First of all I wish to
congratulate Mr. Diogo Freitas do Amaral on his election
to the distinguished post of President of the General
Assembly at its fiftieth, jubilee session. I am sure that his
personal and professional qualities will serve as a solid
guarantee that during this particularly important session the
United Nations will achieve new concrete steps in its search
for ways to meet the complicated challenges facing
humanity.
I wish to express our gratitude to his predecessor,
Mr. Amara Essy, and to the Secretary-General of the
Organization, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
We are proud that Belarus was at the origin of the
creation of the United Nations and became one of the
founding Members of the Organization, having signed the
Charter of the United Nations at San Francisco. That
honourable right was a testimony to the international
recognition of the contribution made by the people of
Belarus to the defeat of fascism during the Second World
War, the homage paid to the millions of Belarusians who
gave their lives in the struggle for liberty and of the right
of the Belarusian people to exist as a nation with its own
history, culture and future.
Emerging from the ashes of the Second World War,
the United Nations has experienced the most serious
crises and conflicts, the cold war and détente,
considerable changes in the political map of the world
and the break-up and formation of unions and blocs of
States. The Organization has coped creditably with these
challenges. Thanks to the United Nations humankind, for
the first time in its history, has acquired the opportunity
to live for half a century in peace. The contribution of the
United Nations to the process of the peaceful settlement
of many conflicts is well known. One of the most
important achievements of the United Nations is that the
world has rid itself of such odious phenomena as
apartheid and is close to a complete eradication of
colonialism, another no less odious remnant of the past.
It is also appropriate to note the role of the United
Nations in elaborating and adopting universal documents
in the sphere of human rights, as well as in establishing
the supremacy of international law.
The hopes and expectations of the peoples associated
with the United Nations are convincing evidence of the
important role of the Organization at this stage. The tasks
that the United Nations is facing today seem to be much
more complicated than those of the past, when they were
dictated by the pernicious but understandable logic of
confrontation. Today it is necessary to solve the
challenges of the future world order; and this implies the
necessity to reform the United Nations system. Reform of
the United Nations, including that of the Security Council,
one of its principal organs responsible for the
maintenance of international peace and security, is the
watchword of the day, and is in many respects an
extremely complicated matter. But each State can and
should make its own contribution to the formation of the
renewed United Nations. This will enable the
6

Organization to reflect the diversity of the contemporary
world, the interdependence of States, the equality of great
and small and the security and development of all. The
reform of the United Nations should result in a more
effective Organization as a whole. The reform of the
Security Council may be carried out only on the basis of a
reasonable increase in the membership of the Council, with
strict respect for the principle of the equitable geographical
distribution of additional seats among all the regions of the
world. The Belarusian delegation is convinced that the
allocation of an additional seat for a non-permanent
member of the Council to the Eastern European regional
group is fully justified and will ensure a new, emerging
balance of interests.
I am sure that the United Nations will be able to adapt
itself fully to the present realities, as well as duly to
respond to the demands and foreseeable global challenges
of the twenty-first century.
Among the most serious problems the world
community is facing nowadays are regional conflicts. Such
conflicts are not a new problem, but in their present
dimensions they represent a new challenge for the United
Nations. We are fully convinced that, in striving for their
settlement, the United Nations should not yield to the
temptation to use military force to accelerate the process.
Peace-keeping and peace enforcement are two different and
in many respects exactly opposite methods, and not links in
the same continuing chain of crisis resolution. We consider
it very important not to go beyond the limits to violence
and ruthlessness that are incompatible with the nature of the
Organization.
Our delegation notes with satisfaction the progress
made in the settlement of the Middle East conflict. We
believe that the continuation of the direct dialogue between
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will
finally lead to a comprehensive solution providing for
respect for the right of all States of the region to live in
peace within internationally recognized borders. We deeply
regret the terrorist acts that are periodically carried out in
the region and which considerably hamper the peace
process. Such acts must be severely condemned.
The Balkan conflict is of special concern to us. The
present developments in this region are fraught with the
risk of large-scale military activities in Europe.
The unresolved conflicts within the post-Soviet
territories are still acute.
From this lofty rostrum I should like once again to
emphasize the unequivocal renunciation by Belarus of
force to solve existing problems and the need to search
for ways to settle conflicts peacefully by political means.
This leads me to the conviction for the necessity of
further strengthening cooperation between the United
Nations and European regional and subregional
organizations and agreements, especially the Organization
on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Belarus
stands for the broadening of interaction between the
United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) not only in the sphere of conflict settlement
on the territory of the former Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR), but also in the fields of disarmament,
protection of the environment and the eradication of
terrorism and organized crime.
Against a background of heightened confrontation in
some regions of the world, one cannot but rejoice at
significant achievements in the consolidation of
international security. We welcome the adoption by the
1995 Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of the historic
decision on the indefinite extension of the Treaty. Belarus
has been and remains a supporter of the strengthening of
the non-proliferation regime. That is why our country,
having clearly determined its position at an early stage,
became a sponsor of that draft decision.
At the same time, it is necessary to remember that
the decision on the indefinite extension of the Treaty was
adopted as a package. It envisions the strengthening of
control over the implementation of its provisions and the
realization of the approved principles and aims of nuclear
non-proliferation and disarmament. It is a duty of the
nuclear-weapon States to confirm in practice their
adherence to their obligations. The most important criteria
of such adherence, in our view, are further progress
towards nuclear disarmament, a comprehensive ban on
nuclear tests and the inclusion of positive and negative
security assurances to the non-nuclear-weapon States in
an instrument of international law of binding character.
Belarus confirms its non-nuclear-weapon status and is
determined to implement the provisions of the Agreement
on the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from its territory in
full and on time.
I am pleased to inform delegations that at the
beginning of this year the Belarusian Parliament ratified
the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons
7

