DELEGATES AND OFFICIALS IN HALL: DELEGATES FROM TANZANIA, PAKISTAN, TCHAD, SIERRA LEONE, UK AND USA.




Initials GHB/VS/PN/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THANT, TODAY (MONDAY) WARNED AGAINST GROWING MILITARY BUDGETS IN SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH TOOK MEAGRE RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE BASIC NEEDS OF THEIR PEOPLES. IN A MESSAGE TO THE ANNUAL SUMMER SESSIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC), WHICH OPENED IN GENEVA TODAY, HE ALSO CALLED FOR YOUTH TO BE GIVEN A SAY IN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PLANNING.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE, BASED ON THE THEME OF A SECOND DEVELOPMENT DECADE IN THE 1970'S, WAS READ TO THE ASSEMBLY. DELEGATES TO THE 27-NATION COUNCIL INCLUDED THOSE OF SEVERAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

U THANT SAID THE PROPORTION OF THE MEAGRE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEVOTED TO MILITARY EXPENDITURES BY SEVERAL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WAS HIGH. HE REMARKED THAT SUCH ACTIONS INDUCED NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH AND IMPERILLED THE PEACE OF ENTIRE SUB-REGIONS. THIS VICIOUS CIRCLE, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ADDED, WAS ONE OF GREATER VIOLENCE LEADING TO AGGRAVATED POVERTY AND THEN IN TURN TO NEW VIOLENCE. IT HAD NOT RECENTLY SHOWN MANY SIGNS OF RECEDING AND IN CERTAIN AREAS MIGHT EVEN HAVE WORSENED.