A/39/PV.54 General Assembly

The General Assembly has before it a note by the Secretary-General [A/39/490]. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of that document? It was so decided (decision 39/405).

I call on the representative of Bangladesh to introduce draft resolution A/39/L.5. 3. Mr. WASIUDDIN (Bangladesh): In my capacity as the current Chairman of the group of Islamic States at the United Nations, it is a great privilege for me to introduce today draft resolution A/39/L.5 on behalf of the States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The principal objective of the draft resolution is to further strengthen and consolidate the existing fruitful co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which comprises 45 States repre- senting more than 1 billion people. 4. The Organization of the Islamic Conference has been fully dedicated since its inception to the realiza- tion of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Our organization has already made its positive and tangible contributions to upholding fundamental human rights and promoting international peace and security. It is in this context that we remain convinced of the need for increased co-operation between our organization and the United Nations in our common endeavour to achieve that cherished goal. S. The States members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference from the very Qutset clearly visualized the role of that organization within the overall framework of the Charter of the United Nations. Our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and to fundamental human rights was, therefore, explicitly reaffirmed in the charter of our organization. The charter of the Organization of NEW YORK the Islamic Conference further underlined the deter- mination of its member States to make effective contributions for the enrichment of mankind and the achievement ofprogress, freedom and justice all over the world by promoting global peace and security. To this end, we remain equally determined to take every possible step for the elimination of racism and racial discrimination based on apartheid and for the eradi- cation of colonialism in all its forms. We have extended, and will continue to extend, our unstinted support to oppressed people throughout the world who are struggling to free themselves from the yoke of colonialism. It is in this context that we are particularly committed to supporting the Palestinian people, who are struggling to regain their inalienable rights and to liberate their territory, including the Holy City of jerusalem. 6. Since it obtainerl observer status at the United Nations in 1975 [resolution 3369 (XXX)], the Organi- zation ofthe Islamic Conference has made consistent efforts to expand and consolidate co-operation with this world body. The United Nations has been represented at the ministerial conferences of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, including the last ministerial conference, held at Dhaka in December 1983, by a special representative of the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General himself attended the Fourth Islamic Summit Conference, held at Casablanca from 16 to 19 January 1984, and we deeply appreciate his current efforts to broaden existing co-operation between our two organizations. We also commend him for his latest report on the subject [A/39/481]. 7. The Organization of the Islamic Conference has also developed positive and constructive co-opera- tion in various areas with the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations system, such as UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, FAO, UNDP, UNFPA and the bodies concerned with technical co-operation for development. 8. At all its meetings, including the summit and ministerial-level conferences, the Organization of the Islamic Conference has adopted several resolutions on important global issues, such as disarmament and international peace and security, decolonization and the right of self-determination, human rights and the establishment of the new international economic order, with a view to complementing the endeavours of the United Nations on these important issues. In pursuance ofour deep commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and the charter of our own organiz&tion, we have also taken a number of initia- tives, both within and outside the United Nations, for the promotion of internati~nalpeace and securi- ty. The Organization of the Islamic Conference has also been making sustained efforts for the liberation of Palestine and AI-Quds al-Sharif, the independence

I call on the representative of Jordan to introduce draft resolution A/39/ L.IO/Rev.i. 39. Mr. SALAH (Jordan) (interpretation from Ara- bic): It gives me great pleasure, as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of October, to introduce on behalfof the Group the draft resolution praise~0r:thy manner. I also wish to express my to begin preparing their work and meetings. apprecIatIOn to the Secretary-General on behalf of 49. On this occasion it is a pleasure for me to the League of Arab States for the great (;.fforts he. has express our appreciation for the efforts made by the exerted to prom.ote the. r~l.e of the l!n~ted NatIons Secretariat of the United Nations in preparing, and strengthen Its cred~blhty a!1d ~hmmate a]l t!?-e pursuant te resolution 38/6, the report concerning co- obsta9les .faced by t~~ .IJ.?ternatlomh co.mmumty In operation between the United Nations and the fulfilhn~ Its responsIbIlItIes ~or the malntenanc~ of League of Arab States [A/39/418 and Add.1]. InternatIOnal peace and secunty through the apphca- . . . tion of the fundamental principles and provisions of 50. I also wIsh ~o ~xpress o~r appreCiatIon for .the its Charter, thus avoiding the resort to the threat or e.ffort~ofthe spe.clahzed ~gencles and ot~erorganlza- use vf force in the settlement of disputes between tIons In the Um~ed NatI~ns system whIch have .set States and its very dangerous consequences for out proposal.s of mterest m th~ field of co-<!peratl(~n international peace and security. at t~e multIlateral level, WhICh are mentIoned m 46 It h Id b d h h h b sectIon Ill, paragraph 8, of the Secretary-General's .. s ou e note ere t at t e pal.l-Ar~ report. We also call on those agencies to work natIon. has stressed on .more th.an one Occ~sIon ItS positively in calling for the convening of meetings of comm~tm.entto the pnlt~d ~atIons resolutI~ns and working groups, so that other positive steps may be the pnn.clp]es en~hnned In ~ts .Charter, pa.rtlc~larly taken in the field of co-operation to implement these those prmclp~es ~IIU;ed ~t achlevm~the eradlc~tIOnof proposals and recommendations. all forms ofdlscnmmatIon and racial segregatIon and . . . supporting those peoples that have not yet achieved 51. On the basIs of t~e pnnc!ples and purposes of their indep~nd~nceand do not yet enjoy their right to the Charter of the UnIted NatIons and t~ose of the self-determmatIon and freedom. The Arab countries Charter of the League of Arab States, and m order to believe in the need to establish peace and security in promote c~-op.eration and co-~rdination.between.the the Middle East, drawing on the principles of inter- two org~mzatIons, the SpecIal CommIttee agamst national law, and to achieve concrete progress in Aparthezd and the ':-eagt:~ of Arab States held a joint satisfying the aspirations of the Arab nations for the conference at Tums recently, from 7 to 9 August maintenance of international pea'ce and security. 1~84, for ~he p~rpose of reaffir~ingArab solida~ity 47. At the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference, held wIth the hberatIon mo,:,ements ~n southern Afnc~. at Fez on 25 November 1981 and from 6 to 9 Th~ conference emphasIzed the Imp0:tance of soh- September 1982, the League of Arab States unani- danty by Ar~b qovern~en!s and Arao non-g.overn- mously adopted a plan for a just and lasting peace in l!1enta~ org~mzatIonswIth ~ne peoples strugglIng for the Middle East.2 That plan enjoys the support of hberatIOn m southern Afnca. many States in the world. It has obtained the support 52. Within the framework of this same co-opera- of the countries of the non-aligned group, since it tion, and in implementation of the relevant General draws on the Charter of the United Nations and its Assembly resolutions and the recommendations of principles and on many resolutions adopted by the the joint conference held at Tunis, a meeting on the international Organization. This commitment clearly subject offood and agriculture in the Arab region was points out the respect by the Arab countries for held on 27 and 28 September 1984 at the headquar- United Nations resolutions, in contrast to Israel, ters of FAO in Rome} That meeting examined ways which has refused and continues to refuse to imple- and means to promote co-operation through the ment United Nations resolutions in this field. appropriate machinery and agreements. At the con- 48. Since its creation, the League ofArab States has clusion of the meet~ng, the participants agreed. to always stressed its desire to co-operate with interna- strengthen co-operatIon by. means ~f the foll~wmg tional and regional organizations in accordance with measures: first, the conductII?-g of regIOnal studIes on article 3 of its charter, which attaches great impor- food s~cunty and the establIshment of 'prog~ammes tance to international co-operation in all fields, for agn~ultural develop~ent and the umficatlOn and particularly in the economic, social, political and mtegratlOn .o~ rural agr.l(~ultural developmen!; sec- cultural fields. On this basis, the General Secretariat ond~y, the jomt supervISIon of the ~reparat10!l of of the League of Arab States has participated in se!11mars, workshop~ and o~~er techmcal IU;eetmgs; United Nations meetings for many years. The co- !hudly, the .prom~t1on of jomt efforts to Increase operation between the two organizations has contin- mvestmeI?