and on their Destruction. We call upon all signatory
countries to the Convention to ratify it as soon as possible,
and we again declare our support for the comprehensive
ban on chemical weapons.
Belarus has always believed that, next to nuclear
disarmament, the limitation of conventional weapons is of
enormous importance for the consolidation of international
peace and security. In this connection, I should like to
touch upon the problems concerning the fulfilment of our
obligations under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe.
Having assumed obligations under a Treaty in whose
elaboration it did not participate, Belarus has been guided
by the wish to assist in the consolidation of European and
international security. From the very first days of the
implementation of the Treaty we spent a considerable
amount of resources on its implementation and on the
creation of appropriate structures and industrial capacities
for the elimination of huge stockpiles of armaments and
equipment produced not for Belarus, but for the then super-
Power, the Soviet Union. But as time passed it has become
clear that for the young Belarusian State the elimination of
those weapons was a burden beyond its strength. Therefore,
we appealed to our Western European partners for
assistance.
For a long time our appeals were unanswered, which
led us to suspend the elimination process temporarily. That
decision was made due to a lack of financial resources, and
had nothing to do with issues of global and regional policy.
I am glad to say today that an understanding of our
problems has recently begun to emerge. Our reaction has
been immediate and fully adequate. As is known, the
President of Belarus has declared that our country is
resuming the elimination of conventional weapons in
accordance with its obligations under the Treaty.
I would also like to point out that, by special
Presidential Decree, Belarus has declared a moratorium on
the export of anti-personnel land-mines for the period from
September 1995 until the end of 1997.
Our Republic attaches paramount importance to the
development of international cooperation in the economic,
social and environmental spheres in the interests of the
sustainable development of all countries. In this context, we
attribute special significance to the series of world forums
held under the auspices of the United Nations in Rio de
Janeiro, Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing to consider
problems in such spheres as those of the environment,
social issues, population and human rights, and to search
for ways to solve them. It is important that the decisions
and recommendations of these forums be duly taken into
account and efficiently utilized in elaborating “An Agenda
for Development”, which is to determine the avenues and
the programme of human development for years to come.
We stand for the inclusion in this document of
substantive issues related to economies in transition, a
notion which would fully reflect present realities. Belarus
takes a profound interest in supporting United Nations
system-wide activities to promote the integration of these
countries into the world economy. We are sure that, in
today’s world, such an integration is advantageous to all
and in the interests of all.
In this connection, I should like once again to recall
the Belarusian proposal — supported by the Commission
on Sustainable Development at its third session and
approved by a decision of the Economic and Social
Council at its substantive session — to convene in 1997
an international conference on the sustainable
development of countries with economies in transition.
This proposal, once realized, would be an important
contribution to the preparation of the special session of
the General Assembly in 1997 to review the
implementation of the agenda for the twenty-first century.
Belarus places ardent hopes in cooperation and interaction
to implement this initiative, first of all with the European
Union, the European Commission, the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and other European
regional and subregional organizations, as well as with
interested partners. We also hope that the United Nations
Development Programme and the Economic Commission
for Europe will provide their competent assistance in
preparing and convening the conference.
One of the most important directions of the activities
of the reformed Organization is, in our opinion, the
development of economic dialogue within the framework
of the United Nations aimed at the exchange of
experience, the strengthening of the multilateral trade
system and facilitating non-discriminatory access to world
markets. In this connection, we consider that the speedy
granting of membership in the World Trade Organization
to our country would testify to a fair attitude towards a
founding Member of the United Nations with an economy
in transition.
One cannot but note that, in countries with
economies in transition, the effectiveness of tackling
8

