UN General Assembly
1999

alienation and, in some cases, disparity. Quite clearly, the United Nations is at the forefront of efforts to address and reconcile these complex processes. The struggle to raise and improve the quality of life of the hundreds of millions who continue to suffer the anguish of poverty, the protection of our precious environment, the strengthening of democracy and the protection of human rights, responding effectively to natural disasters, further 13 progress in disarmament and dealing properly with security crises as they arise all continue to occupy us. Having mentioned the issue of security, allow me to observe that the situation in South-Eastern Europe has come full circle with the return of the epicentre of the crisis to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Kosovo, where it started more than a decade ago. The military intervention of the international community, supported by all the countries of the region, including Croatia, must now be followed up with an appropriate political response. Just as we joined the international community in condemning violations of human rights, it is clear that energies must