-t m vanous agncultural ~phere~; fourthly, ued and has increased progressively. In the last few co-operatIon bet~een FAO and Its regIOnal pro- years it has taken more practical and positiv~ dimen- gra!Dmes and p~oje.cts,on the one hand, and the Arab sions, and this was crowned in November 1981 by regIOna~ orgamzatIOns, on the. o~~er; and! fifthlyt the adoption by the General Assembly-of resolution ~rom~tlOn. and exchange of actIVJ1Ies and Informa- 36/24, the first resolution under the item on the co- tIon m thIS field. operation between the United Nations ~md the 53. We hope that this co-operation, which started League o~ Arab States,. on the promotIOn a,nd four decades ago, will be jointly continued, in order ~tre!1gthe~mg ofco-operatIon between the two organ- to strengthen and reaffirm its foundation. We also IzatlOns m all fields. T~e General.Assem.bly has~all. on all the or~anizations within the United adopted furt!?-er resolutIons ?n thIS subject. In NatIons system and Its specialized a~encies to pursue accordance WIth th~se resolutIOns a jo~nt .meeting their endeavours, ~n co-o~r~tion WIth the League of a~~ to streng~hen. the section respo~sible for super- vlsmg co-ordmatlOn and co-operatIOn so that its activities will be devoted exclusively to following up directly the joint projects-which are increasing in number and acquiring new dimensions in the various fields of co-operation-in order to attain positive results. We leave it to the w}sdom of the Secretary- General to find the appropnate ways and means to achieve this goal. 59. Mr. KEYES (United States of America): Para- graph 4 of draft resolution A/39/L.l O/Rev.l requests the Secretary-General to co-operate with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States for the purpose of implementing United Nations resolutions relating to the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East. This paragraph refers to many sec~r.ity, disarmament, and so on. However, the actIvItIes of the League of Arab States contradict the Charter of the United Nations, especially its Article 1, paragraph 2. 63. The whole raison d'etre of the League of Arab States has become the active negation of the exis- tence of the State of Israel, a Member State of the pnite.d Nations..The League, throughout the years of Its eXIstence, gomg back to March 1945, has consis- tently encouraged a radical approach to the Arab- Israel conflict, as an expression of joint political thinking of the Arab rulers. 64. In striving to achieve the ambitious task of serving as an overall spokesman for the A!"ab coun- tries, the League of Arab States has not been able to affect the actions of its members, except to promote intransigence, sanction terrorism against my country and counteract every move towards peace in the region ofthe Middle East. The League has gone so far as t~ expel one of its principal members, Egypt, for havmg opted for peace and has supported the ostra~ism,. if not worse, of any personality, of any doctnne, m the Arab world that does not take the extremist line. The League instituted an Office of Economic Warfare and Boycott against a State Member of the United Nations nearly four decades ago. ~he League has not even interceded forcefully or effectIvely on behalf of peace in the tragic conflict in the Persian Gulf. 65. In view of these attitudes and policies of the League of Arab States, my delegation finds it impos- sible to join a "consensus" on the subject of United Nations co-operation with it. Indeed, we find it the height of irony that the General Assembly would join in with the very negative purposes of the League of Arab States, purposes that the Charter of the United Nations has sought to eradicate. 66. The PRESIDENT: The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/39/L.10/Rev.1. The report of the Fifth Committee on its programme budget implications has been circulated in document A/39/638. 67. A separate vote has been requested on para- graph 4 ofthe draft resolution. If I hear no objection, we shall proceed accordingly. We shall vote first on paragraph 4. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. incl~des a paragraph that is totally inconsiste~t :with, reply. I call on him in accordance with General and In fact opposed to, many fundamental polICIes of Assembly resolution 477 (V), of 1 November 1950. the UI?-ited St~tes Government. In pa~icular, t~e 83. Mr. MAKSOUD (League of Arab States): I resolutIOns WhICh t.he Secret~ry-General I.S asked m should like to express, on behalf of the League of paragraph 4 of thIS res~lutIon to help Implement Arab States, our appreciation to the General Assem- Inc~ude those tha~ repudIate f~ndame~tal aspects of bly for the positive vote it has recorded today. UnIted States polIcy for peace In the MIddle E~st.We. . would have much preferred to join in a consensus on 84.. I wIsh, however, to. resP9nd to som~thlng the this resolution with other members of the Assembly Un!ted States representatIv~ saId, a~d that IS that the had that been possible. We regret being compelled to UnIted States ta~es the l}"nlted NatIons and general vote against this resolution. But just because we do Assem~ly. resolutI~ns senously. I want to reg!ster. ~y take the process of the General Assembly seriously, appre.clatIon of thIS st~temeIl:t, because I thInk ~t IS we cannot support resolutions that request the Secre- very Important. That IS preCIsely where the Unlt~d tary-General to take actions to which we are totally States and the League of Arab States convergt:, In osed that we, too, take General Assembly resolutIOns pp ; .