXIX) cuntkkues to be the comer-stone For 8 solutioh to the Cyprus problem. Efforts at the implementation of this and other pertinent resolutions have, unfortunately, not yet produced the desired results. Within the past year, the situation has been compounded by u@ateral actions by the Turkish Cypriot community, actions which have no legal validity. The Secretary-General has sustained an intimate involvement in the search for a solution, the vicissitudes notwithstanding. We stand firmly behind him in his current initiatives. 127. My own region, Latin America and the Caribbean, is not immunized from tension and threats to Peace and security. 128. In Central America. radical forces are counterposed in a deepening crisis. Addressin themselves to this issue, the heads of Government o B the Caribbean Community when they met at Nassau in July of this year declared: “NotwIthstanding ideological factors, % void. Both ltetween our two count&s, is null and e facts of the case and their impact on our relations with Venezuela have basn presented by We uu still some considerable way mm %%I&% us to the .$3enacal Assembly fer the pw aSreameIltonthebuisofwbichw&%~l8ytonrt once and for &Ii, this ghost sf the put. in earnest, a climate conducive to success is a prerequisite. Suspicion and distrust, which have too often infected past relations, must give way to understanding. Confidence flows from resucct. 134. The Seiretary-General was ,rescient-when he asked for and obtained from bot 1 1 countries assurauces that we would do everything necessary “in order to foster and maintain the most favourable climate for the effective application of the Geneva Agree!nent”. Guyana gave that assurance readily since It has alwa relations with J s been our wish to develop friendly enezuela. Since earlv this vear. we have noted signs from Caracas of a d&ire to’&ciprol cate and extend the hand of friendship. As it has consistently in the past, Guyana pledges that it will co-operate fully towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement in an atmosphere of friendship.’ 141. The paradox of the threat to international cooperation deepens when we consider that there is an acknowledged movement towards greater regional and subre ional nomic an d: co-operation, espectally !n the ecoother functional fields. Yet It ts pcectsely at this time of enhanced endeavours at regtonal cooperation that a retreat from multilateral activities that at once transcend and encompass regional cooperation is being vigorously advocated and pursued. 142. In promoting effective democratic international organizations, no one calls for the abandonment of the pursuit of national interests. On the other hand, it must surely be possible through commitment and common purpose to utilize international organizaourselves and a framework for activities in the future which shows great insight. As he said, “Let us look back at the road we have travelled, distil the experience and set out again refreshed and with a new determination. The purposes for which the United Nations was set up are essential for the future of our planet. The vision expressed in the Charter remains, and we should rally to it.” 147. There is a serious challenge before us. The imperative is a politbal no less than a moral one. It is to mobilise the world’s people In support of the cause of the United Nations-that of survival, of develop ment and of peace, 148. The real alternatives are between the main@ nance or the quest for supremacy and the buildin of a co-operative global partnership. I believe t at ft agreed arran oments arc possible $rrou lute punurt *% y all of us of a policy o P tbo resoact~vo and peaceful cocxrstonce. It is, I venture to su necessary condition of peace and real security of all States. But that con sufficient. Such a policy must be buttressed by complementary ones which do not frustrate actual and nascent processes for securing peace. 149. The Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has been in the vanguard of the forces working for a harmonious global environment. That Movement, to which Guyana is proud to belong, brings together the collective exoerience and veaminas of the ueonles of more than lb0 countries and mo;ements, Wc’are of different ideological backgrounds, but we share a common platform for peace and common aspirations to development. 150. Our Movement, which provides a viable alternative to bloc politics, has, the odds notwithstanding, indefatigably alerted the mternational community to the prospects of nuclear disaster and fought strenuously for the adoption of genuine and complete 154. We should like to seize this opportunity to renew our ex ression of confidence in the endeavours underta en P by the Secretary-General and to reaffirm our support for hi8 persistent efforts aimed at ensuring adherence to the purpose8 and principle8 of the United Nations and enhancing its role in the settlement of the international disputes that threaten the Security and existence of mankind. 