A/40/PV.35 General Assembly

This naning the General Assembly will first hear a statement by the President of the Zepublic of Cyprus, His Excellency Mr. spyros wpriancu- Mr. Spyroe Kyprianou, President of the Republic of Cyprus, wae escorted to the rostrum. President KYPKIAANOU: St is a great pleasure, Sir, for me to be addressing the General Assembly under your presidency today. It is very proper that this historic session is being presided over by a personality of your experience and skill. I take this opportunity to wish you every every succe8s in your important task, I should also like to offer my filfcitatione and best wishes to the Organization on its fortieth anniversary and to congratulate t!le Secretary-General and his colleagues for the convening of this oomemrative session. The United Nations started as a dream and as an expression of the hope of the post-war world for permanent peace and secur f’:;q We cannot, of course, ma:rltafn that after 40 years of existence the dream has been canpletely shattered and the hope turned into despair. We can, hmever, claim that the dream has not become a reality and that the hope has not been vindicated. In terna tional peace and security are not as yet a tangible reality a6 envisioned by the United Nations at the time of its historic birth. This conci us ion, though disappointing, doe- Z. not diminish the value and usefulness of CGS ;Jn? t?C: Nations whjch, tiad it not existed, should have beer: (PteS ident Kypr ianou) inventad and, eincs it does exist, must be preserved and strengthens- If hhrMtiOt& peace end security are .still tto pylre than a mze wish and a mere hope, it is not the United Nations Charter that is to blame. If human rights are So flagrantly trampled upon at a time when there ie So much advooacy for such rights, if the arma Pace, conventional and nUCleQIr fs escalating and regional conflagrations are not being averted at a time when everyone speaks of the need for peaceful CoexiStence, if Starvation and misery are Plaguing 80 many millions of People at a time vhen mn has reached the roan, if injustice my times defeats justi-, if sincerity is often ceplaced by hyPcriey# if the concept of might io right is gaining the uppr hand, it is not this Organfzatfcn that is to blame, nor its machinery and procedures. The main reason for that situation is the lack of political will or the inability to implement and enforce the decisions and resolutions of the united Nations wing to considerations alien to the letter and spirit of the Charter. Small COUntties such as Cyprus have witnessed with horror the trampling of Principles during the occupation of their territory vhfle, at the same time, a United ~a tions peace-keeping force is either contemptuously brushed aside 0~ is sf@y redeployed and the Security Council confines itself to mere calls for the withdrawal of the forces of aggression witha~t the necessary follow-up to see to it that its decisions are respected. Can anyone SeriOuSLY dispute the fact that had the aggressor knwn that, invading, he would face the full wrath and might of the collective action of the United Nations as provided for by the Charter, he would not have proceeded with that illegal act? That is why past and present violators of the principleS of the Chatter and <>t ilnlted Satlons resolutions have gone ahead with their actionS in the (President Ryprianau) We are today celebrat&ng the anniversary of the united Nations 00 the 0aa4On Of the ~mpletion of 40 years sSnce it8 eetabliwt. Forty years is a long enough per tad to allow us to judge and evaluate the general per fosrnawe of the United Nations and the services it has offered mankind. And this anniversary is a good occasion for all of us to record the past , tr, take stock of the preoent and to ohart the course for the future in order to ensue a more effective role for the United Nations. The effectiveness of the United Nations, as I have already pointed out, is not of course cmensurate with the high hopes we invested in it 40 years. ago* Over-confidence in the ability of international institutions, born of the deeperate desire to build a nev and better world, very quickly diminished and gradually turned into reservation and scepticism. The oold war which inmediately followed the establishment of the United Nations dimmed the original vision and brought into focus the conflicting interesta of the big Powers, as well as the inability of the United Nation8 to be effective without their joint purposeful Support. It is pertinent in that connection to recall the words of the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, Trygve Lie, that "It cannot be repeated too often that the United Nation8 vas founded on the assuabpcfon that the major Powers would be in substantial agreement with one another." It would of course be a great mistake to underestimate or ignore the work accomplished by the United Nations duri;lg its 40 years of existence in a period of revolutionary change in international political and social life. The United Nations has managed to perform creative work and to serve mankind even when enormous difficulties have restricted its rolrj and curiaii.sd the range of I& activities. Wesident Ryprfancw) The United Nations ha& laid down stan&&rde of inrernatPona1 conduat and ha@ introduced the prinoiple of equal respmofbilitiao and equal righto in icnternational relationa. It has ployed s leading and pxitiare rol9 in the process of decol.oniz:atden, while ito raoat significant contribution has been in the fields of human rights and the social and economic development of poor State=. It has also contributed to the containment of local clashes and the prevention of their ewalation into wider aonflagrationo by creating and implementing the institution Of peace-keeping operaP:ions. Even in regard to the extremely complex pcobl.ew of arms limitation and disarmment, the United Nations haer all along been working hard, and with consistency, to provide the right framework for its solution. (President Kyprianou) Beyond this notavarthy and signiftoant vork, the United Nations ie available as a forum for all States to aet out their positions and views cm epeoific OK Wre general. groblerts and to express the’ir approval or disapproval, theif opps?tiQfI or COnQurfenceO concerning action on and the handling of inter-state relations OT amttere of wider concern. Weak Slates, oppressed peoples and the victiW of injustice can weak and be heard in the United Natdonq they can be vindicated and morally strenythened in their struggle to safeguard their inalienable rights. MY just Causes irre8peCtiVe of its dimensions, may comand support in the united Nations. If a Ftactical and just solution cannot imediately be found, this i8 not because the United Nations lacks the necessary machinery and procedures; it is because Setting those mechanisms and procedures in InotiOn require8 the apFro’Ja1 of the Mefaber States, and in particular of the stronger Ones. And, unfortunately, that approval is given only after expediencies are weighed and only if the action is in harmony with the interests of the big Pwers. Since in many cases that is a rermte possibility, the just causea of wronged peoples will find in the United Nations moral support rather than practical vindication. Even thie, of course, is some progress, but it catmot be regarded as at all satisfactory. In dealing with international disputes, the United Nations provides opportunities for constructive dialogue and diecusssion, which, while they sometimes appear to be an exercise in futility and their practical result is not comensurate with the strong theoretical interest they might have aroused, are much better than inertness, which only contributes to the aggravation of international problems. The peaceful solution of political problems presupposes, of course, discussion and dialogue between the interested prties- The United Nations alnays provides a forum for such discussion and draiogue and, as long as the discussron of international disputes continues and tile dialogue lasts, so wj.1 1 nope for V:eir peacef ui 5 esulci +iOi! . (President Kyprianou) The absence of a tayetem of international seaurity tamains one of the etublin9 block@ to any real proqrrse towards dioarnnment and the promotion of the peaceful eettlesurt of dispute& All nations) and particularly small countries like W own. have a vital interest in the establishnsnt of a system of collective security through the United Nations. It is the primary reeponeibility of the united mtions m aafegaurd international peace and neaurity, which cannot be achieved through l ilitary alliances and increased atwent but only through the application of th* PrWiSiOM Of the Charter and through strict adherence to them by all Member Stitecr. Only then can the prospects for peace improve. Only through a consen*us achieved anong all the sovereign nations of our fqterdependent vorld and through the forging of a collective will to give real and lasting effect to the Charter Can the future Of the United Nations and of mankind be guaranteed. FUrthermore, only through the strengthening of multilateral coeperatian can the United Nations be en&led t0 deal effectively vith the global problema facing humanity, which cannot be dealt with In isolation or by me country or group of countries alant but only arwgh the collective effort of a11 members of the international community. As I have already indicated, however, the basic reasm for the poor results achieved 80 far is the tendency of States to &al with international problems in a manner divorced from their obligations under the Charter, basing their stand ofi eXtCanMU8 criteria such as alliances, geo-political and geo-strategic factors, affinities and other interest:. Even in cases of aggression and the violation of human riqhts and f-Jndamental freedoms there are attempt3 not only to find excuses for friends *hat vloldte the Principles of tne Charter, while condemning less friendi./ co;lrOtrips f.qr lesser v ioia tions, but aiso to iqr.ore even tie minimum ; tarrdards LIs ti!j: 1 S”,rl-~ ‘,~ t:.;~ .;nl tom (President Rvpr ianou) That8ttituds irotten accapmird - uld we have iiittu experience of this - by the exertion of prerrsure on the weaker side, wbiob is frequently tbe viatim, or by a failure to exclude, ab ini tie; solutions vhidr are either wholly or partly inCxm#iStint with the prinoiplw of the C&rter and it8 very purposes, as well as with the pertinent resolutions of the mitad Nations. AS a rule, such ssthodoloogy confuses the issw end not only &es not bring the &sited results but also rakes their achievement me difficult and we rerote. A Imet of uniqlemsntad United Nations resolutions and innumrable instances of violation of the principles and pravi8ionm of the Chartar lesd to the ~nSOli&tiOn Of the general belief that the United Nations haa already degenerated into a caplaints bureau and an international registry for the mere recording of unresolved i.nternatifmal political woblm. f mention anly, as pertinent l xmples, the problm of &uth Africa, NJaribia, the Middle East and Cyprus, in Order Lo UnGrline how the relevant resolutions of the united Nations are being ignored and at tie sane time to stress the inability of the United NattimS to prevent Injustice at the expense of the weak and to avert or remve serious threats to international peace and security. In View Of this rituation, Cyprus proposed aom@ time ago the inclusion on the agenda of the General Assellbly of an i tern on the implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations. One can only hope that this effort by a country which has suffered so such mmy provide the focal point for effective remedial action. It ie not my intention to deal today with the various problems with which the United Nations is confronted. The position of Cyprus on all these problems is as well kna+n as it has been consistent. I should only like to refer briefly to the probiem of Cyprus, which, like many others, constitutes a Ffpical ex&?ple of utter disregard of tlhe Charter and resolutions of the United Nations b-f an aggressor who has for 11 years now been oczupyinq by force a larqe pal t of the territory of GuI violating eveq hman right and ewuy principle and concept OP Pnternationrl Aa% L For 11 yecue nw aJIe perpetration and probcwgation of a grave Ln)wUao at th* exgaawofcyprw hem been &ur6ma. The viotiuiirer remaina unpunished, while the viatin endure0 ifs terrible tragedy. Turkey doe! not hsitab to igncwe amY United Nations prinofple and resolution caa ~yprw, confident: that ft will muffen BO ungleaeant oon5eqquencae fog ita 43ripDp) of invasion and that ita open cmmpt mr 9;he Unibd Nations will mot cause it any practical timage. (Ptesir3ep.t Xyprianou) The Cyprus problem rouert be of concern to the entire international comaunity. It is wrong to Judge ite dimensions by thy oriterion of tha country’e eaalfneee. The essanoe of the Cypeus problem is neither its dimensions nor the chances of ite lehding to a gemera conflagration. The Cypi:w pmbles should be regarded as IP question of principle, a qUe8tion of aggreeeion by a foreign country against an independent State, a qmetion of the violation of all human rights, a question of the occupation of territory by anothee country, a question of the use of force againat a defenceless people and, finally, 81 question of contesllpt, on the part of Turkey, for the United Nations. The Assembly is well aware of what happened in Cypruo in 1974 as well as of the strenuous efforts to prmote a solution to the problem in conformity with the Charter and the reeolutlon~ of the United Nations. It fe, also well informed about the various steps we have taken throughout the past 11 years and the various far-reaching conceseione we have made - which P am sure no Government represented here would have been villing to make if it had been faced with a dmflar situation - in our sincere desire to expedite the prooese toward6 a peaceful and viable solution. Yet the Cyprus problem still exista, although, with what we have offered, there is no juetification at all foe fta existence. That must be the conclusion of all those who study the situation with objectivity. It io not through pressure on the weak that a juat and viable solution will be four~d, but only through strict adherence to the Charter and the resolutions of the United Mat ?onz. Eoing the veak zido, we have relied on the support of the United Nations, but the support we have had, foxwhich we are grateful, has so far not been translated into effective action. Et may be the easy vay out to preesuifze the weak side and make it yield, but ie that the right way to solve international (Pr Wdidetrf: iiyple ie0tW) problems, eepecially when the very prfncipleo of tha United Natfona axe at stake? Is that then way the founders of the United Nationa 40 yeate ago vieualized the future? Navhg eaid tbt, I repeat iWit f said ealcLfer - that it ie not *he mated Nations a8 an otganization wbiah is to blame. It ii3 the lack of political will on the part of those who are in a poeftien to make the United Nations effective which ia to blame, In determining their attitude, the vat&sue Governants muat set aeide all other considerations and stick atriatly to the provfeione of the Charter and the resolutions of the United Nations. The problem of Cyprue is one of those problems which can easily be regarded a6 a test case for the future of the United Nations. I appeal once again to all Hearbers to do whatever fs possible, CollectLvely and individually, to ensure the full implementation of the United Nations resolutions, and thus give real meaning to principles and declarations. On our part, we shall continue to co-operate tn absolute good faith with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, within the framework of the missiOn entrusted to him by the Security Council, and I take this opportunity to express to him our appreciation of his untiring efforte. The problems in the Middle East, South Africa and the inhuman system of partheid, Namibia and other similar problem also constitute real teet case5 for the possibilities and effectfveneso of the United Nations. Put to the test aleo are the credibility and prestige of the United Natione, which has for 40 years used exhaustively, but without success, the method of recommendations, It must now take effective meaf3uce8, If it avoids taking them, the same things will be eafd about the impotence and declining prestige of the United Nations if it survives yet another 40 years. But the trcjrld will be much worse qff even than it is today. There is no doubt that the United tdatlons must play a central role in (Ptwitfdent Kyrpr fsnou) moving away fnam moral value8 and prinaiglefb juet at the moment when the intetdependerwe of States abolishes boundaries and dirrtancss and unite8 pmplea with the bonde 03 ctsbiti3tt &6atii3~ ant3 QCGGCii dilty. rnternatPona1 Qeacce and SeouYityr tha haaginess and welfare of the paqlees of the world, will always be the most permanent and unquestionable interest of the international community. There is today, FX)KC, than ever befooe, an imperatfve ried to preserve and strengthen the United Nations aa an organ for hamonizing a&ions of States and as an effective guardian of peaae , freedom and juetiue in the world. There is today, more than ever befoee , an iaQerative need to restore the declining Qrestige of the united Nationa. As you stressed, Mr. President, in yout addrem to the General Assembly, ‘It is hardly a secret that the United Nations is going through a orfeie of prestige. The Organfzatton has apparently not lived UQ to the hope8 which the world placed in it when it was fOUttd& . ..* (A/QO/PV.l, p.12) We have to make those words no longer apply. We have to prevent a repetition of them in the future. The real aeaning of this commemorative seasion is, the universal realization of the historic need to review our policiee and positions before we attempt to review the Charter . The experience of the 40-year life of the United Natione calls for a readjuetment of our conceptions abut the necessity for and uaefulneeo of international institutions and makes it imperative foe UP all to make a fresh etart in consolidating peace and justice and the happiness of all the people5 Of OUT interdependent world. The United Nations should be reunited and renewed in order to be able to play it8 role effectively, a nd finally to justify its creation and ex f stence. (President RYPL ianou) On this auspicious occasion let ua all rededicate oureelvee to the wrposes and principle8 of th8 Ct rter and at the aame tim express the political will to do nothing that i8 not comonant with them. If we translate those word8 into concrete a&ion we shall turn the United Nations into t4 effective instruaent for puce8 freed-, security and justice that has been the dream of mankind for decades. For our part, I wieh to reiterate ay couutry's unwavering adherence to the purptmm and principle8 of the United NatiOn8. That i8 the meeage I convey and that ia the prcnnise I repeat on behalf of th8 people of Cyprue. Mr. Spyros Kypripnou, President of the Republic of Cy~fu8, wa8 escorted from the rostrum. The PRESILUIt?r [interpretation from Spanish): The As8embly will now hear a statemnt by the President of the Republic of the Gambia, Iii8 Excellency Elhaji Sir Dawda Rairaba Javaca. Elbaji Sir Dawda Kaitaba Jawara, Preeident of the Republic of the Gambia, wa8 eeoottM to the rostrum. PreeMent YAwnA: It is forr m a gleeat privilege to be able bo putiaipate in this ewmwxxatfon of one of the Poet important acbievemfinte of human WVOUL, naplsly, the eatabliuhmnt four decades ago of the Unitsd Hations. Such vas OUI: s&atus at that hietorie juncture tiat t&e people OE the Gambia WePe not oepreaented amng the 51 StetesYwhich adopted the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945. Yet ve wera present in splrit. For we ~0 had Wrtiaipated, to the extent that our resources permitted, in the heroic struggle against fascist oppression. And we fao had seen our own youth respond tm the call ti am&i and offer the suprem sacrifice tp the Oause of free&a. Thus, even before our emergence as a sovereign nation, we in the Ga&ia had demonstrated our firm attachnent to the principles and jnxposea of the United Nations. This cod Went has reaained unshakeable. Xn the life of an intern&ions1 Organiastton, tb40 score years represent an appreciable span of time. This commmora tive session thus provides an opportunity b distil the experience of the past four decades which have seen the United Nations evolve from infancy, through youth, to full mturity. as with all human 611&aVOUr, this growing process has encountered both successes and setbacks. Inevitably, also, the optimism which greeted the Organization’s birth ha8 given way to aiere realistic expectations. Yet, despite the far-reaching changes which have radically tra>tfofmed our planet aince 1945, the peopl.es of the world have remained convinced of the need for an organisation within whose frabrnal context all nations, great and small, can Participate, OF1 a ba818 of sover@ign equality, in the task of maintainf1.g international order. This is an unquestionable triumph which has confounded those cynics who predicted that the Uni&d Nations would share the unfortunate de8tiny of iti ill-fated preCkCe6SOr, the League of Nations. There have also been a number of substantial achievements during thio perlcd, moat notably in the area of Wrsaident Jawsea) Becolanieaticm, and in the terms of standard-setting in the field of humma eight@e to wbicb ay Governrpent etbuhee paotieular ilportanw. T&s United t4ations was established mid the ouf Pet ing end destruction wrought by the Seoond World War, to amwee that lxmanity would forever be qmred any repetition of cuch horror. To this end, t4embee Statea formally renounced tha um of force as a man8 of resolving their differences, under taking inetead to pursue the peaceful settlemant of all disputes. At the Mm Urn, the peovisione of the Chartsr offered assurances that any violation of thisae cardinal pinaiples vould be mt by the prcropt impoeition of appropriate punitive sanctione by the Security Co~rrcil, to vbi& tbe rraintenance of international peace and security uas formlly ~tXl#WtSd. mr smaller, norralipned natiOns such as the G&is, which have fallared with particular interest the practical operation of this collective seourity me&anism, tbe record ha8 not been entirely tetaesueirag. On the Qle band, is the irrefutable fact that since 1945, the world has been 6pazed a direct military confrontetion amcmg the major Powers, although it remains tJ8WCtai.n vbether this is attributable to the spirit of multilateralfern or to the sobering peoepect of mtually-amused destruction. DUeing thici period, however , our vorld has been repeatedly shaken by the eruption of deetructive regional conflicts in tJhich Member States have Ignored the provieione of the Charter and the general body of international law, and sought to advance their individual interests by resorting to force. Regrettably, in maw Such bstinC%o, the Security Council has been prevented by procedural and other obstaclea from discharging its retrponeibilitiea under the CharteC. This has gravely undermined the authority and credibflfty of the rJni&d Nations, encouraging further breaches of international peace and secusfty. The @cat regent acts of itqgiesnion ccmmitted by S~ufzh Africa againat Angola, and by Zerael againet Tunisia, see illur;trative of thie diaturbiny trend. Wrerrident Jauara) The G&da deplorea tbie obte of affairs uhicb, we amsider, holds the most sinister irlgLiuations for tbe eeaurity of s-11 countries such as our 019~. Hot blemad with strength, we rely upon the rule of law to guarantee our intagrity and indepa~nce. But if that law ir, subverted by repeated unpuniehed violatime, uhero are tie to turn foo protection3 Are we also to join the was%ful bras racer tliverting elraady scarae remurcee away from the greorring neede of our nation’s eoaial and eaaaamic dwelopaent? L s#ould like ti hke this opportunity to tiuch briefly upon a few speaifia rituatians that are of particular aonaern to my Government. In South Africa, the Systsmtic repression of the black lPafotity by the aeettheid r6ginm has reached a new ateocendo over the past year. The G&U a=demns this ruthless brutality which has spared neither religious lesders, workers, nor even schoolchildren. The racist rigime must now be carp. lled, through the imposition of mandatory sanctions, to abandon apartheid and enter into substantive discussions with the authentic reprerentatives of the aajority population of South Africa. This is the sly way to seauro equal rights for the oppreeeed people of South Africa, whose juet and heroic struggle my GwWnmemt supports without equivocation. The situation in neighbouring Namibia remains no less dfeturbing. Here, too, Pretoria has continued ko defy successive resolutions of the security Council,, Wintaining its illegal occupation of the territory, whose vast resources it continues t.c plunder with the collaboration of foreign economic intereetrc. As the aole legal administering aufzhorfty for the terrfeory, the United Nation8 bears a special cesponeibility towards the Namibian people. All efforts at PerauWfon having foundered on the rocks of Siouth Africa's intransigence and dupllcl ty , tie United Nations must now resort to mandatory sanctions under the OPresident ~awara) &Q Gw.ernsent ie equally pzeoccupied by the unfolding Palestinian tra@Y- Deprived of ita hmland in order tbat othe~e might have a territory to call their own, that people remins dioperoed a9 refugees among a dozen countrieu in the BiUdle Eaet. The Gmbia supports without reservation the legitifaati netionaliet a8picatime of the Pabeatinian people and remaina convinced that t&mLm early eatiefastion Conotitutee a sine qua nca of the resolution of the Arab-Ieraeli conf liot . The Gambia is deeply saddened by the fratricidal hostilities between Xran and Iraq, which continue to threaten the unity of the Moslem Uirma while SeriouslY eodengep:ing international peaand eecurity. Since July 1984 it has been my privilege to serve as Chalrmn of the Peace Committee established by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and charged with the task, in collaboration with the two partiee, of finding a peace solutiool for that tragic conflict. While OUf endeavours are yet to be crowned with success, the Committee will spare no effort in the search for a just, honourable and lasting solution based on Isl~fc prillciples and international law. At the Game time the Gambia aharee the agony of Wfghanietan and Kap?puchea, whose respective peoples continue t4 endure the yoke of foreign occup3tiOn. In this regard my Governacnt has followed with close interest and supports the ongoing initiative8 almed at the political settlement of these ceises. In particular we note with cautious optimism the evolution 9f the proximity talks being hold in G@neva under the auspices of the Eecretary-General. With regard to the situation on the Korean peninsula I my Csvernment supports the ongoing dialogue between the two stdee and considers that their admiSei0~~ to the Unf’ced Nations would enhance U-~-he prospects for their eventual reunification. This wouEd aleo be In accordanca wtlrtl tie principle of uni.versal.ity of our Organtzntion. (President Jawara] The fortieth anniveceacy ie being comemo rated at a critical juncture Pn the evolution of international eccmmiu relations. Only a year ago, hero in the General Aesembly, developed end developing countries alike reviewed the world m0-i~ situation with cautioue optimism ati expressed the hope that the econopric recovery that had begun in the major industrialized countciea would spread to the rest of the woeld. Today we find that, sadly, thie ha5 not been the cam The developing countries in general bave remained hoetage to the prolonged global ceceosion of the past decade. The