have appreciably improved international relations. Africa, for its part, has just celebrated two major events -the release of one of its most famous sons, Nelson Mandela, and Namibia's accession to independence. In that connection, I am very happy to pay tribute to the South West Africa People's Orqanization which, under the wise and enliqhtened leadership of President Sam Nujoma, mobilized the entire people aqainst foreiqn occuPation and apartheid. This is an opportune moment to welcome the new independent State of Namibia as a Member of our Orqanization. Throuqh me, Mali would 1 ike to assure that country of its support and solidarity. Over the years, promotinq and strengtheninq the economic and social develoPment of peoples has always been one of this Orqanization's main concerns. For the past 30 years, the community of nations has elaborated development JB/3 A/S-18/PV. 5 3 (Mr. Traore, Mali) strategies for development decades in order to translate that objective into reality. As though to demonstrate that those strategies have not always been successful, being founded on inadequate nodels and systems of economic relations, the developing countries tried to promote and establish a new international economic order that would be more just and more equitable. The situation is now clear -the international community continues to elaborate development decades, while the more just and more equitable new international economic order remains remote. The persistent world economic crisis has made the economies of the developing countries so fragile that the 1980s have come to be known as "the lost development decade". That stagnation -not to say that economic and social retrogression -is particularly apParent in the least developed countries. It is to be hoped that the United Nations Conference to be held next September at Paris will help to find appropriate ways and means of ensuring those countries' actual economic recovery. 
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the economic development of developing countries, specifically the struggles and challenges they face in achieving economic recovery and promoting sustainable development. The text also touches on international relations, the role of the United Nations, and the need for a more just and equitable international economic order.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade