UNITED NATIONS EFFORT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SHOULD BE ANALYSED AS STUDY IN UN CRISIS ACTION, FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS ASSEMBLY

26 September 1997

Press Release
GA/9313

UNITED NATIONS EFFORT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SHOULD BE ANALYSED AS STUDY IN UN CRISIS ACTION, FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS ASSEMBLY

19970926 Also Hears Prince of Monaco; Envoy of Comoros' President; Foreign Ministers of Greece, Myanmar, Turkey, Panama and Uganda

While the United Nations had stood by his country, the heavy toll taken by the tragedy in Bosnia and Herzegovina had proven the Organization's lack of readiness to deal effectively with that complex crisis, its Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic said this afternoon. Addressing the General Assembly as it continued its general debate, he said the conflict in his country should be analysed as a case study on the United Nations role in crisis situations.

He also said that the international community must find inventive and flexible ways of assisting countries in transition. Stressing that the case of each country was specific, he said programmes must be better focused and coordinated, so as to prevent overlapping and inadequate spending of resources.

The Foreign Minister of Panama, Ricardo Alberto Arias, said while world poverty had reached intolerable levels, most of the United Nations reform discussion was stressing peacekeeping and the use of force. Cooperation for development was the most important issue.

Proposals to streamline the Organization's humanitarian mission raised serious questions about the true goals of reform, he told the Assembly. The emphasis must be on socio-economic development and humanitarian issues as written in the original Charter.

Also addressing the Assembly were Prince Albert of Monaco, a Special Envoy of the President of Comoros, and the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Myanmar, Turkey, Panama and Uganda. The representative of the United Kingdom and the Foreign Minister of Cyprus spoke in exercise of the right of reply.

The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 29 September, to continue its general debate.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to continue its general debate. Scheduled to address the meeting were the Crown Prince of Monaco, a Special Envoy of the President of Comoros, and the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Myanmar, Turkey, Panama, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Uganda.

Statements

PRINCE ALBERT, Crown Prince of Monaco, called for establishment of an office of "honorary United Nations representative", to be filled by a national personality who provided an information function. There was a need to improve information about the United Nations activities at the local level, and the designation of such an honorary position would be a simple and inexpensive means of expanding the United Nations profile. Citing the Winter Olympic Games to be held this January in Japan, he drew attention to the agreement for a worldwide ceasefire during those games and urged that it be honoured.

The current changes in the world had profound effects in the sphere of multilateral cooperation, he said. In its work, the United Nations must focus on five broad areas of responsibility: peace and international security, development, humanitarian affairs, human rights and economic affairs. The proposal calling for thematic debates in the Assembly might allow for better coverage in the press and make world conferences less necessary. The Economic and Social Council should be given new responsibilities in the area of the environment and in safeguarding the common heritage of humanity, including outer space, the atmosphere, and the seas and oceans.

He said, the new marine environment laboratory of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), installed in Monaco, was functioning. With the help of modern equipment, it had already identified some sources of nuclear pollution. With the assistance of other bodies, it was combating Mediterranean sea pollution. The ocean and seas must be protected and shared, and should not be an arena for savage economic competition.

THEODOROS PANGALOS, Foreign Minister of Greece, said his country was the only member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union in its region, and could play an important role in the Security Council. It was seeking election to one of the Council's two non-permanent seats for the European and Other States group, for the period 1999 - 2000. Greece had become a member of the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations. It had also affirmed its willingness to participate in the stand-by arrangements system to enable the United Nations to respond more quickly and efficiently to future crises. Comprehensive reform and restructuring of the United Nations system, including the Council's size and working methods, must be carried out in order to meet the challenging needs of the world community as it moved into

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the next millennium. The Secretary-General's reform package would contribute to the modernization and strengthening of the Organization.

Greece, with one third of the Mediterranean coastline and nearly 3,000 islands, had a specific interest in promoting sustainable tourism, water management, the management of coastal zones, and policies to combat desertification and deforestation, he said. The world's major environmental problems could not be tackled successfully if socio-economic ills, such as poverty, were not combated and eradicated.

Since the Assembly's 1996 session, the prospect of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem had regrettably remained elusive, he said. For 23 years, Turkey had maintained more than 35,000 occupation troops on the island, blatantly defying international law. The Turkish Cypriot population, for whose the protection of which the invasion was allegedly undertaken, had dramatically dwindled since 1974, as a result of political oppression coupled with the massive influx of settlers from mainland Turkey.

