GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSES CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN NICARAGUA

25 October 1996

Press Release
GA/9141

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSES CONTINUED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN NICARAGUA

19961025 Cooperation Agreement Between United Nations, Inter-Parliamentary Union Is Welcomed; Consideration of Falkland (Malvinas) Issues Further Postponed

The General Assembly this morning requested the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United Nations bodies and the Nicaraguan authorities, to continue to provide, within existing resources, assistance to reconstruction, stabilization and development activities in Nicaragua.

The Assembly took that action by adopting, without a vote, a resolution by which it also requested that the Secretary-General support, in particular, efforts of the Nicaraguan authorities to alleviate poverty, support economic and social development and to solve property problems.

The representative of Nicaragua, introducing the draft resolution, said that international assistance had helped his country recover from damage caused by a decade of armed conflict. In turn, the consolidation of peace and democracy in Nicaragua had fostered peace and the rule of law in Central America. Nonetheless, Nicaragua continued to need the support of the United Nations and the international community as it worked to solve serious social problems.

The representative of Mexico said that the stability of Nicaragua continued to depend on foreign assistance, as many difficulties remained in that country. The representative of Spain, agreeing that serious challenges still confronted Nicaragua, said political and economic achievements must be translated into an improved living standard for its people.

Statements on Nicaragua were also made by the representatives for Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, and El Salvador who spoke on behalf of the Central American countries.

By a second resolution adopted this morning without a vote, the Assembly expressed its view that the recent completion of the cooperation agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union was an important step towards strengthening collaboration between the two bodies.

The cooperation agreement, signed in July, formalized the cooperative relationship between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, facilitating mutually complementary activities and the initiation of joint projects. Under the agreement, the United Nations recognized the role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in promoting peace and international cooperation and, for its part, the Union recognized the distinct responsibilities of the United Nations and pledged its support for the Organization's goals.

The representative for the Republic of Korea said the institutionalization of the partnership between the United Nations and the Union would encourage national parliaments to support the activities of the United Nations. Such support was vital, he said, as United Nations initiatives would be effective only with the concerted cooperation of national parliamentarians.

A member of Singapore's parliament told the Assembly that the Inter- Parliamentary Union would bring the voice of the people to the international community and communicate the voice of the inter-governmental community to the grassroots level. Introducing the draft resolution, the representative for Egypt said agreement between the United Nations and the Union opened the door to effective cooperation which could foster the lofty objectives of both organizations.

Parliamentarians from India, the Russian Federation, Pakistan and the Sudan also spoke, as did representatives for Uruguay, Andorra, China, Tunisia, Colombia, Chile, Italy and Spain.

Also this morning, again acting without a vote, the Assembly decided to defer its consideration of agenda item entitled "Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)", until its fifty-first session. The proposal to that effect, which was accepted by the Assembly without a vote, was made by the Acting President of the Assembly Afonso Van-Dunem "Mbinda" (Angola). Before that action, the representative for Swaziland made a brief statement.

The Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 28 October, to discuss the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

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Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to consider the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). It was also scheduled to consider cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), as well as international assistance for the reconstruction of Nicaragua.

The General Assembly had before it a note verbale, dated 9 July 1996, from Brazil to the Secretary-General (document A/51/205), and chapter XII of the 1996 report (document A/51/23) of the Special Political Committee on Decolonization on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

The note verbale contains a declaration signed by the Presidents of the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) -- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay -- and by the Presidents of Bolivia and Chile, where they reaffirm their support for the legitimate rights of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute on the question of the Malvinas Islands. The heads of State also recall the desire of the countries of the hemisphere that an early solution be found to the long-standing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS). The declaration was signed on 25 June 1996 at Potrero de los Funes, San Luís province, Argentina.

By a decision contained in its report, the Special Committee reiterates that a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the dispute over sovereignty between Argentina and the United Kingdom is the way to put an end to the special and particular colonial situation in the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The Committee regrets that the implementation of the General Assembly resolutions on this question had not yet started. It also requests Argentina and the United Kingdom to consolidate the current process of dialogue and cooperation through the resumption of negotiations, in order to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Falklands Islands (Malvinas) as soon as possible.

The Committee reiterates its firm support for the good offices of the Secretary-General in assisting the parties to comply with the request made by the General Assembly in its resolutions on the matter, and decides to keep the question of the Falklands Islands (Malvinas) under review.

The Assembly had before it the report of the Secretary-General (document A/51/402), which recalled that the Assembly adopted resolution 50/15 on 15 November 1995 requesting the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to conclude an agreement on cooperation between the two organizations and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-first session. The Assembly also had a 63-Power draft resolution (document A/51/L.6) on the cooperation agreement, sponsored by Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,

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Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yemen.

The report of the Secretary-General states that, on 24 July 1996, a cooperation agreement between the United Nations and the IPU was signed by the United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council and the Secretary-General of the IPU. The text of the agreement appears in the report as an annex. It provides for regular consultations between the two organizations, and joint projects and programmes may be initiated by their competent organs. The United Nations could also request the cooperation of the IPU in areas where the latter has developed a specific expertise.

Specific articles in the cooperation agreement cover cooperation and consultations, appropriate representation, joint action and technical cooperation, cooperation between the secretariats, exchange of information and documents, supplementary arrangements and entry into force, amendments and duration.

The report further states that, as a first concrete report of the July agreement, a meeting on the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 1995), organized by the IPU, the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was held in New York on 5 and 6 September. It was aimed at enhancing cooperation between parliaments, governments and intergovernmental organizations for the effective implementation of the results of the Social Summit. A catalogue was drawn of concrete steps and actions to be taken by national parliaments and their members in order to follow up and implement Summit decisions and recommendations.

Under the terms of the draft resolution, the Assembly would welcome the 24 July 1996 conclusion of the cooperation agreement. It would also decide to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union". Furthermore, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on various aspects of cooperation that have taken place.

By its draft resolution on international assistance to Nicaragua (document A/51/L.3), the Assembly would request the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to support the efforts of the Government of Nicaragua, and

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provide all necessary assistance to the reconstruction, stabilization and development of that country. It would also invite Member States to continue to provide assistance and respond generously to the appeal issued by Nicaragua.

The draft resolution is sponsored by Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United States and Uruguay.

The Assembly also had before it the Secretary-General's report on international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua: aftermath of the war and natural disasters (document A/51/263). (For additional background information, see Press Release GA/9140 issued 24 October.)

Question of Falklands (Malvinas)

AFONSO VAN DUNEM "MBINDA" (Angola), Acting President of the Assembly, said that after consultations, and taking into account past Assembly decisions, it had been proposed that the Assembly defer consideration of the agenda item entitled "Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)" until its fifty-second session.

MOSES MATHENDELE DLAMINI (Swaziland) said his delegation was concerned about the persistent postponement of the item. He called for an explanation of the repeated postponements, so that each delegation would be able to inform its capital.

The Assembly, acting without a vote, decided to defer consideration of the item until its next session.

Cooperation with IPU

NABIL A. ELARABY (Egypt) introducing the draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU, said the signature in July of the agreement formalizing cooperation between those bodies was an important development. It laid a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two bodies. Although the Union long been active in the work of the United Nations, the door was now opened for very effective cooperation which could foster the lofty objectives of both organizations. In light of the ceremonial nature of the draft and the fact that it had no budgetary implications, he requested the Assembly to adopt that draft by consensus.

YATIMAN YUSOF (Singapore) said the time was right for enhancement of the cooperative relationship between the United Nations and the IPU, with its

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membership of 133 national parliaments. The ties between the two organizations in the area of peace, human rights and democracy dated back to the establishment of the United Nations. But it was the parliamentarians who determined whether their nations would assume binding international obligations, and how such obligations would be fulfilled. Through the development of the collaboration relationship between the organizations, the will of the people could be expressed through the Union to the international community, and likewise the work of the intergovernmental community could be communicated back to the grass-roots level in the same manner.

The formalization of the relationship between the two bodies reaffirmed the belief in international cooperation shared by the United Nations and the Union.

DIEGO PELUFO (Uruguay) said that two institutions, as important as the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, could not work in isolation. Working together should add to their efficiency in the pursuit of such common goals as peace, democracy, human rights and development. He said parliaments were a key element in the formulation of foreign policy because they represented public opinion and the news media, and could help to achieve a high degree of unity in the support for that policy. Uruguay has given public testimony of its commitment to democracy and welcomed the voice of the parliaments of the world in the common efforts towards peace.

