GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES OPENING DEBATE ONE DAY EARLY, HEARING STATEMENTS BY VANUATU, THAILAND

10 October 1996

Press Release
GA/9125

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES OPENING DEBATE ONE DAY EARLY, HEARING STATEMENTS BY VANUATU, THAILAND

19961010 Assembly President Cites Savings Realized As 'Small but Significant Signal' of Commitment to Reform

The need to reform the United Nations, restore its credibility and delivery capacity, and enhance its relevance were among the pressing issues highlighted by the 181 leaders who addressed the General Assembly during its general debate, Assembly President Razali Ismail (Malaysia) said this afternoon, as the Assembly concluded its debate one day ahead of schedule.

The savings realized by the early completion of debate had been the result of a collective determination to improve the Assembly's method of work and time management, Mr. Razali said. "It should be a small but significant signal that we are seriously committed towards enhancing the efficiency of the United Nations and that we are tired of being bashed about by others outside."

However, efficiency in working methods was only part of the task ahead, he added. The work in the Committees and the plenary, as well as the level and manner of decision-making, would determine the quality of the Assembly's output upon which the United Nations would be judged.

The general debate began on 23 September. The 181 world leaders who participated included 12 Heads of State, one Crown Prince, 17 Prime Ministers, 17 Deputy Prime Ministers and 106 Foreign Ministers.

Many leaders stressed the need for the United Nations to be the major forum for development cooperation. A number of leaders from Africa and other developing regions spoke of the need for international support for their efforts at economic and social progress and integration into the global economy.

Other important issues raised during the debate included disarmament in all its aspects with particular reference to the recently adopted Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT. Speakers also discussed threats

to international peace and security in specific regions, as well as transboundary threats involving terrorism, drug-trafficking and environmental pollution.

Speaking during today's closing session of the general debate, Amnuay Viravan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, said that to assume a leadership role, the United Nations must be reformed and revitalized at the intergovernmental, organizational and managerial levels. However, although most of the Assembly's five working groups had been in existence for two or three years, compromise on crucial issues was nowhere in sight. If no serious compromise was found within a year or two, the momentum for reform would simply wither away, sealing the fate of the United Nations.

The representative of Vanuatu also made a statement. The representatives of Burundi, Fiji, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus spoke in exercise of the right of reply.

The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 11 October, to consider the Secretary-General's annual report on the work of the Organization.

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Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to conclude its general debate. It was expected to hear statements from the Foreign Minister of Thailand and the representative of Vanuatu.

Statements

JEAN RAVOU-AKII (Vanuatu) said his country provided information on its imports and exports of conventional weapons, which had been published in a report of the Secretary-General. Vanuatu supported international efforts to ensure the complete elimination of anti-personnel land-mines. His Government had taken steps at both the regional and international levels to address concerns regarding weapons of mass destruction. It welcomed France's decision to end nuclear testing in the South Pacific and to send a technical team to appraise the situation at sites where testing had been carried out in the past. The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of the use of nuclear weapons was another decision in favour of nuclear disarmament.

The United Nations must continue to lead efforts to codify international law, he said. Vanuatu supported the idea of convening an international conference to take steps towards establishment of an international criminal court. The United Nations reform scale of assessment must also be changed, to better reflect all Members' capacity to pay. His Government would participate in next year's review of "Agenda 21", the programme of action adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

AMNUAY VIRAVAN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, said that to assume a leadership role, the United Nations must be reformed and revitalized at the intergovernmental, organizational and managerial levels. With the necessary political will and cooperation from the Member States, each of the Assembly's five working groups would soon be able to make specific recommendations, to serve as salient elements of a comprehensive reform package. Yet, although most of those working groups had been in existence for two or three years, compromise on crucial issues was nowhere in sight. Should that trend continue, it was unlikely that they would register any substantial achievements in the near future.

Although some Member States had suggested that deadlines be imposed on the working group, such deadlines were not necessary. If no serious compromise was found within a year or two, the momentum for reform would simply wither away, sealing the fate of the United Nations. The Organization could not be reformed by lip-service; it required the political, material and financial support of Member States. For those States to intentionally withhold their assessed contributions on any grounds was politically and legally unacceptable.

The pre-eminence of the General Assembly over other principal organs of the United Nations should emphasized, he said. It must be the ultimate decision-making body on all important questions, as specified in the Charter,

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and not simply a rubber stamp for decisions or agreements reached elsewhere. The other source of leadership should be the Secretary-General. Owing to his increased responsibilities, posts of deputy secretaries-general could be created to act on his behalf in certain areas. To provide his or her ability to function efficiently and without undue external pressures, Secretaries-General should serve only one term of five or seven years.

In future, the main issues facing the international community would be those of economic and social development, he said. A solid economic and social foundation was indispensable for sustainable peace and prosperity. At the international level, cooperation in those areas could help eliminate conflicts. Nevertheless, although international cooperation could stimulate development, such efforts must begin at home. An important instrument for States to realize their economic and social development goals was international trade. It was essential that all States be treated fairly and have equal opportunities in the international marketplace.

Right of Reply

MELCHIOR BWAKIRA (Burundi) said some statements made during the general debate had addressed the situation in Burundi. While many speakers demonstrated goodwill, some seemed unaware of the events leading to the political situation in his country. The Minister of Malawi's description of the political changes of July as a coup d'état was a misinterpretation of the facts. The truth was that July's action had been undertaken to rescue citizens of Burundi.

By 25 July, the old regime had shown itself unable to save a nation in peril, he said. Although the new Government had not been elected, agreement had been reached among all political parties on the composition of a Government to lead the country for a transitional period. Prior to 25 July, there had been a de facto Government, led by a President who sought refuge in a foreign embassy. Any country was welcome to send an observer mission to Burundi to see the reality there.

POSECI BUNE (Fiji), responding to this morning's statement by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, said his Government had appointed a committee to conduct a constitutional review on the question of Parliamentary representation for the indigenous population and on the legal framework protecting their rights. That body had completed its work and submitted recommendations, which the Parliament began considering yesterday. The issue was not one of race, but of rights. The current process was aimed at devising a legal framework to protect the indigenous people, who constituted the majority of Fiji's population.

TULUY TANC (Turkey), responding to a 27 September statement by the Foreign Minister of Greece, said he hoped that Government would adopt a more constructive attitude towards improving Turkish-Greek relations. The two countries must enter a dialogue in order to peacefully solve their current disputes, most of which concerned the Aegean Sea. Turkey had declared its readiness to enter such a dialogue, but Greece had avoided negotiations.

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Responding to the Greek Minister's allegation that Turkish war-planes had violated Greek airspace, he said the airspace claimed by Greece extended beyond its territorial sea and so was not recognized under international law. Greece's protests on that issue were illegitimate and reflected an expansionist attitude in the Aegean.

The real threat to international peace and security lay in the Greek desire to expand unilaterally its territorial waters in the Aegean to 12 miles, he said. The net result of the actions by Greece -- which already possessed more than 42 per cent of the Aegean Sea -- would be to cut off Turkey and other countries from international waters.

While Greece sought to create a fait accompli, Turkey was trying to resolve the matter through negotiations. The two countries should address their bilateral problems together.

Greece had alleged that the culture and religious heritage of Cyprus was being hampered by the Turks, he said. In fact, it had been the Greek Cypriot side which destroyed the Turkish-Muslim heritage of the island during its campaign of ethnic and cultural cleansing between 1963 and 1974. United Nations peace-keepers had been sent to Cyprus because of the Greek Cypriots' systematic destruction of the partnership State of Cyprus.

VASSILIS KASKERELIS (Greece) said that for 20 years, Turkey had occupied one third of the territory of Cyprus by force. Turkey continued to ignore all relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions while pursuing its expansionist policy.

CONSTANTINE MOUSHOUTAS (Cyprus) said Turkey was attempting to hide its crimes. The United Nations had identified the question of Cyprus as an international problem. It had consistently adopted resolutions calling for withdrawal of the occupation troops from Cyprus, the return of refugees, respect for the human rights of all Cypriots, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Turkey's policy of division, segregation and partition had divided the people of Cyprus along ethnic and religious lines. That form of apartheid violated the principles of the United Nations and presented a challenge to the Security Council.

As of today, not a single Turkish soldier had left the island, while 85,000 Turkish settlers had been brought in from that country, he said.

Turkey's crimes were recently demonstrated when the members of its army beat a young Cypriot to death and shot another dead.

Mr. TANC (Turkey) said a written response would be given to the statement just made. With respect to the statement by Greece, he said the best proof of the real situation in Cyprus should be found in a statement made by the leader of the Greek Cypriots in 1974 to the Security Council. He had stated that the Greek coup "caused much bloodshed and took a great toll of human lives. It was an invasion, which violated the independence and the sovereignty of the Republic."

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Mr. MOUSHOUTAS (Cyprus) said the United Nations had condemned the entity which had committed a great crime against Cyprus.

Mr. VASSILIS (Greece) said that in 1974, the Security Council adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of all Turkish troops. Many resolutions had followed, all calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops and settlers. Turkey had shown a great lack of respect for those resolutions.

Closing Statement

In a closing statement, Assembly President RAZALI ISMAIL (Malaysia) said that the general debate, which began on 23 September, had seen the participation of 181 leaders, including 12 Heads of State, one Crown Prince, 17 Prime Ministers, 17 Deputy Prime Ministers and 106 Foreign Ministers. That impressive list of speakers underlined the importance attached to the debate as the only opportunity for leaders of 185 Member States to share their views without fear or favour.

Many statements reaffirmed the need to reform the United Nations, restore its credibility and delivery capacity, and enhance its relevance, he said. Particular attention was given to reform of the Security Council and the United Nations financial crisis. Many leaders stressed the need for the United Nations to be the major forum for development cooperation, as well as the need to address the issues of debt, trade, finance and the environment in an integrated manner. A number of leaders from Africa and other developing regions spoke of the need for international support for their efforts at economic and social progress, and integration into the global economy.

Statements addressed the need to eliminate nuclear weapons, citing in particular, the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), he said. Disarmament in all its aspects -- including the establishment of nuclear-weapons-free zones, a ban on the export of anti-personnel mines and the illicit arms trade -- figured prominently. Other threats to peace and security were also addressed, including the situations in the Middle East, the Great Lakes region of Africa, the Balkans and Central Asia. There was a strong protest against "silent armies of the night" which brought chaos, despair and destitution to innocent people. Transboundary threats involving terrorism, drug-trafficking and environmental pollution were also raised and tied in with human rights issues.

The general debate had ended a day ahead of schedule as a result of a collective determination to improve the method of work and time management, the President said. There were only 27, instead of the estimated 30 plenary meetings. According to the Secretariat, there had been a notional savings of some $81,600, as well as significant savings in such areas as overtime pay. The lessons learned should become an integral part of the work culture of the Organization system-wide. "It should be a small but significant signal that we are seriously committed towards enhancing the efficiency of the United Nations, and that we are tired of being bashed about by others outside."

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Efficiency in working methods was only part of the task that lay ahead, he said. The work in the Committees and the plenary, as well as the level and manner of decision-making, would determine the quality of the Assembly's output. For the Committees and plenary to work at the lowest common denominator would have no meaning, and fail to impact on real life issues. The United Nations would be judged first by what was done in the Committees and the plenary, even if significant attention was being paid to the Assembly's working groups.

He said 68 days remained before the current session adjourned on 17 December and there were 272 days before the end of the session. That set a time frame, within which Member States were encouraged to meet some of the challenges which had been so eloquently defined by the political leaders who began the session.

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