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

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“The Netherlands and Suriname have agreed to continue the closest possible co-operation after independence. 47. I take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to the three new Members of the Organization, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Sao Tome and Principe. 48. In approaching the thirtieth anniversary of the United Nations it is fitting to recall the great hopes and expectations which inspired the foundation of the Organization. In 1945 there was a deep yearning for peace and the determination to establish a new, dynamic system of international relations based not simply on existing power relations but on the ideals of justice and equality. 49. After 30 years the Organization is confronted with the paradox that increased political and economic interdependence has not yet led to a strengthening of the United Nations.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“45. Mr. President, I extend to you my heartfelt and sincere congratulations upon your election as President of this thirtieth session of the Assembly. In view of the centuries-old ties of kinship and warm friendship which unite our two countries, it is for the Netherlands a matter of particular joy to see the Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the Chair of this Assembly. 46. Earlier this year an agreement was reached between the three partners of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under which Suriname will soon achieve full sovereign independence. The Government and the people of the Netherlands and of the Netherlands Antilles are looking forward to the day when the General Assembly will welcome Suriname as a new Member of the Organization.”
1975-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 30 (1975)
“The United Nations offers such a system in the unique collection of instruments for international negotiation and cooperation. Let us use those instruments. Let us devote more time to consultation and negotiation in the United Nations. We have it in our power to guarantee that future generations will not criticize our era as one in which a maximum of opportunities to better the lot of mankind was wasted by a minimum of goodwill and cooperation. Let us seize those opportunities.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The cynics and self professed realists who tell us that strategies, declarations and action programs are nothing but words which can lead only to frustration and damage the prestige of the United Nations, should remember that the great ideals of mankind, in history and today, were drafted in words which, once conceived, were able to move men to action. A determined effort to carry out by intensified international cooperation what has already been agreed upon in the Strategy and in other instruments can overcome the triple danger of fatalism, cynicism and nationalism, so clearly confronting mankind. If the right choices are made, the thin margin between order and chaos, sufficiency and want, peace and annihilation, described to us by the SecretaryGeneral, can make way for a system of peace, justice, freedom and development.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“In the coming months, other international conferences and negotiations, such as the Second General Conference of UNIDO, the review and appraisal of progress in the implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade, the discussions on international monetary reform and the multilateral trade negotiations, will take place. All these activities, in which nongovernmental organizations can play an important role, should converge in a decisive effort for reaching agreement on the foundations for a new economic order at the next special session of the General Assembly. 84.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“In this perspective, the Netherlands Government attaches great importance to the special session of the General Assembly to be convened in September next year. That session represents a unique opportunity to come to grips with many of the problems that beset the world today. As one of the elements in this process, the outcome of the World Population Conference in Bucharest has provided a promising first step. The Kingdom of the Netherlands looks forward to the World Food Conference. More than ever before, the urgency of the world food problem calls for imaginative proposals and concrete action. 83.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“In Caracas excessive emphasis was placed, in my view, on questions of national jurisdiction, to the neglect of vital issues of international control and common interest, and I wonder whether developing countries are sufficiently aware of the enormous benefits that they can reap from international exploitation of the resources of the sea. 81. I have spoken of some vital problems with which this session of the General Assembly will be confronted: problems of war and peace, problems of instability and equality, problems of human misery and of the denial of fundamental rights. But I have also pointed to progress, new forms of cooperation and, in some areas, to breakthrough and new departures. The world, and with it the United Nations, is in motion and is moving faster than some may wish or expect. 82.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The Netherlands Government adheres to the concept that the seabed and its resources outside national jurisdiction are the common heritage of mankind. Effective exploitation of the resources of the sea for the benefit of the developing world could lead to a decisive change in the existing structure of inequality in wealth and prosperity. The Netherlands, therefore, advocates the adoption of a new legal system that would safeguard this common heritage, emphasizing the duties which the use of the sea entails for all States. This requires effective arrangements and machinery for international legislation, administration, supervision and international jurisdiction.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“This program aims at a target for official development assistance of approximately 0.8 per cent of the gross national product by 1976. 80. Since peace and freedom cannot survive without justice and economic and social development, all means to redistribute wealth and economic power will have to be considered. It appears to me that the balance of wealth and power between rich and poor countries may be decisively influenced by the exploration and exploitation of the resources of the sea which so far have remained untapped. In the introduction to his report on the work 4 of the Organization, the SecretaryGeneral rightly 'calls attention to the tremendous importance of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea [AI960llAdd.l, sect. XII].”