YouSaid · the spoken record

HARMEL

lines on the record: 238
first: 1966-09-24
most recent: 1972-09-24
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Secretary-General, knowing you as the Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations, as belonging to one of the most noble peoples of old Europe, and as a Minister for Foreign Affairs whom we have seen at work, we have been able to appreciate your devotion to the cause of a more united Europe, transcending ideological differences and respecting the identity of each of its States. Belgium conveys to you, through me, its congratulations and the assurance of its full co-operation. By today responding, in essence, to the questions posed in the introduction to your report [A/8701/Add.l] we have sought to demonstrate the importance we attach to your initiative. 132. And so my concluding words are a promise: Mr. Secretary-General, you can count on the support of Belgium.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“It will be understood why, in mentioning and saluting your presidency, Sir, I should call to mind and associate with our tribute to the President of the General Assembly the memory of another great European: a statesman who, 27 years ago, presided over the first General Assembly of the United Nations, Paul-Henri Spaak who passed away a few weeks ago. How can we forget a voice and a mind of such resonance, devoted to the noble cause of peace and European reconstruction. That is why I wish to evoke his memory today. 131. Mr.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“I have just described what we hope the countries of the European Community can do to break away from the balance of fear, to rise above the balance of prudence and to achieve the balance of growth. But all of Europe, in the process of rapprochement, will make its contribution, too. 129. Mr. President, you are a European, a citizen of the great nation of Poland in which the civilization of our continent flourishes. Belgium welcomes your leadership of this Assembly. I remember that the renowned Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rapacki, was in 1966 one of the first to speak to us about a conference on European security and the balanced reduction of forces. Indeed, one of the drafts bore his name. 130.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Let us therefore help to ensure that the tariff negotiations of 1973 will provide the developing countries with the maximum advantages; that the new monetary structures will forge new links between the wealthiest countries and the others. In this connexion the decisions taken last month by the International Monetary Fund are on the right lines. Let us also provide greater access to a common market for the manufactured goods produced by the Group of 77 developing countries. Let us contribute, on a case-by-case basis, to the stabilization of commodity prices and, finally, establish the order of magnitude-which will increase over the next 10 years of how much can be voluntarily siphoned off from European prosperity towards development. Belgium, for its part, is in favor of all these steps. 128.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Now, by dint of its very situation between the super-Powers, its friendship with North America, by the detente in the east, it has no designs for remote political control and its defense responsibilities are limited to its own area in other words, its military establishment and budget are both of moderate size. 125. Finally, for a quarter of a century now, it has been accustomed to seeking the progressive redistribution of the benefits of its growth to promote the social welfare of its own citizens. All it has to do now, therefore, is to get used to extending the same solidarity to the third world. 126. At this point in its history, such a Europe seems to me to be well placed to make the first offers to other regions of the world, without at the same time overlooking its duties to the developing countries. 127.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“On the contrary, I wish to express the hope that the enlarged European Community for its part will, at its forthcoming solemn session in Paris, provide the beginning of a reply to this problem when it outlines its foreign policy for the coming decade in its relations with the southern hemisphere. 121. In this area, it seems to me, everything points to Europe as the area for taking the first step. 122. Now, through its enlargement it has become the world's leading trading power and in many respects the world's leading economic power. 123. Now, after having closed the colonial chapter in the world's history book, it has found in the equality of States and the mutual respect of independent States, and also in long-established mutual understanding, a kind of privileged relationship with most countries. 124.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“We are well aware that that prospect has been followed very closely by the Latin American countries. Mr. de Seynes, in his report to the Second Committee at its 1449th meeting, made another proposal and suggested UNITAR. We would draw the attention of the Assembly to this matter, and we know that the Secretary-General will take it up. 119. The balanced growth of mankind in each of its components is a problem on which we can see a collective awareness is emerging. It is in any event the duty of the United Nations to tackle it. 120. The global question I have just raised totally transcends the question of underdevelopment, but in putting it in this way it is not our intention to play down or in any way to set aside the responsibility of the developed countries towards the developing countries.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“116. At present there is only one organization in the world which can ask that question with authority and recommend the gradual formulation of a policy in which each component will have to be linked with several others. That is our own Organization. 117. We would like to make a suggestion: that we begin with the preparation of a joint declaration on the aims of and means for a new balance of growth. If you believe that this is a necessary and an urgent task, to whom should it be assigned? 118. On 3 October [2050th meeting] my colleague and friend, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Mr. Schmelzer, raised a very similar question, even though we had not consulted together beforehand. He told us that the Economic and Social Council was the central forum for formulating a co-ordinated policy.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“All these are questions which no State can any longer solve on its own and for itself. But all these are questions to which our specialized agencies, each in the field of competence indicated by its title, can supply partial answers. And here, there is some reason for gratification that this year of 1972 has witnessed the third session of UNCTAD in Santiago, Chile, and the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. An important world conference on population is to be held in 1974. But we are aware that all the partial or sectoral answers provided by specialized world conferences or agencies must hence forth be co-ordinated. Where will the co-ordinating be done? How can we organize for the whole world a new balance of growth in which the ecological, economic and social plans would of necessity be interdependent?”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“We see the suddenly increasing complexity of a problem which both affects and involves all living beings, because we have to answer a global question: can we, and for how long preserve a physically and socially inhabitable earth? Each human being, each thinking man on our planet, whether he lives in an affluent or a needy society, is asking himself that question. It is then that basic questions are asked. How far can human reproduction go? Must we save non-renewable mineral resources? How can we prevent the destruction of the natural environment? Is food production limitless? Is the interminable material growth of certain types of production in the developed societies conceivable in itself, and this in the face of the continuing stagnation or retrogression of the underdeveloped societies? 115.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“The fundamental values on which our systems are based are too different and the goals we pursue are too dissimilar. 113. But if we succeed in this first attempt we will have initiated a process. We know it will be long and difficult, but it could lead to a permanent understanding on a continental scale. We would then have proved that it is only through co-operation that the conditions for genuine stability and peace can be created something which no one would dream of challenging. 114. I come now to my third subject. Up to now I have spoken about the strictly political aspects of relations between States, but we are aware that they are no longer the only ones to claim priority as matters of international concern. We are faced with a whole new dimension in world problems.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“The States of our continent have chosen different paths: some have chosen a common destiny within the Community; others prefer neutrality or non-involvement, which debars them from any delegation of sovereignty; the last group is governed by a system of State economy. But among these three groups, or in these States as a whole, there has been a proliferation of bilateral agreements over the past few years, and now the prospect of the forthcoming conference on European security paves the way for a multilateral meeting such as has not occurred since 1815 at which the problems of common interest will be discussed simultaneously by all the States concerned. 112. The time has not yet come to lay the basis for a permanent understanding among the countries of our continent.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“The only reason for concern to which this progressive union might give rise would be that this Europe, in becoming a leading commercial and economic Power, might not assume all the world responsibilities flowing from its new status. 110. From this very rostrum Sir Alec Douglas-Home vigorously rejected this idea in his statement at the 2042nd meeting. He expressed our common conviction. I shall shortly refer to all that this enlarged Community should contribute in order to promote a genuine balance of growth. 111. But, however proud we may feel at having built a new community, we are well aware that it does not represent all of Europe.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“The continuing development and enlargement of the European communities are a solid guarantee of this; the active preparation of the conference on European security is another. Let me to tell you something about these two events which are such important milestones on the road, towards that future world harmony which in our opinion will find its most reliable basis in regional structures and stages. 109. As regards the process of building Western Europe, no one can remain indifferent to the fact that neighboring countries, governed by the same principles of parliamentary democracy, are joining together in a common destiny-after having, for the last few centuries, shaken the world with their confrontations.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Peace will never come without the agreement of all the parties, but it is for our Organization to help them in this as effectively as possible. I should like to say in conclusion on this problem that if the European Community can make some contribution to peace-making -Belgium would repeat what it has often stated here: its assistance in the economic and social rehabilitation of the peoples which have suffered most from the war would be, and I hope will be, the most effective contribution of the European Economic Community. 108. I have just described the mission of Europe in the world-wide movement for closer ties. My country openly rejoices at the fact that Europe, as a continent, is moving ahead resolutely towards co-operation, stability and detente.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“We would like to think that, at the outset of the search for an interim solution, it would be possible to identify the principles common to all the parties which are already explicitly set forth in resolution 242 (1967). We, for our part, have always attached particular importance to the twofold preliminary declaration which stresses both "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war" and "the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in security". 106. Is this not an established fact? If so, it would be easier to agree that the declared positions of each of the parties on matters under dispute are not ultimatums but only negotiating terms. 107.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Secretary- General, have made. 104. Another definite prospect was President El-Sadat's proposal of 4 February 1971 and the interest likewise shown by Israel in seeking an interim solution which would include the reopening of the Suez Canal. If this agreement is acted upon it will prove that mutually beneficial arrangements can be reached between States which are still somewhere between war and peace. Other partial approaches can be imagined. The important thing in our view is that a constructive move should be made to end a dangerous state of immobility. It would then be possible to tackle, with higher hopes, other problems connected with an over-all solution. And a particular place must be reserved here for the problem of the Palestinian people. 105.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“The Soviet disengagement from Egypt has reduced the danger of a polarization of the conflict between the super-Powers, but after five years the peoples that confront each other are still somewhere in between war and peace. 103. For us the basis of a negotiated solution remains Security Council resolution 242 (1967), which the great Powers and the principal States concerned supported. I know it is five years old, but it is not obsolete; it contains the principles of an agreement. It would be otiose, in our view, to interpret it or to try to improve on it. Its practical implementation is principally the responsibility of the parties, aided by those designated by the United Nations to assist them. In this connexion I wish to pay a tribute to the efforts we have witnessed, particularly those of U Thant and Mr. Jarring and those which you, Mr.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“You quote some recent cases which are in all our minds: the German States, North Korea and South Korea, India and Pakistan. Mr. Rogers, for his part, has mentioned all the other efforts at rapprochement which are being made. 101. We cannot just sit back and congratulate ourselves on this. What part can the international community play, either on a world-wide basis or at the regional level, to create a state of stability through co-operation? This is a vast subject and I shall confine myself to some ideas about two lines of action. 102. As regards peace, our ^Organization bears special responsibilities in the Middle East. We must ask ourselves if it is accomplishing all that is expected of it. The cease-fire is still in force, but it has not been possible to halt the destructive sequence of acts of violence and reprisals.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“This appeal addressed to the international non-governmental organizations, gives me an opportunity in passing to underline their growing importance. Today The Union of International Associations numbers more than 2,500 such organizations as compared with 560 in 1965. It is a sound idea, therefore, to consider in the spirit of the Charter the increasingly effective participation of the non-governmental organizations in international action. 100. It was you, Mr. Secretary-General, who coined the expression "balance of prudence" to denote a certain degree of progress, namely the fact that groups, nations and States, hitherto hostile, were manifestly striving towards dialog, understanding and negotiation and, indeed, sometimes reconciliation.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Will the United Nations be able, and does it indeed have the will, to lay down principles of action,- to limit by mutual consent the exclusive sovereignty of our States? Can we reconcile respect for the sacredness of human life with Article 2, paragraph 7, of the Charter? 98. We would like to address an appeal to the international non-governmental organizations which are seeking to ensure respect for human rights. Could they not devote their efforts to this serious problem which is so important for human dignity and make specific suggestions on action they advocate? Belgium pledges itself to do everything in its power to ensure that these proposals, based on the opinions of men of goodwill throughout the world, will be taken up at the next session of the General Assembly. 99.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Belgium has been deeply shocked in the last few years, and again quite recently, by several such cases. None of our countries by itself can, without creating serious public confrontation, go further, in making its representations to a State that is torn internally, than to express the anxiety or condemnation of its own public opinion. But we realize that the victims in those countries do not understand our official semi-silence. Of course the organizations of the United Nations family and also the new agency for co-ordinating efforts in the event of disaster do come to the aid of the survivors; that is fine, but we do not believe it is enough. The voice of the world's conscience the only one powerful enough to halt the slaughter ought to be able to make itself heard on these occasions.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Since, according to the philosophy of the United Nations, war should always give way to negotiation or arbitration as our Charter states it follows that whenever wanton violence is fostered by individuals or groups of individuals, that, too, must be condemned by the canons of the same international order. 96. Wanton violence can never justify equally wanton revenge. When international public order is disrupted, an escalation of violence is just as reprehensible. 97. My country also shares the concern of the Secretary- General regarding another form of violence, that which has arisen several times in recent years in Asia, Africa and Europe, involving the death of many innocent civilians. I am referring to the most serious forms of internal warfare.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Belgium hopes that this unfortunately universal problem which has been referred to our Legal Committee will be taken up without reference to any particular manifestation of this evil, but in an effort to determine what joint collective attitudes might have been useful at each critical moment in the recent past, and those which might prevent their recurrence wherever it may be. For the work of our Legal Committee to be fruitful, we believe that it should be informed by three common ideas. 94. First, there is no question that we all bear responsibility for seeking to eliminate the known causes of often desperate acts. Repression cannot save a society whose citizens are convinced that revolt is their only recourse. 95. But, second, we must recognize that no injustice suffered will ever justify the injustice of acts of terrorism.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“These crimes are proliferating in every corner of the globe, even the furthest removed from the areas of conflict; they are not the dubious privilege of any particular region, and the whole world is thus faced with a unique kind of problem. The Secretary-General was therefore right to raise it. 92. And the unique problem, as we see it is, what protective or punitive action can our Organization suggest or take? What rules can be proposed for all States to apply when faced with such crimes? And if these rules were adopted, what should be the collective behavior of our States, were these rules to be violated? Secretary of State Rogers has made some specific proposals on this [2038th meeting]. 93.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“It is my hope that at the twenty-eighth session of the Assembly the nations of Europe will be the bearers of good tidings, both as regards the organization of security and co-operation in Europe and as regards regional disarmament. 91. But another fear exists today, a fear generated by the spread of violence throughout the entire world, a violence whose motivations are sometimes political and sometimes ideological, social or racial, where they are not simply based on greed. These crimes are always odious, and the fear they generate is justified, for the victims of the hijackings, kidnappings, the taking of hostages, wanton destruction with plastic bombs and firing on crowds are more often than not innocent people thrust into the forefront like shields.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“This initiative is particularly well justified at a time when the suggestions for organizing a conference on European security and co-operation have taken shape; for the two proposals are actually interrelated. How could oUr peoples accept us as responsible statesmen if, after a solemn European conference, at which we affirmed our will to reach an understanding, we were unable to demonstrate any real progress in the area of regional disarmament? What credibility could be placed in our endeavors if our military stockpiles continued to grow even after we had stated our intention of not using them? 89. To judge from recent talks with the USSR, a desire for progress in this area too seems to be emerging. We should make certain of this by initiating actual negotiations at the earliest opportunity. 90.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“It agreed that the Secretary-General should submit to it the next year his first summary report on the main Achievements of the institutes engaged in War theory research. My country hopes that, starting from 1973, this research will include one or more studies on international rules governing the supply of arms. We could then discuss them here. Right now, Belgium would be prepared to Support arty draft which would meet with the acceptance of a sufficiently large number of States that purchase arms. 88. A third effort to promote disarmament is under way. Some European States, including our own, made specific proposals iii 1968 for a balanced and mutual reduction of forces in Central Europe.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“This, as we are well aware, is a delicate problem which concerns both the countries that purchase weapons and those which supply them. A discussion here of this subject could lay the groundwork for an international convention establishing at least some principles which both the supplying and the purchasing countries would undertake to apply. 87. This discussion would be all the more thorough if, in the meantime, One or mOte institutes concerned with, war and peace were to concentrate their research on the preparation of such a draft international convention. The General Assembly will remember that, on our initiative, it adopted last year a iesQlution on research into peace and War [resolution 2817 (%XVI)J.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Fortunately, this agreement has been finalized; it upholds the provisions of the Treaty on non-proliferation and takes into account the particular characteristics of the European Community and Belgium, therefore, like its European partners, will shortly be asking its Parliament to ratify the agreement. 85. Thus, a major step forward has been taken and it is worth while highlighting it. We earnestly hope that before the end of the first five-year term further progress will have been made towards nuclear disarmament. 86. There is a second specific reason for concern. Belgium has long been convinced that it would be difficult to establish any kind of security system unless there is some rule to govern the supply of arms.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“This is a first step, which we welcome as a consequence of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex]. It is worth remembering that the nuclear States have in fact undertaken to limit their nuclear potential. Had there been no result, moreover, the non-nuclear weapon States would have been able to ask for a review of the Treaty on the expiration of the first five-year period. 84. The members of the European Community, for their part, have actively pursued negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna with a view to reaching an agreement oil the application of safeguards.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“We do not wish to underestimate the results of a general nature which are being sought through the organization of a world disarmament conference or by reaffirming our support of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security [resolution 2734 (XXV)], but what seems even more important to us is concrete action in the following three areas. 82. Three years ago we all stressed, as was appropriate, the probable political significance of the entry into force of a treaty prohibiting the spread of nuclear weapons. 83. During the recent meeting in Moscow between President Nixon and Mr. Brezhnev an agreement was reached on 26 May 1972 limiting the development of intercontinental nuclear weapons.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“We have set out resolutely on the path of co-operation and we wish to go further than the balance that is the result of mere prudence. Above all we want to help to establish the only balance capable of guaranteeing peace in the years to come: the balance of growth. 81. The first and most obvious of the threats, the threat of Armageddon, is still the continuing build-up of armaments of every kind. On this subject there are some projects, some partial achievements that foreshadow, albeit tentatively, the resolutions which we await with almost too much impatience.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“He said: "I do not wish to seem over-dramatic, but I can only conclude from the information that is available to me as Secretary-General that the Members of the United Nations have perhaps 10 years left"-six now "in which to get together, forget their ancient quarrels . .. and to supply the required momentum to achieve a fairer and more balanced kind of growth. If such an agreement is not reached within the next decade, then I very much fear that the problems I have mentioned will have reached such staggering proportions that they will be beyond our capacity to control." This is the same question you asked of us today, Mr. Secretary-General. 80. Belgium's answer to your threefold question is a positive one. We do want to build up a system of security on a less fragile basis than the balance of fear.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“First of all, we must rid ourselves of insecurity and violence in all their manifestations; 25 years after the foundation of the United Nations, the balance of terror can no longer suffice for us. Next, we must reassert our will to base our relations on a permanent dialog. The Secretary-General referred in this regard to the "balance of prudence". Should we not go further still and aim at "stability through co-operation"? 78. Last but not least, there is a new task which the international community as such must undertake, an objective which is even more difficult to attain than the others because it aims at creating a balance which we are just starting to think about: the balance of growth. 79. We cannot ignore the warning issued by U Thant four years ago.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Secretary-General, you told us that co-operation and solidarity were essential in four main areas and that we must face up to and overcome without delay four global dangers: insecurity, overpopulation, the deterioration of the environment, and the persistent poverty of the majority of the world's population. This enumeration confirms the one to which U Thant drew our attention from this same rostrum four years ago. It also coincides, in the main, with the documents published this year by the "Rome Club". This does got mention the political factor of fear, of insecurity but, on the other hand, it does add a further element: the danger that the non-renewable natural resources may be exhausted for lack of control over industrial development. 77. Everything then indicates that we must act at three different levels.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“Every year, during the general debate, we inform each other of the undertakings and hopes of our respective countries; but our overriding duty is to deal with problems that are common to all mankind, those which we must tackle together in the knowledge that, if we fail to solve them, we run the risk of frustrating the hopes and efforts of each and every one of our nations. 75. I am struck by the fact that the analyses made in order to identify the key problems of mankind converge, to an increasing extent, on the same issues. 76. In the introduction to your report on the work of the Organization [A/8701/Add.l], Mr.”
1972-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 27 (1972)
“We intend to pay a tribute to the Secretary-General, during the vote for his successor, by trying to bear in mind the noble conception of the Secretary-General's function that U Thant has so well incarnated and described.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“Among the immense services he will have rendered us, I would like to mention one in particular: the admirable report in which he has just, presented to us his views on the political responsibilities of the Secretary-General [see Aj 8401/Add. 1, paras. 124-137]. We, for our part, fully support this conception, and we would like the choice of his successor to be made with serious consideration given to the political responsibility, unique in the world, of the Secretary-General. 219. We know that a world Organization conceived in very different circumstances a quarter of a century ago cannot continue to be enlivened and regenerated without the talents of his successor.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“should like to ask you to transmit to the Secretary-General these final comments which I shall now make. 216. On other occasions when our Secretary-General announced his wish to retire from the eminent post he occupies, we were among those who asked him to stay. Today we are afraid that he will no longer yield to our urging, after having fully devoted, for 10 years, all the resources of his personality to peace and co-operation among peoples. 217. Our Sovereign, King Baudouin, his Government and all the Belgians have always placed their trust in the person and the actions of the Secretary-General, held them in high esteem and given them their support. We are gratified that his visits to Belgium and our actions in the United Nations have borne ample witness to this fact. 218.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“Europe knows it can deserve the friendship of peoples only to the extent that it shares with them a concern for their economic, social and human future. In order to meet that expectation it will, of course, be necessary gradually to reformulate the rules of trade and industry. We, for our part, are ready to do that. 214. Western Europe is confronted in these years with crucial problems. Now is the time for its new face to appear. It must find, and it will find, both internally and in its outward-directed action, the structures and attitudes which will give it its own stature and enable it to play a renewed role. To that extent only will it become an effective tool for pursuing the fundamental aims of our world Organization: the maintenance of security, development and co-operation. 215. And now, Mr. President, J.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“Western Europe, based on common convictions and traditions, well realizes that the prosperity it has achieved and the privileges it enjoys cannot always be only to its own advantage. It is an exceptional achievement to have doubled Europe's national income in 14 years. But the redoubling of that effort would be ridiculous were Europe to limit its action to that goal. It must find its deep-lying meaning, a further legitimacy, by taking on another original mission: that of contributing decisively towards solving, in co-operation, the problems created by the inequality of wealth among the different regions of the world. 213. Europe must contribute imagination, a sense of justice and generosity in a specific dialog with the States of the southern hemisphere. Europe must persuade those States that its regional regrouping is not selfish.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“It has already resolutely opted for a policy of detente and co-operation between all European States, both committed and non-committed. Over the past six years a long road has been traveled despite painful accidents. What we expressed then as a hope is taking shape and becoming a reality today. 211. Now that the obstacle of Berlin is more than half overcome by the agreement of the four guarantor States, active preparations must be made for the two-fold step of the balanced reduction of the forces in Europe and a conference on European co-operation and security. Those two aims derive from the same spirit. We aspire to both, and we hope very particularly that the Berlin agreement will soon enter into force and allow us to meet again soon at Helsinki. 212. But that is not yet enough.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“refusing to accept any kind of hegemony is the best contribution a country can make to the birth of a truly international community" [1942nd meeting, para. 37]. 209. That is true of Europe. Its role will not be one of hegemony. Europe has renounced that temptation. It will, of course, have sufficient dignity to contribute its share of security in its own area, but without engaging in external adventures. It is not spending its resources on intercontinental weaponry. The Europe of realities will therefore be a Europe that is active at the world level but a moderate and non-belligerent Europe whose sole ambition will be to be a moderating, conciliatory, or, to put it in a nutshell, pacifying authority. 210. At the European-continent level, Western Europe is not just seeking to consolidate its internal peace.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“First, the Europe of the six, and soon of the 10, united countries must become itself, that is, it must acquire a power commensurate with its responsibilities. It is the ambition of the constituent States to organize among themselves a new and original form of co-operation as regards both institutional structures and the aims pursued. 208. Europe, of course, already appears as a major economic and commercial power. But consideration of world realities leads it to intensify and expedite the process of its political unification. The United States, which has done so much to help Europe to find its way, is readjusting its position. China, as we have said, is anxious to put forward its position. All this obliges Europe to determine and to play its role on the world stage. What role? Mr. Schumann put it very well the other day: "...”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“The regrouping can, of course, imply the waiver of national sovereignty only to the extent that Governments and peoples expressly agree to do so, but they must permit the various regions of the world to reach the level of political effectiveness that will enable them to shape their own future. 205. Lastly, the third conclusion which we draw for our country from these facts, as we have mentioned, both within and outside the European continent, confirms the need for Europe's political and economic unification, which Belgium is pursuing with increasingly stronger conviction and determination. 206. More than ever, three major goals useful to Western Europe but also to the world at large must be reached. 207.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“One year ago we already had occasion to point out from this rostrum [1856th meeting] that the aims of the Charter can be achieved concurrently with the action of the central institutions of the United Nations through agreements and regional organizations created on the spontaneous initiative of countries grouped in a given zone. Each year that movement becomes more evident in the world, and today the significance of this vast regrouping and restructuring trend seems to be increasingly decisive in establishing a new world balance based no longer on hegemony but on co-operation. 204. The linkage of various and better-structured regional groups can remove some of the difficulties deriving from the disproportion in terms of area and power between the different protagonists in the international debate.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“On the new bases, a policy better adjusted to realities and needs can be developed, and the effectiveness of our Organization should be enhanced thereby. 201. Belgium draws some of its own conclusions from this. 202. First, the universality of the United Nations, a fundamental aim of our Organization, prompts us to recommend strongly that the People's Republic of China should occupy the seat reserved for China under our Charter. In the name of the same universality we think that logic and policy require us to seek to bring about the conditions whereby the divided States that are not yet Members could be admitted without ousting those that are already Members provided they abide by the Charter. 203. A second conclusion comes to mind.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“Brandt that one of the most important steps towards the general normalization of relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic will be the admission of those two States to membership in the United Nations in the context of the detente in Europe. 200. Those facts are important not only because they reflect some fundamental changes that have occurred since the end of the Second World War but also because they herald and call for new balanced situations. Mr. President, in your introductory statement you yourself stressed "the gradual transformation of the international order from the rigid, bipolar constellation of contending forces ... to the new, multi-centered power configuration" [1934th meeting, para. 30].”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)
“And now I should like to draw the Assembly's attention to a series of recent and crucial facts that are very impressive and demonstrate that all around the world political behaviour is becoming increasingly realistic, I would mention the following: the prospect of the imminent participation of the People's Republic of China in the life of the United Nations; the announcement by the President of the United States of a readjustment of United States positions in some key sectors; the admission of the United Kingdom and the three other friendly States to the European communities in the very near future; the long- awaited agreement concluded between the four major States, which improves the situation in Berlin; the confirmation given by Mr. Brezhnev and Mr.”
1971-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 26 (1971)