San Marino, 1992

The recent accession of the Republic of San Marino to

membership of the United Nations makes it possible for me to take part in this

general debate, prompted by the desire to contribute to fulfilment of the

great tasks of the Organization. San Marino has always paid attention to the

difficult work undertaken by the United Nations. We have felt deep

satisfaction with its several achievements and have shared the anxiety and

disappointment caused by the numerous violations of peace and by the obstacles

to progress that this Organization has had to face.

What impressed us most was seeing the idea of universality, originally

embodied in the Charter, become a reality in which everyone might

participate. The United Nations has undertaken the difficult and essential

task of drawing the world's attention to the issues and problems that mankind

must face urgently. Thanks to the commitment of the United Nations, our hopes

have been strengthened by greater certainty by a deeper sense of confidence.

Today the world and, in particular, the European continent are

concentrating their attention on the former Yugoslavia on its never-ending

war, on the useless destruction of goods and property, on the inexcusable

death of too many civilians, on the indiscriminate use of heavy weapons, on

the extremely serious violations of fundamental human rights, on the

unacceptable concentration camps a phenomenon that we believed Europe had

relegated to history on the obstacles brutally placed in the way of the

relief missions that have been so generously organized by the United Nations,

and on the non-observance of the rights of minorities and of freedom of

religion.

If I am to speak frankly, as my position requires, I have to say that

crimes that we have always considered to be the most serious, nationally and

internationally, are being committed, and have been a reality for quite a long

time, in the former Yugoslavia. A premeditated and determined refusal to find

a peaceful solution must be considered an act of war, but counter-attack is

difficult when there has been no actual attack. Peace is not a condition that

can be imposed; it is a more complex reality, a permanent state that has to be

felt.

In my opinion, every man has to be resolved to want peace and want to

live in peace. This condition may exist only if men are in a state of peace,

if their rights are respected, and if they are free to enjoy their liberty and

their rights. It may exist only if men's legitimate aspirations are satisfied

and if everyone is convinced that, in the exercise of his rights, nobody is

riding roughshod over the rights of any other person, even if that person is

of a different colour or a different faith.

The most praiseworthy and indispensable initiatives aimed at the

restoration of peace will be useless until men are educated to a deep-rooted

sense of peace. I believe that this is the future role of the United

Nations a role that the Organization will have to play with determination

and authority. We have a common duty to contribute to the removal of

war-clouds and bilateral tensions. It is essential that we commit ourselves

to that end. In those circumstances, humanitarian support is increasingly

necessary. The entire world should be grateful to the United Nations for

carrying out its mission with courage and great generosity in risky

circumstances, which, owing to the irresponsibility of those who encourage and

support war, can sometimes turn to tragedy.

But let me invite representatives to take on a more effective commitment

to the idea and the sentiment of peace. We must all defend the right to

peace, the main feature of which is freedom and respect for minorities. What

force must freedom have if peace is to be maintained? It is the force rooted

in and safeguarded by democratic government.

I am well aware that even the most advanced democracies are far from

satisfying the two requisites of freedom. The first requisite, which takes a

negative form, is the absence of any need to depend on the will of others; the

second, which takes a positive form, is participation in the decision-making

processes.

In any case, I am convinced that any other political system would do more

to deprive people of freedom. Democracy, even in its most imperfect forms, is

organized in such a way as to ensure that individuals may participate in the

exercise of power. This occurs where there is positive freedom. However,

that freedom is limited if negative freedoms freedom of thought, freedom of

association and of religion, and all the other freedoms granted by modern

constitutions - are not guaranteed and safeguarded.

This implies that everyone must account for all acts perpetrated against

freedom all acts that violate human rights, and all acts that imperil

peace. San Marino believes that the concept of personal responsibility must

be stressed and must be made paramount internationally.

In democratic institutions, the exercise of power both political and

military is a service rendered to civil and democratic growth and the social

economic development of the entire community, in favour of the individual,

never against him. Those who use power against a part of the community,

against a minority or against a group of individuals, or those who hinder or

make civil, cultural, social and economic development regress must account for

their actions.

In these days the tragic scenes and information from Somalia fill us with

sorrow. It is an offense to our civilization, intelligence and dignity that

on the threshold of the year 2000 people should be starving to death.

Unfortunately, we still have to cope with this tragic reality, and we hope

that the United Nations will find timely and real solutions to this problem.

On the other hand, many other situations are awaiting solutions that are

neither easy and immediate: the fight against drugs; the improper use of the

natural environment and the damage caused by air and nuclear pollution; the

phenomenon of migrations and the obligations States have towards immigrants;

refugees' living conditions and the causes of the refugee phenomenon; issues

concerning the young and the incentive to a greater commitment by the young to

modern society; the struggle against racism and racial discrimination, against

all forms of intolerance and against any attempt to restore that horrible

practice called ethnic cleansing; terrorism; the ever-lasting imbalance in the

distribution of wealth and resources which impoverishes poor countries more

and more.

Having mentioned the tragedy which has overwhelmed Somalia, I should

like, on behalf of my country, wish to renew to the people of Somalia the

expression of our most sincere solidarity.

Environmental conditions, drought, famine, relentless desertification,

the simple tools used in impoverished agriculture and the unfair distribution

of food supplies caused by the lack of solidarity determine the daily life of

millions of people suffering from hunger. However, one of the biggest

scandals of our time is the fact that the food supplies made available do not

reach those who have been waiting for them for so long that they no longer

need them.

Representatives probably thought that the speech delivered by the

representative of the Republic of San Marino to the General Assembly would be

a systematic and comprehensive review of the United Nations activities.

Rather, I wished to make a number of remarks on how the world could change in

order to become a better one. The Charter of the United Nations and the

unanimous and determined commitment of the Security Council, the General

Assembly and the various United Nations agencies, commissions and committees

show that today only the United Nations is capable of improving this world be

making it more equitable.

In the long history of the small Republic of San Marino, an important

statement is recorded: at the end of the thirteenth century, a judge, who had

been given the task of finding a solution to a real estate dispute between the

people of San Marino and some podestas in nearby Montefeltro, questioned a

citizen from the San Marino community in order to know why that community was

free from certain duties. The reason given by that citizen was that

San Marino was free and made up of free men. The judge, out of curiosity,

asked the witness: "quid est libertas?" The man quickly and firmly replied:

"Nemini teneri" - not to be subject to anybody. A modern interpretation of

those words is that a free man is one whose personality and dignity are

respected.

San Marino hopes to see this concept become a reality throughout the

world. We are sure that this goal can be achieved, with the free and

determined contribution of all under the auspices of the United Nations.