155# My country’s delegation is pleased warmly to welcome the admission of the State of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations; we look forward to the establishment of mutual co-operation with that fPiendly country based on our common ties. 1 6. o I As we are approaching the fortieth annivcrsa the United Nations, we hope that the day WI 1 7 come when the countries still under colonialism or foreign occupation will become free and join the United Nations. 157. The SecretarvQeneral has indicated. in his ZP rt on the work 6f the Organisation (A/39)1 that c t&J ast yoar has been character&l by greatk ower on and by violence or threatened violence ia Urious pacts of the world. The cycle of vialcncc @t&cd to by the Seerctary=Gcneral and undoubtedly involving almost all lack of good sense, t arts of the world, is caused by y the obstinate adherence by States to concerts of self-interest and bv the exertion of pressure on ihird-world countries to-prevent them from achieving stability and devoting their national resources to the development of iheir economic potential. Hence, security has become the preoccupation of individuals and nations in our contemporary world. 158. Our region, the Gulf area, is one of the regions of the world where tension has increased as a result of the destructive war raging between two neighbours- Iraq and Iran. The consequences of that war have affected international shipping lines,, thus seriously endangering international navigation m the Gulf area and inflicting severe damage not only on the economics of the Gulf countries bul also on those of the entire world. right8 of both countries. 162. In this context, we put on record with appreciation the positive response exhibited b brotherly Iraq towards the initiative8 taken and ta declared Y readiness to end the war immediately. We look forward to the da when the Government of the Islamic Republic o ? Iran will do likewise and respond P sitively to the efforts and initiative8 undertaken or that oumse. 163. Wd, in the Gulf, attach particular importance to freedom of naviaation because of its close conneetion with the development of our reBouree8 and economy, in addition to its signifiaance to the world economy. We are opposed to any action which hinders or restricts freedom of navigation on the hi Bh seaa. Hence, we were gravely concerned over t ~c reeent events in the Red Sea, given their inherent danger and threat to navigation in that vital watcrway. 16i. On the basis of this undcmtanding and in view of our area’s direct link with the Indian Ocean. my country continues strongly to support the oflorir undoflakon fat the adoption of the neeeuuy measures for the i~amcntrtion of rCae D8eIAmtion gf tho Indian Qcera u a &no of Peux [re&t&m 2832 (XXVf) and for ctTecthc amplirnec with it on the uan o E the international community. i65. The United Arab Emirates ias affirmed on more than one occasion that the security of the Gulf area is exclusively the security of its States and they are directly responsible for it. This principle is an extension of the general principle that m continues to adhere to, namely, country non-inter crence in i! the internal affairs of other countries. 166. The Middle East is one of those regions that continues to suffer from tensions. ft witnesses daily, in an unprecedented manner, displacement, murder, destruction, wars, occupation and violence. The region has become the scene of the most violent acts of aggression in the conlemporary world. An entire people has been denied stability and peace in a free and independent homeland, while other peoples are threatened with the same destiny. Calls for help and denunciations have been made on an almost daily Nations Council for Namibia, w 1 over the United ich certainly would have carried out its historic task long ago if the tit! mhaess, continues to cling to this rae~s hydra, . pcficb holds it up to ridicule and makes rt an international outlaw, we shall continue to fight this r6gime and shall refuse it any recognition as a part of mankind. 197. Similarly, the question of Namibia continues to be one of high priority for the United Nations. We have waited long, and we had long hoped that, thanks to efforts throughout the world, and particularly in the Security Council, this Territo occupied by South Africa, woul Fr which is illegally achieve independence before 1984. Unfortunately, our faint warnings and the complacency which many of us have shown towards the minority racist regime of Pretoria have made it impossible thus far to attain that result. Today, the chances for success in achieving a negotiated settlement seem to be slimmer than ever. Therefore, the international community must react J . 1 e$;;l m the face of South Africa s racist, colontal 199. But it is not only southern Africa which is a source of concern to the world today: in the Horn of Africa, instability has become endemic and has resulted in numbers of refugees never before seen by our continent. Peace there 1s exceedingly precarious, and war and famine have wrought ravages of which only the indifference of the media allows the broad masses to be unaware. To be sure, solutions have been sought, but these have apparent1 commensurate with the seriousness of t h not been e situation and the growing magnitude of events. The United Nations could still do more. and that is why we urge it to act vigorously. - 200. In Chad-plunged into gloom and nearly destroyed by an excessively long and murderous war-we must say that we begin to see a glimmer of hope in the comparative normalization, over a period of somethin economic and socia more than two years, of the Pa life of that count 7 The recent announcement of the withdrawal of oreign forces stationed on the territory of Chad gives rise to new optimism-to the extent, and only to the extent, that the commitments undertaken by the parties concerued are scrupulousIy observed that any impuhes to return in one or another guise are blocked or avoided, and that neither the territorial integrity nor the sovt:eignty of this fraternal country are compromised or crushed in the course of this operation. We have always said and reiterated that, in our view, the solution to the problem of Chad is a matter for our brothers in Chad alone, free from all expansionist, annexationist, ideological and colonialist ded 8. Today, more than ever, we maintain that posit on. $ 201. With re deplore the amage done to the OAU by this r rd to Western Sahara, we cannot but question, on which Africa has labourad IJQ lo counoils of ministers and at summit conferences, 5” ut of which the ISNIB mention outside of such meet k ‘?R” ives rise only to delays and confusion. We in t e tger take it as given that the right of the Saharan people to self-determination must be respected and that the full implementation of the resolution AHG/Res.l04 (XIX), adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its nineteenth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa in June 1983i--in favour of which my country voted unreservedly and without any ulterior motives-must constitute a decisive step in the right direction. 202. Since you too, Mr. President, are an African brother, this may be the place to express our regret that in a continent such as ours, where the structural weakness of our States should in the normal course of evpnts strengthen our collective devotion to the ideals of dialogue, tolerance and peace, a mere 204. Despite the constant preoccupation by the United Nations with the establishment of a stable order in the Middle East, and despite all the efforts that have been made to that end bv each of our States, the situation in that part of the-world remains explosive, Israel persists in occupying Arab territory anil carrying oui acts of aggrt%Hion and sat?ota@ ag@st its neighbours. The Palestinian people 1s still waltmg for the international community to redress the injustice from which it has suffered for ma?y years now and to ensure thereby the recovery of Its inalienable national rights. 213. The situation of the African countries, on which 1 should like to dwell, is even more drastic. The years 1982 and 1983 were, as noted by experts of the Economic Commission for Africa, years of crisis for the African continent. Global reduction of goods and services was in a state o P stagnation in 1982 and, contrary to forecasts, the growth rate for 1983 was very low; it was estimated at only 0.2 per cent as compared to 1982. Hence, since 1980, there has been a continued decrease, in absolute terms, of about 10 per cent per year in the per capita production in our continent. 