Sierra Leone, 1995

Permit me, first of all,

to congratulate Mr. Diogo Freitas do Amaral on his

election to the presidency of the current session of the

General Assembly. Indeed, as we commemorate 50 years

of the existence of our Organization, his unanimous

election to preside over this Assembly is a fitting tribute

to his country and an eloquent testimony to his personal

experience and skills as a seasoned diplomat. I therefore

want to assure him of my delegation’s fullest cooperation

as he directs and guides our deliberations on this historic

occasion, and to wish him every success in that

endeavour.

To his immediate predecessor, and our esteemed

Brother, His Excellency Mr. Amara Essy of

Côte d’Ivoire, I convey my delegation’s gratitude and

appreciation for the exemplary manner in which he

conducted the affairs of the forty-ninth session of the

General Assembly.

I would also like to thank our eminent Secretary-

General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, for his bold

initiatives and his firm guidance of the work of the

Organization.

The world has come a long way from 26 June 1945,

when 50 States appended their signatures to the Charter

document, creating this enduring body. In spite of the

undoubted advancement of science and technology, and

indeed the enormous strides made by the Organization

during the past 50 years, the world continues, alas, to be

gripped by the same age-old problems of poverty,

disarmament, maintenance of peace and security,

development and many more.

Certainly, on the economic front there is no cause for

comfort or complacency. Most developing countries,

especially the least developed, continue to be strangled by

negative economic trends, stagnating resource flows,

seemingly unstoppable reductions in export earnings, rising

unemployment and, above all, the phenomenal increase in

the number of people living in absolute poverty, occasioned

largely by wars, famine, drought and the heavy burden of

foreign debts.

The debt burden, in particular, continues to be

excessive and harmful to the sustainable development of

developing countries, especially the least developed among

them. In this connection, the initiative of the British

Chancellor of the Exchequer earlier this year to put in place

measures to help reduce the stock of multilateral debt of the

most indebted developing nations is a step in the right

direction. Nevertheless, we continue to hold the view that

unless the debt issue is seriously addressed by the

international community, no meaningful progress for the

next 50 years can be accomplished in the foreseeable future

by the developing countries, especially the least developed

among them.

We believe that a permanent and definitive

comprehensive solution to the debt problem must be found

without further delay. That is why we commend the current

Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, His Excellency

President Soeharto of Indonesia, for his initiative in

convening in August last year a Ministerial Meeting of

Non-Aligned Countries on the subject of debt and

development with the theme “Sharing of Experiences”, at

which a number of general principles for debt reduction

were adopted, marking significant progress in the search for

a lasting solution to this nagging problem.

We continue to appeal to the international community,

particularly to the international financial institutions, to give

those modest recommendations serious consideration in the

formulation of policies and actions on the debt issue.

The persistence of these problems has undermined

political stability and threatened regional and international

peace and security. Determined as we in the developing

countries have been to improve the lot of our people and to

redress the economic plight facing our various countries, we

still labour under excruciating circumstances. It is now

abundantly clear that the developing countries cannot go it

alone. We need the involvement of other, dependable,

partners, particularly among the developed countries and

the major international financial institutions. Additional

resources at multilateral and bilateral levels are essential

from these partners to achieve rapid improvement in the

lives of the millions of our affected people.

As for Sierra Leone, since April 1992, when the

National Provisional Ruling Council took over the reins

of government, we have set for ourselves the task of

implementing anti-poverty programmes and socio-

economic reforms, including deregulation of prices,

exchange control and interest rates, and the reduction of

fiscal deficit.

Despite the limited scope of the success attained so

far, we are determined not to relent in our efforts to cater

for the special needs of the most vulnerable groups in

society.

Calling upon the international community to pay

special attention to the problems of developing countries

by providing them with financial and technical support

should not be considered as an appeal simply for charity

but rather an investment in the future development and

well-being of mankind. Indeed, we realize that the key to

sustainable development in any State is in the hands of its

citizenry. Developing countries are now very much aware

of this and are taking responsibility for working towards

improving the lot of the peoples of their respective

countries.

