General Assembly — Session 44

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• (CON'l"INUED) POLICIES OF APAR'fHE.!2 OF THE GOVERmtENT OF SOUTH AFRICA (a) REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID (A/44/22 and Con. 2) (b) REPORT OF THE I~RGOVERNMENTAL GROUP TO MONI'1'OR THE SUPPLY AND SHIPPING OF OIL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS TO SOUTH AFRICA (A/44/44) (c) REPORT OF THE COMMISSION AGAINST APAR~ IN SPORTS (A/44/47) (d) REPORTS OF THE SlECRETARY-GENERAL (A/44/533, ~V44/5S5 and Cort.l, A/44/556, A/44/698) (e; REPORT OF THE SP~CIAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE (A/44/709) (f) DRAFT DECISION (A/44/L.25) The PRESIDENT, After consul~ations with the Chairmen of regional groups, the General ASgemblv h~p before it a draft decision on the organization of the special session of the General Aasembly on apartheid and its destruotive consequences in southern Africa, issued as document A/~4/L.25. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision A/44/L.25? Draft decision A/44/L.25_was adopted.
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• (Continu~D) Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/44/974)
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• (RENDENTIAIS OF REffiESENTATlVES 'ID THE FORTY-R)URTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SEOOND REIORT OF THE CREDENTIAlS aMMITTEE (A/44/639/Add.l) The mESIDENT, I now invite members to turn their attention to the draft resolution recolllllended by the Credentials Comnittee in paragraph 13 of its report (A/44/639/Add.l). The Credentials Committee adoPted that draft resolu Hon "'ithout a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to <b the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 44/5 B).
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• (continu!2) GmERAL DEBA'tE Mr. OLH1\YE (Djibouti): Allow me at the outset, on behalf of my deleqation and on my own behalf, to extend our warm brotherly felicitations to Mr. Garba of Niqeria on his unanimous election to the presidency of the forty-fourth session of the General Assembly. His lonq-proved record in public and international service, couJ)led with his broad diplomatic skills and h is keen sensitivity to the manifold issues before us, makes him uniquely qualified to quide us ably in our del iberations. I wish also to take this opportunity to convey to his predecessor, Mr. Dante Caputo, our sincere appreciation of the fine leadership qualities he brouqht to bear on the conduct (of the last session. We are proud to reooqnize, as usual, the quiet but effecti~9 diplomacy deployed re1,entlessly by the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, in both his que.3t for endurinq solutions to the numerOlE intractable conflicts and his efforts to enhance the awareness of crucial developmental })robleJ8. We hiqhlv value his unruffled stewardship as he perseveres in steerinq us carefully awav from collision and confrontation towards co-operation and consensus-buildinq. (Mr. Olhaye, Djibouti) The chanaes that are now taking place in the domestic and foreign policies of the countr ies of eastern Europe have fundamentally affected the climate of internatiooal relations. For more than four decades the world has been plunged in divisions and tensions as a result of political polarizations, which has inevitably placed a tremendous burden 00 I'Il1tual respect and concurrence. It was, indeed, an era character.bed by a massive build-up of arms and troops as it naturally also embraced regional conflicts and the superiority of national security interests as a political strateav. The developing countries, loosely lUllI)ed toaether as the third world, not only became the ideoloaical pro'des or testing arounds g but were coveted prizes in the underlvina politics of the biQ-Power rivalry. In the in terven inq years these poor countr ies have been alterna tely confused and elChilarated by the apparent choices open to them, so that often local, social and ecooomic imperatives have been subordinated to broad p,olitical initiatives. Even bread-and-butter issues involving basic human needs have lacked the desired focus. In taking stock, therefore, of our past problems we ought to be careful not to be misled by false impressions of aecanplishment. The reality is that standards of living dropped, political instability increased and sustained economic growth diminished. In all too many inst.ances this malaise was associated with the absence of r~liable infrastructure, inadequate education, chaotic housing and social problems. It is a relief of some kind that the new perceptions in international relations seem to lI'tderscore aenuine concessions, relative predictability an~ enhanced credibility. No one, perhaps, is better qualified than the Soviet leader, Mr. Gorbachev, who convincinqly has stated that ·Soviet security cannot be achieved at the price of the insecurity of other countr ies." All this has serious implications for the many countries with protracted conflicts in their i>ackvards as well as across their borders. Whether las tinq settlements to the looq-simmer inq disputes are to be found at the local level, throuqh super-Power co-operation or throuqh the United Nations, this definitely is the most auspicious moment for peace. Let us seize it; let us qive peace a chance.. We are extremely encouraqed by the post tive developments in peace-mak inq and peaceful overtures that have been demonstated everyWhere, at both the domestic and the reqional level. The ga ins thus ach ieved in the international pol itical arena, both in atmosphere and in substance, OUQht to be translated into practical action. Thev need not remain the exclusive preserve of the super-Powers; nor need they be directed only towards political and economic liberalization in the East. It would be inconsistent with moral justice and social equity if the improved climate of East-West relations bred complacency and neqlect of third-world issues. In the words of David Newsorn, former Under Secretary of State and current Director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacv at Georqetown University: "To declare victory new, and to imply that the end of the cold war makes issues in the third world of less relevance, is to iqnore reqions in which serious qlobal problems have ar is en in the past and may aqain." The African continent faces formidable challenqes in the 1990s in its efforts at improvinq the liVing standards and quality of life of its populations. The worseninq economic performance, aqainst the backqround of severe drouqht (Hr. Olhaye, Djibouti) cQ'lditicns, deterioratinq terms of trade, weak international demand and high debt-servicing costs, continues to be a source of qrave concern. while the lonq..-term growth prospect has policy implications for improvinq human capital, mobilizing domestic savings and promotinq exports, we need at the same time to give recoqni tic:n to the inherent structural problems. Some of .these will be insurmountable so lonq as external constraints - such as dwindlinq export earnings, a dearth of finance for development and the stagqering debt-servicing burden - play a majQr role in the continuing unsatisfactory \IMcro-econornic performance of the African economies. These constraints severely limit efforts towards economic restructurinq and policy refo!:'tnS intended to enhance recovery and bring about sustained Qrowth and development. The adverse effects of the cciJ)plinq external debts are far-reachinq and unfa thomable, wi th debt servicing swallow inq up over 40 per cent of export earn iugs in the case of Afr iea. Accordinq to the Economic Report on Afr iea, 1989, of the Uni ted Nadons Ecc:nomic Commission for Africa: "The continuinq r tse in the volume of debt and debt ratio underscores the excessive burden imposed on African economies and their vulnerability to adverse external developments. The proper understandinq of African debt crisis, therefore, requires it to be placed within the framework of the concorni tan t adverse developments in colllllodi ty pr ices and r esoorce flcua and the onqoing efforts of adjustment." At this juncture, we wish to record our profound satisfaction at the timely and qenerous decisions to cancel the entire outstandinq public debts of over 30 African countries by France, Canada, Belgium, Italy and the United States of America. (Mr. Olhaye, Djibouti) Most of the initiatives desiqned to alleviate the debt burden seem, reqrettably, to share a common s't:rateqy linkinq debt relief or debt reschedulinq arranqements to medium-term adjustment proqrammes, with a stronq element of structural reforms, which, in International Monetary Fund (I"iF) and World Bank parlance, "are aimed at reducinq economic distortions and financial ittilalances". tiiore often than not such a strategy does not achieve the desired objective. Instead, it enqenders untold hardship and domestic civil turmoil, not to mention, of course, the inev' ~le political dimension of the impact of structural adjustment. Perhaps it is a matter not so much of deficiency in the strateqv as of its true relevance to the level and pattern of development of most developinq countr ies, in particular in Afr lea, where zero economic qrowth has been the characteristic trend, despite the presence of the larqeat per capita number of foreign advisers in the world. That undeniably 1 ies at the h~art of the problem. If that is not the case one may well ask why it is that economic and social conditions in Afr lea todaY are s iqnlficantlv worse than 2S y~ars aqo qiven the substantial infus ions of financial and technical ass istance from the World Bank, the IMF and the deV'eloped countr iea. It is hiqh time, therefore, that the premier international development aaencies realized the uniqueness of this qroup of countries and devised an appropriate, novel philosophical basis and theoretical framework for a specific, lar-reachinq, responsive and huiltm\e development strateqy. Needless to saY, this requires coutaqe and iconoclastic vision on the part of those institutions. (Mt. OlhaYf:l, Djibcut1) The Belqrade Fin!ll Declaration of the NOfl""Aliqned Move1lent cautions that -there can be nn stability, nor better prClBpeets for the world without reduclnq the disoarities in the level of qlobal deYelOPaent w• We are hopeful re.on wUl prevail to stave off a looming crisis that may enqul! an iaportant secr-ent of IMnkind.. The United Nations can be a useful forum for addressinq the qrie"70us nsture of this prebl., which encaapasees virtually every area of lUe" includlnq agricultural production, industry, econoeics, finance, trad\!, ec\1cation, infrastructure, research, housinq and health care. The world continues to seethe under the Endur ing effects of the thornl§t: areas of contention, despite the uaprovement in the international p~litlcal cli1lllte~ In the Middle East, the intifadah in occupied Palestine is now enterinq its twent,v-second ftlOnth with carnaqe, brutaUtY and bloodshled continu inq unaba ted. The Palestinitms live in a precar ious situation of pe~petu~.l r iak. That the Palestinian ptobl. as yet is not susceptible to dialo<,ue or to a properly structured inta:mational conferenee simply attests to the dismal failure of international diplomacy. In our view all alternatives have been tr ied. lln place of l)ractlcal political accoamodation and early proaress towards direct negoUations we ~te saddent:4 by the infusX>n of yet another dellberate distraction and C()nfusion by Mr. Bhamir - this time a tailor-nade electim proposal which is notblntlJ 1101'8 than a tai t acccaoli, a deception, indeed a prolOitgation of the ugly status quo. Naturally, it had to fl1ll on its face. Thanks to Egyptian diploRltic dexterity, Preaident Mubarak, lookinq for ways to keep the MOMentulI alive, unveiled not: an alternative to Shalllr's plan but a lO-point aqenda to aerve • the b.1B for Cc.orehens ive «lialoQue. It received vide support from Palestinians, the Israeli Labour Party and the United States Administration. By now, however, we ara all aware of its fate, it he (Mr. Olhaye, DjiboutU becoae the latest casualty, like theserles of peace initiatives, plans and proposals in the past. of the so-called inner cabinet of the Israel i Governaent. UneSer the circu.tancea <:c\e doubts whether Israel "ill ever ftlQVe in the direction of pe&C~ before violence destroys aU prospects of peace. For now it see.- that the onlY viable policy oJ;>t!on left for Israel, in the words of an Israeli Cabinet Minister. is one that promises the continuation of "for~e. lIiqht and beatinqs". The wideninq 4ulf of mistrust in the Middle East l)Oses serious challenQes to the eas inq of tens ions between the super-Powers. We urqe the United States to use its considerable influence over Israel in order to place realistic limits on its recalcitrance. More and more, Israel has become impervious to international outcry and moral crusade. has become increQs ingJ.,v impervious to General Assellbly and Security Council resolutions and decisions, and also to international pressures; it is content only in heapinq Ul) international wrath. On the contrary, the Palestine Liberation OrqanIzatian (PLO). the sole representative of the Palestinian people. has amply demonstrated to the world that it can be·a credible partner in an international peace aqreement. Its historic policy chanqe embracinq the cessation of all hostil ities and acceptance of the two-State pr inciple based on relevant United Na tions resolutions. requ ired unequivocal reciprocity by Israelf in accepting the land-for-peace pr inciple and restor inq full political r iQhts to the Palestinians, includinq the right to self-determination. It is ironic that the openinq offered by the PLO should reinforce Israel's intransigence. We believe the POO position offers a reasonable basis for fairness, equity and justice. Outright rejection of the notion of a Palestinian State is wholly unjustified. Pressinq for more and more unilateral concessions bv the PLO without correspondinq flexibility on the part of Israel would not at all serve the cause of peace. In Lebanon, urbm tank wars Md artillery duels have taken their heavy toll of tbe helples civilian population. Pourteen years of sectarian clv11 strife, cc:apouncJed by proxy wars waqtlC1 en its soil, have caused untold destruction and sUUerinq and er_teeS confusion, division and anarchy. Lebanon's aqony is bound to persist until Lebanese authority 11' fully restored. We fully endorse the initiatives of the Arab Leaque Tripartite Co_ittee for the restoration of Lebanen's sov~eiqn~ and territor lal inteqrit'/ .. We welooae the pOsitive developments leadinQ to the independence of Naaibia. Nearly three decades of continuous diplollllltic efforts to overcome the impasse have finally borne fruit, and Namibia will soon take its place anonq the free nations of the world. FrOlll the start of implementation of the United Nations pbn for Namibian independence in acc:ordance with Secur ity Council resolution 435 (1978), nu.erous but ine'l!table set-backs were encountered: to mention a few, the aenace of the Koevoet, the notorious counter-inSUfQency force, reqistration irreqular Itv and the lack of se~recv of the ballot box. We however take pride at the reassurance by the South West Africa People's Orqanization (SWAPO) of its commitment to peace, hUllan riqhts and economic praq_Ua. S~'eh positive spirit of leadersbip will pave the way for a qenuine national reconciliation. In South Africa, the word -chanqe- is belnq overplayed a'l the psyche and I ellOtlons of the black majority. The new Pusident continues to assure his country and the world that an era of chanqe lies ahead. Whethp.t this is poaturinq and Mere style or a ~relude to Cl fundamental reform ~roqUl\1lle, the cominq months wUl tell. Re has been associated with the introduction and def<!rtce of apartheid uws. will " he nOlI be the aqent of chanqe that the country deeply needs for the rel_ee of Nelson nandela and other political prisooers, and n&~otiations with the African National Conqre8s of South Afr lea (ANC) about a post-apartheid constitution? We Qte indeed sceptical about his cQllllitaent to deliver real chanqe. SOUth Africa re_ins a country beset by deeD .is~rust and divisions. Over 3 million black South Africans have been forcibly rellOVed, thus caus inq intense sufferino and social disruption. A coaon feature of apartheid is the redrawinQ of boundaries of tribal hOllelands re8ultinq in deprivation and violeLlt repression often associated with torture, beatinq and lDa1ntlnq. Much nee6s to be done, not 1.9 t to translate De Klerk's platitudes aJa4 Mllbiguities into a lDeln in'~ful reform proQumroe. It is inconceivable, so lonq as the reprehensible system of apartheid is in J)lace, that it "oula be feas ible to brinCJ vot~less blacks into qovernlllent or even to build a new South Africa with full but unspecified political riqhts for the black majority. We strongly urge the scrappinq of repressive measures and institutional racis., the end of undiluted minority rule, affirmation of political and economic dqhts and the creation of dellDcratic institutions! Whsn talkinq of chanqe or hope, 'lie cannot rIlelp reminding ourselves of the imortal Drophecv of the late Alan Paten, that indefatiqable literary qiant and anti-apartheid activist who, over 30 years aqo, wrote: ·South Africa is the kind of country where one is tilled with hope en Monday' only to be catapulted into utter despair on Tuesday·. ("'t. Olhave, Djibou..S!) With Mr. De 1tlerk~ it ia -bm iness as usual" so far. In the absence of qenuine and far-reachinQ refortls, the international co.-unity must continue to intensify its pressure for the total abolition of &partheid. The situation in the Gulf remains unpredictable and vulnera>le. The peace process nec::ds a new impetus. We are satisfied that, under the scrutiny of the United Nations peace-keepinq forces, the cease-fire is holdinQ and further reckless destruction of property and loss of l>recious liv61 have been thvarted. We deeply reqret, hCMever, the lack of proqreas towards the full implementat.ion of Security . COWlcil resolution 598 (1987). The preva ilinq impasse of lino peace and no war" has da.:, ~ ~r...')us implications fer BU!6uinable peace in the reqion. We believe that it is in the interests of both Iraq and Iran to demonstrate more readiness and flexibUity to neqotiate in good fai~"", so that the exchanqe of prisoners of war can proceed and important initiatives leadbkl to the normalization of relations can be undertaken. Djibouti had Qreat hope that the Paris Conference on KalllPur.hea would brinq an end to the conflict and tension, and pave t~e way for the restoration of full dell~ratic r iqhts to the people. There can be no enduring stability in Soutb"'East Asia until foreign forces are totally withdrawn and the Cambodian pSC'ple is left to determine its own destiny freely. We urge, therefore, a co~tehensi',e peace settlement to the Cambodian question. "ith respect to Western Sahara, ':4e supJ,)Ort the efforts of th f4 United Nations and the Orqanization of African Unity directed tOIIards the search for a durable solution to the problem~ ~e are a few IIlOnths .,ay irom the second anniversary of the conclus Jon of the GSleva Aqreeaents on AfqhanlstM Uld there are aB yet no prospects for ;)eace in slqht. We believe that peace and tranquillity will continue t.o elUde the Afqhan I i people in the absence of a reprMentatlve and gopularly elected Gewernllent. (Mr. Olhaye J Djibouti) As for the Korean peninsula. we are quite encouraqed by the continuinq dialogue between the two States, and hoPe that these exchanqes will effectively contribute to an blprovelaent in relations and further enhance the prospects fol': peaeeful unificatio~. In accordance with the principle of universality and consistent with the earnest desire to ease tensions in the peninsula, we su,,~ort the a4lission of both Koreas, separately or simultaneously, to full menbership of the United Nations. Alarming environmental hazards pose or threaten to J)CSe increas inqly sevell:e threats to the huun condition and to our survival. We tend to tre&t enviratmental issues, such as degradation, resource depletion, hazardous solid wastes and pollution, as mere pass ine; dlenomena. Die:asters like desertification, destruction of tropical rain forests, drought and famine have left a lastinq impact in large parts of the world, particularly Africa. We are convinced that environmental issues cannot be separated from economic developmel1t, and that realization should provide the dESired impetus for.a concerted a collaborative effort at fNery level. It was in response to tllat cOlll1\On concern that six countries in East Africa forqed envirCl'lmental unity by the establishment of the Inter-Governmental Authotitv for Drou'Jht and DevelofJll1ent (IG\DD). Headquartered in Djibouti, lGADD is fast becominq a catalyst for the formUlation of approJ)r late policies and prQjects in e/erv member country. We wish to record our qrstitude to the many countries and orqanizations that continue .to provide tGADD with direct institutional support and needed financial resources,. In the vi., of our Pres ident, iUs Excellency Mr. Hassan Gouled Aptidon, WThe real enemies of men are not other men but rather hunqer, disease, lack of water, homelessness and poverty·. • (ltt. 01baye, D'libouti) ThOle ~riorit., blBic bU1I8n needs require far aore serious attention Iiftcl allocation of acSequate resources. Despite satisfactory advances btiinq lIIade in all atop of developcent, D11~tl is still poor and far frOll acbievinq many of ita 4oals. unfavourable cU.•tic con4itions. declininq economic activity, the constant influx of refuqe., ov'-Cstrained social services, and external constraints are 80ae of the principal factors that mUitate against sound and steady proqr.a. The deatructh'e rainfall. and subsequent flooding that occurred earlier this year in Djibcutl left behind heavy physict'l damaqe to vital infrastructures. We are deeply qrateful to the friendly coootries and orqll\izaUona that. responded swiftly and qenerously with critically needed medical and relief supplies. We are confident that the internaticnal COlllaunity will continue ~o Supl)Ort Djibouti·s qenume developnent efforts. In concl\Sion, I wish to state that the Republic of Djibouti has a vital interest in peace and in helping to bulld UP a climate of confidence in our Dart of the world. Foe a young nation, small and lackinq in _jor rESources, the maintenance of & reasonable degree of internal hari'ilOl\Y and the pursuance of a realistic and prudent foreign policy qO hand in hand. Our positive reqional and international diplomacy will continue to be matched by praqmatic doMeStic r~licie8. Mre BWANALI (Malawi): 1 should like, on behalf of the Malawi ,ieleqation~ to conqratulate Ambassador G~rba on his unanilflOus election to tha presio.'e~~~'i of t..~~ forty-fourth session of the General ASSellbly. He brings with hi. to that iaportant position ttell-tested political and diplomatic skills" a$ well as a widely acknowledged wealth of experience in international affairs. We tire already a\fare of his outstandinq achievements In the many illlPOrtant posts he has held in the service both of his own country and of internaUonal orqanizations, includinq the United Nations, re1atinq to the prOl!lOtion of international lmderstandinq and co-operation~ ~': are more than confident. therefore, tQat Wlder his leadershi~ and guidance tl'je Aas~ly will be able to achieve success 171 aillinq for praqasatic resolutions in its work. 1 should like to assure him of the Malawi deleqation's full co-operation at all times. My deleqation also conqratulates his predecessor. Mr. Dante Caputo, forller Minister of Forei~n Affairs of Arqentina. m the effectiv~ manner in which he pres ided over the forty-third session. Dur inq that session the General Assatbly was able to accomplish almost all of the work that had been assianed to it. We believe that much of the success was me to the business-like manner in which Mr. Caputo approached th1! duties and responsibilities entrusted to him. as well as the firmess and fa irness with which he directed the Assembly's del iberations. My delegation wishes him well in all his future endeavours. I should like to express the Malawi GoverMlent's satisfaction at the manner in ':mich the secretary-General. Mr. Perez de Cuellar. ,has continued to manaqe and direct the affairs of the United Nations. 'I'he past 12 months have seen vet qreater efforts to ensure further improvement in the operations of the Orqanization and in the manaqement of its financial and other resoorces. Meanwhile, we note the patience and diliqence with which the Secretarv·~General and his staff have carried out the mandates already qiven them by the General Asselllbly and the securitv CQuncil. especially in respect to the solution of already existinq problems. We have also noted with satisfaction the timely initiatives taken by the Secretary-General to facilitate the search for formulas for solutions to the problems that have emerqed since the last session of the AssenOlv, thus effectively helping to reduce international tensions and conflicts while at the same time promoting understandinq and co-operation. My deleqation "iflbes to assure the secretary-General ana his staff of the Mal.d. Govern.ent's full sUP.PQrt for their invaluable contribution to the pr.ervation of internatiClftal p.ce and to the proantion of int_national understandinq, co-operation and devel~ent. My de1eqatien would Uke to express ita aenee of encouraqellMt at the aany siqns of apparently J:Qsitive develapaenta we have observed durinq the past 12 IIOnths in the sJ)here of internaticnal pace. For, "'ile so_ incidents of tension and confli~ bave occur~ed durillQ that period, in qenefal the international ataosphere see. to bave been _rked by relative tranquillity. Althouqh there would see. to be cause for aptiaisll en the political plane, the situation in the econoaic sphf!re does not, alas, SeeII to have p~ovided us ,,1 tb as IlUch reaSQl to feel the sue kind of encouraqeaent. While some very Interestinq initiatives mdertdcen 01' proposed by countries of the industrialized North have been noted, North-South relations have reained unbalanced in favour of the North. At the sa_ tt.e the econo.ic situation of IlOSt developinq countries has ccntinued its rapid deterioration, with the consequent threat to their political and social stability. The Malawi deleqation wishes to join those who have spoken earlier in expressing pleasure and encouraqement at the fact that a nullber of questions of conflict and disputes that have pteoccupied the international cotaunity ay very soon be removed frOll the Ass~lIlbly's aqende. In th is context we have in alnd, &ItOnQ otherc thlnqs, the question of the .Territorv of Nallibia, wh:l.c:b, under the Bupervlsicn of the United Sations, now see_ well advanced Ql the road to independence. We in Mclawi welcomed the news of the succesoful conclusion of the 8Qreeaent8 slqned in New York In Decemer 1988, which prodded for the withdrawal of Cuban and SOuth African trOQo,)S frOll Anqola and facilitated the tllplellentatiDn of Security COW'lcil resolution 435 U'78) Q'l th~ independence of NaIRibiag (Mr. BwanaU, Malawi) Despite eoae of the difficultiES that threatened to derail the process of transition in NaMibia, we beU~ve that it ean now be confidently expected that the elections for the Constituent Assellibly will take place in November, as scheduled, and that in the New Year the new State of NaMibia will finally be born. Of those who .1ght still feel telDpted to illPede the process of transition to independence we ask these questions. Have the people of Naaibia not ~aited lonq enouqh for their country's indftpendence? Have the people of Namibia not already paid Ii\C)re than sufficiently fot their own birthright to freedom? We would like to pay a special tribute to the Secretary-General and to those servinq in ttae United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) for their couraqe and deter.inatian in strivinq for the faithfUl impleme~tation of the independence process in accordance with Security Council resolution ~35 (1978). For its part, and in recoqni tion of the importance of th is independence process, as vell as in the hope of actively helping to ensure its fulfilment, my country has decided to join t.~e Orqanization of African Unity Obs<el:'ver Group in Namibia. Meanwhile, the Malawi deleqatlon looks forward to seetnq Namibia take its place in the Assembli at its next session. Wben I had the honour of addressing the Assen:bly at the forty-third session t observea that most of the breakthrou$s that had been achieved on a number of political questions during the previous 12 IllOrtths were due mainly to co-operation between the super-Powers, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In this connection we expressed the hope that the two super-Pow-us would also turn their attention to two of the seeminqly most intractable probleu confronting the international co_unity: namely, the political deadlode in the Middle East and the danqerous situation in southern Africa arising from South Africa's Cf,jmpcign to prEServe i~ policy of &!?!rtbeid. (Mro Bwanali, Malawi) . We in Malawi have noted with much encouragement the apparent indications that the super-Powers AY indeed have bequn to co-operat0 on these issues" for SOlle very siqnificant new developaents have occurred, hintinq at the possibility of new approaches to the two questions. With regard to southern Africa we have witnessed durinq the past 10 IIIOnths a number of encouraqlnq developments. Fot' us in Malawi, perhaps the JlIIClBt siqnific&nt aspect of those develoJDent8 is the apparent new desire for peaceful, negotiated solutions to existinq political disputes and conflicts. In this context we welcoMd the agreellent in June by the leaders of Angola and UNITA - the Un ion for the 'rota1 Independence of Anqola - vbich provides for a cease-fire between the Anqolan military forces and those of UNrrA and also calls for nec.;otiations fex: a settlement of the political differences between the MPLA Government and UNITA. My deleqation has noted that despite the difficulties that have iq)eded proqress efforts continue in the search foe ways to resume the process of neqotiation. We support those efforts because we believe that nc.>g()tiation is the Cl\ly vehicle for reachinq a permanent t eq1itable settlement. We have bean similarly er.