A/39/PV.96 General Assembly

As members will recall, the General Assembly decided at its 3rd meeting [para. 154] that it would hold a plenary meeting today to commemorate, on the recommendation of the Ec0- nomic and Social Council in its resolution 1984/64, the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States. 2. Ten years ago today, the General Assembly adopted the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties ofStates [resolution 3281 (XXIA7l. This commemora- tion provides a valuable opportunity for us to assess the global economic system as it has functioned in the past decade. In doing so, we should focus on what has been.achieved or left unattended and what needs to be done to enhance international economic c0- operation. 3. The essential premise ofthe Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties of States was, and still is, the promotion of development and international eco- nomic co-operation. Among other things, the charter declares, in. its article 24, that "All States have the duty to conduct their mutual economic relations in a manner which takes into account the interests of other countries." 4. -The process which led to the adoption on 12 December 1974 of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States should be seen in the broader context of the efforts which had culminated a few months earlier in the adc.lption ofa related document, the Declaration and the Programme ofAction on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order [resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI)] S. The economic crisis of the early 1970s had brought abouta new awareness that the international community had to r..ommit itself to the introduction ofstructural changes in the pattern by which intema- tiQnal economic relations were conducted. The im- portant decisions taken by the General Assembly in 1974 were therefore necessary in the interest of our interdependent world. 6. TodaI it still seems. valid to emphasize that matters affecting economic relations among naHons cannot be guided by parochial considerations or limited conceptual horizons. Institutions that play.a dominant role in these areas should not function only within the original framework that shaped their creation. Rather, they should be responsive to the NEW YORK changing needs and requirements of the countries and peoples which they now serve. 7. The growing importance ofthe developing coun- tries as a whole in the global economy is perhaps the most significant single element which determines the call for a reorientation ofthe patterns of internation- al economic relations. The developing countries provide a market for·almost a quarter of the exports from the developed countries. Conse~uently, growth in developing countries favourably affects the econo- mies of developed countries, in terms both of de- mand and of'tlmployment. Conversely, the buoyancy of the economies of the developed countries has a direct bearing on the economic future ofthe develop- ing countries. In short, the interdependence of our ~obal economy makes it evident that improvements m the world economic situation must be a collective enterprise. 8. The General Assembly has undertaken several initiatives in the past decade to improve the ~obal economic environment. The results of these mitia- tives have been less than spectacular. The need for a rational exploitation of global resources and the equitable distribution of economic benefits remains an urgent and,continuing priority. 9. The Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of, States is generally r~ded by Governments as an' embodiment of cardmal principles which must/ne allowed to govern inter-State relations. It is;Mso considered to be a reasonable expression of the"need for harmonious development in the world economy, as well as for the maintenance of internatiolliU peace and security. / 10. It is in this spirit that I should like on this O'X8Sion to appeal to all States, deve.foped and developing, to implement this important instru- ment-the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States. 11. I now call on the Secretary-General. 12. The SECRETARY-GENERAL (interpretation from Spanish): Ten years ago the General Assembly adopted the Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties of States. It was a pronouncement of lasting signifi- cance, based on the realization that in a world of growing interdependence, international economic problems could be solved only through greater multi- lateral co-operation. While some issues arising from this premise may be open to debate, the basic prinCiple articulated by this charter transcends all differences of perceptions and priorities. It is the principle of promoting an economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, com- !Don int~rest .and. co-operat!on amon~ all States, Irrespective of thelt economic and SOCial systems. 13. The last 10 years have been years of much !umult in the economic sphere. They have accentua- van~;e for our ongoing efforts to cope with the the charter provisions since its adoption 10 years ago challenges of increasing global economic interdepen- would have justified genuine celebration on this den~. occasion. Today, however, we have to content our- 16. Through the adaption of the Charter of Eco- selves with the commemoration of the adoption of a nomic Rights and Duties of States, its sponsors charter that remains to be fulfilled. endeavoured to provide the international community 23. Ten years after the adoption of the resolution, of nations with an effective instrument for the several developed countries have not gone far beyond establishment of a new system of international what in the language of the United Nations could economic relations based on equity, sovereign equali- perhaps be termed as merely "having taken note of' ty and interdependence ofinterests of developed and .the provisions of this universal document. The gap developing countries. It was hoped that the evolution between. what the charter spells out concerning the of economic and social principles meeting the re- various elements of international economic relations quil'ements of more equitable international relations and what "has so far been implemented cannot be would make a major contribution to advancing the overlooked or glossed over. To cite some examples, cause of development and to promoting social pro- the charter calls for the promotion of rational and gress in larger freedom. equitable economic relations and for the expansion 17. Today, 10 years after the adoption of the and liberalization of world trade. At tlie level of Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties ofStates, we implementation, what we really see and experience have to state that many of these hopes and aspira- today is the marked increase in protectionism, which tions remain unfulfilled. Many of our efforts to has become more specific in focus, more sectoral in promote economic and social development in a scope and more discriminatoI)" in effect. The growth manner which truly responds to the full dimension of in protectionism and its existing structures has had a this historic process of change still encounter major major adverse impact on trade, particularly on the difficulties. Some of these difficulties are due to the exports of developing countries. / sheer magnitude and complexity of the problems 24. Developed countries had pledged, even c~m- involved. Others are caused by the diversity of mitted themselves, to desist from imposing new Frenc~): Only a few days separate us now from the 51. First ofall, it seems to us necessary to introduce ad~l?tlon by the ~sse~bly.of t~e Dec~arationon ~he into th~ indifferent pl~y ofmarket forces a minimum Cntlcal Economic SituatIOn ID Afnca [resolutIOn of ethical consideratIOns such as would serve the 39/29, annex].. At a time when, on behalf of the goals of justice and equity which are the beginning Gr01;1p ofAfnc~n States, we are undertaking a and the end of any political undertaking. Then, it is succmct evaluation of the Charter of Economic important to stress that the conditions that some 10 Ri~ts and Duties of States, this coincidence cannot years ago determined the economic and social crisis but mfluenceour perceptions. . of the world have not changed. That crisis affects the 43. Assuredly, the Declaration just adopted by the developing countries, particularly those of Africa, General Assembly does not mention this charter, much more than it does the developed countries. It is adopted. 10 years ago, which in its preamble stated the gravest crisis the world has known since the that it is a fundamental purpose of the present 1930s. Its persistence or its aggravation definitively charter to promote the establishment of the new refuted the subjective theories that attributed all the international economic order. ~vils of the situation solely to the rise in oil prices, 44. Nevertheless, for many Africans the norms and and p~aced .the responsibility on the deyelo~d principles defined by the charter remain ofindisputa- coun~nes which ceaselessly. profit from a situation ble validity and retain a usefulness no one can that IS profitable to them In every aspect. underestimate for the realization ofthe objectives set 52. Thus the Charter of Economic Rights and forth in the Declaration. Duties ofStates has to deal, in tbe implementation of 45. Indeed, if the overall economic and social it~ basic pr~visions, with the par.aly'~ingjnertia, ifnot situation of the African continent is very far today ~Ith the vetle4 or. declared OPIl\OS~tIO~, of those who from the conditions advocated in the charter when smce the begmnmg have seen m It a dangerous the General Assembly declared itself "desirous revolut~onary operation, ai~ed at so~ng chaos and of . . . the promotion . . . of the economic and desolatIon among the wealthier count~es. :Jb~Y have social progress of all countries, especially developing therefore made.efforts t.o play down Its SIgnIficance countries", we must certainly see here, above all, an ~nd to ~educe ItS pra~tlc~ effect on those areas of effect of the particularly devastating natural calami- mternatlonal economIC life where an attempt has ties such as drought and desertification which have been made to 4raw up new rules for the game, as greatly affiicted the economies whose structures were regards production and trade as well as finance and still far from firm. development. 46. These natural disasters, however, are not the 53. In all these areas lively resistance is note,d; only factors involved here. They have only added to which does not eve~ leav~ un~ouched such bjlSic and aggravated other factors which are equally ~ncel'ts as ~hat me~t1o~ed ID art.lcle 1ofthe c~aiter, ~eplorable, such. as law~ and practices now in effect the so~~r.elgn and Il}allenable nght [of ~vef¥-r~~ate] m the present mternatlonal economic order. This to choose ItS economic system as well as Its~htlcal, being *e case, we can ask whether effective imple- s~ial an~ cultural syst.ems in accC?rd~c~iwiththe mentation of the Charter of Economic Rights and Will of ItS people, Without outSide Interference, Duties ofStates, ifit did not r~duce the consequences coercion or threat in any form whatSCK;ver." of the African crisis, at least might have made it 54. There are circumstances also whith show us possible to discern their symptoms more systemati- that the provision in article 2s according to which cally and to intervene with more effectiveness and "Ev~ry State has and shall freely exercise full perma- assurance. n.ent sovereignty, including possession, use and dis- 47. On this point, the Group of African States posal, over all its wealth, natural resources and supports the idea of creating an intergovernmental economic activities", is constantly the subject of committee ofthe whole which we hope would be able negative assessment by those States whose technolog- to determine the precise relationship between Afri- ical capacities and economic or military power are ca~s economic situation and the non-implementation consider~d to give them the right to dispose, for of the charter. imperialist ends, ofthe resources and activities ofthe 48. It seems necessary for us to stress on the weaker countries. occasion of this tenth anniversary, that despite the 55. However, institutions whose liberal intentions less than receptIve atmosphere on the part of some and initiatives no one can doubt, such as the World developed countries to the goals and principles ofthe Bank, are saying the same thing When, evaluating the charter, that charter nevertheless remains more than worrying eco~omic situation ofAfrica, they advocate ever the touchstone for ·all normative approaches that mternational assistance for development should made in recent years to give real meaning to the take into account, above all, tt.epriorities and concept of underdevelopment that can no longer be programmes. formulated by the countries concerned considered a sad inevitability, but as a relative state, themselves. caused by a basically unjust, blind economic system. 56. In this context, we remain convinced that ifthe 49. Through the clarification of ideas and the global negotiations had been able to lead to opera- redistribution of roles that it advocates, the charter tional agreements in the essential areas of YaW offers prospects for lending substance to the concept materials, trade: development, currency and finance, of the right to development and proposes the imple- this would have made it possible to achieve in a co- mentation ofessential structural reforms appropriate ordinated way the basic goals and objectives of the '~With a view to the creation of conditions of tion of the importance ofeconomic interdependence stability and well-being which are necessary for between States, strives to create an appropriate peaceful and friendly relations among nations international atmosphere.for establishing the princi- based on respect for the principle of equal ri~ts pies that would serve the progress and economic and self-determination of peoples, the Umted development ofall the States in the world. It stresses Nations shall promote: particularly the necessity for encouraging and assist- a. higher standards of living, full employment, ing deyeloping countries toachie,:e a better l!fe for and conditions of economic and social progress all ~helr peoples through .acceler~tmg economIc and and development· SOCIal development, making available the necessary . f'.. .. I means for that development through the encourage- b. solutions 0 mternatlOnal, eco~omlc, socla , ment of international trade, and facilitating the health, and related problems . . . transfer of technical and financial resources and the 73. In fact, t~e Chart~r of the Unite~ Nations had required technology. The charter also stresses the s~ stated; but If the Umve!Sal Declar~tlOn !If H~man importance of reinforcing co-operation among devel- RIghts ~as ~e~ded to speCIfy those stIpulatIOns m the oping countries and calls for the creation of condi- area of m~lvldual fre~doms, no document h~d yet tions for international co-operation that foster pro- dealt to !hls extent WIth the mi!tter of equahty of gress and economic stability. partne~ m world develop'ment,. m the ~ntext of a 82. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the more Just and more eq~lta~le mternatlOnal order. adoption of the charter, we would like to commend 74. Th~ n,?rms and pn!1clples of the Charter. of the initiative that led to its adoption. That initiative EconomIC RIghts and Duties of S~tes reft?r.essentlal- was taken by Mr. Luis Echeverria, the former ly to the hopes and the underlymg reahtles of the President of Mexico whose effective role led to wo~ld ~e. live in.. The. General Assembly reflected further important i~itiatives being taken on the theIr splnt and eXIgencIes wh~n, 10 years.ago ~o t1'!e international scene. The United Nations Conference day, o~ 12 December 1974, It adopte'! Its hlstonc on Trade and Development and the Group of 77, resolutIOn 3281 (XXIX). Human evol1;ltlon h~s been which met in 1974 and were also chaired by the marke~ by ~oments. and acts 9f u~lversal Imtx>r- representative of Mexico, initially took an important t~nce, m whIch mankmd has umted m a detet:rnma- part in formulating this charter. Since its adoption, tlon ~o blaze. ~ path to ~ace and p~ospenty by there have been important developments on the assunng condItIons of maxImum secunty and pro- international economic scene, which must be referred gress. to when the charter is considered. Of particular note 7S. To establish the bases of civilization for all are the development and strengthening