A/44/PV.53 General Assembly

The Assembly will first hear an address by the President of th~ Republic ~f Tunisia. Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of Tunisia, was escorted into the General Assembly Hall.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations the President of the Republic of Tunisia, His Excellency Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and to ir.vite him to address the General Assembly. President BEN ALl (interpretation from Arabic): It gives me great pleasure to extend my best wishes to and express my highest respect for the Assembly and to convey Tunisia's feelings of deep esteem for the United Nations and its laudable efforts to ensure the fulfilment of the aspirations of all mankind to progress, security and peace. The election of Nigeria to the p~es~dency of this session of the General Assembly is a source of satisfaction to us. It is a tribute to Nigeria'S privileged position and a recognition of Africa's positive role in the fulfilment of the principles of the United Nations Charter and t.he achievement of its purposes in the service of the cause of peace. Today Our world is undergoing great changes which give international life new and important dimensions, ptomote the present climate of u~derstanding within the international community and provide a propitious atmosphere which has helped to a large extent in the containment of regional conflicts and their eventual solution. All this shows that ~he international community~ after harsh and sometimes hloody trials, is beginning to find its way towards wisdom and level-headedness. In our opinion, these changes are best illustrated by the decrease in the ideological struggles that, until the recent past had been the direct source of a great many situations of tension and conflict, bringing in their train suffering and sorrow for many peoples. This important evolution in international relations has resulted in a climate favourable to the opening up of wide prospects for mankind, enabling it to consider its future with ~ealism and wisdom. The rapid progress of technology, particularly in the field of communication and information, has undoubtedly contributed to reducing distances, propagating ideas, bringing peoples together, and eliminating certain contradictions. The international community, with increasing solidarity, is thus able to protect itself against the dangers that threaten international detente, which we all consider to be of benefit to our peoples, enabling them to mobilize all their energies in the service ~f development. In this respect the United Nations provides the beat framework and is the instrument most likely to consolidate this process and guide it in the right direction, in accordance with the objectives that the Organization has been working to achieve for almost half a century. The resurgence of confidence within the international community regardinq United Nations action gives us cause for optimism and strengthens our conviction that international problems can,be solved only by applying the principles set out in the Unitp.d Nations Charter, which all countries are pledged to respect. (President Ben Ali) While today we express real satisfaction that the cause of the people of South Africa is evolving towards a solution as a result of the imminent proclamation of independence in Namibia - thanks to the joint efforts of the international community and the United Nations - we are distressed at and disquieted by the blind repression carried out against the militant Palestinian people because of their legitimate struggle against the forces of oppression and occupation. Those forces are using all possible means to put down the intifadah« and are continuing to reject all peace initiatives and decisions of the United Nations. The situation in South Africa is a focus of our attention particularly because of the stubbornness of the minority regime in power and its loathsome policy of apartheid - even though there are certain factors that we hope might constitute the starting point for the setting up of a democratic regime that would take into consideration the will of the majority, in accordance with the natural progression of history. Tunisia found the United Nations to be the best support in its ~truggle for national liberation. Since then, it has continued to benefit, in its development efforts, from the constant support of United Nations specialized bodies. In reiterating our gratitude to and deepest consideration for the United Nations, we reaffirm our unfailing attachment to its Charter and objectives. w~ have on several occasions contributed by giving our support to the efforts of the United Nations, particularly in Africa, where in the early sixties we took an effective part in United Nations peace-keeping oper.ations in the Congo. At present we are taking part in the process that is to lead to the independence of Namibia, an African sister country. We shall always remain ready to support the United Natione in its diligent action to ensure the triumph of just causes throughout the ~.arld. (President Ben Ali) Deeply attached as we are to the values and principles of the United Nations aimed at the fulfilment of the peoples' aspirations to emancipation and dignity, we have undertaken radical reforms in Tunisia since the change that took place on 7 November 1987, within the framework of constitutio~al legality and in response to the call of duty and the homeland. In accordance with the principles we proclaimed at the time, we have resolutely worked to set up a political regime that woul~able Tunisian citizens to exercise their natural right to participate in shaping their future within a system based on democracy, freedom and eauality of opportunity, within the framework of clearly defined objectives to establish a state of law and protect human rights. Our ratification, without reservations, of the United Nations Convention aqainst Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is a clear illustration of our particular commitment to those principles. It is a special honour for Tunisia to have been chosen as the seat of the Arab Institute for Human Rights. It is also an expression of confidence in us, and a measure of the responsihility we are shouldering with loyalty and conViction. We are determined to consolidate that body's action and ensure its success in fulfilling its great mission in the best possible way. Besides our ef!orts aimed at consolidating the values of our civilization and the authenticity of our people, we have worked towards extending reconciliation to our qeoq~aphic environment and creatinq an atmosphere of understanding and harmony among the peoples of the Maghreb, thus favouring the establishment of the Arab (President Ben Ali) Maghreb union. This is in keeping with the hopes of our successive generations and with the major changes in the world today, which is witnessing the emergence of regional groupings. In our view, the establishment of the Maghreb Union co~responds to the United Nations policy whereby the grouping at the regional level of States with similar characteristics is considered to b~ a factor of rapprochement between peoples, a factor likely to create a new dynamic in international relations based coexistence, co-operation and common interest. We are adopting these same principles in our rel~tions with the countries of the Mediterranean, which must remain a lake of peace and an area of co-operation and understanding. Similarly, our efforts in the framework of other international and regional organizations such as the League of Arab S~ates, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement are in keeping with the ohjectives of the United Nations, ~hich we regard as the ideal forum for the whole of mankind, by virtue of its universality, credibility and moral authority. Convinced that detente and harmony can bear fruit only in a climate of fair and equitable international co~operation, the United Nations has given the economic field particular attention. For that reason it has in its resolutions called for the establishment of a new international economic order, thus showing its deep awareness of the great differences between peoples and the potential impact of those differences on international peace. (President Ben Ali) ,I After its accession to independence Tunisia became only too ~ell aware of the influence of the industrializp.d countries on all aspects of development. ?ar-reaching reforms are necessary in international relations whi~h have a bearing on economic growth, such as protectionist policies, a deteriorati,on in the terms of trade, the worsening of indebtednesa, and the adverse flow of financial resources and the resulting decrease of the capital reserves intended for the development of the countries of the South, particularly in Africa. The countries of the North are therefore urgently called upon to go beyond mete ·patching-up· operations and to adopt a radical restructuring of world economies that safeguards the rights of the countries of the South. The future of the industrialized countries is to a large extent closely linked' to the economies of the third-world countries. While deploring the lack of political will in certain circles, we are resolved to continue our efforts in the foregoing direction, hoping that the next special session of the General Assembly to be devoted to economic recovery will put forward new ideas and bolder initiatives in North-South relations. Although we are satisfied with the decisions taken to alleviate the debts of certain developing countrieg, we call again for the convening of an international conference to examine the Question of indebtedness, taking into account the special features of every dehto~ country. Therp. is in fact no reason why middle-income countries Rhould be excluded from the benefits qranted to other countries with regard to indehtedness. Consideration should he qiven in this respect to the huge efforts they are exerting to introduce structural reforms into their economies, ensure the success of their development plans, and honour their commitments while relying upon their own potentialR. (President B~n All) We are still calling for the improvement of the international monetary si tuation, wh ich represents a major obstacle to the achievement of our legitimate aspil'a tiORS to development flI'ld progress. Our ~ fforts have taken var lous forms. Apart from the suqqestions we made, in that regard, at the Tbronto summit meeting, we have also ra ised th ls problem at the non-aliqned countries' sUlIUIlit meeting in Bel(jrade and within the framework of action undertaken in the internatinnal bodies concerned. --_.---~ (President ~n AU) Today, the third world countries lack neither human potential nor natural resources. This provides us with real possibilities for building up our national economies and for establishing horizontal co~peration among the countries of the South. Hr.lwever, this co-o(.ieratlon in our opinion, cannot be a substi tute for dialogue and co"'Operation with the countries of the North, but it does represent an effective means of utiliZing our resources and our potential in the best possible way, by relying on our own capaci tiel;. While considering that the agreement reached by the two super-Pa,.,ers represents one of the main factors of detente, we hope that this detent:l! will extend to internati~nal relations as a whole and that it will not lead to the rr.arginalization of the interests of the developing countries, which have contributed to a considerable extent to laying the foundations of detente and are sparing no effort to turn it into concrete reality. We welcomed, at the time, the oonclusion by the two blocs of an agreement to reduce the arms race. It appeared to be a p~i tive step towards the global and total suppression of those tools of terror and destruction, which drain away huge amounts of money CI'1d enormous poten tiaL We firmly hope that those resources will now be used to promote developnent and improve the lot of mankind. However, while welcoming and supporting international harmony, which has kindled new hopes in us, we are also aware of the actual or latent dangers threatenil"l9 the world today. These dangers are the consequence not only of long-lasting issues that have yet to be resolved or of the imbalance in the world economy but also of the applications of technological progress that have reaulted in ecological &gradation, pollution of the environment and the disaaters they imply, as well as of the spread of dangerous diseases and various soc ial ev i ls. (!residen~ Ben Ali) An effective solutim to these problems can be achieved, in our opinion, only by making a spirit of solidarity and common awareness prevail in international relations and by drawing up a clear-cut strate9Y in the context of a global project to su~rt detente and promote harmony and civilization. To that end, we call once more for the holding of M international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to study the problenn of growth and environment. Today, I believe, candl tions are propi tious for me to, exhort you, from this• rostrum, to ~hink together about the conclusion, under the auspices of the United Nations, of a Treaty on peace Md progress between countries of the North atd those of the South, based on peaceful coexistence, justice and the pron~tion of co~peration, in keeping with a renewed outlook and lofty principl~s of promising prospects for mankind. We fUlly t.rust that our international Organization, thanks to its wiC'.e experience and prE~-eminent position, will be able to implement that ambitious project to promote civilization, having already scored so many triumph~ on the road of decolonization and haVing brought so many conflicts to an end. In this context, the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, has played a prominent role that has won him our esteem and respect. 1\11Qt1 me to extend to you my best greetings and express the hope that OUI: guiding principle shall always be common action for a better world. 'rhe PRESmmT, On behalf of the General Assenbly, I to1ish to thank the President of the ~public of Tunisia for the important statement he has just made. ~r. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of TUnisia, was escorted from the General Assembly Hall. (President Ben Al1)