TheMiddleEastquestion muststill,unfortunately, benumbered amongthose whichhaveremained unresolved inspiteof40yearsofUnitedNations involvement andconcern. Israelpersists initsforceful occupation ofArabterritory andits denialoftherightofthePalestinian people tojustice andself-determination, in totaldisregard oftheCharter oftheUnited Nationsandtheprinciples of international law.Aninternational consensus oflongstanding hasestablished thatthedenialofPalestinian rightsisattheheartoftheMiddleEastconflict. Theworldcommunity haswitnessed withgraveconcern theescalation ofviolence in Lebanon, carried outwithcontempt fortheaccepted normsofinternational behaviour andwithsavageferocity, whichhasbrought widespread deathand destruction toLebanese population centres. Therecentattack byIsraeliaircraftNotH/9 A/40/PV.23 29-30 (Mr.Barre,Somalia) againstcivilian targets inTunisandtheheadquarters ofthePalestine Liberation Organization isagaintypical ofthearrogance whichcharacterizes Israeli policies. WewishtostateinthisforumthatSomalia condemns suchactions. stateswhichsowaharvest ofinjustice, aggression andcontempt forthe rightsofotherscannotexpecttoreappeaceandtranquillity. MyGovernment isof thefirmbeliefthattherecanbenopeaceintheMiddleEastwithout!sraeli withdrawal fromalloccupied Arabterritories, including theHolyCityof Jerusalem, andwithout thefulfilment ofthelegitimate aspirations ofthe Palestinian PeOpleandtheestablishment ofaStateoftheirown.Theserealities oftheMiddleEastsituation mustcontinue tobedrivenhorneinthisAssembly and inthesecurity Council sothattheremaybeaconcerted international effortto bringaboutajustandcomprehensive settlement oftheconflict. MyGovernment sharestheconcern ofmanyStatesthatworldtension and instability continue tobeheightened byanumberofpolitical problems, whichare becoming unwelcome fixtures ontheagendaoftheGeneral Assembly. Inthiscontext, myGovernment onceagainjoinsintheuniversal callforan endtothetragicconflict between IraqandIran,aconflict whichservesnocause andcanbenefitneither country.--------------- - BG/10 A/40/PV.23 31 (Mr.Barre,SOmalia) Wealsoviewwithserious concern thecontinued foreign occupation of Afghanistan andthemilitary operations directed withcruelforceagainst the courageous Afghanpeople. Wehighlycommend theeffortsofthesecretary-General tobringaboutapolitical settlement, inclUding thereturnhomeoftheAfghan refugees insafetyandwithhonour, thewithdrawal ofallforeign troopsfromthe country, andrestoration ofAfghanistan's independence andnon-aligned status. InthecaseofKampuchea, wherethelong-suffering peoplehavelosttheir freedom andhavebeendeniedtherighttodetermine theirownfuture, wehopethat regional andinternational effortswillbringaboutconditions ofliberty, justice andpeaceinKampuchea andintheregionofSouth-East Asiaasawhole. OneofmyGovernment's deepest concerns isofcoursethecritical economic situation inAfrica. Th~.~situation iscertainly graveenoughtogiverisetothe callforaspecial session oftheGeneral Assembly whichwouldconsider howthe worldcommunity mightbesthelpthecontinent overcome itscrippling economic, socialandecological problems. Thelivesofmillions ofAfrican peopleandthe hopesofmillions ofothersforatolerable e~istence inthefutureareclearly threatened bythecombination ofnatural andman-made disasters whichaffecta greatmanyAfrican countries. Inmyowncountry, theproblems ofcyclical drought, desertification andacatastrophic refugee influxhavebeensuperimposed onthe weakeconomy andfragile infrastructure ofunderdevelopment. Thoseproblems would havebeencrippling enoughwithout theadditional constraints imposed byadverse termsoftradeandintolerable debtburdens causedbyhighinterest rates. African Statesarefullycommitted totheLagosPlanofAction, whichcallson themtotakeprimary responsibility fortheirdevelopment andtomakethefullest useofregional co-operation inthesolution ofcommonproblems. However, without anewandconcerted resolve onthepartoftheinternational community tomobilize substantial medium-term andlong-term, aswellasemergency, assistance, ourBG/lO-------- -------------~------------- A/40/PV.23 32 (Mr.Barre,Somalia) countries willcontinue tobelikeswimmers against thetidewhocannotgoforward inspiteofexerting theirstrongest effort:&. MyGovernment hopesthatthenecessary international assistance willbe forthcoming andthatitwillbefocused ontheareasofhighpriority identified thisyearbythetwenty-first session oftheAssembly ofHeadsofstateor Government oftheOrganization ofAfrican Unity(OAU). Improving Africa's food
**Analysis**
The text is a speech delivered by the President of Somalia to the United Nations General Assembly, discussing various pressing issues affecting the Middle East, Africa, and other regions. The speech highlights the ongoing conflicts, occupations, and human rights violations, as well as the economic and environmental challenges faced by these regions. The speaker emphasizes the need for international cooperation and assistance to address these issues and promote peace, stability, and development.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations