Algeria, 1993

Your unanimous election, Sir, to the presidency of the forty-

eighth session of the General Assembly represents a just

recognition of your great diplomatic experience, your human

qualities and your constant commitment to the promotion of

Forty-eighth session - 5 October l993 11

dialogue and multilateral cooperation in the service of peace,

security and development.

I should like to congratulate you most warmly on the

well-deserved tribute from the international community both

to you personally and to your country. I am particularly

pleased that the prestigious responsibility of guiding the

work of the General Assembly has been given this year to

an eminent son of Guyana, a country which, side-by-side

with Algeria, has always been resolutely in the forefront of

the defence of the cause of peace, justice, progress and

understanding among nations.

Your predecessor, Mr. Stoyan Ganev, firmly and

tactfully conducted a busy and productive forty-seventh

session. We wish to express our deep gratitude to him for

a mission accomplished with open-mindedness and

dedication.

I also wish to pay special tribute to the Secretary-

General of our Organization, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali,

who has spared no effort in making the United Nations rise

to the many and complex challenges of a crucial period in

the development of international relations. His foresight,

courage and initiative have won him the esteem of all. His

persevering activity bears for the United Nations the promise

of the renewal after which our peoples fervently aspire.

Algeria extends a warm welcome to the new Member

States which have joined our Organization, and is gratified

that their accession to the membership of the United Nations

will contribute to the achievement of its objectives in the

areas of peace and development.

In recent years, the history of the world has accelerated

its pace considerably. Rapid and profound changes have put

paid to an international order that had long been frozen in

place by the cold war. However, far from moving steadily

toward the achievement of a well-ordered international

society, those changes have generated the makings of a

disquieting explosion. While the world changes under our

very eyes, we are unable to grasp and take cognizance of the

laws that govern such change. This dynamic, and the major

upheavals it causes, have shaped a new geopolitical

configuration in many parts of the world that has affected

the lives of many of its peoples. Given this type of change,

wherein inter-State relations are jostled by a proliferation of

protagonists, of ambitions and gambles, and of the methods

of international action there is a need for a collective effort

to revitalize both our means of knowing and our methods of

action. In short, we need to rethink the world order. We

must, as a community of nations, succeed in controlling the

changes which are taking place and the unwieldy trends that

are now emerging. In this maelstrom of historical change,

this period of transition with all its hesitations and emerging

global dangers, the thing that attracts one’s attention more

than any other is the hope, the promise of a new world order

that must be fashioned side by side with the daily suffering

that goes on in the world and which we cannot ignore.

Indeed, in spite of the glowing promises of peace and

international cooperation, the world order that is taking

shape now not only contains too many old hotbeds of

tension, but also gives rise to new mushrooming conflicts.

Tensions between ethnic and religious groups are increasing

and are being exacerbated while whole regions, and even

entire continents, are being marginalized in a most atrocious

manner. The right of peoples to self-determination is being

violated and obstructed here and there. Hunger and poverty

are expanding. Imbalances in the world economy are

deepening and worsening. All of these situations pose

challenges to the international community that call for urgent

and concerted action.

It is therefore up to us - and this is the challenge faced

by all nations that are bound by an ever-growing

interdependence - to see to it that the ideals of justice and

peace prevail, that new possibilities for the settlement of

certain regional conflicts and for general and complete

disarmament lead to comprehensive action eliminating the

root causes of conflicts while, at the same time, promoting

economic and social development, a prerequisite for

international peace and security.

This is why it is appropriate to underscore here the fact

that the Agenda for Peace (A/47/277), whose importance is

recognized everywhere, will achieve its objectives only if it

is accompanied by an agenda for development; for peace and

development are closely interrelated, and conflicts too often

take root in the soil of injustice and poverty. It is obvious

that the future of the system of collective security which we

wish to build will depend to a great extent on our ability to

forge a consensus on the different aspects contained in the

Agenda for Peace. This means that it is necessary for us to

continue, collectively and without bias, to consider those

aspects of the Secretary-General’s report about which

differences persist or which require further elaboration and

consideration.

The encouraging progress achieved in strengthening the

capability of the United Nations in the areas of active

preventive diplomacy, as well as in peace-keeping and

peacemaking operations, should be welcomed, but a great

deal remains to be done in this field if we are to make better

12 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

use of all the experience gained in those areas by the United

Nations. We should see to it that our action remains strictly

faithful to the goals and principles of the Charter of the

United Nations. Algeria, which is honoured to participate

actively and concretely in peace-keeping operations, will

continue to do its share in this collective endeavour in the

service of peace.

