YouSaid · the spoken record

VAN DER STOEL

lines on the record: 212
first: 1973-09-24
most recent: 1981-09-24
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

“The United Nations has made a great contribution in proclaiming human-rights standards in terms of guarantees and aspirations, in terms of political freedoms and economic and social justice, in terms of individual and collective concerns. The question is how to transform these standards into a living reality in the international and national communities, how to move from enunciation to implementation and effective protection. 29. Implementation of human rights should first and foremost have its effects at the grass-roots level, where people need adequate shelter, food, employment and also political rights, including the right to dissent and the right to freedom of religion or belief. They need their right to life, liberty and personal security. They need to be free from arbitrary arrest and detention.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“The fact-finding groups of the Commission on Human Rights on southern Africa and Chile, for instance, have brought distressing information to our attention, revealing the role of security agencies which operate beyond judicial control and inflict upon human beings the most inhuman treatment and even death. Similar information from other regions and areas comes to our knowledge. I appeal to this world Organization, Member States and all national and international institutions to make energetic efforts to bring such practice of torture and other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment to an end, wherever it occurs, 28.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“The Declaration on torture adopted last year by the General Assembly is very explicit on this score, for it states that: "Exceptional circumstances such as a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked as a justification of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." 27. The Netherlands Government and the Netherlands people are deeply concerned as the systematic and institutionalized practice of torture continues to be reported from various sources.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Large groups of people, organizations and action groups not only claim their own rights but, in a spirit of humanity and solidarity, also come out in favor of the human rights of others, both within and beyond national borders. Human rights are today a matter of international concern and preoccupation. 26. Human rights do not function in isolation. Violations of human rights are often the symptoms of deeper causes of injustice expressed through exploitation, discrimination, repression and intimidation. There are standards below which no society may fall without offending fundamental values. I am referring to such practices as wide-scale murder and imprisonment, torture and gross and systematic oppression of racial, religious, political or ethnic groups.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“The coherence and effectiveness of the United Nations system for development are essential conditions for a new economic relationship between North and South and for the effort to eradicate poverty. The Netherlands Government is concerned about the tendencies towards disintegration and the lack of cohesion in the systems. Vigorous efforts should be made to reverse these trends with major emphasis on strengthening the Economic and Social Council, the negotiating capacity of UNCTAD and the Secretariat. 25. One of the basic purposes of the Charter and of the obligations of Member States is the promotion and encouragement of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“The recent world employment Conference and Habitat have added wider dimensions to the development problem, in recognition of the fact that social justice, income distribution and meeting the basic needs of the people are fundamental to development. The results of these and other conferences must be integrated into a new strategy for a third development decade which should be more action-oriented and more binding on both developed and developing countries than the Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade. We must use the remaining years of this Decade and take the first steps for such a new undertaking. I propose that this session set in motion the preparatory work. 24.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Apart from the continuing dialog and negotiations in Paris, the first test case will be the forthcoming UNCTAD negotiations on the integrated program for commodities and the common fund. Other negotiations, such as those on multilateral trade, debt relief, monetary reform and the fifth replenishment of the International Development Association will equally require a political effort from all Members of this Organization. These are fundamental issues of equal opportunity and justice.. Failure to act and agree may have serious political implications. The appeal from Colombo should not remain unheeded. 23.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Our commitments should extend beyond words and conferences and should be geared towards effective implementation of what was previously agreed upon. The Netherlands Government shares the concern and frustration of developing countries recently expressed at Colombo about the extent to which concrete results have been produced in these and in other international forums in implementing the resolutions adopted at the sixth and seventh special sessions. Of essential importance, therefore, is the mobilization of the political will of all parties. The Netherlands Government, for its part, wishes to reiterate its pledge to implement the decisions of the seventh special session and of the fourth session of UNCTAD. 22.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Today I am more than ever convinced that in our efforts to consolidate and intensify detente and co-operation between East and West we cannot turn away from the South. East and West are both responsible for securing a more rational and more equitable economic relationship between North and South. 20. In the search for a new international economic and social order, the seventh special session marked the beginning of a new constructive dialog between all industrialized and developing countries. While, on balance, the results so far achieved at the fourth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development [UNCTAD] and the Paris Conference on International Economic Co-operation have been limited, the necessity for this dialog to be continued on the basis of common interests is still there. 