CONDITIONS ACHIEVED FOR LIFTING ARMS EMBARGO IMPOSED ON LIBERIA, FOREIGN MINISTER OF LIBERIA SAYS

Press Release
GA/9454

CONDITIONS ACHIEVED FOR LIFTING ARMS EMBARGO IMPOSED ON LIBERIA, FOREIGN MINISTER OF LIBERIA SAYS

The arms embargo imposed on Liberia by the Security Council in 1992 should be lifted, as the reason for its application no longer existed, Monie Captan, Foreign Minister of Liberia, told the General Assembly this afternoon.

Addressing the general debate, he said that since Liberian President Charles Taylor assumed office, the country had begun to rebuild. Aware that Liberia's stability depended on genuine reconciliation, the Government was undertaking measures to consolidate democracy and thereby foster development. He stressed that all future sanctions regimes imposed by the Council should include definitions of punitive measures, specified targets, definite time- frames and exemptions to mitigate unintended consequences.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait, said that the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf, the Non-Aligned Movement and leaders of Muslim countries had all underscored the need for Iraq to complete implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions. The long series of crises triggered by the Iraqi Government had been pre-calculated attempts to disavow and circumvent legal obligations. All those measures had failed, thanks to the Council. The sad certainty was that those crises had contributed to the perpetuation of the sanctions for which the Government of Iraq alone bore full responsibility.

R. Amarjargal, Acting Minister for External Relations of Mongolia, said the security and the ultimate survival of many countries were directly linked to the question of protecting the environment. Changes in world climate must be studied, as its growing and creeping danger were resulting in unpredictable consequences. The first International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-1999) should be followed by a second decade, to focus greater attention on the issue and strengthen related international mechanisms.

Andrei Gabriel Plesu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania, said the Balkans and south-east Europe had an image problem. Local disputes were heard

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about more than genuine "success stories". It had been forgotten that a number of countries of the region had passed from dictatorship and centralized economy to democracy and market economy. Though difficult, those notions had courageously undertaken the process. He urged nations of that area to develop "regional pride" and foster legitimate aspirations to show the world the economic and cultural potential of the Balkans and south-east Europe.

Statements were also made by the Prime Minister of Swaziland, and the Foreign Ministers of Bahrain, Thailand, Qatar, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

At the close of the meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iraq, Cuba and Kuwait.

Also this afternoon, the Assembly Vice-President, Aksoltan Ataeva (Turkmenistan), said that Vanuatu had made the necessary payments to reduce its arrears to the amount specified in the Charter.

The Assembly will meet again on Monday, 28 September, at 10 a.m. to continue its general debate.

Assembly Work Programme

The Assembly met this afternoon to continue its general debate. The Prime Minister of Swaziland, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait, and the foreign ministers of Liberia, Bahrain, Romania, Mongolia, Thailand, Qatar, Liechtenstein and Iceland are expected to speak.

Statements in the General Debate

MONIE R. CAPTAN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liberia, said that the Secretary-General's Report on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa had been thoroughly discussed at the Ministerial Meeting of the Security Council. Liberia endorsed that report's assertion that while African governments must be held responsible for their problems, the United Nations must lend support to national responses.

On 6 October 1998, the United Nations will mark the 50th anniversary of peacekeeping efforts, and Africa continued to benefit from those efforts, he said. Intra-state conflicts continued, but regional and sub-regional organizations, with United Nations support, were trying to negotiate peaceful solutions. In the Middle East, however, Liberia was concerned at the lack of progress in the peace process and called for renewed efforts by the international community. He condemned terrorism, notably the bombings in the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya, and supported President Mubarak of Egypt's proposal to convene an international conference on this problem. Similarly, he expressed concern over nuclear testing and the proliferation of conventional weapons, and called for increases in accessions to disarmament treaties, a curtailing of small arms trafficking and greater transparency in arms transfers.

Globalization threatened the weak and vulnerable by marginalizing them, he continued. Liberia reiterated its support of the Non-Aligned Summit's recent call for an accelerated review of the world financial system and welcomed United States President Clinton's call for a meeting of the G-7 and developing countries to discuss means to shore up the tottering global financial system. The United Nations must be included in that discussion. Similarly, Liberia looked forward to participating in next month's Tokyo ministerial meeting on Africa's economic recovery. The environment must also remain a priority global agenda item.

United Nations reform was an imperative, but needed to be predicated on democratic principles, not on the principle that "might makes right". Africa should have a larger presence on the Security Council, as should other under- represented regions. Those reforms would be meaningless unless parallel reforms were achieved within the Bretton Woods institutions, he added. Also, Taiwan should be given parallel representation to China, pending peaceful unification.

