YouSaid · the spoken record

VAN DEN BROEK

lines on the record: 306
first: 1983-09-24
most recent: 1992-09-24
sittings or episodes: 10
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

“The increasing international awareness of the interdependence between environment and development is important, but awareness is of course only the first step; solutions have to follow. Bach Government has a responsibility to protect the environment, as stipulated by the Stockholm Principles of 1972. The threat to our atmosphere and its gradual warming undoubtedly constitute one of the most pressing problems, in March this year 24 Heads of State or Government from many parts of the world gathered in The Hague, the Netherlands, to discuss these issues. The Declaration they signed, which has since been endorsed by many more countries, calls for urgent action and sets out innovative approaches to tackle the problem of climatic change.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Indeed, Hurricane Hugo, which left a trail of destruction in the Caribbean region and elsewhere, demonstrates, once again, that the United Nation system should also be able to play a role in the case of natural - "nature-made" - disasters. Let me make a few remarks about man-made disasters. One of the most formidable challenges of our time is the degradation of our environment. The grating list of threats is by now well-known: warming of the atmosphere, depletion of the ozone layer, the ever-increasing volume of waste, the expanding deserts and reckless deforestation - to mention just a few of the many man-made disasters. Clearly, we have a collective duty to change our attitudes and habits. The Brundtland Report deserves credit for alerting the world to the magnitude of the challenge.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“On the other hand, the restructuring of the intergovernmental machinery of the Organization - in particular, in the economic and social sectors - is far from being completed. In the Netherlands' view all of these reforms should be pursued with vigour. This can only further strengthen Member States' already renewed confidence in the United Nations and enable the Organization to respond more effectively to the many challenges that lie ahead. The members of the United Nations should for their part, of course, pay outstanding contributions - in fact, share the burden of the many essential activities of the Organization, including peace-keeping. This is also true of actions required to meet manifold new urgent humanitarian needs and emergency situations that continue to demand our attention.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“In recent years a few other countries have substantially increased their level of official development assistance, but many others, it must be admitted, are still lagging behind. The international community - certainly those countries benefiting the most from the economic upswing we have experienced in recent years - should do its utmost to attain the adopted target for official development assistance of 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product. The United Nations as an organization is being called upon to undertake new challenging tasks at a time when it is carrying out a process of profound reform. We have the feeling that the reform process is now on the right track. New budgetary procedures are in place and the Secretariat is being streamlined.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Building on the outcome of the special session, the international development strategy for the forthcoming development decade should shape a framework for sustainable economic and social development. This requires favourable internal as well as external conditions) here there is a shared responsibility of both developing and developed countries. The new strategy must take into account the different needs and situations in individual countries and regions and the varying degrees of development in the world. The situation in the least developed countries, particularly in Africa, remains alarming and therefore deserves our attention. Many years ago the Netherlands, together with some other countries, set an example by reaching a disbursement level of 1 per cent of its gross domestic product for development purposes.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“I should now like to make a few remarks about the international economic situation, because the struggle against poverty, malnutrition and underdevelopment is far from being won. Imbalances in the world economy persist. The unequal international distribution of wealth, the discrepancy between population growth and economic development and the persisting external debt problems in many developing countries all point to the need for new and imaginative approaches. The forthcoming special session of the General Assembly on the reactivation of economic growth should provide a set of realistic guidelines and principles for future international economic co-operation.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The proposal by Israel for elections in the occupied territories deserves serious consideration, provided it is the beginning and not the end of a process leading to a comprehensive settlement. In this connection, we welcome the efforts currently being made by President Mubarak of Egypt to bring about the urgently needed negotiations between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian people. With regard to the situation in the Korean peninsula, I should like to express again here the hope that before long the Republic of Korea will be represented in our world Organization. The recent proposal by the Republic of Korea for a national community charter may contribute to improving relations within the peninsula.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“These are welcome developments. It is, of course, essential that those principles should find consistent application in PLO policy. It is equally important that Israel, for its part, carefully reconsider its priorities and contribute towards a comprehensive settlement on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1978) and 338 (1973), including the principle of the exchange of land for peace. Such a settlement should accommodate both Israel's right to secure and recognized borders and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, and the peaceful solution that should result from them, will necessarily be a step-by-step process, each stage contributing to greater confidence and understanding.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“We are receptive to positive appeals, but, clearly, it is now up to the South African Government to take concrete steps that will create confidence and initiate dialogue. I repeat that it will have to do so before long, with the politically deprived in South Africa, we are eager to see a fundamental change of direction. If such a change does not come there will be no alternative for the international community but to reconsider its position vis-à-vis South Africa. I wish to make a few remarks regarding the Middle East in addition to what my French colleague said earlier this week on behalf of the Twelve. The difficult quest for a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict received new impetus with the declared acceptance by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) of Israel's right to exist and its renunciation of terrorism.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“They will have to be followed by deeds if they are to remain credible. It is essential that a process of dialogue and negotiation between all parties be started before long within South Africa. But it is clear that decades of oppression have bred deep distrust about the preparedness of the South African Government to bring about real change. Indeed, how can there be talks if leading figures of the opposition, like Nelson Mandela, are still in gaol and their organizations remain banned? In his inaugural address earlier this month. President De Klerk Galled on the international community to take note of what is happening in South Africa and to adopt a positive attitude towards developments in that country.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“My country is proud to be contributing a contingent of military police to this operation, thus playing our part in ensuring a scrupulous implementation of the United Nations plan for Namibia. Fundamental change in South Africa itself is long overdue. Who can contest that the system of apartheid contravenes basic human values and that it must be dismantled? Further procrastination or half-way measures will only make the inevitable process of change more difficult and painful. Now that the all-White elections are behind us - and let us hope these are the last of their kind - we are waiting to see what the new government will undertake. Pronouncements by the new South African President about "writing a new chapter in the history of South Africa" are raising expectations. But words like these have not been spoken for the first time.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The clearest example can be found in the Esquipulas process in Central America, where the United Nations will not only monitor compliance with the agreements but also observe, together with others, the election process, an absolute first, in one of the Member States of the Organization. No doubt the current transition towards the independence of Namibia under United Nations supervision is indeed one of the most challenging and significant operations ever undertaken by the world Organization, as the Secretary-General observes in his report to the Assembly. We would like to commend both the civilian and the military personnel of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) for the way they are dealing with this difficult task.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The Security Council, benefiting from the improved international climate, has displayed greater cohesion and thus greater effectiveness. I should in particular like to pay a tribute to the tireless efforts of the Secretary-General and his assistants in the many areas of tension and conflict in the world. The instrument of United Nations peace-keeping operations is proving its great value every day. Peace-keeping operations certainly are not a substitute for a political settlement, but they can be a decisive element in implementing such a settlement. We are intrigued by the gradual evolution of the role of the United Nations in promoting peace in various parts of the world. Recently we have seen how the Organization has become involved, apart from classical peace-keeping operations, in new forms of peace promotion.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Soviet troops have left Afghanistan; Cuban troops are in the process of leaving Angola and, assuming promises have been kept, the Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia should by now just have been completed. But unfortunately, the indigenous sources of contention in these and other conflicts have proven to be less amenable to solutions. Thus the people of Cambodia, to limit myself to them, are still waiting with apprehension to discover what the future has in store for them. We can only hope that there will be no shift back to the battlefield and to massive violation of human rights, but that diplomatic efforts will continue to prevail. The more active role of the United Nations in promoting peaceful solutions in a number of regional conflicts is in itself an encouraging sign.