A/39/PV.6 General Assembly

On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations Mr. Jaime Lusinchi, President of the Republic of Venezuela, and to invite him to addres~\ the Assembly. 2. Mr. LUSiNCHI (Venezuela) (interpretation from Spanish): It is my pleasure to extend to you, Sir, in the name of the people and the Government of Venezuela, my sincere congratulations upon your election as President of the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session. Your personal qualifications and your broad experience in the United Nations serve as a firm guarantee that important and fruitful results wHl be achieved during the deliberations of this Assembly. 3. We have intimate knowledge of your vigorous efforts as President of the United Nations Council for Namibia and of your tireless labours on behalf of the freedom and independence of peoples. Zambia and Venezuela have worked together in the struggle against colonialism and racial discrimination, and this has certainly helped strengthen relations between our two countries. 4. I should also like to pay a tribute to that distinguished Latin American who preceded you, Sir, in this important office and who represented his country in the United Nations for many years. I refer, of course, to the President of the sister Republic of Panama, Mr. Jorge IlIueca. 5. It is also a special pleasure for me to greet most respectfully the Secretary-General, myoid friend and the former Ambassador of Peru to Venezuela, and to congratulate him for the efficient and outstanding way in which he has shouldered his responsibilities in the promotion of peace and understanding among all peoples. 6. I come from a Latin American country whose people enjoy fully the inalienable rights of an open, pluralistic and democratic society which, in the daily exercise of freedom, seeks unceasingly to perfect its institutions. We have chosen such a system because of its great potential and because we are convinced that no other system can guarantee with so much integrity the aspirations and development of the human person. 7. I have come here today to voice the views and feelings of Venezuela before this great world forum NEW YORK agai~st any. effective progre.ss tow~rds global eco- 23. After 25 years of vigorous democracy, we nomic relatIOns. grounded m eqUIty and mutual Venezuelans know what our priorities are in the benefit. More serIOUS yet, ~tt~mpts.are <?f~en made to international sphere. Our foreign policy is therefore a accentuate the already eXlstmg disparIties between reflection and an expression of the values and the Nor!h and th~ Sout~ through .renew~d pressure aspirations which drive us to uphold and defend our m~chams~s, all m a clImate of mtranslgence and democratic way of life as set forth in our Constitu- umlateralIsm. tion-namely, respect for human rights and repudia- 16. We are, thus, in the midst of a rarefied interna- tion of colonialism and racial discrimination, both of tional environment, of constraints and established which run counter to Venezuelan convictions and positions resistant to change because they are kept in our histor1callegacy. The aim of my Government is place by strong interests and by dogmas of one stripe to intensify our involvement in all these matters. To or another. this end we shall sponsor at Caracas in 1985 an 17. In times of crisis and tension one must speak internation~l forum. on human rights i!l recogn~tion unambiguously, in a dispassionate and objective of .the .fortleth anmversary o~ the Umted Nations. manner. An inescapable conclusion then stands out: ThiS Will serve as a,n opportumty to take stock of all things cannot continue the way they are. Bold and that has been achleyed to. date and. to s~ed lIght constructive attitudes are required of the community wherever darkness stIll pers.lsts as an Imp~dlment to of nations to chart a new course for international human progress and the fights of mankmd every- affairs, ~iving rise to political evolution, social and where. economic development, and equality of opportunity. 24. Everything related to the fundamental rights of We demand such a change of course in international the individual takes on greater importance day by life and in relations between States, which would day and arouses the strongest interest. In the broad- resolve the great paradox of the world in which we est sense we are referring not only to the rights of the live-an era of contradictions and ambivalence, of individual as such but also to the rights of the amazing scientific and technological advances, and individual in society, to the rights of peoples to a yet a time of lack of imagination and of declining more just and equitable distribution of wealth. In our resolve to use those resources for the good of opinion, it is not possible to lose sight of these mankind in a way consistent with the most elementa- implications when discussing such issues. ry asp~rations f~r peace and justice and ~~rthy of the 25. We attach special importance to democratic essential yearnmgs of the human conditIon. processes throughout the world and in particular to 18. We are aware of our possibilities and our those in our own region. I wish to emphasize the limitations, of what we can and cannot do. We know special gratification of Venezuelans as they observe what our aspirations are, and in order to attain our the strengthening of democratic processes in Latin goals countries like Venezuela are accepting chal- America. Let there be no doubt about it: the process lenges unprecedented in history. 'Ne are also aware of of democratization enables nations to reach firm our faults and of our mistakes. understandings, to agree upon common struggles and 19. We have the moral strength to recognize our to .achieve consensus in the search for a common weaknesses as well as the honesty to assign clear and vOice. b~~ic responsibilities to those whose duty it is to 26. Venezuela is above all a country whose vocation assume them. The General Assembly reflects in its is essentially Latin American. Sim6n Bolivar's writ- ~overned by the principle of fairness. The mdustrial- countries and creditor banks n~, )tiating. Ized countries cannot escape the need to correct their 52. Along with many Latin Americans, we Vene- own external imbalances and budgetary deficits. It is zuelans are deeply concerned about the problems of obvious that the industrialized countries, in a crisis drug trafficking and the illegal use of drugs, which that they themselves have created, are in a better have reached alarming proportions in many coun- position than the developing countries to carry out a tries during recent years. The increasing scope of this process of readjustment. The capacities of the devel- problem has turned drug trafficking into a social oping nations are so limited that whatever measures calamity which must be fought with determination they take in this respect could unleash political and and courage at all levels and with every tool available SOCIal traumas that could seriously undermine their to us-public and private, national and internation- stability. al. 44. That is why there is an urgent need to ensure 53. Drug trafficking goes so far as to attempt to understandin~and to substantially alleviate the situa- destabilize Governments through corruption, making tion of the thIrd world's foreign debt. Otherwise, the use of all kinds of criminal elements, tying them into economic recovery of the economically most power- an intricate network of operations, conspiracies and ful countries, which to a large extent takes place at complicities which involve all levels of society, from the expense of the economically weaker countries, subversives of the left and right to the most affiuent would be seriously compromised and might have a and most impoverished of our citizenry, striking at much higher future cost for those countries, because, the very heart of public life. Its penetration is inevitably, even more serious measures would be limitless and has reached such a m~gnitude that as required, with world-wide implications that could wr. stated recently at Quito, drug trafficking not ~nly affect r.ollective security and stability. represents a threat to the national security and 45. Venezuela has been renegotiating its external sovereignty of several countries but is also turning debt within the framework of its intention to fulfil its into a dangerous agent of international conflicts. national contractual obligations. We intend to devel·· 54. It is our firm belief that in order effectively to op an economic programme that is truly Venezuelan, combat the scourge of drug trafficking and the illegal a programme that will permit us to fulfil our use of drugs, it is necessary to go directly to the wo~l~ that workmg alone can eliminate the serious congratulating you, Sir, on your election to the pohtl~al and social problem that drug trafficking presidency of the thirty-ninth session of the General constItutes. Assembly. Finland has guod relations and has devel- 59. We, yeuezuelans are not immune to the effects 0l?ed close. co-o~er~tion w~th your ~untry. Your of the CflS~S currently afflicting our world-and I am wld;e expefl~nce .m mte~atlu;ial affaIrs, and of the not referrmg solely to the economic upheavals and Umted NatIons m partIcular, makes you especially political conflicts; they are only some of the conse- qualified to guide thi.s Ass~mbly i~ its deliberations. quences of the breakdown of moral values in the you have my best WIshes m the dIfficult task which world today. hes ahead of you. 60. There is no doubt in my mind-and others 66.. May I also express my thanks to the outgoing have said this before me-that during these last few PreSident, Mr. Jorge I1lueca, who so ably fulfilled his decades when man has triumphed technologically role on behalf of the Assembly. and scientifically he has experienced a concomitant 67. It gives me particular pleasure to pay a tribute w,eakening of the metaphysical roots which anchor to the Secretary-General, to whom we already owe a ~Im and give meaning to both his joy and sorrow, his great deal for his authority and leadership. hfe and death. 