A/46/PV.22 General Assembly
The Assembly will now
hear au address by the President and Commander-in-Chief of tbe Armed Forces of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
General Ibrahim Babanuida. President and Commander-in-Chief of tke Armed
Forces of the Federal ReDublic of Nigeria. was escorte& into the General
Assemblv Hall.
'l'he PRESIDENT (interpretation from Arabie): On behalf of the
General Assembly. 1 have the honour to weleome to the United Nations the
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria, Ais Excellency General Ibrahim Babangida, and to invite him to
address the Assembly.
President BABANGIDA: It is a great honour for me to address this
Assembly, both as President of tbe Federal Republic of Nigeria and as the
Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). In those capacities,
Sir, may 1 congratulate you on your election as President of this forty-sixth
session of the General Assembly. Your election is undoubtedly a great tribute
to your talents and a recognition of the contributions of your country to
furthering the ideals of the United Nations. 1 am confident that under your
able guidance the deliberations of this session Will be brought to a fruitful
ConclusiOn.
1 wish also to pay a tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Guido de Marc0 of
Malta, for the able mamer in which he conducted the affairs of the last
session.
1 would like ta express my profound appreciation to the
Secretary-General, MT. Javier Peres de Cueilar, who for the past 10 years has
put his sterling gunlitiea at the service of our Organisation. His
outstanding contributions as an advocate of peace and his support for the
cause of the underprivileged have endeared him to the international
eoinmunity. As his term of office draus to a close, I wish him good luck in
his future endeavours.
Prom a membership of 51 in 1945, the United Nations has grown to an
Organisation of 166 States with the admission at this session of the
Democratic People's Bepublic of Korea. the Bepublic of Korea, the Pederated
States of Microneaia, the Bepublic of the Xarshall Islands, and the Republics
of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. 1 join in the welcome that has been
ertended to them.
In the four and a half decades of the existence of the United Nations,
the prospects for building a safe and secure world for a11 mankind have never
been brighter. Tbe end of the cold war, the dramatic changes in Eastern
Europe, the encouraqing agreements coacluded by the United States and the
Soviet Union in the field of nuclear disarmament coupled with the latest
unilateral measures announced by President George Bush, the progress achieved
in the resolution of regional conflicts and the growing convergence of vievs
on democratization and its linkage with development have a11 combined to
create a climate more conducive to genuine international cooperation.
The challenge ta the international community, therefore, is to seize this
opportunity to establish a new world order in uhich the United Nations Will be
the instrument for the promotion and maintenance of international peace and
security, for the harmonisation of the interests of a11 States and for the
(President Babanaida)
promotion of global prosperity. This new world order must be colloctively
defined, collectively designed and collectively defended.
Af fica, like other part8 of the world, is adjusting to recent dramatic
global developments. Our peoples are takiag a critical look at the conduct of
politics an6 the change8 necessary to brin9 about stability, security and
development. ?or that reason, the issues of democratiration, of human rights
and of popular participation in political and economic processes have assumed
important dimensions in the deliberations of the OAU.
Xa June 1991, the OAU, at its swmnit meeting in Abuja, the new Nigerian
capital, deliberated again on thesc issues. The summit resolved that African
countries should fully embrace the democratic culture in order to enable our
peoples to enjoy fundamental human rights and participate offectively in
decisions that affect their livea and their well-being. Naturally, mode16 of
democratiaation must vary and must take into account differing culture8 and
other environmental factors. Each country is therefore evolving its variant
of democracy at a different pace of +: elopment.
In Nigeria, for example, the Transition to Civil Rule Programme is a
carefully phased process in which democratic government is expected to proceed
with political learning, institvtional adjustment and the reorientation of
political culture.
(m)
By the end of 1992, we 411 have held elections to a11 tiers of
Gavernment and completed the transition prograrmm that was launched in 1986.
Other app:oaches to deatocratiration , especially the Hational Conference
variety, have entailed the rapid displacement of incumbeut mauagers of State
by transitional leaders who, in turu, Will consnence the procesa of transition.
Economie development nurtures democracy. However, underdevelopment is a
threat and obstacle to democracy. We conraend the peoples of Bastern Europe
aad the Soviet Union for their decision ta build democratic societies. We
also note the significant finaucial and economic assistauce that the Western
industrialiaed countries and Japaa have decided to offer them. !fhis is in
direct contrast to the virtual neglect of Africau efforts. If this neglect
and this indifferenre continue, disillusionment may arise 6th democracy in
the face of persistent and extreme economic hardship.
Mare of this inter-relationship betveen democracy aud development, maay
countries in Africa are pursuiq ecouomic reform aide by aide with the
restructuring of the political processes. Self-reliance is the cornerstone of
our neu thinking on economic refonn. At the individual couutry level, we have
embarkad upon structural adjustment programmes desigued to liberaliae our
economies. 'lbrough deregulation, we expect the private sector to play the
leading role in revitalising our economies. At the continental level, at ouf
summit meeting, held in Abuja last June, we adopted the Treaty establishing
tbe African Economie Comunity, uitb the objective of creating an integrated
conunon market. Our goal is a fully developed Africa, able to feed itself.
capable of being the engine of its own grouth aad able to participate actively
in the world economic system.
Structural adjustment in Africa, without a conducive international
l nVIrOlunent* l oomm incapable of turning our economy around and ensuring the
stability of our polity. It rnust be ssid that hfrica’s efforts have not
received the requieite international support.
Hay 1 rocs11 that in June 1986 the United Nations adopted the Programme
of Action for African Rconomic Recovery and Dsvelopment, which covrtred the
period from 1986 to 1990. A review of ths Programme showed that its
implementation vas most unsatîsfactory. Hence, the overall performance of the
Africaa economy sinca 1986 has heen dismal. The reasona cari be attributed
mainly to the debt burden, the collapse of commodity prices, the low levels of
resource flous from the developed countries, as well as natural calamities.
Disappointed by the poor performance of the Programme of Action, African
countriea decided to preaent a Nev Agenda of Action for the Development of
Africa in the 19908, rather than approach the international community for a
second programme of action. The Agenda envisages that the African gross
domestic product as a whole must grow by at least 6 per cent per annum in real
terms in order to enable the continent to double per capita income by the year
2015. This level of growth will require $30 billion in resources during 1992.
We expect that the international community, in cooperation with Africa,
ri11 now strive to see that the New Agenda is implemented in accordance with
Africa’s needs and aspirations. The international community must accept the
principle of shared responsibility and full partnership with Africa, and
firmly commit itself to giving far more support than it did during the period
from 1986 to date. Africa is not, and should not, be made an irrelevant
variable in the world development equation. The United Nations must play a
decisive role in Africa's quest and determination to overcome its stalled
deve 1 opment .
( ILraeahaa~-@&Q-!l.!&id.Q )
Way 1 emphasiae that Africa's indebtedness ia the single major obstacle
to development in the continent. The debt prablem is a central element of
Arrica's critical ecoaomic situation. Africs's debt is crippling. The
realities are as startling as they are depressing. Africa's total debt equals
102.3 per cent of its gross national product aad more than 300 per cent of its
total exports. On average, 30 per cent of tbe continent's expert earnings is
used to service debt. For the least developed countries. the percentage is
more than double the average. We cannot continue in this way.
There is an urgent need for political dialogue between the creditor
nations and the debtor nations on the debt crisis. Let us consider tbe idea
of debt forgiveness for credible and sustained structural adjustment
programmes. Let us consider the idea of debt forgiveness for credible
environmental protection programmes. Let us consider the idea of debt
forgiveness for credible democratisation processes.
Beyond the issue of debt, what Africa needs is a special financial
package, a kind of Marshall Plan, which would demonstrate the sincerity of the
developed world for the plight of Africa, right historical wrongs and set the
world on the path of a new order that is just ma equitable.
In recent times, the world has been concerned about su& major
environmental problems as the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming,
acid rain and haxardous and toxic vaste dumping. Africa 'a environmental
problems of drought, deforestation, desertification and erosion are no less
severe than the environmental problems of industrialixed countries. We have,
within our limited resources, made efforts to contain environmental
degradation which, in the developing countries, is closely linked to poverty
and underdevelopment. The promotion of economic and social development.
(President Babangida)
therefore, conrtitutes an essentiel factor in the protection of the
environment.
As we look forward to the forthcoming Vnited Mationu Conference on
Environment and Development. we urge the international comunity to conunit
itself fully to the pursuit of environmentally sound technology, which will be
available to a11 countries. In order to fulfil that comnitment, the
Conference should set up an international mechanirm to implement a truly
global programme of action. Such a programme ahould embrace a11 aspects of
the threat to the environment, without prejudice to the development
aspirations of Africa and other developing regions.
The poritive snd dramatic changea in the world have facilitat.sd the
resolution of some regional conflicts. We are however concerned that a number
of other conflict8, the continuation of which threatens international pence
nnd securi ty, romain unresolved. We urge a11 countries concerned to avail
themselves of the present international climate to seek peaceful solutions to
their disputes under the aegis of the United Nations and of their regional
organiaations.
The Organination of African Unity (OAU) continues to seek ways to improve
its machinery for resolving African conflicts and for bringing cnduring peace
to our continent. Currently we are seeking solutions to the conflicts in the
Sudan, Somalia and Rwanda. As Chairman of the OAU 1 am personally engaged in
these processes.
At the subregional level, the Economie Community of West African Statea
IECOWAS) continues to be actively involved, at great cost to its members, in
helping the peopla of Liberia bring peace to their country. A apecial ECOWAS
committee was established in July to take a fresh look et ways and means of
advancing the peace process in Liberia. We are gratified that agreement vos
reached by a11 parties to the conflict to encamp and disarm the varring
factions and to establish an electoral commission to conduct legislative and
presidential elections.
1 want to use the privilege of this occasion once again to appeal to our
brothers in Africa to bury the hatchet cnd seek a peaceful settlement of the
problems that have torn them and their cnuntries apart.
This Assembly bas, for over 30 years, supported the aspirations of the
people of southern Africa for the establishmeat of a non-racial democratic
society. In line with that position the Assembly declared apartheid a crime
It-!malQotBabW)
against humanity aa proceeded ta recommend the imposition of . ans on the
Soutb African regime. These years of international pressure, %.d the struggle
of the people of southern Africa, have haa a great impact on the thinking and,
consequently, tbe policies of the Government of South Africa.
At the last OAU Summit we took coqnizance of the positive changes that
bd taken place in that country. We welcomed them. Tbe Uaited Nations must
take great satisfaction ana prise in its 0wIt siqnificant contribution ta
brinqing about the changes. Lover6 of freedom and a11 those who suffered. a11
those uho are still suffering, ana those uho paid tic supreme sacrifice must
be comended on the proqress made towaras t.he aavn of a new order in soutbern
Africa.
South Africa has yet to arrive at the final destination. The
international community must, tberefore, remain vigilant until the goals of
freedom, justice aa a non-racial and democratic society are achieved in South
Africa.
We note the effort to stemp out communal violence resulting in the
meeting which took place in Johannesburg on 14 September 1991. durinq which a
national peace accord was siqned by the African National Conqress, tbe Inkatha
Preedom Party ana tbe National Party. We connnend a11 those responsible for
this agreement.
We recoqnize that cooperation between a new South Africa and other
African countries witb the requisite potential cari act as a catalyst for
economic qrowth and development. Africa is prepared to welcome a new.
non-racial and democratic South Africa as a tespectable member of the comity
of nations ana to establish normal ana fruitful relations with it.
(Fresident.Bebanoida)
Wore thaa at any tima in the part the Widdle East is now on the threehold
of a major paace effort.. Pecent developments, particularly the agreement to
convene a peace conference, bave indeed strenythened our convict.ion that the
road to peace in the rsgion is through negot.iation and net war. We
congratulate a11 those who are working tirslessly for the conveniny of the
psace confersnce. It behover a11 partios to the conflict to demonstrate their
desire for peace. Ue therefore appeal to thon to sparo no effort in order to
arrive at a jurt and dutahle solution that will guarantee peaceful coexistence
in the reyion.
During the Gulf War, the world was gripped with fear over ths possible
use of chemical weapons. We in Africa have always emphasized that nations
should not only forswaar the use of theae wsapons, as stipulated in the 1925
Geneva Protocol, but also aupport the complote prohibition of their
development, production and stockpiling, as well as their elimination from the
arsenal8 of those who poaaeaa them. We therefore t:all for the urgent
conclusion of the chemical weapons convention.