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Last week progress was made towards agreement on improved verification arrangements needed for ratification of the threshold test-ban Treaties. And after that, we would expect the United States and the Soviet Union to seek further limits on testing in conjunction with the process of actual reductions in nuclear weapons. All this should contribute to a favourable climate for the next Review Conference of the Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. While the positive trend in arms control negotiations between East and West is encouraging, one cannot overlook the fact that in some parts of the world armed conflict and its gruesome consequences are still a daily reality. The improved East-West relations and the new thinking in Soviet foreign policy have helped to remove or mitigate some of the external factors in regional conflicts.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The increasing measure of agreement between the two super-Powers is in this respect very encouraging. The memorandum of understanding on a bilateral verification experiment and data exchange, just signed in Wyoming by Secretary of State Baker and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze, underlines the extent of the bilateral process, for we would expect this to help move forward also the multilateral process. In view of the urgency of the matter we favour the spreading of negotiating sessions over the year. If the world would join in, we do believe we can achieve the complete ban on chemical weapons we have sought for so long. It is in the field of nuclear arms control that progress is most tangible. All inter mediate-range nuclear missiles are now being eliminated and an agreement to halve the strategic arsenals seems to be in the offing.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Thus, for instance, we are already approaching an agreement in Vienna on common ceilings for some major categories of equipment. These are ceilings that will entail very substantial reductions. Only last week, the 16 North Atlantic Treaty Organization participants in the Vienna negotiations submitted further details of their proposals, notably concerning verification and stabilizing measures With regard to chemical weapons, we must not allow proliferation to catch up with the negotiations on a complete ban. We welcome the proposals President Bush made at the beginning of this session to rid the world, in his words, of "... these truly terrible weapons ..." and work "towards a treaty that will ban - eliminate - all chemical weapons from the Earth". (V44/PV.4, p. 56). We have every reason to make haste in Geneva.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“We would also wish to warn against attempts by groups of countries, on unrelated political grounds, to prevent human rights violations from being addressed. Are not such practices extremely damaging for the credibility of the efforts of the United Nations to protect human rights? The remarkable improvement in East-West relations has given a strong impetus to arms control and disarmament. Real disarmament, such as we could only dream of at the beginning of this decade, is now beginning to materialize. Nothing illustrates the new momentum better than the contrast between the snail's pace of the former Mutually Balanced Force Reduction Talks, which never led to any agreement, and the swift advance of the current negotiations on conventional forces.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The importance of this Protocol is highlighted by the recent report of Amnesty International, which shows how many death sentences are still being carried out. we would call upon this Assembly to adopt the draft Protocol at this session. But the main focus of our attention should now be on how to improve compliance with human rights. Despite improvements in many parts of the world there remains a wide gap between the standards we have set and actual practice. What is needed is a more systematic and efficient use of the monitoring mechanisms at our disposal, such as the system of Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights. Furthermore, we believe that the United Nations, through the Commission on Human Rights, should be able to respond to serious violations of human rights the moment they occur.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“By changing their awn societies, by making them responsive to democratic aspirations, this movement of reform can have an enormous positive impact on peace and security in Europe and indeed in the world as a whole. President Gorbachev encapsulated the essence of this, when he said to the Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg last July: "A world where military arsenals would be reduced, but where human rights would be violated, would not be a safe place. We have made this conclusion for ourselves once and for all." In the United Nations, too, we have been further elaborating human rights standards in certain specific areas. I want to mention in particular the Second Optional Protocol on the Abolition of the Death Penalty.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Elsewhere, however, democratic forces have managed to gain the upper hand and, although often faced with difficult social and economic conditions, there can be no question that democracy is the key to tomorrow's world. Nothing holds out as much promise as a democratic society free from oppression and fear. The winds of change have not left Eastern Europe untouched. Poland has new captured the imagination of the world by its historic leap towards pluralism and democracy. Hungary seems set to take a giant step of its own in that direction. And in the Soviet Union, that breathtaking process of perestroika is opening doors that had been shut for decades, thus releasing the genius and energy of its people without which no nation can hope to thrive. We do hope that the reforms now under way will meet with success.