of the underdeveloped countries, provides an appropriate oppartunity for the world community to seek ways and means to overcome the serious problems of the developing and 1 east developed countries, which are in an unfavourable socio-economic situation. An analysis of the world economic situation in the first months of the 1990s indicates that the pace of economic growth in the non-industrial countries has been very slow. That situation is continuing and, in addition, there is tangible instability on the world economic arena. The lack of a balance in trade and policies on rates of exchange, tariffs and subsidies for agricultural goods in the industrial countries have created even greater obstacles in the financial, commercial and developmental spheres. This state of affairs has had a negative impact, especially on the develoPing and least developed countries. The economic problems experienced by the developing countries indicate that the Positive economic change in the developed countries has not yet had an impact on the developing countries. It is very necessary to resume serious dialogue between the developed and the developing countries. As a representative of a least developed, land-locked country, allow me to focus on the very crucial situation of those countries durinq the last decade. The 1980s was largely a decade of stagnation in nost of the areas and outright BCT/ASW A/S-18/PV.8 43 (Mr. Wakil, Afghanistan) retrogression in some of them. During that period the deterioration of the socio-economic situation was characterized by economic indicators registering only marginal or no progress. I would note with deep concern the rapid deterioration of the social condi tio!'B in the least developed countries. The number of unemployed and underemployed increased in the least developed countries during that period. There was also an increase in the absolute number of illiterates and a rise in the 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic situation of developing and least developed countries, highlighting the slow pace of economic growth, trade imbalances, and negative impacts on socio-economic indicators such as unemployment, illiteracy, and poverty. The speaker is advocating for a dialogue between developed and developing countries to address these issues. This suggests that the main focus is on economic development and its consequences on human well-being.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, Employment, Education, Health