68. I should also like to extend a warm welcome to 61. While this feeling of helplessness has engen.. Brunei Darussalam, the 159th Member ofthe United dere.d among those in the developed world a sense of Nations. bewllderm~nt and alienation from life's most basic 69. The world situation has not taken a turn for th~ de~Islvely to halt and. reverse the course of the ar!Us clear that the present African plight exceeds previous bUIldup. The preventt<?n of ,nuclear w~r, ,the. curbmg experiences on that continent. As the Secr~tary-Gen- of nu~lear arms prolIferatIOn, the 1IJ?1ltatton an? eral has said, "the basic fact is that Africa is engaged reductIon of nuclear arsenals" the bannmg of che~l- in a struggle for economic survival." cal weapons and the preventIOn of an arms race m " . outer space remain priorities on the international 79. The situation IS grave., but not despe~ate. There agenda are ways and means by which the underlymg reasons ~ for the present calamity can be addressed. The 74. ~here must also be effo~s towards a.-ms control responsibility for bringing to an end the present and dlsa~mame~t at the reglO~~1 level. Such. efforts economic and social crisis in Africa rests primarily should aim ~t Improved s~abllIty and secunty and with the African Governments themselves. We ap- should cont,nbute to the ultlm~te ~oal of general an,d preciate the efforts already undertaken by the African complete dls,armament., The Fmmsh 90vernment IS Governments and urge them actively to pursue particularly mterested In the promotIOn of nuclear- measures to reverse these negative trends. But at the weapon-free z~nes and ha~ put f~rward proposals for same time the international community cannot es- such a zone m the NordiC regIOn. cape its own responsibility for supporting the intensi- 75. There are ways to strengthen the co-operative fied national efforts of the· developing countries, element of security, the security of common responsi- particularly in the agricultural sector. Increased and bility The fundamental premise is that in no circum- improved aid and other supportive measures are stances nuclear WC1pons be used. There is interest by calle~ for. In this respect we welcome and support the all in improved relationships and stability in the field initiatives taken by the Secretary-General and the of security; there is interest by all in preventing organizations withm the United Nations system to accidental wars and promoting crisis management. intensify their programmes in Africa. For its part, the There should be a determined effort to transform this Government of Finland channels over 50 per cent of interest into commitments, its bilateral aid to Africa. 76. During the coming year the Treaty on the Non- 80. In recent years we have witnessed with increas- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 ing concern the way in which efforts to make full lAse (XXll), annex] is to be reviewed. This Treaty remains of the United Nations as a forum for negotiations on ti~n o~ confidence m East-West relatIons.. It IS matter of deep concern to the membership of the dlsturbm$ to no~e, one year after.the conclUSIOn, ~f United Nations. Given the pressing need for agree- the.Madnd meetmg of representatIves of.the partlcl- ment on steps to avert this danger, the Ten can only patmg States of the Conferenc~ on SecurIty and Co- regret that bilateral talks between the leading space operatkm in Europe, and wIth a Conference on Powers the Soviet Union and the United States, Security and Co-operation in. Europe experts' meet- have n~t yet taken place. They hope that such talks ing on respect for human ~Ights and fundamental will commence without delay. In parallel, multilater- freedoms due to .take pl~ce m the first part o.f .next al consideration by the Conference on Disarmament year, an increase m th~ ~hsregard by some pa~lc..pat- of questions relating to the prevention of an arms Ing States for the prOVISIons a~reed to at Helsm~I ~md race in outer space is also desirable. Madrid in these areas, inc~udmg fr~edom of relIgIOn. 126. At the same time, we must take full account of 121. It has been a conslste~t WI~h of the Ten to other aspects of the disarmament equation; conven- return to a more normal relatIo~shlp wI,th Poland as tional disarmament and arms control are also neces- actual developments the~e permIt. In thIS,regard, the sary ifthe common desire for peace and stability is to Te~ .welcomed the PolIsh Government s amne~ty be satisfied. The continent in which we Europeans declsIO.n. of !ast Ju~y: The T~n hope tha~ !h~ PolIsh live contains the highest concentration of conven- authontIes, I~ a splnt of nahona~ ~econcl.hatIonand tional weaponry and forces in the world. This is one tolerance, wI~1 follow that declslo~ ~lth further of the main reasons why the Ten, in conformity with me~sures deslgne~ to meet the aspIratIons of the the agreed mandate for the Conference on Confi- Pohs!t.people for dIalo~ue, an.d reform and that all t~e dence- and Security-building Measures and Disarma- provlsIO~S of the HelsInfI. Fmal.Act ana the Madnd ment in Europe, which began work at Stockholm last Co~cludmg Docurpent, .mcludmg those on trade- January, are seeking negotiated agreement, in the unIon freedom, wIll be Implemented by Poland. first stage, on a set of militarily significant and 122. For the 10 member States of the Europ~an verifiable confidence- and security-buildin~ mea- Community the achieven:tent of balanced and venfi- sures. These measures would be designed to dIminish able arms c~n~rol and dlsa;rmament agreements, ~s the risk of a military confrontation in Europe and well as the fmllmplementatIon ofsuch agreemen~s, IS would thereby pave the way to a second stage of the a matter ofthe highest importance. We shall contmue Conference, at which the participating States would to work for such results. and to lend supp0l1 to the continue their efforts for security and disarmament efforts of others to achIeve them. in Europe, in particular by controlled reductions of 123. The problems of achieving effective agree- armaments. ments 0!1 arms control ~md disarmament are ~ifficult 127. Those members ofthe Ten participating in the at any tIme. Th.e pursu~t of su~h agreeme~ts IS made Vienna Talks on Mutual Reduction of Forces, Arma- all ~he. mor~ ~Ifficult .m a clImate of mIstrust. and ments and Associated Measures in Central Europe stram I~ pohtlcal rel~tIons. Nev~rthele~s, there ~s no consider th?>'t the submission last April of a new alternatIv~ t? determmed and pamstakm~ purSUIt, at proposal which seeks to resolve some of the more the negotta!mg table, of concreJt: results m the form basic issues of those negotiations should permit real of sub.stantIal, balanced and verIfiable arms co~trol progress to be made towards agreement on conven~ and dIsarmament agreements. I~ the ~eld of dlsar- tional force reductions. mament, statements of good mtentIons are not .. , . enou$h, and declaratory undertakings are a poor 128. The.Ten WIll contmue t? support reahS!IC and substItute for specific, concrete and verifiable mea- concr~~e. dIsarmament efforts m the sole.multIlateral sures. When one takes account of the continuing nego~Iatmg body, the Conference ~n DI~armament, ~rowth in armaments, certain potentially destabiliz- meetmg at Geneva. We at.tach partlcul~r ~mporta~ce mg technological advances in weaponry and the to the successful conclUSIOn of nego~IatIons tak;m.g grave social and economic consequences of the arms place .at the Conference on a conventIon to prohIbIt race, it is evident that all countries, including the chemIcal .weapons. Me~ber State.s of the E!Jfopean nuclear Powers, should have a strong common Com~umty ha,,:e contnbuted actIvely. ~o thIS work. interest in the negotiation of effective measures of In thIS c<?nnectIon, we welcome. posItIve deve~op- arms control and disarmament resulting in stability ments whIch ha,,:e taken place thIS ye~r: the Umted at lower levels of forces. The Ten profoundly regret States has submItted a d~aft c0!1ventIon to outlaw the suspension of the negotiations between the th~se.weapons an~ t~e SovI~t Umon has accept~d the United States and the Soviet Union on interconti- prmclple of on-~Ite mspection of the dest~ctlon of nental strat~gic nuclear weapons and intermediate st,ocks of chem~cal weapons. Although Important nuclear forces. We consider that these vitally impor- ~Iff~rences re~am to be resolved, the Ten hop~ that tant negotiations should resume and be pursued It WIll be possIble to move ~owards the ~on~lus~on at actively with a view to reducing nuclear weapons to an ea~ly date of a conventIon on the elImmatIon of the lowest possible level. chemIcal weapons. 