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The horror that was just behind them had convinced the founding fathers of our Organization that international relations had to be based on new principles and that peace could not be separated from respect for human rights and human values. But the years following that war did not bring the full realization of the ideals that had been fought for. Today, however, we witness hopeful new trends. All around the world people of different national and cultural backgrounds are reaching out for freedom and democracy. A democratic revolution of global proportions is clearly on its way. Unfortunately the legitimate aspirations of people to greater freedom and democracy are not being met in all parts of the world. Who does not recall the shocking events on Tiananmen Square this summer?”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“Knowing where we came from is a constant reminder of where we should go and where we should not. This month, 50 years ago, with the Nazi attack on Poland, the Second World War broke out. What followed was not just another European war, in which force had to decide on a new balance of power. The Second World War was fought against an extremist ideology and for the ideals of freedom and democracy which in the course of the war found their expression in the Atlantic Charter. Ultimately it was a war about civilization and human values. Countless millions perished. Behind the barbed wire of occupied Europe, moreover, the most terrible form of racism the world has ever seen was unleashed. No words can describe the fate that befell European Jewry. To remember is to prevent. The end of the war saw the birth of the United Nations.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“I should first of all like to extend my warmest congratulations to the President on his assumption of the presidency of the current session of the General Assembly. With the wisdom and experience which are his, the Assembly is evidently in good hands. He can count on the constructive co-operation of the delegation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Earlier this week my colleague Mr. Roland Dumas, the Foreign Minister of France, explained the common position of the Twelve member States of the European Community on a wide range of international issues, so I need not return to all those issues addressed in his speech. A living memory of the past is essential in our efforts to shape the world of the future. This is true for each of us individually. It is also true for our collective endeavours - the United Nations itself not least among them.”
1989-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 44 (1989)
“The age of technology gives an advantage to those societies that allow information to circulate freely and give room to the innovative capabilities of the individual. But if we cherish human rights so much, it is not only for their intrinsic value or for their contribution to the prosperity of man. Human rights are, as the Universal Declaration states, "the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world". Indeed, internal oppression and external aggression have often gone together. It could not have been phrased more aptly than it was by the Secretary-General during his recent stay in the Netherlands when he said that "respect for human rights and peace are inseparable. Just as the violation of human rights leads to conflict, so conflict and war lead, all too often, to the suppression of human rights."”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“And yet, there is probably no government that does not profess respect for human rights. Let us not forget that the scourge of the abuse of human rights is man-made; it can therefore be remedied by man. The international Bill of Human Rights exists; the mechanisms are in place. Our task in the years ahead should be to promote the political will to bring about the effective enjoyment of human rights by all mankind. There is a growing realization that these concepts, while values in themselves, are also basic conditions for shaping a more prosperous and a more just society. Freedom and democracy, we feel, are not luxuries. On the contrary, they go hand in hand with development and prosperity.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“That is why the Netherlands insisted so strongly on the incorporation, within the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), of a mechanism to review compliance in the field of human rights and human contacts. I hope that this concept will be reflected in the final document of the CSCE which, as we all hope, the current meeting in Vienna will be able to agree upon soon. There is much to celebrate during the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration. But celebrations or commemorations should not divert our attention from the more sobering task of stock-taking. We should ask ourselves to what degree the rights proclaimed are actually promoted and enjoyed. Torture, summary executions and unlawful detention are an everyday reality for all too many of our fellow human beings.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“At the same time it is essential that adequate levels of funding for human rights monitoring mechanisms be secured. The Netherlands has circulated some ideas on monitoring procedures and mechanisms amongst these chairpersons. These suggestions will also be circulated in a document in the course of this session of the General Assembly. As I have said, efforts at the regional level can supplement and reinforce those at the global level. In the Helsinki Final Act 35 countries pledged themselves to a broad programme designed to improve mutual relations. This programme includes respect for a comprehensive range of clearly defined human rights. Here, too, we have been faced too long with a gap between the standards we set and the degree to which they are being complied with.