From: sangu@igc.apc.org (David Sangurima)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: IPS:UN:Venezuela Criticises Securit
Date: 10 Oct 92 02:48:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1473800342:000:3932
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!sangu    Oct  9 19:48:00 1992


From: David Sangurima <sangu>
Subject: IPS:UN:Venezuela Criticises Security Council

/* Written 12:03 am  Oct  4, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "UNITED NATIONS: VENEZUELA CRITICISE" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Latin America; Europe, western
Title: UNITED NATIONS: VENEZUELA CRITICISES SECURITY COUNCIL


new york, sep 30 (ips) -- venezuela's foreign minister, fernando
ochoa antich, wednesday accused the permanent members of the u.n.
security council of manipulating the world body's policies to
suit their own interests.

the security council consists of 15 member nations altogether,
of which five--the united states, britain, china, russia and
france--are permanent and the rest are chosen for a two-year
period. at present, venezuela is one of the temporary members.

addressing the 47th u.n. general assembly meeting, ochoa
antich said the way the security council was operating at present
was an ''anachronism'', based on the world situation when the
united nations was created--a situation which no longer existed.

at that time, 47 years ago, the security council's permanent
members ''were trying to eliminate the limitations which had
made the old league of nations inoperative,'' he said.

''to the frustration of humanity, the two super-powers had
been demonstrating that, by themselves, they were able to set
the foundations of international order.

''after the collapse of the soviet system, the security
council has began to recover its original functions.

''but it is doing so in the hallo of triumph. therefore,
the great powers are now able to mould the international scene
to fit the image of their own interests.

''this situation must now be re-examined, in a way--as the
u.n. secretary-general has said--that it would make it fit into
the democratic principles which should prevail in the world, and
which should also be applied in the u.n. organisation (uno).''

after referring to the increasing u.n. role in helping
contain, or peacefully resolve, international conflicts, ochoa
antich called for ''a more active u.n. role, not so much in
the field of intervention, as in the field of prevention.''
(more/ips)


united nations: venezuela (2)

he said, ''the united nations and the specialised agencies
should cooperate in oredr to put an end to the basic causes of
the conflicts--economic despair, social injustice and political
oppression.''

other latin american countries--including chile and costa
rica--have also called for a restructuring of the u.n. security
council. but of the other non-permanent council members, only
japan has asked for a reform of the existing structure.

ochoa antich also asked the industrialised nations to open
up their their markets to products from developing nations.

he pointed out that latin america's flexibility on the
question of trade barriers had not elicited a similar response
from the countries of the north.

and he warned that the economic crises affecting parts of the
world today generate ''migration waves by the empoverished
nations of the south toward the northern nations.

''this migration flow, which is hard to control for any
country, could undermine the bases of democratic and social
stability of many developed nations.''

he said the danger of such destabilisation was
demonstrated by the resurgence of extreme right-wing currents,
and resulting xenophobia, in many industrialised nations.

the venezuelan foreign minister also asked for financial
resources in order to implement the decisions adopted at the
june 'earth summit' on development and the environment that
was held in rio de janeiro, brazil.

he also pledged venezuela's full collaboration in any
renewed global efforts in support of women's rights and social
development. (ends/ips/tr/sp/ip/mg/cs/it)