international community insupport ofshort-term andlong-term efforts bythe African countries todealwith th~irowncrises. Wewouldalsoliketoexprebs ourconcern aboutthegrowing burdenofforeign debtsshouldered bythedeveloping countries. Thesedebtsoughttobeseeninthe lightoftheirdetrimental effects ontheeconomies ofthesecountries. Finally, Iraqsupports ~llinternational proposals urgingthedeveloped creditor countries andinternational financ!al andmonetary institutions toenter intodirectnegotiadons withdeveloping countries, withaviewtoreacl1ing afair andpermament solution totheforeign debtproblem, andthusperhaps enabling the debtorStatestoresumetheirdevelopment programmes. Mr.ChitHLAING (Burma): Allowme,firstofall,Sir,toexpress tothe delegation ofMexicothedeepest sympathy ofmydelegation forthetragicdisaster whichhasjustbefallen theircountry. Wesharetheinternational community's deep concern overandresponse tothiscatastrophe, whichhasfoundexpression inthe unanimous adoption bythisAssembly ofaresolution calling forsolidarity and support fortheGovernment andpeopleofMexico, whoarefacingthiscrisiswith determination andcourage. Thisyear'ssession oftheGeneral Assembly ~~rkstheobservance ofthe fortieth anniversary ofthefounding oftheUnf.tedNations and,accordingly, bestows aglowofdistinctive honourtothehighofficewhichAmbassador dePinias, ofSpain,holds. Permitme,onbehalfofmyselfandthedelegation ofBurma,to tenderhimourwarmandsincere congratulations onhiselection tothepresidency oftheAssembly. Weareconfident thatthewealthofexperience anddiplomatic skillwhichhebringswithhimwill,indeed, beofgreatvaluetothisAssembly,~~~------ JSM/gar AI40/J?V.13 89-90 whichismeetingatati_thatcallsforthehighest statesmanship toeffecta constructive turningpointinthehistory ofI~(leUnitedNations. 1shouldalso1iketotakethisopportun itftopaymydelegatien'stributeto ouroutgoing President, Mr.PaulLus!lka, for.bisdistinguished services tothe Assembly duringitslastsession, andforproviding muchoftheinspiration for thiscommemorative yearofour~orldOrganization. Anniversaries aretraditionally atimeforreflection and~esolution. The occasion whichwecOlllllemorate thisyearsymbolizes thecOlll'llOninterest sharedby allMemberStatesoftheUnitedNations inupholding theaspirations ofmankind, as reflected inthepurposes andprinciples oftheCharter. Wemeetatacritical juncture inthefortieth yearoftheexistence ofOUfworldOrganization. Itis coUlllOnnowadays forsometobelittle theperformance oftheUnitedNations andto question itsrelevance andcr~dibility, andtheirnumberevenincludes someofits founders. Andso,todaywhatiscalledforisasober,evenifagonizing ~ reappraisal, ratherthanmerelyanoccasion of~posing ceremonial activities. The UnitedNations surelyneedsstrongandenlightened supportifitistoweather the political andeconomi~ windsthatbatteranderodeitsstructure andfunctions, and ifitistomeetthechallenges tha·tlieahead.EMS/21 A/40/PV.l~ 91 ~"ChitHlaing, ~~) Inhisrep\?rta ofthepastfour year~theSecr~tary'~neral hasbeentryingto drivehometotheinternationsl community amess&ge con~arning hisserious anxi~~y abouttheinternatio~! situation andthechallenges facingtheworld Organization. Hence..i!)t~~ewordsoftheSecr:etarJr-General, "thefortieth anniversary oftheUnitedNations provid~s afurther oc~asion notonlytolreviewtheperformance oftheOrganization overthepastfour deca~e~ but,aboveall,toencourage arededication byMemberStatestothe principlea andpurposes oftheCharter, topromote interest intheworkofthe Organizatio,1 and<:!1pport foritsefforts, andtoreinvigorate international co-operatlon inallfieldsof~ndeavour. Therecanbelittledoubtthat,if itisgoverned bysuchanapproac::h, theobservance canhelpfurther thecause ofinternational understanding." BurmabecameaMemberoft.heUnitedNations afewmonthsafterits re-emergence asanindependent sor/',!r,ei9J1 State" Toapplyformembership inthe worldOrganization wasthenewly ind~~endent Bu~ma'sfirstactintheinternational field.Attracted byitsloftyidealism, ~~subscribed whole-heartedly tothe purposE!S andprinciples oftheCharter. Welookedfowardtoaneraofpeaceand ;ecurity, achievement andwelfare, freedom al~dignity, whicharethegoalsofthe UnitedNations forallpeoples. Ho\,'ever, th(~recordofthepast40years,withits conflicts, frustrations andmountin~ crises, hasreminded theworldthattheUnited Nationsisstillfarfromachieving theidealssonoblyenshrined inthe('.barter. LetuslookmorecloselyatwhatgivestheUnitedNationsitscurrent importance andatwhatconstitutes itslimitations. Notwithstanding its imperfections, thereisnothing moreillustrative oftherelevance andappealof theUnitedNations thantherecordofitsexpanding membership andtheinc~easing scopeofitsactivities. ThefactthattheOrganization, whichstarted withEMS/21 Al4C/pv.13 ~2 (Mr.ChitBla1n9, Blurma)I
**Analysis**
The text discusses international cooperation and the role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges, particularly in the context of foreign debt and economic development. It also touches on the importance of the UN's founding anniversary and the need for member states to recommit to its principles and purposes.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief