Exactly 34 years
ago today Guinea attained independence. On this anniversary I am very happy
to convey to you. Sir, the warm greetings of the people of Guinea, its
Government and its President, General Lansana Conte.
Beyond its being simply a matter of tradition, I find it a very pleasant
duty to congratulate the President on his election. I am convinced that our
work will produce tangible -results, thanks to his personal experience and the
international prestige of his country.
I also wish to express to our President's predecessor, Mr. Samir Shihabi
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with whom my delegation had the good fortune
to cooperate within the Bureau of the forty-sixth session, our appreciation
for the competence and dedication with which he conducted the work of that
session.
Mr. Perez de Cuellar also earned the high esteem of my Government for
having marked his two consecutive terms of office with effectiveness and
consensus.
Similarly, I pay tribute to our Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros-Ghali, for
his dynamism and the many initiatives he has taken since assuming office. His
report "An Agenda for Peace" is a source of valuable inspiration in the
maintenance and strengthening of international peace. The preventive
diplomacy he advocates in it should have the support of the international
community.
The Guinean Government warmly welcomes the admission of new Member
States, confirming once again the universality of our Organization's
principles.
Many events have occurred since our last session. Mankind is living
through an age of hope, but also one of uncertainty.
True, many promises are being made, but there does not appear to be a
sufficient awareness of dangers. Indeed, the new world architecture is taking
shape against a backdrop of persistent poverty and misery in the South, in
contrast to the general well-being in the North.
The international landscape still contains dark zones of actual and
potential conflict. The transition towards the emerging order is creating for
the countries of Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America problems whose
solution will require sacrifice, farsightedness and solidarity from the
international community.
Along with the political stakes, which are of crucial importance, there
are no-less-important economic and social challenges. Clearly, poverty is
undermining the fabric of States, creating profound imbalances in the
developing countries and threatening the very foundation of human rights. And
the first human right, the one on which all the others depend, is the right to
development.
Nor can there be development without a guarantee of sources of income
derived from basic commodities, prices for which, unfortunately, are not
within the control of developing countries. This disturbing situation
represents a real threat to the North as well, for it is already one of the
causes of the strong wave of migration from the South in search of prosperity.
This is compounded by the external indebtedness of the third world
countries. Payments for debt servicing, which increase exponentially, are in
the final analysis an unbearable burden on economies already severely tried by
the imbalances in the world economic order and by natural disasters.
Many solutions have been advanced, but the international community must
finally give priority to the growth and development of the poor countries
must, in other words, build on the ruins of the old East-West order a new
order based on more dynamic and more innovative North-South relations. Such
a
system could take into account, inter alia, free access for export products
from the South to markets in the North and a growth in public aid to
development and investments.
It has been recognized that improving the situation in Africa necessarily
involves economic reforms, the sound management of public affairs and popular
participation in development. In this connection, most of the countries of
Africa have undertaken deep political, economic and social reforms. But the
efforts undertaken on the national, subregional and regional levels have not,
unfortunately, enjoyed the expected international support. The United Nations
Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990,
which gave rise to so much hope, has not produced the desired results.
Capital flows from North to South have been negative in relation to the flow
of resources from South to North.
Nevertheless, my delegation welcomes the adoption by the United Nations
of the New Agenda for African Development in the 1990s, which will, I hope,
enhance the impact of United Nations action in the economic and social
development of the continent.
For Africa, one thing is clear: recovery and the diversification of
economic activities require subregional and regional integration. In this
connection, the establishment of the African Economic Community will enable
the continent to benefit from the complementarity of its human, natural and
financial resources and offer at the same time the best opportunities to take
advantage of major international markets.
I must stress that Africa is determined to fulfil its part of the
contract in order to meet all the development targets set forth within the
framework of the Community. To that end, it needs the constant support of the
international community.
Another of our concerns is the situation in South Africa, which has been
included in our agenda for 46 years. While the international community was
attempting to derive satisfaction from some of the progress achieved in
negotiations, the events at Biopatong, along with the deliberate massacres at
Ciskei on 7 September 1992, have strengthened our belief that the end of
apartheid was proclaimed much too prematurely.
