Luxembourg, 1992

At the outset I

should like to convey to the President of the General Assembly my heartiest

congratulations on his unanimous election. He is one of the principal

architects of the advent of democracy and profound change in Bulgaria. I am

certain he will guide with skill and efficacy the work of the General

Assembly, which I hope will carry on resolutely in the reform of its programme

and its working methods.

To our new Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, I should like to

express the great pleasure of the Government and people of Luxembourg on his

election to head our Organization. The decisions he has taken and the

proposals he has put forward since the beginning of the year make it fitting

for me to pay tribute to him for his lucidity, courage and resolve to make of

the United Nations an organization that is capable of answering the challenges

of our time.

I welcome the representatives of the 13 new countries that have joined

the United Nations since the beginning of this year, bringing the number of

Members to 179.

Last Tuesday my colleague Douglas Hurd put forward the positions of the

twelve member States of the European Community concerning the major problems

that confront the international community at present. Clearly, I subscribe to

everything that was said by the representative of the State which occupies the

presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Community, so I shall

limit myself to stressing several issues that are of particular concern to the

Government and people of Luxembourg.

Two tragedies giving rise to the utmost concern are occurring at

present. I refer to the famine in certain parts of Africa and to the civil

war in Yugoslavia. Both of these show once again that the international

community's right to humanitarian interference in regional conflicts can no

longer be called into question.

The famine in Africa threatens the lives of an extraordinarily large

number of human beings, and it must immediately be at the focus of our

attention. We are confronted, on one hand, by an overwhelming drought, that

has afflicted all of eastern and southern Africa and, on the other hand, by

the lack of organization in the production and distribution of foodstuffs,that

has resulted from civil wars.

In the Sudan and in Somalia, the European Community has continued, over

the last few months, to intervene with the parties involved to ensure that

those parties will allow and guarantee the distribution of international food

aid. It is indeed outrageous that a government or armed factions should

interfere with this operation. I am glad that our Organization has sent

military forces to Somalia to guarantee food distribution. My country is

contributing to all these efforts by providing financial assistance which, per

capita, is among the greatest in the world. We believe that the United

Nations should consider what measures it might undertake to ensure that famine

is no longer used as a weapon in the civil war raging in the Sudan.

The continuing tragedy in Yugoslavia is of the most profound concern to

the people of my country. Unfortunately we are witnessing a resurgence of

most of the criminal practices of nazism, including even the horrendous

"ethnic purification" applied to persons from a different sociological group.

The problems raised by the presence of minority populations in the republics

of the former Yugoslavia cannot be resolved by military intervention; they can

be resolved only through negotiated arrangements modelled on those proposed in

November 1991 by the European Community.

I make a solemn appeal to all the peoples of the former Yugoslavia to

support energetically the efforts of those leaders who wish, fully,

unreservedly and without any hidden agenda, to implement the measures defined

at the London Conference on 26 and 27 August. Only in that way can peace and

prosperity be re-established. Only on that basis can an equitable solution be

found to the problem of nationalities or minorities the problem that gave

rise to this conflict, just as it was at the basis of the bloodshed which,

unfortunately, continues in certain areas of the former Soviet Union.

With regard to this extremely complex problem, I should like to make some

further observations. As the representative of a small country that owes its

existence to the principle of self-determination, I am clearly not in a good

position to deny this right to other peoples. However, I must make the point

that, where several types of population are closely linked, the application of

this principle is not sufficient to resolve the problem of nationalities As

we have seen, it can serve as a pretext for attempts at conquest and at the

annexation of territory, as well as at the forcible expulsion of minority

populations, and even the extermination of such peoples.

The solution to the problem of minorities can be based only on the

following principles: rejection of the idea that frontiers can be changed by

force; the granting to national minorities of special status ensuring respect

for their ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identities; the adoption

of arrangements for cross-border cooperation to enable these minorities to

maintain close contact with their compatriots in neighbouring countries. In

this respect, it seems to us that Italy's solution for the Haut Adige/South

Tyrol is exemplary.

The establishment, by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in

Europe, of the machinery of rapporteurs for human rights, as well as the post

of commissioner for minorities, should make possible the early identification

of potential nationality conflicts and the search for means of prevention.

It seems to me that the world conference on human rights to be held next

year in Vienna could provide the appropriate framework for an attempt to

define certain fundamental rights of minorities and, if possible, to codify

them in a new legal instrument. If it were possible, in addition, to

establish machinery for an independent forum to verify, at the request of a

wide group of people, respect for these minimum rights through the legislation

of a given country, that would help to avoid armed conflicts in the future.

In the last analysis, the problem of minorities can be resolved only if

all peoples living in a territory can be made to feel that they belong to one

family so that they put emphasis on that which unites them rather than on that

which divides them. It was united action rather than division that enabled

the European Community to secure a new instrument the Maastricht Treaty

for the purpose of pursuing their policy of integration, but with respect for

national identities. In this regard, I should like to welcome the decisive

step that the people of France took by saying "Yes" to the Maastricht Treaty,

which my country ratified two months ago.

Luxembourg has always been in the vanguard of European integration. From

experience it knows that the key to its wellbeing and its security lie in the

Community and that only together with its partners can it exercise its

sovereignty fully.

With regard to the problems of the Middle East, we are very gratified at

the more conciliatory spirit motivating the new Government of Israel, at the

gestures that have already been made by that Government, and at the

willingness expressed by the Syrian authorities to conclude a peace

agreement. It must be understood, of course, that negotiations for the

establishment of an interim regime in the occupied territories can in no case

come up with a result short of the Camp David Accords.

With regard to Iraq, we continue to demand that the existing regime

implement all Security Council resolutions as rapidly as possible. The Iraqi

Government bears full responsibility for the deterioration of the humanitarian

situation in particular, because it has not yet implemented resolutions

706 (1991) and 712 (1991). Iraq must cease all military action and all other

repressive measures against the civilian population.

In South Africa, the halt of the work of the Convention for a

Democratic South Africa (CODESA) has been most disappointing for my

Government. Together with our European partners, we call on all the

parties concerned to resume it as soon as possible in a constructive

spirit. The problem of violence can be solved only if the police show

restraint and if all political movements give categorical instructions to

their members definitively to renounce the use of force. I congratulate

the Security Council on its resolution 772 (1992) of 17 August, which

allowed for the sending to South Africa of a number limited, it is

true of United Nations observers to examine ways to strengthen the

machinery for the transition towards a non-racial democracy.

I must obviously express our views concerning the work now going on

within the United Nations.

First, I should like to express to our Secretary-General my full

appreciation of his excellent report entitled "An Agenda for Peace"

(A/47/277), which he presented at the beginning of the summer. It

contains important proposals on preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and

peace-keeping. The new international political situation is favourable

for stronger United Nations action, which I hope to see, particularly in

the following three areas.

The first is preventive diplomacy, which would assist us in

anticipating and avoiding the outbreak of new conflicts. Would it not

help the proper management of international affairs to ensure more active

and systematic use of the various means for such diplomacy? The

Secretary-General has a crucial role to play in this respect. We could

also make better use of the potential of the International Court of

Justice to resolve disputes between States.

The second area is that of the make-up and functioning of a genuine

system of collective security. The United Nations must be in a position

when necessary to act very quickly, especially in cases of aggression or

threats of aggression by one country towards another. To do this it must

have available at very short notice the necessary human and material

resources. Certain countries I mention in passing, France and the

United States - have already responded very positively to the invitation

in this regard by our Secretary-General.

The third area is that of the means for establishing peace.

Unfortunately, all too often the diplomatic action of our Organization,

sometimes in cooperation with regional organizations, such as the European

Community, is not followed up. Too many cease-fires have been broken

recently, too many embargoes on the delivery of weapons have been

violated, for us to remain indifferent to such flouting of international

law.

Never before has the United Nations made so many tangible

contributions to the cause of peace and reconciliation throughout the

world. Nothing emphasizes the new credibility and effectiveness of our

Organization more than the dramatic increase in its peace-keeping

operations in recent years. Thirteen such operations were carried out

before 1987. Thirteen have been launched since 1987. The United Nations

is now ensuring the implementation of peace agreements in El Salvador,

Angola and Cambodia. It is contributing to calming the serious conflicts

in Somalia and Yugoslavia. At present in Cambodia and Yugoslavia the

United Nations is carrying out two of the most important operations in its

history, involving a total of more than 40,000 personnel, both military

and civilian.

The growing diversity of the tasks entrusted to our Organization

highlights its ability to adapt to different situations. Today the United

Nations is disarming adversaries and gathering and destroying weapons;

reforming governmental institutions which are not up to their tasks;

repatriating refugees; clearing mines; monitoring elections and respect

for peace agreements and human rights agreements; and providing

humanitarian assistance and aid to refugees.

It is an honour for my Government to be able to contribute to the

United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia, admittedly modest in

absolute numbers, but nevertheless representing 10 per cent of my

country's army.

The cost of peace-keeping operations has considerably increased, and

their importance demands that there be not the slightest delay in

payment. The United Nations must be in a position to prepare, launch and

carry out such operations on a sound financial basis. The establishment

of a revolving reserve fund would substantially strengthen that basis.

Meanwhile, all countries must agree to meet their financial obligations

without delay.

At its last session our Assembly adopted a resolution (resolution

46/36 L) concerning the establishment by the United Nations of a universal

and non-discriminatory Register of Conventional Arms. Luxembourg hopes

that during this session the technical procedures required can be

determined and that the Register will become operational by the beginning

of next year. The United Nations will thus be making an important

contribution to the necessary global transparency in arms transfers and to

the vast disarmament movement, which must continue.

I welcome the agreement reached last June between President Bush and

President Yeltsin concerning a drastic new reduction in strategic nuclear

arsenals. The forthcoming conclusion of negotiations concerning a

Convention on chemical weapons marks a fundamental step in the

international effort to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction. I hope

that all members of our Assembly will approve the Convention without

reservation and will immediately sign it.

Our Assembly has recorded significant progress on the basis of

another initiative of the European Community. This relates to the

measures decided on to strengthen United Nations coordination in the area

of emergency humanitarian assistance. The creation of the post of

Emergency Relief Coordinator, to which Mr. Jan Eliasson was appointed, and

the establishment of a central revolving fund of $50 million now enable

the United Nations to cope more effectively with humanitarian crises.

Luxembourg welcomes the broad democratization movement developing

throughout the world. It involves political changes which are often

painful, complex and difficult, but they are necessary in order to build a

better future. A growing number of Governments involved in such processes

are requesting electoral assistance from the United Nations. Given the

particular importance of free and honest elections, I believe the United

Nations should continue to strengthen its capacity for acting in this

area. I also propose that the United Nations cooperate with other

international organizations with experience in this field in particular,

the Council of Europe.

My Government believes that the United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development, held in Rio, was a historic event. It is

true that not all our hopes were fulfilled and that many of the decisions

taken lack clarity and courage. But who could deny the importance of the

preparatory work and the awareness which it brought about? A world-wide

process was launched. Major political commitments were made at the

highest level.

However, the real battle still lies ahead. The convention on climate

change and the convention on biological diversity still must be ratified and

implemented; above all, they must be finalized and finely honed. The

negotiation of a convention on desertification still remains to be dealt with,

and international cooperation on the protection of all forests- which is

essential is still undefined.

Agenda 21 opens up a vast field of work in all areas of the environment

and development. Progress needs to be made in this respect on the national,

regional and international levels, with the participation of all players in

society and in particular of non-governmental organizations.

Poor countries must accept the fact that environmental protection is not

a luxury; and rich countries must ask themselves if and to what extent their

means of production and consumption are compatible with the demands of

sustainable development.

The future of the planet cannot be jeopardized by national egoism.

My Government has decided to increase substantially the amount of aid

earmarked for humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. It is

prepared to work together with all those who are interested in promoting human

development; transparent and honest management of public affairs; the

participation of all, and above all of women, in the development process;

and,in a general sense, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The tasks.before our Organization are numerous and most significant. A

major process of transformation and restructuring lies ahead. Three years

from now, we shall be marking the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations.

Let us hope that by that time we shall have established a revitalized

Organization, one that can effectively shoulder the responsibilities that the

peoples of the world are so eager to entrust to it.