TheUnitedStates hasjoinedtheconsensus asanexpression ofourdesirefor global harmony andoursupport fortheaspirations ofthedeveloping world. However, weareallawarethatperfection isfoundonlyinheaven, andadocument ofthiscomplexity andimportance mustinevitably beacompromise. Giventhat,I wishtoclarify anumberofpoints. Wefirmlybelieve thateachsovereign Stateisprimarilyresponsible forits owndevelopnent. Weshould havelikedtoseethisconcept moreclearly embraced in thetextthanitalready is.Theinternational economic environment, while important, playsasupporting roleessentially. withregardtothequestion ofdebt,wearepleased tonotethatthe resolution recognizes thatthereisaninternationally agreedstrategy inplacefor addressing thedebtproblems ofdeveloping countries. TheInternational Monetary Fund(IMF)andtheWorldBankaretheinternational institutions responsible for implementation oftherecently strengthened strategy, whichfocuses ondebtand debt-service reduction bycommercial banksasameansofproviding financial support forcountries pursuing soundeconomic policies. Thisstrategy has demonstrated itsflexibility andpotential overthepastyearascountries accounting for44percentofthecommercial bankdebtofthemajordebtor countrieshavenegotiated agreements wi.ththeircommercialbanksinvolving significant debtanddebt-service reduction. Meanwhile, official debtissuesareappropriately dealtwithintheParisClub through rescheduling agreements -Onaconcessional basisforthepoorest countries -whichgrantdebtorcountries undergoing necessary economic reforms significant debtreliefwhilecreditor Governments continue toprovide ongoing financial support.BCT/dl A/S-l8/PV.11 37 (Mr.Marks,UnitedStates) Wefullysupport theDeclaration's callforcontinued broadimplementation of thesemeasures, whichareaimedattheresumption ofstrong andsustained growth anddevelopnent andresumed credit-worthiness inthesecountries astheypursue economic-policy reforms. Wearecommitted tocontinuing toworkthrough these measures towards resolution ofthedebtproblem andresumption ofgrowth indebtor developing countries. Maintaining afavourable external environment isan important partofthisprocess, andwearepleased thatco-ordination efforts over thelastseveral yearshaveachieved sustained growth andstabilization and reduction ofinternational interest rates. TheUnitedStateshasalready announced itswillingness andbegunimplementing itsprogramme toforgive theofficial developnent assistance debtofsub-Saharan African countries, andweencourage othercreditor countries toundertake similar programmes. Weemphasize thatastheinternational community continues itsworkon debtproblems wemustmaintain theexcellent creditstanding ofthemultilateral financial institutions -whichisvitaltosustaining thelending relationships theseinstitutions I1Bintain withdebtorcountries, aswellasthecostof Multilateral Developnent Banklending insupport ofeconomic reforms. TheUnitedStates doesnotadheretothenotionofofficial development assistance targets referred toinparagraph 27.Weviewanyquestion of enhancement ofthequantity ofdeveloped-country aidasacollective responsibility. Wenotethatparagraph 33pointsoutthatcommodityexports continuetoplaya keyroleintheeconomies ofdeveloping countries, andweshouldliketoaddthat thisistrueinfactformanydeveloped countries. Wewouldalsonotethat commodity agreem~nts shouldbenefit COnsumer andproducer countries alike. TheUnitedStatesseesthisOrganization asahighlyuseful forumfor discussion, andasameansofachieving consensus onbroadprinciples. Therefore,BCT/dl A/S-18/PV.ll 38 (Mr.Marks,UnitedStates) greatcareshouldbe·taken, inOurstatements andrecommendations, toensurethat wedonotimpinge upontheindependence orthemandate oftheinternational financial institutions andothermultilateral forums. Thevalueofthesebodiesto theglobal economyliesintheirtechnical expertise andrelative freedom from political pressure. Finally, withrespect toparagraph 29,dealing withtheenvironment, the UnitedStatesreiterates itswillingness toplayamajorroleindeveloping common solutions tothethreat IX>sedbyenvironmental pollutants. Webelieve thatall countries mustshareresponsibility forcombating pollution, andallmustwork together toreducesuchpollutants andtodevelop commonsOlutions. TheUnited
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement from the United States government on its stance on global economic development, debt relief, and environmental issues. The language used is formal and diplomatic, indicating that it may be a speech or a document presented at an international conference. The text discusses the importance of sovereign states taking responsibility for their own development, the role of international institutions in addressing debt problems, and the need for cooperation to combat environmental pollution.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade