SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS ASSEMBLY DEBATE ON DURABLE PEACE IN AFRICA, IMMEDIATE AND DRAMATIC ACTION NEEDED TO EASE AFRICA'S DEBT BURDEN

9 October 1998

Press Release
GA/9475

SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS ASSEMBLY DEBATE ON DURABLE PEACE IN AFRICA, IMMEDIATE AND DRAMATIC ACTION NEEDED TO EASE AFRICA'S DEBT BURDEN

19981009 Africa's Initiatives to Solve Continent's Problems Must Be Supported by International Resources, Burkina Faso Says

Immediate and dramatic action was needed to ease the debt burden facing Africa's poorest nations, the Secretary-General told the General Assembly this morning as it began consideration of durable peace and development in Africa, as well as the causes of conflict on the continent.

As the Secretary-General introduced his report on the topic, which had been under review in the Security Council since April, he said all efforts to secure peace in Africa must be combined with those to end poverty. While Africa's fate lay primarily in African hands, development partners could do more to support African nations struggling to achieve lasting prosperity. Next week, the Secretary-General said he would hold a panel discussion on debt relief with high-level personalities on African development, from which he expected new and innovative ideas to emerge on "how we may be more effective in our efforts to end Africa's debt problem".

The representative of Burkina Faso, speaking on behalf of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), said although the United Nations had not shirked its responsibilities to address conflicts in Africa, it should be even more involved. The OAU was independently trying to find solutions to African problems. Nonetheless, its initiatives must be supported by the Organization, as conflict management often required deployment of human and material resources that were beyond the scope of African countries.

The representative of Austria, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building efforts should go beyond the repair of infrastructures and address root causes of conflicts. Development cooperation played an important role in the aftermath of conflict, when humanitarian assistance efforts should shift towards long-term development. Development planning should begin during a conflict with an aim to build a constituency for peace and stability, he said.

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Speaking about the need to reduce Africa's debt burden, the representative of Malaysia said it was unfortunate that some African countries had accumulated debt as a result of high spending on arms. It might, he said, be worthwhile for African States to consider reducing substantially their defence budgets and, in particular, arms purchases. That was necessary to inculcate a new culture of peace in Africa and assist in bringing about greater confidence on the part of Africa's external partners.

Statements were also made this morning by the representatives of Argentina, Algeria, India, Ukraine, Bangladesh, China, Kuwait, Republic of Korea, Egypt and Libya.

The Assembly will meet again this afternoon at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to begin its considerations of a new agenda item on causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa.

It had before it a report of the Secretary-General (document A/52/871) prepared in response to a request from the Security Council made in September 1997 during a ministerial-level meeting convened to consider ways to promote peace and security in Africa. The six-part report, first presented to the Security Council in April, offers a realistic analysis of the sources of conflicts in Africa and why they persist. It also strives to present realistic and achievable recommendations to reduce, if not end, those conflicts.

In his report, the Secretary-General suggests three areas which deserve particular attention. First, African nations must demonstrate the will to rely upon political, rather than military, responses to problems. Democratic channels for pursuing legitimate interests and expressing dissent must be protected; political opposition must be respected and accommodated in constitutional forms.

Second, Africa must summon the will to take good governance seriously, ensuring respect for human rights and the rule of law; strengthening democratization; and promoting transparency and developing capability in public administration. If not, the Secretary-General states, Africa will not break free of the threat or the reality of conflicts that are so evident today. Third, Africa must enact and adhere to the reforms needed to promote economic growth. Long-term success can be achieved only if African governments have the political will to enact sound economic policies and to persevere in their implementation until a solid economic foundation has been established.

The report offers a number of recommendations to resolve the African problem, while also considering their causes. On the issue of arms trafficking, the Secretary-General urges Member States to pass laws which would allow violations of Security Council embargoes to be brought before national courts. The Council should urgently consider how the Organization might help compile, track and publicize information on arms trafficking. In addition, African governments should reduce the purchase of arms and munitions to 1.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), and maintain zero-growth defence budgets for the next decade.

Sanctions, the Secretary-General says, are too often blunt instruments and should be better targeted by, for example, freezing the assets of decision makers, their organizations and their families, as well as through restrictions on travel. In conflicts where civilians had been deliberately targeted, combatants should be held financially liable to their victims under

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international law. International legal machinery should be developed to help find and seize the assets of transgressors.

To confront the issue of refugees, the Secretary-General calls for the establishment of an international machinery to help host governments maintain the security and neutrality of refugee camps. Such camps should be located away from borders, with combatants separated from genuine refugees.

Turning to economic aspects, the Secretary-General says that the Bretton Woods institutions should consider providing "peace-friendly" structural adjustment programmes. He notes that conditionalities must also not be antithetical to a peace process. Development assistance should be restructured to focus on high-impact programmes, including rural water supply, basic education and primary health services. Donors should ensure that 50 per cent of their aid to Africa is spent on that continent. On debt and trade, the scope of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be expanded, since only four African countries had so far met the conditions which had been set.

Creditors are urged to convert all remaining official bilateral debt of the poorest African countries into grants. Creditors should consider clearing the entire debt stock of the poorest African countries, as requested by the Organization of African Unity (OAU). In addition, during the next summit of the "Group of Seven" industrialized countries and Russia, the elimination of trade barriers to African products should be considered. On international business practices, the report recommends that countries implementing the Convention Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions should set a timetable for early enactment of national legislation. The OAU should draw up, by the year 2000, an African convention on the conduct of public officials and the transparency of public administration.

In making recommendations directly to the Security Council, the Secretary-General believes it should meet every two years at the ministerial level to assess efforts and actions to support peace and development in Africa. The Council should also consider convening, within five years, a summit-level session for the same purpose.

The Security Council's consideration of the report began on 24 April during a day-long debate on the situation in Africa. On 28 May, the Council, by resolution 1160 (1998), established an Ad Hoc Working Group to review all the Secretary-General's recommendations. The Council also decided to work closely with the OAU and to meet at the ministerial level twice a year. The Working Group comprises all Council members. The Working Group was instructed to prepare a framework for the implementation of the Secretary-General's recommendations and submit specific proposals for concrete action for consideration by the Council by September. Six subgroups were established to

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look at the main recommendations of the Secretary-General's report. Three of those subgroups have presented documents concerning their work. The Council has, thus far, considered the work of three subgroups.

On 16 September, the Council considered the work of the subgroup dealing with strengthening the effectiveness of Council-imposed arms embargoes. Adopting resolution 1196 (1998) that day, the Council encouraged each Member State to consider adopting legislation or other legal measures to make the violation of embargoes established by the Council a criminal offence. It also encouraged the Chairmen of the Security Council committees charged with monitoring arms embargoes in Africa, to establish channels of communication with regional and subregional organizations and bodies, in addition to other sources of information, including Member States, in order to improve the monitoring of arms embargoes.

At the same meeting, the Council issued a presidential statement based on the work of the subgroup looking into the strengthening of Africa's peacekeeping capacity (S/PRST/1998/28). The Council encouraged increased bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of peacekeeping, especially capacity-building, among Member States, the United Nations and the OAU, as well as subregional organizations in Africa. The Secretary-General was requested to study ways to improve the availability of logistics for peacekeeping efforts in Africa.

The Council, meeting on 18 September, reviewed the work of the subgroup concerning regional cooperation. It adopted resolution 1197 (1998) by which it urged the Secretary-General to assist in the establishment in the OAU of an early warning system, and in strengthening in making operational the OAU's conflict- management centre and its situation room.

Three other subgroups have not yet concluded their work. Their themes are: an international mechanism to assist host governments in maintaining the security and neutrality of refugee camps; arms flows, particularly with regard to suppliers and intermediaries; and enhancing the capacity of the Council to monitor activities authorized by it.

The Security Council meet again at the ministerial-level on 24 September to assess the overall progress in achieving peace and security in Africa. Addressing the Council during that meeting, the Secretary-General praised the serious and constructive work of the Council during the six months since the issuance of the report. The United Nations Secretariat, he said, was vigorously working on follow-up activities to Security Council action, whose implementation was being monitored by the Deputy Secretary-General. While noting positive developments in a number of African countries seeking to make the transition from dictatorship to democracy, he said that movement away from rule of the gun seemed the exception rather than the norm.

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During that meeting, the Council urgently called on African States and all parties concerned to demonstrate the political will to settle their disputes by peaceful rather than military means. In making a presidential statement (S/PRST/1998/29), the Council urged its Working Group to make further concrete recommendations, particulary with regard to: stemming the illicit arms flow; assisting host governments in Africa in maintaining the security and neutrality of refugee camps; and enhancing the Council's ability to monitor activities authorized by it, but carried out by Member States or coalitions of Member States.

Statements

KOFI ANNAN, Secretary-General, opening today's discussion, told the General Assembly that the real value of his report on the cause of conflict in Africa would be measured by the tangible and lasting difference made in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable of Africa's people. The report aimed to contribute to Africa's progress in two distinct ways: first, by paying the peoples of that continent the tribute of truth -- by honestly and candidly reporting their challenges and aspirations to the world; and second, by proposing realistic and achievable recommendations for how those challenges could be met.

All efforts to secure peace in Africa had to be combined with steps aimed at ending Africa's poverty, he emphasized. While the burden of responsibility for Africa's fate lay in African hands, the continent's development partners could also do more to assist its struggle for lasting prosperity. Last month, at an informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Development Assistance Committee countries, governments reaffirmed support for recommendations in the report. Also, some reported they had already acted on support pledges and were taking concrete steps to that end.

However, many governments had stressed the need for African States to create enabling environments for investment and economic growth, he continued. There must be reciprocity, he added. No one could be expected to invest in unstable or insecure neighbourhoods. Last Tuesday, the Secretary-General said, he had met with Robert Rubin, the United States Secretary of the Treasury, to discuss the current global economic situation and United Nations responses. He said he had urged immediate and dramatic action on the debt situation facing Africa's poorest nations. He had also pointed out that none of those countries had played any part in the economic crisis but they were suffering from its fallout, especially due to the drop in commodity prices.

During that meeting, he continued, he had again stressed the need to ease access to the HIPC-Debt Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF, and urged that its requirements be made more flexible to allow for genuine relief. He informed the Assembly that next week he would hold a panel discussion on debt relief with high-level personalities on African development. He expected the emergence of new and innovative ideas on "how we may be more effective in

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our efforts to end Africa's debt problem". He was confident that the Assembly's consideration of his report would add renewed momentum to its implementation, and inspire all who laboured in Africa's service to do more and do better. The global economic crisis was now a threat not only to Africa's prospects for growth, but to its attempts to secure free and democratic societies.

MICHEL KAFANDO (Burkina Faso), speaking on behalf of the OAU, said that the United Nations had not shirked its responsibilities in addressing the issue of conflicts in Africa. However, the United Nations should be even more involved. The OAU was independently trying to find solutions to African problems, but its initiatives had to be supported by the United Nations. Management of conflict situations often required deployment of human and material resources that were beyond the scope of possibilities of African countries.

As the Secretary-General had mentioned in his report, he continued, after the United Nations had failed to restore peace in Somalia, the international community became reluctant to intervene in other African countries, as was the case in Rwanda. For there to be a renewal of confidence between the United Nations and the people of Africa, the Organization must show real commitment to address African problems. The African States have committed to working towards establishment of democratic society and promoting respect for human rights. African nations hoped that the international community would support achievement of those commitments and soften the financial situation in Africa, reducing the debt burden and opening international markets to African products.

The OAU was planning to organize an economic summit for Africa next year, to provide an innovative forum of dealing with the problems of impoverishment, globalization and famine. The support of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank would encourage serious results from that meeting.

ERNST SUCHARIPA (Austria), speaking on behalf of the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Iceland, said in mobilizing the political will called for by the Secretary-General, the European Union was preparing for a summit with the African States in the year 2000. While avoiding overlaps with other existing forums, that summit would offer a unique opportunity to debate political and economic subjects of common interests at the highest political level. Since 1995, the European Union had adopted several documents which formed the current basis of its policy in violent conflicts in Africa and expressed its commitment to address potential trouble spots at an early stage and strengthen early warning capacities. That meant a focus on the root causes of conflicts, such as the imbalance of political, socio-economic or cultural opportunities among different groups; the lack of legitimacy and effective governance; the absence of effective mechanisms for

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the peaceful conciliation of group interests; and the lack of a vibrant society.

