A/47/PV.22 General Assembly

The Assembly will first hear a statement by the Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Lesotho. Maior-General Elias Phisoana Ramaema. Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Lesotho, was escorted to the rostrum.

I have great pleasure in welcoming the Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Lesotho His Excellency Major-General Elias Phisoana Ramaema, and inviting him to address the Assembly. Mr. RAMAEMA (Lesotho): On behalf of the Lesotho delegation, and on my own account, I wish first and foremost, to congratulate you. Sir, on your election as President of the forty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly. It is indeed a deserved acknowledgement of your personal attributes, as well as eloguent recognition of the important role that your country has always played in world affairs. I cannot but also seize this opportunity to express our appreciation to Ambassador Samir Shihabi of Saudi Arabia for the dedication and competence with which he conducted the deliberations of the forty-sixth session. We are proud to see at the helm of our Organization an eminent son of Africa, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. We warmly congratulate him on his well deserved election to the office of Secretary-General. His achievements to date are a source of satisfaction and pride to us all. We share in the joy of welcoming to the family of nations all the new Member States. Their presence within our ranks is a further fulfilment of the principle of universality of the United Nations. The forty-seventh session of the General Assembly has begun against a backdrop of renewed confidence in the ability of the United Nations to facilitate the resolution of a vast array of problems facing humanity. Thanks to the demise of the cold war and the debilitating Power-bloc politics of old, the inherent dynamic of the United Nations has been unleashed, giving reason for optimism that the Organization is now poised to assume a major role in shaping the new world order. Even as the main elements of the new order begin to crystallize, their attendant uncertainties necessitate that we duly voice some of our primary concerns and desires regarding international relations in the post-cold-war era. It is our firm belief that the socio-economic and political transformation the world is undergoing will not culminate in a better and safer world unless it is guided by the ideals and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and unless we acknowledge that, diverse as mankind is, its fundamental interests are common and indivisible. Without our being complacent, it can be said that, with the ideological antagonism of the past now overcome, never before in the history of international relations has such a congenial atmosphere prevailed for collective action towards creating a secure and viable future for mankind. (Mr. Ramaema. Lesotho) One positive development in this connection is that, increasingly, there is among States, large and small, a happy convergence of shared values and ideals for a better world. It is in this spirit that we should focus undivided attention on the problems confronting the world. Potentially disruptive to the new world order and to the cohesion of nation States is the resurgence of the phenomenon of intolerance, which is assuming prominence in many parts of the globe. Intolerance, whether manifested through racism, religion or ethnicity, breeds discrimination and is a negation of civilized norms and a threat to world peace. Optimistic as we are that a new world order will bring about an enlightened approach to inter-State relations, small States have no option but to continue to emphasize the centrality of the principle of sovereignty and equality of States. Tendencies towards domination and hegemony are still a factor to reckon with, hence our concern with the issue of the security of small States. Equally, we cannot fail to register the lingering perception on the part of developing countries, particularly small States, that the post-cold-war era can potentially lead to their political and economic marginalization. We trust that a matter of such importance as this will evoke an appropriate response on the part of the international community in the period ahead. The new world order we are striving to build will remain on a shaky pedestal unless it places at the centre issues relating to the dignity of the human person. Happily, there is already a global consensus acknowledging that democracy and respect for fundamental human rights are a starting-point for international stability and a foundation for a world free from national and regional conflicts. It is in this context that we hail the decisions of the (Mr. Ramaema. Lesotho) Assembly to convene in the not-too-distant future international conferences on human rights, on women and on development. The clarion call of the moment is for countries of the world to create truly democratic societies. We note with satisfaction that many countries in Africa are increasingly embarking on that road. In the case of Lesotho, arrangements are very advanced towards holding the first genuine democratic elections since Lesotho attained independence in 1966. It may be recalled that the military assumed power in 1986 in order to restore peace, to foster national reconciliation and to set in motion arrangements for a return to democratic rule. We have pledged to return to the barracks and to hand the reins of power to a democratically-elected government. Our commitment in this regard is both unshakeable and irreversible. Furthermore, the military will not be a contestant at the forthcoming multiparty general election. Its primary role will be to ensure that the election is free and fair. To achieve maximum transparency, several countries as well as international organizations have already agreed to send observer missions to witness the process. The cause of restoring democracy in Lesotho has been found worthy of material support and encouragement by many friendly countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Australia. For this