He said, Greece supported a united Cyprus, common home to all of its inhabitants. A settlement based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and the High-Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979 could bring peace and security to the island. Such a settlement should provide for a bi-zonal and bi- communal federation, with a single sovereignty and international personality, and with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded through international guarantees. A functional solution to the Cyprus problem would eliminate a source of instability in the region and contribute to the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations.

The main obstacle remained Turkey's aim to legitimize the status quo, he said. Ankara's negative stance and lack of political will had once again been displayed during the direct talks under the auspices of the Secretary-General, held recently at Glion sur Montreux. As the President of the Security Council had pointed out, "substantive progress at this time was impeded by the attempt to bring preconditions to the table by the other party --and here of course I mean the Turkish Cypriots". On the other hand, the constructive stance of the Cypriot President at the talks was praised in the same statement. Greece supported Cyprus' accession to the European Union, which would benefit all the island's inhabitants and act as a catalyst for the solution of the political problem. "Regrettably, Turkey in its quest for regional hegemony opposes accession, holding the entire people of Cyprus hostage to its blackmailing policy." It was hoped that Turkey would eventually realize the benefits of Cyprus' accession to the Union -- especially for the Turkish Cypriot population -- and would change its present rejectionist stance.

He said that Greece's relationship with Turkey had taken an added downturn since 1996, when it added direct territorial claims to its existing policy of demands, war threats and constant pressure, with the aim of

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subverting the territorial status quo established more than 70 years ago by international law and treaties. Turkey's attempts to back its claims by military means in January 1996 fell just short of war. Greece supported the establishment of good-neighbourly relations based on international law and international treaties which Turkey seemed determined to ignore. However, the Madrid Joint Statement signed by Greece's Prime Minister and Turkey's President was an initiative that could contribute to a gradual improvement.

Greece valued its historic relationship with Albania, he said. It was committed to strengthening cooperation between them and extending assistance for its rehabilitation. Greece's contribution to "Operation ALBA" and to the presence of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Albania had been essential and prompt.

MTARA MAECHA, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Telecommunications of Comoros and Special Envoy of its President, said that at a time of globalization and the irrevocable interdependence of countries, it was important to reaffirm good governance, democracy and transparency. The United Nations remained the target of those who wished to limit its role of giving more attention to the problems of the poor.

Comoros had been suffering from an unprecedented socio-economic crisis, which continued to threaten the country's stability. The situation had been caused by drops in the export levels for vanilla, cloves and perfumes owing to conditions on the international market. Those products had been a major source of revenue for the country. The impact of the trade losses had been complicated by monetary devaluation. Those events had compounded the poverty in which a considerable section of the population lived and had caused galloping unemployment.

The Government, in consultation with the Bretton Woods institutions, had agreed to a number of financial measures and guidelines to restore equilibrium, he said. Under the aegis of the European Union, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations, democratic elections were held in 1996. The disastrous situation inherited by the new President demanded swift implementation of financial and social measures. Despite the new impetus, the harsh socio-economic realities suffered by the local population continued.

Since March, a number of activists groups, including trade unions, had taken action against the State with the illegal occupation of public buildings and the terrorizing of people on the island of d'Anjou, he said. Despite such provocations, the President had chosen a process of dialogue and requested mediation by the OAU to help achieve the peaceful settlement of the domestic crisis. The OAU efforts had led to certain decisions accepted by both sides and a withdrawal of military forces from the island. However, the separatists continued to escalate tensions on the island. Faced with such a defiance of

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State authority, the Government had sent a military mission to the island on 2 September and it achieved its goals, without bloodshed, by 4 September. The State Transition Commission had been appointed to continue dialogue sponsored by the United Nations, the League of Arab States and other organizations. It also continued to carry out the financial measures instituted by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and prepare for signature the adjustment programmes with the Bretton Woods Institutions.

At a time when the integrity of the country was threatened by falling trade and separatist movements, he appealed to the international community to help the Comoros eradicate its problems. The Government knew it could count on United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as the OAU, the League of Arab States, and the European Union.

Under development remained one of the destabilizing threats for many countries, he said. The series of United Nations conferences on social development, population, human rights, women and the environment had given great hope to mankind. However, action was still a distant reality for the developing countries, particularly the least-developed and the island States.

Turning to the issue of United Nations reform, he said the strengthening and maintenance of peace was urgently needed in the face of ethnic wars, terrorism and transnational crime. His Government was still concerned with the breakdown in peace efforts in the Middle East. The international community must redouble its efforts to protect the human rights of people there, which included respect for the rights of the Palestinians to have a free and independent State.

The suffering of people subject to international embargoes had led to questions about the effectiveness of such international solutions, he said. Africa continued to be subject to fratricidal conflicts and must remain the continuing concern of the international community. His government condemned the coup d'etat against the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone.

Political and economic solutions remained interlinked, he said. Despite the objective of new development strategies, results had been less than expected. The United Nations would provide the dynamics needed to increase Africa's participation in international trade.

He said his country shared the plight of those nations who were unable to benefit from international trade. It also suffered from other economic and social restraints which threatened its restructuring efforts. The Comoros' future depended on the outcome of events on the island of d'Anjou, which had resulted from an incomplete decolonization process.

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OHN GYAW, Foreign Minister of Myanmar, said the Secretary-General's reform package was the most comprehensive proposal of its kind in the 52-year history of the United Nations. Such reform, particularly of the Security Council, was imperative. A thorough review of the Charter was necessary to enhance the Assembly's role. There should be a more intimate and dynamic cooperation between the Assembly and the Security Council. The Assembly and the Economic and Social Council should play a greater role in coordinating and directing global macro-economic policy matters.

He said Myanmar supported the Non-Aligned Movement's position that the Council should be enlarged by not less than 11 new members, based on the principles of the sovereign equality of States, equitable geographical distribution, and rotation. Proposals on its permanent membership also deserved serious consideration. In streamlining the Organization, Member States should examine carefully if new senior executive posts were necessary and whether the emphasis and focus on institutional reforms were rightly placed. He stressed the need for the cessation of all weapon-related nuclear tests -- "in all environments, for all time". Myanmar would table another resolution on nuclear disarmament during the current session.

He said his Government was concerned about the politicization of human rights questions, as well as selectivity and the use of double standards which ran counter to the spirit and basic norms of human rights. Myanmar had been unfairly treated and singled out for censure by certain Western countries under the guise of the promotion and protection of human rights. Those same countries turned a blind eye to all the positive economic and social developments in the country and the accomplishments of the Government of Myanmar, which had cooperated with the United Nations to the fullest extent possible. Myanmar had continued discussions with the Secretary-General and his representatives, as well as with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights.

The Government of Myanmar had always been in the forefront in the war on illicit drugs, he said. Actions taken had included interdicting drug traffickers, destroying narcotic drugs, adopting a comprehensive legal framework to combat drug abuse and money laundering, and creating drug-free zones where measures were being implemented to totally eradicate drug abuse. In spite of such action, certain westerners continued to point accusing fingers at his country on all sorts of fabricated charges. Referring to progress in regional cooperation, he said Myanmar had been admitted to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to the regional cooperation mechanism with the European Community.

ISMAIL CEM, Foreign Minister of Turkey, said his Government strongly supported the Secretary-General's reform programme and shared his concern over the need to put the Organization back on a sound financial footing. He commended the Secretary-General for putting the highest priority on the

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alleviation of poverty and the enhancement of development, which were indispensable for peace and security within and among nations. The establishment of a United Nations development group of funds and programmes had merit. Turkey appreciated that the Secretary-General's intention that coordination and cohesion in that group would not weaken the authority, independence and individual fund-raising activities and capacities of specific institutions, particularly UNICEF.

Making human rights an integral part of all relevant United Nations operations was also a commendable goal, he said. Every country could find room for improving human rights in their society. Migrant workers and their families suffered human rights problems and discrimination in some developed countries. Turkey supported the idea of a world conference on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It would be a milestone in the struggle by the United Nations against such problems.

Turkey also supported the proposals aimed at enhancing the Organization's ability to deal with transnational crime, narcotics and terrorism, he said. Next year's special session of the Assembly would enable the international community to chart the way for new measures to combat the growing threat posed by drug trafficking. The time had come to draft a global treaty on combating terrorism, and terrorist crimes should be included within the competence of the proposed international criminal court.

In its relations with Greece, Turkey's principle objective was to tackle, through substantive and result-orientated dialogue, the issues -- mostly relating to the Aegean -- that still stood between the two countries, he said. It had made several appeals to Greece to agree to a dialogue and begin a process to settle their differences. Turkey did not rule out any agreed method of peaceful settlement. Furthermore, it had unilaterally implemented a number of confidence-building measures in the hopes that they would be reciprocated.

