tidilydivorced fromeconomic andpolitical issues, inparticular whentheconflict itselfisconceived inlegal/moral terms. Asweconclude thisforty-fourth session, wearemindful thatthe 245resolutions andassociated decisions takenaregearedtowards specific issues andprecise purposes. Wearemindful toothatconsensus doesnotnecessarily translate into"democracy inaction". Whenallissaidanddone,consensus is meaningless ifidentified Objectives arenotcrystallized through effective implementation intotangible results. Itistherefore vitalthatdelegations carry thismomentum ofvision, consensus andcourage intoandwellbeyondtheforty-fifth session. Itwouldbemostremissofmetoclosethissession without citingforthe recordthediligent assistance oftheVice-Presidents oftheGeneral Assembly. One ma~inparticular, theAmbassador ofAntigua andBarbuda, mydearfriend Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryr.,~--· "'r JVM/9 A/44/PV.IOO 33 (ThePresident) Theclosure oftheforty-fourth session caninnowaybeconstrued asl!work done";muchunfinished business remains toconfront theforty-fifth session. The Palestinians continue toexpectanddemandtheirownsovereign State,asdothe peopleofWestern Sahara. Thepeoples ofLiberia andElSalvador deserve tolive inpeaceandsecurity. Itisuponsuchdelicate tasksthatourcollective futureisanchored. Again IquoteDagHammarskjold, whoonceenjoined that "ataskbecomes adutythemomentyoususpectittobeanessential partof thatintegrity whichaloneentitles amanorwomantoassumeresponsibility". Thechallenge tokeepsightofthewoodinspiteofthetreesisanenormous one.Theresponsibility fordefending ourcollective interests effectively is yoursalone. Failure cannotandmustneverbecontemplated. CLOSURE OFTHEFORTY-FOURTH SESSION ThePRESIDENT: Inowhavethehonourtodeclare theforty-fou~th session oftheUnitedNations General Assembly closed. MayyourGodbewi~hyouatall times. Themeeting roseat5.30p.m. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryJVM/9 A/44/PV.IOO 32 (ThePresident)-----_.._---- -~-;,-"..,...".~---,------, Mr.LionelBurst,hasbeenunflagging inhisefforts todischarge this responsibility. TuhimIoweadebtofgratitude. TheChairmen oftheMain Committees andthevarious Chairmen oftherespective regional groupshavebeen generous withtheiradviceandsupport duringthepastyear.Toallthese colleagues Ioweconsiderable gratitude. Iwishalsotoexpress myprofound appreciation tomyowncountry; Nigeria, toitsrepresentative, Ibrahim Gambari, andhisstaff,andtotheAfrican Groupfortheprivilege ofpresiding overthe forty-fourth session oftheGeneral Assembly. Ithasbeenaverygreat.honourtoworksoclosely withthatuntiring champion ofpeace,theSecretary-General, Mr.JavierPerezdeCuellar, whoserecentefforts intheMiddleEastwereentirely inkeeping withhisexemplary andunparalleled recordforempathy, initiative, discretion andforesight inthepursuit ofpeaceful endeavours. TheUnder-Secretary-General forGeneral Assembly Affairs, Mr.RonSpiers, hasbeenandIamsurewillcontinue tobeatowerofstrength who quietly buteffectively facilitated all.Somanyothers, onthesceneandbehind it,including mypresidential andpersonal staff,havediligently ~iled ~his delicate negotiating machinery. Anysuccess attributed tothefor~y-fourth session mustinnosmallmeasure besharedwiththem. Andnowyou a~l,distinguished colleagues, generously facilitated the effective implementation ofprocedural innovations designed toenhance the effectiveness ofourwork.Indischarging theseandotherdutiesasPresident of thisforty-fourth session, Ihaveneglected, perhaps predictably, toplease everyone allofthetime.Suchashortcoming hashowever beenmademorepalatable notonlythrough theunderstanding, civility andencouragement ofmycolleagues, butalsointheknowledge thatmyactions wereatalltimesbasedonan understanding ofthecollective interest asdefined anddelimited byourtimes. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a closing statement of a United Nations General Assembly session, focusing on the importance of consensus, effective implementation, and responsibility. It mentions various international issues and crises, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Western Sahara, Liberia, and El Salvador, without delving into specific details. The tone is diplomatic, emphasizing the need for collective action and cooperation.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations