General Assembly Session 52 meeting 51

The President

Today we are discussing an important item relating to ways and mechanisms to enhance support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments aimed at promoting and consolidating new or restored democracies. It has become increasingly clear that the recent dramatic changes in the international arena have given a powerful impetus to the global process of democratization. Since the first International Conference of Newly Restored Democracies, held at Manila in 1988, we have witnessed the emergence of a great number of countries that have fulfilled their peoples' aspirations by joining the family of States that have been following the path of freedom, justice and democracy for many decades -- or centuries.

The Managua Declaration and Plan of Action endorsed in 1994 at the second conference, the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, emphasized the need for active involvement by the United Nations system in this expanding process.

The final document of the Third International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development, held at Bucharest, reiterated the great importance of the United Nations system in helping the new or restored democracies to meet the challenges before them.

Today, in pursuance of the document's recommendation, we shall discuss new ideas and suggestions as to the enhancement of the role of the United Nations system in supporting democracy and good governance in those States, as well as providing assistance in the accomplishment of their priority tasks. I believe that placing the issue of further development of the new and restored democracies under the broad United Nations umbrella gains ever more relevance and importance in the light of the ongoing process of United Nations renewal and reform. Particular attention should be paid to methods of strengthening the mechanisms for monitoring the formation and development of those States so that specific assistance can be made promptly available and deliverable. I also believe that the deeper involvement of the United Nations in this continuous worldwide process of democratization will greatly benefit the Organization itself in its period of essential structural transformations aimed at, inter alia, further democratization of its procedures and functioning methods.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite delegations to make their constructive contribution towards forging closer cooperation between Governments and the United Nations in the field of promotion and consolidation of new and restored democracies.

I now call on the representative of Romania to introduce draft resolution A/52/L.28.

Mr. Gorita (Romania)

On the threshold of the year 2000, we have an unprecedented opportunity to live in an open world -- a world of permanent communication and interaction. Its perpetual movement cannot be stopped. Globalization cannot be assimilated to its mere economic dimension. Globalization means, above all, consecration of universal values and symbolic assets. It means broader knowledge and, consequently, better understanding and cooperation.

The world today is no longer a space of cold war, irreconcilably divided between friends and foes. The changes that are taking place require that we involve ourselves in a process of rethinking global society and inter-human relations. The political sphere can no longer be conceived as a separate space, governed by rules that are understood only by professionals and inaccessible to the majority. Governance should be understood as the best way of building togetherness -- as a set of practices aimed at uniting all the major components of society around common projects.

Effective democracy should not only allow participation in decision-making, but also lead to development and prosperity for all. Genuine development does not occur in a political vacuum. It depends on the empowerment of communities to influence decisions and to articulate demands. Development without democracy is impaired if it brings benefits only to a few elites.

That is why the assertion that democracy, development and respect for human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing is so valid. Their interaction enhances the impact on their respective societies. The Governments that foster respect for democracy and human rights and subserve development efforts to the benefit of the entire society acquire a higher profile, domestically and internationally. Many success stories in the developing world stand as proof.

The international community has started to pay greater and deeper attention to the role that democratic values can play in solving long-standing national issues and in improving the international environment. These debates are amplifying and taking a variety of forms. My country has been involved in many of them.

This year, Romania had the honour of hosting the Third International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development. The Conference enjoyed the participation of almost 80 countries and 47 non-governmental organizations from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. The political document entitled "Progress Review and Recommendations", circulated as document A/52/334, which was adopted by consensus, acknowledges the emergence of new thinking about democratic values and their potential for making democracy work in the service of development and prosperity. A comprehensive and far-reaching analysis of the democratic processes which have been taking place recently gives special value to that document. The ministers and representatives of the new or restored democracies who met in Bucharest reaffirmed their commitment to the process of democratization in their societies.

They acknowledged the relationship of interdependence and mutual reinforcement that exists between democracy, development and good governance. They concluded that democratization is a world movement based on shared values, which embraces North and South, East and West, and transcends traditional confrontational lines. The Bucharest document identified an almost universal recognition that a democratic system of government is the best model to ensure a framework of liberties for lasting solutions to political, economic and social problems. The participants admitted that the real challenge today is how to strengthen democracy through the practices of efficient government in order to promote sustainable development.