social problems is directly linked with the fate of
democratic reforms. The new economic and political
conditions in which these countries find themselves require
large-scale economic transformations and the social
adaptation of all population groups. Without effective
international support, the achievement of this goal would be
delayed for an indefinite period. It is for this reason that
Belarus is interested in continuing all programmes initiated
by the Organization in the social sphere.
The promotion of universal respect for, and the
protection of, human rights and fundamental freedoms is
one of the goals stipulated in the United Nations Charter as
well as an important component of international security. At
this jubilee session, it is appropriate to note that significant
success has been attained in this field since the inception of
the Organization half a century ago. The undisputed
achievement of the international community is the adoption
of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the
consistent implementation of which will be conducive to
securing universal respect for justice, the supremacy of law
and human rights. Unfortunately, the path to full
implementation of human rights is strewn with many
obstacles which, in our opinion, are raised by imperfect
social relations rather than by a lack of will to exercise
these rights.
We are convinced that it is high time today to think
of, and act for, the benefit of tomorrow not only by
strengthening in every possible way the mechanisms of
protection of human rights, but by taking concrete measures
to study and expand the list of fundamental universal and
categorical human rights.
For more than nine years now, the Belarusians have
been living under the conditions of an ecological disaster —
that of the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant catastrophe. The
Republic spends annually more than 20 per cent of its
national budget to mitigate the economic, ecological and
medical after-effects of the Chernobyl accident. But most
horrible is what is happening to the health and psyche of
the people. The incidence of thyroid cancer in children has
increased manifold. The birth rate has fallen 50 per cent
since the period preceding the accident. Genetic diseases
are conspicuously on the rise in the most contaminated
areas. As time goes by, it becomes more and more evident
that the Chernobyl catastrophe has infringed the most
sacred of human rights — the right to life.
We are glad to note the important catalysing role
played by the General Assembly and its specialized
agencies in drawing the attention of the donor countries and
of the international organizations to the Chernobyl
problems. As the day of the catastrophe recedes into the
past, the nature of the after-effects of Chernobyl also
changes, requiring a strengthened role on the part of the
United Nations in the development of Chernobyl-related
bilateral cooperation. On its part, Belarus is ready to sign
bilateral memoranda on Chernobyl cooperation with the
World Health Organization, the International Atomic
Energy Agency, the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization and
other agencies of the United Nations system.
In March 1996, an international conference will be
convened in Minsk, with the active participation of
UNESCO and the European Commission, to
commemorate the lamentable tenth anniversary of the
Chernobyl accident. We express our hope that this
representative forum will help to step up joint efforts to
study the after-effects of the radioactive fallout and make
more effective the efforts aimed at mitigating the fatal
consequences of the catastrophe, on the basis of the
experience accumulated by Belarus.
Finally, the manifold and unfair increase in the
Belarus rate of assessments to the United Nations regular
budget and to peace-keeping operations — caused by the
fact that Belarus, along with the economically most
advanced countries, was related to group B — has
resulted in the rapid growth of our arrears.
We note with deep satisfaction the special decision
to relocate the Republic of Belarus to group C for the
apportionment of peace-keeping expenses which was
taken during the resumed forty-ninth session of the
General Assembly. On behalf of the Government of
Belarus, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to
the delegations of all countries that displayed a spirit of
understanding and cooperation during the consideration of
this issue. I address my special words of gratitude to the
Government of Portugal, whose consent voluntarily to
relocate to group B opened the way for the adoption of
the aforementioned decision. I am confident that such
actions are an important contribution to the governance of
principles of justice in the work of the Organization,
which in itself is very significant on the eve of its golden
jubilee. For its part, the Government of Belarus, in spite
of the utmost economic difficulties, fully aware of the
depth of the United Nations financial crisis and sincerely
striving to fulfil its financial obligations to the
Organization, has decided to transfer about $2 million
dollars to the United Nations budget.
9

In his fifties, a person is no longer at the peak of his
physical capacities, but acquires considerable life
experience and wisdom. I would like to express a wish that
the United Nations, once its 50-year threshold has been
crossed, will remain full of strength and health and
unsurpassed in wisdom in all its deeds.


Allow me to congratulate
you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of this historic
fiftieth session of the General Assembly. Given your talent
and experience, I am confident that you will guide this
session to the successful completion of the noble mission
entrusted to it by the Charter of the United Nations.
I should also like to express my appreciation and
thanks to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Amara
Essy, for his outstanding leadership in accomplishing the
tasks of the last session.
I should like to take this opportunity to extend my
warm welcome and congratulations to the Republic of Palau
on its admission to the United Nations during the past year.
Further, I wish to express Armenia’s gratitude to the
Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Boutros Boutros-
Ghali, for the vision with which he has guided the
Organization, and for his tireless activity in redefining the
role of the United Nations in this changing world.
After its declaration of independence in 1991,
Armenia began implementing radical economic and
political reforms to create a healthy market economy and
a truly democratic society. In addition to severe economic
and social problems resulting from the extraordinary
changes buffeting the country, the transition process in
Armenia has been exacerbated by the collapse of
traditional economic and trade arrangements, instability in
the region, the transport and energy blockade imposed by
neighbouring Azerbaijan, the devastation caused by the
massive earthquake of 1988, the conflict between
Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan and the presence of
360,000 refugees.
Despite such serious economic and social
circumstances, economic reforms have been continued
and even expanded over the last year. From the point of
view of current economic trends, 1994 was exceptional.
The programme of socio-economic development was
aimed at halting economic decline, reducing inflation and
creating conditions for the revitalization of the economy.
Although the problems specifically related to the
transition remain, the measures taken not only have halted
the recession but also have provided a measure of
economic growth.
Indeed, in 1994 Armenia became the first former
Soviet Republic to record economic growth. A tight credit
policy has forced down the inflation rate from 30 per cent
a month last year to 1 per cent in August. The currency,
the Dram, is now one of the strongest in the region. Since
mid-1994 a macroeconomic stabilization programme has
been under way.
We have maintained a policy of fiscal and monetary
responsibility to encourage the development of the private
sector. We are also undertaking a mass privatization
programme to transfer nearly all State-owned enterprises
to private ownership. We believe that the private sector
will be the engine of growth in Armenia and an important
source of employment opportunity. We welcome the
participation of foreign investors in this process without
restriction, and we have a completely open foreign trade
policy.
20

