African leader, the President of Tan-
p. 86 · Read in the full issue
African leader, the President of Tanzania: “We do not want our friends to choose our enemies for us”. With very few exceptions—being those countries with social or racial policies that are unacceptable to us— we will recognise every government that wishes to recognise us.
However, if the price of mutual recognition is that we must take sides in regional, ideological or internal conflict, then we will reject it. . . ~u . , .
As a country with significant but undeveloped resources we realise that trade is a potent factor in the growth of relationships between states. As our trading partnerships develop, it is inevitable that cooperation will be fostered at other levels. Countries in partnership must depend upon each other Continuing dependence ensures friendships.
Papua New Guinea, therefore, fully supports the principles under which the United Nations Committee on Trade and Development was established.
Papua New Guinea is one more developing country, and this fact
forms a basic element of future pol icy in relation to the world. The basis of the economic life of our people remains subsistence agricul ture.
Like all developing countries, we are, therefore, faced with the diffi culties and frustrations of bringing about development within an in equitable world economic system, Papua .^ Ull l ea W 1 l om wholeheartedly with efforts to reform that system. We know we will find allies in this cause, within the Thj rc j World Finall though such a statem ent mi h( * t see ” important from a co * nt SQ and ‘ as yet> so un . influen ' ial as Papua New Guinea, , s(ate our fundamenta i commitment (Q tbe ma i n t enance 0 f pe ace through our r ion and the world and our undertaking t 0 uphold the prin . c i p i es Q f the Charter of the United Nations Organisation, Th e problems of the world today require a determined and constructive effort by all countries. I commit Papua New Guinea to make her con tribution.