A/39/PV.49 General Assembly

In the clearest and most objective terms. appropriate to a rigorous analysis. the representatives of various Member States and the most qualified United Nations officials have agreed unequivocally in recognizing the prevailing situation in Africa as a terrible disaster and a heart-rending social and human tragedy. 2. The Mexican delcgation comes to this forum at this crucial time for the African continent to reaffirm itssolidarity with the African nations. In the heart of Africa at this time we find vividlv and dramatically expressed the most urgent claims 'Of peoples who for many years have been struggling for their self-deter- mination and development and against implacable natural adversities. exploitation and injustice. 3. The international community has been moved by the grievous facts-s-among then; the fact that more than 150 million human beings arc suffering from progressive desertification and persistent drought and that now in Ethiopia alone almost a million persons, incredible as this might seem at the thresh- old of the twenty-first century, are facing imminent death from hunger. The enormous human dimen- sions of the problem and the social and economic damage affecting a number of the nations of Africa have brought about a regression to underdevelop- ment. The facts arc unquestionable. Today, with a much greater demographic component and with baSIC needs which have multiplied. several countries have regressqd ~5 years as far as their quality oflife is concerned. 1 hell' present indicators have fallen to the levels of 1960. 4. In view of these circumstances and recognizing. as we do. the extraordinarily serious nature of the situation in Africa. it is imperative 10 avoid illusions and fallacies and to appreciate the facts for what thev are. The crisis in Africa has not appeared suddenly; nor IS It an isolated or transitory phenomenon. On the contrary. it is <In impressive indication of the probl~m~ of survival faced by nations which. since the. elimination of colonialism. have been emerging to independent POlitical. tife and stru.gglin$ to build the ?~se~ for their economic self·sufficlcncy and viability In an increasingly unfavourable and hostile International context. . Monday, 5 November 1984. at 10.55 a.m. NEWVORK 5. The African crisis today is a multifaceted, multi- sectoral crisis-in other words, an almost total crisis. It is not only food, health. housing and habitat on which the crisis is having its greatest impact, but also on .t~e o ....erall production of necessities, manpower training, transportation, communications, the exter- nal sector and all the resources for economic and social life. All of these are threatened and distorted by the crisis. In these circumstances, it is not merely the sending today, or for a year, or for five years of ships or aircraft laden with food, clothing and medicines that will ultimately bring about the reha- bilitationof Africa. No one doubts that these forms of assistance are and will continue to be absolutely vital if a total collapse is to be avoided, and it is also undeniable that the flow of such aid is a first sign of the understanding and solidarity which various na- tions feel towards the countries devastated by hun- ger. 6. However, we must recognize more than the circumstantial and possibly transitory seriousness of some of the manifestations of the crisis, especially as regards food and health, the fight againstwhich could save for the moment the lives of many people. It is not only assistance for survival that Africa requires and is demanding. The concerted and continuous action required by Africa is action that would bring about structural changes in its own economy and in the international environment capable of averting once and for allthe imminent danger of a recurrence of this tragedy. Economic development and social progress are the only effective antidotes to future catastrophe. That is the profound significance which the entire world should see in the commitment to solidarity which is being made in our deliberations in this United Nations forum. 7. In this context the essential pre-condition of the success of our undertakings is a thorough under- standing of tbe profound structural nature of the crisis in Arrica as certainly one of the major manifes- tations or the world economic crisis. 8. The time has come for solidarity and action. This Organization was established for two all-important, historic purposes: to preserve peace among nations and to strive for the development of the peoples. There is no other or better forum to which the countries of Africa can come to seek and find the support they need to faceand overcome their present difficulties. This is the appropriate forum, here in the common house of the nations. 9. The situation we are facing could, paradoxically, constitute an exceptional opportunity for the corn- munity of Member States to show their exemplary adherence to the principles of the Charter. The time has come for the United Nations, on the eve of its fortieth anniversary, to revive a genuine spirit of multilateratism by acting in solidarity. ~h cstrucnon 01 the economy of a whole continent. undermining further the political and economic b le situauon, which threatens not only the present stability of the countries of the region and placing on , utlflso the future ?f the African people, speaks for the weak African economics a heavy burden of ~~e n'n~ itear~hmg for the roots of this pheno,men~n, increased military expenditure. Only a reversal of the beyond doubt that the present situation trends jeopardizing world peace and security could f~nnht be termed an unexpected course of events create conditions conducive to the achievement of at as developed only recently. lasting and advantageous solutions of crucial socio- '8' We share the view presented bv the Secretary- economic problems of development, including those eneral. In. the report on the critical social and of Africa, econ.~mlc Situation in Africa that 46. But, at the same time, Poland recognizes that The current economic and social crisis in Africa the scope and gravity of the economic and social reflects the cumulative impact of a variety of crisis in Africa demand that it be given immediate Tterna' and external factors: inadequate resources, treatment. Therefore we welcomed the initiative of ~or cconoJ!lIC growth, structural weaknesses, glo- the African countries to ensur~ that special attention a e~C!nomIc recession, strife and adverse climatic be devoted to their tragedy ID the course of this condit ions."? session of the General Assernblv. It ;<; rl"l!rf'lt~hlf' th.,t sho~ld, be recalled that the ~pecla} Memorandum on Under the scheme, all products originating in and Africa s Economic and Social CrtSIS, adopted at the imported directly from the 30 least developed coun- tenth m~etmg of the Conference of Ministers of the tries have been granted duty-free treatment. Poland Economic Commission for Afnca am;! the nineteenth has developed fruitful co-operation with many coun- session of the Commission stated, inter alia: tries of the region, including those from sub-Saharan "the primary responsibility for the development Africa, and especially. with the .Federal Republic of of economies rests with ... governments Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Ethiopia and many others. and peoples ... However, because of the 51. In conclusion, I would like to state that despite scale and complexity of the problem, there is an our own economic problems and difficulties we are urgent need for massive assistance from the inter- ready to participate in many United Nations actions national community to complement and supple- aimed at easing the situation in Africa as well as ment ... individual and collective efforts in further to expand our bilateral co-operation and dealing with the crisis."! trade with African countries. 48. Since the outbreak of the crisis the actions of 52. Mr. GOLOB (Yugoslavia): At its second regular the United Nations system have been in the forefront session last July the Economic and SOCial Council, of activities undertaken by the international commu- fully and without any reservation, supported by all its nity to cope with its effects. Nevertheless, the input members, decided to consider on a pnority baSIS all of ECA, FAO, UNDP, UNIDO, WHO and ~any problems stemming from. the critical economic situa- others-which we highly value-should not be limit- non m Africa, Yugoslavia, which took part m that ed to providing immediate assistance to African debate, believes that such a decision was fully countries in need but should also promote and eo- justified. We believe that the international commu- ordinate, when appropriate, multilateral actions nity is fully aware that the crisis besetting African aimed at restructuring the existing economic st~uc- countries has assumed dimensions that can nl? longer tures and mechanisms and creating a new and Just be tolerated, not only for economic, social and international economic order. We sincerely hope that political reasons, but because for many countnes and the General Assembly will not fail to find out the real peoples the eradication of hunger and malnutrition is origins of the critical situation in Africa and to map a fundamental need. When the sheer survival and life out a comprehensive programme of activities to of people are threatened, this is and must be the first combat its consequences in both the short-term and and utmost concern. the long-term perspective. We ~hould spare no effort 53. The Economic and Social Council made great to contnbute to this responsible task. We cannot efforts to translate initiatives for giving urgent relief allow such a potentially rich continent to tag far and adequate assistance to African countries into behind In the c01..!rse of development because of past concrete measures and actions. It is to be hoped that colonial occupation and domination. Let us help those efforts were not in vain. It is now up to the Afnca rega~n ItS place m the proc.ess of co-oper~t!on General Assembly to do its best effectively to con- among nations. We fully subscnbe to the opinion tribute to overcoming this critical situation and expressed by.the Secretary-General m the report helping the peoples and countries of the African which I mentioned earlier: continent to embark upon the road of economic and "The development of human resources is a key social development, a road that would lead to priority for Africa. There is an immediate require- stability, !Dent for trained personnel to formulate and 54. I should like to express again our appreciation implement emergency programmes. The long-term to the Secretary-General for his efforts to focus the implications are even mor~ !mpo~ant m terms of attention of the international community on these developing necessary administrative and manage- critical issues. His statement and the reports he rial ca~aclty ... as well as technicians, scientists submitted to the General Assembly only confirm that and skilled labour. Unless the countnes of Africa any delay in taking indispensable action would have fully develop ~nd utilize their own human re- most tragic consequences for the countries and the sources, thel Will remain dependent on the exter- population of the African continent and the interna- nal world." tional community at large. 49. Poland, for its part, continues to assist African 55. The reports of the Secretary-General note that countries through various forms of training, inc1ud- many African countries suffer from structural de- ing education at all levels. African students figure fects. However, at the same time it is said that their prominently among 2,500 fellows from developing precarious position is largely the result of an unfa- countries enrolled in our universities. Approximately vourable international economic environment. The 3,000 highly qualified Polish specialists are employed African countries, as well as other developing coun- in the developing countries, many of them in Africa, tries that find themselves in a similarlv difficult capI~a IDc~me of Afncan countnes has consistently needed, above all, is the adoption of effective meas- declined SInce 1980, at an average annual rate of 4.1 ures so that this crisis, which is basically due to per cent. I~ 1983 exports showed the largest annual circumstantial causes, does not irremediably destroy decrease since 1974. External debt reached, the the still fragile structures of the African economies, staggering sum of $150 billion, and concessional '" , financing decreased in real terms. All these over- 64" Today the crisis ID Africa, the least developed whelming factors, together with the devastating con- c~ntIDent, where 26 of the 36 least developed coun- sequences of the drought and other natural disasters, tnes of the world a~e located, calls for a new have undermined the fundamental conditions for the approach, the I}l!1m guideline of WhICh should be to life and survival of peoples in those countries. In increase the ability of the African countne~ to offset spite of all their efforts, they will not be able to the adverse Impact of the ~nsls. What In fact IS overcome these great difficulties by themselves. A needed IS to define, to .sustam and to Implement a positive response from the General Assembly to the comprehenslv~ economic policy and good man!1ge- appeals for assistance and co-operation is therefore a ment. The assistance of donors and United Nations political, economic and humanitarian responsibility agencies IS essential, The efforts of the African of the highest priority, and there is no alternative to countries themselves and the members of the mterna- it. tional ,commu~lty are needed. Such actions, my 57 Y I' . . delegation beheves, have two aspects, relating to . ugos avia, as a non-aligned, developing coun- emergency situations and to medium-term and long- try" fully comprehends the .problems facing the term needs and problems Afncan countnes. Although Itself confronted WIth . considerable economic difficulties, it is assisting the 65. Critical or emergency situations have existed in majonty of Afncan countries and is developing eo- the countnes of each of the five subregions of Afnca operation with them within the limits of its possibili- sIDce, 1983. That is the case in 1984 and will be the ties. Economic assistance includes assistance in food case m 1985. These emergency situations are mainly agricultural machinery, manufacturing equipment: the rl?sult, of persistent drought and continuing prefabricated housmg and other materials. In the last desertificaticn. The inevitable ~onsequencesare food five years that assistance amounted to $36 million. In shortages and the threat of famine, lack of water, the addition, we have rendered humanitarian assistance decimation oflivestock, increased malnutrition, mas- to the extent of over $3 million. sive food imports and massive displacements of the 58, Scientific and technical assistance is being affected population an.d livestock. Emergency situa- conducted through research and study projects, and tions have been noted Ip 36 African countnes during to date about 3,000 Yugoslav experts have participat- the period under consideration, ed in their realization. Today there are over 1,000 66. It is appropriate here to acknowledge the efforts Yugoslav experts in African countries. So far about made, particularly by the donor agencies and eoun- 3,000 students from African countries have studied tries, to cope with the situations which now persist in in Yugoslavia, The scholarships given by the Yugo- East Africa and, most tragically, in Ethiopia. The slav Government are today enjoyed by about 400 international community, in agreement with the African students. recipient countries, must improve the emergency 59. In our view, an important aspect of eo-opera- intervention operations so that the assistance actually tion has been achieved through granting credits reaches. the people affected. What IS required IS .a under concessional terms for the import of capital determined effort to mcrea.se the intervention capaci- goods and ships and for other investment projects. ty of the systems that exist at present. 60., Yugoslavia is making special efforts to give 67. The countries of Africa, confronted with the assistance through multilateral channels as well- world economic CrISIS, WhICh has continued because that is, through the United Nations and in the of th.e lack of political will and the selfishness of framework of co-operation between the developing certain countries, find themselves defenceless against countries. Yugoslavia will continue to do its best to Its harsh effects. They feel the effects of the economic contribute to the overall action of the international crisis severely because of the remote and recent community, aimed at alleviating and overcoming the consequences of a historical past which has made a critical economic situation in Africa. deep imprint on the continent at the political, human 61. Mr. AHOYO (Benin) (interpretation from and ecological levels. French): Today we are discussing what we have 68. Thus the world economic crisis has serious agreed to call euphemistically the "Critical economic implications for the economy of the entire continent. situation in Africa", while the desperate appeals that All the economic indicators show that Africa is we have constantly made to the international com- suffering from very serious economic ills: a constant munity have continued to receive no response. It is a lowering of the gross national product, a deteriora- euphemism because neither the stark words nor the tion in the terms of trade, a drop in exports, an moving statements made from this rostrum can increase in external debt, inflation, unemployment descnbe the full catastrophic extent of the plight of and the lack of capital due to the difficulty of Africa today. obtaining access to international financial markets. 62. What is involved today is not a matter of trying 69. The economic situation in Africa is also affect- to allocate blame-that is, the blame of Africa itself ed by the degradation and loss of agricultural land, and also, much more serIOUS, that of the nch, who, the destructIOn of grazing land, the lack of ground f;;~w~~~~~n productive capacity is still very 101. It is against this background that the World . . s been nsmg, This, together with the Bank reported that Malawi posted a gross domestic increasmg demand for foreign exchange for indus- product growth of 3 per cent or higher in 1983 and try and the maintenance of the economy has h r d I .. ., b strained the balance of payments prospects' of a as a 100 surp ~s which It sells to ItS neigh ours or large number of countries in the eaion." to other States m Africa, Moreover, the Secretary- . r gion. General confirmed ID hIS report that Malawi has a 96. Finally, the statements delivered in the plenary food surplus. meetings by some representatives last week endorse 102 M f . the senousness of the economic problems fac db' y country aces, however, transportauon Africa e y bottlenecks aggravated by the fact that It IS land- . . . locked, as aforesaid, and therefore needs a substan- 97. When the four authoritative r~ports are consid- tial injection of foreign funds to maintain the mo- ered together WIth representatives statements, my mentum of development in the rural areas, to delegation discerns a genume consensu~ emerging in improve the existing infrastructure, especially trans- three forms: the need for emergency assistance; long- port, to train Malawians in various fields like medi- term assistance for the continent; and the role the cine, engineering, architecture and accountancv. ann ~nto the possibility of rendering technical assistance Oceans. But to the delegates in the plenary meeting, In order to.arrest desertification and to grve food to Africa is an interdependent member of the interna- drought-stricken countnes and to the millions of tional economic family which badly needs assistance refugees III Afnca. from potential and traditional donors. All of us here 108. Fourthly, creditor countries are requested to this morning share a common concern, yes, a eom- consider the possibility of converting official devel- mon wish to help Africa to realize its financial needs, opment assistance into grants, to open world markets to Africa's exports, to reduce 109. Fifthly, the land-locked and least developed the intolerable burden of international debts, to give count~Ies appeal to the world at large to assist in food to the refugees and ,the victims of ,drought, to establishing small rural industries in order to process a~rest desertification, to Improve Africa s transport their raw materials for local use or for export, and to difficulties and to eradicate or to bnng under control share their technological know-how. Coastal States the three deadly e~emIesof the developing countnes, should endeavour to facilitate the transportation of namely, poverty, Ignorance and disease. the exports and imports of the land-locked countries. 113. In conclusion, my delegation would like to 110. Sixthly, industrialized countries are asked to take this opportunity to thank the several countries render supportive and co-operative action in order to represented here today which have sent food to the revitalize world trade by reducing protectionist poli- hungry in Africa and those which have sympatheti- cies or measures likely to impede the growth of the cally helped and contmue to help my country to African economies. implement its development programmes, thereby Ill. Finally, my delegation would like to draw translating political independence into economic attention to the need of the industrialized countries growth from WhICh Malawi, as a people, as a in particular and of the international community in Government and as a nation, has benefited. general to examine the report of the Commonwealth 114. It is my delegation's observation that the Group of Experts, which states that priority must be States Members of the United Nations are made for ~ur continent have thus been dragged into a spiral- 124. In emphasizing the many aspects of the pro- ling decline In econ0fi?I~ actlvlty, accelerated desert~- found crisis engulfing our continent I am not trying qcatton and self-sustaining famine, m which people s to show that this is an unavoidable fate, nor am I lives have been reduced to a desperate struggle trying to justify a simple redeployment of existing aid SImply to surv~ve In almost total deprivation, Natu- to the detriment of other developing regions. On the rally, m these circumstances, the struggle for econom- contrary, I wish to highlight the need for a lasting and IC and socialdevelopment does not, proceed naturally co-ordinated comprehensive approach with a view to or normally ~~ the case .of populations living ID sub- providing emergency help to the affected African human conditions .and !n such a precarious manner populations and preventing further worsening of the that It defies the imagination. situation, laying the bases for economic growth by 118. The international community now recognizes taking action in respect of the negative factors of the that despite its considerable economic potential, international environment and beginning the process Africa is still not only the most under-analysed and of the development of Africa, especially the sub- the most under-equipped continent, but also the Saharan part, by paying special attention to the least most underdeveloped continent on the planet. For developed countries in the continent. Africa contains three quarters of the least developed 125. In this connection, the Kingdom of Morocco countries of the world an~ more than two thirds of considers that the best way to bring together national the land-locked developing countries, while four policies, assistance from the international cornmu- fifths .of It~ countries are affected by drought and nity and the contribution of the United Nations desertification. system to enhance the value of the resources of Africa 119. In addition, more than half of the countries in is to give effect to the Lagos Plan of Action, which is Africa face critical food shortages, to such an extent the best possible framework for the economic and that 150 million Africans are suffering from extreme social development of Africa as a whole. famine, malnutrition and often serious shortages of 126. Indeed, everyone knows that the lands and the drinking w~ter and are afflicted by those epidemics seas of Africa, which represent more than a quarter that In Africa have occurred so devastatingly, of the world's surface, contain huge natural and 120, Africa is the least industrialized part of the human resources which, obviously, offer consider- world, with the lowest outputs of the world's metal- able economic potential for international eo-opera- lurgical and technological industries and trade in tion, Everyone knows that in Africa a very small manufactured goods. The ECA has considered that in proportion of the existing fish resources are hein« o~ the land and, instead of rejecting farming, view it With renewed respect. 146. We need a full-scale campaign, and not merely sporadic attention-a campaign supported by Gov- ernments, which, whatever their differences over politics and ideology, should subsume those differ- ences in this effort. This will require a grinding attention to detail and to all the humble acts of incremental amelioration that will mean in the end the difference between success and failure. 147. Ultimately, the indispensable resource for making progress is more people trained in more effective methods of farming. Countries which have had the experience of mastering these techniques have a duty to share such knowledge with others, both. by sending their own experts abroad and by helping to train those who come to them for training. 148. I represent a small country, devoid of natural resources. One of our major problems has been precisely that of food production. Because of the The meeting rose at 1.15 p.m. NOTES 'Lagos Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its second extraordinary session, held at Lagos on 28 and 29 April 1980. 2Repart ofthe United Nations Conference 011New and Renewable Sources of Energy, Nairobi, 10-21 August 1981 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.1.24), chap. I, sect. A. lReport ofthe United Nations Conference 011 the Least Developed Countries, Paris, 1-14 September 1981 (United Nations publica- tion, Sales No. E.82.1.8), part one, sect. A. 4E/l984/1101Add. I, annex. $E/1984/11O, annex. 6Common Crisis North-South: Cooperation for world recovery, The Brandt Commission 1983 (Cambridge, Massachusetts, The MIT Press), pp. 9-10. lSee E/1984/68, para. 7. 8See El 19841110, annex, para. 3. 9E11984/68, para. 36. IQ/bid., para. 6.