ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT APPEALS TO ALL STATES TO OBSERVE 'OLYMPIC TRUCE' DURING ATLANTA OLYMPIAD

16 July 1996

Press Release
GA/9078

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT APPEALS TO ALL STATES TO OBSERVE 'OLYMPIC TRUCE' DURING ATLANTA OLYMPIAD

19960716 Resolution Extending Mandate of Committee Reviewing Implementation of New Agenda for Development of Africa Adopted

The General Assembly this morning took note of an 11 July statement by its President, in which he solemnly appealed to all States to observe an "Olympic Truce" during the twenty-sixth Olympiad, to be held at Atlanta, Georgia, United States, from 19 July to 4 August. Citing the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheria, he appealed to all States to strive towards building lasting peace, whether or not they were now parties to a confrontation.

The Olympic Truce (ekecheria), which dated back to the ninth century B.C., provided that conflicts should cease for seven days prior to the start of the games until the seventh day after their conclusion, the President told the Assembly. Historically, it aimed at enabling athletes, artists, their relatives and pilgrims to travel safely to the Olympic Games and afterwards return to their countries. At its session last year, the Assembly adopted resolution 50/13, by which it called upon Member States to reaffirm the observance of the Olympic Truce during each Summer and Winter Games.

Also this morning, the Assembly adopted a resolution extending the mandate of its Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole for the mid-term review of the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and authorizing it to meet during the Assembly's next session. The Committee has recommended that it meet for a period up to seven working days beginning on 16 September. The text (document A/50/996) was introduced by the representative of Belgium and supported by Zimbabwe.

In his appeal, Assembly President Diogo Freitas do Amaral (Portugal) urged all to place at the forefront of their thoughts and actions the principles and ideals which the ekecheria and the Olympic Movement seek to propagate. By applying the principle of the ekecheria, the world could at least hope for some respite from the killing and destruction which accompanied conflict. He appealed to those now engaged in armed struggles to suspend hostilities in keeping with the observance.

General Assembly Plenary - 2 - Press Release GA/9078 121st Meeting (AM) 16 July 1996

The President noted that valiant attempts had been made by the United Nations in an effort to bring peace and stability to the troubled regions of the world, and new concepts were needed for dealing with strife.

Following the President's statement (document A/50/997), Jorge E. Illueca (Panama) welcomed the General Assembly's attention to the item on building a better and more peaceful world through sport. His country valued sports as an activity which had redeeming virtues in a world beset by drugs, violence, terrorism, crime, nihilism and the despair that went hand in hand with hunger, unemployment, oppression and lack of opportunity.

He said Panama supported the solemn appeal by the President of the Assembly for observance of the Olympic Truce. Panama hoped the Olympiad would mark the end of the century with an expression of values that would help mankind score high marks in the field of truth, tolerance, compassion, freedom and democracy.

In sports, human beings improved themselves, challenged themselves and rose above their limitations, providing a model for all civic virtues. For the Member States of the United Nations, the observance of the Truce would be a symbol of the goal to which they were committed: peace and solidarity as the ideal fruits of humankind.

In other business, the Assembly designated the Permanent Representative of Norway, Hans Jacob Biorn Lian, as Vice-Chairman of the informal open-ended working group on an agenda for peace, replacing Juan Antonio Yañez-Barnuevo (Spain), who has returned to his country.

At the outset of today's meeting, the President expressed the Assembly's sympathy to the Governments and people of Bangladesh, China, Guyana and Yemen for the tragic loss of lives and extensive material damage resulting from recent floods. He expressed the hope that the international community would respond promptly and generously to any request for help. The representatives of those countries expressed appreciation for those sentiments.

The Assembly will meet again at a date to be announced.

* *** *