UN General Assembly
1993

confidence-building measures in Asia to join our efforts. I believe that today we should actively broaden our efforts to define the problems related to this initiative. I have in mind particularly the preparations for the conference of Foreign Ministers of Asian States which, in the view of experts, could be convened in 1994. We note with satisfaction that the idea of regional cooperation in Asia has been endorsed by the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and has found a broad response within the United Nations, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States. This positive reaction to our initiative fills us with confidence in its viability and its significance for the cause of peace in Asia. Indeed, the States of the Asian region have an equally strong interest in the prevention and peaceful settlement of conflicts as well as in the prevention of the emergence of new hotbeds of regional and global tension. As an example I would mention the formation of the Defence Coalition