UN General Assembly
1972

216. The struggle against economic under-development is for our peoples another field of action in which our Governments are mobilizing all their human resources in order to tap their natural resources. However, economic disparities, which are accentuated by the constant impoverishment of our countries, give a gloomy omen for the realization of the goals of the Second United Nations Development Decade. The failure of the third session of UNCTAD is ample proof of this, despite the concerted efforts made by the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It will be recalled that the Group of 77 developing countries, in adopting the Charter of Algiers and the Lima Declaration, not only defined the primary goals to be achieved by UNCTAD, but also contemplated measures to reconcile the interests of the peoples of the developing countries with those of the peoples of the industrialized countries. It will also be recalled that the present system of international trade is shot through with injustices and all sorts of tariff barriers imposed by the rich countries.