valuable opportunity to free important amounts of resources to honour this long-standing commitment. In this way, developing countries would benefit from what is being called the "peace dividend". In this context, Colombia stands resolutely behind the initiative to establish a United Nations disarmament fund for development. RH/25 A/S-18/PV. 4 116 (Mr• Bernardo Florez, Colombia} Programmes to eliminate absolute poverty, which degrades both those who endure it and those who tolerate it, deserve our full attention. The objective of economic growth is to raise the living standards of the population, and of the poor in particular. Human digni tv resides in the conviction that human beings are useful members of society. The transfer of nodern technology and the spreading of kno.~ledge oonstitute, in the last analysis, the best contribution towards the construction of a socie tv. An international effort must be made to support the Eastern European countries in their des ire to become integra ted in the world economv. Their adherence to the United Nations specialized agencies and their entry into the international economy will be a great benefit to those countries and to the world in general. The fact that the Eastern European countries possess a solid and diversified economic, social and cultural infrastructure will enable them to contribute to the development of the third world. In all these fields the effect of market forces will not be diminished; on the contrary, it will rather be enhanced by more vigorous intervention oo the part of the Governments of advanced and developing countries, in accordance with the procedures of multilateral co-operation. Only thus will it be possible for the walls dividing the rich end the }X)Or countries to be demolished in the 1990s, just as those which fcx so many years separated East and West were brought down, and only thus IIBY we bring about the 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the importance of disarmament and the use of resources for economic development, poverty reduction, and the transfer of modern technology. It also mentions the need for international cooperation and the contribution of Eastern European countries to the development of the third world. The text does not specifically mention natural resources, agriculture, forestry, fishing, transport, communication, health, education, employment, humanitarian aid, culture, or science and technology as separate topics, but rather uses them as means to achieve economic development and poverty reduction.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade