TheNairobi worldConference of1985,marking theendoftheUnitedNationsthemanyobstacles itencounters andthemanyflagrant violations ofhumanrightssocial, eco~omic andcultural rights. Weseewithgreatsatisfaction thatthe designed toimprovethestatusofwomenandtointegrate themintoallaspectsoforganization.theadoption ofsimilarlegislation ontorture bythememberStatesofthisapproved, byconsensus, theinternational Co~vention against torture. Wehopethat tohowtoint~nsi1y ourefforts fortheadoption ofconcrete measures forthetotalunitedNations continues itsefforts inthisfield,without beingdiscouraged by DecadeforWomen,identified theobstacles aswellastheachievements ofthegoals eradication ofdiscrimination basedonsex,atthenational, regional andAP/gmr substantially toaworld-wide awareness ofwomen's problems aswellastoagreaterGreekGovernment categorically andunreservedly condemns theseacts. oftheDecade. Itadopted newstrategies fortherestofthecentury whichareGreecehasbecomeapioneer inthefieldofattempting toeradicate torture. Greecehasalsosubmitted recently totheCouncil ofEuropeaproposal aimingat , - .-.'. .. ' ,..-~.implementation oftheachievements oftheConference. *Mr.Gauci(Malta), Vice-President, tooktheChair.(Hr.Papoulias, Greece)A/40/PV.7 84-85 TheGreekGovernment isseriously concerned abouttheproblemofinternational Theunprecedented drought andthesubsequent faminewhich,particularly duringinternational solidarity aimingatamorebalanced development ofthein~ernationalparticularly disturbing. Webelievethatnoeffortshouldbesparedtoovercometargets, isspentinordertoservicetheirexternal debt. Weconsider thatthe adoption oflong-term approaches wouldbethemostappropriate methodofcopingtheirfinancial resources, whichwouldotherwise bedirected towards development thelastyear,havehitalmosttheentireAfrican continent haveaggravated theeconomy.AP/gJDr rapiddesertification ofwideareasisstillspreading andfaminestillexists. Itexisting difficulties. Greecehasconsistently supported efforts toreinforcewiththisproblem. Thestagnation regarding theNorth-South dialogue isalsomajornegative factorintheireffortstoachieve development. AgreatpartofStrategies byconsensus, aswellasfortheadoption ofconcrete measures forthewillbemaintained attheGeneral Assemly fortheadoption oftheForward-looking economic disparities. Forthird-world countries theirexcessive external debtisa viewtoaverting greaterdisasters.*5million refugees. Despite thisyear'srelative improvement insomeareas,thesevereeconomic crisisaswellasthetragicproblemofthecontinent's nearly wasgratifying toseetheinternational community takevigorous measures witha00/20 A/40/PV.7 86----,------------....,.-------~~~~~-~------~--- (Mr.Papoulias, Greece) Unfortunately, alltheseefforts. arebuthalf-measures. Suchdisasters have occurred inthepastandareboundtooccuragain. Theonlysolution isthrough long-term structural reforms tosupport thefragilestructures oftheeconomies of theAfrican countries, andalsotoenhance theeffectiveness ofthesystemdesigned todealwiththefaminecrisisandnatural ~isasters. Thefactthatduringourera ofwasteandaffluence therearestillpeoplebeingdeprived oftheprimary human right-therighttolife-isadisgrace toourcivilization. TheGreek Government hastakenaction,withinitscapabilities, toassistinthereliefof thedistressed peoplesofAfrica, andwillcontinue todosoforaslongasthe needisthere. Wehavehadnoindication duringthepastyearthatsolutions tothevarious problems whichconfront theUnitedNations areforthcoming. Infact,someof them-tnesituation inSouthAfricainparticular -havedeteriorated. Durir~thepastfewmonthstheinternational community hasbeenbockedby developments inSouthAfrica. Theseriousdeterioration intermsofbloodyclashes inSOuthAfrica, especially dur~ngthepastyear,whichCUlminated inthe proclamation ofapartialstateofemergency, urgently callsforimmediate, practical andsubstantial measures onthepartoftheSouthAfrican Government. It isnowabsolutely imperative thatare~_dialogue beestablished between theSouth African Government andtheauthentic representatives ofthenon-white population of thecountry, directed towardsthepeaceful abolition oftheinadmissible systemof apartheid. Theinsistence bytheGovernment ofPretoria onmaintaining theinhuman systemofapartheid hasbrought about,asexpected, universal revulsion. Greece hasrepeatedly andinthestrongest possible termscondemned thisrepugnant system. ~~rejectanyattempt bytheSouthAfrican Government tosplitthe I00/20 A/4O/PV.7 87 (Mr.Papoulias, Greece) non-white majority, eitheroyselectively granting nominalrightstopartsofthe population orthrough thecontinuation ofitshomelands policy. Lastyearwe.expressed theh~pethattheagreements concluoed between south Africaandneighbouring Statescouldcontribute tothenormalization ofthe situation intheregion. Unfortunately, theeXl')ectation thatthoseagreements couldcontribute toaclimateofdialogue, peaceanddetenta intheareahasnot