General Assembly Session 51 meeting 41

The Acting President

I call on the representative of Nicaragua to introduce draft resolution A/51/L.3.

Mr. Vilchez Asher (Nicaragua)

It is an honour for me to introduce, on behalf of the other sponsors, the draft resolution contained in document A/51/L.3, entitled "International assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua: aftermath of the war and natural disasters". I should like to announce that the following additional countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Benin, Canada, Germany, Jamaica, Panama, Romania, Suriname, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Venezuela. While thanking the Secretariat for the report contained in document A/51/263, which reflects the progress and the difficulties in our transition process, we wish to request that in the future more space be given to aspects relating to projects and objectives implemented by the specialized agencies of the United Nations system.

The draft resolution we are introducing together with the other sponsors emphasizes the concerns of a country which has needed the sustained support of the international community to try to overcome the aftermath of the war in the midst of a triple transition -- from war to peace, from a centralized economy to a market economy, and from authoritarianism to democracy -- and at the same time to deal with a heavy external-debt burden and the economic effects of hurricanes and other natural disasters.

This draft resolution requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system and in close cooperation with Nicaraguan authorities, to continue to provide all necessary assistance for the reconstruction, stabilization and development of Nicaragua. We trust that this brief and clear draft resolution will be adopted by the General Assembly without a vote.

Since this initiative came to the General Assembly for the first time as a result of Nicaragua's urgent needs in 1990 at the end of its decade-long armed conflict and of its starting on the path to democracy and economic and social development, we have seen emergency assistance to be a temporary but very effective mechanism to help resolve the difficult problems of transition. We hope these problems will soon be overcome. In this context, the emergency assistance for the reconstruction of our country which States, international organizations, the World Bank and non-governmental organizations lent to us during the Administration of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro has made a major contribution to strengthening democracy, consolidating the rule of law, eliminating poverty and, in general, to peace in Central America. The Support Group for Nicaragua approved by the General Assembly and made up of Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden has also played an important role in the search for consensus and in support for economic recovery.

There has certainly been broad participation on the part of the international community in peace-building in Nicaragua. In this regard, we can mention, among the many projects which have been carried out, reducing and professionalizing the army and the national police and involving former members of the Nicaraguan resistance in productive projects for economic development. Also with international support, we have financed programmes to reintegrate the population displaced and otherwise affected by the war, especially in rural areas in the north of the country. Such support has also promoted programmes for disarming the civilian population during the first years of the Chamorro Administration. In the field of economic recovery, we have promoted credit programmes to strengthen micro- and small businesses both in rural areas and in the cities. We have privatized most of the State-held enterprises. With the cooperation of friendly countries, which provided the necessary resources, we have undertaken major efforts to negotiate and purchase the commercial debt.

This enormous effort to renegotiate the debt is providing our country with a new opportunity to participate and to be a part of the world's economic system. We must realize that the effort made by our creditors may not be repeated, and applying for new loans in a responsible manner must be part of our principal purposes. Despite the reduction of the external debt achieved so far, Nicaragua continues to be a low-income country with high debts. It is therefore essential for us to continue those negotiations. In this regard, Nicaragua needs the support of the international community to continue to make progress towards a definitive solution in the process of renegotiating its external debt so that the effective servicing of the debt will be compatible with its capacity to pay.

The untenability of Nicaragua's external debt has been recognized in the G-7 initiative submitted to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which provides for an external debt relief mechanism for highly indebted countries, so that they can sustain its servicing.

With international assistance, and with the exceptional treatment given to our country by the General Assembly, peace and democracy are being consolidated in Nicaragua. This is reflected above all in the great reduction of political violence, the full establishment of public freedoms for the first time in the history of the country, the increasingly independent operation of the organs of the State, the decentralization of the central Government and the strengthening of local governments. The population at large recognizes these achievements and, after a decade of armed and fratricidal conflict, agrees that one of the most important achievements has been that of pacification.

While the country is at peace and has resumed its economic growth, the impact of the conflict on employment and underemployment indicators has kept them below expectations. Nicaragua continues to face major problems in terms of social indicators; poverty continues to be one of the main problems affecting a large part of the population. In these conditions, to help consolidate democracy we need the continued support of the international community and the United Nations, which has so generously supported us in recent years. The Government, for its part, is undertaking great efforts in various fields to alleviate these problems.

In the context of the undeniable achievements and efforts of the Government of Doña Violeta Barrios de Chamorro to consolidate national reconciliation, peace, economic and social development and the rule of law in Nicaragua, on 20 October 1996 the Nicaraguan people held elections for President, the Legislature, local authorities and the Central American Parliament. The results of these elections, their significance and the transparency and seriousness with which they were held show the great importance that most of the Nicaraguan people attach to the final consolidation of democracy, peace and economic and social development.

Nicaragua cannot return to the past. The definitive solution to the problem of the external debt, of ownership and of a considerable improvement in national, foreign and private investment, in the framework of a sound and responsible macroeconomic policy favouring internal savings and contributing to improving the standard of living of the Nicaraguan people, must be our goal.

Nicaragua has reiterated its desire to be a peaceful and hard-working nation, and it has reiterated its appeal to all United Nations Member States to support its effort to consolidate peace and democracy -- not only in Nicaragua but in Central America as a whole. As part of this effort, we have urgently needed the resolute support of the international community to maintain the hopes of a people that wishes to reconstruct its country in peace, justice and democracy. International assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua has been in a pragmatic, concrete, realistic and well-founded way to contribute to the universal values that guide the United Nations.

Nicaragua has needed the support and solidarity of the international community to overcome the aftermath of war and the natural disasters that have stricken it in recent years. The unanimous adoption of the relevant resolutions since 1991 constitutes a clear sign of the political will of the international community to support the political and economic process that the people and the Government of Nicaragua are carrying out. All of this will result in the consolidation of peace and the democratic process in Nicaragua.

Once again, on behalf of the sponsors, I request that the draft resolution contained in document A/51/L.3 be adopted by consensus.

Mr. Petrella (Argentina)

It is of particular interest for my delegation to participate in the debate on agenda item 36, entitled "International assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua: aftermath of the war and natural disasters".

First of all, we wish to congratulate the delegation of that country on the noteworthy democratic elections held a few days ago.

As we have stated in previous debates on this question, Argentina understands that assistance to Nicaragua is a case from which we can draw guidelines that are useful for the entire system of international cooperation for development. The process in Nicaragua combines two situations that deserve attention in terms of reconstruction. One is the situation of post-conflict institutional and economic deterioration, although at the institutional level exemplary progress has been achieved, as shown by the recent elections to which I just referred. The other is the situation stemming from the aftermath of natural disasters.

A characteristic specific to the Nicaraguan process is that rehabilitation and reconstruction are taking place in a pluralistic framework, with the participation of all sectors of the population. To complement this effort by the people of Nicaragua, the United Nations must aim its technical cooperation and economic activities towards the objective of consolidating the democratic system and of strengthening institutions, these being the essential elements for the stability of the country and for promoting economic growth.

We must also recall that the Nicaraguan process is part of an overall regional process of democratization. Therefore, improvements in that country will have a positive impact for all of Central America.

We are aware of the serious difficulties faced by Nicaragua. To the circumstances already mentioned, we must add the burden of the external debt, which hampers productive investment and capital flows. Aware of this fact, Argentina has cancelled Nicaragua's debt. We encourage other creditor countries to do likewise, and urge the General Assembly to issue a recommendation along the same lines. In addition, in connection with concrete commitments to the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction in Nicaragua, Argentina has developed several technical cooperation projects between the two countries, focusing on areas such as human resource training, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and energy.

Before concluding, we wish to express our appreciation for the work done by the Support Group for Nicaragua which, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, is playing a very active and dynamic role in supporting efforts at economic rehabilitation and social development in the country.