21.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Detente in Europe is an important policy objective of the Netherlands Government. The Final Act of Helsinki represented a step forward in that direction. While there remain important unsettled issues in East-West relations, particularly with regard to human rights and in the military field, nevertheless we seem to be moving slowly towards co-operation. The Netherlands Government, in preparing with its partners for the meeting in Belgrade, will actively seek more progress on implementation of all the interrelated sectors in the context of our over-all policy of peace, human freedom and economic co-operation. 19. Three years ago I stressed in this Assembly that detente must take the interests of the third world into account.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“However, it cannot be justified that, both in the highly industrialized countries and in many developing countries, scarce resources are diverted from the promotion of prosperity to the provision of arms for destruction beyond what is legitimately needed for their security and self- defense. It will require political courage and wisdom to tackle this problem. The export of conventional arms should be subjected to the necessary restraint. Consideration should be given to the possibility of measures to regulate and control the international arms trade. This would, of course, require a joint effort of exporting and importing countries. If a special session of the General Assembly on disarmament is convened, the issue of conventional arms and the arms trade should have a priority. 18.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“It should appeal to the United States and the Soviet Union to bring the SALT negotiations to a speedy conclusion. It should call again for a comprehensive test-ban treaty, which is long overdue, and should give further, strong impetus to the ongoing discussions on the control of peaceful nuclear energy and on peaceful nuclear explosions, 17. While the danger of nuclear proliferation must be uppermost in our minds, the rapidly increasing sales of conventional weaponry is equally a matter of grave concern. Of all the problems of arms control, the trade in arms seems to be one of the most difficult to discuss in view of its implications for national sovereignty and security.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“The use of nuclear technology for military purposes must be prevented. The Netherlands Government has joined others in adopting a stringent policy on exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology. But that is not enough. All countries will have to exercise restraint with regard to sensitive installations like those for enrichment and reprocessing. To ignore the risks to peace of enrichment or reprocessing installations in individual countries would be foolish. This cannot be a matter of national prestige. The efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency towards plutonium management on a regional basis must be vigorously pursued. 16. In accordance with its responsibility under the Charter, this General Assembly should act on the vital issue of nuclear proliferation.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“I wish, first of all, to make a special appeal to the United States and the Soviet Union earnestly to seek the implementation of their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex]. Though I do not doubt their sincerity in striving for a successful outcome of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] and though I do not underestimate the complexity of the issues, I do consider the early conclusion of the second round of these Talks to be of the greatest importance. It would provide a badly needed stimulus for measures for world-wide nuclear arms control. Such measures are all the more urgently required in the light of the rapid spreading of nuclear knowledge and technology. This puts a severe strain on the fragile non-proliferation regime.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Our world would hardly survive a war in which nuclear weapons would be used, even on a limited scale. Absence of war under this deadly shadow cannot possibly be called peace. It is imperative to intensify our efforts to stop and to turn back this vicious spiral of the arms race. 14. The world is going to face critical choices in the remaining years of the 1970 s. Dissemination of nuclear technology, if uncontrolled, is fraught with danger. The risk of nuclear proliferation is increasing. The unabated arms race in conventional weapons is also a matter of deep concern. Unless vigorous action is taken now and unless we reset our priorities in the disarmament debate, it may soon be too late. 15.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Satisfaction with the absence in recent months of armed conflict between States is overshadowed by the sharp awareness of internal violence in many countries and places in the world. I am thinking of the suffering of the people in Lebanon. I am thinking also of the victims of repression in Soweto and Capetown. The persistence of many sources of conflict as a result of the failure to solve the underlying issues of injustice implies that, unless the United Nations or the parties concerned succeed in defusing the perils, the risks of armed conflict between States will increase, with all the implications for world-wide peace and security. 13. The threat of local and regional causes of conflict is intensified by the continuing and excessive increase in armaments all over the world, conventional as well as nuclear.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Strengthening the role of the United Nations depends on the strength and the sincerity of the political will of the Member States in understanding and respecting the interests and aspirations of others. It depends on their willingness to subordinate national ambitions and short-term interests to common interests and the common yearning for peace. 11. That requires- it must be repeated again and again- wider and easier recourse to the instruments of the Charter for the settlement of disputes, in particular the Security Council and the International Court of Justice. 