It is indeed for me a great honour and privilege to address the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly. This occasion not only presents the first opportunity for me to address this world body in my capacity as the Interim President of the Republic of Liberia, but even more important, it also affords me a special opportunity to discuss the all-important issues of peace and stability the world over, and in the case of Liberia the current efforts towards the institution of genuine pluralistic democracy.
Before doing so, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the current session of the General Assembly. We are confident that, under your able leadership, the deliberations on issues assigned to this session will be carried out with diplomatic finesse and dispatch. As you undertake this arduous task, let me assure you that the Liberian delegation will lend very support to ensure that our collective efforts Met with success.
I should also like to register our appreciation to your illustrious predecessor, Mr. Guido de Marco of Malta, for the efficient and statesmanlike manner in which he conducted the affairs of the forty-fifth session of the Assembly. We wish him well in his future undertakings.
It is fitting to express special gratitude to the Secretary-General, Javier Peres de Cuellar, whose tenure has seen the United Nations as an organisation come into its own and exhibit unprecedented effectiveness in recent years. We salute the Secretary-General for his efforts in the search for global peace and his concern for the less fortunate of this world. His advocacy of fairness and justice has rekindled mankind's assurance that the United Nations is the appropriate forum capable of meeting the ever-changing challenges of our world.
Recently the United Nations took on a more universal character when seven States were admitted to membership in the Organization. The Liberian delegation welcomes most heartily in our midst Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and looks forward to their active involvement in the affairs of the United Nations.
At a time when the world is rapidly changing and the political polarities which characterized the past four and a half decades are fast crumbling, it is expected, and rightly so, that countries like mine, which are Charter Members of the United Nations, offer an appreciation of these events, especially in the light of the expectations of a new world order as envisaged at the time of the San Francisco Conference. Liberia bears a responsibility at this time to make a pronouncement on how far Africa has progressed and fared in relation to the aims of this new world arrangement that will be based on equity, justice and fair play. Regrettably, the situation in which we find ourselves today leaves us no such opportunity, other than to give members an overview of recent developments in our country.
We Liberians are embarrassed by the fact that we have used up so much of the time, resources and energy of our West African subregion on a fratricidal conflict. He permitted ourselves to degenerate to a stage where we not only became the problem-child but posed a serious threat to the nations of that region. As I speak to you today more than 800,000 of our people, constituting approximately 30 per cent of our population, are refugees in neighbouring countries. Worse still, from our territory an invasion was launched into Sierra Leone, thereby paying the people of that friendly country who have done all within their power to care for Liberian refugees, with ingratitude for their sacrifices and hospitality. We condemn the invasion of Sierra Leone and we stand in full solidarity with the government and people of that brotherly country in resisting this aggression.
It has been stated and demonstrated so many times that peace is a necessary precondition for development and security. The prosperity that is exhibited in certain parts of the world could be largely attributed to the fact that peace has reigned in those countries for a considerable length of time, thereby making possible the technological, social, economic and political progress which their populations today enjoy.
Our concept of peace is based upon our abiding belief in the protection and promotion of human rights. By this we mean we believe in the integrity of the human person, the right freely to choose those who govern us, the right freely to participate in the decision-making process affecting our destiny and the right of due process.
The momentous changes that are taking place in various parts of the world are motivated by the desire of the peoples of these countries to enshrine in their laws the enjoyment of these rights. These are the fundamentals for peace. It is for these reasons that the Interim Government of National Unity is totally committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and condemns the violation of those rights wherever they may occur. Liberia needs peace - peace based on these fundamentals!
In the light of this conviction the Interim Government of National Unity reaffirms its commitment to the holding of free and fair general and presidential elections under international supervision in its effort to restore peace in Liberia. It is heartening to note that this effort is largely being supported by our brothers and sisters in the West African subregion. For more than a year now, the leaders of our subregional organization have been preoccupied with the Liberian conflict. There have been many halting steps and diversions along the way. None the less, we have made solid progress since we addressed members at the forty-fifth session.
For the first time in our crisis, all sides seem convinced that we have now entered on the final stretch of the journey to a lasting settlement. For this, we are truly grateful to the members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), especially those whose troops make up the ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group (EC0M0G). It was that Group, operating as a peace-keeping force, that put an end to the carnage and destruction that was going on in Liberia.
We salute the Governments and peoples of the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone for responding with dispatch to the call for the establishment of the peace-monitoring force ECOMOG. We also salute the Governments and peoples of Mali and now Senegal for further strengthening ECOMOG.
We must say without equivocation that our nation would have perished were it not for the wise and timely decisions of the ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee. It is gratifying to note that this particular arrangement of regional assistance is "home grown" and is now increasingly being emulated and adapted by others. We say, Why not? When the expenditure on national defence is set against the need for economic development, the reasonableness of a collective regional defence becomes overwhelming. It is for this reason, among others, that the Republic of Liberia supports the call for the establishment of regional defence organs: ECOMOG is a good start.
It is pertinent to mention at this point the undue burden which the countries that contribute to ECOMOG are shouldering in their peace-keeping operations in Liberia. We note with satisfaction the recent announcement of assistance by the United States Government to some members of ECOWAS in relation to their peace-keeping role in Liberia. We consider this encouraging, especially in the light of the assurance that further assistance to these countries will be forthcoming. We urgently appeal to all nations, especially the industrialized countries, to emulate this example and to offer substantial assistance to the countries that are at present engaged in the peace-keeping effort in Liberia.
When the history of our conflict is written, the most gratifying aspect will be the revelation that one of the most fratricidal conflicts in Africa will have been resolved almost entirely by the Governments and peoples of our subregion. In this respect, the men and women of ECOMOG whose blood has been shed for their brothers and sisters in Liberia will leave a lasting mark in the annals of our history. Fully recognizing the enormous sacrifices and indispensable contributions of the men and women of ECOMOG, Liberians everywhere will continue to say, "Thank God for ECOMOG!1'
We cannot conclude these remarks without lauding the Governments and peoples of a number of countries who, through various charitable organizations, demonstrated genuine concern for humanity by giving needed assistance to hapless civilians during the Liberian civil conflict. These organizations - Action internationale contre la faim and Medecins sans frontieres of France; Catholic Relief Services, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Church World Service, Community of Caring, Plan International, World Vision, Adventist Development Relief Association and Baptist Relief of the United States of America; OXFAM, Save the Children Fund and Caritas of the United Kingdom; Concern and GOAL of Ireland; German Emergency Doctors; the International Committee of the Red Cross and Lutheran World Services of Switzerland; Medecins sans frontieres of Belgium; Medecins sans frontieres of Holland; the Swedish Relief Corporation of Sweden and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee of Canada - will forever be remembered by the Liberian people.
Last year in this Hall the international community acknowledged the importance of putting the world's children high on the development agenda and committed itself to giving them a "first call". As the hardest-hit victims of our civil strife, the Liberian children are our "first call". The Interim Government of National Unity has embarked on several projects to address the plight of Liberian children.
We must tell you that our hearts have been touched by the great generosity and good will of the peoples and Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of the Gambia, the United States of America and the European Economic Community. The peoples of those countries, in addition to all that they have done for the Liberian people, have made separate generous donations of food and medicines to Liberians.
Nor can Liberians forget the kindness of the peoples of the Republics of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cote d'lvoire, Ghana, the Gambia and other countries of our subregion, who have played and continue to play host to our citizens.
We want also, on behalf of the people of Liberia, to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the United Nations and its specialized agencies for their contributions in providing humanitarian aid to our people.
It is with much satisfaction that I inform you that Liberians have at long last reached a consensus on a strategy for settling the Liberian conflict. The strategy to which we have all committed ourselves is that of holding, free and fair elections under international supervision. A necessary precondition for the holding of those elections is the creation of adequate security arrangements throughout the country.
In this regard the agreement reached in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'lvoire, on 17 September 1991 it most encouraging. At that meeting Liberians manifested both the will and the resolve to succeed in this election enterprise by agreeing to encamp and disarm all forces under the supervision of an expanded ECOMOG - the Ceasefire Monitoring Group of the Economic Commission of West African States.
As a follow-up to the conclusions reached at that meeting Liberians have since held consultative meetings among themselves and have announced the members of both an elections commission, and an ad hoc supreme court for the country. The establishment of an elections commission is a significant milestone on the road to peace. It is intended to be an independent body free from government policies and influence. As a country with limited experience in the conduct of free and fair elections, Liberia hereby requests the international community to provide adequate technical and financial assistance for the electoral process.
Further to our efforts to ensure the credibility of the electoral process we have invited the International Negotiation Network (INN), headed by former United States President Jimmy Carter, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Economic Community of West African States, the United Nations, the Republican Institute for International Affairs and the National Democratic Institute, both of the United States of America, and other relevant organizations to supervise and monitor the forthcoming elections.
Our yearnings for peace, security and democracy will remain expressions of fine words and sentiments if the present economic conditions in which all of us in Africa find ourselves were to continue. The combination of our debt burden, commodity prices, fluctuating exchange rates and the instability built into our respective systems by the weakness of our political institutions make it mandatory that the developed countries and the international system take a more realistic view of our problems. In the case of Liberia, the protracted civil conflict has compounded our plight even further.
We maintain the view that democracy and political pluralism cannot be sustained on an empty stomach. We therefore appeal to the United Nations, its agencies, the international community, and especially the international financial institutions to re-examine their attitudes towards the developing countries.
Liberia is faced with serious economic problems. My country has a debt burden of over $US 3 billion; its infrastructure and social services are in ruins. As a result of our pre-civil-conflict economic situation our ability to generate funds is impaired. We appeal to our friends to reconsider such impediments in order to allow us to tackle in a meaningful way the arduous problems of repatriation, resettlement and rehabilitation of our nationals scattered all over the world as refugees.
International assistance becomes even more justified in view of the policy-reform programmes that Liberia has now undertaken. We seek to create the capacity of the democratically elected successor of the Interim Government to undertake reconstruction and stimulate socio-economic growth and development. We also seek to ensure efficiency and fairness in resource allocation, promote accountability and alleviate rural poverty. These policy-reform measures, in our view, constitute the steps necessary to attract the international assistance directly required to support programmes of reconstruction and assure the future growth of our economy. The Interim Government of National Unity seeks the cooperation of the international community to the fullest extent in reaching some understanding with respect to the critical problems resulting from the civil conflict and in laying the groundwork for self-sustained economic development in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, Liberians look with great anticipation to the United Nations and the international community as a whole for continuation, for a reasonable period, of the humanitarian-assistance programme that they have provided daring our difficult period.
Although we are preoccupied with our domestic situation, we are not un-mindful of those issues that continue to claim the attention of the international community.
On the African continent, Liberia welcomes the ongoing negotiations between the South African Government and the African national Congress. It is our hope that the hurdles preventing an early agreement acceptable to the parties will be removed so that all South Africans may freely participate in the affairs of their country on the basis of the principle of one person, one vote.
We are heartened by the progress being made with regard to Cambodia, El Salvador, the Western Sahara and Cyprus, owing to the willingness of the parties to reach accommodation. We hope that that willingness will eventually bear fruit.
We are alarmed by the recent developments in Haiti. We stand in solidarity with the elected Government, and people of Haiti in their efforts to prevent the reversal of the democratic process there.
The United Nations was founded on the basis of the high ideals of justice, peace and security. We must maintain those ideals if we are to bequeath to succeeding generations a more humane society. Such a society cannot flourish on greed, lust for power, and the flagrant abuse of human rights. Our appeal goes to the whole of humanity.
While it is not easy to soothe the pains and shrug off the bitter memories of a protracted civil conflict - the worst in our history - Liberians must now muster the courage to move ahead, healing the wounds that have been inflicted upon ourselves, and act in concert with the rest of the world to uphold the noble ideals for which the United Nations was established - always remembering that "In union, strong success is sure; we cannot fail."


Cameroon associates itself warmly with the congratulations that have been expressed to you, Sir, on the occasion of your outstanding selection to the presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session. As well as being a tribute to your country - the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a founding Member of the United Nations, with which we are pleased to have long-standing and fruitful relations - your election is evidence of the esteem and respect that your outstanding qualities have won you in the United Nations.
Your predecessor, Mr. Guido de Marco of Malta, demonstrated his talents during the grave events that recently disturbed international peace and security. We are grateful and express our full appreciation to him.
This is an excellent opportunity to welcome warmly the bold and innovative initiatives of the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar, in the pursuit of international peace and cooperation, as reflected in the renewed authority and prestige of the United Nations. In this context, it is particularly fortunate that our Organization is welcoming new Members. Cameroon wishes to extend its congratulations to the Republic of Korea and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea on their admission. This is a significant step forward, which will certainly contribute to the lessening of tension on the Korean peninsula and will increase the possibility of a peaceful solution to the problems between these two countries, which are friends of Cameroon.
We also welcome Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, whose presence in our midst gives renewed vigour to the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter of our Organization. Their admission is a source of profound satisfaction, and we extend our most heartfelt congratulations to them. We should also like to express our readiness to cooperate fully with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, whose admission to the United Nations strengthens the universality of our Organization. May both States be most welcome among us.
The forty-sixth session is taking place after the triumph of law during the recent events in the Gulf and in the Soviet Union - two major events which, among others, fully reflect the breathtaking changes occurring in the world under the impetus of powerful trends in favour of freedom. This wind of change, which is conducive to a reawakening of nationalism and an affirmation of the irredentist tendency, is whipping up tensions within several States, North and South, whose stability is being severely affected thereby.
This is a decisive turning-point in the history of all humankind, a turning-point which brings with it serious and unforeseeable challenges which require us to work together to prepare the most suitable responses. Standing shoulder to shoulder in handling these common challenges and the changes to which they are giving rise, we should be able to cope effectively with them.
In particular, the new, general aspiration of all peoples without exception for progress should be examined from all aspects, because, for international peace and security, it would be an illusion to think that the end of East-West rivalry should lead only to the integration of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe into the world economy. In the East, as in the South, we see each day a forceful convergence of democratic values and the economic policies which are now universal; the resulting interdependence of hopes and expectations requires us to seek a new world equilibrium based on taking into account the aspirations and needs of all the component parts of international society.
The need to reconcile assistance to the countries of Eastern Europe and the imperatives of international solidarity for the struggle against poverty is today undeniably a profound obligation if we do not want the disappearance of the iron curtain to lead to the building of a stronger wall of poverty between North and South.
It is indeed true, as is stressed by the report of the South Commission, that every country is in the first instance responsible for its own development. Cameroon shares this position, and completely supports the new philosophy of development that this report advocates. Are we not, therefore, right to turn with hope to the international community for the creation of conditions conducive to the attainment of the objectives of the countries of the South, objectives aimed at lasting development based on collective self-sufficiency? How could we not appeal for greater fairness at a time when we see an international economic situation that places the developing countries at a disadvantage? Opposite the prosperous economies of the North are the crisis economies of most of the countries of the South, stifled under the burden of unbearable debt, which is aggravated by fluctuations in exchange and interest rates.
It is simply untenable for the net financial outflows from the poor countries to the rich to continue in a situation characterized by a decline in official assistance for development, increased deterioration in the terms of trade and a widespread and continuing collapse in the prices paid for raw materials. The social and political costs of the structural adjustment programmes our countries are applying so courageously seem only more exorbitant and difficult to bear as a result.
This is clearly not a problem which can be analysed solely in economic terms it is in fact a question of ethics, in particular as far as Africa is concerned, where we see the desperate situation of a continent being sacrificed. The eligibility of four more African countries for the category of least developed, which already covers more than two thirds of the States on the continent, is a sad illustration of this fact.
Of course, there is now apparent a growing awareness of the need to tackle this situation, which is extremely grave, more forcefully. The measures to alleviate the debt burden of the poorest countries are part of this growing awareness, which is also reflected in a world-wide consensus on the actions and strategies to be implemented to overcome poverty and underdevelopment. Examples of this are the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation adopted by the General Assembly at its eighteenth special session, the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade and the second Substantial Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries.
The evaluation at this session of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development should, as was so rightly proposed by the Secretary-General, lead to the adoption of plans to create conditions conducive to lasting development in Africa. It is therefore important that the commitments to give the necessary impetus to these alternative development approaches, which were undertaken by consensus, should be fulfilled.
The delegation of Cameroon welcomes the adoption, during the resumption of the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly, of resolution 45/264, on the restructuring and revitalisation of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields.
The summer session of the Economic and Social Council and, in particular, the special high-level meeting which was held during that session, revealed the limits of international cooperation for development and at the same time pointed to new prospects for strengthening it.
The restructuring process must continue in the spirit of resolution 45/264 so that the organisations in the United Nations system are given suitable structures and resources for development work. In so doing, the democratic principles which govern the functioning of our Organization must be maintained in order to avoid sidelining the majority of Member States from the management of world affairs, because we must not forget that only a dynamic synergy between the efforts of all the protagonists can promote the search for appropriate solutions to the major challenges of our time.
In this content, the international economic deadlines are of prime importance. A satisfactory conclusion to the Uruguay Round would mark the retreat of protectionism and would thus contribute to getting world trade moving again. We place the same hopes in the eighth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as we do in the Secretary-General's proposal for the convening of an international conference on development financing. Because it is inspired by the same concerns, the Japanese initiative on the holding of a summit in 1993 on African development deserves to be warmly welcomed.
The progress made in the field of disarmament also gives us grounds to hope that additional resources will be released for development. Cameroon therefore wishes to commend the United States and the Soviet Union for the worthy efforts they have made to strengthen the international climate of detente, as reflected in the signing of the START agreements on strategic arms reduction.
Because of its boldness and scope, the very recent decision of the United States unilaterally to make significant reductions in its nuclear arsenal augurs well for international peace and security. He welcome that decision all the more warmly because of the interest it has aroused in the Soviet Union, giving the international community hope that the nuclear Powers will resolutely embark on the path of general and complete disarmament. The increase in the number of parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons seems to offer an appropriate framework for achieving this objectives, for the greater good of mankind.
It is also fitting to thank the United Rations for the support it has given the Cameroonian Government's efforts to promote confidence-building measures among the members of the Economic Community of Central African States. In this respect, the adoption at this session of the conclusions and recommendations of the subregional seminar held in Yaounde from 17 to 21 June 1991 by the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs will make it possible to strengthen peace and security in the subregion. Likewise, South Africa's adherence to the non-proliferation Treaty constitutes an important step towards the conclusion of an agreement on the denuclearization of Africa.
The improvement in the current international situation is reflected in the favourable developments in certain regional conflicts. In regard to Cambodia, we welcome the presence among us of the delegation of that friendly country, which has been afflicted by a long and costly war and now sees the prospect of finally achieving national reconciliation. We hope that the Security Council's peace plan will be implemented and that Cambodia, reconciled at last, will be able to fulfil its destiny.
For the same reasons, we welcome the efforts towards peace and national reconciliation now under way in Angola and Mozambique. Cameroon also notes with satisfaction the cease-fire recently established among the parties directly involved in the conflict in Western Sahara. There is thus hope that a referendum will at last be organized, under the auspices of the United Nations, on the future status of that territory.
Recent developments in the situation in South Africa raise the same hopes. The dismantling of the legal pillars of apartheid has not, however, eliminated tensions that give rise to inter-ethnic violence, or doubts about the will of the Pretoria regime to conclude an agreement on the establishment of a non-racial, democratic South African society. The international community must therefore remain alert to this new situation and relax its pressure only when the process of democratisation that has begun in that country becomes irreversible.
My delegation also welcomes the efforts made to convene a peace conference in the Middle East. We therefore urge all the parties involved to cooperate in good faith so that this exceptional opportunity to achieve peace will not be lost.
In other parts of the world where hotbeds of tension unfortunately persist, the virtues of dialogue must prevail over the logic of confrontation. Peace must be restored or consolidated in Liberia, the Horn of Africa, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Cyprus. The involvement of the United Nations in the process of national reconciliation and democratisation under way in Central America reflects our Organization's renewed influence in crisis management and in the quest for negotiated solutions to local conflicts. The Secretary-General's efforts in that direction should be fully supported, as should the restoration of legitimacy in Haiti.
The planning and implementation of lasting development, taking into account the needs to protect the environment and the requirements of development, highlight the great importance of the environmental problem. The 1992 "Summit of the Planet Earth" must not only lead to a real charter for the Earth and the basic principles of nations' economic and environmental conduct for the next millennium, but also establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate access by developing countries to financing and technologies that are necessary if they are to include ecological factors in their development policies.
In the social sphere, United Nations efforts to promote the struggles against AIDS, narcotics trafficking and drug abuse must remain central to the concerns of the international community. The same applies to actions undertaken with a view to involving women in the development process, as well as efforts to protect the handicapped, children and other vulnerable sectors of society. The holding of a world summit on social development and of the fourth world conference on women in 1995 will provide an opportunity to review all these problems at the highest level.
Natural and other disasters that the world has increasingly faced should be given our complete attention. The devastating consequences of floods in Bangladesh and, more recently, in China emphasize the urgent need to increase the ability of the United Nations to react more consistently to these situations. It is to be hoped that the thought being given to this subject will result in solutions that will make it possible better to manage our urgent humanitarian assistance.
We are pleased at the progress achieved at the ninth session of the Preparatory Commission on the Law of the Sea concerning, inter alia, the registration of new pioneer investors and the establishment of a training group. But the States parties must demonstrate greater political will in order to protect the compromise reached in the 1932 Convention and its annexes that enshrines the principle that the resources of the sea-bed are the common heritage of mankind.
The aspirations of peoples to freedom and democracy are today inescapable demands. It is in response to the expectations of the people of Cameroon that the policy of renewal drawn up in 1982 by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Paul Biya, has been developed in important ways. Thus, measures have been adopted for the establishment of a complete multi-party system, a general and unconditional amnesty, and the development of community life with participation by all. Conditions are today established for the various political trends to be expressed clearly within the framework of free and democratic elections.
In spite of upheavals linked to the profound democratic changes in our national life, the Government is sparing no effort to lead the entire country towards greater freedom, economic and social development and respect for human rights. Appropriate measures have been taken to avoid any mistakes that could jeopardize peace and national harmony and unity or that could jeopardize the safety of Cameroonian or foreign persons or assets.
I want to stress that thanks to the political maturity and patriotism of Cameroonians, democratic developments in our country are moving forward at a satisfying pace. We appeal for understanding, trust and support from all people of good will so the process can be strengthened further.
The conclusions of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights will encourage our efforts in this field and will promote the universality of those rights.
The end of the cold war gives mankind a historic opportunity for reconciliation and for shaping the contours of a new international order. To be balanced, that new order must rest on the primacy of law and on world peace and security, as well as on a more effective international solidarity for development. Science and technology are making constant progress; along with the world's resources, they can make that objective attainable, so long as developed countries pick up the historic gauntlet of this challenge to us all and realize that their power carries with it the duty to act with justice and to be seen as just.
Hence, we think this is an excellent opportunity to permit other feelings to be expressed in the management of the United Nations. That is warranted not only because of our shared vision regarding solving the problems of our time, but also because of our shared determination to work towards a United Nations renaissance.
The African continent's readiness to place the creative spirit of Africans at the service of the United Nations reflects that united vision of our world and the concern for fairness that we all share. May it be given the support it deserves.


On behalf of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos, I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session. Aware of your broad experience and your profound knowledge of international affairs, I express the hope that this important, forty-sixth, session will be crowned by particular success.
I also take this opportunity to express my sincere congratulations to Mr. Guido de Marco on his dynamic leadership of the work of the forty-fifth session and also to Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar, Secretary-General of our Organisation, on his energetic and tireless efforts to settle regional conflicts and to safeguard international peace and security in this new era world detente and cooperation.
We extend a warm welcome to the delegations of the new Members of our Organization, namely, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania.
The international situation continues to undergo changes. Generally speaking, a new era of peace and cooperation has begun, and the risks of nuclear confrontation have progressively lessened. The two great Powers, the Soviet Union and the United States, have just concluded a Treaty on the reduction of strategic aims, and, along with the recent proposals made by the United States, this creates conditions favourable to the efforts of the nations and peoples of the world to promote relations of friendship and cooperation in the economic, cultural, scientific and technical areas, on the basis of respect for mutual interests and the principles of peaceful coexistence.
Whilst the overall world situation has been marked by detente and the promotion of international cooperation, many uncertainties persist. The era of confrontation and of the cold war seems to be drawing to an end. The new world political order, which is intended to be just and equitable, does not yet seem to be clearly defined. Recent experience has shown us that peace, independence and the national sovereignty of peoples are far from being guaranteed, and, therefore, there is uncertainty in certain regions and fresh confusion in others. Certainly we want a new world political order - but an order capable of guaranteeing the legitimate interests of peoples. We also want economic cooperation between States, particularly between the developed North and the developing South, but it must be equitable. As for multilateralism and the United Nations, we feel that they need to be further strengthened, so as to be able to serve appropriately the legitimate interests and aspirations of the small, as well as the large, countries of the world. In my delegation's opinion, the United Nation's should play an important role also in the process of consolidating detente and cooperation and also in safeguarding and strengthening its Charter in order to guarantee the interests of all peoples. In this light, we should engage in consultations in depth so as to make our Organisation more democratic and adapt it to the new and changing realities of our world.
As we all know, the efforts to settle world and regional conflicts have yielded some fruitful results, thus helping to promote international peace, security and cooperation. However, many contradictions and conflicts persist in certain regions.
In South Africa, for example, the black population's struggle, under the leadership of the African National Congress, against repression and violence has taken on unprecedented scope, placing the South African authorities on the defensive in every respect and forcing them to negotiate. In spite of certain positive developments, the system of apartheid and its main foundations remain intact. It is incumbent on our Organisation to reaffirm its support for the struggle for the total elimination of apartheid and for the establishment of a united, equal society in South Africa in which all the inhabitants, without distinction as to race, will enjoy the same democratic freedoms.
In the Middle East the situation remains disturbing. Israel continues its occupation of the Palestinian territory and other Arab territories. If this conflict is to be resolved, it is essential that the interests of all the countries concerned be taken duly into account. In this regard, we endorse the initiative for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), of 22 November 1967, and 338 (1973), of 22 December 1973, and the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the right to self-determination.
In the Persian Gulf, the crisis that shook the entire region and the world was resolved, but not without difficulties. The State of Kuwait, a full-fledged Member of our Organization, has regained its independence and its territorial integrity. However, many post-war difficulties remain. All the parties concerned must therefore display greater restraint and strive to settle this problem by peaceful means, on the basis of equity and justice.
In Central America the peace process is continuing despite the obstacles which have arisen. The Government and people of Laos express their solidarity with the peoples of that region as they attempt to regain their full sovereignty and independence.
In the Korean peninsula the situation is still a cause for concern. However, the Lao People's Democratic Republic feels reassured by the progress made at recent meetings between high authorities of the two parts of Korea. The admission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to the United Nations is another important step towards the peaceful reunification of Korea in accordance with the aspirations of the entire Korean people.
In West Asia, the situation is not free from tension. In the Republic of Afghanistan, the bloody civil war continues to rage. We support the wise and realistic five-point initiative of the Secretary-General aimed at settling this conflict. It is high time that all parties concerned express themselves firmly in its favour in order to put an immediate and to the civil war, achieve national harmony and agreement among Afghans and at last restore peace in the region.
In South-East Asia, there has been a general easing of tension. The countries in the region are increasing their contacts and further expanding their relations of cooperation in the economic, trade, cultural, technical and scientific areas. A new era of detente and cooperation has begun there and is now developing to the great benefit and in the interests of the peoples of the entire region. We are pleased by this new propitious and beneficial atmosphere prevailing in the region.
As regards the Cambodian question, a giant step towards an overall political solution has just been taken. The Cambodian parties to the conflict, at their recent meetings at Pattaya in Thailand, at Peking in the People's Republic of China, and at United Nations Headquarters in New York, reached agreement on an unlimited cease-fire, a proportional ballot for voting on the basis of provinces and so on. They are unanimous that His Royal Highness Prince Norodom Sihanouk should assume the presidency of the Supreme National Council. The Laos Government and people sincerely welcome these decisions and hope they will provide a further impetus to the effort at achieving reconciliation among Cambodians and making Cambodia an independent, sovereign, peaceful, neutral and non-aligned country having good relations with oil countries, in particular its close neighbours.
As for my country, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the implementation since 1988 of its policy of renewal has seen the further expansion of its economic, trade, technical and scientific and other relations with the outside world. Within the context of this same policy, we are also carrying out a progressive restructuring of our administration in order to make it more relevant and better able to respond to the realities and new requirements at the national, regional and international levels. Thus several legislative texts - including the penal code; and the laws on labour, nationality, the family, property, inheritance and so on - have been prepared and other draft texts are now being drawn up. Quite recently the first Constitution of the Republic guaranteeing the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Lao people has just been adopted by the Supreme People's Assembly. We sincerely hope that the adoption of this fundamental law will lead to the progressive transformation of our country into a State based on law. In brief, we are now implementing this policy of renewal in all areas, with a view to the progressive enfranchisement of this developing country, the promotion of popular democracy in social life in all its aspects and the guaranteeing of political stability, order and social well-being. In this spirit, and moved by a burning desire to live in peace, our people will spare no effort to promote friendship with all peoples. It will continue to implement firmly its foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation with all countries without distinction as to their political and social regime and on the basis of equality, mutual respect for independence and sovereignty and reciprocal advantage, thus contributing jointly with other peoples to the cause of peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.
As we all know, during the 1980s the overall growth of developing countries averaged 3 per cent annually, whereas during the 1960a and 1970s it was 5.5 per cent. Judging by these statistics, the last decade was marked by a fall in growth rates, lowered living standards and a rapid Increase of poverty. The developing countries have suffered extensively, and the 1980s thus saw the gap between rich and poor countries widening. Such was the very disappointing picture of the results of the past decade. As for the 1990s, major efforts should be made and everything should be done to make this a true development decade. In this light, the developed countries, by reason of their influence in the world economy, should do everything in their power to create a favourable international economic environment, without which the developing countries will quite likely be unable to solve their problems. Faced with serious problems of foreign debt, and given the pronounced deterioration in their terms of trade, the developing countries can make progress and, indeed, prosper only if the world economy's dynamism and stability are restored. The whole world would be more secure and more prosperous if together we could rid it of disease, poverty and hunger - in other words, underdevelopment.
The problem of illicit drug trafficking continues to pose a serious threat to the international community. In the struggle against this scourge the countries of the world - developed and developing - have cooperated in many areas, especially in that of integrated rural development whose goal is to encourage those who cultivate the poppy to choose progressively a substitute crop. In order to make its contribution to this international effort, the Lao People's Democratic Republic has cooperated in many areas with friendly countries and international organisations, including the United Rations Programme for International Drug Control, and states that it is ready to continue this cooperation.
The forty-sixth session of the General Assembly is being held at a time when the nations of this world are actively mobilising in favour of international peace and cooperation. In the face of this new reality, the United Nations has been accorded an increasingly important role in order to contribute effectively to this process and to meet the burning aspirations of the nations and peoples of the world. The States Members of our Organization - large or small, rich or poor - must cooperate with one another in the various areas on the basis of strict respect for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of each State and for the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of others and of reciprocal advantage. In this spirit, the delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic assures the Assembly of its full cooperation; it will work in close collaboration with all delegations in order to contribute to the success of this forty-sixth session.


Allow me first of all to congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the high post of President of the General Assembly. Only the most outstanding diplomats can become eligible for that honour, which is conferred upon them once in a lifetime and for just one year. Yet today a single year may see historic developments that in the past would have spanned several decades. The proclamation by our Parliament of the independence of Ukraine and of the creation of an independent Ukrainian State was the culmination of the age-old aspirations of the Ukrainian people. The date of 24 August 1991 was a turning-point opening a new era in the history of Ukraine.
Ukrainians remain grateful, Mr. President, to your predecessor, Mr. Guido de Marco of Malta, who so ably guided the work of the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly. Last August he came on an official visit to Kiev and was the first foreign dignitary to welcome the proclamation of Ukrainian independence. We see that as a symbol of direct United Nations involvement in the sweeping process of liberation that has changed the face of the world in the second half of this century.
I join those who have welcomed the admission to the great family of the United Nations of three former Soviet republics: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. I am convinced that their independent foreign policies within the United Nations will be vigorous and effective in promoting their own interests as well as those of the international community. I hope we will soon be able to welcome other republics of the former Union that may wish to become Members of the United Nations.
I should like also to add our greetings to those extended to the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Thus, Mr. President, you are presiding over a session attended by a record number of Member-States almost all the nations of the world are represented in this Hall today. One cannot fail to notice many things that make this session different from the first session of the General Assembly, which gathered together the representatives of the 51 founding Members, including Ukraine.
Yet the substance of the Assembly's deliberations shows that in 1991, just as in 1945, Government representatives come to United Nations Headquarters spurred by the aspirations of their peoples to peace and development, security and cooperation, human rights and justice. Representatives to the United Nations from different States share a common concern for the future of humanity rooted in the concern of each of them for the future of his or her own people, family and children. Ukrainian children affected by the Chernobyl disaster were welcomed by families in France and Germany, the United States and Australia, Cuba and Finland, Canada, Israel and other countries. Hence, coming here today on behalf of a grateful Ukraine, I can confidently speak of a triumph of the lofty human ideals embodied in the purposes and principles of the United Nations. This is a source of hope for ordinary people.
The hungry from drought-stricken Africa, the suffering fleeing from areas of military, racial or ethnic conflict, the sick fleeing from the territories affected by the Chernobyl explosion: all of them look towards the United Nations with hope in their eyes and a plea in their hearts. The recent United Nations pledging conference and United Nations-sponsored measures to help the victims of other emergencies prove that the hopes the United Nations inspires around the world are not unfounded. This is particularly true at a time when the Organisation is, as is only logical, assuming a greater role as a universal centre for coordinating the objectives and actions of states: a time of revitalisation for the United Nations.
Leaving behind the age of bitter ideological confrontation, we can finally dispense with the arms race, which has been so wasteful and, in a historical perspective, ruinous for humanity.
The implementation of the Soviet-United States Treaty on intermediate-range nuclear forces, the signing of the Treaty on a 30 per cent reduction in strategic offensive arms, the Treaty on conventional forces in Europe, and the considerable progress made in drafting an international convention to prohibit and fully eliminate nuclear weapons are landmark developments of recent history which we acclaim and will promote to the best of our ability.
Rabindranath Tagora, the great Indian thinker, said that the only way to get closer to the future was to advance towards it. The latest proposal by President Bush, supported by the leaders of the other nuclear Powers, for drastic cuts in short-range nuclear weapons is a significant step towards a more secure future. All initiatives which reduce the nuclear threat are wholeheartedly welcomed by Ukraine.
We think the United Nations should assist in extending the scope of promising reductions in military capabilities to all types of weapons and all regions and nations of the world, thus making it a universal process. In this way every country may assume its share of responsibility in world affairs, and the United Nations can alert every country to its responsibility. For each nation of the world has a sacred duty to contribute to the strengthening of international security through disarmament, through strict adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter and through faithful compliance with the relevant decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
Ukraine for its part would like to become directly involved in the disarmament negotiating process. I believe it has a meaningful contribution to make to the solution of these problems.
The world community must not let the new opportunities presented today pass by. The non-proliferation of nuclear arms, other weapons of mass destruction and combat missiles and missile technology has become particularly relevant. Ukraine welcomes the declarations by France, China and South Africa of their decision to adhere to the nuclear non-proliferation Treaty. A situation is developing in which any State's intention not to adhere to the Treaty may be regarded as contrary to the common interests of mankind.
What is the policy of Ukraine in this respect? As the Assembly knows, certain nuclear-weapon systems are at present deployed in Ukrainian territory. Our policy is that these nuclear weapons are only temporarily stationed in Ukraine. Eliminating them and the components of their deployment is just a matter of time. Last year our Parliament solemnly proclaimed Ukraine's intention not to participate in military blocs in the future and to comply with the three non-nuclear principles - that is, not to accept, produce or acquire nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency secretariat has been informed of our consent to place all nuclear facilities in Ukrainian territory under the Agency's control. Ukraine does not seek to possess nuclear weapons. It intends to become a party to the nuclear non-proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear State. This intention is in line with international efforts to reduce and destroy nuclear stockpiles throughout the world. By adopting this stand, Ukraine wishes to promote disarmament and greater trust among nations.
Let me also take this opportunity to declare officially, in response to the General Assembly's appeal, that Ukraine does not produce chemical weapons, does not have them on its territory and will preserve its status of a chemical-weapons-free State. Ukraine welcomes the General Assembly's call on States to become original parties to the future convention on this subject.
On behalf of Ukraine, whose people have suffered the disastrous effects of the Chernobyl tragedy, as well as on my own behalf, I urge Governments, primarily those of the nuclear Powers, to display the political will at last to take immediate measures so that nuclear testing can be stopped for ever. I am confident that by concerted action we will be able finally to bring peace to the weary entrails of the soil beneath the test sites in Nevada, Mururoa and Novaya Zemlya, and all other places where nuclear explosions may still be rocking the Earth. It is time for us to complete the endeavour of our eminent predecessors who outlawed nuclear testing in space, in the atmosphere and under water way back in 1963. We can and must do this. Events in the Gulf have shown that the peace-making and peace-restoring power of the United Nations can prevail over any aggressor, without the back-up of nuclear explosions.
Rather than continue dangerously to waste their resources on terrifying arsenals of mass destruction weapons, the nations of the world must unite in order to settle existing regional conflicts, which sometimes tend to be regarded as incurable chronic ills of the second half of the twentieth century. We welcome active United Nations involvement in seeking peaceful solutions in the Middle East and launching the process of a negotiated settlement in Cambodia and Cyprus. We hail United Nations efforts to find a peaceful solution in Western Sahara. Security Council resolution 713 (1991), unanimously adopted last week, has charted a peaceful course towards solving the problems that divide the peoples of Yugoslavia.
The Organization and its Secretary-General, Mr. Peres de Cuellar, have spared no effort to initiate a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan on the basis of an international consensus reflected in the relevant resolution of the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly. If all those who can influence developments in that country were to give their earnest support to the peace-making efforts of the world community, missiles would no longer be raining down on Afghan soil and civilians in that country would no longer be terrified by machine-gun fire.
A historical parallel comes to mind as we speak of sufferings inflicted on civilian populations. Precisely half a century ago, on 30 September 1941, loudspeakers had been booming for 48 hours on end in the Ukrainian capital, blaring forth music in a cynical attempt to drown the sound of automatic fire as Nazi troops were wearily shooting the last of the Jewish women, children and old people in Kiev. They were the first to be buried in the mass graves of Babi VuTt Nearly 200,000 other Jews, Ukrainians, Russians and gypsies shared their lot under the occupation. Our compassionate memory owes a tribute to all these innocent victims, without distinction. Today we can no longer accept the ideological approaches of the former regime in our country, which often ended in neglect for individual rights and the rights of entire peoples. We can accept nothing less than the entire truth about the Babi Yar tragedy, where Jews were the most frequent victims of mass executions. The international commemoration of the victims of the tragedy in Babi Yar, held this week in the city of Kiev, serves as yet another reminder of our duty to make sure that genocide never happens again anywhere on Earth.
I would like to stress that today Ukraine has changed more than just the name of its country on its name plate in the Assembly Hall. It has made fundamental adjustments in its attitude to the tragic pages of its history and in its approach to a number of world issues. Thus, for example, it would have been impossible for the independent Ukraine to support, let alone co-sponsor, the resolution equating Zionism with racism - a resolution born out of a bitter ideological confrontation between the nations of the world. It is time for the United Nations to shake off the burden of the past.
Under the new circumstances top priority should be given to further consolidation and better use of the United Nations peace-making potential and to a comprehensive improvement of its organizational forms and functions.
At the same time, there is a growing need for preventive measures and international conflict-prevention mechanisms. This would also require some reliable United Rations system for quick and timely identification of potential sources of international tension.
The world is changing. The United Nations is changing along with it, never losing track of historic developments. As the Organisation approaches its fiftieth anniversary, we would welcome efforts to adapt it to new international realities. For example, this could include setting up a council of environmental safety, possibly to replace some bodies that have had their day. It is high time also that such anachronisms as a reference to "enemy States" be deleted from the United Nations Charter.
Experience suggests that timely action to adapt to new realities increases the effectiveness of an organization. In our view the best way to increase United Nations efficiency is to make full use of the potential of the Charter for consolidating security and developing comprehensive international cooperation.
We have no doubt that the nationwide referendum to be held on 1 December will endorse the parliamentary move proclaiming the independence of the State of Ukraine. Our people will do this because of their infinite desire to keep the sinister past from repeating itself, because they wish to become masters of their own homeland and to ensure stability and peace in their society. Democratic Ukraine will do justice to the millions who fell victim to famine and terror under the Stalinist regime by ensuring that social and national oppression and the abuse of human dignity never recur.
Independent Ukraine will cherish the memory of hundreds of thousands of its fellow citizens who were driven along an agonizing path out of the country on accusations of nationalism. Never again will its citizens - Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Tartars, Poles, Hungarians - have to live in fear of persecution because of their natural love for their own culture, language or nation.
Independent and democratic Ukraine calls on all our compatriots in Ukraine and elsewhere to set aside old feuds and old bitterness, and, instead to work together for the noble cause of reviving the language, culture and statehood of our people, to bring back the glorious wheat-growing and spiritually creative traditions of our past, for - as our writer Oles Honchar once stated - it was not by force of arms that Ukraine asserted itself in the community of European nations.
Having announced our independence to the world community, we wish to declare that Ukraine has no territorial claims vis-à-vis any of its neighbours and in turn it categorically rejects any attempts whatsoever to address it in a language of territorial claims.
Ukraine reiterates its commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris and confirms its intention to seek direct involvement in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) process, and membership in the European bodies.
The Ukrainian Parliament was expressing the will of the people when, as early as last year, it declared that universal human values came before the interests of any social class, and that well-established international legal standards should have priority over domestic legislation. Our State will continue to give due protection to human rights on the basis of full respect for the individual and equal treatment of national minorities.
The Ukrainian Constitution ha3 been amended and supplemented to provide a solid legal basis for political and economic pluralism - yet another manifestation of our serious intentions and our efforts to establish a truly
democratic society. The entire system of Ukrainian government is being overhauled to make it possible for democracy and a market economy to prevail in Ukraine.
Let me say frankly that this is not always a simple task. Mastering the science of democracy does not come easily. We seek to emulate the positive experience of other nations. Whenever Ukrainian representatives in committees of the Assembly or in the Commission on Human Sights sponsor draft resolutions on matters of social justice, the rights of minorities or the development of democratic institutions, they seek, first and foremost, to test their perceptions of social values against the universal human experience accumulated by the United Nations.
Still more important than recognition of principles is the record of implementation of those principles. We are aware of that, and therefore, as long as religious freedom in Ukraine is still at times misused to incite disputes and conflicts among those of different faiths, as long as the right of Crimean Tartars to live in dignity in the land of their ancestors cannot be fully exercised, as long as Jews in Ukraine are tempted to abandon the land of their forefathers and settle in Israel or elsewhere, as long as the Ukrainian language is not fully reinstated in its rights, as long as democratic laws and respect for the Constitution have not become standards of our thinking and practical action, we shall not hasten to tell the United Nations that our society has definitely done away with the errors and wrongdoings of the past.
But we would like to take this opportunity to declare solemnly before the United Nations and the entire world that independent, united Ukraine has irreversibly set forth on the path towards the rule of law, based on the principles of democracy and self-government, with law and nothing but law as the predominant standard of behaviour. We shall be guided by the
high international standards in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms. And we shall follow this road every step of the way.
The newly independent Ukraine has begun to overhaul its entire economy, dismantling the command and administrative structures. Transformation of social and economic thinking, aimed at reducing State controls and promoting privatization and market relations, has been accomplished within a short period of time.
The law concerning economic independence, the concept of transition to a market economy, and the laws on free enterprise, foreign economic activities, protection of foreign investment and other fundamental statutory acts have established a solid legal framework for a sweeping restructuring of the Ukrainian economy and its incorporation into the international division of labour.
Our new legislation in Ukraine guarantees equal legal protection to all forms of ownership and provides for an independent economic policy. This will mean, in particular, that Ukraine will introduce its own currency, develop its own budget, tax and banking systems, set up a labour, investment and securities market, put foreign economic relations and scientific and technological cooperation on a legal footing, and expand bilateral and multilateral ties.
A radical reform in the Ukrainian economy does not call only for considerable domestic efforts: it also requires the promotion of foreign investment, increased cooperation and the use of the consultative assistance, know-how and experience that the international community has to offer. We welcome the attention paid by the United Nations to problems facing countries which, like Ukraine, are going through a period of transition. International
economic cooperation should be expanded to make full use of the potential created by the recent political transformations.
A favourable international response would make it easier for the Ukrainian economy to overcome quickly the difficulties of transition and integrate itself into the international trade system. That would also be an encouragement for our young democracy.
Until quite recently, Ukraine used to live isolated from the outside world, haunted by hostile spectres born out of our own ideological dogmas. Cold war clouds cast over our heads a grim shadow of a global nuclear menace.
It was not until the world community began to assert universal values, discarded adversary attitudes and extended to us a helping hand and heartfelt sympathy in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, and until we proclaimed the independence of Ukraine, that we discovered a world of friends. The feeling is so exciting that I could not miss this opportunity of coming here today and paying respect to the United Nations, bringing words of gratitude to the world community on behalf of our free Ukraine.


Perhaps never before have we heard such optimistic words spoken here. Concern has been expressed for the future, of course, but faith in the future of mankind has also been expressed. There is renewed trust in this Organization and in its ability to fulfil the purposes and principles of the Charter. The President has been entrusted with leading the General Assembly at this crucial stage in its history. His wisdom and ability ensure a fruitful session. My country congratulates him and the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, whose name will be inscribed in the pages of the history of the United Nations and the history of the struggle for peace on Earth.
Hopes for lasting peace have been strengthened by the admission of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to membership of the United Nations. Paraguay is glad that the Republic of Korea has seen its dream come true of taking its seat in the Organization, as it has long wished to do. We hail and welcome the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which have now become Members in well-earned recognition of their long struggles for freedom and independence. We also welcome the Republic of the Marshall Islands ana the Federated States of Micronesia.
As I have said, mankind is now experiencing an extraordinary reaffirmation of its fundamental values. Peace, respect for inalienable human rights, freedom and democracy are no longer words with no meaning for most of the countries that are now preparing to embark on the adventure of building a new world. Building a new world requires new attitudes. Let us not replace ideological confrontation by economic confrontation. It would not be worth eliminating the threat of military conflagration if the threat of death from lack of medicine and food remained.
We trust that the end of the cold war will mark the beginning of the quest for a fairer social and economic order. It has been said time and again here that peace is more than the absence of war. To ensure true and lasting peace, the underlying causes of conflict must be eliminated. The end of the arms race, the relaxation of international tension and the rebirth of democracies and freedom will mean something only if they are accompanied by a firm resolve to help the most needy countries in their struggle for development. Liberalisation alone will not put bread on the table of the poor. This is the time for world solidarity.
This session is taking place against the backdrop of an international atmosphere that has never before existed in our Organization. It has had an extraordinary impact on international relations. This situation made it possible to react decisively to the Persian Gulf crisis, the most serious threat to international peace and security faced in recent times by the Security Council. He believe that an important lesson has been learned from the conflict. There is an awareness of the need, on the one hand, to control and limit all kinds of weapons; and, on the other, to strengthen the ability to take preventive action in order to discourage anyone who might be tempted to have recourse to the use of force.
This improvement in the international political climate shows that it is now possible to achieve appropriate solutions to challenges that earlier appeared out of reach; in our view, these include the conflict in Cambodia, the problem of Cyprus, Western Sahara and the Middle East, to name only the longest-standing and most serious problems.
On Cambodia, recent events in the context of the peace plan of the five permanent members of the Security Council make it possible for that country to move forward to peace, national reconciliation and the restoration of sovereignty.
We are concerned at the continuing tense situation in the Middle East. Paraguay reiterates its support for the initiatives for a peaceful negotiated solution including the right of the State of Israel to live in peace within its own borders and the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland of its own. Paraguay endorses the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and urges their implementation.
We reaffirm our support for the work of the Secretary-General that has enabled us to see the glimmer of a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.
We voice once again our earnest hope that the good offices of the Secretary-General will lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem. The efforts of the Secretary-General and of the international community must be matched by the parties to the conflict if they are to come closer together and achieve a peaceful solution of the problem.
Progress in South Africa towards the solution of that country's political problems is a harbinger of better days ahead in that region.
Peace in El Salvador deserves a special, deeply emotional mention. All of America welcomes the good fortune of the Salvadoran people, and is glad to see the elimination of the few remaining conflicts in the region.
Paraguay looks forward to enthusiastic participation in the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Conference on the environment. Five hundred years after its discovery, America once again holds out the hope of a better future for mankind. My country will adopt concrete measures and will sign agreements on protection of the environment; we shall set aside a large quantity of our territory as a protected zone.
Today the notion of development is indissolubly linked with that of preserving the environment. How is the time to create the conditions for more sustainable development. Our Government shares mankind's common desire for economic growth without destruction. Protecting the environment shows love for mankind.
He want a world without pollution, a world where nature is preserved, just as we want a drug-free society. Like the other countries of the hemisphere, Paraguay is committed to a frontal attack on drug trafficking.
One of the fundamental pillars of Paraguay's foreign policy is cooperation with, and support for, the endeavours of the various international organizations that are working to protect human rights. It is not economic or military power that lends prestige to a country; rather, it is the way in which its inhabitants enjoy to the full human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Since the morning of 3 February 1989, when President Rodriguez declared the beginning of the democratisation of Paraguay and respect for human rights, my country's transitional process has been based on achieving democracy and on laying the foundations for the full enjoyment of human rights.
A year ago in this Hall Paraguay spoke optimistically about its future. Time has proven us right. In the process of consolidating our democracy and our freedoms so much has been constantly achieved that we venture to believe that obscurantism and repression are things of the past; we look to the future with optimism. It is an undeniable fact that we are once again a part of the world of free nations; that encourages us to participate in the search for a fairer world social and economic order in which free enterprise (with a clear social component), democracy and freedom will promote sustained development with a view to ensuring a better life for our peoples.
We are pinning a large part of our hopes for development on integration, The Asuncion Treaty, which established the Common Market of the South (MEBCOSUR), was signed in our capital en 26 March 1991 by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and ray country. It reflects our common goal of achieving development through, integration. I can announce today that the parliaments of these four countries have now endorsed the Asuncion Treaty; 30 days after the deposit of the instrument of ratification the Treaty will enter into force. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay will go down in history as countries able to take up the challenge of integration in a joint effort to secure better economic and social conditions and to strengthen freedom and democracy.
MERCOSUR is not just a development strategy. It reaffirms the determination of our peoples to live in peace, cooperation and harmony. It responds to the call of history. It is the rediscovery of our political, economic, social and cultural identities.
In the contest also of international cooperation. President Bush launched the Enterprise the Americas plan, which is aimed at fostering better understanding among American countries through trade. The spheres of development, trade, investment and debt can help us promote equitable and beneficial relationships. To that end, and as part of a new relationship with the United States, the MERCOSUR Foreign Ministers and the Government of the United States signed the Rose Garden Agreement last June in the White House garden.
MERCOSUR also has hopes for assistance and cooperation in its relations with the European Economic Community. At the Luxembourg meeting between Foreign Ministers of the European Community and the Rio Group, and at a later meeting in Brussels, foundations were laid for genuine rapprochement; there are plans for a joint cooperation agreement between MERCOSUR and the European Community.
The European Community's experience with integration, its economic and production capacity and, above all, its declared good will towards MERCOSUR augur well for a better future in our relations. For its part, Paraguay is near to signing a third-generation agreement in the context of cooperation with the Community.
Talks with Japan and other Asian countries also promise better relations between Latin America and those countries. I must not fail to highlight the traditional friendship and spirit of cooperation that links Paraguay with the Government and the people of Japan.
In order to establish and maintain economic relations and to encourage in our country investment that stimulates development, we are negotiating agreements for the promotion and management of investments. In that context, Paraguay has entered into an agreement with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, an organ of the World Bank, to protect international investments.
The investment opportunities that Paraguay offers and the cooperation and participation of the more developed countries will help us to have a more effective presence in the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR).
The new winds of democratisation and the profound enthusiasm for freedom reached Latin America before they reached other parts of the world. The 1990s
.ad America made up as never before of countries with democratically elected Governments. Integration and the spirit of continent-wide solidarity seen in the Rio Group arouse hopes for a great homeland. We congratulate the Governments of Argentina and Chile on the success of their agreements on the demarcation of their borders, and we again express our happiness at the prospects for peace in El Salvador. We very much hope that our America will once again be the continent of peace and hope.
Next year Ibero-America and friendly countries will be getting ready to commemorate the five hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America. It took five centuries for the countries that make up the Ibero-American community to get together in a summit conference, in the hospitable city of Guadalajara. It was the first of a series of meetings of countries with the same cultural, political and religious identities, eager to work together for a common future.
We hope that there will be a successful outcome to the Uruguay Round negotiations. A policy of subsidies and protectionism is not compatible with a free-market economy not with the new international economic order that is supposedly being established.
We desire equitable trade negotiations and a better price for our products, as the proper way to bring about development. Democracy and peace cannot last where man lacks the minimum conditions for a dignified life.
Nowhere is more appropriate than the General Assembly of the United Nations for invoking continent-wide solidarity, good will and peace between nations. A United Nations ready to meet the challenge of new times is mankind's best means of bringing about the promising future that we see opening up before us. If we join forces and have good will, God will help us.


It is both a pleasure and an honour for me to speak for the first time from this rostrum of the United Nations. I wish to express the congratulations of the Gabonese delegation to Mr. Samir Shihabi on his brilliant election to the presidency of the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly.
It is clear that his authority, competence and extensive experience of international relations, and in particular of our Organization, represent certain advantages for the complete success of our deliberations. I wish to include in these congratulations his predecessor, Mr. Guido De Marco, Deputy Prime Minister end Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta, on the energy and effectiveness with which he exercised his functions and which today earn him the recognition of our Organization.
I wish also to pay a heartfelt tribute to Mr. Javier Peres de Cuellar, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the invaluable work he has carried out at the head of our Organisation for the past decade. His intelligence and dedication will Indeed considerably strengthen the credibility and prestige of the United Nations.
Lastly, allow me to welcome the delegations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The admission of these new Members confirms once again the universal mission of the United Nations.
Rest assured that the delegation of Gabon, which I have the honour to head, is motivated by a constant desire to ensure that this session will lead to positive results.
We surely all have the impression of witnessing an acceleration of history, for the events of recent months have profoundly challenged the major balances that emerged from the Second World war. Let us have no illusions; this is no longer a challenge. These are models which have collapsed and collapsed abruptly.
Let us not rejoice in the failure of some because the threats and imbalances are still evident, not only between the North and the South but also in societies that are referred to as developed.
Dialogue, joint discussion and solidarity are particularly necessary. This is the price for our avoiding the third millennium being an age of confrontation.
However, the end of the cold war and the "policy of blocs" had bean generally perceived with euphoria as real progress of democracy and freedom in the world and as ushering in an age of peace and security. Unfortunately, the many upheavals which occurred in Eastern Europe and the Middle East have, since then, disappointed the great hopes resulting from this evolution. Among all these conflicts, the Gulf conflict, more than any other, has profoundly called these hopes into question. That is why my country welcomes the restoration of the sovereignty of Kuwait and the efforts made by the international community to that end.
In this connection, the search for an overall settlement of the problems in that region, based on respect for the rights of all, is necessary. This does not depend only on the will of the peoples and States of the region. It must commit all those who, for various reasons, have an influence on the behaviour of the different protagonists so as to bring just and lasting peace to prevail in the world.
We must have a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, in the settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict and the question of Palestine, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). Gabon wishes to reaffirm its support for these two resolutions and fully endorses the idea of holding an international peace conference on the Middle East, which should lead to negotiations among all the parties concerned.
Along the same lines, Gabon welcomes the prospects opened by the restoration of security in Lebanon.
We must also have a just and lasting peace in Africa where this year the increase in civil war and internal conflict has led to an increase in problems facing the people of our continent. For example, over the past two years the daily lives of innocent individuals in Liberia nave been profoundly disrupted and many refugees have fled to neighbouring countries. Gabon sincerely hopes that peace will be restored, along with security and stability in that fraternal country. We welcome the efforts made to that end by the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The same applies to the situation in the Horn of Africa. People in that subregion are helplessly suffering from the effects of shortages of rainfall and conflicts which have set their world afire.
Our concern for peace and security can be seen again in the unreserved support which Gabon has extended to all the efforts undertaken to solve the problem in Angola. It is appropriate here to reiterate the total support of my country for the efforts undertaken on behalf of national reconciliation and, in this connection, to welcome the signing of the Estoril Agreements on 1 May 1991 between the Government of Angola and UNITA, under the auspices of the Portuguese Government.
The conflict in Western Sahara appears to be evolving in a positive way and the Government of Gabon welcomes with satisfaction the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 690 (1991) on the referendum. We believe that this is a decisive stage on the path to a definitive settlement of the conflict.
While welcoming the fact that the three main pillars of apartheid in South Africa have been removed, Gabon has not forgotten that the principle of "one man, one vote", does not yet prevail in the political life of that country. That is why the Gabonese authorities reaffirm their unconditional commitment to this universal principle which South Africa must respect.
With regard to the latest developments in that country, Gabon welcomes the conclusion of the tripartite peace agreement and appeals to the contracting parties to apply the provisions so that a new democratic and multiracial South Africa can emerge.
A just and lasting peace is also necessary In Asia, particularly in Cambodia and Afghanistan. With regard to Cambodia, in particular, encouraging signs of a return to peace have emerged in recent months. In this respect, we welcome the progress achieved at the Pattaya Conference in Thailand. The process initiated during that meeting to find a peaceful solution should be resolutely pursued so that, at last, a global settlement can be reached guaranteeing the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia.
In Latin America, Gabon is extending its support to the peace process initiated under the auspices of the United Nations for the restoration of security and stability In that region.
He support a just and lasting peace in Europe, because we are very concerned about the tensions and conflicts which are growing in Central and Eastern Europe and which are endangering international peace and security. Gabon is following very closely the developments taking place in Yugoslavia, a country with which we are still bound by excellent ties of friendship and cooperation. That is why I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the mediation efforts of the European Economic Community to find a peaceful solution to this conflict, because, here as elsewhere, disputes must be solved through dialogue.
Generally speaking, therefore, one could say that the end of the cold war and of the "policy of blocs", which I have just mentioned, should favour the restoration of just and lasting peace throughout the world. As the spectre of the confrontation of blocs, which originally gave rise to the accumulation of the most murderous weapons of mass destruction, moves into the background, we can envisage the implementation of the programme of action adopted by the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development.
Beyond this regional analysis, a number of problems concern the international community as a whole. Actually, a number of very serious problems still threaten the balance of our planet. For example, just to mention a few, there are the problems of drugs, AIDS and of the deterioration of the environment. In the context of the struggle against drugs, my country, with the support of the United Nations and friendly countries, has established a central office to combat drug abuse and a team of toxicologists at Libreville, which is regional in nature. The same is true of the drive to combat AIDS. Gabon, with the assistance of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme, has prepared a medium-term plan. However, we feel that a global approach to these problems would enable us to find answers to these problems which threaten the future of mankind.
With respect to the environment, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which is to be held next June in Brazil, will afford an opportunity to show that our Organization can be effective when it is mobilized for a lofty cause. But here and now, my country, which has one of the largest forest reserves in the world, feels that the solution to environmental problems must take duly into account the requirements of development in all their aspects, and in particular the regional social and economic situation.
Encouraging measures taken in this way to combat these problems, namely, drugs and AID8, together with the protection of the environment, and the reduction of regional conflicts, cannot be dissociated from efforts to combat the serious disparities which still characterise international economic relations. To date, the economic and social situation of Africa has deteriorated dramatically, despite the many programmes and reforms adopted, for example, the Lagos Plan of Action for the Development of Africa from 1980 to the Year 2000, or the United Nations Programme of Action for the Economic Restructuring and Development of Africa.
The first consequence of this situation is Africa's inability to implement true Investment programmes which would help to revitalise its economic growth and development. He need only note the results of the recent work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Final Review and Appraisal, which did not come up to our expectations. Moreover, international financial institutions have advocated the establishment of structural adjustment programmes. Unfortunately, these entail social costs which have adverse effects for our people. The fart that these programmes aid accompanied by social claims related to the liberalization of African political system, considerably intensifies the difficulties which the Governments of African countries are facing.
The improvement of the economic situation of our continent, therefore, must be achieved through the restructuring of international economic relations, which takes into account not only the interests of the North, but also those of the South, especially the constant decline in the price of commodities and the burning question of the debt. That African debt, which today stands in excess of $270 billion, should be the focus of solutions by groups of countries - such as middle-level-income ones - which have so far not been the object of any relief measures. We know that the international community has the necessary resources to do this. The establishment of institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development of Eastern and Central Europe is eloquent proof of what can be accomplished given determination and political will. Aspects related to rescheduling that debt should also be examined in future consultations.
Indeed, the path that lies before our countries today, the path of greater freedom and democracy, can only buttress the concept expressed in the world Report on Human Development recently issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which recommended
"a participatory form of development in which the human person would be at the heart of the decision-making process."
We wish to state at this stage that the North, which has no interest in seeing Africa marginalised in the new world economic order, must help in its development in order to ensure that the process of democratisation under way in our countries may continue and become irreversible.
At the dawn of the next millennium, the challenges of tomorrow's world, like those of today's, must be met by all of us; they require us to coordinate our efforts so that we may draw ever closer to the Organization's goals. This is particularly necessary because new generations will judge us by the way in which we have met the major challenges of today and helped to solve those of tomorrow. In this connection Gabon sincerely hopes that at this session Member States will make a firm commitment to revitalize international cooperation and to strengthen dialogue and peace among nations.