UN boss shows commitment

ONE clear commitment was made by UN

Secretary-General Boutros

Boutros Ghali, who at tended the opening cer emonies and made a stir ring speech about the spe cial needs of the islands, their isolation, and their vulnerability. His attend ance was surprising to some since the Secretary- General is not known for underestimating his own

importance. People expected small islands to be beneath him, but his appearance signalled that the UN system itself takes the issue very seriously.

Indeed, Rafeeudin Ahmed, his special representative confessed that the SG “has asked us all to redouble our efforts for the small island states”. Boutros Ghali himself said that his concern was

not the conference itself — but the follow up. He added — “And unless there is a lobby from the Small Island States, we will not pay the necessary attention.”

Indeed, when PIM asked Boutros Ghali to reconcile his liking for small states with his horror two years ago at the pro liferation of United Na tions members, he was

careful to explain his total support for any small territory or existing state that wanted to join, mentioning San Marino, Andorra and Monaco in Europe. His objections were, he said, solely to the balkanisation of existing states on the grounds of ethnic nationalism, and he pointed to what would happen in Africa alone if the existing states were to break up on ethnic lines. D

Committed: Boutros Ghali