-:ouraged by recent positive announcements with reqard to the political situatim in Mozambique. Far too many human lives a..,a too mch invaluable property have been lost, while Mozambique's social and economic development has been severely impeded as a result of thE!! insurqency by REN1tMO rebels durinC) the past 14 years. We believe that it is ~illle that the people of Mozambique were finally able to beqin to enjoy the peace, stability and socio-economic developnent: that they hed expected to come after their lonq and bitter war of liberation. (Mr. &vanali, Malawi) As one of the neiqhbourinq countries that have also borne part of the brunt of the conflict in Mozubique, Malawi fervently hopes that the invitation issued by Pr_ident Joachi. Chiss8nO to REHIMO to join his Government in seeking a neqotiated solution will b_r fruit. We support the Moz&'llbique Governraent's bold initiative on this utter. I should therefore .like to take this opportunity to declare Malawi's readiness to render such assistance as it can to contribute to the furth«ance of the current initiatives and to their successful conclusion. The countries in our subregion of southern Africa are very clesely intullnkec1, historically, politically, ,oc1a11y and econc.ica11v. ConsequentlY, instability or conflict in anyone country invariably has an effect on the others .. w.ll. 1Ie bave already seen the daIMqinq i_pact that the conflicts in Anqola and MozUlbique have had on neighbourinq countries. Similarly, the tensions and conflicts en~endered by apartheid inside SOuth Africa have left 11\ indelible IlUlrk on all the southern African States. Therefore, any further escalation of the violence that now pervades that country would in our view not only have adverse implications for the future develoPlent of South Africa itself but also qretly worsen the political and economic difficultiea now beinq eKperienced b¥ its neighbours. It is for this feason that we in Malawi have welcomed the siqns of apparent rethinking by the Government, aB well aB by some anti-!partheid movements, on how best to bring about political change in South Africa. We wiah to express the hope that these deYelopllents will provide the much-needed impetus for a rapid movement tcwardt'- a solution to t.he probl_. with regard to the Middle East, we in Malaw.i believe that the declaration l&9t December by the Palestine Liberation Orqanization (PLO) of ita recognition of the State of Israel rellllCWec1 the 1Qllin obstacle to any lIeaningful search for a solution (Mr. Bwanali. Malaw i l to the political problems of that reqion. But that declaration, in our view, constitutes only one of the prerequisites for any permanent and equitable solution. The others include the right of the State of Israel, as well as all other States in the reqion, to live within secure and recognized boundaries and the riqht of the Palestinian peop},e to their own homeland • .We note that in the wake of t.he PLO declaration recognizinq the State of Israel and affirming that organization's readiness to enter into a dialogue on the political future of the Palestinian people a number of interesting proposals have been prcse."lted on how to resolve the problems of the Middle East. We welcome the dialogue, both direct and indirect, between the various parties to the Middle East questim that has been reported in recent months, and we sincerely hope that all these developments will a:>ntinue and that they will contribute tQlards a universally acceptable formula for solvinq the Middle East problem. Another matter that we believe needs the concerted attention of the major Powers, particularly the super-Powers, is the situa don in Lebanon. In this connection we are plEased to note the resumption of the pan-Arab efforts to bring the two sides in that country's 13-year-old civil war toqether to neqotia te a permanent peace agreement. None the less, we wish to appeal to all those with an interest and influence in the Lebanese situatim to qive this quest!at the most urgent attention. (Tltr. Bwanali, Malawi) In the mean time, we should like to observe that in order to be viable any solution to this question must include the total withdraral of all fcreiqn troops and other forfJiqn elements from Lebanon. For until all external forces end their physical presence in that country and refrain from encouraqinq intercommunal rivalry among the Lebanese people, peace will not return to that land. We therefore appeal to all of Lebanon's neiqhbours to respect its sovereiqnty and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. Wi th reqard to the problem of Western Sahara, we are encouraqed by the continuinq co-operation between the United Nations and the Orqanization of African Unity (OMJ). Indeed we welcome some of the Secretary-General's most recent initiativES on this matter. However, the ..alawi deleqation notes with deep reqret that, despite the optimism which was enqendered by Morocco's and the POLISARIO's acceptance l&9t V3Ar of Mr. Perez de Cuellat's proposals for brinqinq about a solution to the qtAestion, there has apparently been no further proqress. We belielle that time is of the essence, Md that the time to act is now. My deleqation continues to b~ OPtimistic that lastinq Deace will eventuelly come to the var ious parts of the world currently loclced in conflicts. The Malawi Government therefore supports the continuinq efforts aimed at findinq solutions in the various other areas of tension and conflict in the Mediterranean, Asia and in South-East Asia and in !;8'ltral America. We es'Decially welcome the withdrawal of all foreiqn trOOJ)6 fran some of these areas as a first ate)) towards findinq durable. and lastinq solutions to their respective problem. While the resolution of all these existinq reQional conflicts ~ as well as others that miqht vet occur - could brinq some Deace, this in our view would not by itself assure permanent peace or quarantee international security. It is necess&rv to eliminate the causes of differences between nations, as well as the tools of war (Mr. 9wanali, Malawi) that tend to encourage nations to turn differences and tensions into armed conflict. Hence to us the adaQe that "If you want peace, prepare for war" is no lonqer a sound principle upon which nations should base their security. We believe. rather:!, that secur itv today demands that the adaqe be chanQed to "If you want peace, prepare for peace". In this conte2:t, the Malaw i deleqation is encouraqed to note that concerted in~ernationdl effort in searm of ways to brinQ about total and comprehensive qlobal disarmament remains a hiQh priority, despite the many setbacks often encountered. We applaud the important role the United Nations 'Plavs in keeping this question at the centre of international attention. We are also encouraqed by the steady increase in co-operation between the super-Powers in matters of disarmament. The initiatives and measures they have embarked upon, or on whim aqreements have been reac.'led, in particular with respect to the elimination or the reduction of certain types and classes of weapons in their own respective arsenals, have had a pes i tive effect Q\ the world-wide callPaiqn for disarmament. Permit me, however, to express th~ Malc::lti Government's hope that the super-Powcswill realize that, "'hile the elimination of all types of arms is indeed necessary and urqent, the use of outer space only for purposes that will increase man's knowledqe of his ",orld in order to prol1Ote develo'j)ment and welfare here on his own planet will enhance the des ired qoal of Qlobal disarmament and security. It is a matter of conceLn to my deleqation that the situation on th~ economic front, Qspecially for the majority of the developinq countries, has continued to worsen despite clear warninqs of the fr iqhtful implications for Qlobal peace and security. The debt burden plaquinq the dev~lopinq countries has reached a crisis (fir. Bwanali, Malawi) point, the reverse net flow of fWlds frClll developing to developed COWltl'ies nov runs into billions of dollars. The teru of trade have becolle totally unrealistic. The prices of prillary qoods produced by the countries of the developing South have continued their doWnward spiral, while higher tariff barriers against their finished qoods have risen in the markets of the developed countries of the world. We have of course clmely followed developments since tbe Monu.l Declar~tion by the industrialized qroup of states in 1988, and we have also noted with some interest recent initiatives, inclUding those taken by the United States of America, Canada anc! Prance, ailled at easinq the difficulties of countries facing heavier debt burdens. t'.e1oolle as such initiatives mAY be, they can only serve as palliatives in the face of the enormous economie problems facing the affeeted eountrles. Moreover, we are rather uncerta in about the helpfulness or justice of the condi tionalities, such as the acceptance of an externally prescribed structural adjustment programme, attached to sCIIle of these initiatives. It Is especially so in view of tilo nON accepted fact of the non-\I\iversal applicability or effectiveneslB of &djustllent scbeMs. Indeed, even whete there has been an apparent pOSitive effect, such as in the seelllinqly successful balancinq of na tienal books of accounts, the £Ocial cost of illlPleaentinq such procu:a_es has been very hiqh and frauQht tlitlt great political risks for the GtNernllents CQ'lcerned. My -';'eleqatlon wishes to recall that in its lIid-term review in 1988 of the United Nations Proqrul'Ile of Action for African Sceno.le Recovery and Development 1986-1990, the General AlSseably pointed out the consensus that the structural adjustllftnt proqra.lI. currently preecribed by such interna tienal f!narac121 inl!titutions as the International Monetary Fund, especially in the case of Africa, (Mc. BwanaU, Malawi) have tended to exaeerbate r!'!lther than allleliorate the eCClfiomic situatian plaqulnq the continent. It was for that reason that the African States took the initiative i;o eonsider the possibility of elternative adjustment progcaMes or Me:tunisllB. The African Ministers of Finance and BconOllic Planninq recently !I&>~ted, and the OMJ Heads of state or GovernlleRt SWlm.t endorsed, the Alternative Strategy for African !cono.lc RevitaU2:fttion PralMlWork. The second sessJon of the BconOlDic and 90cial Council has already considered that Sttateqy, \llhleh is elle to ~ presented before this AsseJlbly. It has been studied by experts frOll international financial institutions, includinq the International MCZ\etary rund and the World aaM, ""ich foW\d it viablQ 58 an alternative to the current stru!:t~ral adjustment mechanisll. The Malawi deleq&t1on sincerely hopes that the General AsseJl!bly wUl find it possible to lend it its support. Iri the liqht of factoru such as that Strateqy and other alternative ways of deal inq with the eClClnollic prcb1ellS, the Malawi dele9a t:!.on considers that the insistence upon progra_es presented by the Internaticn21 rtonetary :runo and the world Banlc M pre-candi tiOhS for receivinq eccnolllic relief is not COlIpletely helpful or fully just. The economic ~r isis facing the deve10pinq countr tea cannot, as exper ience has shown, be reekeQed bv merely lookinq at anly one aspect in isolation of other aspects. We have consistently stated that the 1I08t effactive way to cSa111 with the problem is to approach it in a global .anner, addreoainq all of its aspects together ~ both frOll the parspective of the developing oountr lea and also fre. that of the developed countries. Only in that way can a cOIIprehenelve and effective forl!Ula for so1vinQ the existing p~cbl_ be reched. (Mr. ewanali, Malawi) It is for tbis ICe_en that my delegation looks forward to the special session t)f the General Assembly on aconomic co-operation to be held in April 1990. It ls our sincere hope that the special session will prGvide an opportamity for the crecti. tor nations of the North and the debtor States of the South to work toqether in findinQ better solutions to these problems. As has been observed by economic and development experts, the problems currently af~lictlnq developinq St~teB have an equally neqative impact CI1 the economies of the developed. A resolution of these problems would therefore be of mutual benefit to all. The onus of finding an effective soluUen is ipso facto, the IlUtual responsibility of both devaloped and developing countries. On behalf of the Malawi Government my deleqation wishes to express its satisfaction over the apparent improvement in the financial rmources of our Organization. We are also encouraged to learn from the Secretary-General'a anilual repprt that qreater effort has been I1Ilde by member States with arrears on the regular budget to set.tle their accounts. We also note that the proqranme of restructur ing, begun in 1981, is proceedinq smoothly and in most cases is p:oducinq the desired effects. The United Nations ability to function effectively and provid~ the various services it has been mandated to perform depends on having adequate financial and human resources. The continued imprcwement: in the level of funds available to the Orqanization, and the improvement in the quality of the personnel who serve it, assure us that the United Nations will be able to continue to pr~ide the invaluable assistance that is so important in enablinq countries sum as Malawi to carry out their national proqrar.mes for social and economic development. (Nr. Bwana1i, Malawi) In this context, I would avail myself of this opportunity to express the Malatfi Government's appreci~tion for the assistance it has continued to receive from t!1e United Nations. My GOI7ernment is particularly qrateful at this tille for the special assistance that has been rendered throuqh various inter-aqencv programmes co-ordinated by the Unitec1 Natiens Hiqh Co.miss lonar for Refuqees in connection with the refuqee prClble."D which continues to confront Malawi. In this connection I should furthe: like to express the Malawi GO'1ernment's encouraqelllent and satisfaction with the co-operation which it has also received from bilateral ana other doncxs. As the General Assembly miqht be aware, Malawi ha since 1986 prewided refuqe for Mozambican refugees, who now nulllbu about 700,000, which is' equivalent to about 8 per cent of our national I:IOpulation. While we are most w11Unq to offer hospiuUty and refuqe to our brothers and sisters, Malawi's economic capacity is very limited and the larqe numer ot refuc:;ees has ser iously strained the country's sccio-economic infrastructure. This Assembly miqht wish to kncM that ag a result of the influx there has arisen a problelll of internal displacement of Malawians who have been CClIIlpelled to move from the areas nc.w occupied bv the refuqees. This has created even qreater problelllS for the Government becalAse, while external assistance has been aenerous, it could not addr ess the problems of land. Permit me to inform donor aqencles, both bilateral and multilateral, that in the case of Malawi the assistance beinq pfO'lided for the refuqee community cannot be and is by no means rechannelled to benefit the indiaenous people of Malawi. It is for this reason that my deleqaltion would wish to appeal once aQain, on behalf of the Malawi Government, for incrMsed intern&tional assistance so as to enable it to prewide rf,!l1ef for refuqees who have flocked to Malawi. (Mr. awansl!, Malawi) In conclud1~ lily r~marks, I should like to express once aqain to the President our best wishes for his own personal success and also for a very fruitful outcome to the AsseJrblylla doUberations. Hr. SEY (Gam ia): Let me firs t of all extend to Hr. Garba ury warmest congratulations on his election as Pregident of the forty-fourth 5ession of the' General Asselllbly. His unanimous election is a clear testimony of the hiqh personal reqard" esteewa and confidence whim he enjoys in this Assembly qiven his vast exper ience as a smsoned diplomat, a fine soldier and a statesman. It 13 equally a recognition of the respect we all have for his qreat country and people. My country enjoys most cordial and very special relations with -the siste;: Republic of Niqeria and we are indeed proud of the leadlnqrole hiB country has always played and continues to play in the cause of freedom, iustice and peace. While wishinq him all success in his presidency, I would like to assure him of my delegation's fullest support and co-operation throuqhout the s~s:J.on. I would als{l like to express our sincere thanks cnd qratitude to his predecessor, Mr. Dante Caputo of Arqentina, for the efficient and successful manner in whim he directed the work of the forty-third session of the General Assembly. To the Secretary-General, Mr. Jav!er Perez de CueUar, I salute his unswervinq efforts and relentless pursuit of the pronotion of world peace and interna tional understandinq. The fortY-fourth sess ion is takinq place at a momentous time in the history of international political relations, when the quest for collectivf!! security Md peace has witnessed very positive develOJllllents,' parti~lai:ly in the J>revailing atmosphere of detente between the two super-Powers. It is often said that in world dlplolMcV thinqs move qlaclallYJ but the recent positive achievements in reeolvinq recdonal eonfUcts are in themselves unprecedented. The commencement of the :Li~~oendence process fOll: Namibia, the cease-fire in the Gulf and the proqress towards resolv!nq the Kampuch'!M problem are achievements of which our Organization can riqhtly be proud. and it is the fer"ent hope of my deleqation that this encouraqing trend in seeking peaceful solutiom to conflicts between natioM wi:'.l be furthe!' . consolidated in the years aheallj. The Gambia believes that in the United Nations we have the machinery fur the peaceful settlement of differences amonq nations; the machinery for replacing mistrust with mutual confidence. for enqendering understandinq instead of susplclon~ and abOlTe all the machinery that can institutionalize dialoque in place of confrontation as a means of settling dispUtes among nadons. Mv deleqation also believes that the achievements made so far in resolving regional conflicts will be negated so long as the threat of nuclear destruction continues to hang over our heads like the sword of Damocl$. That is why we note with satisfaction that disarmament stays on the agenda as a hiqh priority in wcxld politics. The Unit~ Nations has a., exceedin~ly important role to play 1n establishinq a climate conducive to meaningful dialoque on this critical issue. The eliJIination of weapons of mass destruction and an end to the erm race will not only serve the cause of world peace and security. but will also release human and material resources that could be devoted to meaningful and beneficial social and economic proqrammes in developing countries. In this vein. President Bush's declaration before this AsseDbly that the United Statas is ready to destroy over eo per cent of its existing chemical We3J)Ons stock even befQre the conclusion of the chQ!lIical weapons convention and the Soviet Union's positive response to this proposal is an unprecedented occurrence in super-Power relatione that should be applauded by all Mellbers of the united Nationso However. those of ID in the developinq world should admit that t:le end ef the atllS race by the super-Powers would be lleaninglesc in terms of mobilizing mere resources foe national development if those countries themselves continue to spend (Mr. Sev, Gambia) colossal sums out of their na tional budqets on defence expenditures. The disproportionate amounts beinq spent on military expenditures by developi~q count~ies not only diverts valuable resources from national development but also puts into question our declared aim of peaceful resolution of disputeso It is reqrettab:'.e that the notable achievements made in the resolution of reqional conflicts or in creatinq a salutary atmosphere in international political relations qenerally are not reflected in the situation in southern Africa, where the racist minority reqime in Pretoria continues to pursue its odious policy of apartheid at home and its aqqression aqainst the front-line States, thereby causinQ havoc and untold suffer inq in the reqion.* The President took the Chair. (Kr. Sey, Ganb la) The pernicious and outraqeous system of a;>artheid remains an unacceptable affront to the civilized world and should be met with a firm and unco1JS)ror.ds~.nc:, response on the part of the international community. Attempts at: at)'Peasinq, persuadinq or pamper inQ the racist Pretor ia reqime in order to make it chanqe its policY can only fortify that r~ime in its defiance of world opinion. It is true that the wind of chanqe blew inq across South Afr iea has raised some optimism about the final demise of apartheid.. But it must be admitted that without the couraQeous and determined stand of the freedom fiqhtersof South Africa under the 161dershi;> of the African National Conqress (ANC) and other democtatic and popular movements, coupled with the limited economic sanctions ae;ainst the apartheid reQime, there would not have been the trend towards chanqe in that country. There is need, therefore, to maintain and intensify the pressure for the aholition of apartheid. The tacis t regime should not be left to proceed at: its own pace. The peoples of South Afr iea, as has been demonstrated bV the current caltPaign of defiance of seQreqationist laws and reQulations, cannot wait indefinitely for the reform of a system that is unreformable and must be destroyed. Freedom is en inalienable riQht= it cannot be neqotiated or dished out in small morsels CHer a period of time. The Galrt>ia is fi~rnly convinced that one of the most effective and peaceful ways of compellinq Pretor ia to en ter into immedia te and substantive neqotiations with the authentic representatives of the maiority population is the imposition of comprehens ive and mandatory sanctions aqainst the racis t r~ime. The Gambia has been fol101r1inq with keen interest the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978b, and we are qravely concerned about the obstacles and impediments that South Africa continues to place on the track of the independence process. Because of the continuinq irregulad ties in the implementation of resolution 435 (1918), the minimum condltions for holdine; free 1 the and fair elections are still absent in Namibia. The continued f!xistence of ~J Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library I notorious paramilitary KOe'lToet. elements, which under different Quises harass and intimidate the local population in a reiqn of terror, is des iQned to disrUPt the electoral campaign of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and enhance the electoral chances of Pretoria's puppets in Windhoek. This is a blatant sabotaqe of the independence process and is totally unacceptable. But what can one expect fi."om a reqime suffer inq from moral bankruptcy and insti tutional decadence? My deleqation would therefore urge the Security Council to continue to intensify its effor~ to bring pressure to bear on South Africa to cOIr4>~V with resolutions 435 (1978) and 640 (1989), which will guarantee frE() and fair elections in Namibia leading to the il!arly independence of the Territory. Apart from the critical situation in Routh Africa, the continent is still beset by the persistence of a number of reqional disputes. It is our fervent hope and des ire a.at these lonq-standinq problems and the new ones that miqht emerge will finally be resolved within the framework of tl:le Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Ganbia will give its full support to the endeavours of the current Chairman of the OAU, President Mohammed Hasni Mubarak of EqyPt, to find 3 peaceful solution to these disputes. On Afghanistan, my delegation is very happy to note that foreign troops have now been withdrawn from that war-torn country and it is our hope that favourable conditions will be created to quarantee the safe return of all refuqees to their country, thereby ensuring the restoration of peace and stability to Afqhanistan. Once aqain I should like to take the oPpOrtunity to pay a tr ibute to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the valuabl~ role it has played in providinq refuqe to millions of displaced Afqhans and also for its endeavours to create an abnosphe,e conducive to the resolution of the Afqhan problem. It is also gratifying to note the suspension of hostilities in the conflict: between Iran and Iraq, a conflict that has bedevilled the international co_unity by ~e intensity of its destructiveness. We stronqly urqe the two partiES to co-operate in the illlPlementation of Security Council resolution 598 (1987) so that the peace process can result in the attainment of the desired obje::tiv~ of a qenuine and durable peace in the Gulf. An end to this fratr icidal conflict not only would enable Iran and Iraq to undertake the nuch-needed national reconstruction, but would also remove the threat o~ the internationalization of the conflict in a reqion of strateqic political and economic importance. The situation in Kampuchea conUnues to be of concern to my deleqation. Despite the continued efforts of the international community in the search for IS peaceful solution t.o this protracted conflict that has resulted in immense sufferinq, the problem still remains unresolved. It is hoped that the recently suspended Paris Conference on Kampuchea will resume in the near future and that a negot!at~ comprehensive settlement will be achieved, a settlement: basel1 on the independence, sovereignty and non-aliqned status of Kampuchea. A qenuine withdrawal of foreiqn troops from Kcunpucl'1ea will, it is hoped, accelerate the peace process in that country, and my deleqation calls on all parties to the dispute to continue to support the efforts of the united Nations· and the Association. of South-East Asian Nations (ASFANl to resolve the l)roblem of KafllDuchea. With regard to the situatim in the Korean peninsula, the Gar.bia welcomes the process of dialogue initiated to ensure the ramification of that divided country, and we are of the view that if membership in the United Ra Hons would facilitate the process of unification the international colllftunity should support the a&aission of the Koreans into the Organization, in accordance with the principles of universality. (NI. Sev, Ganh ia) In the Middle East, the situation continues to pose a qrave threat to international peace and security. My deleqation wishes to reiterate the Ganbia Government's conviction that the Palestine question is at the crux of the Middle East problem and that a just and permanent solution can be achieved only if the legitimate and inalienable riqhts of the Palestinian people, includinq the riqht to an independent homeland, are restored. The Palestinians have suffered 'for decades and have made many sacrifices in pursuit of their aspirations, as manifested by the 22-month-old intifadah. They have also IMde many concessions in the search for peace and security. These peaoe overtures are hiqhly laudable, and we once aqain call on Israel to respond positivelY in order that the qenuine search for peace in the Middle East can take off. We are convinced that unless the attitude of Israel chanqes the Middle East s iwation will continue to be a threat to world peace and security. It is for that reason that the United Nations must be closely involved in findinq a solution to the problem in the Middle. East, and in this connec':"ion mv deleqation renews its call for a United Nations-sponsored international conference on the Middle East with the full participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the PaleStinian people. In the eastern Mediterranean, the Gambia will do all it can to encouraqe contacts and negotiations between the representatives of the two communities in Cyprus under the good offices of the United Nations Sec:retary-General. We ~'~ therefore fully support the search fot a mutually acceptable po11tical arranqement which recognizes the equal status of the two CoJmlunities in Cyprus. The seriously deteriorating situation in Lebanon gives cause for qenuine concern. We therefore urqe the warring factions to put an end to this unduly prota;acted conflict, which, in .addition to the hea'i/Y toll in terms of human and -... material costs, continues to pose a grave menace to the peace and stability of the reqion. We believe that any solution guaranteeing Lebanon's sovereiqnty, unity and territorial integrity must include the complete withdrawal of all foreiQn troops from Lebanese territory. In this spirit we express our support for the peace 'Plan of the Tripartite Corrmittee of Arab Heads of State, c011lPrisinq the KinQdol!S of Saudi Arabia and Morocco and the People's Del10cratic RePublic of Alger ia, and we welcome the r esults ach ieved so far. Although the current session is takinq place at a time of considerable improvement in the int~rnational political climate, deep structural imbalances in the world economy continue to characterize the current international economic envirmment. The most serious and critical of these imbalances is the wideninq soom-economic gap between the developed and the developing countries. These negative trends not only threaten the secio-economic and political fabric of developing countries but also will endanger international political security and peace and will undoubtedly undermine the positive effects of the ongoing relaxation of world tension. The current decade has seen very painful structural adjustments on the part of several developinq count~ies, particularly the least developed ones in Africa. These countries, while already facinq formidable structural handicaps, experienced a sharp deterioration in their overall socio-economic situation, in spite of siqnificant domestic policY measures undertaken by them pursuant to the declared objectives and commitments contained in the United Nations Proqramme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (1986-1990), which was adopted in 1986. (Mr. Sey, Gambia) Their eflarte, howevGt, have in most cases yielded inadequa.te results OMinq to the insufficient flOlf of external assistance, unfavourable terms of trade and crippllnq debt-service dbliqations. The role of the United Nations system in mitiqatinq the social effects of structural 4lldjustllents cannot be over-endtasized. In this reqard, mention lIUSt be ude of the valuable contributions of specialized agencies such as the United Nations Development ProQramma (UNDP), the United Natione Children's Fund (ONICSF) and tile United Nations Economic, Social and Cul tural Orqanization (UNESCD) in t.'le in!tiation and prollDtion of proQrammes that address those sectors wich are the first to be adversely affected under structural adjustment -proqral'lllles. In particul8.r, the Gambian delegation would like to commend UNICEF for its tireless efforts in providinq support and assistance to the most vulnerable group of our qrowinq population - the child. In this respect, I should like to 8Ilphasize the illlPOrtance we attach to the draft convention on th!! rights of the child, which the General Assembly will be called upm to adopt in the near future. I mould like also to place on record our unequivocal sUJ)port for the holdinq of a world sUlMlit <Xl the child, as proposed by UN! CEF• There is need, however, for the developed countr iea similar lv to W'ldertake appropr fate structural reforms aimed at adjusting the structural imbalances in their economies that have given rise to hlqh interest rates, fluctuat!oils in COIllllOdity prices and a resurgence of protecticn ism - policies that are in imical to equitable international economic relations and also to the capability of developinq countries to address the serious ecenom1c prOO1e1l8 conftonting them. There !Sj finally, a need to devQlop a new debt strategy geared towards IS substantial alleviation of the burden en dE!'lfeloping countries, including possible debt redu~iofi, rescheduling on concessionary terms or debt write-offs. As we rejoice at soma of the positive developments in current international relations, we are willing to acknowledge that other ch~llenges continue to require --, the attention of the international community .. We in tn'! Garrb ia have been payinq special attention to environmental issues. In this regard, we are deeply concerned at the threat of clirratic changes, the over-exploit&tion of the earth's resources and the pollution of the seas. lti delegation would therefore like to reaffirm the need to strenqthen international concerted efforts and co-operation for environmental protection within the framework of the Uni ted Nations. We also welcome the increased international attention being paid to the inextricable link between the env trmment and development. Mv deleqa tion would like to launch a solemn appeal from this rostrum for more supportive measures from the international community to help developinq countries in their efforts to protect their environment. It is our hope that the United Nations conference on the envira'lment and development, in 1992, will be able to address environmental issues f~om an overall and integrated perspective, making possible the formulation of action-or iented programmes with tegard to the most utqent envirmmental and developmental problems facing mankind. The Gambia, being fully aware of the grave danqers posed to our survival by the dumpinq of toxic wastes, is committed to collaboratinq with all menbers of the Orqanization of Afr iean Unity (OAU) in the dissemination of information on the movement of toxic wastes. The practice of the illeqal dumping of these ha2ardous substances in mostly poor and developinq countr iea is a ser ious phenomenon whose repereuss ions are as deadly • the traffick inq in narcotics. Those involved in this practice of dumpinq hazardoUS wastes are tJraffickera in slew-motion death directed aqainst dEWelopinq countries, and theit activities - nay, their trade - should be roundly condemned by the international commultlty. III ---j (Kr. Sev, Ganbia) A few weeks aqo we held at the United Nationo the second annual observance of the International Day &qalns~ Druq Abuse and Illicit Traffickinq, l)ursuant to the proclamation by the General ASDembly in December 1987. The problem of druq abuse and illicit traffickinq is of ser ious concern to my Government. In the words of the Sftcretarv-General6 which we endorse, the problem of druq abuse and illicit traffiekinq in druqs constitutes "one of the most devastatinq threats facinq the world today·. We in the Galltiia therefore share the qenerally accepted view that the terrible dimensions of the druq phenomenon transcend frontiers and cut across political, economic and social boundaries. No country can handle it sinqle-handed. No country can consider itsalf immune from it. The adoption, last December, of the International Convention &qainst: Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Druqs and Psychotropic Substances can therefore be seen as a clear indicatioo that Governments are now determined to co-operate aqainst this new social evil, which is undermininq the very foundations of our societies and I II· I destroyinq the future of our youth. The Gambia has already embarked on the necessary process of siqninq and ratifyinq this Convention. We should therefore like to appeal to the international community to make available the necessary resoui"ces, both at national level and with in the relevant international bodies, for a mere forceful, world-wide eampaicm aqainst the production and use of all kinds of illicit drugs. In this reqard. we should like to pay a tribute to the Governments of the United States of America and of the United Kinqdom for the valuable assistance they are providinq in the fiqht aqainst: this modern-day scourqe. An issue of cardinal importance to the Gamia is the question of human r!qhts. The Government and people of the GaJlbia are firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. (Mr. Sey, GaJl'bia) It is true that recent developments on the international scene auc,ur well for the future of multilateral diplomacy. However, the current favourable international climate of reduced tensic',7's, the new spirit of co-operation between the major Pc*ers and the achievement of peaceful solutions to many lonq~standinq reqional conflicts have not been matched by meaninqful proqress towards increased respect fo!: human riqhts and fundamental freedom in some countries. While international machinery is already in place for the protection of human riqhts, it is still important for the international corrmu.",ity to undertake a world-wide campaiqn and education to ensure that basic human rights are enjoyed by all persons everywhere on this planet, in keepinq wit'" the noble and worthy ideals embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Riqhts, adopted by this Assembly some 40 years ago. We in the Garrbia maintain our position that the issue of human riqhts transcends the narrow barriers of self-centred political and economic interests. This firm t< 'mi tment to the observance of fundamental human r iQhts is embodied in O~.i: dOITJestic laws and manifested in our foreiqn policy. In order further to promote and consolidate our achievements in the field of human riqhts, the Gan'bia has taken the initiative of establishinq an African Centre for Denncracy and Human . Rights Studies. The Ganbia Government has also provided the necessary infrastructure for the headquarters of the Commiss ion on Human and People'S Riqhts of the Orqanization of African Unity (OAU) in Banjul, the Ganbia. His Excellency the President of t.he Republic of GaJl'bia, Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba J&wara, whose conmitment to human rights and democracy is rena.med the world over, inauqurated the faciU ties for those ins titu tions on 12 June th is year. We should like to acknowledqe the support qiven by the United Nations Geneva-based Commission on Human Riqhts to the African Centre for DellOcracy and Ruaan R:Lqhts, and we appaal to all those who have an abidinq faith in the cause of hUllan rights observance to sUpPOrt and provide assistance to the Centre. Given our stand on the issue of human riqhts, the GaJrbia cannot but be very concerned about the gross violations of the fundamental human riqhts of the Turkish Muslim minority in Bulqar ia~ The unprecedented deportation and expulsion of hundreds of thousands of people of Turkish origin from Bulqaria is a serious development which should be ccndemned by the entire international community. The pathetic sight of thousands of women and children beinq expelled from their CMn country on grounds of race and reliqion. emd sufferinq in refuqee camps. is intolerable. and the international community should speak ClUt lest s Hence be taken to mean acquiescence. We call on Bulqaria to accept Turkey's invitation to enter into a meaningful dialoque so that an amicable solution be found to this humanitarian oroblem. My deleqation therefore supports the proposal.made by the Minister of ForeiQn Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mr. Genscher. when he addressed the Assembly on 27 September about the need to appoint a United Nations hiqh ccnmiss ioner for human r iqhts and set up an interna tional court of hllman' riqhts. The pressing political issues facing the international community are complex. but we share the hope of many that. with dedication and determination, they can be resolved, and in a way that assu.res peace and stabilit: for all nations. On the econcnic front. hOt/ever, there is a dire and compelling need for a whole ranqe of North"'South issues to be addressed with qte&ter i30litical resolve and in 8 realistic and constructive manner that wiU take due account of the acute and qrQWinq needs' of the developinq world in order to achieve a more balanced and equitable order. (Mr 0 _Sey, GaTi'bia) It is therefore imperative that the same dynamic and praqillatic spirit that has characterized international relations, which is indeed responsible for the recent deve~opments on the political scene, shoUld be extended to the economic sphere, with the- hl)pe that it will yield the lonq overdue desited results. I therefore conclude by reaffirminq the GautJiats total commitment to the maintenance o~ peace and seeur ity and to meaninqful internatiDnal co-operation for the economic and social a~lancement of all peoPles. The loft.Y ideals enshr i..l'\ed in the Charter of the United Nations deserve our full attention, our firm dedication and enerqetic support. In this reqard, we shall cont~,nue to render all necessary support to the United Nations system, which is and will remain the custodian of the hopes and aspirations of mank ind for lonq-lastinq peace.. proqress and prcgperity. Mr. PERRIER (Haiti) (interpretation from French): May I first address to you, Sir, the conqratulations of the deleqation of Haiti and tell you hGW very pleased we were to see you elected to the presidency of this, the forty-fourth sess ion of the General Assenbly. Your outstanding personal qualifications, vour vast experience in dealing with international affairs and what you have done at the helm of the Special Committee ~.gainst ADartheid have allowed us to take the full measure of your quali ties, and they ensure the fullest success for the work of this session. I should also like to voice our aratitude to your predecessor, Mr. Dante Caputo, who brouqht the full ranqe of his competence and wisdom to bear upon his work and thus fully mer ited the confidence the AsseRblv had placed in him. We pay special tribute to the Secretary-General, ~r. Javier Perez de Cuellar, who has succeeded with so much couraqe and determination in pursuiOQ prOQress towards obtaining the objectives embodied in the Charter. Without a doubt, the (Mr. Per!:ier 0 Baiti) United Nations owes hill _ch for the restoratiClfl of confidence it enjoys today. Let hill be assur:ed of the fullQat suppOrt of lIlY country as he pursues his efforts for peace. This decade is drawinq to a close with particularly contrastinq results facinq us in terllEl of matters economic and pOlitical. The forty-fourth session is in duty bound to reflect a per tod when the int3rnational co_unity as a whl"le is stopping and thinking about these llatters. ThEre can be no doubt that we are living throuqh a particular ly crucial per md in .m ich progressively there is emerqinq before us Cl new landscape in international political relations. In this connection, we think it obvious that the United Nations, so lonq the butt of con.,laints and denuciation, is, nOf that it is being endowed with the wherewithal, ready to play a more intensive role in facilitating the resolution of conflicts that have been with us foe Cl long time and were once deemed insoluble. (Mr. Perrier, Haiti) . The cessation of hostilities in the Persian (Gulf and the emerqence of solutions to the questions of Western Sahara, Cyprl1.S and Nl!mib1e are hlqhly siqnificant successes that bear witness to the reetored credibility of the United Nations. Rarely in the past half-century or IIOre has the world experienced such dynamic progress towards pe!!ce. These results confim, if confirmation be needed, the overriding importance of the purposes and principles upon which the United Nations is founded and the increuinq adherence to them by its Memer States. This is a source of satisfaction and hope. At the same time, there are grounds for welcoming the conjunction of factors that now offers an unexpected opportunity to chanc;e the confrontational terms of East-Mest relations. The proposale recently put forward by the 'united States and the SOlIiet Union and the COIllDlitments made at the Paris Conferenca on banning chemical weapons give good reason for hope concerning the prospect of genuinely controlling the arms race. There would be I! great temptation to believe that this state of affairs represented a turning point in thE' establishment of Cl new international order if there were not at the same time and year after year, the growing, unacceptable gulf separating the North from the South. Furthermore, one cannot ignore the still numerous obstacles that continue to block the road to Peace, in particular the persistence of various hotbeds of tension in many areas of th~ world and the emergence of new challenqes that r iQhtly ccnnend the attention of the General Assembly at this session. Once aqain this vear southern Africa is in the forefront of. our concerns, for, notwithstandinq certain apparent Cbanqes recorded at the level of the political discourse, the structure of the aPartheid system has not changed. Neither the expected freeinq of Nelson atandela nor the release of political prisoners, which (Mr. Perrier, Haiti} could have given indisputable proof of qoodwill, has been obtained from the Pretoria. Government. South Africa t'emains under the yoke of the last reqime in the world to profess a racist ideology, which is expressed in blind, aye tema tic repressJon of the aspirations of the country's black majority. It is the duty of the international c.'omnunity, which ha.s been too lonq defied, to do all it can to ensure that the South African Government ends a policy that is universally censured and condemned. That is why, in declarinq our solidarity with those r:esistinq apartheid, notably throuqh the courageous s truqqle of the Afrioan National Conqress of South Africa (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Conqress of Azenia {PAC) ~ the Republic of Haiti calls for the implementatioo of canprEbensive sanctions against the South African regime. 1\11 in all, that is indeed the only recourse the international community has availcible to it by means of which to ensure that the black majority assumes, with dignity and equality of riqhts and duties, its rightful place in a 1l11tiracial, egalitarian and demcratic society. Followinq a heroic struqqle, actively supported by the front~line States and waqed by the genuine repl'esentatives of the people under the leadership of the South West Africa People's OrqanizatJon (SWAPO), and many initiatives launched by the friends of Africa, the Namibian people is preparing to declde its future. The Haitian Government ~Jeleomes this fact and the forthoominq entry of Namibia into the international community. We reiterate our firm support for United Nations efforts, . vigilant action in the field by the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) and the sustained efforts of the United ttations Council for Namibia. Thev have all worked toqethelr to bring about the advent of a sOV'ereiqn and. independent Namibia in keepinq with Security Council resolution 435 (1978). ,i _:.j (Kr. Perrier , ,Haiti) My delegation also welcomes the climate of reconciliation whieh seems to be qaininq qround in Angola and which, we hope and expect, will make it possible for that country to bend all its enerqiesto the task of reconstruction and to economic and social. development. The evolution of the situation in Western Sahara makes it possible, notwithstanding a certain hesitancy, to perceive the possibility of an end to this conflict that has divided the Maghreb States for so lonq. The Government of Haiti notes with interest the results that the. parties concerned have achieved, with the sUPpOt't of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Orqanization of African Unitv (OAU) ~ We hope tl\~t the t",o organizations will pursue their efforts to encouraqe the resumption of the indispensable dialogue between the parties, with the prospect of a referendum throuqh which the Sl!thaouri people ean freely ~el"'~de its des tiny. In the Middle East, the violence that has been rac;inq in the oc=upied tezritories fOt' some two years now bears witness to the fact that Palestine is an undeniable reality at the heart of any settlement of a crisia th~t has ~rsisted for too lOM. The maintenance of the present state of aff~ira is in the best interests of none of the parties concerned. Clearly, the only pOSS ibIe course is that of dialogue. In this con.,ection~ it eeeliS to us that the conveninq of an international pgaca conference under United Nations aus~iees deserves an immediate consensus. That alone is likaly to make it possible for the qroundwork to be laid for an overall settlement of the conflict. The Government of Haiti supports fully the convening of such a conference, since it is convinced that just Md Iastinq peace in the region can be established (Mt. Pettier,. Hait~) only on the basis of the principles defined, in particular, in Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973): that the St~te of Israel has the r iqht to exist within secure and internationally recognized borders, and t!lat the Palestinian people has the r iqht to a homeland and to self-determination. With reqard to Lebanon, the Republic of Haiti, cardinal 'Principles of whose foreign pOlicy have always been non- intervention in the internal affairs of States and r.espect f.or the riqht of peoples to decide for themselves, is followinq with .;Irowing alarm the evolution of the situation in that martyred country. The Lebanese people are endurinq a painful, bloody traqedv, whidl all friends of . Lebanon ardently hope it will soon be ended. This is why th~ Government of Haiti expresses its solidarity with Lebanon and calls for the withdrawal of foreiqn forces from Lebanese soil and consistent action by the international conununity to make it possible for the Lebanese people to reqain its soverei~nty and unity, with territorial integrity. In Kampuchea the process of the withdtaiilal of foreiqn occupying forces, which must be full and f1nal, constitutes the first step in the right direction. we sincerely conqratulate the French Government on having taken the initiative, toqether with the mewbers of the Association of Sout.1.-East Asian Nations (MEAN), of conveninq the Paris Conference, which, although it has not vet had all the hoped-for results, has none the less been a major step forward in .tne search for a solution. The deleqation of Haiti des ires the tesUll\l)tion of the dialoque between the parties concerned and the continuance of efforts to br inq about tr ue na tiona1 reconciliation. That alone will make it poss ible to put an end to the traQec1y that has fa so many years afflicted the Cambodian na tion. The Rapublic of Haiti, in welcoming the proposed dialoQue a'l the peaceful reunifi~ation of the Korean nation, believes that the time ~as come to explore ways and means of mak inq the admiss ion of the two Ror eas to the family of the Uni ted Nations a reality, in accordance with the wishes of the parties concarned. (Mr. Petrier, Haiti) (Mr. Perrier. Haiti) We note with qreat satisfaction that the oease-fire between Iran and Iraq is beinq maintained and express the hope that the neqotiations already under way between the two parties will result in a settlement that will open the way to permanent peace. Similarly, Haiti welcomes the evacuation of foreiqn troops from Afghanistan and hopes the fratricidal war there will soon come to an end. Closer to home, in Central America, the initiatives aimed at ending the hostilities and buildinQ peace and delOOcracy should be encouraqed. The Government of Haiti fUlly supports the recent Tela aqreements rulinq out the option of sterile confrontation, foreign pressure and recourse to force amonq fraternal countries that should be workinq toqether in co-operation. The Government of Haiti. shar inq the concerns of many countries across the continent, is lendinq tireless support to the efforts being exerted notably by the United States of America w fight illeqa1 drug traffickinq. Bevond that, the de1eqation of Haiti is fully prepared to lend all appropriate support to the initiative of the Caribbean countries aimed at steppinq up within the framework of the United Nations the relentless struggle that must be waqed against this scourge. We wish particularly to stress our solidarity with Colonbia, whose courageous decisions have placed it in a difficult situation indeed. The Republic of Haiti again reiterates its firm support for efforts aimed at international co-operation and a concerted approach to the protection of the environment from the threats looming over it, which threaten the survival of the entire planet qiven the accelerated deter ioration of our natural resources. Notwithstanding the viqorous economic expansion recorded in industrialized countries, the third United Nations Development Decade is endinq on a note of profound die lUus iaunent: promises have not been kept and the expecta tions of the third world - the vast: majority - have not been met. (Mr. Perrier, Haiti) Suffice it to recall that in sub-Saharan Africa the gross doa.tic pro~ct y)er capita has declined by a record 10 per cent - indeed, over 10 per cent - co...red with the 1980 level, and the situatim in Latin America and the Caribbe8ll is hardly better. Having reached the very limits of the economic, social and human costs we can bear as a result of indebtedness, which is cailpounded by the l)ernicioUB and destabllizinq impact of adjustment programmes, the nations of the South find themselves plunged fier deey)er into despair and doubt that they shall fR« see IIOveJIent towards a better life for our PeOple. HQfever paradoxical it aay appear to SOlle, the third w«ld continues in lar~e lIleasure to finance the prosperity of the wealthy nations throuqh a net inverse transfer of resources aIIOuntinq to economic haemorrhagi~ that we cannot sustain and is morally unacceptable. Faced with such a state of affairs, the deleqation of Haiti stands in .. solidarity with all those countries which, m the eve of the launchinq of the fourth international develos:aent decade, call for a readjustment of the _chinery qoverning international economic relations, and for substantive manges in strategy at the level of international co-operation, so as to enable our countr iee of the South finally to become m inteqral part of the race to development. To achieve this, an unprecedented effort of international solidarity i. indispensable. Instead of aid - which is often uncertain, lacks COIIIIIOn standards, and is not necessarily appropriate to the mediulD"" an~ long-term needs of the recipient countries - it is necessary for the industrialized countries to derote to co-operation for development those resources that corresp)nd with the needs for overall economic recovery throuqhout the south. What this ..eans, at the very least, is that we IlUst attain the qoals set some 30 vears aqo: 0.7 per cent of the qross domestic product of the donor countries. (Mr. Perrier, Haiti) BV the same token we consider urgent the adoption by the creditor countries, in multilateral financinq institutions, of additional measures aimed at liqhteninq the external debt burden and, if necessary, writinq off such debt, particularly in the case of the poorest countr tes, even if these are not necessar 11y the most indebted ones. In this connection, wat comes to mind is France's decision, Slnnounced last May at Cakar, unconditionallY to write off all public credits qiven to 35 African countries. We h~il that step, which we hope and expect will be eJlQlated so far as all the leas t developed countr iea are concerned. We hope that this particular approach will Qain currency. How could we not stress the delicate situation facinq the countr ies of sub-Saharan Africa, island countries and the Caribbean nations, som~ of which have just been hard hit by hurricane Huqo? It Is particularly appropriate for us to eq:)hasize how acute are the social and economic problens confrontinq the least developed countr ies, often disapoointed by the lack of international solidarity they receive, which in larqe measure explains the essential failure of the new substantive proqramme of action for the leas t developed countr iea for the 1980s. HOltever, our country continues to have stronq hopes of the special SESsion of the General Assembly, to take place next sprinq, devoted to international economic co-operatJon. By the same tolten, we welcome the holdinq in Paris next year of the second U!':Iited Nations conference on the least developed countries, hopinq tfr.at in both instances these meetinqs will provide the second wind the North-South dialoque so direly needs. The delegation. of Haiti deems it useful to remind ~he Asserrbly of the evolution of the situation in Haiti at a ti1lE~ when the Haitian people is turninq a major corner in its historyo Havinq first stellllled the adverse impact of successive crises facing our State. the Government of 11 September 1988 resolutely copit\.ed itself to setting up a lastinq state of law. The building of a representative democracy. based on the pre-e{ninence of and respect for l:.uman rights. the effective functioning of pluralism and the quaranteeinq of freedoms, are all now well under way.· The Government of 17 Septemer 1988. heded by Lieu tenant-General Prosper- Avr U. has successfully passed throuqh a nunber of phases ""ich we consider. decisive~ The Constitution which the Haitian people qave itself in 1987 hag been restored. and several articles which. because of the provisional nature of our Government. are still not in final form g will be completely restored as sCX)n as the two leqislative chambers are reconstitl.ited. In this connection, elections will be orqanized. in 1990, at all levels, on the bas is of a fixed timetable, by the permanent electoral counc 11. For the Government, this is a matter of honour. The elections will reflect the free expression of the will of tlle people, and will bring new leaders to the helm of the State in February 1991. We are, of course, well aware that the reforms undertaken and the establishment of new institutions, and the forthcominq electoral contests, however decisive they m.:ty be, will not suffice in and of thelllSelves to quarantee the future of demcracy in Haiti. The experience of the past three years has shown us that the struqqle for democracY can be lonq and difficult. Like many other countries that have recently emerged from the lonQ niqht of dictatorship, Haiti is * Nr. Feyder (Luxemourg), Vice-Pres ident, took the Chair. considering the promises of the future without losinq siqht of the serious handicaps of the present. '1'0 succeed in buildinq a democratic country while the country is still struqqlinq with & particularly acute structural crisis in the econoaic and social spheres indeed is a major chal1enqe for us. (Mr. Perrier. Haiti) In view of the importance of what is at stake, the Gcnernment of Haiti deems it necessary to reiterate its appeals to the international colllllunity to help Haiti make ,up for lost time in the key areas, to free Raiti from the vice of dire poverty. in which three quarters of the population are caught, and, above all, to help them find the road to renewed qrowth. We believe in a renewed and effective solidarity with friendly countries, of the North and the South, in accordance with the wish expressed by the General Assen'bly in its resolution 39/196 adopted on 11 Decenber 1984 entitled -Economic assistance to Haiti-. Unfortunately, that resolution has remained a dead letter - so much so that Haiti has found itsel~ alone in the face of the damaqe caused by the social problems which the country has been experiencinq for more than three years. And even after cyclone Gilbert it again found itself alone, facing the desola tion of the fam iUes in the southern part of the country, victims of th is natural disaster, who are still waiting for some show of international solidarity. We must, at the same time, express our deepest gratitude to the countries of the Caribbean who, responsive to our legitimate &spirations, and with mutual respect, have shown us fraternal support, which we value highly. We are certain that the united efforts of our partners can be of substantial assistance to the people of Haiti in their untirinq search for economic and social betterment. This aim is certainly not beyond our reach. It is, after all, one of the conditions and the Ultimate goal of democratic life. To help us attain it is, obviously, within the framework of the hiqhest mission of the United Nations. We therefore appeal to the Organization to lend Haiti its valuable assistance in co-ordinating far-reaching international action t<.- help the country meet the serious challenges it faces today. We are convincecl that the United Nations, which has constantly manaqed to qo hand in bend with our people in its long trudge towards teal democraey, will once 8gain be by' our side th is time. Jolr. NANTON (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines): The deleqation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines wishes to offer Mr. Joseph Garba its sincere congratulations on his election to the PIes idency of the forty-fourth sess ion of the General. Assembly. We look forward eaqerly to p!ayinq our part to ensure the success of the session under his experienced leadership. The historic forty-third session is still fresh in our minds, and we would be found wanting if we failed to pay a tribute to the former President, Mr. Dante Caputo, for the efficient manner in which he presided over the forty-third session of the Assenbly, thus ensur inq its successful concll:AB ion. My deleqatioo wishES to congratulate the Secretary-General for his enlightening and coq:>rEbensive report on the work 9f the Orqanization and for his initiatives durinq the past year in pursuit of peace and security. There is a wind of chanqe blowing in international politics. We witness a trend in international relations in which confrontation is beinq replaced by co-operation, and bitter cold-war r ivalr ies of the past by consensus and mutual accommodation. The present mood to a larqe extent reflects the eas inq of East-West tension and qreater co.-operation between the major Powers. The international community welcomes the proqress made by the United States and the Soviet Unwn in neqotiations aimed at reducing by half their stockpile of strateqic weapons. The prospects for a cOltf)rehensive and ver ifiable treaty banninq chemical weapons, whim has been proposed by both super-Powers, is also very exciting. (Mr. Nanton, Saint Vincent and the Grenadlnes) The eyes of the world are upon us at this time. The General Assembly at this session will earn the respect of the present as well as future generations, if, throu'~ its deliberations and decisions, it can sustain the present trend and widen the current detente to ensure peace and 'Progress for all manic. lnd. The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines applauds the 'People of Poland for their historic decision to enhance democracy and move to an open-market econauy. The positive developments in the Soviet Union, Hungary and East Europe, inspired by General Secretary Gorbachev, hold tremendous lessons for the thitd world on the evolution of political theory. The cordial atmosphere of international politics today presents an opportunity which should not be missed fot resolvinc; those intractable reqional conflicts which for so lonq have destabilized t.lle world community. In Afghanistan, in spite of the 1988 Geneva Aqreements and the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the war continues unabated. The delegation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines supports the Secretary-General in the efforts he is makinq to facilitate a settlement. We look forward to a return to normalcy in that country torn by civil war, and to the early return to their homeland of the millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran. The fragile cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq war and the direct talks between the two sides have yielded no conclusive results. We urqe the Governments of the two countries to co-operate with the Secretary-General's efforts to transform the present cease-fire into a lastinq peace based on Security Council resolution 598 (1987). While the Paris Conference on Cambodia held in Auqust did not yield a cOJl1)rebensive solution to the problem, it was nwertheless a coamendable step towards acbiwinq the conditions necessary for the Cambodian people to freely exercise their right to self-determination. We also applaud the diplomatic and other initiatives of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and hope that all other interested parties will join in the search for a durable peace in Cambodia. The problem of the two Kores still remains unresolved. It appears that efforts to establish a machinery for dialogue and peace have made no substantial proqress. It is the firm belief of my delegation that the acl'Aission of the RePublic of Korea to the United Nations would not only be in conformity with the principle of universality, but would help to create a better political environment for a peaceful solution of the Korean question. My delegation looks forward with enthusiasm to the i.q)lementation of the Secretary-GeneralIs peace plan for Western Sahara. We hope that there can be an early referendum on self-determination. We urge continued dialogue betw.een the POLISARIO and the Kingdom of Morocco and a continued search for a settlement of this issue within the frant...,ork of the proposals of the United Nations and the orqanization of African Unity. While encouraqlnq signs have emerqed on the political horizon in many parts of the WOl'ld, there are some intractable problems which dofy our best efforts to find solutions. The oppressed majority of South Africans are still suuqG!linq to adlieve their free<bDi and self-determination. My delegation reiterates its call for the intensifica tion of sanctions and other forms of pressure by the international oonmunity on South Africa for the dismantlinq of the inhuman system of aparthe~ and for the unc.onditional release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners. The end of Namibia's lonq road to independence is in siqht. The withdrawal of South African forces and the demobilization and disarminq of territorial forces were'carried out on schedule; the draft electoral law is under careful examination before final assent is qiven; political detainees have been released by both part.iea to the conflict; some 83 per cent of estimated eliqible Namibians have demonstrated their commitment to the electoral Drocess by rea;.sterinq to vote a month before the deadl ine; and many thousands of refuqees, some in exile for a tmole qenera tioo, have returned to their homeland. These are all posi tive steps leadinq to the eventual independence of Namibia. We join those who have paid a tribute to the Secretary-General, his Special Representative and Deputy, and the many United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) military police and civilian ,personnel for their dedication and perscnal commitment to Namibia's freedom. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines fully supports the United Nations plan for implementirq Security Council resolt":ion 435 (1978) and calls on all parties not to impede the movement towards peace. My country looks forward to the day when the Namibian people, who have wai ted so Iona for the opportll1ity to determine their future, take their sea t as the newest Memer of this Orqanization. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is concerned that recent efforts to brinq about a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict have not yielded any positive results. My country will support any initiative which is aimed at securinq a (Mr. Nanton, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) cc:mprehensive, just and 1astinq peace in the Middle East based on Security council resOlutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). There is today qrowinq support for a properly structured conference based on Israel's riqht to exist and recoqnition of the legitimate r iqhts of the Palestinians. We suPport that proposal. The bloody civil war draqs on endlessly in Lebanon. My deleqation supports all initiatives, includinq those of the Arab Leaque, for stabilizinq the situation in that strife-torn country. All the parties to the conflict should move towards securinq an effective cease-fire and initatinq the process of national reconciliation leadiDeJ to the full exercise of Lebanese sovereiqnty. All eKternal pressures in Lebanon should be removed in order that the Lebanese parties miQht aqree on some viable system of peaceful coexistence. Last year this body paid a glOl/!inq tribute to all those servinq and those who have served in the United Nations peace-keepinq forces on beinq awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "their achievement and their contribution to the United Nations peace-keepinq operations and, by eKtensim to 'World peace and security". Today, we lament and deplor~ the traqic, ccld~blooded murder of Lt. Colonel william R. Higgins, a United States citizen, while servinq in the United Nations peace-keeping forces in Lebanon. We call on these orqanizations or qroups which are at present holdine:; foreiqn hostaqes to release them and thus end their suffer lng and that of thetr relatives and fr iends. We also urqe those countr ies with influence over the hostaQe-takers to assist in arrestinq this crime aqainst humanity and to help to bdnq' all the foreign hostaqes home froln Lebanon. Turning to rIr/ own reQion, Latin America and 'the Caribbean, my deleQation welcomes the very positive developments in Central Arner lea. We CClIImend the five Central American Governm~ts for their determined efforts to ~estore peace and (Mr. Ranton, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) , stability to the region and call on the international community to do all in its power further to adva~ce the peace process. My country welcomes the ratification of the Cartagena Protocol which opens the way fer accession of the Caritb~an nations of Belize ana Guyana to the Organization of American States. We also note with satisfaction the progress being made in the R.epublic of Chile for the full restoration of its demcratic institutions. The eastern Caribbean, particularly Antiqua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis recently egperienced the full force of hurricane Hugo, which left death and considerable damage to housing, infrastructure a.'ld 8Qriculture in its wake. The road to recovery will be long and costly and we hope that the international colllllunity will move swiftly to assist in the rehabilitation efforts. While being encouraged by all the positive developments in the international community, my Government feels, however, that insufficient progress was reqistered dur ing the pas t year in r esolv ing var wue edsting non-mil i tary thr eats to global peace and security. These threats include persistent poverty in many parts of the world, lack of economic growth and development, largs-scale unemployment, injustice and inequalities between nations and severe environmental degradation. These problelOO tend to be global in scope and require the concerted efforts of the international community to find solutions to them. The fruits of science and technology are very unevenly distributed internationally and in the current North-South frame of analysis, the de'1elopinQ countries of the South find thenselvE!S falling further behind in the race for development a~d prOQress. (Mr. Nanton, Saint Vincent and the Grenadinef!) The external debt crisis continues to impede qrowth in developing countries and this situation is aqqravated by fundamental imalances in the international monetary systen. Protectionism is on the increase and the terms of trade for the primary-producing countries still work aqainst them in the current unfavourable international market situation. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the conveninq of the special session of the General Assertbly devoted to international co-operation, the Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, and the preparation of the international development strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade - all of which will be held within the cominq year. We hope that these conferences will lead to a clearer understanding of the present problems in the areas of. trade, external debt and development. The international community should be constantly reminded of the problems of small island developing States, in which cateqory Saint Vincent and the Grenadines falls. These States are characterized by narrow economic bases, Hmi ted internal markets, diseconomies of scale, and lack of opportunities to take advantaqe of external markets. There is a further disadvantaqe in that many of these States - like Saint Vincent and the Gt:enadines - are archipelagic, a phenomenon which poses serioU3 problems with consequential economic and social cost. Their small size also makes such States run the risk of beinq overlooked in lnternaticnal economic: and financial decision-makinq. It is important that adequate resources be made available to them on appropriate terms for national development 0 The population exP1CB ion of our time and over-exploitation of the natural UBources of our planet due to poverty and rapid eccnomic expanaionhave resultedj in a number of envirmmental problems which put at riSic the entire human race. issues of toxic waste. deforestation. desertification, acid rain, the wideninq qap in the ozene layer. erratic cUmtic c:hanqes and the greemouse effect are qlobal in scope and must. be dealt with by the entire international oonrnunity workinq toqether. Swift: and workable solu tions must be found if mankind is to preserve the environment for coming qenerations. (Mr. Nanton, Sa lnt: Vincent and the Grenadines) The (Kt. Nanton, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) Other problem in society, such as the international flow of refuqees, the status of women and children, and the international scourqe of druqs continue to require the urgent attention of the international community. The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines recoqnizes the qrave danqer that international drug trafficking and druq abuse pose to all countl'ies. That scourge transcends national borders and it is imperative that intern~tional co-operation be increased and intensified to eradicate it from the face of the qlobe. To that end, my delegation qives unqualified support to the proposal of Trinidad and Tobaqo for the es tablishment of an in terna tional eriminal court to investigate and adjudic~te the er iminal reE .....nJsibilities of persons enqaqed in druq trafficking, and to the initiative of Jamaica for the establishment of a United Nations multilateral, multiseetoral force that would provide assistance to States, on their request, in the areas of intelligence and interdiction. The next decade will l)erhaps be the most challenginq ever faced by human society. Advances in Bcience ~d teC'hnoloqy have put into our hands the means of achieving unlimited proqress. Current developnents in nuclear technoloqy, space travel, oceanography and biotechnology will profoundly affect our lives in the future. But the same technology can be the msans of annihilatinq the human race. Some of the fundamental issues faeinq the world today have to do with life and death and survival. As we examine these issues dur inq the r enainder of the for tV-four th sees ion of the General Assemblv, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will work with all other nations in the interest of wor ld ~ence., secur ity and prosJ)er ity.
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• (conti~u~) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GU\NTING OF INDEPENDENCE 'ID OOlONIAL m UN'lR IES AND PEO PLES (a.) REl:ORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE SITUATION WITH REGt\RD 'IQ THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE ~ANTING OF INDEPEM>ENCE 'ro COlON IAL mUN'lRIES AND PEOPLES (A/44/23, A/AC.I09/975 and Md.l, A/AC.109/976-978, A/AC.l09/979 ald Add .1, AIAC.109/980, AIAC. 982-990, A/AC.lO~/992-998, A/AC.I09/999/Rev.l, A/AC.109/lOOO, A/AC.I09/l007 and Corr.l) (b) REK>RTS OF THE SE~ETARY-GENERAL (A/44/634 and Con.l, A/44/800) (c) DRAFT RESOWTlDNS (A/44/23 (Part 1), chap. It, para. 5, A/44/L.55, A/44/L.56) (d) DRAFT OECISlDN (A/44/L.57) Mr. GHAREKHAN (India). Since the middle of t~is century few factors have been rp.sponsibl~ for such reV01\ltionary change in the world order as the phenomenon of decolonization. I~ it~ most recent manifest:atio~, the voice of the Namibia~ people, which had been s ti fled foe over a century undee colon ial subiuga tion, found eloquent expression in t~e elections held last month to set up a constituent assembly. The international community now expectantly awaits the day when an independent Namihia, having shaken off the yoke of tne occupying racist South African regine, takes its rightful. place al1Dng us in this Hall. It will be the fruit of many years of sacrifice and suffering by the people of Namibia, a fitting reward and a trihute to the irrepressibility of their spirit, to their yearning, to their struggle and to their quest. In ensuring that this delicate process in Namibia is not thwarted by those whose vested interests nay lie in a continuance of their former control ovee the Teeritory, the United Nations is privileged to play an important role. It is a rolP. that fits the hiqhe~t and fine~t tradi !:.iOnB and standard~ that the world community e~pects of the United Nations. For its successful execution a large measure of credit must go to the effocts that the Secrp.tary-GeneV:81 himself and thp. (Mr. Gbarekhan, India) personnel who have worked as part of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (~'l'AQ in difficult conditione in Namibia have put into this tremendous exercise. Our deba te today assumes spec ial significance in that it takes place on the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) - the historic Declaration Q\ the Gralting of Independence to Colonial Countr iea and Peoples. In these 30 years the Declaration has served to keep decolcntzation in the forefront of world attention. Particular credit must also go in this connection to the Special Coll'l'llittee Oi\ deoolonization for its tireless and thorough endeavours to monitor closely the situation in various Non-Self-Governing 1erritories with a view to protecting and promoting the interests of the peoples of thcee Territories and 9uiding them towards self-determination and independence. M~ country is honoured to h~ve played a leading role in the drafting of resolution 1514 (XV). As a founder member of the Special Committee, and having played an active role in its deliberations since its inception, however, we remain keenly aware of the impediments to the promtion of world peace and coo<>peratiolli that remain, in the form of ~rrltories and peoples still subject to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation, as aberrations and anachronisms in today's world order. The CJrowth of United Nations mellbershipe from 51 countries in 1945 to 159 today, and to 160 in the very neat future, reflects the Bucce. that the Plan of Action for the full implementation of the Declaration has achieved so far. With each such successful case of decolonhat1on, India has relived a little of the exhilaration and the joy of our own independence. Nb Ue we in the Uni ted Na tiona - ald, I miC)ht add, we in the Non-Aligned Movement, which has championed the cause of decolonization from its very inception - can claim an impressive record in pronotlng these ideals of freedom (Mr. Gharekhan, India) that we hold so dear, it cannot fOr a IIOtnent be suggested that the ta!k is caftplete or that we can now rest Oft cur laurels. The last few steps of a journey are always the 1IlOBt difficult. The report of the Special Committee en decolonhation now before us highlights the continuing efforts that must be made to tackle the remaining prcblelllS, which, though happily small in number, are complex in nature. The declaration of the last 10 years of this century as the International Decade for the Eradication of Co1ooialism is thus apt, highlighting simultaneously, as it does, both the nearness of the goal and the fresh vigour and determination that ls now necess&ry to attain it. Even while classical fotms of colonialism are consigned to their rightfuL place in history, forces are s till at work to stem the ti de of proqress. We helieve that no single formula can be applied universally in each Territorv, with its own singular set of circumatances, for the speedy implementation of the deoolonization process. While each case is uniQue, it is imperative that the sovereign wUl of the people concerned must be allowed to express itself freely and fearlessly, and that it must be respected. It is lncu1l'bent upon Administerinq Authorities, therefore, as long as they function in that capacity, to permit, indeed promote, a progranme of political wareness and education and to refrain from engaging in such exploitative economic, military or other activities as may impede the dacolonization process. My delegation welcomes the glimmers of hope that have fliCkered recently, ligh ting possible paths towards a Bolu tien of SO~ 'Of the world' s rema in1n9 problems of decolonization. We have thus been enc:oun.ged by the Secretary-General's report on the Western S!lhara Question, and affirm our full support to him and to the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (010) in their miss 10:\ of good offices concerning the holding cf a Ae1.f-determlna tion (Mt. Gharekhan, India) referendum in the Territory, without any administratige or military constraints and organised and conducted by the United Nations in co-operation with the OAD. We welcome the recent meeting between His Majesty the King of Morocco and tbe lOLlSARID Front and hope that this dialogue will continue. We have noted recent developments in New Caledonia and hope to see peaceful progress towards self-determination in the !erritory within the agreed time-frame. I also take this opportunity to expreSB my country's unreserved support for the will of the peoples of Non~elf-GoverninCJ1erritories elsewhere in the Caribbean, the South Atlantic: and the South-West Pacific, and, indeed, anywhere there are still vestiges of colonialism. A1.JDCllt a year before India attained its independence, Pmdit Jawaharlal Nehru, then Head of the interim Government of India, addressed the nation. This excerpt frOfll th&t address Is of direct relevance here. ~e believe that peace and freedom are indivisible and the denial of freedom anywhere must endanger freedom elsewhere and lead to conflict and war-. ~day the winds of political change are sweeping our world and heralding a new order of coexis tence and security. Q'l the eve of the In terna tional Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and in this centenary year of Nehru's birth it 1~ perhaps permissihle to hope that they will sweep away the cobwebs of the world's colonial remnants as well. Mr. PEJIC (Yugoslavia). This year's session of the General Assemly will no doubt be remembered for one of the mQ5t significant results in the field of decolonization in the las t 10 ye:,· 9. We of course have in mind the recently held elections 1n Namibia that finally opened the way for the people of that Territory to 3ccede to long-awaited freedom and independence. As has happened so many times in the past, this is confirm ticn of the crucial role and importance of the Qli ted Nations in aChieving solutions to problems of decolonization, an area in which the world Organization has made m enormous Md irreplaceable contribution throughout the years. The easing of international tension and the trend towards overcoming outstancUng internatiQC\&l issues throuqh dialogue and negotiations have contributed to the creation of condl tions favourable for the solution of the remaining colonial problems. In that sense, we have witnessed the recent pMi tive move_nt after lIany years of stagnation 1n the solution of a number of colonial issues. It is particularly encouragil\9 that the United NationR haB played end continues to play an important and active role in this field. Sucb an apprOld\ to the solu tiCl\ of those problems - an cpprOlch which in our opinion is the only possible one - was strongly reaffirmed in t"'e Declaration adopted at the ninth summit conference of Re:lds of State or Goflernment of the Movellent of Non-Aligned Countr iell, held at Belgrade, where "the right of all peoples living \nder: colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation to self-determinatiolt and independence" (1\/44;:551; annex; 2. 16) was pointed out as one of the main priorities in the future activities of the Movement of Non-Aligned Comtries. On that occasion the non-aligned countries reiterated their principled pc:sition on "the tight of all peoples under colonial domination to self-determination and independence, regardless of their geographical location~ size of territory or population". (ibid.; ·P.· 59) Further, they p1a.ced particular empba.qis on "the importance ane relevance of as well as their full support for t.he Declaration a'l the Granting of Independe",ce to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assemly resolution 1514 (XV). They emphasized that ita full and effective implementatim ccmtinuea to be the cornerstone of the Attuggle to eliminate colonialism". (ibid.) At its forty -third seSA iQ\ the General Assembly adopted - on the inl tia tive of the non-alig~ed countries - the resolution proclaiming the period from 19~0 to 2000 the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. The first steP towards realization of this goal should be the adoption by the General Assellbly of the Plan of Action, 1n .this respect, a cmcrete, concerted and direct contribution is expected froll all M&nber States r partiCUlarly from the non-aligned countries that ini tiated this action. A bads would thereby created for the comprehensive implementation of the Declaration on decolonization, enabling the peoples and the comtries that continue to live amder colonial domina Hen to decide at their own development freely and independently. In that way the peoples of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories would finally be able to exercise their legitill8te right to self~etermination and full national emancipation and affi~mation, and as to take their rightfUl place in the community of free countries an6 peoples. On that basis Yugoslavia, together with the entire international community, welconed the results of the elections for the Constituent Assembly in Namibia, whereby the door was opened wide for the people of the '!'erd tory finally to accede to independence. The manner in which the people of Namib 13 exercised its sovereign will, regardless of So~th Africa's erecting of obstacles and its intimidation right up to the elections, deserves our full recogni tion. However, only one - although important - phase on the road to indspendence has been completed by this act. When we consider our experience with past behaviour, the international community and the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council, must continue to be very alert and mobilized 80 aa to bring the process of Namibia's access ion to independence to its conclusion as soon 8S possible and in accordance with the authentic aspirations and interests of the Namihian p~ple. In that context I should like to express our full support for, and confidence in, the efforts of the Secretary-Geneeal, his Personal Representative and the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAQ at this delicate stage of the implementa tion of the Uni ted Ha tions plan. We should also Ulce to point to the eXClusive responsibility of the Security Council for securing the unconditional implementation of its resolution 435 (1978) in its original and definitive form until Namibia's accession to independence. \hgoslavia welcomed the achievement of consensus en the resolution an Western Sahara. It represented the continuation in the best possible way of the spirit of co-operation and the trend towards constructively solving outstanding international issues that were strongly affirmed at the ninth summit conference of the non-aligned countries in Bl!lgrade. We hope that this will give fresh impetus to the mediation efforts of the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the Organizaion of African Unity (OAU) for a poll tical solu tim to the oues tion of Wes tern Sahara. W& also believe that the decision wUl have a positi..,e echo in the initiated process of co-opera tion and in tegta tiQ'l in the COll'ltr lea of the Maghreh, as well as in the strengthening of peace and stability in that part of the world. In this context we welcome the fact that the Kingdom of Morocco and the roLISARlD Front have, in principle, accepted the peace plan for the solution of the problem which they jointly submi t ted to the Uni ted Na tions and the Organi21& tion of African Unity. We believe that a substantive dialogue between Morocco and the llOLlSARlO Front under the auspicP.8 of the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the OAU would contribute to teaching agreement on the modalities for holding a free and fair referendum M the self-determination of the peoples of Western Sahara. We also hope that the na'llination of a United Nations technical team will significantly contribute to efforts to that end. Yugoslavia fully supports the inclination of Argentina and the United Kingdom to solve the problem of the Falkland,!t4alvinas Islands CI\ the b8S1s of dialogue and negotiations. In that contaxt we welcome the results reached in the negotia tions between them thug fat. We also call for full decolon1zation of the temaining Non-Self-Govefning Territories in the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean. The non-aligned cOllltries are convinced - and this conviction was reafUrned at the ninth sWllllit conference in Belgrade - that the United Nations continues to have an historical obliga tim to work towards the fulf ilment of the aspira tions to freedom and independence of the peoples and countries that still live under colonial domina ticm. '!'he road that we have travelled thus far is significant, but not yet complete.. Unfortunately, there ate still CX)untries that have not yet realized their legi timate rights to self-determination and independence. We therefore sincerely hope that the current favourable atmosphere in international relations will be reflected also 1n efforts to rel'lDYe the rell8ining obstacles that stand in the way of full decolOt\lzation. In the spirit of the existing inclination toward dialogue and the constructive solution of remain ing in terna tional issues, among which the problems of decolonization continue to occuP'i an exceptionally important place, we intend to focus our efforts on assistance in, and support for, the creation of appropriate POlitical, economic, social, educational and other conditions that would enable colonial peoples and COllltries tn prepare for independent and free develop1llent. For its part Yugoslavia, as Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, wUl continue to render its full and active CQltrlbutiQ'l to the raaliaaticn of this 90al, as it has always done in the past. Hr. 