A/45/PV.9 General Assembly

The Assembly will nou hear an address by the Presi~ent ~~ the Republic of 'Sudn8llle. Mr. Remsevak Shftnknr, President of the RQPublic of Suripame, wot escortod intp The PRliSIDB!a: On behl!lf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome tQ the United Notions the President of the Republic of Suriname, Mr. Romsewak Shonkor, and to invite him to address the Assembly. President SBANKAR: On behalf of the Government and the people of SurinlllMt.. I brinq you qreetinqB 08 well os cOilqratulat!ons on your wum,illl@us election to the presidency of the Genar~l Assembly at its forty~fifth session. Your 4!plom&~tc skilla and insiqut into international affairs are well knoun and, indeed, widely respected. We are thereforo pleased to soe you in thia high office and offer you our full support. Ne should alao like to ozpre8~ our appreciation to your predecessor, AMbassador Joseph Kervin Garba, for the skilful and knowledgeable manner in which he carried out the functions of the presidency durinq the previous session. rurthe~~6, I ahoul4 like to pay a tribute to the Secretary-General, Jovier Pere~ de Cuallar, .bo ODce again put forth his best efforts in the perfor.aance of his tasta. He ls feoinq an endlesa stream of prcblemB, Dot least of which i. the ,re~6Dt .1tueticD in the Gulf r6q10n, and he meets those challen~~~ wltJl diplomatic tsct and eki!l, patience end wisdom. ~ delegation would like at this time to evail itself of this opportunity to bid a hearty ..lcolIQ to the ne.st Member of our family of nations I the (PresideDt Sbppkar) principality of Liechtenstein. Ws look forwcrd to developing and maintaining fruitful relationa with this sister nation. It is gratifying that in a time of great changes the United Nations is resolutely carryinq out its mandate and continuing to demonstrate its use~ulne8S and importance aa & legitimate vehicle for the preservation and consolidation of peace and security in the world. It is the impartiality of the United Nations, its ability to take all legitimate interests into ac~ount, that ma~es it the moat focal and appropriate institution for making and keeping peace. rhe United Nations system, which was established OD the foundation of a legal system of civilized international coexistence, has much too often beon involved in achieving peace in the face of the hard geality of the balance of power and of international law and justice. (President ShankDX) If the 45 years of e:dstence of this Organisation has taught us anything~ it is that the United Nations is a durable and highly viable organisation and that the vision of the founding fathera was far-sighted. Now that the United Nations Charter haB been fUlly recognised 8B a valid and essential 'Juide, we cherish the hope that it can 118et the challenges of the 19908 and beyond. Two yearn ago I already had the pleasure of informing the Assembly about the naw phase Suriname had entered into DS a consequence of the genuine 4~sire of the SurlnBmese people for democracy. But then it was already clear that the transfo~ationof the political and social order would not be an easy task. In fact, diverging interests in society have been impeding the realization of the ob'ectives set by the Government for this phase of the democratization process, in which prime consideration ls given to the strengthening' of a common awareness, a general eocietal participation and a national conSDnsus in the interest of a sustained national development. My Government was pleased to find that in the community a number of initiatives were being taken aimed at promoting the essential national harmony, so ~. responded by initiating national dialogue as a constructive consensus mechanism. This mechanism, which embodies the mobilization of all soci~l groups, should offer possihilitieB to work out strategies and to discuss the implementation of programmes aimed at the realisation of our national development. We 40 realise that this national development should take place within a specific institutional political and lsgal framework which is applicable to the entire territory ad which promotes national stability, peace and security. It is obvious that without sustained national economic and social development all our efforts to reinstate and promote a constitutional democracy will be ie vain. Therefore, we are convinced that our endeavours should be directed towards forging (President ShDDkar) the national consensus I mentioned earlier, and towards overcoming the present economic impodiments. With its vast maritime area and hinterland and its abundant natural resources, Suriname has the physical basis to provide its population with an adequate living standard. However, the present social and economic conditions in the country have a negative impact on the full utilization of its natural potentials. Of course, we are convinced that no responsible Government can, for whatever reason, simply brush aside sound expert advice with regard to the internal causes of declining productivity and increasing inflation. Indeed, my Government has seriously embarked on the national preparation of a carefully considered programme, inspired by the need both for adjustment and for stability. We draw justification for our caution from a review of the results of adjustments which have been introduced in some countries and have had serious effects on the stabiilty of democratic processes. Therefore, when external economic and political pressure is exerted in defiance of solemn commitments sealed in a treaty and in disregard of the historically determined complexity of our society, we do perceive not only a deviation from formal lofty principles, but also an unwarranted attempt to interfere in the decision-making process in our society. I am well aware that my country's problems, which I have 'ust briefly touched upon, are not unique and apply to other countries as well. !bis is just one illustration of the adverse tendency in international ecoDomic relations, which is characterized by an ever-increasing gap between the industrialized North and the developing countries that are faced with increased dependency on for&iqn development-financing and the stea~ily groving impoverishment of their populations. Many of these developing countries nove ceased to grow in per capitG terms, and phenomena such as poverty, misery, malnutrition and even hunger are becoming more and more a common concern of many of these countries. In most developing countries, immense human deprivation persistm: 1 billion people live in absolute poverty and 900 million receive no education, while 14 million children die every year before the age of five. During the eighteenth special sesaion of the General Assembly, ~ .~~ April, representatives of various countries from the North and the South expressed their increasing disappointment with the results of the development strategy planned for the 1980s. The expression "lost decade" strikingly illustrates the enormous disillusion with regard to the economic position of the developing countries, despite the immense technological changes and dynamic growth that characterised the development of the rich countries. There is a growing awareness that our world is one of interdependent relationships, and that developments in one part of the world unavoidably affect other parts. Against this background it is not acceptable that islands of profusion and wealth e:dst in the midst of an o~ean of scarcity and poverty. To reduce this gap between the rich and the poor countries it is desirable that urgent and effective measures be taken, such as the transfer of technology, the solution of the ezternal-debt probl~m, access to the world trade market and a4e~uate e:ternal financing. In this respect, my delegation hQpes that the adoption of the new programme of action by the second Paris Conference on Least Developed Countries vill Indeed contribute to redressing the deterioration in the majority of developing countries. More than ever before the eentr!ll role of the hue factor in the devoloplllent process has to bl recogui.ed. Sealth, nutrition, housing, populatioD polici.s and other social services are a key to improving both individual welfare and succe.afu1 development. Education and training, which must be available to all, are Is••ntial for improving the quality of human resource. ud for sustaining economic growth. The pr,slnt international ait",,,d.on has, after the fundamental global chang.s that toot plac. at the aDd of the d.ecad.., .ntarad a ne" IIr&. SOIll of the key assumptions, as vell al ~tructQr.c and attitudaa bas.d OD policie, and CODcepts of the cold-war era, have beeolH ohsolete ad are liO longer adequate to serve the needs and imperatives of today. The .nd of the cold war n4 the .nd of the East-Wlst confrontation DOW allow for cost savings through disarmaMent, which, in turn, can tran~ <.&Ate into more resources for doveloprlllnt progrannes in the. dev.loping countri••• AloDCJ "ith the poa!tiva cha!MJ58 that. have occurred in IIDJ' parts of the world, the current tur.oil and explosive situatioD iD the Gulf region deMOnstrates, howevor, that relazatlon of ten.iOD between the two aaiD Power8 has DOt .