A/37/PV.37 General Assembly

This morning the Assembly will hear an address by His Majesty King Olav V of Norway, whom, on behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome and to invite to address the Assembly. 2. King OLAV V (Norway): It is a pleasure for me once more to have an opportunity to address the United Nations. When J last spoke to the General Assembly, in 1975, at the thirtieth s~ssion [238/st meeting], the international community was enjoying a period of relative peace and hope. The year 1975 was that of the Conference on Security and Co- operation in Europe. East-West relations had taken a more positive course than in any other period since the Second World War. The General Assembly had just adopted the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New Interna- tional Economic Order [resolutions 320/ (S-VI) and 3202.cS-VI)]. 3. At this juncture there are fewer reasons for optimism. We are living through difficult times. The political and economic situation in the world is characterized by increased tension and uncertainty, the effects of which are clearly felt also by the United Nations itself. There seems to be an increasing perception that the United Nations has great difficulties in fulfilling its tasks and that better solutions can perhaps be found outside the United Nations. This perception serves to diminish the effectiveness of the Organization at a time when it is most needed. 4. Technological development has brought us tremendous progress in many fields, but it has also brought terrible web.,ons of destruction. Thus the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of the world for a better future are increasingly intermingled with fear and anxiety for what the future may bring. These attitudes were strongly expressed in connection with this summer's twelfth special session on disarmament. 5. In spite of some positive results, the session was not able to agree on a comprehensive programme for disarmament. It did, however, confirm the Programme of Action of the first special session on disarmament [see resolution S-/0/2], which drew up the course for the future. We must never tire in our efforts to promote global stability and disarmament, and all Member States should realize their responsibility for the achievement of these objectives within the frame- work of the United Nations as well as in the important negotiations on arms control and disarmament going on elsewhere. - . - -- -- . - NEW YORK 6. In his thoughtful report to the current session of the General Assembly [A/37/1], the Secretary- General stresses the problems we are faced with in the United Nations. An increasing number of countries has resorted to the use of force to solve bilateral disputes. Regrettably, the whole process of the peaceful settlement of disputes prescribed in the Charter of the United Nations seems less respected today than in earlier years. The territorial integrity and political independence of several countries have been violated. Regional wars have led to widespread destruction and immense human suffering. 7. The Secretary-General recommends that as an important first step Member States undertake a serious recommitment to the Charter. I should like to assure the Secretary-General that the whole-hearted commit- ment made to the United Nations in 1945 by the Government and people of Norway is as valid today as ever before. Furthermore, there is strong support in Norway for the urgent task of reconstructing the concept in the Charter of collective action for peace and security so as to render the United Nations more capable of carrying out its primary function. The smaller nations in particular need the protection and support of the United Nations. We should therefore be the first to defend the principl~s of the Charter. 8. The principles and obligations contained in the Charter are as sound and valid today as they were 37 years ago. They are the very basis for the main- tenance of international peace; they are the foundation for the orderly conduct of relations among States; and it is essential that they be followed scrupulously and loyally. 9. The peoples of the world look to the United Nations to uphold these fundamental principles. It is sometimes overlooked that the United Nations has not been vested with power to enforce its principles. The United Nations can only act in accordance with the wishes of its Members. If the efficiency and the authority of the United Nations are undermined, it is we the Member States of the United Nations which are the losers. 10. It is also a fundamental purpose of the United Nations to promote international co-operation for economic development and respect for human rights. As long as the majority of the world's population lives in poverty there can be no stable or real peace. It is important therefore that the United Nations play a leading role in the process of promoting economic development. 11. The world community is living through a deep economic recession which afffc!s us all. The developed countries are experienci~g mass unemployment on a scale unprecedented since the, 1930s. The trend towards gradual improvement of the living conditions ~. ,the auspices of the United Nations is a constructive have also come 10 recognaze that the resources of ';·,initiative in 'this direction. It 'is to be hoped that such !he. ~orld are. not unlimited and ~hat the actions of " negotiations can be launched at an early date. Allhe mdlvldual nallons affect other natIons and the world ,sa~e'tjme~emust ~intain and support the various as a whole. OU~ res~nse t~ay, l~erefore, should not ;:.Un!ted Nations .aS~lstance programmes, some of be to turn to !latlonahsm an~ Isolat14:»n. On the contr~ry, ,,'WhICh"are today seriously threatened by the decline we shou.Id mcrease our mternatlonal.co-operation. . ,.,in financi~lsupport. The ~mted Nati<!ns is the universal organization .'12". .' . '.. estabhshed for this purpose. We should all make '. ~ In our efforts to. bnJ~g ab~ut development It IS better use of it. . ' Important that we keep ID mmd' the goal we are' '. ' strivi"g for-.th~t is, tQ make.i~ possible for the peoples 14. The PRESIDENT: qn behalf of the' General of the ~orld to live a life of freedom and dignity. Assembly, I wish to thank His M~esty King Olav V The Dmted Nations has made a unique contribution of Norway for the important address he'hasjust given. to t~e development of human rights. The Universal pechiration;of Huma~Rights, the International Cove- The meeting rose at 11.30 a:m. " l,O .. , .. . .... ' ~.j • '. .. 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