A/44/PV.32 General Assembly

In prer.rious years the Assenbly 11. taken note of ths annual report of the Secretary-General. If I hear Er) objection, may 1 consider .that the Assembly wishes to take note of ths report of the Secretary-General? It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 10. (Mr. Belonoqov, USSR) / ... < •• PROGRAMME OF WORK

At the request of the Chairman of the Group of African States, c:onsid&ation of aqenda item 27, entitled "Co"'Operation between the unit~-. Nations and the Orqanization of Afr 1can Unity", will be 'POstJ)Oned to a later date to be announced. AG:NDA ITEM 24 m-OPERATION BE'l'WEm THE UNITED NATIONS AA> THE LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM (a) REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-CENERAL (A/44/550) (b) DRAFT RESOLUTION (A/44A.8) The PRESInENT: I call on the representative of Peru to introduce the draft resolu tion. Mr. ARROSPIDE (Peru) (interpretation from Spanish): I am pleased to introduce draft resolution A/44/L.8, entitled ·CO-O'Peration between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System". The Latin American Economic System (SELA) is an interqovernmental body established in 1975 and comprised of 26 Latin American and Caribbean States. Its function is to ptO'iide the reqion with multilateral assistance exclusively to Latin American and Caritbean countries. It is the only forum for co-ordination and co-operation amonq the Latin American and Car ibbean countries and its annual dialoque of 'Foreiqn Ministers is the hiqhest regional consultative body. Draft resolution A/44/L.8 is sponsored by all the mel'lbers of SELA, and its pur1)Ose is to 'Promte the broaden iOCl and s trenqthsninq of co-operaticn, between the Uni'ted Nationa system and SELA. Since i~ establishment 1II2lnv orQanizati~ns and bodies of the United Nations svstar.. have supported SELA, participatinq in the execution of numerous projects. of interest to the Governments of the reqion. Let me recall that at its forty-this:d session the Genotal AsSeRlblY adopted resolution 43/5, in which the Secreta'ty-General was requested to inform tb,e General , I Assea,ly at this session of the implementation of that resolution and Qive an assessment of the co-operation between the United Nations system and SEIA. With the adoption of the draft resolution I am introducinq today, we are seekinq to renew the cOJllllitment to broaden such co-operation which, althouqh it has existed in the 'Past, we feel can and should be expanded and enriched. The draft resolution that has been submitted to the plenary Assemly for ita consideration makes reference, in its preanbular part, to decision 289 of the Latin American Council - the sU'j)reme body of SELA - adopted recently, in which it expresses its satisfaction at the General AssemblV's adoption of resolution 43/5. With regard to the operative J)8raqraphs of draft resolution A/44/L.S, the General Assembly takes note with sa tisfaction of the report of tha Secretary-General; expresses satisfaction with decision 289 of the Latin American Council; urges the Economic Com.mission for Latin America and the Caribbean to broaden and deepen its co-ordination and mutual support activities with SELA, urqes the United Nations Development ProQramme to strengthen and broaden its support to the proqrumes that the SELA Permanent Secretar tat is carrvinQ out; urqes the specialized aqencies and other orQanizations Md proQrammes of the United Nations sYStem to continue and intensifv their support for and co-operation with the Bcttvities of SELA; reques ts the Secretary-General of the United Hations to promote, in close collaboration with the SELA Permanent Secretary, the holdinQ of a meetinq in 1990 between their respective secretariats, with the aim of identifyinQ those areas in which it will be J)Ossible to broaden co-operation between the United Nations system and SELA; requests both the Secretarv-Gen~al and the SELA Permanent Secretary to initiate consultations for the purpOse of draft1nq an ftQreement of co-operation between the United Nations and ~E!oA. Since the draft resolution does not contain any controversial elements and will have no financial implications for the Organization, but rather ellbodies the (Mr. Arrospide, Peru) ul.l)uations of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with regard to the broadeninq and intensifyinq of co-operation between the United Nations and SELA, the deleqaticm of Peru, on bd1alf of the entire reqion" hopes that the draft resolution, sponsCi.:ed by all the countr ies metrbara of SELA, will be adopted without a vote. Mr. PAOLILLO (UruQuay) (interpretation from SpanJSh): The Latin American Economic System (SELM :is in more ways than one a unique institution within the family of international organizations. It is unique because of its pUrposes, since its main objective is to promote consultations and co-ordinaticn at economic and social matters allOlifing the region to adopt common 12Ositlons and strategies and act toqether and with authority in regard to third countries, qrcu~ of countries or lilternational organizations. It is unique because of its Constitution, for it is CODq)OSed exclusively of Latin American and CaritDean nations and, accordingly, is an institution with a truly regional missmn" Lastly, it is unique because of its organic structure, which includes a plenary body - the Latin American COWlcil, which is the hiqhest-lwel forum at whic:h the countries of the region can analyse co_on economic and social problems - the Permanent Secretariat, which functions with a very small staff, and the Action COIIIIlittees, flexible bodies "lcb are formed and function on the basis of practicality, effic~ency and economy. Hence, SELA is the only body capable of a truly reqlonal approach to the problem of the acute economic crisis affectinq the LaUn American and the C~ribbean countries and its attendant social and political probleJ!B. The existence and functionim of SELA is based on certain undeniable assumptions, namely, the existence of interests and problens colllllOn to all its m_era, the need to find imediate solutions to these 'Proble1llS and the belief that by actinq toqether the countries of the reQion can maxitnize their neqotiating power. (Mr. Auos»ide, Peru) n.1JC :41n"ly, St~LA constitutes a'l institutional reflection of the social ana politi©~ fact that hiaS cllsracterized the ~tin American and Caribbean reqion ever since ~:J. eea of indapendence: the profound solidarity between its members, despl~o (leir ethnic and cultural diversity and their different oolitical orqimiZQU.oo and economic development. This reqional solidarity is evident in all aJ:QaQ @~ nternational life, but ls much more intense in the economic and social. fielc6kl c:: i1'e the Latin American and Caribbean countries are confronting the moat difU©)J&,Lc challenqes and where conmon interests are most strikinq. X!ili (e few years since its establishment in 1975, SELA has become an extremely us~:tt3Jl. l1E truaent for the reeJion in !dent:Uyinq these COUilllOft problem, formula tinq strl1tQif;lk: and strenqtheniD;l the l'leqotiatirq positions of its menDers. Ok1t7i::ously, SSU's efficiencY will depend larcaelyon hew its activities are co-ord!!iliQCcJd "itb those of other orClMizations, in particular with the United Nat:lono u QCid on the deqree of co-operation with these orQ8nizations. We are h&J)py to see iZ~@.:J the report of the Secretary-General that. cCPOperation betwe., the United ~b\\;~M and SBLA has been further str~qt.~Enad and broadened, both with reqard w \i\e te'&)lcs ~d with regard to the institutions. (Mr. Pao11110, uruquax) The report describes a 10nQ list of activities in which the aqencies mentioned .have worked together ~ includinq some of tho issues wh iob are at present of the Qreatest concern to tile coWltries of the region, for example, 1Il11tilateral trade negotiations, ssrvicea, the environment and food security. Co-operation between the United Nations and SBLA bas therefore become stronqer in the past year and werything seem to indicate that it will be developed in depth and e~tendeO to other proqraUle8, agencies ald orqanizations of the Unitea Nations system. In the conteKt of this bread co-operation attention should be drawn to the maray aspects Q\ which SELA is actinq in conjuncticn with the Boonaaic Ca.ission for Latin America and the Caribbean (SCLAC) and the technical sod financial support qiven by the Unite4 Nctions Development Proqramme (UNDP). The main objective of the draft resolution now submitted to the Gen@ral Assemly fex adoption 1s to propose m~Bures for the continuance and deeDeninq of th@ co-operation and reciprocal supriOrt between the two institutions. Accordinqly, the reepoct!ve secretariats &re tequest~ to proceed· tcqether to identify alrU8 in which co-operation between the ttlO institutions can be extended and consUltations .,an begin with a viel to draftinq an aqreeaent on ce-cperation between them. Agsured of the co-operation of all the specialized aqencies and other United Nations orqanizations and proqtC:1des, SELA will undoubt~ly become suonQc and at the saae tille continue to be able to use its reeou~oel!l in the IIOBt efficient way. Therefore~ we trust that, as has happened in the cue of siaUar draft reaolutiona at prev'ious sessions of the General Asseably, this session will adopt by consensus draft resolution A/ot4/L.e, whim is before it today. Mr. toNrAttO (Kexlco) (interpretation frem 8l)aniBh): It is a paradox that, at a tiMe when the demcraUc scene in Latin AIlerlca and the Caritbean has bem_ DDre enClOur~inqs tbe rec:Jion should be !Mereed in the II08t m.doUB econoMic crista in its history. The 19808 have been foe all our countrl. a lQlJt (Hr. Paol111o, Uruguay) decade of deITelopment, as is shown by the increasing <lap between the levels and quality of life of the developing countries and those of the industrialized countries. It is not loqical that in a situation in which the industrialized wr":ld has achieved the longest period of qrowth in post-war years the IIllltUateral provision for international co-ooeration should be constantly decreaslnq. The claim that the Latin American and Cariti>ean countries should bear the burden of the artificial scarcity of resources is unacceptable. Justice means qivinq the hiqhest priority to the imprOV'ement of the conditions of those who, in a world of inequality, have received the most unjust treatment; it also means that the developinq countries shoUld not have to bear the qreatest part of the burden of the least advantaqed among them. It is essential that, through international ecol'lCllllic co-operation in trade, finance and technology, the resources of the nations with the qreatest economic power be transferred to these who have had less access to the beneftts of the modem economy. Given this world situation, which is not favourable to the development objectives of the Latin American and Caribbean countries, international and regional economic and technical co-operation is ever more necessary. The specific del!llands and priorities of the countries of the reqion should be the point of de-parture fer the allocation of resources throuqh international co-operation. Co-operation between the Latin American EcoDCllic System (SBLA) and the united Nat:iDns le particularly relevant now because for 15 years SELA has been the main forum far agreement and co-operation in Latin America and the Caribbean. since its (!stablishment SELA has plaVed a central role in the Dfocess of Latin American inteqration and a very important role in harmonization of the 8Ool1Oll1c policies of the countries of the region. (Nr. Montafto, MexiCX) The Latin berican Economic System plays a fundamantal part in. the taBk of defininQ and se<!kinq means of resolvinq the crisis in th~ rEQion.. 1Ie feel that thill body should be the liaison body for brinCllinq Latin American arqui!1ents on extrueQional responsibility with regard to the foreiqn debt to the attention of international bodies. For this purl)Ose we have stepped UP contacts and meetinqs with international institutions, particularly in the financial area, to ensure that the countries of the teqion have the necessary technical and operational bases to produce ~iable, sffeetive solutions to ths debt oroblem. Por this purpose SEIA has stepped up ita cO""Operaticn with the united Nations in order to co-ordinate sfforts towards common ends. The co-operation between SELA an4 ths Bconomic C01llIIllsaion for Latin America and the Caritbean (EClAC) has prcned to be a key element in the diaqnosis of the Latin American economi\} situation and in the analysis of s~ific projsctD in priority sectors. The joint activities of SELA and the United Natwns Development P-:Olua.e (tJR)P), throuqh its POl,~th Reqional ProqralilM for: Latin America and the Caribbean, are particularly iftil)Ort&nt in this teqard. There are important ties Md ooints of converqence between SELA, as a regional focal ooint for the promtion and strenathening of technical co-operation amonq aevelopinq countries, and the CNDP's Special Unit for Technical Co-operation alllOnq Developinq Countries. The boldinq of annual Ileetinqs of the directors of technical co-operation such as the one in Mexico in June, ancJ the illplementaticn of proqrammes of mction and projects for technical co-operatJon among developlnq countries in speciUc utters are exa1llPl. of the specific co-operat1cn takinq place be~een SELl. and the United Nations in the field of technical co-operation SIIOng developing countries. Tbis co-operaticn is alBo reflected in the work of the SELA Action C~itt~.... Here the 8Ul>POrt of the United Nations h. betan particularly significant in the workinq out of the t_ecu'at. Plen of Action for Central AIIerica (Mr.. Montafto. Mexico) by the Action Committee for the Economic and Social Development of Centr&l America (CADESCA), which was established in 1983 with the objective of stimulatinq the development. of the l~unt.riEs of the area. In Latin America we understand that harmoniz!ltion and co-operation in this area are key' elements in the solu't1on of these problems.. We appreciate the work of SELA but are aware \)f the need to strcnqthen plans for co-operation amoM the developinq countries and the role of the United Nations in this task .. We are directinq our efforts towards the search for just, lastinQ solutions to the economic problem of Latin Americ& and the Caribbean.. For this purpose we must use the established bodies and qive multilateral harmonization and co-operation a new impetus base'! on an up-to-date, realistic and objective view of the challQes now qoinq on in the world ancSour req!on's need to benefit from those chanqes. Mexico expresses its unswerving support of the draft resolution presented by the delegation of Peru and we hope that the Assembly will adopt it by consensus .. (Mr.. Montafto, MexiC2) Nr. lIBRNANDBZ (Dominican Republic) (interDretation frClfl Spanish): The deleqaticn of the Dominican Republic is aware that in an wer lDOre interdeOeftd~t world it is illPOssible to disregard the internationalization of the problete facinq our peoples in their struqqle fa: liberation and the r!qht to developllent. When, exactl'V' 14 years aqo today, in Panama City, 2S Latin American and Caritlbean deleqations - and today there are ~6 - siqneCl the aqreement establishinq the Latin American Economic Svstem (SELA), their most fervent desire was to avoid more frustration. We Latin Americans and Caribbeans had learned frClll our experience in the area of institutional plans and schelles for international relations.. Thus SELA was established to fill a vacuur. in the structure of international relations in Latin AlIerica and the Caribbean caused by the lack of a qenuine regional forum in which to discuss 'POsitions and take 10int decisions to defend the interests of the countries there. The comina into existence of SELA as the first qenuinely Latin American body of its kind simply met the need of an entire reqion anxio\B to ensure the succeso of its search for: its own identity. Never has it been clearer than it is today that Latin America and the Carilmean have made proqress alonq the path of development and in so doinq discovered har Qteat the Qap is between their leqitillate hopes and the real pOssibilities that have not CO~ to fruition. From that Derspeetive, the establishment of SELA tanqibly reflected the reqion's will to build new realiti. and caive nw content to Latin American relations; at the sae ti.e. the conception of this initiative has enabled ua to lfIllintain as a constant element of our WJltilateral acttoM the prlnciole of equality. sovereignty, solidarity and independence as well 88 non-intervention in internal affairs, on the basis of full respect for the eeonaalc, social and .. ......... political8yate_ freely chosen by the peoples and State the_~lves - Drincipleo . tilt are SSLA'. very l'a!son d'etre. If the respon.lvenflSs and efficiency of an international orqani:latlon can be defin815, int. alia, bv thtl .wlftnEu and aqUitv with whieb a probl., a subject· or ,. pOint of speclsllnterest is included in its aqend& or Dl'oqr.... of activitle., it c. indeed be Bald that aLA is at efficiGt body. Topics sum aa fool! security or the broader question of econoaic e.ect~rityJ cases such. econoeic or n., prlletlces that are of inter.t, such • questions relatlnq to the tnternattanal transf.. of data or international trade in services\ an the.e can b. quickly analysed in spacial aeetings, or at least considered and discussed at .hlCJh-levet. IQlMtinqa of qcwemaental experts and includeIJ in soa. biennial. progr_s - u h. (ndeed been the cue repeatedly - when they are the east tiaely and urqent. Durinq the forty-third session of the General AssGllbly. becauso of our GCNem-.t's confidence in SBLA and SBLA'o need for close co-operaticn with the Unitad Nations. OUl' clelegation not only supported but alao beca. a SPOMor of resolution 43/5, in which the General 'Aasellbly urqfd the i.~nc.ic CCM!.810n for Latin Aaerlea and the Car tbbean to b~oad.n and deepen its oo--or4inat1cn and tNtual .upport activit!. with the Latin AIIericaa: Bconc.ic Syates, • well • ita participation In oo-.on efforts to bUlIOnlze aeti.on .-onq the varioua reclional MUS . 8ubreq!onal _tit!. in the 8COnaIIlc fi.lds ..4 urqe4 the United Nations Dwelo...nt Proqruille (UNDP) to 8trenqthen and broaden its IBUPDOrt to the Dr:oqra-o that the Perunent Secretariat of the Bconoelc C~1881cn for Latin A1aerlca. is carry!nq out within the fraawork of the 1989-1991 "«le proqr... apprcwecS by th& Latin AIl.lean Council. (Kr.. aerMftde., Doalnican RePUblIc) . I Today, at thia forty-fourth se8Dion, the DoIIin!can deleqation h. taken note with satisfaction of the See~etary-General'sreport (A/44/550) on CO-oPeration between the United Ratione and the Latin Aaedean EconoMic systea,tlhlcb atates that co-operation h. been further atrenqthened and the areas of co-operation have been _pancJecJ. Ny deleqation relt_at. its support for decision 299, aJ)Droved by the Latin American Couneil at ita fifteenth reqular aeetinq, on co-~ration betwem the two orqaniaations. We are confident that this necessary co-operation between tllDP end SBLI. "U1 be broadened and strenqthened. Takinq aD that into considKation, our: deleqation has aqain becoae a sponsor of a draft reaclution cm co-operation between the United Nationa and SErA. We support an the f)roflieioll5 of the present draft resolu tion. Mr. A.IA LlSSO (kgador) (interpretation frea ~ani8h): One of th.:a WlO8t al)propriate ..... of proDOtinq eco!!Cllic and social dwelopaent is, wit.llout any doubt, the eetablish_nt of co.-on objecti"es and pOlicies among countries and qroupg of countries. AccordiftGly, the Latin Aaerican and Caribbean countri. eatabliahecl the Latin ~riean Bconc.ic ay.teII (SBLA), in ·the context of which a pro"... of co-ordination Md conBultation has bee eardec1 out and ha produced qo04 reau1ta. My Gover:lU!leftt belieyes tbll~ _LA 18 called upen bO play an wen BOre iaJ)Ortan~ role thin it plays at pr_tilt in ita two-fold capacity ,. the appropriate forus for internal coneel'~d action Md u the body beet suited to repr_en~ the interwts of _Wiber countri. in their cantacts with third countd. or orqaniutions of statu. Por thos. rtlUona the GoverlUileftt of Bcuador will continue to extend its entire (NI:. Rernande:, Doalnican ReWbllc) In addition, Bcuadcx beliw. that it is essential for qeneral proqresa and 4.velOPMnt that the existing agencies dealinq with s1ll11ar matters establish aJIlOltg th•••lves co-operatim Dn4 assistance _chinery. That is why Ecuador is 8ponsor!nq, as it haa done in prev10us years, a draft resolutf.on on co-operation betve.n the Unitea NatiODB I:I\d the Latin American Economic systell. The reports subDitted Rch ye~l' by the Secretary-General 00 this itell have enable! to realize not only the qoo4 effects' ex results of 8um interinstitutional co-operation, but also the qreat possibilities of broade.pinq such co-operat1on between the united Nations and SBLA. That 18 why the draft resolution on this it., which Bcuador has joined in sponsorinq, while it follOllls the parallleters of r..o~tion 43/5, adopte! in 1988, on this occasion requesb. ate 'Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Perraanent Secretary of'the Latin American EconOllic Systea to inltt&te c~nsultations for the purpose of draftiM an aqreement of _tual co-operation. Indee4, the tiae h. co_ for' the two bodies b formalize and institutionalize their co-operation for the benefit of their _mber states. Por that reason IIfI cJelegat10n fully supports the cJr4ft resolution before us and hopes that it "iU be adopted without vote. (Mr. "yala Lasso, Bcuador) Mr. BLACKBURN (Colombia) (interpretation from SPanish): ColOJrbia, in its capacity as current Prasident of the Latin American Council, expresoes resolute support for the Latin American Economic System (SELAl and all the efforts to strenQthen the co-operation between the System and international orqanizations at the world, reqional and subreqional levels, and in particular co-operation with the aqencies and proqrammes of the United Nations sys tern. Durinq its 14 years of existence SELA has built an institutional infrastructure directed towards reqional cO""Operaticm whim menDers countries have used and strengthened in spite of the difficulties of all kinds they have faced in the past decade. In accordance with resolution 43/5, adOPted by the forty-third session of the General Assembly, SELA has undertaken a number of activities in co-opera tiQ\ with vat'ious orqanizations and bOdies within the United NatiOns, in particular the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caritbean, the United Nations Develo;ment Programe, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Orqanizatlon, the united Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Developuent OtQanization, the World Intellectual Property Orqanizaticn and the International Trade Centre UNCl'AD/GA'l"l'. These activities are described in the Secret8ry-General' s report, in accordance with the resolution to which I have just referred. In s:ddition, the re1)ort POints out that in many cases co-operation has become more permanent through various aqreements and conventk)nB .. tn the context of its new ):lhilosophv, SBLA seeks to serve as a centre for supl)Ortinq the economic co-ordination activities of the countries of the reqlon. Por that reason, it is particularly important to broaden and strenqthen the co-operation between the United Nations system and SBLA, with a view to carryinq I out ini~iat:l.v. of particular impurtanca to the countries memers of the svstell. . , such' .. tb. :lmPlelientation of the Latin American Proqra1lllle for Technical Assistance and exa-uinQes of information cm external debt, as well as other projects related to industrial development and the application ,of scientific and technoloqical prcqress to. the region. An essential aspect of the strengthening of such co-operation would be co-operation between the Economic COJllllission for LaUn America and the Caribbean and SELA, which t.lave in COlWOn is nutrber of fields of work and the reqional dimension of their action and which, at the same time, have complementary activities• . I think it is relev-ant that the Latin American Council, at its 15th Meetina, held in Cartagena, Colonbia, from 23 July to 1 Auqust l~89, acbi)ted decision 299, entitled ·Co-operation bebleen the Latin American EconoJllic System and the United Nations". In that decisJ.cn it wu &Qreed to request \ "the Per_nent Secretariat, puy:suant to General Assenblv resolution 43/5 and in close collabora tiaa with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to promote the holdinQ of a meetinq in 1989 between their respective Secretariats, with the aim of identifyinq those are. in wbieb it will be possible to broaden co-operation between the Latin American Economic System and the United Na tiORS s VS teml!• Por all those reasons Cololfbia sUl)pOrts the draft resolution now before the General AsseBlbly. The PRBSIDBHT: The Assenbly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/44/L..8. May I take it that the Aseerrbly adopts that draft resolution? Draft resolution A/44/L.8 was adopted (resolution 44/4). (Mr. Blackburn, ColoMbia) The PRESI0DllT: We have concluded our consideration of aqenda item 24 ..

I call on the representative of Denmark who has asked to speak on a goint of order. Mr. P«>RTEHSI!N (Denmark): I would like to raise a DOint oe order on - behalf of the five Nordic countries - Finland, Iceland, Nexway, Sweden and Denraark - in connection with the amenCbent in document A/44/L.9, which has just bEen introduced bti DIY coll_que from Libya. The amendment proposes re1ection of the credentials of the representatives of Israel. On beh'alf of the Nordic countries, I formally mewe that no action be taken on the aaaenmaent and I ask you, Mr. Pre8ident, to put this motion iaec:UatelV to a vote. The motion is made within the terlllS of rule 14 of the rules of procedure of the General Assellbly. Tbe five Nordic countr lee wish to emphasbe that our motion Is motivated bv our decUcatlm to uJlholdi~ the ca_city and the authority of the United Nations to . (Mr. Treiki, Libyan Arab Jamahiriva) act in fUlfil-.ent of its J)rimary purpose, the aaintenance of international peace ane! s ecuri ty •

The representative of Denmark has fIlOved, within the tel'. of rule 74 of the rules of procedure, that no action be taken on the , aaenttDent circulated in document A/44/L.9. Rule 74 reads, in part, as follows: -Durinc:a the discussicn of any matter, a representative IIII!lY mave the adjourn.ent of the debate on the item under discussion. In addition to the proposer of the JIlOtion, two representativea mav speak in favour of, and two aQainst, the IlIIOtion, after \1ibich the motion shall be immediately put to the vote..- I shall now pUt to the vote the motion submitted bv the representative of D••ark that no action be taken on the amendment in document A/44/L.9. A recorded vote has been requested. A re~orded vote w.· talc en .. In favour: Antigua and Barbuda, ArQentina, Australia, Austria, Daha_s, Barbadoo, Belqium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cueroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Cololllbia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Doainica, Dominican Reoublic, Ecuador, Bqypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Piji, Pinland" Prance, Ger_ny, Pederal Republic of, Greece, Grenada, Guat_la, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hond~~u, Kunqarv, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, t.!xellbourq, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexic:», Mozallbique, Mvan_r, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, OIIan, Pana., Papua New Guinea, ParaQuay, Peu, Philippines, Port\lqal, Ro.nia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SallCNl, Sac 'l'O_ and Prinei", Seydaolles, Sierra Leone, Sinqapore, SOl~n IslanctJ, Spain, Sri Lanka, Surin.., Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, 'loGO, Trinidad and 'l'obaqo, Turkey, United KinqcSoal of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of A1Ierica, Uruquav, Venezuela, Yuqoslavia, zaire (Mr. Mortensen, Denaark) Aqainst: Alqeria, AnQOla, 8ahrain, 8runei Darussala., 8urkina Puo, COllOroe, Cuba, DellOcratic Ye.en, n11bOuti, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islallic Republic of). Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's oemcratic RepUblic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jaaahiriva, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Monc;olia, Morocco, Nicaraqua, Niqer, Pakistan, (later, Saudi Arabia, SouUs. SUdan,Svrian Arab Reoublic lJ Tunisia, united Arab EIlirates, Viet Ha., Ye_n, Zillbabwe AbStainincu DUlqaria, &yeloruasian soviet socialist ReJ)Ublic, China, Czedloslovakia, Ger.an DelllOcratic Republic, Baiti, India, Madaqascar, Poland lJ Rvanda, UQanda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Unien of Soviet. Socialist RepUblica, United Re'pUblic of Tanzanla, Zambla The 1DOtion waD acJopt:ed by 95 votes to 37, with 15 5bstentioM.* The" PRBSmEHT: I call en the representative of Bqypt., who wishes to explain his vote. I remind hill that, in accordance with General Assubly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be _de by deleqatfons from their aeats. * Sub88lJuently the delegations of Banqladeah, Baiti and saint Kitts and ••is a4vllled the Secretariat that th&y had intended to vote in favout' tbo 4eloqationa of Afqhanistan and OUn ba4intended to vote aqainat,the 4eleqation of Ghana had tntendeS to _·taia. '. Mr. UDMlI (Bq"pt) (interpretation frca Arabic) : The deleQation of Wl'I country would like to place on record the followinq pOints: First, support for the procedural aotion by Denllllrk is consistent with EQVpt's poaition in the context of efforts ..de to find a settlelHnt of the Middle Bast queticn and to amilf!llTe a just solution to the Palestinian prabl., since we encouraqe neqotiations between all the parties and their participation, on m equal footin4, in the International Confer~ce. Secondly, Bqyl)t's position with respect to a just and coliJll)retJensive settleJIent of the Middle Bast probls contir_ the iIIperative neea for Israel to withdraw frOll all Arab territories occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967 and for the leqitiute deaands of the Palestinian people to be .et. I'ore-.t, aMnq those demands is the achi__ent of that people's r iQht to lelf-4eteraination. Thirdlv, in worklnq enerqeticaUy to find sum a settleraenti Bcwpt beliwes that the cireu.tances which wouldenecuraqe the _rUes concerned, includinQ the Palestine Liberation Orqanization, the 801.8 and leqiti_te representative of the ", Pal.tinian people, to work for such a .et~l_ent should be _tablished 1n the Rence, Bqypt once aqain condeMa all the occu~tion authority's activities in the occup1ec! territori.l!I - the "ut Bank, Galla IIld the Golan - since the;> are contrary to internatwnal nonlB and law. The PRBSIDIIIT: I lIhall now call en thc.e de14l9atwnIi that., ish to speak in explanation of vote en the recolUl4mdation of the Credentials eo.ittee. 