A/41/PV.1 General Assembly

It was a time for celebration and also of sober reflection when we commemorated last year the fortieth anniversary of the (The Temporary President) establis~ment of the United Nations. Through its central theme, The United Nations for a Better world, the anniversary session eloquently e~pressed humankind's expectations from the world body. The Charter of the united Nations, a product of the pangs of war, enshrined a noble vision. It was O~e that sought to create a world without war, a world without hunger, where humankind could live in peace and dignity. It was a radical departure from the norms of international relations we had k.;own. It changed fundamentally the concept of how States should relate to one another. It broke fresh ground by collectively addressing, perhaps for the first time in the annals of man, the problems of hunger, malnutrition, disease and illiteracy. It made these a common, global concern. It is this common concern for peace and progress that has brought all of us here together, as it has others before us in so many previous years. It is our earnest hope that this Assembly will contribute to the realization of the principles anCl objectives enshrined in the Charter.. I am deeply grateful for the signal honour that the Assembly has bestowed upon Bangladesh and upon me personally by electing me to preside over the Assembly's deliberations. I consider my election as a tribute to my country - a recognition of the role played by Bangladesh since its independence in upholding the lofty ideals of the United Kations and as an advocate of conciliation and co~operation in the pursuit of international peace and understanding. I assure the Assembly of my best efforts to live up to the trust it has reposed in me. I should like at this point to pay a well-deserved tribute to my distinguished predecessor, Ambassador Jaime de Pinies of Spain, who presided over the fortieth anniversary session of the General Assembly of the United Nations with such distinction. The competence, expertise and rich experience he brought to bear on the presidency has set a standard that I know will be hard for me to match. (The President) Since his assumption of office our distinguished Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cue11ar, has served this world body with great dedication and integrity. His contribution to the cause of international peace and security and to social and economic development has earned him the admiration of the entire international community. I know I can depend fully on his advice and support in the discharge of my responsibility as President of the present session of the Assembly. Over the years the vision of the founders of this Organization has not been blurred either by the continuing conflict and tension in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Central America or by the denial of fundamental human rights to the millions in South Africa and Namibia by the racist Pretoria regime, and this very vision enjoins upon this Assembly the responsibility of taking a bold and decisive step here and now to put an end to the abhor~~nt system of apartheid and to find a just and lasting solution to the problem of the Middle East and Palestine. The poor and th~ deprived everywhere still look to the United Nations for halp and support in their struggle against illiteracy, hunger and disease: in fact, the United Nations remains the only organization that enjoys the confidence of the world community and is capable of dealing with the vital questions of disarmament, human rights and the creation of an environment in which every nation, big or small, rich or poor, can pursue its national objectives in peace and security. There is also an increasing expectation that the United Nations system will involve itself more directly and effectively in addressing the new problems of drug abuse and terrorism in all its forms, which are assuming unprecedented proportions and causing death and misery to many all over the world. I often wonder whether the failings and shortcomings of the united Nations are not at times exaggerated. It cannot be denied that the Organization has evolved over the years the capacity to respond to the needs and requirements of an (The President) increasingly complex and interdependent world. It has helped shape the world as we know it today by contributing to the process of decolonization and the promotion of international co-operation and through its emphasis on the global appr.oach to problem-solving. New horizons and concerns have been brougll.. to the fore by this Organization and mechanisms have been evolved to deal with the vatied and intricate technological, scientific and int~rnational legal questions of our time. A major contribution of this world body in the post-war period has ":-een the promotion o~ multilateralism and international e~onomic co-operation. The vital supportive role played by the United Nations and its specialized agencies and other bodies in th~ economic and social development of many nations is recognized with deep appreciation. Coming as I do from Bangladesh, how can I ever forget ·the role of the United Nations relief operations in Bangladesh in the reconstruction of my country immediately following our emergence as an independent nation? This session of the General Assembly has a crucial role to play in restoring confidence in the United Nations and in its ability to deal promptly and effectively with the various international issues and problems. In recent years there appears to have been a crisis of confidence in the United Nations itself. Perceptions and priorities concerning the role and purpose of the Organization, as well as the means to achieve its objectives, vary among its membership, which has grown in number and diversity over the years. Some of these problems have been with us for a long time and some others are of recent origin, but there is a general feeling that the United Nations today needs revitalizing in a number of aspects in order to bring it into line with the priorities of a changing world. One area which will require the priority attention of the Assembly this year is the fifiancial crisis being faced by the united Nations. If allowed to persist that crisis has the potential to cripple the Organization to a point beyond recovery. The question admittedly has several dimensions but I see no reason why, (The President) given o.ur commitment to the united Nations, it should be diffic~lt to come to a conE~nsus. Undoubtedly there is scope to cut bureaucratic waste, to reorient expenditure to priority areas and generally to streamline the administration to ~~ke this ~~rld