First of all, let me join the other
representatives who have spoken before me in congratulating you warmly. Sir,
on your unanimous election to the presidency of the forty-seventh session of
the United Nations General Assembly. Your election to this high office is not
only proof of the confidence which the Assembly has in you, but a great honour

as well to your country, Bulgaria. We are confident that, under your able
leadership, our deliberations will be steered to a successful conclusion.
I also wish to pay a tribute to your predecessor. Ambassador Samir
Shihabi of Saudi Arabia, for the great diplomatic skills with which he
successfully led the forty-sixth session.
We are happy to welcome the several Members that joined our Organization
in the past year. With their admission, the United Nations has moved once
again closer to the realization of the principle of universality of
membership. We are encouraged by their commitment to the principles and
objectives of the Charter and we look forward to working closely with them in
the days ahead in creating a better world for mankind through this
Organization. Their admission comes at a very significant moment in the
history of the United Nations, a time when our Organization is undergoing
revitalization and reorganization and is poised to meet the new challenges in
the rapidly changing international scene.*
The successes of the United Nations and the important contribution that
it is expected to make towards the maintenance of international peace and
security will in no small measure depend on the efforts of our new
Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. We commend him for his timely
report, "An Agenda for Peace", in which he analyses and offers pragmatic
recommendations on ways of strengthening and making more efficient the
capacity of the United Nations for preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and
peace-keeping.
Security based on the old theory of deterrence has failed to guarantee
mankind a world without the threat of war and nuclear holocaust. Kenya

believes that peace is not merely the absence of war but the absence of the
threat of war or of the use of force in international relations and in all
spheres of life as well. The end of super-Power rivalry and the demise of the
cold-war era offer the world a rare opportunity not only to reorganize
international relations but also to create a peaceful atmosphere devoid of
nuclear threat. Positive steps have been taken in Geneva in the Conference on
Disarmament through the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the
chemical weapons Convention. Kenya is happy to be among the many States which
have sponsored a draft resolution, to be placed before this Assembly at the
current session, on chemical and bacteriological weapons under the Convention
on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of
chemical weapons.
As important as all these developments are, Kenya still holds to the view
that a comprehensive test ban is the only viable way of stopping the momentum
of the nuclear arms race. It is the most appropriate tool for practical arms
control policies geared towards preventing further arms escalation. In this
regard, the accession by China and France to the non-proliferation Treaty is a
welcome step in the right direction.
Kenya welcomed without reservation the collapse of the bipolar structure
of the cold war. However, the consequences of the change have been
devastating to some and catastrophic to others. One thing is clear. The
changes, although desired and necessary, have come in too rapidly for most.
Consequently, instead of being a triumph for democracy, the changes now
present a serious challenge, not only for democracy and the survival of the
democratic institutions they were meant to strengthen, but also a severe test
of the will and the capacity of the United Nations and its institutions to
respond effectively to the resultant crises.

Somalia is a particularly distressing example. In the words of our
Secretary-General, as contained in his report of 11 September 1992 on the work
of this Organization:
"Somalia poses a particularly difficult challenge to the United
Nations. A means must be found of responding to the urgent and
overwhelming needs of a population increasingly desperate in the face of
widespread hunger, the absence of national administration, almost
complete destruction of basic infrastructure and acute insecurity."
(A/47/1, para. 145)
As a neighbour to Somalia, Kenya has had to bear more than its fair share
of Somali refugees, now standing at well over half a million people. Close to
6 million out of Somali's population of 7 million people are in serious
distress, with some 2 million condemned to certain death before this human
tragedy is eventually brought to a conclusion.

We thank the Secretary-General and his team for their tireless efforts in
putting together a comprehensive and multifaceted programme of action covering
humanitarian relief, the consolidation of a cease-fire, the reduction of
organized violence and national reconciliation. The United Nations
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ambassador Jan Eliasson, has
also done commendably well in coordinating United Nations assistance to
Somalia. Kenya still remains ready to offer the necessary facilities to
United Nations agencies, and inter-governmental and non-governmental
organizations to assist Somalia.
While humanitarian assistance is of the utmost priority in the present
circumstances, we in Kenya have not lost sight of the paramount importance of
the need for a round table. There is absolutely no alternative to dialogue.
My President, His Excellency Daniel Arap Moi, has constantly reminded the
Somali leaders that they must put the interests of the Somali people before
their own narrow and personal interests. Kenya will do whatever it can, along
with its neighbours, to assist all Somali factions, without exclusion, to come
together and discuss a durable solution to this tragedy.
Elsewhere in Africa there have been encouraging trends of reconciliation
and amicable solutions to ethnic or ideological conflicts, which have retarded
progress for decades. We salute the people of Mozambique and Angola for
opting for dialogue to solve their differences.
We also look forward to a peaceful solution, at long last, to the
problems of Cambodia and divided Korea, and support the initiatives in Central
America to solve their problems through the regional approach, as provided for
in the Charter.

The situation in the Middle East is still far from settled. However we
express cautious optimism at the current rounds of talks initiated by
Secretary of State James Baker, involving the most important protagonists in
the Middle East conflict, the Palestinians.
The developments in South Africa are also of great encouragement to us.
We look forward to the resumption of the Convention for a Democratic South
Africa (CODESA) talks in order to accelerate movement towards genuine
democracy in that country.
This session of the General Assembly is taking place at a time of
increased globalization of the world economy with promising opportunities for
all countries, rich and poor. Unfortunately the benefits accruing from this
globalization are not being uniformly distributed. The economies of the
developing countries are characterized by a mounting debt burden, negative
balance-of-payments positions, declining investments, reduced external
creditworthiness, and a general backsliding in economic development.
The flow of international development finance to developing countries,
both official and commercial, has continued to decline at a time when more is
needed. This has resulted in the net outflow of resources from the developing
to the developed countries. In order to reverse this negative trend, the
developed countries and the international financial institutions need to
intensify their efforts to increase substantially the rate of financial flows
to the developing countries on a continuous and assured basis.
Donor countries which have not done so should make every effort to reach
the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product in official
development assistance to the developing countries as set out in the United
Nations International Development Strategy. Aid conditionalities and

cross-conditionalities imposed on the developing countries by a number of
donors should be lifted. They are unrealistically stringent and
counter-productive. There is, therefore, urgent need for donors to re-examine
their policies in international cooperation in order to avoid actions that
hurt the already debt-ridden economies of the recipient countries.
The external debt crisis of the developing countries is being exacerbated
by volatile exchange rates and currency fluctuations, the collapse of
commodity prices, a general deterioration in the terms of trade of the debtor
countries and the domestic financial and economic policies of the creditor
countries. In an effort to lower inflation the creditor countries have
adopted measures which have reduced opportunities for the exports of the
developing countries and led to higher interest rates, further jeopardizing
the ability of the debtor countries to meet their debt obligations.
Kenya feels that any meaningful solution to the debt crisis must address
the real causes of the problem with a view to obtaining a durable solution.
We welcome the efforts taken by some members of the donor community to reduce
or cancel the debts owed by the developing countries. An effective and
lasting solution to the debt problem of developing countries can be achieved
only through measures directed towards the revitalization of the economic
growth and development of the developing countries.
Trade protectionism and the failure by the developed countries totally to
observe international trade practices have also contributed to reduced market
opportunities for the exports of the developing countries. Protectionism,
along with subsidies, has adversely affected the ability of the developing
countries, particularly those in Africa, to earn badly needed foreign exchange
and has resulted in developing countries losing some $500 billion a year.

That is 10 times more than the amount of foreign assistance granted to these
countries. The situation is worsened by the steeply declining prices of
commodities on which many developing countries are highly dependent. Since
the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement in 1989, for example,
coffee-producing countries have lost more than $10 billion.
In order to reverse this unfavourable trend, the developed countries
should dismantle protectionism in world trade and ensure that inward-looking
regionalism and economic blocs do not undermine the multilateral trading
system. There is urgent need for an early and successful conclusion of the
Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
multilateral trade negotiations.
The liberalization programmes supported by the donor community,
especially the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, should
balance between promoting a market for the industrialized countries and making
the exports of developing countries more competitive in the world market.
These programmes should also support processing in the developing countries to
give their products a higher added value in order to fetch more in
international markets.
Some developing countries, including Kenya, with the support of the IMF
and the World Bank, are implementing structural adjustment programmes. While
our countries accept the objectives of these structural adjustments, the rates
and sometimes the methods of implementation advocated by the donor community,
particularly the IMF and the World Bank, are out of step with our political,
economic or social capacity to absorb them. Kenya is convinced that the
sustainability of these programmes cannot be guaranteed unless they are
compatible with political and social situations in the recipient countries.

Kenya believes that peace, security and stability cannot be assured in
the face of the abject poverty in which millions of people in developing
countries live. We fully endorse the position of developing countries members
of the Group of 77 that the eradication of poverty constitutes a major
challenge at the present time. That must be the goal in the revitalization of
growth and in sustainable development in developing countries. We equally
support and endorse the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council at
its 1992 substantive session that the General Assembly should convene a world
summit for social development in 1995. Such a conference would contribute to
the important objective of putting people at the centre of development and
international cooperation. Eradication of poverty is a national objective in
Kenya and every effort is being made towards that end.

Kenya, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has had its share
of drought and of the shortage of food, which have been compounded by the
refugee problem. The persistent critical economic and social problems in
Africa, coupled with the debt-burden, declining prices of commodities,
vagaries of climate and weather conditions, environmental degradation,
population increase, and social as well as political effects of structural
adjustment, have all added to the deterioration of living standards and have
frustrated efforts for economic recovery. Almost 40 million people in
sub-Saharan Africa are currently faced with the threat of starvation.
The Government of Kenya is most appreciative of the response of the
international community and of the bilateral assistance from friendly
countries, in the face of the severe drought and crop failure that gripped our
country. The United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs launched a
Special Appeal for Kenya, alongside the Special Emergency Programme for the
Horn of Africa. I wish to convey the thanks and gratitude of my country to
the Secretary-General for this timely action and particularly for releasing to
the United Nations Children's Fund $2 million from the Central Emergency
Revolving Fund for the provision of water, emergency drugs, vaccines and
shelter in the north and north-eastern areas of Kenya. We should like to make
a further appeal for continued assistance in view of the overwhelming flood of
refugees and the effect of the drought in Kenya.
The holding of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development in Rio this year was a clear indication of the concern of humanity
for the state of the global environment. It Emphasized the fact that the
continuing deterioration of the environment is a serious threat to the
survival of the human race and the planet Earth. The agreements reached in

Rio represent a remarkable achievement by any standard despite the fact that
they did not meet all our hopes and expectations in all areas. None the less,
what is gratifying is that the results of the Rio Earth Summit, contained in
the Rio Declaration and in Agenda 21, provide the basis for a new global
partnership, embracing the rich and the poor. North and South, East and West.
Noteworthy is the fact that, for the first time, the world community gave
its united attention to the process of desertification, one of the problems
facing the African continent and indeed Kenya. This process has given rise to
untold levels of poverty and it is time we had an international legal
instrument that would focus on this scourge. It is therefore pleasing to note
that the Rio Conference called attention to the need to start work on an
international convention on desertification, with special reference to Africa.
In spite of what was accomplished at Rio, we cannot afford to be
complacent. Much more needs to be done. The road from Rio will be longer and
perhaps more challenging than the road to Rio. Programmes need to be
implemented and treaties put into force and strengthened.
While Kenya is ready to pursue the objectives of sustainable development,
we have to emphasize that a positive move on the part of developed countries
is needed in the implementation of provisions regarding new and additional
resources and technical assistance, as well the transfer of environmentally
sound technologies, to enable developing countries to play their role.
Indeed, at Rio, the developed countries reaffirmed their commitment to reach
the accepted target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official
development aid to augment their aid programmes. While this commitment is
commendable, Kenya's view is that specific commitments should be spelt out,
since the success and implementation of Agenda 21 will depend very heavily on

the availability of finance. We also wish to underscore that the
implementation of sustainable development will be futile if developed
countries and financial institutions use financial considerations as an excuse
for interfering in the internal affairs of developing countries or as an
opportunity to introduce conditionalities.
The establishment of the Commission for Sustainable Development is
important since it will provide a focal point of intergovernmental
decision-making to effect the integration of the environmental and
developmental strategies contained in Agenda 21. Kenya believes that the only
way for the new Commission to be most effective in implementing Agenda 21
would be for the General Assembly to resist any organizational modalities and
mandates that would create unnecessarily costly and large bureaucratic
machinery. The Commission should operate as a functional commission of the
Economic and Social Council within recognized rules of procedure and should be
elaborated in the context of the ongoing revitalization and rationalization of
the Council. The policy responsibilities of the Commission must be well
defined to avoid conflicts with other bodies. It should be both future- and
development-oriented, providing a forum for the review, further development
and updating of Agenda 21 in the light of future economic, financial,
technological, legal and other developments.
At its forty-sixth session, the General Assembly adopted resolution
46/164, accepting the idea of convening a United Nations conference on human
settlements, possibly in 1997, and requested the Secretary-General to submit a
report on the item. My delegation fully supports this decision, which would
offer a unique opportunity to evaluate and strengthen the progress of Habitat,
taking into account the fact that urbanization is one of the fundamental

environmental problems that we cannot afford to overlook.
Before concluding, let me comment briefly on the Decade of International
Law. At its forty-fifth session, the General Assembly declared the 1990s to
be the United Nations Decade of International Law. Respect and adherence by
all States to the principles and norms of international law would lead us to a
more orderly world in which disputes that may arise can be resolved by
peaceful means. All of us must, therefore, exert every effort to ensure that
the aims of the Decade are promoted and that meaningful programmes are adopted
so that the Decade may become a reality.
It would also be very opportune if, in this Decade of International Law,
the world were to witness not only the coming into force of the Convention on
the Law of the Sea, but also its universal acceptance as the comprehensive
legal order for the world seas. We therefore applaud the Secretary-General in
these efforts aimed at making this a reality and we wish him well and
success. We must, however, be very careful that universal acceptance of the
Convention will not mean unravelling its core principle, which is that the
high seas and the resources therein are and shall be exploited for the common
heritage of all mankind.


It	is	my	great honor and pleasure to
congratulate Mr. Ganev of Bulgaria on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session. His election to this important office coincides with a critical juncture in the history of the United Nations when the world is taking a turn towards a new era in international relations, and I wish him success.
I should also like to take this opportunity to extend my delegation's deep appreciation to his predecessor. Ambassador Samir Shihabi of Saudi Arabia, who demonstrated outstanding skills of diplomacy and dedication during his term of office.
It is also my pleasure to pay tribute to the Secretary-General Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali for the leadership and vision he has brought to the Organization at a time of crucial change.
Since we met last year, 13 new Member States have taken their seats in our midst. I should like to extend a warm welcome to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. I am confident that our Organization, which has always striven for universality, will greatly benefit from their participation in the work of the United Nations.
He face a time of challenge and opportunity. The impasse that characterized international affairs for more than four decades through super-Power confrontation has ended, giving way to a new era of international cooperation. He dare to hope that the noble aspirations envisioned in the Charter of the United Nations may be within reach. Yet the way ahead is not without obstacles. New conflicts motivated by ultra-nationalism, ethnicism and even religious intolerance confront us daily.
In these turbulent times the United Nations must play an active and constructive role in soothing the fears and anxieties of its Member States.
In order to do so, the United Nations will need the full support and cooperation of all Members at the highest level, both large and small. The United Nations must be provided with the requisite support and resources needed to address the vital tasks that lie ahead. Never has the need for a strong and vibrant United Nations been greater, when we are on the threshold of a new century, a new awakening.
He believe that the concepts put forward by the Secretary-General in his report, "An Agenda for Peace", deserve serious consideration. The need for both peace-keeping and peacemaking efforts with greater emphasis on the use of preventive diplomacy and post-conflict peace-building measures has never been more urgent. None of these indeed is a mutually exclusive concept, but they are closely interrelated and need to be implemented in a comprehensive manner. Too often, a conflict is allowed to rage on for too long, before the international community is convinced to act firmly, and too often this may be too late.
Maldives is aware of the increasing financial pressure placed on the Organization as it is called upon to play an ever greater role in both conflict prevention and conflict resolution. It is imperative that the membership of the United Nations be committed to supporting these activities not by mere rhetoric but in substance. However, it may be fair to say that the smaller and the economically weaker members of this community will not be able to share on an equal level the burdens of the rapidly expanding peace-keeping and peacemaking activities of the Organization.
Unchecked escalation of conflicts anywhere in the world affects all of us in varying degrees owing to the integrated nature of the global political economy. Yet we do not possess equal resources to address these problems. Perhaps it may be appropriate to consider directing a portion of the so-called peace dividend hoped for in the post-cold-war period towards United Nations peace-keeping and peacemaking efforts. That would ease the financial pressure being acutely felt by member nations, frequently unwitting victims of others' wars.
During the past year we have witnessed a number of dramatic developments in the international arena, which inspire both hope and despair.
The situation in the Middle East and the question of Palestine still remain to be solved. He are encouraged by the ongoing peace talks and commend all parties involved in the peace effort for their courage and fortitude in coming to the negotiating table. He feel that no permanent peace in the Middle East can ever be attained unless the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are protected, the Arab lands occupied during the 1967 war are returned and the right of all States in the region to live in peace is guaranteed. In this respect we firmly believe that the guiding principles in any negotiated settlement should be United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
My delegation supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to facilitate the establishment of a national government in Cambodia by the middle of nest year. The participation of all concerned is vital, and we encourage all parties fully to cooperate with the Secretary-General in the implementation of the peace settlement.
The progress that has been made in South Africa gives us reason for hope. However, we are disturbed by the repeated incidences of violence that have hindered the process of negotiations and disrupted efforts for dismantling apartheid and for the constitutional reforms that will ensure the rights of the black majority. We were heartened by the resumption of talks between the Government of South Africa and the African National Congress (ANC). We hope that the momentum will not be halted by a further outbreak of violence yet again.
Despite the liberation of Kuwait at the end of the Gulf War, the international community and the people of Kuwait continue to be haunted by the tragic consequences of the invasion and the brutal occupation of Kuwait by Iraq. Maldives believes in the inviolability of international borders between countries and in this respect fully supports Security Council resolution 773 (1992), which addresses the root causes of the conflict. We are deeply concerned about the fate of all Kuwaiti and third-country prisoners still being held in Iraq and hope for their early release and return to their homes and families. We consider this to be an issue of an urgent humanitarian
nature.
In my address to the Assembly last year, I cautioned that we should not allow our post-cold-war euphoria to blind us to the possibility of new threats which may endanger international peace and security, such as nascent belligerent nationalism, political hegemony, excessive protectionism and racism coming to the forefront once again.
It is with regret that I note that many of the fears that I had then are coming all too true today. The emergence of age-old rivalries based purely on ethnic differences and religious intolerance in the Republics of the former Yugoslavia have shocked and horrified the international community. The atrocities being committed against the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the name of "ethnic cleansing" defy description. The oppression of ethnic minorities, indiscriminate killings and illegal arrests of innocent civilians must cease immediately. The international community should commit itself fully to the task of restoring peace in that region so that its peoples may resume their lives in peace and harmony.
The world has seen remarkable progress in the realm of disarmament in recent years. Most noteworthy in this respect has been the agreement reached between the United States and the Russian Federation to reduce their nuclear arsenals by nearly 70 per cent. While we welcome that agreement, we should not be satisfied until the danger of nuclear proliferation is totally eliminated and the existing stockpiles are drastically reduced.
The international community may consider putting its foot down harder in regions where the possibility of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear arms exists. Such pressure should be extended sooner rather than later, as proven in the experiences of the recent Gulf crisis. But that approach should be considered an integral part of the process of global disarmament.
We have always supported the concept of establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones and zones of peace. However, such zones cannot be realized without the desire and commitment of the States of the respective regions. We feel that the convening of international conferences or broad-based meetings on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones and zones of peace should be preceded by consultations and a degree of agreement amongst the States concerned.
Maldives considers that proposals for zones of peace and the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones should be re-addressed or revived in the context of the current and newly emerging international situation.
With regard to the proposals relevant to our own region, Maldives continues to support the establishment of a zone of peace in the Indian Ocean and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia. However, it may now be time to reinvigorate the process through the application of new and fresh ideas. We believe that the current international climate may make nations receptive to many of the ideas that were formerly not acceptable when the world was held captive to bloc politics.
Maldives has always supported the prohibition and elimination of all forms of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, chemical and biological ones. We are happy to note that during the current session, a convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons is to be adopted. We fully support this convention and intend to become one of its first signatories.
While we are heartened at the progress being made in the field of disarmament, we have yet to see a very tangible return in the form of a peace dividend. The continuing economic deprivation in the developing countries poses a greater threat in many ways to the security of mankind than did the cold war. It is imperative that the developed countries direct their attention and resources to the assistance of the developing countries in their efforts to become more self-reliant.
The continuing and widening disparity between the developed and developing countries remains a matter of concern. It is futile to believe that the world may enjoy peace and progress while two thirds of humanity lives in utter deprivation. We call on the developed countries to liberalize their trade practices and expeditiously to conclude the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The inequities inherent in the international economic system must be remedied and the developing countries given a fair and just opportunity to improve the socio-economic well-being of their peoples.
This is the first opportunity the entire international community has had to comment jointly on the legacy of Rio. It is to be hoped that we all emerged from Rio imbued with a sense of commitment and the determination to implement the policies emanating from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. More than any other, my country is aware of the severe consequences inherent in ignoring the continuing degradation of the environment.
Maldives is proud to have been one of the initial signatories of both the Climate Change and Biodiversity Conventions and we shall very shortly ratify them. We urge all others to do the same in order that the provisions of the Conventions may be implemented.
One of the very important documents of the Rio Summit was Agenda 21.
This session of the General Assembly has been charged with the task of organizing and implementing certain decisions included in that Agenda. One of those is the establishment of a commission on sustainable development, which Maldives fully supports.
As a small island State with minimal resources that are inadequate to confront the monumental environmental challenges we face, Maldives eagerly anticipates the convening of the Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States in 1993. We hope that all countries will participate in that conference to the fullest extent possible.
I should also like to recall at this juncture that during this session we are marking the second anniversary of another summit of equal importance the World Summit for Children. The Declaration endorsed by that Summit has now been signed by some 140 Heads of State or Government, and over 130 countries have prepared or are in the process of developing national programs of action to achieve the goals set out in the Declaration. It is now time for the implementation of these programs. Maldives has been working closely with the members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to execute the national programs of action adopted in the region.
We have just completed a ministerial conference on children, held in Colombo, where the Colombo Resolution on Children was adopted. It is our hope that the objectives set forth at the Summit for Children will also continue to be given the highest priority by all countries and that its noble aims will never be neglected.
Experience has proven that peace can never be achieved through force or a balance of military strength. We have laid to waste so much of our precious and irreplaceable resources. It is time we forged a new path for peace based on partnership and cooperation. That is what the United Nations has always striven for. We, for our part, renew our pledge of full support and commitment to the noble objectives and principles enshrined in the Charter.
As I stated at the beginning, this is a time of challenge and opportunity. Let us not walk away from these challenges. Let us face them with resolve and dedication. Our goals can be achieved only through political will. The world deserves no less.


