UN General Assembly
1982

major Powers have deteriorated and this has had an adverse effect on many other aspects of international life. Furthermore there are at this moment several wars and conflicts taking place—between Iran and Iraq, between Ethiopia and Somalia, in Afghanistan and in Central America. In recent months the world has also seen a war that should not have happened over the Falkland Islands and an invasion of Lebanon by Israeli forces which has led to tremendous loss of life and brought great tragedy in its wake. 4. At the world level the arms race continues, and the level of nuclear armaments is greater than ever before. Conventional armaments, too, are a major item in world trade. They now occupy second place after oil. And these are weapons which are actually being used in conflict in many parts of the world. 177 5. In economic matters, too, the world outlook is exceedingly gloomy, more gloomy perhaps than it has been for many years. The major industrialized coun¬tries are suffering through a serious recession, with high unemployment, inflation and high interest rates.