body more functional and cost-effective. The Secretary-General has already undertaken a number of steps in this respect, but much more needs to be done, much more should be done. Let us address ourselves to this question in all earnestness to overcome the crisis during this very session. I offe~ my services in any manner that tbe Member States may find useful. A matter of particular importance before this Assembly, also related to the financial crisis, is our responsibility to consider and act upon the report of the Group of High-Level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning ~f the united Nations. The Group of 18 has made recommendations of wide-ranging character and implications. I beseech delegations to examine the recommendations thoroughly and to join in consensus action. It is my conviction that an overall increase in efficiency would further enhance the capacity of the United Nations to attain the purposes and implement the principles of the Charter, contributing to strengthening its effectiveness in dealing with political, economic and social issues. I would take this opportunity to commend the Group for its substantive work. I am positive that the Assembly, in takin9 action on the Group's report, will fully bear in mind that it has performed its work and presented recommendations on the basis of full respect for the principles and provisions of the Charter. Given the importance of the subject and the keen interest displayed by Member States in this regard, it is my desire to take up the report early in the session so that adequate consideration may be given to it for timely action by this General Assembly session. (The President) No attempt at revitalizing the United Nations can sbCceed ~ithout strengthening the role of the Security Council and' the General Assembly as well as the Office of the Sedretary-G0neral~ Individual~y and collectively they ser~e as vital instruments of the world body in dealing with the p~oblems of peace and security and economic dnd social development. There is, however, a feeling that in recent years the Security Council has ooen f'educed to amece deb~ting body•. To remove this impression we must devise practical me'l:lhs to enable it to act quickly and effectively in times of crisis•. <:rhe President) An important arm at the disposal of the Security Council is the peace-keeping forces of the United Nations. In the maintenance of peace and security around the globe, these forces are increasingly confirming their relevance and the justification for them. I am of the view that the peace-keeping operations should receiv~ our whole-hearted support both conceptually and materially. I take this opportunity to pay a tribute to hundreds of blue helmets deployed around the world for their dedication, commitment and valiant sacrifices. The General Assembly is the only forum in which all issues may be discussed by all countries of the world regardless of their size and importance. It is therefore e~tremely important that we should organize our work in a manner that ensures constructive, purposeful and coherent discussions on the issues aimed at achieving practical and ilnplementable decisions. We should give serious thought to the reduction of the number, and possibly the length, of resolutions adopted by the Assembly. I should like further to suggest that we revive the proposal made on an earlier occasion that the President and the Chairmen of the Main Committees of the ~ssembly should be selected by their respective regional groups before the conclusion of the work of the Assembly that precedes it. We may also consider a reduction in the requirements of a quorum for the opening of meetings of the plenary and of the Main Committees to one fourth and one fifth, respectively, on the understanding that the presence of the majority would be required in order for any decision to be taken. Regrouping of items of a similar nature under a single heading, both in the General Assembly and in the Main Committees, and the elimination of those items from the agenda that are no longer relevant would enable us to utilize more fully the time available to a session. As is the case now with the Second Committee, biennialization of the Committee items could also be tried in other Main Committees, and possibly in the plenary. The (The President) time announced for th~ closure of the list of speakers should be strictly o~Berved. There is also a need to keep the nu~z of documents and their size to manageable limits. I intend to follow my predecessor's example in being punctual in starting the meetings both in the plenary and in the Committees. I would urge this General Assembly to ~ke a conscious effort to break with the past. Let us attempt to re-examine the way we conduct our business. No one bas decreed that we must adopt several hundred resolutions at every General Assembly session, just as no one has decreed that we must generate mountains of paper every year which no one can possibly read, let alone absorb or act upon. Can we not make our general debates purposeful? Must we perpetuate a tendency to act as though the passage of a resolution absolves us of further responsibility for the subject in question? The Secretary-General who theoretically has vast responsibility is in fact vested with limited practical authority or resources on which to draw. His considerable moral authority and unique position and stature can be used effectively to deal with many vital issues and problems. There is therefore a need to strengthen his role and functions. His office must increasingly serve as an early warning system. The role of the Secretary-General as the co-ordinator of the United Nations common system, assumes particular importance in the context of the renewed interest in the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations. The existing mechanism for co-ordination should be strengthened, or. if necessary overhauled, to make it more effective. Many of the greatest hopes of mankind centre on economic and social progress, which must remain a primary goal of the United Nations system. It is because of the United Nations that the world community today gives a high priority to (The President) development, which, in its simpliest form, must mean giving an acceptable quality of life to all human beings living in this interdependent worl~. There is no denying that for some time now the world economy has been functioning in an uneven and unsatisfactory way. We are facing economic changes of such magnitude and complexity that no country can adjust to them in isolation. It has become increasingly clear that economic, financial, moneta~y, trade and development issues