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“No, we refer to fundamental standards on which we should all be prepared to be judged. Moreover, we feel that respect for human rights is essential for confidence-building between States. Formal accession by countries to the various conventions is important, but it is only a first step. Implementation must follow - and as we all know, that is where the real problems begin. This underlines the importance of the various monitoring procedures and mechanisms designed to hold States to their obligations. Signs of erosion of the supervisory system are a cause of concern. We would hope that the meeting of chairpersons of the various United Nations supervisory bodies scheduled for this autumn will be able to propose practical remedies to remove the strain on the reporting system.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“They are not simply an internal matter within the exclusive domain of national sovereignty. The past 40 years have clearly refuted this argument. The 1948 Declaration was the starting-point of an impressive effort at international law-making. The two United Nations Covenants on human rights, of 1966, were milestones in this effort and it is to be hoped that in this year, in which we are celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, those Member States that have not yet acceded to some of the United Nations instruments on human rights will be able to decide to do so in the near future. Let us be clear - the concept of human rights was not an invention to be used to attack those with whom we find ourselves in disagreement.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Against this background I may say that we hope that the Republic of Korea, now hosting the games, can soon take up its rightful place in this universal Organization. In order to strengthen the basis for global co-operation we must reflect upon the values that bind us together. Article I of the United Nations Charter lists the promotion of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms among the three main purposes of the United Nations. Forty years ago, the General Assembly, building on this foundation, proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, the universal applicability of the Declaration has been firmly established. Human rights transcend national borders. Violations of these rights - and they are only too frequent - are a common concern of the family of nations.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Integration amongst European nations has allowed us not only to overcome a bitter legacy of division but also to achieve a considerable degree of prosperity for our peoples. Our endeavours have not led to Euro centrism but stimulated even an outward orientation of Western Europe. One large single market instead of 12 separate smaller markets should offer new opportunities, not only for the Community, but for third-world countries as well. We do not see regional co-operation as a substitute for global co-operation. The two complement each other. Interdependence and co-operation are at the heart of the new global reality and the United Nations should be an energetic reflection of that reality. The Olympic games provide us, right at this moment, with a powerful symbol of brotherhood and friendly competition.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“The debate on the strategy for the fourth development decade offers a good opportunity to discuss the interrelationships and mutual dependence of specific development topics such as debts, investments, the environment, natural resources, commodities and trade and their implications for sustainable development. As a contribution to solving some of the most pressing environmental problems, my Government will host high-level consultations on the ozone layer next month and a conference on the protection of the atmosphere next year in the Netherlands. Regional co-operation has much to offer to people on all continents, both as a way to promote peace and as an instrument for increasing prosperity.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“I believe that it is high time to remind ourselves of the target for official development assistance of 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product that has been adopted. In order to assist the economic and social advancement of developing countries, the Netherlands will continue to disburse 1 per cent of its gross domestic product for development purposes. The review of the Programme of Action for Africa has made clear that it is Africa in particular that is facing economic problems of staggering magnitude. I am convinced, however, that the review has provided important impetus to both the African countries and the international community to redouble our common efforts to reach the goals of the action plan in time.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“None the less, we must continue this reform process in order to enable the United Nations to increase its relevance also in the economic and social fields. One does not have to be a prophet to foresee a major transformation of the international system in the decades ahead. The spectacular emergence of new economic centres in various parts of the third world is only one indication that we are witnessing a development towards greater multipolarity. This in itself could enrich the interaction amongst us, and, it is to be hoped, will increase the effectiveness of the United Nations when new actors assume larger responsibilities for the common good. The recent economic recovery in the industrialized countries has not yet led to an improvement of the economic situation in many parts of the developing world.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Together with Canada and Prance, we intend to submit our ideas to the Assembly in greater detail. Maintaining peace and security is a primary task of the United Nations, but by no means the only one. All of us should seriously consider how we can increase the relevance of the role of the Organization in the light of constantly changing conditions, how we can enhance its efficiency and flexibility, and how we can counteract bureaucratic tendencies and duplication. The Netherlands has participated actively in the special committee on the restructuring of the economic and social sectors of the United Nations. I must admit that we are rather disappointed with the outcome of these deliberations so far.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“It would be a bitter irony if at a time when arms control negotiations are at last beginning to yield long-sought results, we failed to stem the danger of proliferation. A key element of any arms control agreement is verification, and I am happy to note the growing international consensus on this point. In my statement at the third special session on disarmament last June I suggested strengthening the general role of the United Nations with regard to verification in a practical manner. Our proposal is that a group of qualified governmental experts would study ways to improve the assistance United Nations bodies could render in the verification of arms control agreements. This would apply in the first place to multilateral agreements and, furthermore, to regional, or even bilateral agreements, if parties so desired.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“When addressing the third special session on disarmament I emphasized how important it was that the Secretary-General be able to conduct investigations, whenever there were allegations of the use of chemical weapons. The Security Council confirmed this necessity and encouraged him to carry out promptly investigations in response to allegations concerning the possible use of chemical weapons. It is therefore disappointing and disturbing to note that recently the Secretary-General was not permitted to ascertain the facts when there were strong reasons to do so. It is indeed a worrisome development that "proliferation", which used to refer exclusively to the danger of nuclear proliferation nowadays is acquiring new connotations, as we see proliferation, not only in the chemical field but also in that of missiles and missile technology.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“The serious conventional imbalance we face in Europe is at the core of our security problem, and our aim is to bring about a stable conventional balances at lower levels and with more transparency. It is also essential to press ahead with a total ban on chemical weapons. The imminent danger of proliferation of chemical weapons underlines once again the need for such a ban, and that on a world-wide basis. Indeed, the verification problems are daunting, but I refuse to believe that they cannot be solved. In the meantime, while a total ban has not yet been concluded, it is tragic to see that the 1925 Geneva Protocol has not prevented the use of these abhorrent weapons. We support President Reagan's proposal, made last Monday, to convene a conference to see how together we can remedy the erosion of the Protocol.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“We follow the processes of reform with great interest and commend the spirit of greater openness. My country has, together with its allies, consistently pursued a policy aimed at better East-West relations and arms control. We will not be remiss in seizing opportunities to further these aims. Important progress in arms control has already been achieved, and this to an extent that seemed inconceivable only a few years ago. The Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles - INF Treaty was indeed a major breakthrough. And the 50-per-cent cut in strategic weapons, which is now being negotiated, would be an even more significant disarmament measure. But however much we hope for further results in the field of nuclear disarmament, it is essential that progress should also encompass conventional arms control.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Delaying the inevitable will diminish the opportunities of reaching a solution and will only increase the tensions. The role of the international community is, as we see it, not merely to mete out reprimands, it is to help the peace process along and eventually, once the negotiations have led to results, to guarantee their outcome. We are concerned about developments in Lebanon and saddened by the continuing suffering of its people. We urge all parties concerned to abstain from any action that would deepen the rifts that have kept Lebanon divided for so long already. It is imperative that the constitutional framework of Lebanon be allowed to function so that a new President, elected freely and without interference from outside, can take up the pressing task of restoring the unity of the Lebanese people. Much is changing in Eastern Europe.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Israel, indeed, is entitled to existence in security. But the Palestinian people too have their legitimate rights. Their right to self-determination will have to be accommodated in the context of a comprehensive and lasting settlement. In recent meetings with the Israeli Government and with Palestinian representatives in East Jerusalem, the Netherlands Government joined those who urged moderation and a constructive approach by all concerned. The road to a settlement will no doubt be long. It might have to be covered in stages, but then with a clear final perspective. Success will only be achieved if parties are willing to compromise, if parties do not confront each other with conditions they know beforehand to be unacceptable to the other side. Peace involves mutual concessions.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Clearly, neither a continuation of the current foreign the universally condemned policies and practices of the regional conflicts also, we see how the improved activities of States in the region and the support given to each other in working towards peaceful is that was found for direct talks between the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus is another example of progress to that end. And in another hotbed of tension an unjust and painful stalemate continues to exist. We are looking forward to the day when the United Nations can also play an enhanced role in the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The status quo there is not sustainable. The tensions in the occupied territories demonstrate the need for a renewed impetus to the peace process. My country fully understands the Israeli concerns about security.