vast majority of those countries have continued to experience 5tagnation and even reversal in vital sectore of their economies. while comodity pricee have ercded over the years, export earning6 have diminished eubstantially, culminating in a eituatian of mounting indebtddnoss compounded by chronic balance-of-payments deficits. Purthemore, since many of the couneries so affected belonc~ to the category of the leaet developed mUntrie8r there ha5 been a wideaptead eroeion of living atandardo. This is particularly true of the least developed countries of hfrica, where millions have remained trapped by the spectre of poverty, hunger and starvation in the wake of natural dieaetere precipitated by the current drought and increasing desertification. While domestiC Production has continued to decline substantially in most of those countries, population growth continues to outrun the food supply. In the face of these overwhelming odds, developing countries in Africa have been compelled to adopt severe austerity programmes designed to diminish their mounting balance-of-payments deficits. It is regrettable, however, that such programmes have not succeeded in generating growth. While essential public services have been substantially reduced or even abandoned, domestic prcduction and erfployment opportunities have declined signficdntly. lt is against this sombre background that we solemAy cmmoEate ~M+J fortieth anniverwkry of the United Nationu. The Gasdia, a8 one of the leant developed countries in AfriCa, with e PredRbmntly agricultural Boonomy~ has hitherto experienced more than a decade of cotltinued poor agricultural per f ormama , na inly i~8 a reaul t of the deleteriouS effects of a prolonged drought. Cansfquently my Government has recently embarked upon a series of polioy reform and adjustment measures in co-operation with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. we reccgnize that the adjustment measures we have hitherto been pursuing can at best only arrest the negative trcnde in our eccnosy. We have therefore laun&ed an econarPic recovery programs geared not only to stsbilization but also to recovery and growth. This further umbracores the commitment of my &wesnrPent tc maintaining and improving the living standards of our people. The need to address and improve the eoonolaric situation of developing countries is ems of the mast pressing 0f out tim. It wa9 only a few months ago &&at the 21St Assembly of Heads of State and GovernPlent of the Organization cf African Unity a&opted a five-year priority prograwae to address the eaeegency, short, sdium and long term problelas of Africa. While we acknowledge that the primary responsibility for attaining these objectives rest8 on our shoulders, our efforts need to be complementzd by assistance from the internattona? cowwnityy. Wc therefore urge multilateral institiitione, especially the World Bank and the speciaPized agencies of the Un i ted Na tion s , to channel the available resources for drought and famir:e relief and economic recovery within the framework of existing subregional ar!d regiOr.al Organizations. In this connection the rf.ver basin projects and intergurrerr._..en~1. development organizatfwns, such as the Permanent Inter-state corr?mittee for Lirotlght (Preeident Yawara) Control in t&e Sahel (CUSS), whflob are engaged in raultibteral co-operation for tk rebahiPit.atfon and &5prov%lPent of agriaulture and focw3 production deserve priority. Hay 4 at thie juncture place on record the Gatsbia~o deep appreciation of the generous and timely response to thie crieis by the various organ8 and agencies of the Untted Watfon5 6yatem, in particular the Office for Emergency Operatione in Africa. Hay I alfsc single out the current United Nations Childrsn’e Fund (UNICEPI caz&?aigrr aimd at the complete imuntzation of a%1 children hy the year 1990. It is aPear that sustained econotsic and social progrese can only be realised within the context of genuine internatiowl co-operation. It ie equally clear that there is no smre appmpriate forum than the United Nations for the ackieveumt of these cbjective!s. (President Yaware) Ist us therefore reaind oure~~voa at tbA61 kportant juncture that tbe raioon d’8tre of the unit&d Wationo is ta We tbirr world a betbr world - a eafec, a saner anda mscbumnns world far als uiankind. Tim fortiotb mi18ion is thfiug *he Sccastfon fog uf3 all to redi2dicato mxaelvee bo the moblc3 Meale aid ggfnciples enshrined in tie Charter, in a resurgema of the spirit of intoznationalism which inspired the founding of NY Orgsni%nV.m, 40 yeaae e.go. with our collective energies thus harnessed, I am persuaded -&at ue can l&c forward with confidence to a mre equitable and stible world. to t&m Govcnnwnt I cannot conclude without piaying a rkhly deserved tribute and people of the United States for “:f!~’ hpKe88iVe artangelnents which they have made to ensure the sucoess of this histmrfc session. Elhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jaw*, President of the Republic of the Gar&ia, was ef3cOrted from the rostrum. The PFBIDILNT (interpretatiar .froz~ $panieh) : - The Assembly will now hear an addresa by Her Ewcellency Ms. M. Bugei3ia Charles, Prim8 minister of the Comonwealth of Dominica. Ms. M. Eugenfa Charles, Prime Hin$ster of the Comxmwealth of Dominica, was escorted to the rostmm. 148. CkiARLES (Dominica) : We, aw Membere oE this ixxly, are happy to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its foundlrq. This My was created to ensure that the nations of tie world had a forum in which to discusa the world'~ problems. Underlying tilat action was the belief that while people were talking to each other the chances of fighting each Esther were remote. We can congratulate ourselves on the fact that to date we have avoided another world war. But can we be justly satisfied when we l~k around the gL&e and see the numecous ongoing confi icts, which seem to have no end in spite of our numerous reaolutlona and etkmpte at aamailiari~? Can ue tcutbfully say tiaak ow vovld is at peace when acte of kr &ox ieo are corni tted alrost on a daily basis and the tertoxists ace treapad (IS heroee and their victim as the persons who should bear the blamm? Even me than in the period ixcodietely preceding 1945, night seem f2 be Wuivalent to right. No, I think we should not only congratulate ourselves but we should. u8e tie attainment of this milestone a8 a time for reflection _ a time ps see& ehe answer to the question: where did we go wmw? f am not an elrpert in the affatis of the United Nationst I am an Infrequent attendant in these balls, But one telling experience I have undergone hem ilhStiott18 to &B thhet me of our faulte is that we have ceased to lislten to each 0tht3r. It ek%nds to reescn fhat 50 we are to discuss OUI problems with the obfece of reaching a solution or consen~ua, then we must listan to what each W1pber has to =JY* Two year6 ago when I was perritted t0 address the security Council m the is5uo of the rescue operation in Grenada mountid at tha request of the Orgenization of Eastern Caribbean stetea (OECS), I stayed on to hear two of the contributions which followed mine and noted that the speakers showed no interest - not even to the extent of a paef?ing reference tz what I had said. It wae obvious to mfz that they had arrived at the meting to arake a point against an issue, and the issue itself was unirpportant. Only the protagonists on each side of the issue were important. I left the building disillusioned, The United Nations Charter hen iPeant a great deiil to me. Aa a student in law at the tit&e of ita creation I had follvdfd with avid interest the debates on and f&e plans for the forwtion of *the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of numan Rights is enshrined in nrf mind and is the founda tdon of all my thinking innd the pillar on whi& many of mY a8pirations rest. I carry with IX a copy of the ffna2 authorfzed tixt at all times, U to oy twubled part of the world, I thought to rryeelfr A9 that the euguet body in d&b msatbsrr wftb divuee viewe can dioeuoo coolly, oamy ~3 di6~SUi~atdy, and wikb a real desire to reach un&ratsnding of the ieeuee and eolutfonn to the prablerrp? I wae saddened by the ouepicion that &he oft-rcp4at;ad PbCe.Ih3 timt the Unitid Nation6 io rrerely a blk Iq? might be rmrited, that prh6pe our Organioation, in which we had placed such hiyh hope@ in 1945, wee failing tQ adbece to the high ideals on which it was founded. I was chastened by the thought &at fhe United Natione had becorae an otganization in which everyone awake but no one listeme. I was concerned to note that no iseue is diacueeed viehin the context of the if&we itie but tiot any debate can be utilizet!i to fliecuee matters which have no beacing on the isrue at hand , to reiterate entrenched p~aitione. I realfzed tiat vitbin the united Nations there were united subgrouping6 which Prevented the Organizotion from qmteting a8 intended - a forum foe free end frank and fearleee dbecuetsion; that peace for all time wes no longer the objective butt ratimr, 5ooreQ to be rretefed against an opponent OY in favour of an ally. To Q me11 country thie trend is dieadvantageous. TOO small 6uId too uniWCXtant, no doubt, in the eyes of the larger and more developed cOuntriee, to be an effective aeaber of any aubgmupirq, our voice doe8 not count for rptch in this OzganfzatfOn of what should be united nations - united against tyranny, united for freedortl and juetfce, united in a spirit of brothherhcod. Can we, small 4x4 W@ are, seek to make our fellow Metiers cealfze that all the rhetoric uttered on the desirability of vorld peace will not bring peace until the eradication of prejudices and LnequaEities - both of which are often apparent in the treatment of U8. ttJ@ 8Wlli3r COUJ trr lea. MB. ChaPleB, DoPihiorn) If we are represenbtivs of 0.11 the mtionc of the weld, Ban we jurUf?y the abm Qf tbhe ~publi~ of KQrea &or aar mif%t2 PhtbouL taie auoifabriIma et t&l body the Kapublic of Kowa he.8 puroued a line of prtiont MB sineore nagotietbme Witi ita mthern aaeigbbow in the Irupa th8t 8 graceful se~tlewnt of the lorean question aan be reached 60 that at leaet ic me area of the globe time oan be Q reduction. of termlone. Tbk mtion irr exaotly in keeping with the Roper og our Organizatfm and I would urge tlmt we arrive ati an aiuly aettleamt of the ocPlber&ip etitua of the Fqublic OF #oriM. Article 2 of our Declaration of Hunan Biqhto ie completely iqnored by South Afriaa. In recent months we have seen t&e e8calat&n of violence in that country, and we aanmt peruit tbhie to aontinue. Iat tho6e who can validly do so imPe sanatione. We in ny countiy did so mmy year@ ago, but I doubt whether South Afriaa men knows of our existence. It would appear to sm that a ccmplete shut-down of that country - its isolation - is the only meamre that might bring an end to the deopicable eyetem of aparthaid irupoued in South Afric& mat einae cuch a measure would, in the sholrt term, hurt the pxuons U whom we are seeking to bring telief, the request for such severe measures woud have to come from the oppressed people in F#uth Africa and neighbouring countries. Such action would also have the advanuge of settling the age-old question of Namibia. The thee areas in which I have proposed action by the nations of the world represent but a few of the rany problems needing attention by the United Nations. At the sws tiw, by continuing to refer to them to the General Assembly we realise and acknowledge thereby that without this Organization there is a great deal that would not have been achieved in the past 40 years, and that there is a great deal left to be dme by ue. The agencies of the United Nation6 have assisted our developing countries. often, we would not have been able ta carry on with promoting the welfare of our people without Mat assistance. But I must repeat here - for it beara repe ti tion - uhat I have said in meny other international forums, namely, that the technical aeeietance given us ml?st be accomplished by, fir8t, suitable training of our own people in Order to enable ue eventually to do without such technical eseietAnce and, secondly, a programme which enables ua to compete in the market for the service0 of OUT pereone 60 trained. Yes, there is a great l.eft to be done by US. It ifi for that reason that I say that, in api te of Our shor tcumings, t3e fortizth anniversary r~f our coming into being iu cause for real. celebration. Paz by (pie. Charles. Dominica) th&3 oucuessfti cmpletion of such a per&Al of endaavour we indicate that we am dedicated to making the ideals on whohick cur orgaknsticn ir, founded flcurfrrh ti cur aidBt. iill 1 aok is that we be Wnfteds Hatlcne, for justice and the future peace and etability of our world. In Lhankikag you, Mr. President, for the arrangementa peraPittPng me IS address this eeeeion, X vfeh aIs0 trD crargtatulate yc.u cm your election to the Wt of President of the General Aesemhly. It ie a signal hcnour conferred on you during this fortieth comemcrative miversaq, and cm8 ubicb you enhance in carrying cut wur duties 80 ably+ He. Eugenia Charles, Prime Minister of the Ccmmnwealth of Domi~fc~~ was eaccrted frm the rostrum. The PRESIDENT (Interpretation from Spmfeh)r The next speeker is the Pfkw Minister of the Denxxratic Republic of the Sudan, Bia ELxcellQncY Dr. El Gizouli Daf’Alla. Mr. El Gizouli Dflf ‘Alla, Prim Minister of the Demcr~tlc Republic of the Sudan, wae escorted to tine roe trum. Mr. DAF’ALLA (Sudan) (interpretation from Arabic): Allow me to offer my con~ratu~tions to you, Sir, on your election AS Preefdent of tbie memorerble session of the General Aesembly , en election which reflects the recognition of your capabilities and long diplomatic experience. It is alou an honour for your fri@ndly country, which fa linked to the Sudan, ite people. and Governmnt, by the closest ties, a country known for its picneerbg role in serving tha noble prirlciples and purposes of the United Nations. The establishment of the I’nited Nations was an important historical event in the developmnt of human relations and a decisive turning-point in the history nf j0i43t. collective action, With the signing of the United Nat”ons Charter, international relations antered ah advanced etage based on a eesetvoit of experience shamd by nations and peoples. It reflected the determination of the international copspunity to explore the horizons of a future which would put its faitk in co-operation and ranounce wars. It is also incu&ent upon us, oh the occasion of thie fortieth anniversary of the United Nations, to take stock of our achievetnenee, the difficulties of the past and of the present, and of our aspirations for the future, The Sudan is -king part in this historic session following the achievement of a nm jor victory by its people last April, namely, the overthrow of the rQgime which had been oppressing it for the previcm 16 years. That r8gifae had created a number of internal and external problems as a result of its policies, brought about the collapse of our domestic economy , exposed the unity of the country to fragnentation and rpade us incapable of playing our rightful role in foreign policy. The revolutionary Government has established the follawing priorities: to return the Sudan to democratic rule. to enshrine the concept of demcracy, to build national. unity, to solve all prchlems by dialogue and to deal with the critical economic situ3 don. Ircm the very beginning of our glorious people'8 revolution our country has always affirmed its faith in the principle8 of the United Nations, its respect for human rights and its adherence tc international and tegtonal instruments, as well as its respect for the independence and tenritDria1 sovereignty of all States , non-interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring Statm, the solution of all problems and disputea by peaceful means, and the proration of regional and international joint co-operation, As the world celebrates the fortieth annlverory of the United Nations, the Sudan reaffirms its unswerving commitment to the purpores and principle8 of the United Nations Charter and its convr.ctinn tnat the Charter remain6 t3e beLt possibie frameworK for 'the codification, orqanizatim and practice of international QWE. IDafVUla, Sudan) ao-operatfon in tpne political, econodc at@ social spheres md for tlhe promticm aed suppisrt of such awqp3rotian. A8 we pay this, we tmve before us a living emmple of the continued effeativenese of the United thttion8, namely, i t6 role in mbiliaing and co-ordbnrrting assistance &or the iotsrnatioml -ity for u8 and other African aountrieo to loitigate ehe consequences of famine, drought and desertification. 15s we have already mentioned, the United Kationn hae demnotrated that, if ~trustid with the neaesleary uupprt and confidence, it is capable of fulfilling its role Sn accor&nc0 with the aapirathw of the Chrter. We should li&e to rwffirlsr OUT appreciation of thhs effort0 of the Seorctary43mersl and the United Wationm Office for Emrgenoy OperatiOnS in Africa, (LB us11 ~1 otbtr united Ibtiono organisations and agenaferJ in support of efforts by Us and othet Afrioan ooru?Criee to surmount the present aisis. we hope that this a~~ietance uill be entended to include Afriaan efforts direoted toward8 r ehabilia tdon and developms t. In this regard, we wish to oomend the efforts of tie united Nattions Children’s Fund (UNLCW) in helping the health authorities ipI the Sudan in their can&mign to imuniae children, which all hospitilc and health centres in urban and rural areae are now inplementing within the frrsarework of th@ intarnational effort to achieve total immunization by 1990. Forty years in the life of the United Nations and its peoples cotWtftUte only a brief interval in history and the Organfzation is entitled to take pride in what it has achieved over that pet’icd. It6 wxnbetship has grown from 51 to 159 States, no nuclear w&c has occurred and there has not been a thipa worla uar. Tilt? Organiz.ationq5 decolonisation and the containmfmt of many minor conflicts, a6 well a8 in peace-keeping operations, disarmalpant and the groawion of international law, io unden iable. The efforts of the specialised agencies have confirmd the cohesion of the nations of our world and have shown that queetiona of development, food, the environwnt, health, the 6ea5, water resources, conuuunicatlon6, ueteorology, refugeee, the battle against narcotice, crime prevention and other iesues cannot be addreosed by a single State or group of States, whatever their capabilities. They have also shown that this world cannot be administered or controlled