UNITED NATIONS REFORM MUST REINFORCE CENTRAL PLACE OF DEVELOPMENT, PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE TELLS ASSEMBLY, SPEAKING FOR OAU

24 September 1997

Press Release
GA/9308

UNITED NATIONS REFORM MUST REINFORCE CENTRAL PLACE OF DEVELOPMENT, PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE TELLS ASSEMBLY, SPEAKING FOR OAU

19970924 Addresses Also Made by President of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Prime Minister of India; Foreign Ministers of Germany, China, France, Mexico

Reform would only be credible if it reinforced the centrality of development in the United Nations agenda and maintained the Organization's pivotal role in that process, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe said this morning, as the General Assembly continued its general debate. Speaking on behalf of the Organization for African Unity (OAU), President Mugabe expressed a firm belief in the role of free enterprise as a motivating force in economic development. However, any attempts to fashion an exclusively political mandate for the United Nations would marginalize its role in development, while giving free play to blind market forces and finance capital. That would be clearly contrary to the Charter and should be resisted. In reforming the Security Council, full account must be taken of Africa as the largest continental grouping when allocating both permanent and non- permanent seats, he said. The veto power should be restricted, if not abolished. However, as long as it existed, new permanent members should be given the same prerogatives and powers as the current ones. The Prime Minister of India, Inder Kumar Gujral, said the promotion of sustained economic growth in developing countries was the most important goal of the United Nations. It would help eradicate poverty and erase the tensions and pressures that had led to the collapse of government in several States. International peace and stability could be achieved only when all countries enjoyed economic well-being. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of China, Qian Qichen, said the United Nations must replace the current discriminatory and exclusive arms control and non-proliferation regimes with arrangements based on universal participation. No one should attempt to monopolize the market in the name of preventing proliferation, he said. Neither should there be interference in the economic and technological cooperation of other countries, particularly developing countries. Statements were also made by the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and by the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Mexico. The General Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its general debate.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to continue its general debate. The schedule of speakers includes the Presidents of Zimbabwe and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of India, the Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, and the Foreign Ministers of China, France and Mexico.

Statements

ROBERT G. MUGABE, President of Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of and current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), said Africa had consistently underlined the need for reform of the United Nations and other international bodies to promote democratization and effectiveness of the international decision-making process. He welcomed the Secretary-General's bold package of reform proposals, which deserved the Assembly's serious consideration. His Government was ready to work closely with the Secretary- General and other delegations to ensure the reform process was speeded up on the basis of consensus and democratic participation. It was crucial to remove the anachronistic and undemocratic arrangements introduced over the last 50 years.

Reform and expansion of the Security Council was imperative if it was to carry out its global mandate to maintain international peace and security, he said. The major geographical and political groupings representing the overwhelming majority of the people of the world remained under-represented and without permanent seats on the Council. Equally anomalous was the situation where the overwhelming majority of the General Assembly would continue to be subject to the whims and dictates of the privileged few by virtue of their wielding the veto power. Democracy and governance conducted only at the behest of the mighty and the powerful made a mockery of the democratic principles the international community professed to cherish dearly at the national level.

The OAU summit in Harare in June had underscored the importance of taking full account of Africa as the largest continental grouping at the United Nations when allocating both permanent and non-permanent seats in the reformed Council, he continued. The veto power should be restricted if not abolished. However, as long as it existed, the new permanent members should be given the same prerogatives and powers as the current permanent members.

Another area of fundamental importance to Africa pertained to reforms in the economic and social fields of the United Nations, he said. If the reforms were to be credible and meaningful they must seek to reinforce the pivotal role of the United Nations in development and the centrality of development in the United Nations agenda. Africa firmly believed in the role of free enterprise as a motivating force in economic development, but any attempts to

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refashion an exclusively political mandate for the United Nations would marginalize its role in development while giving free play to blind market forces and finance capital. That was clearly contrary to the United Nations Charter and should be resisted. The United Nations needed adequate financial resources if it was to fulfil its mandate. It was imperative that Member States paid their dues in full and on time. Unilateral actions to adjust the United Nations or withhold funds to certain programmes undermine the foundation of the Organization and should not be condoned.

In the area of disarmament, he welcomed the adoption at the recent Oslo Conference of the draft treaty on the global ban on anti-personnel landmines, he said. Africa, which had one of the largest concentrations of anti- personnel mines, and perhaps the greatest number of victims of those weapons, was happy to join the international consensus. It was hoped those who remained outside the Ottawa process would reconsider their position when the treaty opened for signature in December.

In the past few years, Africa had undergone democratic and economic reforms, he said. Democracy and good governance were taking hold in many areas. Dictatorships were being replaced. Economic restructuring programmes had created an environment increasingly receptive to foreign investment and private enterprise. At sub-regional and continental levels the historical inaugural meeting this year of the African Economic Community had been an important landmark in building a stable future for Africa. But the continent still needed the financial support of its development partners and the donor community at large as the heavy burden of debt repayment drained economies of the necessary resources to build their future.

KIRO GLIGOROV, President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, said the interdependence of peace and global development was a standard that must be respected. The tendency for some to develop while others continued to regress was a dangerous tendency that could only be a source of conflicts, confrontation of interests and even wars. He identified the emerging priorities for the United Nations as follows: a stronger General Assembly; reform of United Nations organs, particularly the Security Council; reduction of ad hoc bodies; greater transparency of operations; maximum control over organizational budgets and financial spending.

He reminded the Assembly of his country's submission of its candidacy to a non-permanent seat in the Security Council for 1998-1999 as a member of the Eastern European Group, adding that if the United Nations bodies continued to deal with the situation in the Balkans, it would be most logical for his country to be elected to that function. His Government's contribution would incorporate its own policy of peace and democracy in the Council, and would act in full accordance with the United Nations Charter.

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He praised the activities of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) in his country and expressed his appreciation for their prevention of the spillover of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and the crisis in Albania into his country. He identified the cooperation between his Government and UNPREDEP as one of the most successful in United Nations history. The continued presence of UNPREDEP in the Balkans was not only a dam preventing an expansion of crisis points, but also an active factor benefiting peace, security and stability in its southern parts.

He also welcomed the implementation of the Dayton Accords, adding that as a matter of principle indicted war criminals should be brought to justice. He urged the United Nations, in coordination with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union, must not allow the Dayton Agreement to fall through. His Government was committed to the institutionalized and functional integration of the Balkans in the European integration process. A draft resolution relating to the development of good neighbourly relations in the Balkans would be submitted by his delegation to the current session.

INDER KUMAR GUJRAL, Prime Minister of India, said the single most important target that the United Nations should set itself was the promotion of sustained economic growth in developing countries. That would lead to the eradication of poverty and help erase the tensions and pressures that had led to the collapse of governance and social order in several States, as well as conflicts between others. International peace and stability would be enhanced only when all countries enjoyed a minimum standard of economic self- sufficiency and well-being.

When the State faltered in its assault on poverty and underdevelopment, civil society sometimes stepped in to fill the gap, he said. In India, as elsewhere, individuals had wrought miracles by working outside established systems. The most moving example was Mother Teresa, an apostle of mercy who rendered service to millions of poor and suffering people all over the world and brought them hope.

No credible steps to a world free of nuclear weapons had been contemplated, much less taken, by those who should be showing the way, he said. The patience of the world community was starting to wear thin. The nuclear weapon Powers owed it to the world to explain why they needed such weapons. The United Nations was the forum in which the international community must continue to demand universal nuclear disarmament.

The United Nations was in danger of being marginalized, he went on to say. Its financial crisis, which resulted from the inability of some States to fulfil their Charter commitments, had left the United Nations without the means to respond to the needs of its membership, precisely at the time when

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such response was most sorely needed. The solution lay in building trust between nations and in the acceptance of democratic principles -- not piece- meal reform.

It was imperative that developing countries be added as permanent members of the Security Council, so that it might truly reflect the United Nations wider membership. Since 1994, India had been prepared to accept the responsibilities of permanent membership in the Council. India was the world's largest democracy, with a world view based on universalist inspiration, participatory governance, respect for diversity and pluralism, and a readiness for constructive engagement in world affairs.

He said, the United Nations must take the lead in determined global action to root out international terrorism, which was the antithesis of every ideal enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Terrorism's aim was destruction, not development. A global strategy was needed to defeat that evil.

KLAUS KINKEL, Foreign Minister of Germany, called upon all Member States to look beyond of national interest and take action to protect the earth's atmosphere by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They should act to ban anti- personnel landmines by joining the Ottawa Process, halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and streamline the United Nations while supporting it by paying assessed contributions. The first step was to reform and strengthen the United Nations by making decisions on reform proposals during the current Assembly session.

Paying tribute to the five Germans who died with seven others in an accident last week in Bosnia, he appealed to all political leaders in Bosnia to change their attitude and mount a reconciliation campaign. Help from outside could not be given indefinitely, nor would it be given to those who thwarted peace and reconciliation. Attempts to undermine peace, especially in Republika Srpska, must stop. The parties must see that Radovan Karadzic and other alleged war criminals and enemies of peace were brought before the International Tribunal.

The European Union and the NATO were gradually opening up to Europe's new democracies, while the Russian Federation and Ukraine were forming a new partnership with both organizations, he said. In 1999, Europeans would introduce the European common currency -- the "euro". The enlargement of the European Union and the introduction of the euro were historic steps to safeguard the future.

He said that the problems which plagued the countries of Africa lay in the social and economic sphere, and in the lack of cohesion among the different population groups. Africa had little chance of achieving stability and economic progress unless it followed the path of regional cooperation.

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Such cooperation would bring stability where nations were too weak to achieve it individually.

As the people of the world enjoyed new freedoms, they were faced by new challenges to their ability to show tolerance and to work together, he said. There must be no clash of civilizations; new, divisive stereotypes must not be permitted. Rather, the dialogue of civilization and of world religions must be raised to a new level. To that end, a forum might be held at the United Nations to consider how the international community could bring momentum to such a global dialogue.

He called upon the Assembly to complete, by the end of its current session, the negotiations on a convention against terrorist bomb attacks. An international criminal court of justice was needed, with the power to act on its own with respect to genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and wars of aggression. On the question of climate change, he said Germany intended to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by the year 2010, based on 1990 levels. Germany and partners in the European Union were asking other industrial countries to cut their emissions by at least 15 per cent.

The Security Council must reflect today's political realities, he said. That included the raised status of Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Citing the large number of Member States which supported Germany as a new permanent member of the Council, he said that if elected, Germany would make a positive contribution, in keeping with the Charter.

QIAN QICHEN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, told the Assembly that relations among States should be based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; mutual non-aggression; non- interference in States' internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence. Each country must choose its road to development based on national conditions. That was a prerequisite to global and regional security. At the same time, all countries should increase their cooperation in the economic field, eliminating unequal trade practices.

Countries should step up consultations and cooperation in the field of security, he continued. Citing examples of such cooperation he said that China, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan had recently signed an agreement on mutual reduction of military forces in the border areas. Also, the "four-party talks" aimed at bringing about a new peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula had been launched this year. In addition, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum had introduced a preliminary form of cooperation on security featuring equal participation and consensus.

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Noting recent progress in the field of international arms control and disarmament, he said China believed that no one should attempt to monopolize the market in the name of preventing proliferation. Nor should there be interference in the economic and technological cooperation of other countries, developing countries in particular. An overhaul to the discriminatory and exclusive non-proliferation regimes was necessary. Arrangements on the basis of universal participation were needed. He called upon the United Nations to accomplish something in that regard.

Turning to the matter of human rights, he said the realization of human rights was a common ideal and all countries had made great efforts to that end. While the universality of human rights should be respected, their realization must be integrated within the condition of each country. It was natural for people to differ on the human rights issue. Those differences should be addressed through dialogue, not confrontation. China was dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of its people. China focused on the development of the economy and the improvement of democracy and the legal system in order to enable its people to lead a freer, happier and more democratic life.