-braced all ar... of international relations Dcr has it led to a solution of ODO of the key interaational i.sue•• 'rhe 4oveloPl8nts in the Gul' r89ioD bave Dot only altered the balance of pover in that region, but have alao alterod the balance of supply and 4eilalld in the world oil IIillrket. n.se event. have already had a tremendous .ffect on the ecoDolli"s of aany 4evelopiag countries, especially the non-oil-producing one•• file Gaver_nt of Suri_aM cODd..... the invadon of Kuwait od supports Security COUDcil r••olutions 060 (1900) and 001 (1900). Ne underline the prine!ples of gooc1-noigbbourl1ne.s, respect for the 80vereigDty, imdependence aDd territorial integrity of all State. cnd the inaami••ibllity of any att.-pt to change. country's aystelll of gover"Dt by force. Tbe present crisia once again brings into focus the vulnerability of -.all State., in tems both of their .ecurity 04 of their sovereipt;r, and the need for special regional and international ..chant... addre.81n9 potentially dangerous threat. to the security aDd soverelgnty of ...11 State.. Por thl. rea80D we urge the Secretary-GeD8~al to ezplore .ays and ..ans for the facilities to be put In place within the freaework of the United .ations Charter. !he pro.eat c~lsiB a180 highlights the urgent need for IIOre intensive efforts to be made for the resolution of other cris•• such aa the quO.tiOD of Pal••tic•• ID ~~r vi.", a iuat and lasti89 settl"'Dt of the Middlo Baat probl.. is Dot possible without fully tuiDCJ into accowat the legitiaate right8 of tho Palestinian people, based OD Security Council re.olutions 242 (lg67) and 138 (1073). Baving sa14 thll1, .. f.el that a cosprehe••ive, lasting 04 peaceful .olution to the Middl. Bast probl.. should be puraued within the fr8llOvork of an Intornetional peace confer.nce und.~ the au.pie.. of the United Ration. and with the participation of all relevant pa~ti••• I-rrov.d Ba.t-Weat rQlationB have provided a poaiti.. ~ntua acro., the full raDge of arra. coatl'ol ...4 41aaraaMDt ilau.l. Although mOlll.'e hopeful bllat.l'al sgr.....Bt••uch al the Tr.aty OD the Bl1r1iut1on of IDt.aMC11at.-R8I19_ u4 In the field. of dlc&r.aaD8nt and cODfidence-buil41og ,,"UI'OS, the .zploaive situatioD iD the Gulf aroa deMOn,trlt•• the loabl'e 1'••11ty of the era. build-up. Buaan beiag. are Dot infallible, so in a str.nuous situation ev.n a ••ll-intended d.ci.ioD can I'••ult ia a .i,calculation and lead to a ,eriou. threat to ..ntind, world peace aDd aecurltYI c.l'tainly iD a 'ituation like the OC. in the Gulf ~egion, vher. it has already beOD proved that 8e-e cOUDtl'io. do have cheaical aa4 nuclear weapons. Many Ne~1' State. have tt.e and ti.. again called - without .198ificent relulte howcv.1' - UpoD thG interDational cc.aUDity to Dogotiat~ a binding COMMitment to gon.re! and complete 4i~a~Dt under eff.cti¥e i~tol'Dational control. COIIPlete d1lJal1l8Mct .hGuld include nuclear ar2G, ch••ieal weapons &Dd other weaponl of .... d••truction. The Gulf cl'iaia BUSt have taught UB at leaat OD. le••onl that the prolif.l'atloD of CbDalcal aa4 nucl.ar weaponl .uat be ~flnit.ly and effectively stopped. MF d.legation il ther.fol'o ple•••d to note that a 1ar9. part of the work of the CocfereDCO OD Dl.a~nt at it. 1990 ••••iOD va. d.vot.d to tho oDgO!ag .1aboratioD of a BUltilat.l'al convention on the atoekpll1Dg of cbealcal weapon,. Forc.. of chUCJ8 have IDdead had lUDy effect. aDd provid.d a po_rful hlpetue to tho stl'uggl0 againet doa1aatioa BUch •• the BOvo..nt agaiDst aalrtbe14 in South Africa. rore., fol' • lODg pedOd" hra•••D the lIall!! weapoD ull04 to 8Upp:'••• the "ill of the ,,'odty of the South AfdClUl people. Ther...ro _re than enoUCJb (Pr••ldtpt Shapkar) us. tb.. again.t the oppr••••d people of South Africa. It i. encouraging to note weapon. at the di.posal of the Apartb.id regA.a and they 4id not lack readinea. to that the authoriti.. in Pretoria have at long last acc.pted the inevitability of the demise of A;arth.i4 and conceded that Degotiation is the only way to avoid a dang.rous futur.. ..lson Mandela'. triumphant relea.e fro. prison was dramatic evid.nce of a changing South Africa. My GoverDDent welcomes the joint declaration of ~e Govarnment of South Africa and the African National Congress of South Africa (ARC) of 6 August 1990 and the adoption by consensus of resolution 44/244 on 17 September 1990. We look forward to the time when the ph.nomenon of AR1rtb'id will truly be eztinct and a united. Don-racial South Africa. bas.d OD the United Hations D.claration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences ln Southern Africa ha. join.d the Organization. The winds of change in int.rnational und.rstanding hav~ also touched OD CaMbodia. After many y.ars of conflict and suffering in that country the recent agr••ment. r,ach.d in Jakarta. to fo~ a national council based on the United Natione peace proposal_ la a 8ign that the parti.. are moving towards a more concrete and hopeful state. clearing the way for a comprehensive and durable solution. Me vhole-h.arte41y welcome this agre.ment end urge the world community to encourage thea. develo~nta which will offer the Cambo4ian people De. perspective. for peace. stability and a~curity. Th. prevailing level of international understanding ls also having its beneficial impact OD the problem of the Koroan peninSUla. The praiseworthy initiative of t.he leaders of ths two States in arriving at a negotiated sottlement deserves the support aDd encouragement of the world community. The Government of SurinBme supports the aspirations of the South Korean Government to become a Member of the Organ12atioa. .s it ls not unfavourably disposed towards separate (Eresident Shaotar) membership of the two States involved in anticipation of the unification of the Korean people. ~e developments in Central America have now reached a stage which nurtures hope for a durable peace in the region but it is necessary to secure stability through progress in economic and social development. Suriname follows with great interest the preparations for the forthcoming elections in the Republic of Haiti. We cherish the hope that the electoral process will tote place in a peaceful way, offering the Haitian people nev hope to decide their own destiny. The nature and scope of global environmental,problems are DOW widely known. Surlname is ready to contribute to a solution of these problems by preserving a substantial part of its rain forest. To this 8nd, however, we have to overcome some obstacles. (ElAIident Shcpka~) Our esisting institutional framework regarding enviroumenta1 policy has to be strengthened and supplemented while supplementl'ry laws and regulations on the enviroDjnent need to be enacted. At the regional level, Suriname has actively played its part in this regard within the contest of the Treaty of Amazonian Co-operation. We do hope that, during the upcoming discussions at regional and international levels, agreement will be reached with respect to solutions of problems related to the destruction of the environment. During the seventeenth special session, held in February this year, the General Assembly adopted by consensus a Political Declaration and a Global Programme of Action regarding the problem of illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse. During that session, practically all States and different organizations paid great attention to this problem and ite negative e~fects. My Government has already taken measures at the national, bilateral and multilateral levels to prevent, curb and eradicate the illegal production, consumption and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. We realise, though, that much remains to be done. I am taking this opportunity to pay a tribute to the United Nations for its constructivo work in this field. The diplomatic activity pursued by the international community over many years through the United Nations has at last begun to bear fruit. This, among othe~ matters, is mainly due to an international climate in which tensions have been eaBed by markedly improved relations between the two major Powers. The international community is rediscovering the usefulness and indispensability of multllateralism. It has been given nGW opportunities actively to perform its task of maintenBDce of international peace and security. The United (President ShDDkar) Nations and its principal organs are beginnin9 to live up to the high expectations of the world community. However, this somewhat idyllic portrayal of ";he changes in international ·.political relations must not lead us to overlook the sources of international conflict that keep darkening the ekyg such as world poverty, the ~ebt problem, environmental destruction, the rampant drug problem and the injustices that mark international economic relations. These sources, plus the recent conflict that has arisen in the Gulf region wh~ch threatens world peace, have proved clearly that expected benefits of an improved political climate are neither automatic nor balanced. World history has shown time and again that the propensity of certain States to take unilateral action in order to further their national interests has been the greatest threat to international security because it has led to tensions, conflict and the use of military force. The current complex and contradictory international situation makes it necessary that the peace-keeping potential of multilateralism be exploited to the fullest for the benefit of all mankind.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I "ish to thank the President of the Republic of Suriname for the statement he has just made. Mt. Ramsewok Shankar, President of the RSPub1ic of Suriname, vaS escorted from the General A9sftmbly Hall.