We note with satisfaction the agreement reached ao far between the United
States and the Soviet Union in the field of nuclsar disarmament. We
congratulate President George Bush on the far-reaching initiatives he
announced a feu daya ago and we equally welcome the prompt response by
President Mikhail Gorbachev. Thpse acts of statesmanship represent a
significant milestone in efforts to avert a nuclear catastrophe.
We in Africa have taken concret0 steps in the pursuit of OUT
long-standing Declaration to make OU~ continent a nuclear-weapon-free zone.
Africa is equally concerned about the increasing pzoliferation of conventional
weapons. Given their dcstructivo capacity, their threat to international
peace and security and tbe %normous huma.18 and financial drain they constitute
to a11 nations, especially the developing countsies, the international
connnunity should begin in earnest to address the question of the arms race in
conventional weapons in a constructive and non-disctiminatory manner.
In a few years' time, the United Nations Will mark its golden jubilee.
In the four sud a half decades of its existence it has provided the forum for
defusing tensions through dialogue, even where it could net resolve the
issues. It has been the catalyst for the ending of colonialism and for tbe
realisation of the fundamental rights of peoples to self-determination and
independence.
The United Nations Charter embodies princfples that are fundemental to
the achievement of peace. It is our duty, therefore. to strengthen the
Organization. In doiug SO we must strive to adapt its major organs to tbe
realities of today sud to tbe demands of tomorrow.
It is time to address in a very serious mariner the composition of the
Security Council. It is one major organ of tbe United Nations tbat needs to
be democratized. Its membership of 15 has become inadequate in view of tbe
expanded membership of the United Nations since 1965 when the Security Council
was last enlarged. The limitation of tbe permanent membership to the present
five has become botb anachronistic and unrepresentative.
The logic of democracy csunot be confined within the borders of
individual States, but must, of necessity, be applicable to the operation of
international organisations. ft is therefore our considered opinion that
there is need ta expand the membership of the Security Councfl and to admit
additional permanent members representing a11 the regions of the world.
The deep conunitment of Africsn Stater to tho United Nations bas heen
demonntrated over tho yoarr. As a furthsr mark of that comnitmsnt the
Organimation of African Unity has preaanted a liat of distinguished candidat.sa
for considsration to aerva tho Organiration in the capacity of
Secretary-General. Africa’s case for tho office has been misinterpreted to
mean apecial pleadinp. Our cane ir bared on conpotence and justice. Africa
is net to 9ive tho world itr bert in thr purruit of the lofty goal8 that
informed the ~~atablishment of the United Nations. Af rica therefore cal la upon
the rert of the world to apply a proper aense of justice in considering the
appointment of a new United Nationa Secretary-General. Ws strongly believe
that the nert Secretary-General should bo an African.
For UI in Africa, a new world order should 9ive primacy to the United
Nations, which should be revitalired to fulfil ite mandate under the Charter
a8 the principal instrument for ths maintenance of international peace and
security. It should be a forum for harmonixing the intereate of the strong
and the weak. A11 countries must recognize the universal applicability of
international law because the future of humanity ultimately deponds on that
recognition.
In addition, for the new world order to be truly equitable a11 Members of
the United Nation8 should commit thema. lves to the principle that prosperity,
like security, is indivisible. The persistent neglect of the economic
circumstances of most countries in the third world puta at 9reat risk lasting
harmony in inter-State relations. The division of the world into a rich
minority and a poor majority poses a threat to international peace and
security. In the recent paat the world has seen the end of certain rigidi?.ies
in international political relations. Thie has given us a11 new hope. Le t 11:;
slro eliminate the rlgldities In internatloael economic snd financlal
relations.
We ère nine yesrr from tho end of a momentous Century, one that ha8
rltnessed warn, liberation snd mon'8 conquert of epace. Lot u8 croate a new
rorld order that would be beoeficial to all. Let a11 nation8 rerolve to make
thie last decade of the Century a decade of peste, a decade of necurity and
otability, a decade of racial harmony and a decade for development.
me (interpretatioa from Arabic)i On behalf of the
General Aseembly 1 wiah to thank thc Preaident and Comsnder-in-Chier of the
Armed Forcer of the Yederal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the
Organisation of African Unity for the important statement ho hss just made.
liaeeral.WBabae~& Preswmt mdxQfmnau Qf ths Arma
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