arasracetobeusedtocombathunger, disease, ignorance andpoverty.AP/at A/40/PV.:~ 16 (President Barney) Themarathon armsraceisasymptomoftheevilwhichthreatens lucidity and isasombrehiatusonthehumanconscience. Weareexperiencing anewscientific revolution whichismomentbymoment transforming theworldunderourveryeyes.Control overtheadvances whichoccur atdizzying speedsinstate-of-the-art sectorsofscience andtechnology hasbecome avitalmatterofsurvival. Theprogramme ofworkoftheUnitedNations inthe nextfewyearsmustcontain astrategy toprevent theworldfrombecoming fragmented intoclosedtechnological blocs;itmustplacescientific and technological knowledge attheserviceofthebasicneedsofallhumankind. Thosearethevisible problems. Butthereisanother, greater problem, one whichpermeates international relations andwhichinsidi?usly threatens all,poor andrichalike-thepoor,throughdestabilization; therich,through insecurity; andeveryone through thepossibility oftotalcollapse shouldwepersist inour posture ofimmobility. Ishouldliketoaddress theeconomic problem, whichconcentrates its virulence inthethirdworld,andinparticular inLatinAmerica. Crushed under theweightofanenormous foreign debt,thecountriesoftheregionarelivi.ng through ascenario ofseveredifficulties withdomestic repurcussions resulting in recession, unemployment, inflation, increased poverty andviolence. Ensnared ina vicious networkofeconomic factors -namely, theriseininternational interest rates,fallingpricesofcommodities andtheselectivity ofmarkets inthe developed countries -weareconfronted withacrisiscomparable onlytothatwhich assailed themarketeconomies intheearly1930s. Th€burdenofforeign debtimposes aneconomic policygearedtowards achieving tradesurpluses earmarked forinterest payments. Theinternational organizations proposepolicies involving inadequate adjustments. Thisapproach leadstoAP/at A/40/PV;,4 17 (President Sarney) recession, tounemployment andtogivingupthecapacity togrow.Suchapolicy weakenscivilian leadership, renders thesocialcrisisexplosive, threatens institutions, jeopardizes orderanJ,asaresult,constitutes athreatto democratic structures. Toaddtoourdifficulties, themarkets ofthedeveloped countries arebeingclosedtoour.exporte. Protectionist barriers are proliferating andweareunjustly accusedofunfairtradepractices. The protectionism thatissoughttoshieldtheobsolete sectorsofth~developed countries isevenconfused withthelegitimate rightofdeveloping countries to createfavourable temporary conditions fortheinstallation ofemerging industries incorporating moderntechnologies essential forsustaining growthintheexercise ofoursovereignty andindependence. Andtheparadox stemsfromthefactthatallourefforts arebeingmade precisely inanefforttotransfer foreign exchange credits totheveryquarters thatbeleaguer usanddiscriminate against us.Wearethuscaughtbetween the threatofprotectionism andthespectreofdefault. Wearedoingourutmosttocompete. Ourfirmsexportwithmeagreprofits and ourlabourforcereceives lowwages.Itissadtohavetoconfess thatourminimum wageis$50permonth. Toroundoutourdifficulties, weareobliged tomaintain atrade-balance surplus topay,withinfouryears,interest amounting toapproximately $50billion. Thatisthesituation confronting acountry whichhaspotential, whichhasa broadanddiversified rangeofexports comprising commodities andpetroleum derivatives, manufactured goods, m~chinery andevenaircraft. Onecanreadily imagine theimpactofthesefactors onothercountries lacking ouradvantages.AP/at· A/40/PV.4 18 (President sarney) Ithasbeenourtradition tohonourourforeign commitments. However, wehave theobligation toalerttheworldtothefactthattheexisting scenario mustbe changed. Itmustberestructured, foritisunfair. Andanything thatharbours thegermofinjustice or oftheabsurdsimplycannotsurvive. Brazilhasnodesiretomakeanideological issueofthematterof indebtedness, nordoesitwishittobetransformed intoasourceofconfrontation between North-South andEast-West. Bra~ilisacountryofingrained Christian and Western ideals. Webelievethatwherever freeenterprise hascollapsed, freedom itselfhaslikewise disappeared. Hencewebelieve inenhancing theworldmarket through competition, and,indenouncing thepresent order,wearenotmovedbyany political motivation. Wewishsolelyandexclusively todefendourmostsacred interests -thesacredinterests ofBrazil. Andweshallfulfilthisdutyby urgingtheinternational community tojoinusinseeking asolution. Moreover, thissolution cannotbebasedsolelyonthelawsofthemarket. AttheendoftheSecondWorldWar,thevictorious Powersunderstood thatto
**Analysis**
The text is a speech by the President of Brazil, addressing the country's economic situation and its impact on the international community. The speech highlights the challenges Brazil faces due to its foreign debt, protectionism, and the need for a more equitable international trade system. The President emphasizes the importance of science and technology in addressing the country's problems and promoting sustainable development.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade