A/40/PV.134 General Assembly

I declare the fortieth session of the General Assembly resumed in accordance with decision 40/470 of 18 December 1985.

The Assembly will now consider sub-item (1) of agenda item 17 dealing with the appointment of a member of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Pending the conclusion of consultations among the regional groups, may ! take it that the Assembly wishes to defer consideration of this sub-item and will include it in the agenda of a future session? It was so decided.

The Assembly has concluded its consideration of sub-item (1) of agenda item 17.

I now invite members -to turn their attention to agenda item 21, "The situation in Central America: threats to international peace and security and peace initiatives". May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include this item in the draft agenda of the forty-first session? It was so decided. consideration of agenda item 21.

I new invite the Assembly to turn to agenda item 41, "Launching of global negotiations on international economic co-operation for development". As delegations will recall, this item has been on the agenda for a number of years. Repeated consultations by past Presidents of the General Assembly have yielded no concrete progress on the formal process of the launching of global negotiations on international economic co-operation for development. clearly the launching of global negoti~tions is a central objective of the economic platform of the developing countries. The constant difficulties experienced by a vast number of them in matters of trade, money, finance, raw materials and, particularly, debt amply support the basic sentiment that inspires the proposal to launch global negotiations. It would, however, be an error to think that the failure to launch global negotiations so far signifies that in fact there is no dialogue or negotiations on the North-South issues. Obviously, both within the united Nations proper a?d within the system, several developments have taken place or are to take place designed to advance the cause of a more just and equitable international economic order. I would only mention the recent special session of the General Assembly on Africa, the launching of a new round of trade negotiations in GATT, the preparations for the meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and, not least, the preparations for the seventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). All these occasions provide opportunities for progress on specific issues. However, what is missing is a sufficiently high level of political discussions and negotiations on the interrelationship between these various components~ hence, it may be argu:~d, the continued validity of the proposal. On the course of action to be followed by the Assembly at the closure of this session, I would propose, on the. basis of informal consultations, that the Assembly decide to include in the draft agenda of the forty-first session the item entitled -Launching of global negotiations on international economic co-operation for development-. If there is no objection, it will be so decided. It was so decided. / ... Mr. GOLOV (Yugoslavia): I should like to make a statement on behalf of the Group of 77 concerning the consideration of c!genda item 41, -Launching of global negotiations on international economic co-operation for development-. The Group of 77 must again note with deep regret that the developed countries have failed to agree to the commencement of dialogue and negotiations on the interrelated issues of money, finance, debt, trade and development. Our regret - and our complaint - is that there was no progr~ss in this field during the fortieth anniv~rsary session of the General Assembly of the united Nations. We see this as a serious failure of the international community. The selfish interests of some have brought about this serious failure. I should like to recall here that the General Assembly failed to act on this item at six consecutive sessions. It may be recalled here that the recent Summit Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, at the beginning of this month, devoted full attention to this issue. Heads of State or Government once again reiter,itl~d that global negotiations remained the most important and the most comprehensive endeavour of the international community in the restructuring of international economic relations, the accelerated development of the economies of the developing countries and the strengthening of international economic co-operation. I should like to recall also that the Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned countries requested the Group of 77 in New York to continue its efforts to begin negotiations for the launching of global negotiations, and as soon as possible. At the same time they urged the developed countries to demonstrate the necessary political will to enable the negotiations to be launched, because the global negotiations do remain a valid concept - as a matter of fact, the concept - for the solution of pressing international economic problems in the interest of all countries. For their part, the developing countries are resolved to continue their efforts towards achieving an agreement on the launchi~g of global negotiations. It is hoped - and I believe rightly so - that developed countries will act in the same spirit. Mr. President, the Group of 77 is in agreement with your proposal that the question of global negotiations be placed on the agenda of the forty-first session. The developing countries are prepared to render full and whole-hearted support to the President of the forty-first session of the General Assembly so as to enable, in agreement with all Member States, the launching of the global negotiations. Mr. BAKALOV (Bulgaria) (interpretation from Russian): I am honoured to speak on behalf of the delegations of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Hungarian People's Republic, the German Democratie Republic, the Mongolian People's Republic, the Polish People's Republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Our delegations wish once again to confirm their unswerving principled support for the prompt commencement in the United Nations of global negotiations in accordance with General Assembly resolution 34/138 of 14 December 1979. This position of the socialist countries has been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest party and governmental levels in documents of the Warsaw Treaty and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. Our delegations support the provisions of the Economic Declaration of the Eighth Conference of Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Harare, which state that: initiative of the international community for the purpose of restructuring international economic relations, accelerating the economic development of the developing countries and strengthening multilateral economic co-operation" • continued efforts to secure the prompt commencement of global negotiations, and we are prepared to co-operate constructively with the Group of 77 and with all other interested delegations towards that end. In this context we support the proposal of the Group of 77 - and also your proposal, Mr. President - to include the item on global negotiations in the draft agenda of the forty-first session of the General Assembly, which, we hope, will at long last prove able to overcome the protracted deadl~k in this important and highly topical issue. Mr.OKUN (United States of America): My Government, ~?gether with a great many others represented here, has devoted a considerable amount of time and effort attempting to achieve agreement on the matters subsumed under agenda item 41. We will maintain our constructive and co-operative interest in this item, and we will continue to play a full and active role in this process.