124. Measures to curb and reverse the nuclear arms 129. The importance of the relationship between race should be complemented by efforts to maintain disarmament and development has been underlined and improve the effectiveness of the non-prolifera- in the deliberations of the Disarmament Commission tion regime, which has served the international this year. The Commission agreed that the world community well since it. was instituted in the 1960s. economy-and particularly the economies of devel- In this context, those members of the Ten which are oping countries-would benefit from appropriate parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of international action that takes into account the close Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXIi), annex] relationship of disarmament and development. The will work actively for the successful outcome of the Ten hope that it will prove possible to reach a broad tlOn~1 peace and harmony. The l~ternatIOI~al com- Lebanon. The Ten believe that other foreign forces mU!1lty, J}otably through t~e S.ecurIty Councd, ~as at on Lebanese soil whose presence is not authorized by varIOUS times se~ down gUl?ehnes for the s,?lutlOn of the Government should also be withdrawn. The Ten, these,problems m part or m ~hole. What IS .needed some of which contribute to observer and peace- now IS .movement by the part~es concerned .m each keeping operations in Lebanon, reaffirm their will- c~se, WIth the s~pport and assIsta1?-ce. of the mterna- ingness to assist that country towards peace and bona.l c0l1;1mumty, toward~ negotlatt,on .of peaceful normality. They take this opportunity to express solutions. m accordance With the gU.Idehn~s. their appreciation of the work of UNIFIL aimed at 1.33. Wlt~ regard t~ the Arab-Israeh conflict, Secu- carrying out its mandate and its etlorts to maintain nty Councd resolutions, 24~ (1967) and 338 (1973) stable conditions and protect the population in its set out f~ndamental pn1?-clples fo~ a settlement of area of operations. They support the renewal in that conflICt. The Ten beheve that, m essence, su~h a October of UNIFIL's mandate and hope that condi- settlement must further take account ofboth the nght tions will be created which will ailow the Force fully to exi,stence. and security of all. States in the M~d?le to carry out its tasks. East, mcludmg Israel, ~md,the fi&ht of the Pal~stm.Ian 138. The Ten are concerned at the continuation of people to self-determmatlOn, With all that Imphes. the conflict between Iran and Iraq and the resu~tant 134. A negotiated settlement requires the continu- increased tension in the Gulf area. There has been ing and independent expression of the will of the great loss oflife on both sides among combatants and Palestinian people, and the Ten have repeatedly said the civilian populations. Enormous material dam~ge that the PLO should be associated with the negotia- has been done. Shipping in the Gulf, includin~ traffic tions. The resolution of the problems between Israel to and from States not parties to the conflIct, has and its neighbours should be based on the principles, been subjected to attacks. Of particular concern was widely accepted in the international community, of the report in March of this year by an expert team non~recourseto the use of force and the inadmissibil- dispatched by the Secretary:General,4 which ascer- ity of the acquisition of territory by force. For the tained that chemical weapons had been used in areas Ten, this means that, in accordance with Security inspected in Iran. The Ten condemn without qualifi~ Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), Israel cation any use of chemical weapons and earnestly must put an end to the territorial occupation which it hope that they will not be used again in this or any has maintained since the conflict of 1967. other conflict. We call on both sides to comply with 135. For some time now because of events on both the principles and provisions of humanitarian inter- si,des and developments eisewhere, there has been a national law in arm~d conflicts. We have underlined hlatu~ in attempts to find a settlement of the Arab- to Iran. an~ Iraq the Importan~e ~e attac~ to freedom Israeh conflict. The Ten regret this. Each year that of navigatIon and commer~e m mteJ'!lattonal waters, passes without a solution makes its achievement and we recall that the SecurIty Councd has more than more difficult. Attitudes of hostility become more once addressed this question. entrenched and the problems arising from the long 139. More positively, it is noted with satisfaction occupation become more serious. Outside' parties, that the undertaking by Iran and Iraq not to attack includ~ijg the Ten, can play a part in facilitating purely civilian targets is holding up well. We compli~ negotiations and can assist and support constructive ment the Secretary-General on bringing this about steps by the sides. A number of proposals have been and on his work and that of the observer teams in set forth, and remain on the table, which could be maintaining it. A certain willinglness to compromise helpful for a comprehensive settlement. But it cannot and thus spare the civilian population further suffer- be escaped that the parties themselves-Israel, the in_8 is an encouraging sign. One of the possibilities Arab States and the Palestinians-must sooner or offered by the United Nations has been utilized. The later grasp the nettle and come to terms with each Ten urge both sides to extend this process, leading to pol~tical solution. The, ~en regret that the S<?,,:iet 148. The Ten hope that democracy and full respect Umo~ h~s shown no wIllIngness to make a poslt!ve for human rights will be established throughout Latin con.tnbutlo~ to a settl,ement based, on su~cesslv,e America. They welcome the movement towards Umt~d N~~lons resolutlOn~ but has 1~5tead mtensl- democracy in South America, which has been espe- fie~ Its mIlItary effor,ts agaInst .t~e, resIstance.forces, cially noteworthy over the past year. This progress whIch have r~sulted In many, clv.tlIan casualtIes and has been achieved at a time of great economic further sufferIng and destructIOn In a country already difficulties. The Ten particularly welcome the resto- ravaged ~y w~r. !~~ Ten are also deeply concerned ration of democracy in Argentina following the that P~klstat:l1 CIVIlIans and A.fghal;1 ref~gees have elections of October 1983 and the achievemen" of b~en. kIlled I~ attacks on Paklstam ternt~~ from the Government of President Alfonsin in consolIdat- wltll1n Afgh~mstan, and they deplore those VIOlatIOns ing democracy in that countf'j. Elections have also of PakIstan s border. taken place elsewhere in South America and these 143. There can be no military victory in Afghani- have served to strengthen the democratic process. stan. There can only be a political solution which will Our hope is that those remaining countries in South ensure the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops, America where democracy has not yet been restored and the restoration of Afghanistan's independence will in the near future follow a similar evolution. and non-aligned stat~s ~nd the r~ght of the Afg~an 149. The Ten welcome the recent steps towards people to self-determInatIon. In thIS regard, the plIght national reconciliation in Colombia and are follow- of the refugees must not be forgotten. Th~ exod~s of ing with interest the process of democratization in more tha!l a fifth of the Afghan populatIon, dnv~n Uruguay, where elections are scheduled to take place fr~m thel~ homelan~ an~ forced to seek s~elter In in November of this year. I regret that, on the other nelghbo,unng countn~s, IS a tragedy of Immense hand, the repeated appeals of the international proportIOns. J\ny solutIOn must enable the refugees to community to the Chilean authorities to take mean- return home In safety and honour. ingful steps to restore democracy to their country 144. The Ten are committed to supporting any continue to fall O~ deaf ears. Violent incidents initiativc which aims at a lasting and principled continue. These have their origin in the denial of solution. based on succcssive United Nations resolu- democratic freedoms to a people which has a long tions, to the problem of Afghanistan and recall their experience of democratic Government. ~hose elections. There is an urgent need for an early economic and social advancement. The OAU plays move towards the full and equal involvement of all an important role in the promotion of peace on the citizens in the political process if further conflict and continent, and the Ten support in particular its violence are to be averted. The Ten will continue to efforts to find peaceful solutIons to the problems of press for constitutional arrangements founded on the Chad and Western Sahara. principle ofequality and acceptable to all the citizens 163. The problems caused by the severe drou~t of South Africa. which has struck large parts of Africa, together WIth 156. During the past year, the South African Gov- the connected problem of desertification and other emment has continued to implement its homelands factom, ~ ,\ve contributed to the deterioration of the policy. Families and entire communities have been continent >3 economy and its ability to produce food. forcibly removed from the homes which they have The European Community and its members are operati~n t'? prevent. the political conflicts. and freedoms agreed by all. economIc dIstress whIch are among the pnt:na!'Y. 169. I turn now to the international economic causes ofrefugee fl.ows. The problem of refugees IS, ot situation. course, a world-wIde phenomenon. The Ten expect ... fruitful results from the work of the Group of 170. .The,begmnmg of thIS decade S:.iW the worst Governmental Experts on International Co-opera- recessIOn sm~e the 1930s. Recently t~ere has been a tion to Avert New Flows of Refugees. recove!1' whl,?h.has been ~trongest In some of t~e , ' larger mdustnalIzed countnes and, of course, partlc- 165. I referred ~t t~e outset to the Ten s commlt- ularly here