YouSaid · the spoken record

Popović

lines on the record: 335
first: 1953-09-24
most recent: 1963-09-24
sittings or episodes: 10
sources: un-general-debate

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“Nor, I think, is there any cause for bewailing unduly the difficulties which appear to have arisen since that time; they are probably due to the fact that the disarmament question is passing more and more into the realm of practical possibilities, and that should eventually bring us nearer to, not take us further from, a solution. We hope that this interpretation will be confirmed in the near future. 71. It is a fact, nevertheless, that the armaments race does not as yet seem to have slowed down. Arms are still being piled up at a terrifying rate — terrifying both in their volume and in their destructive power.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“While appreciating at their full value the efforts now being made by the great Powers to solve some of the main international problems, and the considerable results which those efforts have already achieved, we must not forget that these problems are of importance to the international community as a whole and that it is therefore required to use its influence in the effort to find speedy and satisfactory solutions for them. 69. I should now like to mention some of the problems which seem to us to be among the most important at this session. 70. First, of course, there is the problem of disarmament, whose immense importance from the point of view of world peace and security is obvious. We were all, I am sure, happy to note the encouraging developments which took place in this field in the course of the year.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“Against this general background, the importance of this session stands out clearly. The Assembly should, first and foremost, try to improve still further what has been called the “Geneva spirit”; it can best do that by giving a practical demonstration of what should be — of what, indeed, has begun to be — the new method of dealing with international problems. This method should enable the Assembly, at this session, to make some progress towards the solution of the various problems which are before it, and some of which have been exercising it for many years. If the Assembly succeeds in this, it will have contributed markedly to the improvement of the international situation and it will thus have given proof of the greater part -being played by the United Nations in the present, more favourable conditions. 68.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“These nations, which are today endeavouring to play, in complete independence, their full part on the international stage — a part which should be given the recognition it deserves — simply do not fit into any of the old and rigid patterns, and for that reason are all the better adapted to membership in a universal body like the United Nations. They are, moreover, directly interested in respect for the democratic principles set forth in the Charter, disregard of which would make their participation in international life infinitely more difficult. Their strength is of a moral and political nature rather than military or even economic, and thus they naturally tend to act as a moral and political factor, which is perfectly in keeping with the fundamental concepts of the Charter. 67.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“The United Nations has helped in bringing about the conditions which make coexistence possible. 65. When we speak of the role that the United Nations has played in international affairs, and even more when we try to envisage the part which it will be called upon to play in the future, we must, in my opinion, remember the increasing contribution of the smaller nations, the under-developed countries and States which have only recently attained political independence. These nations have become independent and retain a supreme interest in peace, for they must have peace to make up for the delay to which, through no fault of theirs, they have been condemned. That is a fact that will continue to exercise a growing influence on the development of international life. 66.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“As the Secretary-General so aptly states in his report: “If there is now to be serious and sustained exploration of the possibilities for co-operation on a wider I basis, the role of world organization must necessarily gain a new dimension” [A/2911, p. XI]. 64. Nor should we overlook the substantial contribution made by the United Nations, both by its mere presence on the disturbed international scene and by its efforts — frequently thwarted though they were — to bring about the more favourable conditions in which it is now called upon to act. It is, indeed, largely due to this Organization that the world has been spared from being irrevocably rent asunder, at a time when a split seemed most imminent, and that the other dangers which directly imperilled the peace were gradually overcome.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“It is encouraging to note that the principle of coexistence, viewed until quite recently with pessimism and in some circles even with distrust, has now gained a large measure of support, which is beginning to assume an increasingly active character. 62. Our duty, therefore, is to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the changed international climate in order to advance, beyond this improvement, to an enduring peace. 63. In this process, the United Nations clearly has a vital part to play. An organization based on the principles of international co-operation simultaneously acquires a wider scope and assumes heavier responsibilities when the application of those principles becomes both a practical possibility and an urgent necessity.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“Consequently, our policy can be realistic only if it takes this fact into account and seeks to harmonize these differences within the general trend towards growing world unity. 60. In other words, States with different systems and divergent concepts must live side by side, remembering that, in this interdependent world, coexistence inevitably demands co-operation. This becomes even more obvious if we look for a moment at the other solution: the settlement of differences otherwise than by peaceful means. It is now platitudinous to say that, in the atomic age in which we live, war, the ultimate outcome of this other policy, would not only fail to solve any of our problems but would bring about general destruction. 61.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“With the world as it is, no other policy can legitimately be regarded as realistic. The reason for this is simple: this policy seems to be the only one which takes into account both the diversity and the growing unity and interdependence of the present-day world. The trend towards unity, which is an objective process resulting primarily from scientific developments and the spectacular growth of economic forces, is constantly overcoming and eliminating the artificial obstacles which it encounters. 59. The diversity in historical and cultural background, in social structure, or in political and economic systems, is also a fundamental characteristic of present-day international life, an inevitable feature of the present stage of historical development and not, as some are still inclined to believe, merely a regrettable phenomenon.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“These principles, such as mutual respect for independence and sovereignty, equal rights, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries, the duty of refraining from any aggressive practice, and so forth, are known to us all and I need not dwell on them here. They are, in fact, merely the elementary requirements of international life in our time. We firmly believe that adherence to these principles will finally transform the present pattern of international relations and gradually pave the way for more universal forms of international co-operation. Obviously, however, the attitudes and methods developed during the period of tension cannot be eliminated at short, notice. Such a result can be obtained only through protracted and patient effort. 58.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“This, in itself, could create conditions in which equality no longer depends on power. 56. As to the respective value and advantages of the various concepts of the world’s future and of different social systems, it seems clear that discussions about them can take place and lead on to another stage only if a spirit of free and peaceful rivalry prevails. 57. To attain these results, such co-operation must necessarily be based on certain simple and more or less generally accepted principles, enunciated in the United Nations Charter and recently reaffirmed in a number of international instruments, to several of which my country is also a party.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“The new spirit in which international problems should now be approached consists, if I may use the expression, in "demilitarizing” them and stripping them of all ideological considerations, in order to reduce them to their essential political and economic terms. It should, in fact, be a search for a peaceful, that is, a political, solution of such problems. The method of negotiation and co-operation must be Used: negotiation in order to remove the more immediate causes of tension, and cooperation to eliminate those that lie deeper and to strengthen, through perseverance, the foundations of world peace. 55. This argument would seem to be confirmed by a growing tendency, when the policy to be pursued is defined, to abandon the concept of negotiation from strength in favour of negotiation on a footing of equality.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“The cold war, with its increasingly ideological arguments and with strategic considerations gaining in importance as the tension increased, tended to give an essentially strategic and military character to problems of a political or economic origin. That, of course, made it infinitely more difficult to solve those problems, because, instead of being considered in their true perspective, they were assessed in the light of strategic implications and ideological prejudices. 53. In those circumstances, any thought of reasonable concessions for the sake of agreement was tantamount to surrendering a strategic position to an adversary whose final aims and general attitude supposedly precluded any compromise. 54.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“In other words, a bridge-head has been established from which an attack can be launched, with reasonable chances of success, on the principal problems which have kept the world divided. The time would seem to have come, therefore, to set about this task. Any progress achieved will result in a further improvement in the international atmosphere, which, in its turn, will make possible a renewed advance towards a settlement of outstanding problems. In order to succeed, I feel that we need, above all, a new approach; we must be more consistent and more resolute in attacking international problems by exploring the possibilities opened up through the change in atmosphere. 52. This new approach to problems could be termed political, as distinct from military or ideological.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“And one of the most significant factors, perhaps, has been the general lessening of suspicion in international relations and the increased willingness to approach issues in a frank and conciliatory spirit. 50. There are many unmistakable signs that the atmosphere has undergone a great change. The cold war has lost much of its intensity, and international relations are beginning to assume a new aspect. All these features, of course, are extremely encouraging and of the utmost importance. They are not, however, sufficient in themselves. A change of atmosphere cannot be regarded as an end in itself. World affairs have taken a turn for the better; we must ensure that this improvement is maintained. 51.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“The settlement of the Austrian question has eliminated at least one of the sources of tension in the post-war years. The Bandung Conference was a clear proof that States with different outlooks can actively co-operate; it confirmed also the growing role played in world affairs by two young continents. The Conference of the Heads of Government of the four great Powers at Geneva reflected the change in atmosphere and provided a fresh impulse; for the first time since the beginning of the cold war, the leaders of the States most directly affected by the tension met and held discussions in a spirit of understanding and mutual goodwill. The Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy marked an unprecedented venture in international cooperation.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“47. In tendering my sincere congratulations to Mr. Maza on his election as President of the General Assembly may I express the hope that the unanimity with which he was elected will be maintained throughout our future work. 48. There seems to be general agreement that the atmosphere in which we meet this year is the most favourable we have known in the ten years of the life of the United Nations. As we survey the international scene from our exceptional vantage point in the General Assembly, we are bound to feel heartened. The tendency towards an improvement in international relations, already vaguely discernible at our last session, has clearly become more pronounced. 49. Some highly important facts prove this beyond dispute.”
1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)
“Despite the unavoidable failures and shortcomings which are apparent in the work of the United Nations, and which are primarily a reflection of the state of international relations, I feel that it is only fair to draw particular attention to the mission of our Organization, which is virtually irreplaceable as a body that personifies and guarantees the continuity of negotiations and the meeting of opinions, irrespective of the favourable or unfavourable atmosphere of international relations. 138. The great successes so far achieved by the United Nations testify to its ever greater role in international life. We are convinced that, in present conditions, that role will continue to grow, and my country is ready, as it has always been in the past, to give its full and enthusiastic support to the United Nations.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“The present situation is all the more abnormal in view of the fact that the effective international role of some of the States in question has been recognized in practice when it has proved impossible to dispense any longer with their participation in certain vitally important international negotiations. 136. The Secretary-General has referred to all the problems which we have just mentioned. He has done so in a very convincing manner in the introduction to his annual report, especially where he states that in the struggle for peace the full implications of the fact of interdependence must be accepted, and when he emphasizes the bad effect of a split into different camps which has developed among the Member nations. 137.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“It is precisely because we regard the United Nations as one of the main factors in the formulation of new methods in international relations that we, without feeling that we should reiterate their arguments, associate ourselves with those who have criticized in this Assembly the tendency to solve some of the most important international problems outside the United Nations, as well as the tendency to minimize or to by-pass the primary role which the United Nations should play in the maintenance of international peace and security, especially in the elimination of causes of tension. 135. In this spirit we also support the many speakers who have emphasized here that the principle of the universality of the United Nations must be fully and logically implemented.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Besides our friendly relations with all the Western countries, we have very cordial relations with many Asian countries, especially India and Burma, having similar economic and social problems and a common desire to ensure peace and the development of international co-operation. It is against that background that President Tito will soon visit these two countries. 134. It is also by basing ourselves on that appraisal of the situation that we explain our attitude towards the role and responsibility of our Organization in the solution of international problems.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“On such a basis, our close and friendly relations with the Western nations cannot in any way be adversely affected. 132. Yugoslavia, resolved to apply these principles in order to consolidate peace, has made the maximum effort, at the greatest sacrifice, to reach a compromise solution of the Trieste question. I am glad to be able to refer in this Assembly to the agreement which was signed this very morning in London by all the Governments directly concerned and the text of which, together with the accompanying joint declaration, has just been submitted to the Security Council [S/3301]. Allow me to express here my profound conviction that this agreement will prove the starting point of fruitful and friendly relations between my country and Italy. 133.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“As regards the Austrian problem, we are convinced that a satisfactory solution could have been reached had it not — to the detriment of universal peace and of the interests and rights of Austria — been made conditional, artificially, on other questions. A gradual return to normal conditions in the relations between my country and the countries of Western Europe has been evident during the past year. We note with satisfaction that the governments of those countries have realized that a return to normal conditions cannot be confined to words, but must be translated into deeds. Yugoslavia will continue, as in the past, to take an active part in the improvement of relations with those countries, on the basis of its fundamental political principles.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“And it is natural that the European countries should be especially sensitive to this risk. 130. However, if these essential precautionary measures are taken, what matters now is that the European nations should reach agreement of their own free will, on the basis of equality and independence, and in a spirit of co-operation and political non-exclusiveness, while respecting their common interests. It seems to us that efforts to unify Europe should be judged in accordance with these general criteria and not only in accordance with the original formulas which necessarily bear the stamp of the time when they were drafted. 131.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“In this connexion, the Yugoslav Government is convinced, as it has said repeatedly, that it is necessary for us, while continuing our efforts to achieve the unity of Germany — which, it seems, can only be attained in a far less tense international atmosphere — frankly to admit that it has become practically impossible to continue to deny Germany the right to its sovereignty and to rearmament, but partial, limited and controlled rearmament, keeping constantly in mind the fears of other nations, which were only too well justified by the tragic experiences of the past. 129. To place military preoccupations and reasons in the foreground — that is, to reduce the problem to the number of military divisions — would be to run the risk of playing into the hands of militaristic tendencies.