JULI MINOVES-TRIQUELL (Andorra) said that the Principality of Andorra had a parliamentary tradition that was more than 500 years old, so, it was natural that Andorra today reaffirmed its firm commitment to the cooperation agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and was a co-sponsor of the resolution to that effect.

He said the United Nations Charter was an all-inclusive document aimed at committing the peoples of the world to the common task of seeking peace, respect for human dignity and the exercise of democracy and development. In that context, the expertise of the world's parliaments would be very valuable. Andorra was particularly interested in the subject, since it had originated one of the commitments of the Social Summit at Copenhagen on dialogue between generations.

WANG XUEXIAN (China) recalled that in September this year the Inter- Parliamentary Union had held its ninety-sixth session in Beijing, meeting in China for the first time ever, at the invitation of the Chinese parliamentary delegation. Parliamentarians conducted full discussion and consultations on the international political situation, economic development and social progress. Most representatives, he continued, were of the view that peace and development remained the two major issues of the day. Countries, big and small, rich and poor, were entitled to participate in world affairs on an equal footing. It was declared that human rights should first of all ensure

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the right to subsistence and development. Many representatives had also condemned hegemonism and power politics.

Recalling that the Constitution of the Union indicated it shared the objectives of the United Nations, he said China hoped that this new stage of cooperation between the two organizations would permit the voice of parliamentarians to be heard at the world forum. As the largest developing country in the world, a permanent member of the Security Council and an active participant in Union activities, China was ready to contribute to that end.

PARK SOO GIL (Republic of Korea) said that since its conception in 1889, the Inter-Parliamentary Union had been a champion of human rights and democracy. It was now imperative that the United Nations and the Union worked to develop their relationship. The institutionalization of a partnership between them would encourage national parliaments to support the activities of the United Nations. It would also encourage the fulfilment, at the national level, of efforts to achieve goals set by the international community. Programmes and initiatives of the United Nations could be effective only with the concerted support and cooperation of national parliamentarians. He said that the 1997 Inter-Parliamentary Conference would be held in the Republic of Korea, and it would be open to all members of the Union.

SLAHEDDINE ABDELLAH (Tunisia) said that the formalization of cooperation between the two bodies recognized not only the value of the work of both, but also recognized the mutually supportive role each could play for the other. Parliamentarians played an important role in the fulfilment of objectives laid out in the United Nations Charter. The joint meeting held between the Inter- Parliamentary Union and United Nations bodies to address follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development was a start in improving the implementation of the goals of international conferences.

He said the two organizations must unite in the struggle against poverty and underdevelopment, and join in efforts to establish an era of peace and solidary.

EDUARDO SCARPETTA (Colombia) said strengthening the links between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union would ensure that their mutually complementary activities were facilitated, and would allow them to cooperate more closely. The agreement would cement the ties between two of the most important world institutions and consolidate their common goal.

The end of the cold war had not brought the peace and prosperity that many had expected, he said. Despite some isolated successes, the situation of the developing countries in general had worsened with all the changes in international relations. If the ideals of the authors of the United Nations Charter were to be made a reality, then measures should be taken so that it could assume, once more, the leadership in international cooperation.

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NAJMA HEPTULLA (India) said that the agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union was an important initial step, which had opened up new vistas of cooperation. Both organizations should pool their resources and experience, to devise complementary plans of action. The privilege of having worked with both of them, she continued, made her realize how essential strong ties of cooperation between them were.

The Union was among the first of international institutions to promote the idea of creating a world organization. Its members, from 136 countries, represented the diverse will of the peoples, in the true sense of the term, since parliaments represented both governments and the opposition. The Inter- Parliamentary Union already cooperated with many other organizations within the United Nations system. The possibilities of further cooperation with the United Nations for the benefit of mankind were enormous.

ALEXANDR DZASOKHOV (Russian Federation) said the processes of transition to representative democracy now under way in many major regions of the world was gaining momentum. The United Nations and its Secretary-General were encouraging new democracies. The processes of democratization sometimes lagged behind realities of the world. The experience gathered in cooperation between legislative and executive authority would benefit the whole world. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union was a new stage of development. After each round of general policy discussions, the heads of delegations could address their parliaments on the outcomes. The Russian Federation was happy to join the co-sponsors of the draft resolution.

JUAN LARRAIN (Chile) said that the Inter-Parliamentary Union supplemented and supported the work of the United Nations. The agreement signed between the two organizations in July had already yielded results. In September, they had held a conference in New York as a follow-up to the World Social Summit. The cooperation agreement was one more way the United Nations had come to support democracy in the world, and was a recognition of the legislative arm. He supported the work of the Parliamentarians for Global Action, which had been doing wonderful work around the world.

FRANCESCO PAOLO FULCI (Italy) noted that the Inter-Parliamentary Union was an organization of national parliaments, which were the highest expression of the ideals of democracy within the structure of a State. They represented the people, and their will should be the highest expression of the will of all the citizens of a country. They were the means to enhance democracy. The Italian Parliament had been following the activities of the United Nations more and more closely in recent years. The Union, established more than a century ago, had greatly contributed to international cooperation. The strengthening of the cooperation between the United Nations and the Union would be highly beneficial to both institutions.

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ARTURO LACLAUSTRA (Spain) said that the Inter-Parliamentary Union embodied the important role of national parliaments, and was a forum for debating the answers to the challenges of today. He supported cooperation between the United Nations and the Union, and welcomed the signing of the cooperation agreement. It would be mutually beneficial, since it would make for exchange of information, and he trusted that it would have the unanimous support of the General Assembly.

MAKHDOOM SYED FAISAL SALEH HAYAT (Pakistan) said that to respond to the wishes of the people, the United Nations should become more accessible to non-governmental organizations which represented the civil society. Entities such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Parliamentarians for Global Action were uniquely placed to "build bridges". Not only could they generate support for the United Nations, they could also sensitize the Organization to the aspirations of the people. Legislators could also ensure that the executive branch of government implemented the resolutions and decisions of the United Nations in promoting international peace and security.

In certain regions of the world, he went on, the United Nations had not been successful in ameliorating the sufferings of the people. Citing Bosnia, he said that lack of action had reinforced doubts about the ability of the United Nations to deal with conflicts. In his own region, the Kashmir dispute was still simmering, and the people of Kashmir awaited United Nations measures to implement its resolutions. He said parliamentarians of major troop- contributing countries could consider the establishment of a forum or caucus within the Union on United Nations peace-keeping operations to sensitize the people to the significance of the operations, and to ask governments to meet their obligations.

INAIAT ABELHAMIDL (Sudan) said his Government fully supported the cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentarian Union, since parliaments expressed the free will of peoples. It was to be hoped that the strengthening of this cooperation would lead to fulfilling the will of the people. It should be remembered that the United Nations was the real machinery that could harness all the efforts of the world for the good of humanity.

The Acting PRESIDENT of the Assembly announced that the Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Peru, Russian Federation and Tunisia had joined as co- sponsors of the draft resolution.

The Assembly then adopted without a vote the resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentarian Union.

International Assistance for Nicaragua

The Assembly then turned to the question of international assistance to Nicaragua.

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ERICH VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua) introduced the draft resolution. He said this sort of assistance was a transition mechanism, but an effective one, in helping a country like his, which had suffered a decade-long armed conflict. There had been a broad participation of the international community in Nicaragua, which had helped to consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and had, in general, fostered peace in Central America.

Nicaragua remain a highly indebted country, he sent on, and needed the continued support of the international community, in order to ensure its ability to meet its debt-servicing obligation. With international assistance, peace and democracy in Nicaragua had been consolidated. The population recognized these achievements. Nicaragua continued to face problems, especially in its social indicators. The people held elections on 20 October; the significance of those elections, which were transparent, was in the consolidation of the system. Nicaragua could not go back to the past. It had reiterated its desire to be a peaceful and hardworking nation, in justice and democracy. It still needed the support of the United Nations and the international community.

FERNANDO PETRELLA (Argentina) said the Nicaraguan reconstruction process needed to deal with both the institutional and the economic deterioration of the country, arising from the aftermath of the armed conflict and from the consequences of natural disasters. The United Nations should help the common effort of the Nicaraguan people, and direct its efforts of technical, economic and financial cooperation towards the central goal of achieving a consolidation of the democratic system and stabilization of its institutions.

Argentina, aware of the difficulties still faced by Nicaragua, had condoned an external debt equivalent to $76 million, and called for the Assembly and other creditor nations to follow the same path.