2 14. The significant drop in their rates of exchange, together with other factors linked to the international markets, has slowed down or stopped the process of development in many African countries, whose abill- 207. When speaking of peace, how can we forget the war that has been raging for four years now between Iran and Iraq? The great loss of human life and the considerable material damage caused by this war to both sides and the disturbances it has created in international maritime navigation,. and hence in international trade, call for energetic action by the community of nations to put an urgent erid to hostilities. The efforts undertaken to that end are highly commendable, and they must be encouraged and stepped up. I have in mind particular1 efforts undertaken in the framework of the Is amic Y the Peace Committee, those initiated within the framework of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the initiatives of the Security Council and the Secretary-General. by perhaps asking the world to come together as a mattei of emergency to assess and redress the damage oP&sed by its own selfishness and titude. Africa is iadced u\ late v We must ‘mot be indiffmt to tr %: and Befi&i&s. 218. Aher all this great and beautiful continent cannot be conhdered indefinitely as a continent of famine and hunger, of disasters and victims, of poverty and the poor, of incurable suffering and unremitting problems. After having been the cradle of mankind, it is still capable of great fruitfulness, which will one day undoubtedly benefit all peoples and all nations. 219. It is therefore high time to act resolutely to stop the continuing fragmentation of the world economv and to cure those ills from which the most disadvahtaged countries suffer. Any salutary action implies greater justice in trade relations, stabrlization of ihe <rices df raw materials, judicious monetary reform, a courageous solution to the debt problem of the third world, increased development aid-in brief, Drought Control in the Sahel [C&S4 had not the most catastrophic harvests the Niger has ever known obliged him to remain with his people to share their concerns. calm their fears and actively consider with them the measures to be implemenied in .order to save our herdsmen and our brave peasants,‘who are the victims of a combination of uiifortunaie factors and who have been deprived of the harvests the justly expected from their hard work. On his beha f 1’ and on behalf of all the CILSS countries, it is therefore my pressing duty to remind all Governments and mstitutions represented here that they must act in solidarity with regard to this situation. 223. Mr. EASTMAN (Liberia): Sir, I hail, salute and congratulate presidency of the t t; ou on your assum tion of the My-ninth session o P the General Assen?bly. You bring to this hi position a wealth of expetlence and personal #u&cations that should serve you well n the pe ormance of your duties, Africa is proud of you as its son and wishes you success as you preside over the deliberations of this lofty body. You can rest assured of the fullest co= operation and support of my delegation. 224. I also wish to express our a predecessor, Mr. Jorge Illueca, w to preciation to your ably conducted the affairs d-the Assembly during the ast year. He will be remuznbered as decisive and alr. P* 225. The- Secretary-General deserves commcndatioa for hir- &t&ta in the wridr for international p&cc and-&de&aitdi authority, &e&ganfzat on will continue to strive for Y Wo -Imow that under his the maintenance of peace and will endeavour to achieve social and economic stability for mankind. 226. We welcome the admission of Brunei Darussalam to membership of the United Nations. This act was a significant step in the affirmation of thr role of the United Nations and the principle of universality. We are confident that Brunei Darussalam will make every effort to promote the goals of the Orajanization and join in the struggle for the totA elimmation of the remaining pockets of colonialism. 227. Durin the Assembl ‘s thirt -eighth session [6rh mcelingf, my Head o{State. $mueI K. Doe, made a comprehensive report to this body on the progress towards a return to civilian government in I iberia > At that time be informed delegations that a national cbnstlt?ltion commission had completed a Nations supervision and control; yet the settlement lan for Namibia’s independence has not been lemonted. In the mcantimc, the South African r6gimo continues to intensify its militarization of the Territory and to subject the Namibians to the cruelest form of human humiliation and degradation, in defiance of United Nations resolutions and decisions. 240. The untiring efforts of the Secretarv-General and the cxempla~manner in which he has carried out his mandate on the question of Namibia deserve our commendation, WC note in his report on the question of Namibia that, notwithstal.Jing all the bk ro ress made in the negotiations this year, the n ted Nations has not reasons which are well z et been able to proceed, for nown, Indeed, the reasons have to do with extraneous issues that wore not introduced at the time of the adoption of resolution 435 tion iii 1978) but have subsequently received internaattention and been reiected. Liberia. for its part, finds it dificult to riccept the co&opt of paralldism, which links the independence of Namibia to the withdrawal of troops‘ from Angola. 