- , l...... seriously. That is why it is st.ated in paragraph 4 that 77. I alSO wIsh to d~aw the Ass~mblys at ;ntIOn to the League of Arab States wIll seek and want to help the. report of the FIfth CommI~tee [A/C...u39/32], the Secretary-General and the United Nations mech- WhIC~ state that travel at:ld SubSIstence ~osts f~r the anism to implement resolutions which have been meetIngs c9nt.empl~t~d In the ~es~lutIon WIll be voted upon almost unanimously, with few excep- absorbed wIthIn eXlstmg appropnatIOns. of the cur- tions, and which remain unimplemented. The Arab rent programme b~dget. At ~he s~me tIm.e, I must League, in co-operation with the United Nations, repeat the rese~atIons we. ~Olced In the FIfth Com- would like to see the various United Nations resolu- mltt~~ concernIng the ~ddltIonal cost for c~nfe.rence tions adopted on international consensus implement- s~rvlclng. Ou~ vote agamst the draft resolutI.on In the ed, rather than remaining only ink on paper. Th~t is FIfth C~~!lm.lt.tee was based on the estImate of why we appreciate the new, important diplomatic $41,400 aodltI9~al cost to ~he regula~ budget f~r development in the statement that the United States confere.Le servlcmg. We cont~m~e to beheve that thIS takes United Nations resolutions seriously. amount [)hould be absorbed wlthm the overall confer- . . . . . ence servicing budget. 85. Howev~r, the cntenon of a senous resolutIOn IS . .. .. . not necessanly measured by the total acceptance by 78. Mr. ~OLOM0N. (EthIOpIa): E~hIOpta.' WhICh the United States, because, with all due respect, the always .'itnyes to cultIvate a m~tuah~y of Interests United States does not constitute a parallel to the embracmg ItS peol?le and ~hat o~ ItS .neI~bours, near world community. Ifthe world community represent- and far,. conducts It.S r~latIOns WIth ItS ~elghbo~rs on ed in the United Nations has adopted resolutions, it the baSIS of t?e pnnclple~ of goo~. nelghbourhness, is important that they be respected and implemented. ~eaceful coexl~tence, the I~vlolablhty of. State .fron- That is why it is paradoxical that the objection of the tIers and n9n-~nterferenceIn the dome.stIc affaIrS of United States to paragraph 4 should lead it to vote others. EthIOpIa expects others to reCIprocate. against the resolution concerning co-operation be- 79. While, as a matter of ""~inciple, co-operation twe~n the League of Arab States an~ the United between the United Nations and its specialized NatIo.ns. We ~ould have expected a dIfferent ,,-ote, agencies on the one hand and other regional and even If the Umted States had expressed reservatIons international organizations on the other must be on paragraph 4. encouraged, Ethiopia believes that such co-operation 86. As for the Israeli representative's distorted should be based exclusively on the purposes and description of the League of Arab States, I think that principles of the Charter of the United Nations and this has become customary. It is now useful for the on the decisions and resolutions of the United Israelis to consider themselves participants in a Nations and its various organs. debate, when Israel has not only consistently voted 80. It is unfortunate but true, however, that some against resolutions i~ the United Na~ions, bU:t tram- States have unscrupulously attempted to use-suc- pled on the mechamsms of .the Umted NatIOns. ~t cessfully at times-the League of Arab States to Invaded Lebanon by tra.mphng over UNIFIL. It. IS advance their selfish interests and to interfere in not necessary to descrIbe a ~ecord replete \ylth Ethiopia's internal affairs, contrary to the purposes defi~nce and contempt for and msults to the UnIted and principles of the Charter. I take this opportunity NatIons. to express Ethiopia's gratitude and admiration to 87. In this case we expected Israel to vote against those member States of the League of Arab States this resolution, because co-operation between region- which have consistently taken the principled position al organizations, particularly the League of Arab of opposing such mischievous manoeuvres in viola- States, and the United Nations places additional tion of the Charter. It is our hope that the other constraints and sanctions on its ability to proliferate members of the League will adopt the same positive settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, to deny the attitude in the not-too-distant future. In the mean Palestinians their right to self-determination and,

I call first on the representa- tive of Costa Rica, who wishes to introduce draft resolution A/39/L.9/Rev.1. 89. Mrs. CASTRO de BARISH (Costa Rica) (inter- pretation from Spanish): From time immemorial peace has been one of the supreme aspirations of mankind, and it is the fundamental ideal on which the United Nations is based. Therefore, the preserva- tion of peace is one of the main objectives of the world Organization. 90. We are all very aware that this ideal, far from having been fully achieved,.is so seriously threatene.d in today's world that mankind faces the threat of hIS own destruction. 91. It may be useful to recall here that peace, the true peace to which we in the United Nations aspire, and should aspire, cannot be merely the precarious peace of the balance of power or unilateral agree- ments aimed at balancing the opposing interests of the super-Powers, nor can that true peace consist solely of an easing of tensions giving merely the superficial appearance of peace. 92. We therefore believe that the challenge facing the United Nations is that all its Member States must resolve to strengthen the world Organization as the principal international system devoted to promoting and maintaining peace and rededicate ourselves to the principles of the Charter and implement them effectively. Similarly, we must increase the public's awareness of the activities of the United Nations and foster its support for those activities. 93. It was with this in view that Costa Rica considered it opportune to propose the proclamation of 1986 as the International Year of Peace, precisely on the occasion of the ce'ebration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations, on 24 October 1985. In his recent statement to the General Assem- bly, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Mr. Carlos Jose Gutierrez, said: "It should be a constant task ofthe United Nations to call for peace, because this has been the great objective of the Organization since its foundation. The International Year ef Peace will be devoted to emphasizing this commitment, at a time when, because ofworld tensions, it is necessary to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter, in which special prominence is given to the mainte- nance of peace." [28th meeting, para. 77.] 94. In that connection, in his report on the work of the Organization [A/39/1] the Secretary-General tells us: "We are often urged to strengthen the peace-keep- ing capacity ofthe United Nations, the implication being that this is a matter that can be handled without regard to the political relations of Member States and particularly of members of the Security wel~ as those that they deCIde to execute at the the International Day of Peace: natIOnal level. . .. "Peace will be assured only ifthe underlying causes 107. .We conSIder It Important also to welcome the of the prevailing distrust and widespread conflict establIshment of the V91untary Fund for the Pro- among nations are successfully dealt with; only if ~ra~me of the Internat!onal Year of Pe.ace. and to economic and social justice is furthered; and only InVIte all States and Interested organIzatIons to if the United Nations and other multilateral insti- c~ntribute to that Fund. Despite i.ts bu~getary limi.ta- tutions with responsibility for settling disputes and tI<?ns, my co~ntry has had the s~tIsf~ctIon of opem!1g building the foundations of peace are strengthened thIS F~nd WIth the .token contnbutIOn that made ItS and supported. We must dedicate ourselves anew establIshment pOSSIble. to these objectives today. This is a time for 108. As I mentioned previously in my statement, resolution, not discouragement. The principles voluntary contributions are an indispensable element contained in the Charter of the United Nations in making progress on the plans and preparations for constitute clear guideposts in a troubled and the Year. For that reason we included paragraph 5 on endangered world. Governments must see that in the convening of a pledging conference for contribu- following them both the most basic national inter- tions during the first quarter of 1985. ests and the common good will be served." 109. We also emphasize the importance of the co- 117. Those words confirm the wisdom of the ordination and co-operation established between the .Assembly in declaring 1986 the International Year of preparations for the International Year of Peace and Peace, the universal proclamation of which would the World Disarmament Campaign, the International take place on 24 October 1985, thus linking it with Youth Year, the United Nations Decade for Women the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the and th~ celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations and providing a stimulus for greater United Nations. participation by youth and by women in the develop- tat~ such international exchange and co-operatIon for Chinese): I would first of all like to thank the the International Year of Peace. Secretary-General for his very good report [A/39/500 142. Like other Member States, Australia has a and Add. I], which shows the progress made ove! the network of diplomatic and consular missions around last year in the preparatory work for the InternatIOnal the world which help us to maintain and facilitate Year of Peace. diplomatic relations and exchanges with most Mem- 152. An increasing number of countries, organiza- ber States of this Organization. T~e Gov~rnm~nt.has tions within the United Nations system, relevant decided that at each of our d}plomatI~ mISSIOns non-governmental organizations, as well as research abroad one person will be espeCIally desIgnated the and academic institutions of various countries, have Internati01?-al Year ~f Peace officer. The purpose of expressed interest in the draft programme for the such appOIntments IS not, of. course,. to repl~ge t~e International Year of Peace. They have put forward traditional and cus!omary dIplomatIc .actIvltI~S m constructive suggestions and proposals with regard to support of peace. It.I~ rath~r to support InternatIonal the draft programme. Ten scJ;lOlars, o~e of the~ co-operatIon and lIaIson In the o~seryan~e of the Chinese, attended a consultatIve meetmg held m International Year of Peace on an InstItutIOI?-al and London last June. Four regional seminars scheduled professional basis throughout all our embassIes and for next year will be devoted to promoting the consulates. objectives of the International Year of Peace. Those 143. I now turn to the programme of activities seminars are expected to make useful contributions which are to be carried out under the auspkes of the to the activities for the Year. United Nations itself. 153. We are convinced that as the Year approaches, 144. We commend the Secretary-General on the they will draw greater attention and receive more programme of activities for the International Year of extensive response and support. Peace which he has presented to us. We endorse. the 154. Now I wish to make a few observations on the objectives .of the pro~ramme. We note th,e senous International Year of Peace. eff,?~s. whIch are be~ng made to co-ord~na.te the 155. First, the maintenance of world peace is a act~vltIes o,f th~ vanqus departments wlthm ~he matter of paramount importance, the universal con- UnIted NatIons In order t<:> ensure the most effectIve cern of all the peoples of the world. Mindful of the use, of !h~ res~urces. avaIlable. yve note als~ ~hat tragic history of the two world wars, the sufferings actIve. lIaIson IS t~k~ng. place WIth the specIalIzed brought to the people of various countries by the agencI~s. In AustralIa s VIew the greatest care ~ust be wars of aggression in the post-war period and the taken In ~rder to ensure that ~he P!ogra~me, lIke. the grim international situation of today, the people of World DIsarmament Ca,mp~Ign~ IS car~Ied out ~n a the world feel all the more strongly the value of peace balanced, factual and objectIve ma~ner In all regIons and the importance of maintaining it. They will no of the world. That w~uld ensure ItS succe~s. longer tolerate the scourge of war. They long for a 145: I want to end thIS ~tatement by returnmg to an peaceful and happy life. However, as things stand, earlIer theme-the subject of the future of our the international situation remains turbulent and children, our young people. One of th~ greatest volatile. Global rivalry between the two super-Pow- figures who worked for ~he cC!-use of pea~e m our age ers has intensified. Their nuclear-arms race continues was MahatmC!- GandhI. HIS d~dlcatlOn, was to to escalate. Their military confrontation in Europe ahimsa-that ,IS, ,peace and non-vIOlent actIon. M~- has become more fierce, and their military expan- hatma GandhI saId: "If we are to reach real peac~ m sionist activities in the Asia-Pacific region and this world and if we are to ,carrr on real ~ar aga!pst elsewhere have increased. The hot spots in various war, we shall have to begm WIth our chIldren. parts of the world have yet to cool down, while some 146. We have today in our hands a very great of the conflicts tend to spread. The danger of a world power-the power of modem commu~i~ations. ~ut war remains. In the race of such harsh reality, people there is another important power, and It IS one whIch cannot but feel worned about the future ofthe world. will shape our future. I am speaking of the power of 156 Secondlv how in these circumstances can the imagination and the openness of our children. worid peace be ~nsurdd?The key to the mainte~ance 147. What we help our children think and aspire to of world peace lies in opposing hegemonism, which will determine their future. To this end we have all of constitutes a grave threat. True, the overwhelming the means of modern communications at our dispos- majority of countries yearn for peace, but there are al. We must use those f!leans in the cause of peace always a few countries that pursue hegemonic ~oli- because we owe our chIldren a peaceful world. cies, trample underfoot the Charter of the UnIted 148. The gleam in the eyes of our children should Nations and the basic norms governing international be a vision of a world in which life is fruitful and relations, bully.the weak and oppress the l?oor on t~e enjoyed in peace. Above all we must show by our strength of th:I~~_~:~ow~an~~~e~~~~::erfere~n~_ NOTES 1A/38/299 and Corr. l.