2304Th GENERAL PLENARY MEETING ASSEMBLY Monday, 2 December /974, TWENTY-NINTH SESSION at 10.30 A.M, Official Records • NEW YORK CONTENTS Always Perceived
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United Nations 2304th GENERAL PLENARY MEETING ASSEMBLY Monday, 2 December /974, TWENTY-NINTH SESSION at 10.30 a.m, OffICial Records • NEW YORK CONTENTS always perceived. Undoubtedly U Thant contributed to that peaceful transition from one world to another, Page a world in which the international community was Tribute to the memory ofUThant, third Secretary-General enriched and enlarged by all the newly independent of the United Nations. ...........•................ 1197 States that were contributing their youth and their enthusiasm to the Organization, bringing with them President: Mr. Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA also their demands and their impatience. ,(Algeria). 6. Since he was of the third world, U Thant felt at one with the profound aspirations of our peoples. He was best qualified to understand and appreciate the importance and scope of those aspirations. His active participation in the struggle for the liberation Tribute to the memory of U Thant, of the Burmese people and in the various Afro-Asian . third Secretary-General ofthe United Nations solidarity movements gave him a direct perception of the main trends in Africaand Asia, which were going I. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from French): to change the political map of our world. I declare open the 2304th plenary meeting of the Gen eral Assembly, which has been convened in solemn 7. I feel in duty bound to stress particularly the tribute to the memory of U Thant, third Secretary important role played by U Thant at the time when the General of the United Nations. Algerian people was engaged in its struggle for libera tion and when he represented Burma in the United 2. In decidingto pay tribute to the memoryofUThant Nations. Designated by the Afro-Asian group as today, the General Assembly wishes to demonstrate Chairman of its Special Committee on Algeria for a its admiration and recognition ofone who for 10years period of four years, from 1957 until 1961, he dem so humbly-but with such dignity personified the United onstrated his constant and untiring interest in the Nations. progress of the Algerian struggle ana was ceaselessly 3. In discharging the heavy responsibility he so long active in promoting understanding of the Algerian assumed at the cost of.his health and in such difficult problem, mainly within the United ~ations, and !he conditions, he at once incarnated the hopes ofpeoples search for a solution that would satisfy the Algenan for a juster world and the disappointments of those people's claims to nationhood. As Secretary-General who blamed the weakness of our institutions for the he welcomed the new Algerian Republic, which be persistence of conflicts, tensions and misunder came a Member of the United Nations in October standings that continued to threaten peace on our 1962. Friendships made at such times cannot be planet. forgotten, and the Algerian people will always faith 4. U Thant fulfJ.Iled his two mandates as Secretary fully and affectionately remember U Thant with rec General of the United Nations at a time when our ognition and gratitude. Organization, still troubled by the problems inherited 8. I do not want here to trace the entire lifeofUThant from the Second World War and dominated by great and his continual wise activity to bring peace to the Power rivalries, was beginn:',g to open itself up to world and a better-understanding among peoples. In young, formerly subjugated nations, which came one the verv midst of the contradictions of our world, by one to join the United Nations as they achieved subject -to differing pressures and to incompatible their independence. In the international arena, that demands, he was able, even in the gravest moments period was a significant one for those countries which of crisis, to preserve that humanity which always were beginning to be known as the third world, and characterized hisattitude, without which our Organiza whose gradually growing and increasingly active par tion's mission would have lost its full meaning. ticipation gave' a new direction to international de- velopments. 9. In U Thant the international community has lost a great man. His devotion to the cause of mankind 5. The appearance of that factor forced the United will remain for one and all an example and an encour Nations rapidly to adapt its methods and structure, agement. In the tom and bitter world that is ours we as well as to readjust its order of priorities and con may be inspired by his words, full of wisdom and cerns. Who was better qualified than U Thant topre simplicity, which summarize the philosophy of his side over such a transformation without breaking actions. He said "We are thrown together on this with the past, and to keep a clear vision of the future same planet and we have to learn to live together" without frustrating the great Powers or driving the whatever the differences in our size, colour, religious small ones to despair? The metamorphosis through beliefs or political ideologies.' which the Organization went at that time resulted from a gradual but certain evolution the full scope or depth 10. The humility associated with the humble, with of which, since it took place smoothly, were not whom he always identified himself, was part and 1197 A/PV.2304 1\, ._. __ 1198 General Assembly-Twenty-ninth Session-Plenary Meetings ; '1 parcel of his natural nobility. He knew he was a man 1960s. In a turbulent period of change this was a tre ,j ofthe third world and derived neither pride nor frustra mendous challenge. 1 te tion from that condition which, because it was that m 17. The developments in the Congo were a major ~o ofthe greater part, he strove to assimilate to that of all preoccupation for two more years. In the fall of 1962, mankind. In the eyes of future generations he will the Cuban missile crisis presented the most dangerous IS remain the living witness of a difficult time in which, le potential confrontation ofnuclear Powers that had ever al nevertheless, some men, in the most adverse of cir occurred. U Thant played a crucial role in the resolu cumstances and struggling to the bitter end, laid is tion of this most dangerous of crises. Early in 1964, n claim, as he did, to their privilege to govern them the United Nations became involved in keeping the selves. al peace in Cyprus-then, as now, an island torn by H violence and discord. In 1965, when full-scale war 11. History has already recorded U Thant's name as IT one of those exceptional men who, through what has erupted between India and Pakistan, U Thant went c, come to be known as destiny, whether tragic or trium to the subcontinent to negotiate a cease-fire. At about a phant, always impose balance and harmony as, if not the same time also, the tragedy of Viet Nam, in which foreordained, at least an overwhelming imperative.. the United Nations was never directly involved, 22. His work reflected his personality, sober and discreet, began to assume its historical momentum. U Thant in p yet effective. His achievement was simply remarkable made a long personal effort to help in ending the wet because he was outstanding in his devotion to great Vietnamese tragedy. In 1967, there was renewed tim causes, and even today we have the impression that war in the Middle East. In early 1971, the war clouds eva he was concerned only with the major topics of con gathered again in the South Asian subcontinent and 23. temporary history. It is not easy to sum up in a few the situation dominated U Thant's last months as pol words a public figure Who seems to have been always Secretary-General. inte familiar, even if one never had the good fortune to 18. In all of these events, the quiet but resolute per anc meet him. He had a wide range of talent, and was by sonality of U Thant was an important factor. He was Du nature destined for greatness and for a fate above so unassuming, so outwardly calm and so lacking in Un the ordinary. He showed his greatness by refusing the desire for instant public recognition that his effec rec honours eagerly sought by others, and was exceptional tiveness in times of crisis has tended to be minimized fatl in that, while the dead rarely keep their friends, or forgotten. He was never afraid to speak his. mind de' U Thant left only friends to mourn him. May he rest on difficult issues, and to pursue, without fear or nat in peace in the living memory of our friendship and favour, the course he believed to be right. That the Opt affection. community of nations not only accepted this but len 12. I now call on Mr. Kurt Waldheim, Secretary unanimously voted for him to continue in office is sin General of the United Nations. the highest tribute to his integrity and character. 24. 13. The SECRETARY-GENERAL: U Thant served 19. No one will ever know the intense internal pal the United Nations devotedly for 10 years as its third struggle which U Thant's discipline and his deep faith of Secretary-General. He gave himself unreservedly to concealed from the public gaze. He was occasionally ere the Organization and was sustained, when the burdens even reproached for his calm. His medical history, rot of the office inevitably began to take their physical which he concealed as far as possible, tells another bel toll, by his dedication, by his deep inner faith and story-the story of a good and disciplined man doing the; spiritual discipline, and by his determination to do his his best to perform one ofthe most difficult jobs in the hir duty.