Laos, 1992

Mr. President,

on behalf of the delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, I wish to

congratulate you on your election to the presidency of the forty-seventh

session of the General Assembly. I am convinced that you will brilliantly

fulfil the important mission conferred upon you by the Assembly.

I also wish to express sincerest congratulations to the

Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who has assumed

his office and high responsibilities at a time when the world situation

requires that the United Nations play an important role.

We cannot miss this opportunity to pay a special tribute to his

predecessor. His Excellency Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, for his active

contribution to the defence of our Organization's cause.

We warmly welcome the presence among us of new Members: the Republic of

Armenia, the Azerbaijani Republic, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the

Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Georgia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the

Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of San Marino,

the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the

Republic of Uzbekistan. Their admission is an important step towards the

universality of our Organization.

The global situation is in a state of profound change, both complex and

full of new promise. With the breakup of the Eastern bloc, military and

nuclear confrontation have progressively waned. None the less, numerous civil

conflicts, ethnic struggles, religious clashes and border conflicts continue

to disturb many countries of the world, thus seriously threatening

international peace, stability and security.

All of this notwithstanding, it must be noted that the world climate is

evolving towards co-operation, development and the settlement of global

problems, including those related to poverty, to misery and to the environment.

In the changing world in which the new international order is beginning

to take shape, the United Nations must play a central role in the collective

effort to define this new order, which should respond equitably to the rights

and interests of all countries and peoples without discrimination and must be

based on the principles of peaceful coexistence and those of the United

Nations Charter. It is therefore necessary to revitalize, restructure and

democratize the United Nations if we want the Organization to be capable of

the tasks that lie ahead in this new era.

We are still in an uncertain world characterized by many problems and

conflicts in different regions.

In Europe, the situation prevailing in former Yugoslavia continues to

deteriorate dangerously. It is a major source of concern for the

international community, as well as a threat to regional and global peace and

security. The international community must take appropriate measures to put

an end to that ethnic conflict in order to restore peace, security and normal

life to that part of the world.

In South Africa, despite certain political reforms the foundations of the

apartheid system remain intact. The Pretoria regime continues to resort to

violence to repress the black population, while the African National Congress

of South Africa (ANC) is forcefully and constructively pursuing its struggle

for the triumph of its just cause. The Lao Government fully associates itself

with the international community in its efforts to support the struggle of the

great majority of that people in order to make South Africa a democratic and

non-racial country.

In the Middle East, the situation remains tense and precarious. Israel

is perpetuating its occupation of Palestinian territory and of the other Arab

territories. We reaffirm the view that every effort for peace now under way

with a view to a just, comprehensive and lasting solution in the Middle East,

at the heart of which is the question of Palestine, should work towards rapid

implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and

the other resolutions of the United Nations calling for Israel's withdrawal

from all occupied Arab lands, as well as recognition of the Palestinian

people's right to self-determination.

In the Persian Gulf, following the end of the war peace and security have

not yet been established because of threats of and attempts at further

hostilities.

In Western Asia, Afghanistan remains a theatre of civil war. The

international community must appeal to all the parties concerned to put an

immediate end to their conflicts in order to achieve national harmony among

Afghans and to establish political, economic and social stability.

In the Korean peninsula, the signing of the North-South Accord on

Reconciliation, Non-Aggression and Exchanges and the Joint Declaration on the

Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula by the Democratic People's Republic

of Korea and the Republic of Korea has contributed to promoting mutual

understanding and trust. It has opened up a new prospect for peace, stability

and cooperation in the Korean peninsula and strengthened peace and security in

the North-East Asian region and in the rest of the world.

In the South-East Asian region, in spite of certain factors of

instability, the situation as a whole is moving towards peace, stability,

cooperation and development in the interest of the peoples of the entire

region. In this context, inspired by the desire to strengthen relations of

friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries, the Lao Government,

applying its consistent foreign policy based on the five principles of

peaceful coexistence, signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the

Kingdom of Thailand, became a party to the Treaty of Bali of 1976. It has

also become an Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) observer. It

will continue to work firmly for fruitful cooperation in South-East Asia, with

a view to promoting the progress and prosperity of the region, thus

contributing to promoting peace and development the world over.

As regards the question of Cambodia, the signing of the Paris Agreements

of 23 October 1991 laid the foundations for a comprehensive political

settlement to the conflict, making it possible to put an end to the suffering

endured by the Cambodian people during a long period of civil war and to

establish peace and tranquillity in the noble land of Angkor. Complete

compliance with, and implementation of, these Agreements is required to meet

the aspirations and the interests of the Cambodian people.

In my own country, the implementation of our policy of renewal has led to

important successes. Political stability and social order are solidly

guaranteed. Democracy and the right of collective decision-making by the

people have developed steadily in accordance with our level of economic and

social development and the customs of the country. The adoption last year by

the National Assembly of the first Constitution of the Republic makes it

possible for our country to move progressively towards a State of law. In the

framework of that policy we are focusing all our efforts on freeing the

country of underdevelopment. To this end we have encouraged foreign

investment, intensified cooperation with other countries and taken advantage

of all economic sectors employing market-economy mechanisms in order to tap

all our national potential and to improve the physical and spiritual living

conditions of our people.

The world economy is in a state of uncertainty. Last year it experienced

the first global recession since the 1940s. Moreover, the recovery remains

weak and precarious. The developing countries continue to suffer from

coercive economic policies and practices. The stifling burden of foreign

debt, the decline in resources allocated to development, the deterioration of

the terms of trade, the worsening of the outflow of capital, the drop in

commodity prices, the rise in protectionism and limited access to modern

technology all obstruct their economic progress at a time when reforms and

readjustments are under way. Since the world economy is a single entity whose

components are interdependent and interrelated, it is urgently necessary

indeed, crucial to develop a new world consensus and to obtain a commitment

to the strengthening of international cooperation, and in particular the

revitalization of the economic growth and development of the developing

countries, in order successfully to implement the economic strategy of the

Fourth United Nations Development Decade, 1991-2000.

One of the most important issues related to development is that of the

environment, which is at the forefront of our international concerns. Climate

change, air, sea and ocean pollution, desertification and the depletion of the

ozone layer have all had a negative impact on our lives and on the future of

mankind. In this respect, we believe that the recent United Nations

Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro,

laid the foundations of international agreement on cooperation aimed at

integrating the environment into all development activities. It will

therefore be up to the United Nations and its specialized agencies to

implement effectively Agenda 21.

At the same time, the aspirations of the international community to a

better quality of life and social progress have become more pressing and

increasingly important. In fact, protection of the environment, promotion

of economic growth and development, and the eradication of poverty are

mutually reinforcing and require a new global partnership. In this framework,

we are awaiting with interest the planned convening of the World Summit for

Social Development.

The problem of the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs remains a source of

global concern. The struggle against this scourge requires concerted, strong

action by all countries. For its part, in order to contribute to the

international effort the Lao Government has cooperated in the sphere of

integrated rural development with certain interested countries, especially

neighbouring countries, as well as with international organizations, including

the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and we are prepared

to continue this cooperation.

In conclusion, the Lao delegation wishes to assure the President,

Mr. Stoyan Ganev of Bulgaria, of its complete cooperation. We will work in a

constructive spirit with other delegations to contribute to the success of

this session of the General Assembly.