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 41.

In connection with this item, representatives will recall that, on 20 September 1985, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fortieth session. May I take it that it is now the Assembly's wish to defer its consideration and to include this item in the draft agenda of the forty-first session? It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 43. QUESTION OF CYPRUS

Me~rs will recall that, on 20 September 1985, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the present session but deferred a decision on the allocation of the item to an appropriate time in the future. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the forty-first session of the General Assembly. May I take it, then, that it is the wish of the Assembly to defer consideration of the item and to include it in the draft agenda of the forty-first session? It was so decided. The PRESIDEN'I' (1.nte"~retation from Spanish): 'l'hat concludes our consideration of agenda item 44. 'GENOA ITEM 45 (continued) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS

With regard to this itam, I have received a letter from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus requesting that the item be included in the draft agenda of the forty-first session. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include the item in the draft agenda of the forty-first session. It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 45. CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROLOOGATION OF THE ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ

The Assembly decided, on 20 September 1985, to include this item in the agenda of the fortieth session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the forty-first session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to defer consideration of the item and to include it in the draft agenda of the forty-first session? It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 46.

Next we turn to item 116, entitled -Proposed programme budget for the biennium 1986-1987 8 • If there are no .:;;)jections, we shall now conclude consideration of this item. It was so decided.

The consideration of this item by the Assembly at its fortieth session has been concluded, and an item entitled ·Personnel questions· has already been included in the provisional agenda of the forty-first session. CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THE UNITED NATIONS The ~agSIDE~~ {inte~p~etation from Spanishji We turn now to the last item on the agenda of this session. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include this item in the draft agenda of the forty-first session? I t was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 150. CONCLUDING STATEMENT B'Y THE PRESIDENT

