VOTING PRACTICE, NOT `SHOP-WORN ISSUE OF NON-PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP" KEY IN SECURITY COUNCIL, GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD

Press Release
GA/9620

VOTING PRACTICE, NOT `SHOP-WORN ISSUE OF NON-PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP’ KEY IN SECURITY COUNCIL, GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD

Stressing that United Nations reform should focus on the Security Council, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Foreign Minister of Estonia, told the General Assembly that the key issue in that body was voting practice, not the shop-worn issue of non-permanent membership.

As the Assembly continued its general debate this afternoon, he went on to say that some permanent members took actions to meet their domestic interests and foreign policy goals in areas irrelevant to the issue at hand. He therefore called on the permanent members of the Council to use the veto with the utmost responsibility.

The guarantors and contributors to stability in the world had changed fundamentally, he noted. Therefore, reforms were needed in the informal regional groups that provided the basis for election procedures. A decade after the end of the cold war the East-West divide had disappeared and regional groups that were products of that divide no longer made sense. To make United Nations structures correspond to today's realities, those regional groups should simply become geographic.

Joao Bernardo De Miranda, Foreign Minister of Angola, expressed his concern about the absence of an international security system. International impunity had been encouraging the leaders of subversive groups to carry out destructive terrorist campaigns. The differentiated treatment accorded to identical situations of human rights violations in some areas of the world made it impossible for international justice to act with the required effectiveness. If the United Nations political and moral power were exerted on all the authors of serious crimes, it would dishearten all those who might be willing to choose subversion and terrorism. He also urged a redefinition of United Nations peacekeeping operations since the lack of political will, ill-faith and the delayed application of pressurized measures underlined the weak success of some missions.

Tofik Zulfugarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, said that more than one fifth of his country had been under foreign occupation for more than six years and, as a result of related ethnic cleansing, one out of seven of its citizens was a refugee or displaced person in his

General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/9620 21st Meeting (PM) 1 October 1999

or her own country. He drew attention to the fact that four Council resolutions on Armenia-Azerbaijan had still not been implemented. The lack of adequate reaction to the violation of the principles of the Charter and to non-compliance with the decisions adopted within the United Nations was seriously undermining the image of the Organization.

Norris Charles, Foreign Affairs Minister of Dominica, said his country and other members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) viewed the dangerous practice of the transshipment of nuclear waste and hazardous substances through the Caribbean as a potentially serious threat to the fragile ecosystem, and to the livelihood and well-being of the region's people. "We call upon the States engaging in the practice to demonstrate some regard for our justifiable concerns", he said. Further, members of CARICOM also called on the Assembly to recognize the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context of sustainable development, and urged the international community to support the concept and its development.

Statements were also made in the general debate this afternoon by the Deputy Prime Minster of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Foreign Ministers of Madagascar, Philippines, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Minister for Internal Affairs of the Marshall Islands, and the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu.

Statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of Syria, Chile, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Bolivia and Israel.

The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow to conclude its general debate.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly continued its general debate this afternoon. The Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Philippines, Vanuatu, Azerbaijan, Mauritania, Dominica, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Angola, and the Marshall Islands were expected to address the Assembly.

Statements

TOOMAS HENDRIK ILVES, Foreign Minister of Estonia, stressed the need of serious structural reforms, which should focus on the Security Council. The key issue was voting practice, not the shop-worn issue of non-permanent membership. Some permanent members took actions to meet their domestic interests and foreign policy goals in areas irrelevant to the issue. Therefore, he called on the permanent members to use the veto with outmost responsibility. Continuing, he said reforms were needed in the composition of the regional groups that provided the basis for election procedures. A decade after the end of the cold war the East-West divide had disappeared and regional groups that were a product of that divide no longer made sense. To make United Nations structures correspond to today's realities those regional groups should become simply geographic.

Over the years many countries, including Estonia, had benefited from United Nations assistance. Estonia believed it was time to start paying back. Providing development and humanitarian assistance was a logical and moral consequence of the membership in the international community. He expressed his concern about the fact that most United Nations activities -– peacekeeping or economic assistance -- became permanent, and he said that was a sign of failure. The United Nations should concentrate more on preventive actions and on implementing well-planned programmes with a clear exit strategy.

SOMSAVAT LENGSAVAD, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic said that, within the framework of non- proliferation efforts, the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) had signed a treaty proclaiming the region of South-eastern Asia as a nuclear-free zone. In accordance with the principle of sovereign equality, all Members of the United Nations should have an equal status. True to its policy of peace, his country considered that the use of force against a sovereign and independent State without authorization of the Security Council -- whatever the pretext -- was against the norms of international law and the Charter. All conflicts should be resolved only through negotiations. Sensitive work was under way on the reform of the Security Council, he continued, and several interesting initiatives had been put forward. His country was in favour of increasing membership of the Council in both categories, taking into account the principle of equitable representation and the importance of the country. Some countries, including Japan, Germany and India, could become permanent members of the Council.

Turning to the international situation, he welcomed the fact that serious negotiations had resumed between the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Israel. It was essential to resolve all differences on the basis of existing resolutions and agreements. It was also necessary to lift the blockade against Cuba. Peace in the Korean peninsula remained fragile, and he called on the parties to exercise restraint and seek a permanent solution with the aim of peaceful reunification of both parts. In connection with new tensions in the Taiwan Strait, he reaffirmed his country's constant position that Taiwan was an integral part of China, which was the sole representative of the Chinese people.

The problems of land-locked developing countries had been discussed at many international meetings and conferences, but despite some measures taken their problems were far from being solved. Those States were trying to establish and maintain an effective transit transport system and that task required the support of the international community. The recent recommendations of the fourth meeting of experts on small land-locked countries of both developing and developed countries should be translated into reality as soon as possible. His country had achieved self-sufficiency in rice production, which had allowed it to alleviate the economic crisis. In the region, however, drugs continued to be a major concern. The battle against opium and other drugs was being conducted in cooperation with the United Nations Drug Control Programme.

LILA HANITRA RATSIFANDRIHAMANANA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, said that one of the most pressing issues facing the United Nations in the coming century was the reform of the Security Council. It should be expanded based on democracy, transparency and equitable geographical distribution. At this time, respect for democratic principles is an absolute necessity, she said, and the United Nations should play a key role in that area.

In order to accelerate integration of all levels of society, other "high priority" areas were the preservation of democracy, human rights, promoting economic development and the eradication of terrorism. Also, women, children and older persons were often the very first people to be harmed in conflict situations. To that end, Madagascar expressed satisfaction with the Security Council=ðs adoption of the resolutions for the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Disarmament was inseparable from the need to keep peace, she said. Madagascar supported the proposal for an international conference on the financing of terrorism and had demonstrated its determination to eradicate that scourge by just today signing the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.

The spread of poverty and the increase in social inequality due to the inescapable process of globalization could lead to one billion poor in the coming century, she said. The elimination of poverty was a priority. Even though the argument was "old" it was still legitimate. She noted that the outstanding debt of some developing nations was also a problem. It had been reported that the staggering debt of the African continent might never been repaid. She called for its total cancellation.

DOMINGO L. SIAZON, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said the East Asian economic crisis had not destroyed the conditions underpinning the economic growth -- high savings, high productivity, and a well educated population. Today, East Asia was on the road to recovery. Exports were booming, inflation had been tamed, and investors were returning.

Yet, he added, there had been no retreat on the core reform agenda. Economic integration continues. Establishment of the ASEAN free trade area had been accelerated. The Asian Development Bank had been established, a regional economic monitoring and surveillance mechanism, that should encourage transparency, institute better coordination of economic policies, and help ward off future financial crises. Internal reforms, however, were not enough. The crises also exposed weaknesses in the international system. The full participation of developing countries in the global economy was the solution. Sustainable development should be the central theme. The World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, to be held in Seattle late this year, should respond to the development needs of developing countries.

Continuing, he said progress in ensuring security should accompany growth. In East Asia, the most urgent undertaking for ensuring peace was the reconfiguration of the strategic security structure. The holes left gaping by the end of the cold war must be filled, and the new parameters of the regional security equation must be defined. The situation in the Taiwan Strait, missile development in the Korean peninsula, nuclear development and uneasy peace in South Asia, were key issues of concern. The South China Sea was also a potential flashpoint, and he expressed the hope that a regional code of conduct for that area could be adopted at the summit of leaders of ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, scheduled for Manila in November.