we are profoundly thankful. In the same breath, we would also like to express our deep appreciation for the assistance and support received from the Commonwealth, the European Economic Community (EEC), and the Organization of African Unity (OAU). In keeping with its resolution 46/137 on "Enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections", the United Nations has provided highly valuable assistance through the Geneva-based Centre for Human Rights. It goes without saying that in the wider context Of the democratization process, the holding of democratic elections is but the beginning. The vital test will be to sustain democratic rule. Newly-emerging democracies will have to contend with the challenges to stability brought about by poverty and underdevelopment. The efforts of many developed countries in nurturing the seed of democracy will need to be complemented by enhanced resource flows from developed countries to assist developing countries not only to escape from the vicious circle of underdevelopment, but also to institutionalize a culture of democracy. We in Lesotho are about to hand over power to a civilian government against the background of serious socio-economic problems accentuated by a devastating drought engulfing the whole of the southern region. I express heartfelt thanks to all those who responded positively to the Geneva Pledging Conference organized in June by the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community to mobilize international assistance towards mitigating the plight faced by countries of the subregion. We are happy to join many delegations in congratulating the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his report entitled "An Agenda for Peace" (A/47/277). Lesotho is in full agreement with the perceptions and conclusions set forth therein. The stability of our subregion remains a source of concern. South Africa continues to be in the grip of violence. While we note that the parties concerned have agreed to resume talks, we urge the South African Government, the liberation movements and all other democratic forces to continue the (Mr. Ramaema. Lesotho) process of negotiations leading to the creation of a new and democratic South Africa. Similarly, we encourage them to persevere in their efforts to find viable modalities for the cessation of violence. We welcome the recent decision by the Security Council enabling the Secretary-General to monitor violence in South Africa and facilitate the restoration of negotiations. We equally appreciate the recent release of some political prisoners and hope that the remaining political prisoners will be released on schedule as agreed by the parties concerned. Notwithstanding continuing initiatives by the OAU towards conflict management and resolution in Africa, many Africans continue to suffer as a result of internal strife and regional conflicts. We are hopeful that the suffering in Mozambique and Angola will soon be brought to an end. We fully welcome the involvement of the United Nations in the ongoing process towards restoring normalcy, which will give the people of the two sister countries greater hope for the future. The human suffering and political impasse in both Somalia and Liberia deserve urgent attention by the international community. The human tragedy unfolding in those countries is immeasurable. While commending the active role of the United Nations in the resolution of the conflicts as well as in addressing the humanitarian dimension, it appears necessary to extend that role to include the involvement of United Nations peace-keeping forces. We are equally saddened by the senseless carnage in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Mr. Ramaema. Lesotho) The problem of Western Sahara is still with us notwithstanding preparations for the deployment of the United Nations Mission to supervise the proposed Western Sahara referendum. We appeal to both Morocco and the Polisario Front to co-operate fully with the efforts of the international community in resolving the question of Western Sahara. Pursuant to the Madrid peace talks, we welcome the ongoing peace efforts regarding the Middle East question. Lesotho remains firm in its belief that there can never be a lasting solution to the problem of the Middle East unless Israel fully recognizes the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and withdraws from all occupied Arab territories. However, we are encouraged to note a promising change of attitude in Israel since the change of Government. Security Council resolution 668 (1990) and the signing of the peace Treaty in October 1991 by all parties to the Cambodia conflict, as well as the joint statement of the leaders expressing full support for that Security Council resolution, gave hope that peace was in sight. We urge all parties fully to respect the peace accords, as well as to comply, without fail, with the terms of Security Council resolution 766 (1992). It is our belief that world security cannot be assured through the threat or use of force or by stockpiles of dangerous weapons. We therefore recognize the validity of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-keeping as viable constituents of the international security agenda. We cannot lose sight of the now universally acknowledged linkage between peace, security and development. Peace is a fundamental element of human existence. It is a universal ideal, and its achievement a perpetual quest of mankind. On it depend our survival, advancement and happiness. (Mr. Ramaema. Lesotho) With the demise of the bipolar structures, the whole world, particularly the developing world, had hoped for bright prospects of strengthening development co-operation through the release of financial, material and human resources hitherto tied up in military expenditures. Regrettably, the issue of the peace dividend did not materialize as anticipated. Instead, the spectre of donor fatigue has contributed to the lessening of interest in bridging the economic gap between North and South. We believe that the only way out of this state of affairs is to reactivate the North-South dialogue in