We also wish to express gratitude for the efforts of the international community, including the organs and organizations of the United Nations system, to complement the initiatives taken by the Nicaraguan Government.

Finally, we wish to reiterate our request for support to give special political, technical and financial attention to Nicaragua. Such assistance will allow the Nicaraguan Government to prepare medium- and long-term plans for its economic reconstruction and to consolidate and strengthen its institutions.

My delegation lends its full support to the draft resolution under consideration by the Assembly and hopes that it will be adopted without a vote.

Mr. Valle (Brazil)

Nicaragua has made great progress since this item was included on the agenda of the General Assembly's forty-seventh session. Brazil has been closely following the progress made in Central America and especially in Nicaragua. As a member of the Support Group of the countries of the Contadora Group, Brazil participated in the successful efforts to bring peace to Central America through dialogue and reconciliation. Together with the efforts made by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations, bilateral contributions have, without doubt, facilitated progress in the peace process.

In 1990 Nicaragua was still immersed in conflict. Today, towards the end of the present Administration, Nicaragua is a different country. President Violeta Chamorro will soon have fulfilled the aspiration expressed in her recently published autobiography to transfer power to someone who is also elected by the people. The Government of Violeta Chamorro deserves credit for having created conditions for national reconciliation, and the Nicaraguan people deserve our respect and solidarity for having taken up the banner of peace.

The Nicaraguan people can continue to look towards the future with confidence. Their institutions have been reorganized to provide a solid basis for democracy to thrive in an atmosphere of respect for civil liberties and protection of human rights. The ongoing economic and financial reforms are laying the ground for social and economic development. The establishment of peace in the region has produced a favourable environment for increased trade and economic cooperation. The process of consolidating democracy in Central America has reinvigorated cooperation in the region.

In spite of this positive evolution, Nicaragua still faces substantial challenges. Its high rate of population growth, combined with a stagnant gross domestic product, has been reducing the already low per capita income. A succession of natural emergencies has compounded the country's difficulties. The report of the Secretary-General (A/51/263) points to a change in this tendency and presents us with brighter prospects.

However, the assistance provided through multilateral or bilateral channels remains an essential component of the Government's attempts to provide Nicaraguan society with adequate education, sanitary facilities and other basic infrastructure. The United Nations, through the United Nations Development Programme and other specialized agencies and bodies, has been playing a vital role in assisting Nicaraguans to modernize their country, as can be seen from the successive reports submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly.

Brazil, motivated by a wish to show material support for peace and development in Nicaragua, has been participating, under the aegis of OAS, in efforts to demine Nicaraguan territory, and has become involved in projects for the advancement of rural areas, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions.

Last year we attended the meeting of the consultative group that coordinates international assistance for Nicaragua, and we are continuing to collaborate in human resources development as well as in other fields.

Brazil has likewise demonstrated its readiness to enter into negotiations with a view to finding a mutually satisfactory solution to the question of outstanding Nicaraguan debt, within the framework of the Paris Club. In July 1996 we sponsored the resolution adopted by the Economic and Social Council on emergency assistance to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Brazil wishes to take this opportunity to express its support to the people of Nicaragua as they pursue the process of consolidating democracy in their country. We will continue to seek ways to increase our cooperation, and we reaffirm our willingness to contribute to progress in Nicaragua.

Mr. Fulci (Italy)

Italy wishes to express its appreciation for the Secretary-General's report entitled "International assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua: aftermath of the war and natural disasters". After the dark years of civil war and the difficult post-war period, Nicaragua is taking definite steps toward economic development. Peace prospers and grows through social justice. It is our hope that the Nicaraguan Government will continue to pursue policies that assure sustainable development.

We were pleased to learn of the great achievements of the Nicaraguan democracy under the able leadership of President Violeta Chamorro and of its successful efforts in combating inflation and increasing gross national product. However, external debt continues to mortgage Nicaraguan development. That is why Italy has decided to continue to express, in a concrete manner -- with deeds, not just words -- its friendship and solidarity with the Nicaraguan Government and people through a unilateral reduction of the external debt.

It is known that Italy participated actively in the consolidation of the peace process in Central America through the financing of the Development Programme for Displaced Persons, Refugees and Returnees (PRODERE) in six countries in the region, including Nicaragua. I do not need to recall here what PRODERE has done or the goals that it has achieved. Others with expertise in development policies have already done so through the years. The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Speth, called PRODERE

"an extraordinary example of implementation, at the local level, of the human development model".

The former President of Costa Rica and Nobel laureate for peace, Oscar Arias, presented to the United Nations the report on the external and independent evaluation of PRODERE. President Arias said:

"The terror, which a history of repression and political disintegration had instilled in the population, was progressively replaced by a climate of confidence suitable to a genuine state of law in the areas where PRODERE operated."

Encouraged by this very positive experience, Italy has decided to continue to support United Nations action in Central America. ln Nicaragua, with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office for Project Services, Italy is supporting the Alliance for Sustainable Development through the Programme for Sustainable Human Development at the Local Level. In this framework, the Italian Government is about to finance a new project to improve health infrastructures in Nueva Segovia and Jinotega for a total of about $2 million.

Our colleague the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua, Ambassador Erich Vilchez Asher, has just mentioned the natural disasters that have plagued this country. Also in this regard, may I recall that last summer we responded to the humanitarian appeal following Hurricane Caesar, and pledged a contribution for emergency relief assistance to the victims of the hurricane.

Italy has the real pleasure to be once again among the co-sponsors of the draft resolution on humanitarian assistance to Nicaragua. On behalf of my country, I also wish to confirm our unwavering political support for Nicaragua and for its Government. As Ambassador Vilchez Asher very rightly and eloquently said a few minutes ago:

"Nicaragua cannot return to the past." (supra, p. 19)

This is also our strong belief and our most sincere wish.

Mr. Runge (Germany)

The report of the Secretary-General on international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua (A/51/263), which has been presented today, illustrates in a vivid manner the many and successful steps Nicaragua has taken, after years of internal conflict, towards peace, the consolidation of democracy and economic recovery. The election has been one more important step in this direction, even though the aftermath of the conflict is still weighing heavily on the country and natural disasters continue to aggravate the situation.

Democracy and the rule of law have been accepted by the population of Nicaragua in an unprecedented manner. All major political questions are being discussed in Parliament and translated into action in a democratic fashion. We are therefore convinced that Nicaragua will continue on its path of reconciliation and reconstruction.

We welcome the continued support rendered to Nicaragua and its people by the international community. Germany, as the third largest bilateral donor, is one of Nicaragua's major partners in the field of economic cooperation. While in the beginning of this partnership large amounts had to be contributed towards emergency measures, today the extensive bilateral development cooperation focuses mainly on the consolidation of structural adaptation processes, the rehabilitation of social infrastructures, the promotion of private enterprises (including vocational training), agricultural development, and the protection of the environment and natural resources.

In this context, our cooperation is increasingly directed towards rural areas, focusing on poverty and its alleviation, with special attention to women. We appreciate the recognition these issues have also been accorded in the framework of the ongoing national policy dialogue.

Since 1990, Germany has made a total of DM 800 million in official development assistance available to Nicaragua. In 1995-1996 alone, DM 56 million in additional funding has been pledged. Germany also recognizes that the extremely high external debt burden used to be one of the most devastating legacies of Nicaragua's past and has considerably hampered the process of economic revival. I am therefore glad to note that the German-Nicaraguan agreement on a rescheduling of DM 1 billion of debts, reached during the course of last year, has contributed to the considerable reduction of pressure in this area noted in the report.

My Government is particularly pleased with the environmental protection measures against which some of above-mentioned debts have been offset, and it hopes that conscious and careful treatment of the environment will ultimately result in reduced vulnerability to natural disasters.

Finally, my delegation welcomes the draft resolution introduced under agenda item 36. As in previous years, we fully support its contents and we are more than glad to join the co-sponsors. With a view to the work of this General Assembly, we furthermore note with satisfaction the provisions contained in operative paragraphs 9 and 10, concerning biennial consideration of the agenda item and its consolidation with related matters under the agenda item entitled "Special economic assistance to individual countries or regions" from 1998 on.

Mr. Wibisono (Indonesia)

Let me begin by expressing, on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, our sincere appreciation to the representative of Nicaragua for his lucid and informative statement on this item. I should also like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report (A/51/263), which clearly paints a sombre picture of the current situation in Nicaragua.

After a decade of civil strife, the Government of Nicaragua has indeed made significant progress in achieving peace and national reconciliation, which, in turn, has greatly enhanced the possibility of laying solid foundations for successful economic recovery and social development. Last Sunday we were pleased to see the democratic process being implemented through the elections for President, the Legislature, local authorities and the Central American Parliament. In this regard, Indonesia was honoured to participate in the process by sending its experts as official observers of the election upon the invitation of the Government of Nicaragua. It is therefore the hope of my delegation that these elections will mark the final consolidation of democracy and national reconciliation in Nicaragua.

Looking back over the recent past, we are very much aware that the cumulative impact of natural disasters and economic crises has combined to produce an untenable situation clearly deserving concerted international support and assistance. We therefore reaffirm General Assembly resolutions 50/85 and 50/132, which reflect the long plight of the Nicaraguan people and the urgent need for the international community to support the acceleration of economic recovery and social development.

One of the most serious problems confronting Nicaragua today is that of the excessive burden of external debt. This must be vigorously addressed and its terms renegotiated if sustainability is to be achieved. At the same time, we welcome the fact that Nicaragua is one of the countries that is eligible for the joint initiative of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on debt, which is designed to relieve the debt burden of the poorest heavily indebted countries. Nicaragua's social and economic conditions, its natural vulnerability and its adverse debt-to-population ratio clearly underline the fragility of its economy and its inability to sustain its economic reconstruction and development.

For this reason, my delegation is convinced that further measures going beyond the terms of the Bretton Woods initiative are required to ensure that the country's external debt burden is reduced sufficiently to allow development to be revitalized. Only then, we believe, can its access to private investment be improved and the widespread poverty that has long plagued the Nicaraguan population be eradicated.

We are also pleased to note that various rehabilitation and reconstruction measures have already been embarked upon through the United Nations Development Programme and other United Nations agencies. And we support the medium- and long-term measures that are comprehensively covered in the Secretary-General's report. These, among others, are imperative if the continuity of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua is to be maintained and is to bear fruit.

In conclusion, Indonesia wishes to express its solidarity with the Government and the people of Nicaragua in their determined pursuit of political development and economic reconstruction. Such goals require not only collective national efforts, but also the attentive support of the international community. With this in mind, Indonesia continues its unwavering bilateral and multilateral political support for Nicaragua in its commendable attempts to achieve noble and constructive objectives.

Mr. Albín (Mexico)

My delegation wishes first of all to thank the Secretary-General for his report on international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua. The report covers the progress made in Nicaragua, reflected in greater price stability and the establishment of a framework for developing a market-oriented economy. The support lent by the international community in this area has been very important.

The report also deals with the enormous efforts made by the Nicaraguan people in recent years to make progress in national reconciliation and institution-building. However, there is still much to be done. It will be necessary to redouble the efforts made so far. In keeping with the Secretariat's report, stability in Nicaragua has continued to depend on foreign assistance. The external debt remains one of the highest in the world in per capita terms, and poverty, which has been a problem for decades, continues to affect large sectors of the population. A new phase is now being initiated in which a long-term development strategy must be designed to improve the living conditions of the population. In the establishment and organization of a favourable economic and social environment, the international community is called upon to play a decisive role through the continuing interest and support required by Nicaraguans.

