S/34/PV.1 Security Council

Before turning to the next item on our agenda, I should like to inform the General Assembly that Chad has made the necessary p~yme~t to reduce its arrears below the amount speCIfied m Article 19 of the Charter.

In accordance with the proce- dure followed in the past, I should now like to invite the General Assembly to consider, under item 19 of the provisional agenda, the positive recommendation by the Security Council for the admission ofSaint Lucia to membership in the United Nations. This special proce- dure has been applied previously in order to give States recently recommended by the Security Council for membership in our Organization the opportunity, if the General Assembly acts favourably on their requests, to participate from the outset in the work ofthe session. If there is no objection, we shall proceed accordingly. 77 The PRESIDENT: The Security Council has in do~ument A/34/464 recommended the admission of Saint Lucia to membership ill the United Nations. In this connexion a draft resolution has been submitted, document A/34/L.I and Add. 1. May I take ~t that the General Assembly accepts the recommendation. of the Security Council and adopts the draft resolutIon by acclamation?

I declare Saint Lucia admitted to membership in the United Nations.

As President of the thirty- fourth regular session of the United Nations General Assembly, I wish to extend a wann welcome to the ne:w State of Saint Lucia, whose application for memb~rshlp in the United Nations has just been approved. WIth the admission ofSaint Lucia, the membershipofthe United Nations has increased to 152 and our Organization has taken a further step towards the goal of universality. The United Nations has thereby been strengthened as an instrument for world peace and co-operation. 80. The admission of Saint Lucia to the United Na- tions gives me personally great satisfaction because it marks one more advance in the ongoing process of decolonization. Having been for a number of years Chairman of the Special Committee on decolonization, I have closely followed Saint Lucia's progress towards full independence and I share with the people and the Government of Saint Lucia their joy on this happy occasion. 81. I should like to congratulate them, and particu- 82. Several representatives have e~pressed the desire to speak at this juncture. I now call on the first speaker, the representative of Liberia, who wishes to speak on behalf of the African States.

On behalfof the Mrican group ofStates, I wish to express the profound sense of loss and griefthat we feel at the untimely death ofone of the great leaders of our continent, Agostinho Neto, the President of the Republic of Angola. Our hearts go out to the bereaved family and we wish for them and for the people ofAngola the fortitude and faith to endure these sad and difficult days, so that their brave country can continue to stand tall in the front ranks of the struggle for African liberation, for human dignity and for the peace of the world. 84. At the appropriate time, African personalities of the highest authority and eminence will express from this rostrum the great pride and satisfaction which Af- rica feels in having you, Mr. President, one of its young and brilliant sons, preside over the thirty-fourth session of the General Assembly. As Chairman of the group of African States for this month, it is my honour and my almost impossible duty to express appropriate thanks to your great predecessor, Mr. Lievano of Colombia, and to try to convey to you the real sense of pleasure which all of us, your colleagues from Mrica, feel at seeing you deservedly elevated to this high position. Your great country, the United Republic of Tanzania, and our common continent, Mrica, can be proud that no other country or region of the world could have produced a more youthful, more experienced or more gifted diplomat having the Wisdom, patience and skill to guide the work of the Assembly in these uncertain days of difficulties-as well as opportunities-for the inter- nat,ional community. 85. Because the independent States ofAfrica make up one-third of the membership of this Organization, our group's co-operation and support are essential for the success of any session of the General Assembly. This year, as always in the past, fully conscious of this responsibility which the power of our numbers confers upon us, the African group will give its full support to the President of the Assembly in the discharge of his duties. But because this year the President-you, Sir- is one of us, because the joy of your elevation today is shared by all of us, and because your certain success will bring credit and benefit to our beloved Mrica, please rest assured that the African group will leave no stone unturned in the most vigorous efforts to make your presidency, an African presidency, one of the most productive and memorable in the annals of the United Nations. 86. The entire United Nations community knows that this day is one of particular significance for you, Mr. 87. Last week when the Security Council voted unan- imously to recommend to the General Assembly the admission of Saint Lucia to membership in the United Nations, I had the honour, on behalf of the Mrican group, to extend congratulations to that new State and to welcome it into the United Nations family. In renew- ing those sentiments here in the General Assembly, where there are neither small States nor big States, it is not inappropriate to recall that this Organization is based on the principle ofthe sovereign equality ofall its Members. There are no minority States in the United Nations. All the States here are equal, and that equality is not to be measured by financial contributions to the United Nations budget or by geographical size orpopu- lation; on the contrary, ignoring such considerations, the unique and enduring appeal of the Charter derives from its call to all nations to practise tolerance, to live in peace with one another as good neighbours and to em- ploy international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples. 88. Because those principles of the Charter are still valid today, small States like my own country, Liberia, and our newest Member, Saint Lucia, can come proudly to this forum and here, free from intimidation, endeavour to make our contribution in dignity and with a sense of responsibility to the lofty objectives for which this Organization stands. 89. So long as the United Nations remains loyal to the principles of its Charter its influence, regardless of the III wishes or contemptuous actions of some of its de- tractors, instead of declining, will rise and the United Nations will continue to attract and be attractive to all States until the desirable day of complete universality of its membership has been reached. 90. Let us therefore, on this day ofanother beginning, indulge the hope that, during this year when the African Chairman of the Special Committee on decolonization presides over the General Assembly, the stubborn ves- tiges of racism and colonialism still remaining in south- ern Africa will, by the actions taken here in the next few weeks, be hastened to the day of their destruction. On that triumphant day when colonialism will be finally buried all States Members of this great Organization will be able to march forward in unity and brotherhood discharging the sacred task of strengthening peace and employing the full force ofhuman ingenuity and resolve to make this world a better place for all nations and all peoples.

I now call on the representa- tive of Papua New Guinea, who will speak on behalf of the Asian group of States.

On behalfof the Asian group of States, I congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the high office ofPresident ofthe thirty- 93. The Asian group of States would like to pay a parti'cuJar tribute to the outgoing President for the skil- ful and firm manner in which he led the meetings ofthe last session. The results of that session speak for themselves. 94. It was with sadness that we learned of the un- timely death of the President of Angola, Agostinho Neto. 95. The Asian group of States cordially and warmly welcomes Saint LUCIa as the newest Member of this world body. Each year, more and more colonies be- come politically independent. This is, and should be, the normal thing to happen, because all people of the world want, and have the right, to be free from foreign domination. There is nothing better than to be free, to be our own masters, again. We call on colonies which are still under foreign domination to move forward to- wards political independence. We also call on coloniz- ers to set the colonized people free. We welcome Saint Lucia to our midst. %. If I may digress forjust one moment, international communities continue to use some words or groups of words which my delegation deplores as, in some cases, derogatory and, in other cases, simply meaningless. Such words or groups of words are: "developed countries" and "developing countries", or "first", "second", "third" and "fourth" world. The way things are going, we will soon come to the "fifth" or even "sixth" world. 97. First, let us stop deluding ourselves, because, as far as my delegation is concerned, there is no country in the world that is truly developed. If there is one, then I have not heard of it. So-called developed countries are still developing. That is a fact; we all know it for certain. Why, then, should we use the term "developed countries" ? 98. Secondly, as for the various worlds to which we refer, my delegation does not see why there should be differences. We all know that there is only one world- mother earth-on which we live, unless, ofcourse, we are talking about other celestial bodies. We un- doubtedly are not talking about other celestial bodies--- only our world. Ifthat is so, then why do we become so unrealistic by referring to "first" and "second" worlds, and so on? For the record, my delegation strongly objects to such meaningless words. Let us be realistic and begin to use, for example, "industrialized countries" instead of the so-called "developed" or "first-world" or "second-world" countries and "non- industrialized countries" for the so-called' "develop- ing" or "third-world", "fourth-world" or whatever- world countries. ' 99, If the suggestions I havejust made pose some legal complIcations, then it is time for us to look for correction.

I now call on the representa- tive of Romania, who will speak on behalfof the group of Eastern European States.

Sir, permit me to congratulate you most cordially on your election to the importantpost ofPresi- dent of the General Assembly. The head of the Roman- ian delegation, when he addresses the Assembly next week, will ofcourse have the pleasure ofcongratulating you appropriately on your election and ofexpressing at the same time hIS great appreciation to your eminent predecessor, Mr. Indalecio Li6vano, for his remarkable contribution to the work of the last session of the Gen- eral Assembly. 103. The Romanian delegation whole-heartedly en- dorses the words ofdeep sadness which you, Mr. Presi- dent, have just voiced on the occasion of the unex- pected death of that great son of the Angolan people, President Agostinho Neto. In the passing ofthat distin- guished statesman the friendly people of Angola, the people ofMrica and the international community have lost a determined and indefatigable fighter for the cause of the national independence and political, economic and social emancipation of his country, as well as for the triumph of peace, freedom, justice and human dignity throughout the African continent. 104. I would request the delegation of Angola to ac- cept our sincerest condolences and the expression of our whole-hearted solidarity, We are convinced that the people of Angola will continue to pursue the noble ideals to which President Neto devoted all his talents and energies. 105. It is my honour, as Chairman of the group of Eastern European States, to welcome Saint Luciaon its admission to the United Nations. 106. In the midst ofour pleasure at the increase in the membership of this world Organization by a new Member, it is worth recalling that the aspirations ofthe people of Saint Lucia to freedom and national indepen- dence are quite familiar to us. Indeed, the United Nac tions, in the implementation of the General Assembly's. historic Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, has played a most important role in the developments which culminated, on 22 February last, in the proclamation by the people of Saint Lucia of their national independence. The ac- tion just taken by the General Assembly through its unanimous decision lends the seal of formality to the place which this young Latin American State has just taken among the free and sovereign nations of ·the ~ili. . .... 107. The proclamation of the national independence of Saint Lucia and its admission to membership in ,the United Nations are an expression of the histonc changes that have occurred in the world today and a further proof of the will of peoples to live as free and independent nations and to develop in accordance with their own interests. 116. The unanimous welcome given by the Security Council to the entry ofSaint Lucia has created a propi- tious atmosphere for this Assembly to approve unani- mously the draft resolution which will make Saint Lucia the one hundred and fifty-second Memberofthe United Nations and the twenty-ninth member of the group of Latin American States. 109. Before concluding, I should like to recall that on the occasion ofthe proclamation of the independence of Saint Lucia the Romanian Government communicated to the Government of that State its best wishes for success in the work of free and independent development. 117. For Latin America, the entry of Saint Lucia is a cause for satisfaction because it gives effect to three basic fundamental premises deeply rooted in the con- science of Latin America, namely, the self-deter- mination of peoples, the sovereign equality of States and the universality of the United Nations. 110. While congmtulating the Government and people of Saint Lucia on the l)ccasion of such a momentous event, we wish to express our desire to establish friendly co-operation with that country's dele- gation to the Unite'd Nations,. 118. It is also a matter of profound satisfaction that Saint Lucia has achieved its independence as a result of a peaceful process which had the support both of the United Workers Party, the government party, and the Labour Party, the opposition party, as well as the forth- right and firm co-operation of the United Kingdom, the administering Power, which deal! with this matter in a manner that deserves the cordial appreciation of the international community. Ill. The PRESIDENT: I now call on the representa- tive ofPanarna, who will speak on behalfofthe group of Latin American States. 112. Mr. ILLUECA (Panama) UnluprelllliOlI from Spanish): The election of a states.man with your. emi- nentqualities as President ofthe thirty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly is a matter for singular satisfaction for the entire international commu- nity, but particularly for the peoples of the third world, whose interests you have so loyally defended th['ou~­ out your fruitful public life. On behalf of the Latin American group of States, I am plea~edto congratul~te you most warmly and at the same time to offer you Its most resolute co-operation for the complete success of your important office as President. 119. Although in the Security Council debate it Was mentioned that Saint Lucia would become the eighth Commonwealth member in the Caribbean region, it is fitting to point out that in the development of harmo- nious and brotherly relations between the peoples of the Latin American continent a happy understanding has been reached to consider all the States in that geographical area as being equally Latin American, This was the fortunate conclusion reached in Panama, when the Convention Establishing the Latin American Economic System was adopted. 2The Bolivarian idea of the unity and integration of Latin America remains alive, strong and dynamic in the Latin American human communities I without any distinction for reasons of race, language, origin, nationality, sex or ideol~gy,and regardless ofgeographical location. from the RIO Bravo to Patagonia, in the north, centre or south of Latin America, including the Caribbean sector. With the en- try ofSaint Lucia, Latin America m~ntainsthe prol?or- tion of 20 ~ercent of the c.omJ;l0sltlon ~f t~e UOlted Nations which together With Its contnbutlon to the world economy and to peace and to friendship and co-operation amon~ States, assures for it ~n increa~­ ingly important pOSItion in international relatIOns and In the future of mankind. 113, I wish to place on record also OU!' group's warmest appreciation to the outgoing PreSident az~d distinguished Latin American statesman, Mr. Inda,leclo Lievano Aguirre, for his magnificent work as PreSident of the thirty-third session of the Geneml Assembly. 114. A mournful event has engulfed us in deep SOITOW and moves us on this solemn occasion to express Our feelings of solidarity with the people of Angola on the premature passing of that great African stat~sman, Agostinho Neto. President Ne!t) won the affectIOn and admiration of the peoples of the third world bec~use \If his outstandin~ intellectual qualities, his humamty, ~IS talent and ability. which constantly opened up promis- ing roads for the nation of Angola and for the peoples of southern Africa desirous of freedom and justice. On behalf of the Latin American group, I wish to transmit the most heartfelt condolences and sorrow to the family ofPresident Neto and to the Government and people of the People's Republic of Angola. 120. I conclude by reiterating the satisfaction of our region at the unan!m~us appr<;wal by. the General As- sembly of the admiSSion of Samt Lucla, whose people and Government I most cordially welcome on behalfof the Latin American group. 115. In my dual capacity as the. repre~entativ~ of Panama and Chairman t1f the group of Latin American l Signed al Panama City on 17 October 1975.

As Chairman of the group cif Western European and other States, I should like to welcome Saint Lucia to the United Nations as its one hundred and fifty-second Member State. We recall with plea.sure that it is a country which benefited from the emancipat- ing work of the United Kingdom. I should like to ad- dress a cordial greeting to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Geor~e Odium, who is heading the delegation of Saint Lucla. 123. I should hope that the leaders of Saint Lucia will feel at home here, as we all do. The small size or remoteness of a country has never prevented its influ- ence being felt. We all have our roles to play. Saint Lucia will be able to determine its role and to fulfil it. 124. Our Organization is designed to reflect the uni- versality of nations. Its rapid expansion over the last few years, of which Saint Lucia's admission marks a new stage, calls, in our view, for an ever more intensive search for consensus. The weight of votes is something that fades, while the moral authority ofconsensus tends to expand intenational law. 125. I should like to take this opportunity to congratu- late you, Sir, on behalf of the group of Western Euro- pean and other States, on your accession to the presi- dency of the thirty-fourth session of the General Assembly ofthe United Nations. Our States take great pleasure in yourelection. For many years now, we have been able to appreciate here, in these precincts, your human and professional qualities and your concern to endow our Organization with a greater measure of ef- fectiveness and equipoise. Your long experience of in- ternational problems and your profound knowledge of our Organization are the best guarantees of your suc- cess in that task. 126. It behoves the President of the General Assem- bly more than anyone to demonstrate profound attach- ment to the prinCIples ofth~ Charter, to recall them and to see that they are observed. The group of Western European and other States knows that this has always been and will remain one of your prime concerns. 127. You may be assured of the full support of our group in the perfonnance of your arduous duties. 128. I should also like to pay a tribute to your pre- decessor, Mr. Lievano, for the way in which he pre- sided over the thirty-third session of the General Assembly. 129. In conclusion, we should like to associate ourselves with the tribute you paid in memory of Mr. Agostinho Neto, the President ofthe People's Republic of Angola. The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Henri Simonet, was able personally to appreciate his political vision. Many States in the group ofWestern European and other States owe to him a tightening of their links with Angola..His loss is felt, and we hope for the sake of world peace that his example will remain alive.