'mINK XUAN IANG (Viet Nam), The world will 900n be entering a new decade; and it is significant that the turning-point of this new decade has been marted hy the far-reaching developments which have taken place in world politics over the last few years. Prospects ha~e widened for co~peration between nations in taclcling Questions of regional and of global dimensions. However, the process is such that new challenges emerge wh ile long-standing problems ten in to be solved. The prol'llOtion of peace, independence, human rights and development still rel'lBins to be consolidated and strengthened. Thus, interna tional efforts to do away with the evils of war, colonialism, injustice and poverty, which confront the communi ty of na tions as a whole, must he redoubled and co-ordina ted. Simultaneous with the beginning of the next decade will be the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Declaration, adopted in 1960, is the corner-stone of the process of ~colonization. Recognizing the inalienable rights of all nations, large or small, to self-determination and independence, it solennly proclaims "the necessi ty of bringing to a speedy and uncondi tional end colon ialism in all its forms and manifestations". (resolution 1514 (XV» During the last 30 years, the Declaration has given impetus to, and been the legal basis for, the struggle of nations for self-determination and independence. In that per ied, wt th the accession to independence of some S9 former colon ial countr iea, more than 80 million people have recovered their inalienable national rights. While this bears witness to the uncol'ICfuefCable will of all nations for self-determination and independence, it also reaffirms the historic significance of the Declaration and the need for its full and speedy implementation. On the eve of the Declaration's thirtieth anniversary, let us take a retrospective look at the decoloniza tion process .over the last four decades. Significant achievements have been recorded, the most vivid of which can be seen in (Mp:. Tr:inh Xuan tang, Viet tqll) the emergence of more than 100 countries - in Africa, Asia, the Pacific md Latin llmerica - from colonial dependence to independence, and in the growth of the United Nations membership from 51 countries at its inception to 159 todaY. In that process, many peoples have had to live through the most persistent and arduous struggles. Blood has been shed and human lives have been lost at the brutal hands of the colonial forces in their intransigence in maintaining their colonial ruleg but this has not been in vain. It has reaffirmed the basic principles of OUl' contemporary civilization. men are to he free and eaual, and nations ate t~ be free and equal. In the hearts and minds of peoples which remain oppressed, as well as in the hearts and minds of thoRe in newly ihdependent countries, the light of truth holds bright as ever:l -Nothing is nore pteciolB than independence and freedom-, in the words of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh, whose centenary our Vietnamese people will be celebrating next year. Q1 that occasion, the Uolited Natiohs Eaucational g Scientific ~nd Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will commemorate him as a Vietnam1!se hero of na tional libera tion and a great man of cutture. In the struggle of nations, many individuals have hecome legendary heroes, and symbols of the high values that we all cherish. Their dedica tion to that noble miss ion has borne them beyond the bounds of the individual and tne national. However, IIl.Ich still remains to be done to fulfil the task set out in the Charter and in the Declaration. Soma 20 Territories - from Montserrat and Bermuda to New Caledonia, Angllilla, Guam and others - still relMin Non-Selt-Governing ~rritories and sub1ect to one form or another of colonial rule. Their long histories of colonial domination have resulted in their deep dependency on the acll\inistering Powers, especially in the economic field. For a long time nOlI, these Territories have been highly exploited and their economic structures have heen developed and transformed to ensure that they beRt served foreign interests. Many (Mr. Trinh Xuan Lang, Viet Nam) Territories continue to be used for military purposes. In view of this situation, greater attention should he given to guaranteeing that the administering Powers ensure, as an obligation under the Charter, that all the necessary conditions are met for these peoples to choose their future socio~olitical institutions freely. The teansi tion of Namibia to independence in accordance with Security Council resolution 435 (1978), now under way, is a victory for the long and arduous struggle of the Namibian people under the leadership of the South West Africa PeOPle's Organization (SWAPO) and supported by all progressive mankind. We welcome the establishment of the Constituent Assembly as an expression of the sovere!9n will of the Namibian peoPle. However, the final steps in the transition have yet to be achieved. The interna tional community illUBt therefore relMin vig Hant to ensure that South Africa oompl ies fully with resolution 435 (1978) and with the agreements reached. At the dawn of Namibia's inmpendence, respect by South Africa for the sovereign \>Jill of the Namibian people and for the integr i ty of Namibian terd tot}' must be ensured. The~e has been progress in the search for a peaceful solution to the question of Weste~n Sahara, beginning with agreement in principle by the two parties concerned on the joint plan of the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Secretary-General. In this respact, we believe that the consensus resolution adopted this year will facilitate the decolonization of the territory in accordance wi th OAU resolu tion AGH/ReEl.I04( XI X) • In keeping with its principled position Viet Mam reaffirms its constant and vigorous suPPOrt for the peoples of Namibia, South Africa, Palestine and all other peoples struggling for national independence and self-determinationo <.~r .. Trinh' Xuan Lang, Viet Nam) The ninth Summit Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries noted that "not all forms of dependence, particularly economic dependence, have disappeared with the accession of nations to in~pendence ••• ". (A/44/551, p. 12; para~ 12) Inequitable economic relations, as well as economic exploitation and blockades, continue to be pursued by colonial and imperialist forces and have resulted in a further widening of the economic gap between the developed and the developing countries at the expense of the latter. Taking advantage of this situation, those forces have made every attempt to impose their will on the developing countries and reintroduce variow. forms of COlonialism, to the detriment of the developing countries' sovereignty and independence. It remains, therefore, a priority task of the international community to eradicate colonialism and its vestiges and to pursue t.he economic independence of all peoples as well as their political independence. It must be ensured that all nations can enjoy their inalienable rights freely to choose their own way of devolopment without foreign interference and pressure. ____------....J Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library (Mr. Trinh Xuan Lang, Viet Nam) The recent unfolding of the process for the settlement of many drawn-out regional questions has opened up prospects of spseding up decolonization in various parts of the world. However, so as to achieve the full and speedy implementation of resolution 1514 (X~, the task of decolonization deserves undiminished! attention. Tbe Uni ted Nations hag therefore proclaimed the next decade the I~ternational Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. Through the joint efforts of all nations, we wish to begin the twenty -first century with a world free from colonialism and all its vestiges and to ensure the continuation of that world for our future genera tions. It is our lofty task to join our efforts to work out a progranme of action for the Decade and to have those noble objectives realized. Mr. 'KAYl:MOV (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpreta tion from Russian), Our world has begun to experience a different, better system of values in international rela tions, with less and less room for contention, suspicion and mistrust, which have been slOlllly weeded out by a realization of our common civilization and the priority of general human values .and interests. Indeed, the world has begun to change. Even if the p~ocess has only just begun, we still see ever mote clearly the readiness of the world community to co-opera te to settle acute glObal and regional problems on the basis of democratization, demilitarization and humanist principles, with recognition of the right of each people to choose it.q OlIIn development path, without any outside pressure. ~day we are all witnessing outstanding achievements in the settlement of the Namibia problem. The elections to the Constituent Assembly in Namibia, carded out in conformity with the United Nations plan and wdet United Nations conttol, and the victory of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWMO) testify to the fact that an important milestone has been reached on the ~oad towards the independence and sovereignty of the last colony on the AfriC4n continent. The (Mc. Kayumov, USSR) people of the Soviet Union, which has given the people of Namibia constant aid and Support over the years, sincerely congratulates SWAlO on its success. As the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, Comrade Shevardnadze, has stressed, "The Namibian people has achieved freedom thanks to the collective actions of the world community, the firm posi tion of the Security Council, the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the support of the front-line States and the Organiza tion of African ~ity. The O\i ted Na tions played an enormous role in this, ensuring the carrying out of transitional measures and of free elections in Namib ia. " The example of Namibia strengthens our conviction that the prospect of mankind's entering the twenty-first century without colonialism is not a pious hope but a realistic prospect, since the United Nations and the whole of the world community will consistently and energetically act as a uni ted front to ensure implementation of the rights of peoples. But nuch remains to be done, since there are sUll about 20 colonial Territories in the world, whose peoples are still deprived of the possibility of enjoying their right to sovereign freedom of choice, self-determination and independence. The Declaration on the Granting of Independence bO Colonial Countries and Peoples was ad::;pted to ensure the implementa Hen of those inalienable rights. In it the General Assembly solemnly proclaimed the necessity of bringing to a speedy and uncondi Honal end colon iaUsm in all its forms and manifesta tions. The important role of that truly historic Declaration in contributing to the freeing of cOlonial peoples is universally recognized. Various United Nations bodies regularly consider the auestion of the Declaration's implementation, which is most important for the attainment of its (Mr. Kayumov, USSR) goals. The Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation on the Granting of Independence to Colonial COuntries and Peoples deserves much praise for the work it has done this year, under the leadership of its O\airman, Ambassador Tesfaye Tadesse.. We support the decisions and recommendations adopted by the Special Committee in the interests of the speediest possible freeing of the peOPles of colonial Territories. In the Soviet delegation's view, the General Assembly's working out and acbption of a programme of activi ties in observance of the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration would give an excellent opportunity to assess the progress aChieved on implemen ting the Declara tion and to expand the common efforts of the world conmunity to liquidate the remnants of colonialism. 'l'he Special Commi t tee's work now r ela tes par tic ularlY to the situa tion in small colonial Territories. This is most important, because, as a reoomml!lndation of the Special Committee rightly stresses, the rights of the peoples do not. depend on the size of a Territory, its geographical location, population, resources, level of economic development or other similar factors. We believe it is very important that all interested parties, acting in the interests of the people of the Territories, should strb'e to develop dialogue and co~peration with a view to findinq generally ~cceptable solutions to the substantial problems, including the craation of conditions conducive to implementing the rights of the peoples concerned to self-determination. In that connection, we are happy that in the Special Committee and in the Fourth Committee this year most decisions have been adopted by consensus. Our solidarity with and support for the just cause of the peoples of all colonial Territories wherever they are - on the African continent 9 in the Pacific, 1n the Atlantic9 in the Caribbean - are constant. The peoples of the Territories (Mr. [(ayumov, USSR) speak different languages and have different cultures, ways of life, history, natural resou~<;,es and so on, but they are all striving to determine their own fate, decide the ways and forms of their development and enjoy their right to f:ee choice. At meetings of the Special Committee this year we again heard expressions of seriolS CCincern about the situa tioo in the Trust Terd tory of the Pacific Islands. It was rightly stressed that the United Nations remains responsible for that Territory's fate and that the 1ldministering lluthority is still obliged to furnish information abe:-a.1t the situation there for consideration by the United Nations in the establisbed manner, mtil the Sacurity Council decides otherwise. It flCMS from the Declaration that immediate measures must be taken to transfer to the peoples of the Trust and other colon ial Terd toties all powers, without any conditions or reservations, in accordance with their freely expressed will, so that they may enjoy indepe.,denee and freedom. As has already been noted, many obstacles have been erected on the road to the freedom of the peoples of the last colonial possessions. and they muat be cleared away. Among these is the exploita tion of na tural resources by foreign economic and other interests, which prejudices the sovereign rights and the interests of the peoples to which they belong. As is well known, this exploi ta tion is descdhed in United Nations decisions as one of the major obstacles to the full implementation of the Declara tioo at decol00ha ticn because it undermines the ma terial fOlZ'lda tions for the harmonious development of the1erritories and for the future of their peoples. We share the conclusion of the Special Committee on decolonization that the administering Powers must contribute to the social. and aconomic development of the Non-Self-GOverning Territories - ensuring that their peoples exercise their inalienable right freely to own and exploit their natural resources - and must provide education and training of cadres in order to establish an infrastructure that would help create conditions for rapid ptogress towards self-determination and independence • A serious obstacle to decolonization and a potential threat to peace and security is constituted by military activities in all their guises in colonial Territories. Putting an end to such activities and dismantling military bases and installa tions would be an impor tan t step towards the implemen tal tioo of the provisions of the DeClaration. In this connection, 1 deem it useful to recall the proposal lMde by the Soviet Union at the third special session of the General Assembly devoted to diRarmament on the world-wide dismantling by the year 2000 of all military bases and installations on foreign soil. International solidarity with the peoples fighting for the eradication of colonialism, racism and apartheid is one of the fundamental principles of the Soviet Ulion's foreign policy. Attaching great importance to the General Assembly's declaration of the last decade of the twentieth century as the international decade for the eradication of the remaining vestiges of colonialism, the Soviet Union, together with other States, will contribute by all means possible to the attainment of this goal. The encouraging example of the settlement of the Namibian Question shows that even the most complex problems in this field can be settled through political means. In conclusion, I should like to state that the Soviet delegation supports the recommendations drawn up in the Fourth Committee. Mr. AGUBUZU (Nigeria), It is with justifiable pride, Sir, that the Nigerhn delegation salutes you once again as the President of the current session of the General Assembly. As a true son of Nigeria - indeed, of Africa - you can rest assured of the full and unflinching co~peration of our delega Hen as you discharge the onerous tasks assigned to you. My delega tion addressed the item now before us on 23 October last, during consideration of scme of ita aspects in the Fourth Committee. Nevertheless, we wish to rei tera te our views, as we place a very high premium on the decolQ'liza tien work of the Organi~ation. It is our strongly held view that people everywhere, without exception, must be allowed f~eely bO chart the course of their political and economic destiny. We shall therefore not relent in our opposition to colonialism until that anachronism is tntal1y eradicated from the surface of the earth. The right of peOPles to self-determination and sovereign independence is a right which iA inalienable and therefore must not be abridged, trl»lca ted, Qualified or limited in any form. The United Nations itself long ago recognized this by the acbption of General Assembly resolu tion 1514 (XV) on 14 December 1960. That resolution defines the terms of reference for the decolonization work of the United Nations. In this connecton, my delegation wishes to place on record our profound appreciation of the impressive work being done by the Special Committee on the Si tuation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting 0 f Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Under the able leadership of its Chairman, the Special Col1'l1li ttee and its Sub-Coll'llli ttees have worked relentlessly to keep the issue of decolonization in the fore. Nigeria wishes to assure the Special ColM\ittee of its continued support for and co-operation with the eommittee!s laudable efforts to elimina te the renain;,ng ves tiges of colon ialism. The United Nations has made remafk~ble strides in the area of deoolonization. lbthing IIIOre truly attests to this thsi\ the present variegated membership of this body. From a total of 750 million peoPle suffering under the oppressive burden of colonialism at the inception of the Organization, the number of people yet to taste the universal elixir of freedom has dwindled to about 3 million today. The imminent inde~endence of Namibia will further reduce this figure, by about one half. Even so, it is the view of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the struggle to rid our world ()f the pernicious disease of colonialism must continue unabated. We must not relent in waging the struggle until every oppressed and colonized man or woman, young or old, breathes the air of freedom and independence. Resolution 1514 (Xv) is unequivocal in stating that neither the size of a population nor the expanse of its tercitory, nor for t~at matter the level of soci~l and economic deveLopment, should impair its tight to self-determination. The litmus test in the exercise of the right to self-determina tion and independence must always be the will of the people themselves, as freely and democratically expressed. It is thus our view that all freedom-loving peoples of the world must actively support effo~ts to complete the unfinished task of decolonhation. That tragic chapter in the annals of world history, a chapter chronicling the havoc perpetrated in the wake of gunboat diplomacy and the policy of -might is right-, must be brought to a long overdue close. No continent has suffered the ravages of colonialism, and therefore bears the scars of this scourge, DOre than Africa. Almost all the countries on the African continent today were forcibly colonized and their natural and human resources exploited by extra-African Powers. It was in recognition of that humiliation, degradation and despoliation of the African peoples that Nigeria made the following statement on 7 OCtober 1980, the twentieth anniversary of our admission to the United Nations, NI believe that the time has come for the international community to address itself to the serious issue of reparation and restitution for Africa. It is pertinent to observe that there is hardly any country outside the continent which has not in one way or another benefited from the exploitation of the human and natural resources of Afr ica. ••• I call upon the Assenbly to launch a decade of reparation and restitution for Aftica as a master plan for the economic recovery of Africa. 1ll (A/35/PV.24, p. 11) Niger ia believes .that that view, expressed almost 10 years ago, is still valid even today. We therefore urge the international community and this Assemly ser iously to consider ways of recompensing Africa for the incalcu.lable human and material losses it has suffered, and continues to suffer, through colonial depredation. The present in terna tional situa tion has had posi tive repereuss ions in the search for solutions to some regional conflicts. It also presents propitious opportmities for the resolution of outstanding colonial disputes. The formal end of the cold war occasioned by the "salt-water" summit meeting between Presidents George Bush and Mi khail Gorbachev last weekend has enhanced the atmosphere for international co~peration and collaboration by sounding the death knell of unhealthy super-Power rivalry. It is our hope that the post-cold-war era we are about to enter will not witness the imposition of super-Power condominium on the rest of mankind, but will become a genuine era of peace and international co-operation in all spheres. The opportunity of addressing the myriads of problems facing mankind through peaceful interna tional efforts iI'1d eo-opera tion has never in recent times been more Promising than it is today. We therefore welcome the efforts heing made to settle the disputes in Western Sahara, New Caledonia iI'1d the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) 0 We urge the parties to those disputes to bury the hatchet and allow connnon sense and peace to preva i1. We urge all concerned to bu itd en the progress that has already been aChieved. The path to the resolution. of major conflicts is often narrow and labyrinthine, not smooth and hitch-free. The temporary setbacks and occasional differences of view that are bound to occur should not be allowed to interfere unduly wi th the attainment of the ultima te goal. We strongly believe that the concentration of the collective energies of mankind on the search for solutions to the urgent economic, ecological and. social problems facing the world is an idea whose time has come. People everywhere must therefore be freed from the shackles of ~olonialism and domination in order to be able to take part in this global enterprise. The Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria received with sadness the bad news of the assassination of Jean-Marie 'l'jibaou, laader of the FUlKS, and his deputy, Yiewene Yiewene, on 4 May this year. We truly share the sense of loss which the Kanaks and, indeed, the entire people of New Caledonia feel at the untimely death of those two leaders. It is however gra ti fying to know that reLative peace and stability have reigned in New Caledonia since the signing of the Matignon and Oudinot agreements. We salute France and the ~ple of New Caledonia for the wisdom and courage which went into the negotta tions that resul ted in those agreements. The situation in Western Sahara continues to retain the interest and attention of the Niger ian Government. We urge both the Kingdom of Morocco and the FOLISAR 10 Front to proceed immediately with the implementation of the agreements sponsored jointly by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the U1ited Nations, which they have already accepted in principle. Africa can ill afford a continuation of this internecine conflict, which has taken a heavy toll of both sides in material and human te~ms. Our well-known tradition of brotherhood, good neighbourliness and respect for each other's rights must be applied to this confU(.1:. We commend and salute the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for their ongoing efforts to mo'V'e the negotiations forward. Namibia has come a long way since the forty-third session. This body may feel justifiable pride in the role it has played in bringing about Namibia's imminent indepgndence. On the eve of Namibia's emancipation from more than a century of colonial domination, we urge the international community to be vigilant. It is said that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Nothing should be taken for granted until Namibia's actnission as the lfiOth Mellber State of the United Na tions. Also. we must gear ourselves for the mobilization and extension of massive financial. technical and economic assistance to Namibia during the transi tion and imnediate post-independence per iod. Niger ia will contribute mre than its fair share to these effottsQ We are indeed proud of being closely involved in the implementa tion of Security Council resolu tion 435 (1978). which paved the way to Namibia's independence. We commend the Secretary -General and the entire leadership and personnel of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group {UNTAQ for the fine job they have done. We warmly congratulate the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and all the people of Namibia on theu: victory despite the odds and the temptations. Finally. the Nigerian delegation wishes to call on all administering Bowers fully to assume their ohligations in the Territories they adminiAter. The fulfilment of the yearnings and aspirations of the local populations must be the barometer by whiCh their actions in the Territories under their care are measured. Buyinq the loyalties of a few educated el ite. whose selfish interests do not always COincide with the common good, cannot be a substitute for the genuine loyalty of the people, born of the conviction that their interests are being promoted and respected. The reporting obligations W1der Article 73e of the Olarter are sacrosanct and must therefore be fulfilled. The Government and people of Nigeria actively look forward to the eradication of colonialism in the decade of the 19909, as called for in resolution 43/47 of 22 November 1988, which we co-sponsored and supported. Territories as being non-self-qoverning. There are now only 19. In the last half-century the world political landscape has been transformed, fuelled mainly hy the unstoPPable welling up of the de termina don of the colonized peoples to be free. That the process of decolonization has progressed so well can also be attributed to the early enunciation of the historic Deelaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the single1\inded pursuit of its implementation by the Special Committee on decolonization and by the General Assembly. Clearly the work of the United Nations in decolonization must ra~k among the outstanding achievements of this century. Though great strides have been made, the work is still far from over. Many remnants of colonialism continue be exist, even against the strong tide of decoloniza tion. The remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories look to the United Nations be continue to safeguard their interests and to ensure that they are not denied their prerogative to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. My delegation will continue to take a strong interest in decolonization, not only because we firmly believe in the principles involved but also because most of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small islands not unlike my own, many of them are in our part of the world. Their smallness is accanpanied by handicaps pecuUar to this group of Territories, including limited resources, wide dispersal of islands and extreme isolation. These considerationR, however, must not be allowed to interfere with or limit the rights of the people concerned, particularly thefr right to decide on their future for themselves. It is in this regard that the Special Committee on decolonization and the General Assembly play a cri tical role by con tinuing to emphasize that in the discharge of their responsibilities the administering Powers concerned must respect these rights and enable the people of these Territories to make their d@cisions freely and without Pressure. Further, when the people have decided, their ae~isions should be respected even though these might not conform closely to some of the precoaceived ideas on decolonization. After free and fail' elections last month, Namibia is now on its way to independence. It is a tribute to all the parties involved that, after so nuch bitterness and bloodsbed, a peacefuL, final decolonization process is under way. The courageous struggle of the people of Namibia, supported by the unceasing pressure exerted by the international community and the United Nations, has at last been retfarded. It remins for the United Nations to continue to maintain vigilance to ensure that the new nation is not subjected to political, economic or other pressures. Three years ago the General Assembly reinscribed New Caledonia on the list of Non-SeLf-Governing Territories. New Caledonia is a part of the Facific and we in the Pacific wish to see that Territory move into the future in accordance with the wishes of its peoFle. The signing of the Matignon agreement in 1988 laid the foundation for a constructive relationship between France and the people of New Caledonia, a relationship that had formerly been bitter and divided. We understand that the institutions provided for in the agreement are in the process of being established. It will be an ongoing responsibility of the United Nations system, of the Special Committee on decoloni'Zation, of the Fourth Committee and of the General Assembly closely to monitor the situation in the Territory. Particular regard will need tu be pa id to the views and the socio--economic development of the indigenous l\:~nak people. The difficut ties in New Caledon ia resut t largely from the fact that the indigenous people do not share eauitably in the political, social and eca~.~ic Power to rectify this situation and of the Uiiited Nations to ensure that this is done in accordance with accepted principles and practices. My delegation is pleased to note that France is co-opetating to the e'Ctent of not opposing the acbption of the draft resolution on New Caledonia. We would urge France to 90 further and actively co-operate with the United Nations in the full implementation of the Declaratim in so far as New caledonia is concerned. The resolution acbpted by the General Assennly last year declaring the 1990s the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism waq timely. Declarations, however, are meaningless without concrete and effective action. When the twentieth century comes to an end, let us hope that colonialism, whose devastating impact has touched almost every corner of the world, will have been removed forever and that the dawn of the new millenium will usher in a new era, free from colonialism. PRO~1lMME OF WORK The' PRES IDFl4T. I should 1ike to announce, in regard to the General Assembly's programme of work, that, as was previously announced, the Assembly will continue its consideration of agenda item ,39, ~Question of Palestine", I Jmorrow afternoOf'Jt in order to take action on the draft resolu tions under this item. In this regard, I should like to inform the Assembly that this afternoon I have issued a press sta tement in the form of an appeal in connection wi th this very important item on Palestine. lMPIatENTATDN OF THE DECLMATlON ON THE <BANTING OF INDEElI>ENCE TO COlONIAL CDUN'mIES AND PEO PLES (a) REEORT OF THE SPECIAL CDMMIT'l'EE ON THE SITUATION WITH REGARD 'ID THE lMPUMENTATDN OF THE DECLARATION ON THE <BANTING OF INOEmNDENCE TO QlIONIAL CDUN'iRIES AND PEDPLES (A/44/23, A/AC.109/975 AND ADD.l, A/AC.109/976-918, A/AC.109/919 Am ADD.l.. A/AC.109/980, A/AC.982-990, A/AC.109/992-998, A/AC.109/999/REV.l, A/AC.109/1000 p A/AC.109/l007 AND <DRR.1) (b) REPORTS OF THE SE(l(ETARY-GENERAL (A/44/634 AND CDRR.l, A/44/800) (c) DRAFT RESOLUTIONS (A/44/23 (PART I), CHAP. I1, PARA. 5, A/4~/L. 55, A/44/L.56) (d) mAPT DECIS DN (A/44/L.51) Mr.' ROSHAN""RliWAAN (Afghanistan) I As the General Assembly considers this item, members are no doubt aware that we stand a.t the very threshold of ma!:king the thirtieth anniversary of a universally acclaimed and truly epochal Declaration. The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (X~ of 1960, will go down in the annals of our Organization as one of the significantly historic decisions of the General Assembly. Based on the principles and goals of the Charter, the Declaration enshrines the most valuable ideals cherlched by humankind everywhere throughout history, the ideals of independence and freedom of peoples and nations.* The Declara tion, which has given mmentum to the process of decoloniza tion, is a remarkable reflection of the spirit of our times and testifies to the loftiness of the principles, ideals and dreams of the civilization we have attained. Its achievements are indeed great and epoch-making. Thanks to their relentless struggle, their intrinsic thirst for independence and freedom, and, * Mr. Jaya (Brunei Darussalam), Vice-President, took the Chair. thanl(s alRO to the principles enshrined in the Declara tion, to which all of us have expressed our faith, a great number of peopleR have emerged from the dark age of colon ialism as independent na tions and joined the community of na tions as equal members with eaual rights and responsibilities. This process has injected fresh blood in the common endeavours of humankind to attain higher levels of progress and do away with Old concepts of domination, exploitation and ineauality of nations. This has also brought to the ranks of our United Nations new nation States, giving it a truly universal character. That this universalization of the United Nations has significantly emanced its capacity to tac~le mOte efficiently, and in a more just and eauitable manner, the global problems we face ia, indeed, beyond doubt. Great as our achievements in realizing the goals and ideals of the Declaration are, the tine for: celebra ting has not yet cone. Decades of efforts will be fully rewarded only when the last vestige of the old colonial system is eradicated from our world. We cannot, and must not, relinQuish out' common responsihili ty as Members of the United Nations and as parties to the Declaration on the Granting of IncEpendence to Colon lal Countries and Peoples un til every na tion on Earth, be it large or small, has attained its independence and l~berty. Fbr in Africa, in t~e Pacific, in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and in the caribbean Sea, there still exist ~rritories the peoples of which are denied the right to freedom and incEpendenoe from colonial rule. This denial cannot and should not continu@. In southern Africa, our hopes, our persistenca and our constant vigilance ha~e borne fruit in Namibia. However, the intrinsically inhuman system of aparthei~, which is historically linked to colonialism, has not hean dismantled. We rejoice with our Namibian hrothers in this moment of happiness on the eve of their full indepen~an~. We salute their heroic struggle, unde~ the leadership of tha South West Africa People '8 Organha tion (SWAPO), which bi:'ought this hour of glory and congratulate SWAPO for its victory in the elections ju.~t held in Namibia. The transition period has not been free of difficulties. South Africa, as we expected, through various illegal and oppressive measures - particularly through the use of the notorious Koevoet - did not abandon its intransigence until thE! last moment. However, we are pleased - indeed happv - to note that the medunism set up by the United Nations, as well as the delegations from the Special COmmittee on aecolonization and the Non-Aligned Movement have through their competence and vigilance ensured an internationally supervised free and fair election, in spite of South African attempts to to, contrary. We express our gra ti tude to all of them, especially to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, for their relentless efforts. It is our: hope that the tl'lited Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) will keep up its vigilance to the end of its mandate and ensure Namibia's StlD)th and fair transfer to full independence and sta tehood. The territorial integrity of Namibia, including full s~ereignty over Walvis Bay, the Penguin Islands and other offshore islands which are the integral part of Namibia, must be preserved intact. In Western Sahara, we welcome the new positive developments. We support the joint efforts of the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity, to p~epare the ground for an internationally supervised referendum. The end of the twentieth century is fast approaching. In the year 2000, we shall be o:>mpelled to look baclc and take stock of the century that has ended. It has already been a century of great and awesome achievemants in Vllf tous fields. Decolonization - although not yet complete - is one of them. It is therefore fitting that we should finish the job before the century ends. Thst is why my delegation supports the decision to declare the 19908 as the International Decade for the Eradica tion of Colon ialism, as proposed by the Non-Aligned Movement. It is our earnest hope that we shall enter the next millennium after having put behind us the scourge of colonialism and all its ramifications, neo-colonialiam, apartheid, oppression and exploitation of n~tions, which have 90 far exacted such a heavy toll on peoples living under them. This noble attempt, we trust, is worthy of the spirit of our times, t~e ideals of our civilization and the dreams we entertain for the future. Mr. MARDOVIQI (Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation from Russian)z As has already been noted, the international situatioo today is characterized by the development of positive trends, among them a decrease in tens ion and confronta Hons, increased trust, expanding poli tic&! dialogue and! intensification of ~nter-State contacts at various levels. All of this taken together testifies to the development in inter-State relations of a new political thinking. One of its main principles is the recognition of the right of every people to the social and political development of its choice, a situation which is fully applicable to the peoples of dependent and colonial T.:n-ritodes. Next year the international community will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Adopted on the initiative of the Soviet Union, the Declaration has alwaYs played an important role in the process of decolonization. A decisive stage in this process will 00118 with the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, proclaimed by the United Nations in General h:iSembly resolution 43/47. We assess this initiative on the part of the international community as a realistic meaBure to mobilize its efforts in the fight against colonialism, racism and apatthe~ and an endorsement in world policy and practice of a democratic legal order that excludes all forms of national oppression. A powerful impetus for the Interna tional Decade for the Eradica tion of Colonialism may be provided by the complete implementation of Security Council. resolution 435 U918}, on the granting of independence to Namibia. The free and democratic elections carried out in Namibia under the aegis of the United Nations provide further proof of the real possibility of achieving the resolution of various crises throuqh constructive, peaceful political means, and this shows the strength and viability of the n' thinking, the new approach to the resolution of the most complicated problems in international affairs. We consider that the achievement of true independence by the Namibian people and the entry of Namibia into the eaual family of African States and the United Nations will be a qreat victory for 1ustice and common sense in international relations. At the same time, we should not forget that, despite the demands of the peoples and the efforts of the United Nations, there are still in the world today a score of colonial territories whose population'is denied the exercise of the right to self- determination and independence. Therefore the United Nations and ~ll States mURt mak~ additional e"ergetic efforts to eliminate once and fot all the last vestiges of colonialism and r~ci9m in the worldo That apPlies fully also to the TruRt Territory of the Pacific Islands •., Accordirr:l to the Uni ted Nations Charter, only the SP.curitv Council is entitled tn Change the t'tatus of a strateqic Trust 'l't!rritory or to terminate the Truateeahip Agreement. We are convinced that, as long aA all the reauiZ'ements of the tMited Nations Charter and the Tfu~t~eship Agreement are not met, the United Nations is obliged to bear the responsiblity for those islands, and the Administerinq Authority must transmit information on the situation in the Trust Territory in the requ ired manner. One of the main obstacles to the carrying out of this taale. is the nefarious activity of foreign economic and other circles in colonial territorieg. That is convincingly stated in documents presented at the present session. The United Nations must redouble its efforts to put an end to such activity, and this is one of the main tasks to he carried out in the International Decade for the Eradication of Colon ialism. We must also pay attention to the proposal that a study be mad!! of the possibility of providing viable guarantees of economic security for States upon their accession to independence. This task could be shouldered by the United Nations. A serious obstacle to the implementation of tt'ae Declantion on dP.colonhation and a potential danger to international peace is the military activity of colonial Powers in dependent and island territories in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean. This activity is preiudicial to the tights and interests of the colonilll peoples. It is also well known that in many cases these territories are used for the dumping of nuclear wastea and the emplacement of weapon~ of mass destruction. To overcome this serious obstacle to the complete elimination of colonialism from the Earth it is necessary to realize that the military presencE of G State must renain within its own borden. Glidad by this approaCh, States members of the Warsaw Treaty alliance propose as one of the meaaures for strengtheninq international security and ensuring confidence the elimination of foreign military bases and the withdrawal of foreign troops from the territory of. other States. In our view, the (Mr. Mardovich, Byelorussian SSR) Uni ted Nations must play an increasing role in the achievemant of that objective. It must ensure the implementation of its decisions concerning the immediate and uncondi tional elimina tion of mili tary bases and installa tions in colon ial terd toties. In ~~e process of decoloni7.ation the specialized agencies and other interna tional bodies in rela tionship wi th the Uli ted Na tions must play an important role. They must pursue their p.ffQrts to increase the necessa~y moral and material support for the peoples of colon ial terd tories and the na tional libera tion movements and also of the front-line States. We also hope thst the specialized agencies and international bodies will make an active contribution to the establishment of an independent Namibia, carrying ou~ the goals and objectives of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. The Byelorussian SSR has consistently called for the elimination of colonialism and the eradication of racism and M?artheid. At this session, as in the past, the delegation of the Byelorussian SSR has supported all the recommendations aoopted by the Fourth Commit.tee. It was a co-sponsor of draft resolutions on such matters as dissemination of information on decolonization and the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Inci!pendence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Mr. WILKINSON (United States of America) a Since its inception the United Nations has rightfully been concerned with the right of Non-Self-Governing Territories to selfadetermination. It is with pride that the United States can claim its place as an architect of that policy. During the fitst 15 yeats of the United Nations many of those represented here today exercised this right. In 1960 the United Nations approved two landmark resolutions within ~ day of eaCh other. General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XVl and 1541 (xvt deserve to he (Mr. Wilkinson, United States) read as a single oocument. BP.tween them they make clear that the process of self- determination can result in diffeeent forms of political status, including independence, free associa tion and integra tiOl'l into another independent State. The key element in both these resolutions is that the citi~ens of a Nbn-Self-Governinq Territory must have the f'iqht to exercise their judqement about their: future, free from coercion of any kind. The commitment of my <hvernment to furthering the processes by which all people are granted self-determination is unwavering. The thited States renains supportive of the positive role of the United Nations in that process. The year 1989 has seen a major landmark in the process of decoloniza tion and has seen the transition of an important territory from non-self-qoverning status. There is now an importa."\t Question before us, How should we proceed in the 1990s1 How can the Fourth Committee, the Special Commi~tee on decolonization and its two subcommittees best address the profoundly changed circul1l.'itances of the world situation? It is obvious that the rhetoric of the 1960s has no place in the consideration of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories in the 19909. It is obvious that certain discredited theories must he discarded. For example, to respond to the legi timate call from Non-Self-Governing Territories for transnational economic activities, whiCh are critical to their development and beneficial to their societies - to respond to that call with little more than sterile and ohsolete rhetoric on the evils of foreign economic activities would be a betrayal of our commitment to further their claim to proqress and self- determination. My delegation strongly shares the view, which was widely expressed in the course of the geneul deba te in the Fourth Commi t tee, that the tl me has cone for ua all to take a fresh and honest look at the procedures of the United Nations with respect to decoloni~atlon. (Mr. Wilkinson,United States) Our goal should be to ra tionalize the work in order to enhance the effectiveness and the efficiency of the United Nations and to benefit, above all, the inhabitants of those Terd toties which remain the legi tim te concern of the Fourth Committee and the Special Committee. Ilmong the concrete suggestions that have been offered are the elimination of the redundancies and overlapping which OCCur, for example, in the multiple Qjllside ration of draft resolutions, the elimination of inappropriate or obsolete items, concision in drafting documents, reports and texts, and increased clarity and precision in the drafting of resolu tions. My delegation strongly endorses such suggestions, which are consistent with the recomnenda tions in the report of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental EKperts to F~view the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of tile Uni ted Na tions. The interests of the inhabitants of the territories which fall within the competence of the decolonization committees are poorly served by empty rhetoric. The volume of documents produced or the number of resolutions adopted is no barometer of effectiveness in the discharge of designa ted tasks by those committees. It is our profound hope that in the landmark year 1990, the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration m the Granting of Independence to Colon ial Countries and Peoples, the consideration of this agenda item will be undertaken in a new spirit, one that is con~istent with and appropriate to the dramatically changed circumstances in the world situation. Mt~ SHl\HEED (Svr ian Arab Republic) (interpretA tion from Arabic), ~hroughout history humanity has known - and still knows - many political movements based a'l colonialist ideologies. His toricallV , these nnvements have spread by carefully concealing their ideological content. I~ many cases they ha~e succeeded in deluding peoples, divetting their attention from the real nature of their (Mr. Shaheed, Syrian Arab Republic) designs. They have infiltrated the very structure of nations and controlled their fate for a certain period of time. However, some of those movements have not mer~ly had recourse to simple poU tical slogans in their attempts to invade certain regions. On the contrarv,they have tried to hold Divine Providence responsible for colonialism. Some of these novements hc.-ve attempted to justi fy their colon ialist policy by attributing it to divine inspiration. others have frankly proclaimed that they came aboot as a result of divine will to drive the imabitants from their lands, on the pretext that the new settlers have a divine right to those la~ds. Aa has been proved, it is not easy to change such creeds, althOlH~'" at a formal level it may be possible to adapt to different conditions without changing the essence of those beliefs. In regions that have experienced invasions by political fOOvement.s of such a colonialist nature we find that the fundamental problem is the assimilation of foreigners into the body of the indigenous population. Those foreigners feel that they are racially pure and superior, they practise various forms of racial disctimina tion aga inst the indigenous popula tion, and they deny them their national ethic. Those foreign settlers who are not tolerated, culturally in the milieu they have come to live in, because of their feeling of Auperiority, ate so well off in material terms that they exercise their material strength to wield poli tical power in the regions they occupy. They hinder any real Progress towards economic and social development. They constitute a reactionary force which opera '.1'8 against the aspira tions of the original popula tion and of the neighbouring pOpulation in general. These foreign settlers have their own conception of thEiir Otm future and of the future of the cOWltry and its neighbours. What they envision is completely contrary to the principles of self-determination and of the equality of tights of all peoples - that prineiplp. j that is the very basis and foundation, of the international community of today. One (Mr. Shaheed;'syrianArab RePublic) of the most important elemer..ts of these colon ial systems is the sebure of land by any means. Land is the material basis on which these foreign settlers build. Immigrants are the human basis of those systems. The li~ between land and immigrants is fundamental. The more immigrants ther~ are, the more they can extend the area of the land seized, thus encouraging more immIgrants to come and take part in the colonization process. The seizure of land affects the original population to their detriment. Many pretexts were used to justify the seizure of land. They claimed that the original inhabitants did not, in fact, own the land on which they had settled. It is sometimes said that they were not looking after it properly and that the foreign settlers, since they are civilized, have come to improve the use of the land and transform it into a paradise. Sometimes the seizure of land took place wi tbout any kind of justification, whether by a genuine or formal bill of sale or by war. There are two considerations that govern tbe practices of those colonialist political movements with respect to the original population. The first consideration is a racist coocept arising from a feeling the foreign settlers have of their superiority over the indigenous population. In practice this means that the foreign settlers have as little as possible to do with the original population. The second consideration is of an economic nature. It arises from a feeling on the part of the foreign settlers that they have the power to exploit the original population as cheap manpower. In practice this means that they make the indigenous population work as labourers or hired hands. The policies of any colonialist movement always fall into these two categories of considerations. The common element in those policies is their discciminatory basis. Foreign settlers do not treat the indigenous population on an equal (Mr: •. Shaheed, .Syrian Arab Republic) footing. The indigenous inhabitants are not considered as citizens in the full sense of the term. They are second-class citizens. The discrimina tory treatment of the indigenous popula tion under colon ial systems takes the f~r:m of various laws and practices which establish a principle that is not sanctioned by interna tional law: the principle of dual na tionality. The POlicy, pursued within those colonial settlers' systems, of encouraging the immigration of foreign settlers, does not open the way for all those who ~ish to immigrate. The policy reauires that an immigrant be of a specific type. He is not judged by what he iSI rather he is judged by his genealogy to see whether there is anything in his origins that would be a reason for his not belonging to the reQUired racist society. (Mr. Shaheed, Syrian'Arab Republic) ,Cit of the This is combined with another process in the opposite direction eXPulsion of the original population by violence and by depriving them of their na tia"lality or ci tizenship. In add! tim to the racist laws and measures on immigration and land, there are other racist laws and policies aimed at breaking the will of the original population. These include restrictions on freedom of movement from one region to another on the pretext of security considerations or so~alled usefulness of work. These colonialist political measures restrict the original population's freedom of independent political action, prevent them from setting up their own political parties, deny them freedom of professimal association and forbid them to set up labour organizations or trade unions. Thus the democracy whose pratses these intruders sing in their campaigns of propaganda in Western demccratic countries is a restrictive democracy, a democracy that does not embrace the whole population. It is a monopoly of intruders. They are contravening one of the first principles of democracy. the legal eauality of cl thens. The alarminq r"ciam of the intruders iR shown by their absolute contempt for the life of the original population. They resort without scruple to unlimited violence agail\st the indigenous popula tion whenever they feel that there is any danger to t~em from that Quarter, and it is no coincidence that the worst massacres of our time have taken place in those regions. The reaction of the indigenous population to this settler racism is revolution under the leadership of reVolutionary movements that confirm that their aim is not to expel or kill the settlers or foreigners but to live with them free from any racist concepts. Histe:cy and the exper:lence of peoples demonstrate that r&cist and colonialist idGologies have no futur~. Mr. KEI"lA (Mali) (interpretation from French), The adoption 29 years ago of resolution 1514 (XV) on the granting "f independence to colonial countries and (Mr. Keita, Mali) peoples gave an impetus to the process of decolonha ticn thtoughout the world. Thanks to the efforts of the United Nations and to struggles of various types nearly 60 States from all cmtinents are seated today in this Assembly. However, this situation, which is a source of joy to the international community, does not hide the areas in shadow that remain throughout the wodd. In mote than 15 non-self-govern~ng territories - in Africa, the PacificD the Caribbean and the South Atlantic - the peoples are claiming their right to self-determination. My delegation is very appreciative of the Quality of the reports, notes and documents that the Special Committee and the Secretary-General have so carefullY prepared and placed before us for canBide ration. We pay a well-deserved tribute to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for the effective work that it has done since it was established. The tkli ted 16 tions Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, whose dedication in carrying out the important and sensi tive mission with which the international commmity has entrusted him is exemplary, deserves our warmest congratulations. Colalialism is incompatible with the pUr[)ORes and principles of the Olarter, which, in Article 73, imposes on the administering Powers obligations that they do not fully discharqe. In addition, the Declaration in resolution 1514 (XV) which ceaffhms the right of peoples to decide their own fate - should be implemented in full by all those Powers. In this context, my delega ticn regrp.ts that, almogt 30 years after the adoption of that declaration, it is not yet heing applied to all the peoples of the world. This situa ticn ls unacceptable and my delega tion, which has b~fi a member of the Special Coml'!\ttt~e si"ce its foundatio", denounces it vehe'i'Oently • The present year is undeniably a year of Change in inte;:national rel&tions, par:ticul~dy in sQUthern Africa, where the proceas of the decolcnintion of Nalilihia Is practically complete. We welcome this fact. The success of the elections, which took place under the auspices of the United eations, has led to the formation of a constitufli'lt Assel1lblv, which is already meating to legislate on the destiny of this heroic people, which is determined to shoulder its national and inte~national l'esponslbiUties. My de1ega tion is happy to acknowledge the very positive role played by the Namibian people, under the leadership of the South West Afric.a People's Orgll'liA tion (SWAPO), which has led the na tlonal libera ticn struggle vith courage and deter.ination. The support of the United Nations and of the international community has been crucial to this successful cutco.. In this transitional stage the organs of the United Nations and its specialbed agencies 1II1st assist the Namiblan State to establish and consolidate its institutions and ita economy in accordance witb its :1l111ienaQ potential, with strict respect for its sOl7ereignty. The need for .D political settlement in Western Sahara is clear. Mali, whic~ Works tirelessly within the OX, and the United Nations with a view to the ending of this fratricidal conflict, rufUras its support for the implementation of OAU resolution A~lRes. 104 (XIX) and General Assembly resolution 40/50. REcent developments in the situa tion - that is, the acceptance by the two parties of the peace plan proposed by the current Qlairman of the om and the United Nations Secretary-General - enCt'urage my dele-ga tion. We hope that the thi ted Ht tions technical team .,111 receive all the necessary support to enable it to complete the procesa leading tx> the erganha tlcn of a self -deterllliM tlon referendum for the Sahl:aool people.. My delegation welcomes the spirit of reconciliation and OtMiprollise that hu _de pcaaible the td.gnlng C')f the Mati.gnO!\ agreements. Respect for thea. agreellenta is indispensable if the lanale people is to be enabled to exercie. its tight to self-determination. As the twentieth century draws to an end the majority of NOn-Self-Governing 1ertito~ies are islands scattered throughout the Pacific OCean, the South Atlantic and the Caribbeml Sea. Their geographic loca ticn and tbeir low popula tion density should by no I'lleans prevent them from exa~eising all the legitimate and inalienable rights of peoples. Similarly, the Uti ted Na tions, the Special Committee and, in particular, the administe~ing Pavers must not fail to fUlfil their obligations and reepcnsibilities with reg&~d to th~ae colonized countries and peoples. Self~etarmin~tionand independence are the inalienable riqbt of all colonized peoplesi whatever the size of the territory Or the number of imabitants. Every Pilople is an er.tity \fith attendant rights and responsibilities. That ls one of tha principles of that very special legal and poll tical masterpiece, ou~ Charter. The establi8hment of military and st:1'ateglc land, naval and air bases, the testing, transport and stoCkpiling of all kinds of weapons, including missiles and nuclear and tactical submarines, the burial of radioactive wute - all these activi ties are major prohlems of oUt" tine that must be settled as part and parcel of the process of d~colonization. 