YouSaid · the spoken record

Novotny

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS NOVOTNY

lines on the record: 76
first: 1960-09-24
most recent: 1960-09-24
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: un-general-debate

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“Lumumba's legitimate Government and legitimate Parliament. The people of the Congo must be guaranteed the sovereign and inalienable right to decide freely about their country and to get rid of any influence of imperialism and colonialism, 51. I would like to draw attention to another case of unscrupulous pressure against a heroic people who decided to put an end to the exploitation of their country by foreign monopolies and to establish complete freedom and independence in their country. I have in mind the people of Cuba who fought heroically to chase dictator Batista and his henchmen out of their country and who are also liquidating the domination of United States monopolies which unscrupulously exploited the wealth of Cuba and threw its people into misery. 52.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Lumumba and the Congolese Parliament to act, supported various secessionist groups sold to colonizers, and thus in fact prepared the ground for paralysing the political life and the disintegration of the unity of the Congo. The legitimate Government became a prisoner of the United Nations forces and was prevented from ruling the country. 49. These are the facts which cannot be disregarded. Nobody who had his share in those facts can escape responsibility for them. True, the operation in the Congo is a matter for the United Nations, but its execution is in the hands of the Secretary-General. We concur in the views expressed in this respect by the President of Ghana and the Prime Minister of the Soviet Union. 50. The United Nations is duty bound to arrange through its organs for immediate restoration of the free activities of Mr.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In order to maintain their political and economic positions, to keep the decisive power over the Congo in the hands of foreign monopolies, they organized a military attack against this newly-born independent country, disregarding the so often proclaimed principles of "freedom", "democracy" and agreements into which they had entered. 48. And what is more, it happened that the just decision of the Security Council was implemented by the representatives of the United Nations and its staff in such a way that steps were taken not to support the Government, which asked for United Nations aid, but against it. In effect, the organs of the United Nations made it impossible for the legitimate Government of Mr.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The policy of disrespect for national sovereignty was clearly manifested of late in conspiracies against some new States which have freed themselves from the colonial yoke. 46. The example of the Congo is characteristic of the capitalist conception of political and economic freedom in States which were formerly their colonies. The liberated Republic of the Congo which constituted its Parliament and Government by democratic means faced a flagrant attack at the very beginning of its independent life. 47. When the colonizers saw that the Congolese people and its representatives took seriously the freedom they had won, that the colonialist privileges gained by rough violence in the past are definitely breaking down, they decided to resort to new violence.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We see our freedom from another point of view, the point of view of the interests of the development of the whole socialist society and, therefore, also the full development of man, devoid of the rapacious features of your capitalist society. 44. I would like to mention another characteristic example: On 9 May 1960, the day when the United States congratulated us on the occasion of the Czechoslovak National Day, the fifteenth anniversary of the liberation of our country from Hitlerite occupation, the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Christian Herter, deemed it necessary to interfere in an inadmissible way in our internal affairs by uttering foul slander at a press conference. 45.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“This interference is motivated by the vain desire to see a change in our internal system and the restoration of the capitalist system which was consciously rejected by our people. From time to time the United States Government openly professes its adherence to this aim, spends millions of dollars for its achievement and encourages various campaigns inimical to us as, for instance, the provocative "Captive Nations Weeks". 42. I would like to say to such politicians, you must understand at last that the notion of freedom as you understand it and which you so ostentatiously advocate is today incomprehensible and absolutely unacceptable to our people. 43.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We again repeat to these officials of the United States and other countries: If you do not want war, let us explore the possibilities of understanding. But stop speculating on a change of the social system in our country, speculating on the defeat and destruction of socialism. Socialism is today the way of thinking and the conviction of hundreds and hundreds of millions of people and this cannot be changed by any kind of policy from the position of strength. 40. But what is the situation today? 41. For a number of years Czechoslovakia, like some other countries, has been subjected to repeated interference in Its internal affairs by the ruling circles of the United States.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Thus, for instance, on 20 April 1960, that is, shortly before the Paris Conference of the Heads of the Four Powers was to open, Undersecretary of State, Mr. Dillon stated: "Let us therefore relegate to the scrap-heap the concept of a transitory and uneasy coexistence." To Mr. Dillon and those whose opinions he voices, the concept of coexistence, that is, of life in peace, is uneasy. Should we assume that also all the activities of the United Nations which strives for peaceful coexistence are uneasy to him, that this is the way he feels about its efforts and its unanimously adopted resolutions? 38. If not peaceful coexistence, what else? War? Everybody says: No, we do not want war. We also declare that we do not want war and are struggling for peace. 39.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We think that under these circumstances when free representatives of States Members of the United Nations face difficulties in work and when police organs often decide questions concerning their sojourn, a serious question arises as to whether it will serve its purpose to keep the Headquarters of this important world organization in the United States any longer. Similarly, like the Soviet delegation, we are of the opinion that in these circumstances it would be better to move the Headquarters of the United Nations and its activities to some other country. 