General Assembly — Session 40

Most active countries

• Türkiye
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• Viet Nam
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Top agenda items

• International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace: Report of the Third Committee (A/40/855) Policies and Programmes Relating to Youth: Report of the Third Committee (A/40/856)
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• (Jiestion of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (A) Report of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard 'Lu the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/40/23 (Part Viii), A/Ac.109/835 and Corr.L) (B) Report of the Secret~.Ry-General (A/40/89L) (C) Report of the Fourth Col-Imittee (A/40/949) (D) Draft Resolution (A/40/L.19) (E) Amendments (A/40/L.20)
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• (eontinued) GENERAL DEBATE Hr. GENSCHER (Federal Republic of Germany) (spoke in German; English text furnished by the delegation): Let me offer you m¥ congratulations, Sir, on your election to the high office of Pres;_~n'(: of the fortieth session of the United Nations General Assembly. In this jUbilee year your long diplomatic experience with the United Nations will be of inestimable assistance to us. Let me offer my thanks also to Ambassador Paul Lusaka for his success~ul work as President of the thirty-ninth session. He helped to ensure that during the last session of the General Assembly the major problems of Africa were dealt with pragmatically, realistically and in a genuinely sympathetic spirit. Forty years ago, in founding the United Nations, the nations learned the lessons of the Second World War. The Federal Republic of Germany, though not a founding Member of the united Nations, has always, since it was constituted, worked for the fulfilment of the united Nations mission to ~reserve world peace. We do this by means of our policies in pursuit of peace in Europe and throughout the world. For 40 years Europe has lived without war. In the North Atlantic Alliance, to which the Federal RepUblic of Germany as a liberal democracy has firmly hitched its destiny, a communiq, of States was established which is a model of peaceful co-operation on a basis of equality and makes a contribution to peace and stability beyond its own frontiers. In the European Community, friendship and co-operation have taken the place of centuries of rivalry and confrontation. From the original Community of six States the present Community has developed with its 10 members, and there will soon be 12 members. The forthcoming accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Community Republic of Germany) will bring great enrichment and new strength to the liberally and democratically constituted states of Europe. We want to put closer conmon foreign and security policies on a contractual basis. The way to European union is signposted. We regard an active policy in pursuit of peace as a historical duty to our own continent and to the world. Europe is more than the states of the European Community. When we speak of Europe, we mean the whole of Europe. Peace in the world is particularly dependent on the relations between West and East in Europe. Through the partition of Europe, the German nation was torn apart. Tension between West and East affects us most acutely. For us, therefore, a policy on Germany is a policy in search of peace in Europe and a policy in the spirit of the United Nations. It is not possible to secure peace in Euro~11 without a contribution by both German States. War must never again emanate from German soil. Joint efforts for peace are imperative. That is the essence of the community of responsibility in which both German States fulfil their special mission and duty to ensure peace. Our co-operation merits the support of all States sincerely interested in stClbilH.-y and genuine detente at the hear t of Europe. It is encouraging that on 12 March 1985 Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl and the Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic, Erich Honecker, jointly recognized the oppoctunity for a new phase of West-East relations presented at the resumption of the arms control dialogue between the United states and the Soviet Union. The Federal Republic of Germany will do everything in its power to help improve relations between West and East. The treaties concluded during the seventies by the Federal Republic of Germany with its neighbours continue to be a Rerrublic of Germany) solid basis for such ~provement. The starting point was the 1970 Treaty of Moscow, which put relations between the Federal Republic of Germany anc the Soviet union on a new footing. Through the Treaty of Moscow and the treaties with the People's Republic of Poland and the Czechoslovak SOcialist Republic, as well as the Treaty on the Basis of Relations with the German Democratic Republic, we opened up, out of a national and historical responsibility for peace, new long-term prospects for relations between West and East. We stand by thesE' treaties. Our contractual policy is not inconsistent wi th the political aim of the Federal Republic of Germany to work for a state of peace in Europe il'l which the German nation will regain its unity through fj7ee self-determination. That is the wording of the 8Letter on German Unity8 handed over by the Fede~al Government to the Soviet side on the occasion of the signing of the Treaty of Moscow. These treaties and the Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin cleared the way for the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). On 1 August 1985, at the meeting marking the ten~ anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, all participating States affirmed their determination to continue the CSCE process and to implement all parts of the Helsinki Final Act. This Final Act is a realistic and balanced document. It is not a peace treaty but sets the course towards a future peaceful order in Europe. The CSCE process is int~nded to combine the precepts of peaceful coexistence between States and a wide range of co-operative options, on the one hand, with respect for the fundamental rights and interests of people regarding exchanges and information, on the other. It has encouraged States to pool their resources and creative powers. Co-operation is intended to check and reduce the potential for conflict inherent in the existing clashes of interests and differences between systems of values. The opportunities offered by international c~peration will become even more important in the light of the dawning technological revolution. A robust and enduring peaceful order that takes account of the legitimate intereats of all concerned must be based on efforts to build confidence and establish co-operative security, combined with the participation of all in economic, scientific and technological progress. Cultural exchanges play a particularly important role in the creation of such an order. Free and creative contacts and exchanges among all nations and presentation of cultural achievements on a reciprocal basis impart knowledge and deepen understanding of one another. In Europe the joint cultural heritage has always remained a unifying bond in spite of horrific wars, a bond transcending ideological frontiers. Awareness of the cultural identity of Europe is growing, as is the realization on all sides that Europe will continue in future to have a common fate. The Cultural Forum to take place shortly in Budapest within the CSCE process will give all participating States the chance to substantiate their desire for cultural co-operation and exchanges. The network of diverse connections developed between West and East in Europe has stood up in past years to serious strains. Our aim now must be to re&ch more extensive, more comprehensive results than in the seventies. The sound beginnings maae in those days must be exploited. / / (Mr. Genscher, Federal ~public of Germany) We welcome the forthcoming summit meeting between the President of the united States and the General Secretary of the Soviet COIllllunist Party. The Federal Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, has repeatedly advocated such a summit meeting. The meeting in Geneva is intended to become the new beginning of a top-level dialogue. Above all, we hope for a significant impetus to the negotiations in Geneva. On 8 January 1985 the United States and the Soviet union agreed to resume negotiations. They began on 12 March. The document of 8 January is of great political importance. It creates new opportunities for arms control, dialogue and co-operation within the West-East relationship. Far-reaching negotiating objectives are laid down in the document: to prevent an arms race in space and to terminate it on Earth~ to reach effective agreements to limit and reduce nuclear weapons, both intercontinental and intermediate-range: and to strp.ngthen strategic stability. The Federal Government unreservedly supports those negotiating objectives. They are in the interests of all nations. We are well aware that results take time. The subjects under negotiation are intricate and couplex. Each side must heed the security interests of the other. Tension and distrust must be reduced. Success depends on the negotiating parties endeavouring seriously and flexibly to reach co-oper~tive solutions. They must consider themselves responsible for a common task. In the relations between West and East, no side must try to achieve a level of security that means less security for the other side. Developments in the balance of military power between West and East since the 1970s are drastic evidence of that fact. The massive arms build-Up by which the West has increasingly felt threatened since the period of detente in the 19705 has brought no major advantage to its originators: on the contrary, it has promoted the search for new types of space-based defensive options. Drastic and reliably Republic of German~ verifiable reductions in nuclear offensive potential will therefore necessarily influence the need for, and the scope of, futu~e defensive weapor-s. Both questions must be considered and resolved in the!: natur~l and political interrelationship, as was agreed on 8 January 1985. The efforts to .achieve co-operative security are a key to the development of a stable relationship bet~een West and East, on which world peace is largely dependent. If succesa is to be achieved during the present negotiations, eXisting arms control arrangements must be adhered to. The Federal Republic of Germany welcomes the decision made by President Reagan regarding continued observance of the SALT limitations. Co-operative solutions to the central security issues require a political environment marked by a minimum of mutual trust. A particularly important factor in that trust is predictability of the long-term intentions of the other side. That is why a sound and constructive relationship between the super-Powers is indispensable. But confidence-building and arms control are not a matter for the super-Powers alone: the medium-sized and small States, too, must endeavour to establish an endurin~, stable basis for west-East relations. Distrust must be reduced wherever it exists. Not only nuclear weapons, but also the other potential weapons must be reduced. That is why the multilateral negotiating forums remain for us indispensable components of the arms-control process. It is an encouraging sign that the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear weapons has had a successful outcome. The Non-Proliferation Treaty has proved its worth as an important element of international arms control and of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It has shown that multilateral arms control is possible. (Mr. Genscher, Federal RePublic of Germany) The mutual and balanced force reduction negotiations in Vienna and the Stockholm Conference on Confidence and Security Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe concentrate on conventional forces and are an essential complement to the nucelar negotiations in Geneva. The aims of those negotiations, too, are stability at a low level of .forces, openness, transparency, predictability and the renunciation of force by means of specific confidence-building measures. Here in New York we launched an initiative aimed at drawing up guidelines for confidence-building measures that could be applied th~oughout the world. Without reliable verification, arms-control agreements would be built on shaky foundations. The attempt to establish a universal prohibition of chemical weapons is still being hampered by the outstanding verification issues, which must now be tackled ~ith vigour. It is high time that an end was put to the scourge for. mank ind consti tu ted by those chemical weapons of mass des truc tion tha t have been outlawed f,.)r decades. Partial, regional solutions do not achieve that. They would make the question o,f verification e-ren more complex. However, we welcome every effort by' ot".her States to bring about reliable verifiability. In that spirit, we are stUdying the suggestions made to us by the German Democratic Republic and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The States at the heart of Europe have every reason to help resolve the verification question, thereby ensuring that chemical weapons are banned worldwide. We know that a state of non-war through nuclear deterrence cannot be the ultimate method of securing peace. If deterrence against attack, deterrence against war - in other words the strategy of preventing war - should ever fail, there would be inconceivable consequences. The fortieth anniversary of Hiroshima renewed our awareness of that truth. In the nuclear age security can no longer be based solely on autonomous efforts. The long-term preservation of peace, however, Republic of Germany) requires co-operative soluticns; for that reason, disarmament and arllS control are integra1 cOIllJOnents of our seeu;: i ty policy. We want to avoid any type of war, including war waged without nuclear weapons. No one must reserve the option to make the first use of conventional weapons. Given the present state of technology, a conventional war would be a thousand timea more dreadful than the Second World War. In Europe, with its high levels of armaments, even a conventional war would be a catastrophe. our Alliance has declared that it will never be the first to use arms. We do not seek superiority. We do not wish to defeat or control anyone, nor do we wish to make any side arm itself to exhaustion. The many trouble-spots in the world, the regional conflicts, must not be seen only from a European point of view; above all, they must not be fitted into the mould of the West-East confrontation. That is why we regard genuine non-alignment of the States in the Third World as a tremendously important contribution to world peace and to the realization of the purposes of the United Nations. The great idea of equal rights and self-determination of peoples must not remain empty words. Article 1 of the Charte~ of the United Nations makes it clear that all nations possess the same right to determine their own national life and political actions, inclUding the political pursuit of peace. That right entails respect for the special needs of peoples in their own regions. No State and no power bloc has the right, or can usurp the right, to decide on issues vital to other nations. (Mr. Genscher, Federal Republic of Germany) We, along wi th the vast majority of the Uni ted Nations, therefore demand the withdra~al of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Striving for ideological supr~macy means rejecting real non-alignment. That was recognized with the utmost clarity at the summit conferences of the non-aligned countries in Havana and New Delhi and ~~st recently at the Foreign Ministers Conference in Luanda. Real solutions to the problems of the third world must come from the regions in question. The European Community, our regional Community, is also an attempt to solve regional problems by means of an increasingly close association of the European democracies. Together with our European partners, we support regional co-operation and associations of States in all other parts of the world too. We actively support the peaceful settlement of conflicts among neighbours. That helps to keep East-West confrontation out of the third world. On the basis of this concept of regional co-operation, we support the Contadora process in Central America, a process initiated in the region itself. It is the only realis tic way for Central America to approach the solu tion of its problems. In Luxembourg, on 11 and 12 November, another conference is to take place between the Foreign Ministers of the European Community, Spain and portugal and those of the Central American States and the Contadora group. We want to continue the dialogue between the two regions of Cen~.ral America and Europe; we seek close co-operation between them. We also seek structured economic and political co-operation between the European C~amunity and the Gulf Co-operation Council. In the Middle East we support regional efforts to increase the willingness of all parti(~s to the conflict -----------. to c<c·':}ot1ate and bring about peace. We li\::lmowledge the positive E'lements of the Fez plan. We welcome the initiative of King Russein and hope that it will help pave the way towards negotia tions. Only through negotia tions and the renuncia tion Republic of Germ~~y) of force can accommoda tion be found between the right of Israel to exist wi thin secure and recognized boundaries and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. We support the regional efforts for peace of the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The European Community recognized from the very beginning that the economic and political co-operation pursued by the ASEAN States was an exemplary form of regional co-operation that pointed the way ahead. The ASEAN countries' Kampuchea initiative in the United Na~ions can count on our vote. We are pleased that talks have been resumed between the two parts of Korea. We support all efforts to eliminate tension on the Korean peninsula. That should also open the way for accession to the United Nations. To work for peace in the world also means to co-operate in order to mee t toge ther the economic and social challenges faced by mankind. North and South must co-operate to bring about successful development in the third world. North and South must also co-operate to come to terms wi th the global structural transformation that the third industrial revolution will cause once the transition has been made to the age of information and communication technology. This new age offers great opportunities to mankind. It will enable the world to grow even closer together and will extend the scope and the need for international co-operation. It will open up new opportunities for the individual responsibility and pe~sonal development of everyone. The one world in which we live today cannot remain a peaceful world for long if it remains divided into rich and poor nations, into technically advanced and technically backward nations. The establishment of a truly peaceful world means overcoming hunger and poverty in all regions of the world. P~p¥bl!c of Ger~~Y) Our look back at 40 years of the United Nations is al~ a look back at 40 years of developaent cO-OP3ration. Despite all the probleas that relMin unsolved, the last 40 years have been a period of unprecedented economic growth, particularly for the third world. The gross national product in Asia, Africa and Latin America grew by 5.6 per cent annually during the 30 years from 1950 to 1980; that means that it increased fivefold. Between 1960 and 1982 life expectancy rose from an average of 42 to 49 years; infant mortality was cut in half; and whereas in 1960 only 50 per cent of the children received primary education, 94 per cent receive it now. Two central themes of this sessiosn of the General Assembly are the debt crisis and the situation in Africa. Since 1~82 we have made progress towards overcoming the debt crisis, but the crisis is far froa haVing been mastered. it continues to tick like a time-bomb in the world economy and jeopardizes the growth and social stability of the developing countries, as well as the health of the banking system in the industrialized countries. What can be done? First of all, we must find jOf ., 1I1ethods for restoring credit flows to a normal level and for enabling adequate resources to flow into the developing countries. However, the very volume of such funds means that this task cannot be fulfilled by the international financial institutio"s alone, nor even principally by them. Private banks and investors must continue to play the main role. I appeal to the commercial banks not to shirk this responsibility. For their part, the debtor countries must also make every possible effort during the coming years to reform their internal economic policies and to fi~ht inflation. only in that way can they strengthen their international. creditworthiness, create a favourable clima te for investment and termi!'la te the flight of capital. We must, however, be aware also of the fact that the debt issue is not only an economic and financial issue; it is also a political question. It is a question of the social peace and internal stability of the debtor countries. They must not be confronted with impossible demands. The servieing of foreign debt must not be paid for in the third world with recession, unemployment and hunger, or with a threat to freedom, ~emocracy and indepepdence. Secondly, if the debt crisis is to be res~lved, further interest-rate reductions ~~e required. The industrialized countries must pursue an economic and financial policy that enables interest ratss to be reduced further. They must reduce their budget deficits. Thirdly, the markets of the industrialized countries must remain open to Gevelop~~" ~ountries; they must be opened even wider. Protectionism is a danger not onli ~o economic growth in the industrialized countries; protectionism is a deadly danger to the developing countries. Free world trade is of vital importance to the developing countries. Only if the industrialized countries open up their markets to exports of finished and semi-finished products from the developing countries can the latter be more firmly integrated into the world economy. Whoever denies the third world access to its markets is denying it development. The Federal Republic of Germany supports open markets, particularly with regard to the third world. The high trading surpluses on our market, particularly those of the African and Latin American countries, bear witness to that fact. So that free trace can be secured and consolidated, we advocate that the next round of negotiations in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) be commenced as soon as possible. The acute danger to international free trade stems particularly from the great trade imbalauces in the world. It would however be a fateful mistake to seek to overcome them by means of trade barriers. It would mean misunderstanding the roots of the problem. An interdependent world economy does not permit any isolationist economic policies pursued with no regard to their effects on other countries. The stronger the economy of a country, the greater its responsibility. The call to open up markets to the third world is also addressed to the socialist industrialized countries. They still continue to take less than 5 per cent of the finished products exported by the third world. That is in no way compatible with their intern~tional economic position and the responsibility that they also bear. The second great task facing us at this session of the General Assembly is that of aid for Africa. After the last session of the General Assembly, the international community organized assistance to combat the threat of starvation. The Federal Government helped with food, transport and medicines. Innumerable people in my country gave generous donations. Assistance for Africa must continue and, indeed, be increased. Donors and recipients are agreed that external help alone cannot bring about the breakthrough. Africa knows that it needs economic reforms and that it must make agriculture the focal point of its development efforts. Good producer prices are essential as an incentive to farmers to increase production, but the reforms in Africa can be implemented only if they are supported by adequate help from outside. Acting on a mandate from the Bonn Economic Summit, the seven industrialized States represented there prepared proposals for the fight against hunger in Africa which were approved here in New York yesterday by the seven Foreign Ministers. The Federal Republic of Germany regards development policy as part of its policy in pursuit of peace. We want the developing countries to become economically more self-sufficient and independent. we want to strengthen the economic foundations of genuine non-alignment. The Federal Republic of Germany has (Mr. Genscher, Federal Republic of Germany) not concentrated its assistance on a few selected countries; on the contrary, we have helped wherever the need was greatest. We have remitted the debt of the world's poorest countries to an extent unequalled by any other industrialized country. The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany considers population policy to be a necessary component of a successful development strategy. We therefore also support the united Nations PopUlation Fund. It has performed valuable work and played a considerable part in slowing down the rate of population growth. However, further successes are needed. Worldwide interdependence is particularly clearly illustrated in the field of environmental protection. In that field -international home affairs· are becomin9 an element of international policy, and in that field mankind is making collective d~cisions regarding its own future. Our forests are in danger. Our agricultural land is being eroded; deserts and steppes are spreading; seas, lakes and rivers are becoming increasingly polluted; animal and plant species are becoming extinct. It is vital to preserve the natural sources of life on which we all together depend on the shrinking plan,~t Earth. In the field of North-South co-operation it is vital to begin dealing in good time wi th the questions raised by the new forms of technology, microelectronics and bioengineering. These forms of technology present great opportunities, partiCUlarly for the developing countries. Gene technology offers great potential for a solution to the world food problem. The new telecommunications and radio satellites offer the opportunity to equip entire regions of the third world quickly and relatively cheaply with a communications infrastructure. However, the opportunities are accompanied by risks. For instance, the new forms of information technology in the industrialized countries are accelerating auu)~~tion. This poses the danger to the developing countries that the advantage they derive from lower labour costs will be eroded. North and South must co-operation to take the opportunities offered to the third world by these new forms of technology and to avert dangers. What seems to me to be the greatest opportunity is, that the new technological revolution will permit many developing countries, at least in some sectors, to enter the new information age at practically the same time as the industrialized nations. The United Nations has recognized the dignity of man as the supreme principle. All States must follow this principle at home and in their foriegn relations. The United Nations has created a comprehensive system of universally binding standards to protect human rights. The 1984 Convention against Torture is a document directed against humiliation, inhumanity and cruelty. I hope that the next agreement in this sphere will be a further optional protocol to the International eovenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty. We are faced with the task of putting human rights not only into words but a.~.so into practice. For this, we need international institutions that strengthen the protec tion of human rights. We call for the appointment of a high commissioner for human rights and for the creation of an international court of human rights at the United Nations. In many parts of the world human rights are still violated. One special human-rights problem that depresses us all is that of apartheid in south Africa. We seek the peaceful elimination of apartheid in the Republic of South Africa. That is consistent with the ethical basis of our constitution, with the demands of the Chr is tian churches an~J wi th t..he deep conviction of the people of my country. At issue are equal rights for all South Africans, irrespective of the colour of their skin. The world watches with horror and outrage the escalation of the bloody clashes in South Africa. We appeal to the responsible authorities in south Afr;ca to release each ana every political prisoner, to end forced resettlement, to put a stop to arbitrary detention without trial and to terminate the state of emergency. Only in negotia tic:-s wi th the authentic leaders of all groups of the popu1ation can a permanent solution be found. The form that solution will take must be decided by the people in SOuth Africa themselves; no one outside South Africa has the right to lay down how this should be done. The SOuth African Government has recently given indications of specific reforms. These must now be implemented quickly. Further, increasingly extensive reforms are essential, until apartheid has been fully eliminated. We hope that the responsible leaders do not miss the last opportuni ty given them by history. The right of peoples to self-determination must be the basis of the solution to the question of Namibia. Security Council resolution 435 (1978) remains for us the indispensable basis for any Namibian solution. We appeal to the Government of South Africa to make the way clear at last for the internationally recognized independence of Namibia. It is free elections that must decide which Government the majority of the people wishes. The United Nations is 40 years old. This year, we shall rededicate ourselves solemnly to the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations. Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar has called on us to pursue a new co-operative internationalism. We support his practical proposals. We do not need a new Charter, but we do need a new spirit in the United Nations. It is here, it is in this building, that the preservation of peace must begin. The United Nations was created to reconcile differing interests. It must not be abused for propaganda and for short-term voting successes, useful as they may be for domestic political purposes and votes. To be sure, the United Nations is a political Organization, and politics means struggles over power, influence, values, programmes and personalities. And yet we must not forget that the United Nations is a precious instrument in our hands. Our war-scarred fathers have created it. We still have to learn to make the best possible use of the instrument offered us by the United Nations for the preservation of peace. History will not jUdge us by occasionally small tactical successes; it will judge us solely by whether we succeeded in avoiding the final catastrophe and enhancing the human dignity of all mankind. The dignity of man, his inalienable and fundamental rights, must remain the yardstick against which all our actions are measured. Hr. KHAN (India): Sir, I should like to begin by congratulating you on your unanimous election to the presidency of the united Nations General Assembly at the fortieth session. You are a distinguished son and eminent representative of a country with which India has close and cordial relations, and your association with the united Nations goes back many years. We are confident that you will provide this Assembly with able stewardship. I should also like to place on record our appreciation of the effective and statesmanlike leadership given to the Assembly at the thirty-ninth session by your predecessor, Mr. Lusaka of Zambia. I wish also to pay a tribute to our Secretary-General for his untiring efforts in the cause of peace and for his patience, perseverance and wisdom. He has won our admiration for his skilful handling of several crisis situations. We wish him continued success and reiterate to him our support. Before proceeding further, allow me to express on behalf of the people and Government of India our profound grief at the heavy toll in human and material terms claimed by the earthquakes which so tragically struck Mexico last week. We express our solidarity with and support for the people and Government of Mexico in their hour of travail and in their heroic efforts to overcome this unprecedented calamity. Mr. President, you preside today over a historic session. The United Nations has completed 40 years of its existence. These have been years not only of tribulation but also of promise and even achievement. The world is surcharged with suspicion and uncertainty, with incipient as well as overt conflict, but the ideals of the United Nations continue to instil optimism. The dawn of independence and freedom for the overwhelming majority of mankind, particularly in the erstwhile colonial and imperial domains in Asia, Africa and Latin America, has been a significant and welcome development of our times. The generation that launched the united Natioos also saw the launching of the nuclear age. While conventional attitudes towards this world Organization are still shaped by the memories of the Second world War r there is today a new spectre that haunts our civilization r the spectre of a nuclear catastrophe. Hostile military blocs are poised against each other with an armada of nuclear weaponry that could wipe out all life on this planet many times over. Survival in this nuclear age has become the key issue of our times. The United Nations today is the hub of diplomaUc activity for the nations of the world. Whatever their divergence in political systems r economic structures Jr cultural mores r they come together in almost daily contact on a variety of bilateral, multilateral and global issues. Yet this so-called democratization of international relations is only part of the story. On the other hand r the pressures and divisions that characterize contemporary international relations ser iously hamper the Organization and reduce its capacity for effective action. As Jawaharlal Nehru stated at the United Nations as early as 1948: "We have got into a cycle of hatred and violence, and not the most brilliant debate will get you out of it, unless you look some other way and find some other means. It is obvious that if you continue in this cycle and have wars which this Assembly was specially meant to avoid and prevent, the result will be not only tremendous devastation all over the world r but the non-achievement by any individual Power or group of its objective." In his thought-provoking report on the work of the Organization, the Secretary-General has very aptly characterized the United Nations as an essential element in the historic choice before humanity - between a world of technological promise and one of potentially terminal danger. He has rightly stressed the need to strengthen the concept of international authority embodied in the united Nations as one that should serve as a substitute for "unilateral action, exclusive alliances end spheres of influence" (A/40/l, p.2). His specific suggestions deserve careful study and reasoned application. We in India and in the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries believe that the united Nations represents, in a real sense, the best hope of mankind. As the late Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, stated in her address to the United Nations General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session, "Firm faith in the United Nations is central to the non-aligned" (A/38/PV.9, p.3). our affinity for the United Nations is rooted in our world view. We cherish peace. We believe in the equality, sovereignty and independence of states. We have a fundamental conviction in the dignity and worth of the human person. The United Nations embodies in itself the~e lofty principles and more. It constitutes a unique international forum where nations can resolve their differences and work together for the common good of humanity. Throughout the years of India's freedom struggle, our leaders viewed independence not in narrow national terms but as part of the struggle of oppressed peoples everywhere for justice - political, social and economic. Following India's attainment of independence in 1947, our democratic institutions have stabilized and given to our people a deep sense of participation and commitment in determining the nation's priorities in the pOlitical and economic fields, as well as in the building up of its social and cultural ethos. In our international relationships, the commitment to the policy of non-alignment has been both instinctive and inevitable. As the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, has stated: "We have inherited a well-tested and consistent foreign policy which serves our national interest. We have always believed in working for peace. our policy is to be friends with all countries on the basis of reciprocity and nutual benefit. Our commitaent to non-alignMent and a new world economic order based on justice means a total dedication to the twin causes of peace and development. We also believe in safeguarding the independence of states and upholding the principles of non-interference and non-inte~vention••* *Mr. Oyoue (Gabon), Vice-President, took the Chair. Only a few weeks ago we marked the fortieth anniversary of the dropping of the first nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Memor ies of that catastrophe make us even more acutely aware of the devastating potential of nuclear arsenals today. As we begin this fifth decade of the nuclear age, the attitudes of nuclear-weapon States towards the possession and use of their nuclear weapms have not unde.rgone any basic change. There is a wide gap between pUblic fears of a nuclear war and the calculations of statesmen and strategists of the efficacy of the n~c1ear balance of terror. Ever increasing expenditures are being undertaken for the qualitative development of weapons. New generations of weapon systems have come into existence and the mi1itarization of outer space appears imminent. Indeed a whole range of new strategic concepts are being built which seek to smother any sense of moral outrage that humanity may feel over the politics of nuclear confrontation among the most powerful States' of the world. All nations stand to suffer to a greater or lesser degree from the impact of the arms race. NO one can predict with certainty the devastation that would be caused by a nuclear war. When the immediate effects of the blast and fire· are combined with the long-term effects of the fall-out, the erosion of the ozone layer and the damage to all our planetary life support systems, it is clear that another world war might well bring an end to human history. It is time for us to go the roots of our predicament. If the States most responsible for creating this threat are as yet unprepared to suggest urgent measures for preventing the outbreak of a nuclear war, others should take the lead. There is clearly today a rising tide of protest all around the world against the wasteful and dangerous arms race. The political climate generated by the spontaneous popular movements ~gainst ~e accretion of armaments, against the testing of nuclear weapons and against the use of science and technology for purposes inconsistent with humanitarian principles, makes it imperative for us to take bold action now. The tendency towards the legitimization of nuclear weapons should be reversed. The process of reduction of nuclear arsenals should be commenced as the only way to build up confidence and trust among States. A commitment by leaders of the major nuclear-weapon States to follow a path of arms limitation rather than arms build-up is the need of the hour. The evolution of healthy national societies in the world can only be ensuted if the pervasive influence ef an ar~aments culture~ palrticularly of a nuclear armaments culture, is curbed and the massive expenditure now being directed towards perfecting and modernizing the instruments of war is channelled towards securing more equitable and better conditions of livelihood for the peoples of the world. Even a token reduction in arms expenditure can produce dramatic results if channellized into the development of the less affluent sections of the world. In this context we welcome the convening of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development next year. We have welcomed the resumption of negotiations in Geneva between the United States and the USSR on a complex of questions concerning space and nuclear arms, to be considered and resolved in their interrelationship, with the declared objective of working towards the complete elimination of nuclear arms everywhere. All nations have a stake in the success of the Geneva negotiations and it is, therefore, with some concern that we note that these talks have not produced any concrete results so far. We hope that the forthcoming summit meeting between the leaders of the two countries will give a significant impetus to this process • I should like at this stage tc, refer to the Delhi Declaration issued at the end of the meeting of the Heads of State or Government of Argentina, Greece, India, ~~exico, SWeden and Tanzania mo, in January this year, issued a fervent appeal to the nuclear-weapon states to halt all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, to be followed by substantial reduction in their nuclear forces. The Delhi Declaration specified two steps for special attention - the prevention of an arms race in outer space and the early conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty. These leaders from five continents called for a continuing programme of arms reduction leading to general and complete disarmament accompanied by measures to strengthen the united Nations system and to ensure the urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the arms race to economic and social development. In determining our international political and economic policies we, the non-aligned countries have consistently refused to tailor our responses to the dictates of cold-war predispositions. We do not mortgage our decisions to foreign dictates. We do not seek confrontation. But we urge the necessity of change as the key to the transformation of the world community. India does not believe, however, that such a ~ransformation can be achieved merely by resort to strident rhetoric or by destructive criticism. The test for the international community consists in managing change by peaceful and co-operative means, recognizing the objective imperatives of our situation in the present-day world. Therefore, we seek the widest co-operation of all nations of the world. But we ask that such co-operation be based on equality, justice and a genuine recognition of our mutual interdependence. (Mr. Khan, India) As nations subjected to colonial domination and racial discrimination we stand firmly committed to the complete elimination of the pernicious practice of apartheid or racism in any form. The situation in southern Africa is an affront to the conscience of mankind. The policies of apartheid of the racist regime in Pretoria constitute a source of tension, instability and conflict, endangering both regional and international peace and security. The recent tragic developments in South Africa, as a result of the fresh wave of terror and repression unleashed by the racist regime following its imposition of a state of emergency, testify to Pretoria's determination to continue its reprehensive policies. Mr. Botha's statement in Durban of IS August provided ample proof, if proof were indeed needed, that Pretoria remains wedded to apartheid, that it will continue to turn a deaf ear to the legitimate aspirations of the oppressed majority in South Africa and to the voice of the entire international community, that it will persist in its attempts to divide the struggling majority in South Africa, and that it will show no scruple in killing, maiming and detaining arbitrarily those who dare raise their voice in protest. (Mr. Khan, India) Recent events make it clear, at the same time, that the people of SOuth Africa will not be cowed into submission. As the special conmunique on South Africa, adopted by the non-alignied countries at their recent ministerial Conference in Luanda, stated: "The countdown to the collapse of apartheid has started in earnest". We call once again for the immediate and unconditional release of Nelson Mandela and other valiant freedom fighters under detention. We are convinced that the struggle for a united, democratic and non-fragmented South Africa will, before long, find culmination in final victory. We reiterate to our brothers and sisters in South Africa the assurances of our total solidarity and support. Equally~ our hearts go out to the suffering people of Namibia who have now completed a century under oppressive colonial occupation. The same abhorrent regime that persecutes its own people persists in its illegal occupation of Namibia, now close to two decades after the united Nations assumed direct responsibility over the Territory. The attempts by that regime to set up another puppet administration in Namibia through the so-called MUlti-Party Conference, have met with the universal contempt and repudiation that they deserve. The Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement on Namibia, held in New Delhi from 19 to 21 April this year, reaffirmed the clear and consistent support of the Non-Aligned Movement for the cause of Na,nibia and set out a concrete Progranme of Action to advance that cause. Our ing that historic meeting, India took an important step forward by according full diplomatic status to the representative of the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in New Delhi, thereby reaffirming its firm support for the Namibian cause. The United Nations Security Council, convened in response to tn~ call made by the non-aligned countries at New Delhi, has once again called for tn. immedia te and uncondi tional implementa tion of Secur i ty Council resolu tion 435 (1978), which constitutes the only basis for a peacefUl settlement of the Namibian question. Once again, South Africa has spurned that call. It is incumbent on the Council to meet again. It is clear that South Africa could not have persisted in its defiance of the will of the international community for so long but for the diplomatic and moral support and the wide-ranging collaboration in the economic, military, nuclear and other fields that. it has been receiving from its friends and allies. The pursuit of apartheid, th~ occupation of Namibia, and the repeated acts of aggression against independent African States, jointly and severally, all constitute threats to peace. Yet the Security Council haa, time and again, been paralysed into inaction on account of vetoes cast by one or more of its permanent members against mandatory measures aimed at the total isolation of South Africa. The Pretoria regime is beyond persuasion. Clearly, policies such as those of "constructive engagement" have failed. Comprehensive mandatory sanctions under Chapter V!I of the Uni~ed Nations ChQ~~er are the only answer. Meanwhile, States have a moral duty to sever all links witn Pretoria. The recent upsurge of pUblic opinion in many parts of the world for more resolute action against South Africa is a welcome development. My country is proud to have led the way in 1946, when we became the first voluntarily to impose comprehensive sanctions against south Africa. Nearer to our own shores, the destabilising and escalating great-Power military presence in the Indian Ocean causes us great concern. Only the elimination of such presence can enable the nations of the area to shape their own destinies without hindrance or military tutelage from beyond their territorial boundaries. The 1971 Declaration adopted by the United Nations laid down the objective of a zone of peace in the Indian Ocean area, which is universally supported by all non-aligned States of the region. These States now call for the early convening in 1986 of a conference on the Indian Ocean in Colombo in order to achieve the realization of the objectives of the Declaration. The participation of all the great Powers at such a conference is crucial, indeed indispensable, to its all the great Powers at such a conference is crucial, indeed indispensable, to its success. The presence of military bases, command structures and other forms of military presence against the express wishes of the countries of the area only add to the tensions already prevailing in the Indian OCean littoral and should be progressively reduced and eliminated. Meanwhile, in our own neighbourhood, the countries of South Asia have embarked on a process of regional co-operation which holds out significant prospects for the betterment of our peoples. It is important that these developments are not adversely affected by the political and military factors involving the introduction of sophisticated arms serving external strategic interests. As we have repeatedly stressed, it is necessary that the existing thresholds are not crossed or new elements of controversy introduced which could adversely affect the security environment in our neighbourhood. We, for our part, are committed to promoting good neighbourliness and harmonious relations in the area. It is in this spirit that we look forward to the first summit meeting of the South Asia Regional Cooperation organization in December this year in Dhaka. Our solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people under the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to secure the establishment of an independent State in Palestine and the return of the Palestinian and Arab territories occupied by Israel has been a well-recognised plank in th~ non-aligned platform. The plight of the Palestinians today is indeed one of the supreme tragedies of history. Few people have been more systematically brutalized, oppressed or humiliated in their own lands. The dispersal of the heroic Palestinians will not weaken their will to fight for their inalienable rights. Nor will it bring peace to the area. OCcupation of land belonging to its neighbours will not guarantee Israel its security. There is now an increasing understanding of the fact that no comprehensive solution of the problem in the Middle East is attainable without the active involveaent of the PLO, the sole and aUthentic r:epr:esentative of the Palestinian people. A cOIllPr:ehensive solution of tbe questiun oar. 01.11' be aenleveci by a forward-looking approach based on a ~ecognition of the realities of the Palestinian right to an independent State and the right of all the States of the region to live in peace within secure internation:al frontiers. Any such solution must cOlllPrise the total and unconditional withdrawal of Isra~l frOll all Arab territories occupied since 1967 and the exercise by the Palestinian people of their inalienable national and human rights, inclUding the right to establish an independent State in their homeland. The situation does not brook delay. We underscore once again the importance of the early convening of the proposed international conference on peace in the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations ar~ wi~~ ~~c participation of all parties concerned, for securing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region in accordance with well-established principles. India is ready to extend its full support and co-operation in this connection, and is appreciative of the efforts being undertaken by the Secretary-General. The tragic conflict between Iran and Iraq, two valued members of the non-aligned fraternity, continues to be a matter of concern and anguish. India, along with other non-aligned countries, has taken repeated initiatives to resolve this conflict. Our efforts continue, along with the efforts of the Secretary-General and others. In spite of the valiant efforts of the Contadora group to bring about a peaceful negotiated solution to the problems in Central America, the situation in the region continues to be marked by instabilit¥, tension and conflict. Policies of interference and intervention and the threat of the use of force imperil peace and securit¥ in the region, complicating its serious social and economic problems. The Government and the people of Nicaragua live under constant threat, harassment and intimidation. The problems of Central America can be resolved only by peaceful means, through political dialogue and negotiation. The Contadora group must intensify its efforts to overcome the obstacles in its bid to bring lasting peace to the region. We are distressed by the last-minute impediments which prevented the sign~ng of the revised draft Contadora Act for Peace and Co-operation in Central America of 7 September 1984. However, we have noted with satisfaction the presentation of a further revised draft, following the meeting in Panama earlier this month. It is our earnest hope that the meeting of plenipotentiaries scheduled for next month will finally pave the way for durable peace to return to this troubled part of the world. The endeavours of the newly constituted Lima group will no doubt strengthen Contadora's hand. We have al~ays affirmed ~~e in~~"issibility of interference in the internal affairs of States, as also er the introductic~. of foreign troops into any country. The situation in South-West Asia can be resolved only through an overall political settlement based on the principles set out in the New Delhi Declaration. India's own efforts have been directed towards this end. We support the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Afghanistan. We have closely followed the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, which deserve the fullest support of all concerned. Tension, conflict and instability afflict other parts of the world, including South-East Asia. cyprus continues to face travail and threats to its sovereignty, independence, unity, territorial integrity and non-aligned status. Tension continues to prevail in the Mediterranean, the South Atlantic and the Pacific region. Colonialism, as I observed earlier, persists in its most virulent form in Namibia. In other parts of the world as well, the task of decolonization remains incomplete. In this twenty-fifth year of the united Nations Declaration on decolonization, tribute is due to the commendable role the United Nations has played in the field of decolonization. We must also reaffirm our lesolve to sliminat2 the colonial phenomenon altogethei:. T~e world economic environment continues to cause grave concern. At the Seventh Summit Conference of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi in March 1983, our Heads of State or Government stressed that "the international community cannot be assured of durable peace so long as the economic disparities between nations are widening". (A/38/l32, p.64) The Foreign Ministers of non-aligned countries, meeting at Luanda earlier this month, were constrained to point out that the world economic situation had not improved since i;S3. The limited ~nd fragile recovery achieved in some of the industrialized countries, whose spread has remained uneven even amongs~ them, is now faltering, because it has been based on unsustainable macro-economic policies. The projections for the rate of growth of the economies of industrialized countries for 1985 and 1986 remain low. The 1985 rate of growth may not exceed 2.8 per cent; it may well be lower. At the same time, the economies of the developing countries remain under heavy pressure. Their overall growth rates remain well below levels which would offset population growth, let alone secure development gains. Combined with the severities of the adjustment process which marked the ficst three years of this decade, this decline in growth rates has brought into sharp focus the constraints on their economies, threatening wider social and political strife. The developing countries have been making adjustments without any parallel improvement in the world economic environment and in the face of serious resource constraints, the growing menace of an increasingly intolerable debt burden, reverse transfer of financial resources and intensifying protectionist barriers against their exports to developed countries. Against this background, the weakening of the commib\ent to the spirit of international economic co-operation and an erosion of ~~e multilateral system is a deeply disturbing trend. It is paradoxical that this should be happening when there is an increasingly wider recognition that the world economy has become more interdependent, calling for a greater need to sustain and further the international consensus in favour of development. (Mr. Khan, India) We have also seen with growing concern the increasing resort to bilateralism or selective multilateralism with the adoption of policies and practices which run counter to the agreed goals and objectives of international economic co-operation. This is a negation of the consensus which the developed countries themselves had helped to achieve. It is apparent that the prevailing international economic crisis cannot be explained away as a cyclical phenomenon. It has its ori9in in structural inadequacies which have been working to the particular detriment of the developing countries. It calls for a fundamental review of the existing structures. It is essential that the international community renew at this fortieth anniversary session its commitment to the resumption of inte~national negotiations with the objective of stimulating world economic recovery and ensuring sustained growth, particularly of developing countries. This requires in particular an integrated approach in the interrelated areas.of money, finance, debt and trade, and a restructuring of international economic relations. The Luanda Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Countries reaffirmed the strategies for international economic negotiations adopted by the Seventh Summit at New Delhi. The Conference also defined a framewo~~ for the commencement of a dialogue. (Mr. Khan, India) I would like to suggest that our immediate effor~ should concentrate on the following: First, rectifying through approp~iate measures ana actions the -inadequacies and malfunctioning- of the international monetary and financial system. Secondly, the adoption of policies and actions to implement the agreements on rollback and standstill with a widening o~ the access to exports from developing countries and the removal of all infringe~.ts on principles, rules and regulations of the international trading system. Thirdly, the adoption of methodologies which would ensure multilateral co-ordination of macro-economic policies pursued by developed countries and the placing of their monetary and financial policies within the purview of international discipline. Fourthly, the increase of finan(ial flows to the developing countries, in particular concessional flows to the 1,w-income countries. Fifthly, making the international ~djustment process symmetrical and equitable. I would also like to propose that during this session high-level discussions be undertaken to achieve understandings that would commence the process for the convening of an International Conference on Money and Finance for Development. The critical economic situation in Africa and the drought and famine conditions have evoked a spontaneous response from the international community, inclUding many non-aligned countries. The leaders of the African countries at the twenty-eighth summit Conference of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) have adopted a bold and courageous Declaration in which they have expressed Africa's determination to deal with the challenge of development. It is incumbent on tLe international community fully to support their efforts. As a token of solidarity, the Non-aligned Movement has adopted a Plan of Action. India has, on its own part, made a contribution of 100,000 tons of wheat, followed by another contribution of SUS 10 million to the OAU Special Fund. Under the Plan of Action, India has already identified nine agricultural projects in Africa. Our participation in ~~ese p:cjects, ~hich is in an advancsd stage of preparation, shall assist in priority areas for the rehabilitation of the agricultural infrastructure. The efforts by India that I have mentioned are additional to the bilateral programme that my country has on an ongoing basis wi th the Afr ican countries as a par t of which a large number of African experts are undergoing training in Indian institutions, and Indian experts are working in several areas with their African brethren in African countries. This, too, is a contribution to the priority areas of socio-economic development in Africa. As one of the original signatories of the United Nations Charter, India has remained steadfast in its commitment to the values and ideals enshrined therein. To quote once again the words of India's first Prime Minister, Pandi t Jawaharlal Nehru, from a speech he made in 1946 even before we attained our independence: "Towards the United Nations, India's attitude is that of whole-hearted co-operation and unreserved adherence, in both spirit and letter, to the Charter governing it. To that end, India will participate fully in its various activities and actively play that role in its Councils to which her geographical position, population and contribution towards peaceful progress en title her." By the same token, the United Nations and its system of specialized agencies have been a valued par.tner for India in the task of nation building and economic development. For the assistance and co-operation that the United Nations has given us, we are deeply grateful. That, however, is not the only vindication of the trust, hope and confidence that we repose in the United Nations. The importance and utility of the United Nations for us, for the non-aligned and other developing countries, indeed for the entire international community, is to be measured not only by the material assist~nce the United Nations provides in bettering the quality of life on this planet, but by the higher and more noble aspirations of humanity embodied in this remarkable institution. The greatest tribute that we can pay to the United Nations on this occasion is therefore to rededicate ourselves to the Purposes and Principles of the Charter and to reaffirm our commitment to give them full effect. As this Assembly proclaimed last year, let 1985 "mark the beginning of an era of durable global peace and justice, social and economic development and progress and independence for all peoples". We hope indeed that we are on the threshold of such an era. Mr. DUMAS (France) (interpretation from French): I should like first to congratulate the President on his election. I see it as a tribute not only to him personally but also to his country which holds a distinguished place in international co-operation. Everyone knows how much Spain means to France. In the very near future, our peoples will be together in the European Community. I am pleased that a common future now stands before them. I should also like, before beginning my address proper, to add my expressions of sympathy to those already voiced by numerous speakers before me regarding the tragic events that have just occurred in Mexico. The international community quickly demonstrated its solidarity, and my country joined in this widespread movement. I should also like to express here the respect that France has for the courage and dignity shown by the Governme.nt and people of Mexico in the face of their terrible ordeal. The catastrophe there reminds us that the happiness of men is uncertain and their 1estiny precarious. May they by their actions avoid compounding the suffering caused by nature. This session of the General Assembly marks the fortieth anniversary of our 0rganization. It is the age of maturity, a time for reflection an~ for taking stock. Speaking on behalf of France, a Founding Member of the United Nations and permanent member of the Security Council, I should like to refer to the three main ideals of this Organization which are the reason for its existence, namely, security, freedom and development. with respect to security, the power of the atom is the dominating factor. Peace through d~terrence has so far prevented East-West conflicts from taking the form of direct confrontations between nuclear Powers. ~aintenance of the balance ?f forces - nuclear as well as conventional - is of v~tal importance. This armed peace must be maintained for the future at a verifiable level of arms at the lowest possible level. The Soviet-American talks in Geneva on nuclear arms and space should lead the two countries directly concerned to proceed to deep cuts in their most destabilizing offensive weapons while maintaining strategic equilibrium. (Mr. Dumas, France) France welcomed the resumption of contacts between East and west and is particularly pleased that the General-Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mr. Mikhail Gorbachev, is to visi t Paris shor tly. New technologies have led some people to think that we couid be turning a page of the nuclear era in 10 or 20 years, at the end of some ill-defined transitional period. This idea, which is attractive at first sight, merely reopens an old debate which has nurtured an illusion in mankind - the illusion that security can be achieved through invulnerabili~. Have we realized the extent to which a would-be aggressor could turn this risky si tua tion to his own account? At the Geneva Conference on Disarmament in June 1984, and then again this year, France made two proposals: first, that the two super-Powers limit the military uses of space at the same time as they reduce their offensive nuclear systems; and, secondly, that multilateral negotiations strengthen the international administration of the organization of space for peaceful uses. The use of devices in space to see, listen and cornmunica te con tribu tea to security; satellites already constitute guarantees for peace and could fill this function even better if the international satellite monitoring agency my country proposed more than seven years ago were established. But, on the other hand, let us acknowledge that the deployment of new types of anti-missile or anti-satellite weapons on earth or in space would lead to a new race, with its risk of destabilizing effects. We see that possession of anti-missile and anti-sa telli te operational devices by one of the two super-Powers is viewed as justification for the other's efforts. It is high time that the two super-Powers agreed not to continue in this direction, they should distinguish very well between research, testing and development. During the same time, the Conference on Disarmament should in our view set forth the rules limiting anti-satellite systems. It should also establish real confidence-building measures for space, strengthen the existing system of notification of launches of objects into space, and, lastly, extend to the satelli tes of other countries the bilateral COIIh-nitments already made by the Uni ted States and the Soviet Union concerning the immunity of their observation satellites. Those proposals are intended to be constructive and realistic. They take into account both the destabilizing nature of certain military activities in space and the difficulty of verifying the dismantling of systems already in place. Let us therefore define the true nature of the challenge in space so as to avert the risk of a new arms race. But, in so doing, let us not forget the main objective: the reduction of the offensive nuclear weapons systems of the two most heavily armed countries. As far as my country is concerned, the President of the French Republic defined in this very body two years ago the conditions in which France would be ready to participate in this undertaking. Our willingness on this score has not changed; it has not diminished. It is in the context of such a process that France judges it necessary to raise again the question of nuclear testing designed to modeLnize its defensive force. I know that many delegations consider this a painful problem for which a solution is long overdue. We respect their concern, but in the case of issues like this we cannot settle for fine words or an imprecise assessment. So let us examine the facts. To dateD France has carried out less than one-tenth of the total number of nuclear tests carried out by the Soviets and the Americans. As of 1974 it ceased tests in the atmosphere. It takes every precaution in carrying out its tests, and this was QOnfirmed, in particular, by the team of international experts that went to the site last year. No other nuclear Power did this before and none has done it since. Only recently, in Mururoa, the President of the Republic renewed the invitation he ilad extended to the countries of the South Pacific to see for themselves, at the actual site, the harmless nature of French nuclear tests. Though not bound by any negotiated agreement, France has reduced the power of its tests below the threshold of 150 kilotons, a figure that t:.he Soviet Union and the United States have presented to this Assembly for the p~st 10 years as a step deserVing of the highest praise. At every opportunity, France demonstrates its goodwill, but it will never compromise its security interests; nor will it renounce the legitimate exercise of its sovereignty, whatever the cost to it. Continuation of the tests is in fact necessary to maintain the credibility of its forces. The limitation of tests could only be understood and be meaningful in the context of an eventual de-escalation by the most heavily armed Powers. But the debate on international securi~' is not limited to the problems of nuclear disarmament. The Stockholm Conference on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe is to our mind very important. Thirty-five States are participating and are seeking to define concrete measures to establish confidence amolig all. In addition to threats of conventional conflicts, the spectre of the use of chemical weapons has also resurfaced recently. I should like to repeat strongly my ~~luntry's condemnation of any violation of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, wherever it takes place. France supports and will continue to support the efforts of the international comwunity and, in the first place, those of the Secreeary-General of the United Nations, to proceed without delay to an impartial establishment of the facts where allegations of the use of these weapons have been made. France has not hesitated to speak out in favour of the ~ork of the Conference on Disarmament toward negotiating a convention banning the manufacture of chemical weapons and providing for the destruction of existing stockpiles under international supervision. More generally, the deterioration of the security conditions in the world is a check to development when it does not wipe it out altogether. That is why we repeat that disarmament and development must be linked. The President of the French Republic made this point in 1983 from this very rostrum. France is ready to serve as host to an international conference on this subject in Paris. The recent work of the preparatory committee of the united Nations conference on the relationship between disarmament and development has confirmed during the course of the summer the readiness of everyone. I am therefore pleased to state again here France's offer. I come now to the second part of my statement. France will speak out against all attacks on liberty, on the physical and moral integrity of the individual and the dignity of the human person, and will act indefatigably wherever these values are threatened. We recently celebrated at Helsinki the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on security and Co-operation in Europe. That anniversary reminds us of the great ambitions we had at that time: to formulate for the old continent rules other than those imposed by threat, force or ideology, building not only between States but also between their citizens, new and peaceful relations based on the sovereignty and equality of each State and on the right of peoples to self-determination, with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Let us look back at the record of the past 10 years. It is mixed. Certainly, Europe has escaped the wars that are devastating so many other parts of the world, and its borders have been respected, and that is the main thing. But econCJmic co-operation, cultural exchanges and contacts between people have not developed as they sho~ld. Human rights are still all too often, sometimes seriously, violated or ignored. Much still remains to be done, therefore. Governments must win the confidence of their citizens. Let us earn that confidence by guaranteeing them the exercise of all their freedoms, without which there can be no genuine democracy. Let us reunite families. Let us allow people to move and ideas to circulate wi thout hindrance. Let us guarantee free exchanges. Let us agree to live in the diversity of our cultures. How can I fail to mention under this heading one of the tragadies of our time - aeartheid? The origin of the conflicts that are convulsing SOuth African society is to be sought in that system, which is based on art odious doctrine and shameful practices. Responses to our many appeals have been announced by Pretoria; they are not enough. Only by the speedy and total elimination of aeartheid will there be salvation for South Africa. The opening of genuine dialogue between all the communities and recognition of the same civil and political rights for all South Africans constitute th~ only possible and acceptable basis for change. The current repression and violence can only lead to an impasse. Faced with the deteriorating situation, France felt the time had come to take concrete initiatives. As early as May 1985 the Prime Minister announced the Government's intention to take measures against Pretoria if significant progress was not made within a reasonable period of time. Because of the worsening situation resulting from the imposition of a state of emergency, France recalled its Ambassador and decided on the immediate suspension of any new investment in South Africa. It then won adoption in the Security Council of resolution 569 (1985), which recommends that States take voluntary measures against South Africa in order to induce its Government to engage in dialogue. Since yesterday all the members of the European Community are taking actions to that end. Since we took action other countries have joined us. That is what is most important. The freedom and dignity of a people are at stake. The intransigence of the South African Government over Namibia is not acceptable either. After the withdrawal of South African troops from Angola in April 1985 there was some ground for hope. But the establishment of a so-called interim government in Windhoek, the action of SOuth African military forces in Angola last May and again a few days ago and the raid on the capital of Botswana have shattered those hopes and helped to block negotiations. Despite those setbacks and difficulties, the international communit¥ must continue tirelessly to repeat that only Security Council resolution 435 (1978) constitutes an acceptable basis for a definitive settlement to the question of Namibia• Too many conflicts are causing bloodshed in the world, bringing suffering and death in their wake. In the Middle East the united Nations is endea"ouring to secure respect for the principles enshrined in its Charter. France supports all initiatives that will hel~ lead to progress towards a solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict through d\alogue and negotiation. It approves the initiative of the King of Jordan last 11 February, in agreement with the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and will continue to provide assistance and support, just as it will encourage the Head of the Government of Israel in that regard. My Government, as it has demonstrated on many occasions, is ready to support the efforts of those who sincerely desire to work for peace, which can be based only on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). In order to be lasting, that peace must take into account two principles that are indivisible: the right of Israel to exist in security and the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, with all that that implies. As for Lebanon, which has been so sorely tried, it, too, has the right to peace and its inhabitants have the right to security, whatever the community to which they belong. France has continually asserted that the solution to the crisis in Lebanon must be based on the respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of that country. That in turn presupposes a genuine national reconciliation among all the Lebanese~ My Government is working ceaselessly to that end, giving assistance and support to the lawful authorities of the coun try. I wish also to mention here the fate of individuals, French and others, held hostage in Lebanon. The French Government condemns ca tegorically that odious blackmail, and solemnly appeals to all those who may be able to help secure their release. I turn to the conflict between Iran and Iraq. The international community has often expressed its extreme concern about that endless and bloody confrontation. It is essential that there finally be a cease-fire and that the relevant Securit¥ Council resolutions, which have lost none of their value and relevance, be accepted at last by the two belligerents and implem~nted in their entirety. In order to speed up the start of the necessary negotiations, France encourages and supports international initiatives - in the first place, naturally, the action taken by our Organization. In Afghanistan, foreign intervention has been sustaining the war for almost six years. Far from abating, the fighting is spreading and growing in intensity, exacerbating the trials of a courageous people. The~e as elsewhere, justice is consistent with good sense. An answer is to be found only in a politi~al solution that will secure simultaneously the withdrawal of foreign forces, the free self-determination of the population and the stability of the region. We know that those are the principles that guide the good offices of our Secretary-General. France supports them, without overlooking the fact that their success depends first on the intentions of the occupying Power, which alone is in a position to remove one of the major causes of international tension. Did the head of the Soviet delegation, when he spoke the day before yesterday open the door to hope? With regard to the distressing and dangerous Situatiori in Cambodia, France reiterates its condemnation of the occupation of that country by foreign forces. It deplores the exacerbation of suffering inflicted on civilian populations by the recent military operations on the Khmer-Thai border. It stresses the urgency of a peaceful solution based on the vi thdrawal of foreign troops and the national reconciliation of the Khmer people. The division of the Korean people - a tragedy that has been vi th us for 40 years - still continues. In th~ last few months a few encouraging signs have appeared. Recently, separated families were able to meet again for a few hours. I see in that reason for hope. At this point I should like to mention the hope that is emerging from the changes in an entire continent: I refer to South America. Happily, democracy continues to be consolidated there. France welcomes that, especially as a difficult economic situation and the burden of considerable foreign debt have imposed difficult economic policies on Governments. In Central America, clearly the conflicts cannot be resolved by military means. The countries of that region should be encouraged to find quickly among themselves the path to negotiation. The Contadora group therefore has our support and backing. I now come to France's third priority in external policy - development. The overriding need for solidarity between the industrialized and the developing countries derives from the conviction - which has been repeated many times by the French Head of State - that the future of the North and the south is linked and that there can be no lasting growth for the developed countries if the developing countries are excluded. For the past two years the international community has accomplished a great deal towards helping these countries - first of all, during crisis situations. Who could deny that Governments and public opinion responded rapidly and generously to the extreme hardships of the African countries? I should like to praise the initiatives taken ~ the secretary-General, Mr. Perez de Cuellar, in particular the organization last March of a donors' conference in Geneva and the creation of the united Nations Office for Emergency Operations in Africa. This aid drive is without precedent. Almost 7 million metric tons of grain have been collected for Africa - a considerable figure commensurate with the tragedy that is taking place. The European Community and France made a substantial contribution to that effort, as the representative of the presidency has indicated from this rostrum. But the main problem is to avoid a recurrence of such a situation, thereby ensuring a resumption of the development process on a permanent basis. It is essential to maintain the flow of official development assistance. For its part, France will contribute more than 0.55 per cent of its gross national product in 1985, a figure close to i t:S 1988 target of 0.7 per cent. The poorest countries deserve priority attention, for without an increased flow of financial resources it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to face a particularly unfavourable international economic climate. The establishment of the Special Fund for Africa under the auspices of the World Bank - to which France has made a decisive contribution - constitutes an important step in that direction. It is also with the hope of eradicating famine that France has proposed to our industrial partners a "plan for Africa", which provides among other things for increased agricultural developmont gnd a co-ordinated programme to combat desertification. We are pleased that that plan has been adopted and that work currently being carried out by experts will make it posssible to implement it soon. Finally, I should like to confirm here the French President'S intention to convene an international conference on forest protection in Paris next Pebruary. That conference could, in conjunction with other international organizations concerned - primarily the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) - propose concrete answers to the concerns of countries which see their forests disappearing and with them often all forms of life. Those efforts were a response to the most critical situations. For the rest, this past year has seen a relative improvement in the situation of the third world. But I should like to make two remarks on this subject. First of all, this progress is related to the economic improvement in the developed countries. The relative decline in real interest rates and the value of the dollar have accentuated this trend. But these phenomena, while positive, are primarily and essentially cyclical and short-term, and therefore remain precarious. Let us hope that the decisions taken here in New Y9rk last Sunday by the finance ministers of the five most industrialized countries will help to consolidate this trend. The second point is that we must guard against excessive optimism. Admittedly, the problem of interna~ional debt has been ,brought under control for the time being, thanks to the joint action of the Paris Club, banks and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and especially the extremely austere and courageous adjustment policies adopted by the debtor countries and their peoples. But let us be careful. The improvement in external accounts has come about at the cost of lowered income for populations - a situation that cannot continue for long.* *The President returned to the Chair. Debt-servicing, principal and interest, still absorb often considerable amounts, if not all, of annual export earnings. The fragile nature of this improvement is therefore blatantly obvious. An entire continent of which I have already spoken, Africa, remains on the sidelines of this progress and continues to become increasingly impoverished. The same danger will beset the other continents; and unless we manage steadily to channel capital from the developed to the developing countries, whose financing needs remain structural, the situation will be aggravated. Here, we cannot be satisfied with the trend of these past few years which have seen a slow-down in direct investment, a reduction in bank credits and repayments to multilateral financi~l institutions of amounts greater than withdrawals. All this has led to an inversion of North-South capital flows. The developing countries are now paying more to those in the North than they receive from them. It is essential to L~prove the existing mechanisms for debt management by providing developing countries with adjusted financing. This is the objective of France's repeated appeals to increase World Bank capital, issue additional special drawing rights, and more generally increase official development assistance. It is also to be feared that in the months to come the slow-down in the American economy - inadequately compensated for by the growth in Europe and Japan - may have serious consequences for the developing countries; or that rising protectionist pressures in the North will stifle developing countries by limiting their export possibilities and therefore their ability to repay debts. Certainly, as I said a moment ago, increased dialogue among t~e main industrialized countries is leading to an improved international climate. That dialogue should be stepped up in all existing forums and on all occasions. The time has come for a comprehensive and serious consideration of this subject. (Hr. Du_s, France) Let us take another example - lIOI1etary affairs. France, on several occasions - in particular when the President of the Republic addressed this Assembly two years ago - has called for an international monetary conference that would seek to define new guidelines, thereby making monetary fluctuations more stable. Industrialized countries and groups of developing countries, in particular the non-aligned countries, advocate a couparable move. It is only through such discussions that we can make the progress the world needs so urgently. France for its part is ready for dialogue and action. In the m<Y ·tary, financial and commercial fields, its determination remains firm. At one time the North~:;outh dialogue inspired nuch hope, in particular within our Organization. However, global negotiations never book place, and meetings between experts in international forums have yielded very few concrete results. Today, approaches based on sectoral strategies, integrating emergency aid and giving priority to rural development and training, are being launched and developed. My country approves these approaches, which meet today's needs. But it remains essential that we formulate without delay reforms that will bring about deep and lasting changes in relations between States for the benefit of peoples, ~~eir individual liberties and their rights. In reViewing the principal tasks incumbent upon the United Nations I have been forced to recognize that the present state of the world is far from satisfactory. More than ever, we need the United Nations, the forum par excellence for meetings and discussion. During the fortieth anniversary we shall have a special opportunity to underscore the need to make negotiation prevail in conflicts and solidarity triumph over selfishness. This unfortunately gloomy picture does, however, have its bright spots and more encouraging prospects. I wish to conclude on a positive note by mentioning an undertaking on which m¥ country sets great store. I refer to the construction of Europe. Forty years ago Europe was a devastated battlefield. What has it become today? It is a community without precedent in history, a force for peace and equilibrium in the world, a coltltlunity that has learned its lesson from its past and that practices, among its members and vis-a-vis the rest of the world, the peacefUl settlement of disputes and solidarity with the very poor. (Hr. DuES, France) Our colleague frOll Luxembourg has reviewed the main lines of our action. A few words will suffice to recapitulate: the coming expansion of membership to include Spain and Portugal; the renewal of the LoIRe Convention with 66 countries in Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific; the establishment of direct relations wi th the countries members of the COhtadQra Group and also the work now in progress to improve institutions and technological capacities with the Eureka project and to move towards a Europe of citizens, a political Europe. Indeed, European construction will be one of the great ventures of the second half of this century. In conclusion, let me say that France wishes, together with others, to pursue its work for peace. It has heeded the message that has come to us from the depths of history. To those who are distressed by the future of the world, it hopes that we may respond together in the name of the principles that, 40 years ago, were the cornerstone of our action. ADDRESS BY MR. FELlPE GONZALEZ, HEAD OF GOVElUHENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN
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• (continu.ed) APPOmTMENTS 'ID FILL VACANCIES IN SUBSIDIARY ORGANS AND OTHER APPOIN'lMENTS (a) APPPOINTMENT OF ONE MliMBER OF THE ADVISORY OOMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY ~ESTroNS~ REPORT OF THE FIFTH COOMITTEE (PART 11) (A/40/681/Add.l) •. " ~ ,.-..~ .... ... ..' ..... ~ The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Spanish): In paragraph 4 of its report (A/40/681/Md .1) the Fifth Committee recommends the appointment of Hr. Noureddine Sefiani of Morocco to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of Hr. Racbid Lahlou's term of office, that is to say, until 31 December 1987. ~y I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to adopt that recommendation? The reCOmmendation was adopted.
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• (continueC!) CREDENTIALS OF REPRESENTATIVES 'lO THE FORTIE'l'li SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: SECOND REPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE (A/40/747/Add.l) Mr. CABALLERO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) (interpretation from Spanish): As regards the report of the Credentials Committee contained in document A/40/747/Add.l, my delegation would like to say that it rejects the credentials of the so-called representatives of Grenada, inasmuch as they only represent th~ interests of the forces who invaded this fraternal country in October 1983. Everyone knows that the objective of that invasion was ~o implement a plan of the united States, mentioned several times by the Heads of State, which has been rejected by the non-aligned countries. That was to put down the popular reVOlution in Grenada and establish by force a puppet government. The Government installed in Grenada is the result of that invasion and the crystallization of those plans. If anyone has doubts in this regard I should like to invite him merely to re-examine the votes recorded on a large number of resolutions adopted during this session. That is why my delegation rejects the credentlals of those representatives, who are not legitimate since they only claim to represent the people of Grenada here.
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• (contin~), 116, 119, 120, 122 ANI) 123 REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL: REPORT OF THE FIFTH CCMMI'l'TEE (A/40/l0G8) PROFOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR '!'BE BIENNIOM 1986-1987: REPORT OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE (A/40/1069) ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY CO-ORDINATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS WITH THE SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: REPORT OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE (A/40/1064) JOINT INSPECTION UNIT: REPORT OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE (A/40/1065) SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE APPORTIONMEliJ'l' OF THE EXPENSES OF THE UNITED NATIONS: REPORT OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE (A/40/1066) <, PERSONNEL QUESTIONS: REPORT OF THE FIFTH COMMI'l"I'EE (A/40/1067) Mr. Meltke (German Democratic Republic), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, presented the reports of that Committee (A/40/1068, A/40/1069, A/40/1064, A/fO/1065, A/40/1966 and A/40/1067) and then spoke as follows: Mr. MELTKE (German Democratic Republic), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee: The plenary Assembly, having dealt this morning with 15 reports of the Fifth Committee, I now have the honour to introduce the remaining six reports for its consideration this afternoon. In the first place, with regard to agenda item 12 the Fifth Committee has dealt with the portions of the report of the Economic and Social Council allocated to it, and its report is contained in document A/40/1068, which contains, in paragraph 5, two draft decisions, both of which were adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. The next item the President has indicated will be considered by the Assembly is a~enda item 122 on the question of the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations. The Fifth Committee's report in this regard is contained in document A/40/l066, which contains in paragraph 7 a draft resolution recommended by the Committee. This draft resolution was adopted by the Fifth Committee by a recorded vote. (Mr. Meltke, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) Agenda item 119 deals with the question of administrative and budgetary co-ordin~tion of the United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report of the Fifth Committee on this ite. is contained in document A/40/l064, and the Committee recommends three draft resolutions and one draft decision for adoption by the General Assembly. All of the. were adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. The next agenda item is item 116, which has occupied the attention of the Fifth Committee throughout most of the session, namely, the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1986-1987. The Fifth Committee concluded its consideration in the early hours of this morning~ therefore time has not permitted an appropriate presentation of the related report in a consolidated document. It has been the practice of the General Assembly to consider the report on this item in the document considered by the Fifth Committee, with addenda or corrigenda reflecting the actions taken by the Committee. I therefore wish to draw the attention of the General Assembly to document A/40/1069 - which is the number under which the consolidated report will eventually be issued in its final form - and to the attachments to this document. They are the four pa~ts of documen~ A/C.5/40/L.20, with their addenda and corrigenda, to which reference is made in document A/40/1069. The recommendations of the Fifth Committee under this agenda item are contained in part IV of document A/C.5/40/L.20 and consist of six draft resolutions. Draft resolution I incorporates a number of different sections, each dealing with an individual special subject dealt with by the Committee. Draft resolution 11 A is the draft resolution on the budget appropriations for the biennium 1986-1987. (Kr. Naltke, Rapporteur, 1!'iftb CCii18ittee) Draft resolution 11 B relates to the inCOlle esti1lates for the biemiUll, while draft resolution 11 C concerns the financing of the appropciations for the year 1986. Draft resolution III concerns unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium, and draft resolution IV concerns the Wotkin<] Capital Pund for the same biennium. Draft resolution V is entitled ·Conditions of s~~rvice and compensation for officials, other than secretariat officials, serving the General Assembly·; and, finally, draft resolution VI concerns the emoluments, pension sche1le and conditions of service for the menbers of the Internationc::l Court of Justice. Draft resolutions 11 to VI were adopted by the COiilIDittee by vote. As for draft resolution I, which contains several separate sections, the method by which the Fifth Committee dealt with each section is indicated in the body of the report. The next item to be considered by the plenary Assembly this afternoon is the report on agenda item 123, ·Personnel questions·, as contained in document A/40/1067. In paragraph 17 of the report, the Fifth COl'l1Dittee recoDlDends that the General Assennly adopt a draft resolution the Committee adopted by consensus. In addition, the Fifth Conunittee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of four draft decisions as indicated in paragraph 18 of the report. All the draft decisions were adopted by the Committee without a vote, except for paragraph Cd) of draft decision I, dealing with the effective date of the implementation of the results of the classification of General service posts at Headquarters. This paragraph was adopted by the Committee following a recorded vote, the details of which are indicated in paragraph 11. Finally, I have the honour to introduce the report of the Fifth COIIIIittee on agenda item 120 - Joint Inspection Unit - which appears in docuEnt A/40/1065. In it the Fifth Cowait.tee recommends that the General Assembly adopt a draft resolution, which the Committee adopted without a vote.
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• (conth~) aJRRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (a) REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL (A/40/ll02 and Corr.l to 3, Add.l and Add.l/Corr.l, and Add.2 and Add.2/Corr.l) (b) REPORT OF THE ADVISORY <X>MMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGE'l'ARY QUESTIONS (A/40/ll06) Mr. SANCHEZ (Philippines): Initially, following the enlightening report of the representative of the Soviet Union, we would like to express our delegation's deepest sympathy to the Union of Soviet SOcialist Republics for the tragic accident at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Kiev. The international cortlUunity shares the horror and sense of loss suffered by the SOviet people. We hope that the SUffering of the victims will somehow will be assuaged. This accident is a compelling reminder to us of human frailty and of the imperative need to strengthen international co-operation. May we also add a voice to the condolences expressed during this session on the passing of one of the stalwarts of the United Nations and international oo-operation, Mr. Raul Prebisch, first 5ecretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNcr.AD), who was one of the foremost scholars and prime movers in the field of economic co-operation, devoting much of his life to the pursuit of that goal. The principles for which he worked so hard remain today a valid basis for multilateral relations. If some of his principles have not received the acceptance of the develoPed countries they, nevertheless, remain intrinsically valid and we continue to hope for their eventual attainment. We meet at this session of the General Assembly to consider the financial crisis of the united Nations, said to be the most grievous in its history. Ironically, the din of the celebration commemorating the 40 years of achievement of the Organization has hardly faded and already the United Nations is confronted wil:h a life-threatening crisis. The Secretary-General submitted to us his report on the financial problems with a package of proposals designed to meet the immediate cash flow difficulties of the Organization. We commend the secretary-General for his report and the initiative he has undertaken to help lessen the gravity of the situation. However, we agree that the essence of the problem is not merely one of cash flow. What we have is primarily as much a political problem. In one sense we are experiencing the accumulated effects of the reluctanc~ of some Members to honour their obligations under the Charter. For several years now the United Nations has had to contend with the problem of the withholding of contributions and delay in the settlement of obligations. The reasons for such actions have been varied,. In some instances, this is the effect of economic and financial difficulties which compel some countries temporarily to defer their contributions. As this relates to most developing countries, severely overburdened by debt and related difficulties, the problem is very real and deserves sympathetic understanding. Unfortunately, in other instances, the withholding of contributions has been resorted to deliberately to demonstrate disagreement with certain decisions taken by the United Nations. This is a deplorable situation which reflects a mockery of the democratic process. If carried out to the extreme, as seems to be the trend, this course of action could endanger the very existence of the Organization. Reference has been made in the Assembly to a erisis of confidence as the root cause of the problem before us. Our delegation feels that this over-simplifies the problem. Apparently, some powerful countries are unhappy with the results of a decision-making process designed 40 years ago to serve the principles of e~ality and democracy. It is understandable that there should be questions about this process, and we feel that it should be reviewed. Nonetheless, there is something seriously wrong when dissatisfaction about it should be expressed by way of financial pressure rather than by directl~ ad~~assing the questions through a rational review of the Charter and the rules of procedure of the Organization. This makes us wonder whether the crisis before us is just one in a series of actions that would, perhaps unintentionally, further weaken the United Nations and ultimately cause its complete emasculation. More and more, we witness the resort to unilateral actions with little regard to their effect on the work painstakingly done in the field of international co-operation and in the cause of peace. It is sad to think that this is where we seem to be headed, for throughout these 40 years the United Nations, on the whole, has served us well. It has made substantial progress, notwithstanding the occasional pitfalls along the way. Despite the political character of the issue before us, it is ~navoidable that we consider the problem, eSPeCially from the immediate, short-term point of view, in quantifiable terms, particularly as it relates to the financial resources needed to keep the Organization solvent during the current year. In this context, the Chairman of the Group of 77 has proposed - and we wholeheartedly endorse his proposal - that the details of the package submitted by the Secretary-General be considered thoroughly by the Fifth Committee, each proposal to be reviewed on its individual merits. We support proposals that would effect economy and efficiency. We advocate the streamlining of activities of the United Nations and the harmonizing of programmes and operations, inclUding the day-to-day administration (Mr. Sanchez, Philipiines) of the Secretariat. We would like, and we are ready, to take part in the deliberations of the Fifth Committee with an open mind and an attitude that our common problems could be solved through joint efforts and the equitable sharing of the burdens. We wish, however, to comment on one of the proposals in the Secretary-General's report, the recommended suspension of the construction of the conference building of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). May we recall that this matter was the SUbject of long negotiations in the Second and Fifth Committees and in the General Assembly. We believe that the construction of the headquarters of ESCAP is a priority activity and should not be among those to be sacrificed. If need be, the construction could be paced more slowly, but construction must be continued. While we address the short-term needs of the Organization, we nonetheless believe that the crisis should best be regarded from a longer-term perspective. We should address the root causes of the present financial problems. If this is the effect of diminishing confidence in the Organization, we should by all means be forthright enough to look into that problem and seek ways of revitalizing our faith. If it is caused by a weakness in the Charter provisions that would give rise to a disregard by Members of their obligations, such loopholes should be remedied. For, ultimately, the breakdown of discipline could spell the eventual demise of the Organization, which we are certain no Member State desires. The Philippine Government will perform its modest share in living up to its responsibility. We are now in the process of working out the domestic requirements for effecting the payment of our arrears as well as our current contributions, even as we are preoccupied with other serious problems of state. We are also ready to contribute to the formulation of ideas for a longer-term resolution of the crisis. In this very Hall, and on many occasions: Member States have repeatedly professed their faith in the United Nations and have reiterated their adherence to the principles of the Charter. We say that there is no better opportunity to demonstrat~ that faith concretely than now, when the United Nations very existence is threatened. with all the confusion and conflicts in the world, we are all more than aware that we need the United Nations to confront the innumerable crises. Each and everyone of us Imows that we have a stake in keeping it alive. We cannot but hope that, at the end of this session, we will be able to agree on a definite course of action to solve the problem for which we are met here. Otherwise, we would have further contributed to the financial crisis by having spent so mUch to hold this session and having nothing to show for it. Mr. MOHAMMED (Trinidad and Tobago): The financial crisis of the United Nations threatens the very concept of multilateralism, which has just lost one of its champions, Mr. Raul Prebisch. My delegation joins those who have already expressed their sympathies at his untimely death. On behalf of my Government, I offer sincere condolences to the bel:eavea family and to the Government of Argentina. The fanfare that marked the fortieth anniversary of the united Nations has hardly died away as we now gather for another important occasion. It was not long ago that these halls echoed to the sounds of recommitment to the Organization, reaffirmations of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter and rededication to the concept of the united Nations. Six months later, in this reconvened session, we are now deliberating the very existence and future of the Organization. The current financial crisis of the united Nations has its origins in the financial difficulties which the Organization has faced for more than half of its existence. By the innate nature of the Organization, the United Nations faces a problem of liquidity. The Organization has to meet large expenditures arising out of the activities, programmes and projects mandated by Member States. To meet: those ever-growing financial demands, the Organization depends almost totally on contributions from Member S.tates. The basis of that revenue is the assessed contributions of Member States, and it is the arrears in contributions of some Member States and the selective withholding of those assessed contributions by other Member States that have led to the current financial emergency of the United Nations. This is neither the time nor the place to enter into a discussion of the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations, but we must acknowledge that it is a critical factor in the crisis as presented to us in the Secretary-General's report. Each Member State has a responsibility and obligation to meet its full financial contribution to the Organization, and this is not conditional upon con~urrence with the approved scale or, indeed, the approved bUdget. This obligation is as binding upon the smallest contributor as it is upon the largest. My delegation commends the efforts of the Secretary-General in advancing proposals to address the immediate cash shortfall. We note that the Advisory Committee on Administrative and BUdgetary Questions (ACABQ) has recommended that the General Assembly approve these measures since they "appear appropriate for the present" (A/40/ll0G, para. 17 (c». We also note that the staff of the United Nations is being called upon to bear some of this adjustment. We note too that there are to be a number of administrative economies and that Member States will have to sacrifice; on a temporary basis, some programme activities. In the circumstances, my delegation would be willing to join in a consensus on a package that would alleviate the present situation and contribute to the long-term viability and integrity of the Organization. But we need to have certain clarifications and assurances about the specific measures to be employed, and we should be satisfied that our present actions will not be to the detriment of the basic foundation of the Organization. My delegation understands the predicament of the Secretary-General in preparing and offering the proposed measures as a package. We appreciate the need to give the Secretary-General a certain degree of latitude and flexibility to take initiatives in dealing with the shortfall in revenue, especially since that shortfall is subject to variations. But we must express some concern about the possible effects of translating into programmes and activities certain imprecise concepts contained in the Secretary-General's report. For example, we are not clear as to what is intended by "certain additional programme activities" (A/40/l102, para. 21 (d», what is meant by such expressions as "modification and reformulation of ••• programmes" (para. 25), and ~hat is the difference between "deferment" of a programme and "postponement" of a programme. Furthermore, in introducing his report, the Secretary-Genera1 noted that the cash shortfall would not disappear in 1987, and that in this context the future of the programmes now being deferred or postponed or modified remains very uncertain. will they be earmarked for further reduction and/or postponement, or will they be reinstated and other programmes made subject to adjustments? In paragraph 10 of his report, the Secretary-General shows the importance of the Working Capital Fund and the Special Account as management tools which have enabled the Organization to continue to function. We need to take account at all times of the need to replenish the reserves which are now exhausted. It is essential that we examine the overall question of the financial problem of the United Nations both as an immediate crisis and in terms of the long-term viability of the Organization. The measures proposed in the Secretary-General's package were drawn up to generate short-term savings in order to help alleviate the immediate and critical cash-flow situation, and in so doing to provide more time for comprehensive consideration and action by Member states in addressing the fundamental issues• .. Long-term consideration encompasses the review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations which is now being conducted by the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts. My delegation looks forward to the report which will be presented to the General Assembly at its forty-first session. But in the final analysis the long-term sur.vival of the Organization rests on the political will of all Member States to meet fully their Charter obligations. My delegation stands ready to endorse a package of ad hoc measures, which should be clearly elaborated: a package based on guidelines allowing for the flexibility to adapt to a financial crisis, whether that crisis surpasses present projections or not. Above all, this package should not undermine the basic foundations of the Organization or contribute to its future impotence. Finally, we . believe that as it adopts such measures the General Assembly must also send a clear message to all Member States, particularly those in arrears, that the long-term viability of the Organization depends on each Member's respect for its obligations under the Charter and its acceptance of its financial responsibilities. Ms. ASTORGA GADEA (Nicaragua) (interpretation from spanish): We wish first of all to express our deep sadness at the death of a great Latin American, Raul Prebisch. His death has left a great void in us all. Argentinian by birth, Raul Prebisch was a creative spirit - for our continent and for the third world. He represented us and honoured us through his invaluable contributions and his tireless work. We convey our deep condolences to his family, to the Argentine Government and to his people. My delegation thanks the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cue1lar, for having requested the General Assembly to discuss at this resumed session an item of great interest and importance to all Member States. The Secretary-General has drawn our attention to the Organization's crisis and, under severe pressure of time, has made a great effort to place before us proposals to deal with the difficult situation facing our Organization. It is clear to everyone - and the Secretary-General is the first to stress this - that the serious financial problems of the Organization today conceal a more profound, eminently political, crisis brought about by the failure of a Member State to meet its obligations under the Charter, by an open attempt to distort the purposes for which the Organization was created and undermine its democratic foundation and the sovereign equality of States, and by a deliberate attempt to erode its ability and effectiveness to resolve serious international problems. As a aall country and the victim of aggression, Nicaragua has a special ca.litntent to this Organization, which goes beyond rhetoric and is indissolubly linked to our very existence as a free, independent, sovereign nation. The other countries of the developing world and the developed countries share a stailar commitment. It was the developed countries that wisely created this community of nationsJ an important contribution to this was made by the very country which is now attempting to undermine the principles of the United Nations. We have believed and will continue to believe that this forum is irreplaceable as a place of dialogue, negotiation and understanding. The United Nations has a central role in the maintenance of international peace and security, in the struggle to achieve disarmament and the self-deteL~inationof peoples, in the strengthening of international co-operation, and in the establishment of just, equitable economic relations, making possible the development and harmonious and peaceful coexistence of all the world's nations on the basis of equality. If it was necessary 40 years ago to create the United Nations, we have even great~r reasons today to preserve it• Only a few months ago we celebrated with enthusiasm and joy the fortieth anniversary of our Organi2ation and we wish now to reaffirm our unswerving commitment to and faith in the system. ~day we are dealing with this crisis, which, as the Secretary-General in his statement before the Assembly rightly points out, threatens the "viability and very integrity of the organization". (A/40/PV.124, p. 3; It has been said quite rightly that the financial problems of the organization do not arise from'the present situation and that they indeed go back at least to the beginning of the 1960s. It has also been said that if all Member States abided fully by their financial obligations there would be no crisis. Such statements, while true enough, upon occasion conceal the primary cause of the present financial crisis, which is the illegal unilateral withholding of the contribution of the United States with the clear objective of altering the structure and very nature of the Organization. Without denyin9 that other factors are also at play, we consider that the present crisis has been brought about by that Government's decision to withhold a considerable part of its contribution to the Organization's regular budget. The objective is clear: to exert pressure so