Togo, 1993

On behalf of the Government and people of Togo, I should

like to convey very sincere condolences and feelings of

compassion to the people and the Government of India, who

have been so harshly afflicted by a cruel catastrophe.

Allow me first of all to discharge the pleasant duty of

expressing to you, Mr. President, the warm congratulations

of the Togo delegation on the unanimous confidence that has

been invested in you by dint of your assumption of the lofty

and noble task of conducting the debates of the current

session. You can count on my delegation’s full cooperation

in the performance of the weighty responsibilities that fall to

you.

My delegation also congratulates the outgoing

President, His Excellency Mr. Stoyan Ganev, who with great

mastery and skill led the work of the forty-seventh session

to success.

To our Secretary-General, His Excellency

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, I also wish to pay a well-

deserved tribute for the remarkable work he has been

carrying out since his election to the head of our

Organization. I should also like to reiterate to him our very

sincere gratitude for his constant and tireless efforts to

enhance the effectiveness of the Organization, particularly in

the field of peace-keeping and the maintenance of

international peace and security. The firm determination he

has displayed in the restructuring of the United Nations to

better adapt it to present-day realities has also won our

admiration.

Our Organization is growing steadily, bringing us ever

closer to the goal of universality envisaged in the Charter of

San Francisco. Togo bids welcome to the new Members

that have joined the Organization this year, and we express

to them our willingness to work in concert with them in

building a world of greater justice and solidarity.

The prevailing situation in the world today does not live

up to the expectations engendered by the changes that

Forty-eighth session - 4 October l993 25

took place at the beginning of this decade. The hope of

universal renewal characterized by the building of a world

of peace, prosperity and justice, marked by reliable solidarity

and more active cooperation among nations, has been slow

in taking concrete form.

The grim picture seen in the tragedies unfolding before

our eyes in Somalia, Liberia, Angola, Bosnia and

Herzegovina and elsewhere, as well as the persistence of the

international economic crisis, leads one to believe that the

future of the world is not as rosy as we had hoped. The

new order is still rather nebulous.

Nevertheless, we welcome the growing involvement of

the Organization in settling the various crises facing the

world. This bears witness to its new vitality and reflects the

growing confidence that Member States place in multilateral

cooperation.

A year ago we noted from this same rostrum the

upheavals that had occurred in recent years throughout the

world, particularly in Europe, Asia and Africa. Those signs

of the times were then said to exemplify the determination

of peoples to gain more freedom and full participation in the

management of political affairs.

Today, more than ever before, those peoples are still

searching for that era of freedom, peace and justice that only

democracy, stripped of all disguise and based on clearly

understood and assimilated multi-party systems, can provide

them, with the support of the international community,

though without the need to yield to the temptation of

imposing a uniform model.

This emancipation movement, to which the African

peoples did not hesitate to adhere, has met with different

fortunes in its various manifestations. While in certain

countries the transition towards democracy has unfolded

somewhat smoothly and has made it possible to bring about

genuine changes, in others the process has hardly achieved

the objectives so earnestly desired. This is true in some

countries of the African continent that, because of a lack of

understanding between the various players, face enormous

difficulties that rend the fabric of society. Because of this

lack of understanding, the aspiration of the African peoples

to more freedom and democracy, though a legitimate one,

has unfortunately given rise here and there to a new type of

problem, on top of the continent’s usual troubles.

It is unfortunate that my country, Togo, has surely paid

a heavier price than others in the ineluctable march towards

democratization. Indeed, no one can know the pain and

sorrow of our people’s path in its progress towards

democracy. Many difficulties arising from serious

misunderstandings between the players in national political

life regarding what democratization involves have dealt a

heavy blow to the democratic process, which we had all

hoped with all our hearts would be a peaceful one. This has

led to a rare outbreak of political violence, which has

ravaged the whole of the national territory, unleashed serious

disruptions in the nation and displaced populations.

In the face of this worrisome situation that was

threatening national cohesion, the Government, anxious to do

everything it could to bring the transition to culmination as

quickly as possible, has made numerous efforts to find a

solution to the political crisis in which our country was

plunged. In this spirit, it has done everything it can to

combat violence and insecurity by deploying the public

security forces in order to ensure, throughout the territory,

the peace and order that are indispensable for the free

movement of peoples and goods and the proper conduct of

social, economic and political activity before, during and

after the electoral consultations.

However, I hardly think it necessary to go on at great

length on this situation, because we were offered the means

of a solution, and we did not fail to seize it. Thus, the

people of Togo have regained the hope and calm they so

needed in order to regain their confidence.