Mr. President, allow me, on behalfof the Arab group of States and on my own behalf, to congratulate you most sincerely and warmly on your election by acclamation to the presidency of the thirty-fourth ses- sion of the General Assembly. Your long experience in international affairs and your great competence make you an exemplary person to guide our work in this mternational forum towards the success we all seek. Your country, the United Republic ofTanzania, which plays a positive role in promoting the progress and prosperity of the developing countries, represents for us the best guarantee that our session will be crowned with success. 132. On this occasion I should like, on behalf of the States ofthe Arab group, to transmit to the Government and people of the State of Saint Lucia our warmest congratulations and best wishes on their admission to membership in this world body. That event will un· doubtedly strengthen the United Nations in its task or serving the cause of international peace and justice. We wish this young nation all success in the attainment of the objectives and fulfilment of the principles of the United Natipns in order jointly to contribute to the greater well-being of mankind as a whole. 133. Finally, I must not fail to mention the praiseworthy work and major contribution of your pre- decessor, Mr. Lievano, which helped to ensure the success of the thirty-third session.

I now call on the representa- tive of Guyana, who will speak on behalf of the Carib- bean States.

Mr. President, permit me to express to you, on behalf of the Commonwealth Caribbean States, our sincerest congratulations on your unanimous election as President ofour Assembly. The leaders of our delegations will shortly be con- gratulating you approptiately on your election on behalf of their respective Governments. On those occasions they will also express the appreciation oftheir Govern- ments for the very important contribution made to the success ofthe work ofthe last Assembly by your distin- guished predecessor, Mr. Indalecio Lievano. 136. It was with a sense ofprofound shock and regret that we learned of the demise of the late President or Angola, Mr. Agostinho Neto. With his passing, Angola has lost a noble son and leader whose courage and sacrifice during Angola's protracted liberation war will live forever in our memories. We should like to extend our sincerest sympathy and solidarity with the family of the late President and with the Government and people of Angola in their hour of loss. 137. It is a great honour for my delegation, in the name of the delegations of the Commonwealth Caribbean Territories, to extend a welcome to Saint Lucia to our world body. With Saint Lucia, our Territories share a history of slavery, colonialism and exploitation, a history that dates back more than four centuries. Along with this common history, geographical proximity has destined us to close, cordial co-operation. In fact, our relations with Saint Lucia are a story of long, fruitful. 138. Perhaps our most significant co-operative effort is in our regional organization, the Caribbean Commu- nity, where we are all striving together to increase our collective strength through reciprocal co-operation and to make our region better equipped to survive in the world of today. In this regard, Saint Lucia's role and contribution have been most outstanding. 139. The Commonwealth Caribbean States therefore feel a particular pride and sense of honour in welcoming Saint Lucia into our midst today, just two weeks after we had the pleasure in Havana of welcoming Saint Lucia to observer status within the non-aligned move- ment. Among other things, this accession is symbolic of the irreversible march of decolonization and of the in- domitable nature of the desire of the peoples of our region for freedom and for the enjoyment of their right to self-determination. We are confident ofSaint Lucia's ability and determination to fulfil its obligations as a Member State ofour Organization and we are likewise confident that Saint Lucia's participation in the work of the Organization will make a positive contribution to promoting the ideas of our Charter. 140. As we welcome Saint Lucia among us, it is ap- propriate that we also give some thought to others in our region who are still under colonial rule. We sincerely hope that those peoples will soon be enabled to exercise their right to self-determination and take their place as fully sovereign States in the international community. The States of the Commonwealth Carib- bean look forward to working closely with Saint Lucia in this Organization, both here in New York and in other forums. 141. We call on all other States in the Organization to work with us, extending to Saint Lucia all necessary co-operation in that great national effort of which its independence in February of this year has marked only the beginning.

