whatappears tobeagrowing tendency amongsomeofthemostpowerful membersof theinternational community toresilefromthecommitment tomultilateralism which istheveryfoundation uponwhichtheUnitedNationsrests. Thesignsaremanyand ominous: hesitancy onthepartofsomedeveloped Statestoaccedetothe Convention ontheLawoftheSeadespiteitspotential forenormous benefits not onlyforsmallStateslikethoseintheCaribbean butindeedforallmankind~ the decision ofsomegovernments towithdraw fromtheUnitedNations Educational, SCientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO)J thefailureoftheinternational community tomatchtheirstatedcommitment totheUnitedNations Development Programme (UNDP)withtherequired levelofpledges andcontributionsJ the Willingness, orindeedthedetermination insomequarters, towitness thedemiseof theUnitedNationsInstitute forTraining andResearch (UNITAR) -aninstitution thathasservedandcontinues toservesmalldeveloping countries withcreditin theareasoftraining andresearch.JSM/MO A/40/PV.2l 71 (Mr.Barrow, Barbados) ...A..ClmdAd tha.~i~is 6:"------ ----- necessary forinstitutions toadapttochanging timesinordertocarryouttheir mandates effectively, andtheinternational community shouldperiodically initiate reviews ofallofthemultilateral. institutions whichserveit.Itisonething, however, toundertake anexamination andd~.agnosean illness, butquiteanother to administer apotion, theresultofwhichislikelytobedeath. ThenthereistheNortb-Southdialogue. Discussionsandconsultationshaveso farbeendisappointing. Thisisdueilllargemeasures tothelackofgenuine willingness andhonest commitment onthepartofsomegovernments tofindan acceptable approach toredressing theinequities intheinternational economic system. Wecanonlyhopeth,,\trecentefforts bytherichest nations tosolve problems amongthemselves willresultinagreater appreciation ofourdifficultie~ andtheneedforanewinternational economic order. Oneofthemoststriking ofthephenomena -orsymptoms, ifyoulike-ofwhat Imightcallthenewinternational malaise iswhatisknownas"graduation". It refers,asmembers oftheAssembly know,totheprocess bywhichcountries that havereached acertain pointintheirdevelopment arecalled upontoshoulder a proportionately greater responsibility forthatdevelopment. Nothing wouldappeartobemorereasonable. Thereisnotacountry represented inthisOrganization whichwouldnotWillingly, indeedjoyfully, welcomeitsownevolution towards self-sustained development. Buttheproblem isthatthis"admirable principle" isnowbeingapplied according toasetofcrudearithmetic formulae, invented andapplied unilaterally, ratherinthemanneroftheinfamous Procrustes, whostretched orbrokethelimbs ofhisgueststofitthemtothelengthofhisbed.Thus,regardless ofthe paucity ofacountry's natural resources, regardless ofthefragility ofitsJSMAto A/40/PV.2l 72 (Kr.Barrow, Barbados) economy, anycountry thatmakesthemistakeofmanaging itsaffairs withamodicum ofprudence isingravedangerofbeing ·graduated~. Inpractical termsthismeansthatitisexcluded fromaccesstomostformsof concessional financial aid,eventhoughitstotalbudgetmaybelessthanthatofa largedepartment inametropolitan city.Itbespeaks aninsensitivity toreality thatisunworthy ofourinternational fraternity. Butwhatisperhaps themostimportant featureofthispolicyofgraduation basedontheautomatic application ofanarbitrary formula istheimplied suggestionthatwhenever aStateisseentoriseabovethel~velofitsbarest minimumitshouldberepresssed andthusdiscouraged fromaspiring tobecomea donorratherthanarecipient. Ashasbeenmadeclearbymanyofthespeakers whopreceded meinthisdebate, theinternational community isfacedwithamajorcrisisrelating tothemassive debtwhichisowedbydeveloping countries toinstitutions, bothpublicand private,inthedeveloped countries.Thereisagrowingconsensus thatthevery natureoftheproblem transcends therealmofsimpleprof.it-and-loss accounting. Theideaofdefault offends manygovernments, including myown,despite therole whichdefault hasplayedinthegrowthofanumberofcountries nowamongthe world'swealthiest. Itisourfearthatshouldthedeveloped countries nothearken tothepleasof their poo~erneighboui:'s, ii'iHiai:1ves nothitherto contemplated maybetakenby thosewhobecomedesperate. Whatsomeinthedeveloping worldmay,withgood reason,interpret asactsofeconomic aggression couldleadtoactsofeconomic retaliation, andtoacycleofbehaviour whichcanonlyplaceinjeopardy allthat wehavecometoacceptasthenormsofinternational conduct.JSM/MO A!40/PV.2l 73 (Mr.Barrow, Barbados) Developing countries wanttoearnwhatever benefits therearetobederived fromtheinternational~system. TheirpriPJary interest liesintheavailability of moreopenanddependable avenues fortrading. Theyareconcerned abouttherushby someStatestoadoptprotectionist policies whicharecounter-productive sincethey arrestthecommercial potential ofdeveloping Statesandmustintheendrender
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement from a representative of a developing country, discussing the challenges and concerns faced by developing nations in the international system. The speaker highlights the importance of multilateralism, the need for fair and equitable treatment of developing countries, and the impact of economic policies on their development. The text also touches on the issues of debt, graduation from concessional financial aid, and protectionist policies.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade