S/39/PV.108 Security Council

I declare the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly resumed, in accord- ance with decision 39/456 of 18 December 1984.

Before we consider the items on the agenda for this afternoon, it is my sad duty to recall to the General Assembly the deaths of Mr. Linden Forbes Bumham, President of the Republic of Guyana; Mr. Luis Padilla Nervo, President of the sixth session of the General Assembly, former Minis- ter for Forei~ Affairs ofMexico and formet:' Judge of the InternatIonal Court of Justice; and Sir Muham- mad Zafrulla Khan, President of the seventeenth session of the General Assembly and first Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, which have occurred since the suspension ofthe thirty-ninth session ofthe Assembly on 12 April 1985. 3. I invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to their memory. The members ofthe Assembly observed a minute of silence. 4. The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative of Guyana. 5. Mr. KARRAN (Guyana): I make this statement with mixed feelings. It is very kind of you, Mr. President, and the General Assembly to express your sympathy in the way you have. Comrade Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham guided the destiny of the Guyanese people for 21 years. During that period he saw Guyana move from colonialism to indepen- dence-mdependence which he cherished dearly. He brought our small nation out of obscurity, and through his foreign policy Guyana became known and respected internationally. I speak in particular of Guyana's commitment to and involvement in the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, its involve- ment in issues of the third world and its involvement in the councils of the United Nations. Under his presidency, Guyana dedicated itself to the develop- ment of regional integration and was a driving force in the process which culminated in the establishment of the Caribbean Community [CARICOM]. 6. By his death, the national liberation movements throughout the world have lost a committed friend and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has NEW YORK lost a true friend. He felt deeply for the oppressed peoples of the world. 7. The Commonwealth countries have lost a friend and so has CARICOM. It was with great shock and deep sadness that the Guyanese community learned of his sudden death. However, he has laid a founda- tion for development within our national boundaries. He believed in multilateral institutions and he was committed to the Organization-the United Na- tions-and its workings. It had his unswerving support. 8. On behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana and the bereaved family ofthe late President Burnham, I should like to extend my warmest and sincerest thanks for the sentiments expressed here this afternoon. 9. Mr. MuNOZ LEDO (Mexico) (interpretation from Spanish): Luis Padilla Nervo, a distinguished Mexican and an eminent internationalist, passed away on 9 September at the age of 87. A career diplomat and a government official for over half a century, he gave service to the international commu- nity. 10. He was President ofthe General Assembly at its sixth session and Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1964 to 1973. Minister for Foreign Affairs of my country from 1952 to 1958, Padilla Nervo was twice representative of Mexico to· the United Nations and, together with Brazil, was one of the first Latin American members on the Security Council. . 11. Throughout his long career, he distinguished himselfas one ofthe most faithful interpreters of my country's foreign policy and ofthe deep!t nationalist feelings of our people, firmly expressed in the Mexican revolution of 1910 and of wllich our own diplomatic action has been both the reflection and the spearhead. 12. Padilla Nervo carried out that policy in an exemplary way, a policy which has always been based on principles. Since the days of San Francisco when the United Nations was being formed, he accom- plished his work and he can therefore quite rightly be considered one who fashioned our contemporary multilateral diplomacy and one of the steadfast champions of decolonization, disarmament and in- ternational co-operation. He always sought harmony among States, but he also stood firmly against the excesses of the mighty. 13. May his work be a lesson to everyone as well as encouragement to all. May the sovereignty of Mexi- co, vigorously reaffirmed in this forum, continue to strengthen equality among nations and the dignity of the Organization. That, Mr. President, is my hope as I thank you, on behalf of my country and on that of Mr. Padilla Nervo's family, for your generous words. Al39/PV.I08

I should now like to invite the attention of the General Assembly to document A/39!883/Add.2, which contains a letter addressed to me by the Secretary-General informing me that, since the issuance of his last communication: [A/39/883/Add.l] dated 11 April 1985, Chad, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Paraguay, Romania and zaire have made the necessary payments to- reduce their arrears below the amount specified in

