Romania, 1996

I have the particular pleasure of congratulating

you, Sir, on your election as President of the fifty-first

session of the General Assembly and of expressing our

satisfaction at seeing in such a high position the

representative of a country and a region so widely

appreciated for their traditions and dynamism. I am

convinced that your experience and your qualities as an

eminent diplomat will facilitate the proceedings and the

successful outcome of this session. I would like also to

express our thanks to your predecessor, Mr. Diogo Freitas

do Amaral of Portugal, for the able manner in which he

directed the previous session of the General Assembly.

Allow me to take this opportunity to express our high

appreciation for the remarkable activity carried out with

such dedication since 1992 by the Secretary-General,

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, to the benefit of the United

Nations.

The Assembly has gathered again not only to review

recent regional and world developments or to survey last

year’s results, but also to discuss especially the prospects

and challenges we are facing at the threshold of the

twenty-first century.

We are essentially called upon to reflect and act

jointly on establishing an international system that can

guarantee security, stability, progress and prosperity for

all. The United Nations is certainly the pillar of such a

system. The conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-

Test-Ban Treaty, which we have just signed, is proof of

this. We are among those who consider that we now have

a historic opportunity to insure world security and

stability through the establishment of democratic

institutions, sustainable development, respect for human

rights and social justice. This requires better international

cooperation and a new spirit of partnership among all

countries.

Romania intends to contribute to this common effort

through consolidation of its achievements in the building

of a new democratic society based on the rule of law,

respect for human rights and a market economy, with a

view to establishing itself as a stabilizing factor in the

region.

In referring to some of the significant events of the

past year, I will recall that our macro-economic policy

and the progress we have made in the establishment of

institutions adapted to a market economy have led to a

steady improvement of economic performance. The

private sector has become preponderant in our gross

domestic product. In order to overcome the difficulties of

transition and to prepare for integration into the European

Union, Romania has received substantial assistance from

the European Union and its members. The United States

has granted Romania permanent most favoured nation

status. My country has become a full member of the

Central European Initiative and next year will become part

of the Central European free trade agreement. The signing

of a Treaty of Understanding, Cooperation and Good-

Neighbourliness between Romania and Hungary was a

significant event not only for our historic reconciliation, but

also for stability in Central Europe.

I would also like to take note of my country’s active

participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s

Partnership for Peace programme and in the Implementation

Forces operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These

strengthen our belief that a favourable decision will be

taken on our integration into the Atlantic Alliance.

At the subregional level, Romania supported the

measures aimed at the advancement of the Black Sea

Economic Cooperation and of the process of stability and

good-neighbourly relations in south-east Europe, which is

also the subject of initiatives by the European Union and

the United States. Aware of the importance of the

democratization process, the Romanian Government has

decided to host the third International Conference on New

or Restored Democracies in Bucharest in early September

1997.

All these developments and initiatives testify to my

country’s willingness to act as a credible and responsible

partner in international affairs and as a stabilizing factor

and source of security in Europe and the world.

On the occasion of the commemorative meeting held

on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the entry into

force of the Charter of United Nations, numerous heads of

State — including the President of Romania — pointed out

that the Organization can and should play a greater role in

international relations in order to respond more effectively

to global challenges. It is becoming increasingly evident

that we are at a point in history when numerous problems

have to be reconsidered from a global perspective if we are

to forge a common vision wherein the individual is the

focus of our policies. The main problem to be solved at the

dawn of the third millennium is finding the appropriate

synthesis between the general aspiration to universality and

the individual aspiration to identity.

The series of major global conferences organized by

the United Nations over these past five years have led to a

new integrated concept of sustainable development

focused on the human being.

Now that we are in the process of revitalizing,

strengthening and reforming the United Nations system,

including a limited enlargement of the Security Council,

we consider it timely and useful to capitalize on these

achievements. It would also be desirable to agree on an

integrated common vision of development and on a list of

priorities that would inspire and guide the general process

of renewal of the United Nations. By acting in this way,

we will be able to facilitate our current objective, as long

as the working groups established by the General

Assembly hasten their achievement of balanced and

realistic results.