My delegation believes that the South african Government must put an end
to the escalation of violence, free political prisoners and rescind the
Homelands Law and other discriminatory laws. Similarly, our country
appreciates the recommendations made by the Secretary-General's Special
Representative and also welcomes the sending of United Nations observers to
assist in strengthening the structures established by the peace agreement.
Negotiation is the only viable solution. The international community must
encourage the resumption of the talks within the purview of the Convention for
a Democratic South Africa.
The situation in many other African countries continues to concern us. I
am thinking first of Liberia, a fraternal country and neighbour battered by
destructive internal war. At any early stage the countries of West Africa
members of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) united in
solidarity to seek a negotiated settlement. A peace plan was drawn up with
the constant participation of all the parties to the conflict. The recent
summit meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State, at Dakar, took new steps to make
the peace plan fully effective. My Government appeals to the world
Organization, and especially to the Security Council, to give unreserved
support to the implementation of that plan.
In addition, hundreds of millions of individuals have fled Liberia to
seek refuge in Guinea, Cote d'lvoire and Sierra Leone. In Guinea alone there
are nearly 600,000 refugees, two thirds of whom are children. The suffering
endured by these human beings calls for additional efforts within the
framework of the greatly appreciated assistance of the Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees.
What can we say about Somalia, now in flames and so sorely tried by
famine and drought? My Government believes that peace can return to that
country only if all the fighting factions display political will and agree to
dialogue. Only the establishment of an immediate and definite cease-fire will
enable the Somalians to engage in serious negotiations on the future of their
country. Indeed, there is no point in turning to international forums for
some futile recognition or confirmation. Our brothers in Somalia must agree
to bury the hatchet of war and allow the international community to help them
to help themselves.
In addition to the political stakes, the tragedy in Somalia raises thorny
humanitarian problems, for whose solution emergency measures have been
effectively implemented through the joint efforts of the United Nations, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Organization of African Unity and
many countries and non-governmental organizations.
As for Angola, the cessation of hostilities and the dialogue opened
between the parties to the conflict have made it possible to hold pluralistic
elections.
Not far away, in Mozambique, the Rome peace negotiations and the recent
agreement reached in Botswana between RENAMO and the Maputo Government
represent a decisive step towards settling that long and painful conflict.
The crisis in Rwanda is the subject of joint discussions to restore
stability and security among the countries of the subregion. Direct
negotiations between the Government and the Rwanda Patriotic Front have
emitted a glimmer of hope that an end may be put to a deadly conflict and that
the bases of national unity may be strengthened.
For many years, the crisis in the Middle East has occupied an important
place in our discussions here in the Organization; it is still one of the
greatest threats to international peace and security. The Palestinian
question is at the heart of this formidable crisis. Only the return of all
their rights to the Palestinian people under the auspices of the Palestine
Liberation Organization, their sole and legitimate representative, can lead to
a just, comprehensive and lasting solution. The Government of Guinea urges
the parties to pursue the peace negotiations. By the same token, we support
any other initiative directed towards breaking the log-jam in this situation
quickly.
With regard to Cambodia, the establishment of a Supreme National Council
in Cambodia headed by Prince Norodom Sihanouk is putting an end to a very
difficult war and heralds the dawn of a new period which will, we hope, be
characterized by a climate of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Despite the efforts of the international community, engagements of a rare
violence are tearing apart the republics of the former Yugoslavia. Every day
the peoples of these lands are seeing their historic legacy, which it took
them centuries to build, reduced to ruins.
International pressure must continue to be brought to bear in order to
assert international legality and human rights and to ensure they are
respected. We welcome the peace efforts of the London Conference and the
recent summit conference of the non-aligned countries.
With regard to the question of Korea, my delegation supports the
reunification process on the peninsula, from which nuclear weapons should be
precluded. My Government appreciates all the efforts towards reconciliation,
non-aggression, exchanges and cooperation between the two Koreas with a view
to their peaceful reunification.
The spectacular and most often rapid transformations taking place in the
world today should have beneficial effects for disarmament and arms control.
Even if on the bilateral level we are seeing agreements with regard to
reducing or destroying certain types of weapons, at the multilateral level
negotiations are marking time.
The disappearance of the bipolar world is tending to make the senseless
arms race incomprehensible. However, in this new context, the risk of war has
not yet been ruled out, because of the existence of arsenals of weapons of
mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons. This is why the Republic of
Guinea will continue to appeal urgently for general and complete disarmament.
My delegation welcomes the appreciable results achieved in the
negotiations on the signing of a convention on chemical weapons. However, the
principal issues that are the cornerstone of disarmament, namely, the
prohibition of nuclear tests and the arms race and the prevention of a nuclear
war, have not experienced the same positive development.
Moreover, the close interconnection established in 1987 by the
International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and
Development is still just as important: a reduction in military expenditures
and budgets could boost economic and industrial activity in the have-not
countries while strengthening the economic and social development efforts of
developing countries.
In recent years, relations between States have expanded and diversified.
Multilateralism is strengthened as a result. The large number of States
Members of the universal Organization increasingly reflects their desire to
engage in integrated and coordinated action at the international level in
order to take up the various challenges: the challenge of peace, the
challenge of economic and social development and the challenge of the
environment.
Here is where multilateral relations must play an important role in
mapping out the new order, which mankind hopes will be democratic and will
generate prosperity for all. This is the path of multilateralism that the
non-aligned countries recently embarked upon in Djakarta. Our Organization
should take this duly into account in future international relations.
The United Nations is in the process of carrying out positive work on
various fronts; this is work which gives it undeniable authority, particularly
in the area of the settlement of conflicts. Never before has there been such
a strong consensus regarding the profound significance of peace.
The aspiration of peoples to justice, security and greater prosperity has
everywhere initiated an enormous process of social transformation, which is
perceived as the obvious sign of democratic change. In the Republic of
Guinea, the democratic transition is taking place peacefully. The
constitutional institutions, governed by the principle of the separation of
powers, are being established. Some 40 parties are engaged in the guest for
political power. A supreme court, in which is invested the judicial power,
will ensure that elections take place in a regular way. The legislative
elections are scheduled for December 1992, followed immediately by
presidential elections in 1993.
The Government is pursuing a coherent policy of transition on the basis
of dialogue and transparency. In any case, the form of democracy must be
adjusted to suit the historical, economic, social and cultural realities of
each country.
The Government of Guinea, resolutely committed to building a State of
law, supports the actions of the international community to promote and
develop human rights. In this respect, Guinea welcomes the convening of the
World Conference on Human Rights in June 1993 and the international conference
on the African child scheduled for November 1992 in Dakar. Here I wish to
appeal urgently to the international community as a whole, and particular to
the donors, to finance the various national programmes of action prepared in
the context of the decade for children.
Two important international events are to be commemorated in a few days'
time by this Assembly, which will devote plenary meetings to them: the end of
the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons and the tenth anniversary of the
adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing. My Government, which
is always sensitive to the fate of these two social categories and their
sufferings, is devoting a major part of its efforts under its national
development programmes to them, and endorses the measures adopted as part of
the Decade of Disabled Persons as well as those taken under the International
Plan of Action on Ageing.
For development strategies and programmes to be viable, they must pay
particular attention to the problem of the environment. That is why my
delegation requests the countries of the North to participate fully in
financing Agenda 21, as defined and adopted in Rio, for the protection of the
environment and lasting development.
Another major source of concern is the production and consumption of
drugs and the illicit traffic in them. To get rid of this scourge once and
for all, police pressure, the destruction of plantations and the prohibition
of money laundering must be backed up with the parallel development and
promotion of substitute crops.
The revitalization of the United Nations system is now a categorical
imperative. This revitalization should in particular include enlarging the
Security Council with a view to ensuring that a larger number of countries
participate as permanent members. That reform could also make that vital
body, responsible as it is for maintaining international peace and security,
more efficient and effective. Expanding the Council is, in our opinion, one
of the fundamental aspects of the democratization of international relations
that is now needed.
The Government of the Republic of Guinea attaches the utmost importance
to the strengthening of the role of the United Nations and to respect for the
principles of its Charter, which is a prerequisite for the advent of a new
order based on justice for all and on peace, prosperity and international
solidarity.