37. The urgent need for clarification by all States and primarily the United States Government of whether they are in favour of peaceful coexistence is demonstrated by a number of statements made by the state officials of the United States.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Perhaps we are behind the times and do not understand this modern form of "free friendship" with which we were met. In any case we have been much impressed, and after we return home we shall speak about this form of "friendship" for which we in our country have a name of insolence and uncouthness. Not to allow even the Ambassador of Czechoslovakia in the United States to enter the airport to welcome a delegation headed by the President of the Republic which the Ambassador represents, that, I think, exceeds all bounds in its insult. It is unprecedented for police organs to decide such matters. 36.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Nikita Khrushchev, and a few other statesmen, in New York, the very city where the Headquarters of the United Nations is located. On behalf of the Czechoslovak delegation, I most emphatically protest against this act of the United States Government, which showed thereby not only a complete lack of goodwill in seeking ways to understanding, but grossly violated its obligations towards the United Nations. 34. The Slavonic peoples and a number of other nations have an ancient custom of receiving guests and visitors with open friendliness and respect. We pay respect to everybody regardless of whether he has good or bad relations with us. I wonder, however, if the "friendly" reception accorded to us and the "decency" with which we have been treated are the expression of the much boasted American "freedom" and "democracy". 35.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Therefore, we think that one of the foremost tasks facing this session is to achieve a situation where the United States Government respects the relevant norms of international law and thereby helps restore the necessary preconditions for useful negotiations. If the General Assembly is to be faithful to the Charter and is to live up to its obligations to mankind, it must take energetic initiative in this respect. 33. Speaking about the elementary principles of international law and sheer decency which cannot be absent in normal international relations, I cannot pass over the really unprecedented decision of the United States Government to place restrictions on the stay of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union, Mr.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“But respect for the sovereignty of other countries is the cornerstone of international law and the basic provision of the United Nations Charter. 31. Fortunately enough, we no longer live in the period when those who ruled the world transformed whole continents into colonies having no rights. We are living in the second half of the twentieth century when peace-loving nations possess means for legitimate defence of their sovereignty and for the prevention of aggression. The principle of absolute equality of rights is the only one which can serve as a basis of negotiations today. This principle is one of the elementary and generally recognized principles governing international relations. 32.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic considers strict respect for the generally recognized principles of international law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter to be a question of key importance. In other circumstances it might seem strange to remind the Member States of the Charter fifteen years after the establishment of the United Nations. However, it happened that the United States Government, in connexion with the shooting-down of its spy plane over the territory of the Soviet Union, declared through its top representatives, including the President of the United States, that it did not consider itself bound by the obligation to respect the sovereignty of other States and that it wanted to treat it as it pleases.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“To approach the Paris Conference from a similar position cannot naturally mean anything else but to prepare for the negotiations with a firm intention to wreck them. 29. The General Assembly and its organs will undoubtedly deal with these events and their consequences from various points of view. On the suggestion of the Soviet Government, this session will consider agenda item 80: Complaint of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics about a menace to world peace created by aggressive actions of the United States of America against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. We fully agree to the consideration of this item and our delegation will in this connexion point at the continuous, systematic violations of Czechoslovak air space by military aircraft of the United States and of the Federal Republic of Germany. 30.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Undoubtedly, it was intended to emphasize the "position of strength", that is, of United States strength, and to create an atmosphere of concentrated threat and pressure. 26. People thinking along these lines evidently paid little attention to the realities of our time and failed to realize that the other side has grown up into a mighty Power which cannot easily be threatened. It is a well-known fact that even this side, that is, the Soviet Union, is a country with a highly-developed economy, science and technology. 27. Similar threats are well known from history, especially from the whole of the imperialist and militarist policies of Germany from Frederick the Great to Bismarck and Hitler. We cannot say as yet what will be the further developments in Germany, since we do not know what will be the end of their bright pupil Adenauer, 28.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Our people could not understand why, particularly at the time when the Paris Conference was being prepared, even in the days immediately preceding the opening of negotiations, the United States sent a spy plane over the territory of the Soviet Union; why at the same time it proclaimed again the so-called "Captive Nations Week", which represented a gross affront to the peoples of all socialist countries; why at this particular moment it prolonged for another two years the embargo against the socialist countries; and finally, why, on the very eve of the negotiations, it ordered directly from Paris a state of alert of all its forces. 25. What kind of discussion should it have been? In what atmosphere was it to take place?”