publicdebates andbeengiventheincreasing attention ofGovernments and international forums. Thedangerofnuclear warisrightly perceived asthe ultimate threatagainst notjustStatesorGovernments butmankinditself. For thisreason, Thailand welcomes thedecision ofPresident ReaganoftheUnited StatesandGeneral secretary Gorbachev oftheSovietuniontoholdasummitmeeting inGenevainNovember ofthisyear. Mydelegation therefore believes thatthecredibility andindeedthefuture viability oftheUnitedNations dependontheperception ofmenandnationsofhow welltheOrganization cOntinues tomaintain notonlyinternational peaceand security butalsoitscapacity toimprove theexistence ofandtheprospects for thehumanindividual. Onpeaceandsecurity, mydelegation agreeswiththeassessment ofthe Secretary-General inhisannualreport,particularly ontheusefulroleofthe Security Council. ItisindeedanhonourforThailand tobeelected toserveasa non-permanent memberofthatbody,forthefirsttimeinourhistory, andwehave triedtoapproach allissueswithmoderation andobjectivity onthebasisof prInciple andintheinterest ofpeaceandharmony amongnations. Thefactthat Thailand doesnotbelongtoanyideological grouping intheCouncil shouldassist itinobtaining abalanced perception ofmanyissues. Theimportant issueswhichcomebeforetheGeneral Assembly tendalsoto involve international peaceandsecurity and,atthesametime,relatetothehuman consequences whichrequire international humanitarian action. Thesituations in southern Africa, theMiddleEast,Afghanistan andKampuchea arecasesinpoint. Alltheseproblems confront theinternational community withthetaskofcoping withthemassiveinflu:ofrefugees anddisplaced persons intoneighbouringBG/l5 A/40/~V.15 63-65 (!r.Tinsulanonda, Thailand) countries. Whileaggression, foreign occupation ~daliendomination continue unabated, the~~riesofthevictims havenotgoneunnoticed bythisAssembly. OnKampuchea, forinstance, theGeneral Assembly hasadopted byanincreasing majority resolutions whichcondemn theforeign aggressor anditsmilitary occupation initssmall,bapless neighbour, thusposingathreattopeaceand security inthewholeregionandbeyond. Thesameresolutions alsoaddress the enormous humanitarian probl~ms arising fromthetragicsituation. Thesignificant support rendered bytheinternational community yearafteryearisproofthatthe plightoftheKampuchean peoplespeaksmoreloudlythananycunning manoeuvre or confusing tacticonthepartoftheaggressor. Ultimately, however, therootcause oftheproblem, namely, theillegal Vietnamese occupation ofKampuchea, mustbe resolved soastoenabletheKampuchean peopietoexercise theirbasichumanright toself-determination. i'JVM/l5 A/40/PV.l5 66 (Mr.Tinsulanonda, Thailand) otherproblems ~hichtouchindividuals andtheirlivelihood arealsobeing givenhigherpriorit.i!es ontheinternational agenda. Whilesuchproblems asfood shortages anddrugabuseseriously impairthesocialandeconomic fabricof societies, theirmainimpactisstillperceived tobeontheindividual. This accounts fortheoutpouring ofsympathy andsupport forthevictims fromallwalks oflife,transcending geographical andideological boundaries. Thefoodaid progralnmes forEthiopia andotherAfrican countries andtheforthcoming consensus toconvene aninternational conference ondrugsevincetheimmediacy ofpublic concern overtheseproblems. Perhaps thereisaneedtoemphasize inasimilar mannerthehumandimensions ofsuchotherproblems asNorth-South issuesinorder toobtaingreater publicsupport andwiderinternational co-operation. Inhisannualreport, theSecretary-General states: "Wearefacingeconomic changes ofsuchmagnitUde andcomplexity thatno country canadjusttotheminisolation. Weseethis,forexample, in attempts toprotect domestic jobsfromimportcompetition, whichresultinthe exporting ofunemployment. Whatisclearly required isawidervisionand moredynamic understanding oftheglobalnatureoftheproblems weare facing. Suchavisionhastobebasedontheopenrecognition of interdependence andthepractical necessity ofafairsharing ofburdens and oftheaccommodation ofothers." (A/40/l, p.10) Therearefewproblems deserving ofurgentinternational attention than poverty, whichaffects theeconomic andsocialwell-being ofabillion people. Whilepundits andpoliticians tendtodiscuss suchissuesintheabstract orin keeping withthenarrowinterests oftheirconstituencies, statesmen'should be endowed withsufficient foresight toseetheimmense catastrophe into'whichthis
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on international relations, diplomacy, and global issues, with a strong emphasis on humanitarian concerns, peace, and security. It also touches on economic and social issues, such as poverty, food shortages, and drug abuse, but these are discussed in the context of their global implications and international responses.

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