GENERAL DEBATE PROVIDED UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF MEMBER STATES' VIEW OF WORLD IN FINAL YEARS OF TWENTIETH CENTURY, SAYS ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT
Press Release
GA/SM/65
GENERAL DEBATE PROVIDED UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF MEMBER STATES' VIEW OF WORLD IN FINAL YEARS OF TWENTIETH CENTURY, SAYS ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT
19981002 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Addressing Closing Meeting of Two-Week General DebateFollowing is the text of the statement, translated from Spanish, by the President of the General Assembly, Didier Opertti (Uruguay), at the closing of the general debate of the fifty-third session this afternoon:
We have just heard the last speaker on the list. The general debate of the fifty-third session of this General Assembly is thus drawing to an end.
I believe that you will agree with me that the statements we have heard over the past two weeks have been extremely interesting and have served to confirm the conclusion that, although this is an exercise which has been repeated annually for more than five decades, it has by no means become routine. In view of the growing dynamism of the situations which are the subject of our debate, it is impossible for our governments to maintain a static vision of the complex international realities considered in all their dimensions. The perception of new realities and the better and fuller understanding of those realities which already exist combine in such a way as to ensure that the content of our debates is constantly being renewed. During the course of these debates there is a process of mutual enrichment from which we all emerge the richer, and for that reason I feel duty-bound to thank all those who have participated.
Personally, I believe that this debate has provided us with a unique and invaluable opportunity to see how the governments of Member States view the world in these final years of the century, what problems -- in the view of their leaders -- have an impact on the peace, security and prosperity of nations and what direction the international community should take in order to resolve these. This time, 179 Member States and one Observer addressed the Assembly, through 26 Heads of State, one Vice-President, 15 Prime Ministers, 14 Deputy Prime Ministers/Foreign Ministers, 105 Foreign Ministers, and others.
It is not my intention at this time to summarize the general debate or to draw any conclusions. That is not my responsibility and this is not the time to do so. However, I should like to share with you some thoughts which the statements made over the past two weeks have caused to spring to my mind.
Economic Development, Globalization
In nearly every statement made during the debate that has just concluded, we find expressed, explicitly or implicitly, a concern among governments for the profound economic inequalities between, on the one hand, the vast sectors of humanity floundering in poverty or an insufficiency of resources and, on the other hand, the minority living in prosperity and abundance. It is within that context that many of the statements have revealed a concern prompted by the rapid and inexorable process of globalization which is reaching into all aspects of international relations. There is mounting interest in securing a deeper understanding of the nature of the process in order that the international community may prepare itself to manage the effects and ensure that globalization of the economy does not simply benefit a few while harming the weakest and the most vulnerable.
We have heard calls for a redefinition of the rules to regulate contemporary financial phenomena and to promote a re-examination and possibly an adjustment of the existing financial structures, which date back to the Bretton Woods agreements of more than 50 years ago and which do not seem to meet present needs. It is interesting to point out, however, that while on the one hand, globalization is inspiring feelings of unease and distrust among some, on the other hand, it appears to have sharpened our awareness of the need for us to work together. Global problems call for a global response; that inescapable truth is now, more than ever before, clearly and urgently understood.
Threats to Peace and Security
The general debate has enabled us to review situations which threaten or undermine international peace and security in various regions of Africa, Asia and Europe. Unfortunately, such situations are many, involving dozens of countries and leaving in their wake death, destruction and millions of refugees. I think I sensed in a number of statements a feeling of frustration at the constraints which the Organization's lack of resources is placing on its ability to take the necessary preventive action or to deal with so many serious conflicts, without, in any case, losing confidence in the United Nations.
The Organization's difficulties in taking rapid, effective action in some cases to avoid breaches of the peace or to restore peace inevitably mean that we must focus on conflict-prevention mechanisms. Many delegations
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referred to the need to strengthen mechanisms which would allow the United Nations to play its preventive role more effectively.
A few days from now, the General Assembly will have an opportunity to make a valuable contribution in this regard when it takes up the topic "The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa", on which the Secretary-General has produced an excellent report, for which I thank him.