This Organization is a witness to the priority my country attaches to its relations with the countries of the Central American isthmus. In this context, and following a process of restructuring and organization of the various mechanisms through which Nicaragua and Mexico developed their relations, we held last year the first meeting of the binational commission for the purpose of raising the level of dialogue and of strengthening, through an integrated approach, consultation and cooperation in the various areas of our bilateral and international agendas. At that time we initiated important cooperation projects in such crucial areas as the war on poverty, strengthening education, the struggle against drug trafficking and environmental protection. These projects have been organized within the framework of the cooperation programme between Mexico and Central America, which includes more than 1,000 cooperation activities with Nicaragua. These measures include training, transfer of technological know-how, technical application services and advisory services in the solution of specific problems, such as disease control or energy supplies in some communities.

In the area of trade, the relationship between our two countries has been based on the desire for free, fair and transparent trade to give impetus to development. In recent years total trade between Mexico and Nicaragua has doubled, and the volume continues to increase, despite the adverse financial situation faced by my country in 1995. Our efforts to conclude a free-trade treaty have included almost 20 technical meetings that led to an intensive exchange of ideas and decisions. We are moving ever closer to a favourable conclusion for both countries.

All the foregoing shows the Government of Mexico's recognition of the catalytic role played by international cooperation in the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua.

Mexico adds its voice again to the appeal to the international community and international organizations -- in particular the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank -- to continue to support the efforts to ensure the consolidation of the political, economic and social institutions and to lay the bases for sustained economic growth and sustainable development.

In conclusion, we ask the General Assembly to renew its support to Nicaragua by adopting the draft resolution now before us by consensus.

Mr. Laclaustra (Spain)

In speaking today on the agenda item entitled "International assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua: aftermath of the war and natural disasters", I would like to underscore my Government's interest in that rehabilitation and reconstruction process, as well as in the international support it has been receiving.

In this connection, I wish to emphasize here the significant progress that has been made in Nicaragua in both the political and economic fields since a resolution on this item was adopted last year, at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly.

My Government has followed with great interest the electoral process that has been carried out in Nicaragua, culminating in the elections of 20 October, which enjoyed a very high voter turn out in a noteworthy climate of peace and respect.

I would also like to call attention to the positive results shown by some of the country's macroeconomic indicators, which point to a recovery of the Nicaraguan economy, and to the significant reforms that have been carried out to liberalize the economy and make it more competitive.

Both the economic and political aspects must be translated into considerable improvements in the standard of living of the Nicaraguan people, who are the object and principal beneficiaries of the process.

In recent years Spain has attached special attention to cooperation with Nicaragua, not only bilaterally but also within the framework of the European Union and the United Nations.

Spain's bilateral cooperation with Nicaragua is expressed through joint Spanish-Nicaraguan commissions. This institutional cooperation is supplemented by Spain's emergency assistance mechanisms for Nicaragua, the aim of which is to contribute to the relief of the population at times of national disasters, such as recently occurred there.

Among the cooperation programmes being considered within the framework of the European Union is a support project for Nicaragua's National Assembly, whose competences and authority have been strengthened since the constitutional reforms of 1995. This should constitute a fundamental element in the process of strengthening democracy in that country.

With respect to the United Nations, I would like to recall my country's signing of an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the end of 1995 to establish an $11 million trust fund to finance programmes that contribute to strengthening governance in Central America, and therefore in Nicaragua.

I also wish to recall the intensive cooperation Spain has been developing, together with other Members of the United Nations and with the representatives of UNDP in Nicaragua, within the framework of the Support Group for this country. This cooperation is of proven effectiveness. It must continue, and we are committed to continuing it.

As I indicated at the beginning of my statement, Spain attaches special importance to the electoral process in Nicaragua. My country committed itself to this process on two tracks. First, we made a commitment through the participation of a prestigious Spanish firm -- with Spanish financing -- entrusted with vote-counting and data processing, as the result of an agreement signed between that firm and the Supreme Electoral Council of Nicaragua.