HUBERT VEDRINE, Foreign Minister of France, said that if the United Nations was to carry out its mandate, it would have to retain or again acquire the means to take decisions and to act. Its ability to do that would require resolution of the issues of reform and financing. The Secretary-General's reform proposals had France's full support.

On the Security Council, he said it no longer accurately reflected the political geography of the world. In view of its indispensable role in peacekeeping, it must elect as members countries which were able to contribute to that task, whether they were from the North or the South. France supported the idea of permanent seats for Germany, Japan and three countries from the South, as well as the establishment of new non-permanent seats.

With respect to the United Nations financial situation, he said that what was owed to the Organization must be paid in full, on time and unconditionally. Payment of assessments should not be a way of exerting pressure on the Secretary-General and other Member States. The notion of each State's capacity to pay as the basis for its assessed contribution still seemed simple, logical and fair. However, if the United Nations was forced to comply with the unilateral demands of one of its Members in the area of financing and functioning, it would not be convincing in terms of its impartiality and its fidelity to the principle of equality of all before the Charter.

He said that France welcomed the establishment of a centre in Vienna to address the issues of organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism. It very much favoured the idea of integrating the Office of the High Commissioner

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for Human Rights and the Centre for Human Rights into a single entity in Geneva. The perpetrators of the most serious crimes should be tried under impartial conditions. France, therefore, supported the action of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and hoped the forthcoming conference on an international criminal court would be successful.

The time for large-scale peacekeeping operations under the blue flag of the United Nations, as in Cambodia and Yugoslavia, was over, he said. Today, the United Nations tended increasingly to intervene together with other organizations or by authorizing the actions of regional players. In Europe, it was combining its actions with those of NATO and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In Africa, the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the OAU had named a joint Special Representative for the Great Lakes region. He said that African States must be helped to strengthen their own peacekeeping capabilities. It was also important that the humanitarian investigative task force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be able to carry out its mission.

With respect to the Middle East, he said that France fully supported the action by the United States Secretary of State, who had recently visited the Middle East. France and Europe were ready to take part in any constructive move aimed at reinvigorating the peace process. With respect to the question of development, he said that such assistance remained necessary. The emergence into the world economy of formerly undeveloped countries must not be an excuse for rich countries to lessen their efforts to provide development assistance.

ANGEL GURRIA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, said reform of the Security Council and its working methods must encourage cooperation among countries and not risk causing divisions and tensions. States should not conceive of an expanded membership as a source of national prestige or as a method of consolidating regional hegemony. A wave of lobbying and national and regional expectations had been unleashed in the discussion of Council reforms in which the interests of the United Nations itself were conspicuously absent. Any reforms that were adopted must be inclusive of all Member States.

Since 1945, Mexico had opposed a division between permanent and non- permanent members of the Security Council, he said. The existence of the two categories established a discriminatory situation which was accentuated by giving the permanent members the right of the veto, a privilege that had been abused and often prevented the Council from fulfilling its basic task.

The objective of cutting costs should not guide the reform process, he continued. The avoidance of duplication and the implementation of the programme of the Organization in an optimal way should guide that work. The current financial crisis stemmed from a failure to comply with the obligations

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of the Charter and had no link with the assessment system. The road to dealing with it was full, timely and unconditional payment of the assessments the General Assembly assigns to Member States. The crisis should not lead to decisions that distort the spirit of reform.

Repressive police measures to prevent and control migratory flows clouded relations between the frontier communities and often led to the abuse and mistreatment of migrants by the authorities responsible for applying migration policies, he stressed. It was hoped that a minimum standard of conduct for countries in relation to migrants could be established.

Drug trafficking was a serious threat to Mexican national security and the health of mankind, he said. It promoted violence, corruption and unlawful activities such as arms trafficking, money laundering and the diversion of chemical precursors. The special session of the General Assembly devoted to the illicit drug problem scheduled for June 1998 had been initiated so that concrete solutions to that problem could be decided upon.

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