111'. KBMISY (Lao People~1I DellOCratic ReP\lbllc) (interpretation frOll Prench): I have the honour to speak on blbalf of the State of Callbodla, the Socialist Republic of Vlet Naa and., own country, the Lao People's Deaocratic Reoubl1c• . "e reqret to note that this year the Credentials C~ltt:.~ h. aqain validated the pru.a. in our Assellbly of the repreaentativ. of the so.--cal1ed Coalition Gov'eruent of De80Cratic Ka~eb.. That so-calleclCoalition Governll8nt, whCl8e _in caeponent ia represented by the clique of the qenc'.d.dal 1'01 Pot r:~i.., which has been reject~d by all the KallPUcbean people and whieb is Wiiv.sally condamed, daM not 4..e"8 to be representcd in our Orqanization. Morec.wer,it has no headquarters Ol: capital and controls practically no viable territory in the countlY. On the other hand, the Governllent: of the State of Cubedia, with its headquarters in Pbno. Penh, the capital, was fOl'lled 111 .the result of reqular " 189ia1atlve electiens and exereis. the full pruOQativee of DOVel: O'ler all Cubodl"'telt'ritory~. Bence, we feel that the place reserved for the country in the United Nations should r iqhtfully be taken by that Gover:nMnt. Bowever, In a spirit of qreatc acCOllllOdatlon and in vier of the recent »ositive 4e\7el~nt8 in the situation in our l'ec)ion, and in particular in the expectation that the' Paris Int~ntlt!onal'Conferenceon Ca&lbodia will be rec:onvene4, it would be wieer for our OrQanization to opt for ~e vacant-seat policy with ~e8Pect to the repreeentaticn of KaIIJ)Uc:bea~ In so doinq, our: Orqanizatlon would be _kinq a siqnificmt contribution to the praiseworthy efforts new under way to find a political 8olution acceptable to aUthe Cambodian parU. coneerneeS. 1'01' those r..on8 I Mk the As.ably, on behalf of the eteleqationa and rGservatione on the report of the Credentla18 Co_itt••, Dartieularly with re8peet to the repreaentatlcn of 1C&apuchea, or Call1bodia, 'at the forty-fourth aea810ft of the General A....ly of. our Or.nizatien.. (Mr. Kha.y" Lao Peopl.-s Demcrat1c RepublIc) Mr:. BMpS (Pakistan): In pursuit of the posi.tions taken by the OrqaniutiClft of the Ia1aaic Co~f..enc. and koepinq 1n vi., the realiti. of the situation in Afqbanistan, Pakistan COftti~u.. to .<!here to its DOli.cy of withholcUnq recoqnitian of the reqi_ 1n Kabul, which does not enjoy the aUP'POrt of t.he oeople of Afqhaniatan. In the 11qht of what I have just said, 1n J:4tspeot of the reoort of the Credentials Ca.ittee containld in docuaent A/4f/639, dated 13 October 1989, now before the General Ass_ly, ay cieleqatwn wishes to record its forul reservations on the credentials of the del"a tion repreaen tinq Afqhanistan at the forty-fourth session of the aeneral A1Jstllllblv. Mr. MMSDlOV (Byelorussian Sovie'~ Socialist Republic) (interpretation frCII RWJSlan): On behalf of the delcqadone of th e Peopl.-s Rewblic of l\ulqaria, the Bunqar1an Peoplo's Republic, the Ger..n De.ccratic Republic, the Pol1lJh Peopl.'s Republic, the UniClft of Scwiet Soclalist Republica, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist. Republic and the Czechoslovak Socialist. Republic and on bEhalf of my own deleqation, I should like to state that the aforeaentioned countries oppose the acceptance of the credentials of the sc-called Coalition Government of DeIIOcratic Jltupucb. at the forty-fourth aession of the General Alsseillbl;'i and at the Assemblv' 8 special .88sion, on apartheid and its cleetructlvecons8quences in southern Africa, and sUPpOrt the r.t.or:aticn of the leqit:llltlte riqhta of the State of qambodia in the Unite4 NatJDn8. At the aue ti~" qlven the chanqes now takinq place in the Callbodian situation, we feel that the Gen..al ,..a.llbly could leave C4l1lbodi.'s place in the Unit.e4 Nations vacant pentUnq theco.letion of the inter-Khmer ~laloque and the foraation of a new GcwemlReftt in Callbodla. SUm a step would cloubtleu contribute to proqr.. in the ••rch for a co_rib_lve solution to the Camodlan problem. . ~.; Mr. BXpUQ (Afghanistan): The reDr...,tative of PaJd.tan h. _4e baIIele..' and 8lander. alleoations with 1'"81'4 to, thct crtllSentiala of 1IV del-.tion. we categorically reject th••• alleqatlolW, which are obJ/loualy unfounded and devoid of -any substance. The State of the Republic of Afqhan18tan, ea a full-fle4qe4 It.er of the United Nations anc! an active _lIbecof th•.~e.ent of Non-AUQElec! Counuies. draws ita leqitlaacy froa the 'sOV'ereiqn' w111 of the Afqhan JMtOolce, WO have eXPll:~84td that will throuqh their tradii:1onal Lova Jirc;ah - that 18, the GraacJ Asselllbly - which adopted the Ccnstitutio,n ef the country and elected the Pr.idant of the Republic. These usertions can in no way contribute to the peace proc.!sa in Afqhanist8n and in the reqlon.