by one Seat@ Or group of States. Multilateral co-operation is thus a noceonity for the sake of the peace, progrees and future of our world. It is wLth pride that we enumerate the nchi~vewnti of our international aapira tioas. Perbapa the test obvious examplea of its inadequacy can be tm?n in itr insbility to bring about independence and sovereignty for the peoples of Wamibta aa Palestine, to put an end to the polioy of apartheid praceieaa against ehe Africaa people of &~tb Afr)~ and TV curb the ccnventional and nuclear area race. Among the rearma for it0 failure say ba that 8ote States ldeabere of the UnPted thfionfa are am34 concerned with their wn intereat Wan with those of the Pntematimal 6zomuuniw, or that they do not adhere to the provfsim0 awJ Principles of the Unitetd blation Wartier, or that cet tain super-Pwera ignore the Organisation and try to create solutions tc come problem8 outaide the framework of the United Nation& 1 BPL CeKtein #at the purpose8 of the Charter still constitute a sound basis for the treatment of wcrld ieeues, the rpaintenance of international peace and eecurity and the eatabliekmt of the new international econcmic order. our coam0moKation of the fortieth ann1veKeaKy of the foundation of the Organlzation and th0 preoence of 80 many Heads of State and Govetmuest on thie accaoion are a reaffirmtion of their desire for peace and their deterwina tion to help the United Nation8 achieve ita goale. Purthermre, we are inclined TV believe that the United Nations General Ai38eretsly tW.xat take this opportunity to cmcentpate its attention during the reminder of ” 16 centucy on a vision for the future by drawing up plans and p?ogrma for the achievement of epecific goals in economic, social and humnitarian matters and in dtsasmamnt up to tke year 2000 and beyond, in the same mnner as the World Health Ocganization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and kqr~culture Org.snization of the United Niitions have made specific plans WLeh clear-cut tssgets. While we praise the endeavours and dedication of tlhe present Secre&ry-&neaa1 and hFE( prs&ceseors in supporting this Orgmizatim, we believe that the (Hr. Daf’Alla, Sudan) &mretary-General could play a ;paj= role in improving the performance of the Unibd bastions ad in the maintenance of international peace and security, as provi&nd for in Artblee 98 and 99 ol! the United Wettone Charter. la this context, we euWort the rmarks rnvnde by the Sacrotiry-General in his report on the work of the organhnttcm concerning the developmt of tie Secretary-General’s capaaity, to make, in particular, wider and earlier use of faet-finding and observer missions. Our comwwration of the fortieth annivei.reary of the establishment of this Organisation coincidas with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations Detalaration On the Granting of Indeep@ndence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as set forth in General ASSe&ly resolution 1514 (Xv). Lt is truly regrettable, however, that the current 5ftuatPcm in Namibia am4 Swtb Africa constitutes a grave threat 00 the security of the African continent and to international peace and security wing ti South Africa’s intrarmigence and its refusal to implemnt United Nations reaolutiono and declarations. The continuance of the policy of apartheid, which the Unitid Nations has declared a crime against humanity, and the ugly criruee to which the people of South Africa are eubjected at the hand5 of the racist Govetnarel~t - killings, repression, banishment and fmprieonment - and which ocampanied the declaration of the state of eaetgency make it incumbent upon the international community to Strep up iti support foe the people of South Africa in order ti enable that people to put an end to the policy of apartheid and to ptovi& imdiate assistance to the people of Namibia in the reetoration of their independence and .sovceeignty under the leadership of the South West Africa People’s Organizaticm (SWAW) and its leader, Sam NujoW~.* At the Saiih3 time, the United Na’cfOIw is facing ZL grave challenge in the Middle East became Of Israel’s GggtefiSiVe, racist and rxpanelmist pol.i~y, its disdain for the reflolutiono of the ‘Jnited Nationfi and its receTcf.trance wia regard w the (Hr. Uaf ‘Alla, Sudan) will of the international co&&unity. fersel’r aata oe aggression agadnet r&mm and the Iraqi nu&mt recnator and its recent act0 of aggreooion against Tuniefa and the Palestine Liberation OrganIrstion undereoore the gravity of the crime8 ft ha8 aOpitt.ed, ifs violation of the uniwd Nation8 Char-r und the tinme it pose8 e0 peace and aeaur?ty in the region and in the world l The Aeeembly bee reaffirmed on numerous occaoionta that the queetion of Paleetiae is the aore of the aonfliot in the Middle r&cat and that a just and lasting peace cennot be achieved without Iaraelte full and unconditional withdrawal from all the occupi.-1 Arab territorlss, including the Holy City of Yeruealelur and the eatabliebmmt of an independent State of Palestine on its national soil under the leaderehip of the Paleetine Liberation Organizattion, the Bole legitiwte ~ewaeentatfve of the Palestinian people. Accordingly, international ef for tc must be intaneified on thie important occaeion to awke Ietoel implement the resolutione of the United Nation8 and to provide the necaesaty aeeiatence ti the Paleetinian people in order to enable that people to continue waging its just war for the eth Mien t of sovex eign ty and indepzmdence. Hr. Ctaf ‘Alla, Sudan) The wwntua of the arm.0 race and of the related expenditure ha8 increase Bermptibly in recen9: yeare, and ha8 extended to ame of the developing countries, as well. ThPe thmatene international peace and xeourity; therefore, the achievement of complete disaraamnt must be in f&e forefront of the concerns of the Unitad Blattione and of the international ccmaunity as a vhoh Tbic mtter awu#88 the ubuast inqortance in the light of the current balance of nuclear terror. We note here the bnczea66d production md otoczrkpfling of nucierut and aonventicenal weapon6 and the growth of theit deetruative capacity. At the 8ame time, wending on weapon6 is steadily increasing: total annual expenditure8 amount e0 $1,000 billion, avrney which could be ueed in the economic and so&al fielde and b co&at poverty and natural dismtere, particularly in the developing counttie8. Mother point is that in order to break the vlclous circle of the arms race and to create a world in tisrric& peace and stability prevail, the system of collective security ppovided for in the Cbarten of the Organioation rrust be retainad as a major, basic option. One of the Dloat inpsrtant challenges facing the United Nations, naw and for the future, corpceons the pronwltion of econoiaic and social development ef for@ in the countries of the world, particularly the developing countxiea. During the four decades of the life of the Orgenfzation there has been a continuing concentration On ecxxmaiic, social and cultural questions. Such activitieo account far approximte:y 15 per cent of the Crganizatbon’s regular budget, and their ~oopr? hae eVanded ti cover all aspects of eammic and social life. However, the diversity of the activitiee of the United Natione and Its fine reoord of achievement in the econoslic , eocial ana cultural. fields must not lead u8 to underestimate the rrtagnitude of the challenge facing our international Organization and the need ti fulfil the great bows our peoplen place in it. That (Mr. Daf 'Alla, Sudan) cballewe, witi its social and politiaal content, oomtitutea me of the basic elePrena t&at can contribute to woxld peace, stability and progrese. During its lort life, the united Natione has endeavoured to deel with a variety of eomomic pZoblears, au& as the pr&lm of the eiwirmment, deaertifica tion, new and renewable ~outces of energy, population, and the problema of the least developed aountries. Since laet year it has concentrated particularly on the grave ~crr.odc crfsie in Africa. We hope that at the current aeoeion the -eeWly will pay epecial attention ti the debt grcblem now threatening not only the economies of the developing countries but the very eurvlval of lDaRy of their societiee. Sudan, a country that is both Aft ican and among the leaet developed, is confronting a debt of vast proportions that it ie incapable of repaying, noWfthatinding it5 undertaking W lPeQt ita obligations ~JI that eOnn@&ion. That debt threaten8 its demcratic system and renders its development efforts futile* WKeOVeK, the debt problem of the developing countKiee, and the African debt problam In particular, io not susceptible of any fundamental solutions except through M international dialogue on the question and a united effort leading ti new and innovative evolutions that take account of the eccmomic, social and PlitiCdl citcumstan~s in the debtor countries as well a8 their ability to service and repay their debts. In the cme of African debts, such eolutione must include total or partial cancellation of official debts, ox their conversion inc0 grants. At the annual rrs@tings of the International &metary Fund and the World Bank, held Kecentiy at Seoul, we noted a new tendency on the part of !3e developed wuntx~ee to deal in a different way with the debt crisis of the developing countries md the indebtedness of Africa and the least developed countries. We hope that this may lead to tie desired solutions. One of the grea-?st humn tragedies the world has witnessed Fn recent years ia tie steady Increase in the flow of refugees and in ‘the numbers of peop1.e forced to leave their ba4hndrs and flee elsewh~e in search of ae~urfty~ stability and fWd. FU three decades ar mre, the Sudan h given asylum to the large nuabere of refugees forced f01 numerwa reasons fm edgrate to OUK country. The Sudan haa moglfed with international and regional conventZone and laws governing the question of refugees of 4311 types and categories. X wish to reaffirm ehe dmleretion of the Transitional Governwnt of the Sudan that we 8hall continue to honour our humani tartan and moral commitmmte Lowards. refugees who coAR to our ~untry, in spite of the aratsrial end eooial burden they repreaemt for us. While ve appreciate the international eoarunity~t3 euppont for what we are doing to afa refugees, we aonoider it essential that efforts be intensified W arrive at lasting solu Lions to the root causes of the refuge problea. At the samed time, we ccnsi~er it eeeential tiat aid to refugees be linked to development efforts in the areas affectid by this problesp. We must empbaeize in our commnoratlon of the fortieth anniverslary of the eotablishment of the United Nations that this international Mdy will remain an essential Instrument, indfspemable for the safeguard of international peace and irreplaceable in the fostering of internattonal co-operation. This world Organizaeion hao aver ted yazs and aevasti tion. The twentieth century could not have avoided a third weld wax in recent years haa it not been for the United Nations and our unanlwus axmita\ent to its purposes and principles. we in the Sudan believe that the world is fn urgent need of this Organization, just as it was 40 Years ago, and that we must alb hold fast ta it in order to enable it to establish international peace and collective co-operation on firm foundationa. Hr. El Gizouli Daf'klla, Prime #inlater of the Democratic &public of the Suaans was escorted from the rostrum. The PRJCSIDENT finterpretation from Spanish): The next speaker is C-he Prim Minister of Grenada, The Honowable Herbert A. Blaize. Mr. Herbert A. 81atzeJ Prii%e Minister of Gren-Ida --___. VW3 E!Ycclcted txl the rostturri. -,--i-%- --__---l___.-. Hr. BLAXZE ~Grenada) : First: Zet ue thank you, Sir, for this opportunity .* to address the General AsaelsbLy and to congratulate you on you0 election aa its PreSi&nt, a8 well as to affirm ay confidence in your ability to direct its affairs to productive CoJIclusisne. I Speak m behalf of a people and country which have recently been traumatized by the rrrst calloue and bloody episode in the modern political hiotory of the Caribbean region. Grenada has suffered, and continues to suffer dearly, fto;n alme t tuo decades of ugly political power play, ~puch tm the detuiment of the ~mib and mcial progress of our people. During that time dictatorial and unconstitutional r6girsea denied our people Berio= opportunities for individual advancement and the exerciee of their basic human rights. Our country’s Conetitution was habitually violated and was eventually hijacked by force of atme in 1979. That latter developaont finally led to a week of indescrib&le horror and chaos in October 1983, when, after shocking killings and other injury, the whole OoWby wa8 placed under virtual house arrest by means of a 24-hour curfew, with the threat of people being shot on sight if found outside their homes. In those circumstances, friendly States were invited to restore law and order and to rescue our people from the grip of an alien ideology which had 61~0~1 no respect for human life and for its political preferences and democratic values. I vish to announce that the military fvrces of those friendly States have been totslly and fully withdrawn , and that Grenada’s security is once Iu>re the responnibtlhty of the Royal Grenada Police Force. In the meantime, sufficient stibilbty returned to Grenada to permit the people to select a Government of ita choice in free and fair elections in December 1984. The will of the majority oE the Grenadian people favoured a return ta constifxtional rule and parlinmentnry demcraq. sly L.over~iment i3 nos busy tryin? to consolidate those democratic gain8 and to maintain law a.3 order. %2 ar2 about to reintrdu~e a eyotem of AoaaA govvernwnt throughout the State which will groVide OPWoptunitbO for goauine partioipation Pn the political procees. A CmetituCion Review Com~iwian ir won to comgAate ita Work, and it ie anticipated that mrne of fQ;o reco8mm&tiono wiAA furthrr dmocradze the poAitiaa1 system. b@ countryDe wno~ic and pbAbticeA cirarupetanaes, as they have evoAved~ diatata &a yy GovernPent and peopAe parrceptions of history and events which are at times contradiatoty and discouraging. Wit we believe *at to despair is to dew the poeitive role which tubcfal and political institution8 can play in world and doaeetic affairo. The Government of Grena&a ia, however, aware that the mere physical or qabolic presence of international organizmtions cannot be euffictent to give effect M their valid potential for mediation, peace amd progress. We believe that these orgenizatione have to be empowerea by Member States to realize the bold ideals to whioh we often pay glowing tribute in our opening linear and which are subee@ently vitiat8d by tactimmoeuvri.nge and a regular absence of poli ticaA w kAL On the auspicious occasion of th@ fortieth anniversary of the United Nations, my delegation wiehee to awociate itself and the people of Grenada with the sincere eXptestdOn0 of support for the work of the United Nations which lnany representatives before me have pledged. We in Grenada recognize the IJnited Natiotw as still the central inetrument for world peace and security through co-operation internationally. Indeed, the Pounders expected this to be so when they proctaimd at the beginning of the Chatter their determination to aavD succeeding generations from the 8Wurge of war and to reaffirm faith in the dignity and worth of the human prom, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small. 111 tibia, the fortieth year of it6 existence, we confidently look to see thht United Nation8 fulfil these laudable dreams. TO countless millions of Christian (Hr. Blaines Grenada) was for 40 day8 and 40 nighta that ‘the rains felk which deluged Noah’s ark. The UKaelPts8 wnderad for 40 yeere in the viPderneae toward8 the land of their pAXWlB0. Jesus fasted in the dwert for 40 days and 40 nights in preparetim for hia pblic minis&y, and after hio resurrection he remined with his Apoetles for 40 dayf~, ubicb provided a period of joy and enlightenmnt for hie folIowere* In mre modern tima the great Wericaa Benjamin Franklin water “At twent;u, the will in a mn prevailas at thirty, the wit. But at forty, th@ judgeraent cf utaturity.n It iS in this billsming mturity of 40 years of hard experience that we expect the United Nationa effectively to attain the goal.8 of the 1945 Charter. hit ti Wti8fy the Charteo@o high hopes for hufaandty the Unit& Nations must ccm to gripe wit& aom? fundmental realities. AL though the world my never be fully free frorp instances of injuetice, it met certainly be recognized that there can be no lasting peace vbere injustice is institutionalized, There DuQt, . therefore, be urgent, united action to rid South Africa of the scourge of apartheid and minority rule, and tc bring independence to Namibia. Towards the pursuit of world peace we are pleased to note that on Hntermtional Year of Peace i8 to be proclaimed on 24 October, Grenada will contribute to the voluntary fund , and will appoint a high-level committee to set up educational and cul.tural programmes in observance of the Year. (Mr, Bleize, Orenada) Pn the spoocb frcrw the f&mum of IJece&u 1984 it ws eW7lared that aGcsnada is ocmdtted to work rolmtlors~y in suppart of tlw pmce-keepin rob of the Unit& Watlon8*. IWO racantly, in St. filitt8, w0 joined with tb CarUbmn Comaunity (WW) Fozo4n Ministea in Q aoll for the international covunity to etrengtlren their oarurttamt t4 ttm multihtercl process and, in partfcular, to make greater use of the United Nations and ite epedslined agond*a to cooo2ve dntesnotional probXetoo* The Government of Grenmdn viewa with gave concetn the continued escalation of tension in Central Asetica. Developmnts in bat region cunstitutu a menace to international peace and security. wo aall upon all States in tb8t region to puroue a negotiated settlemnt to all issuers in the context of the framework proposed by tb Contddota group. Grenada considera it a momt prssefng rerspsneibility for the uK)rld’s Powers to take concrete otepe towards a de-escalation of the arms race in both nuclear and conventicnal arms. The people of GrenaUap and indeed of the developing muld, have a direct intenest in an bmediote reduction Pn the quentun of tewurces currently inVc8ted in thtcr unproductive and dsngcroue venture. The Government of Grenada views the situation a8 requiring collective action of the rtKmt resolute kind mm3 ~a118 upon ail States to commit thenselv@e to an immdiate settlwnt of these lseues. who can deny the urgent need to arrive at a just settlement in the Middle Ea@t, one which %eepecte the right