and environmental deqradation have not yet found an equitable and comprehensive solution, and they still constitute a painful burden for many countries and their peoples, especially the developing countries and others in an analaqous situation. One way or another, those issues also affect -through the intricate network of international links -an interdependent and indivisible world economy and the well-being of all without exception. Persistent imbalances, especially amonq the economies of developed countries, have had a neqative impact on international trade and financial flows, contributing to the increased net outflow of resources from the developing countries. As the report of the Secretary-General states, the negative net transfer from developing countries towards the world's richest economies has increased over the period 1984 to 1989 to about $180 billion. Mounting barriers to the economic qrowth of Eastern and Central Europe, of systemic origin and more often than not generated by the excessive debt burden, in conjunction with a hiqhly unsatisfactory export performance, have hamPered the integration of that reqion into the world economy. The painful adjustment efforts undertaken by a qrowing number of States have not encountered a sufficiently supportive stance from their developed partners, and the external economic environment still leaves much to be desired. RH/6 A/S-18/PV. 7 22 (Mr. Makarczyk, Poland) Those are some of the general negative characteristics of the last decade, the 1980s, which we note with rising concern as a decade lost for development for so many developinq countries. l'e fully concur with the Secretary-General when he says in his report that "The negative trends in the world economy described above are likely to persist in the years ahead unless decisive renedial stepS are taken promptly, both nationally and internationally." (A/AC~233/5;, p~ 14) The most acute problem, which concerns not only the developinq countries, is external indebtedness. This question, in our opinion, should not treated in 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic situation of developing countries, highlighting issues such as environmental degradation, external debt, and trade imbalances. It also mentions the impact of these issues on international trade and the world economy. The text does not mention natural resources, agriculture, industry, transport, health, education, employment, humanitarian aid, or culture.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade