makesucnanappeal. uruguay wasoneofthefirstcountriestoratif}'the International Covenants onhumanrightsandoneofthefewtoacceptthecompetence oftheCommittee tolookintothecomplaints ofindividuals whohacbeenvictims of theirviolation. Moreover, uruguay hasnotonlyratified theInternational Convention ontheElimination ofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination, butwasthe firststatetoacceptthecompetence oftherelevant Committee.MU/7 A/40/PV.6 12 (President Sanguinetti) Allofus~i10,inonewayoranother, tookpartinthetransition from authoritarianism todemocracy knowwhatsacrifices, patience anddedication were necessary toensurethatsuchatransition tookplacepeacefully. But,greatas theeffortdemanded bytherestoration ofdemocracy mayhavebeen,itwasno greater thanthatwhichitsmaintenance isnowrequiring fromus. Democracy isafragile flower; wehaveampleandalltoofrequent proofofits fragile nature.Itonlygrowsandsurvives intherightsoilandtheright climate. Agenuine democracy basedonrespect fortheindividual andonthe periodical, freeadviceofthepeoplecanbepreserved onlywithinaneconomic context thatallowsitscitizens toprovide fortheirbasicmaterial andspiritual needs. Inotherwords,t.llecloselinkbetween democracy andeconomic development mustberecognized. Whenthiscondition isnotfulfilled andpoverty and unemployment prevail, violence emerges andisunleashed, thesowersofdisorder takeadvantage ofthefertilesoil,thefabricofsocietydisintegrates and,inthe international sphere,political loyalties becomeerratic. Thisdoesnotmeanthatweinanywaydenytheformaloperation ofdemocracy, whichisalwaysasubstantial guarantee thatrightswillberespected, but, inasmuch astheformaloperation ofdemocracy isanecessary condition ofthe existence ofsuchrights,itisnotsufficient toensureitsstability. Itisour dutytoensurethatourpeoplecanenjoythebasicconditions forgrowthand development, notonlyforreasonsofhonour-sinceitplacesitstrustinusand wemustcomplywithitswill-orforhumanitarian motives alone-considering, as wedo,thattheassurance ofafulllifeisafundamental right-butalsobecause wemustensurepeace,sincewelovelifeandcastinourlotwithit."Ahungry people," saidSeneca, "doesnotlistentoreason, isnotpacified byjustice, does notyieldtoentreaties."M4H/7 A/40/PV.6 13 (President sanguinetti) Thestability ofdemocratic institutions isseriously threatened inmany deveoloping countries. Thethreatisreal,graveandcurrent. Wewhoare responsible forsteering thedestinyofthosecountries areconscious ofthe gravityofthesituation andofthefactthatwehavetomakeenormous efforts in termsofworkandausterity. Wecannotignorethefactthat,inordertocorrect thisalarming situation, wemustrelyonourselves anduseourownresources. Letusnotdeceive ourselves~ thestrength thatwillenableustosurmount theobstacles toourdevel;;:)pment is alsotobefoundaboveallwithinourselves. Avigorous andboldattitude onthe partofbothourpUblicandourprivate sectorsisnecessary todriv~andguide thisstrength andmobilize theavailable resources. Ifuruguay andLatinAmerica asawholewishtodealwiththepresent situation speedily theymustmakeanunprecedented effortinwhichtheoverall consensus oncertain fundamental problems musttakepriority overdomestic contradictions, divisive quarrels orsterile ideological disputes. However, wefUllyrealizethatourefforts, although indispensable, arenot enough. Itisourfatetoliveinaworldinwhichinternational relations are besetbyunprecedented difficulties. Oureconomies areaffected byexternal factorsthatarebeyondourcontrol. Interest rates,whicharestillhigh, together withfalling pricesforourexportproducts createsituations thatputa stranglehold onourbalanceofpayments. Inaddition, wecarrytheburdenofour foreign debt,theservicing ofwhich,inpresent circumstances holdsbackany dynamic trendinoureconomies. Thecountries ofLatinAmerica facean unprecedented situation arising fromtheastronomical dimensions oftheirdebts. Theyarethuscaughtinaspiralling process, inwhicheachturnmakesthe possibility ofrepayment moreremote. , ,MB/7 A/40/PV.6 14 (president Sanguinetti) Howhavewereached suchasituation? Thereisnoneedtorepeatthehistory oftheeconomic misadventures ofthedevelcping countries~ buthereintheGeneral Assembly wemustonceagainpointou.tsomething whichatthisjuncture isobvious~ andthatlathatthecreditor countriesarealsoresponsible forthedisastrous situation afflicting thedebtorcountries andthatalargepartofthe responsibility foritssolution restswiththem. Itisshortsighted andinsensitive tobelieve thattheonlyfactors thathave placedthedebtordeveloping countries inthisvertiginous spiralofdebtthat generates further debtarelackofresponsibility onthepartofthosecountries ~ theirpooradministration andtheirlackofforesight. Weare~acedwitha situation thatisimbuedwithtragic contr.adictions~ nottheleastofwhichisthat thecreditor institutions andcountries thatdemandpaymentofthedebtandits interest arethesameones that~withtheirprotectionist policies, ~Aeir
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement from the President of Uruguay, discussing the challenges of maintaining democracy and economic development in the country and the region. The President highlights the importance of economic development, the impact of poverty and unemployment on democracy, and the need for international cooperation to address the debt crisis affecting many developing countries.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade