YouSaid · the spoken record

M. Bindzi

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS M. BINDZI

lines on the record: 65
first: 1966-09-24
most recent: 1966-09-24
sittings or episodes: 1
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

“This highly explosive and dangerous situation governs even the machinery of our work and the life of the United Nations, so much so that the confusion and lassitude have finally affected our Chief Executive, the Secretary-General himself. The entire world has paid a tribute to the outstanding services which the United Nations owes U Thant. His work bears the indelible mark of his lofty and unique personality. My delegation associates itself, in all modesty, with this work, which will long be remembered by the international community. My delegation, together with all those present here, will regret his eventual departure. Tor this reason, we join in those urgent pleas, already uttered, that he will remain at his post. We are pleased to note that he has already accepted the beginnings of a compromise. 81.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“This curious subjective morality might be summed up in a single sentence: "Everything is well which is accepted by the great Powers". 79. I have just sketched rapidly the negative side of the contemporary African situation. It would be easy to apply this Judgment to what is going on elsewhere in the world. Why are there so many divided nations: Germany, Korea, Viet-Nam? Why these hotbeds of war? The guns are silent as soon as the "great" Powers have found a modus vivendi acceptable to them, even if it means martyrdom for the peoples directly concerned; the guns begin to thunder again as soon as one of these Powers decides that it is no longer to its liking, 80.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“How can this future be guaranteed by the verdict of The Hague? 78. This Judgment has demonstrated once and for all, and in the clearest possible fashion, the crisis facing certain organs of the United Nations. Here you have an organ based on the Charter, and this organ hands down a verdict contrary to the Charter! It is quite simple: the law itself is vitiated, and the machinery established expounds the "law" for which it was created. The privilege of the veto enjoyed by some members of the Security Council is a result of this same concept. Why, then, should we be surprised that international problems remain unresolved? Their solution is not considered just unless the great Powers alone are satisfied with it; too bad if it is injurious to the peoples directly involved.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“In the circumstances, the verdict may be interpreted as follows: "Ethiopia and Liberia should mind their own business.' South Africa is right in annexing South West Africa! The mode of administration is in conformity with the Charter and its objectives." Over-simplification, the jurists will say! Ire- tort: a translation of scientific subtleties into practical and concrete realities. Besides, it is easy to discuss the legal basis of the decision without being a jurist, for what is at issue is the very future of this Territory, which is under an international mandate and which has never formed an integral part of South Africa. The Charter and the historical Declaration appearing in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) call for the granting of independence to all countries and territories which are still dependent.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“Perhaps the example of the United States, now a great Power, is the decisive factor which deters the famous navy of the United Kingdom from combating rebel Englishmen abroad with anything but loudspeakers. 77. Even international organs have joined in this battle against Africa. On 18 July 1966 the International Court of Justice delivered its verdict on South West Africa. The unanimous censure which this evoked throughout the world and the rejoicing that followed in South Africa are eloquent testimony and need no comment. Sound justice does not consist in the casuistic declamation of legal mysteries. It lies, rather, in popular acceptance and in the knowledge that the just cause and the good law have been defended.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“Portugal and South Africa can exchange glances of malicious satisfaction at having been able to resist and victoriously to defy a condemnation that was universal only on the surface, but within which tacit and powerful complicity lay concealed. 76. How can anyone be surprised that Ian Smith, emboldened by this situation and secure from the sanctions which the United Kingdom had declared would prove fatal to his regime, has followed the example of South Africa and is calmly establishing a duplicate of that regime? The embargo demanded by Africa has been pushed aside and circumvented. Organized maritime smuggling is being practised. What has happened to the days of maritime expeditions?”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“We recognize our ethnic and linguistic differences, the impatience of the masses to demand everything at once, as if, as the saying is, Rome could be built here in a day, and the thirst for reform among some members of the elite, which rapidly becomes a thirst for power alone. We are aware of all this and we shall not forget it. 75. The basic problem resides in the fact that Africa has become the object of a far-reaching formal offensive movement which seeks to undermine the freedom won in recent years through courageous fighting. At the same time, the last strongholds of colonialism and racism have grown more powerful as if by magic.