The elections of last 25 August - which were held, by

and large, in a calm and serene atmosphere and transparency

and in the presence of international observers - allowed our

people democratically to appoint the first President of the

Fourth Togolese Republic. Re-elected with a large majority

of the votes cast, the outgoing President, General Gnassingbé

Eyadema, set as his main task to work tirelessly, in full

respect of human rights, for national reconciliation and the

recovery of the country’s economy, ruined by more than two

years of turbulent transition. He therefore called upon the

sons of the nation to start with a clean slate, to forgive

themselves and unite in the struggle for the democratic

process and the restoration of the country, in the interests of

all. Certainly, some problems remain, but such problems are

inherent to any apprenticeship. It is thus possible now to

hope that Togo will be restored to its former health.

26 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

In this connection, I am pleased to point out that, with

regard to the forthcoming legislative elections, the

Government has already taken steps to resolve all the

technical problems connected with the organization of the

elections so as to ensure that they are held in the greatest

possible transparency. Aware that democracy requires the

cooperation of all in the management of the polity’s affairs,

the Government intends to spare no effort to ensure the

opposition’s participation in the forthcoming legislative

elections.

Our delegation should emphasize here the very useful

role played by friendly countries in the search for a

successful solution to the crisis in our country. I therefore

take the opportunity to thank from this rostrum all those

who, from near or far, contributed to our achievement of that

result. Our feelings of deep gratitude go out particularly to

the people, the Government and the Head of State of

Burkina Faso, Mr. Blaise Compaoré, who applied all their

talents to bring about that which, several months earlier, still

seemed impossible: bring our Togolese brothers around a

negotiating table and lead them to reach agreement.

I also wish to welcome the sustained action undertaken

by France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United

States of America, whose mediation contributed to the

favourable outcome of the initiatives. My Government is

particularly grateful to the United Nations and to the

Organization of African Unity, whose observers in the field

made a very valuable contribution to the proper holding of

the elections of 25 August 1993. It is to be hoped that the

result of this process will be the restoration of national

cohesion, allowing the Togolese henceforth to enjoy their

rights fully and in all tranquillity, including their right to

fundamental freedoms and to development.

The World Conference on Human Rights, held in

Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, seems to have been an

effort to produce international consensus on the further

promotion, protection and defence of human rights. That

meeting enshrined the axiom, henceforth shared by all, that

development, democracy and human rights form an

indissociable triad.

But can we speak objectively of the effective enjoyment

of human rights in the case of a population whose standards

of living are below the necessary minimum? The rights to

food, education and adequate health care are in fact denied

to the citizens of our developing countries, above all because

of an unfavourable international economic situation. The

first among human rights is the right to life - a decent life.

Therefore, in the framework of promoting and protecting

human rights, it is necessary to redouble efforts to help the

developing countries to assume their responsibility to

contribute to the full flowering of the individual.

My country, which is deeply devoted to respect for the

human person and determined to build a State of law, has

assumed as its own - by including them in its new

Constitution, adopted by referendum on 27 September 1992 -

the fundamental principles of democracy and those linked

to the protection and promotion of human rights. Once

again, I should like to affirm before this Assembly that Togo

is firmly committed to all universal values encompassing the

protection and enjoyment of rights inherent to the human

person. It is thus with faith and conviction that I aver that

the difficulties of adapting national legislation to

international norms and the various approaches available in

no way detract from the duty of each State to contribute to

the tangible and irreversible progress of the cause of human

rights throughout the world.

The end of the cold war and the disappearance of

ideological antagonisms have not yet made it possible to

usher in the genuine era of peace to which the world aspired,

despite the encouraging prospects these changes seemed to

offer. Indeed, narrow nationalism, religious fanaticism,

ethnic rivalry and hegemonism have resurfaced,

unfortunately plunging certain parts of the world into

turmoil.

Thus, in Africa, the situation remains disquieting

despite the praiseworthy efforts of the United Nations and

the Organization of African Unity to settle the conflicts

ravaging the continent. In Angola, it is unfortunate that war

persists and continues to claim many victims, despite the

initiatives made to induce the belligerent brothers to lay

down their arms. I express the hope that both protagonists,

overriding all other considerations, make as their main goals

the re-establishment of peace and the higher interests of the

Angolan people, and renounce the use of force and find a

final and negotiated solution to the conflict.

In South Africa, the positive progress achieved -

particularly the fixing of 27 April 1994 as the date for the

holding of the first multiracial elections - clearly demonstrate

that the emergence of a democratic non-racial society in that

country is near at hand. In that spirit, Togo welcomes the

adoption in Cape Town on 23 September by the three houses

of the South African Parliament of a bill instituting a

transitional executive council entrusted with helping and

controlling governmental activities up to the elections.

Forty-eighth session - 4 October l993 27

However, the noteworthy progress made recently

towards the complete and final dismantling of the apartheid

system has been unable to disguise the various acts of

violence, aggression, confrontation and assassination that

have become daily features of South African political and

social life. This increased violence, inspired and cunningly

maintained by groupings opposed to change, should prompt

the international community to do all in its power to ensure

the irreversibility of the process under way.

The Togolese Government takes note with interest of

the appeal made on 24 September by the President of the

African National Congress, Mr. Nelson Mandela, for the

lifting of economic sanctions against South Africa. It is our

hope that this measure will help to accelerate the democratic

process in that country.

In Somalia, the deployment of the United Nations

Operation has made it possible to alleviate the suffering of

the population. My delegation, while welcoming the efforts

of the United Nations to restore normal living conditions,

expresses its grave concern at the enormous loss of life

among the civilian populations and the Blue Helmets alike.

Given the present delicate situation there, it is

important, as the Security Council unanimously urged on 22

September, to redouble efforts to reach a political settlement.

To that end, we cannot overemphasize the need to do

everything possible to fulfil the objectives of the United

Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II), namely, the

"facilitation of humanitarian assistance and the

restoration of law and order, and of national

reconciliation in a free, democratic and sovereign

Somalia ...". (Security Council resolution 865 (1993),

para. 4.)

As for Liberia and Rwanda, which have for a number

of years been arenas of cruel, fratricidal upheavals, Togo is

pleased to see that, thanks to the courage, farsightedness and

determination of the parties concerned, there are finally some

indications of genuine prospects for a final settlement of

those conflicts through, respectively, the Cotonou and

Arusha Agreements.

In the case of Liberia, in particular, my delegation

welcomes the arrangements made by the Economic

Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the

United Nations for the implementation of the Agreement of

25 July so that the people of Liberia can once again live in

peace and security and set about rebuilding their country in

regained national unity.

In that connection, we believe that the role to be played

by the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia

(UNOMIL), established by the Security Council on 22

September of this year, will be a very decisive one.

With regard to the situation in Western Sahara, Togo

welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General as set forth in

his report of 28 July 1993 (S/26185) on that question and

urges him to pursue dialogue with the parties to the conflict

in order to achieve implementation of the United Nations

settlement plan.

There are other regions of the world in which conflicts

also demand our attention and call for further efforts on our

part to come up with adequate solutions.

In the case of the Middle East and the Israeli-Arab

conflict, Togo welcomes the signing of the agreement on

mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine

Liberation Organization (PLO) and hails it as an important

first step towards peace in the region. Today, that

agreement and the one relating to Palestinian autonomy in

the Gaza Strip and Jericho are indications that things are

finally on the right track. My country is more than ever

convinced that only the final settlement of the Palestinian

problem can lead to peace in the region.

True, there is still a long way to travel down the road

to peace. In reaching that goal, the protagonists, both Arab

and Israeli, need our material and moral support. The

consolidation of the process that has been set in motion

depends on the international community’s ability to respond

effectively and urgently to the economic and social

development needs of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, for

only viable development can ensure lasting peace in the

region.

As for the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I

should like, on behalf of the Togolese Government, to repeat

here our hope for the success of all the initiatives taken by

all sides to end the tragedy in that country. No one in the

world can sleep peacefully in the knowledge of the anguish

of the innocent victims of that conflict. To the protagonists

we say: Enough! Enough of dying! Be flexible, be

reasonable.

28 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

Finally, with regard to Cambodia, Togo welcomes the

inestimable peace-keeping efforts made by the United

Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC),

which made it possible for free and democratic elections in

that country, under United Nations auspices, to be held in

May 1993.

The various conflicts that beset the world are directly

related to the arms race. All countries are in duty bound to

increase their efforts to halt that race. At stake are the

survival of mankind and national, regional and international

peace and security.

General and complete disarmament - genuine

disarmament - for which all mankind so ardently hopes,

requires a substantial contribution from all Member States

and the creation of appropriate structures. In this

connection, the action of the United Nations in this area

should be stepped up in order that the objectives of

disarmament can be achieved. The mission of the Regional

Disarmament Centres should be viewed in the same context.

It is essential that they be made more operational by

providing them with adequate human, material and financial

resources to enable them fully to discharge their duties.

The effectiveness of our Organization obviously

depends on restructuring and revitalizing it. My delegation,

while welcoming the efforts already exerted in this

connection, believes that a review of the Charter is an

imperative need in order to enable all the organs of the

United Nations to participate fully in the implementation of

its purposes and principles.

The time has come for the Organization to hew more

closely to the spirit of the Charter. My delegation therefore

warmly welcomes the proposals that there should be a

rethinking of the membership of the Security Council with

a view to its expansion. In that endeavour it is important

that serious consideration be given to equitable geographical

representation of various regions so as to endow the

universal Organization with a broader international consensus

that would provide a solid basis for its actions and make it

more dynamic, more active and more efficient.

