limited. Aid to development in the form of loans, along with the c.nnditions attached to them, have simply created new and more serious difficulties vi s-a-vis the debt problem confronting the developinq countries in qeneral and the least RM./3 A/S-18/PV. 7 7 ·(Mr. Srithirath, Lao People's Democratic Republic) developed in particular. During that period, the total amount of external indebtedness increased sharply, and it now represents 60 per cent of their gross national product. Instability and a drop in the prices of commodities on the world market have had even more devastating effects en the implementation of development prog.rammes in those oountries, given the fact that in nost cases such commodities are their major exports and that they rely heavily en the incone from those comnodities in order to be able to pay for the imPOrt of essential manufactured goods and other necessary products. The various compensatory measures that have been offered by various international organs, such as the International Monetary Fund and the European Economic Commission (EEC), and decreed by sone developed countries within the context of the generalized system of preferences or the most-favoured-nation clause are of greater help to them and deserve to be broadened and strengthened. Regrettably, however, notwithstanding such supportive measures, protectionist barriers of ooth the tariff and the non-tariff type, continue to be erected by some countries, thus seriously affecting the exPOrts of the developing countries. The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is fully aware of its primary responsibility for implementation of the programme for our country's economic recovery, a programne designed chiefly to satisfy the basic needs of the poorest and most vulnerable sector of our population. Although appeals for external financial, material and technological resources have been made to friendly countries and international organizations -and I should like to take this 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by developing countries, particularly the Lao People's Democratic Republic, in implementing their development programs due to external factors such as debt, commodity price fluctuations, and protectionist barriers. The text also touches on the importance of international cooperation and support measures. Given the focus on economic development, debt, and trade, it is likely that the text belongs to a category related to economic development.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development