A/47/PV.51 General Assembly

I call on the representative of Honduras, to introduce the draft resolution. Mr. CUEVA (Honduras)(interpretation from Spanish): It is an honour for me to address representatives at this forty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, with the aim of introducing the draft resolution on agenda item 21, entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States". I am pleased to announce that the delegations of Canada, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have joined the sponsors of the draft resolution. The inter-American system, the institutional origins of which go back to the last century, finds its most eloquent contemporaneous expression in the Organization of American States (OAS), as the regional body fully identified with the principles and objectives of the United Nations itself. The Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) lays down that none of its provisions shall be construed as impairing the rights and duties of its member States under the Charter of the United Nations. For its part. Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations refers to the concept of regional arrangements, making particular reference to the peaceful settlement of disputes, an issue which has long been, and which continues to be, an integral part of the inter-American system. The complementarity between the two organizations is obvious, and all the more so in present circumstances, when regionalism is called on to play an important role in the new world order. In his report (A/45/499) of 14 September 1990, the Secretary-General described United Nations cooperation in the previous two years with the Organization of American States. That account is testimony to a great deal of work, with practical and highly satisfactory results. The report also recognized the effectiveness of the cooperation between the two organizations with respect to the procedures established by the Central American Presidents within the context of the subregional peace process, which called for cooperation between the two organizations to ensure better implementation of their resolutions. Similarly, document A/47/498, the Secretary-General's report of 5 October 1992, tells us a great deal about consultations and exchange of information between the two organizations and follow-up action on the implementation of resolution 45/10 of 25 October 1990. The report refers to resolution AG/RES.1126, also on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States, adopted by the General Assembly of the OAS on 8 June 1991, which noted with satisfaction that the Secretaries-General of the two organizations would establish an appropriate mechanism for the follow-up of coordination between the two systems. In support of such actions, a new resolution on the subject AG/RES.1119 was adopted by the General Assembly of the OAS at its twenty-second regular session. In that resolution, the OAS General Assembly recoinmended that negotiations continue for finalizing and signing an agreement on cooperation between the general secretariats. To that end it was agreed that periodic meetings woul 1 be held between the two systems for the purpose of reviewing and appraising progress on areas of priority or on mutually agreed issues. It is worth noting that the Organization of American States continues to be represented in the Support Committee and the Policies and Projects Committee and intersectoral meetings of the Special Plan of Economic Cooperation for Central America, established by resolution 42/231. In paragraph 9 of resolution 45/10 the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit to it at its forty-seventh session a report on cooperation by specialized agencies of the United Nations system with the Organization of American States. Responses to that request include the following. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has continued to promote active collaboration with OAS at both the headquarters and field levels. Examples are to be found in the joint meetings held in March and June 1992 in New York to discuss cooperation in the areas of human resources, women in development, science and technology, and environment. Issues such as drug abuse and disaster preparedness were also discussed. Through the Pan American Health Organization, the OAS acts as the executing agency for a project on health management for Central American countries, financed by UNDP and the Special Plan of Economic Cooperation. Various related projects are also being carried out in the context of the Development Programme for Displaced Persons, Refugees and Returnees. Praiseworthy, worthwhile projects are also being carried out jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Food Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Monetary Fund and another seven international agencies. What I have said relates to the draft resolution that I am introducing, which reflects the consultations between the two organizations to establish better coordination of complementary activities. In this regard, I wish to highlight the results in three areas in particular! first, an agreement to establish instruments and mechanisms which would intensify the exchange of information between the two bodies to ensure better coordination; secondly, the institution of a flexible and expeditious process of identifying suitable programmes, projects and activities; and thirdly, the establishment of follow-up arrangements. The issues chosen for priority action, to be carried out by lead agencies of both organizations, were: environment; drug abuse control; women and development; disaster prevention, mitigation and relief; rural development and agriculture; and Indian people and development. We are therefore absolutely confident that the natural complementarity of the two organizations will oe expressed in mechanisms for consultation and coordination that will gradually be perfected as the number of activities grows.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 253 (III), of 16 October 1948, I now call upon the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Mr. Christopher Thomas.

The Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Joao Clemente Baena Scares, has asked me to express to the President his slncerest congratulations on his unanimous election to preside over the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. He has also asked me to present his greetings to the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. I do so also in my name. I am very appreciative of this opportunity to address the Assembly on the question of cooperation and coordination between our systems, which have attained unprecedented heights over the last two years. This cooperation was launched anew and given an enhanced profile when the first OAS-United Nations general meeting on coordination between the two systems took place here at United Nations Headquarters from 15 to 17 May 1991. This meeting, which was inaugurated by the Secretaries-General of the OAS and the United Nations brought together representatives of the general secretariats and the specialized agencies of the inter-American system and the United Nations. The report of that meeting contained recommendations for strengthening and deepening cooperation and coordination between the OAS and the United Nations. The report (A/47/498) of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to this General Assembly on cooperation between the United Nations and the OAS lists the numerous activities of collaboration that have taken place between agencies of the two systems since that historic meeting. Subsequently, in response to a resolution on cooperation between the OAS and the United Nations, adopted at the twenty-first regular session of the General Assembly, held in Santiago, Chile, the Secretary-General of the OAS presented a report to the twenty-second regular session held this year in the Bahamas on that OAS-United Nations general meeting and on other aspects of cooperation between our two systems. The report describes the measures taken and consultations held towards the strengthening of cooperation and coordination between the OAS and the United Nations. The policy context for those consultations was essentially framed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General of the OAS, and the Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Questions, Regional Cooperation, Decolonization and Trusteeship of the United Nations. I wish to place on record here my deep appreciation to Under-Secretary-General James Jonah and his staff for their collaboration. The Office of the Assistant Secretary-General also established close working relationships with the former Director-General for Development and International Economic Cooperation and the Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As a result of these measures and consultations, and as a follow-up to the conclusions and recommendations of the OAS-United Nations meeting, several specific collaborative activities have taken place. With respect to the specialized agencies, the former Director-General for Development and International Economic Cooperation, who, under the Secretary-General of the United Nations had responsibility for the operational activities for development, incorporating organizations and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, agreed to intensify efforts to deepen and expand collaboration between the specialized agencies of the two systems. Collaboration with the Assistant Administrator and Regional Director of the UNDP for Latin America and the Caribbean has led to an agreement that the Resident Representatives of the UNDP, who, within the United Nations system function as the United Nations coordinators, would establish closer contacts with the Director of the Office of the General Secretariat of the OAS in member States with a view to developing more functional coordination in their activities. This functional cooperation has advanced quite significantly. I would like to highlight here some areas in which collaboration between the OAS and the United Nations has been most effective. In the area of drug abuse control, collaboration between the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the OAS and the agencies of the United Nations system involved in programmes on drugs has been substantial. At a meeting held recently in Vienna between representatives of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission and the International Drug Control Programme of the United Nations, a firm basis for long-term cooperation in programme development between both agencies was laid. The area of disaster is another in which cooperation between the OAS and the United Nations has helped both organizations with the fulfilment of their mandates in this field. The Permanent Council of the OAS has recently adopted a resolution on natural disaster reduction for sustainable development, in which, inter alia, the Secretary-General of the OAS was requested to reiterate to the Secretary-General of the United Nations the interest of the OAS to collaborate with the United Nations system, as well as specialized regional and bilateral development assistance agencies in natural hazard management activities, to save lives and reduce losses. Also in the area of disaster management, an agreement was signed in March 1992 between the General Secretariat of the OAS and the United Nations Development Programme, in which the UNDP provided substantial funds for a programme in disaster management training being executed by the Executive Secretariat for Economic and Social Affairs of the OAS. The recommendations of the OAS-United Nations general meeting were directed essentially to collaboration in technical cooperation to countries that belong to both systems. Other forms of collaboration between the OAS and the United Nations however have taken place to further the objectives of both organizations. Most notable has been the cooperation between the OAS and the United Nations in bringing democracy to member States by providing assistance and observation missions for general elections in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Haiti. In the continuing political crisis in Haiti, collaboration between the two organizations was exemplified in the agreement of the General Assembly to support the resolutions of the meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OAS on Haiti. Consequently, the Secretary-General of the United Nations agreed to send officials of the United Nations on the mission of the Secretary-General of the OAS to Haiti from 18 to 21 August 1992. With respect to humanitarian aid to Haiti, the Office of the Assisant Secretary-General has been collaborating with the Office of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations in the formulation of a comprehensive plan for humanitarian aid for Haiti. As I speak to you today, a meeting is now taking place in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in which technical personnel of both organizations are working together for the composition of this plan. It is the hope of all our personnel that the plan will pave the way for the consolidation of institutional coordination between our systems in the treatment of this tragic human situation. In his annual report to the General Assembly, and in his report entitled "An Agenda for Peace", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to collaborate with regional organizations and highlighted the special capability of these organizations in dealing with the problems of their region. The increasing demands made on the resources of both the OAS and the United Nations make it imperative that collaboration be intensified. As the oldest regional organization in the hemisphere, the OAS has acquired unique experience in assisting the development of countries of this hemisphere. In this regard, I draw the attention of this meeting to the offer by the Chairman of our Permanent Council to the President of the Security Council for increased cooperation in the improvement of collective measures for the prevention and solution of regional conflicts. I would like to end with the reaffirmation of the OAS General Secretariat to continue to seek ways to collaborate with the United Nations for the achievement of the objectives of both organizations.

I should like to inform members that, should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/47/L.13 concerning the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States, the Secretary-General does not anticipate that any programme budget implications would arise.

May I take it that the Assembly adopts draft resolution A/47/L.13?

I call on the representative of Oman, to introduce the draft resolution.

It is an honour and a great pleasure for me, as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the current month, to speak today, in the context of agenda item 29, "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States", and introduce the draft resolution contained in document A/47/L.12. On behalf of the following Arab States, sponsors of the draft resolution: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Repulic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen I should like to take this opportunity to deal with some of the aspects of this draft resolution to which the secretariat of the League as well as the United Nations attaches great importance, because the draft resolution, both in substance and aim, emphasizes the need to consolidate and develop the existing ties of cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, in consonance with the provisions and goals of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter. The draft resolution aims, both in letter and spirit, at promoting and strengthening the means, possibilities and mechanisms of coordination at all all levels of cooperation between the two organizations, especially in the developmental, economic, political and other areas, in line with United Nations resolutions and the resolutions of the summit of Arab States and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Arab States. This stems from the importance attached by the League of Arab States to the discharge of its obligations and undertakings arising from its membership of the United Nations, within the context of the Organization's Charter and the rules of International law. This constant Arab approach is quite in evidence in the Arab States' unwavering efforts to implement United Nations resolutions without selectivity, in order to strengthen international legality and ensure the dominance of harmony and cooperation in tomorrow's world which is now taking shape with all its prospects, potentials and challenges. We do that in the strong belief that all the States of the world should rise to the level of the collective responsibility of all towards the collective security of all, the upholding of justice and the rule of law in an integral fashion, on a basis of interdependence, without discrimination or double standards. In this connection, operative paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 and the fourth, fifth and seventh preambular paragraphs, by way of example, are conclusive proof of the genuine striving by our States to strengthen the peace process, to rebuild Lebanon, to find a lasting, just and comprehensive solution to the Arab- Israeli conflict and to the question of Palestine, the core of the conflict, to end occupation and to eliminate all its consequences, so that the right of peoples to self-determination, freedom and living in peace and security may be ensured. In conclusion, I should like to reaffirm that this draft resolution deals with all aspects of cooperation, coordination and consultation between the two Organizations, with the aim of achieving the noble goals of the Charters of both Organizations and of creating a climate that would lead to the emergence of a world of cooperation and freedom from conflict in which people may live in dignity and enjoy independence in societies that are equal, and interdependent both at the regional level and throughout the world. I call upon members to vote in favour of this draft resolution.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 477 (V), of 1 November 1950, I now call on the Observer of the League of Arab States.

I should like to join previous speakers in congratulating Mr. Ganev on his election to the presidency of this session of the General Assembly, which is being held at a time of far-reaching changes and great challenge for which we are trying together to find just and peaceful solutions to in line with the principles of the Charter. The election of our President to his lofty post is a token of the international community's confidence in his abilities and recognition of the outstanding position of his country, Bulgaria, amongst the world's nations. The League of Arab States, which was created in 1945 - a few months before the creation of the United Nations has common objectives with the United Nations, especially in the area of maintaining international peace and security. That is why it was only natural that the two organizations should have established ties of fruitful cooperation that have expanded and deepened through the years. This cooperation was crowned by the signing of the 1989 Agreement of Co-operation between the two organizations on the coordination and strengthening of their relations and the broadening of their scope in line with the common objectives of both their Charters. The League of Arab States has been and will continue to be at the forefront of activity to strengthen the role of the United Nations and to implement its resolutions in all spheres, in particular those reaffirming peoples' rights to freedom, sovereignty and dignity in the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination, especially in our region, where the Palestinian people must be allowed to enjoy its inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of its own independent State, to put an end to the Israeli occupation of all occupied Arab territories, and to have a just and lasting peace. He hope that these resolutions will be implemented in a fair and non-selective manner so as to ensure for the United Nations the credibility it deserves. We in the League of Arab States have taken note of the important report by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in which he gives an analysis of and recommendations on the strengthening of the role and effectiveness of the United Nations in the areas of preventive diplomacy, peace-building and peacemaking. We should like, in this regard, to express our appreciation of the ideas contained in that report, especially those regarding cooperation and arrangements with regional organizations pursuant to the provisions of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter. The League of Arab States, for its part, commends such cooperation, especially since, in the past, the cold war sometimes prevented us from taking advantage of the potential of such cooperation and thus hindered the peaceful settlement of some conflicts by the means envisaged in the Charter. The League of Arab States has welcomed this new trend and has responded favourably to the invitation extended to it and other organizations by the Secretary-General to participate in a meeting that was convened by the Secretary-General last February in New York with a view to convincing the parties involved in the Somalian conflict to agree to a ceasefire. In this respect, the League of Arab States wishes to voice its support for the statement issued by the President of the Security Council on 16 October 1992, and joins iu appealing to all parties to the conflict in Somalia to facilitate the humanitarian aid mission and to accept the effective presence of the United Nations in Somalia. The League also expresses its support for the continued efforts by the Secretary-General and all relevant bodies, despite the many difficulties, to find the ways and means capable of putting an end to bloodshed, of allowing the humanitarian assistance to be provided quickly and of finding a. peaceful solution to the conflict in Somalia. The League of Arab States will continue to provide assistance to the people of Somalia and to make tireless efforts to end this tragedy, acting in coordination and cooperation with United Nations efforts. On this occasion, I should like to add that the League of Arab States is now preparing to send a second medical team to the capital of the northeastern district of Somalia, in addition to the team already present in the General Hospital of Mogadishu. Here again, the League is coordinating with the United Nations. The report of the Secretary-General on the item under consideration, in document A/47/451, cites the areas of cooperation between the League of Arab States and the United Nations in the political, economic, social, cultural and other spheres. I am duty-bound here to express the gratitude of the League and its specialized agencies to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other relevant bodies of the United Nations, as well as to all the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, for the efforts being made to strengthen the ongoing excellent cooperation that has existed between us since 1950, when the League of Arab States first participated in a United Nations meeting. In this connection, I should like to refer to certain aspects of cooperation and continued coordination between the League of Arab States and the United Nations. In Tunisia, in early November, there will be a high-level meeting, in coordination with UNICEF, in which the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and the Arab ministers responsible for youth will participate with a view to establishing common bases of cooperation between the League and the United Nations in protecting children in Arab States. We should like to express our gratitude for the efforts made by UNICEF in this sphere. I should also like to refer to the consultations currently underway between the League of Arab States and the United Nations to prepare for the meeting to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first meeting that was held in Tunisia in 1983, with the aim of reviewing future cooperation between the two organizations and of assessing objectively and comprehensively the cooperation that has existed over the past 10 years, as well as establishing a scheme for cooperation in the years to come. We hope that this meeting will lead to greater coordination between the two organizations and the institutions involved in the establishment and implementation of joint programmes, and that it will take advantage of Arab experience and Arab skills on the international and the national levels. I should also like to refer to the agreement between the League of Arab States and the Secretariat of the United Nations to hold a joint meeting next December in Geneva, with the participation of many specialized agencies of the two organizations, to establish a common plan for effective cooperation and coordination between the two organizations in order to implement certain recommendations submitted by the Secretary-General in his report "An Agenda for Peace", and to serve the common objectives of maintaining international peace and security and enhancing economic and social development. The Middle East has suffered for far too long from the tribulations of war, acts of aggression and the occupation of territories by force. For many years now, the League of Arab States has reaffirmed time and again, its view that we must find a just and lasting solution to the Middle East problem and the Palestinian question, and has supported efforts to free the Middle East region from all weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons. In this regard, I should like to reaffirm that the League of Arab States welcomes all efforts made, through equitable legally binding commitments to apply these agreements fairly to the entire region. Including Israel, in accordance with the same criteria, especially since Israel has so far refused to accede to the non-proliferation Treaty. The League of Arab States has repeatedly urged that the Middle East should be freed from all weapons of mass destruction, namely chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Last September, the League declared the readiness of the Arab States to deal with the Draft Convention on Chemical Weapons in the measure of Israel's response to international appeals for it to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to place its nuclear facilities under the international safeguards regime in accordance with Security Council resolution 487 (1981). The League has followed the preparatory work for the Conference on Human Rights planned for next year. We should like in this respect to pay tribute to the efforts aimed at the adoption of a document which would take into consideration all fundamental human rights and ensure that they are upheld, especially the rights to self-determination, freedom, independence and to a life of dignity and security, and to ensure the implementation of all human rights conventions relative to armed conflicts anywhere in the world. We firmly hope that the United Nations, with its Charter and the values it stands for, will be the cornerstone of the new age, an age which, we hope, will have as its highest objectives the primacy of peace, law and justice. Though the cold war, which lasted for decades, weakened the role of the United Nations, we hope that the old bipolarity will be replaced now by a much strengthened role for the United Nations, in order for the Organization to be able to perform the role envisaged for it in the Charter, and thereby usher in a new era of genuine respect for the interests and the rights of peoples to justice, peace, freedom, dignity and equality. It is in this context, that the League of Arab States views the importance of the programme proposed by the Secretary-General in the "Agenda for Peace", wherein he emphasized, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations and the international community for peacemaking and peace- keeping and highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between the United Nations and international and regional organizations for the achievement of common objectives. In conclusion, the League of Arab States reiterates its support for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and wishes the United Nations every success in its search for solutions to the problems and crises that it faces up to in order for all the world's peoples to enjoy a life of dignity, freedom, development and prosperity. We reaffirm our determination to do our utmost to ensure closer cooperation with the United Nations with the aim of building a better world.

I should like to inform members that, should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/47/L.12 concerning the cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, the Secretary-General does not anticipate that any programme budget implications would arise.

We shall now begin the voting process. A recorded vote has been requested. In favour! Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen Against! Israel, United States of America Abstaining: San Marino

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Community and its member States. * Subsequently, the delegations of Azerbaijan, Lesotho, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique and Nigeria advised the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour. While we have voted in favour of the resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States just adopted, we wish to make a few general comments. We fully support cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, including those holding observer status. The benefits have been highlighted by the Secretary-General in his report "An Agenda for Peace". We are happy to join in expressions of support and encouragement for the further development of such cooperation within the framework of the United Nations Charter. However, we would prefer that resolutions of this kind deal with the question of cooperation in terms which avoid introducing contentious elements. In particular, with regard to operative paragraph 5 of resolution 47/12, which has just been adopted, we wish to draw attention to the need to avoid prejudicing the role of the Secretary-General and to the fact that the Twelve have not supported all the resolutions referred to in that paragraph. With regard to operative paragraph 12 of the resolution, we would like to state again that its contents should not serve as a precedent for the future. The United Nations should be free to make use of the best and most economical expertise available to it.

I regret that the United States was obliged, as it has done in the past several years, to vote against this resolution. The United States does seek to support the work of the Arab League, and does support increased cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. The Arab League played a positive role in the Gulf crisis. and my Government cooperated with members of the League to that end. The Arab League's tripartite High Committee was instrumental in helping settle the conflict in Lebanon, and my Government cooperated with members of the League to that end as well. However, as we stated in each of the preceding several years, we cannot support a resolution which includes language and references inconsistent with fundamental policies of the United States Government and which we have consistently opposed. This resolution asks the Secretary-General, in operative paragraph 5, to help implement United Nations resolutions that the United States has opposed. In the tenth preambular paragraph, the resolution includes reference not to United Nations-Arab cooperation but to a statement of the 1980 Arab Summit which contains language and conclusions which were unacceptable not only to the United States but to many other members of this Assembly as well. We regret that the sponsors of this resolution have chosen to include these references. We welcome the new sixth preambular paragraph, which welcomes the peace process begun at Madrid, but must register a reservation. To single out and to characterize the core of the Middle East conflict as the question of Palestine is to simplify an exceedingly complex conflict involving Israel and the Arab States, as well as the Palestinians. We would have preferred different language in this paragraph, just as we would have preferred to join in the consensus on the draft resolution with other members of the Assembly. Mr. TAYLOR (Canada): Itself a member of regional organizations, Canada knows the value of effective cooperation between regional organizations and the United Nations system. Accordingly, we support cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States and voted in favour of the draft resolution. We have reviewed the Secretary-General's report (A/47/451) and note that it gives examples of constructive cooperation between the two systems. He want to see such beneficial cooperation continued. Nevertheless, we feel compelled to point out that Canada did not vote for some of the General Assembly resolutions referred to in paragraph 5. The reference to those controversial issues is in part balanced by the new paragraph making positive reference to the current Middle East peace process, but we would like the cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, as well as the text of the resolution, to reflect the more positive situation that the peace process has engendered. Mr. FEDOTOV (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): The delegation of the Russian Federation is in favour of combining the efforts of regional bodies and organizations with those of the United Nations, especially in the areas of ensuring security, conflict prevention and settlement and response to environmental and humanitarian emergencies. Initial experience in interaction between regional organizations and the United Nations is being gradually accumulated in Europe, Africa and a number of other regions. Therefore we supported the draft resolution, which is designed to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States as a regional organization in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter. At the same time, the Russian delegation cannot agree with the inclusion in the resolution of outmoded language pertaining to the substance of the Middle East settlement which does not take into account the new facts of life associated with the emerging Middle East peace process. In particular, we object to the provisions which in fact amount to an attempt to distort the agreed mandate of the Madrid conference by including words to the effect that the core of a Middle East settlement is the question of Palestine, whereas it is merely one of the main issues being considered as part of the Middle East negotiation process. Accordingly, if this language had been put to a separate vote, the delegation of Russia would not have been able to support it.

My delegation has voted in favour of draft resolution A/47/L.12 on the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, just adopted by the Assembly. This is a resolution we have consistently supported over the years. However, in view of Iraq's special stance with regard to the so-called Middle East peace process mentioned in the sixth preambular paragraph, Iraq wishes to make known its reservations with regard to that paragraph, which we would like to see reflected in the record. We would have preferred that such an issue should not have been injected into the resolution so that we would not have been compelled to voice our reservations. Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic countries voted in favour of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly with the understanding that elements with political implications, in particular in paragraph 5, are not relevant to the issue and obviously cannot prejudice the position of the Nordic countries on the substantive matter referred to therein. Mr. HAMADA (Japan): The delegation of Japan is well aware of the extremely valuable benefits to be derived from cooperation between the United Nations and the various organizations with observer status. Japan thus welcomes and firmly supports the cooperation of the United Nations with the League of Arab States. Consequently, Japan voted in favour of draft resolution A/47/L.12. In doing so, Japan would like to place on record, however, its position concerning paragraph 5 of the draft resolution, which includes a reference to some United Nations resolutions which Japan did not support. Japan also wishes to draw attention to the need for efforts to limit the cost of such cooperation between the United Nations and the various organizations with observer status, in view of the current financial constraints. Ms. BIRD (Australia); Australia has been a consistently strong supporter of instruments of regional cooperation and of cooperation between such bodies and the United Nations. It is for this reason that Australia voted in favour of the resolution just adopted. We do, however, have difficulties with paragraph 5, which refers to United Nations resolutions, some of which Australia has not supported. Concerning paragraph 12, while understanding the sentiment expressed, we consider that the United Nations should continue to be mindful of the need for merit, efficiency and economy in the employment of staff. This principle applies in all resolutions where considerations of this kind are raised. As a general comment, my delegation also hopes that the resolutions adopted in the Assembly on Middle East items generally will reflect the more positive situation arising from the Middle East peace process. Mr. HASSAN (Sudan) (interpretation from Arabic); Sudan has voted in favour of draft resolution A/47/L.12 on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States in line with the unified stance by the League of Arab States with regard to the draft resolution in general. However, my delegation does have reservations with regard to the sixth preambular paragraph of the draft resolution which reads: "Welcoming the peace process concerning the Middle East, which commenced in the convening of the Madrid conference in 1991, with a view to achieving a comprehensive and just settlement of the Middle East conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine". My delegation's reservations with regard to that paragraph stem from the fact that it was injected into this draft resolution in an inappropriate fashion. The United Nations plays no role whatsoever in the peace talks now under way between certain Arab countries and Israel, a process that began with the convening of the Madrid Conference in 1991. The United Nations has been excluded deliberately from involvement in that process, starting with the Madrid Conference and the talks that followed. This exclusion of the United Nations was insisted upon by certain parties to those talks for reasons we do not consider to be convincing. The fact is involvement by the United Nations in the talks was considered to be detrimental to the designs of those parties. That is why we can find no justification whatsoever for the injection of the paragraph in this draft resolution, which has to do with cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. My delegation is of the view that the best framework for the just, comprehensive and durable settlement of the Middle East conflict and the core issue of that conflict, the question of Palestine is the convening of an international peace conference under the auspices and control of the United Nations. He feel that any attempt to settle this conflict outside the context of the United Nations can never lead to a comprehensive, just and durable settlement. Notwithstanding our positive vote on the draft resolution, we wish the record to reflect our. reservations with regard to this particular paragraph.

My delegation voted against the draft resolution just adopted for reasons that have been spelled out repeatedly in our previous statements on this issue. As those reasons have already been put on record, we shall not repeat them here. Given the bilateral and multilateral negotiations currently under way between Israel and its Arab neighbours, all of which are members of the League of Arab States, we feel that restraint at this juncture is more appropriate. He should like, however, to refer to the tenth preambular paragraph, which makes reference to the Arab Summit Conference held at Amman in November 1980. The Amman Conference went so far as to criticize Security Council resolution 242 (1967) and the Camp David Accords, which serve as the basis for the current peace process. It is regrettable that such a reference is included in the resolution. He should like also to refer to paragraph 5, which calls for the implementation of "United Nations resolutions relating to the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East". Israel has consistently voted against these resolutions because they have never constituted any genuine basis for a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel has always advocated the principle of direct negotiations without preconditions as the only way to promote peace in the region, and indeed the current peace process is based on this principle. Furthermore, the sixth preambular paragraph, while welcoming the current Middle East peace process, includes language that is at variance with the principles set out in the sponsors' letter of invitation to Madrid of 18 October 1991. In addition, on the one hand the resolution includes references to the Amman Conference and to the aforementioned resolutions on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, which stand in opposition to any genuine notion of peace. On the other hand the resolution refers to the Madrid Conference, which initiated the current peace process. Thus the resolution clearly contradicts itself. We should like to call upon the members of the Arab League to help promote the Middle East peace process. Israel, for its part, is committed to doing its utmost to bring this process to a fruitful conclusion.

The Islamic Republic of Iran voted in favour of the resolution just adopted. However, my delegation would like to express its reservations on the sixth preambular paragraph, in line with our previous position on the subject.

My delegation supports all efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and various regional organizations. We believe that the United Nations has a responsibility in the present context of the evolution of international relations to encourage regional organizations, especially where they take initiatives for the strengthening of regional peace, regional security and regional development. That is why my delegation regrets its unavoidable absence when the decision on this draft resolution was taken. If my delegation had been present, we would certainly have voted in favour of it.

