crisis in the light of current economic changes. This should help us in our efforts to conduct a frank dialogue with the developed countries as we seek to adopt a common position, in co-operation with the developed nations, on the urgent implementation of agreed solutions to the dilemmas besetting many developing countries, namely external debt, exchange rates, lack of financial resources, commodity prices, food shortages, degradation of the environment, development of human resources, and the technology transfer. Similarly, it is our conviction that attention should be focused on the need to agree on a United Nations development strategy for the Fourth Development Decade, 1991 to 2000, which is supposed to provide us with a consistent framework for international co-operation. We should warn that if the present approach to international economic affairs persists -an approach which induces slow growth and retrogression -the developing countries will not be in a position to carry out their planned economic reforms nor will they be able to regain the momentum necessary for the growth of their economies. At the same time, all developed countries must strive to reach the target of 0.7 per cent of gross nation-.11 product for official economic assistance, 0. 2 per cent of which is to be allocated to the least developed countries, by the end of the 1990s. Due to its size and complexity, the external debt problem has become a universal crisis of grave economic and political proportions. The potential impact of that crisis on the process of development and growth in the developing countries BCT/jl A/S-18/PV. 6 173 (Mr. El-Fattal; SVrian Arab Republic) is likely to be far-reaching. Syria supports all efforts to alleviate the debt burden of the developing countries by means of dialogue between debtors and creditors. However, any agreement should take due account of the deteriorating 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic challenges faced by developing countries, such as external debt, exchange rates, and lack of financial resources, and how these issues affect their ability to implement economic reforms and achieve growth. It also touches on the need for international cooperation and the role of developed countries in providing assistance. The text does not specifically mention natural resources, agriculture, industry, transport, communication, health, education, employment, humanitarian aid, or culture, but it does mention the degradation of the environment and the need for technology transfer. This suggests that the text is primarily focused on economic development and international relations.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade