GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALL FOR RENEWED INVESTMENT IN AFRICAN ECONOMIES: 'SELF-INTEREST, NOT WELFARE', DELEGATES TOLD

Press Release
GA/9168

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALL FOR RENEWED INVESTMENT IN AFRICAN ECONOMIES: 'SELF-INTEREST, NOT WELFARE', DELEGATES TOLD

Debate Begins on Global Efforts to Consolidate New Democracies; Appointments Made to Joint Inspection Unit

The President of the General Assembly, Razali Ismail (Malaysia), this morning called for economic policies based on the real needs of individual African economies. Speaking on the occasion of African Industrialization Day, he said genuine partnership was required for the accelerated industrial growth of the continent. "If we need a market rationale to convince us why we should invest in Africa, let me state that assistance to Africa is not welfare, but an investment in other people for one's own self-interest", he said.

Also marking Africa Industrialization Day, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told the Assembly that education, training, technology, private sector development, access to industrial and commercial information and regional integration were among the essential ingredients of industrialization. Together, they could be a remedy for the acute economic ills that continued to plague the African continent, he said, noting that this year's theme, "mobilization of financial resources for industry", was both timely and appropriate.

Also this morning, the Assembly took action on appointments to the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), by requesting Jordan, Algeria, the Dominican Republic, Italy and the Russian Federation to submit the names of candidates for membership of the Unit. (A ballot was required in the appointment of a member to be named from Asian States. Jordan received 86 votes to 76 for Syria.) The other candidatures were filled by endorsements of regional groups to the relevant vacancies.

The Assembly then began consideration of support by the United Nations system of efforts to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. Introducing a draft resolution on the issue, the representative of Nicaragua said that democracy was an irreversible trend in today's world order. Factors such as conflict and violence, terrorism, drug trafficking and the heavy burdens of external debt, shortages of resources and environmental degradation undermined democratic governance.

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The representative of Ireland, on behalf of the European Union, said that around the world, regimes based on racism, dictatorship and oppression had been replaced by systems of government in which the people's will was decisive. He stressed that the Union was actively engaged in promoting democracy and the transition towards responsive systems of government. Its development cooperation policy emphasized the promotion of human rights and democracy.

The representative of Belarus said that restoring and establishing democracy was a global process. Galloping inflation, deregulation of the economy and increasing unemployment were among factors that hindered the process. The lack of understanding and tangible support from some Member States was disappointing.

Botswana had been a democracy in a region that was generally not democratic, its representative said, but always dreamed of living among people with similar political principles. South Africa had now fulfilled those dreams, he stated, noting that his country had made a contribution to the democratic process in demonstrating that democracy was feasible in Africa.

Statements were also heard from the representatives of Ukraine, Andorra, Argentina, Philippines, Benin, South Africa, Mongolia, Romania, Ecuador and El Salvador. The Assembly will take action on the draft resolution at a later date.

It will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow Thursday, 21 November, to begin consideration of strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to appoint members of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), and to begin consideration of support by the United Nations system of the efforts of governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies.

Appointments to JIU

A note by the Secretary-General transmits information of the statute of the JIU on matters relevant to the appointment of its members, including that the Unit consists of not more than 11 Inspectors, chosen from among members of national supervision or inspection bodies, or from among persons of a similar competence on the basis of their special experience in national or international administrative and financial matters, including management questions. Also, Inspectors serve in their personal capacity, and no two Inspectors should be nationals of the same State.

In addition, the President of the Assembly shall consult with Member States to draw up, with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution and of reasonable rotation, a list of countries which would be requested to propose candidates who meet the qualifications mentioned above. The President of the Assembly, through appropriate consultations, including with the President of the Economic and Social Council and the Chairman of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), should review the qualifications of the proposed candidates. After further consultations, if necessary, with the States concerned, the President should submit the list of candidates to the Assembly for appointment.

The duration of the appointments of the Inspectors should be five years, renewable for one further term. At present, the Unit is composed of the following Inspectors:

Andrzej Abraszewski (Poland)**** Fatih Bouayad-Agha (Algeria)* John D. Fox (United States)**** Homero Luis Hernández Sánchez (Dominican Republic)* Boris Petrovitch Krasulin (Russian Federation)* Sumihiro Kuyama (Japan)*** Francesco Mezzalama (Italy)* Wolfgang M. Munch (Germany)**** Khalil Issa Othman (Jordan)* Louis Dominique Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)**** Raúl Quijano (Argentina)**

(*) Term of office expires on 31 December 1997. (**) Term of office expires on 31 December 1998. (***) Term of office expires on 31 December 1999. (****) Term of office expires on 31 December 2000.

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Since the terms of office of Mr. Bouayad-Agha, Mr. Hernández Sánchez, Mr. Krasulin, Mr. Mezzalama and Mr. Othman will expire on 31 December 1997, the Assembly has to appoint five persons to fill their vacancies. The new Inspectors will serve for a period of five years, beginning on 1 January 1998.

Following his consultations, the President of the Assembly will submit the names of candidates to the Assembly for appointment.

New and Restored Democracies

A report of the Secretary-General on support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new and restored democracies (document A/51/512) includes reflections on innovative ways and means that would enable the Organization to respond effectively and in an integrated manner to requests of Member States for assistance in the field, and some concluding observations. He suggests that the report be read in conjunction with the report he submitted last year on the topic (document A/50/332 and Corr.1) which addressed the promotion of a democratic culture.

The Secretary-General states that his report derives from the First and Second International Conferences on New or Restored Democracies, held in Manila in 1988 and in Managua in 1994. He states that the United Nations system does not promote any specific form of government and that democracy is not a strict model to be copied, but a goal to be attained. The term "democratization" is used to denote a process by which an authoritarian society becomes increasingly participatory. Mechanisms by which that may be achieved include periodic elections to representative bodies, a free press, an independent judiciary and a transparent and accountable public administration. The United Nations stands ready to assist States in that process, when requested to do so by a Member State, and in ways agreed upon by the Government of that State, the report adds.

Regarding the promotion of a democratic culture, the report says that for the process of democratization to take place, certain conditions, beginning with the existence of political will for it, must be met. There are two broad contexts in which the United Nations system can be asked by Member States to help in that process.

The first is the Organization's peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace- building activities. The report notes that the majority of the conflicts in which the United Nations currently undertakes such activities were internal conflicts. In helping to negotiate and implement such settlements, and in subsequent efforts to help the country to consolidate the peace thus achieved, the Organization has found itself asked to undertake a number of activities that have had the effect of promoting a democratic culture.

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The second context is the Organization's more general efforts to promote human development by helping Member States to provide more equitable and effective governance to their peoples and by strengthening civil society, the report goes on. United Nations assistance in that area is predicated on the belief that governance may be the single most important development variable within the control of individual States.

In fulfilling the objective of promoting a democratic culture, the report outlines six significant areas of attention. The first concerns political parties, movements and the mobilization of civil society. Political parties and movements are an essential component in the democratization process, says the report, adding that United Nations experience in supporting them has come from involvement in multidimensional peace operations. The Organization is also increasingly engaged in strengthening civil society. Trade union organizations and movements have a fundamental role to play, and non-governmental organizations are important partners of the United Nations and a major force in many new or restored democracies.

The second area involves electoral assistance, the report goes on. It notes that the most extensive electoral assistance in the context of democratization was provided for Cambodia from 1991 to 1993, culminating in elections. It consisted of civic education and training; the elaboration of an appropriate legal framework; the drafting of electoral laws; the registration of voters, parties and candidates; the vote count; and verification.

The third factor in the promotion of a democratic culture, states the report, concerns a free and independent media. The Department of Public Information (DPI) continues to encourage the development of a free and responsible press as an essential element for effective democratization through its series of regional seminars on promoting pluralistic and independent media. It is also continuing to encourage a broader flow of objective information on social, economic and structural reforms and freedom of expression through the mass media.

In the next area, building a political culture through human rights observance and monitoring, the report states that an important part of the transition from authoritarianism to greater political participation was the introduction of a new culture of greater respect for human rights and their codification to prevent violations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has established that priority for technical cooperation in that field must be given to countries that are beginning the transition to democracy.

The fifth factor concerns improving accountability, transparency and quality of public sector management and democratic structures of government, says the Secretary-General. It points out that Member States increasingly ask the United Nations to provide assistance towards institution-building and governance. Key concerns addressed in the process are political legitimacy,

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accountability and transparency; freedom of association and participation; a fair and reliable judiciary; bureaucratic accountability; freedom of information and expression; effective and efficient public sector management; and interaction with organizations of civil society.

Active on that subject is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which assists governments in designing and carrying out long-term, strategic programmes to improve public sector management, the report states. Also important is the World Bank; although the major part of its assistance for governance is in the field of public sector management, it encourages greater transparency and accountability in general.

