YouSaid · the spoken record

Agustsson

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS AGUSTSSON

lines on the record: 148
first: 1971-09-24
most recent: 1977-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
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

“My wish for the United Nations is now, as it has always been, that it will continue to be the citadel of human rights and independence for all people on this earth, whether they belong to big or small nations, whether they are powerful in the word, because the fiercest of snowstorms very often cleaves apart against even the feeblest of all God's ideas.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“Have you ever seen the skull of a snow-bunting? He wields his fragile head against the gale, with his beak to the ground, wings folded close to his sides and his tail pointing upwards, and the wind can get no hold on him and cleaves. Even in the fiercest squalls the bird does not budge. He is becalmed. Not a single feather stirs. Then the question is asked: How do you know that the bird is the Almighty and not the wind? And the answer: Because the winter storm is the most powerful force in Iceland and the snow-bunting is the feeblest of all God's ideas. 350. In my opinion, therefore, it is in many cases very unwise to exclude even those who at first glance seem to be rather feeble, because they may well possess the inner strength that the strongest power is not able to break. 351.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“I have touched upon the need to respect the freedom and the human rights of every individual. I have expressed the hope that times of force and violence will soon become a thing of the past, and the conviction that mankind's future should rest upon continued international co-operation where all meet as equals and where even the smallest contribution could be decisive. 349. Continuing that line of thought, one could perhaps reflect on what yardstick should be used in measuring the greatness and influence of individuals and nations. Halldor Laxness, an Icelandic Nobel Prize winner, stated it in the following way in one of his books: Often I think the Almighty is like a snow-bunting abandoned in all weathers. Such a bird is about the weight of a postage stamp. Yet he does not blow away when he stands in the open in a tempest.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“For that purpose a further concentrated effort must be made to solve the remaining issues in the total package, notably in the field of the international sea-bed area. However, nations cannot be expected to devote unlimited time and expenditure for that purpose. 346. As the Conference on the Law of the Sea has hitherto been characterized by the determination of all participants to find practical solutions in all the categories of the mandate it was given, I am convinced there is every reason to hope that agreement will be reached by consensus on the outstanding issues. It is a fact that legislation is the more effective the more closely it represents the sense of justice of those who have to live by it. 347. It is therefore our hope that a general convention on the law of the sea can be signed in the course of next year. 348.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“On the other hand, there remains major disagreement on problems with respect to the international sea-bed area, and the industrial countries do not consider that their interests are sufficiently accommodated. Those problems will be the subject of intensive work at the informal inter-sessional meetings. Because of the great differences of view the next session cannot be foreseen as the last before the signing of a convention; however, as we have already heard in this Assembly, opinions differ on this point. 345. My Government's view is that the concept of the exclusive economic zone now has a solid foundation in international law It would of course be an advantage to have it incorporated in a formal convention on the law of the sea.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“Articles 69 and 70 provide certain rights for geographically disadvantaged States, but pursuant to article 71 those rights do not apply in the case of States whose population is overwhelmingly dependent on the fisheries within the zone. Furthermore, article 296 excludes from submission to third-party dispute settlement the decisions under articles 61 and 62-that is, as I have already mentioned, with respect to the allowable catch and the State's capacity. The new text is therefore very favourable for coastal States, which have worked together extensively at the Conference. The new text also has revised articles concerning pollution and scientific research, and they are not expected to create any great difficulties. 344.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“The sixth session of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea was held in New York from 23 May to 15 July 1977. There is now before the Conference an informal composite negotiating text which was prepared by the President of the Conference and the Chairmen of the main committees on the basis of discussions at the session. It was decided that that text would be before the Conference at its next session beginning in Geneva on 27 March 1978 and expected to last for eight weeks. Furthermore, it is expected that inter-sessional meetings will be held in the intervening period. 343. The text which is now before the Conference reinforces the status of the economic zone. In accordance with articles 61 and 62, it is for the coastal State to determine the allowable catch in the zone as well as its own capacity to harvest it.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“It is worthwhile remembering that those resolutions state that acquisition of territory by force is unacceptable, that Israel must cease its occupation of territories seized in 1967, and that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of all the States in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries must be respected. 341. Here it should also be stated that any solution must recognize the Palestinians' right to a homeland, and the Palestinians for their part must recognize the right of Israel to exist. It is, furthermore, the opinion of the Icelandic delegation that the Palestinians should participate in the negotiations for a peaceful solution in a manner to be worked out in consultation with the parties concerned. 342.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“The value of the United Nations peace-keeping forces is clearly demonstrated in this case as it is in other parts of the world. 339. The situation in the Middle East remains serious, although there is at the moment greater hope than before that it will be possible to reconvene the Geneva Conference. We must all be hopeful that this preliminary step towards negotiation of a lasting peace in this troubled area can be taken. I want to reiterate my belief that any solution should be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338(1973). 340.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“It is the opinion of my delegation that all proposals which would lead to a peaceful, negotiated transition of power to the majority in Zimbabwe should be supported so that the social injustice practised by the minority on the majority is brought to an end as soon as possible. 337. The problem of Cyprus does not, unfortunately, appear to be close to a solution. The Secretary-General and his staff continue their valiant efforts to bring the two factions together, and it is to be hoped that neither party, by its action, widens the gap further, thus making the task of the Secretary-General more difficult than it is now. As I have said in this Assembly, any solution to this difficult problem must take into account the maintenance of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus. 338.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“The Icelandic delegation will support all practical measures taken by the United Nations to stop the inhumane policy of discrimination carried out by the Government of South Africa and the brutal measures of suppression we constantly hear about from that country. I should like to state here that recently the foreign ministers of the Nordic countries established a working group to investigate what further economic measures may be instituted against South Africa. 335. We also want to express our support for the efforts now being made to find a peaceful solution to the problem of Namibia, and any action which might jeopardize these activities should be discouraged. We continue to work to attain our goal-the full independence of that country—in conformity with Security Council resolution 385 (1976). 336.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“The resumed session of the thirty-first General Assembly could not come to an agreement on assessing the results of the Paris Conference, but it is to be hoped that this session will make major efforts in this important field and a consensus will emerge on the next steps to be taken to enhance a more just and equitable international economic order, and thus improve the situation of developing countries in the international community. 334. Any mention of human rights automatically brings us to the problem of apartheid. The situation in South Africa is becoming more and more serious.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“Although in legal terms our Organization is composed of sovereign States, its efforts should be concentrated on improving human conditions. 332. Where there is hunger, misery and social injustice, we cannot expect the advancement of human rights. Therefore, the more equitable distribution of the world's wealth through improved international economic relations is a question of basic rights. 333. Iceland supported the resolutions on the new international economic order and the economic rights and duties of States. The implementation of the provisions of these resolutions has been slow but some progress has been made. The North-South dialogue must continue in all appropriate forums.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“essential element in the establishment and maintenance of peace in the world. 330. The work of the United Nations in the sphere of human rights is of paramount interest and importance. Much has been gained, but much is still to be done. The plight of political prisoners has to be alleviated and torture in all its forms must be prevented. What is needed is close co-operation so that an effective international review of how human rights are respected or abused can be carried out. There should be instituted effective measures to protect the innocent against international terrorism in all its aspects. 331. In other words, the protection of the individual and his rights is, and continues to be, the main task of the United Nations.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“The need for control is essential and should be established as soon as possible on a regional or an international scale, whichever would be more effective. The proliferation of nuclear weapons must be prevented and all nations should be urged to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 327. By the same token, there should be close supervision of the traffic in fissionable materials intended for peaceful use to prevent their use for military purposes. Such supervision should be in the hands of the United Nations. 328. Furthermore, an agreement on a comprehensive treaty to ban all nuclear testing is a matter of great importance. 329. The Icelandic delegation will support all efforts to make the forthcoming special session a successful one as disarmament is an.