unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/11/89)
SECOND COMMITTEE HEARS 13 SPEAKERS ON WORLD ECONOMIC SITUATION Posting Date: 10/09/89 Copyright UNITEX Communications, 1989 UNITEX Network, USA ISSN: 1043-7932 The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) continued its debate on the world economic situation this afternoon, hearing 13 more speakers. Statements were made by Thailand, Bolivia, Byelorussia, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Chile, Albania, Cuba, Bahrain, Libya, Greece, Israel and Trinidad and Tobago. India also made a statement under the right of reply. The Committee will continue the debate when it meets again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 10 October. Committee Work Programme The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this afternoon to continue its debate on the world economic situation. Statements Made PIAMSAK MILINTACHINDA (Thailand) said his Government believed in an open multilateral trading system. Protectionism remained the most destructive obstacle to international trade. The rules of trade under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) must be universally observed, as they encouraged broad competition in the global market, thereby increasing the market's efficiency. Some States unfortunately utilized the generalized system of preferences as political and economic tools to coerce trading partners. Regional co-operation should be encouraged only if it enhanced the multilateral trading system. The debt problem continued to plague much of the developing world, he continued, and the international community must ensure that appropriate measures to combat the debt crisis were taken without delay. International co-operation was also needed to protect the environment. At the national level, Thailand had undertaken urgent reforestation measures and designated 1989 as the Year of Natural Resources Preservation and Environmental Protection. At the international level, the developed countries and the United Nations system should provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries. Thailand supported the convening of the proposed United Nations conference on environment and development in 1992, he said, as it would contribute to the formulation of global environment policies. He urged all States which had not done so to become parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Depleted the Ozone Layer. PABLO OSSIO (Bolivia) said it was increasingly clear that the large part of the world euphemistically referred to as the developing world, was not the master of its destiny nor did it take part in the process of deciding its fate. For instance, when interest rates went up by one point in the United States, the Latin American foreign debt increased by more than $4 billion. The catalogue of contradictions and injustices was very long, and the dialogue in the Committee would never be able to cover it all and correct all imbalances. That did not mean that the dialogue was useless; he was just stating the truth. Economic affairs were an increasingly global and interdependent phenomenon, he went on. Thus, how could one explain the increasing imbalances between a world which was small but prosperous and another much bigger and increasingly poor? he asked. He hoped the special session of the General Assembly on international co-operation for the purpose of revitalizing economic growth would find the answer to that question. He reviewed the measures taken by his Government in terms of economic adjustment, and said Bolivia had achieved economic stability. A free marketing system was in operation in the country. However, Bolivia had not been able to solve its basic problems. He suggested that the Committee discuss later the concept of co-operation with dignity, meaning co-operation in which conditions to benefit the donors would not be imposed on the receivers of aid. Finally, he stressed the direct relationship between environment and poverty and said his country took good care of its environment OLEG N. PASHKEVICH (Byelorussia) said the reactivation of international relations opened up a real possibility for finding joint solutions to major global problems. The internationalization of economic issues meant States would have to approach problems together, and more active use should be made of multilateral co-operation machinery. The world system of economic relations should be based on democratic principles and exclude measures of economic pressure such as protectionism. The present development of the world economy was characterized by instability and unfairness, particularly towards the developing countries whose social and economic development was affected by external indebtedness. The developed countries should provide access to high technology, which was the only basis for economic self-sufficiency. * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | Did u read patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | today? -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-