PRESIDENT OF SLOVENIA URGES PROMPT ACTION BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON REFORM PROPOSALS, AS GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES

24 September 1997

Press Release
GA/9309

PRESIDENT OF SLOVENIA URGES PROMPT ACTION BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON REFORM PROPOSALS, AS GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES

19970924 Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Foreign Ministers of Lithuania, Venezuela, Argentina, Ghana, Sweden, Dominican Republic, Angola also Speak

Prompt action by the General Assembly was essential for the success of the Secretary-General's reform proposals, President Milan Kucan of Slovenia said this afternoon, as the Assembly continued its general debate. Major decisions on reform should be adopted in the first part of the current session, he said.

Peacekeeping remained the key instrument of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Saudargas, told the Assembly. International civilian police could also play a major role in peacekeeping operations, helping to restore civil order, assisting local police and rebuilding judicial systems.

The Foreign Minister of Ghana, Kwamena Ahwoi, said that while peacekeeping was a primary function of the Organization, it had fallen prey to geo-strategic parochial considerations. Conflicts in some developing countries, particularly Africa, failed to elicit the same degree of response as those of interest to the industrialized world. "Sad double standards threaten the concept of collective security", he warned.

Also addressing the Assembly were the Prime Minister of Cape Verde and the Foreign Ministers of Venezuela, Argentina, Sweden, the Dominican Republic and Angola. The representatives of the United Kingdom and Argentina spoke in exercise of the right of reply.

The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 25 September, to continue its general debate.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to continue its general debate. The schedule of speakers included the President of Slovenia, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, the Foreign Ministers of Lithuania, Venezuela, Argentina, Ghana, Sweden and the Dominican Republic.

Statements

MILAN KUCAN, President of Slovenia, said the major decisions on the reforms of the United Nations should be adopted in the first part of the Assembly's current session. Prompt decisions were an important requirement for the success of the programme of reform. Now was the time for decisions.

Although the proposals for promoting sustainable development were in the right direction, clearer answers to questions on development financing were required, he said. The "development dividend" created by the streamlining of the Secretariat would not provide all the answers. Concrete proposals were needed to accurately define the proposed "office for development financing" that encouraged innovative means for mobilizing new financial resources for development.

The protection of human rights had to be closely linked with the promotion of social progress and the eradication of poverty, he said. That would secure human dignity, social security and development. It would also substantially contribute to the elimination of political tensions and the root causes of threats to international peace.

A reasonable and balanced increase in the number of permanent and non- permanent members of the Security Council should be pursued, he said. A restriction on the use of the veto and greater transparency in the functioning of the Council should also be pursued.

The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina had stabilized to some extent but peace was far from secure, he went on. The inevitable starting point for solving the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina was in identifying the precise nature of that devastating war. Without it, the healing would be lengthy and expensive with many risks to human life and property. The time to withdraw the international forces should be considered very carefully. Withdrawing too early could lead to a recurrence of the initial situation of instability or even to armed conflict.

CARLOS ALBERTO WAHNON DE CARVALHO VIEGA, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, said the world faced many new and complex challenges. At a time when sovereignty was becoming less and less respected, interdependence and globalization was becoming more concrete and real. Those changes demanded a new level of cooperation and confidence between the various international

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actors and a collective effort to confront global issues. For several years, the Organization had been undergoing reforms to revitalize it, make it more representative and give it greater credibility and transparency. The reform process would be helped if there was more progress in the United Nations financial situation. Cape Verde joined in the broad consensus on the need for all Member States to pay their dues in full and on time. Agreement on reforms must also include non-discriminatory treatment for the developing countries, particularly on the issue of permanent membership of the Security Council.

The Secretary-General's proposed reforms would bring vitality and coherence to the Organization's global activities, transforming its structures and methods of work, he said. The Secretary-General was to be congratulated for the broad scope of his proposals, which Cape Verde would support in consultations involving the African Group, and the "Group of 77" developing countries.

Human rights was an important part of the United Nations agenda, he said. Democracy was important for the full enjoyment of human rights and of the right to development. Conditions must be created to allow people to live in dignity and prosperity. Concerted action was needed to ensure that all people enjoyed the right to development and enjoyed material benefits. It was time to build substantive understanding on development issues. The "Agenda for Development" must be implemented as soon as possible, so that recent economic gains might be consolidated.

Such practices as racism, xenophobia and discrimination were no longer acceptable, he said. It was hoped that an international convention on the rights of migrant workers and their families would soon enter into force and that an international conference on racism, intolerance and discrimination would soon be convened. At a time of economic growth, the least developed countries risked marginalization. Exports and growth rates had declined in recent years. External trade was a vital factor in promoting the least developed countries. They must increase their competitive capabilities, and their exports must have access to all markets. Greater measures were needed to deal with the foreign debt burden and there must be significant increases in the flow of public money to developing nations.

He said his country had achieved national consensus on its future economic direction. It was important to realize that the world would not develop unless Africa was developed; solutions began at home. Problems on the continent included real and potential conflicts, which became deeply rooted and resistent to diplomatic solutions. Africans were becoming more active in dealing with such problems and needed international support for their efforts.

ALGIRDAS SAUDARGAS, Foreign Minister of Lithuania, said the financial difficulties of the Organization were affecting its performance and endangering the progress of reform. All States should fulfil their financial

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obligations to the United Nations. At the same time, financing must reflect a State's capacity to pay. Lithuania supported proposals by the European Union aimed at putting the Organization on a sound and predictable financial footing.

The Central and Eastern European States had seen their numbers double over the past few years and deserved at least one additional non-permanent seat on the Security Council, he said. Germany and Japan deserved permanent seats on the Council; they were both able and willing to serve. Asia, Africa and Latin America also legitimately aspired to hold new permanent seats.

Peacekeeping was still the key instrument available to the United Nations in discharging its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, he said. Lithuania, together with Estonia, Latvia and Poland, was developing joint peacekeeping units, so as to contribute to United Nations goals. International civilian police forces could also play a major role in peacekeeping, through assistance to local police forces, rebuilding national police and judicial systems, restoring civil order, supporting the rule of law, and facilitating national reconciliation. The Government of Lithuania had decided to join the United Nations stand-by arrangements for peacekeeping and would submit a detailed description of its contribution, which included well-trained police officers.

MIGUEL ANGEL BURELLI RIVAS, Foreign Minister of Venezuela, said the issue of United Nations reform was both timely and urgent. However, he did not feel that consensus existed about the suggested changes, especially with respect to the Security Council. Venezuela supported increasing the number of permanent members on the Council, without discrimination and based on the ultimate interests of the international community, including fair distribution for all geographical regions. However, Venezuela's position was primarily focused on Secretariat reform and with such economic and social issues as funding for development.

He went on to say, that Venezuela had sponsored the convening of an international conference on the financing of development, in cooperation with international financial institutions, to propose innovative and bold mechanisms in that area. Such mechanisms included the mobilizing of capital resources for investment in non-industrialized countries and opening to opportunities offered by the private sector. His Government had also launched a round of consultation with non-governmental organizations aimed at drawing up a plan for the promotion and protection of human rights in Venezuela.

On the issues of corruption, terrorism and disarmament, he said that timely punishment would put an end to impunity and make wrong-doing a risky endeavour. Venezuela was also interested in a joint endeavour with the international community to approve a convention on the suppression of terrorist bombings.

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Venezuela supported all efforts aimed at limiting the arms trade, he said. It was a matter of great concern that the lifting of embargoes by industrialized nations might begin a movement towards sale of weapons everywhere, in response to pressure by the very powerful military lobby. As Venezuela was geographically part of the drug route, his Government had taken every precaution to fight trafficking on the land, in the sea and in the air.

All Member States should work to eliminate corruption, he said. Its breeding ground lay not in underdevelopment, but in the moral decay of the State and society. Venezuela also favoured the establishment of an international criminal court. Institutionalizing and centralizing of the political will of States would help prevent a situation in which winners in a conflict became the judges of the defeated.

GUIDO DI TELLA, Foreign Minister of Argentina, said that despite its positive benefits, globalization was falling short in alleviating the extreme deprivation in which a quarter of the world's population lived. New threats to security and development, such as drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption and irresponsible assaults on the environment, were also emerging more strongly. The Secretary-General's reforms must support the irreplaceable role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security. That required a world where sustainable development was possible, and where the rule of law, non-discrimination, and respect for human rights -- including those of indigenous people and minorities -- was the norm. The United Nations, through the Assembly, must continue to play a ground-breaking role on all those issues. Although reform had aroused hopes, a climate of scepticism must be overcome. In a world marked by globalization, the autonomy which marked State action had been limited, requiring a reassessment of the classical concept of sovereignty.

At a subregional level, the political and commercial aspects of the Common Market of the Southern Cone (MERCOSUR) continued to grow, contributing to integration in the hemisphere, he said. That organization was a clear example of "open regionalism". Rather than distorting trade, it had led to increased trade between countries in the region and outside of it. Argentina and its MERCOSUR partners had been active in the formation of the American Free Trade Area (AFTA). Argentina had also been a leader in reducing tensions in the region. It had been promoting the "Declaration on the Defence of Democracy" as one more means to advance peace and security -- goals which could only be achieved through representative democracy. Bolivia and Colombia had also become full members of the MERCOSUR mechanism of consultation and political consensus.