The European Union believed that African nations held the primary responsibility for the prevention and resolution of violent conflicts, he said. At the same time, the international community could not be indifferent to events in Africa. The Union supported efforts to enhance African capacities and the development of means of action in conflict prevention and resolution, particularly through support for the OAU and subregional organizations' initiatives. Post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building aimed at preventing future conflicts called for more than the repair of physical infrastructure. The purpose of peace-building efforts was to address the root causes of conflicts in a targeted manner. Development cooperation had to play an important role in that regard.

The Union drew attention to the social and economic consequences of violent conflict on women, and reiterated that a gender perspective had to be fully taken into consideration, he said. He endorsed the Secretary-General's notion of establishing "zones of peace" for children caught in conflicts. All States and parties to conflicts must respect existing international standards, to stop the use of children as combatants and to support the work of the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu. Humanitarian action had to address humanitarian needs and facilitate recovery and reconstruction efforts. In the aftermath of conflict, humanitarian assistance had to be a step towards development and promote long- term development objectives. A mix of activities and partnerships were needed. Development planning should be undertaken during a conflict with an aim to build a constituency for peace and stability. In that context, more sophisticated, consolidated appeals and strategic frameworks would be essential.

FERNANDO ENRIQUE PETRELLA (Argentina) said that the Secretary-General's report was pragmatic and showed that economic and social development in Africa was not possible without political stability and the fulfilment of basic human needs. The conflict prevention and early warning system on the continent had played a crucial role in addressing recent conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone. African countries were actively participating in regional conflict- resolution mechanisms with a high degree of professionalism.

Objectives in the Council's Ad Hoc Working Group should focus on curbing illicit arms, protecting the neutrality of refugee camps and on coalition building, he said. Africa's economic growth continued to be hindered by its heavy debt burden and decline in commodity prices. Promoting development and good citizenship on the continent entailed ensuring minimum living standards. Argentina had supported African development at the multilateral level. It had initiated mutual cooperation programmes with African countries on State reform, privatization and pest control.

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HASMY AGAM (Malaysia) said the initiative by the United Nations aimed at confidence-building and promoting common security and development in Africa was a major step in the right direction. However, the primary responsibility to achieve security and development was that of the governments of Africa.

All African nations should pursue peaceful means to prevent armed conflict, he continued. It was especially important that States outside of Africa refrain from taking unilateral actions, which could further inflame situations in Africa. His country agreed with the Secretary-General's assertion that the uncontrolled flow of arms increased tension in potential conflict areas and destabilized the continent.

It was unfortunate that some African countries had gotten into debt as a result of high spending related to arms purchases, he said. African States might consider reducing substantially their defence budgets and, in particular, arms purchases, he said. Such an effort could inculcate a new culture of peace in Africa and bring about greater confidence on the part of its external partners.

ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said Africa was suffering from colonial dismemberment that had disturbed potential national cohesion and paved the way for the tribalism that now prevailed. If Africa lagged so far behind the rest of the world, it was because it virtually had to start from nothing due to the plunder of its resources during the colonial era.

The greatest challenge facing Africa today was underdevelopment, he said. The continent must be supported in its recovery efforts and the international community must go beyond its immediate efforts. Current initiatives of the Organization were extremely modest. The lack of resources mitigated against the effectiveness of programmes and prevented them from properly targeting development. On the other hand, international cooperation and development assistance simply represented excuses for non-action rather than genuine resolve to assist Africa in its recovery efforts. The General Assembly and the Bretton Woods institutions must help find ways and means for Africa to pursue its recovery.

Another problem was the proliferation of conflict on African soil, he said. The international community had an obligation it must not shirk. Conflict prevention was key. However, respect for the sovereignty of States was also vital. Furthermore, humanitarian assistance should not be presented as an alternative to preventing or settling conflicts. Addressing the proliferation of weapons, he said the reduction of arms expenditure in Algeria was under way. Arms supply networks should be broken by resolute efforts of international disarmament bodies.

SALEEM IQBAL SHERVANI, Member of Parliament of India, said a number of countries had suffered from similar circumstances and could identify with the challenges facing Africa. What Africa had not received, while devastated

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Europe had, was an infusion of resources matching its needs. Its development had been stymied by a paucity of financial resources. Development assistance and value-added exports represented a trickle of resources into Africa. Africa was not, and must not be seen as, inherently unstable and ravaged by conflict. Analysis had demonstrated that decline or stagnation in parts of Africa had been caused by a combination of domestic pressures, external shocks, and artificial and extraneous adjustment models imposed on them. Also, globalization had brought manifold problems. The fact that countries in transition needed massive financial support to pre-empt pressures and to secure democracy was recognized in Eastern Europe. It was unfortunate that Africa, which was in a similar situation, had not received anywhere near the same support.

India was concerned over the significant decline in levels of funding for humanitarian assistance, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of programme requirements, he said. The perception that the decline was related to the political significance of crises or levels of media interest must be corrected. Although India favoured the Secretary-General's emphasis on export-led growth, rising levels of protectionism in developed markets, frequent use of anti-dumping duties and countervailing measures, tariff escalation and tariff peaks, all tended to negate the comparative advantages of developing countries. The international community must act together to ensure the availability of market access to products from Africa. In conclusion, he reiterated the call to examine the usefulness of an international conference or a special session of the General Assembly to focus on the special needs of Africa.

VOLODYMYR YEL'CHENKO (Ukraine) said Member Sates could not be indifferent to the fact that nearly one third of the 42 countries of sub-Saharan Africa were engaged in conflicts or civil wars. The issues of peace, security and stability in Africa should be addressed simultaneously with the sustainable economic development of the continent.

The United Nations should be ready to meet those challenges through its peacekeeping operations, good offices missions and emergency relief programmes, he continued. At the same time, broader international efforts, such as the imposition of sanctions, could succeed only if they were supported by all countries of the region. His delegation supported the implementation of the Secretary-General's recommendation to improve coordination and the exchange of information between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations of Africa.

ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said institutions and Member States should consider the recommendations outlined in the Secretary-General's report and take action on their own. The prevention of conflict began and ended with the promotion of human security and human development. African conflicts had their roots in social discrimination, economic deprivation and lack of accountability in government. The international community should encourage

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political solutions to conflicts, working through special mediators and commissioners. It could use the resources of regional organizations, such as the OAU, to gather political will in support of resolving conflicts.

His Government believed that the lack of development was the source of all conflicts in Africa and, therefore, the international community needed to encourage African countries to focus on investing in the social sector, he said. Investment in human resources must not be seen as merely a by-product of economic growth, but as a driving force for development. He called for substantial investment in women and girls' education and empowerment.

No domestic efforts would be successful in the developing countries, especially Africa, unless they were matched by equally robust international support, he said. He fully supported using at least 50 per cent of donor aid in Africa, as well as converting the bilateral debts of the poorest countries into grants. Beside debt support and improved market access for the less developed African countries, South-South cooperation must be improved. Relatively advanced neighbouring countries could consider providing market access to products from the African least developed countries on a non-reciprocal basis. Regional and subregional integration could help overcome handicaps in economic activities.

SHEN GUOFANG (China) said African countries represented an important political force that should not be overlooked. The international community had to look at Africa from the strategic height of global peace and development; pay real attention to its stability; and treat it as an equal partner in development. Resolving conflicts and maintaining stability on the continent were arduous tasks for the United Nations. At the same time, the international community must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African countries and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs. China believed that the United Nations should increase its input in Africa; play a constructive role as coordinator in settling conflicts; and provide, in tandem with regional efforts, the necessary assistance to African countries when legitimately and reasonably requested.

Attention should be given to promoting development in Africa, he said. Promotion of sustainable development of the African economy would help resolve conflicts and realize lasting peace. Although the economic situation in Africa had improved in recent years, the overall reality was still grim. Despite their efforts, African countries still faced the danger of being marginalized in the globalization process. The international community, especially the developed countries, must honour the commitments regarding funds, debt, market and goods. A sound and development-friendly external environment must be available to Africa. He hoped that organizations concerned would, on the basis of a good understanding and knowledge of Africa, work out a feasible and specific programme that suited the national conditions in those countries.

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MOHAMMAD A. ABULHASAN (Kuwait) said several factors were at play within the context of the African problem, including colonialism, external intervention and economic problems. In the final analysis, however, the primary responsibility for the situation in Africa was that of all those who had allowed conflicts to expand and deteriorate. In that regard, he emphasized the kindling of ethnic and tribal hatred. All of those problems had detracted from the continent's focus on the primary objective of development. Kuwait was providing substantial development assistance to African countries, he said. However, Kuwait agreed with the view that African States should ensure an enabling environment for economic and sustainable development. They should also move beyond the spectres of war and bloody scenarios. The human element lay behind successful plans for the sustainable development of Africa. Ensuring development required political motivation and regional cooperation.

LEE SEE-YOUNG (Republic of Korea) said that solutions to Africa's problems required the mobilization of a collective political will. Means of preventing conflicts using early warning and preventive action must be strengthened. To that end, he welcomed the establishment of a trust fund for conflict prevention and encouraged Member States to contribute to it to enable the Secretary-General to expand his initiatives in conflict prevention. Closer ties between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations should be cultivated.

The need to improve training and information for African peacekeeping capacity-building was not the crucial issue, he said. How to provide logistical support to African troops at the early stages of conflicts, however, was of vital importance. The international community should consider establishing a stand-by arrangement for logistical support. There was an urgent need to alleviate humanitarian suffering caused by conflicts on the continent. Particular attention should be paid to the protection of humanitarian assistance efforts in conflict situations.

Further, it was essential to ensure the security and neutrality of refugee camps, he added. Serious thought should be given to how to separate combatants from refugees and displaced persons. In that regard, he supported the concept of "a ladder of options" proposed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, in April. Halting the flow of arms into and around Africa was also a necessity. His Government fully supported Council's recent call to enhance the effectiveness of arms embargoes already in place. Given the cross-border movement of arms, country-specific arms embargoes did not suffice to stem their flow. He proposed the establishment of a regional or subregional regime to control the arms flow in Africa. Practical ways to control the movement of armed persons, including militia and mercenaries, needed to be explored. Recognizing the need to facilitate private sector development in Africa, his country would host an "Asia-Africa trade and investment forum" towards the end of the year.

NABIL ELARABY (Egypt) said that, at present, ambitions on the part of the international community far exceeded real input in support of Africa. International organizations and agencies should be sensitized to the needs of

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Africa. The momentum of economic reform for African countries should be coupled with interest in the human and social situation there.

Continuing, he welcomed the recommendations of the Secretary-General concerning the protection of refugees and underlined the importance of considering the human aspect of the problem of refugees in Africa. As a means of ensuring their safety, he supported creation of an international body to help the host countries deal with the flow of refugees and displaced persons. Technical assistance should also be provided to vulnerable countries. Maintaining peace and security in a host country should be taken into consideration.

Turning to specific conflicts, he said that continuation of the crisis in Somalia was unacceptable. The United Nations should facilitate national reconciliation and peace there. Egypt supported the efforts of all the parties concerned and stressed the importance of the continued presence of the United Nations. The issue of lifting the sanctions against Libya should also be a priority. The matters related to the trial of suspects in the case of the crash of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie should be solved in good faith, in the near future, through the good offices of the Secretary-General.

Stopping the spread of arms also required urgent attention, he said. Militarization was linked to the illegal flow of small arms, which should be confronted on all levels. He supported the Secretary-General's idea of collecting information in that area and stressed the importance of effective coordination between the United Nations, the OAU and the regional bodies.

ISA BABAA (Libya) said the discussion today was important because it gave another opportunity to shed more light on the problems of Africa and to examine ways to ensure sustainable development on the continent. The Secretary-General's report said the causes of conflict were racial and political in nature. Libya felt that the main cause was external -- certain countries had ravaged Africa and divided it. They sowed the seeds of internal conflict, racial tensions and civil war. Since the continent's resources had been plundered, the economic front had fared just as badly as the social front. Infrastructure was either neglected or lacking. Often, the financial concessions submitted by many multilateral concerns imparted conditions that mitigated against social welfare. Also many governments were forced to sell economic sectors, not to African private sector interests, but to international monopolies.

He said assistance for Africa must focus on supporting the potential of Africa. Comprehensive action needed to be taken in such areas as foreign debt. If economic and trade cooperation agreements were not reached, if support was not given, if debt was not removed, African countries would never be able to meet the basic needs of their people. The continent had heard too many declarations -- it was now necessary to find solutions to issues. Without development in Africa, there would be no peace, prosperity or stability in the world. He also cited the coercive economic measures imposed on some countries in Africa by others, as contributing to the suffering of the African people.

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