that "the best approach to achieving this objective. continues to be universal adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter." The General Assembly in plenary session adopted both resolutions on December 14, the one on noninterference in internal affairs of states10 by a vote of 99 to 1 (U.S.), with 11 abstentions, and that on implementing the Declaration on Strengthening International Security by a vote of 95 to 0, with 17 abstentions (U.S.) b 106/ SESQUICENTENNIAL OF THE AMPHICTYONIC CONGRESS In a letter of July 16, 1976, the Dominican Republic, on behalf of the countries members of the Latin American Group, requested that an item commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama be added to the agenda of the 31st session of the General Assembly in order to "pay a tribute to Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, and to recall his universalist ideas." On September 23 the General Committee of the 31st Assembly recommended without a vote that the item be included in the agenda and that it be considered directly in plenary. The Assembly approved this recommendation on September 24. The Assembly considered the item at two meetings on December 17. Guyana introduced a draft resolution, sponsored by all 27 members of the Latin American Group, which was adopted by consensus 106 The resolution (1) paid tribute to Bolívar "as a promoter of Latin American integration and as a builder of constructive plans for international organization on a continental and worldwide scale" and decided to place a plaque in the UN building to honor his memory; (2) recognized that the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama was "the most outstanding. and audacious unionist experiment at the international level in the 19th century," with ecumenical features anticipating and coinciding with the objectives of the UN system; (3) expressed the hope that 103/ Resolution 31/91. 104/ Resolution 31/92. 105/ The U.S. inadvertently reversed its vote in plenary, but subsequently explained that it had intended to abstain on the first resolution and vote against the second. 106/ Resolution 31/142. Bolívar's ideals would inspire the establishment of a more just international order of respect for law devoted to the maintenance of peace, the preservation of democratic principles, the promotion of economic and social progress, and the freedom of all peoples; (4) expressed the wish for a successful outcome of the Panama Canal negotiations, which would eliminate the causes of conflict between Panama and the United States; and (5) requested the Secretary General to circulate to all members a document reproducing the instrument of convocation and the agreements of the Amphictyonic Congress of 1826. After the resolution's adoption, a number of states spoke on behalf of all regional groups to pay tribute to Bolívar and the Congress. Speaking for the United States, Ambassador Bennett praised Bolívar's "indefatigable dedication to freedom and independence" and "the skill and imagination with which he pursued those goals." Noting that Bolívar was the first among the leaders of the hemisphere to recognize the importance of securing regional peace through international organization and cooperation, he pointed out that the Amphictyonic Congress was the forerunner of the Pan American Union and the present-day Organization of American States, the world's oldest regional organization. He concluded by declaring that: . The concepts developed by Bolívar in the early 19th century have survived the test of history; they are incorporated in the Charter of the United Nations, to which we are all committed and from which we all benefit." UN responsibility for world economic, social, and human rights affairs is vested in the General Assembly and, under its authority, in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The latter is charged with coordinating the activities of the independent specialized agencies and certain other bodies of the UN system, including the five regional economic commissions; functional commissions and subcommisions dealing with population, human rights, statistics, narcotic drugs, social development, status of women, and transnational corporations; and various other subordinate standing and advisory committees. ECOSOC also does much of the preparatory work for the General Assembly, debating economic, social, scientific, and humanitarian issues and considering reports that are usually forwarded--with recommendations for further action--to the General Assembly. In the Assembly they are generally considered in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) or the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural). ECOSOC holds two major sessions each year--a spring session, usually in New York, and a summer session, usually in Geneva--with brief organizational and resumed sessions as required. In 1976 ECOSOC met for the first time in Africa, holding the first part of its 61st (summer) session in Abidjan, Ivory Coast before moving to Geneva. Abidjan it held a general discussion of international economic and social policy, including regional and sectoral developments, and adopted unanimous ly on July 9 a wide-ranging "Declaration of Abidjan 17 that touched on many of the subjects considered in the pages that follow. Among other things, it called for the speedy elimination of all forms of colonialism, neocolonialism, foreign. aggression and occupation, alien domination, racial discrimination, and apartheid from the African continent; determined that there was an imperative need to eliminate injustice and inequality and to accelerate the development of developing countries; and urged all countries and international organizations to give added impetus to efforts to achieve the objectives of the development of developing countries, in the light of relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. The Declaration reaffirmed the need for special measures in favor of the most seriously affected, least developed, landlocked, and island developing countries; called for increased assistance in dealing with the critical 1/ Resolution 2009 (LXI). |