YouSaid · the spoken record

Claes

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS CLAES

lines on the record: 53
first: 1992-09-24
most recent: 1993-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“This is the kind of Europe that is proving increasingly able to serve the objectives of the Charter. It provides encouragement to other countries and regions to unite, to join together, as Europe has done, in the common task of achieving greater peace in tomorrow’s world.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Once it has entered into force - which should happen in the next few days - that Treaty will enable the European Union to play an enhanced role in all areas of international policy and security and will establish close working relations between the European Union and the Western European Union. Moreover, the imminent enlargement of the European Union to include new members will simply increase its ability to exercise a stabilizing influence over adjacent countries. The enlargement of the European Union and its readiness to conclude association and cooperation agreements of ever wider scope with virtually all regions and countries of the globe are proof of our sincere desire to forge ahead with the building of Europe while at the same time opening Europe to the world.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“As you are aware, the European Community and its member States have played a fundamental role on the ground, particularly through the activities of their monitors, in the implementation of sanctions and through their contribution to the United Nations Protection Force and to measures to help the victims of the civil war. The European Community and its member States also reiterate their readiness to participate in the implementation of a peace plan accepted by all the parties. The Treaty of Maastricht on the European Union should provide us with the means of strengthening the Union’s ability to act in the world, in particular by implementing the common foreign and security policy.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“No one can dispute, however, the fact that the European Community and its member States have endeavoured to mediate from the earliest days of the conflict. It was the members of the European Community who, going against the current, managed to persuade the whole Security Council to react to the worsening situation. Without compromising their positions of principle, and despite numerous disappointments, the member States of the Community have at no point wearied of their thankless task. The efforts deployed at the London and Geneva Conferences bear witness to this.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“14 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session Neither the European Community nor the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe has been able to prevent the outbreak of the conflict and the subsequent series of disasters. Like the United Nations and the United States of America, the European Community and its member States have consequently been accused of lacking strategy and of indifference. For the European Community and its members, one of the lessons to be learned from this catastrophe is that the deepening of its own internal relations - more Europe rather than less Europe - would strengthen the role it must play as an instrument for promoting stability and peace in Europe and neighbouring areas.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Areas of genuine stability and more reliable regional mechanisms would make it possible to forestall major crises by reducing their causes. Regional integration indeed can only help contain the collective frustrations and anxieties that fuel nationalist movements. It also provides a formidable incentive for economic growth and therefore a strategic element in combating poverty. Finally, regional economic integration, as it is progressively being built, simply eliminates the option of war from the thinking of the Governments and peoples involved. The disintegration of the former Yugoslavia and its tragic consequences make it all too clear that the comments we have just made relate to a course of action that will prove long and demanding rather than a miracle cure.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Already 32 years ago, a young Egyptian jurist declared at the Academy of International Law: "To encourage assemblies of States in a world that is becoming more and more Balkanized, to play the role of bringing peoples together and to offer massive and constant aid to underdeveloped countries: these should be the primary objectives of the international organization." (Recueil des cours, Académie de Droit International, La Haye, 1960, II, pp. 69-70) This jurist is today at the head of our Organization. To be sure, in all continents regional bodies have already embarked on this course of action: in the past year they have contributed, in cooperation with the United Nations, to crucial mediation and peace-keeping ventures - but always after the conflict had flared up.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“When internal or bilateral crises occur, it encourages the neighbouring countries to show moderation and thus contributes to limiting the conflict. As respect for common rules grows, more concrete collective actions can be envisaged. These are the essential tools for achieving the threefold objective which the Secretary-General recommends in his latest report on the activities of the Organization: peace, development and democracy.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“By uniting to form centres of stability and progress, the participating countries gradually free themselves of the mounting problems and crises which, at this time of tremendous change, tend to be more than they can cope with on their own. In addition to these areas of stability, it is also necessary to create or strengthen broader regional mechanisms, making it possible for a number of subregions to develop principles of peaceful and prosperous coexistence. Here, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe can serve, if not as a universal model, at least as a source of inspiration. Even if its ability to intervene directly is limited, it constitutes an indispensable platform for dialogue.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In this connection the positive effects of an area of stability such as the European Community no longer need to be demonstrated. The European Community was inspired at the start by a profound desire for peacemaking and reconstruction. The same needs and aspirations are to be found elsewhere in the world but have not been matched by a comparable response. We believe that there is no alternative to the establishment of such areas in every continent. The resolute pursuit of regional economic integration is a decisive and indispensable step in that direction. The benefits of economies of scale and the free movement of persons and goods then contribute as much to consolidating peace as to sharing prosperity.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Does the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations offer real prospects if the latter do not become effective centres of decision and action? We feel that, without the capacity for swift and ongoing intervention on a regional scale, preventive diplomacy by our Organization is a resource which is undoubtedly indispensable but of limited scope. It will indeed facilitate successes here and there, but will be insufficient to come to grips with the most deep-rooted and most threatening antagonisms. If nothing changes, the danger of entire countries imploding is real. The situation will channel multilateral resources more and more into makeshift rescue and rehabilitation operations, to the detriment of collective sustainable development objectives.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We have in mind in particular the management of the Secretariat, the control of its expenditures and the forthcoming restructuring in the economic and social sector. It is unacceptable that the objectives set could not be met owing to interminable Forty-eighth session - 28 September l993 13 negotiations or power struggles between senior administrators. Thirdly, although the United Nations remains an intergovernmental body, it is called upon more and more frequently to fulfil a central government task, with responsibility for solving each and every problem that may arise. In order to cope with this growing tide of demands, the Secretary-General in his "Agenda for Peace" has quite rightly stressed the need for cooperation with regional organizations and arrangements. But are they ready? Do they exist everywhere?”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“First, of course, all Member States must pay their contributions fully and in a timely manner. That is a fundamental obligation with which the European Community and its member States never fail to comply. The effort this requires is neither more nor less than that demanded of other contributors, be they "big" or "small", for each Member State is required to make a contribution in line with its ability to pay. Failure to pay represents a serious breach of the commitments entered into, and it is all the more regrettable that certain defaulting countries at the same time lay claim to a privileged role in the Organization’s debates and decisions. Secondly, the various reforms undertaken in order to improve the operational efficiency of the Organization have to be pursued with a maximum of determination.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The Organization’s coffers are empty or virtually so. The development of new activities is hampered more and more often by disagreements about the allocation of costs. Most of the major contributors, who are seriously affected in their own countries by an unfavourable economic situation, regard strict budgetary restraint as more important than ever. The cost of peace-keeping operations alone will be $3.6 billion for 1993. In addition to the immediate cash-flow problems, there is an increasing structural deficit in the balance between the ability to take multilateral action and ever-increasing requests for intervention. What can we do to ensure that the United Nations does not fall victim to its own success? We feel that finding a solution entails three areas of action.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We also welcome the French initiative of asking the United Nations Secretary-General to convene a conference to review the 1981 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. Thus, the overall picture of activities by the United Nations and its Members during the last 12 months is far from disappointing, and I could have listed many other positive developments. However, when we consider the difficulties facing us, it is hard to claim categorically that, whatever happens, the United Nations will be able to meet the challenges of the future effectively. The Secretariat’s capacities are being used to the full; they are no longer sufficient to deal with Member States’ wishes in every case.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The European Community and its member States pay tribute to the "Blue Helmets" who, frequently killed in cold blood, have been victims of their duty throughout the world. Their safety, as well as that of all United Nations staff, must be improved and the pursuit of their aggressors must be organized more effectively. The European Community and its member States are also convinced of the need to react to the consequences of the presence of mines resulting from armed conflicts. These devices claim numerous victims every year amongst the civilian population and jeopardize the rehabilitation of vast areas of territory ravaged by war. We ask this Assembly to consider the draft resolution which we have submitted on this subject with a view to a more systematic and effective organization of assistance in mine-clearing.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The breadth and complexity of humanitarian crises throughout the world also require greater coordination of humanitarian assistance both during strategic planning of operations and during their implementation on the ground. The spirit of perseverance, in compliance with the Charter and human rights, is more necessary than ever. It enabled Cambodia to implement the Paris Agreements in conditions which proved to be very difficult - as indeed they had promised to be. This represents a great victory for the Cambodian people as well as a remarkable success for the United Nations, and was achieved through unprecedented effort: by numerous Governments, by thousands of officials and volunteers, and also by large numbers of soldiers, dozens of whom sacrificed their lives.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The Organization has, in the eyes of some, met with failure in the very difficult situations with which it has had to cope in the former Yugoslavia and Somalia. The duplicity of some warlords constitutes a permanent threat of destabilization. But, in no circumstances has the international community chosen to combine humanitarian-aid missions with peace-restoring missions. The use of force has been seen only as a last resort in order to come to the help of people held hostage by self-proclaimed leaders. Our Organization has consequently been constrained to use, under certain circumstances, means corresponding to the provocations it has had to face. We must, however, draw lessons from the experience acquired through these various operations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The Secretary-General has resolutely backed this trend both through his numerous visits on the ground or those of his personal representatives and through the adjustments he has made within the Secretariat. These have focused particularly on strengthening the departments responsible for managing peace-keeping operations. The indispensable extension of these services has not yet been completed and will require further assistance from the Member States. Indeed, there has been an overwhelming increase in the United Nations operations in this area over the last few years. They have not simply multiplied: their objectives have also diversified. In several cases, the traditional task of peace-keeping has had to be supplemented 12 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session or, initially, replaced by the much more delicate task of restoring peace.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The warm welcome it has received has been followed by various practical measures of implementation. We would, however, like our Assembly to show more willingness to abandon its reservations regarding certain types of preventive action which have already been adopted in practice by the Security Council and the Secretary-General. The Organization itself has embarked on and made progress with a series of restructuring measures. The most complex is probably the restructuring of the Security Council, but it is encouraging that this topic is now the subject of open dialogue. Pending a reform which would not compromise its efficiency, the Council has kept up the pace of its activities. It has given a larger place in practice to the concepts of preventive diplomacy and cooperation with regional organizations.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The Vienna Programme of Action provides for a large number of measures to ensure greater respect for, and promotion of, such rights throughout the world. The European Community and its member States will endeavour, from the present session, to achieve application of these measures, in particular as regards increased resources for the Centre for Human Rights and the appointment of a United Nations high commissioner for human rights. Active preparations have continued for other world conferences, on population, social development and the promotion of women. The follow-up to Rio was ensured by the first meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development, which, from the outset, established a relation of partnership, which we consider to be highly promising. The "Agenda for Peace" has been discussed in various bodies.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The European Community and its member States, in keeping with their long-standing position, stand ready to assume, in close coordination with the competent international institutions, an important part in the general coordination of the assistance offered by the international community to the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. In this connection donor countries will, above all, have to be guided by criteria of efficiency and speed. During this difficult period the United Nations has not been merely a passive onlooker. The World Conference on Human Rights made it possible to adopt a Final Declaration which reaffirms and enriches the universal consensus on the essential respect due in all circumstances to the human person.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“More attention has been paid by the authorities to the indigenous peoples, but certain tragic events have occurred to remind us of the precarious conditions in which those peoples live. The European Community and its member States welcome the substantially improved prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East. They hope that following the recent Israeli-Palestinian agreements new decisive steps will be taken by Israel and the Arab countries directly concerned in the Middle East peace process. The recent Israeli-Jordanian declaration of principles is a positive move in this direction. We call upon this Assembly to take account of these major developments when considering the situation in the Middle East.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“Nelson Mandela and appeal to the international community to assist South Africa in this crucial phase by helping to organize elections and to rebuild and develop the country. In Asia, the positive trend of the past few years has been maintained. On the economic front, the Asian countries of the Pacific Rim, particularly China, are characterized by remarkable dynamism. The European Community and its member States hope that this progress will swiftly bear positive results for the living and working conditions of their populations. Latin America is a continent at peace, continuing its economic recovery in accordance with the objectives of democratically elected Governments. In several of these countries, rapid population growth, social imbalances and drug-trafficking are, however, still a considerable handicap in the march towards progress.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“It is of course up to the African people to determine the pace and practical form of their democratic development. Some dictators, however, are still clinging to the power they have long exercised for their own exclusive benefit. Their armies, for whose services they somehow manage to pay, are like a weapon permanently aimed at their own people. Despite appearances, they are now no more than an anachronistic element of underdevelopment. South Africa is approaching the historic moment when the democratic majority of its people will accede to power. Forty-eighth session - 28 September l993 11 The path leading to this has, alas, been littered with further massacres and attacks. The European Community and its member States reiterate their support for the negotiating process pursued by President Frederik De Klerk and Mr.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The European Community and its member States will continue to support them substantially through technical assistance and partnership agreements. They will also maintain their trade with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular through new or strengthened association agreements. The European Community and its member States support President Yeltsin in his efforts to promote economic and political reform as well as to strengthen democracy in his country. It is in Africa that the gap between objectives and realities remains most discouraging. Two hundred million people across that continent live in abject poverty. However, in spite of armed conflicts and acute economic problems, there are undeniable signs of the dawn of a new political era.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We know that it is pointless to speak of peace in the world if we do not at the same time work towards global economic and social development. The forthcoming world conferences in Cairo, Copenhagen and Beijing will be important landmarks in this process. Our concerns have not blinded us to the important efforts undertaken in all regions of the world towards democratization and economic recovery. The Republics which made up the former Soviet Union have pursued the immense task of creating a political, economic and social framework designed to strengthen their sense of identity as individual nations. We must help these countries find ways of achieving deep-rooted national reconciliation while fully respecting each other’s territorial integrity.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In this connection, we are concerned by the actions of Member States of our Organization which have ample resources, bear regional responsibilities and claim to be lovers of peace. The proliferation of these weapons represents a grave threat to both global and regional security and stability. It is of the utmost importance that the Non- Proliferation Treaty should be unconditionally extended in 1995 for an indefinite period. Economic underdevelopment and the unacceptable living conditions of hundreds of millions of inhabitants of the planet constitute another major concern for the European Community and its member States. The outcome of three decades of development cooperation cannot be regarded as positive. This means that all of us, countries of the South and of the North, must take serious stock of the situation.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“In other countries, the economic and social crisis has continued to provide fertile ground for religious fundamentalism, enabling it to increase the number both of its followers and of its victims. Elsewhere, the existence of a large immigrant population has served as a pretext for reactions of racial intolerance, which have even led to deliberate criminal acts. All these forms of fanaticism designate human beings as the enemy to be destroyed. They must be fought not only through political declarations and laws but also through a more sincere and committed engagement in favour of the human values which should unite us all across continents and cultures. The proliferation of these situations has gone hand in hand with a growing desire to possess weapons of mass destruction.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“We now have to cope with new crisis situations, while - speaking only about Europe - a just and lasting solution to such a long-standing problem as that of Cyprus has yet to be found, despite the continued efforts of our Organization. Long restrained by the so-called balance of terror, latent antagonisms have resurfaced in the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The collapse of the old institutional frameworks has led to the emergence of forms of rapidly competing nationalisms. The personal ambitions of certain rulers and the propaganda machines they control have plunged clans or whole peoples into conflicts marked by the blind use of violence. In that process, the basic rights of the individual and the elementary rules of international humanitarian law have been constantly flouted.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The European Community and its member States, which continue to enjoy fruitful relations with the countries of the Caribbean, within 10 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session the dynamic framework of the Lomé Convention, assure you of their fullest cooperation. We welcome also the admission to our Organization of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Eritrea, the Principality of Monaco, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Principality of Andorra. In his address to the Assembly last year, my British colleague, Mr. Douglas Hurd, made the point that, after a brief interlude of optimism, the world had entered a period of instability and of challenges to law and order. This trend has increased over the past 12 months.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the European Community and its member States. Allow me, first of all, Mr. President, to pay a tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Stoyan Ganev, who conducted the General Assembly’s proceedings during its forty-seventh session. The Assembly has unanimously decided to entrust to you, Sir, the conduct of this the forty-eighth session. We welcome that decision as we are familiar with your personal qualities and your professional experience. We also see this as a well-earned tribute to your country, the Republic of Guyana, and to the contribution made by the Caribbean region to the activities of our Organization.”
1993-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 48 (1993)
“The current world situation has prompted me to concentrate my reflections around the role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, in the fight against underdevelopment and in the protection of human rights. In none of these fields can we hope to achieve lasting improvements without strengthened regional cooperation. As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter, in a world very different from the one its authors knew, the need for complementarity between the regional and global spheres has become obvious. We must work to define its modalities. At a time when Belgium is close to the end of its term of membership in the Security Council, I am pleased to note that this debate is taking place above all as regards the establishment and maintenance of peace.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“I wish to repeat what I said in the early part of my statement - for this seems to me to be a fundamental truth: excessive invocation of the principle of self-determination leads straight to a caricature of national sovereignty. It is necessary therefore to explore viable alternatives: real administrative decentralization, cultural autonomy, federal or confederate systems. The claims of minorities are above all the collective expression of a specific dignity and of human rights which cannot be trodden underfoot or ignored. Once this truth has been admitted, approaches more conciliatory than blind nationalism become possible. This is my hope for the future of the minorities issue.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“This session of the General Assembly should enable us to clarify matters where necessary. The growing number of ethnic conflicts poses a special problem, half-way between the traditional questions of human rights and the exercise of the right to self-determination. Consequently, the protection of ethnic minorities deserves special attention at this time. In Europe, we continue to believe, in spite of recent disappointments, that the rules developed by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) remain valid. The right to self-determination must in no case be put forward to justify excesses and cruelties committed in its name. Besides, the protection of minorities should not necessarily or indeed exclusively be placed under the banner of self-determination.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“This is why Belgium insisted on having the Council hear Mr. van der Stoel on the human rights situation in Iraq. This is a delicate subject, as we are well aware. But international law is evolving, and since information has virtually lost its borders, frontiers are fading for injustice as well. Ultimately, States simply have to respect the international commitments they have undertaken as sovereign Powers. The unbreakable link between democracy and respect for human rights is also put in concrete terms in the United Nations system through the question of electoral assistance. Numerous requests for such assistance are currently being addressed to the Secretariat. In order to give an adequate response, precise standards must be established. The existing mechanisms which allow for some forms of electoral assistance must be fully used.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Respect for and the protection of human rights require stronger monitoring mechanisms. An extraordinary session of the Human Rights Commission took place last month in Geneva. The Commission strongly condemned the serious and intolerable human rights abuses taking places in the former Yugoslavia. Belgium warmly welcomes this rapid reaction and would like to see it serve as an example in the future. Belgium would also like to see the coming World Conference on Human Rights lead to a reaffirmation of the international commitments by States and a strengthening of cooperation in the world community. We appeal to all countries to strive in a constructive spirit for the success of this Conference. We are already in favour of a role for the Security Council in certain cases of particularly flagrant or large-scale violations of human rights.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Furthermore, Belgium is actively using its influence with its partners and in relevant international institutions to ensure that the dawning of democracy is accompanied by an upturn in economic activity. In the meantime, we have intensified our emergency aid in several areas affected by conflict or natural disasters. My Government also welcomes the fact that, as regards aid to Africa, it has established a fruitful working relationship with Belgian and international non-governmental organizations. Failure to respect the rights of the individual is another source of tension and violence, as well as an impediment to economic and social progress. We must clearly reaffirm the principle of the universality of basic rights and freedoms which are inherent in human dignity. These rights cannot be subject to various interpretations.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Belgium, however, refuses to give in to visions of catastrophe or what a fashionable phrase defines as "Afro-pessimism". In recent years Belgium has redefined its attitude and its commitments towards Africa, first in areas where we could have to assume special responsibilities. We warmly welcome the fact that the link between democracy, human rights and development is now widely recognized and applied. We hope that democratization will be understood at its true value, namely, for the benefit of the people. The spirit which inspires us is not that of a new paternalism: we wish to enter into cooperation as equal partners. In order to support political renewal in Africa, my Government has just created a fund to assist in the financing of democratic elections, the main beneficiary of which will be the African continent.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Finally, the Rio de Janeiro Conference was a milestone in the process of increasing collective awareness of the future of our planet, and Belgium will attach the greatest importance to its follow-up. One of the crucial aspects here concerns the financial mechanisms. We earnestly wish for a strengthening of the structure of the global environment facility to adapt it better to the various needs. This should also contribute to a greater convergence between the international financial institutions of the Bretton Woods system and the operational mechanisms of the United Nations family. I could not possibly close this part of my statement without mentioning the economic problems of a region to which we feel particularly close, namely Africa. Current events are continually giving us cause for concern.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The World Conference on Social Development, to be held in 1995, will provide us an opportunity to give these goals and principles the high priority they deserve. International economic cooperation can flourish only on the basis of political will and effective mechanisms. This explains the vital importance of several international negotiating processes, either in progress or already being finalized, being brought to a successful conclusion. I should like to stress Belgium's attachment to the liberalization of world trade as a driving force for economic growth and development. The success of the Uruguay Round is the essential precondition for this.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Nevertheless, a real economic take-off will be possible only if investments follow government efforts. We note with satisfaction that a number of developing countries have taken steps to offer greater legal security to foreign investors with respect to freedom of enterprise, fiscal matters and mobility of capital and profits. Such measures contribute to the creation of a better investment climate. We have to concern ourselves now more than ever with the social aspects of development. Profit is not a goal in itself. Income redistribution must allow for the full personal development of every individual within a society based on solidarity. This solidarity must extend to future generations. The rights of workers, as well as their families, their cultural heritage and their environment, must therefore be protected.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“In this context two factors have, in my view, become of key importance: first, the concept of global interdependence and, secondly, the growing emphasis on the close links between population, environment and development. Useful lessons may be drawn from past disappointments concerning donor-recipient relationships. The Assembly will also discuss the triennial policy review of the operational activities of the United Nations system. We hope that this will be a thorough debate leading to a genuine reassessment of multilateral aid mechanisms. For our part, we have launched a number of innovations in our bilateral aid during recent years. These include, in particular, the creation of joint management systems for our development projects, designed to reinforce the decision-making capacity of our partners.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“This is the combined result of the cold war and military expenditure, of a degree of selfishness in the North, of corruption and bad governance, and of a wrong choice of priorities both in the South and the North. For these reasons, major bilateral and multilateral aid efforts have sometimes failed and have also maintained a culture of dependency which now demands a process of emancipation. The contrasts between North and South demand our attention more than ever. We are witnessing, on the one hand, a race to satisfy material cravings, and on the other, abject poverty. This is the greatest challenge facing us. We not only have to maintain important resource and technology transfers, but we also need to make a frank analysis of past errors and to identify the real priorities.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“However, all the combined tools of preventive diplomacy, disarmament, non-proliferation and peace-keeping operations are not sufficient to ensure real peace. Most conflicts are more deeply rooted. I wholeheartedly agree with the Secretary-General's broad interpretation of the elements which contribute to ensuring peace. Like him, I believe that the role of the Organization extends to the prevention of tensions of any kind, be they economic disparities, infringements of human rights, the absence of democracy or environmental degradation. For the first generations of the post-colonial era, the term "North-South dialogue" kept alive the hope of attaining a more equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities. The situation today is far from meeting those expectations.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“In response to the appeals of the Secretary-General, Belgium, for its part, has dispatched a battalion to Croatia and units to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is preparing a battalion for deployment in Somalia. The financial difficulties of our Organization have led us recently to seek alternative financing systems. However, I must take this opportunity to recall the obligation of solidarity that applies to all Member States. All Members must fulfil their budgetary obligations. The system for financing peace-keeping operations should be uniform and predictable, and should resolve the problems of financing the initial phases of urgent operations. The United Nations would obviously lose both operational capacity and credibility if the Organization were denied the budgetary resources corresponding to its responsibilities.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“I would like to pay a tribute here to the steadfast efforts of the Conference on Disarmament. Belgium currently chairs that Conference and will present to the General Assembly the draft Convention on a ban on chemical-weapons. On behalf of a country victimized by these weapons during the First World War, I want to launch a solemn appeal in favour of the universal acceptance of the draft Convention, resulting in the final elimination of these particularly barbaric weapons from all arsenals.* A more systematic use of preventive diplomacy would, no doubt, enable us to limit at least the human cost of conflicts. However, it is clear that when prevention reaches its limits, the Organization must be able to resort to other peace-keeping measures.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The nightmare of global nuclear confrontation has given way to the threat of the unchecked proliferation and dissemination of nuclear arms and technology. During the forty-sixth session of the General Assembly, the 12 countries of the European Community, together with Japan, took an initiative which has led to the creation of a register for multilateral control of the transfer of conventional weapons. That, however, is but a first step. The case of Iraq has demonstrated the extent of the problems caused by a lack of transparency in commercial transactions involving both conventional and nuclear weaponry. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should therefore continue to improve its system of safeguards, preventive detection and monitoring of the transfer of dual-use items.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“The report confirms that our central objective should be peace first and foremost, for without peace, neither normal society nor faith in the future of individuals is possible. The General Assembly will debate preventive diplomacy in depth. We hold this concept to be based on the following elements: full use of the powers vested in the Secretary-General; a United Nations presence in the initial stages of a potential conflict; the specific role of regional organizations; commissions of inquiry and temporary observer missions; an enlarged role for United Nations staff already present in potential conflict zones; and disarmament and non-proliferation. Disarmament and non-proliferation continue to merit special attention in their own right. The end of the cold war has made the control and monitoring of conventional weapons more difficult.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)
“Fortunately, the United Nations is no longer paralysed by the automatic ideological antagonisms of the past. The Security Council in particular has regained its means of action and its authority, which is now broadly recognized. Failure to comply with its decisions now equals isolation from the international community. But precisely because our Organization is experiencing something of a revival, we have to ensure that it does not fall victim to its own success. The summit meeting of the Security Council members, held last January, recognized the extent of this challenge. The Heads of State or Government requested the Secretary-General to develop concrete proposals to respond to it. The Secretary General's report, "An Agenda for Peace", has given us ample food for thought on the future role of the Organization.”
1992-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 47 (1992)