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“Together with others, we call upon both parties to co-operate intensively with the Secretary-General in order to achieve a comprehensive peace settlement in compliance with Security Council resolution 598 (1987). Turning to Cambodia, we welcome the intensified diplomatic efforts to read a settlement and the constructive role played by the countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Cambodia has had more than its share of suffering. Our goal must be an independent Cambodia, free from foreign occupation and invested with democratic institutions strong enough to withstand internal and external threats.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“The war endangered yet another principle of international law, namely freedom of navigation, on one of the busiest sea-lanes of the world. It was to uphold that principle that my country, together with a number of other Western European countries, contributed to mine-clearing in the Gulf. We have noted with interest that the Secretary-General has suggested looking into the possibilities of extending peace-keeping to the maritime environment. We are prepared to study the implications of such a new dimension in United Nations peace-keeping tasks. Negotiations between the two belligerents have now started under the auspices of the Secretary-General. The intransigence that has prolonged the war for so many years should not be transferred to the negotiating table.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“May I submit that a bill of rights, to be negotiated and agreed upon between the authentic representatives of the entire population and safeguarded by an independent judiciary, would do much to guarantee equal rights and allay the fears that some have. Would not a pluralistic democracy providing adequate participation by both majority and minority offer the best prospects for lasting reconciliation? And, nay I add, would not a South Africa at peace with itself be a tremendous asset for the region as a whole? The cease-fire in the 8-year-old war between Iraq and Iran was greeted with great relief. Untold suffering is coming to an end. But there was more to this war. In flagrant violation of international law we saw chemical weapons being used on a scale not witnessed since the First World War.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“The Kingdom of the Netherlands urges the South African Government to release Nelson Mandela and all those others detained for their political beliefs. That could open the way to negotiations with the genuine representatives of the population. We look not only to the early abolition of apartheid·, we look also to its replacement by a just political order in which all South Africans can live in peace and harmony. It is, of course, up to the South African peoples themselves to join hands in order to shape a new constitutional framework. But let me say this on the subject: the ideals of human rights, democracy and the rule of law to which ray country, like so many others, is deeply attached, would seem all the more essential in a society as diverse as South Africa's.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“For many years the world community has been demanding independence for Namibia. We are encouraged by the progress recently made. I trust that the momentum can be maintained. The process of dialogue and negotiations we see in many parts of the world is also needed in South Africa itself. Apartheid is totally and fundamentally wrong. It has no future. Although change is long overdue, it is not too late to bring it about peacefully. But every new delay will make the task of national reconciliation even more difficult. The artificial separations apartheid has created between the various segments of the South African population ha/e bred deep resentment and fear of the unknown. In our opinion it is high time to replace this by a broad dialogue across all lines of colour.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“The Prize honours all those soldiers who over the years have served in United Nations forces all over the world. The Netherlands has always supported the efforts of the United Nations in the field of peace-keeping. We are now actively considering with our partners in the Twelve how we can contribute more effectively. In this context the valuable comments on the growing role of peace-keeping operations in the Secretary-General's annual report to the Assembly certainly deserve careful attention. Of course, one should not overlook the fact that here, as elsewhere, there is an obvious need to make the best possible use of scarce resources. This is the more true in the light of the magnitude of some of the peace-keeping operations that are envisaged, for instance in Namibia and in Western Sahara.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)
“In those developments we recognize vital elements of the recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Security Council that the Secretary-General advanced in his reports to the General Assembly in 1983 and 1986. At the time, those ideas did not receive the hearing they deserved. Now, the mood of frustration and impotence is giving way to renewed optimism. There seems to be a new confidence in the effectiveness of the multilateral approach in international relations. We must seize the opportunities to promote peace. United Nations peace-keeping is one of them. It is therefore most befitting that the United Nations peace-keeping forces were collectively awarded the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday. On behalf of the Netherlands Government I most warmly congratulate them on that well-deserved award.”
1988-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 43 (1988)