Of course implementation of our economic policy has
been hampered by the situation in the energy sector, which
remains critical. Therefore, the only viable, effective short-
term solution to Armenia’s energy crisis is the restarting of
the Metsamor Nuclear Power plant, which is under way.
Armenia, like other States in transition, is in the
process of emerging from economic crisis and of laying the
foundations for economic and social development. While
States have the primary responsibility to achieve social and
economic development, they cannot do so alone. They need
the substantial support and encouragement of the
international community. Multilateral and bilateral donors
should coordinate their financing and planning procedures
to improve the impact of their activity toward the
achievement of the objectives of social development
programmes of countries with economies in transition.
Given its universal membership and the unique and
comprehensive mandate reflected in its Charter, the United
Nations has a vital role to play in the development process,
particularly in ensuring the implementation of development
commitments in an integrated fashion. Hence, its
relationship with the specialized agencies, funds, regional
organizations and commissions, the Bretton Woods
institutions and the World Trade Organization should be
analysed with a view to enhancing effective action and
coordination between them in the economic, social and
related fields.
The commitment to the transformation of the centrally
planned economy to a market economy is seen by the
Government of Armenia as an integral part of the transition
to a democratic State. In turn, a free-market economy will
flourish in a stable democracy which promotes and
underpins economic development. The success of a
democracy requires informed and civil discourse and
respect for the rule of law and for the democratic process,
including the expression of the public view through free
and fair elections.
Last July, Armenia held its first democratic
parliamentary elections since its declared independence.
Simultaneously, Armenians voted in a constitutional
referendum on the first democratic institution in the history
of Armenia. The Constitution was adopted and the liberal
democratic forces gained an overwhelming majority in the
new parliament, now renamed the National Assembly.
International and local observers reported that the elections
ran smoothly and were held in a free atmosphere. I should
like to take this opportunity to express my Government’s
deep appreciation for the monitoring activities of the United
Nations observers in the parliamentary elections and the
constitutional referendum.
The convincing victory of the liberal democratic
forces has guaranteed the continuation of the political and
socio-economic policies pursued thus far by the
Government, based on a clear programme and an
achievable plan of development. The adoption of the
Constitution is a decisive factor in the maintenance of the
stability of Armenian statehood, as well as the legal
guarantee for the development of a civic society and a
market economy.
Development and human rights are interrelated and
mutually reinforcing. There can be no genuine long-term
development without respect for the full spectrum of the
rights of individuals. Armenia strongly supports the
efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Mr. Ayala Lasso. Member States must
continue working toward better coordination within the
Human Rights Centre and consolidation of human rights
functions within the United Nations system. The United
Nations should give priority to monitoring and prevention.
Armenia considers self-determination in its multitude
of manifestations to be an inalienable human right. The
conflict between the people of Nagorno Karabakh, who
are striving for self-determination, and the Azerbaijani
Government, which refuses to address the rights of the
people of Nagorno Karabakh, continues to concern the
Government of Armenia. The peaceful resolution of the
conflict remains Armenia’s top foreign policy priority.
Despite the maintenance of the cease-fire since
May 1994, the conflict continues to threaten peace,
stability and security in our region. The lack of any
serious breakthrough in negotiations during this respite,
the uncertainties surrounding the political process and the
reluctance of the international community to seize the
opportunity to act firmly and decisively make the 15-
month-long cease-fire highly fragile. Indeed, the longer
the cease-fire exists without any major developments, the
more likely the resumption of military activity in the near
future will become.
Since the last session of the General Assembly,
important developments have taken place in the political
process. Visible progress was made at the Summit
meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) held in Budapest in December 1994,
when an agreement was reached at the highest levels to
combine the mediation efforts of the OSCE and Russia,
21

and create a co-chairmanship to guide the peace process.
The Summit also expressed readiness to establish a
multinational OSCE peace-keeping operation to consolidate
the existing cease-fire, make the peace process irreversible
and open the way for the Minsk Conference.
Today, under Russian and Finn co-chairmanship, and
with the participation of nine Minsk Group member States,
the OSCE is actively pursuing the peace process through
intensive negotiations. While these efforts have certainly
yielded results, a demonstration of political will by the
parties to the conflict and an added commitment by the
international community are needed if a serious
breakthrough is to be achieved.
As part of the step-by-step approach to the resolution
of the conflict, the signing of the political agreement is
critical for the consolidation of the cease-fire and for the
overall settlement of the conflict. This political agreement,
which is currently, during the Minsk Group negotiations,
being discussed by the parties to the conflict, stipulates the
deployment of the OSCE peace-keeping forces, the return
of the occupied territories, the lifting of all blockades and
the return of refugees.
The successful conclusion of this agreement depends
mainly on a provision that provides local, regional and
international security guarantees that will ensure the
physical existence of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and
eliminate the possibility of the resumption of military
activities. Such guarantees, along with standard security
measures — deployment of OSCE peace-keepers,
demilitarization of all evacuated territory, and so on —
must also address Nagorno Karabakh’s legitimate need, as
an indispensable security element, of a corridor linking the
enclave with the outside world.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
poses a grave threat to both global and regional security
and stability. At the 1995 Review and Extension
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the States parties
undertook an in-depth and earnest review of the
implementation of the Treaty and reached a decision for the
Treaty to continue in force indefinitely. My delegation
would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its
satisfaction with this historic outcome. Armenia attaches
great importance to the early conclusion of a
comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty — and no later than
1996.
In recent years the United Nations has convened a
series of global conferences. The important process of
international gatherings has continued this year. The
World Summit for Social Development brought together
many strands that had previously been pursued separately.
For the first time in history there was a political
acknowledgment that the eradication of poverty must be
the first priority of any society.
Within each of the United Nations global
conferences, the advancement of women has been a major
concern, and we have witnessed a number of considerable
gains on women’s issues. The Fourth Conference on
Women, which has just concluded in Beijing, both
reaffirms the commitments toward the advancement of
women made in the previous conferences and builds upon
their achievements.
The Platform of Action agreed upon at the Beijing
Conference will lead to the creation of new machinery
that will help countries integrate women’s issues into
national policy-making.
Virtually all Member States of the United Nations
favour an increase in the membership of the Security
Council reflecting the radical changes in the world and
the increase in the Organization’s overall membership.
However, an increase in membership should not diminish
the Council’s efficiency. Meanwhile, the Security Council
must continue working to improve its openness,
transparency and communication with non-members. The
Council should also be able to respond to emerging
threats and disputes before their escalation into armed
conflict.
There is a direct link between peace and security, on
the one hand, and economic and social development, on
the other. Therefore, radical reform of the Economic and
Social Council is imperative. As a first step, strengthening
of the Council’s policy-setting role and coordination
capability in operational activities for development is
required. Together with improved coordination of United
Nations organizations and agencies devoted to economic
and social progress, a strengthened Economic and Social
Council could better assist the Security Council and
advise it of potential emergencies arising out of economic
and social conditions.
The issue of financial resources is fundamental. If
Member States wish to have an effective world
Organization to meet global challenges, they must pay
their assessments, as they are legally committed to do.
22

We are not indifferent to the financial situation of the
United Nations, and I would like to assure the Assembly
that my country will do its best to fulfil its obligations.
However, the current assessment formulas no longer fully
reflect global economic and political realities. The High-
level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation
of the United Nations was established by the Assembly in
part in response to the necessity for revision of the
assessment structure. The aim of a comprehensive financial
reform must be to establish a transparent and reliable scale,
reflective of Members’ real capacity to pay, automatically
adaptable to changed national circumstances and giving
consideration to the needs of countries with low per capita
incomes.
Let me conclude by wishing the General Assembly
every success in the demanding work it faces during this
session, and by pledging Armenia’s most active and
efficient cooperation with the delegations of other States as
you, Sir, preside over our deliberations.


I have to confess to my
usual excitement and pleasure at addressing the General
Assembly, exceptionally crowded and patient even at this
late hour.
Let me begin by congratulating Mr. Diogo Freitas do
Amaral on his election as President of the General
Assembly at its fiftieth session. Mr. Freito do Amaral
represents a country with a long history of global
achievements. With his personal qualities and experience,
he is a very natural choice to guide the work of this
Assembly at such a critical moment.
Let me also pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr.
Amara Essy, for his dedicated and distinguished
stewardship during the last session of the General
Assembly.
I want also to record the gratitude of my
Government to the Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros
Boutros-Ghali, for the measure and quality of the
leadership that he continues to provide in the direction
and work of the Organization.
28

Barely three weeks ago Hurricane Luis wrought
devastation on several island countries in the Caribbean,
causing major setbacks to economic and sustainable
development, as well as the loss of lives. As we ourselves
recently experienced two similar disasters, our thoughts and
sympathy are with the people of the Caribbean nations
devastated by Hurricane Luis, and we pray for their speedy
recovery.
The President of the General Assembly, in his opening
remarks, reminded us of the scope of the membership and
the universal character of this Organization. Samoa is proud
to note that a sister nation of the Pacific, the Republic of
Palau, is the newest Member of the United Nations, and I
am delighted to extend to Palau the warmest of welcomes.
Two weeks ago the Republic of Palau was acclaimed to
membership — becoming the sixteenth member — of the
South Pacific Forum. That too was a moment of great pride
for all of us.
We come together at a special moment for this
Organization and in the history of international cooperation.
Undeniably, this is a session of exceptional importance. We
need to take stock of where we, the United Nations, are and
to set new goals and priorities for the future.
Samoa believes that any stocktaking must be rooted in
the Charter, which proclaims the purposes and principles of
the Organization. Regrettably, the Charter pledges that we
have made to succeeding generations remain largely
unfulfilled.
It is right, and it is natural, therefore that at this
fiftieth session, we, the peoples of the United Nations,
should seek to renew our commitment to those pledges. But
first, it must be remembered that they are pledges that carry
the attendant duty — a most sacred duty — to make them
realities. It is a duty imposed upon us all and accepted upon
membership in our Organization. Far too often, this is
forgotten, or seemingly ignored.
This session will also be the natural occasion on which
to reaffirm our support for, and our faith in, the United
Nations. I speak positively and unhesitatingly about
reaffirmation because, quite frankly, what else is there to
take the place of the United Nations?
What we have is certainly not perfect. And given its
almost universal make-up, the range of issues before it and
the increasing demands being made of the United Nations,
it would be surprising if this were the case. Indeed, in
recent years, all of us in this Assembly have been engaged
in various activities aimed at making the United Nations
more relevant, more efficient and more cost-effective and
at preparing the Organization for the twenty-first century.
We welcome in particular resolution 49/252, which was
recently adopted, on strengthening of the United Nations
system, and we look forward to taking part in the
discussions in the Open-ended High-level Working Group
established. If and when we have devised changes and
improvements in the United Nations system, I dare say
that in years to come it will be necessary to persist in
monitoring and putting into place further needed reforms
to ensure the sustaining vigour of the Organization. That
being the case, there is clearly room for criticism and
fault-finding, from among ourselves as well as from those
who look on. We do not however think the shortcomings
of the United Nations warrant uninformed cynicism and
unfair blame, nor the charge of irrelevance that is
sometimes levelled at it.
But clearly, the standing and the very role of the
United Nations is at risk if the Members continue to deny
the Organization the funds and resources it needs. The
Secretary-General has spoken of this matter time and
again, and once more in his report on the work of the
Organization (A/50/1). The Organization is in a most
critical financial state, but it is also clear that the situation
can be substantially improved with the early payment of
arrears and by the full and timely payment of assessed
contributions. We can only urge the most immediate
action on the part of those who know they must act.
Samoa is a small and least-developed country. We
are deeply committed to the United Nations, and we will
continue to meet our financial and other responsibilities,
notwithstanding the budgetary problems we face. We
share the view that the strongest measures must be taken
to achieve sound financial viability for this Organization.
It would be essential for this purpose that there be a fair,
more equitable and realistic scale of assessments, one
which would take full account of the principle of capacity
to pay.
This must also take into account the predicament of
some countries, including my own, which are assessed at
the floor rate of the scale, at levels far beyond their
capacity to pay. We believe there is a just case for
abolishing or reducing the current floor rate. This is a
matter of importance to many small States and we would
hope that the High-level Working Group on the Financial
Situation of the United Nations would continue to give it
due consideration.
29

