GA/9124

DESPITE CURRENT 'ANGUISH', AFRICA STILL HAS POTENTIAL FOR STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, ASSEMBLY IS TOLD

10 October 1996


Press Release
GA/9124


DESPITE CURRENT 'ANGUISH', AFRICA STILL HAS POTENTIAL FOR STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, ASSEMBLY IS TOLD

19961010 Continent's Economic and Social Problems Are Reviewed By Leaders of Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Mauritius, Madagascar

"Even though we may be on our knees in anguish, there is still hope for Africa", the President of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, told the General Assembly this morning. He said that in spite of the situation on that continent, including atrocities committed by Africans against Africans, he believed that its people had the ability to overcome natural and self- inflicted constraints and achieve political stability as well as reasonable economic prosperity.

As the Assembly continued its general debate, the Prime Minister of Swaziland, Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, said the efforts of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) at conflict prevention represented the hope of all Africans for the achievement of unity, peace and development.

The Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic said that, in the space of one month and while it was well advanced in its negotiations with the Bretton Woods institutions, his country had suffered two failed attempts at overthrowing the Government. A "shocking" image of the country had spread across the entire world, but Central Africans were collectively committed to peace and security.

The Foreign Minister of Madagascar, Marson Evariste, also expressed his country's full support for the mechanisms and actions undertaken by the OAU and the need for the international community to support those actions.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, noted that Africa had 29 of the world's 48 least developed countries. Only an effective United Nations had any hope of meeting the enormous global challenges of development, particularly those on the African continent, he stated.

Statements were also made by Bhutan and Dominica.

The General Assembly meets again at 3 p.m. today to hear statements by Vanuatu and Thailand, and a closing statement by the Assembly President on the conclusion of the general debate.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to hear an address by the President of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, and was to hear statements in its continuing general debate by the Prime Ministers of Swaziland and Mauritius, the Foreign Minister of Madagascar, and representatives of Bhutan, Dominica and the Central African Republic.

Statements

MARSON EVARISTE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, told the Assembly that the interdependent world economy was still dominated by uncertainty. Negative growth figures, persistent commercial and financial imbalances, and the increase in unemployment were problems linked to the developing world and had negative effects on the developing countries.

Resources allocated to development assistance had diminished, he continued, on the pretext that up until now those aid programmes had not made substantial contributions to the countries targeted. The world today faced pressing social and economic problems that required efforts at national, regional and international levels.

He said the United Nations needed reform, especially with regard to the Security Council. Madagascar thought it should be enlarged, to be more representative and to reflect the composition of the United Nations and correct the geographical imbalance. Such a rearrangement should add two permanent seats for Africa, three for Asia, two for Latin America and the Caribbean, and one for European States and others.

He said Madagascar, along with other African countries, supported a second mandate for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who had identified and elaborated concrete proposals for the development of Africa.

While Africa certainly needed international support, it was first the responsibility of African leaders, and their populations, to carry out the necessary modifications to create a socio-political climate favourable to development. Madagascar had just finished its own economic policy framework agreement which would favour its relationship with its creditors.

Poverty, he continued, was to be defined as a collective responsibility. And collectively, the international community should also persevere in the efforts to maintain peace, including conflict prevention mechanisms, such as the one applied by the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Madagascar favoured the increased role of subregional structures, noted in the United Nations Agenda for Peace. It intended to participate actively in those peace- keeping operations, and fully supported the application by the OAU of those mechanisms.

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In an address to the Assembly, ALHAJI AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH, President of Sierra Leone, thanked the international community for its support in restoring democracy in his country in March of this year. Despite that achievement, he said, Sierra Leone was still haunted and tormented by the spectre of its ongoing civil conflict. The rebel war had inflicted severe pain and suffering; thousands of innocent Sierra Leoneans had lost their lives, while others continued to languish as refugees or displaced persons in inhospitable camps. The rebel forces -- the RUF -- had no political agenda and no respect for the democratic process; the RUF consistently ignored an invitation to participate in the recent internationally supervised elections, in spite of numerous appeals and offers of assistance by the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations. Instead, it set out to disrupt those elections by unleashing violence against the electorate, killing many and maiming more. Their attempt failed, as did their effort to collude with the military junta and share power in defiance of the democratic process.

He said the RUF drew its support from abducted villagers and rural schoolchildren and maintained their loyalty with the use of drugs and terror. That notwithstanding, his Government had entered into peace negotiations in the spirit of reconciliation and the talks had advanced considerably. Since March, a cease-fire was agreed upon and, in spite of some incidents, was still holding. He thanked the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy in advancing the peace process, and also the President, Government and people of Côte d'Ivoire for their efforts in hosting and mediating talks between the Government of Sierra Leone and the rebel forces.

He said protracted negotiations involved extensive Government concessions, including a general amnesty for all RUF members; a trust fund for the RUF to assist in their transformation into a political party; and the offer of jobs to the RUF leader and his followers. At that point the RUF leader finally indicated his readiness to sign a peace agreement drafted by the host Government, Côte d'Ivoire.

However, he went on, the RUF leader now seemed to be unwilling to honour his commitment to sign the agreement, and had manufactured several excuses to justify his procrastination. Continued intransigence and prevarication by the RUF could precipitate a full-scale resumption of hostilities, given the level of distrust between the two sides. It was time for the international community to demand that the RUF sign the peace agreement without delay, or consider the imposition of sanctions, including the denial of access to the facilities and territories of third countries, and the prospect of their arraignment before a war crimes tribunal. He stressed the need for continued support of the international community to help in the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Although ethnic conflicts, civil wars and the menace of armaments were a major concern, the greatest threat to international peace and security today lay in poverty, and in economic and social deprivation. Most African

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countries, including Sierra Leone, continued to face a myriad of economic and structural challenges. Africa had the largest number of least developed countries; its overall living standards and socio-economic conditions had deteriorated considerably since the beginning of the decade. The levels of investment had not been encouraging. Agricultural and mineral output were also down, due in large part to drought, economic disincentives, political manipulation and unfavourable international environment. And in many cases, aided and abetted by ruthless arms merchants, countries continued to engage in senseless fratricidal conflicts.

He noted that budgetary constraints faced by various developed countries, clarification of foreign aid objectives, revised conditionalities governing the granting of assistance, and the heightened competition among various regions for aid packages, constituted a serious challenge for developing countries such as Sierra Leone. In addition, the ubiquitous debt burden continued to be a major stumbling block in the path of African economic recovery and sustainable growth. The levels of overseas development assistance and resource flows had dwindled to a level which had given cause for concern. The downward trend in export commodity prices, as well as the agricultural policies of some of the industrialized nations, had had a negative impact on Africa's trade in those commodities -- the main source of income for socio-economic development.

Looking at current social and political conditions in the continent, including the atrocities committed by Africans against Africans, he said, one was inclined to lose hope in the ability of Africa to achieve sustainable development. He appealed to the international community not to abandon Africa. "Even though we may be on our knees in anguish, I firmly believe that there is hope for Africa; that Africa and its people do have the ability and capacity to overcome natural and self-inflicted constraints, and achieve political stability as well as reasonable economic prosperity."

Many recent changes in the continent, including the elections in Sierra Leone in the face of a rebel war, gave credence to Africa's genuine commitment to economic and political stability, he concluded.

BARNABAS SIBUSISO DLAMINI, Prime Minister of Swaziland, said the United Nations must strike at the causes of the hardships suffered by Africans, many of whom were caught in the horrors of war and conflict. Weapons -- ammunition and armament -- flowed too easily into Africa. If the weapons of war were not easily available, the duration of conflict situations could be limited. The first response of the international community to conflict situations should be to cut off weapons supplies to all involved. The final act of the international community towards a country which had endured conflict was the clearance of the last land-mine.

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The principle of finding African solutions to Africa's problems must be followed, the Prime Minister continued. Praising recent efforts of the OAU, he said the organization represented the hope of all Africans for the achievement of unity, peace and development. The Southern African Development Community, in expanding its mandate to address politics, defence and security, had been developing a subregional network of information and support. Trafficking in illegal drugs posed a particular danger; the alarming advent of drug addiction undermined national efforts to promote development.

The Secretary-General's introduction of a new Agenda for Development for Africa had stimulated hope for change. But change remained elusive, he added, and he asked why so many of the commitments made to the Agenda for Development remained only on paper, while social and economic conditions in Africa continued to decline.

In Swaziland, a constitutional review was under way, he said. All views would be heard and the majority view would determine the conclusions of the review. Swaziland had maintained a consistent vision of the Government's role: to provide freedom and the opportunity for all Swazis to offer their opinions regarding the matters of the day. The leadership of Swaziland was bound by the wishes of the majority.

NAVINCHANDRA RAMGOOLAM, Prime Minister of Mauritius, said that some had begun to mutter about the cost and effectiveness of the United Nations, yet only an effective United Nations had any hope of meeting the enormous global challenges of the future, particularly in the area of development concerns. That was particularly true for the continent of Africa, which had 29 of the world's 48 least developed countries. Those countries, faced with the lowest life expectancy amid declining socio-economic conditions, desperately needed the attention of the international community. If Africa were to be included in the march forward into the growing global economy, a great deal more than piecemeal efforts must be made. Among the measures needed to help the least developed countries, swift debt relief was absolutely essential. While measures must be taken to promote democratization and good governance, economic and social development must go hand in hand.

In that regard, he said, the protection and promotion of human rights was an important part of development. His Government would support the cause of human rights throughout the world. He called attention to the denial of human rights in Myanmar, and in particular the recent arrests of people opposing the Government.

Mauritius, he said, had two major resources -- its growing democracy and the spirit of its people. It was thus in a position to see the process of development of the new world order, a period of transition which was allowing many countries to fall prey to the dangers of ethnic strife and old conflicts. The recent events in the Middle East were such a situation. He said the Government in his country had moved to make its democracy more transparent.

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The overriding objective was to make the economy work for the people and the people work for the economy. In order for the economy to grow successfully there must be good governance. Mauritius was committed to a continuing process of democratization, which in turn would create a healthy economic climate. It could not be done, however, at the expense of the common good, and environmental concerns must be addressed.

Only one year after joining the South African Development Community, he said, Mauritius had put forward an initiative for the Indian Ocean rim countries to develop regional goals. The regional effort would involve the Government, as well as the private and academic sectors. As a result of his country's initiative, the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Economic Cooperation was moving forward. Regionalization was a necessary step, particularly for developing countries, to global participation. It allowed them to try out various plans and programmes before submitting them to the rigours of global competition.

UGYEN TSHERING (Bhutan) said his country, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its membership in the United Nations, rededicated itself to the principles of the Organization and its Charter. The United Nations was now in the process of reform. To begin with, the Assembly must become the centre of the world body, and the source of both its moral and real authority. In order to do so, the Assembly must change its own working methods, and its debates and agenda made more meaningful. It must become the point from which all United Nations policies emanate. The structure of other principal organs such as the Economic and Social Council must also be reviewed.

He said there was growing frustration that the Security Council, the only body of the United Nations with any real authority, was unable to respond to the challenges posed by the present conflicts, and that the Council was primarily driven by the views of its major members. There must be an increase in the number of both permanent and non-permanent members. Developing countries and other deserving countries from all regions must be included in the ranks of permanent members. India and Japan qualified for permanent membership on the Council. In addition, the decision-making process of the Council, its relations with the Assembly and its powers such as the veto, its virtual hold on appointments of the Justices of the International Court of Justice and other important positions must be reviewed.

He went on to say that there was an emerging consensus that the new approach to development must be to concentrate on the well-being of the individual person and to release the productive capacity of the human spirit and nation through social development, free markets and international trade and investment. While that strategy had brought progress to many countries, many of the poorer developing nations had not been able to compete. To adapt to the new approaches to development, all United Nations agencies had to undergo major changes in their organization and operations.

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The efforts of the United Nations development bodies were of particular importance to the 48 least developed countries. In those small countries the input of the agencies played a substantial role. It would be unfortunate if the most far-reaching responsibility of the United Nations, which would make a lasting impact in improving the livelihoods of millions of people, were being constrained and reduced at a time when more efforts were necessary.

SIMON P. RICHARDS (Dominica) said small island States, already hampered by many conditions, were being threatened by the policies and practices of multinational corporations. Banana exports were vital for the economic viability and political stability of Dominica and the Windward Islands. He said there existed a very real possibility of social upheaval and political disaster if the current challenge to the islands' share of European markets succeeded.

He said the trafficking in illegal drugs and the illegal trade in weapons continued. While efforts to address the consequences could be taken nationally, he called on the international community for collective action to reduce the threats of drug and arms trafficking. The transport of nuclear waste and other hazardous substances threatened the Caribbean's fragile ecosystem and thus the people's livelihoods. The international community must support efforts to halt shipment of dangerous material through the Caribbean Sea.

Dominica abhorred the extra-territorial application of national laws or the use of national laws as justification for boycotts, he continued. His country was particularly troubled by the potential use of those instruments by large and powerful States to compromise the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of small States such as Dominica.

HENRY KOBA, Permanent Representative of the Central African Republic, told the Assembly the ideals embodied in the United Nations were meant to develop a true solidarity and ensure the defence and popularization of democracy. The Organization had been established as a response to an international order of dictatorship and terror.

The Central African Republic, in the space of one month and while it was well advanced in its negotiation with the Bretton Woods institutions, had suffered two failed attempts at overthrowing the Government. There had been death and destruction, and a "shocking" image of the country was spread across the entire world, wiping out the effort of the population to leave the past behind.

He said the Central African Republic's democracy was young, just three years old, but had enormous potential. It was developing in a difficult economic situation, and needed to find within itself the necessary resources, confidence, solidarity and organization. Transparency and good governance

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were needed, in order to build a country. The path attained by old democracies, wherein any military adventures were rendered inadmissible, was a long and difficult one.

The countries of central Africa were searching, collectively, for ways to maintain peace and security, he continued. The Central African Republic had arranged defence discussions, along with other friendly countries such as France, Gabon, Senegal and Mali. Recently there was an important seminar on "The Role of the Military in a Democracy", in which the United States participated.

He said the leadership of his country remained unfailingly focused on the goal of achieving an agreement with the Bretton Woods institutions. The Central African Republic believed that the exclusion from the United Nations of the Republic of Taiwan, which had just celebrated free and democratic elections, was a flagrant injustice that the international community should repair.

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For information media. Not an official record.