Along with the other Member States, Romania also

considers that the moment has come to proceed to an

expansion of the membership of the Security Council,

both in the category of permanent members — for which

Germany and Japan are preeminently qualified by their

importance in international affairs — as in the category of

non-permanent members. This should be done through an

agreed formula, based on proposals already put forward,

such as the Italian, which represents a good basis for

ensuring that an increased number of States — including

those of central and eastern Europe — be represented in

the Council. In short, a special meeting of the General

Assembly should be called on the results of the reform of

the United Nations system.

Having made these general remarks, I would like to

make a few comments on particular issues of our agenda.

First, with regard to crisis and conflict management,

it is clearly and primarily the responsibility of the parties

directly involved to put an end to conflict and to restore

peace and security. We underscore the importance we

attach to dialogue as a means of reaching negotiated

solutions by the parties directly concerned.

We will contribute to the establishment of normal

relations and the full implementation of the Dayton

Agreement among the countries of the former Yugoslavia,

including the lifting of the sanctions against the Federal

Republic of Yugoslavia. We welcomed with interest the

initiatives on the economic reconstruction of the region

and are fully prepared to take an active part in this

process, including through joint cooperation projects with

neighbouring countries.

We express our deep concern over the recent

worrying developments in the Middle East peace process

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which are the object of Security Council resolution 1073

(1996). We welcome the United States initiative aimed at

the resumption of negotiations between the parties on the

basis of the principles agreed upon in Madrid and Oslo, as

they represent the only way to build a just and lasting

peace. Romania recognizes the necessity of strengthening

regional economic cooperation in support of the peace

process in the Middle East and is actively involved in the

multilateral working groups.

We are still concerned about the ongoing, complex

and uncertain situation in the eastern part of the Republic

of Moldova and we reaffirm the necessity for an

unconditional and orderly withdrawal of foreign troops from

the Transdniester region.

We accord due attention to all initiatives aimed at any

process that could lead to a lasting peace in the Korean

peninsula and in other regions of tension and conflict.

As the main guarantor of international peace and

security, the United Nations should participate more

actively in the prevention and management of crises by

employing flexible peace instruments, including preventive

diplomacy and peace-keeping operations. The experience

gained by contributing States — including Romania,

particularly as a result of its significant participation in the

United Nations peace-keeping Mission in Angola —

highlights the necessity of increasing rapid-reaction capacity

by improving the standby system and other measures aimed

at the rapid deployment of new peace-keeping operations

and the efficient management of current ones.

With regard to sanctions, Romania, which has been

deeply affected by the strict implementation of economic

sanctions, especially in the case of the former Yugoslavia,

believes that the United Nations should play a larger role in

the process of compensating third countries so that the

efficiency and credibility of Security Council actions in this

area can be preserved.

Secondly, I would like to make some comments in

connection with non-proliferation, arms control and

disarmament. As a party to the process since its inception,

Romania welcomed with satisfaction the adoption of the

Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. This major step

represents a crucial stage in the fulfilment of one of the

main objectives in the implementation of relevant

obligations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of

Nuclear Weapons. The establishment of nuclear-weapon-

free zones in South-East Asia, the Pacific and Africa is

aimed at the same objective.

Romania will continue to contribute to the promotion

of the review process of the Treaty on the Non-

Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, both before the next

Review Conference in the year 2000, the preparatory

committee of which will convene in 1997. We will also

give equal attention to the speedy commencement of

negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile

materials, as well as to the implementation of the

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,

Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological)

and Toxin Weapons and On Their Destruction and the

establishment of an efficient verification mechanism.

We again invite all States to consider establishing a

code of conduct for conventional arms transfers which

will increase transparency and confidence among States

in that field.

Romania supports all efforts leading to the total ban

of anti-personnel mines. To this end, in 1995, the

Romanian Government declared a moratorium, which will

be extended this year, and has begun the ratification

procedures of the additional Protocols to the Convention

on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain

Conventional Weapons.

My third and last thought relates to the economic

and social areas, where we believe there are good

prospects for the adoption of the Agenda for

Development. Romania endorses the idea that the United

Nations can and should contribute to implementing a new

global partnership for development among developing

countries, developed countries and multilateral

institutions. We noted with interest the inclusion of this

concept in the economic communiqué adopted at the

recent Group of Seven summit meeting in Lyon, as well

as the recognition of the fact that the new partnership

should be beneficial to all and based on a spirit of

solidarity that will distribute responsibility among all

partners.

Within this framework, the United Nations and its

institutions should pursue reform and adjustment efforts

with a view to improving their performance in the

building of consensus in the area of development. We

welcome the results of the ninth session of the United

Nations Conference on Trade and Development in

Midrand as an essential step in its renewal. The session

paved the way for the reform of its intergovernmental

structure, and the reorientation of its priorities in order to

develop cooperation with the World Trade Organization

and the Bretton Woods financial institutions. This will

3

lead to the integration of developing countries and countries

in transition into the global commercial and financial

system.

We also note the measures recently taken to strengthen

the Economic and Social Council’s central role in

establishing and coordinating joint policies, as well as the

initiatives of the Economic Commission for Europe and

other regional Commissions in redefining their priorities.

The Economic and Social Council has the

responsibility to ensure the follow-up to the major

international conferences. We will work together in

preparing the 1997 special session of the General Assembly

in order to improve the implementation of agreements

reached on environmental protection at the Rio Conference

and at the Vienna regional conference on the review of the

Social Summit in Copenhagen. It is worth mentioning that

a subregional conference recently held in Bucharest

provided a useful evaluation of the implementation of the

Beijing Platform for Action on the status of women in

Central and Eastern Europe.

We support the United Nations fight against the abuse

of drugs and illicit drug trafficking, including all forms of

related crimes. We intend to participate in the preparations

of the 1998 special session of the General Assembly

devoted to this scourge.

The international community must also be mobilized

to confront the rapid rise in transnational organized crime

and terrorism. We encourage more active participation on

the part of the United Nations. In this respect, we welcome

the proposal put forward here last week by President

Kwasniewski of Poland.

Development assistance requires a new and better

response from the international community in the promotion

of our common objective of sustainable and socially

equitable growth focused on the human being and on the

protection of the environment. Aid flows should be more

efficient and directed towards the countries in real need.

Romania maintains good cooperation with the United

Nations Development Programme and its resident

representative in Bucharest, other funds and development

programmes — including the United Nations Population

Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund — and with

the specialized agencies and the Bretton Woods institutions.

We insure that the assistance we receive is used for

structural reforms, and macroeconomic stabilization and that

it likewise contributes to the creation of favourable

conditions for the expansion of a dynamic and

competitive private sector.

Finally, I wish to reaffirm my country’s deep

commitment to the universal nature of human rights and

fundamental freedoms, the promotion and observance of

which represent a priority for the United Nations.

In view of this premise, the Romanian Government

condemns any form of discrimination and intolerance,

especially aggressive nationalism, and intends to

guarantee the free and equal exercise of human rights,

including the rights of women, children and persons

belonging to national minorities. We support the efforts

of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as overall

coordinator of the specialized bodies within the United

Nations system in improving the efficiency of the Centre

for Human Rights.

The best guarantee for the observance of human

rights lies in developing democracy. This component of

the “democracy-development-peace” triad brings me to a

final reflection about the United Nations contribution to

the process of worldwide democratization. By convening

in Bucharest, in September 1997, the third International

Conference on New or Restored Democracies, we wish to

continue the dialogue and the sharing of experience in

building democratic societies by contributing the

experiences of Romania, a country in Central Europe that

is reviving, irreversibly, its best democratic traditions after

so many years of dictatorship.

I wish to assure the Assembly that my country will

do its best, in concert with all interested countries, to

enable the United Nations — the guarantor of peace and

international legality — to respond more efficiently to the

problems we all share.