There is a second aspect, which touches on the
emphasis now being given to United Nations peace-keeping
activities. While Samoa recognizes the necessary and
traditional role of the United Nations in promoting global
peace and security, it seems to us that ultimately no amount
of force and no measure of peace-keeping can sustain peace
and security without attention to the root causes. Our own
view is that human misery brought about by poverty and
the denial of human and democratic rights are often the real
and fundamental problems. Unless these are removed or
minimized, there can never be the substratum that we need
for lasting world peace and security.
Put simply, Samoa believes firmly that social and
economic development must remain a major preoccupation
of the United Nations, as pledged in the Charter.
Development priorities spelt out in recent global
conferences for the sustained economic and social
advancement of the developing countries should be
effectively implemented. They should not be ignored while
the Organization’s attention and its focus, in terms of
human and financial resources, is diverted elsewhere,
largely on peace-keeping activities.
For Samoa and other small island States disadvantaged
by their size and geographical location, the Programme of
Action for the Sustainable Development on Small Island
Developing States must remain a centrepiece of our
attention.
We welcome steps taken by the various organs of the
United Nations system to implement the Plan of Action.
We appreciate, in particular, what is being done by the
Department for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable
Development and the Unit set up to monitor the
implementation of the Programme of Action. These steps
will complement efforts undertaken by our regional
countries in the South Pacific region to further advance the
commitments made in Rio, Barbados and elsewhere.
Samoa’s commitment to the pursuit of global peace
and security is unwavering. We will continue to do what
we can. Conflicts which continue to rage in many regions
of the world today cannot be ignored. They affect us all,
for they impact directly or indirectly on the ability of the
United Nations and the international community to respond
to the development needs of others.
We welcome the latest initiatives with a view to
bringing a peaceful end to the conflict in Bosnia. A
settlement acceptable to all parties must be reached.
Another milestone in the Middle East peace process
was reached in Washington yesterday. With the rest of
the world, we celebrate and commend the enduring efforts
and commitments made by the Israeli and Palestinian
leaders to lasting peace and security for all in that region.
Our environment is of vital importance, and of
singular concern to my Government. Our actions in the
region and at the international level are dictated by a deep
commitment to preserving it. Together with other
countries in our region, we have initiated and concluded
a series of treaty regimes, including those designed to
protect the natural resources and environment of the
South Pacific region and to establish the South Pacific
nuclear-free zone to keep our region free of
environmental pollution by radioactive wastes and other
radioactive matter.
We will continue to supplement these efforts as the
need arises. Indeed, leaders at the recent South Pacific
Forum meeting in Papua New Guinea adopted the Treaty
on the Control and Movement of Hazardous and Toxic
Wastes in the South Pacific. Samoa did not hesitate to
sign it.
Consistently over the years Samoa, together with our
regional partners, has called for a permanent end to
nuclear testing, the dumping of chemical and toxic wastes
and the transportation of these materials in our waters.
From this account you will therefore understand our
deep shock and distress when it was announced in June
that France proposed to resume the testing of nuclear
weapons in the Pacific. We sought, at the highest level,
as many others did, to persuade the Government of
France not to do so. We took action to register our
concern and to protest and we sought to intervene in the
proceedings brought by New Zealand against France in
the International Court of Justice. Together with other
Forum countries we moved to make direct representation
to the Government of France — all to no avail.
The explosion of a nuclear device at Mururoa atoll
early this month brings to close to 200 the number of
underground nuclear tests France has carried out in the
Pacific since 1975. Of the whole United Nations
membership, Samoa is the closest to the test site.
The resumption of nuclear testing by France has
been made in the face of strong and persistent protest
from countries of the region, and equally strong and
overwhelming condemnation from all parts of the world.
30

The current tests are being conducted in the absence of any
environmental impact assessments that we know of or have
been advised of, and in the opinion of my Government in
disregard of France’s existing regional treaty obligations.
Like other members of the South Pacific Forum, Samoa is
outraged at the resumption of French nuclear testing in the
Pacific — and, as I say, in the vicinity of my country. In
the strongest possible terms we condemn it. We do so
because of the extreme danger it poses to our environment
and health, now and in the long term; and because the tests
are completely contrary to the undertaking at the recent
Non-Proliferation Treaty review Conference that nuclear
States exercise utmost restraint in nuclear testing pending
the completion of negotiations on a comprehensive test-ban
treaty that would ban nuclear tests for all time.
We do welcome France’s commitment to a
comprehensive test-ban treaty, but that should not be used
as an excuse for France to continue its nuclear testing in
our region. For the sake of our environment and all who
live there, we call on France to stop.
We call also, and once more, on the three nuclear
Powers which have not yet signed and ratified the Protocols
to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty to do so.
It is also out of deep concern for our environment that
Samoa has taken every step possible to be engaged in the
negotiations and in the implementation of the international
conventions relating to climate change, biodiversity, marine
pollution and the conservation of straddling and highly
migratory fish stocks. Global warming and the threat of
sea-level rise are matters of the gravest concern to my
country and our region. Recently, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the warming
of the global atmosphere is unlikely to be entirely due to
natural causes. In other words, human activity is a definite
cause that cannot be discounted.
While this is not entirely unexpected, the latest
indication from the IPCC bears out the inadequacy of
current Convention commitments for Annex I parties, and
underlines the essential correctness, and the urgency, of the
Berlin Mandate issued from the first Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change. For its part, Samoa will continue to work
together with countries of the Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS) towards the early acceptance of clear
emission-reduction targets of the type advanced in the draft
AOSIS Protocol.
In respect of fish stocks, let me take the opportunity
to pay tribute to all the countries that worked so hard to
produce the truly remarkable triumph in the form of the
draft Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions
of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
relating to the Conservation and Management of
Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.
In particular, we express our gratitude to Ambassador
Satya Nandan of Fiji for his exceptional skill and
chairmanship.
This has been a landmark year on many counts; with
the fiftieth anniversary commemoration we will celebrate
next month the crowning event.
The Fourth World Conference on Women, in
Beijing, is one such landmark. Samoa warmly applauds
the unanimous adoption of the Platform for Action, and
the remarkable degree of international consultation and
cooperation that was employed to produce it. What is
needed now is the highest degree of commitment and
action, in close consultation with women at all levels.
There would be little point in having yet another fine
document without any prospect of implementation, and
without the effort and the will to make concrete changes
and improvements. And let it be remembered that such
changes and improvements are not for women alone, but
for the full development of mankind.
Without doubt, the extension of the Non-
Proliferation Treaty was a major achievement for the
world community this year. We congratulate Ambassador
Dhanapala of Sri Lanka on his remarkable role and
leadership in ensuring the successful outcome of the
Review Conference.
The decisions we took then are essential to
international peace and security, and the attainment of the
ultimate goals of the complete elimination of nuclear
weapons and a treaty on general and complete
disarmament under strict and effective international
control. The successful conclusion of a comprehensive
nuclear-test-ban treaty by 1996 is a specific goal for the
attainment of which all Member States of this body
should strive with the utmost effort.
We pray that at the end of the presidency of
Ambassador Freitas do Amaral of Portugal, the world
community will be able to celebrate the accomplishment
of that objective.


We are very pleased that Mr.
Freitas do Amaral is presiding over this important occasion,
not only because of our confidence in his sterling qualities
and acknowledged capabilities, but also because of the long
historic links between Portugal and Ghana — links going
back 500 years. We wish him every success in conducting
the affairs of this fiftieth session of the General Assembly.
To his predecessor, my brother and colleague from
Côte d’Ivoire, we say “thank you” for a job well done. He
led us through very complicated and difficult issues, such
as the restructuring and reform of the United Nations,
particularly the enlargement of the Security Council. The
patience, equanimity and skill which he displayed
throughout his presidency won the admiration of us all.
To Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, we say a special word
of thanks and appreciation for his indefatigable energy, his
remarkable commitment to the independence of the United
Nations and his steadfast resolve to help carry the
Organization forward on a sounder footing.
Fifty years of life, be it of a person or an institution,
is an appropriate occasion for celebration and we are all
looking forward to the festivities planned for the latter part
of this month in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary
of the United Nations. It must also, however, be an
occasion for a sober assessment of success and progress
attained, as well as an in-depth analysis of the shortcomings
experienced and how best to overcome them.
In 1945, 51 States, by signing the United Nations
Charter and setting up the Organization, ushered in a new
era in international affairs. I recall that only four African
countries were Members of the United Nations at its
inception. Today, the United Nations comprises 185
Member States, of which, perhaps, Africa is the continent
with the largest representation.
The very fact that the United Nations has grown in
the past 50 years to encompass in its membership almost
all sovereign States of the international community
indicates a positive development. This is important
because of the growing interdependence of States and the
common interest of the international community in the
solution of the complex and myriad issues of
contemporary life.
To those who criticize the United Nations and the
General Assembly in particular as a mere talking shop, I
would say that the tradition of discussion and debate, of
listening to and appreciating the views of others is of
great value. This is precisely the rationale for setting up
this forum. It is only through such a process that diverse
views can be harmonized and compromises struck. But
even the sceptic will admit that the United Nations has an
appreciable record of humanitarian and social
improvement throughout the globe, in decolonization and
in the settlement of disputes and conflicts.
Our hope that the end of the cold war would bring
in its train a new era of enduring peace and international
harmony has been rudely dispelled. Much has indeed
changed but much remains the same. The perennial
conflicts of the past are taking new and troubling
dimensions with “ethnic cleansing”, genocide and strident
forms of nationalism threatening international tranquillity.
This fiftieth anniversary is the appropriate occasion for all
States to ponder carefully how these problems can be
effectively contained. We are encouraged by recent events
to hope that the ugly conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina
can and will be solved, and we must pay tribute to the
United States for this development.
We also note with appreciation the recent Israeli-
Palestinian accords signed in Washington as another
milestone in the progress towards genuine peace in the
Middle East. We would, however, urge all parties to show
more flexibility and understanding in ensuring a
comprehensive solution to the Middle East problem,
which, inter alia, would include full self-determination for
the Palestinian people and the restoration of occupied
Arab lands.
No conflict can be resolved without the willingness
of the parties to be reasonable and ready for compromise.
13