12. The promotion of peace and security is a vital task of the United Nations, but developments in the past year give little reason for optimism.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“We may deplore some of the majority decisions of the thirtieth session, but condemning automatic majorities -will lead us nowhere unless we are prepared to attack the basic injustices which still prevail in the world. Collective self-reliance may create temporary substitutes for global solutions, but those substitutes will necessarily remain of a limited nature. 10. The Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to consider the United Nations to be an indispensable instrument for co-operation at the global level. But progress and a constructive approach to global problems are possible only if Member States move from confrontation to dialog and if decisions on fundamental political and economic issues are taken on the basis of a negotiated consensus.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“It is high time that all of us made an effort to stop these dangerous tendencies towards disintegration. 7. But what are the underlying causes of these tendencies? The Secretary-General pointed to one of them in the introduction to his annual report on the work of the Organization when he rightly underlined that the North- South relationship has virtually replaced East-West problems in the debates of the General Assembly [see A/31 fl/ Add.l, sect. II]. 8. The North-South issue reflects the determination of the third world to overcome the injustices of the past and the persisting poverty and unequal distribution of wealth. This, indeed, is one of the main underlying causes of many of the tensions and controversies in the United Nations. 9.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Although the subsequent regular session of the General Assembly yielded positive results, it was overshadowed by a number of decisions which have contributed to a deterioration of the political climate in the General Assembly and also in some of the specialized agencies. 6. I feel bound to sound a serious warning on the dangers which would threaten the United Nations if countries whose support is indispensable were to be alienated from the Organization. The strong and powerful countries could possibly tend to themselves, but the weaker and less privileged nations could not. The latter are most in need of the protection and support of a strong United Nations; they would have few other possibilities if an effective world organization were to founder.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“Mr. President, it is a privilege for me, on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to congratulate you most warmly on your election as President of this session of the General Assembly. Your eminent qualities, your long experience in the United Nations and the many important services which you have rendered to the Organization are well known. 5. The seventh special session of the General Assembly was a manifestation of goodwill and harmony leading to consensus through negotiations. It reaffirmed the unique potential of the United Nations for co-operation.”
1976-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 31 (1976)
“At the beginning of this thirtieth session a number of positive and encouraging developments augur well for our work in the months ahead: in particular, the positive outcome of the seventh special session. If we wish to preserve the United Nations, let all of us, each nation and each group of nations, grasp this new opportunity for joint action and maintain its political momentum in order to give renewed vigor to the United Nations.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The Netherlands Government, conscious of the threats to the cohesion and effectiveness of the United Nations, wishes to re-emphasize that the United Nations remains an indispensable instrument for worldwide co-operation. There is no alternative to the United Nations. All efforts must therefore be made to strengthen the capacity of the Organization to maintain peace and security and to promote international political and economic co-operation. In this respect, I wish to recall that the nine member States of the European Economic Community, in the Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 17 July, jointly affirmed the need to strengthen the role and the effectiveness of dialog and worldwide co-operation. The Community stands ready to play its role to that end. 91.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The United Nations will inevitably suffer if it fails to reconcile the present differences on the rules of international law with the overriding requirements of mutual interest and co-operation. 89. I have tried to analyze and assess the present state of affairs in the United Nations. The Organization and its Member States would do well to recall the fate of the League of Nations, which lost impact and relevancy because its members failed to use its full potential. Today, mankind is more than ever conscious of the interrelationship between peace and security, economic and social development, human rights and the rule of law. If the United Nations fails in one, the negative effect will spread to other areas. 90.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“For instance, no agreement has been possible so far on joint action to combat the scourge of terrorism, a field where international co-operation is urgently needed. 87. Another case in point is the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which again, as a result of wide differences of view, failed to produce agreement on the fundamental issue of the international regime of the sea-bed and its resources outside national jurisdiction. The Netherlands Government will do everything in its power to promote a universally acceptable treaty on the law of the sea, in which common, international interest should prevail over narrow national preoccupations. The international community would cause itself great harm if it failed to arrive at such a treaty in the near future. 88.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“It is obvious that the United Nations has a long way to go in the promotion and protection of human rights and that its capacity to deal effectively with situations in which these rights are encroached upon must be strengthened. I have in mind the creation of the function of a high commissioner for human rights and, perhaps, the establishment of a council on human rights as a permanent organ of the United Nations. 86. Another area in which the United Nations has been unable to live up to the provisions of the Charter is the progressive development of international law, which has not kept pace with the sometimes dramatic changes in political and economic relations. It is disturbing to note the widely different concepts of international law among Member States.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The Netherlands welcomes the decision of the Fifth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders to submit a draft of an international Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [Al10260, para. /J] to this General Assembly for approval. 84. The situation with regard to human rights in Chile remains a source of deep concern. The Netherlands Government deplores the decision of the Chilean Government not to admit the fact-finding mission established by the Commission on Human Rights and rejects that Government's reasons for that refusal. I strongly urge the Chilean Government to reverse its unfortunate decision and to restore full respect for human rights. 85.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“For the Netherlands and its partners in the European Economic Community it was a source of great satisfaction to see that the European Communities could make a constructive contribution to the success of the special session. In its national policy and in co-operation with its partners in the Community, the Netherlands pledges its full co-operation in the from this evil, which is a threat to human dignity and an offense against humanity, and which could be an impediment to peace and detente. That is why the Netherlands attaches so much importance to the principles of human rights contained in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, signed at Helsinki on 1 August 1975. That is why we cannot condone arbitrary arrest and why we reject capital punishment anywhere in Europe or elsewhere. 83.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Although progress has been made in certain respects since these freedoms were proclaimed, disregard of and contempt for human rights and fundamental freedoms are still afflicting many people. Racial discrimination and racism still persist, in spite of the energetic efforts of the United Nations. Acts of intimidation and repression are widely committed as a means to capture, exercise and maintain power at any price, and to suppress freedom of expression. 82. Practices of torture and of other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment, often victimizing people who come out in favor of social justice, continue to be reported from various quarters. No continent is free 75.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The Netherlands, therefore, attaches great importance to the decision of the special session [resolution 3362 (S-VII)] to set in motion the process of restructuring the United Nations system. We broadly endorse the principles and purposes contained in the report of the Group of Experts on the Structure of the United Nations System.3 In particular, I wish to stress the need to strengthen the Economic and Social Council and the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination. 81. If definite progress has been made in the economic field, the outlook with regard to human rights is far less favorable. There is still a wide gap between the human rights ideals reaffirmed some 30 years ago in the Charter of the United Nations and further elaborated in other international instruments, and the reality of human rights situations.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The seventh special session was primarily concerned with practical problems of economic development. Its follow-up should include the social and distributive factors of development and the role of women in development in conformity with the many valuable ideas put forward during the World Conference of the International Women's Year, held at I Mexico City in June and July. 79. If the seventh special session is to serve as a milestone in a progressive dynamic process towards new international economic relations, the United Nations machinery will have to be restructured and strengthened in order to enable the system to perform the tasks which it is called upon to carry out. 80.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“In terms of official development assistance, expenditure for 1976 will exceed the 0.7 per cent target of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade [resolution 2626 (XXV)]. Netherlands development co-operation will continue to be directed towards achieving structural changes in world economic relations and assisting the poorest countries and the poorest groups within countries. 76. A large portion of our assistance will be earmarked to meet the immediate needs of developing countries and in particular the most seriously affected countries. 77. The Netherlands proposes to explore, together with other delegations, the possibility of taking action at this session of the General Assembly in the important field of the immediate needs of developing countries. 78.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Last week the President of France convened a preparatory meeting for the Paris conference on energy, raw materials, development and finance which will, I hope, meet before the end of the year. The unanimous decisions of the seventh special session of the General Assembly represent a sound basis for fruitful negotiations at the Paris conference and, at the same time, provide the framework for the necessary feedback of its results to the appropriate organs of the United Nations system. implementation of the decisions of the special session. Last week the Netherlands Government proposed to Parliament an increase in its development co-operation budget for 1976 to an amount representing 1.2 per cent of our gross national product.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Negotiations took place on the basis of positions of equality. As a result, both developing and developed countries were able to make concessions. Developing countries, acting in solidarity, opted for conciliation and co-operation instead of confrontation; developed countries were equally willing to search for new avenues of co-operation. Both were determined to allow the political will to achieve results to prevail. 