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Since President Taylor's assumption of leadership, Liberia had undertaken rebuilding measures, he continued. Earlier this year, the people participated in a national conference on the future of the country. At its conclusion, a commission was established to implement the conference decisions. The Government was aware that Liberia's stability depended on genuine reconciliation, and was undertaking measures to consolidate democracy and thereby foster development. Because the reason for their application no longer existed, the Security Council arms embargo against Liberia, imposed in 1992, should be lifted. Liberia believes that any sanctions regime should include definitions of punitive measures, specified targets, definite time frames and exemptions to mitigate unintended consequences.

MOHAMED BIN MUBARAK AL-KHALIFA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, said Bahrain, small in size as it was, today bore a hefty regional and international responsibility on three simultaneous levels. First, it was the financial and banking centre of one of the world's most important economic areas. Second, it was a fundamental link at the forefront of the joint defence strategy of that vital region. Third, it was a social, cultural and civic model that had been open to modern thought and reforms. It supported equal development for men and women in fields such as education and work. Bahrain's leadership position had been reflected in the current year's United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report, which placed Bahrain, for the fourth consecutive year, first in the Arab world for its achievements in human development. Furthermore, accomplishments in the field of economic and industrial development in Bahrain reflected the model diversification of the productive base to avoid exclusive dependence on oil.

Considering its interest in the preservation of security and peace in the Gulf region, Bahrain applauded the effective role played by the Secretary-General in defusing the crisis in Iraq and sparing the region from its dangerous consequences, he said. Bahrain reaffirmed the necessity of the fulfilment, by Iraq, of its international obligations concerning the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and the release of Kuwaiti and other prisoners of war and detainees. Any progress in that respect should be recognized as a first step towards the alleviation of the suffering of the Iraqi people. Bahrain had always emphasized the necessity of ensuring the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and had rejected any interference in its internal affairs. In addition, the continued occupation, by Iran, of the three islands -- Abu Moussa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb -- which belonged to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained a cause of concern to Bahrain and the other sister members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. He hoped that the contacts between the UAE and Iran would lead to a settlement of the question through serious bilateral negotiations and other peaceful means.

Having supported the Middle East peace process since its beginning, Bahrain was deeply concerned by the stalemate resulting from the insistence of the Israeli Government on following a course of procrastination and non- compliance with previous commitments, he said. Of additional concern was the

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continued building of more Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and Syrian Golan. Therefore, Bahrain called on the international community, particularly the co- sponsors of the peace process, to intensify efforts to rescue the faltering process. Failure must be prevented and it must be put back on the right course towards a just and comprehensive peace. That peace should be based on the principle of land-for-peace; return of Palestinian territories to their owners, including Jerusalem; recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent State on their national territory; complete withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Syrian Arab Golan, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions; and the unconditional withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanon.

BARNABAS SIBUSISO DLAMINI, Prime Minister of Swaziland, said his country was concerned at the "painfully slow rate of progress" regarding the restructuring of the Security Council. The delay was especially frustrating because there was global consensus on the need to make the permanent membership of the Council more democratic and representative of the developing world. That issue had been central to discussions during the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit and successive Organization of African Unity (OAU) meetings. Support for change was unanimous.

Swaziland continued to support the common African position, which called for, among other things, the membership of the Council to be based on an equitable geographical formula, he said. Africa was calling for two permanent seats, with the full voting and veto rights enjoyed by the current membership. However, in the longer term, the right of veto should be the subject of review, as it was not in accord with recognized democratic practices and it gave unequal weight to the minority view.

Mr. Dlamini expressed his country's concern over the renewal of civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the resumption of hostilities in Angola and the recent disturbances in Lesotho. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) had made efforts to find a solution to the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola, both of which were hampering cooperation between member states of the Community. In the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations had a role to play as peacemaker, to complement the efforts of the SADC and the OAU.

Noting the Secretary-General's report to the Security Council on the causes of conflict and the promotion of peace and sustainable development in Africa, he said Swaziland supported an integrated approach to conflict resolution in Africa to enhance cooperation between African nations and the international community, while most effectively using available resources. Swaziland was already engaged in efforts to become more involved in conflict resolution. His Government supported the United Kingdom and the United States for preparing their defence force for participation in peacekeeping operations, both in Africa and around the world.

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ANDREI GABRIEL PLESU, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania, said, in line with the will of his country to contribute to international stability, his Government had yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations regarding stand-by arrangements in the area of peacekeeping. That event complemented the recent accession of Romania to the Multinational United Nations Stand-by Forces High Readiness Brigade. His country was concerned by the many conflict situations being addressed by the Council. Dialogue among interested parties was important in facilitating solutions negotiated by those directly in conflict.

The Balkans, and in a larger sense south-east Europe, had an image problem, he said. The inventory of local disputes had been heard more than the inventory of genuine "success stories". It had been forgotten that a number of countries had managed to pass from dictatorship and centralized economy to democracy and market economy. While a difficult process, it had been courageously pursued by those countries. The region needed a certain "regional pride". It must aspire to show the world not only the spectrum of interregional conflicts, but also its promising economic and cultural potential.

Romania was interested in contributing to United Nations efforts to fight terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking, he said. Unity of Europe must be pursued without instituting various degrees of "Europeanism" which would lead to arbitrary division and exclude instead of uniting. Romania reaffirmed its attachment to the concepts of multiculturalism and tolerance. At a recent international conference held in Bucharest on the topic of "peoples and religion", Pope John Paul II had stated that Romania had the vocation of being the interface between the East and the West, thus offering a genuine synthesis of cultures and traditions.

Romania's fundamental option -- that of European reintegration and membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) -- was well known, he said. Its political objectives remained unchanged. While striving to replace one system with another, Romania had encountered all the difficulties of transition: low living standards; confused values; radical changes in mentalities; all against a background of social and administrative inertia. Everything had become a priority and everything was urgent. That was why support and encouragement from the international community would be of great benefit to Romania's democratization and development.

R. AMARJARGAL, Member of Parliament and Acting Minister for External Relations Mongolia, said that globalization and the growing interdependence of States would determine the nature of international relations at the outset of the coming millennium. He said that the Asian financial crisis had spilled over to other parts of the world and had already exacted high economic and social costs. That event led to the questioning of the viability of unregulated financial markets. He believed that an early crisis warning system needed to be created by the international community. The high level

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meeting held last week in the Assembly on that subject provided a good basis for further serious, constructive debate on the matter.

After decades of virtual isolation from world development, Mongolia was trying to integrate itself in the world economy, he said. Although it had opened up its economy and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), the negative consequences of globalization, felt especially by the weak and vulnerable, risked marginalizing these countries economically, if not politically. In searching for adequate responses to globalization, the world community needed to take measures to help those countries to adapt to the changing realities.

Increased attention to land-locked developing States, those handicapped by their geographical position and remoteness to world markets, was of special concern, he stated. Experts had pointed out that those countries' annual growth was constrained, at the very least, by 1 to 3 per cent. Among the 30 land-locked developing countries, 16 were among the least developed, whose per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was less than $400. The 300 million people that lived in those countries shared only 0.5 per cent of world trade, with the trend further decreasing. Mongolia had taken measures to overcome the difficulties inherent to land-locked countries by closely cooperating with its transit neighbours. It was looking forward to conclude a regional agreement with the Russian Federation and China to facilitate transit transportation for all three countries and the subregion in general.

Mongolia, he said, followed a centuries-old tradition of living in harmony with nature and the environment. It had declared 15 per cent of its territory (an area larger than Central Europe) a protected natural reserve. In many countries, the question of protecting the environment was directly linked to their security and even ultimate survival. He warned that the changes in world climate, its caprices, needed to be further studied, as its growing and creeping danger have incalculable effects. Because of this phenomena, he believed that the First Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction should be followed by a second decade to allow for a greater focus on the issue, including the creation and strengthening of international mechanisms.

Political stability was essential for economic development and fruitful cooperation, he continued. The post cold war years, however, had vividly demonstrated that peace and stability needed constant efforts by States to deepen mutual trust and settle disputes by political means. Though some political flashpoints had been eliminated and problems solved, still new ones were arising. The situations in the Middle East, the Balkans and in Southern Africa raised concerns in the international community. His Government fully supported resolving these conflicts through negotiation, in the spirit of cooperation and without the use or threat of force. In that connection, Mongolia considered that the Korean peninsula should be turned into a zone of peace in the interests of the Korean people, as well as the peace and security of North-East Asia.

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Concerning nuclear weapons, Mongolia, he said, was situated between two nuclear powers. He believed that non-nuclear States could, in their own way, contribute to nuclear security and enhance stability. In that context, he welcomed the efforts of Central Asian states to establish a nuclear weapon- free zone in their region. His Government also strongly opposed nuclear testing. He expressed concern that the recent examples of testing in South Asia could exacerbate tensions and undermine the existing nuclear non- proliferation regime and the test ban. Mongolia supported the efforts to curb the spread of conventional weapons, as well as those of a chemical or biological nature. In a final word on security, he noted that international law should be the core of security relations. In that context, his country welcomed the recent adoption, by the Rome conference, of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

In implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Organization's summit conferences on major global social and economic problems and in support of the "silent revolution", his Government adopted the national action programme for the twenty-first century and was launching, in close partnership with United Nations bodies operating in Mongolia and non-governmental organizations, an ambitious project, "One World Conference Series", aimed at ensuring an integrated follow-up to the world conferences and summits of the early 1990s.

SABAH AL-AHMAD AL-SABAH, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait, said that the leaders of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), whose current session was chaired by his country, had attached great importance at its last summit in December 1997 to the question of implementation by Iraq of all its obligations set forth in Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The recent NAM summit had also underscored the need for Iraq to complete its implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions. Despite those legitimate demands and sincere calls, Iraq persisted in disregarding them and in challenging the Security Council resolutions.

The long series of crises triggered by the Iraqi Government were pre- calculated attempts, from time to time, to disavow and circumvent its legal obligations, he continued. All those desperate attempts had failed, thanks to the solid coherence and firm unity of the Security Council, which insisted on full compliance by Iraq. The sad certainty was that those crises contributed to the perpetuation of the sanctions for which the Government of Iraq alone bore full responsibility.

On events in the Arabian Gulf region, he said that the past two decades had seen a need for a regional system based on full and mutual respect for the principles of sovereignty of all States, non-interference in the domestic affairs of others, non-use or threat of use of force, the right of each State to choose its own political, economic and social system, State sovereignty over its natural resources and the importance of the resolution of disputes by

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peaceful negotiation. In view of Kuwait's belief in the inalienable right of the UAE to the islands of Abu Mousa, Greater Tunb and Smaller Tunb, Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment to and support for the final statement issued by the Kuwait summit of the GCC last December.

On Middle East peace, he said the process might collapse altogether because of the intransigent policies of the Israeli Government, which persisted in rejecting the implementation of accords concluded with the Palestinian National Authority and disclaiming the operational principles and framework of the entire peace process. That provocative approach not only undermined the peace process, but also created an overwhelming sense of despair and frustration.

Therefore, Kuwait demanded that the Israeli Government halt its illegal policy of constructing settlements, confiscating land and demolishing houses, he continued. Israel should also stop taking unilateral measures to create fait accompli realities on the ground inside the occupied territories. Instead, Israel should implement United Nations resolutions and fulfil its pledges and accords, signed with the Palestinian Authority, with a view to realizing all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including self- determination and the establishment of their independent state on Palestinian national territory with Jerusalem as its capital.

He said that Kuwait stressed the need to halt the unabating Israeli measures to change the physical features of the city of Jerusalem and to transform its legal status. Kuwait condemned the Israeli Government's decision last June to expand the holy city's municipal boundaries. It also called upon the United Nations and the world community to fulfil their legal and political obligations in order to force Israel to comply with Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on Jerusalem and to preserve its Arab, Muslim and religious character.

In the same vein, he said, Kuwait renewed its call to the two co- sponsors of the peace process, especially the United States, to redouble their efforts to salvage the peace process and to put pressure on Israel to resume negotiations on the Syrian-Israeli track, with a view to ensuring full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Arab Golan. Also under Security Council resolution 425 (1978), Israel must pull out completely and unconditionally from the south and western Beka'a of Lebanon.

SURIN PITSUWAN, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, said that in the early part of the decade, globalization had provided greater material well-being, more open markets and more convenient dissemination of information. In the past year, however, Thailand had been penalized by global financial markets. Recognizing the role of Thailand's own institutional shortcomings, he noted that the severity of the crisis was out of proportion to the severity of Thailand's mistakes. The perception that the crisis would stop after ravaging the economies of Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea is

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wrong. The crisis was no longer just an Asian crisis, but a global and systematic one.

The industrialized countries, which stood to gain the most from globalization and to lose the most from a world-wide retreat from it, had an obligation to help contain the problem, he said. Indeed, the destabilizing potential of unfettered global financial flows pointed to a glaring gap in the global economic architecture. He suggested scheduling a world conference of developing and developed nations to come up with a mechanism to monitor and regulate international financial flows in the near future.

He said that advancing the cause of human rights not only made sense from a philosophical standpoint, but was a pragmatic means of avoiding the cross-border displacement of refugee populations that often attended widespread human rights abuses. However, he cautioned that rising public expectations and demands could conflict with pre-existing norms and institutions, creating the danger that governments would respond harshly and reverse initial progress. The fragile democracy in Cambodia was a case in point. After spending so much time, energy and money on Cambodia, it was not unreasonable for the international community to expect some compromise from that nation's political leadership. Thailand's new constitution, on the other hand, embodied practically all the important elements of the international instruments on human rights.

Thailand had made the fight against narcotics a high priority, he said. Together with the other Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Thailand had issued a joint declaration stating the intention to create a drug-free ASEAN by the year 2020. For the next decade, international drug control efforts should focus on the problem of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), as well as on ways and means to prevent the diversion of precursors used for illicit drug production.

HAMAD BIN JASSIM BIN JABR AL-THANI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, said it was distressing and outrageous that years of negotiations, endeavours and mediations had failed to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on security, stability and mutual recognition to the Middle East. It was also regrettable that the peace process had not experienced any positive development since the present Israeli Government had come into office, but rather had suffered a serious setback. The essential problem facing the peace process, he said, was that Israel, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, with his hard-line government, was still bent on renouncing the principles which originally formed the basis of the process and accords included in the framework of that process.

He said he wished that Mr. Netanyahu had been sincere in his statement yesterday, when he claimed he was as interested in providing security and peace for Palestinian children as he was for his own children. Reality said otherwise. His failure to implement the accords signed with the Palestinian

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side had worsened the suffering of all segments of the Palestinian people, including children who suffered harsh living conditions in which they lacked the minimum basic requirements of life -- education, health and nutrition.

The international community had to intensify efforts to achieve a just solution that would restore to the Palestinians their legitimate rights, including the right to establish their independent state with Al-Quds as its capital, and secure withdrawal of Israel from all occupied Arab territories in the Syrian Golan and Southern Lebanon, he said. Qatar was satisfied with the results of the General Assembly special session in July, which granted the Observer of Palestine additional rights and privileges in Assembly sessions and deliberations. That was a modest step towards endorsing the membership of Palestine and its legitimate position in the framework of the United Nations, in the hope that the day would come when Palestine would be admitted as a full-fledged, active member in the Organization.

The question of security and peace in the Gulf region and the Middle East was of the highest priority for Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council, he said. Qatar called for the settlement of the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the islands of Abu Moussa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, through bilateral diplomatic efforts, or if need be, by resorting to international arbitration. Also, the condition of the Iraqi people had become one of tragic suffering under the international sanctions imposed on that country. Regardless of whether Qatar was convinced of the usefulness of those sanctions in achieving their objectives or not, and while fully asserting the need to implement relevant Security Council resolutions, it hoped the embargo imposed on the Iraqi people would be lifted to mitigate the harsh suffering and adverse humanitarian effects it entailed. Some of the crises and conflicts that were examples of the magnitude of the challenges the world faced now were the Horn of Africa, the Sudan, Libya, Afghanistan and Kosovo.

The most serious problem was the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction -- chemical, biological and especially nuclear, he said. Qatar was shocked by the disturbing developments resulting from the nuclear weapons tests by India and Pakistan, and the inherent threat of the unleashing of a nuclear and conventional arms race between them. The position of Qatar called for the exercise of wisdom, and the prompt signing by all States of the treaties on the prohibition of nuclear tests and limiting the proliferation of those weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, there must be a serious effort to reduce such weapons to pave the way towards their complete elimination. In that regard, Israel was the only nuclear-weapon State in the region and the only State that had refused so far to sign the treaties to prohibit and prevent the proliferation of such weapons. Qatar had also signed the convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction prompted by its belief in the prohibition of landmines and aware of the numerous humanitarian tragedies resulting from their use.

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ANDREA WILLI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein, said an area of particular interest to her Government was the promotion and protection of the rights of children. The scope and number of violations of their rights were disturbing and warranted special attention. An international instrument to protect children in armed conflict would be a major contribution to the international human rights regime. Establishing the International Criminal Court was an achievement of truly historic dimensions. But, the adoption of the Court's Statute was not the end of the process, but rather a step to be followed by hard work.

Liechtenstein condemned all nuclear tests, she said. The international community must make every effort to create a stable and effective nuclear non-proliferation regime. If the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) were fully implemented, they could constitute cornerstones of such a regime.

Although the outbreak of violence in Kosovo had come as no surprise to anyone, not enough had been done to prevent it, she said. A further deterioration of the humanitarian situation must be prevented. As the situation posed a threat to international peace and security, it should therefore be dealt with by the United Nations. The capacity of the Organization to deal with such challenges must be enhanced through development of the concept of conflict prevention and the means of translating that principle into concrete action.

A more innovative and flexible system to support people in exercising their right to self-determination was needed. Such a system had the potential to diffuse tensions and prevent conflicts within States. A genuine political dialogue between a government and the various communities within the States could prevent the development of situations in which communities would wish to claim statehood, or pursue other goals through violent means. She noted that the Liechtenstein Research Programme on Self-Determination at Princeton University had increased its activities and generated interest on the part of a large number of Permanent Missions to the United Nations.

HALLDOR ASGRIMSSON, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland, said that the world community was confronted with several dangerous situations which threatened the existence of millions of people and demanded the immediate action of the Organization. Of particular concern was the plight of the people of Kosovo and the alarming situation in several African countries. The Organization was also confronted with issues which could determine the future of humankind, such as the protection of the environment and the delicate balance between economic growth and the conservation of natural resources.

In that respect, the protection of the oceans and the marine ecosystem was one of the most important tasks that lay ahead, he said. The ocean's bounty was finite and the ocean was not a bottomless receptacle of human waste

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and pollution. Pollution by persistent organic pollutants was a major concern, as was the spillage of radioactive material into the sea. Also critical was an agreement between nations with similar interests on sharing and sensibly managing the common stocks and fisheries on the high seas. Iceland had devised a market-driven fisheries management system, which encompassed both conservation of its resources and their sustainable use.