The Afghans, the Somalis and others stand in danger of
neglect and they must wake up to this reality. The leaders
of the warring parties in these countries must appreciate the
enormous responsibility on their shoulders not to condemn
their compatriots to senseless slaughter in perpetuity.
The developing countries generally find themselves in
difficult economic circumstances as a result of an
unfavourable international economic climate. The need for
concerted international action to restructure the international
economy in order to meet the challenges of absolute
poverty, malnutrition, disease and illiteracy, among others,
in the developing countries cannot be overemphasized. In
this context, we appreciate the limited success of the
important global conferences of the past year, especially
that on population and development in Cairo, the World
Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen and, last
but not least, the Fourth World Conference on Women in
Beijing. The very fact that the international community has
been able to improve and agree on a set of guidelines for
future action in each of these vitally important social areas
is in itself a remarkable achievement. We trust that the
necessary political will to implement what has been agreed
upon will be exercised by all.
Allow me to say a few words about last April’s
review and extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We note with regret that, so
soon after the indefinite extension of the NPT, the very
fears which made some of us question the wisdom of an
indefinite extension have been fulfilled by the resumption
of nuclear testing in the Pacific. We had argued that an
indefinite extension would leave the nuclear Powers with no
real incentive to make further progress on the arms control
agenda. We must condemn in no uncertain terms the breach
of the underlying implications of the consensus reached on
the indefinite extension of the NPT. Let us hope that
lessons will be learned from the almost universal
condemnation of the French tests and that there will be
movement towards a rapid conclusion of a comprehensive
test-ban treaty and action on the other major issues in the
area of disarmament.
United Nations peace-keeping continues to assume
great prominence in the range of United Nations activities.
This has been in clear response to urgent needs in various
parts of the world, and we in Ghana continue to try to
make a modest contribution through participation in such
missions as that in Rwanda. We are pleased to note that a
lot of thinking is going on about how to improve and
strengthen the United Nations peace-keeping role. We will
continue to take an active part in these discussions and we
hope it will be possible to agree on new arrangements
that will be to the benefit of us all.
Allow me, on this issue, to express my delegation’s
profound regret at the delay of the United Nations in
reimbursing troop- contributing countries, such as mine,
for expenditures incurred in United Nations peace-keeping
operations. We urge that every effort be made to resolve
this matter as speedily as possible. Of course, it will help
greatly if Member States in arrears in their contributions
honour their obligations and pay up. We urge them to do
so without further delay.
While on the subject of peace-keeping, may I say a
few words about what we in West Africa have tried to do
in Liberia. In the spirit of the relevant provisions of the
United Nations Charter and the Treaty setting up the
Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), ECOWAS countries took the initiative to set
up the cease-fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to stop
the bloodshed in Liberia. Today we are pleased to see
that the Abuja and earlier agreements have made possible
the restoration of relative peace in that country. The
challenge now is to see through the implementation
process. That will require a considerable increase in troop
strength, logistics for ECOMOG and for the encampment,
disarmament and resettlement of rival forces engaged in
the civil war. International assistance is greatly needed to
meet these objectives. It is hoped that a ready response
will be forthcoming at the pledging conference envisaged
for later this month.
What ECOMOG has done in Liberia is a good
example of how subregional and regional organizations
should support the United Nations in the maintenance of
international peace and security. But the United Nations
will need to overcome doctrinal obstacles and to develop
principles that will facilitate hybrid operations involving
subregional initiatives and United Nations financing in
whole or in part.
On Rwanda, Ghana has again demonstrated the
depth of its commitment to the maintenance of
international peace and security by sending troops to the
front line. Our actions speak louder than words. Liberia
and Rwanda are the latest in a long history of Ghanaian
participation in peace-keeping operations. We will
continue to make a contribution whenever and wherever
we are called upon to assist. That is why Ghana
sponsored the preparation of the Anglo-French glossary of
peace-keeping terms, which provides precise terminology
for vital words regularly used in the actual theatre of
14

operations. Our gratitude goes to the British, French and
Senegalese Governments, who all helped make the exercise
a success.
Africa’s economic problems are too well known for
me to recount. Allow me to state that some of us are
beginning to wonder about the seriousness of the
international community in helping Africa help itself.
Conference after conference and seminar after seminar have
been held in the past few years on this issue. Study after
study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World
Bank and numerous other institutions and distinguished
personalities have been published, dissecting every
dimension of the continent’s problems.
African countries have committed themselves
repeatedly to carry out far-reaching economic and
institutional reforms, on the express understanding that their
efforts would be fully complemented by the requisite
material support of the international community, particularly
the advanced countries.
While not down-playing the assistance Africa has
received in the past few years, I must register the profound
disappointment of many of us on the continent that the
expected volume of assistance has never been forthcoming.
Moreover, the requisite action on the debt and aid fronts,
which would have completed the picture, has also not been
adequate.
This is all the more regrettable because of the
profound political risks that many Governments in Africa
have run by faithfully implementing painful structural
adjustment programmes that have had a severe impact on
their peoples. It is also unfortunate because Africa has seen
a tremendous upsurge of popular empowerment which has
found expression in the establishment of constitutional rule
in country after country. Let it not appear that the
international community deliberately wishes to marginalize
the African continent. The problem of poverty of the
African continent, if not tackled seriously, could pose grave
dangers to international peace and security. Many conflicts
in Africa are occasioned by the strains of development and
they could easily take on international dimensions.
As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the United
Nations, let us seek to fight against the arrogance of power
and the return to the habits of colonialism as exhibited in
the unjustified economic blockade against Cuba and the
sanctions imposed on Libya. Such actions, particularly
when sponsored by the United Nations, will serve to
undermine the integrity of this Organization. The collapse
of the cold war must make us more vigilant against any
attempt to turn the United Nations into an instrument of
the foreign policy of any one country or group of
countries. When that happens, regional and subregional
organizations will be tempted to question and/or disobey
the decisions of the United Nations. This will be a tragic
development that must be avoided at all costs. That is
why Ghana, like other members of the OAU, calls upon
the Security Council to lift the sanctions imposed
unjustifiably on Libya and seek a peaceful solution to the
Lockerbie affair and other related matters. We must of
course forever maintain an uncompromising resolve to
fight mindless terrorism.
Let me conclude by reaffirming Ghana’s
commitment to the United Nations as the best hope for
peace and international cooperation. Long live the United
Nations.