The United Nations: 'not isolated, but in harmony.' (highlights of 42nd session)

The United Nations

'Not isolated, but in harmony'

In observance or World Habitat Day, 5 October:

Most of us take for granted an adequate roof over our heads, the provision of water, sanitation, drainage and waste removal and services such as education, health, transportation and recreation. But for nearly a quarter of our fellow inhabitants of this planet, all these necessities are yet only a dream. They live under conditions wholly incompatible with their human status. Worse still, at least 100 million people in this world have no shelter at all and must improvise whatever protection they can find from the elements. It is ironic and intolerable that such conditions persist in an age which has brought great improvement in living standards and witnessed unprecedented advance in science, technology and culture.

In observance of World Food Day, 16 October:

Hunger co-exists with poverty. And the eradication of hunger is inseparably linked to the process of development in all its aspects. The solution to the hunger problem, therefore, does not lie solely, or even primarily, in increasing global food supplies or in providing emergency assistance. It lies first and foremost in the adoption of the necessary political decisions to put human well-being at the core of our development endeavours.

On the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, 19 October:

In its travels, the Commission found that the world holds no sanctuaries; that neither the effects of waste nor of poverty can be quarantined. Too often decisionmaking on development and environment issues is determined by sectional interests and the traditional boundaries of geography, politics or ideology. The Commission confirmed that economic growth and preservation of the environment are imperatives -- not options to choose or reject; and that they are central and indivisibly linked elements in human well-being.

To the special plenary on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 20 October:

AIDS is one of those critical issues, like nuclear weapons, global development, and environmental pollution, which affects the future of all peoples in all countries. It is, in many senses, a global combat, and it threatens us with all the consequences of war -- not only of massive death tolls and even greater numbers of disabled, but of orphans, of mass displacements, of loss of productivity, of overwhelming and bankrupting demands of financial, administrative and human resources, of fear and anger and panic, and of social instability.

In observance of Disarmament Week, 26 October:

The international community has the task of seizing the momentum created by the various positive developments of the past year and carrying it forward. The absence of polemics and greater pragmatism which have been evident in arms control deliberations in the recent past must continue to inspire and guide our actions. Substantial disarmament agreements are needed in the interest of development, security and peace. There are opportunities for new ideas and innovative approaches to be applied. For our words and intentions to retain their credibility, the time to act is now.

In observance of International Volunteer Day, 5 December:

The United Nations Volunteers embody the objective of international co-operation for the resolution of economic, social and humanitarian problems defined in the Charter. They have dedicated themselves whole-heartedly to the admirable, and sometimes thankless, task of service to others, and have given generously and unselfishly of their talent and energies to lessening human misery.

Central American, non-use of force, environment, AIDS among major issues acted on

The 'bricks and mortar of internationalism'

"The United Nations is not isolated from the course of world events ... It is both in harmony and in an active interrelationship with the development of international relations," declared General Assembly President Peter Florin, as he officially suspended the world body's forty-second session on 21 December.

An increasing and serious effort had been made to safeguard world peace, overcome underdevelopment and poverty, and settle tragic conflicts. "A new political thinking has emerged which goes along with a new, constructive approach to many international issues", he stated.

Timely and historic matters were addressed by the 1987 Assembly: the precedent-setting Soviet-United States treaty on nuclear missiles; the outgoing peace processes in Central America, the Middle East, southern Africa and elswhere; the need for a protected environment; the deadly pandemic of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); the world-wide plague of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Two major documents were adopted by the 159-member world body in 1987: the "Environmental Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond", a 27-page blueprint for action to help preserve and protect the planet as the development process proceeds; and the Declaration on the Enhancement of the Effectiveness of the Principle of Refraining from the Threat or Use of Force in International Relations.

At special plenary sessions, delegates marked the observance in 1987 of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless and the intensification of a world-wide campaign to combat AIDS, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO).

As a culmination of UN activities for the homeless, the Assembly decided there should be a Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, including a plan of action for its implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Preparations continued for the convening in 1988 of a third special General Assembly session on disarmament; two others were held, in 1978 and in 1982. On 10 December -- Human rights Day -- the world body launched the observance in 1988 of the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Critical downward trends in African economic recovery were reported. The Assembly expressed dismay that increased international aid had not been supplied, as promised during the 1986 special session on Africa. More monetary and humanitarian aid, as well as debt relief, was asked.

The Assembly continued its push for organizational reforms and a streamlined budget, in an effort to contain the continuing financial crisis. A budget of $1.7 billion for 1988-89 was approved; it had been $1.6 billion the previous biennium. If Member States did not pay in full and on time, the Secretary-General warned, the UN could become insolvent by mid-1988. The Assembly agreed to consider reconvening urgently to consider the financial crisis if necessary.

The Secretary-General's Peace-Making efforts were endorsed

"It is a paradox that the crisis has occurred just at a time when many signs point to an increased awareness throughout the world of the need for a strong and effective United Nations," Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said.

He saw "unmistakable trends" reflecting a "more realistic recognition of the need for a joint effort to seek solutions to the world's problems."

In his New Year's message, he added: "The Organization furnishes the brick and motar of internationalism. Even the demands for reform in its working imply a recognition of its importance and continued relevance".

Quest for consensus

In considering 143 agenda items, the Assembly adopted 318 resolutions and 68 decisions on a wide range of political, economic, social and legal issues. Almost two thirds were adopted without a vote, indicating that "the quest for consensus has considerably increased", President Florin said.

During the three-week general debate (21 September-9 October), 23 Heads of State and Government addressed the Assembly on the gamut of world issues, as did 139 other dignitaries, including 108 Foreign Ministers.

As its first political action, the Assembly welcomed the signing of the Guatemala Agreement by the five Central American Presidents in August 1987 and the involvement of the UN Secretary-General and the OAS in a follow-up commission on seeking ways to establish peace. States were urged to give more technical, economic and financial assistance to Central American countries.

Mr. Perez de Cuellar's efforts to help resolve conflicts in other areas of tension -- the Middle East, Iran-Iraq, southern Africa, among them -- were also endorsed.

All States were asked to support the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East. Israel's policies and practices in the occupied territories were deplored. Continuing action to secure the rights of the Palestinian people was requested.

Action to end apartheid, assist front-line States and censor those who supported South Africa was taken. An oil embargo was asked. Continuing pressure to bring Namibia to independence should be applied, the Assembly stated.

Joint efforts by the Secretary-General and the OAU to bring about a solution to the problem of Western Sahara were endorsed. The Assembly called for withdrawal of foreign troops from both Afghanistan and Kampuchea, where political solutions were actively being sought.

Progress towards a global ban on chemical weapons was registered. A new Soviet proposal for a comprehensive system of international peace and security was discussed.

Three world conferences

The 159-member body reviewed the results of three UN conferences held in 1987 -- on peaceful uses of nuclear energy (Geneva, March/April); drug abuse and illicit trafficking (June, Vienna); and the relationship between disarmament, and development (August/September, New York).

During the 14-week session, it examined the consequences of the massive trillion-dollar external debt faced by many of the world's poorer nations. The possibility of reconvening the special conference under UNCTAD auspices on a code of conduct on transfer of technology was considered. There was continuing debate, but no action, on proposals for UN-sponsored conferences on money and finance and on African debt.

"Our Common Future" -- the report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, chaired by Norway's Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland -- was welcomed and recognized as having provided a major input to the "Environmental Perspective".

Among the social, humanitarian and cultural issues dealt with were: problems of the homeless, refugees, women, the aging, youth, the disabled. Racial discrimination and religious intolerance were decried.

Work continued on a wide variety of legal instruments, including those aimed at helping migrant workers and their families, children, prisoners and detained persons. Drafts of conventions to bar the recruitment of mercenaries and to prevent illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were considered.

Six issues were retained on the agenda of the forty-second session: the consequences of armed Israeli aggression against Iraqi nuclear installations; the prolongation of the Iran-Iraq conflict; the situation in Central America; the question of Cyprus; the current financial crisis of the United Nations; and the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country. Consideration of three items was deferred to the forty-third session: the United States attack against Libya; global negotiations on international co-operation; and the increase in membership of the Security Council.

Chairmen of the seven Main Committees during the General Assembly's forty-second session were: Bagbeni A. Nzengeya of Zaire (First Committee); Hamad Abdelaziz Al-Kawari of Qatar (Special Political Committee); Guennadi I. Oudovenko of the Ukrainian SSR (Second Committee); Jorge E. Ritter of Panama (Third Committee); Constantine Moushoutas of Cyprus (Fourth Committee); Henrik Amneus of Sweden (Fifth Committee); and Rajab A. Azzourouk of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Sixth Committee).

The Assembly continued its push for organizational reforms

'I believe that the United Nations provides appropriate mechanisms to achieve conditions of peace and security for mankind as we enter the next millenium'.

-- General Assembly President Peter Florin 24 October 1987

'As we enter the next millenium'

Photo: Two Prime Ministers -- Gro Harlem Brundtland of Norway and Rajiv Gandhi of India -- confer outside the General Assembly Hall.

Photo: At the podium (left to right): the Secretary-General, President Florin, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs Joseph Reed

Photo: American entertainer Pearl Bailey, a delegate to the 42nd session

Photo: Modibu Keita, Foreign Minister of Mali

Photo: Mrs. Perez de Cuellar (center) in the gallery

Photo: An Assembly vote

Photo: At the UN Day concert and with the media

Photo: President Florin with his wife Ella