241. It seems clear that the United Nations needs most urgently a now set of commitments and a collective resolve to end South qf$ca’s intransigence Fd the sufferings of the Namiblan people. I Mr. Oouara Lassou (Chad), Vice-President, took the Chair. 242. Liberia has F lodged to encourage the efforts undertaken by the rent-line and other well-meanin States to make Namibia’s independence a reality an % to bring about relaxation of tension and peace and tieourity in southern Africa. While we are grateful to !&stern contact grou s for spearheadin Council resolution 43 ! (1978), we are o f Security the view @at the question of Namibia should be resolved @&bin the framework of the United Nations. How- Namibia, at Lusaka. ism. ugb colonialism, institudonalized racthe miserv of outrir?ht demivation and scarce resdurces were-not enou& evili to reckon with, the refugee situation and food crisis have added new dimensions to Africa’s intractable problems. 245. Four million refugees, the largest in any one area in the world, are scattered all over the continent and, worst of all, are dependent on countries whose economies can hardly sustain their own citizens. 246. The Second International Conference on Asees in Africa, held at Geneva from 9 plemented by world. the plight of Africa’s refugees. This group of unfortunate people must be provided the means of developing their abilities and skills to be able to earn a livelihood and to contribute to the communities in which they live. 247. Hunger, prolonged drought and descrtifIcation pose serious threats to the social and olitical fibre: of our continent, According to FAO, 1 8 0 million Africans will suffer from severe hunger and malnutrition duo to food deficits this year, and FA0 has appealed for emergency food assistance without delay, assistance which is necessary if massive starvation malnut&ion and the loss of thousands of human iives are to be avoided. We commend FA0 for the efforts being made to bring this unfortunate situation under control and we hope the assistance needed will be forthcoming from the international community. 248. Liberia’s resum tion of diplomatic relations with the State of Israel R as not altered its Middle East policy. We continue to believe in, and will give ac cved in t ““RP” rt to a ‘ust and lasting peace which cannot be ’ h e Middle East without: first, the due recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palostinian people, including their ri t to a State of their own; second1 v forces from r , the complete w thdrawal of all foreign a 1 Arab lands; and thirdly, the right of all States in the regio?, including Israel, to live free1 within secured and mternationall Y - aries, with the fullest respect F recognized boun integrity and sovereignty. or their territorial 249. The Government of Liberia also believes that 251. The prolongation of the. Iran-Iraq conflict, a conflict between two Muslim neighbours, can only add to the fragility of the area. Liberian ships and those of other countries have been arbitrarily attacked and damage done to life and propertou;;;i impunity. We believe that the Security cy should again intervene in this long-standing conflict before it takes on unmanageable proportions. 2.52. The Central American region has witnessed urirest and violence for some time now and on an increasing scale. 253. The Government of Liberia has alwa 8 adhered to, and will continue to adhere to, z t c & rinciple of the peaceful settlement of disputes. bile there are still wide differences between the Government of Argentina and the Government of the United Kingdom on the question of the Falkland 263. The seriousness of our global economic crisis can be determined b the fact that it encompasses all nations of the word; rich or poor, developed or I developing, lar e or small we have all been affected in one way or t !l e other. *e have seen the economic havoc it has wrought in developed countries. In the developing societies, vulnerable 3s their economies are, it has created in its wake enormous balance-ofpa Y merits deficits, mountin t debt burdens and worsen ng terms of trade ow ng to a drastic fall in commodity prices .&a sbarp5 rise in the prices of imporccd goods. 