A/43/PV.40 General Assembly

In paragraph 2 (a) of its report (A/43/250/Md. 2), the General COllUIittee recollllends the inclusion in the agenda of the current session of an additional itell, entitled -m.ergency assistance to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Pana_ and other countriell affected by hurricane Jean-" If I heer no objection, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides to include this item in its agenda. It was so decided. !!!!t PRBSmmT (interpretation from Arabic): In paragraph 2 (b) of the report the General COlI1Iittee recCllJllends that the item be considered directly in plenary seeting. May I talce it that the General ASBellbly adopts that reco.-endation? It was 80 decided.

May I take it that the item should be c~8idered with priority.because of its illportant and urgent character? It was so decided. The PRESIDEnT (interpretation from Arabic) i"o Xn the light of the urgent nature of this IMtter, I propose that ths ~sseJllbly proceed illllediat0 11y to consider the new item. AGENDA 1'l'EM 152 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 'm NICARActJA, COSTA RICA, PANAMA AND OTHER CDtJNTRIES AFFECTED BY IIJRRICANE JOAN: DRAFT RESOWTIDN (A/43/L.19) The PRESmENT (interpretation from Arabic): I now call on the representative of the Dominican Republic r who wishes to introduce draft resolution A/43IL.19, which will shortly be distributed to _lIbers. Mr. DEL ROSARIO (Dominican Republic) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the delegation of the Dominican Republic, which has the honour to be Chair.3n of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Sta$ for this month, I am pleased to introduce tha draft resolution containea in document A/43/247, dated 26 OCtober 1988, entitled -Emergency assistance to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and other countries affected by hurricane Joan-. As everyone knows, nature once again ufileashed its fury in our Caribbean area and one ~~re hurricane lashed at the sister countries of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and ether countries of the Central Americ~n area. Our regional group adopted this draft resolution unanimouslYJ it clearly demonstrates our concern and solidarity with the coul~trie8 tnct have been aff~cted. Th~ operative paragraphs read aa follows: W~xpresses its solidarity and support to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and other countries in tho region aff~ted by th~ ~atural disasterJ -Expresses its gratitude to all the States of th~ intarnation&l coamunity, the !ntarnational agencies and the non~gove~nmental organizations that are currently providing emergency relief to the affected countries, -Urges all the States of the international community, as a matter of urgency, to cont~ibute generously to the relief, ~ehabilitation and reco,t;Jtruction efforts in the affected areas, -Expresse8 its appr~iation to the S~cretary-Gen&~al for the steps t&ken to ce--ordinete and J1IOhllize the relief, reh~hUitation ~nd reconstruction efforts, (Hr. Del Rosatio, Dominican ~publist) -Requests the secretarY-Gan~ral, in close collaboration with the Governments of Nicara;ua, Costa Rica, Penam8 and the affected countries of the region, and the international financial institutions, organs, o[ganizationa and specialized agencies of the United Mations sY9te~ to assist those countries in mobilizing the additional financial resources neeeesary for the implementation of the rnediumand long-term pl~ns and programmQs of reh,militation and reconstruction.- To those member3 of the Assembly who msy not have up-to-date information on developments in the area, I should like to mention that, when hurricane Joan crossed over to the Pacific, meteorologists renamed it hurricane Miriam. The Latin American and Caribbean Group trusts that this draft resolution wUl be ~dopted by the General Assembly unanimously.

Since, for technical reasonsc the draft resolution just introduced by the representative of the Dominican Republic has not y~t been distributed, I propose to suspend the meeting for a few minutes. The meeting was suspended at 11.35 a.N. and resu-ed at 11.50 a.m. The PRBSIDmrr (interpretation frOll Arabic): A short whUe ago, the General Assellb1y decided to give h,_dtata consideration to the item now before us. The representative of the Dollinican Republic has introduced the draft ",.solution in doculllent A/cUIL.l9, which was circulated a few 1ftOments aqo. The text: of the draft resolution waa ac:tually circulated yesterday together with the letter froll the representative of the DoMinican RepUblic that appears in doculllent A/43/247. A slight aIMndment to the draft resolution has been mads specitying Pana_ as one of the countries affected. May I therefore take it that the General Assellbly wishes tD waive the provisions of rule 78 of the Assembly's rules of procedure? It was so decided.

May I also take it that the Asselllbly wishes to adopt the draft resolution. in document A/43/L.19? The draft resolution was adoPted (resolution 43/17). The PRESmBNT (interpretation from Arabic): The United states representative wishes to speak, and I now call on her. Miss BYRNE (United states of Amel'icI): My delegation joined in the consensus on the adoption of the draft resolution entitled -mnergency assistance to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and other countries affected by hurricane Joanw because we are in tot:41 sympathy with the objsctives of the resolution. I wish to note, however, that lIy delegation would have very nuch preferred it if the draft rssolution had co_ to us yesterday. We got it, not yesterday as you said, Mr. President, but only during the suspension of this meeting. We are an instructed delegation, and ¥e normally wiah to consult our Government in the capital~ I am saying this for the record. we would have preferred to have time to (Miss Byrn~, United States) consult the capital. I repeat, however, that we join~d in the consensus because we are in total sY'l'ftpathy with the objectives of the resolution. The PRESmENT. (interpretation from Arabic): I would recall that I said that the text of this draft resolution was contained in document A/43/247, which W4B dist~ibuted yesterday. I alse stated that that document (A/43/L.l9) had been circulated a few JIIOments ago. In any event the Genar:al Assembly has taken due note of the statement just .de by the representative of the United States. We shall now hear short statements by the representatives of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Mr. SERRANO CALDmA (Nicaragua) (interpretation from Sp&nish): On beh&lf of my Government and my delegation, I express our sincere and heartfelt . " appreciation to the General Assembly for adopting the draft resolution on emergency assistance to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and other countries affected by hurricane Jean. I express our appreciation also to the Latin American and Cl!ribbean Group, which yesterday endorsed this text and lllade it a draft resolution of the Latin American and Caribbean Group. I am of course grateful, too, to the secretary-General for the steps and ~Jrrangements he made when faced vi th this emergency situation caused by a natural disaster, and to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator, the united Nations Development Programme, the FOod and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Children's FUnd for the co-operation which they extended from the very JIIOment when they learned about this tragedy. We are grateful to all the other agencies and bodies of the United Nations which have responded to our request for assistance to deal vi th the emergency. (Mr. Serrano Caldera, Nicaragua) We believe that the decision taken this morning by the General ~ssembly will be very useful in terms of future material co-operation. But there can be no doubt that it is also very clear proof of moral solidarity with the peoples referred to in the draft resolution, who have been directly affected by the disaster. I take ~is opportunity to express our most sincere thanks to the r70vernments Which offered assistance immediately upon learning of the disaster caused by hurricane Joan. Once again I thank you, Mr. President, and all the members of the General Assembly. Mr. QJTIERREZ (Costa Rica) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the Government and people of Costa Rica, I express our gratitude for the decision just taken by the General Assembly. We are grateful also to all the entities and persons who contributed to the taking of this decision so swiftly. (Mr. Gutierrez, Costa Rica) It is a display of human solidarity and it binds us to the international community as a whole. I also consider it necessary to express our gratitude to friendly countriea and international organizations which, even before the adoption of this decision, have assisted us so that we could meet the emergency and attend to the damage caused by it. Mr. KAM (Panama) (interpretation fr.om Spanish): I wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the General Assembly for having agreed to the inclusion on its agenda of a new item relating to the damage caused by hurricane J08n in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and my own country. I also thank it for deciding to take up this item on an urgent basis and for adopting the draft resolution unanimously. A special word of gratitude is due to the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, and in particular to its Chairman for the month, the Dominican Republic, for the care and interest wi th ~i:1ich the Group complied wi th the mandate given it. I wish also to make special mention of those countr ies which, given the circumstances in which the draft resolution was brought before us, were able to join in the consensus. On behalf of my delegation I express sincere condolences to the delegations of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and other countries of the region which have suffered great human and material loss as a result of the devastation caused by hurricane Jean. With Nicaragua and Costa Rica we share geography, history and culture and today we also share tragedy. But I am certain we also share solidarity and hope. Perhaps the damage caused by hur:icane Joan in my country is less well known. I WOuld therefore observe that it is great indeed and has worsened the already critical economic and social situation that has obtained in Panama in recent months. Yesterday - only yesterday - we concluded the preliminary assessment undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team designated by the executive body to assess the magnitude and impact of the damage caused by hurricane J08n. Its findings are ----- (Mr. Ram, Panama) that intensive rain and flooding has caused more than 10,000 casualties and dozens of deaths and disappearances. Thousands of housing units and publio inst&llations have been destroyed or damaged. Approximtely 20 per cent of the national road network has been destroyed, inclUding several parts of the Pan American Highway. Many towns are wi thout communications. Thouscmds of head of cattle and other livestock have been lost. Given the seriQusness of the damage, the executive branch of Government has decreed a state of national emergency throughout the territory of the Republic of Panama. All ministries and official entities have been instructed to provide priority assistance, support, ~terials and the necessary staff to make them available, in order to redress as soon as possible the damage caused, especiaXly with regard to roads, food, health, agriculture and livestock, electricity and housing. The task of rehabilitation and reconstruotion has begun immediately, within the serious financial constraints faced by the Government, which are well known to all. The spirit of solidarity is already evident in the Panamanian people, which has an indefatigable will to overcome adversity, great as it may be. We are confident that generous and effective solidarity and assistance will be received from the international community in support of the efforts already initiated by the Government and people of Panama in this difficult hout. The PRESm~T (interpretation from Arabic): On behalf of the General Assembly, ! wish to express to the Governments and peoples of Nicaragua, Costa Rice and Panama, and other countries of the region affected by hurricane Joan, our sympathy and solidarity in respect of the damage and tribulations they are facing at the present time. Mr. DEL ROSARIO (DominicGn Republic) (interpretation from Spanish): I should like to point out that the 33 States members of the Latin American and Caribbean Group are responsible for draft resolution A/43/L.19, which I introdUced on their behalf and which we thank the General Assembly for having adopted unanimously. On behalf of the Dominican Republic and all the other members of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, I would, through you, Mr. President, request the Secretariat to ensure that the final version of the resolution carries the names of all 33 members of our Group.