A substantial part of the Bucharest document is devoted to recommendations addressing the vital areas that are significant for the consolidation of democratic societies. These are, in the first place, guidelines for strengthening policies and principles addressed to Governments in the fields of human rights, judicial reform, corruption, organized crime, decentralization, participation in political life, elections, gender equality, civic education, accountability and transparency, media, and civil service reform. Secondly, they include recommendations related to civil society and the private sector, to donor countries and the international community, and to the United Nations system and the international financial organizations.

I will not insist on presenting these realistic and action-oriented conclusions. They are to the merit of the ministers and other Bucharest Conference participants who achieved a splendid exercise in political willingness. I am convinced that the document, entitled simply "Progress Review and Recommendations", will provide a useful benchmark in future discussions on democracy and its relationship to development.

On behalf of my Government, I would like to reiterate from this rostrum our wholehearted gratitude all the Governments and organizations that participated in, supported and made concrete and valuable contributions to the success of the Conference.

As you are aware, the Bucharest Conference is part of a series that started in Manila in 1988 and continued in Managua in 1994. This movement has given a strong momentum to the process of global and regional democratization. Although the intergovernmental conferences on democracy started quite independently from the United Nations, since 1994 the Organization has become more actively involved in this domain.

General Assembly resolution 51/31, adopted by consensus last year, asked the Secretary-General to present a report at the fifty-second session including, among other things, innovative ways and means to enable the United Nations to respond effectively and in an integrated manner to requests of Member States for assistance in the field of democratization.

Further to this resolution, the Secretary-General has submitted an excellent report, contained in document A/52/513, that focuses on policies and principles, and gives a comprehensive account of relevant recent events which are shaping the emerging framework for intergovernmental action in support of new or restored democracies.

I wish to express the satisfaction of the Romanian Government with respect to the observations and recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's report.

First, the value of the electoral assistance provided or coordinated by the United Nations is unquestionable. The potential of the United Nations in this respect should be further considered in the new international environment, where democratization efforts have become more prevalent.

Secondly, we should underline again the important role of civil society in the democratization processes. As noted in the report, the proposal of the Third International Conference that the United Nations should arrange a larger forum for representatives of non-governmental organizations to discuss democratization and the role of civil society in order to follow up on the results of the Bucharest Conference has a bearing on a recommendation on a people's millennium assembly contained in the reform package under consideration at this Assembly session. We encourage the Secretary-General to discuss those ideas further.

Thirdly, we fully agree that the peace-building and development, democratization and governance efforts of the Organization are distinct but mutually reinforcing. This underlines the importance for the United Nations system to improve its ability to cooperate and to coordinate its actions. Like the Secretary-General, we hope that the integration of more effective United Nations work on democratization and good governance into the reform process will be possible.

Fourthly, we welcome the essential conclusion of the Secretary-General that the universal principle of democracy has more practical relevance to United Nations activities now than ever before. The United Nations is expected to work with a greater unity of purpose and coherence. We are happy to ascertain the readiness of the United Nations system to form a part of the follow-up mechanism to the Third International Conference. A reformed Organization oriented to the twenty-first century should promote democratization, as it will continue to work for peace, security and development.

On a more general note, I would like to praise the format and the substance of the Secretary-General's report on item 38. The concision, vision and modernity that are features of the report augur well for the profile of the Organization in the next millennium.

Romania, in its capacity as current Chairman of the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development, has the particular privilege to submit to the General Assembly the draft resolution on agenda item 38, entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies" [A/52/L.28 and Add.1].

I am honoured to do so on behalf of the following sponsors: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Uruguay, Zambia, and my own country, Romania.

In its preamble, the draft resolution reiterates the set of principles agreed upon by the General Assembly at previous sessions. It takes note of some events relevant to the subject we are now considering that have taken place this year. The draft resolution also takes note of important new documents adopted in international forums, namely the Progress Review and Recommendations adopted at the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development and the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council.

In the operative part of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would welcome the report presented by the Secretary-General at the fifty-second session and express appreciation for the observations and recommendations contained in the report.

The decision of the Third International Conference to hold the next conference in Africa and the offer of the Government of Benin to host the Conference would both be welcomed.

The General Assembly would commend the Secretary-General, and through him the United Nations system, for the activities undertaken at the request of Governments to support the efforts to consolidate democracy.

It would recognize the important role that the Organization has to play in providing support to the efforts of Governments to achieve democratization within the context of development efforts.

The General Assembly would encourage the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the United Nations to respond effectively to the requests of Member States through support of their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization. Member States would be further encouraged to promote democratization.

The Secretary-General, Member States, the relevant specialized agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, would be invited to contribute to the follow-up process of the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies.

Finally, the General Assembly would request the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session, and would decide to include in the provisional agenda of that session the item entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies".

The draft resolution before us represents a reasonable response from the General Assembly to one of the most promising and challenging changes that distinguish the world society at present. The 80 sponsors, including my own delegation, hope that the draft resolution will be adopted without a vote, as has been the case since the first introduction of this item on the agenda of the General Assembly.

Mrs. Lucas (Luxembourg)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union -- Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia -- have aligned themselves with this statement. The associated country of Cyprus and the member of the European Free Trade Association participating in the European Economic Area, Norway, have also aligned themselves with this statement.

Respect for democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms are the three pillars of our modern societies. We welcome the fact that this decade has seen many racist, dictatorial and oppressive regimes replaced by Governments with the avowed aim of respecting the will of their people. The democratization process under way must continue until all States members of this Organization are governed according to the principles of democracy.

Democratic systems may take many forms, which are rooted in the specific conditions of their social structure. However, be they federal or unitary, presidential or parliamentary, they all embody a set of essential common values, inter alia, the freedom of citizens to express themselves through free and transparent elections, and the active development and strengthening of civil society. Civil society must ensure that values constantly change and evolve in a peaceful manner.

Democracy is also synonymous with pluralism, which nourishes the dynamic interaction of the nation's actors on a basis of mutual respect. Peoples must enjoy freedom of association and the possibility of forming political parties, and thus of playing an active part in the political life of their country.

Another key element of a democratic system is the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers. Full respect for human rights and protection of the rights of ethnic, religious or political minorities are an integral part of a democratic system, as are freedom of opinion and of the press. In a democracy, the reality of political life must be expressed in a process of dynamic interaction between the people and their representatives. The role of non-governmental organizations is particularly important in that respect.

The European Union welcomes the fact that the report of the Secretary-General [A/52/513] gives an extensive analysis of the various forms of support which the international community affords to new or restored democracies and a detailed review of the activities undertaken by the United Nations to promote and consolidate the democratization process. The report stresses that these activities cannot be implemented separately, but instead should complement the substantial efforts made by the United Nations to foster human development, inter alia by creating effective, responsible and transparent systems of government. By the same token, these activities must be integrated into United Nations peace-building and peacekeeping operations in the field.

The European Union supports and stresses the importance of United Nations efforts, inter alia, by the Electoral Assistance Division, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, to promote democratization. In that regard, it particularly wishes to commend the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in support of the democratization process.

In the past year, we have attended two international conferences on democratization and governance. The Third International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development held in Bucharest from 2 to 4 September 1997 and the UNDP International Conference on Governance for Sustainable Growth and Equity herald a new approach to international cooperation in the field of democratization.

The European Union feels that the Civil Society Forum, organized during the Bucharest Conference, is an important step towards integrating citizens and their organizations into the democratization process. In this context, we welcome the organization of regional seminars by representatives of civil society in May 1997 at Imatra in Finland and Svetogorsk in Russia, and we would like to encourage such regional initiatives.

As the Secretary-General of the United Nations noted in his report, one of the chief questions raised at the Bucharest Conference, in which 80 delegations took part, concerns methods of monitoring the progress of democratization. The European Union is following with interest the proposal to set up a specific mechanism to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions. The European Union also welcomes the decision taken at the Third International Conference to hold the next conference in an African country.

With regard to the International Conference on Governance held in New York from 28 to 30 July 1997, the European Union welcomes the fact that, for the first time, representatives of Governments and civil society were able to meet together in the General Assembly Hall. The European Union endorses the conclusions of the Conference that good governance is synonymous with governance that is effective, participatory, transparent, accountable and equitable and promotes the rule of law. The State, in close collaboration with the private sector and civil society, must lead the way with regard to good governance.

The European Union and its member States have committed themselves firmly to the promotion of democratization and the transition towards permanent and democratic systems of government. This commitment has taken a variety of forms. Thus, the Union has introduced a cooperation and development policy emphasizing positive actions to defend human rights and promote democracy. The European Union is, likewise, implementing numerous projects to support the rule of law, the transition towards democracy and the strengthening of non-governmental organizations and other institutions which seek to promote the emergence of a pluralistic society. It actively and strongly supports the activities of the Secretary-General and the specialized agencies of the United Nations to promote the democratization process.