The restructuring, revitalization and rationalization of

the structures of the organs of the United Nations and their

working methods have made considerable progress.

However, this process, which is not an end in itself, will

produce its full effects only if the Member States, and

particularly the developed countries, reaffirm and strengthen

their commitment to the United Nations and renew their

political and financial support for its activities, particularly

in the economic and social spheres.

It is this exacting and responsible approach that my

country consistently promotes in all the areas of cooperation

in which it takes part. In so doing, Algeria conducts its own

action within the context of the efforts by the Non-Aligned

Movement toward greater democratization of the United

Nations and better balance between the spheres of

competence of its organs. In our view, it is time we

reflected collectively on how to reform the Security Council,

with a view to broadening its composition, improving its

working methods and making it more accountable for its

action to the entire international community in whose name

it adopts its resolutions. A more representative, more

transparent Security Council that would be more cognizant

of the views and concerns of all; a General Assembly that

would fully play its role in activating, guiding and

supervising; and a United Nations system that would be

more coherent and better coordinated in carrying out its

development tasks: these are the three pivotal approaches

that may give to the fiftieth anniversary of our Organization

significant political scope and operational content and

generate the makings of a new beginning. The credibility of

the United Nations and the effectiveness of its action depend

on this, as do international peace, security and cooperation.

All the initiatives by my country at the national and

regional levels are inspired by the ideals of peace, justice

and cooperation. The national-renewal plan upon which

Algeria has embarked in the interests of political stability,

the consolidation of the democratic process, the revitalization

of economic growth and the upholding of the rule of law is

a plan that translates into action our resolve to guarantee, for

all Algerians, the rights to security and well-being in a just,

modern and democratic society.

Given this determination, our efforts in combating

terrorism and our efforts aimed at providing the conditions

for real growth stem from the same overriding priority, that

of meeting the expectations of our people be fulfilled by

restoring the authority of the State and creating the

conditions for an orderly transition that would make possible

stable and coherent progress towards a market economy

through viable and orderly reforms.

Such a vast enterprise must find its expression and

derive its support from an active foreign policy based on the

principles and ideals of non-alignment and geared towards

the promotion of peace, stability and cooperation at the

regional and international levels.

In this spirit, Algeria works steadily and resolutely for

success in the process of building a united Maghreb. The

important achievements that have been made so far, which

will help us to benefit from the complementary nature of the

countries of the union of the Arab Maghreb, confirm that the

dynamics of this unifying process have enabled us to

mobilize our energies, despite certain persistent problems

that affect regional stability.

Our country’s central position in the region, its resolve

to reinforce and promote the building of the Maghreb and its

commitment to international legality have prompted it to

encourage the kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front

to turn to direct, sincere, constructive dialogue that can

facilitate the implementation of the peace plan prepared

jointly by the United Nations and the Organization of

African Unity, with the full agreement of the two parties

concerned.

It is important, now more than ever before, that the

dialogue which was initiated at El-Ayoun between Morocco

and the Polisario Front should resume and continue at an

authoritative level. Algeria, for its part, hopes that the two

parties will choose the path of reason and that will do all in

their power to resolve outstanding questions in a serious

manner and without delay, thus promoting the holding of a

free and orderly referendum on self-determination for the

people of Western Sahara. Algeria is convinced that a just

a lasting solution to the question of Western Sahara can

promote stability and peace in the region. We therefore

hope that the international community, as well as the United

Nations and its Secretary-General, will redouble efforts to

ensure, in the best conditions of credibility and impartiality,

implementation of the United Nations settlement plan, with

the complete cooperation of the two parties.

Forty-eighth session - 5 October l993 13

The same applies to the Mediterranean region. In fact,

Algeria has always worked to make that region, with the

participation of all the States concerned, one of peace,

stability and mutually advantageous cooperation. It is to this

end that we continue to work for the consolidation and

deepening of political agreement in our region and for the

establishment of new types of cooperation. Algeria is

therefore making constant efforts to have the forum of "5 +

5" activated, as this is a promising framework for

cooperation between North and South in the Mediterranean.

It is in the field of disarmament that the end of the cold

war has produced tangible results most rapidly. However,

considerable work remains to be done, especially by the

nuclear Powers. The final cessation of nuclear testing in all

environments and the renunciation of the development of

new weapon systems are objectives the attainment of which

is now within the reach of the international community -

provided, of course, that the nuclear Powers go beyond

current agreements and summon up the necessary political

will for this purpose.

