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UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 16 Date 17/05/2006 Time 3:35:45 PM S-0881-0001-03-00001 Expanded Number S-0881 -0001-03-00001 Title Items-in-Political-Security Council Affairs (PSCA) Analysis - all Europe (general) (see list of items, appendix No. 11) Date Created 07/10/1966 Record Type Archival Item Container s-0881 -0001: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant - PSCA Analysis (Political-Security Council Affairs) Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit fy A DEPAKPMEHT OF POLITICAL AMD SECURE COUNCIL AFFAIRS Political Affairs Division 21ST SESSION OF THE GEKEEAL ASSEMBLY General Debate lU32nd Meeting, 7 OctoTaer 1966 BELGIUM DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AMD Meeting Ho SECURITY COUNCIL AFFAIRS ? Octobejt Political Affairs Division Ph.P/sr 21ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY General Debate BELGIUM The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, M. Pierre Harmel, addressed the General Assembly on 7 October 1966 (A/PV.1^32). UN ORGANIZATION The Secretary-General Mr. Harmel thanked U Thant for his accomplishments and hoped to prevail upon him to continue in his present post. Belgium would accordingly like to refer to a number of points in the Secretary-General's Annual Report, i.e. to support his proposal for a study of the consequences of nuclear weapons and follow the Secretary-General in his search for a strategy of peace, to study the means of calling upon those who had not as yet subscribed to the Charter and to see to it that those who deserved the confidence of the Organization were not denied it. Membership Once the PRC gave a concrete sign of contributing to the security of Asia, Belgium would be anxious to have the PRC associate itself more broadly with peaceful construction within the United Nations. At that time nobody should act as if the 13 million of Taiwan Chinese did not count as against the 700 million of Continental China. A country like Belgium could not accept such "sordid calculations". OTHER AGENDA ITEMS Disarmament and related items The two European groups must foster, if possible for the world at large and in any case in Europe, an effort in the three directions of non-proliferation, - 2 - underground tests and a stabilization, followed by a reduction - progressive and necessarily parallel - in armed forces and military budgets. Belgium, for her part, was ready to suscribe to a non-proliferation treaty establishing an acceptable balance between the present nuclear powers. She appealed to such powers to speed up the signing of such an agreement. In the very spirit of the European de'tente Belgium wanted, in harmony with the efforts of her allies and to the degree that the de'tente would benefit thereby, to stabilize her armed forces and military budget. Economic development and trade There should be several approaches to development and yet overall co- ordination at the world level. In this light Europe attached particular significance to the work of UNCTAD. The second conference should lead to precise results, influencing world trade with a view to supplementing the effects of technical assistance and financial aid.. Belgium's effort of assistance and co-operation was proportionately equalled by few countries. For historical reasons an important part of that effort was concentrated in the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, in spite of the difficulties encountered. Yet Belgium was not indifferent to the economic and social problems of other countries, whether in Asia, Africa or Latin America. .Within the limits of her means and in the respect of her commitments Belgium would more biWJadly cooperate with an ever greater number of countries. Regional cooperation and the U.H. Mr. Harmel endorsed the statements of previous speakers who have urged regional cooperation in the area of economic development. Noting the geographical and historical factors which should make regional cooperation advantageous, he suggested that the UN should give its moral support and material aid to the regional groupings in the developing countries and should use them as a channel for its activities. POLITICAL PROBLEMS HOT ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA Viet-Nam It should be noted that the United States and other countries were giving aid, as requested, to the Government of South Viet-Nam, as they could not let South-Viet-Nam be crushed. On the other hand, North Viet-Nam was helping - 3 - the NFL and was struggling so as not to yield its independence to its neighbours. The United States had unequivocally stated its position and its sincerity could not be doubted. Mr. Goldberg asserted that his country was ready to end the bombing of North Viet~Kam if this should be promptly followed by correspon- ding de-escalation by the other side. He suggested that a gradual, controlled withdrawal of all foreign forces could be arranged through a negotiated time- table. He declared that his country was ready to negotiate with the opponent a settlement based on a strict respect of the Geneva agreements. The Secretary-General had recommended a cessation of the bombing of North Viet-Nam followed by a substantial reduction in military activities of all the parties interested in South Viet-Nam as a prelude to a negotiated settlement with the participation of the NFL. Mr. Gromyko insisted on the unconditional cessation of bombings, a with- drawal of the forces of the United States and its allies and the need to guarantee that the Vietnamese people themselves could solve their problems. While these positions were still far from one another, they were not irre- concilable and were not therefore ruling out any hope of a negotiated settlement. The time has come when a major choice must be made, more political than military, as was described by President Kennedy in the autumn of 1963. He, more than anyone else, embodied the courage which is needed so much by the leaders and heads of great powers and states who carry an extraordinary burden of responsibility. President Kennedy perceived that it would necessary, in the light of global policy, to come to the conclusion: "We are now very close to that critical moment of the final choice between the risks of a more total war and those of a reciprocal de-escalation and a negotiated solution". Once the first step was taken, there must be a realistic discussion. At that critical point the great powers committed in Asda, the USSR and China, must act, to strengthen the side which would take the first peaceful step. In order to make that second step easier, the United Nations should make a collective, solemn appeal for a negotiation between the interested parties, making it clear that negotiation was not surrender. It was not too early to examine the terms of such an appeal. The first act of de-escalation should permit a negotiation which should be prepared now. Security in Asia Mr. Harmel observed that there is no machinery at the present time to maintain security in Asia. He noted that President Johnson and the Secretary- General had asserted that security in Asia could not be achieved without China. He went on to suggest that China should, reassure its neighbours that it does not intend to carry out acts of aggression in their territories as to overthrow their regimes. The Foreign Minister opined that China's contribution to world peace should begin with China's contribution to security in Asia. Question of a detente in Europe - Peaceful coexistence Europe was experiencing no acute conflict. On the contrary circumstances were conducive to an improvement in relations between countries with different political systems and, even better, an increase in exchanges of all kinds, with a view to creating the climate that would permit a settlement of the Continent's great problems such as Germany. The favourable circumstances were as follows: a will to peace and need for peace shared by all the peoples of Europe and their common anxiety in the face of a deterioration of the world situation and awesome means of destruction; the strengthening of some regional solidarities, ending a dispersal of sterile nationalistic policies; a tuning down of ideological confrontation due to peace- ful coexistence and a relative balance between the two defensive systems. Defense was better organized within large frameworks; and Atlantic collective security had increased mutual respect. A quieter Europe should therefore set an example of peaceful collaboration, a detente and increased co-operation - internal and external. Europe should participate in world development, and the two rival groups should set an example in the field of disarmament, at least as far as Europe and her Governments were concerned. Belgium believed that there were three conditions for peace on a particular continent: appropriate military defense; political conditions based on the Charter, social conditions requiring a multiplication of exchanges, and the golden rule of a refusal of preventive or ideological wars. f * *• & ROUTING SLIP FICHE DE TRANSMISSION The Secretary-General FOR ACTION POUR SUITE A DONNER FOR APPROVAL POUR APPROBATION FOR SIGNATURE POUR SIGNATURE PREPARE DRAFT PROJET A REDIGER FOR COMMENTS POUR OBSERVATIONS MAY WE CONFER? POURRIONS-NOUS EN PARLER? YOUR ATTENTION VOTRE ATTENTION AS DISCUSSED COMME CONVENU AS REQUESTED SUITE A VOTRE DEMANDE NOTE AND FILE NOTER ET CLASSER NOTE AND RETURN NOTER ET RETOURNER FOR INFORMATION X POUR INFORMATION Date: 10 Oct. 1966 CR. 13 (11-64) DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND 10 October 1966 SECURITY COUNCIL AFFAIRS PhPrpmm Political Affairs Division TWENTY-FIRST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY General Debate lU52nd Meeting, 7 October 1966 YUGOSLAVIA DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL MD Meeting No. SECURITY COUNCIL AFFAIRS 7 October 1966 Political Affairs Division PhP:pmm 21ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY General Debate YUGOSLAVIA The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia, M.

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