The Secretary-General has informed me that he is continuing his consultations in regard to this matter and that he hopes to be in a position to present a name during the fortieth session of the General Assembly. In the interim period, the senior Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD will continue to act as its officer-in-charge. 24. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of this information and wishes to include sub-item 17 (z) in the draft agenda of the fortieth session? It was so decided (decision 39/324 Bj. 25. Mr. OUDOVENKO (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation/rom Russian): On behalfof the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Eepublic, the Peo- ple's RepubHc of Bulgaria, the Hungarian People's Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Mongolian People's Republic, the Polish People's Republic, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, I should like to make the following statement. 26. The socialist countries, which have participated very actively in the creation of UNCTAD, are aware of the great importance of that organization, whose contribution in the preparation of new ideas and concepts dealing with radical changes in internation- al economic relations on a just and democratic basis is widely recognized. The role of UNCTAD at the present time is even greater, since it is a forum where it is possible to discuss and adopt decisions on a wide range of topical economic, financial and trade issues that are more urgent than ever for the international c~mmunity, and above all for the developing coun- tnes. 27. At the present time, as we are approaching the seventh session of the Conference, we must once again draw attention to an abnormal situation. For almost a year now, that important organization has been working without a Secretary-General. In the joint statement of our delegations to the General Assembly on 18 December last [105th meeting, para. 79], we mdicated our hope that the question of the appointment of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD would be resolved as soon as possible, to make it possible for that organization to accomplish its work under nqrmal conditiol~, 28. We'now ask once again that there be·no delay in resolving this problem, because UNCTAD's contin- ued success requires that it have at its head a leader' with· authority who enjoys the brgad support of Member S.~,es. . • Resumed ffOm the I061h meetin$" tional peace and security and peace iilitiatives: report of the Secretary-General (concluded)*

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include this item in the draft agenda of the fortieth session? It was so decided.

In my statement on 12 April 1985, at the resumed session, I proposed, and the Assembly agreed, ir.. regard to agenda item 38, to "keep the . . . item open in order to allow time for further informal, but intensive, consultations after the suspension of the session and to recol!vcne on short notice to consider any decisions or agreements that might emerge from the consultations" [107th meeting, para. 9]. Regrettably, no substantive pro- gress has emerged since that time to allow the launching of global negotiations by the General Assembly. 31. As r, :lg "."Jell as my predecessors, have stated on various occasions, the concept of global negotiations, as initiated in Assembly resolution 34/138 and as it has evolved subsequently in the last few years, continues to be valid. It is in the interest of all States to concert their efforts in promoting international co- operation for economic development, one of the essential prerequisites for the maintenance of inter- national peace and security. 32. In my last statement, I went to the extent of suggesting that "it would be an abrogation of Article 1, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Charter, especially during this year of the fortieth anniversary-a time for recommitment-ifwe were to abandon the search for the consensus required to launch the global negotiations" [ibid., para. 8]. This remains my con- viction today, and I believe that efforts should continue to be made to ach.ieve this common objec- tive of ours. 33. On the course of action to be followed by the General Assembly at the closure of this session, I would propose, on the basis of informal consulta- tions, that the Assembly include in the draft agenda ofits fortieth session the item entitled "Launching of global negotiations on international economic co- operation for development". If there is no objection, it will be so decided. It was so decided (decision 39/454C). 34. The PRESIDENT: I wish once again to address a plea to all Member States seriously to take stock of the current situation and to renew their efforts and commitment to co-operate in a spirit of mutual understanding and flexibility, and in the interest of the international community as a whole, in uur common pursuit of solutions to the economic prob- lems which confront all of us today. 35. I now call on the representative of Egypt, who will speak on behalf of the Group of 77. '}~neral Assembly of resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and ::202 (S-VI) on the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International ;~')nal econom.ic order based upon the principles of !teed to e,?'-pa!1d the ~ole of the Umted NatIons and justice equality and mutual benefit. !ts orgamzatlons as Import~nt forums for harness- ' . . mg the efforts of States m order to strengthen 46. W~ also c~nslder that the c!Jmmem~ratlonof peace and international security and help to solve the f~rtlethanmversary of th~ Umted Nations. could urgent world problems. To achieve that end, the pro~lde a v~luable opport~mty for reaffirmatIOn. by member countries of CMEA are prepared to *t'; Intet:natlOna! commumty ~f the goals.and obJec- continue to participate ~ctively in their work. Th.ey tlves of m~ernatlOnal~onomlcco-otx:ratlOn and for favour the earliest pOSSIble start of global negotIa- strengt!tenmg the m~tllateral~conomlcsystem. You tions within the United Nations on the most were ki~d enough, Sir, to r~mtn~ ~s a few momen~s important international economic problems in ago agam.of one of the baSIC pnnclples expressed m accordance with the decisions of the Organization, th~. opemng words .of th~ Charter: We ~ope and with the participation of all States and with regard believe that the partiCipatIOn of an Impre~slvenum- for their legitimate interests." [See A/39/323, an- ber of heads of State or Government Will prove a nex 11] propitious occasion for individually and collectively .... . .. providing the political impetus for a renewed dia- 53.. 9n the baSIS of thIS posItIon of pn!tclpl~, the logue between the developed and the developing SOCIalIst St~tes !In whose ~e~alfI am speakIDg WIsh to countries <express their hIgh apprecIatIon of the efforts by you, . . Sir, in order to accelerate the beginning of global ~7. The PRESIDENT. I n<?w call on the representa- negotiations as provided for in General Assembly tlve of Luxembourg, who WIll speak on beha~fof the resolution 34/138. We agree with your proposal to States members of the European Commumty. refer the question ofglobal negotiations for inclusion 48. Mr. PHILIPPE (Luxembourg) (interpretation on the agenda of the fortieth session of the General from French): The European Community and its Assembly. The delegations of the socialist countries member countries, on whose behalf it is my honour wish to express the hope that discussion of this to speak, have OL many occasio~s in the p.a~t question at the fort!eth anni.versary session of the indicated the reasons why they contIDue to partlcl- General Assembly wIll make It pOSSIble to break the pate actively a!td, w~ believe coqstructive.ly in t~e cycle of prQcedural d~bate and to emba~k.on tl,te various bodies m which the North-South dialogue IS actual work of prepanng for global negotIatIons, ID taking place. We are more than ever convinced that the interests of equitable economic co-operation and the growing interdependence of economies makes it the carrying out of United Nations decisions on the all the more ,important ~o narrow the. dityerences restructuring of international ~conom~c relations an.d between the views of the mterested parties, In terms the establishment of a new mternatlOnal economic of both the objectives of the di~os.ue and !~e order. identificat~on of 'Yay~ and means. It IS I~ that splnt 54 Mr WANG Baoliu (China) (interpretation from that we Will persiSt In our efforts to bnng about a . ' . fi f 11 I . h greater convergence of views on a basis that makes it Chmese): ~r..PreSIdent, IfSt 0 a. WIS to ~xpress . . . d th our appreCIation to you for your efforts dunng the pos~lble to achleye neg~tlate agreem~nts at e past year on this item. Since the adoption of resolu- vanous levels of mternatlOnal. co-opera!lon. tion 341138 by the General Assembly on the basis of 49. The European CommuDlty and ItS member consensus six years have passed. In spite of the States consider the objective of launching global positive a~d constructive efforts made by the Group negotiations in the light ofthat overall concept ofthe of 77 and a number of delegations, the launching of North-South dialogue. global negotiations has been delayed year after year. SO. The PRESIDENT: I call on the representative Consultations conducted since April thi~:year have of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, who will not yielded any concrete result. People cannot but speak on behalf of the Eastern European States. feel regret.

Mr. President, the United States delegation would like to thank you for your efforts in this area. The Government of the United States, together with a great many others represented here, has devoted a considerable amount oftime and effort attempting to achieve agreement on the matter subsumed under agenda item 38. We will maintain our constructive and co-operative interest in this item and we will continue to play a full and active role in this process.

In connection with this item, representatives will recall that on 21 September 1984 the Assembly decided <'0 include this item in the agenda of the thirty-ninth session [3rd meeting]. May I take it that it is now the Assembly's wish to defer its consideration and to include this item in the draft agenda of the fortieth session? It was so decided (decision 39/463).

Members will recall that on 21 September 1984 the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the present session [3rd meeting], but deferred a decision on the allocation of the item to an app!opriate time in the future. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the fortieth session of

In connection with this item, I have received a letter from the representative ofCyprus requesting that the item be included in the draft agenda of the fortieth session. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include the item in the draft agenda of the fortieth session? It was so decided (decision 39/465).

The Assembly decided on 21 September 1984 [3rd meeting] to include this item in the agenda of the thirty-ninth session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the fortieth session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to defer consideration of the item and to include it in the draft agenda of the fortieth session? It was so decided (decision 39/466).

The General Assembly de- cided on 21 September 1984 [3rd meeting] to include this item in the agenda of the thirty-ninth session. May I take it that it is now the wish ofthe Assembly to defer consideration ofthe item and to include it in the draft agenda of the fortieth session? It was so decided (decision 39/467).

Nine months ago, when we suspended the work of the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly [105th meeting], I pointed out that at that stage each one of us in this Hall would assess the work of the session on the basis ofour respective national policies and perceptions of the Organiza- tion, as well as from the perspective ofsuccesses and failures. 65. Today as we formally conclude our work and as we make our final assessment or stock-taking, I should like to suggest once again that the correct yardstick ofany objective evaluation should be based on the Charter of the United Nations, and that we ask ourselves whether the thirty-ninth session has sessi,?n~ attached to it l and base~ on my own sions of the·nuclear age were analysed. The Assem- conVIctIon that economIc self-suffiCIency is one of ~ly, thr~ugh its caI}did debate, set an example in the most effective instruments for achieving the goals I!lternatIOna! behaVIour-an example which under- ~d objec~ives of the <;harter,.I was particularly hnes the VIew that channels of communication Interested th d t t tl d "La hi f should be constantly kept open if we are to move In. ~ agen a! em en.I e unc ng 0 forward l'n the area ofdI·sarmament. We are th~S"eC.ore global negotIatIons on InternatIonal economic co- _. 1. operation for development". Unfortunately, we have encouraged by the prospects for high-level dialogue n'?t yet been able to reach the stage ~he.re we can say on arms control between the United States of Ameri- WIth confidence that those negotIatIons will be ca and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. launched on a specific date. 74. I still maintain the position which I advanced 70.. Granted that tht: Assembly did not solve the last December that, in spite of its unresolved and senous debt and foreIgn exchange problems which unfinished business, the thirty-ninth session of the are crippling the economies of a large number of General Assembly has fulfilled some ofthe hopes and States represented here; granted that the threat of aspirations of the peoples of the world. As I men- nuclear weapons stillhangs ominously over mankind' tioned earlier, we have already seen some of the granted that the inhuman policy of apartheid-a results of the work of the session; it is my earnest subj.ect which has been on the agenda .of the United hope that others will be forthcoming. It will obvious- NatIons for over three decades-has not b~en elimi- ly take some time for some of the seedlings which we n~te~; granted that the questions .of Palestine, Na- have planted to grow and bear fruit. They will need D?-Iblal Kaptpuchea ~nd the Middle East, and the attention, care and nurturing. SItuatIOns In AfghanIstan and Central America, and 75. T~is ~s the end ofan Assembly session; it is also others, were not completely resolved during this the begInnIng of the next step ahead on the long and session; and granted that many ofthe resolutions and often hazardous road rowards the ultimate goal of recommendations which were adopted by the thirty- universal peace. Ifwe do not get there, we should at ninth s~ssion of the Assembly appear to have fallen least be able to say that we have tried and that along on partially deaf ears, we should at the same time the way we made the world a better place-better realize that the Assembly did provide a meeting place than we had found it. for friend and foe alike. In the midst of what some may describe as rhetoric, there were genuine words of 76.. Finally,.I take this opportunity to express once commitment and hope. We have already seen some agaIn my SIncere thanks to delegations, to the posjt~ve results from our deliberations .an.Q..from the Secretary-General, to the Bureau, to the Chairmen of pobtlcal atmosphere which the thirty-nintll session the regional groups, to the Under-Secretary-General created. for Political and General Assembly Affairs and to other members of the Secretariat for their co-opera- 71. The seeds ofco-operation and consensus which tion and assistance, without which I would have we.planted on. 3 December .1984 have already borne found it extremely difficult to preside over the fruIt. I refer to the adoptIon of a comprehensive ~ssembly. I should also l~ke to express myapprecia- Declaration on the Critical Economic Situation in tlon to the representatives of non-governmental

I declare closed the thirty- ninth session of the General Assembly. Minute of silent prayer or meditation

We are now coming to the end of the thirty-ninth session ofthe General Assem- bly. I invite representatives to stand and observe one minute of silent prayer or meditation. The meeting rose at 4.35 p.m.