in the United States. The effects of this l1)ent to hum,an ,dlgmty and,to the defe!1ce of human recovery are now beginning to be spread more ~lghtS as, a Pfl~clple underlymg the T~~ s approach to widely. Last year there was a resumption ofgrowth in mte~atIonal IS,sues. M~ny of the pO~ltIcal problem,s I world trade, and it has apparently been accelerating have ~us~ descnbed denve from a faIlure to recogmze further in 1984. However, uncertainty remains con- the dlgmty ~n~. worth of the human I?erson and to cerning the likely evolution of the international uphold th~ nghLs a.nd fr~edoms se~ out In the Chat:ter economic situation. of the Umted NatIons, m the Umversal DeclaratIOn . of Human Rights, in the International Covenants on 171. J'leverth~less, consl~erabl~ p~ogress has been Human Rights and in other international hunlan !'1ade 11). ~educmg rat~s of mfla~lOn m almost ~ll the rights agreements. Our task as the Ten and the task of mdustnalIz~d countnes. DespIte the uncertamty I the United Nations is to ensure that States adhere to have mentIoned" !he p~ospects seem generally fa- their obligations to promote and protect all catego- vourable. In a~dltI~n, ~Igmficant progress ha~ been ries of human rights-civil and political as well as made ~ecently m adJu~tmg fiscal and external Imbal- economic, social and cultural. The Ten believe that an~es m many cout:ttnes, bo~h develope.d and dev~l- all these rights form an integral part of a global opmg. M~ny non-oIl-producmg deyelopmg c~>untn~s system for the protection of the individual. They are have achIeved a remar~~ble adjustment m theIr indivisible and interrelated and must all be defended. balance-of-payments posItIons. The promotion and protection of one category of 172. As was noted in the London Economic Decla- rights can never excuse a State from promoting and ration, issued at the London Economic Summit held protecting other rights or exempt it from its obliga- from 7 to 9 June 1984 [see A/39/304], a continuation tions in this regard. of the recovery requires unremitting efforts. We need 166. Unfortunately, the obligations entered into by !O spre~d ,the benefit~ of the recovery widely, in !he States are too often broken, Numerous reports and mdust~lalIzed co~ntnes as well as to the ~evelop~ng surveys testify to the continuation of torture, political countnes, ,especu~lly the poorer co~ntfles, whl~h imprisonment, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, stand to gam consIderably from a sustamed g~owt~ In summary executions and racial and religious discrim- the worl.d economy. P~ogress has been m.ade In laymg ination as instruments of State policy. The failure to foundations for sustamed growth, but I~ the f~t~re match our aspirations with achievement weakens the we shall,ne~d to work for greater financIal stabIlIty, human rights system so carefully and painstakingly notably m mterest rate~ and ,exchange rates, and to developed over the past 40 years and calls into make fl;lrt~er efforts to lIberalIze trade and to combat question the seriousness of our commitment. it is protectIonIsm. difficult to imagine the impact on those who suffer 173. The very high level of real interest rates is a injustice and repression of the feeling that the world matter of particular concern. This directly affects is indifferent to their plight and has abandoned them economic activity, distorting exchange rates and to their fate. For their part, the Ten will continue to capital flows and exacerbating problems of indebt- speak out against violations of human rights when- edness. To ensure the continuation of a strong and ever they occur, to work for the protection of the sustained recovery, it is essential that interest rates victims, and to promote international agreement on internationally come down to more acceptable levels. standards and procedures. At the same time, it will be essential to ensure 167. In this connection, the Ten welcome the a~equate transfer of resources to developing coun- progress which has been made on the draft conven- tnes, tion a$ainst torture and other cruel, inhuman or 174. In assessing the economic outlook, no one can degradmg treatment or punishment.2 We look for- afford to be complacent. There are sizeable dispari- ward to the adoption of the draft convention at this ties in fiscal policy and growth performance among session of the General Assembly. Effective measures industrialized countries. There is growing imbalance o~stacles t~ eco.nomlc an~ SOCial.developme!1t. ThiS 191. These problems, some of which I have touched Will n~cessltate mcreased mternatlOnal attention now on in this statement and most of which appear on the ~md m. the years to come to the problems of agenda of this session of the Assembly, present a Improvmg the balance of resour~es between t~e distressing catalogue to