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% teobe! Lawson ambassador to the United Nations, told a capacity audience at the Uniâ€" versity of Waterloo‘s humanity‘s theatre that the UN has come of age. In a oneâ€"hour speech, Lewis touched on some of the issues which have helped to transform the UN from an organization subjected to the whims of the superpowers, to a position of credibility. And as the turning point, Lewis said, the UN began to come of its owns right when, in 1987, Soviet announced in the state newspaper Pravda, his principle of glasnot and the decision to embrace the UN. That same year the Soviet Union announced it would pay, in full, its annual dues to the UN as well as $300 million to the peacekeeping account â€" an account it had never before paid into, said Lewis. Soviets began makâ€" ing resolutions, one on AIDS jointly sponsored with Australia and money was pledged to assist a hungerâ€"ra vaged Ethopia. "For the first time it was economic not military support," With the exuberance of an elemenâ€" tary student relating tales of his summer holidays Stephen Lewis, who recently stepped down as Canada‘s "At the top of everything" was the Soviet Union‘s announcement it was removing its army from Afghanistan. "The western world didn‘t know what the devil to do," said Lewis. "It was an identifiable shift to the whole S.epnen Lewis The United Nations has come of age: Lewis To> tra hi the mss mpadl «ists to accommodate. I want to write A corollary of the Soviet support of the UN, Lewis said, is the renewed effort towards peace initiated by other countries, which the UN has been directly involved in coâ€"ordinating. For example, he cites the cease fire beâ€" tween Iran and Iraq, South Asrica‘s decision to give Namibia its indepen dence, Cuban troops leaving Angola, and Vietnam‘s announcement it would be withdrawing from Camboâ€" dia. Progess has also been made in Cyprus and, as well, the UN has developed an economic reconstruction for Central America "if in fact that region of the world is ever allowed to embrace the peace which presumably Throughout the twoâ€"hour presentaâ€" tion â€" an hour was saved for ques tions from the audience â€" Lewis took shots at former US ambassador to the nation‘s unwillingness to forgive Third World nation debt. If the debts of African countries are not forgiven â€" 80 per cent of which are owed to nations not banks â€"â€" by the year 2000 interest charges alone will amount to $45 billion annually, he said. As a middleâ€"power which has capâ€" tured the respect of much of the world, and as one of the only countries which can act as a bridge between Third World countries and the industrialâ€" ized, Lewis said the only obstacle to stop Canada‘s role is its own timidity. Lewis, former NDP leader in Ontarâ€" i0 and son of past federal NDP leader David Lewis, said he did not expect any changes in Canadaâ€"US relationâ€" about it one day in a way in which it verges on libel or as close as possible to it," said Lewis, who drew spontane: ous laughter from the 720 in attenâ€" jabs at the United States and the pretentious environment at the UN office in New York city, where ambasâ€" reputation in the UN may be "tarnâ€" ished" by the freeâ€"trade pact if Canaâ€" da does not continue to: stand tall against the US. "I have to say that in my years in Canada‘s court decisions on Nicaragua and particularly arms control. Canada‘s greatest "Achille‘s heel" is its treatment of Canadian natives. "I have to say that it is damnably frustrating to speak on human rights, to identify human rights violations and human rights violaters from around the world, to have a of and to have various of them, the Soviet Union amongst them, heatedly accuse Canada of illâ€"treatment of native poeple. And to be able to quote chapter, and verse from authentic documents showing that Canada‘s record is in fact reprehensible and it‘s got to change. It‘s simply got to "It is our single most vuinerable Achille‘s beel in human rights debate diminishing Canada‘s status. These kinds of bilateral relationships are hflyufi:Yunqu because you something that is controversial. "If in fact the closeness of the free trade begins to affect our behavior internationally, which by and large has been pretty independent of the United States, then countries will cluck a lot in the corridors and Canada‘s reputation will be tarnâ€" ished. But it‘s too early to say." Contrary to what he thought bhefore being appointed to the UN in 1984 by Prime Minister Mulroney, Canada has a tradition of voting independentâ€" ly of the US almost oneâ€"third of the time, said Lewis. (We) "disagree so significantly with the United States the United Nations 1 never felt that free trade debate was, in any way, OF WATERLOO NEW LOCATION: 22 King St. S., Waterioo Open Mon,â€"Fri. 9:30â€"5:30, Sat. 9:30â€"5 886â€"4440 SHOES, BOOTS & HANDBAGS * LaValiee « Clarks + Calice + Celebrity + White Cross Shop early for best selection _ WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 1989 â€" PAGE AS M Apscttzes _/ Toes ©@ fieet rates available @ a proven process professionally applied @© penetrates all rust prone areas @ effective on all types of vehicles, new ‘"Our clients recommend us to their friends." 30 â€" 50 "~ OFF All Fall and Winter OIL SHIELD 435 Conestoga Rd. 886â€"388 1