earnest. The perenniel problem of external debt remains a constraint to our development efforts. The situation is further compounded by trends towards protectionism and other discriminatory policies in international trade against imports from developing countries. We therefore urge the developed creditor countries to urgently strengthen and broaden initiatives towards debt relief. In good faith, they should also facilitate a speedy conclusion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations in a balanced and equitable manner that will reflect the interests of the developing countries. The convening of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in Rio last June, presented a unique opportunity to us all to reaffirm our commitment to the preservation of the environment. Important international agreements were adopted. The major challenge before the international community is to fully honour and implement the commitments made. The provision of adequate financial and technological resources for the implementation of Agenda 21 is an imperative. Mr. Ramaema. Lesotho)

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Lesotho for the important statement he has just made. Maior-General Elias Phisoana Ramaema. Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Lesotho, was escorted from the rostrum. Mr. BEN YAHIA (Tunisia) (interpretation from Arabic): At the outset, I wish to greet this Assembly and to convey to it our esteem as well as Tunisia's appreciation for the United Nations' tireless efforts to realize the aspirations of mankind for peace, security and prosperity. I should like to take this opportunity to repeat my warm congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your election to preside over this session. We know that your skills will contribute to the success of our work. I should also like to command the positive role played by your predecessor, Mr. Samir Shihabi, representative of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose activities have extended the Arab and Muslim to the international level under the leadership of King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Your predecessor made a major contribution to the work of the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session. I wish also to congratulate Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, the new Secretary-General of our Organization and wish him every success in his mission. He has embarked on his work with his accustomed characteristic dynamism and determination, which augur well for our Organization's future. I welcome the new Member States recently admitted to the Organization. No doubt, they will make a valuable contribution to the work of the international community in the service of security, peace and justice. For a number of years now, the world has been undergoing radical changes whose effects are beginning to make themselves felt at the international level. Detente is starting to emerge within the community of nations, and to create a climate conducive to the advent of world peace and security and the attainment of the lofty objectives that inspired the establishment of the United Nations. The international community has welcomed the dawning of a new era based on peace, security and the upholding of human rights in the wake of the ending of the cold war with its ideological conflicts that were the source of tensions and disputes in all parts of the world. Those changes show that the international community has begun to regain its self-confidence and to put its faith in concerted international action in the knowledge that international problems can be resolved only through the strict application of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which all Member States have undertaken to uphold. (Mr. Ben Yahia. Tunisia) Tunisia, in this new era continues to be devoted to the noble purposes and principles upon which the United Nations was founded, and, therefore, considers that the desired new world order must be forged, as of necessity, through a process of peaceful and lasting settling of conflicts and resolving disputes by dialogue and negotiation with a view to establishing peace and security in the world. Despite the encouraging developments in international relations, the world today still faces major challenges in all fields and at all levels. We, therefore, must show realism and determination in facing up to those challenges within the context of the just and equitable application of international legality. Consequently, it is the first duty of the international community to focus, without delay, on questions that threaten peace, on the basis of the norms of international law and the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter as well as on the methods of preventive diplomacy as set out by the Secretary-General in his "Agenda for Peace" (A/47/277). The cause of the Palestinian people is one of the most important of these questions. This people has for too long been the victim of injustice, and it is time for it to exercise, like all other peoples, its right to self-determination and the establishment of its own independent State on its territory, in conformity with international legality and international instruments. Proceeding from the stance of championing the rights of peoples and adhering to the tenets of international legality, Tunisia has supported the efforts of the United States of America, the Arab countries and the international community to hold a peace conference on the Middle East, just as it has supported every constructive effort aimed at settling this question on the basis of returning the occupied Arab territories, including Al Quds, and the exchange of land for peace pursuant to Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978). Tunisia has followed with interest the bilateral negotiations between the parties concerned, particularly Israel and the Palestinian delegation acting on the instructions of the Palestine Liberation Organization. It has also participated in the multilateral negotiations on the Middle East. While reiterating its support for the peace process, Tunisia joins the international community in calling upon Israel to put an end to its policy of settlement which aims at changing the demographic and social structure of the occupied Arab territories, changing their Arab cultural identity and imposing a fait accompli, as it is this policy that poses a major obstacle to the achievement of peace in the region. Tunisia has welcomed the positive developments witnessed by the people of South Africa in the direction of constitutional reform and the search for a formula that may lead to the emergence of a new, democratic society based on equal opportunity and the elimination of disparities. However, the halting negotiations between the authorities in Pretoria and the African National Congress of South Africa and the escalation of violence are cause for grave concern. Tunisia again expresses the hope that the necessary conditions will be met for the resumption and continuation of negotiations and the establishment of a transitional Government to implement the desired political reforms with a view to establishing a just and egalitarian society and putting an end to all forms of racial discrimination and all types of violence. In this way, the people of South Africa will be able to exercise their legitimate rights. (Mr. Ben Yahia. Tunisia) participate in bringing about the recovery of the African continent and contribute to the strengthening of peace in the world. In this respect, we wish to express our highest regard for the efforts of

The Assembly will now hear an address by the Prime Minister of the Rwandese Republic. Mr. Dismas Nsengiyaremye. Prime Minister of the Rwandese Republic, was escorted to the rostrum.*

I have great pleasure in welcoming the Prime Minister of the Rwandese Republic, His Excellency Dismas Nsengiyaremye, and inviting him to address the General Assembly. The President returned to the Chair. (Mr. Chammas. Lebanon) Mr. NSENGIYAREMYE (Rwanda) (interpretation from French): The forty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly provides the democratic transitional Rwandese Government the welcome opportunity to hail the annual gathering for the conduct of international diplomacy, and thus to make its contribution to the discussions on peace, security and development in the world. However, allow me, at the outset Sir, to express to you my warm congratulations on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. Your election is confirmation of the esteem and respect you enjoy in the international community. You are a man of experience, dialogue and conviction and these outstanding qualities guarantee success for the work of this session of the Assembly. The Rwandese delegation wishes to assure you. Sir, of our complete readiness to make a positive contribution to the success of this session. Concern for effectiveness in the service of peace, justice and development was always the driving force behind your predecessor, Mr. Samir Shihabi. I should like to express to him our profound gratitude for his major contribution to the development of the United Nations. May I also be permitted, on behalf of my delegation, to welcome very warmly the courageous and innovative initiatives that have been undertaken by our Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for peace, justice and security and for international cooperation and the mutually supportive development of all members of the international community. Such initiatives are certainly intended to open up a new world political, economic, social and cultural order. This will involve creating international solidarity between the peoples and countries of the planet so that they can jointly achieve their common destiny in peace and justice. In this regard, my country, Rwanda, is happy to note that between September 1990 and September 1992 the United Nations carried out important actions to improve international political and economic relations. Some particular achievements were: the Programme of Action for the Least Developing Countries for the 1990s, adopted at the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Paris from 3 to 14 September 1990; the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 1991; a new partnership for sustainable development, advocated by the eighth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which took place in Cartagena, Colombia from 8 to 25 February 1092; and Agenda 2 1, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992. This is a small sample of actions with the same goal: the progressive building of a world that is more united and more mutually supportive. However, it can be achieved only after the definitive elimination of totalitarian or autocratic regimes that hinder the flowering and development of peoples in many countries of the world. Therefore, the restoration of democracy and political pluralism are preconditions for the success of a new world political order. That is why, on 10 June 1991, Rwanda took the firm decision to move from autocracy and a single-party system to democracy and political pluralism. Since that time 16 political parties have been officially registered, and five of them are represented in the Government of democratic transition, which I have had the honour to lead since 16 April 1992. The current democratic process in Rwanda, although it has passed through a number of important stages and has reached the point of no return, is encountering some difficulties because of the existence of forces that are resistant to change. We think that this is the result of the fact that in politics, as in physics, as soon as forces of change are set in motion, the forces of inertia arise to counter them. That is why the Government of transition has set as its major goal the task of putting democracy in the country on a firm footing. To do so, it has decided to undertake in-depth reforms to transform Rwandese political life. Thus institutional reforms will be carried out to ensure the separation and independence of the three branches of civil power: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. Furthermore, appropriate (Mr. Nsengiyaremye. Rwanda) machinery will be set up to allow the population to participate effectively in the country's administration. Therfore, the political, social and moral forces in our country have been invited to contribute to the conduct of the democratic process under way in Rwanda. The process of democratizing Rwandese political life is also viewed as a solution to the war that has been going on in Rwanda since 1 October 1990. This unjust, fratricidal and costly war has no objective raison d'etre. The Rwandese Government feels that there can be no military solution to this conflict; that is why it has committed itself to seeking a negotiated solution. I should like to inform the international community of the efforts made by the multiparty Government of transition to end this conflict. These efforts have been directed on the one hand towards the Rwandese Patriotic Front, which began the war, and on the other to our neighbouring countries, with a view to normalizing our relations and to coordinating our actions aimed at restoring peace in the subregion of the Great Lakes countries. Within this framework, an agreement on mutual security cooperation was signed with Uganda on 8 August 1992. The Government has resolutely committed itself to a frank and sincere dialogue with the Rwandese Patriotic Front. In this context, direct negotiations have been taking place in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, since 10 July 1992 with the participation of observers from Burundi, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Senegal, France, Belgium, Germany, the United States of America and the Organization of African Unity. The parties concerned would also like the United Nations to take part in the negotiations. The first phase of these negotiations, which took place from 10 to 12 July 1992, ended with the signing of a cease-fire agreement between the two parties. There is reason to welcome the fact that this cease-fire has been respected by all sides in spite of some irregularities. The second phase, which took place from 10 to 18 August 1992, brought about the signing of a protocol agreement for a government of law, a protocol defining the basic principles that are to govern political life in Rwanda: national unity, democracy, political pluralism and respect for human rights. The third phase of the negotiations, which took place from 7 to 17 September 1992, has just been suspended and will resume on 5 October 1992. None the less, the two parties have already taken another important step by agreeing to the existence and separation of the three powers: legislative, executive and judiciary. Let us recall that this third phase is devoted to definition of the machinery and procedures for power-sharing. The Rwandese Government defends respect for the State institutions and agrees to the integration of the Rwandan Patriotic Front into those institutions as well as to the making of institutional arrangements to speed up the process of democratizing Rwandese political life and for favouring the effective participation of the political forces of the country in managing the State. The work of this phase will resume on 5 October and we hope that at that time the two parties will show sufficient political open-mindedness and realism to find common ground quickly. Following that phase there is provision for a fourth one which will study the modalities for integrating the fighters of the Rwandan Patriotic Front into the Rwandese Army. (Mr. Nsengiyaremye. Rwanda) Over and above the efforts to end the war in Rwanda, which has been going on since 1 October 1990, Rwanda reiterates its firm will to find a just and lasting solution to the problem of its refugees. To this end, the Rwandese Government reaffirms solemnly that the return of Rwandese refugees to their country is an inalienable right that no one can challenge. Actions to facilitate the welcoming of these refugees who opt for repatriation have been undertaken. Mention may be made in particular of the identification of reinstallation zones, the promulgation of a general amnesty law, and the sensitizing and educating of the population to welcome the returnees in a spirit of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. The Government of Rwanda has also decided to ensure diplomatic protection for Rwandese refugees who may have chosen to stay in host countries. These refugees will enjoy all the civil rights that are recognized for other Rwandese citizens. The Government of Rwanda takes this opportunity to make another urgent appeal to the High Commissioner for Refugees and to the Organization of African Unity to accelerate the completion of the plan of action for the repatriation of Rwandese refugees and the holding of the donors' round table, which should take place before the end of this year. The war in our country has entailed considerable economic, social and cultural losses. One of the unfortunate consequences of this war undoubtedly remains the tragic situation of displaced persons, who at present number more than 350,000. They are located in 20 camps, where dozens of them are dying every day from hunger, cold and poor hygiene. We take this opportunity to make an urgent appeal to the international community to come to the assistance of these displaced persons. We expect this community to come to our assistance by providing food, tents, blankets and medicine. In monetary terms, what is needed to maintain these persons displaced as a result of war amounts to $30 million a year. Moreover, we are asking friendly countries that have always stood by us not to remain aloof but rather to give increased financial assistance for the rehabilitation of infrastructures and areas destroyed by war and also for economic recovery. In terms of international trade, Rwanda has suffered heavy losses because of the closing of the Kigali-Mombasa via Kampala road. Current talks among the users of the north corridor are of great interest for Rwanda, which would like to see this road reopened as quickly as possible. The Rwandese economy, like that of other developing countries, continues to feel the effects of world economic imbalances and the