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We welcomed the fact that in the course of the top-level negotiations between the Soviet Union and, subsequently, the United Kingdom, the United States and France, the elimination of the method of violence from the settlement of international disputes was confirmed. We also hopefully awaited such events as, under more favourable circumstances, the Paris Conference of the Heads of the Four Powers in May 1960 might have been. 24. It is common knowledge that the aggressive forces of world imperialism impede negotiations, support feverish armaments and sustain the hotbeds of tension in various parts of the world. On the eve of the Paris Conference they committed particularly condemnable provocations.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In compliance with their will, the principles of peace and peaceful coexistence were laid down in the new Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, adopted this year. 23. In the forum of the United Nations we support all constructive peaceful proposals submitted by other States, particularly the Soviet Union. In the spirit of peaceful co-operation, Czechoslovakia maintains friendly, mutually advantageous relations with a great number of States with different social systems on all continents. As a country which has a deep interest in peaceful construction and normal international relations, we welcomed all negotiations between the West and the East which took place in the period under review.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The people and Government of our country sincerely desire that this session of the General Assembly may help in clearing the way to a further strengthening of peace and in removing obstacles which stand in the way of the peaceful coexistence of nations. 21. As a result of the well-known changes in the balance of power in the world and the active peaceful endeavour of nations, we succeeded a few years ago in embarking upon a gradual process of relaxation of international tensions. Such an atmosphere is necessary for fruitful negotiations and the solution of major international issues. 22. Also, our country participated in furthering these healthy developments. Peaceful coexistence and friendly co-operation among nations are basic to Czechoslovak foreign policy, which enjoys the full support of all our people.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“One billion people have chosen the latter road and proceed on it successfully, demonstrating the great advantages of socialism. A number of nations have only now set out on the road of independent statehood and begun to shape their future state and social systems. A number of nations still continue to follow the old road. But should this be a reason for mankind to throw itself into an atomic hell? We do not think so. 19. So far, the developments have shown that both social systems — socialist and capitalist — can live together and compete in peace. There is no other choice if we want to save mankind from a world conflagration. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the necessity of peaceful coexistence and the competition of countries with different social systems. 20.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“As it stands now, it seems that there are big obstacles on the road to successful negotiation and agreement. However, some people see obstacles where there are none. For instance, different state or social systems in individual countries surely cannot be considered as an obstacle to peaceful coexistence. Is not the way of life adopted by a nation entirely its own internal problem? We consider it an inalienable right for nations to maintain or change their state or social systems, no matter whether some people abroad like it or not. 18. Historical development has brought nations to an important crossroads: they can either continue to follow the present road of the old social system — capitalism, or take a different road which leads to a new social system — socialism.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Creation of a new world without armies, elimination of war from the life of mankind, the search for avenues leading to peaceful understanding, and the creation of new relations between nations, constitute quite a new problem which mankind never before has faced with such an urgency. It is no wonder that mankind is finding difficulty in getting nearer to its solution. 16. The basic prerequisite of any success in seeking ways to a lasting peace is goodwill on the part of all those who decide the issues of war and peace. The overwhelming majority of mankind is decisively for the cause of peace and for the liquidation of war as a method of settling disputes. This alone is an important factor. But also, all responsible statesmen to whom nations have entrusted their destinies must show their desire for peace. 17.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“These changes are of such a character that today any aggressive plan or mere design, any attempt at frustrating the noble endeavour to avert war, assumes a criminal character. 14. We believe that today we cannot even for a moment passively reconcile ourselves to a situation where the threat of war has not been definitively liquidated. We cannot approve of any action which frustrates equal negotiations, makes impossible reasonable settlement of disputes and sharpens tensions. 15. We realize, of course, that it is not easy to seek avenues leading to a lasting peace, because it is a complex and difficult task.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In order to fulfil successfully this task it is necessary now more than ever to approach the discussions with an extraordinary seriousness and to reject emphatically any attempts which are contrary to peaceful understanding. 13. The central problem of the present-day world is the urgency to ensure that nations may live in lasting peace and devote their energies to peaceful work for their own welfare. The necessity of peaceful coexistence and the elimination of methods of violence in the settlement of disputes among States becomes increasingly more obvious. It has been made necessary by the high stage of social development attained by mankind and the revolutionary changes of the postwar period in technology, particularly in military technique.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Undoubtedly all of us who are meeting in this hall realize the importance of this session of the General Assembly. On the initiative of the Soviet Union, many countries have decided to send their top representatives to attend this session. The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic has lent its full support to the idea of participation of the Heads of States or Chiefs of Governments in this session. 12. We have come because the nations urge the acceptance of truly efficient measures for the safeguarding of peace and peaceful coexistence. To contribute effectively to the ensuring of peaceful cooperation among nations is the basic task of the United Nations.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)