The peoples of several regions of Africa are currently enduring unspeakable privations as a result of natural disasters and serious internal and inter-State conflicts. It is clear from all the statements made in the general debate that the Assembly wishes to devote special attention to the situation in Africa. I hope that the Assembly will be able to consider the issue in depth on a priority basis and that it will succeed in determining how the United Nations might provide the African countries with rapid, effective assistance.
This debate has shown that the international community is becoming increasingly impatient with the lack of progress in the search for solutions to other conflicts whose prolongation poses a serious threat to peace and security. Some of these conflicts are included in our agenda and I hope that we will be able to adopt substantive, meaningful resolutions on them. In this regard, we have seen some encouraging signs which we all hope will have a positive impact on the overall situation in the Middle East. I am referring to the statements made by Israel and Palestine in the general debate confirming their respective desire to complete the peace process and their willingness to resume negotiations leading to a positive end to this long- standing conflict.
Disarmament
The debate inevitably revealed that there is still profound, widespread concern at the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Numerous references were made to the events which occurred this year and which showed that this concern is fully justified, and this prompted a large number of representatives to be more peremptory in calling on countries which have not yet done so to join non-proliferation regimes. Accordingly, we will have to find ways to promote the strengthening of the legal framework needed to put a final end to the arms race, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing. Fortunately, in the course of the debate, we also received encouraging signals from countries heavily involved in this problem which pledged to accede to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. In this context, I must mention the imminent entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. We must vigorously promote universal
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accession to the Convention in order to ensure the complete elimination of those lethal, cowardly devices.
Terrorism
The problem of terrorism was one of the topics singled out with greatest frequency by the speakers. On the basis of the numerous references made to the issue in the general debate, one may easily conclude that governments hope that the United Nations will continue the battle against terrorism by expanding the legal framework for its suppression. It is to be hoped also that progress will be made in achieving the goal of reducing organized crime, particularly that which is associated with drug trafficking. I trust that we can reach agreements on these topics that will represent genuine progress in our work.
Human Rights
The participants in the general debate have borne in mind that this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is undoubtedly an occasion worth commemorating, since the adoption of the Declaration served as the springboard for an irreversible process of internationalization of the protection and guarantee of human rights, a process that in recent years has culminated in the establishment of international tribunals for the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators of grave human rights violations and other serious crimes.
This circumstance can, however, conceal from us the fact that vast segments of humanity continue to suffer violations of their rights. It is for our Organization, and this Assembly in particular, to pursue the effort to complete the institutional legal framework on which the system of protection of these rights is based. The adoption of the draft declaration on the protection of human rights defenders, which we hope will be by consensus, will be the best tribute that the Assembly could give.
I also hope that we can adopt significant decisions on the strengthening of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, on the protection of the rights of women and children and, especially, on the role of children in armed conflicts.
Institutional Reform
Throughout the debate, abundant references have been made to the United Nations as the most appropriate, although not the only, tool for grappling with these and other problems and challenges. It is clearly evident, however, that this tool must be sharpened in order to adapt it to new times. The topic of the reform of United Nations procedures and Charter has been a constant and
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recurring theme of the statements. They reflect a greater awareness of the difficulties in the way of achieving immediately the profound changes that are needed. We all recognize that reform will be the outcome of a process that must be carried out with caution, on the basis of an intellectual undertaking that requires deep thought, careful analysis, a spirit of cooperation and time. I trust that when the moment comes to restart negotiations, we will be able at this session to reach basic agreements that will place us on the road to a lasting solution acceptable to us all.
Naturally, the efforts to strengthen the functioning and institutional structure of the Organization in order to increase its efficiency will be futile if its economic situation remains permanently precarious. This debate has again shown that the Organization will be unable to accomplish its tasks fully if it does not receive the necessary economic resources.
It is impossible in these brief remarks to reflect the richness and profundity of the ideas and initiatives presented during the general debate. I have allowed myself to make these compressed and limited summaries in order to remind you that the task before us in the next few weeks is formidable. I trust that intelligence, dedication, a spirit of cooperation and tolerance and other qualities will make this task feasible and easier. Vast sectors of opinion expect a great deal from this session of the General Assembly, and we are duty-bound not to disappoint them.
I express thanks to all, and to the Secretariat, and urge you to work with dedication and commitment for the cause of international peace.
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