As we bring to a close the fortieth session of the General Assembly, I should like to make a few remarks that will be very brief because, although we have had a period of relative respite in the work of the General Assembly, tomorrow you will already be starting another session, the forty-first, filled with items and fraught with unknowns. And so I feel that words are superfluous, since during the fortieth session the speeches were numerous, albeit shorter than on previous occasions. However, I cannot fail to mention the success of the actual commemorative part of the session. It was attended by many top-ranking leaders. If the Assembly had not accepted the limitations recommended by the Preparatory Committee, so as not to prolong the celebration unduly, their numbers would have been much greater. In any case, those who did not attend last yea~ should do so this year. You will forgive me if I digress for a moment and announce that the next session, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the restoration of the Spanish constitutional and democratic monarchy, will be attended by His Majesty King Juan Carlos I, who will open the general debate at the forty-first session. The attendance of such outstanding figures strengthens and enhances the Organization. At the end of what is considered as the first part of the Assembly session, covering the last three months ~f 1965; ! ~~de a brief statement highlighting ~hat I considered to have been the most important features of the actual commemorative part of the session. I see no need to repeat what I said then. At the beginning of 1986 the Assembly was again very active. For my part I was given the task of appointing the Group of 18 experts to study the financial and administrative situation of the united Nations. They worked hard and finally produced an important report on which the Assembly will have to take a decision. When the Assembly met again at the end of April I took into account the observations made by the Secretary-General on the subject of the economic and financial crisis which is looming because of delays in the payment of some budget contributions. At its forty-first session the General Assembly will have to consider this situation in depth and find a solution. Although it was the sUbject of a special session, • should like to stress the importance of the session devoted to Africa. Because of the approach adopted and the frank nature of the speeches made, the results were highly positive and I confidently expect that substantial progress will be achieved. Beyond all the existing crises and in all circumstances it is essential that the United Nations should continue basically to serve the cause of peace, which we are currently commemorating with a special Year in accordance with the decision taken at the most recent Assembly session. Peace and security are the fundamental principles of our Charter. I therefore believe that it is important for the·organs of the united Nations to try to undertake more of the preventive action to which I referred in my inaugural address at the opening of the fortieth session. In order for this to be done the united Nations must be strengthened and not weakened, but t~~t strengthening of the Organization would be inconceivable without a further Charter. His prestige is indisputable and his efforts in the service of the interests of the Organization and in pursuit of world peace and security have amply proved their worth. He was right to point out at the end of the first phase of the session that extremely important declarations had been pronounced and numerous speeches made containing highly valuable ideas, but that the time had come for Member States to put those ideas into practice. I shall not dwell on the current conflicts, although unfortunately they are numerous, or on tn· problems posed by the stubborn policy of apartheid, hateful on all counts, on the problem of Namibia, the Middle East or Central America, on the conflicts affecting various parts of Asia, on refugees, human rights, economic relations, external indebtedness and so on. I already referred to these matters in December. Let us hope that the good will and good sense of all concerned will produce some cure. Nevertheless I do wish to refer to terrorism. After the unamimous adoption of very clear and definite resolutions both in the General Assembly and in the Security Council there have been renewed outbreaks in intolerable forms requiring decisive action by the international community. It is not enough to repudiate such actions1 in exceptional situations, equally exceptional measures must be adopted to combat them. I invite the forthcoming session of the Assembly to adopt such measures. It remains only for me to mention the friendship and co-operation extended to me, in particular by the Secretary-General, the Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly, the Chairmen of the Main Committees, the Under-Secretary-General, Mr. William Buffum, and all the Secretariat staff. Knowing the Organization now from outside and inside, I can state that without the devoted efforts of the entire staff of the Secretariat it would be impossible to conceive of a United Nations. I wish to express my deep gratitUde to them all. If in the performance of my duties I have on occasion erred, or if I have not discharged my responsibility to the satisfaction of all~ I apologize a~ seek pardon. It is practically iJlpossible to please everyone when there are 159 Member States, a large number of observers and a very large list of items. I hope, however, that I have acquitted myself of my responsibilities as well as possible,' always remembering that the Assembly entrusted to me the task of l~ading the fortieth anniversary celebrations. Finally, I should like to wish every success to the next President, who '~ill lead the forty-first session and express my heartfelt wishes for success in guiding that session on its difficult and uncharted course. As I end my official functions in the united Nations, all that remains for me to do is to offer renewed expressions of friendship to all and to say that after so many years in the service of this Organization I expect to maintain close contacts with my colleagues and with the United Nations itself, which enjoys my full support. May I express many thanks to all and every good wish for the future.

We are now coming to the end of the fortieth regular session of the General Assembly. May I invite representatives to stand and observe one minute o'f silent prayer or meditation. The Members of the Assembly observed a minute of silent prayer or meditation. CLOSURE OF THE FORTIETH SESSION

I declare closed the fortieth session of the General Assembly. The meeting rose at 4.10 p.m.