those who believe that the peoples of .the world. The InternatI<?nal Conference United Nations could and should play a more on PopulatIOn w~s held .at MexIco City from ~ to .14 important and decisive role in international life. It is August 1?84 agamst thiS backg~ound. In revle~mg therefore entirely appropriate and necessary that the and refi!1mg the World POl?ulatl<?n. Plan of ActIOn, Secretary-General should draw attention again this t~e MeXICO Conference provtlped, m Its recom~e~da- ear in his report on the work of the Organization tlOns adopted by ~onsensus, many useful gUldelIr:tes (A13'911l, to the dangerous breakdown in the multi- to Go~ernments m both developed and developmg lateral approach to international questions. The Ten countnes. . agree with the Secretary-General's diagnosis of the 187. For the Com~unity's ~wn p~rt, and m the problem. We also agree with hi.s prescrip.tions for a context of strengthenmg our lInks with the develop- solution. We have supported hiS efforts m the past in~ countries, ou~ e.fforts ~ave bee!1 largely .devot.ed and we shall continue to help in whatever way we can thiS year to negotlatmg a third Lome conventl0t:l With to restore respect for the Charter of the United African, Caribbean and Pacific ~ountries. A~ m t~e Nations and to strengthen confidence in the Organi- case of its predecessors, the third. conve~t~on Will zation. cover a wh~le range. of trade and a.ld provlsl~ns for 192. As the United Nations enters its 40th year over 60.Afncan, C~nbbean an~ PaCific cou!1tnes. We there is an evident need for a recommitment to a take pnde that thiS co-operation convention repre- multilateral approa~h which would draw on the sents an .unprecedented effort to create a new model energy, the imagination and the potential for co- for relations between No~h and ~outh, encomp~ss- operation of the majority of the Assembly. Other !ng al~ost half of the mternat~onal commuDl~y, approaches have been tried and have failed. The I~cludmg most of the poore~t nations. The neg<?tt~- Secretary-General, in his report, has sounded a tlOn.s have now entered their final ~tage a.nd It .Is warning about the risks of continued failure. We envisaged that the, new agre~ment Will be Signed m ignore that warning at our peril. December at Lome, the capital of Togo. We do not . . . . claim that this convention will provide definitive 193.. I should lIke now, as MIDlster for ForeIgn solutions to all the development problems of the ~ffalrs of Ireland, to tu.m ~() a problem of sUl?reme African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. It is, Importance for all who lIve m Ireland, whether m the however, a contribution, based on a number ")f north or the south. fundamental principles, which should enable both 194. During the past year more lives have been lost the Community and the African, Caribbean and in Northern Ireland, and the alienation of the Pacific countries to continue to build the kind of co- nationalist minority there from the system of politi- operation that will be beneficial to both sides. The cal authority, secunty and justice has continued. The objectives of the convention make that clear. We urgent need to promote a political solution which will have agreed that we will support and promote the end the violence and alienation remains the most efforts of t~e African, Car~bbean and ~acific coun- pressing problem confronting my Government. tnes to achieve self-determmed, self-relIant and self- When I addressed the Assembly last year, at the maintained development. Our efforts take account of thirty-eighth session [J 5th meeting], I expressed the local needs and local resources. Development must hope that, following the completion of the work of be encouraged from within and not imposed from the New Ireland Forum, its members would be able without. to present to all the people of Ireland and to the 188. Finally, I should like to refer briefly to the British people a clear and realistic an~lysi.s of. the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Northern Ireland problem, together With Imagma- The meeting rose at 1.25 p.m. NOTES 'Final Act of the Conference I)n Security and Co-operation in Europe, signed at Helsinki on I August 1975. 2E/eN.4/1984/12. 3Concluding Document of the Madrid Meeting of Representa- tives of the Participating States of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, Held on the Basis of the Provisions of the Final Act Relating to the Follow-up to the Conference, issued on 6 September 1983. 40jJi.cial Records of the Security Council. Thirty-nmth Year, Supplement for January, February and March /984, document 8/16433. 11Ibid. , sect. C. 12See Report ofthe /nternational Conference on Population, /984 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.84.XIII.8 and corrigen- da), chap. I, sect. B.