A/41/PV.5 General Assembly

9.  (cootinued) GENERAL DIiBATE . Hr. WA~ER TIZON (Peru) (interpretation from Spanish) ~ In extending to you, Sir, the greetings of the Government and people of Peru, I have to say how pleased we are that a representative of the third world is presiding oyer this session of the General Assenbly, at a time when the international atmosphere is rife with signs of regression. I am convinced that, imbued with the valiant tradition of autooaDy to which Bangladesh has been faithful since its dramatic attainment of independence, you will be able to guide the deliberatioos of this forwn in the best and most just way. I should also like to express ray country's appreciatioo of the firm yet gentle guidance given to th is Assenbly dur ing its his toric for tie th s ession by the experienced Spanish diplomat, Ambassador Jaime de Pinias. I do not believe that the fact of being a canpa tr iot and, more th an a colleague, a disciple, of our secretary-General should inhibit me from associating Peru with the warm tributes paid to him by all the MeDbers of the united Nations for his far-reaching, sustained efforts on behalf of internat.ional peace, security and development. For five years now a good part of our common hopes have been reposed in him and he has discharged that enormous responsibility npt only with wisdom and intelligence but also wi th noteworthy distinction, in circumstances that have frequently been adverse. (Mr. Wagner Tizo~, Peru) From the balance sheet of statements made by some hundred Heads of State on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations at the last General Assembly, a shared vision of disturbing trends at the international level emerges. On that occasion President A1an Garc{a of Peru speaking from this same rostrum, drew the international comrnunity;s attention to the existence of problems of exceptional seriousness, such as the foreign debt, the arms race, drugs trafficking and terrorism, which threaten the survival of States and undermine the very basis of world coexistence, and which are certainly a reflection of the present unjust international order, of the deterioration of the system of multilateral co-operation and its growing replacement by power politics. The year gone by reveals the worsening of such problems, and the consequent need to insist that they be dealt with and to issue a call for action. Peru sees a new turn of events in which confrontation between the blocs of world power has ceased to be exclusively strategic and military, but increasingly technological in nature and directly and more deeply related to the economic system of world domination. The big nations, because of the demands of that confrontation, encourage expenditures and large deficits in their own economies, which, in the last analysis, need to be financed by any means possible, thus increasing the cost of money and making the economic system that they control function as a giant suction mechanism. In this new model of domination, based on an unproductive creditor mentality through rates of interest, the way in which loans are allocated and the predominance of a national currency as the basis of international liquidity are at the root of the burgeoning debt and of the absurd situation in which the developing world is financing the struggle between the big Powers for international power at the cost of the poverty of our peoples. (Mr. Wagner Tizon, Peru) Given this ,~ituation, the Peruvian Government took a historic decision, the validity of which has asserted itself increasingly on the international field, where no one doubts that it is not right to satisfy transnational capital with the sacrifice of our peoples and that it is irrational to enter into new loans only to pay prior interest and debts. The Peruvian Government has established the principle that, as we a~e paid for our exports and labour, thus shall we par our debt without sacrificing the development and basic needs of our people, and in a measu~e of sovereign reaffirmation we set a ceiling of 10 per cent of our export income for debt-servicing. Thus we have been able to implement an independent and national economic policy which has made it possible for us to avoid a decline in the value of our currency, to reduce inflation, to lower interest rates, to reactivate tbe economy and employment, and to stimulate social expenditure by the state. This decision has been answered by the International Monetary Fund, which declared Peru ineligible for new credits from that institution. The fact that the Monetary Fund continues to use anachronistic criteria to apply that measure is a demonstration of its persistence in ignoring the seriouan~ss of the problem of the foreign debt. On the other hand, the international community, fully aware of the explosive political nature of the problem, has chosen to inscribe the question of the foreign debt crisis and development on the agenda of the General Assembly, thus recognizing the competence of the united Nations to seek a just, effective and lasting solution. The debt today characterizes the historic stage when the transnational creditors and seeking to lead our countries towards extreme dependence, preventing them not only from defining the priorities of their development processes, but also from drawing up their own political plans. (Mr. Wagner Tizon, Peru) The foreign debt is therefore a retrograde step in the evolution of international relations because it tends to neutralize the State in its very essence. This situation obliges us to make a profoundly political assessment of the duty of the united Nations to oversee the future of the international community and to stem a trend which is so anarchic as to be a destructive element in the very system of international relations. The warning that the President of Peru sounded a year ago on the dangerous threat that drugs trafficking poses to contemporary civilization and the primary responsibility of the consumer countries was welcomed and confirmed by leaders the world over, and has become a central subject of national debate and a central subject in the political life of world consumer centres. Convinced that in order to confront this scourge, joint a~tion is necessary, Peru has entered into bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries and at the Andean level we have promoted and signed the Rodrigo Lara Bonilla Convention, which bears the name of the Colombian minister, martyr in the struggie against drugs trafficking and which is open to accession by other Latin American countries. Furthermore, my country carried out the so-called C6ndor Operations, which struck a harsh blow at drugs traffickers by destroying sophisticated clandestine laboratories, landing strips, and by capturing planes and boats as well as modern weaponry in order to fulfil the commitment assumed by my country towards the youth of the world. with the moral authority conferred upon us by these actions, we urge the adoption of effective measures in the great consumer centtes, as demand in those centres is primarily responsible for the existence of the narcotics traffic in accordance with the old economic law that demand creates its own supply. (Mr. Wagner Tizon, Peru) In disarmament debates we can see that in this nuclear era our civilization, for the first time in history, is coexisting with the means of its own destruction. This threat is more imminent today for two reasons. First, because the balance of t~rror, always precarious but thus far a real balance, is being bypassed in the strategic concepts of the super-Powers, while delay~ in their arms-control talks have become disconcertingly long. Secondly, because the planned leap towards the militarization of outer space would not only ~xponentially expand the nuclear threat and its cost, but in certain sectors is being adduced as an anti-nuclear p~nacea. This bring us into an extraordinarily unstable international situation in which disarmament efforts may be frozen altogether, and in whi~h the process of conventional and regional disarmament is also held back. Peru is not a nuclear country, nor does it wish to become one. Fortunately, tatin America has with great foresight chosen the path of denuclearization. This is why we firmly ask that the super-Powers do their duty towards mankind's future by halting the arms race and dismantling their nuclear arsenals. This is what mankind wants. This was the appeal made from Harare by the 101 Reads of State of the Non-Aligned Movement. This is the demand of the international community represented in this Assembly, which cannot abandon its right and duty to protect life. (Mr. Wagner Tizoo, Per u) Nlen President Alan Garcia took the initiative in July last year in sponsoring a regiooal agreement to limit the procurement of arms, which has already received ,,'aluable support from neighbouring countries, and wen he announced then, as he also announced two months ago, a Imilateral re01ction of arms purchases, he was doing no more than to translate into reality in the coote~t of Iatin America that which we are seeking from the nuclear Powe~s - the right to life and developnento we want to give a new dimension to defence needs on the basis of new concepts of regional security, based on a system of relaticns characterized by the dynamics of co-operation and not of cooflict, thereby providing what is needed for the well- being of our people. That is why Peru also offered to be headquarters of the United Naticns Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development, which can foster in !atin America a collective regional awareness of those objectives, which are of universal interest. Terror ism is today another irrational phenomenon, which the internaticnal community must tackle with resolve. Our primary obligation must be to reach, within the framework of the United Naticns, legally binding agreements clearly dissociating States from terror ist activities, wether (Wert or covert, and effectively punishing those who promote terrorism. Unless that first goal is achieved, the political objective of the systematic blackmail and destabUization pursued by international terrorism will be promoted whether through contr ibuting to the erosion of delOOcra tic societies and their replacement by repress ive police States or through the collapse of the international legal order as people take the law into their own hands. In Peru, which has for some years suffered from the criminal action of terrorism as a misguided tool used to advance alleged social demands, our policy is clear: energetically to combat that armed fanaticism, but within the framework of law and respect for human rights, and if human rights are violated to punish in an exemplary manner th~e responsible, in such a way as to maintain intact our democr atic order. Therefore, it has always been disappointing that some democratic States represented here permit - in a mistaken interpretatiC'Jn of freedom of opinion - expressicns of support, however insignificant, for those that have chosen the path of fratricidal violence in a siemocracy as broad and pluralist as Peru's" This grave legal and moral distortion must be corrected. We urge democratic countr ies to rectify their legislation, and we urge the international commtmitrj to adopt clear norms repudiating those absurdly lenient attitudes towards crime and des truction. I referred to those grave problems because I sincerely believe that they all have alarmingly destructive consequences which no State can confront alone, and because they really amount to a global crisis in international relations resulting in a weakening of the system of multilateral co-operation, a resurgence of power politics, the erosim of the international legal order, a recrudescence of local conflicts and a sharpening of the crisis in North-SOUth relations. In this context it is clear that the so-ealled crisis of multilateralism is IWch more than a crisis of one form of international co-operation. l'tlat is at stake is the very validi ty of the system of co-operation and collective seeur ity, the alternative being to have to accept the legitimization of power as an instrument of internatiooal politics. That is why, in the specific context of the United Nations, any reform must strengthen the first of those two options - that is, the Organization's role as the body responsible for promoting peace, secur ity, co-operation and the solutioo of the problems of development in a framework of responsibility and collective action. In that regard, any reform to improve the effic; ency of the United Nations and to make more democratic the taking of decisions can only be welcomed by the international connnunity. But if the Organ izatioo's distressing financia 1 problems led us into situations that were incanpatible with making the system more democratic, we should have no hesitation in choosing a more democratic and independent, but at the same time more austere, system giving no State decision- making power over the Organization's fate on the basis of its ec:on~ic cmtr ibutioo. Present conditioos demand that internaticmal peace and security be strengthened. In the Middle East the cootinuation of the ccmflict and the delay in starting a process of negotiations serve only to increase violence. A just and las,ting solution, vi th rights and guarantees for all, can be based only on the merging of three substantive elements: the recovery by the Palestinian people of all its rights, including the right to form its own free and soyereign StateJ withdrawal from all occupied territor ies~ and recogniticm of the right of Israel and all the States of the area to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly and security Council resolutions. Complying with the principle of nm-intervention is a basic obligation of international coexistence and the indispensable partner of the right to self- determinaticn. We are in favour of an urgent solutioo in Afghanistan, through the withdrawal of all foreign troops and respect for the independence and non-alignment of the Afghan peopl.e. Similarly, we support the immediate withdrawal of foreign occupatim forces from Cyprus and its right to sovereignty and territorial integr ity. We propose a negotiated political solution in Kanpuchea, inclUding the pranpt withdrawal of foreign troops and the safeguarding of its national integrity and independence. In Central Amer ica acts of intervention const! tute the main obstacle to the peace efforts of the Cootadora Group and the SUpport Group. But Cootadora is conmitted before history to peace in Central America, and its efforts will not cease. It is essential to cootinue to work for the establishment of conditions conducive to peace agreements. It is therefore essential that an end be put to all acts of intervention, coercion and harassm''''Jlt that can rekindle violence and cause an escalation of the conflict. In the context of that serious problem the Peruvian Government clearly reaffirms its solidarity with the people and Government of Nicaragua with regard to any act of intervention or aggressicm. We demand an immediate end to the military and paramilitary activities in and against Nicaragua and respect for international legality, as enshrined in the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. In the South Atlantic the continuation of the British military presence in the Malvinas and the permanent danger of an escalation of tension make it essential that the negotiations called for by the General Assembly start soon with a view to reaching a definitive solution to the problem, with respect for the inalienable r igh ts 0 f Argentin ian SCNereign ty • In southern Africa the last battles against colonialism and k:acism are being waged. The peoples and nations of sisterly Africa must know that not only history is on their side~ they also have with them all of us who uphold racial equality and the right to independence and the freedom of peoples. As an expression of that militant solidarity, the Government of Peru has established diplomatic relations with the South West Africa People's organization (SWAm), which is in the vanguard of the struggle and the legitimate representative of the people of Namibia. Peru's participation in the machinery for action cre~ted in Harare bears witness to the fact that we likewise fully join in the commitment made at the eighth Summit Ccmference of the non-aligned countries to give all the support and help necessary to SWAm, the liberation movements of South Africa and the front-line States in a struggle in which - however IlUch it may be impeded by selfishness, arrogance and obduracy - victory is now seen on the horizon. (Kr. Wagner Tizm, Peru) we are deeply cmcerned at. the negative trend in the international situation. None the ,-ss, we are encouraged by the conviction that we are not alone in our struggle. we see ever growing political trends within the industrialized col.Dltries against war, the use of force and acts of intervention - in other words, against any type of imperialist actioo. But the greatest encouragement comes from our own strength, from our peoples, from their indomitable fight for a more just, more free world, from their capacity to sacrifice, to do without, in order to uphold our struggle for economic independence and from our potential for collective action as a factor of social change in international relations. We, the nm-aligned cOl.Dltries, constitute an important force in the present-day world. The fact that the Yal ta and Potsdam Agreements did not remain petr ified in time, that the cold war did not succeed in dividing the world into rigid zones of influence, that colonialism did not live on in the dreams of the colonizers, that the United Nations ceased to be the exclusive instrument of the Powers is largely thanks to the role played by the Non-Aligned Movement in its 25 years of existence. The Eighth Cooference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Al igned COl.Dltries, held in ZilIbabwe, strengthened this process and reaffirmed the full validity of the Non-Aligned M::>vement as a valid choice for our peoples in reaffirming their independence and asserting their destiny. It is more necessary than ever before that the noo-aligned countries, most of which have experienced a colooial past and which are now coofrooting an unequal structure of political and economic power, fulfil the histor ic duty of bolster ing our l.Dlity and overcoming the problems that stand between our PeOples and the better and more just world to which they aspire. {Mr. Wagner Then, Per u, Peru is fully CCliDitted and dedicated to that shared mdertaking in brotherly solidarity with all the peoples of the world with whom we share the same devotion to peace, freedan, demcracy and justice. Hr. N4EGA (To9o) (interpretation from French): we come once again to this important rostrum, on the occasion of the forty-first session of the General Assembly, in 1986, which has been proclaimed the International Year of Peace. I wish peace to you, Mr. Pr~sident, peace to all delegations, peace to all nations, peace on our earth. Catharsis is not needed to recall the dream of mankind that peace will reign among all men and all peoples. Is it not the desire of all that we can extinguish the hotbeds of tension throughout the world? What would be the meaning of the celebration of this Internatiooal Year of Peace were we to cootinue to deny the right to developnent of some and seek to maintain our domination over others, to cootmue the frenetic arms race? Can our organization ooe day fulfil its raisoo d'etre, that is, the maintenance of peace and security in the world? Merlbers will understand my perplexity faced with this desolate theatre that is our wor ld and conscious as I am of being a Ubuesque character in a play in which the stupidity of man prevents him from realizing the world of peace to which he aspires. Last year, the fortieth anniversary of our Organization aroused great hope of a fresh start in international relations, and the celebration of the International Year of Peace should be considered as a milestone in this renewal, which calls for new thinking about the role of our Organization. The founding Members, who had witnessed tragedies that sowed death and desolation on earth, gave the maintenance of peace pride of place in the Charter of the Organization to which we all belong. (fllr.. Amega I! To9o) By becoming signatories to the Charter did we not declare that "We, the peoples of the United Natims, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has br-ought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small"? By becoming signatories to the Charter did we not declare our faith in the purposes and pr inciples of the Organization? Did we not undertake "To maintain international peace and security ••• to take effective collective measures ••• for the suppression of acts of aggression ••• and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjus tment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace"? Does the celebration of the International Year of Peace herald the fulfilment of our hopes for the strengthening of peace and nutual trust among nations and the advent of more just and equitable co-oper ation so that our Organi~ation may fulfil 1ts destiny? Can the celebration of the International Year of Peace mean that the present hotbeds of tension will be extinguished, that effective negotiations on nuclear disarmament will be resumed, that it will be realized that peace on earth is easential if we are to achieve our common destiny? This conmon destiny, Mr. President, is a bond between my country and yours, wi th which we enjoy close ties of friendship and co-operation. It is no mere coincidence that at the time of the celebration of the International Year of Peace you are presiding over the work of our session. You belong to a country and a continent which are the cradle of an age-old civilization and great religions the (Kr. Amega, ~~) essence of tlb.ich are virtue and peace. Imued with this philosoi'hY of peace, the corollary of wh1.d1 is love and t:olerance~ there is absolutely no doubt that you will be able to barmmize any discordant notes that may be beard in guiding ou work in barmony towards positive results. It therefore gives my delegatial great pleasure to congratulate you Q'l your unanimous election to the presi,t1.ency of the forty-first sessiCll of the General Assembly. we assure you of the readiness of the d'.?legation of Togo to co-operate wi th you in carrying out your .'i1eavy r espons ib11i ties. We have not yet forgotten the outstanding nature of last. year's session, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of our OrganizatiQ'l. With bis clear thinking, his sense of moderation and his wisdom, combined with bis great diplomatic skill, Mr. Jaimede Pinies won the admiration of all for the ability with which be presided over the work of that sessiQ'l. I should like to pay a personal tribute to him as well as to his comtry. (Mr. Amega, TogO) In this year in whi~h ~e are celebrating the International Year of Peace, no one, ! think, could deny the efforts made by the Secretary-Ganeral of our Organization, His Excellency Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, to establish peace in the tense regions of our world. The timely initiatives he has always undertaken, which reflect his determination to attain the primary goal of our Organization - the maintenance of internatiotlal peace and security - as well as his devotion, call for a special tribute, for encouragement and congratulation from my Government and my delegation. Our pleasure at seeing him participate in our work is particularly great since we were deeply disquieted to learn of the brief indisposition that had prevented him from fully assuming his functions. It is our sincere hope that he will regain his full strength so that he may continue the work to which he is devoted as the head of the Secretariat of this Organization. The peace that we all sincerely hope for through respect for the Charter of the United Nations would be completely meaningless were we to forget that it must help to bring about the full development of man in all aspects of his being. It seems appropriate therefore to remind ourselves once again of this basic truth by quoting the words of our Secretary-General: "When we pursue together the ideals and purposes of the Charter, let us be careful not to forget the quality of the world we are seeking to build and the ultimate raison d'etre of all our work: the human being as an individual for whom the Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to a social and international order so that human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully It seems that we have lost sight of the quality of the world in which we want to live as well as our basic raison d'~tre on this earth. How else can we explain that we have failed to resolve problems such as apartheid in South Africa, the (Mr. Amega, Toga) illegal occupation of Namibia, Kampuchea and Afghanistan, the situation in the Middle East, the Iran-Iraq war, the situation in Korea and in Central America, the arms race and the underdevelopment of young nations, among other things, Yes, apartheid must cease in South Africa. Yes, we forget too often that the fundamental raison dr~tre of all our activities is man. We too often forget that we signed the Charter of the united Nations or that we acceded to it, and in so doing, we proclaimed "faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human personN • We too often forget that human rights are universal and inherent in the human person and that they cannot vary with colour of skin. For its part, as General Gnassingbe Eyadema, President-Founder of the Rally of the Togolese People and President of the RepUblic said: "TogO cannot tolerate the situation of injustice and oppression now prevailing in this region, where a regime unworthy of man and of our era and contrary to any moral code is being maintained by means of extraordinary violence carried out against a popUlation whose wrong is only the colour of their skin." For that reason the Government of Togo appeals to the whole of the international community to mobilize all its resources to put an end to the despicable apartheid regime. For how long will the international community resign itself to the defiance of South Africa? Everything leads one to believe that this regime will continue to flout the international community as long as it can count on the understanding of some countries that refuse to take action against it. The purpose of United Nations resolutic.ns calling on all States to put an end to diplomatic, military, economic and other relations with the regime of south Africa in order to inflict on South Africa sufficiently meaningful penalties to oblige it (Mr. Amega, Togo) to give up its inhuman policy of aR-artheid has never been achieved.. The principal partners concerned take ahelter behind their constitution and their own national opinion, which, however, has reacted in favour of the abolition of that apartheid policy 0 The Afrikaner POet Breyten Breytenbach quite rightly summed up the situation when he wrote: WThe apartheid regime only exists because the world allows it to exist. It flourishes, it is accepted, encouraged, fed, armed, and saved if necessary, because it benefits South Africa's trading partners and investors. R It is comforting, however, to note that the international community has stepped up its political and economic pressure on the racist regime. That pressure must be increased and comprehensive manda~ory sanctions must be implemented. We salute the Foreign Affairs Committee of the united States Senate which, at the beginning of August, almost unanimously approved the imposition of economic sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa, foll~ing the trade embargo already adopted by the House of Representatives. The commerciul restrictions decided on against the apartheid regime by Canada, the Scandinavian countries, the countries of the European Economic Community and others should be encouraged, so that they may attain their goal. We praise those Governments for th~ir determination and for the measures they have taken. The courageous position of the front-line States and of some Commonwealth States must also be commended. Those measures should be increased following the introduction by the Pretoria Government of further measures to strengthen the emergency law imposed on 12 June and aimed at giving the heads of the local police forces enormous powers, such as the power to arrest anti-apartheid militants, to impose curfews in black zones, to prohibit political activities, and to impose restrictions on freedom of the press• (Mr. Amega, Togo) It is time that States that have refused to adopt meaningful sanctions against South Africa reacted in a similar manner. It is time for the States that continue to maintain direct or indirect relations with the racist regime of Pretoria to understand that it is they who support and encourage apartheid, with no respect for the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, notwithstanding the dignity of the human person in South Africa. It is time for