However, the issue of the Malvinas, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and their surrounding maritime spaces remained, he said. He stressed Argentina's legitimate rights in that dispute and appealed for a peaceful and definitive solution. In keeping with the repeated appeals of the Assembly and

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the special committee on decolonization, Argentina believed it was imperative to resume negotiations on all aspects of the question of the Malvinas. No Member State should evade the obligation to resolve a dispute by peaceful means, as laid down by the United Nations Charter.

He said that Argentina had made important strides in building its bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom, as reflected in their improved economic, commercial and cultural relations, he said. A climate of mutual trust had been re-established in the south-west Atlantic which enabled cooperation in marine conservation and other areas. Undoubtedly, those activities would gain substantial impetus from the resumption of direct links between the mainland and the islands. He trusted that the new Government of the United Kingdom would pursue dialogue without preconditions, with a view to finding a definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas islands.

The Summit of the Heads of State of the "Rio Group" had agreed that the region itself would have to decide on how to fill the seats assigned to it on an expanded Security Council, he said. An open-ended system of rotation was needed to enable the participation of all States who had shown their commitment to the United Nations Charter. Such a mechanism would avoid discrimination among States which, like Argentina, bore greater financial responsibility. Argentina favoured ample participation on the Council by all States of the region.

KWAMENA AHWOI, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of Ghana said that while weapons of mass destruction deserved priority attention, the illicit transfer and use of conventional weapons constituted a threat to the stability of States and fueled the numerous conflicts which bedeviled the world today, particularly in Africa. The international community must adopt all available means to curb that illicit traffic. In the same vein, he supported the initiatives to conclude a treaty banning the production, transfer and use of anti-personnel landmines.

He said that while the international community was prompt to react to conflicts in regions of economic or geostrategic interest to the rich and industrialized world, conflicts in some developing countries, particularly in Africa, failed to elicit the same degree of response. Thus peace-keeping, which was a primary function of the Organization, had also fallen prey to geo- strategic parochial considerations. "Such double standards threaten the concept of collective security", he warned.

Reviewing a number of issues affecting countries in the African continent he deplored the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Sierra Leone and called on the leaders of the coup to cooperate with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional order in that country. He regretted the continued imposition of unjust

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sanctions on Libya by the Security Council and urged the Council to revisit the issue and ensure an end to the sanctions.

Stressing that the "prosperity-poverty gap between the haves and have- nots" was becoming greater, he called for a new development strategy based on genuine partnership between the developed and the developing countries. Such a strategy would necessitate the democratization of international relations particularly in the economic sphere, the establishment of open, equitable and transparent international regimes, the creation of fair opportunities for all and the protection of the weakest members of the international community.

He expressed regret that a number of countries, including some of the largest contributors, were neither paying their contributions nor making good on their arrears, while some "wittingly aggravate the situation by attaching unacceptable conditions or benchmarks to the discharge of their Charter obligations". Recalling that Ted Turner, an American media magnate with no obligation to the United Nations, had offered to give $1 billion to the Organization, he asked what excuse any country had to say that they would not pay their assessments or that they would pay "only if".

He went on to say that "support for the United Nations must be demonstrated not only in an eagerness to promote reforms, but more importantly, in the willingness of some Member States to pay all their assessed contributions promptly, fully and unconditionally". The United Nations could not continue to conduct business as usual. It must adopt bold and imaginative measures to overhaul its structure and working methods to remove those impediments to its effectiveness not only as an instrument for promoting international peace and security but also as an indispensable agent for resolving the world's socio-economic problems.

LENA HJELM-WALLEN, Foreign Minister of Sweden, said that United Nations reform was not a cost-cutting exercise. Rather, it aimed at making the Organization strong, effective and efficient. However, reform was not possible under the threat of political and financial crisis. It was simply not acceptable for Member States to set conditions for the fulfilment of their Charter obligations. Sweden urged all debtors -- including the main debtor, the United States -- to settle their accounts before the end of the year. The idea of a revolving credit fund could be considered as an emergency step. While measures to reverse the current trend of late payments could be enacted, it was time to agree on a new scale of assessment based on capacity to pay. A realistic proposal had been presented by the European Union.

There was a need for reform in the four key areas of peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and disarmament, she said. The United Nations must be strengthened so as to effectively prevent and settle armed conflicts. It was equally urgent to strengthen its ability to act at the threat of an erupting conflict. Sweden would cooperate with other Member

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States to enhance the United Nations capacity for early warning and early action. A "global security architecture" was needed -- a web of organizations capable of dealing quickly with a wide range of threats and potential conflicts. Conflict prevention, peace-keeping, peace-building and humanitarian action to protect the victims of conflicts, should be at the core of reform efforts.

Sweden wholeheartedly supported the Secretary-General's proposals for reform in the economic and social fields as well, she said. Fighting poverty, supporting sustainable development and promoting economic integration were part of the Organization's mandate. Sweden applauded the Secretary-General's efforts to integrate human rights into all United Nations activities. In the disarmament sphere, the quest for a nuclear weapon-free world must continue. Nuclear-weapon-free States had a legitimate right to assurances that they would not be attacked or threatened with such weapons. The focus of stemming the flow of conventional arms, another priority of the reform programme, was also welcome. In addition, every effort should be made to achieve universal adherence to the ban on anti-personnel landmines.

EDUARDO LATORRE, Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, said his country placed great importance on the United Nations reform proposals. It was hoped they would create an Organization that was more democratic, transparent, representative and efficient, and which had the ability to confront such ever-present challenges as peacekeeping and world poverty. Reforms should be based on recent complex global changes. The Secretary- General's report reflected the strong resolve of Member States to institute far-reaching changes. He called on the Assembly to work towards finding solutions that would give the United Nations back its character.

Reform of the United Nations should represent a reaffirmation of its basic principles, he said. Changes in the Security Council should reflect agreement by all Member States. With a more democratic, just and equitable base, the Council would be in a better position to accomplish its objectives. Its size should be increased to 25 members. The Dominican Republic, which joined the United Nations at its inception, was still not a member of the Council. His country was interested in participating actively in an Organization that contributed directly to the maintenance of peace.

He expressed the hope that the Organization, in restructuring itself, would find real solutions to the problems of hunger, underdevelopment, extreme poverty and social injustice, while remembering its mandate to maintain peace. There could be no real development if there was an increase in poverty and a widening of the gap between rich and poor.

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The Dominican Republic, along with the Central American Common Market, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and MERCOSUR, had demonstrated a clear determination to expand their markets beyond borders and the negative new rules of international trade. Negotiations to establish a free trade area between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic would be finalized by the end of the year. The Dominican Republic had also developed a programme to strengthen its links with Haiti, aimed at finding solutions to their common problems.

VENANCIO DE MOURA, Minister of External Relations of Angola, said restructuring of the Security Council should be given priority in the United Nations reform programme, as its current structure was obsolete and reflected the world of 50 years ago. Its geographical composition should be overhauled to allow for a more balanced and equitable representation. It was inconceivable that regions such as Africa -- the largest regional group at the United Nations -- or Latin America were not represented among the Council's permanent members. Africa should have no less than two permanent seats on a reformed Council. In addition, its working methods should be revised to ensure greater transparency in its decision-making process.

The signing of the Lusaka Protocol in 1994 between his Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) was intended to put the country back on the path towards peace, national reconciliation and democracy, he said. Three years later, Angola was far from achieving those goals because of UNITA's dilatory manoeuvres and repeated failures to meet its obligations. The UNITA's leadership had demonstrated bad faith and a lack of political will, and had still not abandoned the strategy of taking power by force. They were still resisting the complete demilitarization of UNITA and its transformation into a true political party. In a serious violation of the Lusaka Protocol, UNITA still maintained a private army of around 35,000 men -- 4,000 of whom belonged to the leader's personal guard. Those troops were behind the current climate of tension and insecurity in parts of Angola. Members of that army included troops that UNITA hid from the United Nations during the quartering process and recruited by force, as well as soldiers from the former Republic of Zaire. The UNITA was continuing its military build-up. It was also holding large parts of the country which were supposed to be handed over to the Government.

The Security Council had recently acted to apply a new package of measures against UNITA, because of its leader's lack of cooperation in implementing the Lusaka Protocol. The Council's action showed the determination of the international community to prevent the strategy of UNITA's leadership from working. Otherwise, peace and security in Angola and the entire region of central and southern Africa would be put at risk.

The Government of Angola was very apprehensive about the crisis in the Republic of the Congo and supported the deployment of an international force as soon as a political settlement emerged from the negotiations, he said.

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Right of Reply

Sir JOHN WESTON (United Kingdom), speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said he welcomed the comments by the Argentine Foreign Minister this afternoon on the high-level consultations between their two Governments. It was hoped that their future relations would continue to be built on those positive contacts. However, he did not accept the Minister's comments about sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The United Kingdom must heed the expressed wishes of the people of the Falkland Islands, who had visited the Special Committee on decolonization and requested that, like any other people, they be allowed to determine their own status. They had reiterated their wish not to be part of Argentina. Despite differences on the issue of the Falklands Islands, it was hoped that continuing cooperation in the south-west Atlantic on such matters as hydrocarbons and fisheries would continue.

FERNANDO ENRIQUE PETRELLA (Argentina) said he would just reaffirm what had been said by his Foreign Minister this afternoon.

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