As far as relations between States are concerned, the

Government of Togo, in keeping with its policy of openness,

dialogue and concerted action, firmly adheres to the

principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of States

and the non-use of force. Furthermore, we believe that,

given the present state of international relations, the

Organization should help its Members to create domestic

conditions that can contribute to the elimination of tensions

capable of leading to war either within or between States.

It was in that spirit that we welcomed last year the

highly pertinent recommendations formulated by the

Secretary-General in his report, "An Agenda for Peace",

which were aimed at the maintenance and restoration of

international peace and security. Today more than ever

before, the United Nations must strengthen its capacity to

maintain and preserve that peace and security, to ensure

respect for human rights and to promote economic and social

progress.

The economic and social gap between rich and poor

countries is growing wider by the day, and the economies of

the developing countries, particularly the least developed

among them, are prey to chronic recession.

In Africa the situation is even more tragic. The peoples

of Africa, already the victims of undernourishment, famine

and all kinds of other ills, are also bearing the full brunt of

the constant decrease in export prices, the continuous

deterioration of terms of trade, the obstacles imposed on

trade, and the burden of indebtedness.

In the area of international trade, relationships are ruled

by the law of the jungle. The persistence of protectionism

and the adoption of Draconian measures against exports

from developing countries continue to hamper the efforts

they are making to achieve growth through exports.

In the light of what I have just said, it is urgent for the

international economic environment to be improved by

designing a more open and transparent trading system. The

system will have to protect and support the trading

relationships of the third world countries with the

industrialized countries and, moreover, make it possible for

countries with weak economies to come away from the

sidelines and be fully integrated into the world economy.

My Government therefore wishes trade liberalization to

lead to the establishment of principles of fair play that would

impel the countries of the North to buy the South’s products

at remunerative prices. Towards this end, it is our hope that

the multilateral negotiations of the Uruguay Round will take

into account the concerns of the third world.

The debt problem remains a source of serious concern

for the African States, which are already being sorely tried

by the effects of the world economic crisis. Africa, which

Forty-eighth session - 4 October l993 29

is allocating more than half its income to servicing its debt,

as required by the structural adjustment programmes, has

been struggling for more than a decade now under an

economic shock therapy that leaves it no chance of success.

Unfortunately, the many initiatives that have been taken to

promote our countries’ development have so far not had

positive results, as most of them have been implemented

only half-heartedly. This is particularly true of the United

Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the

1990s and the Paris Programme of Action for the Least

Developed Countries for the 1990s.

In view of these considerations, my delegation would

like to recall that it is for the international community to

adopt steps designed to alleviate the debt burden. These

steps should include, inter alia, writing off debt for

developing countries or, failing that, reducing it substantially,

making repayment conditions more flexible, and setting up

and paying into a diversification fund to transform the

commodities sector and stimulate economic growth in

Africa. There should also be a call for a considerable

increase in official development assistance.

As the 1980s were a lost decade for Africa, during the

1990s the industrialized countries should agree to an increase

in financial flows to the poorer countries sufficient to

support their activities and programmes for development,

economic expansion and diversification, because it is a

shame to see aid levels falling just when the African

countries are making major efforts to promote democracy

and manage their economies in a sound and rigorous

manner. Of course, no one opts for democracy in the

expectation of preferential treatment, but particular attention

should be paid to our countries, which are already shaky as

a result of the general crisis that is rocking the world.

Although we should stick to the rules of good economic

management, it would be a good thing if our countries,

which are already in trouble, were not forced to submit to

long-drawn-out economic therapies that are quite likely to

kill their efforts to become more democratic.

So, are we right to hope that the Tokyo Conference on

African development, which is going on right now, will

make it possible for us to drive it home to the major world

political and economic players that there is a crying need to

make a massive, collective effort for African recovery,

because Africa’s economy has fallen into wrack and ruin?

Forty-eight years after the Second World War, the world,

which is still characterized by an attitude, on the part of the

strong, of moral indifference and hardness of heart towards

the weak, is still living in fear of what the next day will

bring.

However, despite the tough political, economic and

social realities that all mankind is facing, we all do feel the

commonality of our peoples’ destiny and, without a doubt,

the relevance of the purpose and principles of our

Organization. Thus, we must turn the upheavals since the

end of the cold war to advantage by building a new world

order based on collective security on three levels - the

political, the economic and the humanitarian - so as to bring

about better living conditions in greater liberty.

Towards this end, the United Nations would gain by

being reformed, made more democratic and revitalized in

order to live up to its universal vocation and take up the

many challenges that a changing world is imposing on it.