CLEMENT LEO, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu, said he was concerned by the continued escalation of international crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, human rights violations, terrorism, organized crimes and other similar activities putting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of small island States at great risk. As a small island developing State, dependent on the ocean for its food, Vanuatu was also concerned with management of the oceans and seas.

He said that last year, with the support of both multilateral and bilateral donor agencies and countries, Vanuatu had initiated a Comprehensive Reform Programme that was still being implemented. Since 80 per cent of her people lived from subsistence farming in rural areas, Vanuatu still needed the special support accorded her as a least developed country (LDC). With the assistance of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Vanuatu was reviewing its situation with regard to being an LDC. The data would be used by the Committee for Development Planning for developing a much needed vulnerability index for LDCs.

Among the issues the United Nations must include in its reform agenda was a full assessment and recognition of the uniqueness of small island developing States, he said. That was particularly true with regard to the impact of international economic crises on the economic performance of small island developing States and, by extension, the sustainability of political stability. The right of self-determination must also hold priority on the agenda. As the United Nations Decade for Decolonization ended next year, all administering Powers should cooperate with territories to work out a time-frame for exercise of the inalienable right to self-determination, self-governance or independence. All concerned parties should uphold the commitments made last year at the signing of the Noumea Accords regarding the indigenous population of New Caledonia, he added.

TOFIC ZULFUGAROV, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, drew the attention of the Assembly to the fact that more than one fifth of his country had been under foreign occupation for more than six years. As a result of related ethnic cleansing, one out of seven of the citizens of Azerbaijan was a refugee or displaced person in his or her own country. Trying to accommodate the aggressor, as well as the eagerness of some mediators to reach an "easy" settlement, only led to continued tension and put off prospects for a settlement of the conflict. Like other countries facing aggression and militant separatism, his country rejected settlement models that infringed on its sovereignty, territorial integrity, the unity of the State, and ran counter to its national interests. It went without saying that an important factor for any settlement was the readiness of the parties involved to find a compromise. The President of Azerbaijan had maintained direct contacts and talks with the President of Armenia. His country hoped that that way could open new possibilities to steer the settlement process out of the deadlock that had taken place last year.

He said Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful settlement and the unconditional implementation of the ceasefire until a political agreement on the cessation of the conflict was agreed. Guided by the spirit of goodwill and a sincere desire to achieve some progress in the settlement process, his President had announced the release of all Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan. He said that an adequate reaction was expected from the Armenian side in the future.

Turning to United Nations reform, he said representation of the Asian, African and Latin American States in all membership categories of the Council should meet modern political realities. Azerbaijan also reconfirmed its support for the election of Germany and Japan as permanent members. He drew attention to the fact that four Council resolutions adopted by the Council on Armenia-Azerbaijan had still not been implemented. The lack of adequate reaction to the violation of the principles of the Charter and to non-compliance with the decisions adopted within the United Nations was seriously undermining the image of the Organization.

He said the fight against international terrorism, organized crime and illegal drug trafficking could only be effective if it was based on joint efforts by countries, both at the regional and international levels. His country supported the idea of convening, in the year 2000, an anti-terrorist conference or special session of the Assembly on that issue and the elaboration of principles on the interaction of States in combating terrorism.

AHMED OULD SID'AHMED, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, said that important changes in the world made the reorganization of the United Nations all the more imperative. He supported the expansion of the Security Council to ensure equitable geographical representation in conformity with the principles of democracy and transparency. The overwhelming debt burden, deterioration of open market prices and weakness of foreign investment in the economies of the developing countries should draw attention to the need to expand the United Nations' sphere of action to the economic and social development of poor countries. He hoped that the recent initiative taken to assist the heavily indebted poor countries would help them to achieve their goals of national development.

He called on the international community to strengthen its efforts to combat terrorism. Recent celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had made it possible to identify the main areas of needed action. The Special Session on Population and Development last June should also be noted. In the sphere of human rights, his country had stepped up its efforts to promote the role of women and eliminate illiteracy. It was also undertaking programmes to provide benefits to the family and the well-being of infants and children.

The foreign policy of his country was based on the principles of neighbourly relations and strengthening regional relations. However, numerous hotbeds of tension in the world threatened to jeopardize international peace and security. In the Middle East, comprehensive application of relevant Security Council resolutions and implementation of existing agreements should allow the peace process to move forward. Today, the resumption of negotiations between all the parties concerned was one of the most urgent measures.

His country rejected any measures which would prejudice the independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait and called for the lifting of sanctions against Iraq, he said. In the Maghreb region, his country was working to develop cooperation and dialogue. On the question of Western Sahara, his country reaffirmed its readiness to promote the United Nations plan for the settlement of the conflict. It was also time for the Security Council to take measures to lift

the embargo against Libya. Regarding the situation in Guinea-Bissau, he welcomed the settlement within the framework of the agreements achieved in Abuja and Lomé and supported the transition government, as well as pluralist elections and reconstruction of the country.

His Government also welcomed the peace accords in Sierra Leone and hoped to see peace and reconciliation there. It also hoped for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There, he welcomed the diplomatic efforts of friendly countries and the signing of the Lusaka Accords. Turning to the situation in Angola, he expressed regret at the resumption of fighting and supported the relevant Security Council resolutions. The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) should respect its obligations under the accords. He also supported efforts to bring about an equitable resolution of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

NORRIS M. CHARLES, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Marketing of Dominica, said poverty eradication was still an unfulfilled promise. The international community must come to the realization that improvement in social and economic conditions was less costly than having to deal with the consequences of sustained economic deprivation and social degradation. The Republic of China on Taiwan, a model of democracy in the Asian region, was able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter. Dominica was concerned that it was denied United Nations membership and believed that situation must be addressed.

The follow-up action and importance the international community placed on the implementation of the many proposals of the recent special session of the General Assembly on Small Island Developing States would determine, not only the success of the special session, but also the credibility of the United Nations and usefulness of those conferences. He said the marine and biological resources around Dominica were under constant and serious threat from a number of sources such as illegal waste dumping by foreign-owned ocean liners; over-fishing by foreign fleets; and use of the Caribbean Sea for the transshipment of nuclear waste. Dominica and other members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) viewed the dangerous practice of the transshipment of nuclear waste and hazardous substances through the Caribbean as a potentially serious threat to the fragile eco-system, and to the livelihood and well-being of the region's people. "We call upon the States engaging in the practice to demonstrate some regard for our justifiable concerns", he said. Further, members of CARICOM also called on the Assembly to recognize the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context of sustainable development.

His country's experience with the World Trade Organization (WTO) had not been a positive one. Its economy and that of other Caribbean banana exporting countries was heavily dependent for their export earnings on a single crop. The WTO banana ruling had contributed to a significant decline in the banana export of CARICOM members. That product was cultivated by small farmers whose main source of income could be wiped out as a result of the WTO ruling. There was growing recognition of the need for a tariff quota as the most acceptable solution. However, North American multinational banana companies were insisting on a simple tariff which would ultimately lead to the demise of small banana producers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States, he continued. "We continue to receive assurances that it is not the intention of our neighbours to the North to hurt the Caribbean producers but their actions indicate otherwise", he said. Turning to other regional matters, he said that the United Nations must continue to condemn the prolonged economic blockade of Cuba.

SEYOUM MESFIN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, said "Whether it is in the area of economic cooperation, or with respect to peace and security, our continent continues to be a region of the world which is the least favoured for effective and meaningful cooperation". From the vantage point of Africa, it was difficult to assert with confidence that the United Nations was "ours", he said. It would be unfair, however, not to acknowledge the critical value of the many types of cooperation Ethiopia had with the United Nations and many of its specialized agencies. And it was also true that Africa, and in particular some of its individual countries, appeared to have a unique way of missing opportunities for making progress in the areas of peace and development. But whatever the causes of Africa's predicament, the spirit of common destiny, interdependence and the ideals of the United Nations Charter should have obliged the international community to be more forthcoming in rendering effective cooperation to regions such as Africa so that they could overcome the obstacles to development faced by their peoples.

The United Nations was about to enter the next century with its credibility in tatters with regard to its collective security system, he said. "The genocide in Rwanda is a source of shame for Africa, but it was also a reminder of the double standards that Africa has been subjected to." Somalia and its people had been left to their own devices, regardless of the consequences to the peace and security of their neighbours. That was another example of the type of conflict that failed to illicit the serious attention of the United Nations and its Security Council. "The conflict in Somalia is indeed complex", he said, "but it is no more complex than conflicts in other parts of the world". Somalia had been embroiled in conflict for the last nine years, not because the conflict was intractable but because it was neglected.

After a period of peace and economic growth, tragedy had struck Ethiopia in May 1998 in the form of unprovoked aggression by Eritrea, he said. Eritrea's pattern of destructive behaviour had reeked havoc not just in Ethiopia but it was also a major source of destabilization for the entire subregion, particularly Somalia. As Somalia had no functioning State at all, Eritrea's influence had been particularly corrosive. It was now actively collaborating with the warlords of Somalia by arming and training them and financing their fratricidal conflict. The Eritrean Government was now working "hand in glove" with international terrorists and financing and training them in what could only be the further destabilization of States in the region.

He said Ethiopia had tried for nine months to ensure the reversal of the Eritrean aggression through peaceful methods to no avail. "And most regrettable, the United Nations failed us", he said. The members of the Security Council had known at the outset that Eritrea had committed naked and unprovoked aggression against Ethiopia, but they had chosen to characterize what was a blatant, fundamental principle of international law as a mere border dispute.

"This, to say the least, is an evasion of the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security", he said. The episode also raised the larger issue of the ability of the United Nations to be a guardian of principles of international law.

"The United Nations is at a crossroads", he said. It could not limp along into the next century with all its weaknesses unattended to. Reforms were necessary. "The Security Council cannot remain as it is, unrepresentative and unresponsive to the interests of the majority, he said." The credibility of the United Nations needed to be reviewed.

HAILE WELDENSAE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, said this year had seen some of the bloodiest inter- and intra-State conflicts in Africa, Asia and Europe. Of those, Sub-Saharan Africa had been the part of the world that had suffered the most. Almost 20 countries had been afflicted by armed civil conflict or inter-State war. It was not surprising that almost all of the countries that had suffered economic relapse were the ones embroiled in conflict.

In almost all cases, conflicts had been the intrinsic cause of famine and violations of human rights and other humanitarian crises. Various reasons, including ethnic and religious hatred, economic and political grievance and unemployment had been advanced as the root causes of conflicts. While those factors were valid, the determination to achieve territorial expansion by the use or threat of military force had been a great determinant of conflict in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea, the victim of Ethiopia's territorial ambition, was one such example.

From the beginning of the conflict, Eritrea had consistently attempted to engage Ethiopia in dialogue to amicably resolve all problems related to their common border, he said. Eritrea had accepted, despite its grave reservations, the Framework Agreement submitted to both parties in 1998. At the OAU Summit in 1999, Eritrea had readily accepted the Modalities for the Agreement’s Implementation. In fact, however, the Modalities satisfied unfair and unwarranted new preconditions made by Ethiopia. Ethiopia had subsequently rejected the Technical Arrangements, an implementing procedure of the Framework Agreement and the Modalities. One week later, Ethiopia's President had announced that the country would use force to impose its will over disputed territory.

He stressed that it was easy to identify which of the parties was committed to peace and which one was committed to war and aggression. "If war is imposed on us, we must -- and will -- fight to safeguard the sovereignty of our country and to preserve our dignity as a people", he said. It was necessary to ensure that law and moral principles prevailed against international lawlessness and immorality. Ethiopia's aggression must be a source of deep concern to the international community, and in particular the OAU and the United Nations, which had urged both parties to restrain themselves from the use of force and to solve the conflict by peaceful means.

He said the international community must insist that both parties recognize and respect each other’s rights to live in peace within secure and recognized borders. It was for that reason that Eritrea believed that the Assembly must uphold the decision of the OAU, which had already been endorsed by the Security Council. He called upon the Assembly to denounce Ethiopia’s renewed preparation for war against Eritrea. If there was any lesson to be learned from the past 16 months, it was that nothing could be gained -– and everything might be -– by continued warfare. In that regard, he called for the United Nations and the international community to, among other measures, establish a short time-frame within which Ethiopia must definitively respond to the peace package, and for it to immediately deploy an observer mission to identify the aggression in the event of renewed conflict.

JOAO BERNARDO DE MIRANDA, Minister of External Relations of Angola, expressed his concern about the absence of an international security system under the aegis of the United Nations. International impunity had been encouraging the leaders of subverting groups throughout the world to carry on terrorist and destructive campaigns which had, as their main victims, the civilian population. The differentiated treatment accorded to identical situations of violations of human rights and war crimes occurring in some areas of the world, made it impossible for international justice to act with the required effectiveness. If the political and

moral power of the United Nations were exerted on the authors of serious crimes, it would dishearten those who might be willing to undertake subversion and terrorism. He also called for further work in the area of institutional capacity-building of conflict-prevention bodies, including the regional early warning mechanisms.

Turning to the situation in Angola, he said what remained to be done in the Angolan peace process was to enforce the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol, particularly the complete disarming of all of Jonas Savimbi's military forces and the restoration of the State's administration throughout the national territory. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had declared Mr. Savimbi a war criminal and he should be so treated by the international community. The Angolan Government reiterated its commitment to lasting peace, he added.

A new constitution was being prepared, which would reinforce the rule of law and substantiate the type of society the Government wished to establish in Angola, he said. He drew attention to the current implementation of social-impact economic programmes, and, in that context, called upon Member States to support the draft resolution that Angola was submitting to the General Assembly on the country’s economic rehabilitation. He also called upon the international community for aid in the removal of anti-personnel mines.

Continuing, he stressed the need for reforms and an increase in the membership of the Security Council, to make the decision-making process more transparent. To that effect, it was essential that all the regions be equitably represented. He reaffirmed the position of non-aligned countries on reform of the Council, as well as the African common position adopted by the OAU.

HIROSHI YAMAMURA, Minister for Internal Affairs of the Marshall Islands, said that while his country had been chosen for nuclear testing for the good of mankind, it had not turned out so well for many of his compatriots, as many had been displaced and affected by the contamination. It did not seem like the medical and social problems would go away soon. There were some positive developments arising from his country's talks with the former Administering Authority. However, the problems were very difficult, and the required international expertise was not forthcoming. He reiterated his country's call, which had first been made at the 1995 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Conference, that such expertise for remedial measures, as well as scientific and technical assistance, must be made available. The Marshall Islands sought to have a 2000 NPT Conference fully address that concern.

It would be counterproductive if the outcome of last week's special session were not fully reflected in the Organization's other deliberations, he continued. The full agenda before the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) was indicative of the continued concern over the problems of small island developing States. At the national level, his country would do its part through the national commission on sustainable development. At the regional level, his country intended to cooperate with other Pacific Island Countries organizations.

His country was deeply concerned over the problem of climate change, which should be addressed immediately, he said. Industrialized countries must take precautionary measures and urgently reduce their emissions. Lack of action would be an invitation for genocide of island peoples around the world.

The Government of the Marshall Islands had approved a solar energy policy, which it hoped to begin implementing soon with the support of the United Nations Trust Fund for New and Renewable Energy and the Government of Italy, he said. His country had been honoured to host the Alliance of Small Island States workshop on

climate change this year. It was also continuing its efforts to improve the governance of the oceans. Work was under way to develop a regional treaty that would address the issues of fisheries conservation and measures of sustainable management. As for promotion of human rights, the Constitution of the Marshall Islands defined respect for human rights as the fundamental obligation of the Government. It set out the basic parameters in the holding of free elections, the right of free speech and the right to economic and social development.

Right of Reply

MIKHAIL WEHBE (Syria) said it was not the first time that the Assembly had heard statements by the Israeli representative against peace based on falsification of facts and attempts to mislead the international community. The statement made yesterday by the Israeli representative was nothing more than the position of the previous Israeli Government and one he hoped would not be perpetuated by the new Government. The denial of the Trust transmitted by former Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, to Syria on 1 July 1994, through the United States, showed either that the Israeli representative was ignorant of the facts of the Trust, or that he chose purposely to ignore them, based on his enmity to peace, Security Council resolutions, the principle of land for peace and full withdrawal for complete peace.

He said his intention was not to revisit the Israeli statement made yesterday. It was to inform the international community, which supported the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace, about the facts on what had taken place on the Syrian track during the tenure of Prime Minister Rabin. The United States Secretary of State at the time had informed Syria in 1994 of Mr. Rabin's agreement to withdraw from Golan to the line of 1967 as a commitment to take up the remaining elements of the peace agreements. President Al Hassad of Syria had raised two questions to the United States Secretary of State to satisfy himself about the accuracy of the Israeli offer. The first had been, did Prime Minister Rabin mean withdrawal from all the territories to the line of June 4 1967? To that, the Secretary of State had said yes. Second: was there any Israeli claim to any tract of land inside the line of 4 June 1967. The answer had been that there was no such claim.

He said that the statement made by the Foreign Minister of Syria before this session of the Assembly had affirmed that the Trust was a fundamental part of the peace agreements, and that the remaining parts on normal peace relations, as well as normal security arrangements, based on objectives that had been reached with the sponsorship and participation of the United States, should be completed. Syria did not want this opportunity for peace to go to waste. But if the opportunity was lost, Israel alone would bear the responsibility for it.

JUAN LARRAIN (Chile) said he wished to reiterate that there was no pending territorial problem between Chile and Bolivia. The border between the two countries had been established in 1904 through a peace and friendship arrangement. Although peaceful relations between the two countries had been interrupted over two decades ago, trade and bilateral relations were still taking place. Chile was willing to have a dialogue on bilateral development for the benefit of both peoples.

Mr. MENKERIOS (Eritrea) said it was bewildering to listen to the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia describing his country as a victim of Eritrean aggression, which had had no choice but to wage war in self-defence. It was a case of the thief crying thief. In fact, it had been Ethiopia that had systematically committed aggression against Eritrea, which had been, since May 1997, defending 6 May 1998, Ethiopian troops had cold-bloodedly murdered a number of Eritrean officers and soldiers in the Badme area. The attack had provoked a series of

clashes which had continued until 12 May with both sides bringing in reinforcements. On 13 May 1998, the Ethiopian Parliament had officially declared war on Eritrea, he said.

On 14 May 1998, Ethiopia had imposed an air blockade on maritime access to Eritrean ports by threatening incessant and indiscriminate bombing. It had also unilaterally declared that it would no longer use Eritrean ports. On 5 June 1998, the Addis Ababa regime had launched the first air strike against his country's capital city, Asmara, and escalated a border conflict into full scale war. In a government statement of 1 March 1999, entitled "Ethiopia is looking for a lasting peace", the Addis Ababa regime had openly admitted that its agenda extended "to overthrowing the Government of Asmara" which had become "a threat to the region”.

He said that the Ethiopian Foreign Minister had declared that aggression must not be rewarded. The Eritrean delegation could not agree more: aggression must, in fact, be severely punished. However, it was neither his country nor Ethiopia, but the United Nations, the OAU and other parties which must determine the commission of aggression and the perpetrator of aggression. Article 7 was the relevant provision in the Framework Agreement designed to do exactly that. It stated: In order to determine the origins of the conflict, an investigation must be carried out on the incidents of 6 May 1998 and on any other incident prior to that date which could have contributed to a misunderstanding between the two parties, including the incidents of July-August 1997. Eritrea was committed to and readily awaited the implementation of that and other relevant articles. Ethiopia would also contribute to the determination of aggression by signing Technical Arrangements.

He said that it was all well and good for the regime in Addis Ababa to make a thousand and one claims on its commitment to a peaceful solution. It was quite another matter to translate words into deeds. Action spoke louder than words and the Addis Ababa regime needed to take only one action to authenticate its commitment to peace –- sign the Technical Arrangements and accept the OAU peace plan that was supported by the United Nations. Ethiopia had, despite its disclaimers, rejected that plan on the pretext that technical arrangements did not "guarantee Ethiopia's sovereignty in its own territories". In effect, it was seeking iron-clad guarantees of sovereignty over disputed territories.

The Framework Agreement, the Modalities and the OAU Clarifications were crystal clear on the matter, he said. All three documents affirmed that they were not meant in any way to question the sovereignty and authority of either of the two parties over its territory -- it being mutually understood that redeployment should not prejudge the final status of territories concerned, which would be determined at the end of the border delimitation and demarcation process.

He said that, in spite of the clear message by the OAU and the United Nations, Ethiopia was demanding to be awarded the territories. In effect, it was demanding the amendment of the Framework Agreement and the Modalities, which it had hitherto accepted. Those were not the words of a country that sought peace -– they were the words of a country which was in search of pretexts to commit further aggression.

It was a matter of verifiable historical record that it should be Eritrea and not Ethiopia which should seek guarantees against aggression, he continued. His country had not, by word or deed, threatened or committed aggression against Ethiopia. His delegation wished to inform the Assembly that it trusted the commitment of the OAU and the United Nations as guarantors of peace as provided for in the peace plan.

Mr. YEMER (Ethiopia) said that aggression was a fact of international life. As long as there were aggressors, there would be aggression. It was interesting to discern some of the intriguing characteristics of aggressors, he said. They shared many of the same features, whether big or small.

First, he said, they played the victim while their aggression continued. Second, "they make a lot of noise", he said. Hitler and Mussolini had used to do that, more than their victims who had been quiet and dignified. Third, they misrepresented the actual state of affairs. Fourth, they claimed to be champions of peace, becoming converts overnight. Fifth, they lectured the rest of the world on peace, most often in a gratuitous and condescending manner. And last, they underestimated the rest of the world.

Eritrea was small but it fit all the characteristics of an aggressor and more, he said. It certainly called for peace while its army sat on Ethiopian land. It had hoodwinked the international community into believing that the state of affairs in the region were different than they really were. Eritrea had rejected the OAU proposal with derision and contempt, not only for the actual proposal itself, but also for the Organization that had presented it. Eritrea had done all those things "before they converted to a peace-loving State”, he said.

Why the sudden change? he asked. "Surely it was not a change of heart, because aggressors can't do that." They changed because in February 1999 they had been driven out of the biggest chunk of Ethiopian territory held by force. It was outrageous for them to say that they had left for peace. It was important to note, he said, that no Ethiopian force had ever been asked to withdraw from Eritrean territory. "This is because we never invaded them", he said.

The current posture of Eritrea was a veneer and sham, he said. Once the surface gloss was scratched away, the real thing, a defect of character, appeared. How do we scratch the surface of Eritrea's current posture? he asked. "We look at their conduct of destabilization."

In the final analysis, it was a question of trust, he said. While others might trust Eritrea, Ethiopia could not afford to. Therefore, the international community must ensure that there was no loophole in the OAU Agreement that Eritrea could take advantage of later. There should not be any departure from the basic terms. Eritrea's so-called acceptance should not be rewarded by promoting changes to the basic text. Erosion of the framework was unacceptable.

ROBERTO JORDON-PANDO (Bolivia) said he was surprised to see that Chile was using its right of reply to respond to a statement which was constructive and positive; there should be an unconditional dialogue between the two countries. "I trust that we will be able to define the modalitites of our dialogue", he said.

As to the Chilean representative's statement that the two countries had nothing pending, he said that many times his country had tried to establish a dialogue or attempted to negotiate. "That means that something must be pending." There should be a direct and open dialogue on all pending issues between the two countries, which would be discussed later by their respective Foreign Ministers.

Mr. MENKERIOS (Eritrea) said that war, whether it was by fighting or by words, would not get anyone nearer to the conclusion of the conflict, which most surely needed to be resolved. What was more important than arguing, was that there was a proposal presented that was considered fair by the OAU and the international community. He said that Eritrea had made concessions, but had accepted the proposal. Ethiopia should accept the changes rather than argue about it. They

were not rejecting Eritrea's proposal, but the proposal of the OAU and the international community, he stressed.

DORE GOLD (Israel) said he wanted to reiterate his country's determination to make peace with all its neighbours, including Syria. Peace that would make Israel more secure. No commitment had been provided in past negotiations to return to the line of 4 June 1967, he stressed. Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 had formed the basis of negotiations for Israel since the Madrid peace process.

As he had stated yesterday, the notion that no commitment had been provided since 1993 or 1994, was not policy, but had been documented by those who had been involved in the peace process in 1994. Rather than taking selective portions of the negotiated record and trying to turn them into binding agreements, what was necessary was for Israel and Syria to