Tems-In-Secretary-General's Statements
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UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 45 Date 5/10/2006 Time 11:59:40 AM S-0985-0005-03-00001 Expanded Number S-0985-0005-03-00001 Title |tems-in-Secretary-General's Statements Date Created 8/1/1975 Record Type Archival Item Container s-0985-0005: Secretary-General's Statements Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit MESSAGE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OP THE UNITED NATIONS TO THE CONFERENCE OF FOREIGN MINISTERS OF NON-ALIGNED COUNTRIES - LIMA. PERU, 25 AUGUST 1975 \ JX" X I welcome this opportunity to extend to the Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Countries my very best wishes for the success of this important Conference„ Your deliberations have over the past years influenced significantly the course of international relations and I have no doubt about the impact which the conclusions you will reach at Lima will exert on the future actions of the world community,. The Non-Aligned Countries have consistently supported the endeavours of the United Nations and I wish once again to thank you for your continuing determination to strengthen the Organization and give lasting effect to its principles and objectives,, I wish to pay a special tribute to the Government and people of Peru for their efforts in promoting international co-operation and for their consistent support of the United Nations,, Only recently Peru provided generous hospitality to the General Conference of UNIDO as it does today to this important Conference. Peru's support for the United Nations was also demonstrated through its valuable contribution to the peace-keeping operations in the Middle East. Since your last meeting in Georgetown, the world has witnessed the end of a long and tragic conflagration in Indo- China, and encouraging progress towards decolonization in . <,. o. several parts of the world. - 2 - several parts of the world. These are matters to -which the Non-Aligned Countries had assigned priority consideration. trie, t-^^aji^\ wwf In Indo-China it is now essential to secure a •-RHass^sag- mofea?3>3rg<atd?6S^i££- assistance for the rehabilitation of that area and to relieve the plight of the people who have suffered so much. During the past three years we have welcomed the accession to independence of several countries. But we are still faced with the problems of decolonization and racial discrimination in Southern Africa. In connexion with the tragic developments which are talcing place in Angola, I wish to reiterate my deep anxiety and my earnest appeal for an end to the fighting and for national reconciliation. In the Middle East, the international community, and the United Nations especially, bear a heavy burden which they cannot relinquish. I still believe that negotiations provide the best hope for a settlement, although it has so far proved impossible to advance beyond the disengagement agreements. The main problems still remain to be solved, including a solution which will recognize the rights of the Palestinian peoplee It is essential that the momentum of negotiations be maintained and that an overall settlement be reached which alone can bring just and lasting peace to the Middle East. I know that we can count on the Non-Aligned Countries to continue to help in our efforts towards that end. The problem of Cyprus — 3 •• The problem of Cyprus is another case v;here, in the / » absence of a settlement, the peace-keeping and peace-making efforts of the United Nations are an essential factor. The United Nations is closely involved in the efforts, through talks between the leaders of the two communities, to reach a negotiated basis for the peaceful future of the Island. Here again I believe that the peace-keeping arrangements and the persistent efforts to negotiate are the best possible course in an extremely difficult situation. To ensure a better future for millions of human beings around the world, it will be essential to tackle the broader questions of peace and security which, in the last instance, will determine the success or failure of international co-operation. It has not been possible as yet to halt the international arms race or to curb the very large volume of f** armaments currently being sold in the international arms trade. In a world where there are so many pressing social and economic needs, the global military expenditure of nearly $300 billion a year represents an enormous diversion of valuable resources. Another subject of grave international concern is the danger of nuclear proliferation. In this context, it is worth noting that your meeting is being held in the world's only 'nuclear- free zone established in a populated area. The mobilization of political will to harmonize the actions of nations and to face collectively the challenges of a world a..«. emerging from a - 4 - emerging from a disastrous war was the underlying intention of the founders of our Organization thirty years ago. The United Nations has undoubtedly played a vital role in bringing about the dramatic changes which have since taken place. In reflecting these changes, the focus and emphasis of the xirork of the United Nations has shifted and broadened. Indeed, in its early years and with its much more restricted membership, the Organization tended to be dominated by the immediate concerns of the post-war world. But as its membership increased and as the newly independent countries took their seats, the Organization devoted more and more of its time and resources to the present and future problems of the new world which emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s —- a world of independent sovereign States which demanded for their peoples the rights and opportunities which history had denied them. Within this broad concept, increasing efforts have been, and are being, made to tackle the main aspects of this enormous global problem — poverty, food, energy, raw materials, population, environment, trade and monetary systems, and most recently, the status of women. The convening of special sessions of the General Assembly in two successive years to deal with development questions attests to the inextricable links that exist ..„„. between the quest - 5 - between the quest for political stability and economic and social issues* It also shows that the United Nations remains a dynamic instrument for the creation of a new world order through mutual respect and mutual confidence. The deliberations which start next week in New York are intended to assess the obstacles and constraints which stand in the way of implementing the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic order, as well as the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States,, These are expressions of aspiration and intent. What is now required - as has been forcefully pointed out by the President of the Economic and Social Council - is a blue-print for specific action? v*< an agreement on what the international community intends to do regarding specific problems? and how, where and when to adopt concrete and practical measures0 The Seventh Special Session of the General Assembly will be an unprecedented test of the capacity of the United Nations to harmonize the actions and policies of States, Through determination and co-operation we can meet the challenge of multilateral action and build a firmer foundation for world peace, justice and progress. Preliminary draft message to be delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General I welcome this opportunity to extend to the(Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Countries my very best wishes for the success of this important meeting. Your deliberations have over the past years influenced significantly the course of international relations an4- worXd—a-f-Sa-irgs and I have no doubt about the impact which the conclusions you will reach at Lima will exert &n the future actions of the world community. The Non-Aligned Countries have consistently supported the endeavours of the United Nations and I wish once again to thank you for your continuing determination to strengthen the Organisation and give lasting effect to its principles and objectives. In this regard, V3 _ *yw>* 0-^-t^ ^-t^^ ££>4fa4Sh*<U^ f /^erM/d. ^-Vv1-**— -'*-—--J—'to peacekeeping operations Jby the concrete proof of i£ta faith/in the peace-keeping responsibilities of the United^Nations arid has thus rejidered a most valuable service to the ckuse of peace* , Since your last meeting in Georgetown, the world has witnessed vadflr^pro^otimd-ieeSTef the end of a long and tragic conflagration in Indo-China, and encouraging progress towards de-colonization.';'c, are b &'-,&. TheseYmatters to which the Non-Aligned Countries had assigned priority consideration. In Indo-China it is now essential to secure a massive mobilization of assistance for the rehabilitation of that area and to relieve the plight of the people who have suffered tfe©=Jin±oIjd_.,^i^s*a4ion>-®-f^mr. During the past three - 2 - years we have welcomed the accession to independence of several countries. But we are still faced with the problems of decolo- nization and racial discrimination in Southern Africa. In ' connexion with the tragic developments which are taking place in Angola, I wish to reiterate my deep^ anssiety and my earnest -•«£»»/ r* <7-«- /^''^ appeal forSifeconciliatidn. Nati©as=h:ss=-a'"pa£t-i-eular -responsibility.} The political will to harmonize tlie actions of nations and to face collectively the challenges of a world emerging from a // . oa/fess-feeep^^c war was the underlying intention of the^f oundiaej1 of our Organization thirty v^ararss aago, The '^ 1 0-'f (** t> Sl^ i.'\ \ ' ' i° : I undoubtedly facilitated the dramatic change's which have since taken place/afftet;d^ig^iHS~^3a^tre^^c:^xhg3^e--t^ang^es.