'rhe Uni ted Nations is a forum and a source of hope for colonized md disinherited peoples. By its courageous actions, the Organization made the years 1960 to 1970 the decade of independence for colonial Territories. My country hopea that, thanks to this precedent and deepi te the grey areas that I have mentioned, the decade from 1990 to 2000 wU1 see the total disappearance of coloniza tion in all its forms. The muntr ies freed from colo' _doft ha~e a leading cole to play in this decade with regard to all colonized countries. In recomending the full implementation of the relevant provisions of resol\!tion 1514 (XV) and of the Qlarter, my delegation cal18 on the colonial Pbwers that are behind the times to heed the call of history and resolutely 10in movement towards understanding progress, co~peration and soUdadty that marks the end of the twentieth century. The people and the ChverMient of Ktli have always supported the dqht of every people to Aelf-determination. They will spare no effort to guarantee and defend, as they have in the past, the inalienable right of all peoples and countries to he the principal, indeed the only, ones to decide their own destiny. Mr. SOTlROV (Bulgaria) a The current debate takes place at a particularly important staqe in the ongoing process of improvement 1n the 1nterna tional climate. This process gained a new, positive momentum from the succesBful conclusion of the Soviet-American summit. , It is widely acknowledged that the spirit of detente has significantly influenced the work of the Uni ted ~ tions. Its role has been strengthened. This has made it possible for t.he Organization to become increasingly involved in the search for practical solutions to almost e~~ry important issue of concern to thQ international community. One of those issues has been and remains the development of friendly relationa among nations baaed on respect for the principle of the eaual rights and right to self-determination of peoples, as enshrined in Article 1 of the Olited Nstiofta Charter. The Charter also proclaims faith in the dignity of the human parson and in the eaual tights of na tiOM, large and small. It ",as on the basis of these fundamental principles that the historic Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colon1&1 Coui\tries and ~ples "'88 adopted. This dehate, in our v1ew, carries particular weight. It gives uo the opportunity to review the aChievements in the struggle for the cCllllplete atld uncondi tional implementation of the Declaration. Most important, we should focus on the task of putting an end to colonialism wherever it still exists. '!'he ~ited Nations has the potential to achieve thiA lofty 90&1. '!'he successful caapletion of the moat irDportant phase of the transition of Namibia to independence has been a vivid expression of the potential and credibility of the United Nations in this field. The GovernMnt and people of Bulgaria are indeed deeply moved by the fact tbat the Naaibian people i8 ("'dft the verge of at.tainin9 its long-awai ted freea. We have been impressed by the "isdc:ft, realism and self-restraint of all the parties in Nallibia during the election process. Our delegatlonBhares the hope of the Security Council that the utl108t politiCAl responsibil it'! will be displayed in the transition period in order to facilitate the earliest possible accession by Namibia to independence. We al~o hope that the years to come ",Ul see the abolition of the systell of apar.theid in neiqbbOuri~ South Africa. The ending of apartbeid would ell"1Nl te the main source of tension in southern Africa. Favourable c:.oncUtinns would he created for the peoples of the region to erabarlc on the fOllet of peace, co-operation and development. (Mr. Sotirov, Bulgaria) The People's Republic of BUlgeria is satisfied with the progress made so fat 1n putting an end to the colonial situation in other parts of the world. In particular, We would lilce to mtreu the illportance of the adopUOfI by consensUR in the Fourth <:O_ittee of the draft resolution an Western Sahara. We are convinced that further delllOnstrations of 900d",Ul 8\d constructive apprcach by the pa~ties to the conflict would help the joint eff~rts of the Sec~etary-Generaland the current a.atrlll. of the Orgmhction of African Ull ty (OAU~ to carry out their responsible aiesicn successfully. Next year wll1 _tk the beginning of the International Decade for the Eradication of ColoniaUsll. Although progress In the field of Oecolonhation lA indeed inPtessive, we shou:t.o not be misled. The international co_unity will not be able to announce the fulfilllent of its mandate until the last colonial people is genuinely freed oIllnd all for_ and I18nifestat!ons of colonialism ate effectively remved. We therefore fit! terate our support for the id_ that such factors aa she of population and territory, CJeOlJfaphical location and 1111itecJ natural reBou~ces 8hcuteS 1n no way de!4y the speedy i.ple_nta tian of the D1tclara Uoo. There rema i n a nUWlbQr of Territories that hav-e tile riC)tlt to Bolf-deterllination. This rlC}bt should be exercbed 11' full conforlllty "ith the re!ev.,t Q\lted NatiC'mfl provisions. '1'he~e are still Mny obstacles t one of the lIain one" bein9 to.... continuing pollci.s of certain for.19n economic and other lnterest8 in the Non-Self-Governing Territories" Many of the1l continue to regard those Territories only as sOlIrcea of profit lft:l persist 1n plWldertng their hUMaft and natural resources. Theee policies result in the deterioration of the eoonolllc, environmental and social situati~. Bwen f!OEe distu~binq is the use of the dependent 'n!trrltorlee for military purposes. 1he military activities are carried out in contravention of the repeated (Mr. Sotirov, Bulgaria) calls by the General Assellbly for the ill.eliate and uneondi tional withdrawal of tlilitary bases and installations froM colonial 'l\urltodea. Taking into account the ch&n9ing reali tiee in the world and the ever: growing de_nde for ft'eedoll, the a&ainistedng Powers &.'\cu1d t'HaBeas their 8tand 91a·1.-.18 the dependent peoples. They should abi de fullY by the pro"i,; ions of the Chat ter and the rtec18t'8tlon in order to pro1DOte theit' political, economic and social advancement of those peoples. In the light of this, the co-operl!l tion of all adrlinistering biers with the relevant United Nations bodie8 Moollle!l increasingly illportant. (Mr. Sotirov, Bulgaria) My delegation is convinced of the feaRibiUty of the noble goal enshrined in ~e.olution 43/47. All that is rectuired is to tr:anslate into practice raiipect for the leg1 ti1llate d9ht of the colon ia1 peoples freely to determine their destinies in accordance with the universally recog~ized principles of international law. The poll tical ellancipation of the colonial peoples should not lag behind the posi ti\.-e developDents in international life. Let 138 hope that the celebration of the thirtieth anniversal~ of the Declaration en the Granting of Independence to Colon ia1 Countries and Pf.oples will lIatk t.he beginninq of the final stage in the elimination of colonialism, neo~olonialiBm, racial discrimination and aparthei!. The People's RepUblic of Bulgaria will continue to adhere to its principled position in this field, and at the sallle ti_ would welCOfft! .y manifestation of realism and constructive change 1n the spirit of the new trends in modern international relations. The MPS mEN'!', I should like to infom members of the General Assembly that in order to aUQtt adeQuate tille for the consideration of the prQCJra_e-budC)et iMplications of the relevant draft resolutions, action on t.he draft resolutions sUbmitted under agenda item 18, aImplyent&tion of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples", and on the reports of the Fourth Committee will be taken at a later date, to be announced. The meeting rose at 5.20 p.m_
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• (eontinued» 'lWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE mOCLAMATJ)N OF THE DECLARATJ)N ON SOC~AL ~OGRBSS AND aJEVBWIfIENT The FRBSIDBN'l', This norning the Assellbly, in accordance vith the decision taken It,r;: its 3rd pJ.e:uuy !Meting, will devote this Me tilW! to the observance of \:he twentieth anniversary of the proclclI8tion of the Declaration on Social Proqress and Development, which is considered under itell 91~ On this day 20 y.,a rs ago the General Aasellbly adoPted the Declaration on Social ~ogrest ~d Development. The Declaration reaffir.ed the core ~8Saqe contained in the United Nati~ns Charter that the ultl~ate purpose of development is the betterment of the human condition. In elaborating on this basic theee. it Placed special emPhasis on the need to prollW:)te social 'juf'Jtice and the diqni ty and value of the human person. It underlined the crucial l~portance of international co~peration to make possible the rP.alization of human pOte~tial in all its dimensioM. The main pnctical purpose of the Declaration vas to provide a co_on basis for social de~elopment policies and for action at the national and international level$. I am plea~ed to not~ that the developing countries - whose ~Umbef and inf luence vi thin the member:Jhip of our Orc;l anha tion vas then growinq rapidly u~~r ~he full thrust of decolonization - played an important part in th~ deliberations and negotta tions l~di~ to the adoption of the Declara tion, as well as in derfining its principles, goals and means and met~ods of realization. After the adoption of the DeClacA tion~ the Pre151dent of the General AAsellbly at the twenty-fourth session, Miss Angle Brooks of Liberia, stated that it was the first international instrument vhich provided clear quidelinee not onlv for social ('the President) policies but also for the inteqration of economic and social action for the improvement of societies and the well-beinq of the individual. Much water has passed under the bridqe oince then. The world has underqone Profound chanqes in many spheres - economic, social, demographic, tec~nological and poli tical. Yet the central message and many of the detailed provisions of the Declaration remain as valid today as when it was adopted. Indeed the very changes that I have noted have made them even ItW:Ire topical a.c; we have come to realize as never before that W~ are all in one boat, or under the same roof, with shared social concerns and common interests. (The President) While the Declara tion thus remains highly topical and relevant in many of its essentials, time has clearly overtaken some of its provisions, which today appear somewhat dated, reflecting ephemeral concerns of 20 years a90 and approaches to Problems perfected in different circumstances from those p~evailing today. But that should not disturb us, indeed, it would be most surprising if w@ did not view certain things differentl~ today, and that we do so means that we can learn from experience. We cannot stand still~ and indeed we have not done so. Many issues and ideas only broadly sketched in the Declaration have been given clearer shape i~ the intervening years through patient research and negotiation and they are reflected in both in terna tional instruments and plar.s of action and, in many instances, indeed in practical action. In the intervtming 20 years life has clearly improved for many people around the world, which is proof that the goals of the Declaration are not beyond attainment - for some at l6'ist. We should now focus our attention and our ~::tions more closely on that large portion of humanity for whom life continues to be a daily struggle for survival, with few prospects for improvement in sight and indeed the very real prospect - and often the reality - of further impoverishment. In 1969 we were perhaps unduly optimistic that proqress was i~evitable - largely a auestion of time - and that economic growth would automa ticallY bring social advance. We have learned from bitter experience that progress is not inevitable~ that indeed it can be reversed. Social advance does not necessarily follow automatically on economic growth and growth itself is but a tende r plant. The plight and misery of millions of my fellow Africans have been vividly descdhP.d in many statements at this Assembly session. The problems of indebted countries or of countries tryirg to naviga le in the turbulent global economic wa ters and the (The President) social costs of economic adjustment and austerity have also been brought repeatedly to our attention. As ve commemorate the twsntieth anniversary of the Declaration let us explore the specific manner: in which tie can pronnte implementa tion of key objectives.. let us agree on priorities in the context of current global realities and ensure that they are adeQuately reflected in a new international development strategy. let us ta~e ad~antaqe of the improving global political environment to set a course of action of real and lasting benefit in improved living conditions, especially for the poorer countries. More importantly, let us commit ourselves to existing realities within the international community and ensure that the euphoria that has accomPanied recent political developments and the lessening of global tensions does not in any way become transla ted into diminished social progr.ess and development for third world countries. I should like now to inform the Assembly that the Secretaty-General of the United Nations has issued a message (SGJSM/2382~OC 4197) on the occasion of this anniversary. I now call upon the representative of Liberia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States. Mr. JARRE'l'T (Liberia), The At dcan Group, on whose behalf I am honou red and privileged to speak, welcomes the opportwity tn participa te in this meeting commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. On 11 December 1969 the General Assembly adopted and solemnly proclaimed the Veclara tion on Social Progress and Development, which defined the principles of social development, its obiectives and the methods and means of. achieving those objectives. (Mr. Jarrett,. Liberia) As we commennrate the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, a numbee of fundamental Questions could be raised as to whether indeed we should be assembled here today to celebra te this occas ion, in view of experiences in many countries. The Secretary-General in the laRt paragraph of his report to the Economic and Social Council sta tesl "social conditions are deteriorating drastically. This situation involves nearly 1 billion people, mostly in Africa and lAtin America, and is so essential to other deliberations of the United Nations that it cannot be overlooked ••• ". (A/44/86, para. 139) The critical auestion we should ask ourselves iSl What happened to our commitments? WhY is it that hunger, malnutd tion, poverty and social disorders continue to be Pervasive? Have we addressed those issues or have we individually and collectively I1Illde any memil\9ful efforts to live by our commitments in terms t)f allocating apPropriate resources and providing the necessary political support for the social betterment and development of our: people'.j? Without giving comprehensive answers to those auestions ! would like to point to the efforts that African countries have made in an attempt to ensure the improvement of the social progress and development of the oontinent in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Declaration which we solemnly adopted 20 years ago. Ten years after the United Nations General Assembly acbpted the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, Heade of State or Government of the Organisation of African Unity met in July 1979 in Monrovia, Liberia, in order to review the economic and social condi tions in Africa. They pointed out that the effect of unfulfilled promises of global development strategies which had been IIlOre sharply felt in Africa than in other continents had (Mr. Jarrett, Liberia) led them to take urgent action to provide necessary political support for achieving national and continental self-reliance in economic and social development. After an in-depth review of their economic and social conditions, African leaders decided to a<bpt the Monrovia Declarati.on of Commitment of Heads of State or Government of the Organiza tion of African Unity, in which they undertook individually and collectively to promote the economic and social development of African countries. The Monrovia Declaration puts sPecific emphasis on, interali~, human resource development, science and technology, subregional and regional economic integra tion and protect:ion of the environmente (Mr. JaLrett, Liberia) As a follow-up of this D:!claration~ an extraordinary summit meeting of African leaders, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria, decided to adopt sectoral and global priorities in the social and economic fields with a view to achieving fast and self-sustaining economic growth. These priorities are embodied in the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of ragos - a blueprint for Africa's socio-economic development. In spite of a combination of adverse external factors, African countries have put in place institutions which should facilitate implementation of the Monrovia Declaration and the Lagos Plan of Action. I refer to subregional economic groupings, such as the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Colmlunity of Central Af dcan States, and the Preferentia1 Trade Area for Easte rn and Southern African States. These groupings now actively address on a day to day basis the economic and social issues of countries in their respective subregions. Overall, the Organhation of African Unity is now poised to set up an African economic community in accordance with the gllidelines embodied in the Final Act of Lagos. Thus, at the continental level, African States so far have taken a number of actions which are consistent with the principles, objecti~es and modalities for implemntation of the teclaration on Social Progress and Development. Another landmark in Africa's efforts to promote social progress has been in the area of human rights. The African Charter on Ibman and Peoples Rights is a clear manifestation of the commitment of African countries to the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The African Charter on Human and People's Rights was adoPted in 1981 in Nairobi, Kenya. I As of now, 41 States members of the Orqanization of African Unity (OAU) have signed and ratified it. The Charter clearly recognizes .the right to development and the basic fact that civil and poli tical rights cannot be dissociated from economic, social and cultural riqhts. The Declar&tion on Social Proqress and Development also Eecogni~es the impOrtance of the family in society. The OAU Ch&rter does this and goes further to underline the role of the State in protecting and assisting the family, as well as women, children, the aged and the disabled. Despite these efforts, African countries have during the last two dP.cadeA eXPerienced serious difficulties in providing for the social and economic needs and reauirements of their peoples. The last two &cades have vi tnessed a series I)f crises emanating from such exogenous factors as drought and desertification, a sharp decline in comnodity prices, a deterioration of the terms of trade, declining investments, inadequate resource flows to support economic reforms that are necessary for the acceleration of economic growth and development. The excruciating debt and debt-servicing burden have compounaed the situation to such an extent that today African Governments have been forced either to cut back or abandon programmes for socio-economic development. Such a state of affairs definitely reauires urgent international action. Furthermore, the advancement of social proqress and development in Africa is seriously impeded t1i South Africa's apartheid policy and inAtitutionalized racism, as well as by its aggression aqainst and destabilization of the front-line States. !eartheid has been declared a crime against humanity, hut yet the black majority of the population of South Africa continues to he deprived of their basic human rights, and fran participating freely in the poli tical affairs of their country. The !partheid regime has continued to stifle oppositil)R hy an unjustified sta~ of emergency I there is a denial of justice through detention without trial, and forcible removal of certain elements of the population. Meanwhile, a recent study by the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force and the Economic Commission for Africa indicates that between 1980 and lq88 the total cost of South i~rica's destabilization of and aggression against its neighbours is estimated at $60 billion in economic terms" in addi. tion, 1.5 million lives have been lost. These enormous losses deprive the front-line States of essential resources, both human and material, for the advancement of their economic and social well-being. Furthermore, there is the misery of 12 million displaced persons and refugees in southern Africa. It i~ for these and other related reasons that Africa oontinuGs to urqe the international community to take dP.:cisive action to dismantle the detestable .Nld anachronistic ~ystem of apartheid, and to foster the emerqence of a non-racial society in South Africa which will be responsive to the needs of all its people irreSPective of race or colour. As we approach the decade of the 1990s~ we ought to seize the opportunity of the relaxed global poli tical atmosphere to &chieve the aims and objectives of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. We can 00 so only by strict o\dherence to the United Nations Charter, by which Member States pledqel'l, inter alia, to take joint and separate action, in co-operatio~ with the Organization, to pronote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress through respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and for the dignity and worth of the human person. This affirmation, made almost half ~ century ago, remains valid today, and it is therefore our hope that we shall fully understand that mankind's search for a better world inextricably linkS us all in a oonmon struggle. The PRESIDENTI I now call on Mbass8100r Ilndteas Mavrommatis, the rePresentative of ~prus, who will speak on beh~lf of the Group of Asian States. Mr. MAVR<MMATlS (~prus) I The Group Ole As ian States welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the observance of the twentieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration Ori Social ProgreAo and Development. It is beyond dOUbt that SOCial development is a key element in aChieving progress in other crucial issues confronting the wodd today - issues suCh as peace and securitv. pOlitical stability, protection of the environment, arid human rights, to mention just a few. (Mr. Mavrolil1\atis, 9'prus) 1bday ~ are observing the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development by the General Assembly in its resolu tion 2542 (XXIV) of 11 ~cember 1969. At the same time we cannot but express concern over the slowing down, and even sometimes regression, of social progress in a latge number of developing countries as a result of the grave economic problems these countries are facing. The heavy burden of foreLgn debt in conjunction with other aggrava ting factors, such as trade deficita, infla tion and unemploy ment, impose a tremendous obstacle to the progress of many countries and seriously curta il funds earmarked by Governments for social develoPJrent programmes. Nevertheless we are greartly encouraged by the fact that, as in other fields, interna tion&! co~peration on social issues has attai~ed some significant goals, as was attested to recently by Ms. Anstee, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna, in her statement before the Third Committee with reference to the very same event that we are celebrating today. We are fully aware that, according to the Declaration, social proql:ess and development· ',all be founded on respect for the dignity and value of the human ~~~aon and shall ensure the promotion of human rights and social justice. This important goal necessitates, inter alia, the eradiction of policies and practices that hinder social progress, such as racism, racial discrimination and, in particular, apartheid. Other dangerous trends and habits which debilitate large numbers of individuals and hence incapacita te society must also be eradica ted' I am referring to the alarming proportions attained by the scourge of drug abuse and drug trafficking. In solemnly reaffirming today the principles and objectives of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development, we stress the direct link between social and economic issues and we urge a more constructive oo~rdination of the work carried (~r. Mavrommatis, Cyprus) out in these parallel but intercela ted fields by the interna tional community in general, and by the various relevant bodies within the United Nations system in particular. We are convinced that more extensive interna tional and reg 10nal co--operatinn is needed for the promotion of social progress and development. It is our earnest hope that the promising strides made recently towards detente and the peaceful solution of international conflicts will be followed by an appropriate improvement in the Quality of life of millions of human beings who are at present denied the fulfilment of their most basic needs in terms of health care, housing, employment and even nutri tion. The efforts of the international community should not be concentrated solely and exclusively on the pursuit of peace and security. AdeQuate resources and careful planning must be devoted to the difficult but attainable endeavour to establish a just social and economic order that would enable thP. full enjoyment of a peaceful and secure world. The Asian group of countries stands ready to work with all other nations to prollDte the principles and objectives of the Declara tion. The PRESIDENT, I call now on the representative of German Democratic Republic, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European Sta teR. Mr. ZACHMANN (German Democratic Republic), In my capacity as Chairman of the Group of Eastern European States I wish to address tllis plenary meeting on thp. occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the adopt~~n of the Declaration on Social Progress and Development. The Eastern European Sta tes consider the Declara tion an important instrument for promoting national and intp.rnational efforts on behalf of social progress and development. They believe that the objectives and prinoiples of the Declaration have lost nothing of their topicality. TWenty years after the adoption of the Declara tion the preamble's proposi tion that "man can achieve complete fulfilment of his aspirations only within a just social order and that it is consequently of cardinal importance to accelerate 80cial and economic progress everywhere, thus contributing to interna tionat peace and solidarity· (resolution 2542 (XXIV) is still valid and attests to the f.arsightednesB of the authors. ~~v the awareness that international peace and security and economic and social progress fOlr all human beings 01'1 our planet are closely intertwined has become an essential element in reshaping international relations. Therefore the objectives of the Declara tion can be implemented only if all Sta tes co~peratP. on the basi~ of dialogue and accommodation of interests. JOint action and the IIIObiliza ticn of all na tional and interfla tional resources will make possible that "Social progreSB and development ••• aim at the continuous raising of the material and spiritual standards of living of all members of society, with respect for and in compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms" (ibid., part· Il). It is an indisputable fact that the worsening of the economic situation, particularly in developing countries, is bound to lead to an aggrava ticn of social problems. This is reflected also in the 1989 report on the world social situation. But the developed countries also are beset with formidable problems, and they are confronted with the emergence of completely new ones, notahly in the social field. This sitllation makes it imperative for U9 to share responsibility - in political, moral and also practical terms - in the search for solutions that are acceptable to all. Here we see ample scope for Uni ted Na tions activi ties, as walol rightly stressed by the Secretary-General in his report contained in A/44/l16. We support the view that the O@clara tionbe taken into account in the formulation of the interna tional development stra tegy for the Fourth Ui'li ted Ha tions Development Decade and in the implementation of programmes of internati~nat action to be carried out during the Decade. The main objectives of the Declaration - namely, the elimination of t.Itlemployment, hunger, malnutri tion and poverty, the eradic"l tion of UU teracy, tile assurance of the right to universal access to culturel the provision of health Protection for the entire popula tion, the provhion of free, universal educa tion at the primary level, and the promotion of human rights and social justice - while sUll valid, have not yet been universally realized. The report of the Secretary -General says on that matte r, "The objectives have been quite generally pursued, althouqh in many countries economic adversity has obstructed progress in these area~A. Therefore the EaAtern European Stat~s have launched several initiatives in the framework of the Uni ted tb tions with a view to making a business-lilte a~td constructive contribution to the promotion of oo~perati~n among all nations in transla ting into practice the objectives of the Declara tiol\. Those initiatives include the following draft resolutions, 11Fbpular participation in its various forms as an important faclor in development and in the full realization of all human rightsll, IIAchievement of social justice ll, llSocial welfare, develoPment &nd science and technology 11, llHuman rights, science and technology 11, IIRig~t to worle", "'Ri.9ht to educationll, and 11 Indivisibility and interdePef~dence of economic, social, civil and pOlitical rights 11. Our interdependent world, with lts old and nev 'Problems, need~ is favourable international environment and the co-operation of States as eQuals, irrespective of their socio~conomic systems or poli tical, ideological, cultural or other values. Only in that way can Governments fulfil their responsibilities vi8-a-~is their peoples and helP to achieve the objectives of the Deolaration on Social ETogress and Development. ~ that end the Eastern European States will continue to add bOth their constructive contribution and their experience to the future efforts of the international col1lllunity. They will cb all they can to help increase the effectiveness of the United Nations and to strengthen the role of the ~orld Organization in that respect nlso. The PRES IDENT, I call on the repzoesentative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States. Mr$ lQotPEY (Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesl: It is an honour: for me, on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, to address thiR meeting commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Declara tion on Soclal Progress and Development. Twenty years ago the General Assembly adopted the Declarati~n on Social Progress and Development. The ~clara tion defined the principles and objectives of social progress and the means and the methods of aChieving those objectives. It (Mr. Fbmpey, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) reaffirmed our faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in the principles of peace, the dignity and worth of the human person, and social justice proclaimed in the United Nations Charter. It set out the individual's basic right to work and to the free choice of employment, and the right to enjoy the fruits of social progress. It declared the family to be the basic unit of society and called for the elimination of illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty and hunger. The international environment has undergone rapid political change since the adoption of the Declaration 20 years ago. However, social and economic development have tended to lag behind poli tical growth, and there are serious problems in those sPheres of life that reauire urgent solutions at the national and international levels. The principles and obiectives of the Declaration are just as relevant today as we confront the proble~~ of debt and adjustment, environmental degradation, poverty, hunger and the drug crisis. The Declaration also called for general and complete disarmament and the channellinq of the progressively released reSOurces to economic development, particularly for the benefit of developing oountries. That is a dream that remains largely unrealized, and the misalloca tioo of social and economic resources associated with the arms race is one of the root causes of suffering in the world today. The States members of. the Latin American and Caribbean Group are of the view that the twen tieth anniversary of the proclama tion of the Declara tion on Social Progress and Development provides the international community with a uniaue opportunity for rededicating itself to the aims of peace and social progress, and for adopting new programmes and strat~gies for promoting better standards of life in larqer freedom.