of all 6tatetu to exist wbthin secure and recognized bcundariee? As X have noted, the founders of the Charter ~~eaffiraed their faith in the equal rights of mm one3 wzmetl and of nations laege and small. Today the ixcphaej.8 on small nationa ha8 irmenee ro%evance. The United Nations has cone a long way (Mr ‘ Blahze, Orenada) since 1945, with a membership today more thm three tines the original umbership Of 51. A large percentage OF this increase cm&primes mall nation8 which were act even conceived of in 194% Yet they now form a significant reality in the world community of today. Special meamres are neededl to aeoist these small countries in overcoming the difficulties which derive Eros insularity and snrellneee. Apart fro&I Lheir vulnerability a8 &aall Statee, they also face severe problems of plitical and economic issues. Among the things which can be done to assist is to prevail upon the world Bank to refrain froea the unreelietlc attempt to *graduate” most of them out of the facilities of the International Development Agency (IDA) soft window for developmental funda. Very important to ttiese small States is the 1979 decision by the General Assembly to launch a round of *gloM, and sustained .,. co-operation for development”, which ehould “Include major issues in the field of raw materials, energy, trade, development, money and finance’ (General Assembly resolution 34/138, @aras. 1 and 2 (b)) in pursuit of a new international economic order. Although an ad hoc Committee of the Whole has been conducting these meetings and consultations, and the positions of developing countriee are being asserted in the Group of 77, no tangible results have emerged so far. In this connection the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Barbados last July called fnr *effective global. consultation on all major international conferences on financial and monetary measures*. Grenada was a party to this call. and it urges this fortieth session of the General Assembly to give effwt to it. On the question of youth involvement in decision-making, I wish to report that a National Committee has been appointed in Grenada to support measures to promote the prqcauuncE r’ J.ated to the International Youth Year, (Hr. Bl.aize, Grenada) With regard to the issues cmcerning women# follow-up Se expected on the Coaferenoe to EZevPeu We Decatds of Womn, held recentLy in Hafrobi. Xn Grenada, women are considered important for the formulation of policies cmcerning the country. Out of seven Permanent Secrefariee to the 8even siinistries in the present Gwermant, four of tier are women. 5w of the seven Parliamentary Gecretariee are woaen, as is the Secretety to the Cabinet. I should like e0 end by referring to a ptob1e.m wI)i& is of increasing concern tiAroughGut phe world, Iuimely, the inareased traffic in and abuse of narcotics. Grenadier will tbetefoxe support regional and international wasurea to address the &ug problem for the health and welfare of its people. my God guide u6 all in our endeevwre t;o make this vorld clean and healthy fox young and old alike. Mr. Fierbert Slaize, Prime Minister of Gfenda, was escorted from the rofitrum. The PRESIDEPJTn (interpretation from Spanish): The next 6peeker ie the Special Envoy of the Bead of State of the Republic of Guatemala, Hi6 EXCellenCY Mr. Arturo Ya jar&-maldon&. Hr. PAJ~HRLB (Guatemala) (interpretation fvoa Spanioh) 8 It is an honour for m Co sod auk a umoaage ~Fcam the XecrB of State of Guataukda, General Oscar Humberto Mejia Victorce, ddtcesed to the ropresentativeo attending the fortieth aeoeion of the General Assembly on the oacaoion of the fortieth anniversary of the United Naeicme. The text of the message is a8 folkwas “fn my aapawity a8 Read of State of Guatemala, since it is impossible for am to attend in pexson the ccomemxation of the fortieth amniversary of the United Nations, I have the honour to convey a maeage of peace and solidarity from the people of Guatemala, which I have the honour to represent and which, in the final analysis, is, and should be, the true beneficiary of the effwte and achievements of our supreme worla Organization. l Thiti acmnewwrative session offers US an oppxtunity to exadne, calmly and with objectivity, not only the reeulto of our Organieation’e work but, even more fqnxtant, the ptospecto of etrengthening the system of multilateral co-operation in an increasingly interdependent world. *When the Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Prancisco 40 years ago its founding fathers hed in mind a model organization that woula guarantee peace and security fnmong all nations. They included in the ChaKter the baeic norm that were to become the corner-stone of general international law. The Charter's provisions were intended to safeguard collstive security, justice and human rights ma in general to promote .s.ccial end economic progress, to enable all people5 of the woeld to obtain a worthy standard of living. The basic ideal at that time was the establishment of a world body that would encourage co-operation between the great Powers a8 well aa friendly relations among aLb nations. (Mr. PaSardo-Haldonado, Guatemala) Wi8 realkatfon of those lofty purposes of the world Brganizatbon depended on the ability of the major victors and former Allies in the Second wonld War to ca-agerate. Unfbrtunate&ys that balance of powerr Bo indispensable to intermtional peace has been adversely affeated by tha rivalries aud antagonieas between the major Power& Co-operation and uMeretanding hawe not been sofficiently furtkred. Political and ideologioel polarizatioa hao increased, making it very diffioult in the Pong term for the United Nations to bacoae the motive of a peaceful and stable world. We have not had a third wor1U conflagration, but we have experienced a coneiderable number of loual. or regional wa4898 and confliato. “The world of today is not the came as the world of 1945. There have been major changes and these have been reflected in the functioning of the United Nations. The colonial ayotem has virtually disappeared, giving way to the emergence of new Sovereign, independent States that are today part of the Organization. This conoidetable increase ill its membetohip is the best tribute to the efforts of the United Nations in ita struggle against colonialism. Moat of the new States are developing countries. which am endeavouring to improve the livinl. conditions of their peoples and to bring bout a fairer system of international economic relations. “Guatemala belongs to the community of developing countries, and it, too, is interested in overcoming the obstacles to a better standard of living for its people. There is no dOubt that the United Natfons is for us the (Hr. Fajardo-Maldonado, Guatemala) appropriate framework of international co-operation within which to contribute to and strengthen the internal efforts of Governments and peoples to resolve their difficulties. i!or UB, the Organisation represents more achievementa and benefits than failure& That fe why we &all continue to play an active part in the promotim of the underetnnding, well-being and haramny \pe all desire. Xt ie important for third-world countries to strengthen their presence and their voice in the United Nations. Above all, they ehould reaffirm their eolidarity with each other through South-South co-operation, especially through their major achievements at the regional end subregional 4evele. 33 thie connection my country ia proud of its commitment to maintain its tradition of integration with its brothero in Central Ati%riCae ‘Interdependence ie an irmevccable feature of today’s world and the induetrialized countriee are aware of thie. we are convinced that the United Nations ie a unique instrument for the promotion of underetanding between the developing countries and the more advanced countries, since, in an increasingly fragmented world participation in a multilateral system of co-operation ie poeefble only if there is complementarity and not antagonism or excluzfvity. Whatever our potential or our size, we all have a great deal to give and a great deal to lose. Guatemala will continue to contribute with optimism to the strengthening of the Organization, which, at the coat of w much sacrifice by mankind, has been able to exist and survive for four decades now, and which, despite its limitations, hae been able to chart new and significant couraeo in the scientific, humanitarian, technological, BOCi-alr economic, cul.tural, conceptual and practical fields. "with a pessimistic or negative approach, it is easier to critlcize the (Hr. Bajardo44alaonad0, Guatemala) expteoml in terme of boatillty to or laok of enthueiaem for the Organisation, nor should iks work ba miniPrized or its effoxte discegerded. “In tile ribgard the me@ tiie have a great contribution ta adze by infodng p&lie opinion of the diffiault task Utat has ken entrusted to our Organisation, uhfch, as a humn enterprise, is a reflcctfon of the political will of Pta maber Statea. We must not forget that ultimately the people0 are tb tru% Mem.bt& of the United Nations and that the challmaga consists in making the beat possible we of the oppxtunity provided by the fortieth anniversary of its fmndatLon to r&hi!-& the future of relations between the Otgeniaatfon and the peoples of the uorld.* The meting row at 12.30 p.m.