Mr. President,
on behalf of the delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, I wish to
congratulate you on your election to the presidency of the forty-seventh
session of the General Assembly. I am convinced that you will brilliantly
fulfil the important mission conferred upon you by the Assembly.
I also wish to express sincerest congratulations to the
Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who has assumed
his office and high responsibilities at a time when the world situation
requires that the United Nations play an important role.
We cannot miss this opportunity to pay a special tribute to his
predecessor. His Excellency Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, for his active
contribution to the defence of our Organization's cause.
We warmly welcome the presence among us of new Members: the Republic of
Armenia, the Azerbaijani Republic, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the
Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Georgia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the
Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of San Marino,
the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the
Republic of Uzbekistan. Their admission is an important step towards the
universality of our Organization.
The global situation is in a state of profound change, both complex and
full of new promise. With the breakup of the Eastern bloc, military and
nuclear confrontation have progressively waned. None the less, numerous civil
conflicts, ethnic struggles, religious clashes and border conflicts continue
to disturb many countries of the world, thus seriously threatening
international peace, stability and security.
All of this notwithstanding, it must be noted that the world climate is
evolving towards co-operation, development and the settlement of global
problems, including those related to poverty, to misery and to the environment.
In the changing world in which the new international order is beginning
to take shape, the United Nations must play a central role in the collective
effort to define this new order, which should respond equitably to the rights
and interests of all countries and peoples without discrimination and must be
based on the principles of peaceful coexistence and those of the United
Nations Charter. It is therefore necessary to revitalize, restructure and
democratize the United Nations if we want the Organization to be capable of
the tasks that lie ahead in this new era.
We are still in an uncertain world characterized by many problems and
conflicts in different regions.
In Europe, the situation prevailing in former Yugoslavia continues to
deteriorate dangerously. It is a major source of concern for the
international community, as well as a threat to regional and global peace and
security. The international community must take appropriate measures to put
an end to that ethnic conflict in order to restore peace, security and normal
life to that part of the world.
In South Africa, despite certain political reforms the foundations of the
apartheid system remain intact. The Pretoria regime continues to resort to
violence to repress the black population, while the African National Congress
of South Africa (ANC) is forcefully and constructively pursuing its struggle
for the triumph of its just cause. The Lao Government fully associates itself
with the international community in its efforts to support the struggle of the
great majority of that people in order to make South Africa a democratic and
non-racial country.
In the Middle East, the situation remains tense and precarious. Israel
is perpetuating its occupation of Palestinian territory and of the other Arab
territories. We reaffirm the view that every effort for peace now under way
with a view to a just, comprehensive and lasting solution in the Middle East,
at the heart of which is the question of Palestine, should work towards rapid
implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and
the other resolutions of the United Nations calling for Israel's withdrawal
from all occupied Arab lands, as well as recognition of the Palestinian
people's right to self-determination.
In the Persian Gulf, following the end of the war peace and security have
not yet been established because of threats of and attempts at further
hostilities.
In Western Asia, Afghanistan remains a theatre of civil war. The
international community must appeal to all the parties concerned to put an
immediate end to their conflicts in order to achieve national harmony among
Afghans and to establish political, economic and social stability.
In the Korean peninsula, the signing of the North-South Accord on
Reconciliation, Non-Aggression and Exchanges and the Joint Declaration on the
Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea and the Republic of Korea has contributed to promoting mutual
understanding and trust. It has opened up a new prospect for peace, stability
and cooperation in the Korean peninsula and strengthened peace and security in
the North-East Asian region and in the rest of the world.
In the South-East Asian region, in spite of certain factors of
instability, the situation as a whole is moving towards peace, stability,
cooperation and development in the interest of the peoples of the entire
region. In this context, inspired by the desire to strengthen relations of
friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries, the Lao Government,
applying its consistent foreign policy based on the five principles of
peaceful coexistence, signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the
Kingdom of Thailand, became a party to the Treaty of Bali of 1976. It has
also become an Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) observer. It
will continue to work firmly for fruitful cooperation in South-East Asia, with
a view to promoting the progress and prosperity of the region, thus
contributing to promoting peace and development the world over.
As regards the question of Cambodia, the signing of the Paris Agreements
of 23 October 1991 laid the foundations for a comprehensive political
settlement to the conflict, making it possible to put an end to the suffering
endured by the Cambodian people during a long period of civil war and to
establish peace and tranquillity in the noble land of Angkor. Complete
compliance with, and implementation of, these Agreements is required to meet
the aspirations and the interests of the Cambodian people.
In my own country, the implementation of our policy of renewal has led to
important successes. Political stability and social order are solidly
guaranteed. Democracy and the right of collective decision-making by the
people have developed steadily in accordance with our level of economic and
social development and the customs of the country. The adoption last year by
the National Assembly of the first Constitution of the Republic makes it
possible for our country to move progressively towards a State of law. In the
framework of that policy we are focusing all our efforts on freeing the
country of underdevelopment. To this end we have encouraged foreign
investment, intensified cooperation with other countries and taken advantage
of all economic sectors employing market-economy mechanisms in order to tap
all our national potential and to improve the physical and spiritual living
conditions of our people.
The world economy is in a state of uncertainty. Last year it experienced
the first global recession since the 1940s. Moreover, the recovery remains
weak and precarious. The developing countries continue to suffer from
coercive economic policies and practices. The stifling burden of foreign
debt, the decline in resources allocated to development, the deterioration of
the terms of trade, the worsening of the outflow of capital, the drop in
commodity prices, the rise in protectionism and limited access to modern
technology all obstruct their economic progress at a time when reforms and
readjustments are under way. Since the world economy is a single entity whose
components are interdependent and interrelated, it is urgently necessary
indeed, crucial to develop a new world consensus and to obtain a commitment
to the strengthening of international cooperation, and in particular the
revitalization of the economic growth and development of the developing
countries, in order successfully to implement the economic strategy of the
Fourth United Nations Development Decade, 1991-2000.
One of the most important issues related to development is that of the
environment, which is at the forefront of our international concerns. Climate
change, air, sea and ocean pollution, desertification and the depletion of the
ozone layer have all had a negative impact on our lives and on the future of
mankind. In this respect, we believe that the recent United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro,
laid the foundations of international agreement on cooperation aimed at
integrating the environment into all development activities. It will
therefore be up to the United Nations and its specialized agencies to
implement effectively Agenda 21.
At the same time, the aspirations of the international community to a
better quality of life and social progress have become more pressing and
increasingly important. In fact, protection of the environment, promotion
of economic growth and development, and the eradication of poverty are
mutually reinforcing and require a new global partnership. In this framework,
we are awaiting with interest the planned convening of the World Summit for
Social Development.
The problem of the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs remains a source of
global concern. The struggle against this scourge requires concerted, strong
action by all countries. For its part, in order to contribute to the
international effort the Lao Government has cooperated in the sphere of
integrated rural development with certain interested countries, especially
neighbouring countries, as well as with international organizations, including
the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and we are prepared
to continue this cooperation.
In conclusion, the Lao delegation wishes to assure the President,
Mr. Stoyan Ganev of Bulgaria, of its complete cooperation. We will work in a
constructive spirit with other delegations to contribute to the success of
this session of the General Assembly.