UN General Assembly
1982

cause for optimism because the world political order is being challenged by another factor: the unequal development of the members of the international community. This is the second part of my message. The United Nations should devote itself increasingly to the economic and social development of Member States. Indeed, how can we not be moved by the problems caused by the world economic crisis, which is seriously affecting third world countries? These include: increasing balance-of-payments imbalances, the constant deterioration in the terms of trade; the excessive burden of their foreign debts; the insecurity of their food supplies; and the disorganization of the present monetary system. All these factors, which indicate the interdependence of States, should lead the "haves" to seek more actively, together with the "have not", new bases for a restructuring of international economic relations. On the contrary, however, we are witnessing a very marked re-emergence of protectionism, which seriously penalizes the countries of the South. The illusion of the concept of the transfer of technology in turn compounds their disillusionment. That is why we believe that the