Mauritania, 1997

At the outset, I would like to say how pleased

we are to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the

presidency of the fifty-second session of the United

Nations General Assembly. We are convinced that your

great experience and wisdom will promote the success of

this session. I can assure you of the cooperation of the

delegation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in

reaching the results to which we all aspire.

I take this opportunity also to express our gratitude

to and esteem for your predecessor, Mr. Razali Ismail, for

the great efforts made and the positive results obtained

during his term of office as President of the past session.

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I should also like to express our appreciation to

Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations,

for the tireless efforts he has made since his assumption to

his high office to promote the universality of the United

Nations and to strengthen its credibility and capacity to

discharge its responsibilities despite a difficult international

situation.

In this context, we welcome the initiative taken by the

Secretary-General in submitting an outline for reform,

which includes a number of provisions that could improve

the functioning of the Organization. An in-depth study of

this outline will undoubtedly facilitate its adoption by all

members of the international community.

While the end of the cold war has created a favourable

climate for the emergence of a new era of international

dialogue and cooperation, the improvement of the economic

conditions of developing countries remains an urgent need.

Indeed, with the growing trend towards globalization

and liberalization in international trade, the developing

countries are facing a number of obstacles, including slower

growth, falling export revenues, and a reduction in the

volume of investments and in official development

assistance. All of this may prevent these countries from

becoming part of the global economy and further

marginalize them if the international community does not

mobilize swiftly to provide them with the aid they need to

meet these challenges.

The increase in the volume of debt is another obstacle

to the economic and social development efforts undertaken

by these countries for the benefit of their peoples. In this

respect the 1996 report of the World Bank notes that the

burden of debt in many of the least developed countries has

reached such a level that it is virtually impossible for them

to continue with their economic reforms, which are of

crucial importance; and that this situation is exacerbated by

the fact that in 1996 official development assistance, which

can reduce the effect of indebtedness, fell to its lowest level

in real terms in 23 years.

International strategies do not seem to have succeeded

adequately in easing the burden of debt in the developing

countries, which is why more effective solutions, such as

increasing official development assistance, must be found

so that these countries’ development priorities can be

financed.

Despite the fragility of the international economic

situation, progress has been made in various areas due to

efforts by the United Nations to promote international

cooperation and to define policies and strategies capable

of meeting the economic, social and environmental

challenges that confront the world today. For instance,

several important international meetings and conferences

have been organized during the past five years under the

auspices of the United Nations, resulting in some

decisions and undertakings relating to the main issues of

development that seek to promote international

cooperation and coordination for development.

I am referring in particular to the World Summit for

Children, held in New York; the Earth Summit, held in

Rio de Janeiro; the World Conference on Human Rights,

held in Vienna; the International Conference on

Population and Development, held in Cairo; the World

Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen; the

Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing; the

World Food Summit, held in Rome; the second United

Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II),

held in Istanbul; and the nineteenth special session of the

General Assembly, devoted to the overall review and

appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21, which took

place in New York last June.

These initiatives attest to the determination of the

United Nations to take into account the concerns and

interests of the international community with regard to a

whole range of development issues. The United Nations

should continue on this path and seek to ensure

implementation of the decisions adopted.

Under the enlightened guidance of its President, His

Excellency Mr. Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya, the

Islamic Republic of Mauritania has completed the process

of establishing constitutional institutions within the

framework of a democratic process that began 11 years

ago. This ensures that these institutions will be able to

function normally within a multi-party system and a State

based on the rule of law. My country is proud to state

that we do not hold any political prisoners.

Fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of

expression and a multi-party system, as well as trade

union freedoms, are guaranteed and enjoyed by 20

political parties and a large number of organizations and

trades unions that can pursue their activities in complete

freedom. Likewise, there are dozens of newspapers and

magazines that reflect various political and intellectual

sensibilities.

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Furthermore, in keeping with the provisions of our

Constitution, the two Houses of Parliament have been

replenished, and for the second time presidential elections,

set for 12 December this year, are being prepared in a

climate of freedom, peace and stability.

A global strategy that seeks to raise the level of our

people’s economic and social development and to

consolidate democracy has been implemented. This goes

hand in hand with the democratic process and is in keeping

with the following comments of the President of the

Republic, His Excellency Mr. Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed

Taya:

“We are seeking to build a modern society

capable of accompanying the world on its march

forward and of assimilating scientific and

technological information; a society aware of the

challenges of our time and working to meet those

challenges”.

In this context, the promotion of women’s rights and

the campaign against illiteracy figure prominently in our

development programmes. A sustained effort is also being

made to provide as many of our citizens as possible with

access to education, jobs and health services, thereby

guaranteeing them a better standard of living. The results

obtained in this regard are satisfactory. Indeed, the

enrolment rate in our schools has reached 86 per cent and

health care coverage for our people has been significantly

extended towards meeting the goal defined by the World

Health Organization, which is health for all by the year

2000. Drinking water supply systems have been built in

several regions, and the main cities of the country now

have electricity.

Within the framework of a huge programme to

provide access to remote towns in the interior of the

country, several new roads have been built, and a modern

telecommunications system now covers the entire country.

These important achievements attest to our firm desire

to combat underdevelopment in all its forms, relying first

on our own resources and then on the support of our

development partners.

I should like here to express my gratitude to all

brotherly and friendly countries and international

organizations and agencies, as well as to non-governmental

organizations, for their support of my country’s efforts in

this area.

One of the positive features of international relations

today, which has led to the strengthening of democracy

and respect for human rights in several regions of the

world, is the international community’s effort to

consolidate fundamental principles such as transparency,

the representative character of power, the primacy of law,

and the independence of the judiciary.

While we can be satisfied with the significant

progress made in this area, we should not lose sight of

the fact that democracy cannot be limited to the narrow

confines of each individual country; it must extend to

relations between nations. In this respect we attach

particular importance to the efforts made by the Open-

ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable

Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the

Security Council. We also hope that these efforts will

lead to greater transparency in the decision-making

processes of the Security Council as well as to improved

working methods.

In a different area, we need to adopt a new form of

preventive diplomacy that is capable of preventing

conflicts and the human tragedies that result from them,

such as those we have witnessed recently and those we

see today and yet are unable to resolve.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania expresses its

profound concern at the difficulties encountered in the

peace process and at the negative developments in the

region of the Middle East, which result from non-

compliance with agreements concluded and commitments

undertaken in accordance with the established timetable.

My country believes that there can be no just and

lasting peace in the Middle East unless Israel withdraws

from all the occupied Palestinian territories, including

Al-Quds, the Syrian Golan and southern Lebanon, and

unless the Palestinian people regain their right to create

an independent State on their territory.

My country also calls for the taking of the steps

necessary for the resumption of the peace negotiations

among all the parties concerned. We are convinced that

Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and

425 (1978) and the principle of “land for peace” remain

the basis of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

Furthermore, we call upon the two sponsors of the

peace process to redouble their efforts to ensure that the

chance for peace is not lost and the hopes for a new era

of cooperation and concord, in which the potential of the

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region is dedicated to economic development and social

promotion, are not dashed.

In this context, my country calls for the lifting of the

embargo placed on the Palestinian people, and we ask the

international community to mobilize the necessary resources

to finance the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for

Palestine Refugees in the Near East so that it can do its job

properly.

In the Gulf region, the aftermath of the war continues

to impede the normalization of the situation. The Islamic

Republic of Mauritania, while reaffirming its dedication to

international law and its commitment to respecting the

principles thereof, again states its rejection of any violation

of Kuwait’s independence, its territorial integrity and the

security of its citizens, and calls for a rapid solution to the

question of Kuwaiti prisoners.

We also reaffirm our steadfast position that no

measures should be taken that threaten Iraq’s unity and

territorial integrity, and we call for the lifting of the

embargo imposed against the Iraqi people, so that an end

can be put to their suffering. We hope that the

implementation of the resolution regarding “oil for food”

can help to achieve this.

Still on the same region, we reiterate our support for

the United Arab Emirates in its desire to regain its

sovereignty over the islands of Greater Tumb, Lesser Tumb

and Abu Mussa.

In the Arab Maghreb, my country is acting in

cooperation with its brothers for the attainment of the

aspirations of the States of the Union of the Arab Maghreb.

On the subject of Western Sahara, my country

welcomed with great satisfaction the agreement which was

concluded on 16 September last in Houston in the United

States under the auspices of Mr. James Baker III, the

Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and which deals

with the main issues that have hampered the

implementation of the settlement plan for Western Sahara

worked out by the United Nations in coordination with the

Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Islamic

Republic of Mauritania reaffirms its willingness to do

everything it can to promote implementation of the plan for

the settlement of this dispute.

Furthermore, we call for the lifting of the embargo

imposed against the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and we hope

that the efforts of the League of Arab States and of the

OAU to find a peaceful solution based on the principles

of international law, a solution that will put an end to this

situation so detrimental to the Libyan people and all other

Maghreb peoples, will be given favourable consideration.

On the question of Africa we hope that the meeting

of the Security Council at the ministerial level held two

weeks ago to consider the situation in Africa will

contribute to the achievement of appropriate solutions to

the problems of the continent.

My country also wishes to reaffirm its commitment

to the principles of dialogue and negotiation as the only

way to overcome crises and conflicts and to defuse

pockets of tension which exist in several parts of the

continent. Accordingly, my country renews its support for

efforts to revitalize the central organ of the OAU that

deals with prevention, management and settlement of

conflicts in Africa.

As for the Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros,

my country hopes that the efforts undertaken by the

League of Arab States and the OAU will contribute to the

settlement of the crisis in that country.

We hope also that in Somalia the parties concerned

will have recourse to constructive dialogue to reach a

solution that will guarantee harmony and stability.

In regard to the Republic of Congo, my country

hopes that a peaceful solution that will restore security

and stability will be found.

We hope that there will again be a normal situation

in Sierra Leone, in keeping with international law.

The United Nations is today required more than ever

before to react more vigorously to the problems facing the

international community. The end of the cold war, and the

international community’s awareness of the importance of

coordination and dialogue, are positive factors for giving

our Organization the necessary momentum to enable it to

meet the challenges and to establish the bases for a new

international order founded on the principles of justice

and solidarity and guaranteeing the maintenance of peace

and security throughout the world.

There is no doubt also that being aware of the

magnitude of the challenges and the need to pool our

efforts to meet them is the best way to restore our hope

of moving closer to the fulfilment of the ideal that was

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consecrated at the ceremonies commemorating the fiftieth

anniversary of the Organization:

“We the peoples of the United Nations united for a

better world”.