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“Agreements in the sphere of disarmament between the two Powers is in my belief the basis for what has become known as detente and there is no acceptable alternative to the policy of detente in the world. All efforts at all levels should be made to further that policy. I therefore welcome the results of the preparatory work in Belgrade and the follow-up meeting to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which is to convene in a few days from now. I consider this an important step in the right direction. 325. With the total destructive power of nuclear armaments, increasing emphasis is being placed on the development of the so-called conventional weapons, and the traffic in them has been escalating very rapidly.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“In but a few days the interim agreement reached at the first round of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1972 will come to an end. This is a very serious development, which has fortunately been somewhat eased by the announcement by both parties that they will abide by the terms of the agreement while efforts continue to be made to reach a new agreement on the limitation of strategic nuclear arms. 323. It is in my opinion vital that these two Powers come to an agreement in this matter and that progress is made in other regional disarmament discussions so that they might become wider in scope and be extended to other areas. 324.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“When political expediency at home, conflicts of interest, or even bad faith prevent the placing of a problem before the United Nations, we too often hear voices blaming it on the short-comings of the United Nations system. But, I repeat, we have the instrument and we must use it as it was intended by the framers of the Charter: to preserve peace in the world. 321. When I stated before that some of the problems facing us are highly dangerous, I had in mind, first and foremost, the ever-increasing pace of the arms race, the danger of proliferation of nuclear weapons, the traffic in fissionable materials and the production of new weapons of mass destruction, be they nuclear, chemical or biological. 322.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“It is easy to place the blame on our Organization and to hold forth on theories of divergence in the development of our institutions, on the one hand, and the developments in international relations and the great advances in technology, on the other. I have said this before, but I will repeat it here: no organization is greater than the individual members that compose it. We have our Organization and we must use it to attain the ideals expressed in the Charter. There is undoubtedly some need for institutional changes for the sake of efficiency and for budgetary reasons, but we see no need for a revision of the Charter for the present. 320. We have a saying in Iceland that the bad oarsman blames the oar.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“The fighting that broke out recently in the area of the Horn of Africa must be mentioned as an exception, and it is of course always a great tragedy when disputes, whatever their cause, turn into bloody armed conflicts in which there is no regard for human lives or human suffering. 318. The problems facing the United Nations are many and immensely complex, and in some instances highly sensitive and dangerous, and their solution is a matter of survival for civilization in the world as we know it today. 319. The Charter of the United Nations gives us the platform on which to build our efforts to find solutions, and the Organization is the instrument we must use in those efforts.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“Kurt Waldheim, and his staff have continued their tireless and determined efforts on behalf of the United Nations to preserve peace and to carry out the many mandates given to them. Permit me to convey our gratitude and our respect to the Secretary-General and his staff and to assure him of our full support in the future as hitherto. 317. The year that has passed since we last met in this hall cannot be said to have been characterized by great achievements in the field of international relations. There have, however, been no great set-backs, so perhaps in that sense it may be said that developments have been on the positive side.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“Permit me also to express our great appreciation to your predecessor, Ambassador Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe, for the wise and efficient manner in which he dealt with the difficult tasks facing the Assembly. Again 1 want to express the gratitude of my country for his contribution to the efforts to bring to a successful conclusion the incredibly complicated work of the law of the sea Conference. 315. We now have two new Members of the United Nations: The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Republic of Djibouti. I am very happy to welcome them into this community of nations, and 1 feel certain their co-operation and contributions to our Organization will be of great value. 316. The Secretary-General, Mr.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“312. Every year, as custom has it, we review here major developments in international relations at the beginning of the session of the General Assembly. I want to do exactly that and present the Icelandic viewpoint on major international events in the past 12 months. In summary form, I will touch on conflicts, co-operation and continued work on improving the human condition. 313. But first of all let me say that it gives me great pleasure to join my colleagues in congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President of the thirty-second session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Your active participation in the work of the Organization on behalf of your country is well known and will undoubtedly contribute to your success in dealing with the many problems now on the agenda. 314.”
