UN General Assembly
1998

present crisis on the basis of international partnership, social justice and developmental and monetary balance, and to prevent it from worsening and becoming, God forbid, a worldwide economic recession. If this were to happen, it would have extremely adverse political, social 28 and economic effects with unpredictable consequences for us all. We speak about global concerns and questions, but regional crises and conditions have not been any better during recent months. The peace to which we have aspired in our region is still, to our great regret, an elusive mirage. It is indeed very distressing, even enraging, for one to see that several years of negotiations, endeavours and mediation have failed, so far, to bring the peace process in the Middle East to its desired objective: the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of international legitimacy, on the resolutions of this world Organization which is hosting our current debate, and on the basis of security, stability and mutual recognition among all nations and peoples of the region.