For decades, his country had placed special emphasis on the utilization of clean and renewable energy sources, he said. It should be recognized that the economies of some countries were dependent on just a few natural resources. Those countries had fewer options to secure an economic base compared to countries with more diverse economies, and it was therefore illogical and unfair to deny them the right to harness and utilize clean and renewable energy.

He said that Iceland was engaged in development cooperation, which focused on human capacity-building as well as on training and education in the fisheries field. Parallel to the privatization of the economy, there must be increased funding for the building up of social services, health care and education. Iceland, for its part, would increase its official development assistance to its African partners. On the subject of globalization, the risks must be borne by all and the benefits must be spread evenly and widely.

The Organization had seldom had more urgent tasks in preserving peace, security and human rights, he went on to say. In that connection, the nuclear tests recently conducted by two countries in South Asia were of great concern, and all member States should be urged to adhere to the provisions of the Treaty on the NPT and the CTBT. Maintaining peace demanded constant vigilance and more intensive measures, such as strengthening democratic institutions, overseeing elections, establishing judiciary systems and monitoring human rights.

Right of Reply

A. PETER BURLEIGH (United States), speaking in exercise of the right of reply to the statement by the Foreign Minister of Cuba, said the commitment of the United States to a truly democratic Cuba was deep and abiding. The attack by the Foreign Minister of Cuba against the United States yesterday reflected the Cuban Government's fear of peaceful democratic transition and respect for human rights. The Foreign Minister's remarks clearly illustrated why the American Government's differences were with the Cuban Government and not with the Cuban people.

He asked when the Cuban Government would allow the people of Cuba to determine their own future through free and fair elections, and when Cuba would free political prisoners languishing in jails because they wanted nothing more than to see a stable, democratic Cuba. The United States Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, had expressed the United States view

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in February in an address to the Cuban people. She had said: "The United States promotes democracy, freedom and respect for human rights around the world ... We do so not because we wish to impose our values or way of life. Precisely the opposite is true. We want the people of every nation to be able to determine for themselves who their leaders should be, how their laws should be made, and how their lives should be led. That's not an imposition. Dictatorship is an imposition. Democracy is a choice."

It was tragically ironic for a representative of the Cuban Government to cite the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while political prisoners, like the courageous leaders of the Dissident Working Group whose only "crime" was to peacefully express dissent, were kept captive in Cuban prisons under inhumane conditions. Such policies had inflicted deep suffering on the Cuban people. In contrast, despite the misguided policies of the Cuban Government, which had impoverished its own citizens, tens of thousands of American citizens had demonstrated their generosity over the years by sending millions and millions of dollars in assistance to needy family members in Cuba. The reality was that dozens of sales of medicines and medical equipment to Cuba had been approved. The reality was that there had been thousands of visits by Cubans to the United States and Americans to Cuba. The reality was that there were extensive and growing contacts between non-governmental groups in the United States and independent groups in Cuba.

It was time for the Cuban Government to join the modern community of democracies in the Western hemisphere so that the Cuban people could enjoy the stability, freedom and prosperity they so richly deserved, he said. It was time for the Cuban Government to heed the words of the famous Cuban poet Jose Marti, who had written in his magazine "The Golden Age" for the youth of Cuba: "Freedom is the right that every man has to be honourable and to think and to talk without hypocrisy."

KIM CHANG GUK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said that the south Korean "chieftain in authority" had been loudly advertising his "sunshine policy" of dialogue, reconciliation and exchange, as if he was about to bring about great changes in north-south relations.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, however, was deeply disappointed with the south Korean authorities and their behaviour during the past several months, he said. His country doubted that they could positively contribute to north-south relations. The south Korean authorities had declared the compatriots of the north their "sworn enemy", and they were trying to do their utmost to isolate and stifle the north, together with the United States and Japan.

He drew attention to some specific instances attributable to actions taken by the south Korean authorities. Among them, he said, they had forced the crew of the wrecked submarine to commit suicide, instead of rescuing them

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last June. Moreover, despite the fact that the south Korean authorities had no voice in the matter of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, they had continuously attempted to slander his Government on the nuclear issue. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States were implementing the framework agreement. It was really ridiculous and preposterous that south Koreans attempted to teach his Government how to behave with regard to the implementation of that framework agreement.

If south Korea wanted the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula to be settled fairly, it should give up the United States nuclear umbrella and demand the withdrawal of the United States army from its territory, he said. Without that, whatever good words it might say were all lies.

There was no reason to the argument of the south Koreans that his Government had not entered the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, he went on. Entering international treaties was a sovereign matter for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It would be better for the south Koreans to "keep their mouths shut" as they, together with the United States, had used chemical weapons extensively in the Korean War, and still maintained those weapons on military bases. Even now, the south Korean authorities were conspiring with the United States and Japan to deal with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's satellite launch.

His country's satellite launch was a grand national event to be recorded in the history of the nation, and demonstrated its spirit and talent, he said. It was supported by his country's own resources and it demonstrated the might of its independent national economy. How many countries and nations of the world had the capability to launch a satellite? he asked. Was it not a grand event to be celebrated by the whole nation?

However, the south Koreans, in collusion with the United States and Japan, had attempted to pressure the north by branding its satellite launch a threat to security, he said. Those acts on the part of the south Koreans showed they were "traitors" to the nation and "running dogs" of the foreign forces. The tireless efforts of the north to realize the grand conception of the Great Leader Kim Jong II to build its nation into a prosperous country were acts of patriotism. Attempts by the south Koreans to isolate and stifle the north with the help of foreign forces were acts of "country selling".

He said that the south Korean authorities had declared that their "sunshine policy" was intended to induce the north to "reform" and to begin "opening up". Rather, that policy was aimed at eroding the ideology and social system to bring the north to final collapse. If the south Korean authorities really wanted national reconciliation and reunification, they should show national conscience and sincerity instead of attempting to mislead the world public with its "sunshine policy".

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Firstly, south Korean authorities should abandon the policy of dependence on foreign forces and employ a reconciliation policy of alliance with the north, he said. Secondly, they should reaffirm their commitment to the three principles: independence; peace; and great national unity, as enshrined in the north-south declaration of 1972.

Paraphrasing a proverb, he said that "blood is thicker than water". The south Korean authorities should try to solve the current economic crisis through the joint efforts of the nation, instead of relying on foreign capital. Now, the south Korean authorities were selling lands, factories and other forms of real estate to the foreign capitals. He was afraid they were selling the whole country, and nothing would be left for the south Korean people. Its space technique was a national asset of the whole Korean nation. South Korea might launch a satellite by north Korea's rockets at half-prices or for free, instead of going to other countries which demanded high prices.

He said that south Korea should take practical measures to improve north-south relations without resorting to "lip service". Its authorities should, above all, abolish national security law and dismantle the national security planning agency. Dialogue and reconciliation could not be considered without the abolition of a legal and institutional system which defined the north as an "enemy" and outlawed any contact with the north as acts of "enemy benefiting". Such acts deceived the nation and the world.

KHALED S.H. AL-HITTI (Iraq), speaking in exercise of the right of reply, referred the statement made to the Assembly this afternoon by the Foreign Minister of Kuwait. He had taken up many issues pertinent to Iraq, but unfortunately, he had done so either in a partial way or in a way that did not heed the facts.

First, Iraq had implemented all of the commitments imposed upon it by the Security Council, he said. Indeed, the questions posed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq during his latest meeting on 3 August with Richard Butler, Executive Director of the United Nations Special Commission set up under Security Council resolution 687 (1991) in connection with the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (UNSCOM), concerned whether Mr. Butler had any evidence that Iraq was not fully free of all prohibited weapons, whether it had any installations or instruments related to undestroyed weapons, or whether UNSCOM had noted any new serious breach by Iraq towards remanufacturing such weapons. Naturally, Mr. Butler was unable to reply to all those questions because he did not have the courage to speak the truth for reasons and pressures of which everyone was aware.

Continuing, he said that the Foreign Minister of Kuwait had talked many times of so-called Kuwaiti prisoners or hostages in Iraq. Yet, the Kuwait authorities knew full well that Iraq had none. Further, that question was being followed up professionally within the tripartite committee under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Indeed,

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Kuwait had not even bothered to respond to Iraqi questions on its prisoners and detainees in Kuwait, whose fate remained unknown today. Its insistence on raising that issue could only be explained in one way: namely, Kuwait's persistence in its position vis-à-vis Iraq in turning the international community against it, and in continuing the embargo imposed on the Iraqi people in order to increase their suffering.

He said such a pattern by the Kuwait Government made it incumbent upon him to state that if it was truly security and stability that Kuwait sought, it must first put aside the policy of conspiring against Iraq. That policy had led Iraq to its current state. It must remember geography and history, and learn the lessons of the past with its Arab neighbours. However, if it insisted on "importing and purchasing" its security from the outside -- as had been declared by Kuwait's Defence Minister some days ago -- that road would not lead to any positive result. It would merely lead to wasting the resources of the brotherly Kuwait people. Foreign warships and marine bases that it hid behind would only loot the wealth of the region.

Moreover, the forces sending such installations were only concerned with their very own narrow interests, he went on. As a famous Arab writer had once written: Geography had fixed landmarks; warships always moved away.

He said that Iraq was fully prepared to resolve all issues in suspense with Kuwait and others in a manner that preserved the dignity of all countries. There was no substitute for dialogue and brotherly understanding. The future must be faced with optimism, and the lessons of the past must be learned. The countries concerned should move forward and not waste the present and future of their children. History would not judge lightly those responsible for the painful events being experienced by them.

ROBERTO ROBAINA GONZALEZ (Cuba) said that he did not need to wait 24 hours to respond; the arguments had existed for more than 40 years. The fact that the United States had asked for the floor was "purist hypocrisy" and not surprising in the light of their persistence in wielding economic and political arguments which had been denounced by Cuba and repeatedly rejected by the international community. The arrogance and overbearing nature of the United States knew no bounds. While it had that in excess, it had always lacked imagination and modesty.

Cuba was bored and tired of so much rhetoric, he said. Cuba had "so much democracy", which it was prepared to defend it with its own blood, if required. The only humanitarian act would be the lifting of the blockade, without conditions. The restricting of humanitarian aid to Cuba had been deliberate, no thanks to the United States Government. There had been no change in its policy of denying export licenses, food and medicine, and emergency response services. That country's Government had waged a dirty economic war against Cuba and had demonstrated its hostility. It had

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attempted, through hunger and disease, to ruin an entire people and destroy their human rights.

The United States was historically the country that was responsible for mercenary and terrorist acts, he went on. It was the country responsible for the hijackings of vessels and planes in full flight, acts which had gone unpunished. There was no law or morality in that country of "mercantilization of policy" where laws were bought and sold. That policy mattered more to that country than decency. It used force and instil panic among an entire people, and it conspired to destabilize an entire State. It condemned terrorism, while practising it selectively.

The "champion of double-sided morality" had made it clear this afternoon that such behaviour must not be carried over into the next millennium, he said. The United States was the country where half of its population were children. There was no medical insurance, and tuberculosis associated with poverty was growing. Police brutality was mushrooming, prisoners were beaten daily, and savage dogs were used as instruments of torture. Those prisoners, moreover, were dying from AIDS, and political prisoners from Puerto Rico were languishing in jails. There were more people in jails than in universities. Indeed, all manner of social ills were growing. Cuba would do what was necessary to avoid having the United States fall upon its lands as a brutal force.

MANSOUR AYYAD AL-OTAIBI (Kuwait), speaking in exercise of the right of reply, said he wished to tell the facts in response to the statement made by the Foreign Minister of Iraq. He would not respond to the discourteous remarks, however. To the statement that Kuwait had exploited questions of political prisoners and had sought to extend the sanctions against Iraq, the facts showed that the ICRC had not achieved any result due to the stalling and lack of cooperation on the part of Iraq.

Iraq governed the fate of more than 600 prisoners, although it denied their existence, he said. Iraq's statements could not be relied upon because of bitter past experience with its policies. Iraq had previously claimed it had no prisoners, and then it surprised the world with the release of some of them last year.

To the comment that Kuwait wanted to keep the embargo on Iraq, he said that the Security Council, in consensus, had not decided to lift those sanctions. The Council insisted on maintaining the sanctions because of Iraq's failure to implement the provisions of Council resolutions. Indeed, it had decided to add sanctions against Iraq and to suspend the sanctions review due to Iraq's non-cooperation with UNSCOM.

He said that Kuwait was a small country which did not exercise influence over the Council members, permanent or otherwise. Iraq's problem was with the Council. To the statement by Iraq that it had fulfilled all of its

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obligations -- the Council held another view. The Non-Aligned Movement, at its last summit conference, had called on Iraq to implement the Council resolutions, as had the OIC. Those international organizations were not prejudiced against Iraq. How could it be that they were all at fault and only Iraq was right? he asked. It was Iraq that had launched an act of aggression against Kuwait in 1991, and had occupied it.

Mr. BURLEIGH (United States) said the diatribe spoken by the Cuban representative about America was wrong. That was not a description of his country. The information given by Cuba was unrecognizable and completely off base. The Cuban representative knew that in his heart of hearts. The issue being discussed was the Cuban people. They voted with their feet and left Cuba whenever they could to come to America or to go to other countries where they could find peace, freedom and prosperity. In addition, more than $2 billion worth of humanitarian assistance had been given to Cuba since 1992 by the United States.

Mr. ROBAINA GONZALEZ (Cuba) said "on this occasion we had once again" to confront an issue of double morality. The United States had not paid it dues, but yet it wanted to run the United Nations. That country spoke of human rights, but had not practiced it at home. It also violated the human rights of two-thirds of humanity with blockades and sanctions. The United States continued with impunity to sponsor, support and organize terrorist actions. Americans should not speak about two-fold morality. The United States should also not threaten Cuba because Cubans were prepared for anything.

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