1977-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 32 (1977)
“It has been maintained in some quarters that the Government of Iceland should have waited for the completion of the work of the Conference and that by acting now the further work of that Conference has been made more difficult. My Government does not share this view. On the contrary, by adhering strictly to the principles overwhelmingly supported by the Conference, my Government has emphasized its respect for the Conference and it is our conviction that our action, as well as any similar action taken by other States, will, rather than hinder the work of the Conference, promote its success,”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“On the other hand and I emphasize this we will not submit to economic pressures such as those exercised by the Federal Republic of Germany, which has enacted a landing ban on our trawlers in German ports and exercised its veto to prevent the application of tariff concessions in the European Economic Community. 33. It is our hope that our new regulations will be respected by all concerned and that we will be able to use our natural resources in conformity with the principles which were supported, as I said before, by an overwhelming majority at the Conference on the Law of the Sea. This is our intention and this is what we shall do. 34.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“As far as my country is concerned, those obsolete policies have many times in the past jeopardized our economic survival and we cannot tolerate that situation any longer. 32. However, my Government is willing to facilitate reasonable interim adjustments to mitigate economic hardship for foreign fishermen, but two major considerations must then be kept in mind. On the one hand, our policy in this field has been known for almost 30 years now and cannot come as a surprise to anyone least of all to the nations whose fishermen have frequented or worked our area.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“It is, of course, also quite clear that some States still fight this kind of solution since they would like to continue their past activities and send large trawler fleets to utilize the fishing grounds of other nations without their consent. But the time has come to face the fact that such practices are opposed by the overwhelming majority of the Members of the international community and that the system on which they are based is obsolete and quite unacceptable to the nations whose resources the distant-water fishing States want to use. Instead of opposing the concept of the exclusive economic zone, they should be con tent that they do not have to compensate for the immense riches which they have taken out of those resources in the past.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The action which the Government of Iceland has taken is in conformity with the consensus which emerged at the Conference on the Law of the Sea that a coastal State can decide the total allowable fishing catch within a 200 mile zone and can also determine its own capacity to utilize that catch. When the coastal State does not have the capacity to harvest the entire allowable catch, it shall give other States access to the surplus of this allowable catch. These principles, which are also embodied in articles 50 and 51 of part II of the informal single negotiating text emanating from the Conference, undoubtedly have the support of the overwhelming majority of the States participating in the Conference. 31.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Where the distance between Iceland and other States is less than 400 nautical miles, the median line or equidistance principle is employed. The new regulations will take effect on 15 October 1975. At the same time a scientific management program is being established which will call for the exercise of great restraint on the utilization of the Icelandic fishing fleet even after foreign fishing is discontinued. The purpose of the program is to ensure the optimum sustainable yield under scientific management. It will constitute a thorough revision of previous management programs, which so far have always been hampered by the interference of foreign fishing. The management program will be based on scientific principles of conservation. 30.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“28 In view of all these facts the Government of Iceland decided to take the necessary action consonant with the progressive development of international law as reflected in the consensus reached at the Conference. We decided not to establish an economic zone for the time being because some aspects of that concept still have to be worked out. We decided not to adopt rules with regard to the territorial sea, pollution, scientific research, or the delimitation of the continental shelf for the same reasons. Nor would we interfere with international navigation in any way. 29. But with regard to the one vital issue the problem of foreign fishing we could not delay taking the necessary action any longer. Consequently, on 15 July 1975, regulations were issued extending the Icelandic fishery limits to 200 nautical miles.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“And the average age of the fish caught is now much lower than ever before. The total fishing effort is now 100 per cent greater than it was 20 years ago, but the catch is even less than it was then. The implications are evident. rj Fourthly, the present Icelandic fishing fleet is fiillv capable of utilizing the total allowable catch in the area. A special committee of the International Council for Exploration of the Sea and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Commission has estimated that a 50 per cent reduction of the fishing effort in the North Atlantic area would not reduce the total catch. Fishing mortality in the Iceland area will have to be drastically reduced in order to achieve optimum utilization.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Secondly, almost one half of the total demersal catch in the area continues to be taken by foreign nationals from distant-water fishing States, particularly the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany. Because of the small size of the fish taken by vessels from the United Kingdom, actually more than half of the number of fish have been taken by foreign fishermen. The vessels engaged in this fishing are heavily subsidized in various ways by the Governments concerned. 26. Thirdly, foreign nationals are continually increasing their capture of immature fish so that the replacement of stocks is increasingly endangered. This is shown, for instance, by the fact that the most important fish stock in Icelandic waters, namely, cod, has now been reduced to spawning only once in its lifetime.