South Africa to understand that apartheid is going through its death throes and that measures must be taken immediately to bring about its elimination through peaceful means. Otherwise - without wishing to be a prophet of doom - the new multiracial, egalitarian society called for by the blacks will be writ in blood. Such is the grim conclusion reached by Sir Shridath Ramphal, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, when he stated at the latest Paris conference on sanctions against South ~frica: " ••• in 10 years, things have changed. Apartheid must cease ••• and it will cease - if necessary by means of a bloody struggle whose cost in human lives will be reckoned in millions of victims, whose agony will have repercussions in every corner of our multiracial world." No individual, no people can indefinitely put up with the tyranny of another individual or another people. No people can bear passive witness to its own destruction. History is full of edifying examples, and a number of countries which now tacitly or openly protect the racist regime of Pretoria should recall the struggle of their own peoples to regain their rights. Let us wake up and courageously take proper steps to bring about the peaceful advent of a multiracial, egalitarian society, before it is too late. Let us think more deeply about our reason for being on this earth and the purpose of our (Mr. Amega, Togo) existence, and we will understand the need to rid ourselves of the instincts to accumulate and to dominate whereby we deny the blacks in South Africa their human rights. Let us not forget the words of President Eyadema: ·What we must remember is the need for the whole of hun~nity to guarantee humane living conditions for all individuals." Let us thus make an effort to guarantee to all South Africas, whether white, black, Coloured or Indian, those humane living conditions by tolling the knell for the odious practice of apartheid. For its part, Africa is ready to face its responsibilities, not by accepting reform, modernization or any mere cosmetic change of apartheid, but its total destruction. As was proclaimed by Oliver Tambo, the courageous African N~tional Congress of South Africa (ANC) militant: "We must make the South African regime ungovernable and apartheid impracticable." (Kr. Amega, Togo) Still on the subject of southern Africa, the racist regime of Pretoria continues to maintain its domination over the people of Namibia. In order to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Namibia through a so-called internal solution, the South Afri<".a Government haSi increased and is increasing the obstacles it has placed in the way of t.~e implementation of security Council resolution 435 (1978) containing the Unite\li Nations Flan for that Territory's independence. Further, it has continued its acts of armed intervention against the frmt-line countries, with the encouragement of the supporter s of the rebel groups' that harass those States M As in the case of apartheid, it is essential that pressures be brought to bear on the Pretoria Gov.ernment to force oj..t to abandon this latest neooolonialist manoeuvre of an interim government and ~ reoognize that the only valid course is independence granted unO:: ,-'lS''"(l,!Ution 435 (1978), free of any linkage with the withdrawal of the Cuban troops from Angola. In this International Year of Peace we must hope for the advent of an independent Namibia in which the Namibians can lh'e in peace. It is fi tting to recall in this oonnection operative paragraphs 1 and 6 of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial COWltries and Peoples, which state: "1. The subjection of peoples to aliel subjuga tion, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation. "6. Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a coWltry is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter ef the United Nations." (resolution 1514 (XV)) (Kr. Amega, 'lbgo) Those provisions have their basis in the Charter of the united Nations itself, Article 1, paragraph 2, of which states that one of the purposes of the United Nations is -'lb develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.- A review of some of the provisions of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence t<r Colonial Countr ies and Pecples and of the Un i ted Na tions Char ter is necessary in order to highlight alce again the contradiction that exists between the cOllll1itment of States to the United Nations and the actual comportment of those States. Everywhere in the world we are witnessing acts of violence, whereas all our actions should be bent towards the search for peace, to such an extent that we cannot help but wcnder ~ether people have not lost sight of the provisions of the Charter, bewitched by the sway of power, whose corollar ies are hatred, intolerance and a will to dominate. Ccntempt for human rights unfortunately prE!l7ails throughout the world - in Namibia, in Chad, in western sahara, in Kampuchea, in Afghanistan, in the Middle East, in Korea, in Central America. More than ever before, the problem of the right of peoples to self-determination exists in Namibia, a Territory that should have been independent long ago. All peace-loving States, all Sta tes for whom human rights and the rights of peoples have any meaning at all, should join efforts to see that security Council resolution 435 (1978) is finally implemented to bring about the self-determination of the Namibian people and their independence. In Chad, part of that country's territory is still under foreign domination. The Government of 'lbgo, which welcomes the-fact that most of the opposition groups have rallied to the legal Government in N'Djamena, h'opes that soon all the people of Chad will regain control over the whole of their territory within internationally (Mr. Amega, Togo) reoagnized borders so that peace and coocord can finally be reestablished. That is our wish for that suffer ing people in this International Year of Peace. Still in Africa, the Sahraoui PeOple are seeking self-determination. Their right to self-determination has been recognized by all, and the adoption or resolutions to that end by the united Nations General Assembly and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) can only speed up the process of self-determination. My GoI7ernment welcomes the efforts being made by the former Chairman of the Organization o.f Afr iean Unity (OAU), Mr. Abdou Diouf, and by the secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, to implement the provisions of those resolutions. It appeals to the patties concerned to return to negotiations under cooditions appropriate to reaching a peaceful solution to that conflict. '!Wo other peoples are victims of the violation of their rights and the pr inciples of the Charter: the PeOples of Kampucbea and of Afghanistan. My country has followed with great interest the developnent of the situation in Kampuchea. By heroically continuing their struggle to resist the impress ive forces deployed by the foreign occupying troopos, the Kanpuchean people have given us proof of their staunch determination to live in freedom and to recover the peace wrested from them. It is that determination for peace that explains the creation of the tripar tite coa11tion led by Pr ince Sihanouk for the purpose