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• , 116, 117, 118 and 12, 119 and 120 INPOBMATION FRQI tl>N-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES TRANSMITTED UNDER ARTICLE 73 .!. OF TBB CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS, REPORT OF THE FOURTH CGlMITTEE (A/44/739) ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN ECDNCMIC AND OTHER INTERESTS WHICH ARE IMPEDING THE IM PLlMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL (X)UNTRIES AND PEOPLES IN NlHIBIA AND IN ALL OTHER TERRITORIES UNDER COIDNIAL DCMINATION AND EFFORTS TO ELlMINATE COLONIALIEM, APARTHEID AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA' REPORT OF THE FOURTH CQ4MITTEE (A/44/664) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL OOUNTRIES AND PEOPLES BY THE SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND THE IN'l'ERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, REPORT OF THE ECOtDtIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL' REPORT OF THE FOURTH CQ4MIT'l'EE (A/44/140) UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGIU\MME FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA' REPORT OF THE FOURTH CQ4MITTEE (A/44/74l) OFFERS BY MEMBER STATES OF STUDY AND TRAINING FACILITIES FOR INBABIT~'l'S OF tl>N-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES, REPORT OF THE FOURTH CCMMITTEE (A/44/742) The PRESIDENT, I call on the representative of the United Arab Emirates, Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee, to introduce six reports of the Fourth Commlttee in one intervention. Mr 0 AL-KINDI (United Arab Emirates) , Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee (interpretation from Arabic), I have the honour to present to the General Assembly for its consideration six reports of the Fourth Committee, relating, respectively, to agenda items 19, 116, 111, U8 and 12,119 and 120. The first report (A/44/738) relates to those Territories not covered by other items of the agenda, wbich the Q)mmittee took up under agenda item 18. set out in the report are 12 draft resolutions, two draft consensuses and one draft decision, relating, respectively, tol Western &ahara, New caledonia, TOkelau, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Piteairn and St. Helena. (Mr. Al-Kindi,"BapPOrteur, Fourth Oommittee) By adopting these proposals, the General Assembly would, am:>ng other things, reaffirm the full application to those Territories of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the inherent right of their peoples freely to decide their own future political status. The Assembly would request the administering Bowers concerned to take all possible measures to expedi te the process of decoloni tion. The Asselltlly would also urge the administering POwers, with the assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to accelerate the social and economic development of those Territories. In noting with apPreciation the continuing co~peration of certain administering POwers in that regard, the Assembly would once again emphasize the > importance of dispatching United Nations visiting missions to Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to enable the United Nations to be fully apprised of the Conditions prevailing in those Territories. Aa regards Western Sahara, the General Assembly would, inter alia, reiterate its sUPPOrt for the joint good offices process of the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations ini tiateci\ in New York on 9 April 1986 with a view to prollOting a just and lasting solution of the Question of Western Sahara, in accordance with resolution AHG/Rea.104 (XIX) of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity and General Assembly resolution 40/50, of 2 December 1985. Reaffirming that the Question of Weste~n Sahara is a question of decolonization, the Assembly would stress the importance of the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente PCpular para la Liberacioo de Saguia el-llamra y de Rla de Oro (POLISl'JUO) to the joint (Mr. M-Kindi; RapPOrte\l~, FOurth Cbmmittee) proposals of the current Cbairman of the Organiz~tion of African Unity Md the Secretary-General of the Un! ted Nations with a view to the holding of a -referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara-. organized and supervised by the United Nations in co-oPeration with the Organization of African Unity. Welcoming the talks in Marrakech between His Majesty King H4ssan II of Morocco and lQLISAR10, the Assembly would endorse the hoPe of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the current O1airman of the Organization ef African Unity that there would be further meetings of this nature to improve the prospects for the success of the peace process. The Assembly would express its c~nviction that the continuation of direct dialogue between the two parties to the conflict could contribute to the completion of the joint good offices process of the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to the restoration of peace in Western Sahara, and to stabUity and security in the Whole region. The Assembly would also appeal once again to the Kingdom of Morocco and llOLISARIO to display the co-operation and the poU tical goodwill necessary for the success of the joint good offices of the current Qlairman of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the Uni ted Nations. With regard to New -aledonia, in noting the positive measures being pursuad in New Caledonia bV the French authorities in order to provide a frameWork for its peaceful progress to self-detemination, the Assembly would urge all the parties involved to maintain their dialogue and to refrain ftom acts of violence. The Assembly would invite all the Parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledoniansa (Mr. M-Kindl,· Rapporteur" Fourth ChllllDittee) The second report (A/44/739) relates to agenda item 116, -Infor_tion fro. Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 !. of the QUtrter of the United Nations-.. The Fourth Q)mmittee recommends, among other thincjs, that the Assembly reaffirm that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-govern_nt in terms of atapter XI of the Olarter, the administering lbwer concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 !. with respect to that Territory, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments. The third report (A/44/664) relates to agenda item 117, -Activities of foreign economic and other interests which are im~eding the implementation of the • Declaration on the Granting of IndePendence to Oolonial Countries and ~ple. in Namibia and in all other Territories under colonial domination and efforts to eliminate colonialism, apartheid and racial discrimination in southern Africa-. Among other things, the General Assembly would, in condemning the intJ.tnsified activities of those foreign economic, financial and other interests that continue to exploit the natural C!lftd human resou roes of the oolon ial Ter 1'1tories, call once again upon all Governments to take the necessary steps to put an end to such acUvi ties C!lftd to prevent new investments that run counter to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories. (Mr. Al-Kindi, Rapporteur, Fourth Committee) In a separate de::lsion on the military activi ties and arrangements in oolonial Territories which might be impeding the implementation of the Declaration the Fourth COmmittee recommends that the General Assembly cCilll upon the colonial Powers concerned to terminate such activities Unrnediately and unconditionally, in compliance with the relevant resolutions. The fourth report (A/44/740) relates to agenda items 118 and 12, in regard to the Implementa tion of the Declara tion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the united Na tions. In t.'le draft resolution recommended by the Committee p the General Assembly would, among other provisions, request those organizations to render or continue to render, as a matter of urgency, all possible moral and ma terial assistance to the colonial ~ples in theit struggle to exercise their right to se1f~determination and independence. The fifth re~rt (A/44/74l) relates to the united Nations Educational and Training Programme for SOuthern Africa - agenda item 119. In the draft resolution recommended by the Committee, the General Assembly - expressing its appreciation to all those that have supported the Programme by providing con tr ibu tions, scholarships or places in their educational institutions - would appeal to all States, institutions, organizations and individuals to offer greater financial and otheL support to the Programme in order to secure its continuation and steady expansion. The last report (A/44/742) - on agenda item 120 - relates to offers by Menber States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories. In the draft resolution recommended by the Committee, the Assembly would express it.;~. ,:;.ppreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships (Mr. A],-Kindi, Rapporteur, Fourth Committee) available to the inhabitants of such Territories and its strong conviction that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships are essential in ord~r to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance. Considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, the Assembly would also urge the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to such offers made by States. On behalf of the Fourth Committee I commend these reports to the General Assembly for its attention. In conclusion, I should like to thank the Chairman of the Fourth Committee, Ambassador Robert F. van Lierop of vanuatu, for his leadership and for the advice and guidance he has given ne in connection with my tasks as Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee. I express my gratitude also to the other officers and the members of the Four th Committee and to the secretar ia t of the Committee for the co-operation and assistance extended to me during the session.
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• , 151 and 70 to 73 IMPLEMERrATION OF GENERAL ASS~8LY RESOWTION 43/62 OONCERNING THE SIGNA.TURE AND RATIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL I OF THE TREATY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN LATIN AMERICA (TREATY OF TLATELOLCO); REPORl' OF THE FIRST COtMITTEE (A/44/171) CESSATION OF ALL NUCLEAR-TEST EXPLOSIONS; REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMI'rrEE (A/44/772) MENOlENT OF THE TREATY BANNING NUCLEAR-WEAPON TESTS IN THE A':MOSPHERE, IN OUTER SPACE AND UNDER WATER; REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMI'l'TEE (A/44/713) URGENT NEED FOR A C()tPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN TREATY; REPORl' OF THE FIRST CCMMI'l'TEE (A/44/774) ESTABLISItlENT OF A NUCLEAR-WEAPON-FREE ZONE IN THE REGION OF THE MIDDLE BASi"; REPORT OF THE FIRST CQ4M ITTEE (A/44/775) ESTABLISIMBNT OF A NUCLEAR-WBAPON-FREE ZONE IN SOUTH ASIA; REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMI'l'TEE (A/44/776) CONVENTION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH MAY BE DEEMID TO BE EXCESSIVELY INJURIOUS OR TO HAVE INDISCRIMINATE EFFECTS" REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMITTEE (1\/44/177) OONCLUSION OF EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGFNENTS ON THE STRENGTHENING OF THE SECURITY OF NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES AGAINST THE USE OR THREAT OF USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS; REPORT OF THE FIRST CQ4MI'l'TEE (A/U/178) CONCLUSION OF EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ASSURE NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES AGAINST THE USE OF THREAT OF USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS; REPORl' OF THE FIRST CCMM I'l'TEE ( A/44/719) PREVENTION OF AN AlMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE; REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMI'l'TEE (A/44/780) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE DENUCLEARIZATION OF AFRICA (a) REPORT OF TIm FIRST COtMI'l'TEE (A/44/781) (b) REPORT OF THE FIFTH CQ4MITTEE (A/44/810) PROHIBITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURE OF NEW TYPES OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND NEW SYSTIMS OF SUCH WEAPONS; REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMITTEE (A/44/782) REDUCTION OF MILITARY BUDGETS; REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMITTEE (A/44/783) CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL (BIOLOGICAL) WEAPONS; REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/44/784) GENERAL AND CCMPLETE DISAlMJMENT (a) REPORT OF THE FIRST CQ4MI'l"l'EE (A/44/785) (b) MENiMEN'IS (A/44/L.S9) REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCLUDING DOClMENT OF THE TWELF'l'H SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSMBLY (a) REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMl'l"rBE tA/44/786) (b) REPORT OF THE FIFTH CQ4MITTEE (A/44/810) SCIENTIFIC AND TECHMlLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY,- REPOM' OF THE FIRST CCMMITTEE (A/44/787) REVIaI OF THE lMPLlItENTATION OF THE RECOlMENDATIONS AND DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT ITS TENTH SPECIAL SESSION~ REPORi' OF THE FIRST CQtMITTBE (A/44/7e8) IMPIJ!MENTATION OF THE DECLARATION OF THE INDIAN OCEAN AS A ZONE OF PEACE (a) REPORT OF THE FIRST CO!MITTEE (A/44/789) (b) REPORT OF THE FIFTH CQ4M IT'l'EE (A/44/869) ISRAELI NUCLEAR AR4IlMENT~ REPORT OF THE FIRST CQ4MIT'l'EE (A/44/790) CCMPLIANCE WITH AlMS LIMITATION AND DISAlMAMENT AGREEMENTS: REPORT OF THE FIRST COIMITTEE (A/44/791) EDUCATION AND INFOlMATION FOR DISAlMIlMENT: REPORT OF THE FIRST cmMITTEE (A/44/792) QUESTION OF ANTARCTICA: REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMIT'l'EE (A/44/819) STRENGTHENING OF SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION: REPORT OF THE FIRSf CCMMITTEE (A/44/820) REVIEW OF THE D4PLD4ENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE STRENGTHENING OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY: REPORT OF THE FIRST CCMMITTEE (1./44/821) CCM PREHENSIVE APPROACH TO STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY IN ACCDRDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE UNITED NATIONS: REPORT OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE (A/44!822) The PRESIDENT, Before we begin to take action on the reCOlmlendatlons contained 1n the reports of the First Casmittee, I should like to advise representatives that. we shall proceed with the voting in the same manner as in the First Collaittee. This Means that, where recorded, ro11-ea11 Ol' separate votes were taken in the eo_i ttee, we shall take such votes here, and we shall not take votes on those recOlIIIlendations that were adopted without a vote in the Cbramittee, unless delegations have already notified the Secretariat that they wish to proceed otherwise. I call on Mr. Dimitrls Platis of Greece, Rapporteur of the First COlllllittee, to introduce the reports of the First COIlIJ'Ilittee on agenda items 49 to 69, 151 and 70 to 73 1n one intervention. Mr. PLATIS (Greece), Rapporteur of the First eo_ittee, Since this is the first opportunity 1 have had to address the bl!lellbly, I willh, on behalf of the First eo_lttee, to pey a war. tribute to you, Sir, end to express appreciation for the expeditious unner in which you have conducted the work of this bOdy. In keepift9 with past practice, the First eo_ittee considered the iteu allocated to it in three general phases. cUsar.llent issues, the ques tion of Antarctica and international peace and security. TWenty-six agenda i"lI8 were allocated to the eo_ittee at the current session. Agenda iteMs 49 to 69 and 151 dealt with disafu.nt, aganda itell 70, • with tb'.: question of AntarcticaJ and agenda items 71 to 73, with international security. The reports are before the General Assellbly in the following <beu.nts: A/44/771 to A/44/792 on disarmament items, A/44/8l9 on the question o.f AntarcticaJ and A/44/820 to A/44/822 on international security iteM. Let lie now turn to ciisarllallent issues. On 17 Novellber, the First. eolBllittee co"Pleted its action on all 22 disarma.nt agenda itens and adopted 57 draft resolutions and 2 draft decisions, of which 22 were adopted without a vote. The CO_I ttee devoted 27 meetings to the general debate and exchange of views on all disarlMment items for more than two weeks, frOll 17 October to 2 NoVember .. Thereafter, the COllJllittee set aside two weeks to consider and act upon the draft resolutions submitted on disarmament items, including inforlMl consultations among delege tioRS • In the general debate, the 98 delegations that expressed their positions, welcomed the continUing positive illprovement in East-West relations, and expressed the hope that the rapprochement between countries and military alliances would soon affect the regions still suffarir~ from tension and conflicts. (Mr. platis, RaPpOrteur, Fint Cofttllittee) ':he fact that the nullber of delegations expressing their positions this. year wall suller as co_pared to last year cannot this time only be attributed to the I willingness of delegations to contribute to the rationalization of the work of the eo_ittee, but also be interpreted as another demonstration of 8n improved atilOsphere in a Colllllittee determined to avoid polemics and to devote ! ts session to extensive consultations and the search for compromise on an action-oriented basis. An obvious spirit of co-operation was present across the bOard this year, most noticeably between East and West. 'the wording and the amendnents in a nullber of draft resoluti"'ns reflected in a way che 13011 tical rapprochement between the two major military ~11iances and the progress achieved in the bilateral negotiations between the two super-Powers. Moreover, the broad range of issues reflected in the 22 disarmament agenda itellS that the First Committee considered and took action on demonstrates that, even thouqh we frequently receive news about bilateral issues, world security still needs to be complemented by solutions discussed and agreed upon by the international community as a whole at the multilateral level. In view of the above, the Committee, conscious of the different political elimate prevailing at the bilateral and regional disarmament levels, tried .bO find a .y to adjust to the new pelttical reali ties. Evidence of this is the time spent in consultations at all staC)es of the session owlnC) to a willingness to reduce the number of draft resolutions for consideration - 63, as opposed to 74 last year - and also, to l!I certain extent, to the need for: some to reassess their positions. In this connection, I shall only point out that there were 35 revisions which were neC)Otiated Uttil very late in the session. A!J in previous years, a large nulllber of draft resolutions dealt withvadous nuclear aspects of dlsafulIlent, such 88 pravenUon of nuclear war, a nuclear-arrIB free:e, security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States, nuclear-weaoon-free zones and the allendnrent of the Treaty Banning Nuclea~ Wea£)On Tests in th4e Atl8Osphere, in OUter Space and under Water. However, despite the 20 texts attesting to the continuing importance of these issues, other issues, such as conventional disarmament, regional diserument, implications of science and technology fClr security, naval disarmament, arms transfers and conversion illustrate the concern of Member States. In the current session, nucls r disarmament continued to preoccupy the vast majority of Member States. HOWe'ler, it is clear that conventional disarmament has acquired particular importance o'ler the years, largely because a successful European example has b~en set within the COnference on Security and CO-operation in Europe (CSCS) follow-up process. Against the background of the Paris COnference, the intensification of the work of the Conference on Disarmament, the Canberra Government/Industry COnference and, more recently, the round of Soviet-American talks, the issue of chemical weapons received considerable attention and, again this year, three relevant resolutions were adopted without a vote. In this connection, I should like to recall that the Committee held one informal meetinq devoted to providing all interested delegations with an in-depth explanation of the current suge of negotiations of It convention banning chemical weapons. The question of the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearizaticn of Africa continued again this year, owing to the nuclear capablli ty of SOuth Africa, to preoccupy the international community as a whole. Through concerted efforts the Couittee this year made a ftI)~st contribution to the gradual and increMental ~oces!l of consensus-building, not only by preserving consensus on issues already agreed upon but also by exercising restraint in not pressing cUsagreetaent to the breaking point. Turning now to the second category of the Fint ColllDitteets work, I should now like to invite attention to the report of the First Connittee on agenda item 70, entitled ·Question of Antarctica- (A/44/Sl9). The Coi1l'llittee devoted six meetings, two more than last year, to the general debate and exchange of views on this item, from 20 to 22 Novemb~r 1989. Twenty-four delegations took part in the debate. Consensus on this item was 1lOt achieved, despite the considerable efforts of Member States. Two draft resolutions were adopted by roll-call vote, during which the parties to the Antarctic Treaty indicated that they were not participatinq in the vote, as reflected in the Collllllittee' s report. In draft resolution A, the General Assembly, .!.!!.!!.r alia, views with concern the continUing participation of apartheid regime of SOuth Africa in meetings of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and appeals onc~ again to them to take urgent measures to exclude SOuth Africa from their meetings. In pursuance of draft resolution B, the Assembly would reiterate its call upon the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to invite the Secretary-General or his representative to all their meetings. The draft resolution also expresses the conviction that the establishment, through negotiations with the full participation of the international aommuni~, of Antarctica as d natural reserve or a world park would ensure the protection and conservation of its environment. The 8ecretary-General is also requested to submit a report to the Aasemb:ly at its forty-fifth session. The third cateqory of the CoI\lIittee's work 1& dealt with in the reports relating to international peace and security iu-, nnely, agftnda iteM 71 (A/44/820), 72 (A/44/82l) an-:J 73 (A/44/822). 'file Collllit.tee considere4 these itea. together at the 47th to 52nd lleetings iMlusive, betveen 27 and 30 Novaber 1989. cm item 11, -Strengthenine; of security aed co-operation in the Mediterranean region-, a draft resolution was adopted by consensus in ~ich all States are urqed to co-operate with t!:'i) Mediterranean States in the further efforts required to reduce tension ,-nd prOlllOte peace, secur ity and co-operation in the region in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and with the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerninq Priendly Relations and Co--operation allDrJ) States. In this con:tection, the Secreter,f-General is invited, inter alia, to give due attention to the question of peace, security and co-operation in the region and, if reques ted to do so, to render advice and assistance. Re is also requested to report to the Assellbly a t its next session. Several delegations spoke on item 72, -Review of the iIIIple",entation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security-. In this regar6, the Co_ittee adopted a draft resolution which, inter aUa, notes with satisfaction that conflicts and hostilities are giving way to negotiations, understanding and co-operation in a nUnOer of instances. All States, in pl!rtieular the nuclear- weapon States, ..re urged to take immediate steps aimed at pl'QIOtir;g and using effectively the notion of security enshrined in the Charter. 'lbe Secretary-Geeeral is requested to submit a report includinq the views of Membftr States on the Declaration to the forty-fifth ses~ion of the Assembly. With regard to item 73, -Comprehensive approach to strengthening internationel peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations-, n6 action was taken by the Committee. to thank all those re.ponsible for tbis presentation to the General AnUbly. The dlploutie sUU_ ancll ability of AIIba..ador 'l'aylh~rdat, OIa1r..", ef the com.lttee, enabled an atmosphere of dlalCJ9U8, work and r..rkable eo-cperl)t1on to bfi estabUshed in the CoIIIIittee, and it therefore concluded ita work successfUlly within the qiven tiu. Ac Rapporteur, I appreciate profoundly his coaoperatlon l~. ay 'fork. ay dear fr iends Mr ... F~hllY and Nt. Ma.hhadl, who undertook very successfully the responsibilities of the Chalr whenever they had to replace the Chair_n. I should also like to take this opportunity to thank tho .lIbers of the Secretariat for the able unner in .... lch they c"ntributed to the successful cu~ of the work of the Co_ittee. Particular thanks are owed to the Under-Secretary- General for Dl.anllll.nt Aff.lira, Mr. Yasushi Mcashi, and Mr. Vaailiy Safronchuk, Under-Secretary-General for Politieal and Security Council Affaira. The list of persons I should like to thank would be inCOllplete if I did net ..ntion the Sectetary of the First COIlllittee, Mr. Sohrab ICheradi, and his collaborators for their valuable ccmtributio",. Mr. Kheradl's COIIPfttence, hiCJh degree of knowledge and vast experiflnce rontributect enorllOuslv to the 8ucce8sf~1 and tiDIly ccnclusion of the work of the COImittee. Por rtIJ country and for ... it ViIS ~ qreat honour to serve Mellber States as Rapporteur of this inJportent COIIPIlttee. The PRESIDENT, If there is rI) proposal under rule '6 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the ("'.n81'al Asselllbly decides not to discull'8 the reports of. the First Cormittee, which ore before the Assellbly today. It was 80 decided.
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• . 96. 97. 99 to 105 and 113 Implementatlon of the Progrjlmme of Ac'L'Ldn for the Secdnd Decade '10 Cxmbat Racism and Racial Discrlminatldn, Report of the Third Ojiiotmittee (A/44/715) World Social S I'Iuatlon, Reiort of the Third Ccmr.Tittee (A/44/749) 'Twentieth Anniversary of the Procla\Iation of the Declaration on Social Fro~Ess and Deveidi\'Tent: Rej:Ort of the Third Ccmr.Tittee (A/44/750) Natlonal Exj:Erience in Achieving Far-Reaching Social and Ecxhd"Tic Changes for Tie Purpose of Social Progless, Reiort of the Third Ccmmittee (A/44/75Ll Iolicies and Promnttmes In\Olving Youth: Report of Tie Thmd Oommittee (A/44/752) Internatldnal Research Aid Training Insti'Iute for the Advancement of Wqoien, Retort of Tie Third Ojmmittee (A/44/80L) Alternative Approaches and Ways and Means Within the United Natlon3 System for Lm~Oving the Effective Enjoyment Oi!' Human Righ'Lb and Fundamental Freedcms, Reeort of Tie Third Oommittee (A/44/799) Interregional <Xnsultation on Deveidlmental Social Welfare Eolicies and Progu+1Mes3 Report of the Third Ccmmittee (A/44/753) Question of Aging, Retort of Tie Third Cpmmittee (A/44/754) Eliminatlon of All Eorms of Racial D!Souminatlon: Rej.=Ort of the Third Cqt1Mittee (A/44/716) Implementation of Tie Worm Proglamme of Ac'L'Ion Cdncerning Disabled Person3 and Tie Unitid Natlon; Decade of Disabled Persons: Rer>Rt of the Third Ccmmittee (A/44/755) Aume Prevention and Criminal Justice: Reeort of the Third ~Mittee (A/44/756) Eliminatlon of All Furms of Discrimination Ag1\Inst Women: Rer>Rt of the Third Q).Tmittee (A/44/802) Forward-Looking S'Irategies for the Advancement of Wcmen 'Id the Year 2000: Retort of the Third Ccmmittee (A/44/803) Lmidrtance of Tie Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples 'Id Self-Determinat Dn And.: of the Speedy Grantin G of Independence 'To Roidn Tal Roun'Lln~ and Peoples for the Effecl'Lve Gjman'L'Ee and Observance of Lijman Rights: Refort of The. Third Ccmmittee (A/44/711) Fa~I[,!Fs in the Deveidiment Process, Reiort of the Third Cowhttee (A/441757)
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• (C('Mtinu~Ln the Situation in Central Amer!Cl'.;~ Threats to International Peace and Security and Peace Initiatives
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