whatappears tobeagrowing tendency amongsomeofthemostpowerful membersof theinternational community toresilefromthecommitment tomultilateralism which istheveryfoundation uponwhichtheUnitedNationsrests. Thesignsaremanyand ominous: hesitancy onthepartofsomedeveloped Statestoaccedetothe Convention ontheLawoftheSeadespiteitspotential forenormous benefits not onlyforsmallStateslikethoseintheCaribbean butindeedforallmankind~ the decision ofsomegovernments towithdraw fromtheUnitedNations Educational, SCientific andCultural Organization (UNESCO)J thefailureoftheinternational community tomatchtheirstatedcommitment totheUnitedNations Development Programme (UNDP)withtherequired levelofpledges andcontributionsJ the Willingness, orindeedthedetermination insomequarters, towitness thedemiseof theUnitedNationsInstitute forTraining andResearch (UNITAR) -aninstitution thathasservedandcontinues toservesmalldeveloping countries withcreditin theareasoftraining andresearch.JSM/MO A/40/PV.2l 71 (Mr.Barrow, Barbados) ...A..ClmdAd tha.~i~is 6:"------ ----- necessary forinstitutions toadapttochanging timesinordertocarryouttheir mandates effectively, andtheinternational community shouldperiodically initiate reviews ofallofthemultilateral. institutions whichserveit.Itisonething, however, toundertake anexamination andd~.agnosean illness, butquiteanother to administer apotion, theresultofwhichislikelytobedeath. ThenthereistheNortb-Southdialogue. Discussionsandconsultationshaveso farbeendisappointing. Thisisdueilllargemeasures tothelackofgenuine willingness andhonest commitment onthepartofsomegovernments tofindan acceptable approach toredressing theinequities intheinternational economic system. Wecanonlyhopeth,,\trecentefforts bytherichest nations tosolve problems amongthemselves willresultinagreater appreciation ofourdifficultie~ andtheneedforanewinternational economic order. Oneofthemoststriking ofthephenomena -orsymptoms, ifyoulike-ofwhat Imightcallthenewinternational malaise iswhatisknownas"graduation". It refers,asmembers oftheAssembly know,totheprocess bywhichcountries that havereached acertain pointintheirdevelopment arecalled upontoshoulder a proportionately greater responsibility forthatdevelopment. Nothing wouldappeartobemorereasonable. Thereisnotacountry represented inthisOrganization whichwouldnotWillingly, indeedjoyfully, welcomeitsownevolution towards self-sustained development. Buttheproblem isthatthis"admirable principle" isnowbeingapplied according toasetofcrudearithmetic formulae, invented andapplied unilaterally, ratherinthemanneroftheinfamous Procrustes, whostretched orbrokethelimbs ofhisgueststofitthemtothelengthofhisbed.Thus,regardless ofthe paucity ofacountry's natural resources, regardless ofthefragility ofitsJSMAto A/40/PV.2l 72 (Kr.Barrow, Barbados) economy, anycountry thatmakesthemistakeofmanaging itsaffairs withamodicum ofprudence isingravedangerofbeing ·graduated~. Inpractical termsthismeansthatitisexcluded fromaccesstomostformsof concessional financial aid,eventhoughitstotalbudgetmaybelessthanthatofa largedepartment inametropolitan city.Itbespeaks aninsensitivity toreality thatisunworthy ofourinternational fraternity. Butwhatisperhaps themostimportant featureofthispolicyofgraduation basedontheautomatic application ofanarbitrary formula istheimplied suggestionthatwhenever aStateisseentoriseabovethel~velofitsbarest minimumitshouldberepresssed andthusdiscouraged fromaspiring tobecomea donorratherthanarecipient. Ashasbeenmadeclearbymanyofthespeakers whopreceded meinthisdebate, theinternational community isfacedwithamajorcrisisrelating tothemassive debtwhichisowedbydeveloping countries toinstitutions, bothpublicand private,inthedeveloped countries.Thereisagrowingconsensus thatthevery natureoftheproblem transcends therealmofsimpleprof.it-and-loss accounting. Theideaofdefault offends manygovernments, including myown,despite therole whichdefault hasplayedinthegrowthofanumberofcountries nowamongthe world'swealthiest. Itisourfearthatshouldthedeveloped countries nothearken tothepleasof their poo~erneighboui:'s, ii'iHiai:1ves nothitherto contemplated maybetakenby thosewhobecomedesperate. Whatsomeinthedeveloping worldmay,withgood reason,interpret asactsofeconomic aggression couldleadtoactsofeconomic retaliation, andtoacycleofbehaviour whichcanonlyplaceinjeopardy allthat wehavecometoacceptasthenormsofinternational conduct.JSM/MO A!40/PV.2l 73 (Mr.Barrow, Barbados) Developing countries wanttoearnwhatever benefits therearetobederived fromtheinternational~system. TheirpriPJary interest liesintheavailability of moreopenanddependable avenues fortrading. Theyareconcerned abouttherushby someStatestoadoptprotectionist policies whicharecounter-productive sincethey arrestthecommercial potential ofdeveloping Statesandmustintheendrender