On enhancing the rule of law, the report notes that political pluralism cannot prosper until efficient legal institutions are established. In addition, efforts to achieve that end would only prove effective if they were undertaken in tandem with measures that ensure the provision of security through adequate crime control and effective justice.

The report next considers improving the capacity of the United Nations system to respond to requests of governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. On the subject of coordinating and strengthening the governance programmes, it notes that the ACC recently established three task forces to support countries' implementation of commitments made at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and other recent global conferences. To improve the effectiveness of governance programmes in the development area of United Nations system however, they should be properly coordinated with the work of the departments and offices concerned with the peace and democratization agendas of the Organization.

Attention is next paid to strengthening public administration in development, in which the Secretary-General recalls the General Assembly's resumed fiftieth session on public administration and development in April. In resolution 50/225 of 19 April, adopted at the close of the session, the Assembly recognized that there exist challenges and trends variously facing national governments in the field of public administration.

On cooperation with representatives of civil society and academia, the report states that their inclusion, not only in consolidating democratization, but also in acting as partners in development activities, was more noticeable in the work of the United Nations system today.

In his observations and recommendations, the Secretary-General points out that the Organization's capacity to respond to the requests of Member States to consolidate and promote new and restored democracies may often be limited by lack of adequate funding. In addition, he stresses the need for the United Nations system to integrate civil society into its efforts to consolidate democratic development. Widespread disillusion with the results

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of democratization has direct political consequences on electoral processes and government policies and can even lead to the unravelling of the process of democratization itself. A key concern is therefore the mobilization of non- governmental sectors in support of democratization and for the provision of essential and other services in a manner complementary to the efforts of governments.

The United Nations system should redouble its efforts at a time of shrinking private and public aid and resources, to facilitate the coordination of the activities of its bodies, and avoid duplication, says the Secretary- General. In addition, it says that greater interaction and coordination among governments, the United Nations system, other international and non- governmental organizations and the business sector would facilitate the creation of conditions for further democratization. The challenges of the future deserve a comprehensive and integrated approach to democratization, as much as for peace and development, the report concludes.

A related draft resolution on the item (document A/51/L.20) would have the Assembly encourage Member States to promote democratization and to make additional efforts to identify possible steps to support the effort of governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. It would invite the Secretary-General, Member States, the UNDP and other organizations of the United Nations system to collaborate within existing resources in the holding of a Third International Conference on New or Restored Democracies.

In addition, the Secretary-General would be requested to submit a report to the Assembly's fifty-second session on the implementation of the text, including innovative ways and means as well as other reflections, to enable the Organization to respond effectively, and in an integrated manner, to requests of Member States for assistance in the field of democratization.

The draft is sponsored by Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Turkey, United States and Uruguay.

Africa Industrialization Day

The meeting began with statements by the President of the Assembly and the Secretary-General.

RAZALI ISMAIL (Malaysia), President of the Assembly, noted that today was Africa Industrialization Day. He said it underlined the need to make a reality of the partnership between Africa and the international community, to enhance development in African countries. Even though the principle of international partnership to assist industrial development in Africa existed

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in various policy declarations, he noted, successful and sustained demonstrations of that commitment were few. Recent reports, including the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, clearly showed that the economic needs and development aspirations of Africa had not been given urgent political and financial priority by the international community. It was unconscionable that financial flows to Africa remained so low, despite renewed commitments of the international community to the contrary, especially when the majority of African countries had undertaken difficult and unpopular structural adjustment programmes that had further marginalized the poor, depleted natural resources and degraded the environment.

While the South-East Asian "tiger" economies took off when the global economy was growing -- when loans, aid and development assistance from rich industrialized countries were still items on the political agenda -- such was not the case with Africa, especially since the Uruguay Round which concluded that African countries were the major losers of an expanded global economy.

Many African countries had had to relinquish considerable economic control to the Bretton Woods institutions. An important reason preventing the industrial development of those economies was the nature of conditionalities under structural programmes. The debt initiative for heavily indebted poorer countries, recently welcomed by the G-7 industrialized countries and endorsed by the joint committees of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, was intended to reduce the problem of multilateral and commercial debt to sustainable levels. He said the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization, initiated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and launched in Côte d'Ivoire last month, was yet another initiative to revitalize African economies.

"If we need a market rationale to convince us why we should invest in Africa", he continued, "let me state that assistance to Africa is not welfare. It is an investment in other people for one's own self-interest." He pointed out that against the background of the human tragedy in the Great Lakes region, the current session of the Assembly had considered such items as the eradication of poverty, the plight of refugees, the impact of armed conflict on children, the issue of women and food security. (For full text of statement see Press Release GA/9169 issued today.)

Secretary-General BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI said that since proclaiming the celebration of Africa Industrialization Day seven years ago, the United Nations system had worked hard to raise global awareness and harness international support for Africa's industrial development. Education, training, technology, private sector development, access to industrial and commercial information and regional integration were among the essential ingredients of industrialization. Together, they could be a remedy for the

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acute economic ills that continued to plague the African continent. He said this year's theme, "mobilization of financial resources for industry", was both timely and appropriate.

Africa's share of global industrial output had declined from 0.85 per cent in 1980 to 0.74 per cent in 1995, the Secretary-General noted. This was cause for great concern, especially when viewed against the backdrop of declining official development assistance, limited private capital flows, crippling debt burdens, widespread poverty, civil strife and political instability.

He said the initiative launched last month in Abidjan, the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization, attached great importance to the mobilization of resources through partnerships between the public and private sectors at the national, regional and international levels. But the larger part of resources would come from Africa's domestic sources, which would require encouraging private savings, enhancing the efficiency of tax collection, rationalizing public expenditure, raising export earnings and attracting foreign direct investment.

The international community, he continued, should make complementary efforts, in accordance with the principle of full partnership and shared responsibility. (For full text of statement see Press Release SG/SM/6110 issued today.)

Joint Inspection Unit

The Assembly decided to ask Jordan, Algeria, the Dominican Republic, Italy and the Russian Federation to submit the names of candidates for membership of the Joint Inspection Unit. (In a ballot for the appointment of a member to be named from Asian States, Jordan received 86 votes to 76 for Syria.)

The President of the Assembly explained that the procedure was an advisory vote, not an election, but would follow the rules of procedure of the Assembly governing elections. As indicated in the Secretary-General's note (A/51/108), the Assembly was required, during the fifty-first session, to appoint five members to fill the vacancies on the JIU occurring 31 December.

Following consultations with the regional groups, as required, the President communicated to the Assembly that for one vacancy from the African States, the group of African States had endorsed Algeria. For one vacancy from the Asian States, Jordan and Syria decided to present their candidatures. For one vacancy from the Eastern European States, the group of Eastern European States endorsed the Russian Federation. For one vacancy from the

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Latin American and Caribbean States, the group endorsed the Dominican Republic. For one vacancy from the Western European and other States, the group of Western European and other States endorsed Italy.

New and Restored Democracies

The Assembly then turned to the subject of support by the United Nations system of the efforts of governments to promote and consolidate new and restored democracies.

ANATOLI M. ZLENKO (Ukraine) said that as greater numbers of States underwent democratic transitions and pursued development, the international community would move towards achieving stability and prosperity. Because democracy was a key element in development, difficulties faced by States in achieving democratic governance should not be considered domestic problems. Success in building democracy depended on the commitment of peoples and their governments, but also on actions at the international level.

He said democracies made the most valuable contributions to solving global problems. The Organization's role in establishing and consolidating democratic standards should be enhanced. He noted a proposal by the President of Ukraine on establishing United Nations trusteeship over the processes of formation of new independent States. Such a mechanism, he said, would prevent the use of force against young democracies, and support democratic trends under the rules and principles of international law.

He hoped that by the time of the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, his country would be able to report positive new developments about its democratic transition. Progress in that area had already been made.

ERICH VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua) noted that the Second International Conference of the New and Restored Democracies had been held in his country in July 1994. It had reaffirmed the importance of representative democracy, and addressed the challenges and obstacles to its implementation.

He said the Secretary-General's report (document A/51/512) detailed the Organization's efforts to promote democratic transformation and implement democratic principles by sustaining democratic institutions. The Secretary- General's report on strengthening the rule of law (document A/51/555) had reaffirmed the links between democracy, development and human rights.

He said democracy was an irreversible trend in today's world order. Conflict and violence, terrorism and drug trafficking, combined with the heavy burdens of external debt, shortages of resources and environmental degradation, undermined democratic governance. Complementary and sustained actions nationally and internationally were necessary. It was important for

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countries engaged in the democratic transition to remain united, preserving their common vision and a realistic plan of action for all, as agreed at the 1994 conference.