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“At the end of the third session of the Conference, which took place at Geneva from 17 March to 9 May 1975, my Government had to take stock of the situation. We had then before us the single negotiating text prepared by the Chairmen of the three main committees which will become the basis of the work of the fourth session in New York in March-May 1976. Still another session, or even sessions, may be required before the Conference can conclude its work. 23. In the meantime my Government was faced with the following situation. 24. First, the fish stocks in the Iceland area continue to form the foundation of our economy a matter of life or death to our people. 25.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“As the peaceful reunification of Korea is the announced policy of the two Governments, we must hope that conditions will be created for them to resume negotiations towards this end. 21. The Government of Iceland has followed the work of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea with great attention and continues to attach the greatest importance to its deliberations. Considerable progress has been made by the Conference in some fields and a wide range of agreement has emerged. However, in some other fields, like the regime for the international sea-bed area, considerable work still needs to be done. My Government has taken a keen interest in these deliberations and will continue to work for the successful conclusion of the Conference. 22.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The highly useful role of the United Nations peace-keeping forces in the Middle East deserves to be praised as, without their existence, the disengagement agreements would have been much more difficult to achieve. 19. The problem of Cyprus is still with us. We hope that the talks being conducted under the auspices of the Secretary-General will continue, as we feel that negotiations between the two communities under his able and devoted guidance will prove to be the best available means of reaching a satisfactory and permanent solution of this vexing problem. 20. The Assembly is once again faced with the question of Korea. Progress on this vital issue depends on the genuine efforts and goodwill of the two Korean States, without which there is little that the General Assembly can accomplish.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“We compliment all those concerned with this agreement on their statesmanship, wisdom and courage. It is to be hoped that this momentum thus achieved towards negotiating the extremely complex and delicate problems in this area will not be lost but will lead to a lasting solution. This is no easy task, but we appeal to the peoples in the Middle East to show restraint and a genuine will to work together to achieve a just solution of the problems, as the alternative is likely to be open conflict which would pose a grave danger to world peace. An over-all settlement would have to respect the rights of the Palestinians and the rights of all States in the area to secure and recognized borders. 18.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“We expect shortly to be able to welcome additional nations as Members. 16. At this point I want to reaffirm the belief of my Government in the principle of universality as regards membership in the United Nations. And following that basic principle, the Icelandic delegation will oppose any moves to exclude or suspend any Member State by any means not in strict conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, or to restrict its rights as a Member of the Organization or of its organs or of associated organizations. We believe that any such efforts will be harmful and might destroy the effectiveness of the United Nations as an instrument for peace. 17. The recent interim agreement between Egypt and Israel is a most welcome development which we consider to be a significant step in the direction of a peaceful settlement in the Middle East.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“We must continue to apply pressure until self-determination and the basic human rights of the populations in that area are guaranteed. 14. The violation of human rights is not limited to any one part of the world and has to be condemned wherever it occurs. The question of human rights and dignity must therefore continue to receive the highest priority in the United Nations. In this connexion I wish to express satisfaction with the significance attributed to humanitarian questions and human contacts in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, signed at Helsinki by 35 heads of Government on 1 August 1975. 15. The United Nations is, in this anniversary year, approaching full universality of membership. Member nations now number 141, representing over 95 per cent of the world population.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“This should be a matter of grave concern to us all, and I hope that the Assembly at this session will give close attention to the general problems of , arms control and disarmament, and in particular to halting the increasing danger of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. 12. My delegation welcomes the continued process of decolonization in Africa, as evidenced by the admission at this session of the three new African States, to be followed shortly by Angola. 13. The Icelandic delegation has always supported in the United Nations the struggle of the peoples of southern Africa to achieve self-determination and independence. Despite determined activity by this Organization over the years, racial inequality and apartheid persist in parts of southern Africa.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The United Nations was founded at the conclusion of the most terrifying and destructive war in history and at the beginning of the nuclear age. Since then, the world has lived in the shadow of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction. 11. Through efforts made in the United Nations some important international agreements have been concluded in the field of nuclear energy and armaments. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex], to which over 90 countries have become parties, has, however, proved only partially effective and we have to face the fact that the danger of nuclear proliferation is increasing.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“I shall now mention very briefly our views regarding some of the major international questions facing this Assembly. 9. Thirty years ago the founders of the United Nations decided that the primary function of the Organization should be the maintenance of international peace and security. Despite determined efforts in the United Nations, the central question of disarmament and arms control has so far defied solution. The production and stockpiling of arms and the international trade in armaments have reached terrifying proportions, with no reduction in sight. Besides the tragic waste in human and material resources in a world where millions of people are living in appalling misery, the armaments race creates a highly dangerous threat to the survival of mankind. 10.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“This session marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Assembly. I will not take much of your time in evaluating the achievements and the short-comings of our Organization; this has been done thoroughly by previous speakers. Let me, however, express the hope that we have learned from past mistakes and that the achievements made will inspire us to redouble, in the future, our efforts to find solutions to the vast and challenging problems before us. 7. I fully endorse the sentiment expressed by the Secretary-General in the introduction to his report on the work of the Organization [AIIOOOI/Add.l], that this Organization of ours has been able to adjust to a changing world and has met many unforeseen challenges. We should still further strengthen the United Nations as the global forum for the promotion of security, peace and solidarity. 8.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“In the most severely affected countries the situation is so serious that a considerable part of the population is engaged in a daily struggle for survival against poverty and starvation. 5. The fact that we were able to move from confrontation to co-operation at the seventh special session despite these enormous difficulties I consider to be an achievement of major political significance. Despite the economic difficulties, the political will to contribute, to co-operate and to assist the developing countries was clearly displayed. Now we must implement the decisions of the special session. No substantial success can be expected without concentrated effort and without goodwill on the part of all. It is clear that both realism and generosity will be needed to bring about the necessary changes. 6.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“We are very happy to welcome the three new Members, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe, and look forward to their co-operation and their contribution to the work of our Organization. 4. As I did not have the opportunity to attend and address the seventh special session of the General Assembly held earlier this month, allow me to comment in a few words on the promising results of that session devoted to development and international economic co-operation. During the session all Members showed a willingness to co-operate and compromise in attempting to solve the big and far-reaching economic problems facing the world community. The recession in the world has affected both developed and developing countries.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“1. Mr. President, permit me first to join my colleagues in congratulating you on your election as President of the thirtieth session of the General Assembly. This gives me great pleasure, as our two nations are linked by a very special and fruitful co-operation. Your election not only testifies to your excellent personal qualities but also reflects the important role which can be played in the United Nations by the smaller nations. I wish you all success in this high office, and you can feel certain of our confidence and support. 2. Let me also at the outset place on record our appreciation for the tireless efforts made by Mr. Kurt Waldheim, the Secretary-General, and his staff to implement the objectives of the Charter. 3.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“That belief is of the utmost importance for us all, since it is equally acceptable to the developing and the developed States, to the poor nations and the rich, and therefore we can unite under its banner for the creation of a more peaceful and a more just world.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Then, almost two thirds of the 138 Members now represented in this Hall were colonies and their peoples were without the freedom, sovereignty and independence they now fortunately enjoy. Then there was very &Ue international co-operation for the furthering of. human rights and very few efforts to avert hunger and poverty in the world. And then there was no international institution to mediate in armed conflicts between nations and act as a peace-keeping force. 382. Because of the existence of the United Nations we are now living in a much better world than existed 29 years ago. Therefore we all must continue to strengthen the Organization, in the firm belief that we are contributing to a better world of tomorrow. That belief can and will, if we let it guide us in our work here, bring us each day closer to our goals.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Admitting that, we ail realize how important a foundation the United Nations has created in this relatively short period of time to increase and strengthen co-operation between the nations of the world for the. benefit of mankind. 380. It is the most valuable recognition of the importance of the United Nations that none of us would like to see the world today without the Organization. As long as we all have this firm belief in the necessity of the United Nations, we are indeed on the right path leading us to a better and more just world in spite of the fact that we have not been able to progress as fast as the more optimistic had hoped and therefore we have sometimes had considerable disappointments through the years. 381. In this connexion I think it is encouraging for all of us if we recall the world situation 29 years ago.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“In view of this fact I want to use this opportunity to express my Government's admiration for the leadership provided by Mr. Amerasinghe, President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. The international community is greatly indebted to him for his endeavors which, I am sure, will culminate in the successful completion of the task of the Conference. Our thanks also go to the chairmen of the committees of the Conference and other officials of the Conference who have shown great devotion to duty. I wish them luck in the further exercise of their great responsibilities. 379. This is the twenty-ninth session of the General Assembly. Twenty-nine years is indeed a very short period of time in the history of civilization.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“It is our hope that agreement will be reached next year with regard to an exclusive economic zone of up to 200 miles and other related otters at the Conference on the Law of the Sea, that Governments which plan to extend their coastal jurisdiction to that distance can proceed on the basis of an international convention. 378. I am not saying that the alternative would be utter chaos, because there already exists sufficient support for unilateral action in this field, if the cooperative efforts should fail, an eventuality that we all should strive to prevent. A solution in the, near future along the lines now indicated through the work of the Conference on the Law of the Sea would be the logical and reasonable result of the tremendous work which has been devoted to the problems involved.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)