Allow me
to express my sincere congratulations to the President of the current General
Assembly on his election. I should also like to wish every success to the
Secretary-General in his work.
This session of the General Assembly is the first one for Kyrgyzstan, as
it is for other new United Nations Member States, and provides us with a
unique opportunity to introduce ourselves us to the world community and to
express our vision of future cooperation with the organization.
Kyrgyzstan emerged as an independent State at a turning point in world
history. The collapse of totalitarianism and profound geopolitical changes in
the territory of the former Soviet Union enabled my Republic to seize this
historic opportunity to establish itself as an independent State. Less than a
month ago, we celebrated the first anniversary of our independence.
From the very outset, we saw no other alternative in using the right of
independent choice we obtained than the establishment of a pluralistic
democracy as the only means of creating a decent life for the individual by
ensuring political, economic and spiritual freedoms.
The difficult process of creating a democratic legal State, strengthening
inter-ethnic harmony and social accord and building the basis for a market
economy is under way in Kyrgyzstan. Our criteria are the highest
international standards for ensuring human rights and freedoms, and we are
pursuing their implementation in all areas of political and legislative
activity. These standards are set forth in the draft of our new Constitution,
which our Parliament is soon to discuss. In the near future, Kyrgyzstan will
also adhere to major international agreements on human rights.
We appreciate the friendly view taken abroad of the democratic changes
under way in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan today is recognized by 107 countries the world over, and
diplomatic relations have been established with more than 50 of them. It has
become a member of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (CSCE), the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other
international and regional institutions.
Kyrgyzstan is open to sound, mutually beneficial relations and ready for
partnership with those countries which share our ideals of freedom and
democracy.
We attach great importance to maintaining cooperation within the
Commonwealth of Independent States. The meeting of Heads of State of the
Commonwealth, which took place in Bishkek recently, might help strengthen
integration, but we recognize the different situations involved and the
various approaches taken to this integration.
On the international scene, Kyrgyzstan will act as peace-loving, neutral,
non-nuclear State. As such, our Republic is ready to sign the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to tackle other issues related to the
strengthening of strategic and military security.
Our meeting takes place at a crucial turning point for the United
Nations. The process of searching for the most adequate and appropriate
principles for the Organization, in keeping with the new, changing realities
of a post-confrontation world, is now under way.
Distortions caused by totalitarianism in the sphere of interstate and
interethnic relations have led to emergence of crisis zones in the vast area
stretching from the former Yugoslavia to Central Asia.
We support the ideas put forward in the report of the Secretary-General,
"An Agenda for Peace" (A/47/277), aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of

preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-keeping. We believe that in order
to prevent and settle conflicts, it is necessary to apply within the framework
of international law all existing mechanisms of the United Nations and the
CSCE. The main thing is the timeliness and adequacy of the steps undertaken.
Preventive diplomacy and timely reaction should be given top priority in all
peace-keeping efforts.
We are especially concerned over maintaining stability in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan advocates constructive steps and a regional orientation for
maintaining peace and stability in the region.
In this connection, we were greatly interested by a proposal for
organizing a forum on interaction and confidence in Asia similar to the
all-European process put forward yesterday by the President of Kazakhstan,
Nursultan Mazarbayev, in his speech to the General Assembly.
This forum, as we see it, could help to adapt to Asian realities the vast
experience accumulated by world and European organizations in
confidence-building measures and mechanisms for collective security.
Kyrgyzstan is now passing through a harsh economic crisis, the reasons
for which are evident and well-known. The situation has been aggravated by
natural disasters. On two occasions this year an earthquake and a flood have
led to the loss of human lives and caused enormous material damage.
Obviously, it would be difficult for us to overcome all the problems of the
transitional period by ourselves.
It is therefore difficult to overestimate the importance of the economic,
financial, technical and humanitarian assistance provided us by the world
community. The cooperation of the United Nations and its specialized agencies
with a large group of countries that became full-fledged members only recently

is especially valuable both from the standpoint of solving their problems and
with respect to reforms under way in the Organization. In general terms, this
relates to the effectiveness of the United Nations and of its system.
We appreciate the activities of the United Nations specialized agencies,
which, through an adequate assessment of our status and situation, are active
in setting up programmes in our country. The upcoming opening in Bishkek of a
United Nations representative office will promote the speedy integration of
Kyrgyzstan into international economic, technical, scientific and humanitarian
cooperation.
Our Republic became a United Nations member at a time of renewal and
reforms. We are in favour of practical steps aimed at enhancing the
effectiveness of this Organization as the key factor in establishing a new
world order.
I take this opportunity to confirm that Kyrgyzstan will adhere strictly
to the provisions of the Charter and will make its contribution to the
activities of the Organization.


It gives me
great pleasure to congratulate Ambassador Ganev of Bulgaria on his election to
the presidency of the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly. We are
confident that he will conduct the work of the session wisely and effectively
and we take satisfaction in the bonds of friendship and mutual cooperation
between our two countries.
I should like on this occasion to pay tribute to Ambassador Samir Shihabi
for the sagacious leadership and courage he demonstrated in presiding over the
forty-sixth session of the General Assembly. He indeed deserves our deep
thanks and appreciation.
I have pleasure also in extending warm greetings to the
Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. We commend the resolve and
ability he has shown in steering the work of the Organization over the short
period of time that has passed since the start of his mandate and his declared
intent to make the United Nations more compatible with the political changes
that have taken place in international politics and the resultant increasing
demands upon the Organization in the areas of peace-keeping, peacemaking,
development and humanitarian assistance.
I am duty bound to extend our esteem and appreciation also to
Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, the former Secretary-General of the United
Nations, for his able leadership of the Organization's work for 10 years and
for the sincere concern he showed over the suffering of Lebanon during its
protracted agony.

Lebanon, a founding Member of the United Nations, welcomes the new Member
States and considers their membership to be an enhancement of the
Organization's universality, credibility and significance.
Over the past few years, the world witnessed a series of historic events
that have led to a fundamental transformation in international relations.
With the collapse of ideological barriers, the cold war has come to an end and
thus dialogue, cooperation and realism have taken the place of confrontation,
alliances and mutual mistrust. New States have emerged, many political
systems have changed, and some States have opted for more open economic
policies.
Throughout the world, all of this has generated a feeling of movement and
given rise to expectations and optimism. These changes and new realities have
had a direct impact on the status of the United Nations and its role in
dealing with regional and international problems as the atmosphere of dentente
has created more and better opportunities for the Security Council to deal
more effectively with world problems and to adopt resolutions and implement
them. The increased need for the United Nations system and its mechanisms has
necessitated the structural modernization of the Organization in order for it
to improve its performance at all levels.
The dramatic transformations that have taken place in the world have
provided humanity with an opportunity to tackle its economic and social
problems and to move forward towards the building of a better world, based on
a collective commitment to peace, interdependence in the face of crises and
partnership in working for development and progress.
While the Middle East region still continues to suffer from its chronic
problems, a gleam of hope has appeared in the midst of the world's changing

realities. A serious peace initiative has shaped up, starting with the
convening in Madrid of a special peace conference on the Middle East on
30 October 1991, under the auspices of the United States of America and the
then Soviet Union.
In response to the letter of invitation from the co-sponsors of the
conference, and on the basis of the United States letter of assurances which
specified the necessity of fully implementing Security Council resolution
425 (1978) and of fully respecting and preserving Lebanon's independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized
borders, Lebanon has participated in the peace conference wholeheartedly and
with clear determination. By so doing, Lebanon has committed itself,
irrevocably, to the pursuance of the peace process within the principles and
parameters upon which it has been based and through which the process is
expected to achieve its objectives, especially the objective of comprehensive,
durable and just peace, and the settlement of the the Arab-Israeli conflict in
all its aspects and with all its complexities.
Lebanon cannot help but be involved in this process of comprehensive
peace on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973),
and the land-for-peace formula. Given its history, cultural heritage and
geographic location, Lebanon, since time immemorial, has played a major and
outstanding role in the cultural development of this important region to which
it belongs and of which it is an integral part. It influences what happens in
the region and is greatly influenced thereby. Hence, Lebanon's complete
solidarity with its Arab brethren and its involvement, side by side with them,
in the search for real peace.

We must recall here that Lebanon has borne and continues to bear the
consequences of the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. Let me mention, in this
context, a few of the major aspects:
First, the presence of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Lebanon.
In this respect, let us reaffirm, once more, our total and absolute rejection
of the settlement of Palestinians on the soil of Lebanon. This is against our
national interest, on the one hand, and, on the other, contravenes the
principle of self-determination.
Secondly, the Israeli attack against Beirut International Airport on
28 December 1968. Thirdly, the invasion of southern Lebanon by the Israeli
army in 1978. Fourthly, the massive full-scale Israeli invasion of Lebanon in
1982, which reached Beirut itself, the only Arab capital ever occupied by
Israel. Fifthly, no less than 150,000 fatalities and more than 400,000
injured or disabled over the past 16 years of bloody events in Lebanon, in
addition to the billions of dollars worth of material damage resulting from
destruction and devastation not to mention the human misery resulting from
migration and displacement.

Sixthly, the continued occupation by Israel of parts of Lebanon's territory in
the south and the western Bekaa. That occupation in itself, together with the
attendant Israeli practices and acts of aggression, constitutes flagrant
violations of the principles and norms of international legality.
Herein lies the importance of implementing Security Council resolution
425 (1978), which calls for Israel's complete withdrawal from the occupied
Lebanese territories. Lebanon has always emphasized the need to implement
that resolution through the mechanism referred to in Security Council
resolution 426 (1978), as Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese
territories would create the propitious conditions for Lebanon to regain its
strength and stability, so that it may contribute fully and effectively to the
peace process and, subsequently, carry out faithfully and scrupulously the
commitments resulting from that process.
We believe that if Israel were to allow the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to perform its significant role properly, as mandated by
the Security Council, UNIFIL would be able to discharge its mandate more
effectively and successfully.
To enable UNIFIL to do that would be to reaffirm and highlight the
increasingly important role of the United Nations in peace-keeping. Hence our
call for demonstrating the prime importance of the participation of the United
Nations in the peace process as it is the accredited representative of
international legality whose relevant resolutions constitute the very
foundations of the peace process.
The Lebanese army which has been reorganized and regrouped on a sound and
effective basis has regained its ability to perform its duty in extending the
authority of the Lebanese State over our entire national territory, up to
the internationally recognized Lebanese borders. The Lebanese authorities are

prepared to shoulder their full responsibilities with regard to the
maintaining of law and order and ensuring that the south of the country
becomes an oasis of peace and security under the rule of law and in
cooperation with UNIFIL.
The Lebanese delegation to the peace conference has received assurances
from the Israeli delegation in the name of its Government to the effect that
Israel does not have any territorial ambitions or designs on the land and
waters of Lebanon. This gives us hope that Israel will translate those
assurances into concrete actions by withdrawing completely from all the
Lebanese occupied territories.
Lebanon strongly believes in the right of all parties to mutual security,
provided that the security of any one party is not achieved at the expense of
another's.
Proceeding from the foregoing, we declare from this rostrum and before
this Assembly that the Lebanese Government and people are fully committed to
the peace process and are determined to go ahead, regardless of the
difficulties. We shall spare no effort in ensuring success for the peace
process so that it may achieve its lofty goals. We in Lebanon attach great
importance to the peace talks and realize that their success will be in the
interest of all. We are aware also that to proceed in the opposite direction
will be a blunder for which the region and the whole world would pay very
dearly indeed.
The Lebanese Government continues to address the tremendous problems and
to face up to the challenges that confront Lebanon after years of devastating
strife. It has taken major steps towards rebuilding its constitutional
institutions in accordance with the Taif Agreement and, for the first time in
20 years, has organized national parliamentary elections.

The main task that now faces the Lebanese Government is that of
rebuilding the infrastructure of basic services and the vital sectors of the
economy. Our economic sectors still suffer from the destruction caused by war
and invasion, and the Lebanese people continue to feel the horrendous effects
of galloping inflation due to the decline in the purchasing power of the
national currency. The State budget is in the grip of a huge deficit owing to
the loss of basic sources of national income such as tourism and the service
sector. Regional crises, the latest of which was that of the Gulf, have also
had sharp negative repercussions on the country.
The Lebanese still await the honouring of regional and international
promises of help in revitalizing their national economy. The delay in
supporting the reconstruction and development efforts that are already under
way is very regrettable, particularly since in previous years hundreds of
millions of dollars were poured into Lebanon to fuel the devastating strife
and keep its flames alive.
The revitalization of Lebanon's economy would be an excellent investment
in the future of the region. Lebanon and the Lebanese have played a
pioneering role in modernizing and developing the region, and they still have
the dynamism and ambition to play anew that same constructive role.
At this critical juncture the Lebanese economy is in urgent need of
foreign financial and technical assistance, whether from fraternal or other
friendly countries or from United Nations agencies and other organizations. A
quick and effective investment in the order of billions of dollars is needed.
Lebanese laws and regulations ensure for foreign capital funds and investments
a free and open working atmosphere, the same atmosphere that, previously, had
made Lebanon an important business and financial centre which attracted
international investments and financial establishments of all kinds.

We look forward to the establishment of the Arab and international fund
for the reconstruction and development of Lebanon, as it represents the
promised and effective initiative needed to revitalize the Lebanese economy
and set it on course anew.

Despite the disappearance of a considerable number of international
problems, a number of national problems have re-emerged to take their place
after having remained dormant for half a century. The disintegration of the
Soviet Union and Yugoslavia and the resultant conflicts are prime examples.
In this regard, we denounce and condemn the aggression against Bosnia and
Herzegovina which targets that republic's very existence. This aggression has
caused the death of tens of thousands of innocent victims and the displacement
of hundreds of thousands of civilians. This tragedy requires decisive action
on the part of the international community to stop the military operations, to
preserve the independence and sovereignty of this young republic and to return
all displaced persons to their homes and properties. We commend the
humanitarian role of the United Nations Nations in providing relief assistance
to the besieged towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the face of considerable
difficulties and dangers.
Equally, we commend the sincere and persistent efforts made by the
Organization and its specialized agencies to bring food supplies to the people
of Somalia in their plight. We call upon the international community to
redouble its efforts to put an end to the distressing human tragedy in that
country.
Thus far, the world economic situation and the relations between the
developed and developing countries have not been positively affected by
detente or by the political changes that have taken place in the world. The
problems of foreign debt, the shortfall in development assistance, the rise in
interest rates and the continued trade barriers all constitute serious
obstacles to development in the South, whereas the developing countries are in

urgent need for development if a decent standard of living were to be ensured
for the overwhelming majority of mankind and if the prospects of world peace
were to be guaranteed.
The Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit last June highlighted the relationship
between environment and development. There has been an increasing awareness
over the past decades of the dangers that threaten the ecological balance and
the future of life on the planet. The achievements of the summit were a
promising start toward a series of wide ranging changes in the production and
consumption patterns that countries must adopt with a view to avoiding
climatic changes, depletion of the ozone layer, the spread of desertification,
and air and water pollution as well as managing toxic wastes and radioactive
materials. Here too, interdependence and shared responsibilities appear to be
the only option available to us in our dealings with nature and in our
attempts to achieve sustainable economic growth. While we welcome the
resolutions adopted at the Rio Conference, we entertain the hope that the
necessary funds will be made available to Agenda 21 for the 21st century,
which will help ensure the well-being of future generations as well as the
future of life on earth itself.
The Government of Lebanon continues to pursue its policy of eliminating
the traces of the tragic and devastating period that engulfed the country.
During this year, we have managed to put an end to a problem that was
associated with the name of Lebanon: I refer to the question of hostage
taking. This solution was achieved thanks to the praiseworthy efforts of the
Secretary-General and his personal representative, Mr. Picco, and with the
cooperation of the parties concerned in the region. Lebanon has always

condemned this phenomenon, for it contradicts the basic principles of law and
human rights. Such abnormal practices never served or sought to serve the
interests of Lebanon. Indeed Lebanon has always been their victim.
For many years, the mention of Lebanon or "Lebanonization" evoked images
of fragmentation, devastation and human misery. Today, however, despite all
its difficulties and sufferings, Lebanon stands before the international
community as an example of steadfastness, rebirth, creative coexistence, and
diversity within unity. All of these qualities made Lebanon what it was in
the past and what will make it what it will be in the future: an oasis of
prosperity, openness and a beacon. This is our plan for the Lebanon of
tomorrow. To realize it, we expect support and backing from our brethren in
the region and from all of our friends in the world.


May I begin by extending to you. Sir, on behalf
of my delegation and on my own behalf, warmest congratulations on your
well-deserved election to the presidency of the United Nations General
Assembly at its forty-seventh session. We are confident that under your
leadership our deliberations will be fruitful.
Allow me also to express our admiration for the very able and dynamic
manner in which your predecessor, Mr. Samir Shihabi, guided the work of the
last session. His stewardship of the Assembly at a most crucial juncture in
mankind's history has left an indelible mark on the institution of the
presidency.
The delegation of Myanmar notes with appreciation the remarkable
achievements of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the brief
period since his assumption of his high office. This world Organization is
fortunate to have at its helm a statesman of his stature and experience at
this moment in history. He heads our Organization at a time when it is not
only seized of momentous peace-keeping operations but also challenged by
uncertainties in several parts of the world. May I assure him of the full
support of the delegation of Myanmar.
I should also like to take this opportunity to express our deep
appreciation to Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, the former Secretary-General, for
the wise and skilful manner in which he led our Organization through difficult
and trying times.
Within a short span of 10 months our Organization has grown rapidly with
the addition of 13 new Members. The delegation of Myanmar warmly welcomes
them to our midst.

The admittance of those new Members to the United Nations reflects the
significant changes taking place in contemporary international life and has
brought the United Nations closer to achieving universality of membership. We
feel sure that the new Members will have positive contributions to make to our
Organization.
This session of the General Assembly takes place in an international
environment that is markedly different from that which existed even a year
ago. Although the end of the cold war has effectively ended ideological
posturing and has led to renewed confidence in the United Nations, it has,
unfortunately, not eliminated all sources of strife and conflict. The
recourse to arms in the Balkans, the Horn of Africa and other parts of the
world serve to remind us of the fragility of peace in our contemporary world.
Against that backdrop, the delegation of Myanmar is pleased to note that
steps have been initiated to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to
meet the twin challenges of maintaining international peace and security and
of dealing with global problems. The summit meeting of the Security Council
on 31 January 1992 provided an historic opportunity for taking stock of the
situation and exploring ways and means of strengthening cooperation,
particularly in the field of maintaining international peace and security.

The fresh look contained in the Secretary-General's report, "An Agenda
for Peace", is indeed timely, as the Organization, now more than 45 years old,
needs to adapt to the rapidly changing world. In this process, however, care
needs to be taken to ensure consistent adherence to the principles articulated
in the Charter. Most important, caution must be exercised to guarantee that
the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States
within the established international system are not allowed to be eroded.
To be truly effective the United Nations must by its own actions inspire
and command the confidence of all Member countries. Its actions must be
governed by a sense of justice and guided by the principles of the Charter.
The decisions of the Organization must reflect that collective will and not
the narrow interests or predilections of a nation or a group of nations. Any
departure from those principles is bound to be divisive and to detract from
our efforts to construct a fair and equitable international order. The time
is ripe to examine whether the constitutional balance between the principal
bodies of the Organization, particularly between the General Assembly and the
Security Council, is being consistently maintained as envisaged in the Charter.
If attempts at reform are to succeed, trust must prevail; and trust, as
the Secretary-General states in his report, "reguires o sense of confidence
that the world Organization will react swiftly, surely and impartially and
that it will not be debilitated by political opportunism or by administrative
or financial inadequacy". (A/47/277, para. 83)
Transformations and uncertainties prevailing in the present international
environment underscore the need for countries of the world to work together to
remove the root causes of strife and conflict. The Non-Aligned Movement,
whose membership encompasses close to 110 developing countries from around the

globe, stands out as an organization that can not only safeguard the
political, economic and social independence of its member States but also play
a constructive role in charting a course to a new global order that is just,
peaceful and secure. Although the world has witnessed unprecedented changes
in recent years, the principles on which the Movement is firmly anchored
remain as valid today as they were four decades ago. So long as the world is
faced with adverse situations, and the freedom and independence of nations are
challenged, and so long as the strong exploit the weak, the Non-Aligned
Movement, under whatever name, will continue to be relevant. In the light of
the evolving world situation the Movement can and must play an increasingly
active role in international affairs to bring about a new world order of
justice, peace and security. For this reason, Myanmar resumed participation
at the Tenth Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, held last month in
Jakarta. As a founding member we have always cherished and adhered to the
principles of the Movement and are confident that we will be able to
contribute positively to the long-term interests of the Movement.
One field of human endeavour which has benefited from the winds of change
sweeping our world is disarmament. Within the short span of a few years,
there has been a significant number of agreements on disarmament that together
have effectively diminished the possibility of a nuclear conflict between
nuclear-weapon States. For this positive trend to continue, it is imperative
that the momentum generated by the Treaty on the Elimination of
Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty), the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and the Strategic Arms Reductions
Talks (START) be carried forward. The agreement of 16 June 1992 between
Presidents Bush and Yeltsin on further cuts in nuclear-weapon arsenals is

therefore encouraging. Noteworthy also is the unilateral decision of the
United Kingdom, announced on 15 June 1992, to reduce and in some instances
even eliminate naval and maritime air tactical nuclear weapons. While the
Union of Myanmar is encouraged by these recent measures, we believe that even
more significant cuts in nuclear arsenals by all the nuclear-weapon States are
called for, so as to remove the sword of Damocles that hangs over our heads.
In the wake of the Gulf war and the ongoing conflicts in parts of Europe
which are in the throes of transition, there is a heightened sensitivity to
the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. My
delegation feels that recent accession by the People's Republic of China and
France to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a
positive step that will buttress the existing nuclear non-proliferation
regime. All five nuclear Powers with permanent seats on the Security Council
are now States parties to this important multilateral instrument. This augurs
well for the future of NPT, the review conference for which is less than three
years away.
Since the twentieth session of the General Assembly, when Myanmar joined
other countries in proposing a nuclear non-proliferation treaty, we have
sought an acceptable balance of mutual responsibilities and obligations
between nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States. It was only because these
responsibilities and obligations were unfulfilled that Myanmar did not become
a signatory. Now that the principal nuclear-weapon States have initiated
measures in the direction of effective nuclear disarmament in keeping with the
declaration made in the Treaty and relevant resolutions of the General
Assembly, the Myanmar Government has decided to accede to the NPT.

Arrangements are in hand to deposit the instruments of accession in London,
Moscow and Washington.
In the light of the momentous changes in the world, the time has arrived
for the nuclear Powers to reassess their need for nuclear testing. We
continue to believe that a comprehensive test ban is an indispensable step
towards a nuclear-weapon-free world. We are therefore encouraged by the
decision of France and Russia to suspend nuclear tests for 1992, and hope that
others will follow their good example.
This year is a landmark year for chemical-weapon disarmament. The
successful conclusion of a convention on chemical weapons is the culmination
of years of hard work. For several years now, there has been complete
unanimity in the international community on the urgent need to conclude such a
convention. It was only because of the complexity of the issues involved
such as on-site verification activity and national rights to economic and
technological developments to be guaranteed as nations implement their
obligations under the agreement that the convention took years in the
making. The convention is one of the most important achievements in the
history of multilateral disarmament negotiations, and the delegation of
Myanmar would like to pay tribute to Ambassador Adolf Ritter von Wagner,
Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons, for his unremitting
efforts and to all delegations that have contributed towards the achievement
of the consensus text. Myanmar has consistently sought a total ban on
chemical weapons one that is comprehensive, universal and effectively
verifiable. As a country that neither possesses nor manufactures those
weapons of mass destruction, nor has any intention of acquiring them in the
future, we welcome the convention and intend to become an original signatory.

The peace Agreement signed on 23 October 1991 provided a comprehensive
framework for ending 12 years of conflict in Cambodia. Myanmar, as a friend
and neighbour, rejoiced at the positive development and looked forward to the
early implementation of the Agreement. But today Cambodia is faced with a
complex of problems. If these problems are not addressed expeditiously, both
the peace and the economic development that all parties concerned are looking
for will remain elusive.
The United Nations has embarked on one of the most ambitious missions in
its history to restore peace with the establishment of a United Nations
Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). That organization is doing a
commendable job in administering the country in the run-up to the elections.
But to succeed it needs the support of the international community as well as
the Cambodian parties concerned. We urge all parties to the conflict to
cooperate fully with UNTAC in keeping with the letter and spirit of the
agreement to ensure a smooth path to the elections.
The Middle East question continues to be of concern to the international
community. Notwithstanding the fact that the peace process has been kept
alive by the ongoing talks in Washington, the question still remains
unresolved. A change of attitude is essential to the resolution of
outstanding issues. My delegation is encouraged to discern some flexibility
now being displayed by the parties directly concerned. We continue to believe
that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region can be achieved
only through the faithful application of Security Council resolutions
242 (1967) and 338 (1973) in their entirety.
In South Africa, a democratic reform process initiated last March was
hailed as a major step towards the dismantling of apartheid, and the creation
of  hoped that the measure would provide

a fresh and compelling impetus to the negotiations taking place within the
framework of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa launched in
December 1991. Unfortunately the political process was interrupted by the
violence sparked by the 17 June Boipatong massacre.
We welcome the recent agreement between President De Klerk and
Mr. Nelson Mandela to resume the dialogue. It is our hope that common ground
can be found to bridge the gap between the principal political players so that
the communal violence that has rent the fabric of the South African society
can be avoided and the political process resumed to achieve the goal of a
peaceful transition to a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa.
The global economy remains sluggish, and the prospects for its recovery
are dim, particularly in the immediate future. The uncertain and unfavourable
economic environment is having a negative impact on all countries, both
developed and developing, but more so on the developing ones. Now is the time
for the global community to make an all-out effort for the revitalization of
growth. Only a more dynamic world economy can bring about world prosperity
and stability.
The developing countries are faced with the very difficult task of
cushioning their economies against the world economic slowdown. As
commodity-dependent economies, they are adversely affected by falling demand
for their exports and declining world commodity prices. Commodity prices are
at record low levels and are not expected to recover substantially. These
difficulties are compounded by continuing protectionist trends, moves towards
unilateralism, and managed trade. That is why Myanmar places great importance
on a strong multilateral trading system and special significance on the
successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round, which is expected to usher in a
more open international trade regime.

There were, however, a few encouraging signs in 1991. Net transfer
through direct investment showed an upward trend. Also, for the first time
since the debt crisis in 1982, there was a positive net transfer of financial
resources to capital-importing developing countries. On the other hand, the
flow of official development assistance to developing countries stagnated.
Interest rates retained their historical highs, and payment for debt service,
bilaterally and multilaterally, continued to rise. There was also a further
increase in the total external debt of the developing countries. Consequently
the external debt problem of the developing countries remains far from being
resolved, and an equitable and lasting solution to the debt crisis is urgently
required. Moreover, to halt the economic slowdown and bring about renewed
impetus to recovery, a determined and concerted effort by the global
community, particularly by those developed countries whose policies have a
direct bearing on the present state of the world economy, is a prime requisite.
In the emerging new global order, the United Nations will be called upon
to play an increasingly active role. The magnitude of the task ahead will
require all the energy and attention the world Organization can bring to bear
on them. The success of the Organization will depend on the collective will
of the membership to work together to achieve the objectives of the Charter.
The Union of Myanmar, on its part, will continue, as in the past, to
co-operate fully with the Organization.
Myanmar's manifest desire to do so is demonstrated by its actions in such
areas of global concern as the environment, narcotic drugs abuse control, and
human rights.
Some four months ago nations of the world gathered in Rio for the
historic Conference on Environment and Development;. It is now for this
Assembly to take the necessary follow-up measures to consolidate and build

on the achievements attained in Rio. The three documents adopted by the
Conference and sent to the Assembly for endorsement provide the broad
framework for a new global partnership in our common quest for sustainable
development. A firm commitment to provide the developing countries with new,
adequate additional financial resources on a predictable basis is of utmost
importance if we are implement the proposed plan of action to protect and
preserve planet Earth. It is hopes that during the course of the present
session of the Assembly concrete steps will be taken to achieve this objective.
Another important task for all of us is to determine the specific
procedures and organizational modalities of the Commission on Sustainable
Development and give shape to it. This being the primary intergovernmental
mechanism recommended by the Conference for follow-up and implementation of
its decisions, the importance of the commission cannot be overemphasized. In
our view the proposed commission will not only prove indispensable to affect
the integration of environment and development envisaged in Agenda 21 but will
also contribute to enhancing the role of this very Organization.
Much has been achieved at Rio. But much more needs to be done if we are
to achieve sustainable development for the common good at the national,
regional and international levels. Myanmar is firmly committed to the cause
of the environment and sustainable development, and in keeping with the spirit
of Rio stands ready to shoulder its responsibilities. Having signed the
Biodiversity Convention and the Climate Change Convention, we are now taking
the necessary measures in accordance with our domestic procedures to ratify
them at an early date. Since Rio we have redoubled our efforts at
afforestation. We are also engaging in a nation-wide public awareness

campaign stressing the need to preserve and protect the environment. We
realize that the road from Rio is even more challenging than the one that led
to it. We know that there is no room for complacency.

Myanmar's commitment to the eradication of narcotic drugs remains
steadfast. Significant achievements have been made in suppressing narcotic
drugs through the relentless efforts of law enforcement personnel. As in
previous years, the destruction of narcotic drug and opium refineries
continues. Such an event held in Shan State on 5 June 1992 was witnessed by
ambassadors, military attaches and representatives of the United Nations
agencies in Myanmar. Activities in the field of medical treatment,
rehabilitation and mass media information have been intensified.
The problem of narcotic drugs is multifaceted and requires a
comprehensive approach. While Myanmar has taken an integrated approach,
utilizing sustantial national resources, it firmly believes that these efforts
should be complemented by cooperation at the subregional, regional and global
levels. In June of this year, Myanmar took a significant step by signing a
subregional cooperative agreement with the People's Republic of China and the
United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNIDCP). A similar
agreement was also signed with Thailand and the UNIDCP. These agreements are
aimed at eliminating opium poppy cultivation and reducing trafficking in
narcotic drugs and chemicals used in the refining of heroin in the
Myanmar-China and Myanmar-Thai border areas. Talks have also been initiated
between Myanmar and Laos on bilateral cooperation in the control of drug
abuse. It is also our intention to initiate discussions with our other two
neighbours, India and Bangladesh, with a view to setting up similar
cooperative arrangements. We are confident that these subregional cooperative
arrangements will succeed and promote global cooperation to rid our world of
the scourge of narcotic drugs.

In the realm of human rights, Myanmar has been subjected to undue and
unwarranted criticism from some quarters. Critics have unjustifiably
portrayed Myanmar as a land where gross violations of human rights have been
perpetrated this, despite the full cooperation we have extended, and are
continuing to extend, to the United Nations bodies concerned with the question
of human rights, providing clarification or information requested of us. We
have also furnished information sought by the Commission on Human Rights and
by the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities. As a gesture of cooperation we received the two independent
experts appointed by the Commission on Human Rights in 1990 and 1991
respectively.
I should like to inform the Assembly that although we dissociated
ourselves from the decision taken at the forty-eighth session of the
Commission on Human Rights, we will be receiving the Special Rapporteur
appointed by the Commission, in deference to the United Nations and to
demonstrate our good will and cooperation. We are confident that his visit
will be worthwhile. He will have the opportunity to observe at first hand the
true situation obtaining in the country.
I am pleased to inform the Assembly that on 24 August 1992 the Union of
Myanmar acceded to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, thus affirming our
international commitment to humanitarian principles. The principles
enshrined in the Conventions are not new to us. They have been part of the
educational and training process of the Myanmar armed forces and of the values
cherished by our people.
This year has witnessed many significant developments in our country's
march towards a multiparty democratic State. These developments attest to the
 Restoration Council in upholding its

assurances to fulfil its declared commitment to meet the aspirations of the
people of Myanmar. In accordance with the programme of action spelled out in
its Declaration 1/90 of 27 July 1990, the Government issued a follow-up
Declaration on 24 April 1992 which maps out the programme to be implemented in
a specific time-frame in respect of the national convention that will set out
the basic principles for a new constitution. Our past and sometimes bitter
experiences have shown that only a firm constitution can guarantee a strong
government which will assure the peace, tranquillity and prosperity of the
nation.
In accordance with the programme of implementation, a 15-member Steering
Committee was established on 28 May 1992. The Steering Committee met with
leaders of the elected representatives of political parties and with elected
independent representatives in June and July to discuss and cooordinate the
category and number of delegates to be invited to the national convention.
Following a free and frank exchange of views among the participants, there was
general agreement that elected representatives, representatives of the
political parties, the national races, peasants, workers, the intelligentsia
and technocrats, service personnel and specially invited persons are to be
included in the national convention. Terrorist groups which renounce the path
of armed struggle and return to the legal fold will also have an opportunity
to participate. There is a complete convergence of view to the effect that
the constitution to be drafted should uphold and safeguard the three main
national causes, namely: non-disintegration of the Union; non-disintegration
of national solidarity; and perpetuation of national sovereignty.

With the successful conclusion of the coordination meeting, the country
has crossed a threshold, and an important political process has been set in
motion. The national convention is expected to be convened at the end of the
year or by the beginning of next year at the latest. To this end, a
commission has already been constituted and is now actively making the
necessary preparations for the holding of the national convention. Delegates
representing a broad spectrum of the entire Myanmar population will identify
and lay down basic principles for the drafting of a firm and stable
constitution. The actual task of drafting the constitution will be entrusted
to the elected representatives.
In parallel with the preparations being made for the convening of the
national convention, the Government has undertaken various measures designed
to create an atmosphere and conditions conducive to the establishment of a
democratic system in Myanmar. These include: the suspension of all offensive
operations in Kayin State and other parts of the country to consolidate
national solidarity and unity; the release from detention of individuals
against whom action had been taken under existing laws and who no longer pose
a threat to the security of the country and the lifting of restrictions on
them; the reopening of universities, colleges and other institutes of higher
learning that had been temporarily closed; the rescinding of the curfew order
throughout the whole country; the revocation of martial law orders that had
been in force since July 1989; the reconstitution of township-level Law and
Order Restoration Councils that are responsible for local administration with
civilian service personnel in anticipation of the future democratic
administrative structure and the creation of a separate Ministry of
Development of Border Areas and National Races in order to implement more

effectively measures for the welfare of the national races living in the
remote regions of the country.
The Government of the Union of Myanmar is undertaking these measures
with conviction and dedication. It is fully aware of the dangers and pitfalls
faced by nations in transition from one political and economic system to
another. The Government and the people of Myanmar are determined to carry out
their tasks at a sure and steady pace to ensure that the aspirations of the
people for a democratic Myanmar are realized.