HENRIQUE VALLE (Brazil) said his country had participated in the successful efforts to bring peace to Central America through dialogue and reconciliation. As the OAS and the United Nations made their contributions to the process, bilateral incentives from other areas helped push it forward. The government of Violeta Chamorro in Nicaragua was to be credited with creating conditions for national reconciliation. The people of Nicaragua had reorganized their institutions to provide a solid basis for democracy to thrive, and reforms were preparing the way for social and economic development.

He noted that the country still faced important challenges. Its high population growth combined with a stagnant gross domestic product (GDP) had been reducing the already low per capita income, while a succession of natural emergencies had compounded the situation. Assistance provided through multilateral or bilateral channels remained an essential component of the governmental attempts to provide adequate education and basic infrastructure.

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Brazil had been participating in efforts under the OAS to demine Nicaragua and in projects for the advancement of rural areas in conformity with United Nations resolutions. It was willing to enter into negotiations concerning Nicaragua's outstanding debt.

Mr. FULCI (Italy) said Nicaragua was taking definite steps towards economic and peaceful development, but its external debt continued "to mortgage Nicaraguan development". That was why Italy decided to continue to express its friendship and solidarity through a unilateral reduction of debt.

Italy had participated actively in the consolidation of the peace process in Central America, and would continue to support United Nations efforts in the region. Italy was about to finance a project to improve health infrastructures in two regions of Nicaragua, worth about $2 million. He recalled that last summer, Italy responded to the call for humanitarian appeal following the damage caused by Hurricane Caesar, pledging about $330,000. Confirming his "unwavering support" to Nicaragua, he said Italy was happy to be among the co-sponsors of the draft resolution.

WOLFGANG RUNGE, (Germany) said that democracy and the rule of law had been accepted by the population of Nicaragua in an unprecedented manner; all major political questions were being discussed in parliament and translated into action in a democratic fashion. Germany was therefore convinced that Nicaragua would continue on its path of reconciliation and reconstruction. As the third largest bilateral donor, Germany was one of Nicaragua's major partners in the field of economic cooperation. Initially large amounts went to emergency measures, but today the extensive bilateral development cooperation focused mainly on such areas as the rehabilitation of social infrastructures; the promotion of private enterprises, including vocational training; agricultural development, and the protection of the environment and natural resources. It was increasingly directed to rural areas, focusing on poverty and with special attention towards women. Since 1990, Germany had made a substantial contribution to Nicaragua in official development assistance (ODA), and there was an agreement between the two countries on debt rescheduling.

MAKARIM WIBISONO (Indonesia) said Nicaragua had indeed made significant progress towards peace and national reconciliation, and it was hoped the recent elections would mark the final consolidation of democracy in that country. One of the most serious problems confronting Nicaragua today was its excessive external debt. That issue needed to be addressed urgently and its terms renegotiated. Nicaragua's social and economic conditions, and its adverse debt-to-population ratio, clearly underlined the fragility of its economy and its inability to sustain its economic reconstruction and development. Indonesia believed that further measures, beyond the initiatives of the Bretton Woods institutions, were required to ensure that Nicaragua's development continued to be sustained and revitalized.

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GUSTAVO ALBIN (Mexico) said there was much still to be done in Nicaragua and that country's stability continued to depend on assistance from outside. A long-term development strategy must be designed to improve the living- standard of the Nicaraguan people and to fight continued poverty. International assistance had been a catalyst to reconstruction in Nicaragua. He called upon international economic institutions to continue to support Nicaragua's development efforts.

ARTURO LACLAUSTRA (Spain) said significant progress had been made in the political and economic areas in Nicaragua. The elections there had been conducted in an atmosphere of relative peace. The political and economic achievements must be translated into an improvement of living standards for Nicaraguans. Spain had focused its assistance to Nicaragua on easing the difficulties of the people. Spain participated in the process of monitoring the elections in Nicaragua.

GUILLERMO MELENDEZ-BARAHONA (El Salvador), speaking on behalf of the Central American countries, said the difficulties confronted by developing countries often resulted in armed conflicts, such as had been seen in Central America. Natural disasters had worsened those situations, and forced Central American countries to seek international assistance. The efforts of Nicaragua had received both moral and economic support from the international community, but serious problems remained. Central American countries viewed with satisfaction the international programmes being developed in Nicaragua to assist the most vulnerable members of society. Nicaragua must have access to sources of financing. International assistance should include efforts to review the country's debt burden.

Acting again without vote, the Assembly adopted the resolution on international assistance to Nicaragua.

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