264. The crisis has introduced new dimensions into the debate on world~development. There is a growing awareness that the fates of the developed and the ing countries are interlinked in the crisis. I ood thing it has brought forth is the he industrlalized countries that the it@ counties is vital to their ed b aadliness and which, when adoptmateing ii their armed forces, immediately require a effort by the other side. 257. While we advocate a halt to the arms race, we equally stress the urgent need for an answer to the security constant 4 uestion,. thereby removin the need for the ncrease in military expen t between States. ltures and rivalry 258. We believe that security can be four..d on1 in the principles of the Charter of the United Nat ons r and that it is only through the goodwill of all nations, coui&d with mutual trust. confidence. understanding‘snd co-operation that ‘we can achieve the internationrll stability and security so urgently needed in oar world. = - - 259. It is therefore interesting to note President Qemenko’s answers to questlons posed to him dtitig-a recent interview and the reaction of the CMetament of the United States. We Beased from Pmsidont Chemenl@s answers a readiness to negotiate d@rn lete disarmament de$ at% iitclpdcd to believe &t I! ite the rhetoric WC t c Soviet lade; exhis Bovbrnment’s preparedness foi ho&t ous talks with the Government of the United Let md quote a particular Paragraph of Chemenkds response: d %hb to Lwfzm with all certaintj our ro&i- Mi -for dialirgue, for honest and serious talks aimed at finding accord that takes into account the security interests of 311 countries and peoples.” 260. We have noted also the response of the United States: that it is seriously seeking agreement with the Russians, that it welcomes the statement of President Chernenko, and that it is ready to resume the Geneva negotiations. We noted with added interest President Reagan’s address to the General Assembly on 24 September [41/l meefirtg], with its reference to’llnited Sjates-Soviet Union relations, and the “comprehenslve and broad” talks held between the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Shultz, and the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Gromyko, on Wednesday, 26 September. 261. In his statement to the General Assembly on 27 September [1&h rlleeling] the Soviet Forei n Minister stressed that the Sovikt Union would fu ly P -:=--. :.*,., __ system. 267. It is particularly important that 3 co-ordinated economic expansion in industrialized nations be accompanied by low interest rates and a relaxation of trade restrictions, in order to contribute to an economic upturn and provide relief to debtor nations. 248. In order to reverse the tremendous transfer of resources from dcvelo ized world and thcrc & in6 countries to the industriallook of the develo y improve the economic outing countries, and in articular African countries, mancial institutions an P cf. nndustrialized countries should write off long-standing loans and turn some of the loans that have been rescheduled more than once into grants-in-aid. Such a moral tions system who worked so tirelessly for the convening of that conference. 275. Earlier I reflected on various achievements in the search for international concord, especially the evolution of permanent institutions for peace and the development of principles and rules of conduct of States. 1 should like to close by focusing on the serious nature of our present assignment. 276. Every time the General Assembly has met in the past 38 years, hopes have arisen that. the world body would be able successfully to address some of the major problems haunting man’s struggle for country, whether it be plannin individual’s interest rates, causing a flood o s for war, raising the refugees to spill over into someone else’s territory or something else. 277. This year the General Assembly meets for the thirty-ninth time in regular session. It is meeting at a time when the two super-Powers have hardly been on s r eaking terms. It meets under the threat of a nuclear c oud, with both East and West lookin through a palisade of nuclear missiles. at each other r:* a time in our world histo t is meeting at and there arc man tyf % when the poor nationsof t em-are threat of human su y and the erings through amine, drought and oppression is becoming not only widespread but uncontrollable. 278. In short, the United Nations has serious business to discuss this year. But this is not all: the United Nations must resolve to be resolute and tackle the problems facing mankind. It must decide to take some positive steps in the direction of curbing the arms race, in bridging the gap of poverty, in stemming the lucrative arms trade which aims at defeating the very purpose for which the Organization was founded: to save succeedin from the scourge of war. The United a generations ations must restore the people’s faith in its ideals, its objectives and its functional ability. ,379. The new generation toda is c ing out for that United NatiOQS which once ad t e will to help K T resolve the problem in the Korean peninsula obstrutted the partition of the Congo during the lb6os; voted for the establishment of new States; aided in the liberation of many African States. The United Nations should arm itself with that tenaeit of pu iF se to address the burning issues of man pull the world away from c&es. ii nd au 280. In the~early days of the formation of the world body, the United Nations adopted the decision made at Bretton Woods that gave birth to the current world economic order. If it now appears that Bretton Woods no longer serves the best needs of mankind’s economic order, we think the United Nations as a i&l oral force should put pressure on the ecouomic iivanr so that a reconrtruction of the cwstomie &et suitable to the demmds of the time c&ay be ~rnWw& i-W. In June this year, the allied forces of BUropc and the United States commemorated the fortieth anniversary of the invasion of Europe, which history tells us was the turning-point in the Second World War. Next year, the Umted Nations will celebrate its fortieth anniversary as the corner-stone of peace and K regress. But before it can do that, it needs to restore ope to mankind by lessening tensions and making the, two super-Powers pla a more positive role in mamtaining a world or er based on peace and (Y harmony, not by competitive polemics and harsh rhetoric, not by confrontation and stockpiling weap ens, but b for joint e & devising constructive proposals calling arts in addressing the issues of the day. 282. If this session of the General Assembly can take some positive steps in a direction that would lead the su thereby war R. er-Powers to appreciate their role and jointly for the progressive attainment of 293. When the Indonesian missiona plane already referred to was attacked, several o Its Indone- Y* sian passengers brutally killed and two others, including its Swiss pilot, forcibly abducted into Pa ua New Guinea territory, Indonesia had to accept t R e explanation of the Papua New Guinea Government that it did not consider itself in any way involved in the incident and that therefore Its ability to intervene was limited, 294. In the face of incessant cross-border incidents and acts .of harassment and subversion against its border population by separatist elements who con= tinue to find refuge on Papua New Guinea territory, Indonesia has shown great restraint, and this despite the joint undertaking contained in the 1979 Basic Agreement not to allow our respective border areas to be used as “sanctuary, staging areas, bases or for illegal activities against the other”. 293. As regards the sudden influx of large numbers of Indonesians crosdn 9 into Papua New Guinea, to which the Foreign Min ster referred, this is indeed a serious problem, which is being faced by both Governments. Indonesia has no doubt that this ante of UNHCR in this respect, but we see no reason for UNHCR also to momtor the crossers’ recntty and resettlement in Indonesia,. for we have already agreed to allow Papua New Gumea officials to do ao. We believe that this problem is best handled through bilateral arrangements already in place and agreed upon. We therefore regret that our sense of independence and self-respect in being able to solve the problems on our own without unduly involving an already overburdened UNHCR is being misinterpreted by the Foreign Minister of Papua New Gumea. 296. It is clear that the problems that have arisen have either been or are in the process of being amicably resolved between our two Governments, as is appropriate between neighbours genuinely interestsearch o time dl any Indonesian aircraft cross into Papua .cf eration for a lost missionary plane. At no New Guinea territory, as claimed by certain habitually biased and hostile press media of another neighbouring country, the original source of the allegations, - - 290. Again, after a thorough investigation by my Government, no evidence could be found of the involvement of any Indonesian army units in another alleged border incident in or near the village of Suwampa. 291. In those instances where indeed an unintentional intrusion occurred, ,as was the case with the construction of a highway m the eastern part of lrian 300. We hope that one da the noble Cuban people will recover its freedom an d responsibility for its own de&in . As we have announced, and inaccordance with ts democratic traditions, Uruguay will be r holding general elections next month, in an atmosphere of dignity and the free and full exercise of its political sovereignty. @I;~~‘Rdr. LGHIA (Papua New Guinea): The dclegafio~ of Papua New Guinea reserves the right to cxar~ise at a later date its right of reply to the r just made by the representative of Ind+ . The observer of the Palesion has asked to be allowed de by one of the speakers nd to call on him on the resolution 3237 (XXIX) 304. This morning 118111 meeting] we heard many words from the Zionist Minister Shamir about f! eace, terrorism and famine in the world. We should Ike to commment here very briefly on two subjects: terrorism and peace in our region. 305. The Zionist Minister should be the last person to speak about terrorism since he personal1 and his oartv are well known to us and to the worl 2 for their . asiand present terrorist record. The heinous Deir 4 assin massacre, the blowing up of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, when a number of people were killed, including Count Bernadotte, the Unrted Nations Mediator for Palestine. both of which terrorist acts took place in the 194Os, are but two examples of the various terrorist operatrons which were personal- Bekaa region, in the mountains and in Beirut. Such activities led to the outbreak of war there, to the destruction of many Palestinian refugee camps and of entire Lebanese oities and villages, and to the death or dispersal of all their inhabitants as well as to the hideous massacres of Sabra and Shatila, for which the bloodthirsty Sharon and Begin were found responsible by Zionist justice itself, These are but a few exam P les of the activities of professional Zionist terrorists ed by the leaders of Israel. Can we give any credence to the words of the terrorist Shamir about terrorism, or should we believe the acts, the history and the record of his Government vls&vls terrorism against our people? 307. When the Likud Government-that of the terrorist Shamir-assumed power in Israel in 1977 and resorted to the policy of the “big stick” against Palestinian citizens in the occupied territories and the renewal of the establishment of settlements, this had a big impact on Zionist settlers in that area, who began to or adze themselves into special internal security bo df es and to exert, in their ca acity as settlers and political and extremist terra r/ st movements, all kinds of pressure on the Israeli Governmont to allow them to extend their field of activities and play a repressive role against Arab citizens. They wished to serve as a terrorist reserve army to give effect to the official “big stick” policy and ensure the attainment of its ob ectives army was unable to d which the occu o, despite its resort to al P ation kinds of inhuman and arbitrary procedures, because of the determined national opposition of the Palestinian Arab masses in the occupied territories. 309. The various investigations and the questioning of some members of the secret terrorist organization whom the Likud Government was compelled lo arrest-and whose identity and activities it sought lo keep a secret-estal lished the fact that many of them were high-ranking army and police otfftcers and officials of the civil adminislratton with very strong links with some Ministers and other members of the Knesset of the Likud Government at the time. These people used their influence to set free many of the arrested terrorists despite their unquestionable guilt. This clearly roves that the Israeli Government and its various epartments at various levels are mixed B up in the terrorist activities against the Arabs. In the light of the results confirmed by the last Israeli 311. 1 should like to remind the Zionist Minister and all those who, unlike the PLO, shed crocodile tears over the fate of the Palestinian people that our people has made known and continues to emphasize every day, through all its leaders in the occupied territories and outside and even those bohind the bars of tho prisons of the ne&Nazis, as well as our prisoner=flghters now on strike in Nablus-whoso message to the Seoretary.General and to United Nations delegations has been distributed as a United Nations document [see A/39/548, uppend~~]--that the PLO and only the PLO is the sole representative of our people. 312. The -General Assembly resolution to which I have referred reflects the overwhelmina desire of the international mqjority not the de&T: of a single State. So far Israel and its master the United States have refuseb to compl with tie relevant united Nations resolutions an d with the international will. 3 13. All the world realizes that Israel is not a peace lovinq count Shanur and 2 and does not work towards peace. 1 the other leaders of Israel may shed orooodile tears over peace to mislead the world as to their real policies and practices, which are against The meeting rose al 7 Porn, Noms Tar tha 10x1. sea rcsolutlon 38140. oara. I. %kc Repor Qjrhe United Na11~ns &$erence on &?eseri&aNon (AIcONP.74/36), hap. 1. %a Al30l107, annax, para. 10, %grcwnant to rcsolva the controvcn ovar tha fmntiar batwm Vcnazuala end ErlUxb cluianx (United I4 561, No. 8192.) olioas, [tLroly snles, vol. %ce Oflctai Records of the Securlly Count//, Thlrtpnlnth Yea?, gfe.9~ for Jfdy, Au.gus~ and Seutembrr 19a5, documtmt Wa &ltctd Records clfrhe Clenetd &embiy, ‘liwup~lh Stwion, Supplement No. 27 (A127/21), annex 1. %x900 Plan of ActIon for the Implamentxtion of the Monrovta Stf&y) for the &4xtomic Davalopmaat of Afficr (Al&l i/14,