UN General Assembly
1995

Mali also follows with interest the question of Western Sahara; we sincerely hope that the organization and upcoming holding of a referendum on self-determination will lead to permanent peace in this north-western part of our continent. As the President of the Republic of Mali, Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré, has always stressed, Mali earnestly encourages the creation of an African-run central machinery to prevent, manage and settle conflicts in Africa. We invite the international community to support this initiative. The world must understand that the prevention of conflicts costs mankind less than dealing with their consequences. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations must grow increasingly involved in anticipating conflicts and less dependent on seeking remedies after the illness has taken hold. A major political development of the 1990s has certainly been the gradual return of peace to the Middle East with the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian agreement in 1993. We earnestly hope that talks on the Golan between Israel and Syria and the new agreement on extending Palestinian autonomy to the West Bank will put