73. The concept of a new international economic order may still be controversial. The seventh special session has shown, however, that there is no disagreement on the need for fundamental structural change in international economic relations. We have agreed on an agenda of action. We must now see to it that the political momentum is not lost and that we move ahead in practical terms. 74.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“I strongly urge that Government to relinquish its racial policy, which must in the long run lead to disaster, and to have the courage to turn to new policies based on human dignity, equality and fundamental human rights. 72. Earlier I stressed the link between peace and security and economic development. Last week the United Nations and its Member States achieved a major success in international economic relations. I refer to the results of the seventh special session of the General Assembly. After thorough preparations and serious negotiations, concrete agreement was reached at a high political level on a practical program to deal with the structural problems of development co-operation. The major industrialized countries took the demands of the developing countries seriously and came prepared for a genuine dialog.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The South Africa Government must recognize the Organization's responsibility for Namibia and the role of the United Nations Council for Namibia, and must respect the wishes of its people to preserve the integrity of the Territory. The consultations organized by the South African Government on the basis of ethnic and tribal groupings are no substitute for the necessary negotiations with the representatives of all political movements within the population of Namibia. 71. In South Africa itself there is still no evidence that the Government is prepared to give up its fundamental positions with regard to the policy of apartheid.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The Netherlands Government sincerely hopes that in Angola, which is on the threshold of independence, the tragic conflict between the liberation movements can soon be settled in a spirit of national reconciliation. 69. Encouraged by the mediation efforts of the political leaders of neighboring countries, talks have recently been held on the future of Southern Rhodesia, where the illegal Smith regime is still in power, So far no positive results have been achieved. Before the situation becomes untenable, the Salisbury regime 194 should yield to the legitimate demands of the African population for equality and majority rule. 70. No less urgent is the situation in Namibia.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Detente cannot be restricted to one region or continent; it must be world-wide. For Korea, the General Assembly has laid the groundwork for such detente in its consensus of the twenty-eighth session.2 That consensus must now be implemented so as to allow further progress towards the peaceful reunification of the country, in conformity with the draft resolution of which the Netherlands delegation is a sponsor [AIC.IIL.708]. 68. The situation in southern Africa, for decades an area of major concern to the United Nations, represents a mixture of hope and frustration. As a result of Portugal's vigorous decolonization policy, Mozambique has become independent.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“I wish to pay a tribute to the patient efforts of the Secretary-General in the search for a solution of the Cyprus problem. 65. Experience with United Nations peace-keeping operations, especially in Cyprus and in the Middle East, has demonstrated the essential role which the United Nations can play. The need remains, however, to renew the efforts to design a permanent framework for such operations. 66. The balance of United Nations efforts in the maintenance of international peace and security is uneven. I therefore agree with the Secretary-General on the need for reconsidering and, as he puts it, "... revitalizing, in forms suited to the realities of our time, the concept of collective security and collective responsibility for the maintenance of peace through the United Nations." [A/IOOOIl Add.], sect. VII.] 67.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“I attach considerable importance to the valuable role assigned to the United Nations in the disengagement agreements, which provide for the stationing of United Nations forces between the parties. 64. The situation in Cyprus continues to cause the gravest concern. Obviously, the present situation cannot possibly be maintained. It is imperative that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the island be fully respected, and that the parties involved in the dispute scrupulously refrain from unilateral action. Although I am convinced that a political solution that will respect the integrity of the Republic of Cyprus cannot be reached unless all aspects of the problem are tackled comprehensively, I want particularly to stress the urgent need for a humane solution of the refugee problem on the island.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The resolutions of the Security Council, in particular resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), together with the declaration of 6 November 1973 of the nine European countries participating in European political co-operation, contain the elements indispensable to such a peaceful settlement. The road to a settlement acceptable to all parties concerned is difficult. The Netherlands Government welcomes all measures which can contribute to leveling that road. 63. We are therefore particularly satisfied that fine statesmanship on all sides, by all concerned, made it possible at the beginning of this month to conclude a new disengagement agreement between Egypt and Israel. I hope it will soon be possible to agree on further steps which may eventually lead to a final peace settlement, bringing justice and security for all concerned.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The Netherlands continues to consider the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament an important vehicle for detailed negotiations on international disarmament and will make every effort to promote concrete agreements, not only with regard to nuclear weapons, but also on conventional weapons, chemical weapons and other weapons of a dubious nature, including weaponry which may affect the human environment. We have an open mind regarding possibilities and suggestions for improving the framework for future disarmament discussions. 62. In order to ensure international peace and security, a just and durable peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Middle East is imperative.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“There is, therefore, an urgent need for new measures to complement the role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex] as a barrier to proliferation and to prevent the diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful to military purposes. In this respect, I have noted with keen interest the proposals of my United Kingdom colleague, Mr. Callaghan. The frustrations expressed by many non-nuclear-weapon States place a heavy responsibility on the nuclear-weapon parties to the Treaty. After so many years of negotiations the nuclear Powers should finally agree on a comprehensive test-ban agreement and on effective measures of nuclear arms control which would do justice to the legitimate demands of the non-nuclear-weapon Powers. 61.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“In the introduction to his report on the work of the Organization, the Secretary-General has rightly underlined the extreme dangers which the excessive arsenals of both conventional and nuclear weapons entail for the security of mankind. Indeed, the continuing arms race is one of the most serious failures of the international community. 60. The prevention of nuclear proliferation remains a matter of top priority. The Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons certainly helped to focus international attention on this problem and in particular on the grave risks involved in the spread of nuclear capabilities.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The Netherlands attaches particular importance to the principles of self-determination and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. As the Netherlands Prime Minister stated at Helsinki: "Peace in Europe can only rest upon a firm foundation if these principles are applied and respected". 58. Political detente should be complemented by military detente, another test case for judging the follow-up of Helsinki. In this regard I wish to emphasize the importance of the Vienna negotiations on mutual and balanced force reductions in Central Europe. A positive outcome of those negotiations will enhance both European and global security. 59.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The balance of power has had a stabilizing effect on actual and potential situations which threaten peace and security but has not solved them. Neither has the rapprochement between some of the big Powers led to the strengthening of the United Nations, or of the Security Council, in accordance with the purposes of the Charter. 57. The results of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe can represent a step forward on the road to detente and co-operation in Europe, provided they are translated into action. They could constitute a first step towards new political, economic and cultural relations based on sovereignty, equality and respect for human rights. This, in turn, should contribute to world-wide detente and co-operation and, in due course, to the strengthening of the United Nations.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“economic and social progress, but up till recently the problems of economic development have never beer attacked at a high political level. 55. I am convinced that, perhaps more than ever, the United Nations remains the only indispensable instrument for world-wide co-operation. It is, therefore, imperative urgently to seek remedies to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace and security and for economic co-operation through restructuring its system, revitalizing its negotiating process and, above all, renewing the political commitment of Member States to make full use of the Organization. The seventh special session has shown that, given the right conditions, the job can be done. 56. In East-West relations, detente has continued.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“In matters of peace and security the Security Council has not been able effectively to perform the functions assigned to it under the Charter. In a number of cases the provisions for the peaceful settlement of disputes and for peace-keeping have worked, but on the whole the balance is negative. 53. The world is faced with the worst economic recession since the war, affecting both rich and pool countries. Solutions are being sought in parts of the United Nations system and other organizations, but this vital world-wide problem eludes the world-wide Organization, which alone under its Charter should be called upon to deal with it in a comprehensive manner. 54. Peace and security are intimately linked wit!”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“Moreover, regionalism, regional organizations and other new groupings, however legitimate and useful in themselves, have affected the strength of the Organization. 51. The ideal of universality is almost achieved but the rapid increase in membership at the same time tend: to lead to unwieldiness. Legitimate frustration and impatience with lack of progress in solving political and economic problems have led to the temptation to use majorities for unrealistic and, in some cases highly controversial decisions, which in turn give rise to bitter recriminations. Attempts other than in full compliance with the Charter to affect rights of Member States would, if pursued, seriously undermine the principle of universality and threaten the verj existence of the Organization. 52.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“There is doubt and uncertainty about its future. In the introduction to his report on the work of the Organization, the Secretary-General puts a searching question to the Members of the United Nations. He wrote: . . can they develop the capacity of the Organization for dealing with the global problems which now face all nations and which can certainly not be dealt with in isolation or by one nation or group of nations alone?" [Al10001/ Add .1, sect. /.] The answer to this question is by no means obvious. 50. It cannot be denied that in the last few years the danger of what has been called a creeping irrelevancy has emerged, interest in the United Nations has decreased and there is a tendency to deal with vital problems outside the United Nations.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)