Indeed, during the 50 years of its existence, the

United Nations has also been studying ways and means of

improving the economies of the developing countries of

the world. None the less, as our export prices have been

on the decline, our economic plans have remained

unfulfilled and the rate of growth of our gross domestic

product, which was never fast, is in great danger of

slowing down to a complete standstill. The technical

assistance schemes which have been formulated to study

the problem are numerous. My delegation firmly believes

that the time has now come for positive action that would

lead to the eradication of the largely known causes of

economic stagnation, particularly in Africa. We call for a

speedy implementation of the United Nations New

Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s as

well as for the consolidation of efforts towards the

diversification of the African economies.

In a world of growing interdependence, the

liberalization of trade, the globalization of the economy

and increasing regional integration, sustainable

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development and the eradication of poverty cannot be

ensured in the absence of peace and stability. “An Agenda

for Peace” and “An Agenda for Development” not only

show that peace and development are inseparable and

indivisible but rather that they contain the essential

ingredients of a new vision of our one world. No

development is possible anywhere, save in an environment

that is peaceful, stable and secure. This holds true for

national development, as it does for regional and

international cooperation. That is why we in Sierra Leone

have always believed that peace at home is incomplete

unless our neighbours enjoy peace too. Today, more than

ever before, we should all be aware that we are our

brother’s keeper and that we can no longer afford to be

indifferent to developments in any part of the globe.

Three years ago, my Head of State, Captain Valentine

E. M. Strasser, acquainted this body with the devastation

visited on Sierra Leone initially as a spillover from the civil

war in Liberia. He explained to this Assembly the pain and

the agony that our people have had to endure as a result of

that conflict and its ramifications for regional peace and

stability.

Regrettably, I am again constrained to inform you that

the conflict has persisted and that the lives of many

innocent Sierra Leoneans continue to be lost. In spite of my

Government’s repeated overtures for peace and

reconciliation there is as yet no let-up in the fighting on the

ground and the rebel attacks against innocent and

unsuspecting civilians in provincial cities and several towns

and villages in the country continue unabated.

Consequently, we are witnessing today the internal

displacement of hundreds of thousands of our people and

thousands more have had to seek refugee status in

neighbouring countries, not to mention the devastation

caused to the national economy.

What all this means is that the Liberian situation is

inextricably linked with the situation in Sierra Leone. It is

therefore our ardent hope that with the budding peace in

Liberia, Sierra Leoneans can realistically expect a lull in the

fighting on their own soil to enable them embark on

economic reconstruction and rehabilitation. We would, in

this regard, like to express our profound thanks and

appreciation to the West African leaders who have made

the success achieved in Liberia possible. The leadership of

Nigeria, Ghana and the countries contributing to the

Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) of the Economic

Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deserve

special commendation. So do the United Nations and the

Organization of African Unity (OAU), organizations which

in their own diverse ways, have contributed to the

peaceful developments in Liberia.

We therefore call upon this Organization and all

peace-loving people the world over to support the new

government in Liberia. At the same time, we would

fervently appeal to the Liberian people to rise to the

occasion, for in the final analysis, it must be Liberians

themselves who should find a lasting solution to their

problems. We wish the New Liberian Council of State

and the people of Liberia success in their search for

durable peace in their country, for we believe that such

success will have a positive impact on Sierra Leone.

The need to strengthen the peace momentum in

Liberia is particularly important because during the

disarmament process there are going to be thousands of

hardened former combatants, some of them probably still

armed, who might be tempted to relocate the theatre of

war unless they are effectively disarmed, brought under

control and suitably reintegrated into Liberian society.