The United Nations must establish both the durability and the universality of democratic values, while taking account of the extreme diversity of situations around the world. The institution of democratic systems is the best way to prevent conflicts and carries the promise of prosperity and the affirmation of individual values. That is why the international community must encourage and promote efforts to put these aspirations into practice through the United Nations system.

The European Union endorses the Secretary-General's recommendations concerning electoral assistance, the strengthening of civil society and the coordination of all United Nations activities in the field of democratization and governance. The European Union will continue to give active support to all these efforts.

Mr. Kasanda (Zambia)

Let me begin by thanking the Secretary-General for his report contained in document A/52/513 on "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies". The report is very informative and should go a long way towards facilitating our deliberations.

My delegation also expresses its thanks to the Permanent Representative of Romania for circulating, in document A/52/334, the "Progress Review and Recommendations" of the Third International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development, held in Bucharest, Romania, from 2 to 4 September 1997. Zambia had the privilege of being represented at that Conference, and it is the hope of my delegation that the international community will undertake concrete follow-up activities to implement its recommendations.

Mr. Kasanda (Zambia)

The question of democracy is increasingly becoming an important factor in national and international affairs. In fact, the Third International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies noted that democratization is a world movement. We are, today, seeing democracy expanding around the world, with a majority of the world's people now living under democracies.

Against this background, the need to promote efforts to encourage education for democracy and open all future conferences on democracy to all interested United Nations Member States becomes cardinal.

In paragraph 27 of his report, the Secretary-General makes an important observation:

"Democracy is not a model to be copied but a goal to be attained." [A/52/513, para. 27]

Many countries that are democratizing face diverse challenges which no single inflexible model of democracy can be used to meet. Poverty and inequality, social, religious, tribal and/or ethnic intolerance, and economic and political instability are major challenges to democracy. Meeting these challenges will depend on the peculiar circumstances of each country that is undergoing democratization.

Developing countries like mine which have regular consultations with representatives of the donor community on democracy and good governance are keenly interested in this distinction made by the Secretary-General. All too often, these consultations have tended to lose their value when donors attempt to micro-manage the process of democratization in a given country, without due respect for the peculiar circumstances of the country in question.

However, at the end of the day, all of us who are democratizing agree that basic fundamentals must be met, among them the promotion of the existence of representative government elected by the majority of the population through secret ballot, in regular periodic and genuine elections, as well as the promotion of party competition, an independent judiciary, guarantees of fundamental human rights and individual freedoms, transparency and accountability under the rule of law, a free and independent press and the growth of civil society.

My country began its democratization process in 1991. We are now in the phase of consolidating that process. In this phase, Zambia will look to the United Nations system to provide concrete assistance in various areas related to democracy, good governance and development. We are, in this regard, happy to note that the Secretary-General has registered his readiness, in paragraph 7 of his report, to provide such assistance to interested countries.

The Bucharest Conference came out with important recommendations, all of which are detailed in document A/52/334. I would, however, like to give particular emphasis to the recommendation related to the external debt problems of developing countries. As the Bucharest Conference noted, the external debt problems of developing countries continue to be a serious threat to democratization. It is critical that the international community promote enhanced debt relief for developing countries so as to improve their fiscal situation and overall development prospects. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative is a welcome development in this regard. Improvements in the form of quicker access to the Initiative and ensuring that HIPC relief is adequately funded are needed in order to make it more effective.

Related to the question of durable debt relief is the issue of official development assistance (ODA) flows to developing countries. Both bilateral and multilateral official development assistance flows to developing countries are declining. When we add this to the poor access that the export products of developing countries have to the markets of developed countries, and volatile currency markets, such a state of affairs is a recipe for making the process of democratization unstable and intolerable. Obviously, the international community does not want such an outcome. In order to promote international cooperation for democracy and development effectively, there is need to establish a new consensus on the financing of development. In this connection, my delegation can only reiterate the need to convene an international conference on the financing of development, as a matter of urgency.

Let me conclude by stating that as a sponsor of the draft resolution under this item on our agenda, my delegation hopes and expects that it will be adopted by consensus.

Mr. Eitel (Germany)

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