Laos, 1998

First of all, I should like to extend my

warmest congratulations to Mr. Didier Opertti on his well-

deserved election to the presidency of the fifty-third session

of the General Assembly. His recognized skills as a veteran

diplomat and his extensive knowledge of international

affairs augur well for the success of our deliberations.

As we assure him of our complete cooperation, my

delegation would like to wish him every possible success.

I should like also to avail myself of this opportunity to pay

tribute to Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of our

Organization, for the crucial role that he has played in the

preservation of peace and the promotion of socio-economic

development throughout the world. We are extremely

grateful to him for the laudable efforts he has made in the

first two difficult years of his term.

In the past year, the world situation has continued to

undergo changes that are more profound and complex than

in the preceding years. World peace continues to be just

as fragile. In various regions of the world, civil wars,

conflicts among States, border disputes and ethnic, tribal

and religious confrontations continue to take place. Some

of these events offer no glimmer of abatement, while

others have been deliberately provoked against the

sovereignty of other States. In the face of this situation,

it is important for the international community, in its

respect for the Charter of the United Nations, to focus its

energies and do its utmost to reduce tensions and assist

the countries concerned in resolving their problems by

means of negotiations, thus favouring the current general

trend towards international cooperation for development.

On the eve of the third millennium, States and peoples

throughout the world should together endeavour to lay the

appropriate solid foundations to construct a new era of

relations based on peace, social justice and equality.

In certain regions of Europe, there has been a

resurgence of deadly ethnic conflicts, resulting in

enormous losses in human lives and material property.

While coming out in favour of the inviolability of

internationally recognized borders, we should like

sincerely to appeal to the countries involved to show

restraint and resolve their conflicts through dialogue.

In Africa, we are still witnessing ethnic

confrontation, civil war and border conflicts that continue

gravely to threaten peace, stability and cooperation. In

view of the great suffering that the victimized peoples of

certain countries of the region must ensure, the

international community must render its support and

assistance to the countries concerned in their efforts to

resolve their problems by peaceful means and as soon as

possible.

In the Caribbean, an atmosphere of peace and

cooperation continues to prevail. In this context, we

profoundly regret that the 30-year-plus economic,

commercial and financial blockade imposed on the

Republic of Cuba by the United States of America has

not yet been lifted. In the interest of regional and world

peace as well as in the interest of both the Cuban and

American people, it is our hope that the two countries

concerned will commit themselves to reasonable

negotiations so as to resolve their dispute as soon as

possible in conformity with the general trend obtaining

throughout the world.

In the Middle East, the situation appears tense. The

peace process begun following the signature by the

Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel of the

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Washington Accords of 1993 has run up against grave

difficulties in the past two years in the wake of the

establishments of new settlements in Har Homa in East

Jerusalem and of other unilateral measures that have been

taken. In our view, it is imperative for the parties involved

immediately to put an end to unilateral measures and

speedily to restore a climate of mutual trust and continue

seriously in their negotiations to achieve a general

settlement based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967)

and 338 (1973) and other relevant General Assembly

resolutions in order to contribute to the restoration of peace,

security and cooperation in this very delicate region of the

world.

On the Korean peninsula in general we are witnessing

a reduction in tension. Contacts and talks among the parties

concerned are continuing in a spirit of respect for mutual

interests. While welcoming the efforts deployed, the

Government and people of the Lao Peopleâs Democratic

Republic would like to reiterate their sincere support for the

profound aspirations of the Korean people to live in peace

and to achieve the peaceful reunification of their cherished

homeland.

In South-East Asia multifaceted beneficial cooperation

among States is continuing under good conditions.

Nevertheless, in the wake of the financial crisis that

occurred more than a year ago, the countries of the region

are now going through unprecedented grave economic

difficulties. But thanks mainly to national efforts and

regional and international cooperation, these countries are,

through adjustment programmes, engaged in a process of

profound economic restructuring in order to get back on

track. The international community as a whole has been

called upon to support them actively, particularly those

most affected.

Another important event that has characterized our

region was the holding last July of general elections in

Cambodia, the results of which have been recognized and

approved by the international community. As a nearby

neighbour, the Lao Peopleâs Democratic Republic would

like to express the hope that the Cambodian parties

concerned will speedily form a coalition Government

which, in accordance with the Constitution, will be headed

by a prime minister from the party that has been elected by

majority which would contribute to the establishment of

national concord in Cambodia and the promotion of peace

and stability in the region.

In the Lao Peopleâs Democratic Republic, socio-

political stability continues to be securely guaranteed. In

accordance with the Constitution, national legislative

elections took place on 21 December 1997. The new

National Assembly — the Fourth Legislature — has been

set up and is made up of 99 members, including 21

women, representing the three major ethnic groups of the

country.

In the economic sphere, the implementation of a

recovery policy based on market mechanisms has

produced generally satisfactory results. However, the

monetary crisis that has severely afflicted all of South-

East Asia and even beyond for more than a year has

considerably affected our economy. But, resolutely basing

policies on the principle of self-reliance and enjoying

external cooperation, the Lao Government has mobilized

all of its capacity in human, intellectual, natural and

material resources to reduce to the minimum the adverse

effects of this crisis on our society and to achieve

normalization.

While some can gain in this era of globalization and

economic liberalization, the fact is that most developing

countries, particularly the least developed, have been

largely marginalized and exposed to enormous difficulties

and risks. In this context, the developed countries must do

everything possible to render the necessary assistance to

these countries so that they might catch up in their

lagging development and have a share in the progress of

the times.

Drug abuse continues to figure prominently on the

international agenda. In this connection, the Government

of the Lao Peopleâs Democratic Republic has taken the

necessary measures with a view to reducing production

and banning the illicit trafficking in drugs, opium in

particular. The results of these measures are satisfactory.

However, the illegal introduction of synthetic drugs from

abroad is still our main concern. In this connection, we

welcome the unanimous adoption by the General

Assembly at its twentieth special session of the Political

Declaration and a programme of action, and we express

the hope that the international community as a whole will

mobilize itself and marshall the necessary financial

resources to implement this ambitious programme.

The question of human rights is no less important in

my country. Thus, on the occasion of the fiftieth

anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, my Government has officially announced the

establishment of a national committee to commemorate

this day solemnly on a wide scale with the sole purpose

of publicizing the contents of the Declaration among the

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multi-ethnic Lao people and to promote harmony and

mutual respect in our society.

The world today is confronted with numerous

challenges. World peace remains fragile. Under-

development, poverty, hunger and disease are among the

priority problems that must be resolved. With the purpose

of consolidating peace and achieving development

throughout the world, the United Nations, our only

universal multilateral forum, must make an important

contribution. To be able to fulfil its mission in this new era,

our Organization needs to restructure itself or to reorganize

itself to be more effective.

In this connection, we would like to express our great

appreciation to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the

reform initiatives he presented last year. Of course, these

reforms which must, inter alia, stress the strengthening the

role of the Organization and the promotion of development,

represent an ongoing and difficult process. But in order for

them to succeed, a solid financial basis must be assured. In

that vein, it is high time that, in conformity with the United

Nations Charter, all the Member States, particularly the

main contributors, fulfil their financial commitments in full

and on time. In so doing, we are giving the incipient

reforms a chance, and in the final analysis we would be

infusing energy into our Organization so that it could

discharge its lofty mission as it confronts the challenges of

our times.