The remarks of the representative of the Dominican Republic have been noted. The Secretariat will ensure that the final text of the resolution will carry the names of all th~ meuibers of the Latin American and Caribbean Group that have sponsored the draft resolution. The Assembly has concluded its consideration of ;1g~mda item 152.

I call on the representative of Nicaragua. Mr. SERRANO CALDERA (NicarGgua) (interpretation from Spanish), On behalf of the delegation and Gcwernment of Nicaragua, I wish to take this opportunity to express our most profaund gratitude to the Government and delegation of Peru for the decision taken in the interest of Latin American unity. We thank Peru very sincarely for its expressed intention to endorse Nicaragua's r.andidature, which ie is clear manifestatioo of the unbreakable, permanent links of brotherhood and solidarity which exist batween the Governllll!nts and peoples of Peru and Nicaragua. It was also a very difficult situation for us when, in the last ballot, the Latin AlIIer ican region was unable to put forward a single candidate v and we 1;I18re faced vi th two brother countries as candidates for membership of the Eccnollic and Social Council. We therefore agreed to the postponement of the election so as not to have a confrontation in the Assembly, which would certainly not have been good for the olose indissoluble bonds of solidarity and friendship that exist between Peruvians and Nicaraguans. Peru's decision reaffirms the sentiments that inspire our two peoples, and, ac the representative of the Dominican Republic has said, does credit to the Governme~lt and people of Peru, who, because of their altruistic behaviour, deserve the gratitude of the Government and people of Nicaragua, who are most appreciative.

In the Ught of the statement of the representative of Peru ..,e shall now lI\OI1e to the second restricted ballot. Ballot papers will now be distributed. I ask representatives to write on the ballot papers the name of the one State for which they wish to vote. Ballot papers containing more than one name will be declared invalid. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Agstner (Austria), Mr. Mounkh-Orgi1 (Men olia) Mr. Gora'ewski (Poland) and Mr. Idris (Sudan) acted as tellers~ (The President) The meeting was suspended at 12.25 p.m. and resumed at 12.35 p.m.

The result of the voting for the election of one member of the Economic and Social Council is as follows: Number of ballot papers: 14 ~ Number of invalid ballots: 2 Number of valid ballots: 147 Abstentions: 8 Number of Members voting: 139 Required two-thirds majority: 93 Number of votes obtained: Nicaragua 123 Peru 16 Havin~ obtained the required two-thirds majority, Nicaragua was elected a member of the Economic and SOcial Council for a period of three years beginning on 1 January 1989.

I congratulate Nicaragua, which has just been elected a member of the Economic and SOcial Council, and I thank the tellers for their assistance in this election. We have thus concluded our consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 15. The meeting rose at 12.40 p.m.