UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 81 Date 15/05/2006 Time 10:05:35 AM S-0885-0002-31 -00001 Expanded Number S-0885-0002-31-00001 Title items-in-End-of-Year messages Date Created 05/12/1967 Record Type Archival Item Container S-0885-0002: Operational Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: Speeches, Messages, Statements, and Addresses - not issued as press releases Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit ROUTING SLIP FICHE DE TRANSMISSION Mr. Lemieux FOR AfiTION 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 SDC POUR INFORMATION Date: 5 jjec FROM: C.V.Narasimhan DE: CR. 13 (11-64) C—' Is tr-a^iti<?^al3|f ttus aesetsm, of goodwill eb&esr. As tine festive ssa£$a aip^^s* we ma^4 lock th«? tKWM la imiB faa* m&if sstat&ms of «lthor goofi els?®?. la $&© Sajst ij^eilTe ja0stii.s I ha1^ s^ea ^ematioaal tessieai 12ian I oaa recall at the iagt eissreai 3re.ae«i tfc^t X souths ^ '^ base seea tte moimtisg tlte ecsifai^t in ?t«t Sam idt& its ia itoe Ma«SGL« iagt &rupt@a the tStoitM Hatims ccmld n0fc it t«s0 afele at ileast to fei?i^ spoilt a ^®? ^&e futtarfe peace »f tlx® area depena upon the of co«O|>e®atlim ^hidh 12te eotmtsfiee direot^r eoaeeraeet to giire to the efforts «f tlas tfciisS Hatioas aj^l to of the S^creta3r«;(M6eara3.. MOJ?@ the Bitsmtiea is tHe Bas*te©sn Jfeditensaoesa yoae to of tes0lQn, feat fogfetmtisa^r an, sj^ed canfiict vas f^a?t0 tfeat ths crisis enraiiea aa3 tbs tfefe geoxjxsilr Goaaei3U tfce jpesasS of tlte IMI<NK! Isfcieas is ae-egaM to the ££ iateffii&ttQital peace saasi sedtujity has fceaa eosBjagifigs the efforts- of tlie tloited ITatioas and its t®B33qr of sgencisf suet iastltuticoas ta prcaacste eco»OTSie s«j.cSal p?o©?ess bairn iss^e eome Iteafeijr. I tafce tbis to ^xteiaa qjr ajpe^iatltffiss ts all those waiMag outo^fclag ia^oBe'iii roaote and distant.places. X tone sreferi?©a earlier tMs jieair to tb© MC3dLsis of tijat tfee Unites E«^<^s seema to tje facing at th® preesat time. in these cirsiaastames t?e o^ed to have stroag faith in the tfelfesd; Satioas msi its oapaeitj' %& s^srve tlie eaase of peaee auS I feojsfe sr eolligaga&e IB tSie ttefce^ Haticme aad i» He24 offices* as well as ttioae 4evt»tisd asea ars 6i^.@eS l» ^odious ^eae^ae^gdLjag t&gsjUms* will fitter ia thei*? ct<s^i^is0$ ii3t the TMt«dt iatioae aad fiai^ ia its t&t&raata euc^gss* As tha Jtetr T^r ^Kpoaehes, let as dsSifsate o-orselves aaew td th«' gfrea* ta^ks s^eaS, ^stfet in t&e fiedS of la %s isifflsfe e^* ^eaoe-lniiiaiiag* m& w^r M@3fc«? of ycats? f^sia^- a very LX—-•-!.. 1 I,'.'. C-l- --f~'~ ^-'.sJ^t i ," o ^ , MESSAGE FROM THE SECHEEARY-GEHEML This is traditionally the season of goodwill ead good cheer. As tha festive season approaches5 we n®y look abound the world in vain for manifestations of either goodwill or good cheer. In tlia past twelve months I have seen more crises and greater international tension that I can recall at any time during the eleven years that I have spent at and with the United Nations. During the last twelve months, we have seen the moimting escalation of the conflict in Viet-Ham with its tragic, and often forgotten, story of human suffering and agony. The simmering situation in the Middle East erupted into open war this summer and, while the United Hations could not prevent the conflicts it was able at least to bring about a ceasefire. The prospects for the future peace of the area depend upon the extent of co-operation which the countries directly concerned are willing to give to the efforts of o the United Nations and to the Special Representative of the Secretary- General. More recently the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean rose to aew levels of tension,, but fortunately en armed conflict was averted by th@ diplomatic efforts that the crisis evoked sad the consensus adopted by the Security Council. While the record of the United Hatio&s in regard to the maiataiaancs of international peace and security has fallen short of our expectations and those of an anxious world, nevertheless, it has been proved again in several delicate instances how vital a role the United nations can play in reducing dangerous tensions end in affording Msmber States the instrumentalities to emerge from critical situations and work towards their peaceful solution. & C, <'KVl,v. ), A>-^,- - ^0^>i>^• ^, .' j y\-^ wz.^ "^;^--^-/ /' ' / /. '/^-v 7. --•CL^-..- / _ 2 - The efforts of the United Nations and its family of agencies and institutions to promote economic and social progress also give grounds for encouragement, although the targets may not have yet been fully reached. I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to all those working in this field, including those in remote and distant places. I have referred earlier this year to the "crisis of confidence" t that the United Nations seems to be facing at the present time. I feel that this crisis can and must be overcome and that the Member States will have to make the effort required to give a fresh impetus to the work of the Organization and to strengthen its capacity to serve the cause of peace and progress. There is no other alternative to the ever looming danger of a nuclear catastrophe. I hope my colleagues in the United Nations and in the field offices, as well as those devoted men and woman who are engaged in various peacekeeping missions3 will never falter in their confidence in the United Nations and their faith in its ultimate success. As the Hew Year approaches, let us dedicate ourselves anew to the great tasks aheadj, both in the field of peacekeeping and in the work of peace-building. I wish you and every member of your family a very happy holiday and a rewarding New Year. December 1967 GEORGE TODORCHEV( CORRESPONDENT OF THE BULGARIAN IMS AGENCY TO UNITED NATIONS DEAR MR. NASSIF, I AM VERY GLAD TO INFORM YOU THAT THE NEW YEAR MESSAGE SO KINDLY MADE BY H.E. SECRETARY GENERAL U THANT TO BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT AND TO BULGARIAN PEOPLE ¥AS PUBLISHED IN ALL BULGARIAN NEWSPAPERS AND TRANSLATED BY THE BULGARIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION. I AM OBLIGED TO EXPRESS AGAIN MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO H.E. SECRETARY GENERAL FOR HIS KIND RESPONSIVITY. I AM ALSO VERY THANKFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR SO FRIENDLY MANIFESTETED IMPORTANT HELP IN THIS CONNECTION. SINCERELY YOURS, f.7 TO MR. RAMSES NASSIF ( G.TODORCHEV ) PRESS AID TO THE SEKRETARY GENERAL UNITED NATOINS 28 of t&« 2tea ?Q;*3F0 2 gg and Oimsusset and ps©pl© of I still <sfcs>2leli @f s^1 vleit; to yea? I had of tesiteg tl^s fsl@aSi^ osi. p^opl© of NEW YORK TIMES, Tuesday, 19 December fhWWiprSomber Note •ith the Umt^HSrafcons'*' 7f Referring to continuing con^ Ifoofiftaptessage to Staf flict and tensions in Vietnam, the -Middle East and Cyprus, Special to'Tb* New York Iliriea the: Secretary General called UNITED NATIONS, N Y, upon his staff to keep faith in Dec. 18 — Secretary General the United Nations to combat Thant's holiday message to the ttfe "crisis of confidence" that United Nations staff, which he said confronts the organ- ization * wag circulated today, strikes k somber note "As the festive season ap- proaches, we may look around the world mi vain for manifes- tations' ipf' either goodwill or good cheer," he said. "In the past 12 months 'V have seen more .crises,,. andv greater inter- national \le'fl'S?o^tEan|I-.can re- call December 18, 1967 Bear Mr. Secretary-General: I write to you. as a friend and an admirer. I feel most strongly that you cannot let stand your pessimistic message of this date to the United Nations staff* Everything you say is true. On the otherhand, the first principle of the United Nations " to save successding generations from the scourge of war"(and this was meant to be a major warj has been met. I know how you feel about Vietnam. I feel the same but , and this is the point, due largely to your repeated attacks, feite the repeated pronouncements of almost 122 Member States, the United States has stopped short of going the whole way. The war remains basically a stalemate, though I admit a dangerous one* The United Nations has been able to control& the Middle East situation and was in the final analysis at the heart of the Cyprus affair. The Peacekeeping Committee may have failed to make progress for the moment but the United Nations has not failed in the field ofipeacefceeping. On Human Rights, on Economic and Social Affairs, we have gone forward ip. an extraordinary manner. We have not kept pace with the expanding population explosion but we have certainly carried out the mandate of the Organization. I feel very strongly, that you as Secretary-General of 122 Member States of all J&JLt>~ei> races, religions and nationalities has to l-ed.