as to change the present voting system in the Organization to one of weighted voting. One of the fundamental principles of this Organization is the sovereign equality of all States. What then does the united States want? To turn the united Nations into a stockholders' corporation? We must also ask: What do we the Member States of this Organization want? The reply is clear: we want to preserve the democratic nature of our Organization, which, despite its imperfections, has prevented another world-wide catastrophe and been a forum for dialogue, negotiation and understanding among all countries of the world. That being the kind of Organization we want and need, we must fight for it and together we must seek avenues of understanding, leading to .its preservation and strengthening. Without a serious, carefully thought out effort by all Member states, we will not be able to attain our objective. The Secretary-General, acting within his competence, has alreadY set in motion a series of administrative measures. We support his efforts and we encourage him to go further along these lines. In is in this spirit of seriousness and careful thought that my delegation has analysed the secretary-Generales report, which we think is a serious effort to confront the present financial crisis. However, we believe that some aspects of his report must be analysed more thoroughly to determine their scope and implications. Convinced that only a concerted effort by us can overcome the present crisis, my delegation pledges its collaboration to the secretary-General and to Member States in an effort to find a speedy, just and balanced solution to the present crisis. As a final note we should like to point out an ironic coincidence which concerns my country and the United States. The Reagan Administration wants the United States Congress to approve $100 million for the counterrevolutionary groups committing ~ggression in my country, a sum equal to the amount that the United States is withholding from its contribution to this Organization. Might it not be appropriate for the United States to make a gesture of good will in support of this Organization, in support of world peace and in particular in support of Central America, and rechannel that $100 million and honour its commitment to the United Nations? We are convinced that $uch a gesture by the United States would be greatly appreciated by all of us. Mr. KllLU (Kenya): My delegation has carefully studied the SecretarY-General's report on the current financial crisis of the United Nations. we should like to thank him for it. We fully agree that the crisis facing the United Nations is political in origin and will ultimately require a political solution. As to the financial consequences of this political crisis, my delegatioll has noted the range of proposals submitted by the Secretary-General as a short-term solution to the problem. While we commend the secretary-General for the short-term measures, a permanent solution must be found sooner or later; otherwise our Organization will collapse. We have studied carefully also the report by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). We note the Committee'S concurrence with the Secretary-General's recommendation that his proposals be approved by the General Assembly as a package. While my delegation recognizes the gravity of the situation and the need for urgent action, it is also conscious of the fact that due to time constraints consultations which preceded the preparation of the Secretary'·General's .::eport may not have been SUfficiently broad to take into account the views of all Member States. Therefore, while my delegation would have no objection to approval of the proposals contained in the secretary-GeneralIs report, it remains strongly of the view that adequate opportunity should have been provided to the relevant organs to study each proposal in detail before the General Assembly was fully seized of the matter. None the less, we are satisfied that, besides the study by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, the Fifth Committee is now examaining the technical aspects of the proposals. Concerning the size of the actual shortfall, my delegation notes with appreciation the action taken by a number of Member States in paying up their assessed contributions and arrears. It is to be hoped that those States which have not yet done so will pay their assessed contributions in due course. Kenya ie not in arrears, has not been in arrears and will shortly pay its 1986 assessment. Further examination of the Secretary-General's report reveals information on the unilateral withholding of assessed contributions by certain Member States as a protest against certain programmes which those countries do not like and hence do not support. My delegation believes that this practice must stop if the Organization is to regain its vitality and operate effectively and smoothly. In this connection, my delegation notes the remarks by the secretary-General contained in his s~atement to the effect that some Member States have expressed their intention to make early payments this year in respect of their assessed contributions for 1987 as well as eliminate arrears in their assessed contributions. Equally praiseworthy is the USSR'S voluntary contribution of SlO million to the Special Account. In this connection my delegation notes that the economy measures already taken by the secretary-General combined wi th those proposed in his report under consideration would together realize savings in the amount of SUS 60 million. This will thereby enable the Organization to conduct normal business until the end of this year. However, we note witn concern that the problem is likely to recur next year unless and until the Organization finds a solution to the present system of financing the Organization, which in itself relies heavily on the contributions of one or a small number of Member States. The Organization in its financing should never rely on the generosity of one Member State or group of Member States, because of the inherent danger in this reliance, as we are now witnessing • While the united Nations must as a political organization continue to operate on the basis of sovereign equality of all Member States, Members may need to review the desirability of financing its operations on a budget that is so vulnerable to the action of one Member state or of a group of Member States. To that end, Member States, especially small and medium-sized states, irrespective of their geographical location may wish to consider whether it would not be preferable to arrange the financing of the Organization in such a way that wihholding of assessed contributions by one or se~eral Memmer Sta~es did not necessarily lead to the dislocation of the operations of the Organization. In so doing, it may be necessary to review the programmes and priorities of the Organization, for it is Members and Members alone that must decide on the programmes to be undertaken by the Organization and the priority to be assigned to each programme. Similarly, the decision-making process within the Organization must remain strictly in accordance with its Charter. Consequently, all decisions on financial matters must continue to be taken on the basis of one Member, one vote. Kenya will not be party to weighted voting, and we are absolutely sure that this is the preponderant view of the majority of Member States. In this regard my delegation recalls the Assembly's decision to establish a Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts to review the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations. Although my country is not represented in the Group, we stand ready to make every contribution necessary and look forward to the outcome of its labours. For, as it has been pointed out by many delegations, the long-term solution to the problem facing the Organization will need to be fully addressed before the financial problems can be finally resolved. One of the matters to which an urgent political solution must be found is the programme of activities for the Organization and the means of financing these activities. Accordingly, it is imperative that any action taken by this resumed session should be of an interim nature designed to deal specifically with the current crisis and in no way set a precedent or prejudice the outcome of the work of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts or indeed of the Assembly itself in future. In conclusion, my delegation wishes to reiterate its support for the united Nations and the decisions it has taken as reflected in resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, including in this particular instance resolution 40/253, by which the Assembly adopted the Organization's programme bUdget for the biennium 1986-1987, and the related resolution 40/248 on the scale of assessments for the apportionment ()f the expenses of the united Nations for the same period. In these circumstances, my delegation cannot accept that any Member State, whether permanent member of the Security Council or not, can unilaterally withhold its assessed contribution. This would be a clear brE~ach of its obligations as stipulated in the Charter. For that reason, while we would support any effort towards finding a durable solution to the political problem facing the Organization, we do not believe that certain efforts should be undertaken in fear or under duress. Mr.KASEMSRI (Thailand)': First of all, my delegation would like to join previous speakers in expressing its sincere and profound condolences to the delegation of Argentina and to the bereaved family on the passing away of the distinguished world economist, Mr. Rau1 Prebisch. His activities as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and his contribution to the field of international economic relations are well known and highly esteemed by the international community. The. Thai delegation has noted with grave concern the seirous financial crisis now confronting the United Nations. Most if not all delegations seem to hold the same view that it is mainly political in nature, arising from the withholding by some Member States of their assessed contributions to the regular and peace-keeping bUdgets of the Organization. Such practice of withholding funds has been a long-standing problem and is in contravention of the financial obligations of Member States. Its prolongation has had profound implications on the viability of the Organization and on the sanctity of its Charter. It has prompted the Secretary-General to consider taking emergency measures as contained in his report (A/40/ll02) in order to generate savings and thus to meet the projected shortfall in the immediate future. My delegation supports the Secretary-General's urgent appeal, which has been voiced on several occasions, for prompt payment of the assessed contributions in arrears. In this connection it is encouraging to note that some Member States have striven to heed the appeal with the result that the amount of the projected shortfall for 1986 has been reduced significantly. The Thai delegation appreciates the efforts made thus far by the Secretary-General in seeking immediate measures to alleviate the present crisis. Although we clearly understand that the proposed measures of deferment and curtailment of numerous programmes and activities contained in paragraphs 21 to 25 and annex IV of the report are of a temporary emergency nature, we are nevertheless concerned about the possible impact on those programmes and activities considered of high priority and of particular benefit to the developing countries. Another concern is the overall effect on the morale and efficacy of the staff and the machinery of the Organization. Thailand joined the consensus in establishing the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts with the hope that the outcome would be an enhancement of the capacity of the United Nations to achieve its purpo.e. with greater efficiency. General Asaeably resolution 40/237 clearly aanifesta the unant.ous intent of the -..bership to identify measures tbat would contribute to the strengthening of the effectiveness of the Organization in dealing with political, econoaic and social issues fall!ng within its purview. In that respect, it is equally iJllPOrtant that no short-te1'll measures should be taken if they would prejudice the long-ter. goals of the Organbation, and any decision taken on the Secretary-General's report should not have long-ter. effects on projects already approved. At a ttme when the worthy purposes and principles of the Organization are being undermined, it is imperative now, more than ever before, for every Member State to support and help strengthen the Organization to enable it to play its role in the maintenance of international peace and security, the settlement of international disputes and crises, the achievement of self-determination for peoples still under colonial domination or foreign occupation and the promotion of global economic, social and cultural co-operation. Any attempt to solve the current financial crisis that did not take into account those aims would not serve the interests of the Organization or its Members. In that connection, ~ delegation suggests that attention should be concentrated on preserving the Organization's ability to deal with its main tasks as well as its pJtential to perfarm its functions more efficiently and effectively. Since the enhancement of the effectiveness of the Organization was unanimously supported by Heads of State and Government of all Members at the commemorative session of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations, we in this Hall can do no less. As regards the proposed deferment of the two construction projects of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Thai delegation supports the proposal made earlier by the representative of China that there be full consultations between the Secretary-Geneeal and the members of those two regional Commissions. While we appreciate the financial difficulty in that regard, our primary concern is to avoid any stoppage of ongoing work on the two conference complexes. It will be more advantageous to the Organization and the international community if the work proceeds uninterrupted as approved, since the usefulness of the projects cannot be disputed and any delay in their implementation would only add to the costs. We strongly urge that the door be left open for options such as a slower but uninterrupted timetable of construction, and, if a deferment is unavoidable, that the General Assembly specify a time limit - not more than one year - in order to avoid its becoming indefinite postponement or virtual cancellation. In that connection, I wish to quote from a statement made by the Thai representative at tbe current session of ESCAP in Bangkok. He said: -First, my Government wishes to reiterate ••• the great importance it attaches to the ESCAP conference complex construction project. This is in recognition of the growing emphasis being placed on regional co-operation, which enhances the need for ESCAP to provide suitable facilities for representatives of the memt~r countries of this vast Asia and the Pacific region to meet and to discuss the~r common economic and social development problems. The facilities will be of long-term benefit especially here in Bangkok, the regional seat of numerous United Nations bodies and other international organizations. "Secondly, my Government would wish to see the proposed project continue without interuption, even if at a slower pace. There are two basic reasons for this: because the demolition of the old 'Sala-Santitham' Hall, in the heart of Bang~ok, is already well advanced, and because postponement of the project is likely to prove less economical in the long run due to uncer~ain economic conditions. "Because of these reasons, my Government would like to request that the Secretary-General kindly consider exploring with ESCAP members all possibilities and ways and means of facilitating the implementation of this project, on schedule, before proceeding with his proposal to postpone the construction project. a The Chairman of the forty-second session of ESCAP, now going on in Bangkok, has already communicated to the Secretary-Genera1 the following extract from the Commission's annual report: aThe Commission noted that growing emphasis on the need for regional co-operation in Asia and the Pacific enhanced the need for ESCAP to p~ovide suitable servicing facilities. It also noted that the Secretary-Genera1 was proposing to defer the construction of the United Nations conference complex in Bangkok, due to financial constraints. RAfter noting the view of tliO delegations that regular budget funds .. should not be used, the Secretary-Gfiillera1 was requested t.o make every effort to explore all possibilities and ways and means to implement the project on schedule, recognizing the special needs of the Asia-Pacific region. "One other delegation specifically stated its acceptance of the package of proposals put forward by the Secretary-General to deal with the financial crisis, but stated further that it attaches high priority to the construction of Bangkok conference centre when the United Nations financial situation improves." That excerpt from the Commission's report enjoyed the support of all the members of ESCAP. Finally, my delegation is ready to lend its full co-operation and assistance to the secretary-General in his present efforts. The Royal Thai Government is also actively considering a possible voluntary contribution to the Special Account. Meanwhile, it hopes that the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts will be able to make substantive recommendations, with due regard to possible options, which could provide long-term solutions to the crisis facing our Organization. Mr. GUMUCIO GRANIER (Bolivia) (interpretation from Spanish): I wish first to express to the Argentine Government my delegation's regrets at the passing of Raul Prebiech, a distinguished Argantinian who followed his Latin American vocation by doing immortal work in the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) and who served the international community at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). I also wish to express my delegation's condolences to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics over the accident at the power plant in Chernobyl. We have met here at the Secretary-General's request to consider our organization's financial situation. My delegation expresses its appreciation to Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar for the responsibility and courage he has shown in convening this meeting to deal with the serious financial crisis, the greatest in the Organization's history. The Secretary-General has defined