Closely linked to the search for peace in Sierra

Leone is the implementation of the programme of

democratization announced by my Head of State, His

Excellency Captain Valentine E. M. Strasser, three years

ago for the return of Sierra Leone to multiparty civilian

rule. I am happy to report that this programme is still on

course, despite the unavoidable delays resulting from the

rebel war. The ban on political parties has now been

lifted and indeed the registration of political parties

completed. A National Consultative Conference convened

by the Interim National Electoral Commission was held

in mid-August to seek national consensus on how

elections could be conducted in a war situation and to

discuss some other related issues. At that Conference, it

was agreed that both presidential and parliamentary

elections will be held not later than in February 1996. The

Revolutionary United Front, the rebel faction, was invited

to participate in that political process, but unfortunately,

their response, as has consistently been the case, was

negative. Yet, in spite of this, we continue to persist in

pursuing peace and continue to state clearly that the peace

option is still on the table. Be that as it may, I should also

state that as a responsible Government, we cannot give up

the armed struggle, if only out of the sense of legitimate

obligation to protect the lives and properties of innocent

Sierra Leoneans, who have borne a large measure of the

brunt of our senseless rebel war.

At this juncture, my delegation would like to express

its appreciation to this Organization, to the OAU and to

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the Commonwealth for responding positively to our request

for help by way of exploratory fact-finding missions to

Sierra Leone. In the case of the United Nations, the

Secretary-General subsequently sent a resident Special

Envoy in the person of Ambassador Berhanu Dinka, who

is still in the country offering assistance. It is an

encouraging sign that the international community, through

the United Nations, the OAU and the Commonwealth, is

just as anxious as the National Provisional Ruling Council

Government to see an early end to our destructive war so

that our peaceful citizens may once again be able to live in

an environment free of fear and anxiety and to engage in

their ordinary daily pursuits. At the same time, while

appealing to the international community to help us with

logistical, financial and related support in the

implementation of our political programme, we will also

require similar assistance, at the appropriate time, in

rebuilding and rehabilitating our devastated economy. In

this connection, we would like to express our deep and

sincere appreciation to all friendly Governments,

particularly Nigeria, Guinea and Ghana for their assistance

in our trying moments.

The world-wide problem of refugees and displaced

persons continues to be our concern, particularly as we

ourselves have become victims of this scourge. More than

half a million of our citizens have become displaced in

Sierra Leone, and hundreds of thousands more are refugees

in neighbouring countries. The yearning of all these people

is for an opportunity to finally return to their homes, settle

down and rebuild their lives. We urge the international

community to urgently help us bring our people back home.

The use of narcotic drugs has for some time now been

a source of concern, mainly to developing countries,

because of the inherent danger it poses to society,

especially the young. Today, no country can claim to be

insulated from this scourge, as it is now a global

phenomenon. The abuse of drugs and drug-related

substances is gaining in prominence, not only in Sierra

Leone, but in the whole West African subregion, and there

is no doubt that with the prevalence of rebel wars it will

continue to plague us long after these wars are over,

thereby threatening social peace and stability in the

countries concerned.

The Government of Sierra Leone is determined to take

all necessary measures against drug abuse and illicit

trafficking domestically, as well as through subregional and

international cooperation. To this end, my Government has

ratified the 1961, 1971 and 1988 Conventions dealing with

illicit drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, and has set up

both inter-ministerial and technical committees comprising

all relevant sectoral departments to advise the

Government on effective measures to contain drug abuse

and other related ills.

No one can deny that the threat of global nuclear

destruction posed by the cold war has receded. However,

it is becoming increasingly clear to us that where one

type of peril has been combated others are swiftly arising

to take its place. Today, the breakdown of bipolar control

has lifted restrictions on long- simmering civic, ethnic and

territorial disputes. Violence has brought the very

existence of some States into question and, with it, gross

violations of human rights, including instances of

genocide exceeded only, perhaps, by those of the Second

World War. Conflicts are becoming more numerous and

more complex, and are scattered all over the globe, even

as there are glimmers of hope.

In Africa, for example, we welcome the recent

developments whereby both parties in the Angolan

conflict are moving towards allowing the will of the

Angolan people finally to prevail over the barrel of the

gun. My delegation also notes with satisfaction the

agreement by UNITA to join with the MPLA in a

government of national unity. In like manner, the

acceptance by the Mozambican opposition leader,

Comrade Afonso Dhlakama, and his men of the outcome

of the electoral process should be a source of relief to all

Africans and peace-loving people everywhere. It is our

fervent hope that the Mozambicans will emulate the

example of their neighbours in Zimbabwe, South Africa

and Namibia — societies which have shown that, with the

right political attitude and good will, it is quite possible

to replace strife with reconciliation and hatred with

accommodation.

In the Middle East, we view the developments that

started a few years ago with the mutual recognition of the

PLO and Israel, followed later by the signing of the

Washington Declaration between Jordan and Israel, which

ended the state of war between them, as extremely

important positive steps towards the full realization of

peace in that region. In like manner, we welcome the just-

concluded Interim Agreement on Jericho and the West

Bank, signed by Israel and the PLO in Washington.

In the same vein, we commend Norway, the United

States, Egypt and all those others that in one way or the

other have played, and are continuing to play, a role in

moving this historic conflict towards a peaceful

resolution.

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On the other aspect of the Middle Eastern equation,

we urge Israel, Syria and Lebanon to join fully in the

historic peace process and display a spirit of

accommodation, in the interest of all the people of the

Middle East and mankind as a whole.

With regard to the dispute between Kuwait and Iraq,

we call upon Iraq fully to respect the sovereignty and

territorial integrity of Kuwait, in accordance with the terms

of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.

However, we call upon the international community, in

applying sanctions against Iraq, not to lose sight of the

suffering being experienced by the innocent civilians of that

country.

My delegation welcomes the decision to extend

indefinitely the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons (NPT), a decision which my country co-

sponsored. It was indeed a decision of momentous

importance, which heralded what has been described as a

major success of the United Nations in the field of

disarmament. However, we are disappointed that indications

since the extension are that final agreement on an

immediate and comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty seems

uncertain. If humanity is to maintain any lasting hope for

the future, we must act now with courage and decisiveness

to achieve a nuclear-free world. In this regard, we call

unequivocally for the cessation of nuclear tests of any kind

in all environments, and call upon the Conference on

Disarmament to work towards the speedy conclusion of a

comprehensive test-ban treaty within the shortest possible

time.

International peace can hardly be maintained in a

world in which some men are free while others are under

the yoke of colonialism. Being fully aware of that problem

and imbued with the idealism that brought this Organization

into being, Member States solemnly resolved to remove any

vestiges of colonialism from the world. This line of

thinking achieved full stature at the United Nations in 1960,

when the landmark resolution 1514 (XV), incorporating the

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial

Countries and Peoples, was adopted.

Today, as the world celebrates the fiftieth anniversary

of our Organization, its considerable success in the field of

decolonization is universally acclaimed. We remember the

history of the struggle against colonialism and pay tribute

to all those who were part of that struggle. We remain

mindful of the sacrifices that made it possible for hundreds

of millions of people to achieve self-determination and

independence. We commend the work of the Special

Committee of 24 for its effective contribution to the

application of the Declaration on the Granting of

Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. My

country has had the honour of serving that Committee —

it is, in fact, currently chairing it — and we are proud to

have been able to make some contribution to its work and

to bringing freedom to a good portion of the human race.

In that regard, while we welcome with profound

pleasure the State of Palau to this world Organization as

the 185th Member, it is my delegation’s view that the

task of decolonization remains unfinished. Further

concerted and determined action is still required on the

part of all involved to win freedom for people who are

still unable to exercise their right to self-determination —

mostly peoples of small island States, located mainly in

the Pacific and Caribbean regions. These territories are

confronted with unique problems that require new and

innovative solutions geared towards the implementation of

the International Decade for the Eradication of

Colonialism by the Year 2000, launched by the General

Assembly in 1988.

We believe that the situation of these Territories

should not be seen as an impediment to the application of

the principle of self-determination. The wishes of the

people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories are what

count most. We appeal for the strengthened and continued

support of the administering Powers, whose cooperation

with the Special Committee is essential for the progress

of the Territories towards self-determination. We count on

the support of the specialized agencies and the

international community as a whole to continue to assist

the Non-Self-Governing Territories in enhancing their

standard of living and promoting their self-sufficiency.

We also truly believe that our combined and unrelenting

efforts will ensure the fulfilment of the promise of

freedom, lasting peace, sustained growth and sustainable

development for all the people of our planet in

accordance with the purposes and principles of the United

Nations.

My delegation welcomes the successful outcome of

the Conference on the Environment and Development in

1992, the World Conference on Human Rights in 1993,

the International Conference on Population and

Development in 1994, the World Summit for Social

Development convened in Copenhagen in 1995 and the

recently concluded United Nations Fourth World

Conference on Women in Beijing. Referring to the

Beijing Conference, we note with satisfaction that the

history of the United Nations for the past 50 years has

5

also been one of steady progress for women, from a drive

for their civil and political rights to their recognition as

equal partners in the broader societal context.

We appeal for the urgent implementation of the

recommendations, conclusions and decisions adopted in

these various international Conferences. We believe that in

their realization partly lies the possibility of lasting peace

and security, economic progress and social emancipation for

all humankind.

We note with satisfaction the positive role played by

our Organization in facilitating international agreement on

thorny issues, whose resolution would certainly have been

more difficult, if not impossible, in other forums. In this

connection, my delegation welcomes the new Agreements

signed at Marrakesh in April last year, establishing the

World Trade Organization. However, we stress the need for

a continuous assessment of its likely impact on developing

countries, especially the least developed among them. We

fear that countries which are net importers of food, such as

Sierra Leone, might face the prospect of higher food import

bills arising from the liberalization of trade in the

agricultural sector. Other areas in the Agreements which

open up competition between developed and developing

countries also need to be constantly reviewed to ensure that

the latter do not suffer unduly.

Since the end of the cold war, it has become

increasingly clear that the United Nations is finding it

difficult to deal with the challenges of the post-cold-war

era. As we enter the next millennium, we believe it should

be a strong, revitalized, effective and purposeful United

Nations, able to play its full role as envisaged in its

Charter.

With democracy taking root among nations, logic and

common sense dictate that decisions of the United Nations

should also carry the necessary imprint of the collective

will of its Members. Indeed, the Security Council, which is

charged with the primary responsibility for the maintenance

of international peace and security, should be perceived as

legitimate in its decision-making process. My delegation

takes the view that a more efficient, transparent and

democratic Security Council, embracing the views of a

wider sector of the international community, could stand it

in good stead to deal with the challenges of the next

millennium — challenges which touch humanity generally,

rather than individual States which often lack the capacity

and the ability to handle them successfully. Such challenges

include the problem of drugs, devastating diseases like

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), money

laundering, poverty and many more yet unknown. We

sincerely hope that the final outcome of the work of the

Open-ended Working Group on institutional reforms will

adequately address these concerns and offer appropriately

bold suggestions and solutions.

The relevance of the United Nations after 50 years

as an instrument for the peaceful existence and orderly

development of every nation no longer requires

justification. We commend the Secretary-General and the

Secretariat for initiating a restructuring process which will

ultimately ensure the enhanced viability and efficiency of

our Organization. We also pay tribute to all their

predecessors whose own efforts contributed to the

survival of the Organization. Member States owe it to

posterity to adopt a firm commitment to the provisions of

the Charter and not to undermine the credibility of our

common Organization. We renew our call for all Member

States to be resolute and uncompromising in the quest for

global peace, security and social and economic justice as

we move into the twenty-first century. Let me, in

conclusion, reaffirm my country’s commitment to the

United Nations Charter and dedication to the principles

which undergird our Organization.