of exploring new means of prevailing upon the occupying POI11er to withdraw and thereby put an end to an occupation that flouts international law and the principles of the Charter. As a country of peace and dialogue, Togo has always hoped for a speedy resolution c r~ the problem of Kampuchea. Accordingly, it has always supported the wise proposals of the General Assembly and of Prince Sihanouk, which seek merely bring about respect for the pr inciples of the Charter in order that the peace to which the Kampuchean people are entitled can be reestablished. Determined to regain that (Mr. Amega, '1'090) lost peace, the Kampuchean people has made yet another proposal, consisting of 8 points, formulating the conditions necessary to a peaceful settlement of the problem. That proposal - and we cannot overemphasize this - is inspired by the sincere desire of the people and coalition Government of Kampuchea led by Prince Sihanouk - to whom we pay a resounding tribute for his deep sense of humanity - to find a political solution to the problem. The proposal is based on the pr inciples of our Organization and has been reflected in the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in recent years. The GO'I7ernment and people of 'lbgo would like to express their support for the latest proposal of the Kampuchean people and hopes that it will meet with a favourable response so that peace can return to that region in this year when our Organization is celebrating the International Year of Peace. In this year of peace, the international community must support that proposal in order to resolve a problem that has dragged on for far too long. The same is true of the situation in Afghanistan. There too a people that wishes only to live in peace has for more than six years suffered from a situation of war. The foreign troops, which will go to any lengths to establish their domination, must withdraw from Afghanistan. The Organization must do its utmost to see that the relevant resolutions adopted are implemented. The indirect negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are aimed at resolving the problems of millions of Afghans who have fled their homes in search of peace in neighbour ing countr ies. It is time, therefore, for all foreign troops to withdraw from that country. Such a wi thdrawal would mean that the refugee question could be resolved at the same time. The announcement by the Soviet author ities that some of those troops would soon be withdrawn is a sign of goodwill to resolve the problem. We hope that (Hr. Amega, 'lbgo) the occupying troops can soon be canpletely wi thdrawn so that the Afghan PeOple may fUlly enjoy their rights. In the Middle East we must face tJ't.;: fact that the diplomatic efforts to resolve the region's problem have been futile. That problem, which revolves around the question of Palestine, the Israel-Arab conflict and the civil war in Lebanoo, must be resolved within the framework of an international conference, which we favour. The problem of the Middle East is one of the most ser ious challenges to the credibility of our Organization. The evolution in the relations between the various parties involved and concerned gives rise to some glimmer of hope that the problem may be settled. In order to achieve a canprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region, guaranteed by the two great Po...rers and other interested States, in particular France and the united Kingdan, the internatioilal conference on Palestine must find a solution to three main questioos: first, the creation of a Palestinian State on the basis of the General Asserrtlly resolution on the partition of Palestine~ secondly, withdrawal from the territor ies occupied since 1967 and, thirdly, the right of all State in the region, including Israel, to live in peace within secure and recognized borders. (Hr. Amega, '1'090) It is essential that solutions be found to these q 11estions without delay, which, are the core of the Palestinian problem. This eternal question of Palestine is made even more painful and difficult because of the exacerbation of the clashing antagonisms in LebanQl. Armed confrootations between opposing factions in that comtry cootinue to prevent a halt in the civil war. One cease-fire agreement follows another without being kept, and the people permanently chained to a powder keg. UNIFIL should be allowed to discharge its mandate properly so that our Organization can attain the basic goal for which it was established. There must be mote dynamic, more hQlest, more direct co~peration among the Powers concerned wi th the Lebanese leadels so that peace can be finally restored to that c»tmtry. We appeal to the Lebanese themselves to look beyood their rivalries and contemplate healing the wounds they are inflicting Ql Cl country that used to be universally admired. In that CQltext '1'ogo welcomes the agreement reached on 3 september between Muslims and ChI istians to adopt a national charter to pit an end to 11 years of civil war. Not far from the Middle East, in South-West Asia, two brother cauntr ies cootinue their terrible gladiatorial struggle. At a time wen people are becoming aware of the need to strengthen co~peration among States, it is regrettable that the excesses of nationalism wich have led to war between two States which should live in peace continue to keep t.llem away from the negotiating table. The Iran-Iraq war, wich is enter ing its seventh year, is a pointless war, and it is hi gh time that the protagonists took stock of the great loss of human life and mater ial danage, and realized that hopes of military victory are illusory. The efforts of the Secretary-General, of the Islamic conference and of cauntr iea that have good rela tions wi th the two brothers wo are now enemies must be encouraged, so that this International Year of Peace that we are celebrating can have some meaning for the peoples of Iraq and Iran. (Hr. Amega, '1bgo) Once again froat' this rostrmu, on behalf of the Government and people of '1bgo, we appeal to the authorities in Iran and Iraq to think of their peoples, whose only wish is to live in peace. As President Eyadema has said: -May universal peace reign so that the enormous resources now being devoted to war can be released and so that a world of true fraternity can be established, a wor ld of equal justice for all where the dignity of the human person is respected.