"e shall llQf take action on the rec»lrIIlen&tion of the Credentials Coaaittee set forth in peraqraph 20 of its first report (A/44/639~. The COIIIittee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the AsseJlbly wish. to Cb the same? 'rhe draftreeolution was adopted ,(resolution 44/5). The PRBSmBNT: I call nar on represeltatiyoes who wish to explain their position on the resolution just adOPted. Mt. SON SANN (Democratic Kaq>uchea) (interpretation from Prench): Ou~ bseaoly haa just adopted unanimously without a vote the first report of the Credentials Co.! ttee on the credentials of the representatives of the States Mellbera of the Unitea Nations to the forty-fourth sessim of the General Assembly. In 80 doing, it has solemly confirmed once aqain the validity of the credentials of the deleqation' of DeftOcratic Kali):lUchea 'to tb.e ~resent session and its capacity as the sole leqitiute representative of the Canbodlan people and of Democratic lupume&, a State Membm: of the United' Nations. I therefore wish, on beJralf of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the Head of the Cambodian National ResiStance and President of Demooratic Kamwxu:nea, of our Coalition Government and of our people, to reiterate to the Assenbly our l)rofound and heartfelt gratitude for this act 'of justice and exemplary solidarity, which does it qreat honour and justifies in f!!'Iery respect the prestiqe and the qrowinq audience which the world Orqanization enjoys at the present. time and its irrsplaceable role in the J)e8ceful settlement of international disputes. Por IIV country, Cambodia, th e victim of Vietnaese inv~ion an~occupation for 11 years, the United Nations is and will remain the moral quardian of internmtional order: based. on respect for the sacred principles in the Charter, the last resort a~inst the law of the stronqest, nUlelv, these who use force or ~e ~hreat of I force in international relations, in particular aQainst s_ller and weaker nelqhbourInq States. In the case of Demcratic Ka~uchea~ since 1979 the General Assellbly has continued admirably to defend the principlElS of the Charter. flrldy oppoeinq ena;v att_pt by Viet Naa to usurp, DellOCtatic Jtallll)uchea's seat in the United Nations for the benefit of the rili.e that it installed by force in Phno.-Penb. This year in particular our AsseIIIblV, has cateqorically declared L'1acilissibla another even mre insidious 1I&noewre aia83 at leaving the seat. of Demcratic F.allpucbea in our OrqanizatiDn vacant. If by chance BUch _chinatwns were Bucceuful not only would the fundamental principle& of our Ot'9anization be called into question but also and in partiwlat the valiant and tireless, efforts of countries that cberish peace and justice to settle the entire so-callea problea of 1taIlpudl. en the basis of the bro principles in the relw,mt General Asse&bly resolutions on the situation in Katll)Ucbea. Those principles are~ first~ tb$ total wltbckawal of Vietna.~e forces fro. KallPuchea, under international supervision and control, and, secondlY, the exercise of the inalienable r!qht of the Ca~lIbod1an 'PEOple to self-deteraination without foreiqn interference. All countries oe_itte4to peace and justice, tlbicb liuPJ30rt our just cause, cannot but rejoice~'with our peoPle' and its Coalition GOI1eInaent, at thii! nw decision by our Aso..,ly. The CUlbodlan lMlQPle .anditll Coalition GoVerWMnt~ find in this i_ene~ encouraqeamt yet anothar re.en tobeliwe that, "'ith the powerful support of OU~AS8_1Y, the Cub041an NatJDnal Reslstance, Under· theleader(Jhlp of Ria Royal BiqhneuSadec:h Norodoa 8ihanouk, will in the' end recover forCallbodia ita. status as an indi8'P8n4ent, n~tr.•l·' and non-ali9nedetate~ with territorial lnte9rlty. In conclusion, our country, like all countriES CQmmitte!l to peace and justice, sincerely hopes that Viet Nam will finally realize that no matter hOlf it l)ersists 1n pursu1rJ;1 its colonialistand expansionist poliev 1n Kampudlea and in our reqlon it wUl never be able to undermine the determination of our Assembly to supDOrt to the Ut1llC8t the people of 'Cafllbodia and its Coalition Gc:wemment in their sacred strugqle to restore indC!1)endence and freedom to Canbodia~ Consequently, to spare our people, as well as the Vietnamese people, further sufferinq and misfortune, it is time for the authorities in Hanoi to put an efI.d without further delay to the traqic situation in Cambodia so that in peace and independence the qood-neiqhbourly relations between our two peoples and countr les may be restored in the interest of the peace and IJtabilitv of South-East Asia. _M_r_._WM (United Kingdom): Th~ fact that mv deleqation has raised no challenqe to the credenttals of the deleqation of Af~anistan should not be taken to imply that the British Government will deal with the present regime in Kabul on a Government-to-Governllent basis. I should also make it clear that our acceptance of the recolliilendation of the Credentials Committee in resJ)ect of b'le credentials of the representatives of Dea.")Cratic Kaqmchea certainly does not siqnifv any intention cm the part of the British Government tn contribute" to the re-e8tablishment of the Pol Pet rec;ime, from which we withdrew reoognitionin Deceftber 1979. , I should like to reaffirm that my GO'Iemment has no wisb to see the return to power of the abhorrent Pol Pot and his close associates; nor does our policy in any way imply support for the Khmer Rouqe. Mrs. G\RCIA (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish) : The deleqation of Cuba reqtem that once aqain the credentiGls of so-called Democratic Kamwchea have been accepted~ in an att_Dt to deny the existence of the State of Camodla•. Our (Mr. Son Sann, Democratic KaIlJ)Uchee) (Mrs. Garcia, Cuba) delegation would like to reiterate once aqain our belief that only the leqitimate representatives of the Government of the state of Cmrbodia should have the sovereiqn riqht to represent the interests of their people here at the united Nations. Mr. BRNJ'l'I~M (Federal Republic of Germany): I should like to put on reconl our position on the credentials of the deleqation of AfQhanistan. Our vote in favour of the r~rt of the Credentials Catl1littee does not imJ)ly that we recoqnize the legitimacy of the reqime in Kabul. I should also like to explain that in acceptinq the Credentials COIIlIIittee's .recommendatioo in respect of the credentials of the ret)r:esentatives of DellX)cratic Ka~uches we did not intend to su~rt in any way the return to power of the horrifying Pol Pot reqime. Mt. R)'l'ERDAEME (Belgium) (interpretation from Fi:e.,ch): Belqium joined in the consensus on the report presented by the Credentials Ccnnittee. My deleqation would neYertheless like, to clar i£1 in two respects, the e~ct import of its position. First, that position should not be interpreted 8S implicit recoQnition of the present regime in Kabul. Secondly, with reqard to the credeltials of the Coalition Government of Democratic Ka~uch., Belqium joined in the cunsensus because it refuses to ftqree to a Government's beinq ))Ut in place as the result of a violation by a State of the territorial inteqrity of another state. None the less. 8elq iUID cateQoricallv condemns the odious Khmer ROuge rec;ime and the countless atrocities ef which it is quilty. Moreover. 