Guyana, 1994

Permit me first of all to

congratulate you, Sir, on your election to the presidency of

the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session. I am

confident that under your skilful guidance the Assembly

will move forward in responding to the many complex

issues on our agenda. You are equally assured of the full

and unstinting support of Guyana in the discharge of your

responsibilities in the period ahead.

Guyana was very honoured to have held the

presidency of the forty-eighth session of the General

Assembly. On behalf of the Government and the people

of Guyana, I would like to express our gratitude and

appreciation for the confidence and support given to

Ambassador Insanally during his tenure of office.

I have every confidence too that the work of the

Organization will benefit much from the dynamic

leadership of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali

and his dedicated staff. They deserve our admiration and

encouragement in the performance of their praiseworthy

but often difficult tasks.

The forty-ninth session of the General Assembly

takes place at a momentous time. There have been

changes, many of which have had a significant impact on

global relations. World events now testify to the need for

an Organization which is equipped to meet every

challenge posed to it.

The world is observing the United Nations and will

not fail to pass judgement on its activities. While much

has been accomplished, there are still considerable

challenges ahead of us. An overview of the United

Nations and its achievements has pointed to a greater

awareness of its role in the world. Increasingly, the

Organization is being called upon to respond to and

resolve critical situations confronting our global

community. Our responses, while effective in many

cases, are still inadequate. It is now imperative that we

move beyond merely responding to individual crises to

address the fundamental causes of conflict and threats to

global stability.

In the year ahead, Guyana will work with the

Assembly to make the United Nations more responsive to

the altered situation we face in the post-cold-war era. We

shall strive with others to make the Security Council more

equitable and effective, so that it may better discharge the

functions allocated to it under the Charter. As a priority,

we shall seek to promote the work of the Organization in

the formulation and implementation of an agenda for

development, which should complement “An Agenda for

Peace”. Equally important, we will press for the

revitalization of this Assembly in order that, as the most

representative body of the United Nations, it may

harmonize our efforts to promote global peace and

development.

Efforts to achieve peace and security in the face of

overwhelming odds reflect the desire of Member States to

dwell in harmony, however difficult such an aim may be.

They also reflect the increasing importance of peaceful

negotiations to settle conflicts and to solve economic, social

and human problems.

The eruption of conflicts, primarily within States, and

the ever-present threat of eruption in other States has

stymied the hope of a new international order that would

address these issues and hopefully proffer solutions. In this

context I wish to refer to the proposals of President Cheddi

Jagan on a new global humanitarian order, in response to

General Assembly resolution 47/106 of 16 December 1992.

In his work, President Jagan has stressed the

debilitating effects of poverty and hunger and the urgent

need for concerted action to alleviate their effects. But

apart from these classic humanitarian concerns, he has

sought to broaden the tableau to include the entire spectrum

of human development and related issues. Thus, he

promotes the principles of international interdependence and

cooperation which will recognize the primacy of human

development as a sine qua non for a peaceful and orderly

existence.

He has emphasized the need for good governance and

popular participation in decision-making as the cornerstone

for a new type of development, which will take into

consideration the satisfaction of basic human needs in

health, education, housing and the right to productive

employment for all.

My Government has recognized that the question of

basic human needs cannot be ignored. It is a prerequisite

for good order and stability, which would in turn produce

a stable political environment. Governments cannot afford

to allow the growth of social discontent that is

engendered by the vicious circle of debt, poverty and

economic deprivation.

There are many countries, not least my own, which

suffer, not from open and violent conflict, but from the

residue of a crushing external debt and the debilitating

effects of an ongoing structural adjustment programme.

In spite of all this, my Government is committed to

providing for its people the basic necessities of health,

housing, education and an economic and a social

environment for both men and women to achieve their

full potential. Some of the factors that inhibit advances

towards a new economic and social order are attributed to

the prevailing inequitable terms of trade and the persistent

reduction in commodity earnings of exporters of primary

products.

However, social and economic problems are now not

confined to developing countries. In this era of greater

interdependence among nations and increasing

globalization, issues and problems of economic growth

and development, poverty, population growth and

environmental destruction have become global. It is

therefore necessary to first of all address the root causes

of these problems before any tangible and lasting

solutions are achieved.

President Jagan’s proposals for a New Global

Humanitarian Order have therefore taken into account the

globalization of these pressing issues. His proposals

directly relate to the work of the General Assembly on

“An Agenda for Development”; the Rio de Janeiro

Conference of 1992; the Conference of Small Island

Developing States; the recently concluded World

Conference on Population and Development; the

forthcoming World Summit on Social Development; and

the Fourth World Conference on Women. It is therefore

my Government’s fervent hope that this forty-ninth

session will result in positive measures being taken to

address the economic, social and humanitarian problems

prevailing in the world today. We have shown the

capacity to resolve supposedly intractable problems. I

may refer here to the end of the iniquitous system of

apartheid, when we all felt a sense of pride and

accomplishment at the readmission of South Africa to the

United Nations on 23 June 1994.

I may also refer to the Middle East where we have

seen a marvellous example of what can be achieved

through patient diplomacy and dialogue, by the recent

signing of a Peace Accord between Israel and Jordan.

2

The earlier signature of the Declaration of Principles,

together with the current self-rule in Gaza, point to the

statesmanship of the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian people

and the other parties to a conflict which has dragged on for

far too long.

We have seen the convening of a World Conference

on Human Rights and the appointment of a High

Commissioner for Human Rights, events which point to the

increasing concern of the United Nations for the protection

of human rights and for the improvement of the economic

and social conditions of mankind.

In my own region, we see the possibility of the

restoration of democracy in Haiti. The multinational

operation now under way, of which Guyana is a part, offers

the hope that, notwithstanding its inherent difficulties, the

illegal government will finally abandon power. Guyana is

pledged to participate in the process leading to the prompt

return of peace and stability in Haiti. The international

community must now work together to assist in the

rebuilding of that country’s institutions, as well as its

economy, as a safeguard to its future welfare.

We are happy that the United States and Cuba were

able to meet here in New York and come to a positive

agreement on the migration issue. We hope that the

maturity displayed in those negotiations will spill over to a

correlative issue, the economic embargo, and that Cuba will

be allowed to pursue its economic rehabilitation for the

benefit of its people.

A peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem, which

has seemed to be elusive, continues to be our great desire.

Guyana remains hopeful that the efforts of the Secretary-

General and the goodwill of the parties involved will lead

to a satisfactory solution.

I am convinced that this Organisation can and will

achieve greater success for a better world. I would

therefore urge serious consideration of the “New Global

Humanitarian Order”, which is aimed at fusing various

aspects of past and future undertakings by this Assembly.

This new order will effectively bridge the gap between

rhetoric and implementation, and will succeed in dealing

directly with the common problems which face us all.

As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the United

Nations, I appeal to those present here today to reflect on

the spirit of solidarity which inspired the Charter of the

United Nations. Let us therefore work together to enhance

the role of this august body. Let us also, through mutual

respect and tolerance, work to promote better relations

between all nations and peoples.