In this context, Algeria notes with interest and with

hope the proposals made from this rostrum on 27 September

by the President of the United States of America. The

complete elimination of all weapons of mass destruction is,

in fact, part of the logic of history. The conclusion of the

Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons has

shown that this objective is no longer Utopian. Any

approach to the question of disarmament and international

security and, in the final analysis, to the question of peace

should be universal in scope. This is a conviction that is

being reiterated time after time by Algeria and by the

Non-Aligned Movement. Disarmament, if it is to be lasting,

must take account of all aspects of the situation, and not of

the military dimension alone. It is now clear that, in an

increasingly interdependent world, peace and security cannot

be dissociated from their natural corollaries - socio-economic

development and the promotion of all human rights.

The protection and promotion of human rights - all

human rights - is a high priority for Algeria. Therefore, we

are pleased at the positive results of the World Conference

on Human Rights, held in Vienna, which expressed support

for an integrated and global approach to human rights,

whose civil, political, economic and social aspects reinforce

and complement each other.

Algeria, which subscribes completely to this view and

endorses this approach, is now at a juncture that makes it an

obligation of the State to give priority to human rights, to

protection of the fundamental right to life and to personal

security. In this context, the restoration of public order and

the struggle against terrorism are manifestations of Algeria’s

determination to give a firm guarantee of the development

of human rights and the building of a lasting democracy

based on the rule of law, the changeover of political power

between parties and republican principles.

This declared struggle against terrorism has an internal

aspect, but it has international dimensions as well. Here we

should like to make it abundantly clear that Algeria will

continue to oppose, firmly and with the utmost

determination, every outside attempt at destabilization and

that it will tolerate no interference in its internal affairs. It

is Algeria’s belief that the international community must

assert itself and mobilize its energy to defeat the modern

barbarity of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

It is therefore important for the deliberations at this

session of the General Assembly vigorously to lead to the

formulation of an international convention on the prevention

and repression of terrorism.

While a number of regional conflicts are on the way to

pacification and lasting settlement, others, however, there is

no peaceful, just solution in sight.

In the Middle East, which has been buffeted for

decades by waves of suffering and confrontation, new

prospects are emerging. Algeria welcomed the recent

agreement between the Palestine Liberation Organization

(PLO) and Israel and expressed the hope that it would be the

first step towards an overall settlement of the Middle East

conflict in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242

(1967) and 338 (1973). Now as in the past, Algeria which

stands firmly behind the independence of decision-making by

the Palestinian leaders calls upon the Palestinians to close

ranks and reaffirms its support for the PLO.

At this crucial stage for the future of the region, Algeria

believes that the international community continues to be

responsible for building peace. For that peace to be genuine

and lasting, it must be comprehensive and must meet the

national aspirations of the Palestinian people and restore all

the territories occupied by Israel, including Al-Quds Al-

Sharif.

As an Arab country, Algeria, naturally, is intimately

involved in the future of the Arab world. Overcoming the

aftermath of the Gulf war ought to open the way to the

inter-Arab reconciliation for which our peoples fervently

hope. Since Iraq has undertaken to meet fully all the

obligations stemming from Security Council resolutions and

14 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

since international law has established the geographical basis

for peaceful neigbourliness between Iraq and Kuwait, we

hope that the outstanding humanitarian questions will soon

be resolved so that the collective conscience of the Arab

peoples may be able finally to heal itself of the scars of the

Gulf war.

My country reaffirms its support for the Government of

the United Arab Emirates in its legitimate efforts to regain

sovereignty over the three islands under illegal foreign

occupation.

Algeria welcomes with hope the positive developments

in South Africa, despite the continuing violence and other

factors that endanger peace. The agreement to set up the

Transitional Executive Council holds promise for the speedy

achievement of a united, democratic, non-racial South

Africa. Chairman Nelson Mandela’s call from this rostrum

for the lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa is

further testimony to his lofty sense of responsibility and an

illustration of the progress that has been achieved in the

peaceful dismantling of apartheid. This development

deserves the full attention of the international community,

which should spare no effort in contributing to putting an

end to the inter-ethnic violence and to provide the means by

which the democratic forces can participate effectively in the

long-awaited elections.

Algeria also follows attentively developments in several

fraternal African countries. We encourage the peace efforts

of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity

(OAU) and the relevant subregional organizations. We note

with satisfaction the progress achieved in Mozambique,

Rwanda and Liberia, and express the hope that those

countries will overcome their problems with the help of the

international community and devote all their energy to

reconstruction and development. We hope that peace and

harmony will be restored in Angola in accordance with the

agreements reached between the two parties and with the

resolutions of the Security Council, which have clearly

determined where the responsibilities lie.

We are gravely concerned about the ongoing violence

in Somalia, particularly in Mogadishu. It reminds us that

humanitarian assistance and promoting political solutions

must go hand in hand. The tragedy of Somalia is the most

telling symbol to date of Africa’s marginalization in

international relations, and it attests to the tragic effects of

the international community’s inadequate response to

Africa’s clear needs with respect to economic and social

development.

The tragedy in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a challenge

to the world’s conscience. In spite of the Security Council’s

many resolutions, the acquisition of territory by force,

"ethnic cleansing" and trampling of all the norms of

international law continue to prevail there. In the absence of

firm action by the international community, the

dismemberment of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a State Member

of the United Nations, continues unabated, and puts at risk

the peace and stability of that country and of the region as

a whole. Algeria expresses its solidarity with the Bosnian

people, and most particularly with its Muslims, who have

been the victim of untold hardships. We appeal to the

international community to reject the fait accompli imposed

by aggression and help protect the independence, sovereignty

and territorial integrity of the Republic of Bosnia and

Herzegovina.

The international situation is not disturbing at the

political and security levels alone but is also causing concern

because of the persistence of world recession, the

deteriorating economic situation of the developing countries,

and the grave instability brought about by profound changes

in international economic relations.

At a time when our interdependent world is in the

midst of a complex and perilous historic transition, the

communication gap between North and South must come to

an end. The universal imperative of peace, security and

development makes us consider the developing situation in

the countries of the South. Most of them are facing the

challenges of globalization with economies made uniquely

vulnerable by the crushing weight of foreign indebtedness,

their precarious internal balance and a highly unfavourable

international economic environment.

The efforts of developing countries to promote

economic growth and make the structural changes necessary

for development are made far more difficult and risky by the

erosion of multilateral cooperation, the conflicting interests

of the dominant economic players and the constraints

imposed by economic decisions that are too often selfish and

exclusionary.

It is therefore essential to respond in a concerted

fashion to the need for an orderly restructuring of

international economic relations by establishing coordinated

mechanisms to regulate the functioning of the world

economy. In this context, it is important that the questions

of debt, the scarcity of capital and technology inflows, to the

countries of the South, the continued decline in commodity

prices, the deterioration of the terms of trade and the

difficulty of access to markets should become the focus of

Forty-eighth session - 5 October l993 15

the international community’s attention in order for us to

find lasting solutions to such problems.

Such a collective concerted type of action that would be

consonant with the requirements of adjustment by the

developing countries themselves, is a must if we are to

relaunch the international economy on a fair and well-

balanced basis and make it possible for the developing

countries to reap the expected benefits from the economic

reforms they have undertaken. This would make meaningful

the sacrifices being made by the developing countries in

undertaking the necessary restructuring changes aimed at

relaunching their economies and integrating them into the

world economy. It would also make it possible for the

international community to learn from the experiences

acquired in debt management and structural adjustment

programmes. Lastly, it would promote the creation of a true

market environment in the developing countries.

The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro demonstrated that

environmental protection is inconceivable without the

promotion of sustainable development and sustained growth

in the developing countries. We must therefore work

determinedly towards achieving this objective and place

sustainable development on the agenda of the new world

order.

The holding of a world summit on social development

scheduled for 1995 to deal with problems of human security

affords us an opportunity to engage in an international

dialogue on the implications and results of transition in the

world. The United Nations and the Bretton Woods

institutions must grasp these new problems and contribute to

developing a new framework for reflection and guidance to

direct better the evolution of the international system. This

endeavour may seem difficult, but it is essential for a better

understanding of this new order, which we wish to be

balanced, fair and consensual. It would also tend to support

the Secretary-General’s efforts to draw up an agenda for

development.

At a time when our Organization faces various

challenges, the reform, restructuring and revitalization

process now under way in the United Nations acquires

special importance. Restructuring the Secretariat and the

economic and social sectors, revitalizing the Economic and

Social Council, relaunching the operational development

activities of the United Nations system and assuring the

stable and predictable growth of its resources are all tasks

that should be combined to give multilateral action the

utmost credibility and effectiveness.

This undertaking is part of the vast effort to equip the

United Nations for and adapt it to present and future

challenges, and it requires participation by all of us. This

endeavour is the vessel for feeding the faith of the peoples

of the United Nations in an indivisible humankind. It is

bound to succeed so long as our more democratic and more

effective Organization is the active centre and catalyst for

the promotion of fair and equitably shared development and

the foundation of a peace built by mankind as a whole.