He introduced the draft resolution (document A/51/L.20) entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies". While similar to last year's draft on the matter, he said, it had been updated in light of recent developments. On behalf of the sponsors, he hoped the Assembly would adopt the draft by consensus.

JULI MINOVES-TRIQUELL (Andorra) said his country had welcomed many refugees fleeing non-democratic regimes over the years, and thus the issue of consolidating democracy was close to it. In the 1970s, Andorra began a process of reform of its political institutions, which had ultimately led to the new Constitution of 1993. It was therefore familiar with the complexities of political reform. The United Nations could and should play a special role in assisting in the consolidation of democracy. This was possible in many fields: the legal work of the United Nations, among many other areas, was helping to consolidate the rule of law throughout the world.

JUAN JOSE CASTELLI (Argentina) told the Assembly that democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms were the three central pillars of the modern State, linking democracy and development. Latin America and the Caribbean, regions which had lived through totalitarian regimes for decades, had understood, in the last years of the present century, the need to consolidate democracy as their form of government. In that same spirit, the charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) had been modified to reinforce the incompatibility of authoritarianism with participation in that organization.

He said Guatemala exemplified the successful participation of civil society which, with the support of the United Nations, was promoting the spirit of peace and democratization in Central America. The countries that today enjoyed democracy as their form of government had now the responsibility of promoting and encouraging democracy; they also should renew their full support of countries undergoing transitional processes of democratic consolidation. Argentina, he said, had actively supported democratization processes in Central America through technical, economic and financial assistance, through electoral observers and by taking part in peace-keeping operations.

JOHN H.F. CAMPBELL (Ireland), on behalf of the European Union, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as the associated States of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, said that around the world regimes based on racism, dictatorship and oppression had been replaced by systems of government in which the people's

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will was decisive. There was no single form of democratic governance. Rather, each democracy adopted different forms within the context of maintaining certain key requirements. Those requirements included the accountability of government to citizen, the citizen's ability to recall government, and the possibility for all to participate in decision-making processes. The legislative, executive and judiciary branches must be separated, with the latter functioning independently, and human rights respected. Freedom of expression and opinion were of great importance.

Activities of the United Nations to support the democratization process could not be compartmentalized, he said. They were incorporated in the Organization's promotion of sustainable human development, as well as its peacemaking, peace-building and peace-keeping efforts. The European Union supported the Organization's work to support democratization, particularly that of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

It was actively engaged in promoting democracy and the transition towards responsive systems of government. Its development cooperation policy emphasized the promotion of human rights and democracy.

FELIPE MABILANGAN (Philippines) said that one decade ago, the Filipino people sought to renew their commitment to democracy in what was to be known as the "People's Power Revolution", which demonstrated the triumph of the popular will in a non-violent manner. The revolution revealed the universal character of democracy, as "people's power" spread to Latin America, eastern Europe and Africa.

The Philippines immediately took the initiative to consolidate that global phenomenon, to unite all countries and peoples which had experienced democratic renewal into a movement which would be called the "Newly Restored Democracies". The first international conference on the issue was held in Manila in 1988, and the second in Nicaragua in 1992. Romania would host the third conference next year, for which, in preparation, an informal ministerial meeting was held in New York in September.

He said while democracy had deep universal roots in the collective psyche of mankind, its blossoming needed careful nurturing. It needed the support of the international community through the United Nations. He acknowledged the Secretary-General's report (A/51/512) which detailed the assistance rendered to governments in the areas of promotion of democratic culture, and improvement of the capacity of the United Nations system to respond to the requests of governments to promote new or restored democracies.

GEORGES A. WHANNOU (Benin), said his country reaffirmed its deep attachment to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The protection and promotion of those values was a legitimate concern of the international community. Benin believed that all States, whatever their

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political system, economic situation and cultural idiosyncrasies, had the duty to promote and respect those rights and freedoms.

The presidential election in Benin in March this year had marked the irreversibility of a truly democratic society in the country, but a real consolidation of democracy needed harmonious and sustainable economic development. The Programme of Action of the recent conference in Nicaragua needed the support of the older, richer democracies, he continued, as well as the assistance of the whole United Nations system.

ROBIN WENSLEY (South Africa) said his country attached particular importance to the matter of assisting young or restored democracies. The United Nations played a vital role in promoting the means for citizens throughout the world to participate freely and democratically in the decision- making processes in their societies. Improving and enhancing good governance was an essential condition for the success of any strategy for development. The Organization's capacity to respond to requests of governments to promote democracy should be improved.

"The dark days of racial domination, tyranny and authoritarianism had been relegated to the dustbin of history" in South Africa, he said, and his country was now committed to contributing to democracy in other parts of the world. Through its different programmes and departments, the United Nations played a leading role in institution-building and governance, accountability and efficient public sector management, trade and investment. Member States had a responsibility to promote democratic cultures and societies.

JARGALSAIKHANY ENKHSAIKHAN (Mongolia) said Mongolia considered democracy the best way to achieve human and social and political and economic developments on the basis of human values and rights. The country had embarked upon comprehensive political and economic reforms in 1990, with an agenda covering the period until the year 2000. It emphasized the need for consolidation of democratic gains and for deepening and accelerating fundamental restructuring of the economy on the basis of market principles and private sector development.

Welcoming bilateral and multilateral assistance in support of reforms in countries with new or restored democracies, he noted that the consolidation of democratic processes was important not only for strengthening peace and international security, but was also in the best interest of the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter. A major approach in this effort was the use of the benefits that the reduction of arms production and sales would generate.

GHEORGHE POPESCU, Foreign Minister of Romania, said his country believed that the United Nations could play a significant role in supporting democratization as a catalyst for domestic economic and social development,

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and for the maintenance of international peace and security. He said the Organization should build upon a new, realistic vision of democratization. For countries and regions affected by conflicts, democracy was a promise for peace, stability and normality. Measures aiming at democratization should be seen as part of any post-conflict peace-building effort the United Nations might embark on.

Romania, he noted, was honoured to be the host of the Third International Conference on New and Restored Democracies, next September. Romania had recovered its democratic traditions after 45 years of totalitarianism and now wanted to bring its own contribution to the international dialogue in making democracy a main factor for the progress of nations, as well as in positive development of international relations.

ALYAKSANDR M. SYCHOU (Belarus) said restoring and establishing democracy was a global process. Galloping inflation, deregulation of the economy and increasing unemployment were among factors that hindered democratization. The lack of understanding and tangible support from some Member States was disappointing. In a number of instances, the processes of democratic transition had increased national problems and destabilized society. Those trends had regional impacts.

Success in democratic transition had an external component. Mechanisms were needed to enhance the integration of transitional economies into international bodies. To assist such countries, international investment should increase and market protectionism in developed countries be removed. Liberalization of international trade was of particular interest to countries in democratic and economic transition, as was broadening investment flows and economic programmes. The United Nations should expand its programmes to address the needs of those countries.

EMILIO IZQUIERDO (Ecuador) said his delegation wished to voice its firm commitment to democracy. Social and economic development was an essential factor in the consolidation of democracy, including the strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights. Programmmes such as those focused on the eradication of poverty were thus key elements to sustain democratic ideals. The international community should offer the greatest possible support to countries consolidating their democracies. United Nations participation in that area was essential.

PAUL RANTAO (Botswana) said his country had been a democracy in a region that was generally not democratic. Botswana had always dreamed of living among people who believed in similar political principles, and South Africa had now fulfilled those dreams. It was happy that its larger neighbour upheld the principles of democracy; everything must be done to ensure that there were no reversals to those advances.

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He said that Botswana had made a contribution to this process by demonstrating that democracy was feasible in Africa. It believed that a democratic culture was the product of the history and culture of a people. The common denominator in all democratic systems was that the people had a choice in determining who represented them. His country favoured United Nations initiatives in support of new or restored democracies. The growth of democracy would benefit all of mankind.

GUILLERMO MELENDEZ-BARAHONA (El Salvador), speaking for the Central American countries, expressed solidarity with Nicaragua, which had hosted the latest conference on the subject of support of new and restored democracies. He said the region had made significant progress, in the replacement of destruction by construction, and moving from military rule to civilian rule. The debate in the Assembly yesterday on the situation in Central America reflected those advances, and the progress made in efforts to consolidate the region as one of peace and development.

Central America had practices, procedures and institutions that reflected the will of the people. From a political standpoint, it was pluralistic. The Sandinista Liberation Front in Nicaragua and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) in El Salvador, both of which participated in democratic processes, reflected that pluralism. Soon this would also be true in Guatemala.

He said the rule of law and democratic governance in the region needed to be further strengthened. Prosecutors for human rights, special courts and other mechanisms had helped achieve that end. El Salvador proposed an initiative on the development of a culture of peace, and hoped it would receive the support of all Member States.

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