He have concluded this stage of our consideration of

Representatives will recall that on 5 and 14 October

I am pleased to introduce the draft resolution "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System", in document A/47/L.7, sponsored by 27 States members of the Latin American Economic System (SELA). The main objective of the draft resolution is to strengthen and broaden cooperation between the United Nations system and the Latin American Economic System. This cooperation meets the need to bring to a variety of new problems solutions in keeping with the global vision of the United Nations and the specific contributions of regional groups. In this way the draft resolution seeks to contribute to the concrete application of the objectives of the United Nations in our region. The emerging international order puts into a new perspective the role of regional mechanisms of consultation and teamwork in the economic and social fields. Two simultaneous and apparently contradictory trends make it even more essential to define properly the linkage between the world Organization and regional bodies. On the one hand, the globalization process of the international economy is becoming irreversible, while on the other, the establishment of regional economic groupings is gaining impetus. One of the greatest challenges of the immediate future is that of developing the positive features of both trends while avoiding their pitfalls and making them work for the benefit of international society as a whole. Along these lines, regional mechanisms like SELA are the link par excellence between the global efforts of the international community and the practical application of measures stemming therefrom. In the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, the global issues now on the international agenda, which call for a new approach based on cooperation and understanding, have in SELA an ideal vehicle for progress towards international teamwork. In this context, it is SELA's historical imperative to facilitate and stimulate, with an integrated, up-to-date vision, its States members' efforts for political, social and economic transformation in order to foster solid, prosperous economies, expand trade and promote investment. In this way Latin America and the Caribbean will be able to become a region of confluence, renewal and stimulation of global economic and financial trends, in accordance with the visionary spirit of SELA's charter. These circumstances of global interdependence highlight in particular the need to continue strengthening the energizing links of cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System. In the preambular part of the draft resolution before the Assembly, special reference is made to the many different activities carried out by the Latin American Economic System in concert with various organs of the United Nations system and also to SELA's implementation of priority programmes for the economic development of the countries of the region. The operative part of the draft resolution takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General and urges the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nations Development Programme to broaden and deepen their coordination and support activities with SELA. It also urges the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to intensify their cooperation with the activities of this regional body. It requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Permanent Secretary of SELA to assess jointly the implementation of the recently signed Agreement on cooperation and to report thereon at the forty-eighth session of the General Assembly. Since this draft resolution is free of controversial elements and since it also embodies the hopes of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean for the broadening and strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and SELA, the delegation of Peru, on behalf of the sponsors, comprising all the States members of SELA, hopes that the General Assembly will adopt it without a vote.

I should like first to express the Chilean delegation's satisfaction that the agenda of the important item of cooperation between the United Nations system and regional bodies. This morning we shall consider United Nations cooperation with the Organization of American States (OAS), the Latin American Economic system and organizations of other regional groups. As we have already stated on various occasions and at various forums, my country considers it extremely important to strengthen the existing bodies, which have invaluable experience, trained technical staff, reservoirs of information and a distinguished history. At the same time, we have expressed the need to establish linkages between regional organizations and the United Nations system with the aim of using resources efficiently and thus making the international bodies more effective. With these considerations in mind, Chile has joined the sponsors of the draft resolution introduced by the representative of Honduras on cooperation between the Unite'd Nations and the Organization of American States. By the same token, we welcome the report submitted by the Secretary-General in document A/47/498, which contains a detailed account of the activities carried out by various agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of American States. In this connection my delegation would like to highlight the fact that at the twenty-second session of the General Assembly of the OAS, held in May of this year in the Bahamas, a similar decision was adopted that placed on record the satisfaction of members at the efforts made by both organizations and called for the Secretary-General of our regional organization to continue to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations. We are delighted to see that these very same elements are embodied in the draft resolution now before the world Organization. We feel that cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the OAS must be stepped up with regard to preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-keeping and, most especially, strengthening democratic systems and full respect for human rights, all of which are matters to which my Government gives the highest priority. With regard to cooperation with the Latin American Economic System, my delegation voiced its support last year for the terms of the Agreement signed between the United Nations and SELA. As we indicated then, that commitment would make it possible to open new channels for expanding the economic and social development prograiranes of which our region is in such need and to strengthen other initiatives that would commit both organizations to working together. In accordance with the provisions of resolution 46/12 the Secretary- General has submitted a comprehensive report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System, as well as on other matters in that resolution. My delegation wishes to thank the Secretary-General for his report in document A/47/463, which sets out in detail the cooperative programmes already carried out and also notes the progress made in building ties between the regional and the world organizations. We believe that the report is fully in keeping with the requirements of requests in the resolution adopted at the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly, held in 1991. We note with satisfaction that programmes of cooperation between the United Nations and SELA have expanded in recent times. In keeping with tradition, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has indeed played a key role in attaining this goal. We urge other bodies throughout the United Nations system to pursue and intensify their support for and cooperation with SELA activities, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a view to strengthening and broadening support for those programmes the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American Economic System is carrying out. When we spoke at the last session of the General Assembly we also made reference to a programme being carried out in the Latin American and Caribbean region involving the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), ECLAC and SELA with regard to the Uruguay Round, which is close to completion. On that occasion, and given the successful experience gained in that programme, my delegation wishes to support the new programme called "LATINTRADE", mentioned in paragraph 43 of the report (A/47/463). This programme will be sponsored by UNCTAD, ECLAC and SELA, and will have the backing of UNDP as well as the support, in the light of experience gained, of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Ibero-American Association of Chambers of Commerce representing the private sector. Hence my country, Chile, has decided to join the sponsors of draft resolution A/47/L.7, just introduced by the representative of Peru. We hope that the General Assembly will adopt it by consensus.

