General Assembly Session 53 meeting 38

The Acting President

I give the floor to the representative of Guatemala to introduce draft resolution A/53/L.3.

Mr. Estévez López (Guatemala)

It is my honour on behalf of its 32 sponsors to introduce draft resolution A/53/L.3, entitled "Observer status for the Association of Caribbean States in the General Assembly".

Mr. Estévez López (Guatemala)

The original sponsors of this draft resolution are the 25 member States of the Association -- all of which belong the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States -- as well as France, an associate member, and the Netherlands, which participates as an observer in the activities of the Association that are of particular interest to it. The members of the Association are extremely grateful to France and to the Netherlands for their sponsorship. They are also grateful to the most recent sponsors of the draft resolution, namely, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Italy and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Three of those States -- Canada, India and Italy -- have observer status in the Association.

In decision 49/426 of December 1994, the General Assembly recognized the appropriateness of granting observer status in the Assembly to,

"those intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly".

The explanatory memorandum that is annexed to document A/53/143, which was presented to the Assembly last July, outlined the reasons why the activities of the Association of Caribbean States, an intergovernmental organization, fully meet this criterion. That memorandum also indicated that the adoption of the draft resolution included in document A/53/143 as annex II, which I am honoured to introduce today, would be beneficial to the Association and therefore to the Assembly, which promotes goals that coincide largely with those of the Association.

In fact, the Convention Establishing the Association of Caribbean States, which entered into force on 4 August 1995, states in article III, paragraph 1:

"The Association is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action, whose purpose is to identify and promote the implementation of policies and programmes designed to:

(a) harness, utilise and develop the collective capabilities of the Caribbean Region to achieve sustained cultural, economic, social, scientific and technological advancement;

(b) develop the potential of the Caribbean Sea through interaction among Member States and with third parties;

(c) promote an enhanced economic space for trade and investment with opportunities for cooperation and concerted action, in order to increase the benefits which accrue to the peoples of the Caribbean from their resources and assets, including the Caribbean Sea;

(d) establish, consolidate and augment, as appropriate, institutional structures and cooperative arrangements responsive to the various cultural identities, developmental needs and normative systems within the region."

For all these reasons, it seems to us that it would be excessive and unnecessary for us to try the patience of the Assembly by dwelling further on the appropriateness of the Assembly's adopting the draft resolution before us. I will add, however, that the draft resolution is self-explanatory and that its operative part is identical to those of earlier resolutions through which the General Assembly granted observer status to other intergovernmental organizations.

I will therefore conclude by expressing the hope that the draft resolution will be adopted without a vote. I would also like to express the appreciation of its sponsors to all the members that support it.

Mr. Singh (India)

I deem it an honour to speak on the agenda item concerning the granting of observer status to the Association of Caribbean States in the General Assembly.

Relations between India and the countries of the Caribbean region go well back into history. Strengthened by a shared historical and cultural experience, these relations are poised for a new level of development, reflecting the common aspirations of our countries and peoples.

I had the privilege of visiting some countries of the region in 1991 as Minister of State for External Affairs. The warmth of the people and the extensive potentialities for intensified cooperation between India and the Caribbean countries that I observed during that visit left an indelible impression on me. My presence here today in many ways reflects this personal attachment.

India enjoys extensive and wide-ranging bilateral cooperation with all countries of the Association of Caribbean States. We have therefore maintained close links with it since its establishment on 4 August 1995. As an observer, we have regularly participated in its meetings and are in the process of formalizing an agreement for cooperation with its member countries through the Association, in addition to bilateral cooperation agreements. We look forward, through that agreement, to an opportunity to share and to assist, but also to learn.

We have been distressed by the havoc wrought by hurricane Georges on some of the countries of the Association of Caribbean States. We have provided some immediate assistance and will endeavour to do more through the provision of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. We trust that with the support of the international community, those countries that have borne the brunt of hurricane Georges will soon recover.

The aims of the Association of Caribbean States, which seeks to utilize the potential of the region for the economic and social development of all its constituents, are exemplary. India, along with other countries of our region, has been engaged in a similar venture in the context of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. We view the regional organizations as the building blocks of a new compact of South-South cooperation for the economic prosperity and social welfare of all.

We are convinced that greater cooperation between the Association of Caribbean States and the United Nations would be beneficial to all Member States, enabling us to share each other's experience and enlarge our mutually beneficial cooperation. We are conscious of the enormous capacities available in the Caribbean countries. The granting of observer status to the Association would no doubt lead to a rewarding relationship. We therefore commend the draft resolution submitted by Guatemala for adoption by the Assembly.

Mr. Fulci (Italy)

Italy is very glad to co-sponsor the draft resolution aimed at granting observer status in the General Assembly to the Association of Caribbean States. Through this draft resolution the international community will show once again its awareness of the characteristics and special needs of the Caribbean States; it will express its appreciation for their extremely valuable role; and it will help foster an even closer relationship between them and the United Nations.

My country is proud of the excellent relations it enjoys with all of the Caribbean countries. In concrete terms, we are engaged in numerous initiatives of economic, technical and financial cooperation, both bilateral and multilateral. The closeness between Italy and the Caribbean States stems from the geographic, environmental and historical characteristics that we share. The Italian people, who live in a land with almost 5,000 kilometres of coastline and countless islands and archipelagos, are no strangers to the problems and difficulties faced by small island and coastal States, including, of course, natural disasters.

Having common problems also means that we have many ideas and experiences and a great deal of know-how and expertise to share in helping each other. This is one of the main reasons why Italy has actively promoted cooperation and partnership with the Alliance of Small Island States since its very inception. I wish to underline that we have contributed with deeds, and not simply with words, to the follow-up of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, in line with the historic Barbados Declaration of 1994. The international community as a whole should share and take stock of the invaluable experience that the small island States have accrued in many sectors.

This year my country, Italy, became the fifth largest contributor to the United Nations regular budget, reflecting its new position as the fifth largest producer of wealth in the world. Many Italian companies are involved in the building or management of high-quality tourist structures, cruise ship services and air transportation in the Caribbean. Last but not least, more and more Italian tourists are attracted by the extraordinary, exotic beauty of these lands and by the unique kindness and warm hospitality of their peoples.

Italy, which has long-standing ties of friendship and culture with the Caribbean States, will continue to follow this area with great attention and will continue to be as -- if not more -- supportive of its needs in the future as it has been in the past.

Here at the United Nations in particular, our friendship has also developed through common battles -- battles we have fought together for democracy and against privilege, for transparency and against closed doors, for participation and against exclusion.

In conclusion, Italy welcomes the developments of the past three years, which have strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Caribbean States. This is a particularly successful example of collaboration with a regional organization and an exemplary partnership which now fully deserves proper recognition and appreciation by the General Assembly.

Mr. Valdivieso (Colombia)

The Caribbean is a cultural, political and economic entity of which my country is a part for reasons both constitutional and historical. These reasons orient Colombia's foreign policy towards the goal of integration and give it a fundamental interest in the development of relations with the countries of the Caribbean basin.

Colombia believes in the strengthening of the Association of Caribbean States as a body for economic integration and political coordination that ensures the balanced social and cultural development of our peoples. In this respect, the Association of Caribbean States has proved to be one of the best instruments for promoting the implementation of policies geared towards developing the collective capabilities of the Caribbean to achieve sustained social, cultural, economic, scientific and technological progress in the region.

Colombia has maintained a proactive and consistent policy in all of the Association's Committees, in particular in the Committee on Budget and Administration and also in the Committee on Trade Development and External Relations, which it chairs.

My country is the depositary State for ratifications of the agreement establishing the Association, which was signed in Cartagena de Indias in July 1994. Colombia also had the privilege of hosting the third meeting of the Association's Ministerial Council, held in November 1997, also in Cartagena, whose outcome included the approval of a plan for a tourism zone in the Caribbean, which we welcome and which will be taken up at the next ministerial meeting.

We have been involved with the Association since the process of defining its scope began, and we have made every effort to promote its institutional development. That is why we support the participation, with observer status, of the Association of Caribbean States in the framework of the United Nations.

We are convinced that in addition to strengthening dialogue among our States, the Association itself will gain new vigour as a mechanism for political cooperation. Such a mechanism is vitally needed to represent the common interests of our region at the international level and to work more closely with the United Nations system towards the shared goal of developing programmes to improve the standard of living of the countries of the region.

My country is pleased to support, and is co-sponsoring, the draft resolution contained in document A/53/L.3 on the granting of observer status to the Association of Caribbean States in the General Assembly, which was introduced today by the delegation of Guatemala.

Mr. Insanally (Guyana)

Created in August 1995, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is, by comparison with other regional institutions, a relatively new forum. Despite its brief existence, however, it has already demonstrated its great potential for promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action among its membership to develop the countries and peoples that it represents.

The Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action which were agreed upon at the Association's first summit meeting held three years ago in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, identified three main sectors of cooperation, namely, trade, tourism and transport. In so doing, our leaders hoped to explore more fully the abundant resources of the Caribbean Sea, a sea that separates us geographically but at the same time joins us together through a common history, culture and interests.

Over the years we in the Caribbean have learned to appreciate the benefits of working together to maximize our strength and to fulfil our shared aspirations. As part of a widening network of agencies, the ACS has created expanded opportunities for our States to engage in functional cooperation. In addition to the three T's -- trade, tourism and transport -- the Association also serves to intensify our efforts in such vital fields as education, health, the environment and natural-disaster preparedness.

To achieve its full potential, however, the Association of Caribbean States must be drawn into cooperation with the wider United Nations system. As provided for in Chapter VIII of the Charter, the symbiotic relationship between the world Organization and regional arrangements can boost the efficiency and effectiveness of international programmes. The record has shown that, with proper coordination, partnerships among complementary organizations can be of considerable advantage for all participants and all States.

Persuaded of this mutual benefit, the Caribbean Community States, which constitute 14 of the 25 members of the ACS, wish to fully support the Association's request for observer status in this Assembly. On their behalf, therefore, I would like to join others who have spoken this morning to urge the unanimous adoption of draft resolution A/53/L.3 as a first step towards the proposed partnership.

Mr. Dausá Céspedes (Cuba)

It is an honour for me to address the Assembly in support of the draft resolution on granting observer status for the Association of Caribbean States in the General Assembly.

We are addressing this issue because of the links of friendship and solidarity that have historically tied the people of Cuba to the peoples of the Association of Caribbean States. The establishment of the Association of Caribbean States was not only a historic event for its member States but also a milestone for all of us who, with legitimate pride, predicted that this would be a great success in the process of regional integration to which we are all committed. Important international conferences on cooperation for development, sustainable development and trade and development have enjoyed the invaluable participation and support of the member countries of the Association.

Cuba feels honoured to participate in this debate. We are convinced that the Association of Caribbean States can and must contribute to the multilateral debate and to the progress of the United Nations. My country has an active presence and a high degree of interest in all the processes and negotiations taking place within the framework of the Association. Cuba has been honoured to organize a number of meetings of the Association of Caribbean States.

For many reasons, as sacred and long-lived as our shared roots, Cuba supports this draft resolution. We are convinced -- because we have seen proof -- that the spirit that unites the Association of Caribbean States will undoubtedly contribute to our shared progress in the quest for future peace, justice and well-being for all the peoples of the world.

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/53/L.3

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft resolution?

The Acting President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 159?