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The sixth special session of the General Assembly has adopted a Special Program to assist the countries most seriously affected by rising energy and commodity prices. The Netherlands Government, in view of the appeal made by the Secretary General, has decided to make available during the budgetary year 1974 an amount of $30 million for assistance to these countries. A substantial part of these funds will be channeled through the Secretary General's special account; another part through the European Economic Community or bilaterally. 79. Next year, the Netherlands intends to do more; it is prepared to contribute to the Special Fund established by resolution 3202 (SVI). Our contribution will be made in the context of my Government's new four year program for development cooperation, which has recently been submitted to Parliament.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Many developing countries are so hard pressed by the emergencies of today that they can hardly give sufficient attention to the problems of tomorrow. The Netherlands Government is convinced of the need for a new development dimension; a strategy and a program are required to meet the immediate needs of developing countries, including those resulting from natural disasters. The United Nations machinery in this respect must be strengthened. The assistance, to be worked out internationally, should be additional to existing aid programs for longterm plans and projects. The Netherlands Government in its budget for 1975 has allocated $100 million for assistance to meet the immediate needs of developing countries. 78.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Regardless of other urgent measures by developing and developed countries, has the time not come for producers and consumers of essential raw materials to meet under United Nations auspices in a common effort to give effect to the notion of interdependence in order to help forestall such a recession? The present situation offers sufficient scope for progress towards a larger degree of justice in international economic relations. 77. In the search for development strategies we have so far been concentrating most of our attention on medium and longterm development. But the immediate needs of developing countries, the pressing problems of mass poverty, unemployment, undernourishment and lack of housing have often been neglected.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“This new reality demands new policies and agreements for commodity markets. It also demands a reorientation of the future economic growth of the rich countries, whose growth will have to be selective in the sense that they cannot continue to use ever increasing quantities of raw materials supplies, both in an absolute sense and as a percentage of global availabilities. Thus, the future requires strategies for development not only for the poor countries but also for the rich strategies aimed at a global policy of interdependence. 76. A new, worldwide recession would be a disaster, in particular for many developing countries.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The alternative then is obvious: cooperation on the basis of economic interdependence, as called for in the Declaration and the Program of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its sixth special session. 75. The resolution adopted at the sixth special session of the General Assembly gave expression to these fundamental changes in economic relations and in development cooperation. While the phenomenon of physical shortages was new to the rich countries, we should remind ourselves that a scarcity of resources has always been a normal situation in the poor countries. New border lines have been drawn in the international community. Countries with a structural balance of payments deficit today are found among the poor as well as among the rich. Countries suffering from shortages of commodities today are to be found in both categories.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The energy crisis and the profound changes in international commodity markets have produced a catalytic effect on the economic development of the industrialized world. A reorientation of thinking and policy on our pattern of growth and on the level and nature of our prosperity is called for. Obviously, a redistribution of power and wealth has been set in motion. 74. However, there is the danger that this development will have a polarizing and antagonizing effect on international economic relations in the sense that consumer countries may be forced to embark on alternative sources of raw materials and self sufficiency. I wish to sound a note of warning with regard to these polarizing tendencies. Any nationalistic raw materials policy, if carried to the extreme, risks being self defeating.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Its struggle to obtain the rights enshrined in our Charter has finally been justly rewarded. 72. It is my privilege to inform you that the Kingdom of the Netherlands next year will witness the accession to full independence and sovereignty *of one of its partners, Surinam. The Government and people of the Netherlands are looking forward to the now rapidly approaching day when Surinam will be able to take its rightful place in the General Assembly. In view of Surinam's wish for independence in 1975, the three partners of the Kingdom, that is, the Netherlands Antilles, Surinam, and the Netherlands, will soon meet in a joint effort to reshape the present relationship agreements. 73. Stability in Europe and in the world is seriously threatened by economic dislocation, by persistent inflation, and by the danger of recession and unemployment.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The rapid developments towards decolonization in Africa have brought us considerably closer to the implementation of the right of self-determination of all nations. Some of the basic purposes of the Charter and the ideal of universality are now coming close to fulfillment. 71. The Kingdom of the Netherlands extends a most cordial welcome to the three new Members of the Organization: Bangladesh, Grenada and Guinea Bissau. Our sincere feelings of sympathy towards the people and Government of Bangladesh, which have been so severely tried, have been expressed by our continuing efforts to render effective assistance. In Grenada we salute a nation close to the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom I here represent. My Government particularly rejoices at the presence among us of GuineaBissau.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“It is a matter of common interest and concern to all nations to prevent and combat such practices by joint and separate action. 68. In order to strengthen respect for freedom of religion or belief the Netherlands delegation will also introduce proposals aimed at the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. 69. The year 1975 has been proclaimed Intel national Women's Year by the General Assembly of the United Nations [resolution 3010 (XXVII)]. My Government will fully support United Nations action in this respect, because the role of women is crucial in the search for development and justice. 70. There can be no peace without justice and freedom.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Those most encouraging developments, which have been welcomed by many in this General Assembly, should not, of course, turn attention away from persistent violations of human rights elsewhere. I refer specifically to the situation in South Africa and Namibia and to the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia. There is reason, too, for continued deep concern about the situation in Chile. 66. I refer also to the increasingly widespread practice of torture and maltreatment of prisoners. The Netherlands delegation, together with others, will put forward specific proposals in this respect. 67. The persistence and the very increase of violence and brutality in today's world is an alarming phenomenon. Practices of terrorism jeopardizing the lives of men, women and children continue to be a source of great anxiety.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“He has reminded us that the democratization of international relations in order to bring peace and justice to the daily life of all peoples has always been a central role of the United Nations. 65. The Netherlands Government will continue to press for the safeguarding and defense of fundamental human rights, within my own country under the European Convention on Human Rights in the discussions between Eastern and Western Europe, and in the world at large. I wish to express the profound joy of the Government and people of the Netherlands caused by the restoration of democracy and human rights set in motion in Greece and Portugal and by the reversal by the new Portuguese Government of the colonial policies of its predecessors.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“I wish to support the SecretaryGeneral's appeal to Member States to review the possibility of referring legal disputes to the Court. 63. Parallel to the achievement of universality in the United Nations there has been a progressive development of new rules of international law acceptable to all States, old and new. Such development of international law will, however, not lead very far without the strengthening of, and more frequent recourse to, effective machinery for the settlement of disputes. I hope that this session of the General Assembly will take action to that end. 64. There can be no peace without justice and freedom and without respect for human rights. The Secretary General has shown his concern for the disregard of individual rights and the decline in civility.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“situation in Europe is concerned, the Netherlands, in consultation with its allies, will continue to press for substantial results in the Vienna talks on mutual and balanced force reductions. 61. In the introduction to his annual report, the SecretaryGeneral has urged us "to ensure.that peacekeeping efforts must not be the pretext for slackening the momentum of the search for a settlement of underlying problems." [Al960llAdd.l, sect. VI.] 62. In this connexion, I wish once more to draw attention to the essential but too often neglected role of the International Court of Justice in the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Court has recently adapted its procedures and rules, which now permit shorter and more simplified action.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“As a member of the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva the Netherlands Government will continue to support all efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. We regret that progress in this field has not come up to expectation. In particular, my Government deplores the fact that the parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water, signed in Moscow on 5 August 1963 have not yet fulfilled their commitment to ban nuclear tests in all environments. 59. I assume that the Assembly will give great attention this year to the general problems of arms control and disarmament. Several new proposals from different sides deserve serious consideration. 60. As far as the.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Nevertheless it is difficult to distinguish between a nuclear test for peaceful purposes and a nuclear test for weapon purposes; therefore it cannot be denied that the Indian test explosion represents a setback to international efforts to prevent the further spread of nuclear weapons and to ban nuclear tests everywhere and by everyone. I repeat: everywhere and by everyone. 57. The risk of nuclear proliferation should be a matter of concern to all nations, regardless of size or power. The imperative of world peace must override nuclear ambition. In this context the review conference provided for in the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex] gains even more relevance than before. 58.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“In my view a further serious threat to lasting detente is the unsolved problem of nuclear proliferation. 55. The Secretary General was right in drawing our attention, in the introduction his report on the work of the Organization, to the dangers to our civilization and the human race inherent in the uncontrolled spreading of nuclear "knowhow" and of plutonium, and in the proliferation of nuclear devices [AI9601I Add.I, sect. X], I cannot conceal my Government's profound concern regarding the action taken by India in May of this year in testing a nuclear explosive device. 56. We have taken due note of the statement of the Minister of External Affairs of India [2245th meeting] that India has no intention of becoming a nuclear Power and that it remains committed to a policy of using nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Paramount should be the objective of the operation: the efficient and expedient safeguarding of peace. My Government remains ready to contribute Netherlands units to United Nations peacekeeping operations. 53. Another grave so are of danger to and instability of detente is in my view the arms, race in the Middle East, the unprecedented proportions of which threaten to prevent or to upset any political settlement and increase the potential danger to world peace of the conflict situation in the region. If the world really wishes to promote detente and peace, the United Nations and individual Member States must address themselves to the problems of the arms race in conventional weapons in this and other danger areas. 54. I have spoken of some external factors which threaten to frustrate the development of detente.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations has been trying for years to formulate basic guidelines for those operations, but has not yet succeeded in reaching full agreement on the complex issues involved. I am gratified to note that this lack of agreement on the theory of peacekeeping has not prevented the Security Council from taking practical action when circumstances required new operations. I do hope that this will accelerate the work of the Special Committee. 52. I should like to make one remark here about the question of the composition of peacekeeping forces. In my opinion this question should be dealt with in a pragmatic way and not made dependent on the application of too rigid and antiquated yardsticks of geographical distribution.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Although the United Nations has not been able to prevent the disasters that have afflicted the Republic of Cyprus since July, the presence of the United Nations has proved to be of great value. I wish to pay a tribute to the members of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus [UNFICYP] who have acted firmly and responsibly in situations of grave risk and have suffered severe casualties in performing their tasks. In view of the outstanding services rendered by UNFICYP in the present crisis, my Government has decided to make a voluntary contribution of $250,000 for the current year to the financing of the United Nations Force. 51. The Cyprus crisis and the war in the Middle East have demonstrated both the potentialities and the limitations of the United Nations peacekeeping activities.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Here too, durable peace proved impossible without justice to all the parties concerned. A political settlement without any further recourse to armed intervention must, in the view of the Netherlands Government, be based on full respect for the independence and territorial integrity of the country and for the fundamental rights of the peoples and communities concerned, The conflict in Cyprus has caused profound human suffering and economic dislocation. My Government has contributed to the emergency operations of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Parallel to further efforts towards a political settlement, action should be taken by the international community to restore the economy of the island by providing emergency economic assistance. 50.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The position of the Netherlands Government in support of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council is known and is fully reflected in the declaration of the nine countries of the European Economic Community of 6 November 1973.4 Subsequent to that declaration, the countries of the European Economic Community have entered into a dialog with the countries of the Arab world in order to strengthen and intensify their mutual relations and to arrive at longterm forms of economic, technological and cultural cooperation. The Netherlands Government wishes to promote this EuropeanArabian economic cooperation. It expresses the strong hope that the efforts being undertaken in the political field will soon lead in the Middle East to durable peace based on justice. 49. Another external event affecting detente was the armed conflict in Cyprus.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“The international community was again confronted with the fundamental instability of a situation resulting from the absence of a just peace settlement in the region. Notwithstanding detente between the iJreat Powers, peace proved to be impossible without justice to all the parties concerned. The Netherlands Government welcomes and supports the efforts and steps to achieve such peace and justice the armistice agreements and the subsequent agreements on the disengagement of forces. A high tribute is due the Governments and statesmen within the region and outside it who made those agreements possible. 48.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“Last year, in this Assembly, delegations welcomed political detente. My Government strongly supported, and continues to support, efforts towards detente in Europe and elsewhere in the world. But the situation remains unstable because so far detente largely represents understanding between the big Powers within certain limits, limits defined by elements of deterrence, competition and collaboration. The unacceptable risk; of nuclear war compels cooperation but does not exclude competition. External events beyond the limits of the understanding on detente continue to endanger the balance resulting from detente. Detente between the great Powers has therefore not eliminated sources of friction and crisis caused by lack of justice and freedom. 47. The most striking and dangerous case in point is the war in the Middle East and its aftermath.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“On behalf of my delegation I convey sincere congratulations to Mr. Bouteflika on his unanimous election as President of this session. The qualities of his leadership have been displayed both in his country and in the context of the group of nonaligned nations. 45. At times in history events and developments suddenly assume the proportions of a bursting dam. Since I addressed this Assembly a year ago [2128th meeting], the world has been confronted with war, with profound changes in the distribution of power and economic wealth, with the sudden scarcity of essential raw materials and with continued massive violations of human rights. Those dramatic developments have brought home the dearly bought lesson that peace, justice, freedom and development are inseparably linked. None can be achieved without the others. 46.”
1974-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 29 (1974)
“A strong appeal that such practices be stopped forthwith might have considerable moral impact, but I also press for the adoption of an expedient such as impartial inquiry, in order to bring the facts to light. The Netherlands Government is prepared to co-operate in any initiative of that kind. 172. The United Nations is to be, in the words of the Charter, a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. Glancing back over the years, one cannot escape the impression that there is still much to be done in this respect. I do not hesitate to pledge once more my Government's dedication to the aims and purposes of the Charter and its willingness to make its contribution in this respect.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“Lastly, I should like to call attention to a serious matter which is not often raised before this forum, namely, the disregard of article S of the Universal Declaration-and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [see resolution 2200 A (XXI)]-that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Reports from various parts of the world provide evidence that this appalling practice has become rife and is often used against people suspected of having committed a political offence. The Netherlands people and Government are gravely perturbed at this practice and wonder whether the United Nations could not take appropriate action.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“The still rampant practice of racism and racial discrimination has a devastating effect on the minds, the hearts and the fate of people and on the very essence of peace and justice. The United Nations has undoubtedly made great efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination and apartheid, especially by making people conscious of the inherent dangers of these grave types of discrimination. They, however, still persist as an evil against which all the forces of goodwill must be mobilized. If we consider the standards set forth in the Universal Declaration and in subsequent international instruments in the field of human rights, we can see an unmistakable gap between the ideals proclaimed and the realities of life in the world. 171.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“For that reason the Netherlands Government wishes to reaffirm at this very session of the General Assembly, when we are celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the pledge contained in the United Nations Charter: the pledge that Members will take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion. The date 10 December 1973 will be not only the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration but also the beginning of a Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“The Charter of the United Nations establishes a clear link between the maintenance of international peace and security, the creation of conditions of economic and social well-being and the promotion of universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination. If we clarify this link in terms of peace and justice, it would seem that there is no peace in the true 14 sense as long as there are situations of grave injustice in relations among the States and within the States. Peaceful co-operation between States will not mean very much if peoples and individuals remain the victims of grave injustices. After all, it is not the State as such, or an organization of States for that matter, but the well-being of human beings that is the ultimate object of our endeavours. 170.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“We are prepared to approach every proposal with open minds in respect of both the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament and the United Nations Disarmament Commission. We should also welcome a World Disarmament Conference, provided all nuclear Powers were willing to take part. But what is more important than any institution is the political will to go forward. 168. At this very moment in the context of a peace week, the combined churches of the Netherlands strongly call upon my countrymen to unite in the promotion of conditions for peace. As a consequence, the display of political will of those responsible for the furtherance of peace will be closely observed in my country. 169.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“It need hardly be said that substantial progress in disarmament and the control of arms is a sine qua non for a peaceful world order. My Government favours the imposition without delay of a ban on underground nuclear tests. Although there is probably no infallible detection system as yet, the Netherlands regards it as essential to check the arms race, since the nuclear danger continues by means of qualitative improvement of nuclear weaponry. Next to that, we shall continue to press for a ban on chemical weapons. Considerable priority will have to be accorded to restricting the use of indiscriminate weapons and inhuman methods of warfare causing excessive suffering. 167. This General Assembly will be concerning itself more especially with institutional problems with regard to disarmament.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“We believe that it should be possible to continue the discussions on the subject within the United Nations and that they should not be cut short by expulsion or the severance of bonds. 165. The other main threat to peace remains the explosive situation in the Middle East. At this moment I wish to touch only on one side of the problem which becomes increasingly important, the question of the refugees. The Netherlands is prepared to render active assistance with a view to relieving this source of tension, for example through an investigation of the extent to which the restructuring of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East or the creation of new organs, might help to alleviate the human suffering and economic disruption resulting from the Middle East's political quandary. 166.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“Therefore, the Netherlands will give humanitarian aid to the peoples in the colonial areas of southern Africa via the liberation movements - preferably through the intermediary of international organizations-and will support the claims for external self-determination of the peoples of Guinea-Bissau, Angola and Mozambique. Recent reports emanating in particular from Mozambique have caused grave concern in my country. 164. My Government once more urges Portugal to come to an understanding with those peoples and thus to build up a new relationship. We address a similar appeal to the Government of South Africa on the Territory of Namibia and, in addition, we urge South Africa to turn away from the policy of apartheid.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“There are still many strained relations that are a threat to peace. In particular, our attention should be focused on the problems of southern Africa. If we remain idle spectators, the problems and strained relations besetting that part of the world will inevitably culminate in conflicts, the world-wide consequences of which would be incalculable. The remnants of a colonial era are just as much out of keeping with today's world as is the policy of apartheid. Therefore, the Netherlands Government will apply the sanctions against the illegal regime in Rhodesia with the utmost severity, in the fervent hope of promoting self-determination in that country.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“162. One improvement might consist in making the Organization still more universal; my Government is prepared to assist in achieving this. We further are of the opinion that improvement of the procedures and the implementation of international legislation are required. We hold the view that in international disputes Member States should more frequently have recourse to instiutionalized fact-finding. That would create a better basis for the rapid and effective settlement of those disputes. The International Court of Justice should be given a more authoritative part to play, all the more since the new rules of the Court may accelerate its procedures. The Court should not be made a forum in which to thrash out political differences, but it should provide additional opportunities for settling disputes by peaceful means. 163.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“The political will of the Organization's Members to help create, strengthen and consolidate the conditions for peace throughout the world should find expression within the Organization. But, on the contrary, in the last few years we have witnessed increasing confrontation; delays in taking decisions, for instance, on disarmament; and a distorted use by various Members of the United Nations family through ever more frequent appeals to the specialized agencies for political action, for which, in fact, the political organs of the Organization are intended. We are not suggesting that there should be new proposals for amendments to the Charter to make the United Nations a more effective instrument for the fostering of world peace. Many improvements needed can be effectuated within the existing Charter, provided that there is the will to do so.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“We believe that the radical shift in the development process to which these discussions should be directed should take place in a multilateral context, preferably in the framework of global co-operation and of a joint review and appraisal of our common efforts. We shall accord to this a high priority, because we accord a high priority to the consolidation of peace. 160. In the search for peace, an efficient world organization is indispensable. If I sound a note of criticism about the activities and operations of the United Nations at this stage, I wish at the same time to reaffirm the continuing loyalty of my country to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. 161. At present, the stars of the Organization are not very propitious.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“Consequently, my Government intends to put greater emphasis on problems of income distribution and self-reliance and on the structural relationship between developed and developing countries. Self- reliance and distribution of income and economic power, in fact, loom just as large in the domestic policy of my country as in our foreign policy. 158. Greater emphasis on these elements of development inevitably raises the question of national sovereignty of all countries, including the underprivileged. But in recent history, sovereign independence, important and indispensable as it is, has, in many cases and in many respects, remained an empty shell. I hope that the same will not be true of the problems of distribution and self-reliance. 159. My Government wishes to take an active part in the discussion of these matters.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“Our development efforts have failed to change the structural relationship of inequality and dependence between the poor and the rich nations, as well as within developing countries. Development has failed to reach the lower strata of society. 155. That state of affairs cannot continue. We cannot accept this injustice of persistent backwardness with its grave, hidden tensions and consequent threat to world peace. 156. We shall have to review the situation. This Assembly must examine whether we should not radically modify our terms of reference, whether the priority of economic growth should not be supplemented by the priority of income distribution as an equal and concurrent objective instead of one consecutive to growth. 157. Our objective should be reformulated as "growth plus structural change".”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“My Government will also be prepared to transfer national prerogatives within the framework of European political co-operation-today still largely of a consultative nature-once the cohesion between the partners has progressed to the point at which the community of interests returns more to us than the amount of self- determination we surrender. If this process could gradually gain momentum, the countries of Europe would be making a major new move towards creating international peace and security. 154. The situation in the third world has not improved. Economic growth and the achievement of prosperity are in stagnation. Today fewer people than 10 years ago are touched by the impact of the development process.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)
“My Government is ready to accept, together with its partners, considerable responsibilities for the promotion of the well-being of the third world, including the countries already linked to the Common Market by association as well as those not to be associated. All those countries must be enabled to overcome the curse of backwardness and economic discrimination if, as my Government desires, new foundations for lasting peace are to be built. 153. I need hardly say that all those major, fundamental problems can be solved only if the institutional conditions for solutions are satisfied. We need alert institutions capable of taking decisions quickly and capable of rendering an account of their decisions to the European Parliament in a democratic fashion.”
1973-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 28 (1973)