· The arms merchants also should endorse that wish and supplying weapons to that theatre of war. we wish to reaffirm our support for the mediation efforts of the secretary-General, and would urge him to continue them in order to br ing about a peaceful settlement of the ccnflict. Elsewhere in Asia the Korean people has been divided for more than 40 years. How mch longer will families remain separated? Does the international commwtity wish to endorse that accidental and temporary partition? We do not think so, and we are convinced that all sides will learn from past mistakes. In that context, my Government has doubts about the advisability of admitting the two Koreas to the United Nations. '1b admit them as separate Meni>ers of the Organization would create a situaticn identical to cne that we are all familiar with, that is the consolidation of two separate States and the acceptance of a de facto situation, which would be a serious obstacle to the rewtification desired by the Korean people. It is to be hoped that the obvious desire of the North Koreans for dialogue with a view to reunification should receive a favourable response from the parties concerned, so that the three-point plan that they propose, which is intended to lead to the establishment of a democratic federal republic of Roryo, where at a first stage each of the two Koreas would maintain the regime of its choice, before moving on to the final stage of reunification. we 'reaffirm our support for that (Mr. Amega, '1'ogo) plan. we hope that the meetings that have taken place between various humanitatian and economic bodies in the two countr les can continue and be taken a stage furthe~, so that there can be a speedy settlement of this question and peace can be restored in the Korean peninsulan In Central America the situation has continued to worsen, endangering peace and security in that part of the world. It is regrettable that the efforts made by the Cootadora Group to end the fratr ici&l conflict have not met with the hoped for response. If this situatioo cootinues it will considerably weaken and even rule out any chance of a negotiated solution to the problems of the region. once again, Toga appeals to the gcod will of the parties coocerned, and urges them to respect the pr inciples and purp:>ses of our Organizatioo so that peace can be .restored to the regime To add to the grim picture of the p:>litical situatioo, as if the misfortunes besetting our earth were not sufficient, another scourge is threatening us all, and is becoming increasingly dangerous every day: international terror ism. It is not without reasoo that the media consider it the plague of our times, because it strikes without discrimination, leaving innocent victims, and sowing destruction and desolation aloog its path. Terrorism is a crime against humanity, whether colllTlitted by individuals, groups, or States and whatever the alleged motives. Terrorists are criminals and must be conbated and coodelllled as such by the internatiooal colllTlunity at large. The very survival of organized society is at stake. 'lbgo adds its voice to all those throughout the world who have coodenned this scourge and we call up:>n all States to engage in close co-operatioo to put a speedy end to it. An analysis of the various situations we have just reviewed clearly shows that these have come about ooly because of weapons. Undoubtedly the needs of national (Kr. Amega, Toga) defence seem to justify the existence, equipment and the maintaining of armies by every nation, but unfortunately these needs encourage the trade in arms at the expense of the social, humanitarian and ethical considerations which should prevail over the argunents of profi t and over political and ideological motives. unfortW1ately, we are witnessing a frenzied arms race which is increasing the prospect of our own destruction, the destruction of mankind, whom we are striving to protect. How far will human vanity lead us before we tmderstand, as President E,yadema has said that "The shot that emerges from the gun causes indiscr iminate casualties among the population. The nuclear bomb does not distinguish between developed or underdeveloped countr ies. When chemical and bacter iological weapons are released, they do not select their victims~ they strike indiscriminately. The frenzied nuclear arms race is a threat to all mankind, rich and poor, developed and less developed." we must all colIIDit ourselves to ending the arms race, inter alia, by giving active support to the World Disarmament Campaign. In this context my country is sparing 110 effort, and our desire to provide the headIuarters for the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament clearly reflects that commitment. We sincerely thank the whole international communi ty for the choice of Togo to host th is impor tan t regional Cen tre. we are counting on the generosity of all peace-loving nations to contr ibute to the smooth running of the Centre. We have offered material facilities and a financial contribution to allow the Centre to start its work. We are counting on the good will of other States. Peace is a joint asset that all States must try to safeguard in all regions of the world. We should stress the role of the two super-Powers in (Nr. 1lBlega, '1'090) the llaintenance of that peace. Thus it is to be hoped they will be able to agree on a formula for peaceful ClOmpraaise in wbich star wars and star peace can be barlllOftized, so that the resources released as a consequence of the abo11tion of all the arsenals can be allocated to the developaent of States, and bring about the prcsperity that our peoples desire. (Mr. Amega, Togo) aundreds of millions of people are now living in total destitution and cannot meet their essential needs for a normal life offesing them enough food and a modicum of clothing, water, a roof over their heads, and so on. Hundreds of millions Qf people are prevented from enjoying most of the basic and inalienable human rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the same time, part of humanity, basically in the developed countries, is living in comfort and abundance. This injustice must be redressed and humanity must find a solution to this situation by contemplating a system of international co-operation able to eliminate the serious disparities in today's world and to establish a just equitable world, economic and social order, where people have the same chances of development. More than 12 years ago the Member States of the united Nations, anxious to remedy the serious crisis besetting the world, decided, following the sixth special session of the General Assembly, to think about establishing a just, equitable international economic order. That order would replace the obsolete laws that governed international economic relations and put an end to widespread exploitation and confusion. Today, more than a decade since its adoption, the Programme of Action for the Establishment of a New International Economic Order is a dead letter, because of the selfishness of the developed countries, which are still clinging on desperately to some of their prerogatives. The North-South dialogue, which should have been established between rich and poor countries to ensure harmonious growth of the world economy has become in most cases a confrontation where all kinds of interests clash. Thus the widespread crisis, which has been going on for so many years, still goes on, even if some industrialized countries have at some point noted a few vague signs of recovery_ However, it is clear that a world economic recovery cannot (Mr. Amega, Togo) really be brought about at the expense of the developing countries, and it would be an illusion on the part of sorne developed States to wish to build their prosperity on the ashes of the poor nations. The many hard-working poor people in the third world are in1ubitably full' partners on the international economic chess board, whose just remuneration is essential for the recovery of the world economy. The countries of the North must fully realize the interdependence of all economies whether developed or developing. They must take all proper action to put an end to disorder and the uncertainty marking international economic trade, which so strikingly affect third world economies. Everything should be done to halt the present order based on the phenomenon of dependence, which derives from the unequal relationships that emerged in colonial history. This order, which was imposed on developing countries at the time when most of them suffered from colonial subjugation, is the main obstacle to their growth and keeps them, even after they have won independence, in the role of supplying raw materials and purchasing of manufactured products. ThUS, the third world countries have been lagging behind the ~ich countries and are feeling even more acutely the after effects of the crisis and do not have any dynamism of their own to resist it. Whereas the prices of commodities that they export and which generate most of their financial resources are collapsing, the prices of the manufactured products that they import ar€ sky-rocketing, causing a serious deterioration in the terms of trade. The development efforts undertaken by the poor countries have thus been nullified, whereas their indebtedness is increasing beyond all tolerable limits. (Mr. Amega, Togo) This chronic indebtedness, which is for our peoples a very heavy burden, would not be so serious, so crushing, so difficult to bear, if the forces that are completely beyond our control, did not exploit the interest and exchange rates of certain strong currencies. Impelled by a desire for profit, these forces no longer realize that the question of paying off our debts is intimately linked with an improvement in the socio-economic situation of our countries. Is it not time for the donor countries to bring about a better organized financial and monetary system? Is it not important that in order to recover their credits in good time they should contribute to the recovery of our economies, effectively giving assistance to our industrialization, enabling us to produce and to sell, by seeking to bring about the disappearance of protectionist measures preventing our products from accees to the markets of the developed countries. The world, for several years, has been going through a difficult period, where only mutual understanding and solidarity among all nations, both large and small, is the proper course of action. The thirteenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly, held from 27 May to 1 June of this year, which stressed the critical economic situation in Africa, doubtless created better awareness of the effects of the international crisis on the African economies in the minds of all Member States which joined in devising ways and means to assist Africa. That session was timely indeed ~nd it can never be over-emphasized that our continent, which has the sorry privilege of having two thirds of the least-developed countries, and where poverty seems to have found fertile grounds, is suffering indescribable difficulties, not only because of the widespread crisis, but because of the drought, desertification and famine • (Mr. Ameqa, Togo) The particularly disquieting situation in Africa was eloquently described in the document submitted by the African States and in the statement made by President Diouf of Senegal, wbo was then Chairman of the Organization of African unity (OAU). We do not intend to describe that again. We would I~rely here welcome the fact that the priority programme for the economic recovery of Africa, 1986-1990, was taken into account in the Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly. In keeping with that Programme of Action, African States have undertaken to finance national and regional development programmes of a socio-economic nature, and the international community has expressed its will to support and supplement their efforts. The African countries, as was reaffirmed at the last session of the Confer.ence of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, yill respect their commit.:nen';s because they have understood that they themselves must take their own destiny into their own hands before requesting assistance from the international community. It remains for that community to show solidarity with Africa and ipso facto show proof of its resolve to promote international co-operation, which would benefit all States without exception. The interdependence of nations in the world requires that after Africa, certainly an under-developed continent, the efforts of the international community should tur~ to other poor regions and should consider the establishment of a just, equitable economic order. All necessary initiatives must be taken here, because the dignity of the human race, and indeed the future of peoples are at stake. We are mindful of what President Eyadema said: QToday the development of science and technology has brought people on our earth closer together and has given developed nations amazing means to bring about spectacular changes in our lives. But what would be the point of t~is progress, the result of so much intelligence and work by the human community were these changes not to include as a prerequisite in their goals, the overall development of the human condition?- The peoples of the third world for their part are firmly resolved to rally round and to increase co-operation among the developing countries, to supplement north-south co-operation. This south-south co-operation which is now indispensable for many rea~~ns, will be strengthened for the well-being of the poor nations. Here, my delegation welcomes the results of the high-level meetings of the Group of 77 on economic co-operation among developing countries, held in Cairo in August, and the summit conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Barare. We commend the decisive action of the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement for south-south co-operation and thus of the socio-economic emancipation of the poorest countries. (Mr. Amega, Togo) It is also appropriate to pay a well-deserved tribute to the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, among others, the united Nations Conference on ~~ade and Development and the United Nations Development Programme, which have been making a very useful contribution to the promotion of economic and technical co-operation among developing countries. This tribute is also extended to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has been making decisive and effective efforts to stave off famine and to ensure self-sufficiency in food in the countries of the third world. More than ever before, in this Year of Peace, a campaign of pUblicity and persuasion is needed to induce states to assume their full ~esponsibilities to mankind, in keeping with the principles of the United Nations Charter and with human rights, in order to bring about the development of all peoples in peace and harmony. The celebration of the International Year of Peace should be an opportunity for us to question our own conduct so that it can be directed towards achieving that peace. We must regain our faith in our Organization and its principles so that we can effectively create a world where all peoples, while respecting the differences between them, can decide in complete freedom on the forms of association that they need to work on a basis of complementarity, in dignity and peace, for their happiness. Peace to all Members.