YouSaid · the spoken record

Medici

lines on the record

57

first

1968-09-24

most recent

1972-09-24

sittings or episodes

2

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un-general-debate

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1. “Here at the United Nations, in this great forum of peace, we, as Europeans and Italians, feel it our duty to declare our faith in the victory of the moral force, born of the principles of the Charter. 10. The peoples of the world have a profound sense of this fundamental need for peace and for common economic welfare, won in peace and freedom. So much harm has been done by the present crises that we must combine our efforts to prevent any return to the cold war. The Italian Government believes that this objective can and must be attained. There still are unquestionable opportunities to restore confidence and re-establish the bonds which have been so suddenly broken. 11. The events of the past decades have clearly shown that international problems cannot be solved by force alone.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)

2. “If, on the other hand, the Soviet Union were to continue to keep its troops in Czechoslovakia and use them also to exert pressure in that area, there would be little hope left of restoring in Europe the conditions of understanding and détente: conditions which we brought about through so much sacrifice and honesty of purpose and which would enable us to move forward towards the solution of the most serious problems still to be settled, including the German problem. 8. When we speak of détente, we mean a collective process of clarification in which all countries ought to take part on an equal footing. We cannot, therefore, share suggestions which would aim at a dialogue limited to a few great Powers, a formula which would not allow other countries to make their own contribution. 9.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)

3. “It is to be hoped that the Soviet Union is aware of the serious consequences that are likely to result from its action in Czechoslovakia and is also aware of the need to restore international legality. It is imperative that foreign troops now in Czechoslovak territory be withdrawn, especially as such a withdrawal would pose no danger to the Warsaw Pact countries. Only a withdrawal of those troops could convince the world that respect for the United Nations Charter is a reality.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)

4. “6. Despite the repeated revival of the tragic myths of military power, racial superiority and nationalistic pride, international society realizes the increasing productivity of multilateral relations. Indeed, the future of the world may depend on the development of multilateral diplomacy and the strengthening of the organizations which embody it. That fact must be borne in mind by the great Powers, because the future of peace and human welfare, which are inherently inseparable from each other, depend in large measure on their example. 7. Unfortunately, Soviet action in Prague may have turned back the clock of history by twenty years. I say "may have" because we in Italy cannot resign ourselves to this tragic prospect.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)

5. “In this forum, where we are pledged to carry out the principles of the United Nations Charter, our debates will be successful in promoting the common good only if we are basically sincere in what we say and at the same time, while being frank and forthright, we try to avoid bitter polemics, Here we must carry forward the dialogue begun almost a quarter of a century ago at San Francisco, a dialogue born from the new conditions imposed on international politics both by the democratic transformation taking place in today's society and by the technological revolution, At the same time, we must never forget that the creation of the United Nations was a reaction to the horrors of the Second World War and a response to the deep yearning for peace among all the peoples of the world, In this spirit, and with these memories in mind, we must honour with our deeds the principles of our Charter, which express the most fundamental needs of present-day international society.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)

6. “Lastly, I wish to record the great interest with which we have listened to the statements of the speakers who have preceded me on this rostrum, I do so because of their remarkable contribution to the understanding of the problems before us, as well as because of the high sense of responsibility with which, at this grave hour, they have responded to the issues confronting this session of the General Assembly. 5.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)

7. “1. Mr. President, I should like, in the first place, to express my Sincere gratification at your election, for you represent, among other things, a part of the world to which we feel bound by strong ties of common origin and culture. Allow me, at the same time, to express our appreciation of the exemplary way in which you are conducting our deliberations. 2. It is also my pleasant duty to convey to your illustrious predecessor, Mr, Corneliu Manescu, the sincere thanks of the Italian delegation for the wisdom with which he guided the twenty-second session of the General Assembly. 3. I extend our welcome and best wishes to Swaziland, which has recently become a Member of our family. 4.”

   1968-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 23 (1968)