8elqium would not wish its l)Osition today to be interpreted as support - even implicit support - for Cl return to lXMer by the Khmer Rouqe reqime. Mr. ERDENBCR1LUUN (MonQolia): The Mongolian deleqaticn went alonq with the draft resolution just adopted by the General Assenbly C!lo.,rminq the feDOrt of the Credentials COJiWllittee, but we should like to place it on record that this in no way implies recognition of the credentials of thE! rGf)resentatives of so-called DellOcratic Kamt:)Uchea. It. is unfair that this entity is allCMed to 'occupy Camodia's seat in this world body, thus ha1lQ)erinq resolution of the tension in a paz:t of the SOuth-East Asian region. My delegation's 'POsition stems from the consistent policv of the Monaolian Government in reqard to the Canbodian issue. ~r. OSMAN (Somalia): Somalia joined in the consel'lSUS for the adoption of this report, on the underatandinq that Somalia's name would be listed in the reJ)Ort amonq the names of the members that have submitted oredentials in accordance with rule 27 of the General Assembly's rules of procedure. Somlia has indeed submitted credentials in accordance with that rule. We hope that this will be reflected in a supplement SUbmitted to the General Asselllbly at·a later staqe. Nr;. AL-MASRI (Syr ian Arab Republic) (interJ)retaticn from Arabic): My deleqation continues to. take the 1X)sition it has taken during prwious sessions of the General Assemblv reQardinQ the credentials of the delegation of Democratic Ms. CHAN (Sinqapore): At this meeting we have beard 90me reoresentatives put forward the fallacious arQument that Cambodia's United Nations seat .sbould be 'left vacant. The deleCiatwns of the StateE. members of the Association of Southc-East Asian NatiON! are of the vi81 that the Gwernment of DellOcratic KamllUdlea (Mr. Noterdaeme. Belqium) is the leqitiaate Government of Cambodia. It was cwerthtONn by a foreiqn aUituv invuion, in clear contravention of the United Nmtions Charter. Until the effeets of tha~ invasion can be reversed, De1'lOcratic Kaml')Ucbea should retain its SGat at the United Nations. Furthermore, the Government of Democratic Ka1llPuchea is waqina a struqqle to liberate the country. To reverse the effects of tha invasion, two conditions IlUSt be fulfilled. First, there must be an internationally supervised and verified total withdrawal. of Vietnamese forces frol\ Cambodia. secondly, the CallbOdian people lII1et be allowed to express their oolitical choice throuQh an act of self-determination by means of internationally supervised, free elections. Although Viet Na. has announced its withdrawal, this withdrawal has yet to be verUied by any credible international aqency. Moreover, the Call1bodian p90Ple have yet to be qiven an opportunity to exercise freely their riqht to 8elf-det~~1nation. Until a JX)litical settlement is reached in Cubodla, De.x:ratic Ka-.cbea should uintaln its United Nations seat, fer several reasons. Pirst, retcmtlm of the _eat is coterllinous with the defence of certain funda.ntal principles of the United Nations Charter. If Demcratic KaMPUdlea is denied its seat, that "ill be tantalM)Ul\t to aayinq that it is Deraissible for a .Uitarily DOWerful State to invade a veak.. neiqhbotE and to install a qovemaent that vUl do ita blddlnq. If D.-ocr:atlc KalllPUchea is denied its Stilt. the polter of lIiGht "ill hav. pr:.alled.. There ",Ul be no incentive for Viet Ha. to neQOtiate seriously to achi••• durable and peaceful s.ttl_nt, and the various Mace necaotlatlona that are currently under way "ill be undercut. Finally, if Demcratlc IAapuch. fa denied lta s.t, that v 111 be tantamount to ounishmq the vleti. an4 r.ardlnq the aqqr..or, UUlI aakincl • IIDckery of the United Nations Charter. (MS. Chan, Sinqaoore) Mr. YU (China) (interpretat1on from Chinese): The Chinese deleqation 8~ppOrtll the proposal of th e Credentials Comittee on acceptance of the credentials :J of the countries referred to in the <:OlIIllittee's report, including Democratic !Ut:lUc:b.. The Chinese deleqation reiterates that the coalition Government of DeJaOCratic Kampucbea is the sole legal Government of Kampuchea and the Qenuine representative of the Kampudlem people. The Henq Samrin reqime, which is propped UP by the forces of foreign aqqreesion, can in r.o way ret)resent the -people of that country. The Chinese deleqation recommend! that ~,e General Asseftblv accept the credentials of the representatives of Democ2:atic lCampuchea.. That is the position of the Chinese Government. !!cl. OORANI (Diibouti) (interpretation from French): Althouqh Diibouti subaitted its credentials to the Secretary-General, it is not included in the list in paraQrapb 4 of the Credentials COIIIIIittee's reoort. We hq)e that this fact will be reflected in the verbatim record. M~S.. 0\S'l'RO de BARISB (Costa Rica) (interpretation from B-panish): My deleqatiQl wishes to state that it endorsed the rel)ort of the Credentials Committee in accordance with rule 27 of the rules of procedure. With regard to the credentials of ~J'IOcratic Rampuc:hea, my deleQation maintains the position it has adopted in previous years; we do not accept havinq a regime imposed from outside throuqh military occupation - in violatiCXl of the sovereignty, indel)endence and territorial integrity of Democratic Kampuchea - establishec! and maintained fClC so mmy years by Viet Nam. My deleqation shares the hopes expressed here by many deleqations that Democratic Kampuc:hea will be able to .exercise its riqht to self-determination.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. We have thm concludec! our consideration of the first roport of the Credentials Coaai~tee. The meeting rose at 12 noon.