I now call upon the rep- resentative of the host country, the United States of America. 143. Mr. McHENRY (United States of America): As host country, the United States is pleased to welcome Saint Lucia as the one hundred fifty-second Member of the United Nations. In the Security Council debate on Saint Lucia's admission, we already expressed our sup- port for this new State's application and our beliefin its readiness to assume the responsibilities that member- ship entails. 144. We expect that the principles which guided the people of Saint Lucia successfully to independence on 22 February of this year will continue to guide them as theYJ'oin in O1.).r common efforts here to establish a worl of peace, justice and prosperity. Saint Lucia has already assumed an active role in international affairs, and we support its efforts at regional co-operation through meetings with its Caribbean neighbours such as one recently held at St. George's, Grenada. 145. As we welcome the representatives of Saint 146.. SiT Ap.thony PARSONS (United Kingdom): BreVity IS Said to be one of the national characteristics of the British. But it does not, certainly on this occa- Sion, denote any lack of warmth. 147. My delegation is delighted to extend a very warm welcome to Saint Lucia on its admission to the United Nations and to its Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. George Odium ~nd his delegation. The United Kingdom is al- ways pleased to welcome new Members to this Organi- zation, and it is a particular pleasure to us when the new Member is a fellow member of the Commonwealth. 148.. ,The United Kingdom .has fully supported Saint LUCla s moves towards full mdependence. It is there- fore a matter of great personal satisfaction to me that my first appearance at this podium occurs on this day when Saint Lucia takes its place in the international community. My country's association with Saint Lucia is a long and' happy one. As a result, we have great experience of the qualities of the people of Saint Lucia qualities which I am sure will make a full contribution t~ the work of the United Nations. }49:. The PRESIDENT: I nO~,take great pleasure in mVltmg the Deputy Pnme Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saint Lucia, Mr. George OdIum, to address the General Assembly,

My delegation and I wish to express the profound sorrow of my country on the news ofthe death ofthe distinguished revolutionary leader of the Angolan people, Agostinho Neto. This marks the passing away ofone of the true national sons of the third world. 151. Mr. President, I extend congratulations to you and your country on your election as President of the General Assembly. 152. My delegation wishes to extend the sincerest thanks of the people and Government of Saint Lucia to all those who were so instrumental in making it possible for Saint Lucia to take its seat within the portals of this body. We are aware of the obligations and responsibili- ties that are attendant on membership and are fully committed to upholding the ideals of the United Na- tions and are pledged to continuing to foster the spirit of good-neighbourliness and international co-operation in a peaceful world for the betterment ofthe peoples of the international community. 153. We are an island people. We are constricted in size, population and resources. Yet the peace of the world, perhaps poignantly for us, is something that we cannot allow to be compromised. Peace is vital to our economic existence, to our development, to our pro- ~ress. Without it our people remain destitute and the mdependence of action, thought and existence which we have so recently achieved becomes meaningless and 154. Recent national disasters, fundamentally of the type that has recently affected our sister island of Dominica, remind us how vulnerable an island State can become to the vicissitudes of nature. This reality heightens our conviction and realization that we must endeavour totally to utilize the twin facets of progress and development, namely co-ordination and co- operation, in our dealings with the international community. 155. Because we are constricted by the confines of our existence as an island State, we are more specifi- cally aware of our very serious and real development problems. We are equally aware how easily our pro- gress can be reduced, or even negated, by factors beyond our control, be they natural or otherwise. It is precisely because of our island constraints that my delegation feels that the island-State concept and what it entails must be projected and pursued, particularly in meetings of the Committees and the plenary Assembly, in order to ensure that due notice is taken and adequate consideration given to our extreme vulnerability. 156. The uniqueness of our situation is underlined by the fact of our geographical identification, which ne- gates to a large extent the normal and accepted pre- requisites for development. In short, we constitute a very special case. 157. My Government recognizes that a great deal can be achieved through regional arrangements, and that through these arrangements the larger international community can be enabled to appreciate the myriad of nuances that beset the smallest of OUl' sovereign en- tities. That is why we relentlessly pursue our associa- tion: with the Caribbean Community [CARICGM], the Organization of American States [GAS] and the non- aligned groupings. We endeavour to support to the fullest extent the process offurthering regional integra- tion in our area, and to that end we seek through our subregional arrangements to bring every detail of our own circumstances to the forefront in OUl' group delib- erations in order that they may obtain a proper hearing and be supported and transcribed within the larger framework of the OAS system. If the problems of our region are to be solved they must first be identifiable and identified at the base and then they must be seen in the perspective of raising the standards ofour collective peoples in order to attain a decent and comparable standard of living. 158. That is why, even within our CARICOM con- fines we seek to analyse, consider and project the spe- cific considerations that pertain to the Eastern Carib- bean grouping. We seek therein an identification of the peoples and the Governments, and, in turn, the accept- ance of that approach in the larger CARICOM arena. 159. On our first appearance here, it is only natural that we should give some brief indication of the princi- ples ofour J?0licy that will enable us to play a role in the general deliberations of this Assembly. 160. The corner-stone of my Government's policy is that we hold sacred our readiness to enjoy the best re~ard. We sincerely hope that the conference will meet With success. 161. We will support every legitimate, regionally rec- ognized liberation movement in realizing its quest for justice. We deprecate interference of any kind in the affairs of any State or any threat made to the inviolabil- ity and ten'itorial sovereignty of a State. We note that there is still an impasse on the question of Belize. We observe and welcome the efforts being made by Barbados and the United Kingdom to overcome this situation. We pledge our unflinching support for Be- lize's immediate and uncompromised independence. 162. We also welcome the United Kingdom's resolve to !Vant independence to the remainder of the West Indles Associated States, and we look forward to welcoming St. Vincent to membership in the United Nations this year. We are celiain that the United King- dom is doing its utmost to enable Antigua, Se Kitts- Nevis-Anguilla and Montserrat to realize their prefer- red choice ofexpressing their self-detelmination in the shOliest possible time. We will continue to hold a watching brief in this regard. 163. It is necessary for me to emphasize my Govern- ment's earnest hope and wishes for the achievement of a new international economic order. We have followed intently the deliberations of UNCTAD, the North- South dialogue, and the other various forums that have sought to make some progress in that direction. These meetings are not only important but vital to us. We shall endeavour, to the extent our resources permit and in the context of our priorities, to participate fully and to lend all assistance towards a proper outcome to these deliberations. 164. In this context, we shall work toward a redefini- tion of, and a recommitment and rededication to, principles with a view to making a renewed effort to achieve a new international economic order. The time has come for some introspection and for a review of where we are going, at what cost, and for what reasons. 165. EvelY State is preoccupied with the energy ques- tion. Island States are in a partiCUlarly difficult position, since our every communication and contact with the international community relates to the high price of energy. We will follow and participate in the considera- tions leading to the energy conference in 1980, but we wish to state categorically today that it is our contention that every region has a responsibility and an obligation tQ work towards a comprehensive and generally accept- able answer to the energy problem. 167. The fact of being an island State increases our concern with the law of the sea. Our tradition entails an association with the sea for communication, for re- sources, and for food. The riches of the sea-bed and its exploitation particularly concern us. So does the ques- tion ofthe conservation offishing grounds, ofpollution, 168. The people and Government ofSaint Lucia wish to convey their specific gratitude to the Secretary- General of the United Nations, to the Chainnarl and members of the Security Council and to all representa- tives of Member States for their respective roles in making this occasion possible. We pledge our total and whole-hearted support and co-operation in the United Nations quest for continuing peace in the international community.