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“We have only to glance at the map and count these troubled nations to see how widespread this instability is. Not that the elite have failed. On the contrary, it is enough to be familiar with Africa, or simply to cross the continent, to appreciate the contrast between the formidable accomplishments attained in so few years and the long night of stagnation under colonial occupation. Throughout the continent, and almost without exception, the new national Powers have understood their obligation and have resolutely set out to build their States, despite collosal difficulties. 74. To be sure, the recent accession to independence bears within itself the seeds of disintegration of these newly established entities.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“This continent, which throughout its history has experienced the most disastrous upheavals and the most cruel humiliations, with countless periods of invasion and servitude, in which the cream of its race was taken from it and its most resistant individuals exported for the enrichment of other lands — this Africa, now valiantly awakened, believed at the start of this decade that the day was at last dawning when after the liberation of most of its peoples, it would be able to devote itself to peaceful development and progress. Africa was mistaken. In the interval between two sessions, very few of the Governments in its many States went untroubled or free from menace. Many of them, even among those reputed to be most firmly established, trembled on their foundations and a great number were actually overthrown.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“We are witnessing a disturbing and progressive deterioration of the relations between States, an aggravation of frictions and conflicts, a fresh outbreak of violence and, even worse, a vindication of this violence almost to the point of a repudiation of law in the very international institutions established by laborious common effort to affirm and defend justice. 73. And this is happening throughout the world. In order not to offend anyone, I shall merely outline briefly the present situation in my native continent of Africa, where, all things considered, there are no hotbeds of war, despite the persistent efforts of evil forces to find a favourable ground for all their machinations.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“At the very solemn observance of this event all men of good will eagerly looked forward — and my delegation candidly expressed this hope aloud at San Francisco — to the rebirth of our Organization, to its revival, to universal compliance with the Charter, to the achievement of the resolute aspiration of each State for peace through respect for the sovereignty of others, to universal agreement to carry out joint resolutions honestly and wholeheartedly, and to commitment to respect for law and justice. 72. Instead of this, what do we see?”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“To this end, each of us must come to this rostrum to describe the situation in his own part of the world, as the President of the Republic of the Philippines did so admirably yesterday [1411th meeting], like the characters in La Fontaine's fable Les animaux malades de la peste but without their hypocrisy and prompted only by the genuine intention of the fabulist. 70. It has become an established fact during the past few years that at the opening of each session this Assembly finds itself in the grip of a crisis. Or, to be more precise, it suffers from endemic crises. These are certainly not all alike, nor are they equally grave. 71. A year ago we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“When I was last here I saw the departure of Indonesia with sadness, a feeling which I am sure was shared by all who were present. Now our satisfaction at its return is as great as was our regret when we saw it leave. 69. The annual meeting of the General Assembly provides the States represented here — which actually amount to practically the whole of the human race today — with the opportunity to assess the relations in our society: in other words, to study the evolution of these relations during the period between sessions to appraise the sources of tension and to seek ways to guarantee conditions for co-existence and cooperation, so that the entire international community may benefit, in accordance with the requirements and the objectives of our Charter.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“There is no doubt that, armed as you are, you will be able to guide our work, in a spirit of justice, fairness and respect for law, to constructive solutions acceptance to all. 67. My delegation would also like to express its great pleasure at seeing the Assembly welcome a new Member, Guyana, that multiracial and once strife-torn nation, which has just attained independence amid the joy and unanimity of its people. We hope that it will preserve this unanimity so that it may work — independence being only a beginning and a means — in peace and harmony towards its full development, bringing with its youth a new and enriching vitality to our Organization. 68. May I also be permitted to hail another addition to this Assembly—the return of Indonesia. I am indeed fortunate on the occasion of my first return to the United Nations.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)
“66. First of all, Mr. President, I should like to offer you, on behalf of the delegation of Cameroon, my warmest congratulations on your brilliant election as President of the twenty-first session of the General Assembly. I take even greater pleasure in doing so because I have been privileged to know you for a number of years. During this time I, like others, have admired your great intelligence, the power of your imagination and your keen analytic mind, your ability to perceive all aspects of a problem and your genius for compromise — all qualities that predisposed you quite naturally to face the tasks that will fall to you during the consideration of the items on the agenda of this session.”
1966-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 21 (1966)