theirowndestiny haveledtheSouthPacific countries toearlyrecognition ofthe desirability ofco-operation witheachother.Political indep&ndence inthe Pacific, aselsewhere, isnotautomatically accompanied byeconomic self-determination, butactingtogether hasstrengthened thevoiceoftheregionin international forums. Anditcanassistintackling someoftheintractable problems arising fromsmallness, isolation andascarcity ofresources. Theisland Statesdependheavily onexternal assistance. Theinternational priceofcopraand sugarhasaprofound affectonpeople's dailylives. Somesignificant regional efforts havebeenmadeundertheauspices oftheSOuthPacific Forumtoimprove tradeaccess, shipping, telecommunications andtheknowledye andcontrol ofmarine mineral andfishing resources. ----------_._------- ---Bel/ed A/40/PV.7 71 (Mr.Palmer, NewZealand) Distant waterfishing nat~ons havebeenless re~pectful oftheregion's main resource inthepast.Thissituation isimproving, largely asaresultofthe coh~siveness ofthePacific Forumnations, andimportant multilateral negotiations withtheGovernment oftheunitedStatesonatreatyregulating fishing are currently underway. Asuccessful conclusion willmakepossible control ofpurse seineractivity withinthe20G-mile economic zonesofPacific signatories, and eliminate anareaofserious friction. NewZealand lookstotheUnitedNations and otherinternational bodiestocontinue tohelpillovercoming the"problems of econoaic security fortheverysmallislandStates, insupport oftheregion's own efforts todoso. Oneissueonwhichthecountries oftheSouthPacific areunitedisthatof racialdiscrimination. weallhavemultiracial societies; weareallcommitted to makingracialharmony thefoundation forournation-building. Itfollows thatwe arealltotally opposed tothesystematic racialdiscrimination thatispractised inSouthAfricaunderthename ~fapartheid. SincemyGovernment cametooffice lastyearwehavedemonstrated ourcommitment tothatcause: theSOuthAfricans haveclosedtheirconsulate inwellington, andaproposed rugbytourofSouth Africahasbeencancelled. AllNew~ealanders areappalled ~~:therisingtideof violence thatisthreatening toengulfSouthAfrica. TheSouthAfrican Government mustbepersuaded toinstitute thenecessary reforms beforeitistoolate.It mustbebroughttorealizethatitcannotmaintain apartheid byforce:Itmust talkunconditionally totheleaders oftheblackmajority. Itmustacceptthat racialpartnership offerstheonlyhopeforthefutureofthattormented country. Allofu~mustdOwhatever weeaninaconcerted waytoproduce thisresult. New Zealand's contacts withSOuthAfrica, whether economic orotherwis~, arenow minimal. Ineedhardlysaythatweshallreadily complywithanyadditional sanctions imposed by~heinternational community.IBCT/ed A/40/P~.1 72 (~r.Palmer, NewZealand) IIhavefocused onpractical issuesofimportan~e toourPacific neighbourhood -becauseitisinworkable solutions tothoseissuesthatthe elements lieforcontinued stableandpeaceful development intheSouthPacific. Weareawareofthelargerdimensions toalltheseprc)blems, andnf.)tablyofthe tensions thatimpedetheprosPeCt ofachieving genuine disarmament inourtime. Implicit inwhatIsaid'Ci!arlieristhatmypartoftheworldisbynomeans impressed eitherwiththespeedoftheglobaldisarmament process orwiththe failureofthenucl~ar Powerstoreachagreement onltmiting theirnuclear arsenals. IntheGeneral Assembly lastyearmyGovernment 9av~expression tothe conviction amongst NewZealanders, asamongst peoples everywhere, thatnuclear weaPOns exposetoannihilation thosewhomtheypurporttoprotectJ thateachnew development innuclear weaponry opensupamorealarming andapotentially more destabi1izing prospect thanthelast.Therearealready morethanenoughnuclear weapons todestroy usallmanytimesover.Yetthenumbergoesonincreasing. The dilemma isrecognized universally. Tocontrol thespreadofnuclear weapons and eventually toeliminate themcompletely aregoalsofthegreatest importance. Wherethosewhohavethemandthosewhodonotseemtodifferisinthesenseof urgency. AnditistotheunitedNations thatsmaller countries suchasmyo"'n mustlooktoexpress thatagonizing c(:;&lviction, whichhassorecently beenvoicp4 r.:,)t-:.;. bythevastmajority ofcountries assembled attheNon-Proliferation TreatyRe.y!ew ;:..: Conference justconcluded in~neva.Bef/ed A/40/PV.7 73 (Mr.Palmar, NewZealand) IAyearagotheSovietUnionagreedtotakeuptheofferoftheUnitedStates toresumebilateral armscontrol negotiations, withthegoalofleadingtothe c(Anplete elimin~tion ofnuclear weapons everywhere. MyGovernment greatly welcomed
**Analysis**
The text discusses the South Pacific region, highlighting the importance of cooperation among island states to address common challenges such as economic dependence on external assistance, scarcity of resources, and racial discrimination. It also touches on international issues like nuclear disarmament and the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The text seems to focus on the region's specific concerns and how they relate to global issues.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Natural resources and environment