The delegation of Chad wishes to join previous speakers in expressing to Mr. Dante Caputo of Argentina our most sincere congratulations on his election to the presidency of the forty-third session of the General Assembly. The delegation of Chad is doubly pleased that he was elected; because of his wide experience in international relations, and, in particular, because, as Minister for External Relations of his country, he has shown his competence and diplomatic skill. My delegation is also pleased at the excellent relations that exist, very fortunately, between his beautiful country and Chad. The confidence of the international community has been placed in his country and in biro personally and I have no doubt that the work of this session of the General Assembly will be conducted tactfully ably and affectively. We can be assured of the whole-hearted co-operation of my delegation in the fulfilment of his heavy responsibilities.
1 should also like to extend the thanks of my delegation to his predecessor Mr. Peter Florin who showed a great spirit of compromise in guiding the work of the forty-second session.
Finally, my delegation wishes to pay a special and well-deserved tribute to the Secretary-General Mr. Javier Peires de Cuellar for his tireless efforts in the service of peace and for the promotion of development.
On 26 June 1945, when the founding fathers of the United Nations signed the United Nations Charter, their objectives, which were clearly defined in Article 1 were, in essence, peace and development.
On 25 May 1963, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) followed that example by enshrining the same principles in the Addis Ababa charter.
The combination of these peace ideals would normally have averted the disasters that our States have known, through irresponsible behaviour or because of the pursuit of immediate, selfish interests.
Despite the fact that differences of view persist within the international community, in 1988 there has been a new development in international relations; a wind of peace can be felt here and there. If this trend continues, our world will experience a new era of the detente that had disappeared from the international scene in recent years.
The new approach in relations between Chad and Libya is part of this new era. Representatives will recall the years of suffering that the people of Chad have known, the verbal and military battles that have characterized the relationship between two countries which history and geography have condemned to live side by side, which age-old relations as neighbours and brothers have united, and which should have known only relations of good-neighbourliness and co-operation as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the charter of the OAU.
The members are aware, Chad bas always shown a spirit of dialogue in trying to find solutions to the dispute between the two countries. This open attitude, which was disregarded for so long, finally met with a favourable response from our Libyan brothers in a statement by Colonel Qaddafi made in Tripoli on 25 May 1988.
On this new basis, in its resolution AHG/174 (XXIV), the OAU accordingly changed the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Chad-Libya dispute by assigning it, in paragraph 5, the following goals: the establishment of a climate of trust and a dynamism for dialogue through a rapprochement between the two parties to the dispute; normalization of relations between the two States, in particular in the political and diplomatic spheres and with regard to co-operation in all fields of common interest; the extension and consolidation of the cease-fire by appropriate means and measures.
This process began with the bilateral meetings held at Libreville under the auspices of His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic and Chairman of the OAU Ad Hoc Committee on the Chad-Libya dispute. Friendly Governments also provided quiet mediation, which finally led, on 3 October 1988, to the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Chad and the Libyan Arab Jamarahiye.
In the joint communiqué issued in this regard, the two countries reaffirmed their firm intention to respect scrupulously the cease-fire of 11 September 1987 and to resolve peacefully their territorial dispute in keeping with the principles of the United Nations and the OAU Charters and in accordance with resolution AHG/17Î (XXIV) adopted at the twenty-fourth OAU Summit, and to co-operate with the OAU Ad Hoc Committee in a spirit of responsibility and understanding.
The political will and the constant readiness of the Chadian Government, together with the persevering conciliatory efforts of friendly countries and of the OAU Ad Hoe Committee·· on the dispute, have· thus effectively and positively contributed to the· establishment of this new climate of rapprochement and peace between two fraternal States.
Hence, on behalf of the Chadian Government and people my delegation would like from this rostrum to express our gratitude to these friendly countries for having spared no effort in bringing Chad and Libya to restore relations and to pay a special tribute to, and sincerely thank. President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo for the truly positive role he played in promoting the peace process. By their deeds they have all greatly assisted the Chadian people, which has always aspired to peace in order to devote itself fully to the struggle for development.
We hope that this step will be followed up and strengthened in order to achieve lasting peace. Lastly, I wish to reaffirm that Chad is willing to pursue this new dynamism in order to normalise relations between the two fraternal countries and to provide a just, lasting settlement to our dispute with Libya with regard to the Aouxou Strip, in keeping with the process entered into within the framework of OAU resolution AHQ/17M (XXIV). To that end, my Government reaffirms its sincere co-operation and total support with regard to the tireless and laudable efforts of the OAU Ad Hoe Committee to succeed in its noble mission.
The Chadian people profoundly aspires to peace in order the better to devote itself to fighting underdevelopment, which is a real battle for Chad owing to our unfavourable climate and the disastrous consequences of war. To the burden of war are added epidemics, desertification, drought, grasshopper and caterpillar infestations and floods. Those are the scourges from which my country has been suffering in recent years. With regard to the current agricultural season, there is very little chance that the harvest will be good, because the rains that came late were so heavy in August that several regions were flooded. Damages have been quite considerable; 68,816 people were affected, including 10,000 people in N'Djamena, our capital; 67 killed and score· wounded; 3,416 cattle were reported Missing; more than 1S8 villages flooded; 20,539 homes destroyed; some 12,417 hectares of farmland completely flooded, something which will have adverse consequences on the harvest.
The crops that were spared in the flooding are threatened by locusts. In several areas of the country there is a risk of famine. Even before the rainy season, the torrid heat in March, April and May posed a meningitis epidemic that killed many people, in particular children.
These various calamities, together with the ravages of war, have dealt a serious blow to our national economy, which rests on fragile bases, such as cotton as the only export commodity and cattle-rearing that is still poorly managed. With world prices for cotton still low, the State had to do without earnings from exports of fibre, thus creating a serious budgetary deficit.
Regarding cattle-rearing, the second mainstay of Chad, which is exposed to every calamity affecting the Sahel region, there is now significant improvement as regards the organisation of stock-breeders, controlling sanitary conditions, managing water facilities and pasture-lands, as well as improved management of livestock exports to neighbouring countries.
The control of development factors involves education and health. The Government of the Republic of Chad is aware of this, and it is now seeking way, and means to achieve good health for all by the year 2000. In this regard, health care for mothers and children, first-aid care and prevention are the fundamental elements of our health policy.
Education too is a priority for us. Chad, whose infrastructure was destroyed by war, is fully aware of the paramount role played by education in development.
Despite our limited means, the Government has decided to breathe new life into the education system before tackling the rebuilding of the infrastructure. As in all other sectors, we have enjoyed significant financial and material assistance from both friendly countries and international organisations - that is to say, our efforts have always been supported by the donors, who have understood our difficulties and have trusted us.
In this regard, it is fitting to recall that the November 1982 and December 1985 Geneva conferences on assistance to Chad, under the aegis of the United Nations Development Programme, as well as the sectoral follow-up meetings of December 1987 and February 198Û, have made it possible for Chad to move from the rehabilitation stage to the reconstruction stage, and, hence, to contemplate development within the framework of our interim development plan. In the same context, and in keeping with General Assembly resolution 42/200, adopted on 11 December 1967, the Chadian Government will organise, on 14, 15 and 16 December 1988, together with the United Nations Development Programme, a round-table meeting of donors for assistance in rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of the northern region of Chad, the Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, which has been ravaged by war and natural disasters.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Chad, I wish to invite members of the international community to participate actively and in large numbers in that round-table meeting to reconstruct that important area of the country. Chad, which has already enjoyed valuable assistance from the international community in the rehabilitation phase, knows that it can rely on its friends and partners.
1 should also like to express sincere thanks to the friendly countries and other donors and to say how grateful we are to them. In emergency situations and in the financing of our reconstruction and development projects, their assistance and development loans were of great help. We shall always be most grateful to them.
Despite the fact that the international economic situation is not very propitious and despite the Increasing deterioration of the terms of trade, Chad continues to hope for a better future, if the laws of the market stop responding to speculation and reflect only the true elements o£ appreciation, real supply and real demand. This approach would doubtless help us to correct the fluctuations in commodity prices and to guarantee stable earnings for the developing countries. That too is a laudable effort that developed countries should make in addition to the assistance they have given to the third world. That would enable the developing countries to achieve real growth, which would doubtless help them in their development.
The international economic situation is certainly a subject of serious concern. If we consider that the economic environment has improved somewhat, with, in particular, increased growth in the industrialised countries, there are still serious imbalances which hamper the chances of any recovery for most of the developing countries.
Prospects are still grim for the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, whose future is seriously threatened by reason of the huge debt burden, instability and the low prices for commodities, which are their main resources.
Despite the increasing cyclical difficulties and an unfavourable external environment, these countries have become net exporters of capital to the developed countries and international financial institutions. There is therefore a basic and urgent need for Governments - not out of humanism but in the light of their increased interdependence and in the best interests of all - to seek joint, just and lasting solutions to bridge the gulf between rich and poor.
Despite the special attention that we were given two years ago by the adoption of the United Nations Programme of Action, Africa is still a continent that has been bypassed by development because of the combined effect of certain negative factors. Despite the heavy sacrifices that our countries have made to adjust our economies, the results we had hoped for in carrying out the terms of this contract have not lived up to the expectations we had based in this programme. Quite the contrary, living standards have dropped and poverty has increased its stranglehold, thereby causing serious political risks.
Nevertheless, in the light of the recommendations of the session of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the General Assembly that has just concluded, there is reason once again to hope that Africa's partners will show the necessary political will to honour previous commitments, thereby helping to implement this inspiring common endeavour.
In addition to the serious economic difficulties, Africa has suffered natural disasters. Either simultaneously or one after the other, these disasters have undermined every effort, systematically threatening the progress made, and wiping out any assets. I am referring to the drought of recent years, the floods and the plagues of insects. Thus, in some parts of the continent, rain, which is generally considered to be a gift from heaven, a divine blessing, particularly at a time when drought had taken such a heavy toll, has turned out to be a real nightmare for the people. The rainfall has, in fact had serious consequences at the human, material, economic and social level, and has had profound negative effects, even for crops.
With regard to the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), a combination of natural factors and factors that relate to the international economic environment has sorely tested their economies and hindered their development efforts. However, our countries are determined to work together in order to be better able to meet these challenges. Indeed, as His Excellency, President Al-Hadj Hissein Habre, the current Chairman of the CILSS, said: "Drought should not be considered as a recurrent image of some incurable, fatal disease, but as an ongoing effort, a united struggle and a collective determination to overcome."
I should like to take this opportunity to address, on behalf of His Excellency Al-Hadj Hissein Habre, the current Chairman of CILSS, our gratitude to the countries and to the international and non-governmental organisations that have continued to give their warm and constant support to our efforts, both individual and collective. But the battle is not over and we are still threatened, particularly as regards agriculture and food.
In keeping with the spirit and letter of the Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, the countries of the subregion are committed actively to continuing their dynamic co-operation in the various special agencies such as the Commission of the Lake Chad Basin, the Niger Basin Authority, the Customs Union of States of Central Africa, which held its various meetings in Ndjamena in December 1987 and January 1988. However laudable and generous it is, the goodwill underlying these enterprises is not enough to enable us to make great strides in this regard.
The Government of the Republic of Chad has followed with interest and encouragement the development of the international political situation, which has been marked by favourable prospects for resolving conflicts that represent a dangerous threat to peace in certain parts of our world. Appreciable progress has certainly been made here and there, thanks to the tireless efforts put forth by our Organization, particularly by our dynamic Secretary-General, with the effective support of the international community. The positive developments in the situation in Afghanistan and the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq are certainly specific and encouraging examples of this fact.
My delegation welcomes the conclusion of the Geneva agreements on Afghanistan, and we hope that they will be respected and carried out in total so peace may be restored to that country. The many refugees will then be able to go back to their country and the Afghan people will be able to get down to the work of their future in full freedom.
I have no doubt that many of will come to look upon the year 1988 a· marking a positive turning-point in the deadly conflict between Iran and Iraq. The cease-fire of 20 August 1988 reflects the patient and persevering efforts made by the Organisation and by peace-loving countries. My Government sincerely supports those outstanding initiatives designed to bring about the effective and speedy implementation of Security Council resolution 598 (1987) in order to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict. To that end, my delegation urges Iran and Iraq to achieve peace through continued dialogue.
Since no solution to it has been found, the General Assembly will once again this year consider the question of Kampuchea. Indeed, notwithstanding the efforts made by the international community in keeping with the provisions of relevant United Nations resolutions, no solution to that question has been found that will enable the Kampuchean people to exercise their right to self-determination free from any outside interference. My delegation hopes that the recent initiatives taken by the countries in the region will assist in finding a just and lasting solution to that question, which continues to be of concern to the international community. Chad supports, there and elsewhere, any effort designed to lead to a peaceful and definitive solution to the question. That is also the position of the delegation of Chad with regard to the Korean peninsula and Cyprus.
Although there are glimmers of hope on the horizon with regard to some situations of concern to the international community, it is regrettable to note the lack of progress with regard to the Middle East, that other burning hotbed of tension and concern, the core of which remains the Palestinian problem. The deterioration of the situation in the occupied territories is becoming increasingly disturbing and dominates events in that part of the world. Chad, for its part, has always supported the cause of the Palestinian people, as was made clear in the statement made at the most recent summit conference in Kuwait by His Excellency Al-Hadj Hissein Habre, President of Chad, when he said:
"The Republic of Chad expresses· its solidarity with the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people and, accordingly, we support the idea of an international conference under the auspice· of the United Nation."
In Central America the delegation of Chad believes that the efforts of the countries of the region to achieve peace and co-operation should be encouraged for the benefit of the peoples in that part of our globe.
Apart from its ecological, economic and debt problems, Africa is also faced with political problems and conflicts that are of constant concern. I refer essentially to the painful and intolerable problems in southern Africa in general and the fate of the Namibian people in particular, problems that continue to figure prominently on the Assembly's agenda. Indeed, a tragic situation continues to exist in that part of Africa, despite international public opinion. The vile racist regime in Pretoria is obstinately continuing to strengthen the odious system of apartheid, thereby denying the fundamental rights of the black majority. Whereas the international community has on many occasions reaffirmed that the elimination of the horrendous system of apartheid in South Africa and the independence of Namibia are its chief priorities, it has so far done so too little effect, for the anachronistic Power continues to resist and to prevent the rapid realisation of the unshakeable will of the civilised world.
My delegation is therefore indignant to note the continuation of that grim situation end the perpetration of crimes against the majority. We therefore hope that peace-loving and justice-loving countries and the whole of the international community will bring to bear the absolutely indispensable pressures, both political and economic, needed to bring about the abolition of that barbaric crime against humanity and to bring about the realisation of a multiracial and egalitarian society in South Africa.
With regard to the fate of the Namibian people, deprived of their right to independence and plundered by racist South Africa for so many years, my delegation places hope in the recent contacts and ongoing initiatives as a way to the speedy implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1987) calling for an independent and sovereign Namibia under the leadership of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), its sole and authentic representative.
Racist South Africa must also cease its destabilising activities and acts of aggression against neighbouring countries.
Turning to Western Sahara, Chad encourages the efforts being made by the United Nations Secretary-General and the current Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to find an honourable and lasting solution.
I cannot conclude my statement without conveying congratulations to the United Nations peace-keeping forces that have just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prise. In so doing, the Nobel Committee has reminded the entire world of the values we should attach to peace. Peace is essential and indispensable for each of us, whether individuals or States. Peace creates trust. Peace leads to security. Peace and security are inextricably linked and are, we feel, a guarantee for promoting development. Peace is, in and of itself, the bearer of hope and happiness. Peace is, as someone has quite rightly said, man's future. The atmosphere of peace, so indispensable, so sought after and so desired, is beginning to prevail here and there in our planet. My delegation hopes that the peace process that has been begun will continue without any let-up and that it will also extend to the peoples of Chad and Libya. Chad, as President Al-Hadj Hissein Habre so well stated in his statement at the twenty-fourth summit meeting of the OAU,
"profoundly aspires to peace. It is prepared to promote all condition· to that end. However, we, like other peoples, are deeply attached to our freedom, independence and sovereignty and to the integrity of our territory. Our only ambition is to enjoy, on that basis, the most cordial relations with all our neighbours. We sincerely believe that that is in line with the higher interest of our peoples and with the dignity and credibility of Africa."
Thus, once again, we should like to take this opportunity to address the Assembly to express the hope that the international community will effectively support the efforts of the Ad Hoc Committee of the OAU and peace-loving and justice-loving countries to bring about a peaceful and definitive solution to the territorial dispute between Chad and Libya, respecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each State, in order to establish and develop a climate of good-neighbourliness and fraternal co-operation.


On behalf of the United Arab Emirates it gives me great pleasure to extend to Ambassador Caputo ray heartfelt congratulations on his election as President of the United Nations General Assembly at its forty-third regular session. His election reflects the appreciation of the international community for the leading role played by Argentina at the regional level in Latin America and at the international level, especially at the United Nations. It also reflects the confidence the international community places in hire and in his ability to guide the proceedings of this important session with wisdom and confidence.
It also gives me great pleasure to convey my sincere thanks to his predecessor, Mr. Peter Florin, for presiding so ably and judiciously over the previous session, its resumed sessions, and the special session.
I would like, on this occasion, to reaffirm the confidence of my country in the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Javier Perez dé Cuellar, for his continued efforts to enable the Organization to cope with the problems it faces. I would also like to congratulate him on his efforts to enhance the role of the Organization, and to settle international and regional disputes peacefully and through negotiations. Most of his endeavours have been successful this year.
The forty-third session of the United Nations General Assembly is meeting in unique international circumstances in the wake of a number of international political developments, including the peaceful settlement of numerous regional disputes. Foremost among these developments was the summit meeting between the leaders of the two super-Powers last May. This meeting led to a great accomplishment with regard to disarmament, namely the ratification of the Treaty which calls for the elimination of shorter and intermediate-range nuclear missiles. The meeting also led to political achievements that will have positive far-reaching consequences, since the two super-Powers expressed their determination to reduce the tension existing between them by replacing lack of trust by open dialogue. In that summit meeting the two super-Powers created an atmosphere of detente, even agreement on the settlement of certain regional conflicts.
This session is also unique in another respect; the fact that it is being held against the background of the United Nations success in settling a number of difficult regional problems. Through its various median isms, the United Nations has been instrumental in settling the problem of Afghanistan, and in stopping the war between Iran and Iraq. In addition, the Secretary-General has taken an initiative for the settlement of the Cyprus problem, and for the opening of a dialogue between the parties in the Namibian question in order to implement Security Council resolution 433 (1978).
These achievements represent an important turning-point, signalling the opening of a new phase in international politics. We in the United Arab Emirates welcome these accomplishments and hops, or rather urge, that they be utilized for promoting peaceful coexistence and co-operation among nations in order that we may reach a new and more advanced stage of international relations. This stage should be based on respect for, and equality among, all nations, as well as on the right of all peoples to secure their freedom and independence. To reach this advanced stage, the following conditions must be met.
First, the two super-Powers should not only sustain the new favourable political atmosphere existing between them, but they should also work diligently to promote it on the level of their bilateral relations, as well as on the level of their respective military blocs.
Secondly, the success of the United Nations in solving certain regional problems must be a lesson to all of us. We must renew our confidence in the Organization and its effectiveness. We must enhance its role through the commitment of all States, especially the great Powers, to the Charter of the United Nations, and to its purposes and principles. We must also benefit from the organs of the United Nations in all fields, particularly the Security Council, which should be used as a forum for the conduct of negotiations with respect to urgent international problems, and which should be utilized for the adoption of preventive and other measures.
The United Nations has become the basis for the international order of the future, and the instrument through which collective efforts can be undertaken to solve international conflicts and controversies, and to reduce the possibility of escalating regional conflicts into nuclear confrontations among the big Powers. The United Nations has also had many accomplishments in economic, social, human, legal, and other fields. In the light of all this, it is incumbent upon all of us to maintain these achievements, and to expand upon them by enhancing the role of the United Nations.
Thirdly, we must utilize the existing favourable conditions by reinforcing the prevailing trend towards solving regional conflicts through the mechanism of the United Nations. We must above all expand the scope of this trend to cover other regional and human problems, most notably the Palestine question and the problem of racial discrimination in South Africa.	.	.
My country welcomed the recent decision of the Islamic Republic of Iran to accept, as Iraq has done, Security Council resolution 598 (1987) as a basis for ending the war between the two Islamic countries. We also welcomed the decision of the two belligerents to cease fighting and to enter into direct negotiations in order to resolve all their outstanding problems. In this context, we express our appreciation for the role played by the United Nations Secretary-General in achieving the cease-fire and in bringing the two parties to the negotiating table. We also thank him for his continuous efforts to narrow the gap between the two parties.
We, in the United Arab Emirates, consider the cease-fire agreement, and the subsequent direct dialogue, to be a major turning-point in the process of restructuring the future relations between the two countries. We hope that the recent developments will lead to an agreement on just and equitable peace principles that will leave no room and no pretext for resorting to arms once again in the future.
As a Gulf country, we look forward to the restoration of peace and security in our region, a peace that is just and acceptable, and that is based on good-neighbourly relations among all Gulf countries, big and small, and on non-interference in internal affairs. We are following the negotiations very carefully, and we are certain that the two countries have a vested interest in the restoration of peace. We believe that good intentions will inevitably lead to this end. We shall do our best to make this happen. Despite international detente and the movement towards the settlement of a number of regional conflicts, the Middle East problem - with its core issue, the Palestine question - is still unresolved. It is still a source of tension and deep anxiety, and peace is not at hand. The Palestinian people are still suffering from oppression, imprisonment and torture under the brutal fist of Israeli occupation. Even though Israel 's aims in rejecting peace and insisting upon occupation are clear to everyone, it is difficult for us to understand the attempts of certain big countries to isolate the Palestine question from the trend of international peace. It is to be noted that Israel persists in creating obstacles, which the United States endorses  in order to obstruct the convening of an international peace conference. The convening of this conference has won the universal support of the international community.
The crux of the problem is the fact that one of the two super-Powers fully endorses the aggressive policy of Israel and refuses to recognize the existence of the Palestinian people, who are oppressed and deprived of their basic rights. Indeed, this super-Power works jointly with Israel in a futile attempt to stamp out the Palestinian identity, hoping to remove the Palestinian people from the pages of history. But through its valiant uprising, which Israel has tried to crush with all its instruments of oppression, the Palestinian people has clearly demonstrated its full awareness o£ its national rights, and its determination to secure those tights.
For seven decades the Palestinian people has been tenaciously struggling for freedom, independence, and the ending of occupation. We are confident, therefore, that this long struggle will lead to freedom and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State. The present trend at the United Nations to use its mechanisms for resolving certain regional conflicts and problems affirms the validity of the view that the only mechanism for achieving a just and permanent peace in the Middle East is the holding of an international peace conference. This conference is to be held in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, under the auspices of the United Nations, and with the participation on an equal footing of all the concerned parties, including the Palestinian people as represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), its sole, legitimate representative.
Lebanon is still a source of danger and deep concern for all of us. This fraternal country will not return to normalcy unless Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory, ceases to meddle in its internal affairs, and stops its aggression against Lebanese towns and villages. We urge our brothers in Lebanon to put aside their differences and resolve their disputes through open dialogue, in order for Lebanon to regain its vanguard position in the fields of culture and progress.
My country has followed with interest the process of negotiations and what has been reached so far with respect to the question of Namibia and putting an end to South Africa's continued aggression against Angola. We hope that the Pretoria regime will not renege on its commitment to implement Security Council resolution 435 (1978), which constitutes a comprehensive blueprint for the independence of Namibia. In this connection, we wish to reaffirm our support for the struggle of the Namibian people, under the leadership of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO). Despite the progress achieved with respect to the question of Namibia, the policy of apartheid, adopted by the white minority regime in South Africa, has been made more evil in its practices, thus causing more death and destruction. We strongly condemn the Institutional regime of this policy, which
denies the basic rights of the overwhelming black majority. This violates the principles of the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and contradicts the tenets of justice and human progress. My country also strongly condemns the continuous acts of aggression, terrorism and destabilisation perpetrated by the Pretoria regime against the African front-line States.
My country is a firm believer in the Charter. We therefore support its organs and call for the use of the mechanisms provided by those organs. We also wish to emphasize the need to abide by the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States non-recourse to the threat or use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Guided by this belief, the United Arab Emirates welcomed the conclusion of the Geneva Accords last April for the settlement of the question of Afghanistan. The mechanisms provided by the Secretary-General played an important role in the conclusion of these Accords and in the involvement of the two super-Powers in guaranteeing their implementation, including non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and full respect for its independence and sovereignty.
We also welcome the recent dialogue among the parties to the Kampuchean problem and the constructive role played by the Governments of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in this regard.
We also welcome the ongoing dialogue to solve the problems and conflicts confronting the countries of Central America. In this regard, we support the initiatives of the Contadora Group and the Support Group.
Concerning Korea, we urge the North and South to settle their differences through free dialogue unhampered by pressure and pre-conditions  This should defuse the crisis and bring about the unity the Koreans so earnestly seek. We welcome the readiness of the Secretary-General to help the two Governments. With respect to Cyprus, we commend the Secretary-General for his latest initiative, which has had s more favourable response from the parties to the conflict. We also welcome the decision of the leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities to co-operate with the Secretary-General, as well as their desire to meet without any pre-conditions and their setting of 1 June 1989 as the date for reaching a negotiated settlement for the Cyprus problem in all its aspects. We hope that the settlement will be just, comprehensive and durable. We also hope that within its framework, security and coexistence will be ensured for the two communities and that the settlement itself will guarantee the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-alignment of Cyprus.
The third special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament was held this year in a favourable international atmosphere of détente. The successful results of the bilateral negotiations on disarmament conducted between the two super-Powers encouraged many participants in the special session to believe that those achievements could be transformed into new incentives for multilateral negotiations. Like many others, we nurtured the ambition that through consensus we would be able to agree on a final document that reflected the new developments in the field of disarmament. 3ut our ambition exceeded the prevailing realities owing to the lack of sufficient political will on the part of certain countries for arriving at a fruitful and successful conclusion to that session.
As the Secretary-General has stated in his report on the work of the Organization, "Disarmament and the regulation of armaments ... will remain a decisive test of the improvement of international relations and the strengthening of peace." (A/43/1, p. 13) In this regard my country reaffirms its support for the creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East. We also reiterate our support for and commitment to the United Nations resolution declaring the Indian Ocean a zone of peace, and look forward to the elimination of all obstacles that have so far prevented the convening of the Conference on the Indian Ocean.
The improvements in international relations witnessed on the political level have not been reflected to the desired degree in the state of the international economy. Serious economic structural imbalances still persist. As a result, the prices of raw materials have become unstable and have even declined. Moreover, the policies of protectionism, the discriminatory practices and the restrictions imposed on the exports of developing countries have a detrimental effect on the process of development. They also cause an escalation in the crisis of foreign indebtedness faced by the developing countries.
We believe that it is impossible to enhance international detente without consolidating the economic foundations upon which it rests. This requires a stronger spirit of co-operation and the enhancement of die role of international economic agencies, it also requires the adoption by the advanced countries of more flexible policies and the introduction of structural reforms in the system of international economic relations.
We emphasize the importance of strengthening the role of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as they constitute the main forum for dialogue and negotiations with respect to international co-operation for development. We also stress the need to abide by the principle of multilateralism and to pursue an integrated approach to the various problems pertaining to finance, currency, indebtedness, commerce and the resources devoted to development. Similarly, we call on all States to adhere to the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States and to refrain from using commercial restrictions, blockades or sanctions as political tools for conducting economic relations in a manner that violates the Charter,
This session provides all Members of our international Organization with a valuable opportunity to review and re-evaluate both the great achievements attained through collective co-operation and the setbacks and obstacles resulting from selfish as aggressive policies. The United Nations offers an important frame of reference for such re-evaluation. The challenge before us today is whether or not we shall be able to utilize this session by drawing on our past experience, both positive and negative, for the purpose of reaching the right conclusions. The historical record proves that peace and security are synonymous with mutual trust and that they are the only means of elevating the human race to the desired level of economic growth, cultural advancement and social stability.
Modern history has taught us that the United Nations, through its organs and mechanisms, is able to lead human society to more understanding and co-operation. Can we vest our confidence in the United Nations? More important, can we trust each other in order that we nay build a world in which justice and mutual respect prevail and man nay enjoy freedom and stability? Future developments, in the shaping of which we all participate, will provide the answers to these questions.


I bring greetings from the people and Government of Belize. I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Dante Caputo of Argentina on his election to the high post of President of the General Assembly. I am confident that he brings with him the expertise and energy for which he is well known and I wish him a most successful presidency, of which he and his great State, Argentina, may be proud.
It would, however, be remiss of me to fail to recognize the great contribution to the process of the presidency made by my colleague and friend, Dame Nita Barrow of Barbados, and to wish her too, success in her continuing illustrious career.
It is my sad duty to inform the Assembly that the Foreign Minister of Belize, Mr. Dean Barrow, is unable to take his place at this rostrum owing to serious illness in his family. Only something of such critical importance could keep him away. He sends his greetings to all his colleagues, with the following message: "The forty-third session of the United Nations General Assembly has opened in an atmosphere of almost unbridled optimism. Since last we met favourable developments in international relations have occurred with a speed that has confounded the naysayers, He have been witness to the de-escalation of several of the consuming conflicts that earlier blighted the global agenda. And we have even seen the possible beginning of the end of the madness that is nuclear stockpiling.
"We may be forgiven, then, if our speeches at times depart from the usual sententious rhetoric to strike an occasional high note of celebration. For we are enjoying a victory of sorts, and that victory is nothing less than the triumph of multilateralism, the revalidation of the United Nations system, and the vindication in the contemporary era of the historical vision of our founding fathers.
I think it is particularly fitting that the assignment of superintending this exciting excursion into new avenues of international collaboration, should fall on the capable shoulders of one of Latin America's sons - a son of Argentina. I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to this high office, confident that your authority and capacity are nonpareil. My delegation wishes you well as you embark on a difficult but rewarding task. The burden of your duties will surely be eased appreciably by the fact that another eminent son of Latin America, in the person of our esteemed Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, will be at your side.
"The Secretary-General has now seen much of what he has striven for become reality. I congratulate him on his patience, his persistence and his success.
"Often the sacrifices and hard work of Under-Secretaries-General go unremarked in the bureaucratic profusion that is the United Nations. My delegation seeks the Assembly's indulgence to record our appreciation of the Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and his staff. They efficiently serviced the last General Assembly and its resumed sessions, as well as the third special session on disarmament.
"That there has been a significant reduction in regional and international tensions over the past year is undoubted. Greater communication has been established between the super-Powers, the global community is resting a little easier, and the dream of universal peace has taken new wing. Much of the credit for this breakthrough can be claimed by the Organization. Burdened by notions of their national interests and misguided by the concept of bipolarity, the United States and the Soviet Union would not have reached their current degree of rapprochement without the atmosphere created by the United Nations. It is as much to the appeals and pressure of peace-loving Member States as to their own enlightenment that the super-Powers owe the present, unprecedented level of detente.
"My Government congratulates the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the positive first step they have taken to reduce the balance of terror. By agreeing to the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles - INF Treaty - they have signalled some small acknowledgement of the cry of the world community, which rejects being held hostage to the possibility of nuclear annihilation.
"At the same time, the point has been fairly made that, if the super-Powers had the capacity to destroy the world 50 times over, the achievement of a Treaty that merely cuts that ability in half, so that they are now able to destroy the world only 25 times over, is more symbolic than real.
We therefore encourage the super-Powers to continue their dialogue recognizing their responsibility not to let an illusion of peace replace the reality of peace. Our world will be a better place if the strongest among us find ways to co-operate with each other and accept that their best security lies not in the quantity of their arms but in the quality of their trust.
Both their peoples and our peoples would benefit from the reduction of the stupendous military budgets, with some of the savings being designated for the poorest and most infirm among us.
"Most countries, and particularly those in our region, Latin America and the Caribbean, have coins to realize that the problems of peace and development are indissoluble linked, since without peace there can be no development and without development peace will always be precarious.
"My Government congratulates our neighbouring Central American republics on the path to peace and development they have undertaken with the signing of the Esquipulas II agreement. We note, though, that the road has not been a straight one. There seems to have been a sapping of the political will that led to the regional agreement. Stasis has set in and there may even have been some slippage. № therefore urge Central America to recover the energy that will allow it to find a lasting and indigenous solution to a complex problem. At the same time we call on external interests to refrain from further jeopardizing the prospects of peace by attempting to transform essentially local difficulties into dimensions of East-West rivalry. We urge all Member States of the United Nations to abide by the Charter principles, most particularly the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of States. A scrupulous regard for these norms of international behaviour will ensure the continuation of the regional process leading to peace, social betterment, economic development and security.
"For its part the Government of Belize supports the right of all States including the Republics of Panama and Nicaragua, to choose their own leaders and to fashion their own political, social and economic systems free from threats or pressures. This is one small way in which we think we can contribute to the process of regional respect and reconciliation.
"Another contribution to peace in Central America is Belize's often-stated willingness to remove itself from the agenda of conflict in the region. In this effort we reiterate our appreciation to Member States for their continued support for Belize's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Their interest and active Participation in promoting the rights of the Belizean people continue to be a source of strength to us.
"It is a measure of the maturity of that country that the civilian administration of the Republic of Guatemala has agreed to join with us in a search for a solution to the difficulties that have prevented our two States from the full enjoyment of normal relations as independent neighbours.
"My Government is pleased to report that some progress has been made during the past few months, permanent Joint Commission comprising representatives of Belize and the Republic of Guatemala, with the additional participation of representatives of the United Kingdom, has been established. This Commission is charged with the preparation of a comprehensive draft of a treaty designed to resolve definitively the situation between Belize and Guatemala. "All sides have embarked on this exercise in good faith, in an effort to arrive at a just and honourable solution acceptable to all the interested parties. Since people-participation is a fundamental pillar of Belize's democracy, whatever treaty is produced must be endorsed by the Belizean people in a general referendum before it can be considered to have been accepted.
"Our country maintains warm and friendly relations with all our neighbours in Central America, and our people would welcome a formula that would enable Belize and Guatemala not only to coexist in geographic contiguity but also to co-operate in human harmony.
"We continue to confront the challenges inherent in our reality as a Caribbean state on the Central American region and we are encouraged by the recognition by the United Nations system that Belize is possessed of a dual heritage that entitles it to maintain both its Caribbean and its Central American identity.
"It was therefore with a sense of special status that Belize took part in the dialogue of Latin America and Caribbean Foreign Ministers initiated by the Latin American Economic System and held in Caracas in September. We fully endorse the conclusions from the dialogue and propose to participate actively in further efforts to strengthen Latin American and Caribbean unity.	"Our region, in common with most of the developing world, continues to face a serious economic crisis that takes its toll of the quality of life of our peoples, creating conditions ripe for the political instability and social tensions that are anathema ix the consolidation of democracy.
"The persisting external imbalances that characterize the international economy at present give rise to the inevitability of chronic diminishing returns for primary producing and debtor countries, however valiant their efforts at greater production and timely debt servicing. We note that although real growth in the seven major industrial countries averaged 3,1 per cent in the year just past as against 28 per cent in 1986, the pattern of performance in developing countries was different. The rate of output growth in developing countries as a group was in fact one percentage point below the 1986 level.
"For many developing countries the debt problem remained a critical issue. The need to remain current on debt-service payments and thus retain some level of creditworthiness was reflected in restrictive fiscal and monetary policies that served to limit growth rates. Faced with the need to improve external accounts, indebted countries have had to increase savings relative to investment or reduce investment relative to savings, in both cases impacting adversely on the capacity creation for future growth. Approaches to a solution to the debt problem have continued to focus on the case-by-case option, despite widespread recognition of the multilateral and interdependent nature of the situation. Efforts to relieve the debt burden arising from loans extended by commercial banks have been complicated by the increasingly hard line taken by bank regulators in relation to provision for inadequately performing loans. "
To create the conditions for the era of development that ought to accompany the onset of peace, hard decisions will be required to eliminate the main sources of imbalance between the larger industrialized countries on the one hand and between debtor developing countries and creditor developed countries on the other. Unless the heavily indebted developing countries can be assisted to grow out of their present situation, the likelihood of voluntary or involuntary suspension of debt servicing and consequential social and political instability will only increase, making nonsense of the notion of peace in our time.

"While not itself immune to the vicissitudes of the international economic situation Belize has recorded modest growth in real terms over the past year. We have managed to restructure our debt burden to service it more effectively. Flows of private and public investment have increased to facilitate infrastructural development and growth in the agriculture and tourism sectors. Under certain preferential arrangements there has been a favourable trading environment for our commodity exports, and an emphasis on diversification into other areas of activity has compensated somewhat for the fall in revenue resulting from the depressed prices on the international sugar market.
In keeping with my Government's policy of providing the economic and social infrastructure to facilitate private-sector economic development and provide jobs for our people, we have embarked on a number of large development projects. These include rehabilitation and extension of the main runway and construction of a new terminal building at the international airport; expansion of power generation and distribution capacity in the electricity company, together with feasibility assessments for mini-hydro installations around the country; acquisition of international telephone services from a foreign company; construction of a new public hospital for the country; rehabilitation and expansion of the main highway network; provision of credits for private-sector projects; and a number of smaller projects and initiatives to improve the quality of life in general.
"Belize continues to rely on the performance of its people in the management and direction of the economy; but we also work for improvement with the assistance and support of international development and financial organizations as well as the assistance of a number of friendly countries. These include, but are not limited to, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico.
"We hope to expand the roster of our partners in development by demonstrating our capacity and our maturity in ordering our development priorities. At the same time, we consider it necessary to reject the tendency of some donor countries and international agencies to attempt to dictate the development process of recipient States. That practice has led to misplaced priorities in the social and economic programmes of several developing countries, priorities inconsistent with the basic human needs of our peoples. My delegation is of the view that donors need to adopt a degree of sensitivity to this situation. That would allow recipient countries to set their own agenda based on the reality of their individual experiences.
"To allay the concerns of those who fear the spectre of misappropriation of aid money, mechanisms for proper co-ordination and accountability surely can be devised. A comprehensive needs assessment of the targeted sectors within the recipient countries ought to be made in consultation with the beneficiary country. To involve local authorities in the planning stage ensures that account is taken of the peculiarities of indigenous bureaucratic and co-ordinating machinery, and so guarantees implementation of projects for the benefit of the greatest number.
"It is in that context that Belize welcomes the Initiative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Development Programme's plan for economic co-operation for Central America. Belize was originally excluded on the ground that it was not part of Historic Central America. But as the Haitian proverb puts it, 'The pencil of God has no eraser. And we are happy about Belize's belated inclusion in the plan, thereby reconciling the notion of Historic Central America with the simple fact of geography.
"Belize has considered and submitted some project profiles aimed at assisting us to redress the economic and social problems occurring as a consequence of the influx of refugees from situations of conflict in the region. These projects respond to real needs and are intended to assist in the machinery of relocation as well as to benefit the Individual refugees and the communities in which they have been integrated. "We stand ready to work with the agencies concerned to make sure that the projects are carried put to the optimum benefit of the target group. At the same time, we join in the appeal to potential donors that have not yet done so to commit the necessary reserves to make this humanitarian initiative an early reality.	My Government joins in the commendation already expressed to the Soviet Union on its decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. We urge the Soviet Union to let nothing deter it from this decision, nor to delay its fulfilment.
"The people of Afghanistan have suffered long enough and their development has been significantly retarded by the presence of foreign troops on their soil. Our hope is that the absence of those troops will create the climate for the return to a genuinely independent and non-aligned Afghanistan under a leadership responsive to the will of the people of that troubled land.
We welcome the appointment of a co-ordinator for United Nations humanitarian and economic assistance relating to Afghanistan, and support the people of that country as they embark on the process of reconstruction. I should also like to express my appreciation, and that of my Government, to the Government and people of Pakistan for the constructive role they have assumed during this crisis. Pakistan has served as host to more than 2 million refugees from Afghanistan, at great cost to its own people and resources. It is our hope that they too can now begin the rebuilding process in their own country.
"In the present global atmosphere of reconciliation and good will, there still remain areas where peace has been elusive. One such area is Kampuchea. The occupation of Kampuchea by Vietnamese troops is a violation of the United Nations Charter and the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement. Аs well it adds to the economic and personnel burden of Viet Kara itself. This era of conciliation offers Viet Nam a unique opportunity to reflect on its own struggle for independence, which won the support and admiration of the majority of the world's people. To re-establish that spirit of solidarity among the community of nations, Viet Nam is engaged to subscribe to a political settlement based on the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces and internationally supervised free elections.
"We are encouraged by the decision of the protagonists in the Gulf war to agree on a cease-fire under the auspices of the Security Council. The time has passed for determining which side has won or which should win this senseless confrontation. The havoc and destruction visited on both sides, as well as on innocent non-combatants, have been monumental. Security Council resolution 598 (1987) affords the most viable framework for achieving a just and Lasting settlement. We are confident of the ability of the Secretary-General to act as a reliable interlocutor, and we appeal to those who have carved for themselves a special role in this affair to do all that is possible to ensure success in the negotiations and a return to normalcy and development in both Iran and Iraq.
"The situation in the Middle East continues to be volatile. My government was encouraged earlier this year when it appeared that an agreement might be reached on an international peace conference on the Middle East. We would support the early convening of such a conference. Our policy remains committed to the right of Israel to exist within secure borders - but not at the expense of a Palestinian homeland. For these difficult issues to be settled and for peace to return to the Middle East, dialogue between Israel and the Arab States is essential.
"While athletes from the four corners of the globe convened in Seoul to compete in friendly rivalry for the gold, silver and bronze in the games of the XXIV Olympiad, South Korea's leadership made a great leap forward toward fulfilling the dream of a unified Korea. He welcome and are encouraged by the declaration of President Roh Tae Woo that his Government is willing to end the situation of confrontation between the two Koreas and to establish relations with North Koreas based on a spirit of co-operation. This fundamental change of attitude will go a long way towards defusing tensions north and south of the thirty-eighth parallel and towards re-establishing hope for reunification of the two Koreas.
"We are heartened by the progress made in the negotiations regarding the 13-year-long conflict in Angola. It is our hope that as the South African and Cuban troops make their way home, the issue of linkage will finally be laid to rest and the way opened for Namibia to proceed at last to its independence.
"The intransigence of minority white South Africa in refusing to share power with majority black South Africa makes a bloodbath in that country inevitable. We regret that certain members of the international community are unwilling or unable to join in mandatory sanctions against that terrorist State. And in the name of our suffering brothers and sisters we appeal for an end to this mollycoddling of the Pretoria regime. "A few months ago we celebrated Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday. Mandela is a statesman as well as a freedom fighter, but in South Africa he has remained imprisoned like a common criminal. The continued incarceration of Nelson Mandela, as well as the proscription of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), is testimony to the barbarous lack of foresight on the part of the apartheid regime. It might not be too late to demonstrate some semblance of good sense by a decision now to release, unconditionally Nelson Mandela and the other political prisoners. Such a gesture would facilitate dialogue between the Botha regime and the leaders of the black community, and would perhaps spare the continent of Africa the South African version of Armageddon that will otherwise surely follow.
"Members will recall that at previous sessions of the General Assembly my delegation dealt with the matter of the production, trafficking and consumption of dangerous drugs. The significant aggravation of the drug problem and its harmful effects on our societies urge immediate and concerted efforts to deal with it. For our part, Belize has adopted a multi-disciplinary course of action to prevent and reduce the illicit demand for narcotic drugs and ¡psychotropic substances: to control their use and supply, to suppress illicit trafficking and to provide treatment and rehabilitation for drug abusers and their victims. This is the approach that was agreed upon by the United Nations Conference held in Vienna last year.
"It has long been recognized that the drug problem spans borders economic circumstances and ideologies, threatening to create its own orthodoxy and its own peculiar moral and social imperatives. The war against drugs requires the co-operation of all nations, and we cannot lose sight of the fact that the basic motivation for drug production and trafficking stems from the readily available market and the phenomenal rewards offered by that market. Recognition of this by the largest consumer country has therefore been a welcome development.
"Small Governments must continuously defend their political and economic independence and their territorial integrity. Of late, assaults on our sovereignty have included attempts to introduce industrial waste into our region. As industrial and toxic waste accumulates in the developed countries  our small States are offered the argument that somehow we can benefit from the dumping of industrial waste on our land and in our sea. This is a remarkable piece of insolence from those who are determined to protect their own environmental balance while offering blandishments to destroy ours. My Government emphatically rejects those overtures, and we call on the industries concerned to make their own arrangements in their own countries to dispose of the effluent of their prosperity.
"No amount of economic benefit can compensate for the environmental devastation and human harm that will follow indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste. The quality of life we enjoy cannot be bartered for the quantity of promises we are offered.
"We in Belize have more than once undergone the trials associated with killer hurricanes. We are therefore especially able to empathize with our sister country of Jamaica, with the Cayman Islands and with the State of Yucatan in Mexico. We join in the appeal for international assistance to help these areas recover from their savaging by hurricane Gilbert.
"If I began this presentation in an upbeat manner, it is just as well to end on a note of caution. Although there have been real successes in the past year, the international agenda nevertheless remains crowded with conflicts. It would be a mistake, then, merely to give ourselves over to self-congratulation. What is needed rather is to press on with a new determination inspired by our recent progress. ¡Such a determination should above all seek to preserve the gains made by the process of multilateralism and to extend them from the political arena to the sphere of economic relations.
In urging on all Member States this renewed commitment to multilateralism, I am reminded of the tale of Oedipus. Members will recall how in ignorance he killed his father and married his mother. Queen Jocasta, and so became ruler of Thebes. In the meantime, the fates visited a plague on his subjects and tortured them with great pestilences. When Oedipus realized that he himself was the cause of the suffering, he put out his own eyes and wandered blind away from Thebes.
"The Czech émigré writer Milan Kundera uses this story to make the point that we cannot escape the consequences of our actions, even though those actions might have been unwitting.
"How,, one of the recurring themes of international, relations is that there is nothing more injurious to an effective world order than that the law of the jungle should prevail, that the strong should take advantage of the weak, that unilateral egocentricity should defeat collective responsibility.
"If we were to reject the case for multilateralism, therefore, we would be deliberately ignoring the lessons of history and could not even lay claim to the dubious excuse that we proceeded in ignorance. And who would gainsay that the consequences of our action could entail the demise of civilization, the extinction of our humanity? "It is a chilling prospect, but one that we nay avoid by our continuing allegiance to the concept of multilateralism that is, after all the very raison d'être of our United Nations system."


On the auspicious occasion of the forty-third session of the General Assembly, I bring the Assembly fraternal greetings from His Majesty King Moshoeshoe II and the Government and people of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
We are confident that under the wise leadership and guidance of the President the deliberations of this session of the Assembly will come to a fruitful conclusion.
At this early juncture I wish also to avail myself of this opportunity to pay a special tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Peter Florin of the German Democratic Republic, for the noble task accomplished during the hectic forty-second session.
It is also worth noting that most of the positive achievements of the United Nations system during recent years are attributable to our ever-indefatigable Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, to whom we are ever grateful. The catalogue of his outstanding achievements is second to none; indeed, he continues to acquit himself with flourishing distinction.
There is barely a decade to go before the turn of the century. This should be, for all of us, a moment of reflection as we seek to examine the future of mankind in the years that lie ahead. The pursuit of peace, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, remains one of the loftiest challenges to humanity. Recent developments in international relations have signalled a definitive shift from a world characterized by confrontation to a world of reconciliation, mutual accommodation and tolerance. Increasingly the futility of war is dawning upon nations, as is the tenability of aggression and foreign domination.
The emerging spirit of dialogue and co-operation has aroused great hope that the preservation of human civilization can be ensured. Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basotho nation, an eminent thinker of his time and a man of immense diplomatic skills, used to liken peace to his sister. We visualized peace as the mother of the community of nations, and hence the basis for the collective survival and security of nations large and small. Never before In contemporary history has the conscience of Mankind been so elevated with respect to full regard and respect for fundamental human rights. The inalienable right of peoples to national self-determination and independence the sanctity of human life and its dignity and the irrelevance of racism as a determinant factor in human interaction are now universally accepted as basic tenets of humanity, we have to rededicate ourselves and live up to the noble principles of human rights to ensure c better future for posterity.
My country has great faith in the role of the United Nations system in promoting respect for international law. The quest for justice entails a commitment to the principle of equal rights for all peoples of the world. The founding fathers of the United Nations envisaged in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Statute of the International Court of Justice legal instruments to guarantee for future generations conditions of just peace, freedom and security for all.
We applaud the initiatives now under way world-wide to resolve regional conflicts through peaceful means. We welcome the international community's growing awareness of the perils inherent in resorting to belligerency to settle disputes. We have reason to believe that the remaining hotbeds of tension in the world are on the verge of resolution given the current mood of reconciliation and goodwill among the nations of the world.
It is a sad reality of our times that in spite of the heightened world-wide appreciation of the worth of human life poverty in the third world remains the most serious affront to human dignity. Poverty with its squalor the pangs of hunger the misery of disease and the despair resulting from unfulfilled dreams of the promise that cane with political independence remains a stark reminder of the blatant inequalities that characterise our modern world. There can never be hope for peace and stability in a world in which the abject poverty endured by the any, coexistence with the abundance and wastefulness enjoyed and practised by the few.
Southern Africa continues to be a hotbed of tension and the situation in South Africa continues to be ever volatile. The problematic socio-political vicissitudes continue to come pouring in, not one by one but in sky-rocketing, astronomical figures. Black to blade conflict, bordering on ethnicity and ideological-political adherences and convictions, continues to soar. Racial tension and social imbalances are increasing. Should the world just sit bade and watch? I think not.
The root cause of this uneasy malaise is the policy of apartheid. It is my considered opinion that peaceful pressure exerted on the Government of the Republic of South Africa regarding the dismantling of apartheid and the resolution of the conflict in Angola and Namibia is an effective tool that should be used to persuade the Republic of South Africa to come to terms with inescapable realities and initiate round-table negotiations with all the parties concerned in South Africa, without any discrimination.
On less and until all men and women in South Africa participate in the political process and collectively determine their own destiny, lasting peace and harmony will not reign in South Africa. It is therefore imperative for all those countries in a position to do so to act promptly, before it is too late.
Inextricably linked to the conflict in the Republic of South Africa is the question of refugees and displaced persons. The nexus is not difficult to identify. Most of the persons fleeing from the repercussions of the South African situation make Lesotho their first port of call. Because of its geographical location within the heart of South Africa Lesotho is easily accessible from South Africa. As a signatory to international instruments on refugees, Lesotho continues to abide by its obligations. We are a country that was founded on the fragmented pieces of ethnic groupings at a time when people were suffering and fleeing from the scourge of vicious and violent subregional strife. Therefore, it is only fitting that we should reaffirm our unswerving and steadfast commitment to provide sanctuary to all genuine refugees, without discrimination based upon race, creed or colour. This reaffirmation of our commitment was also made by my country during the recent Oslo Conference on the plight of refugees, returnees and displaced persons.
The current diplomatic initiatives intended to lay the basis for the return of peace to Angola, independence for Namibia and the withdrawal of all foreign troops have given us great hope. It is to the credit and thanks to the foresightedness of the United Nations Security Council that, 10 years after it adopted the celebrated resolution 435 (1978), that resolution now appears to be receiving endorsement by all the parties concerned as the key to the long overdue attainment of independence by Namibia.
The General Assembly has served the cause of decolonising Namibia with distinction. Hence, it is our conviction that it will accomplish with even greater distinction the tasks it will be called upon to shoulder in the period leading to Namibian independence. The world is awaiting with profound anxiety the carrying out of the stated intention of the Republic of South Africa to the implementation of resolution 435 (1978) by pulling out its administrative machinery from Namibia by the beginning of November this year. We are also hopeful that South Africa's gesture of withdrawing its forces, from Angola signifies the beginning of the end of hostilities in Angola.
We are gratified to note the constructive role of the two super-Powers, the Soviet Union and the united States of America, in bringing their influence and prestige to bear in ensuring that a just and durable solution of this regional problem is arrived at.
One other issue that has featured prominently on the United Nations General Assembly agenda for the past eight years is the fratricidal war between Iran and Iraq, two Islamic countries bound together by commonality of cultures, traditions and beliefs and both member a of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the United nations. We all stood and watched with horror and disbelief as those two sister countries rampantly expended their resources and energies on the destruction of each other's economic infrastructures and the disruption of shipping in the Gulf region.
The United Nations took the lead in Making unsparing efforts towards the resolution of this conflict, and we are quite gratified to acknowledge that these efforts have not been in vain. Security Council resolution 598 (1987) has finally been accepted and earned its rightful place in the minds of those who are in a position to order the cessation of the hostilities. It is regrettable that this war, in which neither party has emerged as victor or vanquished, has resulted in the loss of so many human lives. We strongly believe that the war should not have been fought in the first instance. As we have already stated, many regional and subregional conflicts continue to be unresolved because of the lack of political will of the parties to the conflicts to adhere to guidelines enshrined in the United Nations Charter, such as non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, peaceful settlement of disputes and non-use of force, to mention only а few.
Having regard to the foregoing, my delegation is of the opinion that the Palestinian issue would be resolved if an international conference were to be convened under the auspices of the United Nations, at which conference the issue would be thoroughly discussed and concrete proposals and plans for the resolution of the dispute drawn up so as to bring to an end this problem which has been on the agenda of this Organisation for such a long time.
Acknowledgement of the right of Israel as a sovereign state within recognised and secure borders and the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland of their own and ultimately to independence and sovereignty is a sine qua non for a durable and pacific settlement of the Middle East crisis. In the meantime we appeal to all the parties Involved to exercise restraint and to desist from resorting to the use of force as an instrument for the settlement of the conflict.
Despite numerous efforts by the United Nations to bring about lasting peace in Cyprus, the situation there remains contentious. We are, however, gratified to note that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots are now headed along a promising path towards resolution of the dispute. May the recent talks held between President Vasiliou and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, under the auspices of the. Secretary-General of the united Nations, Mr. Peres de Cuellar, herald the beginning of a new era in the politics of that troubled island, so that in the not too distant future Cyprus may once again enjoy its unity, which it has so long awaited.
Lesotho continues to support all genuine efforts to resolve the  Central American problems and we support and fully endorse the Arias peace plan and the Contadora initiative which in our view constitute а pragmatic framework through which the pain and suffering in Central America may be brought to an end.
Thanks to the highly commendable mediation efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and of the Organisation of African Unity, we are beginning to see a ray of hope on the horizon of the Western Sahara problem. The intended referendum, which we hope will be fair, should give the people of the Western Sahara an opportunity to exercise freely their right to determine their political destiny. No doubt the road to peace will also be greatly facilitated if the two parties to the dispute agree to open the channels of direct communication.
The sons and daughters of Kampuchea rightly yearning for peace and a permanent resolution of the present political stalemate. For almost a decade the people of Kampuchea have experienced untold suffering, involving massive loss of life and destruction of property.
The political and economic effects consequent upon the Kampuchean problem have not been felt in Asia alone they have been a daunting problem for the international community. We support the barrage of resolutions passed by our Organisation consistently calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Kampuchea. Lesotho steadfastly continues to support the intent and spirit of those United Nations resolutions and will do so until they are fully and unconditionally observed and implemented.
By the same token, Lesotho fully supports all the current moves and initiatives aimed at the reunification of the two Koreas and the return of true and lasting peace to the Korean peninsula.
We are hopeful that the economic recovery of the North will create conditions conducive to the uplifting of the South, with particular attention being paid to the special needs of the least developed countries. It is also our fervent hope that the recommendations relating to the developing countries made at the 1988 Toronto summit, especially those concerning debt relief, will be faithfully implemented.
The mid-term review of the United Nations programme of action for Africa's economic recovery and development, conducted here at United Nations Headquarters just before the convening of the present session, revealed that Africa is in no better economic situation than it was when the programme was adopted in 1986. Africa's needs remain more acute than ever.
It would be remiss of me to conclude my statement without expressing our heartfelt congratulations to the United Nations peace-keeping forces for the well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize awarded to them in recognition of the meritorious service they continue to render to the international common in the maintenance of international peace and security.