The delegation of Mexico is pleased to participate in the discussion on this important item for the Latin American and Caribbean region and this Organization. Given the shaky state of the global economy Latin America is once again confronted with major challenges. The upward trend our region had recorded over the past biennium is beginning to slow down, calling into question whether it can be sustained and, thus, the direction of the enormous efforts exerted in the task. This early erosion of gains made is in large measure the result of exogenous factors. It does not appear that the international economic environment is at all favourable to the development of the Latin American economy. After a decade of adversity the countries of the region have devised short-term policies of adjustment and of economic reform that any developed country would have had difficulty adopting. The imperative of joining a dynamic and interdependent world system gave rise to encouraging prospects amongst us. In this context we have placed special emphasis on policies aimed at open trade, in the belief that this sector has a key role to play in promoting growth. Among the numerous risks facing our regional economy, we should like to highlight those posed by this sector. For more than six years the parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) have been working resolutely to work out a consolidated trade system involving the exchanging not only of goods but also of services, a system which would be beneficial to all parties. This exercise is now facing its greatest challenge. The parties concerned will have to make an earnest effort to break the deadlock and move forward in the negotiations, which are the key to the economic future not only of Latin America and the Caribbean but also of the entire world. Over the 17 years since its inception the Latin American Economic System (SELA) has been playing a significant catalytic role in the processes of regional integration. Its function to provide analysis and to promote joint efforts has contributed to bringing all the countries of this development region closer together. Through its forums of consultation and coordination it has facilitated the adoption of consensus positions on issues of great significance to our countries. It has also made it possible to identify problems of concern to our societies and to find solutions to them. We are pleased to note that the Secretary-General's report on this item indicates that relations between the Organization and SELA have expanded and deepened in the past 12 months. We welcome the fact that a growing n\imber of agencies in the system are becoming involved in these activities. We wish in particular to highlight the fruitful and intensive work which over this period has been carried out jointly by SELA and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). In this context the priority given to social issues in the region through specific actions such as the establishment of networks of data banks in this regard is contributing not only to consciousness-raising on these issues but also providing a basis for the adoption of appropriate policies and measures. This fruitful work is being done in cooperation with a variety of agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which play a leading role in technical cooperation in our region. Currently a project covering activities of great interest to the countries in our region is being analysed together with UNDP, with a view to its inclusion in the fifth programming cycle. We should also like to highlight the communication and cooperation that has been established with bodies throughout the United Nations system dealing with matters of the greatest importance to us, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). With regard to population matters, positive efforts have also been made to become actively involved in the preparations for the forthcoming World Conference on Population and Development, which we very much welcome. We believe that cooperation between the Latin American Economic System and this Organization is of particular relevance, given the period of transition being experienced in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is important that such cooperation be expanded and consolidated, for it is directly contributing not only to the efforts at integration in the region but also to our programme to consolidate and spur development and growth in our countries. That is the purpose of the draft resolution now before the Assembly, of which my delegation is a sponsor. Mr. HERNANDEZ (Dominican Republic) (interpretation from Spanish); In 1975, 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries met in Panama City to set up a permanent body to coordinate the region's positions on various issues vis-a-vis countries outside the region and international organizations. Those countries now 26 also decided that the body would organize cooperation between the countries of the region. The Latin American Economic System (SELA) was established as the first genuinely Latin American and Caribbean body, in response to the need of the entire region to realize its potential by defining its own identity. It filled the gap in the structure of relations within Latin America and the Caribbean, there being no authentic regional body to enable the countries of the region to discuss their positions and take collective decisions in defence of their own interests. It is true that Latin America and the Caribbean form a very heterogeneous region, that national conditions differ, that there are marked size differences between countries, and that economic structures and the volume of goods and services produced vary greatly. It is also true that countries in the region are more or less vulnerable depending on their geographic position. However, in their external relations, both economic and political, there are more elements uniting them than dividing them, as is seen in SELA, whose members take advantage of those unifying factors to work in concert to solve the problems that beset them. The sensitivity and efficiency of an international body may be defined by, inter alia, the promptness and speed with which an item, problem or point of special interest finds its way onto its agenda and programme of work. Topics such as economic security, economic aggression, and problems of external debt, as well as new items, such as transparency in international data and international trade in services, can be dealt with rapidly, and as has been demonstrated repeatedly, when they are most topical and in need of urgent action. SELA is very sensitive and efficient, and is also thoroughly democratic and fair. Therefore, SELA has given tangible form to our region's determination to create new realities and put new life into relations within the region. A constant feature of its multilateral actions has been the maintenance of its founding principles equality, sovereignty, solidarity and independence and non-interference in internal affairs, on the basis of full respect for the economic, social and political systems freely chosen by peoples and States themselves which gave birth to the organization and are its raison d'etre. There is today, as never before, confidence that Latin America and the Caribbean have made progress along the path of development, but they have discovered that there is still a great gap between reality and their legitimate expectations and unfulfilled potential. We have had confidence in SELA since its foundation. The system is trying to realize those legitimate expectations and the unfulfilled regional potential. Given all that, and the need for close cooperation with the United Nations in accordance with what the Secretary-General says in his "Agenda for Peace" about cooperation with regional arrangements, our delegation not only supports, but is a sponsor of, draft resolution A/47/L.7, confident that cooperation between the two organizations will not only continue, but increase day by day. Mrs. ROCKEFELLER (United States of America); Last April President Bush told the Forum of the Americas, a group of 400 business leaders from North and South America, that the people of the Americas were well on the way "to creating something mankind has never seen: a hemishere wholly free and democratic, with prosperity flowing from open trade." The United States, as a regional member of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), has an interest in supporting cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System (SELA). We believe that more and more this cooperation will contribute to what is a "quiet revolution" sweeping the economy of the region. The economic progress that is pulling Latin America out of a decade of debt, capital flight and stagnation indeed amounts to a quiet, unpublicized revolution. This has been the result of brave political leadership and economic wisdom in many Latin capitals. President Bush's Enterprise for the Americas Initiative was launched to help support this self-generated commitment to market-oriented reforms undertaken by the leaders of Latin America. In trade, the Initiative is moving towards the creation of a liberalized trading system, free of barriers, in the western hemisphere. In investment, it encourages equity investment and the return of flight capital, which will be the forms of financing of the future not loans that create more debt. With regard to foreign debt, it has already seen the reduction of $263 million in food-aid debt, among other things. The Enterprise for the Americas Initiative is » firm element in economic relations within the region, and we look forward to the continued involvement of ECLAC, SELA and all other parties in its potentials and successes. This "quiet revolution" that I mentioned is moving the countries of Latin America towards market-driven growth and potential prosperity. Latin America is emerging from the economic crisis of the 1980s with increased prospects for sustained economic growth and stable democratic societies in which broader opportunities for participation are available throughout the population. The region's real gross domestic product grew by an estimated 2.8 per cent in 1991, and it is projected to rise by 3.5 per cent in 1992. Inflation has fallen by two thirds, while official reserves have doubled. These figures rank the region very high among the regions forming the global economy. The United States desires increased ECLAC cooperation with other regional economic associations, such as SELA, in pursuit of continued market-driven growth in the region. Latin America is the fastest growing regional market for United States exports; in 1991 such exports were more than double those of 1986. In turn, Latin America has become very attractive to United States direct investment, which doubled between 1986 and 1990. Latin countries are increasingly entering the capital markets for new financing, and from 1989 to 1992 they witnessed a tenfold increase in new private capital flows from $4 billion to some $40 billior.. The draft resolution before us urges continued support by ECLAC and United Nations specialized agencies for cooperation with SELA, ECLAC will take on new importance, for two very strong reasons: regional economic growth is vibrant, and the Secretary-General's reform will likely direct more functions to the regional economic commissions than ever before. ECLAC will identify and assist more and more opportunities for economic growth. It must therefore work in collaboration with other regional organizations, such as SELA, in the efficient pursuit of this goal. My delegation was pleased to participate in last April's ECLAC consensus resolution entitled "Restructuring and Revitalization of the United Nations in the Economic and Social Fields: Role and Functions of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean". It endorsed the need for ongoing restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations system in the economic and social fields, and made concrete commitments to that effect. It was undertaken at the behest of General Assembly resolution 46/235. That resolution called for ECLAC, among the other regional commissions, to be enabled fully to play its role under the authority of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, and for the strengthening of ECLAC's effectiveness. The United States delegation believes that the direction of ECLAC's reform resolution confirms the importance of economic liberalization and policy reform. Cooperation between ECLAC and SELA should derive every benefit from that resolution, together with the relevant section of the report of the 24th session of the Commission and the document entitled "Restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the Economic and Social Fields: Role and Functions of ECLAC". This direction promises a useful, collaborative approach to cooperation on continuing economic liberalization and policy reform among the countries in the region. With increased cooperation between ECLAC and SELA, my delegation is confident that the liberalizing countries of Latin America will prosper in their new direction towards democracy-building, free enterprise development, and the rule of law. resolution A/47/L.7. May I take it that the Assembly adopts draft resolution A/47/L.7?

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/3, of 13 October 1980, I now call on the Observer for the Latin American Economic System. Mr. DE ROJAS (Latin American Economic System (SELA)) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American Economic System (SELA) I should like to express my profound appreciation to the States members of this Assembly for the resolution that has just been adopted and in particular to the delegations of Peru and of the other Latin American and Caribbean countries that sponsored it, and those delegations that supported it. As stated in the resolution, we are convinced that it will help in broadening and deepening coordination and mutual support activities between the United Nations and SELA, which the report of the Secretary-General (A/47/463) clearly shows are already numerous. In fact, since the signing of the Agreement on cooperation between the two organizations in October last year and the adoption of resolution 46/12, reaffirmed today, we have seen a vigorous growth in cooperative activities and joint endeavours, not only through the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and various departments of the Secretariat in New York but also with other organizations and specialized agencies within the system, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Latin American Institute for Economic and Social Planning and the United Nations University. With regard to the United Nations Development Programme, which is singled out for special reference in the resolution, we are happy to state that next week the definitive text of the new regional support programme for SELA will be delivered, fitting in with the fifth programming cycle. The document has already been the subject of intensive consultations between the Latin American Bureau of the programme and the SELA Permanent Secretariat. Hence, we hope that with the diligent support of the Governments in the region it will very soon be adopted and implemented. The Latin American Council, the highest body of our organization, had its eighteenth ordinary annual meeting just a few weeks ago, and adopted a series of decisions in which it was shown that the Latin American and Caribbean countries continue to hope that SELA will continue its work in the areas of debt and financing, external trade, regional integration, environment and development, industrialization and technology, and social development, which are also priority items on the Assembly's agenda. The delegations attending the meeting of the Latin American Council also showed the great interest attached by their Governments in the restructuring process of the United Nations in the economic and social spheres, which has been a focus of attention at the present session of the General Assembly and requested the Permanent Secretariat to follow closely this process in close contact with the delegations in New York. The Council also decided to recommend the Secretariat to continue providing the support and technical assistance required by the member states of the system and to work in cooperation with them in drawing up a strategy for action in the medium term in all international economic forums. The Permanent Secretary of SELA, Mr. Salvador Arriola, will be in New York next week in order to discuss with the Secretary-General ways and means of implementing the resolution just adopted, and also to meet the Administrator and other officials of UNDP in connection with the new regional programme. He will make use of his visit to hold consultations with the delegations of the States of the region and other countries with an interest in SELA's work in the main subjects that we are working on in the economic and social field, many of which, as I stated, are at present under consideration by the General Assembly, and also to discuss the support activities the Permanent Secretariat will be continuing to offer to those delegations that request them and have an interest in our work.

We have concluded this stage of our consideration of