Bulgaria, 1993

I would first of all like to

congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to this

responsible post, and to wish you success.

On behalf of the Republic of Bulgaria, let me

congratulate the delegations of the States that have joined the

United Nations as new Members this year - the Czech

Republic, the Slovak Republic, The Former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia, Eritrea, Monaco and Andorra.

Three years ago, in this same Hall, I had the honour of

addressing the world forum. My message was on behalf of

democratic Bulgaria, a country where changes fully and

genuinely match the ideals and values uniting the nations in

the world Organization. Since then, as indeed over the past

year, under the Bulgarian presidency of the General

Assembly, we have witnessed diverse and often contradicting

trends in international life. If there is a dominating feeling,

though, it is one of optimism and of trust, on the part of

both Governments and nations, in the United Nations as a

spokesman for and guarantor of the political will of the

world community for peace and sustainable democratic

development. We have seen a number of encouraging

examples of this.

The democratic changes in Eastern Europe have added

an element of dynamism to building European unity and the

European civil society, a society open to the rest of the

world. Important forums of the European Community, the

Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the

Council of Europe provide a frame and a foundation for the

emerging European unity and security. Bulgaria has been an

active participant in the European organizations. It will be

the first post-Communist country to assume the presidency

of the Committee of Ministers of the oldest European

organization - the Council of Europe. It is also a

coordinator of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Group,

bringing together the countries of that region.

After the Berlin wall, the walls of Jericho came

tumbling down. There began the long-expected unraveling

of the Gordian knot in the Middle East, the place where

three world cultural and religious traditions coexist. We

welcome also the development of democratic processes in

South Africa that will lead to the establishment of a united

and non-racial society.

Humanity has bid farewell to chemical weapons; and it

has succeeded in convening world conferences on subjects

believed until recently to defy consensus, such as human

rights and protection for the victims of war.

The democratic changes in Eastern Europe and the

former Soviet Union continue to be an important condition

for the positive changes in international life at the turn of

this century. The heightened attention of the world

community to the social and political tensions in Moscow is

as understandable as is the broad international support for

the reform-minded and democratic forces in Russia, support

with which Bulgaria fully agrees. The dramatic events in

Moscow which we witnessed over the weekend prove how

difficult and painful the transition from post-Communist

6 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

society to democracy and a market economy is, and what

dangers and risks it entails. The United Nations cannot

simply stand by and watch with indifference the difficulties

of the countries in transition. If we are to live up to the

name "United Nations" we have to render our moral,

political and financial support to these nations.

The collapse of totalitarian rule, and the breakup of the

Soviet empire and of the Warsaw Treaty, created an

unexpected paradox: less danger to world peace and, at the

same time, less peace in the world and more challenges and

trials for the United Nations.

Regional conflicts have proved to be a key problem for

the new democracies. Think of the consequences of the

world community’s failure to handle the war in the former

Yugoslavia! The stakes are always high but they are even

higher in the Balkans where conflicts threaten to spill over

and embroil other States.

Bulgaria’s civilized and good-neighbourly Balkan policy

entitles it now, as indeed at the very outset of the Yugoslav

crisis, to insist on firm judgement and energetic steps on the

part of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the

Secretary-General to contain and end the barbaric war in

Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to prevent other smouldering

conflicts in former Yugoslavia from flaring up.

Recent attempts to find concerted ways of coordinating

the peace-keeping efforts of the United Nations and the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have been

followed with keen interest in Bulgaria. We have already

voiced our support for the constructive engagement of

President Clinton’s Administration, notably the preventive

stationing of a contingent of troops under a United Nations

flag in Macedonia.

Bulgaria is against re-drawing borders and gaining

territory by force. It has been consistent in its position in

favour of a peaceful solution of the Yugoslav crisis.

By virtue of its geopolitical situation, Bulgaria has a

key role to play in implementing the economic sanctions

against Serbia and Montenegro. We share the longest land

border with Serbia and we are not involved, either directly

or indirectly, in the hostilities in former Yugoslavia.

Without Bulgaria the sanctions will be doomed to failure.

Fully aware of our responsibility, we adhere strictly to the

relevant resolutions of the Security Council in the face of

great economic sacrifice. Measured against our potential,

the losses are indeed huge. The embargo has closed

Bulgaria’s direct route to the markets of Western Europe.

Consequently, its losses for 1992 were estimated - with

expert assistance from the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP) - at $943.6 million. The 1993 figure is

expected to be several times higher. The effect of the

sanctions may lead to halting and thwarting economic

reform, as well as jeopardizing the democratic process and

social peace in Bulgaria. In other words, the price Bulgaria

is paying for peace and security in the Balkans and in

Europe may prove fatal to its internal peace and stability.

Direct losses from the sanctions against former Yugoslavia,

Iraq and Libya, are commensurate with one half of

Bulgaria’s external debt to commercial creditor banks, and

they dim the prospects for economic recovery, development

and integration into the world community.

As a State Member of the United Nations Bulgaria

fulfils its international obligations in good faith, convinced

that any civilized country concerned about world security

should uphold a common cause - even at the cost of

sacrifice. Yet, is it not fair for a country in our position to

seek assistance and understanding from the world

Organization and its Member States?