burden of debt which is still suffocating the economies of the poorest countries in the world. The drop in world prices for coffee, which is the principal export product of Rwanda, and which went from $2.50 in 1986 to less than 60 cents from 1982 on, has caused a considerable drop in earnings for the Rwandese economy. As a result of this deplorable situation,the gross domestic product of Rwanda at first stagnated and then dropped while the balance-of-payments problem remained largely one of indebtedness and some development projects had to be stopped because there were no means for investment in them. Despite these indicators which are not very encouraging, the Government has taken courageous measures to limit the losses: drastic reduction in public expenditures; credit restrictions; and the devaluation of the currency, which in two years lost more than half its value. (Mr. Nsengiyaremye. Rwanda) The Government of Rwanda expresses its gratitude to the friendly countries and international organizations which have been broadly contributing to the execution of our structural adjustment programme. The Government of Rwanda is also counting upon them to support the sectoral programmes for economic recovery that are under way in our country. After this survey of the economic and political situation prevailing in our country, allow me now to take up some of the major international problems of the moment. Before doing so, I should like, as other delegations have done here, to warmly welcome the new Members to the great family of the United Nations. We wholeheartedly congratulate them and we encourage them to work for the triumph of the noble ideals of the United Nations. Mankind remains torn by bloody conflicts and wars that result from anachronistic situations of colonialism, oppression, racism and ideological intolerance. The seeds of blind violence are multiplying wherever the sovereignty of peoples and the territorial integrity of States are being undermined and wherever the dignity and fundamental rights of man are being trampled upon by totalitarian regimes. In this context, the Rwandese delegation praises the untiring efforts of the United Nations to extinguish the flames in various hotbeds of tension and to put an end to murderous, fratricidal conflicts that occur in the North as well as in the South. In this respect, the Rwandese Government would like to congratulate the Secretary-General of our Organization for his remarkable contribution and for the ways and means he advocates in his "Agenda for Peace", which would favour preventive diplomacy and peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace-building actions. Rwanda also welcomes the initiative taken by the twenty-eighth Summit of Heads of State or Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which allowed the Security Council to give serious consideration to ways and means of controlling the outbreak of massacres in South Africa. The Rwandese delegation hopes that dismantling the legal pillars of apartheid will quickly lead to the establishment of a multiracial and democratic South African society. It encourages the South African Government to conclude negotiations with the African National Congress and to set up a democratic Government that represents all the people of South Africa. (Mr. Nsengiyaremye. Rwanda) Rwanda is pleased at the resumption of peace negotiations in the Middle East. We encourage all the parties involved to cooperate in good faith so that that new diplomatic opportunity will be seized to the fullest in order to achieve a lasting peace. Against that background, the Rwandese Government pays tribute to the new Israeli Government's gesture of halting the establishment of Jewish settlements in the occupied Arab territories. The Rwandese Government also supports all efforts to restore peace in the Horn of Africa, Liberia and other regions of the world, in particular Lebanon, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The success of the commitment of the United Nations to the process of national reconciliation and democratization now under way in Central America reflects the renewed influence of our Organization in the management of crises and the seeking of negotiated solutions to local conflicts. In addition, Rwanda notes with satisfaction the continuing dialogue between the parties directly involved in the conflict in Western Sahara. Hence Africa still hopes to see the organization of a referendum, under the auspices of the United Nations, on the future status of that Territory. Rwanda welcomes the current restructuring of the United Nations system and the end of the cold war. We hope that disarmament will lead to a positive net transfer of resources to the South, where the struggle against poverty remains a constant challenge. It is on this hopeful note that I should like once again to make an urgent appeal to the international community to give diplomatic support to the process of peace negotiations in Rwanda and to help, financially and materially, with the repatriation of Rwandese refugees. The active participation of the United Nations in the Arusha negotiations would be an (Mr. Nsengiyaremye. Rwanda) additional guarantee of the will of the international community to find a just, speedy and lasting solution to the Rwandese conflict. We also appeal to the international community to come to the assistance of the 350,000 displaced persons and to help in the reinvigoration of our economy. For its part, the Rwandese Government is committed to carrying out our country's current democratization process until the establishment of a State founded on law where all Rwandese, whether they live in or out of the country, will have the right to exercise their civil rights freely and without any discrimination whatsoever and to participate actively in the management of public affairs.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the Prime Minister of the Rwandese Republic for the statement he has just made. Mr. Dismas Nsengiyaremye. Prime Minister of the Rwandese Republic, was escorted from the rostrum. The meeting rose at 12.20 p.m. (Mr. Nsengiyaremye. Rwanda)