SEOUL. Apr 3: The Philippines urged the United Nations Wednesday to help C>r countries adversely af

ted by the Gulf War share tn postwar reconstruction work, reports Agencies.

Philippine Foreign Under secretary Pablo R Suarez Jr also appealed for Joint international efforts to address the acute problems of many heavily indebted developing countries

'My delegation wishes to suggest that ESCAP (the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) and related International organisations coordinate efforts to help those affected countries participate in an effective manner in the evoking task of reconstruction and rehabilitation In the Gulf region.* Suarez said.

The Gulf crisis. Suarez said, dealt a heavy blow to the Philippines and many other ESCAP members. They suffered in trade, energy sup piles, tourism and remittances from workers who lost Jobs in the Gulf, he said.

Those affected countries should be allowed to share in postwar reconstruction by providing manpower and mar terlals. he said.

He said the Philippines foreign debt now represents 63 per cent of its gross national product in current prices, and the country has to pay 3,7 billion dollars a year, or 28.5 per cent of its total export earnings, to service its debt The holding of a major United Nations conference in South Korea has encouraged the country to vigorously pushing its entry Into the world body this year.

Seoul wants South and North Korea to Joint he United Nations simultaneously, but with separate membership Pyongyang opposes the idea, claiming that this would per pctuate the national division.

The 47th session of the United Nations Commission for Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). first major UN meeting here, is seen here as a step forward towards South Korea s efforts to gain the membership of the world body