of co-o~ra- men, all nations to benefit, the crisis through which tion among developing countries and the efforts of we have been passing for more than a decade has the Group of 77 to enhance that co-operation~tWhich shown that it no longer suffices to create a technolog- extends to different areas, the most impoitant of ical network in which men are mere puppets in the which are the promotion and development oftechni- hands ofpuppeteers who have no respect for ecology cal and commercial co-operation among developing and the environment. countries, in the field of science and technology and 76. The rediscovery of our unity and our common the prep'aration of. a system of prefer~nces among destiny imposes on us other attitudes towards the developm8. cou~tnes them~lves. Th~ J,1l~s for poverty, hunger and misery which today challenge ~trengthemng thIS co:operatton a~e std! bemg put human ingenuity. Into eff~t.through dl!fe~nt meetm~ and. th.rough 77 The crises and insecurity that characterize the the speCIalIzed co-ordmatmg mechams~ wlthm the : f h Group of 77. The Movement of Non-Aliped Coun- eXIstence of most 0 our pl~et, the ~ reatsand tries has also taken part in establishing a similar co- dang~rs that haunt our very.bves, requIre that we operation. The two groups, namely the Group of 77 drastIcally change our be~avI~ur. and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, have 78. Fo~ ou~ part, the op~lOn IS clear: the ~harter of been active in their efforts to bring about a new Econo~lc Rights and putles ~fStatesconstltut~s.one international economic order through constructive ~f ~h~ pIvots for ~ rebIrth w~lch the current P!Jbtlcal, negotiations between developing and industrialized Jundlcal and SOClo-economlc factors make lmpera- countries Of note also were the results oftbe North- tive. ~he new international ~cono~ic order forms the South dialogue and the United Nations Conference essentIal framework for thIS rebIrth. on the Least Developed Countries. A historic 79. The PRESIDENT: The next speaker is Mr. achievement was the adoption ofthe Convention on Abdullah Salab ofJordan, Chairman ofthe Group of the Law of the Sea. After prolon~ed and difficult Asian States.' negotiations, the Gverwhelming m~Jority of States of 80. Mr. SALAH (Jordan~ (illterpretation J!om Ara- the world jo}ned those negotiations and ~cceded to hie): The General Assembly IS commemoratmg today the ConventIon. There was also th~.establIshment of the t:nth anniversary oftbe adoption, in 1974, of the the Common Fund for CommodItIes. Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States. It 83. The global negotiations between developing and is indeed an important occasion, on which the developed countries are stalled. Those negotiations Assembly recalls the spirit on which the charter was are aimed at establishing a new international eco- based and the objectives for which it was formulated, nomic order that would lead to stability and an foremost among which are to strengthen co-opera- improvement in the international economic situa- ~xportation. of industrial products from developing and sustamed development of economic, scientific ~countries to industrialized countries. We also have to technological and cultural relations and links among eliminate protectionism, intensify the transfer of States, has been disrupted because of the action of financial .resources and loan concessions and im- the imperialist States. prove the terms of lending. While we welcome the 91. The policy adopted by the United States of signs of recovery in the economies of industrialized ~erica in the late 1970:; ~nd ea~l)' 19808 to change, ~untries, we h~pe that a sim~lar recovery will occur to ItS advantage, the eXlstmg ml1ltary and strategic m the economIes of developmg countries. ~a1ance and its desire to attain a dominating position 84. Working with a positive spirit and with con- m the world had an extremely negative impact on the st~ctiye co-operati0!l is the best way to achieve our development of normatl relations among States. That objectives and to Implement the articles of the policy flagrantly conflicts with the Charter of the Ch~er of Economic Rights and Duties of States, United Nations and with the basis of international which IS based on the Charter of the United Nations economic relations which is set forth in chapter I of itself. the Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties ofStates and also the provisions of its articles 1, 4, IS and 26: 85. The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, who will 92. As a re!i.ult of the aggressive policy of the speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European imperi~l.ist States, a dangerous situation has been States. created m the world. As was stressed in the commu- nique of the thirty-ninth session of the Council for 86. Mr. KRAVETS (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist ~ut~ Ec~nomic Assistance [CMEA] at Havana, the Republic) (interpretation from Russian): The socialist mtenslficatlon by these forces ofthe arms race is one countries on whose behalfI am speaking-the Byelo- of the most important reasons for the deepening of russian Soviet Socialist Republic, the People's Re- poli~ical and economic instability in the world, which public ofBulgaria, the Hungarian People's Republic, has lDcreased the danger of nuclear war, threatening the German Democratic Republic, the Mongolian the very existence of mankind and imposing an People's Republic, the Polish People's Republic, the increasing burden on the peoples of the world Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Czechoslo- because it diverts enormous material and financial vak: Socialist Republic and the Ukrainian Soviet resources and slows down economic and social Socialist Republic-on this tenth anniversary of the progress. The member countries of CMEA believe adoption of the Charter of the Economic Rights'and that the implementation of realistic measures to curb Duties of States have the honour to make the the arms race and bring about disarmament is a following statement. pressing task. 87. The Charter ofthe Economic Rights and Duties 93. Of particular value for putting into practice the of States is one of the most important basic instru- provisions ofthe charter concernin$ the maintenance ments ofthe United Nations in the ecollomic sphere. of international peace and secunty could be the The importance of the charter lies primarily in the implementation 'of the specific proposals of the fact that, along with the Declaration on the Establish- Soviet Union and other socialist countries set forth ment of a New International Economic Order' in decisions of the high-level.Economic Conference [resolution 3201 (S-VI)], it has determined the main of the member countries of the Council for Mutual areas for restructuring international economic rela- Economic Assistance, held in Moscow from 12 to 14 tions on a just and democratic basis. An evaluation June 1984 [see A/39/323]; the proposal by the States ofthe implementation ofthe charter is in essence an Parties to the Warsaw Treaty to the States members evaluation of the progress achieved by the world of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] community towards implementing the ideas of the regarding negotiations on the freezing and the reduc- new international economic order and of the difficul- tion of military expenditures, dated 5 March 1984;5 ties which hamper the process of democratization of the Prague PolItical Declaration adopted at a meeting international economic relations. ofthe Political Consultative Committee ofthe States Parties to the Warsaw Treaty on 5January 1983;6 the 88. The particular concern of the socialist coun- communique of the thirty-seventh session of the tries, in a profound objective evaluation ofthe results Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, dated 20 ofthe implementation ·ofthe charter over the last 10 October 1983;7 and the many otherjoint instruments years, is based on their sincere desire, along with all of the socialist countries regarding the halting of the other countries, io take concrete, purposeful steps to arms race, the non-increase in and reduction of --l09~ _The increase of protectionism in the <level- Decemher19&AstBe.r1in,emphasized that theState-s oped capitalist countries has ~eriously h~mpered repres~nted at that meeting condemJ.?-ed t~e iJ:~peri~l- international trade and economIc co-operatIon as a 1st pobcy of force and expressed their sobdanty With whole, as has the use by imPf?rialis~ic countries of and support f~r peoples fig~ting for their freedo~, sanctions and embargoes of'Vanous kjnds. The use of the. strengthelp.ng of theIr mdependence and t~elr ·-economic pressure for political purposes, de8pEte the SOClo-economlC progress;.they took note of th~ Im- clear prohibition of such mea.sures in articles 1~ and portant. rol~ played !'y the Moveme!1t ~f ~on-Abgned 32 of the Charter ofEconomIc Rights and Dutl~.s of COlmtnes In fightmg for the ehmmatlon of the States, and the practice of sanctions, bl~ckmajl, danger of war, ~he baiting of the. arms O!ce, disa~- blockade and other means ofeconomic coerCIon have ament and the Improvement of InternatIOnal pohtl- become extremely widespread. I~ this conng~ction, of cal aI;1~ economic relations; ~lDd. they expres~ed great importance is the adoption by the General opposition to any forms of donunatlon and explOlta- Assembly at its thirty-eighth session of resolutions tion by States [see A/39/763. annex). entitled "Confidence-building in international eco- 116. The socialist countries believe that the task of nomic relations" and "Economic measures as a the comprehensive review ofthe Charter ofEconom- means of political and e1~onomic coercion against ie Rights and Duties of States that is to take place in developing countries~" and the adoption by the 1985 will be to promote the elimination of the Second Committee, at the thirty-ninth session, of obstacles to the effective implementation of the drcift resolution' A1C.2/39/L.98~8 on the Charter of charter's provisions and to do everything possible to Economic Rights and Duties of States, resolutions ,ensure that the progressive principles of the charter, which seek to oppose the use of measures to exert which seek to bring about a radical improvement in press~.on the dev~loping countries or to ,intert:ere international economic relations, are implemented. !n ~helr :mt~m~daffaIrS. ".file fact that many Impenal- 117. The PRESIDENT: Because of our heavy pro- IStlC count~e~ voted aga~nst those resolutIons shows gramme of work for this afternoon's meeting, this tha~ the ~licles.ofsanction and: b!ockade are. pa~ of commemorative meeting of the General Assembly theIr foreign poltcy strategy. ThIS IS a 8;t'oss.vIolatlOn must be completed this morning. I therefore appeal not .merely of the Chaxter of EconomIC RIghts ~nd to representatives to make their statements as briefas Dut~esofStates, but also ofthe Charter ofthe Umted possible. I also propose that, if there is no objection, NatIOns. the list of speakers be closed now. 110. An important contribution towards the imple- It was so decided. men.tation of the <;:harter of Econo}llic Rights. a~d 118. The PRESIDENT: I now call on Mr. Henri A. DutIes. of ~ta!es IS the co-operatIon of SOCIahst M. Guda of Suriname, who will speak on behalf of countnes W1t~In.the fra~ework of CMEA. the Group of btin American States. 111: The~oclahst countf1e~ have c~eated a.ne",: type 119. Mr. GUDA (Suriname): Today we commemo- of InternatIonal r economl~ IntegratIon which IS an rate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the example of genul1?-ely eqUitable and m1}tually advan- Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States by !age~us c~peratlOn am~ng all co~ntnes. The affin- the General Assembly at its 2315th meeting, held on Ity m pohtlc~ and. soclo-economlc goals of ~hese 12 December 1974. As Chairman of the Group of States makes It possible for the member co~ntnesof Latin American States for the month of December <;MEA to move successfully ~owards ~ ~adlcal -solu- 1984, I therefore.wish to make the following observa- tIOn of a whole range of SOClo-economIC problems. tions on behalfofour group of States on this solemn 112. A new stage in economic socialist integration occasion. was embarked upon at the high-l~vel Economic 120. Article 34 of this charter stipulates that: Co~fere1?-ce of the me~ber countnes of CME~, "An item on the Charter of Economic Rights whlrlt lal" down the baSIC areas for mutual economic and Duties of States shall be included in the co-operation for .the 1.ong term.. agenda of the General Assembly at its thirtieth 113. As was stres~d ~n the statement adopte~ at the session, and thereafter on the agenda ofevery fifth ~onfere~ce, on baSIC.lmes for further developmg ~nd session. In this way a systematic an4 comprehen- mtensIfyI!lg economIC, SCIentific and !echnologlcal sive consideration of the implementation of the co-operation among the member countnes ofCMEA, Charter, covering both progress -achieved and any "consistent implementation ofthe decisions adopt- . improvements and additions which might become ed win give a new and important impetus to the necessary, would be carried out and appropriate further progressive development of their econo- measures recommended. Such consideration mies and to mutual co-operation, enhance the should take into account the evolution of all the prestige and appeal of socialism in the world, and economic, social, legal and other factors related to further expand and strengthen the u~ity of the the principles upol1, which the present Chatter is CMEA member countries, joined in a community based and on its purpose." i~g world wou14 beserved·it'·andwhen tpe economic ~~bsl~I~.-:---..-:.~.~~'!.~~ftT!'~~~~~?~I~~:~~ nghts and duties of States were codified by the 115 c;Al~l.lUg.l)L1U"LU1~" 1I4Y,", UQU Go mu.." .....t'....~-.-•• nations of the world. He reached a consensus on this trade, 'partlc"!!arly on the exports of developmg matttir with Brazil and Chile documentation of countnes. .. [See A/39/332, para. 6.] which was approved bv the Gro~pofLatin American It· is ~ow generally recognized that protectionism is States prior to the planning session of the third espetlai!y hafiiirul.tothetiade anddevelopmentc.of session of the United Nations Conference on Trade developmg countnes and that measures ;,;hould be and Development, which was held at Santiago from taken as a matter ofurgency to ensure the removal of 13 April to 21 May 1972. all impediments to trade. 124. At that session, UNCfAD took up President 130. Th!s is seen as.an important o~s~acl~ on the Echeverria's idea and established a working ~oup to road to ImplementatIOn of the. provlsl<?ns of the prepare a draft charter for submission in Its final charter. We o.f ~he Group of Latm Amencan States version to the twenty-eighth session of the General are of the opinIon tha~ too much damage has been Assembly. The workmg group was in~tructed to use done t!l ~ur eC!ln.oml~s by the open or covert as a basis the principles adopted at the first session of protectionIsm eXlstmg m the world today. the United Nations Conference on Trade and Devel- 131. The pressure exerted by the reduced prices of opment, the su~estions made at the third session of raw m,ft~erials and commodities, the excessive rise in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Devel- prices of imports, which are mostly quoted in the opment, the Declaration and Principles ofthe Action strong United States dollar, the necessary loans for Programme of Lima9, the principles set forth in the development and the debt-servicing and amortiza- Charter ofAlgiers10 and the documents ofthe Second tion costs, that pressure has been too much to bear United Nations Development Decade. After many and has devastated our economies. It is now widely obstacles had been overcome and after an extended known that the external trade balance for 19 coun- mandate, a final report was requested from the tries in Latin America which bad a surplus of more working group for the twenty-ninth session of the than SUS 13 billion in 1980 changed into a negative General Assembly. balance of over$US 1 billion in 1982; while, 125. On 12 December 1974, the General Assembly comp~red to previous years, tht: prices of 14 90t of adopted the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties !8 mam export products from thiS group ofS~te~fell of States contained in its resolution 3281 (XXIX). m 1982 by ~s much. as a quarter. In the l1l:~nt.lme, , . . the total Latm Amencan debt amounts to three times 1.26. What has ~een Its effect? What progress has the value of exports from this region., ,; smce been made: . . 132. With regard to the generalized:' system of 127. I~ our opmlon,. the cha!!er. pl~ced ~pecla1 preferences, it was agreed after a review by the em,,~asls!In the sovereignty, temtonal mtegrt~yand Special Committee on Preferences that the objectives p'ohtlcal mdepend.ence of State~, the equal.lty .of of the system had not been fully achieved and that nghts, the pro~otlon of mternatlonal SOCial Justice the duration of the system should be continued and the abstentIOn by State~ from attempts to seek beyon~ the initial period. Although the amount of hegemony and spheres of mflu;ence. Our Gove~- trade carried out under the system has been increas- ments have regarded and. contmue to regard thiS ing, it still represents a little less than one quarter of charter .as an adequate mstrument both for t~e the preferen~iving countries' dutiable, imports harmOnIOUs deyelopment o~ the w<?rld communIty from beneficianes. We are of the opinion that the and ~or the mamtenance of mternatlonal peace and system should be expanded and liberalized. secunty. 133. With regard to the international monetary 128. But, on balance, it appears that the charter has system, the Secretary-General's report stated: "The remained unimplemented In general. Ifwe revi~w the severe ecoJ',omic problems faced bv developing coun- fundamentals ofeconomic relations and the econom- tries during the period under review were largely of ic rights and duties of States as laid down in the external origin and partly attributable to the work- charter, we cannot but be disappointed. Intervention ings of a system in whose creation and operation in the internal affairs of States and economic coer- developing countries played no significant. role." cion still take p'lace in many' parts o( th~ ,!orld, [Ibid., J!llra.. 10.] If.any change is t9 be made.in. tbis thereby threatenmg the sovereignty, terr . Itonal mteg- regard It IS Imperative tha.t developIng countnes play rity and political and economic independence of a ~ater role in the decision-making process of the States. Disputes are still not being settled peacefully multilateral financial institutions. To a certain ex- in many instances ~nd internl!tional obligations are tent, this already seel!1s to be materializing; however, often not fulfilled m good faith. not to an extent satisfactory to our group. 129. The Secretary-General in his report to the 134. Aid to the developing world has been slow General Assembly on the implementation of the over tbe last few years and has, in fact, been -l-3-5.~~~-ln-general, it-can be ,·stated~that our --group of complacency.--Thepreblems of the developing coune- developing countries has had some measure of tries are multitude, and the overall picture has success in shifting the ownership of production become more complex. The challenge to the interna- facilities to our countries. The concept ofestablishing tional community, however, remains unchanged. We joint ventures seems to be preferred in some in- hav~ c()m~ to understand thatinterdependence is not stances, especially in manufacturing, and certainly a hollow slogan. If we want to master the pressing where know-how IS externally controlled and markets problems confronting us, Ef we want to overcome are situated abmad. Therefore, transnational corpo- poverty, hun~er and distress, then we must act rations can still exercise effective control over local jointly. Only Joint action will bring us nearer to our affiliates. But some progress has been achieved in goal of genuine and lasting partnership betw~n this sector. It is encouraging that many of our North and South-a goal to which we are all countries have been able to ensure, through g~neral committed. The progress achieved in recent years measures or individual agreements, that the affiliates should encourage us to continue along the way we of transnationals operating in our countries indeed have embarked upon. contribute': to national development. Performance 142. The PRESIDENT: I caU on Mr. Saoud Bin requirements and effective transfer of technology are Salim Bin Hassan AI-Ansi of Oman, who will speak in many instances more or less standard practices. on behalf of the Gr9up of Arab States. Understandably, we consequently take a great inter- 143. Mr. AL-ANSI (Oman) (interpretation from ~~n~~ a code of conduct on ttansnational corpora- Arabic): On hehalf of the Group of Arab States, which my delegation has the honour to represent this 136. It is not our intention to discuss all aspects of month, we are pleased to participate with the rest of the charter at this time. We have highlighted some the world today in commemorating the te;m~~ ~n~i- aspects which, in our opinion, needed special atten- versary of the Charter of Economic Rights anJ tion today. The Group of Latin American States Duties of States. It is not often that we in the United reaffirms its support for the charter, which aims at Nations commemorate positive achievements in the restructuring the existing international economic work that has extended over n~arly 40 years. order to bring justice, development, peace and stabil- ity to the world. 144. Most of the items on the agenda relate usually to conflicts, wars or differences in the social, econom- 137. The PRESIDENT: I now call on Mr. Hans- ic and political spheres. ~e present occasion is a Werner Lautenschlager of the Federal Republic of positive landmark in tt" ~our:.~. of work of the Germany, Chairman of the Group of Western Euro- international Organization, as we commemorate to- pean and Other States. day the passage of 10 years since the adoption of the 138. Mr. I.AUTENSCHLAGER (Federal Republic Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties ofStates and ofGermany): I have the honour to speak on behalfof review together what has been achieved and what the Group of Western European and Other States. should have been achieved in this regard. 139. An anniversary lends itselfto both a retrospec- 145. The adoption by the General Assembly of th~ tive view and a look ahead into the future. Whoever Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States by sets out to chronicle the history of the North-South its resolution 3281 (XXIX}-and resolution 3201 (S- relationship in the 19708 will certainly have to mark VI) is relevant-in fact acknowledged the impor- 12 December 1974 as an outstanding date. The tance and greatness of the Charter of the United Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, Nat'ons itself, which is designed primarily and adopted on that day, provides us with a concise fundamentally to maintain international peace and record of tbe concepts which have guided our third- security and to achieve international co-operation for world partners in the North-South dialogue, on the solution of mankind's social, economic and which these concepts have their bearing. It would be political problems. This charter is inspired in its less than honest to pass over in silence the fact that preamble by the lofty, great princip.les embodied' in not everyone among us has been able to accept the the Charter of the United Nations, which we all charter in all its parts. However, as a manifestation of cherish. the political will of a majority of United Nations 146. The world order with its social, economic and Member States it deserves respect. political aspects is a s5ngle indivisible whole. If any 140. As a landmark, it justifies our looking back at part of that order malfunctions, the other parts will the ground covered since 1974 in the dialogue be undermined under the influence of that malfunc- between North and South. Nobody can deny that we tioning part, and the economic order in this regard have jointly achieved significant progress on substan- surely plays the same role. If all the elements of that tive questions as well as on the ways and modalities order function properly, then the whole will function by which the dialogue is carried on. Developed and pro~r'y. Is there anybody who expects that the developing countries may still be separated by differ- work' will witness stability In the political and social •••• '117 m •••••i • 5.1 111'•• co.nscie~ti0!Js respons~ble practic~ ofsuc!t co;oper- 177. The imposition of protectionist measures, ag- atlon 'Ydl It .be poss,lble to aspire to. lIve ID .the gravated by new methods which do greater harm to future I~ an 1~~ernatlOnalorder that IS more Just the trade interests of the developing countries, the and equitable. reduction in the prices·of the raw materials and 172. That is the unswerving position of my country commodities which these countries export, together in the struggle in_which_wewill_never waver.. -'Yith ~~(:essiv~_iJl~r~a,seL!nthe prices of their im- 173. Mr. ORAMAS OLIVA (Cuba) (interpretation ports,~igh rates of int~res~on loans-and incr~8:sed from Spanish): The Government of the Republic of expenditure on a11?-0rtlzatlon and debt-servlcmg, Cub~ att~ches high pr!ority to the Charter of Eca- a.mong other negatlye elements, have reached ~n nom~c .R!ghts and Duties of States as the important unprecedented level In recent years and ha~e.co.ntnb- tool It IS m the struggle ofthe developing countries to uted to the fact that the effects of the cnslS m the achieve more just and equitable international eca- world capitalist economy are being felt more strongly nomic relations within the framework ofthe Declara- by the third world. The spiral of external indebt- tion and the Programme of Action on the Establish- edness and debt-servicing, the increasing deteriora- ment ofa New International Economic Order. In the tion from the point of view of the developing 10 years following the adoption of that document, countries of the trade-price relationship, their dim- international economic relations have constantly culties in gaining access to resources, capital and deteriorated and international co-operation has sunk technology are but a pale reflection of the critical to the lowest level in its history. This situation situation these countries are experiencing. affirms more strongly than ever the validity of the 7 . h' ." 1 b d' d . charter and the need for an analysis of the failure to 1 8. The way In w I~h t~e pnnclp es e.m 0 le m implement it, which would contribute to identifying t~e Char:ter of Econom!c Rights.and DutIes of Stat~s once again the causes that have given rise to the we ~pphed,at present IS very different fr011?- what It appearance and the aggravation of many negative was I~ 1974) not b~ca,!se there has been an IIl,lprove- phenomena and trends such as we witness in the ment m thel~ apphcatlOn, but because t~e faIlure to world economy today. apply them IS even more flagrant than It was then. 174. The Chart~rofEconomic Rights and Duties of p9. T~us, no progr~ss has been .made in the States was conceIVed as a valuable legal instrument mternatlonal co-operatIon advocated In the charter, for governing economic relations between States which was to have taken place within the framework regardless of their economic and social regimes, their of the United Nations. Since 1979, when, on lhe size or their levels of development. The close link initiative ofthe sixth Conference ofHeads of St~eor between its postulates and the realities ofthe contem- Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Ha- porary world and with the main instruments that vana, the General Assembly adopted re,blution govern the destiny of the Organization, including. the 34/138, the member countries of the Grql1p 'Of 77 Charter of the United Nations, make it a document have worked assiduously and in a flexibleinanner to of great importance indeed. They give it a signifi- ensure the launching of global negotiation£ which cance that goes far beyond the conditions of the would make a decisive contribution to c6nfrontation inter...ational situation In which it was adopted. of the main problems of the econoinies of the 175. The charter was conceived for the purpose of developi:i1~coun!ries an~ to the just a}1'd deIl,locratic contributing in a decisive way to the economic and re~tructutlngof mternatlonal economic relations. In socia. progress ofpeoples, ofspeeding their economic thiS co~te~t, we. have ~ee~ ~onfronted COl: five y~ars growth and eliminating the gap between the devel- n0'Y With InfleXible, dlscnml~atory, delayIng actions oped and the developing countri~, a well as elimi- deSigned to. c~ange substantially the very nature of nating the main obstacles to the economic progress of those negotiations. the developing countries. In this context, the .pr~m- 180. At the same time, the international economic ble oqhe charter ~ffirms the ne~d for esta~hshIng a conferences held within the framework ofthe United more Just and .equltable economlcan~ SOCial order, Nations system, which should have made substantial to which en.d It rec~mmends th~ achleyement of a contributIOns to the development of the so-called new so~ of International econom.Jc relatIOns and the third-world countries-including, most recently, the promotion of structural.changes In !~e world e~~o- sixth session of the. United Nations Conference on my, as well.as the creation of conditions.permlttIng Trade and Development, the.Fourth General Confer- the exp~n~lon of trade, the strength~nIng of l.he ence of the United Nations Industriai Development economic Indep~ndenc~ of the ~evelopmg co.untrles Organization, the Code ofConduct for TransDational a.nd the J?romotlon of Int!=rnatlOnal economic r,:la- Corporations and the examination and evaluation of tions which would.take mto. account th~ specific the International Development Strategy for theThird needs of the developl~g countries an~ the dIfferences United Nations Development Decade-have not had that separate the~ m the economic sphere from any tangible results. O.nthe contrary, it is clear that developed countries. these efforts become more negative with every pass- 176. We now note with alarm thatintemational ing day and are facing increasing difficulties and an economic relations,.instead of showing progr!=5s-:-as ever-Jrowingnu~ber of obstacles, instead of being foreseen by the charter-towards substantial Im- positive and headIn! towards a system ofreasonable provement, which would promote the development and effective international co-operation. :~. . . unequal exchange is ruining and impoverish- imposed on the variety and quantity ofcommodities. m$ our peoples and must cease. Inflation, which is 188. The developin~countries call for a more just bemg exported to us, is impoverishing our peoples and effective internatIonal division oflabour, so as to and must cease. Protectionism impoverishes our change the structure of world production and speed pseso.]Ples and must cease." [31st meeting, paras. 86- up their industrialization. However, for many years the negotiations on protectionism and structural 184 Mr XIE Q' . (Ch' ) (' tt' r.. adjustment have ~roduced no concrete results, and :. Imel ma In erpre atlOn J,'Om the flormulatl'on 0 a code ofconduct on transnatl'onal Chznese): We meet here today to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Charter of corporations and an internationcl code ofconduct on Economic Rights and Duties of States, which is an the transfer of technology have long remained unful- event ofsignificance. The Chinese delegation sincere- filled; consequently, the process of industrialization ly hopes that this meeting will have positive effects in the developing countries has been very slow, and and contribute to the promotion of the North-South to this day, their share ofworld industrial production negotiat~ons and th~ strengthening of international has been small. Should this be allowed to continue economIc co-operatIOn. for long, the prospect ofreaching the Lima target will remain dim. 185. The Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties of States.' adop!ed by the General Asse~bly 10 years 189. With regard to development funds, public ago, !S an Important document. ThIs document assistance for development has stagnated since the tOB~ther with the ~eclaration and' Programme of beginning of the 1980s, being less than half of the ActIon on th~ Estabbshment of a New International international target of 0.7 per cent. Moreover, there Economic. Order, sets forth ~he basi~ principles for is a tendency to stress the bilateral approach while the estabbshment of a new InternatIOnal economic reducing multilateral assistance. The capital of the order and points to the orientation ofthe democrati- international monetary institutions has become even zation a.nd rationalization ofwo!ld economic growth less commensurate WIth the needs, while the terms and SOCIal dc:velopment for a faIrly iong period. The for obtaining credits and loans from those institu- charter prc;»vldes that.every State has the right freely tions have become increasingly harsh. Loans from to choose Its economIc system and freely to exercise international private banks have been. drastically full permanent sovereignty over its natural resources retrenched and the interest rates on bank loans are and economic activities, and also establishes the right very high. As a result, developing countries have run of developing countries to participate on a basis of into a serious shortage of development funds. The equality in international economic relations. Based factors I have mentioned, combined with the reduc- o~ the fact that developing countries are in a tion of export. earnings, an increase in real interest dIsadvantageous position in the existing internation- rates and the over-valuation of some key currencies, al economic system as a result of the long years of have resulted in a sharp rise in the foreign debts of colonialist rule they were ~ubjected to, the charter developing countries, going up from about :SUS 160 lays down a number of more just and equitable billion 10 years ago to over SUS 800 billion today. By principles to guide international economic co-opera- 1983, !nterest payments outflows of the developing tion. They include the granting of preferential treat- countnes were aiready more than the net inflow of ment to developing countries, stabilization of their credit. export earnings, the right of every State to benefit 190.. In short, the <:harter has largel}''been unimple- from the advances in science and technology artd the mented in the past 10 years, and irratIOnal and unjust .ne~d to give developing countries development international economic relations remain basically assIstance. These principles are aimed at restructur- unchanged. Especially the recent economic crisis has in~the wo~ld economy a~d esta~lishinga new sf-stem further weakened the posStion of many developing of mtematIOnal economIc relatIons so as to factlitate countries in the world economy, thus making the the acceJeration of the economic dc:velopment of the structural imbalances in the world economy even developmg countnes and seek to bndge the economic more prominent. The economic growth of these gap between themselves and the developed countries, countries has been stagnant, and the gap between the ~ll, an important instrument worth trying by the gress lD .the. ~orld. It I~ often qUite difficult.to pOl.nt lDternational community in the course ofestablishing out the indiVidual achleveme}lts of econC?mJ~, SOCial the new international economic order. We hope that and other. measu~es and aC!lons .taken lD order !o the few major developed countries that still take a promote lDtern~tlon~relatlons lD ge}leral and !n negative attitude towards this will reconsider their som~ spheres, lDcludmg the economic sphere, ID positions. At the same time, we believe that the particular. international community should not rest content 198. In the preamble to tht charter, the General with merely issuing declarations of principles, nor Assembly states that its fundamental purpose is to should it wait passively. Instead, it should promptly promote the establishment of the new international adopt a set of comprehensive, interrelated, practical economic order, based on equity, sovereign equality, and effective measures designed genuinely to help the interdependence, common interest and co-operation developing countries solve their pressing problems among all States, irrespective of their economic and and regain their development momentum. social systems. 193. The United Nations provides an excellent 199. In order to reach this goal, action cannot be venue for North-South dialogue and multilateral confined to efforts in the economic sphere. There(ore economic co-operation. In recent years tbe role ofthe the charter proceeds from a set ofprinciples Which Organizatio.n has bee~ somewhat ~eakened, which is !egulate, as explici~ly stated in the charte!, uec..onom- not benefiCial to the Implementation of the charter. IC as well as political and other relations. among We hope that one major developed country will States". The principle of the sovereignty, territorial change its present position and contribute to integrity and political independence of States is strengthening the competence of the United Nations rightly placed at the top of the list. It is fOllowed by in making and implementing decisions in the eco- others, including the principle of international co- nomic field. operation for development, which is found in numer- 194. The People~s Republic of China has made and ous ~t!ler Un?-ted !'l~tio~s documents, and first o~all, will continue to make efforts for the implementation exp~lcltly or ImplICitly, ID the Charter of the Umted ofthe charter. China is a socialist developing country Nations. which pursues the principle of "maintaining the 200. In the context of economic rights and duties, leading role of the planned economy supplemented !hese principles have a particular purpose and mean- by mark~t regulation" and the ~licy of "opening to mg, ~i~ce they express t~e entire comp,lexity of the the outSIde world". It has estabhshed trade relations conditIOns to be fulfilled ID order to achieve substan- with 174 countries and regions on the basis of tial economic and social progress in the world. equality and mutual benefit, and it actively promotes 201. Like any other document ofa similar nature, its economic co-operation with other developing the Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties ofStates countries. By the end of 1983, China had helped 76 is future-oriented. It contains far-reaching and pro- developing countries build over 1,300 projects and p-essive aspirations in the most important fields of had dispatched over 180,000 engineers and techni- lDternational relations. On the other hand, it perhaps cians to those countries. overlooks some realities of the world we live in. 195. China respects the sovereignty ofthe recipient Although it did not ~eive ,:,niversal s~pport,. we countries, attaches no political strings to its aid, !levertheless k~ep ~eturnlD~ to It, as on ~hls occasl0!1, offers them low-interest or interest-free loans and !n or~e~ to ~e lDsplred by It and to contlDue to act In transfers to them those technologies that are suited to Its splnt With greater resolve. their domestic conditions with a view to helping 202. This is more necessary today than ever) since them to promote their national economies. China has there is a dangerous exacerbation of relations in the consistently taken a positive approach towards the world, with acute crises, conflicts and disputes, with North-South dialogue and stood for the promotion of a critical situation in the world economy, particularly economic co-operation between the developing and in the developing countries, and with a dramatic the developed countries on the basis of continuous situation on the continent of Africa. .sooner or later to carry them out and translate them into practice. The charter whose ten~h anniversary __ w.eJ~tc;t observin-ais. yet anQtb~r ~onftntlatiQn ofthat simple but historic truth. 205. All this does not lessen but, on the contrary, emphasizes the far-sightedness and statesmanship of _.Mr.Luis_ Echeverria, Who, as President of Mexico, initiated and elaborated the concept of the charter. The non-aligned and other developing countries remain its natural source and stronghold. The char- ter, however, also enjoys the support of some devel- oped countries, which we hope will be greater in the future, since what is involved here is the common interests of the entire international community. 206. Mr. PEREZ GUERRERO (Venezuela) (inter- pretation from Spanish): The commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States is an event of great importance for the international community and for the United Nations which represents it. 207. This charter originated on the initiative of the President of Mexico, at the third session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Develop- ment, held in Santiago in 1972.It was my privilege to invite President Echeverria to take the Chair at that Conference. That happy and daring initiative was broadly supported, and the relevant resolution was adopted with certain reservations on the part ofa few countries, as tends to be the case when a forward- looking position is called for in the United Nations, as in these years of transition towards a new, more just and equitable international economic order. 208. Following the arduous work carried out at UNCTAD, the adoption of the charter by the General Assembly constituted a very important contribution to bnnging order to economic relations, which already were showing signs ofgreat instability and were becoming the focus of deep concern. 209. Ten years later, we find ourselves in a situa- tion of great difficulty and suffering for most of mankind which those in some circles try to 'hide. However, the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States remains an undeniable contribution to the new international economic order. It is an instrument which must survive all these vicissitudes. It is part·of international law, and this position can only be consolidated with the progressive forward movemen«~which has now been practically halt- ed-towards a new international economic order, thus leaving behind for ever the present injustices which amict us. . 210. The international community cannot allow a world that is already adrift to continue to be subject- ed to developments resulting from the coUapse of an anachronistic order of things. We must ensure, from both the global and the sectoral points of view, that when the most economically powerful. countries realize that this is in their interest as well as in that of all the other countries, the United 1'{ations is able, tri~s, particularly those in Latin America, has prece- activities of Mexico, which were highly conducive to cupied the international commun.itv over the last two bringing about the Charter of Economic Rights and '! Duties of States. years. The harsh conditions attaching to those debts 244. The activ.e share of the German Democratic are today hampering economic recovery and devel- opment in many of the affected countries. Republic in the elaboration and in the adoption by an overwhelming majority of Geperal Assem~ly 237. Given the magnitude and severity of the resolution 3281 (XXIX), together WIth the adoptIon problems that I have just been describing, It is clear at the sixth special session of the Assembly of the that the African people cannot on their own prevent Declaration and the Programme of Action on the the imminent economic collapse that threatens many Establishment of a New ~nternational Economic of their impoverished nations, nor can they, on their Order [resolutions 3201 (S-Vl) and 3202 (S-V!)], was own, implement the Charter ofEconomic Rights and one of the first steps the socialist German State took Duties of States. While we recognize that our Gov- within the framework of the United Nations in the ernments must continueto bear responsibility for our politico-economic field. own well-being, on the other hand, we expect the . . d d h international community, in a spirit ofsolidarity and 245. Pursuant to its pohcy dlrecte towar s t e in a reaffirmation ofour mutual interdependence, to safeguarding of peace and towards social progress, help to avert the catastrophe that now threatens the the German Qemocratic Republic has ~ade all possible efforts to translate the charter IDtO the African continent. practice of international economic relations. Full 238. Specificallv, the international community has equality, res~t for sovereignty, non-discrimination, to come to grips With the continuing adverse terms of mutual benefit and non-interference in internal af- trade which now plague the economies of much of fairs-these ate the principles marking the relations the third worlrl in general. In this connection, the of the German Democratic Republic with States reform of existing financial institutions, the reduc- having different social systems, not least developing tion in the present crippling rates of interest and the countries. A constituent part of this policy is the liberalization of world trade-as demanded in the solidarity .and support rendered by.; t~e G<:~an charter-must be coJ.1sidered imperative. DemocratIc Repubhc to those countnes ID their Just 239...Furthermore, itis the view ofthe Sierra Leone struggle fqr economic independence and social pro- delegation that in seeking solutions to the manifold gress. problems now facing the African continent, intensifi- 246. The adoption .. of the Charter of Economic cation of economic co-operation within the multi", Rights and DutIes ofStates took place at the time of lateral and sP-ecialized institutions, especially the the process ofinternational detente, which also made World Bank; FAO and UNDP, cannot be overem- possible a number of other important initiatives in phasized. Those institutions must be given increased the politico-economic field within'the framework of financial support and provided with the necessary die United Nations. cllldin~ international economic relations. Such steps Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of State~; are as Indispensable as are effective measures to halt should and must induce all sides concerned to the arms race and proceed to disarmament, particu- redouble their efforts towards giving effect to the lady in the nuclear field. progressive principles and norms of international 248. It is these aspects underlying the Charter of economic relations embodied in that document. Ecoilomic Rights and Duties ofStates that guided the 252. The German Democratic Republic, as in the Committee of Foreign Ministers ofthe States Parties . d d ·11· _1,. t ·b to the Warsaw Treaty at its meeting held at Berlin on past, remaInS rea y an WI Ing to milA.e Its con n u- 3 and 4 December 1984. The Communique on the tion to that end. meeting [A/39/763, annex] recalls the proposals 253. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Span- which the States Parties to the Warsaw Treaty have ish): The commemoration ofthe tenth anniversary of submitted to the United Nations since tt~ Prague the adoption of the Charter of Economic Rights and Political Declaration of 5 January 19836 to evolve Duties of States is thus concluded. and strengthen a policy of disannament, safeguard peace and ensure equal and peaceful international co- operation. Among them are the proposals of the Warsaw Treaty States aimed at establishing a new international economic order and directed a~ainst the policy of interference in the internal affairs of States and all actions designed to undermine the socio-political systems in other States. The Ministers further stressed that the application of discriminato- ry restrictions in economic relations and any other kind of pressure contradict the basic principles of State-to-State relations. 249. It may be by chance that the tenth anniversary of the adoption of ~.he Charter of Economic Rights an.d Duties ofStates and the meeting ofthe Commit- tee of Foreign Ministers 9f(he States Parties to the Warsaw Treaty coincide. But it is not by chance that the contents ofthe meeting's Communique, the latest document ofsocialist States, and those ofthe Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States are largely identical in terms of their tasks and objectives, not least because both documents are inspired by the desire to make an effective contribution to the peaceful co-existence between States having different social systems. 250. We are under no illusion that the implementa- tion ofthe Charter ofEconomic Rights and Duties of NOTES ITD/IPClCF/CONF/24. 2See Al38/132 and Corr.! and 2, annex, chap. Ill, paras. 35-39 and para. 42, E. 3Report ofthe United Nations Conference on the Least Deieloped Countries, Paris, 1-14 September 1981 (United Natio~;'publica­ tion, Sales No. E.82.I.8), part one, sect. A. 4A18-11/!4, annex I. 5A1CN.I0/64. 60jJicial Records of the Security Council, Thirty-eighth Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1983. document S/15556, annex. 7A138/537, annex I. .Subsequently adopted as resolution 39/163. 'See Proceedings ofthe United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Third Session, vol. I, Report and Annexes (United Natious publication, Sales No. E.73.1I.0.4), annex VIII F. I01bid., SecondSession, vol. I and Corr.l and 3 and Add.l and 2, Report and Annexes (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.68.1I.0.14), p. 431. IlSee AlCN.10IS7/Add.10.