its cause as political. Previous speakers have agreed, and we should not tire of repeating that the crisis, political in origin, is the expression of the attitudes and actions of certain States that wish to undermine the principles of multilateralism, which my delegation believes form the basis of modern international coexistence. (Mr. Gumucio Granier, Bolivia) Any attempt to reduce the Organization's effectiveness will have a retrograde effect and dangerously undermine the very foundation of our Organization, which is designed to preserve international peace and security. The crisis being political in origin, the solutions must be political. They must therefore involve decisions taken by Member states in timely fashion to resolve the major structural causes of the crisis and not just deal with its passing manifestations. Those decisions will undoubtedly necessitate substantial changes, which will certainly require sacrifices of Member States. The Secretary-General has given us an analysis of the financial situation and has proposed solutions concerning which he has addressed the Assembly on two occasions. It is clear from that analysis that the crisis has three dimensions which, though they can be dealt with separately, are closely interrelatedJ one cannot be resolved without that having an effect on the others. Those three dimensions are as follows: first, an acute cash-flow deficiency that is already affecting the Organization this monthJ secondly, an income shortfall for activities already programmed in the regular budget - a shortfall which is already affecting the Organization's functioning and management this yearJ and, finally, a "long-term" crisis - in reality a structural crisis - to be dealt with. Its effects have already been felt and will be even greater in 1987 and later if corrective action is not adopted in a timely manner. My delegation wants to make clear its position that any action to deal with the financial crisis of the Organization in the short, medium and long-term must be in accordance with the United Nations Charter. The Charter is abundantly clear in Article 17, which deals with payment obligations, and in Article 18, which states that .each Member shall have one vote and that, as far as budgetary matters are concerned, a two-thirds majority is required. Those principles were wisely adopted (Mr. Gumucio Granier, Bolivia) in San Francisco. A two-thirds - rather than a simple - majority is the requirement in financial issues. That principle must be maintained. Similarly, Article 2 of the Charter stipulates that our Organization is based on the sovereign equality of all Member States and that Members shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter. Those are principles of international law and of our Organization which m~~t continue to guide its functioning. In medieval Spain there was a rule: ·You are worth as much as you have". It is still a saying in Spain. It is certainly not a principle that should be incorporated as a rule of our Organization. Two hundred years ago, when the political Constitution of the United States was drawn up, the principle of the sovereign equality of individuals and states was established. If the United States Senate had been organized in such a way as to give each state a weighted vote according to its contribution to the federal Government, it is quite possible that we should not now have a strong united federal State. The American legislators were wise in giving each state the same vote in the Senate. That principle has been reflected in international law, which gives equality to all States. If we accepted a weighted vote on any pretext whatsoever, that would be laying the foundation for the future destruction of our Organization. We cannot return to the principles of Roman law, under which a vote was based on how much a person had. All States have the same sovereign equality, and we already have the machinery needed to weigh votes on budgetary issues. Regarding the recommendations put forward by the Secretary-General, we can see that he has - certainly in a carefully, if not painfully, thought-out manner - proposed solutions that go in three directions: first, the main contributing country should pay at least $143 million; secondly, the other countries must make (Mr. Gumueio Granier, Bolivia) their contributions as soon as possible, and, thirdly, a savings package amounting to about $30 million would fund a number of programmes and requirements. In this connection, Bolivia belongs to the Group of 77 and is a non-aligned country. Therefore, as a matter 9f principle, we endorse the words of our representative, the representative of Yugoslavia. However, yesterday we heard another appeal from the Secretary-General that the package be adopted as a whole and not be subdivided. Considering the difficult work done by the Secretary-General, we are prepared to accept the package as presented by him, inasmuch as it would only mean a deferral of activities until next year in order to solve the present cash-flow crisis. An indispensable aspeat of this package is that the main contributor should pay the $143 million. The $30 million savings would be very important, of course, but it would be insignificant if we did not have the $143 million, which is urgently needed. In conclusion my delegation would like to draw attention to certain fundamental points. A number of delegations have expressed the hope that the Group of Eighteen Intergovernmental Experts can present solutions to resolve the acute long-term crisis of our Organization. My delegation shares that hope, but would sound a note of warning. First, the 18 experts, whose professional skills we do not question, are representatives of Governments, as their titles suggest. Also, by coincidence, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions is made up of governmental experts. More than 50 per cent of the representatives of the same countries are in the Advisory Committee and in the 18-member group. If the Advisory Committee is partially responsible for the General Assembly's attention not having been drawn to defects in the administration and management of the Organization's budget, it is .ost unlikely that the experts - who, though different persons,. represent the 8... countries - will propose solutions different fra. those proposed ~. the other body. We hope that the intergovernmental experts will in actual practice give us solutions that truly can resolve the crisis. The second warning I should like to issue is the following: the report of these Experts will be given to us at the beginning of the forty-first session of the General Assembly. That period will be shortened to only eight or nine working weeks, which means that the time to consider the report of the experts and to reach decisions will be very short. It is fair to assUJIe therefore that we should "' consider the possibility of a resumed forty-first session early next year at which would be considered and adopted the solutions which must emerge from the report of the 18 Experts and from.the contributions of the Member states to it. Finally, we would like to state very clearly for the record that we do not consider that either the Secretary-General or the United Nations stafr is responsible for the present crisis. The crisis is the responsibility primarily of States which have failed to abide by their obligations or have not allowed the Organization to function properly, as stipulated. Mr. MAKSIMQV (Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation from Russian): The resumption of work of the fortieth session of the United Nations General Assembly to consider the cu~rent financial difficulties of the Organization should be considered as one of the manifestations of profound political processes which are characteristic of today's international relations. Such an assessment of the reasons for the problems we are discussing has already been expressed from this rostrum by a great number of delegations. Indeed, only six months have elapsed since solemn meetings were held in this Chamber, with the participation of Heads of State or Government, and special representatives of all Member States of the United Nations, dedicated to the fortieth anniversary of the founding of this international - indeed, universal - Organization. In marking that event, the overwhelming majority of those who made statements from a politically principled point of view, not only once again reaffirmed the unswerving fidelity of the Governments they represent to the purposes and principles of the united Nations (Mr. Maksimov, Byelorussian SSR) Charter and gave a cor~ect assessment of the role of the Organization in the cause of preserving peace and strengthening international security during the past four decades, but also, with great determination, favoured the need for further enhancement of its role and effectiveness in resolving today's international problems. Moreover, it was emphasized on numerous occasions that the highest priority tasks of the united Nations in a deteriorating international situation, for which imperialist and reactionary forces are to blame, are the elimination of negative confrontational tendencies which have been growing in recent years, the development of ways to ensure the cessation of the nuclear-arms race on earth and to avert it in space, a reduction of the danger of war and the establishment and promotion of confidence as an inalienable element of relations among States. In historical terms, the six-month interval since the united Nations anniversary celebration is a short period of time, but it was filled with numerous international events which fully reveal the genuine nature and content of the two opposing trends in the world today - trends which are also manifest in the various approaches to the role and activities of the united Nations. The tireless efforts of the Soviet Union - inter alia, those at the United Nations - are well known. They are designed to stop the world's drift towards nuclear disaster and to promote international development through detente and peaceful co-operation for the benefit of all States. This principled and consistent policy, fully in keeping with the objectives of the United Nations, has been widely supported by the peoples of the world. At the same time, the international community has witnessed numerous events pointing to an opposite and dangerous approach to the destiny of the world. These include the nuclear explosions in Nevada and acts of armed aggression carried out by the united States'against a sovereign State Member of the United Nations, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the mounting threats against Nicaragua and other independent States. The United States direct violations of the United Nations Charter and of General Assembly decisions, inclUding such arbitrary actions as a significant reduction in its assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget, openly demonstrate the American Administration's policy of force towards our world Organization. As regards the measures already proposed and adopted by the Secretary-General to alleviate the Organization's current financial difficulties, my delegation emphasizes that they alone cannot cover the Organization's financial deficit, since they fail to deal with the fundamental reason for the present financial difficulties, which have arisen as a result of the illegal and arbitrary actions of the United States. The full burden of financial and political responsibility for these glaring violations of Charter obligations must be borne solely and exclusively by that very State. On the other hand, the USSR in recent days has once again demonstrated its constructive policy towards the United Nations and has taken a decision to contribute $10 million to the Special Account set up to solve the financial difficulties of the Organization. The Byelorussian delegation believes that neither the united Nations present tense administrative and financial situation nor the measures undertaken to find resources to cover the deficit can serve as a pretext for sidestepping unconditional compliance with the financial rules of the Organization which provide, inter alia, for the return of any unspent monies by the Organization to its Member States. In our view, particular attention and full support should be given to tbe work undertaken by the Secretary-Genera1 witbin bis competence to find and make rational use of internal resources to resolve the financial difficulties of the Organization. Since the S30-million savings thus realized were achieved without reducing the Organization's programme of activities, we hope that they will not affect hiring policies or other interests of individual Member States. However, the administrative and financial leadership of the united Nations must obviously continue its present efforts. The delegation of the Byelorussian SSR has always actively favoured regular review of the administrative and financial activities of the United Nations and its specialize~ agencies and the timely elimination of duplication and of outmoded, ineffective activities. The General Assembly has adopted a number of specific decisions in that connection. We are prepared, therefore, at tne appropriate time and in the appropriate body, to participate directly in any consideration of the long list of proposals submitted for changes in programmes and types of services. I would emphasize-that my delegation remains committed to strict observance of the principle that such changes must not have an adverse effect on the major areas of United Nations activity. In conclusion, as a founding Member, the Byelorussian SSR reaffirms that its attitude to the whole range of united Nations administrative and budgetary problems will continue, as in the past, to be based on its principled support for the Organization, on active participation in its activities and on constant concern to enhance its effectiveness as an important instrument for the preservation and strengthening of international p~ace and security. Along with some other Member States, the Byelorussian SSR has in timely manner responded to the Secretary-General's appeal in connection with the current financial crisis and has accelerated payment of its contribution to the United Nations regular budget for 1986. Mr. NYAMDOO (Mongolia) (interpretation from Russian): First of all, my delegation would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Secretary-General for the measures he has undertaken in recent days to resolve the financial difficulties of the United Nations. Obviously, his economy measures are designed to promote the normal functioning of United Nations activities. We hope that the Secretary-General will continue his efforts in this regard. We have listened carefully to the current debate on the current financial crisis of the united Nations. Many reasons have been advanced to explain how the organization has arrived at its present financial situation. We fully share the well-founded view expressed by the overwhelming majority of States that the negative attitude of one of the States Members of the United Nations to its activities is the major reason for the current financial difficulties. My delegation would therefore stress that the current financial crisis has political underpinnings. We note with regret that the United States often resorts to various kinds of measures that are in clear contradiction with the fundamental purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. One example is the legislation adopted by the United States Congress late last year that ~ntails either an arbitrary reduction in the United States contributions to the regular United Nations budget or the introduction of weighted voting in the United Nations, in violation of the fundamental principle of the sovereign equa~ity of States. Such action by the united States can only be viewed as an attempt to exercise financial diktat over the United Nations. Hence we support those Member States that have demanded that the United States cease its unilateral measures ana fulfil its Charter obligations. We believe that one of the best ways of solving the united Nations financial crisis is by making more effective use of the Organization's existing resources. As is well known, some United Nations programmes are ineffective, if not obsolete. They should be carefully reviewed and, if necessary, eliminated. With regard to the measures proposed in the Secretary-General's report, my delegation believes that they should be given careful study so that they do not prejudice programmes within the major areas of United Nations activity. Moreover, (Mr. Nyatldco, Mongolia) . the p~inciple of the'sovereign equality of all States must be retained as the basis for all of our Organization's activity. One of the measures proposed by the Secretary-General to alleviate the current financial crisis involves a freeze in recruitment. As an unrepresented country, Mongolia believes that such a freeze should affect only citizens from overrepresented countries. The Mongolian People's Republic has always conaidered the United Nations an important instrument for the preservation of international peace and security. From the first days of its admission to the United Nations, our country has scrupulously fulfilled all its Charter comn.itments, including its financial obligations. In response to the Secretary-General's appeal, Mongolia has, during the first quarter of this year, paid its assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget for 1986. As the General Secretary of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Hural of the Mongolian People's Republic, Com~ade J~~byn Batmonh, in his message on the occasion of the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the united Nations, stated: "The Mongolian People's Republic, true to its obligations assumed under the United Nations Charter, will continue to exert active efforts to help enhance the role and effectiveness of this world Organizati~n in the cause of maintaining universal peace and of developing international co-operation." (A/40/PV.40, p. 61) The meeting rose at 1 p.m.
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• (gontinued) PROPOSED PROGRAMJofE BUDGE'l' FOR THE BIENNIUM 1986-1987
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• (~Nued) Adoption of the Agenda of the For'L'Ie"L'H Session of the General Assembly, Allocation of Items and Organization of Work Fifth Report of the General Committee (A/40/250/Add.4)
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• (Continu~) the Situation in Afghanistan and Its Implications for International Peace and Security (A) Report of the Secretary-General (A/40/709) (B) Draft Resolution (A/40/L.Ll) (C) Report of the Fifth Committee (Ai40I667)
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