Heads of state or government - addresses at the opening of the thirty-ninth General Assembly of the United Nations

UN Chronicle, August, 1984

Things cannot go on that way. "We demand a change of course in international life and in relations between States."

Venezuela attaches special importance to democratic processes throughout the world and in particular to those of its own region. It views wih dismay what is happening in Central America. "It is no longer a matter of minor differences between our countries but rather an obvious attempt by one Power or another to use our conflicts to further its own advantage."

The Contadora Group has been accepted both within and outside the region as a suitable mechanism for assisting in the settlement of the Central American conflicts. Its efforts have come to fruition in the revised Contadora Act, and the outcome is now in the hands of the Governments of the countries concerned.

The seriousness of the current world economic crisis makes it necessary to rethink the role of the United Nations in the area of international economic co-operation and the negotiation strategies that have been followed to attempt to resolve world economic problems. Certain powerful countries continue to avoid or postpone the opportunity for dialogue, which is tantamount to refusing to negotiate. "The peoples of the third world demand change, without delay."

The amount of foreign debt of the developing nations is so ovewhelming that its consequences affect their political and social stability. It is inexcusable that the economic systems of Latin American, which have been under tremendous pressure, in the year 1983 alone transferred $30 billion to the industrialized countries. Responsibility for this situation is not that of the debtor countries alone; the international banking system, lender countries and international financial organizations must also join in seeking solutions.

Along with many Latin American countries, Venezuela is deeply concerned about drug trafficking and the illegal use of drugs, which have reached alarming proportions. In order to "root out this scourge from our midst, we must go directly to the source"--the supplier countries--and strengthen decisive action at main consumer centres. Governments can no longer consider drug trafficking as simply a political issue or public-health problem limited to a particular State. "It is time that we recognize it for what it is--an international problem, with wide-ranging social, economic and political implications."

Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe: Pretoria's "dual policy of domestic terror, repression and exloitation of the mass of the black population under its ferocious rule", and "the systematic military intimidation, brute bullying, political and economic blackmailing of neighbouring and front-line States, is endangering the sovereignty of those States". Pretoria is also seriously undermining and threatening the region's economic viability, peace and security.

The so-called constitutional changes in South Africa "are but another chapter in the dark and sordid history of apartheid"; their real objective is "the enhancement of and not the tampering with institutionalized racism". The international community must give more help to the South African national liberation movement and all those waging a just struggle for freedom and dignity in South Africa.