There is an urgent need to devise a working mechanism

of awarding compensation to Member States which sustain

losses as a result of the strict implementation of the

sanctions imposed by the Security Council. The provisions

of Chapter VII of the Charter are equally important and

should be applied strictly. Article 50 of the Charter could be

backed up by relevant agreements for concrete aid to

Member States affected by sanctions against third countries.

The forms of compensation could include, among others,

measures to ease the economic situation of the affected

country, such as concluding stand-by agreements with the

International Monetary Fund (IMF), facilitating the debt-

servicing and settlement procedure, financing major transport

and communication infrastructure projects nationally and

regionally - in our case, new bridges on the River Danube,

an international airport, motorways linking Bulgaria and

Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania such as

Thessaloniki-Vidin and Sofia-Skopje-Tirana - speeding up

the ratification of the European Association Agreement

between Bulgaria and the European Community and an

earlier accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and

Trade.

The Bulgarian delegation at this session of the General

Assembly will put forward proposals on some of the above

issues. We rely on the support and cooperation of the States

Members of the Organization in this regard.

Forty-eighth session - 5 October l993 7

Considering that no international organization at the

moment is in a position to award direct compensation for

losses sustained as a result of economic sanctions, the

indirect ways of compensation could be of crucial

importance.

The problem of international sanctions and

compensation merits serious attention. It calls for an

in-depth analysis, as it vitally concerns a number of States

Members of the United Nations. The time is ripe to look

into these issues at a special forum for which Bulgaria offers

its hospitality.

United Nations peace-keeping operations have

constituted a most significant and prominent part of the

world Organization’s work over the past year. I could not

emphasize more the importance of the Secretary-General’s

report entitled "An Agenda for Peace", which developed the

concept of crisis management through preventive diplomacy.

Bulgaria supported this political strategy and backed up its

words with actions by sending Blue Helmets to Cambodia.

Once again, the international community seems to have

been inadequately prepared for mounting such operations.

The question of the safety of United Nations personnel

proved particularly poignant. Bulgaria lost 10 volunteers in

Cambodia, not to mention the cost of its involvement, which

has not yet been fully estimated.

Early warning for potential conflicts calls for effective

international mechanisms to monitor the human rights

situation, including that of individuals from minority groups

- because conflicts brew wherever individual human rights

are trampled upon, wherever the universal values of modern

civilization are replaced by survival instincts and political

pluralism and the diversity of ideas, by intolerance,

xenophobia, racism, religious and political bigotry and

violence. The idea of creating a new post within the United

Nations system, that of a high commissioner for human

rights, is an expression of the desire to step up international

cooperation in this field. We are prepared to participate

actively in discussing this matter.

Let us look at the United Nations potential for crisis

management. Many of the proposed ideas hold out promise.

But if they are to materialize, the United Nations must live

up to its coordinating, organizing and mobilizing role in

finding the relevant political and military means. In the

Yugoslav crisis, for instance, the Euro-Atlantic and European

security organizations could have taken up some of its

functions.

Here is a case in point. The North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO) has undergone a significant evolution

in its attitude towards the conflict. As well as becoming a

major challenge, the Yugoslav crisis has provided an impetus

for the alliance to review its priorities and objectives.

Bulgaria openly declares its readiness to enhance its

cooperation - including as a full member - with NATO and

its member States. Our good bilateral relations and security

cooperation with Turkey and Greece illustrate clearly our

approach and intentions. It would be beneficial to Balkan

and European security if these relations could be developed

further into cooperation between allies within NATO.

Bulgaria is willing and able to shoulder responsibility and

act as a reliable partner.

Addressing today’s global social and economic

problems calls for new approaches in the work of the United

Nations specialized bodies in these areas. New ways and

means should be sought to facilitate access to technical

assistance and modern technologies. There is a need for

daring and pragmatic initiatives in areas such as trade

liberalization, the future of the General Agreement on Tariffs

and Trade (GATT), external debt, labour migration,

unemployment, environmental safety and the proliferation of

environmentally friendly technologies. The Republic of

Bulgaria is ready to cooperate in any of the above-mentioned

efforts as a member of various United Nations bodies,

including possibly the Economic and Social Council.

The strengthening of the regime of the Treaty on the

non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the preparation

for the review Conference in 1995 are of paramount

importance. Bulgaria shares the view that the non-

proliferation Treaty should become universal and be of

indefinite duration.

Bulgaria’s expectations for the future role and functions

of the United Nations determine its attitude towards the

ongoing reform of the world Organization. On the basis of

its history of nearly 50 years, the Member States can identify

elements of its Charter and structure that need revision and

others that are universal and lasting and whose validity

should not be questioned. Clearly, such decisions can be

reached only after serious debate and by consensus of the

Member States, notably the permanent members of the

Security Council. It is essential to preserve the Security

Council as an effective decision-making mechanism if its

representation is broadened. The powers and responsibility

of the Secretary-General will certainly change, with an

increasing emphasis on his diplomatic and peace-making

efforts.

8 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

The Bulgarian delegation is taking part in the forty-

eighth session of the General Assembly and making its

contribution as an active member of the international

community. Our commitment to the problems and the future

of the Organization is prompted by our awareness of being

among the staunchest supporters of its cause and noble

missions.