United Nations 1409th GENERAL PLENARY MEETING (Opening meeting) I ASSEMBLY Tuesday, 20 September 1966, TWENTY.FIRST SESSION at 3 p.m. Official R~cords NEW YORK CONTENTS Just when the work of the twentieth session was Page beginning, the efforts of numerous States and of the Agenda item 1: Organization enabled two Member States to bring to Opening of the session by the Chairman of the an end bitter fighting which threatened to degenerate delegation of Italy. ....••..•......•. 1 into a broader conflict. The armistice was subsequently carried a step further at an important meeting arranged Agenda item 2: by a permanent member of the Security Council. Minute of silent pray8r or meditation. ..•.• 1 4. This year we begin our work at a time when, Address by Mr. Amintore Fanfani, Temporary despite the suspension of bombings after the twentieth President, Chairman of the delegation ofItaly 1 session was adjourned, and despite subsequent Agenda item 3: demarches ,and efforts, another conflict rages on, Credentials of the representatives to the sowing anxiety, misery and sorrow. twenty-first session of the General Assem­ 5. As the twenty-first session opens, we find our­ bly: selves fervently hoping that by the time our work BJ Appointmentof the Credentials .Committee 3 has been completed we may see positive signs of Agenda item 4: peace on the horizon and catch a glimpse of that Election of the President. .....••...... 3 moment, so intensely desired, when constructive negotiations are begun with a view to a settlement Address by Mr. AbdulRahman Pazhwak, Presi- which will be honourable for all concerned-and will dent of the General Assembly at its twenty- enable the Viet-Namese to live peacefully in calm first session .••................... 3 and prosperity, as a free and independent people. Agenda item 20: 6. Even if the United Nations as such cannot at this Admission of new Members to the United time have a direct influence on the settlement of this Nations. ••.....•......•.....•.•. '1 conflict; no country or individual participating in the activities of this great family of nations must refrain President: Mr. Abdul Rahman PAZHWAK from helping in the search for a peaceful solution. (Afghani 5 tan). 7. On 4 October 1965, during a meeting outstanding Temporary President:IMr. Amintore FANFANI among all those of the twentieth session [1347th (Italy). meeting], we all applauded a most distinguished guest, who came from Rome to address to us the exhortation repeated again yesterday: "Never again war!" In AGENDA ITEM 1 keeping with the acclaim we accorded that exhortation a year ago, it is our duty to persevere unceasingly Opening of the session by the Chairman of the dele- to explore the path to peace-for peace is absolutely gation of Italy essential to the freedom, progress and well-being 1. The TEMPORARY PRESIDENT (translated from of all mankind. French): I declare open the twenty-first regular 8. During the session opening today, you will have session of the General Assembly. to examine-under difficult circumstances, con­ sidering the present international outlook--a number AGENDA ITEM 2 of problems which must be solved ifthe United Nations Minute of silent prayer or meditation is to function effectively. 2. The TEMPORARY PRESIDENT (translated from French): I invite the representatives to rise and observe one minute of silent prayer or meditation. The printed official recorrIs of the plenary meetings of the General AssemblyarepUblished The representatives rose and observed the period of silence in fasoio1e form, the record of each meetinlJ being issued separately. A prefatory fascicle is issued for each session, containing a· table of rar Pres'i- :ta y contents, the agenda, a list ofnumbers of dele­ gallons, and other prefatory matter. The fas.., J. The TEMPORARY PRESIDENT (translated from clcZes are subsequently bound in volumes by French): Last year the General Assembly met in session. circumstances that seemed highly auspicious to us all. 2 General Assembly - Twenty-first Session - Plenary Meetmgs 9. Before we broke up on 22 December last year, we of the world, leaving no region where its influence is i reached by common accord certain decisions which not felt. This will be possible, however, only if we seemed favourable to the solution of those problems. have the wisdom and sense of responsibility expected Unfortunately, the intervening period has not been of us and achieve-without departing from the prin- I long enough to enable all the results hoped for to be ciples of the Organization-the true universality achieved. And since the success has beenonly partial, envisaged by those who drew up the Charter of the r there is a danger that the difficulties which appear United Nations. , to be partly responsible for the Secretary-General's 15. I have indicated three problems which will be decision not to make himself available for a second difficult to solve. However, this difficulty does not I term of office may continue and grow worse. mean we may overlook them. 10. Our recognition of the services whIch U Thant 16. In 1945, Beardsley Rum! predicted: "It will only has rendered, as all agree, with dedication and lnte- be when the United Nations is twenty years old that grity, to the United Nations and the cause of peace, ... we will know that the [Organization] is the only has prompted us all to express to him-in our very alternative to the demolition of the world." 31"Since I different ways-our confidence and gratitude. The this prediction has come true, all that remains is to expressions of solidarity and appreciation-a veritable find a proper solution to the problems plaguing the plebiscite-from small and great nations alike, irre- United Nations. If we struggle now to ward off the spective of their leanings or political allegiance, bear apocalyptic destruction of the world, we are in fact witness to the way in which in'carrying out his duties fighting to ensure for the Organization sufficient funds, he has succeeded in rising above all controversies, effective action and universal authority. thereby earning universal respect. It would thus seem fair to say that, in view of the difficulties we face 17. Once we have confronted and solved the three today, Secretary-General U Thant would help to basic problems just outlined, we shall have laid the dispel our fears if he would agree either to carry on foundations for a stronger and more effective United his work, as we all hope, or-and I suggest this Nations. But we shall not have created the climate alternative only because I am called upon to do so-to best suited to the balanced economic and social de­ offer his assistance to the competent organs of the velopment of all mankind. Yet this is indispensable if United Nations and so help them to take the most new sources of social conflict are to be avoided and appropriate decisions. war prevented. 11. Aside from this difficulty which has arisenon the 18. We have already reached the half-way point in eve of the present session, and which we hope to the United Nations Development Decade. If we pause overcome in accordance with the wishes I have just briefly to take stock at this stage, we find.that the expressed, we are all bound in duty to redouble our situation is far from satisfactory, despite the many efforts to solve the problems relatingto the resources, efforts made-though admittedly they have beenpoorly activities and authority of the United Nations. co-ordinated at times. The flow of funds intended for 12. First, we must solve the problem of the financial developing nations has increased, but not in proportion situation of the United Nations. To this end, at the to the need. The terms on which financial aid is last session we set up the Committee of Fourteen;!L granted are still too heavy and the rate at which the which has dUly carried out its task. It is now a matter effect is felt is discouragingly slow. Exchange rates of urgency for its recommendations, and any amend­ are still unfavourable for the developing countries, ments which may be made to them, to be translated and the United Na,tions has not yet succeededin getting into decisions of the General Assembly. These deci­ the necessary corrective measures adopted, even in sions will no doubt help to simplify and rationalize respect of those essential commodities for which an the administrative structure and operational methods agreement seemed near at hand. Under such circum­ of the United Nations. In addition, by enabling those stances, the debts of developing nations are increasing Member States which have not as yet announced alarmingly, and the technical, economic and social voluntary contributions to do so, they will help to gulf between these nations and the industrialized eliminate the final obstacles to the task of putting countries continues to widen. the finances of the Organization in order. 19. The experience acqUired up to now would suggest 13. The second fundamental requirement, which more co-ordination and simpler procedures. Perhaps, involves us all, is that the Organization should have too, we should devote particular attention to technical well-defined rules on which it can base its action in co-operation which, as was indicated in a recent fulfilling its peace-keeping responsibilities. Unfor­ proposal by a European nation, is indispensable If tunately, the efforts ofthe Committee of Thirty-threeU the development of the different countries is to proceed have hardly been encouraging. During its twenty-first smoothly and the gap between them is not to widen session, the Assembly should therefore study the until the situation is beyond control. problem again closely, so that the Organization may become a reliable and efficient instrument in this 20.