He said it was expected that the group of "wise men" consisting of two non-governmental personalities from Turkey and Greece, would be able to meet without further delay. The group would prepare a report to be submitted to both Governments, with non-binding recommendations for dealing with the issues. Turkey also eagerly awaited the translation of the understanding reached during the NATO summit in Madrid last July into concrete deeds for promoting better relations. Delaying those processes by linking them to preconditions or artificial issues would not serve the interests of either country. Bilateral problems could not be solved by Turkey alone; mutual commitment and good will by both parties was imperative.

Regarding Cyprus, he said it was high time to find a real answer to why a solution had eluded everyone for so long. After so many years, it would be wrong to continue to link a 34-year-old failure to a lack of political will or

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to the intransigence of one side or the other. There were two distinct peoples, two separate administrations, and two democracies on the island. Along with those realities, bi-communality, bi-zonality and the maintenance of 1960's system of guarantees should be considered incontestable foundations of a settlement.

He said the pursuit of European Union membership for Cyprus by the Greek Cypriot side had become the main impediment to progress, rendering the negotiating process increasingly meaningless and an agreed settlement even more elusive. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side believed that efforts to carry forward the membership process would destroy the foundations of the negotiating process. The 1959 and 1960 treaties on Cyprus established an institutional balance between the two communities and an external balance between Turkey and Greece. Those treaties precluded Cyprus from becoming a member of any international organization or political or economic union in which both Turkey and Greece were not members.

RICARDO ALBERTO ARIAS, Foreign Minister of Panama, said world poverty had reached intolerable levels. While the world was enjoying the highest levels of wealth of all time, it was also showing the highest unemployment in history. The tenor of the debate on reforms could make one forget that the United Nations had been created to give the poor of the world faith and hope. The Charter was designed with the idea of restoring dignity to those without sovereignty, whose voice had been silenced.

Today there were few cases to colonialism left to solve, he said. There was increase equality and tolerance of diversity. Nonetheless, thousands died because of hunger, hatred and intolerance. Illusion vendors would have it believed that conflicts were resolved at the point of a gun, but no bullet could eliminate the root causes of conflict. There was no military solution to social and political problems. Hunger, malnutrition, and poverty were the root causes of conflict.

In today's world, the balance of power was measured by the economic markets, he said. Poverty was spreading like the most dangerous of all plagues, taking more human lives than any virus. Despite that, most of the United Nations reform discussion was stressing peacekeeping and the use of force, even though cooperation for development was the most important issue. The proposals to streamline the humanitarian mission of the United Nations raised serious questions about the true goals of reform. Emphasis must be on socio-economic development and humanitarian issues, as written in the original Charter. Of course, tools to build peace must also be strengthened.

Reform of the Security Council was overdue, and veto power should be removed, he said. With respect to financial reform, he said the distinction between the regular budget and the peacekeeping budget was not in line with the Charter. There was a shameful disproportion in the budgeting for social

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and humanitarian issues as compared with peacekeeping. Civil action programmes were becoming subsidiary to the military actions. That was not compatible with the new spirit of democratization.

He drew attention to efforts to modernize and widen the Panama Canal. Systematic studies had been conducted, aimed at the building of a third set of locks to allow 150,000-ton ships to fit in the waterway. In order to insure the neutrality of the Canal, his Government pledged to conduct its foreign policy in a manner that would keep it far from international conflict. The Panama Canal must be open to all users, regardless of nationality.

JADRANKO PRLIC, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, drew attention to the role of the international community and the United Nations in his country's crisis. Month after month, the United Nations, led by the Security Council, stood firmly behind internationally accepted norms and principles in order to open the space for negotiated and peaceful solutions. Unfortunately, the tragedy in Bosnia and Herzegovina was rolling on to take what was probably the heaviest toll in modern times. It had proven that the United Nations was not ready to effectively deal with one of the most complex crises of contemporary times. The conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina was and continued to be an important case study which should be analysed in the context of the United Nations role in crisis situations.

Two years after the Dayton agreement had stopped the negative current of events and marked the beginning of the peace process, Bosnia and Herzegovina faced the enormous task of rebuilding the country while establishing democratic systems of governance and administration, he said. The Dayton agreement had set the legal to draft a constitution for Bosnia and Herzegovina that took political reality into account, using the only possible formula: three peoples, two entities, one State. Institutions at the State level had been established. The Presidency, Council of Ministers and Parliament were functioning, but had not yet reached optimal performance. That was a serious obstacle that must be overcome without delay, since it directly influenced the functioning of the entire State system, external relations and key development programmes. The system of cantonal power and administration was also getting into shape, and through it an equal representation and participation of different ethnic groups in power-sharing should be secured.

The successful organization of municipal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina a week ago was of significant importance, he said. Though they were imperfect, they represented a milestone in the complex and difficult journey towards peace and the building of a modern democratic State. The elections took place on the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost without problems or major incident, demonstrating the readiness of all parties to comply with the provisions of the Dayton agreement.

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Drawing attention to the interaction of foreign and internal factors in countries in transition, he stressed that the case of each country was specific. Instead of schematic and stereotypical approaches, new, inventive and flexibly adapted methodologies should be applied. That would contribute to better focusing of programmes and a higher degree of coordination, while preventing overlapping and inadequate spending of resources.

He commended the Secretary-General on the comprehensive report for United Nations reform. By breaking bureaucratic sediments, the United Nations must become a source of great intellectual power capable of offering a visionary look to the future. One pressing task was reform of the Security Council, for which a balance between more democratic representation and full mobility for action must be found.

Noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of the largest fields infested by anti-personnel landmines, he said his country strongly supported the conclusions of the Oslo Conference and hoped to see the international community united in supporting comprehensive ban on those weapons. Citing his country's "first-hand experience with the most horrible violation of human rights", he called for the prosecution and bringing to justice of the perpetrators of genocide and war crimes. He supported the establishment of an international criminal court.

ERIYA KATEGAYA, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, said reform was not merely a question of cutting costs but should aim at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of programmes and services -- particularly those addressing the pressing needs of the developing countries. In implementing the reform package, the programmes that benefited the least developed countries and Africa must emerge stronger and better equipped. Reform of the Security Council should include its expansion on the basis of equitable geographical representation. Africa should be granted two permanent seats with full veto powers. Welcoming the agreement on anti-personnel landmines, he said Uganda had stopped the manufacture and import of such weapons. It was hoped that when the agreement was opened for signatures, even those Member States who had been reluctant to join in the consensus on it would sign it.

Expressing concern over the political and economic situation in Africa, he said that in the past, African society had emphasized harmony, and decision-making by consensus. After its exposure to other cultures and systems, powerful and pervasive influences -- such as multi-party politics and fierce competition -- had torn African societies apart. Despite that, conflict and chaos in Africa was on the retreat. The conflict-resolution initiatives of several regional and subregional arrangements deserved support. At the same time, countries which had emerged from conflicts needed moral and material support. Democracy, good governance and accountability represented the best elements of leadership, but nations struggling to reconstruct

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themselves could not wait for a full restoration of democratic order before they addressed urgent humanitarian and relief needs. Tangible assistance should be offered to the Democratic Republic of the Congo without delay or preconditions.

In its continued search for solutions to its economic difficulties, Uganda had continued to implement far-reaching economic reforms, he said. Those measures emphasized liberalization, privatization, investment promotion and cost-effectiveness in management. It was now trying to ensure that economic progress benefited the people, particularly the poorest among them. Of most concern was the issue of fresh water resources. A large part of Uganda was covered by fresh water and it attached great importance to the economic value of water. Unfortunately, its water resources were being choked by the rapid growth of water hyacinth on Lake Victoria and on other lakes and rivers in the Nile Valley. He urgently appealed for international support to help Uganda address that problem.

Right of Reply

Sir JOHN WESTON (United Kingdom), speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said his Government's longstanding position on the status of Gibraltar was well known and rested on the Brussels Declaration of 1984. The United Kingdom attached importance to continuing good relations with Spain and to the importance of dialogue.

However, his Government did not accept Spain's definition of Gibraltar's sovereignty, he said. The United Kingdom's sovereignty over Gibraltar had been clearly established by the Treaty of Utretcht, which his Government stood by, and by the preamble to the Constitution of Gibraltar. If Spain wanted to integrate Gibraltar, the only basis could be if the people of Gibraltar themselves took that decision freely.

IOANNIS KASOULIDES, Foreign Minister for Cyprus, said one could not accept the description of two realities -- two distinct peoples and two distinct democracies -- in Cyprus. One could not accept as a reality the fait accompli of the military through the use of force. Nor could one accept Turkey's defiance of United Nations resolutions.

Regarding the deployment of missiles in Cyprus, he said they were purely defensive surface-to-air missiles. They were intended to defend against potential air attacks, since Cyprus had no air force of its own. Cyprus' population of half-a-million people could not be considered a threat to Turkish security or Turkish Cypriots. If there were an agreement to demilitarize, the country's fear of the 35,000 Turkish troops would not exist and there would be no reason to deploy missiles.

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