Secondly, we made a commitment through the dispatch of election observers, who were present during the voting. Despite certain difficulties, the election took place in a climate of moderation, which we consider very positive.

The rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua is a challenge that the country should not face alone, but rather together with the entire international community. In this connection, my Government wishes to acknowledge in this forum the efforts made by the political forces, the economic actors and, most essentially, the people of Nicaragua to move forward on this track. At the same time, we welcome this item's presence again on the General Assembly's agenda as unequivocal proof of the importance the international community attaches to it.

For all these reasons, Spain urges the Secretary-General and the United Nations system to continue to lend support and assistance to Nicaragua for the consolidation of peace and democracy and for the development of the country. Spain also wishes to reiterate its support for and continued commitment to that task.

Guided by this spirit, my Government has co-sponsored draft resolution A/51/L.3, which we hope will be adopted unanimously by the General Assembly.

Mr. Meléndez-Barahona (El Salvador)

I have the honour to participate on behalf of the Central American countries in the debate on agenda item 36, "International assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Nicaragua: aftermath of the war and natural disasters". In so doing, I wish to emphasize the importance we attach to the rehabilitation process in that brotherly country.

I first wish to point out that we fully adhere to the statement made by the Ambassador of Nicaragua, Mr. Erich Vilchez Asher.

The peoples of Central America have suffered the consequences of the structural problems that historically characterize developing countries. These problems, by their very nature and by the absence of just and equitable solutions, have been the root cause of the political, economic and social conflicts that culminated in armed conflicts in the region during the 1970s. As a result, we lost ground in the efforts to improve the standard of living of Central American societies. Those of us who experienced armed conflict were most deeply affected.

This situation in Central America was compounded by the fact that nature has not been very benign towards our peoples, whose efforts in the search for better standards of living have not infrequently met with the devastation caused by natural disasters: earthquakes, tropical storms, hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions and so forth. These have had tragic results, not only because of losses of human life, but also because of social and economic consequences that have compelled us to seek humanitarian relief assistance. These situations have absorbed resources that would have otherwise been devoted to economic and social development programmes.

Nicaragua is one of the Central American countries whose people have suffered most from these problems. It has deployed enormous efforts to promote peace, stability, reconciliation, reconstruction, economic recovery and social development. These efforts have enjoyed the solidarity and support of the United Nations system and of the international community. Both moral and material support have been extended, through international technical and financial aid and cooperation.

Nicaragua, together with the rest of Central America, has made great progress in overcoming difficulties. However, serious problems still remain whose causes have not been totally overcome, especially as regards those beyond man's control, such as natural disasters.

Central American countries view with satisfaction the programmes being developed in Nicaragua, with the support of the international community, to solve urgent development problems, particularly in the social field, especially as regards programmes that favour the most vulnerable sectors of society, which are the most deeply and directly affected by any crisis.

In this respect, we are grateful for the report of the Secretary-General (A/51/263) on agenda item 36. We unconditionally support the draft resolution in document A/51/L.3, which appeals to the United Nations system and to the donor community to supplement national efforts in Nicaragua to promote social and sustainable development, thus allowing it to move ahead to better conditions for the Nicaraguan people.

We reaffirm the need for Nicaragua to have access to sources of financing on favourable terms in order to provide incentives to economic recovery within the framework of the commitments and development strategy adopted in Central America. This should include a review of the country's debt-servicing burden. Support for and progress in political, economic, social and environmental well-being is also of benefit to the Central American region as a whole.

We have supported Nicaragua's attempts to turn from a country devastated by war and natural disasters to one in transition towards the consolidation of democracy and stability and the promotion of development. That support has been enshrined in commitments adopted at the Central American presidential summit meetings and in relevant resolutions of the United Nations. Central American cooperation with Nicaragua is also embodied and implemented through a variety of meetings held at the regional level.

We are confident that the draft resolution, of which we are a sponsor, will be adopted by consensus.

The Acting President

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/51/L.3.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/51/L.3?

The Acting President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 36?