are so interrelated and are of such profound political and social importance that they can be dealt with effectively only as part of the wider political process. The world debt has serious implications for the survival of the developing countries and has become a major international concern. I believe that a.solution to this should be sought on the basis of a far greater understanding of the development needs of developing countries and the creation of an international climate for their accelerated development. Perhaps the broadest and most complex of the issues of our time which has an important bearing on the future is the question of human rights, which affects everyone. The advances made in the promotion and protection of human rights in the course of this century and particularly since the establishment of the United Nations have been unprecedented in human history. The new challenge that confronts the international community is to ensure that the norms which have been universally adopted should be observed everywhere in the world, and that the human rights and fundamental freedoms of every individual should be respected in thought and in action. Although the United Nations is primarily an organization of Governments, in the ultimate analysis it derives its mandate from the peoples of the world and its success depends ultihlately on their support and the interest they take in its working. (The President) As ~e sit here at this moment amidst the glitter and glamour of New York, the hearts and thoughts of many of us are with our fellow compatriots in regions where poverty and deprivation mark everyday existence. It is the aspirations of these peoples that the united Nations embodies. Take for instance my own political constituency in Sylbet, located in a remote corner of Bangladesh. Time in some places there almost stands still. Not much .'31gn of the twentieth century is to be seen, while the world hurtles towards the twenty-first. Many of you have a similar story to tell. It is the hopes and expectations of the peoples we all represent here that are embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. They all look upon the United Nations as the forum in which their representatives could echo their plaintive appeal, so that nations could listen and respond•. It is to these peoples that non-governmental organizations and private voluntary institutions have turned their concentration and addressed their endeavours. We are all, therefore, deeply beholden to these organizations. Theirs is an edifying role that is deserving of praise. (The President) In today's world, frontiers of States are no longer defin~d by physical parameters alone. Interdependence among states has stretched their boundaries beyond geographical limits. This is particularly so in the case of the supe~-Powers. By their overwhelming economic, technological a~d military might, they have acquired a reach far beyond their geographical boundaries, making them virtual neighbours to every country in the world. The relations between the super-Powers affect us all and, th~refore, assume especial significance. Global peace is predicated upon how they perceive one another and relate to one anot~er. It is in our common interest to see that these mighty Powers do not engage in any conflict, directly or by proxy. I have no doubt that leaders of the super-Powers are sensitive of their responsibilities concerning the future of humankind. Let us assure them that we are with them in their search for peace and stability and, in turn, let us be assured of their support in our common endeavour to achieve freedom, security and development. We must realize that our interdependence will demand greater international solidarity now and in the future. Today's global community, with the United Nations as its focal point, must make a concerted effort to move in that direction. The near universality of membership of the united Nations and the instrumentalities at its disposal make it the only organization capable of serving this role. It is my sincere hope that the current crisis that the Organization faces is only a passing phase. The overriding interest of the international community i~ the p~eservation of the Organization should enable us all to work in concert and over~ome the problems. The twentieth century has seen unprecedented progress affecting every sphere of our life. Sadly, though, the progress has been uneven. Great strides have been made in science and technology with resultant advances in the material well-being of man. There has therefore been a greater ability to solve his wordly problems (The President) Yet doubts, mlae~nceptions, prejudices, suspicion and narrow self-interest ~ontin~e to hedevil peoples and nations in their relations to one another. The speed of progress han broken, in many cases, the harmony of development and aocial adjustment of gen~rations, and humankind finds itself troubled by spiritual conflict. In our pursuit of material progress, we may have been insensitiv~ and impatient, greedy and selfish. Today old values and their relevance to new situations are being questioned. Wanton destruction of the natural environment and lack of concern for the less fortunate segments of humanity have the potential of jeopardizing all the material progress that we have harnessed for ourselves. Progress would be meaningless and self-defeating should, in its quest, we lose our soul. We must not forget that the endowments which distinguish the human race from all other forms of life are summed up in what is known as the human spirit - the mind being its quintessential quality. In this International Year of Peace, let us rededicate ourselves to working together for a world of peace, ~ot only where war is merely absent, not only where human survival is just possible, but also where justice prevails and human dignity is upheld. Peace, which is indivisible, is undoubtedly the prime prerequisite for all of our endeavours. Let the United Nations commence its journey towards the twenty-first century with a new sense of confidence and vitality. Let the United Nations give humankind a clear direction towards the coming millenium. Let the forty-first session strive for a better United Nations for a better world. Imbued with this spirit, let us begin. (The President) OMANIZATION OF liORK

As announced in the o19urnaJ.,. immediately following this plenary meeting we shall hold consecutive meetinga of the Main Committees for the purpose of electing their Chairmen and thereafter the secohd plenary meeting will be convened for the election of the Vice-Presidents of the General ~ssembly. It was so decided. The meeting rose at ll.5~.