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“That is why today, when we seem to have the necessary time at our disposal, it has become even more obvious that we cannot expect to reach lasting solutions in Europe through exclusively military co-operation, but only through cooperation between equal and independent European nations in all fields, directing our main efforts towards a lasting reduction of intra-European antagonisms. This includes, first and foremost, the settlement of differences between France and Germany. 128.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“We feel that the latter criterion — the question whether a given regional agreement facilitates or hinders participation in broader international co-operation — is the best way of determining whether an agreement is or is not consistent with the spirit of the Charter. 127. My country’s policy in Europe is guided by the same principles. We are fully convinced that the creation of a united, democratic and peaceful Europe has become a historical necessity, irrespective of the existence of any immediate danger of aggression.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“I am convinced that it is not lacking in modesty to say that the co-operation of these three countries extends beyond the frontiers of the Balkan region and is an important contribution to the consolidation of peace in Europe. We have here, in fact, not only an example of coexistence, but a living illustration of the possibility of fruitful co-operation in all fields between countries with different social systems. It is a regional organization which in essence is fully in harmony with the spirit and aims of the United Nations Charter and which encourages wider international co-operation.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“The attitude of the Government of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia towards international problems is, generally speaking, determined by its efforts for the maintenance of peace and the development of the largest possible measure of international cooperation, based on the principles of independence, equal rights and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. 126. It is in the light of this analysis of the international situation and of the Yugoslav Government’s policy that, in our opinion, the significance of the treaty of mutual assistance, political co-operation and alliance recently signed by Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia should be measured.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“On the contrary, we are convinced that the unconditional solution of each of these problems would contribute to an effective solution of the others. 124. The advent of atomic power, and the immense increase in productive forces it makes possible, has made the present framework of international relations too narrow, and calls for an infinitely greater measure of economic interdependence and co-operation. These new sources of power and prosperity do not, of course, in any way diminish the need for a much greater and more equitable use of already existing possibilities and resources. We therefore warmly welcome the initiative taken by the United States in proposing that practical possibilities for the use of atomic energy for non-military purposes should be studied within the framework of our Organization. 125.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Later, once internationally controlled disarmament has been achieved — and we believe it will be in the not-too-distant future — large additional resources could be made available to the fund, and it could thus have a decisive impact on the pace of economic development in vast areas of the world. My country has expressed its readiness to contribute at once as much as it can to such a fund. 123. The problem of the use of atomic energy is closely linked with that of the development of the underdeveloped countries and the question of disarmament. By saying that these problems are closely related, I do not mean that the solution of one of them should in any way be made conditional upon the solution of the others.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“The problem of an expanded United Nations programme for the under-developed countries is in truth not new; but the present situation would seem to permit and even to require that we tackle it more energetically. 122. Last year we adopted a declaration [resolution 724 A (VIII)] promising in general terms that some of the savings realized through a reduction of armaments would be allocated to the special fund for economic development. However, it is obvious that accelerated economic development of the under-developed countries must not be made conditional upon the success achieved in international disarmament. On the contrary, the existence and the functioning of such a fund could, of itself, greatly assist in creating a general atmosphere favourable to disarmament.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“This problem is particularly serious for the peoples living in the under-developed countries. Nevertheless, it is equally fraught with crisis for the industrial countries. This was expressed with remarkable clarity by Mr. Scheyven, the representative of Belgium, when he said on 19 July in the Economic and Social Council [810th meeting] that the prosperity of some nations depended more and more on the prosperity of others and that the poverty of the latter slowed the pace of the former. 121. The activities of our Organization in this field, such as the United Nations Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Children’s Fund, have so far not only enabled tis to achieve great results, but have also shown us the path to follow.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Many economic problems, such as the weakening of multilateral trade, the paralysis of the international flow of capital, the chronic non-convertibility of currencies, and the like, are only external manifestations of the fundamental disequilibrium in the world’s economy known to all of us as the problem of the underdeveloped countries. The Secretary-General rightly emphasized in his annual report [A/2663] that this problem should continue to be our main preoccupation. Moreover, the problem is eloquently expressed in the monstrous contradiction of a world where food surpluses in certain areas go hand in hand with tragic undernourishment and famine in other regions of the world. 120. We have the parallel problem of the unequal rate of economic development in various parts of the world.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“This fact is all the more significant inasmuch as the very application of the procedure provided in the memorandum of France and the United Kingdom, as well as a constructive discussion on the basis of this proposal, might lead to a situation in which the danger of war would continue to recede and humanity would be saved from the catastrophic consequences of the use of modern weapons of destruction such as the atomic and the hydrogen bomb. This would help to give a strong new impetus to the relaxation of international tension and to the improvement of conditions for the solution of all other contentious questions. 119.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“The Soviet proposals submitted during the general debate [484th meeting] show that the Soviet Union has drawn closer to the proposals put forward in London by the French and United Kingdom representatives and supported by the United States. Consequently, there is reason to believe that at this session of the General Assembly the disarmament question will be discussed for the first time on a realistic basis without the speakers adopting diametrically opposed positions at the outset. 118.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“This is the significance we wish to attach to the Soviet Government’s acceptance of the French and United Kingdom memorandum [DC/53, annex 9] as a point of departure for future discussions. Furthermore, the United States initiative in the matter of the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes is working towards the same end. 116. In this sense we welcome the Franco-British memorandum. Without entering here into the substance of the memorandum, it should be emphasized that the document is imbued with a spirit of realism and compromise, and that it creates real prospects of agreement. For this reason it is today the most propitious basis for the study of the disarmament question. 117.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“I should like to mention a few of the main questions among those on the agenda of this Assembly without wishing, of course, to minimize other items on which my Government’s views have already been repeatedly expressed. 115. My Government has always given very serious attention to the problem of disarmament and has made every effort to ensure that real progress was achieved in this matter. We have come to this session in the hope that, despite past failures, we shall be able to make progress in this problem. We feel that both general as well as special conditions have matured so that measures could be taken which would enable us to take at least the first steps. We now feel that this hope is about to be realized.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“I feel that it was important to make these explanatory statements in order to avoid being misunderstood. We are not in favour of any kind of neutrality in the face of aggression. We think that two camps are more than we need. For this reason we are not in favour of a “third force”, but only in favour of a solution contrary to that implied by blocs; in other words are in favour of peaceful and constructive international collaboration. I am sure you will believe me when I say that my country and my Government will do their utmost, as they have in the past, to maintain their place in the forefront of the struggle for peace and against aggression. 114. We are firmly convinced that fresh opportunities have been or are in the process of being created to solve specific problems which have been awaiting a solution for some time.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“But this will cease to be utopian when people understand that it is the only way out, that it is the only possibility for coexistence, peaceful co-operation and energetic action against aggression and war. Today this is our task and that of all progressive men.” 112. In short, the battle for peace which was won in Korea, in Indo-China and elsewhere has not been won against any one political ideology, even less to the advantage of another, but solely against aggression and war as an instrument of policy. In face of the danger of relying solely on recourse to arms, a real and not an ideological danger, it is justifiable and necessary to organize collective defence under the auspices of the United Nations in order to resist the aggressor if the agression cannot be halted in time. 113.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Must these States set out on a crusade, one against the other, and must the strongest impose its system on the others; or, on the contrary, should they collaborate in the existing circumstances? I believe that the coexistence of different systems in the world offers the only solution. It is the only means of avoiding conflicts. Such coexistence requires an end to the ideological propaganda war, which goes so far as to threaten the use of armed force. The coexistence of nations is necessary and possible; that is to say, they must collaborate in all questions which are of mutual concern. There are no two countries in the world which have no common interests which would permit mutual collaboration. Obviously this may seem utopian if we observe the present developments of events abroad.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Marshal Tito, President of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, in discussing this problem in his speech of 19 September 1954, made the following statement: “I have already said that the immense majority of mankind considers the settlement of disputes by war absurd. Nevertheless, contentious problems do exist. How are they to be solved? Obviously I cannot give you a recipe, but we must perseveringly follow the road which leads towards the peaceful settlement of disputes. Moreover, I should like to emphasize that it is possible for the world as it is — socialist, communist and capitalist — to exist. There are States with different systems in the world.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Above all there was no justification for the creation of military blocs, tacit or overt, formed on ideological lines. Such an association of necessity conceals or generates tendencies towards intervention and admits the use of force as an instrument of political action. 110. With regard to passive peaceful coexistence, I think that it is not by accident that some of the speakers who have preceded me on this rostrum have demonstrated its inadequacy. Generally speaking, this coexistence has already been brought about, more or less. But coexistence cannot prevail if it is not transformed into active international co-operation. 111.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“By resorting in practical politics to such rigid and over-simplified terms and concepts which cannot encompass the entire complexity and diversity of international relations, there is a risk that these relations will be aggravated and reduced to their most antagonistic elements, or, in other words, that the opportunities for co-operation and the constructive consideration of unsolved problems will be hampered. In this connexion, it cannot be denied that the existing military blocs, which were formed in the East immediately after the war, although they are not formally designated as such, actually constituted an association whose formation and existence played a considerable part in aggravating and even in unleashing the “cold war”. 109.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“If the facts here cited correspond to reality, they make it incumbent upon us to adopt a fresh approach to problems and difficulties, to use new methods. We have already said that in our view it was necessary to rid ourselves of concepts and ways of thinking implanted in our minds by the bitter “cold war”. The political arsenal of the “cold war” comprises: the East-West antinomy, which is only too real in political matters, but which is actually unrealistic and unworkable; division into blocs; alignment of States according to their ideology and the like, and even to some extent the concept of peaceful coexistence, which must be understood today as armed coexistence.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“The relative calm and equilibrium in which we are living today are accompanied by unprecedented instability in economic affairs. The economic disequilibrium in the world, and in particular the fact that in present circumstances the economic progress of certain countries places most of the other countries of the world in a position of economic inequality, constitutes a continuing danger, likely to provoke new conflicts. In a situation in which the immediate threat of war has decreased, and with it the justification for any unnecessary haste in the alignment of battlefronts, we must see to it that the real problems assume the prominence they deserve, while not neglecting any opportunity of promoting a relaxation of tension. 108.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“It is obvious that a balance has been struck in the general relationship of forces, and the efforts of the United Nations to organize collective defence against aggression have in all probability made a decisive contribution to this end. First and foremost, in our opinion, we have gained time, which is of immense importance to all of us. It seems justifiable to interpret the fact that a respite of a few years has been gained in this atomic age as meaning that war has been lastingly averted. Secondly, it is our common duty to take advantage of this relaxation of tension to maintain and prolong the trend by giving it fresh impetus, that is, by directing our principal efforts towards establishing an increasing prosperity, instead of condemning ourselves to even more burdensome expenditure on armaments. 107.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Is the picture of favourable opportunities that I have just sketched here not too optimistic? I do not think so, for the following reasons. First, it is time for political realism to become an active and constructive force, and for the world to lose the habit of seeing only the negative and discouraging side. Secondly, such an attitude of exaggerated optimism would fit in neither with our intentions nor our way of looking at things. For we realize full well that there is the ever-present danger that problems which have been only partially settled and other problems which are still unsolved may become more serious. 106.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“From the critical period of the “cold war” the world has inherited the tendency of the parties concerned to interpret and to present every solution of international problems in terms of the defeat or the victory of one of the parties and its practical policy. This is, in our opinion, an erroneous viewpoint. For in spite of and independently of transitory judgments and political calculations, peace has been strengthened in an extremely sensitive area of the world, thanks in the last analysis to the countless efforts of the great majority of mankind. 104. The evidence that negotiation is necessary and that agreement is possible should cause us to measure the extent of the responsibilities of governments and of statesmen as regards the influence they may exert on the future course of events. 105.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)
“Although, as is often the case, political relations between nations have not kept pace with the objective possibilities themselves, we feel that an improvement in international relations may be expected. 102. While it is true that the international situation involves important new factors, it cannot be described, interpreted or dealt with correctly within the framework or on the basis of attitudes and formulas which are already outmoded, or by giving way to the inertia of deeply ingrained preconceived ideas and pragmatic prejudgments rooted in adverse attitudes. In fact, events have already discredited these methods as instruments for interpreting or effecting positive changes in reality. 103.”
1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)