Jamaicaispleased tohaveparticipated intheConference, muchofthesuccess ofwhichwasduetotheeffortsoftheGovernment ofKenya. Theadoption ofthe Forward LookingStrategies wasanotable achievement, andweplaceparticular emphasis ontheimplementation oftheprogrammes totheyear2000foradvancing the statusofwomenandfortheirfullintegration.MLG/emv A/40/PV.27 36 .. .. ..(Mr.Harding, Jamaica) Aspartofthecelebrations forInterl)ational YouthYear,Jamaica playedhost toaYouthFestival andInternational YouthConference whichissuedasignificant declaration. Inreflecting ontheachievements oftheUnitedNations overthepast 40years,oneaccanplishment whichstandsout,andoneinwhichJamaica takes special prideinbeingassociated with,istheconclusion oftheUnitedNations Convention ontheLawoftheSeasignedatMontego Bayon10December 1982. Iam happytoreportthat,ontheclosing dateforsignature lastDecember, the Convention had159signatories, aclearandunmistakable indication ofthebroad supportitenjoysintheinternational community. ThePreparatory Commission, whichhastheresponsibility forimplementation of theConvention, heldtwomeetings duringtheyear,andwearesatisfied thatitis makingprogress incarrying outitsmandate. Butwemustnotewithconcern that, undernational legislation, licences arebeingissuedwhichpurport togrant exploitation rightstopartsoftheinternational sea-bed area.Thisamounts toa directchallenge tothemandate giventothePreparatory Commission andadefiance ofthewilloftheinternational community andistotally unacceptable. Atits Geneva meeting thePreparatory Commission adopted adeclaration inwhichit reaffirmed thattheonlyregimefortheexploitation oftheareaanditsresources isthatestablished bytheUnitedNations Convention ontheLawoftheSea,and rejected anyclaim,agreement oractionincompatible withtheConvention asabasis forcreating legalrightstotheinternational sea-bed areawhichisthecommon heritage ofmankind. WeonceagainurgeMemberStates whohavenotyetdonesoto ratifytheConvention asatangible affirmation oftheirsupport forit. FortheUnitedNations, thefutureholdsgreatchallenges, andthepriceof inaction orfailure isfrighteningly high.Indisarmament, inpeaceandsecurity, ininternational economic co-operation, inthefieldofhumanrights, inthecareMLG/emv A/40/PV.27 37 (Mr.Barding, Jamaica) oftheenvironment, inalltheseareasandothers, wehaveanuncanpromising obligation toourselves andtofutureinhabitants ofthisplanet. Thosewho emphasize theshortcomings oftheunitedNations andwhodisregard itsachievements shouldbemadetoreco~.dze thattherecanbenoturning back.Thebesthopefor mankind istopersevere inthesearchforsolutions through theinstitutions of. multilateral co-operation, forthecommon bondofhumanity transcends thedivisions amongstates. Mr.BARRQtl(Belize): Onthehistoricoccasion ofthisfortiethsession oftheGeneral Assembly, wehailthefactthatmankind hasendured. Wehave survived intactthrough thesometimes uncomfortable period between theendofthe lastWorldWarandthethreatofalater,morecompletedestruction. MuchofthecreditgoestothisOrganization, andmuchtothesuccess ofthe deliberative mechanisms structured withinthesystemoftheunitedNations and enshrined initsCharter, mechanisms whichhaveinstitutionalized andunderseored theuniversal recognition ofthecontinuing needforthenations ofplanetearthto livetogether insomesemblance ofcivilized behaviour. Tobesure,thesuccess oftheunitedNationshasbeenlimited,fortheUnited Nations hasoeenanimperfect instrument inanuncertain world,buttheveryfact ofoursurvival isacauseforcelebration. Belizetherefore joinstherestofthe communityinrecording itsappreciation oftheeffortsofthisOrganization in helping towardofftheultimate destruction ofhumanity, whichtheawesome elements ofourtec:hnology havemadesofrighteninglypossible. Wecongratulate you,Mr.President, 00yourunanimous election tothe presidency ofthefortieth session oftheGeneral Assembly, infullconfidence that thebrilliant recordasstatesman andconciliator thatyoubringtothishigh officewillbeplacedatourdisposal duringthecomingmonths. Foryourpredecessor, Belize's greatfriend, PaulLusaka, wehavethehighestMLG/ellV A/40/PV.27 38 (Mr.Barrow, Belize) wordsofpraiseforbisinspired leadership ofthethirty-ninth sessionofthe General Asselllbly, andforthemannerinwhichheconducted thedeliberations of thisbodyduringhistermofoffice. Wewishhimwellinwhatmustsurelycontinue tobeadistinguished careerintheservice ofhiscountry, Zambia, andofthe widerinternational CODl1llunity• Sincethelastsession oftheGeneral Assembly, thepeopleofBelizehave exercised theirdemocratic righttochooseanother visionofwhattheirfuture shouldbe.Theybavechosengrowthinsteadofstagnation; expansion, instead of contraction; hope,insteadofdespair. TheyhavechosentheunitedDemcratic Party,undertheleadership ofPrimeMinister ManuelEsquivel, toleadBelizeas
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement made by a representative of Jamaica or Belize at the United Nations General Assembly. The speaker discusses various international issues, including the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the importance of multilateral cooperation, and the challenges facing the organization. The speech also touches on the themes of international security, disarmament, and human rights.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief