50 years of Italy at the United Nations
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Giuseppe Medici, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Statement
in 27th General Assembly session, 2044th meeting
September 28, 1972
Mr. President, it is a privilege for me to extend
to you, on behalf of the Italian Government, my congratulations and
good wishes. I am addressing not only a distinguished statesman but
the representative of a noble people to which the Italians feel very
close, sharing with it many traditions and the same deep love of
peace. In recalling the important work performed by this Assembly last
year under the guidance of your illustrious predecessor, Mr. Adam
Malik, I am certain that the result of the current session will prove
just as fruitful.
I wish to assure the Secretary-General, Mr. Kurt
Waldheim, of my sincere appreciation of the dedication with which he
has undertaken his difficult task in the service of the Organization.
He knows that he can rely on the support of my Government in carrying
out h s high mission as the faithful interpreter of the spirit of the
Charter.
The speakers who have preceded me have referred to
the expectations and anxieties of their peoples, but it seems to me
that the most significant note which has resounded up to now in this
world Assembly has been a note of hope.
In spite of persistent conflicts and selfish
nationalisms, in spite of the unleashing of violence no longer
restrained by national or international law, we all feel that a
relaxation of tension in international relations is taking place.
Let me first have a look at Asia, where the worst
conflict of the last 25 years is still raging, but where we now note
some encouraging symptoms. Two great peoples, the Chinese and the
Japanese, are trying to bridge the gulf which has separated them in
recent times. This is an event which can greatly contribute to a
better and more stable international community. North and South Korea
are moving towards the normalization of their relations and we hope
that nothing will interfere with these new and promising developments.
In the Asian subcontinent, the way is now open to negotiations; if
that path is followed with farsightedness, it will be possible to
re-establish harmony among the States of that huge area to the benefit
of the whole international community. In this spirit we hope that we
may soon welcome Bangladesh in our midst.
The recent developments in Europe are bound to give
a decisive contribution to the stability of the old continent and,
therefore, of the whole international order. The Community, which the
Western European countries are building, is undergoing a process of
strengthening and enlargement. It is and will remain a commonwealth of
free' peoples, founded on the heritage of a common civilization and on
a common conception of democracy, social progress and the
dignity of man. This association of States is and will remain open to
co-operation with the rest of the world.
The European Community intends to live up to its
responsibilities in so far as its relations with other States, and in
particular with the developing countries, are concerned. One of the
most important issues to be discussed at the forthcoming summit
meeting in Paris, next October, will be a plan for co-operation with
the latter countries. The European Community intends to honour the
commitments which it has undertaken in the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development for the development of trade within the
framework of a system of generalized preferences.
One of the main goals of the Community is the
gradual closing, through a realistic and constructive dialogue, of the
gap which has divided Europe during the last 25 years. The Community
is attempting to set up new relations, based on the recognition of
reality, on mutual trust and on the free exchange of people,
information and ideas. If, as we hope, the outcome of the negotiations
now going on in order to normalize the relations between the two
States of the German nation is a positive one, an important obstacle
on the way to European co-operation will be removed.
Further momentum for this process will be provided
by the conference for security and co-operation in Europe. In this
spirit, we are working towards the adequate preparation of that
conference.
But Europe cannot feel secure unless there is peace
also in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the ghost of war is still
looming over the Near East, and the resolutions of the United Nations
have so far remained in the limbo of good intentions.
Furthermore, despite the appeals made to the
parties directly involved in the conflict we are now witnessing a
resumption of violence which threatens to get out of hand. That
tension is the result of a lack of progress in working Out a just
solution to the conflict in that region. It is the duty of the United
Nations to encourage the parties-as well as the Powers which wield
some influence in that area-to act in such a way that a just solution
may be found. We maintain that the implementation of Security Council
resolution 242 (1967) in all its parts is the most valid way to a
lasting settlement in the area.
The easing of tension necessarily involves the
problem of disarmament. I should therefore like to stress the interest
which my Government has always attached to this important issue, so
essential for the strengthening of peace
We are deeply committed to the objectives of the
Conference of the Committee on Disarmament and we express the hope
that when it resumes its work the important negotiations undertaken by
it will achieve positive results. We equally trust that the resumption
of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks will bring about fruitful
results.
Finally, we welcomed with interest the proposal to
convene a world disarmament conference. Such an initiative will be all
the more effective if it is supported by the general membership of the
United Nations, including all the nuclear Powers, and if it is
accurately prepared by an adequately representative organ.
Meanwhile, proposals have been submitted which are
designed to limit arguments on a regional scale. We think that they
should be viewed in the framework of the general balance of forces.
Such regional initiatives, therefore, will benefit from the
institution of machinery like the world disarmament conference.
We can therefore hope that we are on the threshold
of further progress towards détente. However, we must do what is
necessary to prevent the setting up of a new pattern of international
relations from taking place at the expense of freedom for peoples and
independence for nations. The emergence of new Powers on the world
scene should be accompanied by the increasingly responsible
participation of all countries in the life of the international
community.
Our Assembly, which last year finally welcomed in
its midst the representatives of the great Chinese people, should give
its utmost attention to this problem. Another important step is likely
to be taken towards the universality of the United Nations. We do hope
that the two German States will successfully conclude their
negotiations and thus be able to join our Organization.
For other so-called divided States the way to
membership in the United Nations is still difficult. However, the
negotiations in progress between the two Koreas raise some hope. Some
better prospects arise also from the confirmed determination of the
United States Government to withdraw all its troops from Viet-Nam. I
should like to express in this Assembly the good wishes of the Italian
people and Government to the Viet-Namese people, so sorely tried by
the horrors of war. I do hope that in the near future all the peoples
of Indo-China will be able to devote themselves, in security and
independence, to the rehabilitation of their countries.
The full attainment of the objectives of
decolonization, solemnly and repeatedly voiced in this Assembly, will
open the doors of the United Nations to some new peoples that are
still yearning for independence. The Italian Government confirms its
full adherence to this goal. We are convinced that we must facilitate,
in the spirit of the United Nations Charter and in accordance with its
pro. visions, the historical process which will wipe out the last
vestiges of colonialism, especially in the African continent.
The foresight of the founding fathers made the
United Nations flexible enough to enable it-after more than a quarter
of a century - to deal with previously unforeseen problems, such as
those of the developing countries, of the technological and scientific
gap and of the protection of the environment. However, no one can deny
the fact that, on the issue of the maintenance of peace and security,
international reality has followed a course different from that
advocated in 1945, thus partly frustrating the original expectations.
While the great Powers were slowly moving from a
"balance of terror" to a dialogue which was the product of the
so-called "balance of caution", the members of the international
community were increasing in number and new centres of influence were
rising. These new centres, thanks to the great contribution they can
make to economic and cultural development, should be enabled to
participate more fully in the system of collective security
established by the Charter.
The Italian Government has repeatedly stated to
this Assembly its point of view on the matter of international
security.
Peace-keeping requires, besides measures to avoid
possible conflicts or to settle those that already exist, a global
commitment for the gradual removal of the deeper and sometimes old
causes of conflict. We must include among these causes all kinds of
interference in international affairs, any limitation of sovereignty
or any attempt to limit the freedom of each people to choose the
regime under which it wants to live. If in some continents these ills
are the remnants of the colonial policy of the past, in others they
are the consequence of power politics.
Our commitment must be further directed against
serious violations of human rights. Genocide, racial discrimination
and political persecution, so much more unacceptable when carried out
with the appearance of legality, are a permanent threat to peace.
The search for peace must aim at reducing the
economic imbalance which separates countries and obstructs the path
towards an effective equality among men of different races.
We must therefore strive to promote broader
observance of international law. This can be obtained by strengthening
the means for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, by
enhancing the role of the International Court of Justice, by
developing and codifying international law and by creating effective
peace-keeping instruments of the United Nations. There is also the
need to solve the serious problems arising from both terrorism and
retaliation, which produce so many innocent victims in various parts
of the world. In this respect, we listened with interest to the
proposal of the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Rogers [2038th
meeting], and we shall carefully study the draft convention
submitted to this Assembly [A/C.6/L.850].We are ready to
co-operate in drawing up a text of a resolution which could meet with
wide approval.
We think it is our duty to ask ourselves whether
the structure of the United Nations can fulfil the Organization's
present tasks. The Italian Government believes that, while fully
respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter as they stand,
some structures of our Organization must be adjusted to the new
realities and to the new requirements which have arisen during the
past 25 years. As was pointed out by the Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Brazil, Mr. Gibson Barboza, when he opened the general
debate: "It is beyond question, in our view, that the participation
of the medium-sized and small Powers would be highly constructive and
creative; it would be tantamount to an infusion of new blood, which
might serve to heal the sclerosis of structures that have aged
apparently without being aware of it." [2038th meeting,
para. 19]
In this connexion the Secretary-General noted in
the introduction to his report on the work of the Organization that
collective security should not be based only on the agreement of a few
Powers [A/8701/Add.1, p. 2]. We must go beyond the image
of the United Nations as the "warden of peace" and strive for a United
Nations capable of eradicating the basic causes of international
tension, of harmonizing opposing interests and of creating better
standards of living for all peoples.
Furthermore, a new approach to the problems
concerning peace and security requires the strengthening of the
Economic and Social Council. Its capacity for furthering the aims of
the United Nations in the field of economic development, of social
progress and of the protection of human rights must become more
incisive.
We also consider that the responsibilities within
our Organization should be better distributed, taking into account the
contribution which each Member country can make, commensurate with its
capacity, towards the achievement of the objectives I have indicated.
The world undoubtedly owes much to the sense of
responsibility shown by the great military Powers. But the concept of
peace and security which I mentioned earlier implies that the time has
come for other countries to share world responsibilities. I am
referring to countries which, although they are not-and choose not to
be-nuclear Powers, can still make substantial contributions to the
maintenance of peace, since they are in a position to promote and
advance the economic, social, scientific, technical and cultural
progress of mankind. It was therefore with satisfaction that we heard
Mr. Rogers say in his statement to the Assembly that: ". . .we
believe that for the Security Council to maintain its influence and
authority, ways must be found to ensure the representation of States,
other than the present permanent members. . . whose resources and
influence are of major importance in world affairs." [2038th
meeting, par. 64.] My country hopes that such a constructive
approach will be adopted by the other permanent members of the
Security Council.
The role of the United Nations and of its
specialized agencies is ever growing and unique. In order to be
increasingly able to deal with the deep-rooted causes of international
tension, the United Nations must enlarge its decision-making process
by associating the emerging countries with it. At the same time the
United Nations must obtain the co-operation of the great democratic
forces of the world. Democratic institutions in national societies
remain alive and operate through the full support of their major
political forces. Similarly the vitality and the . efficiency of a
world Organization depend, to a large extent, upon the adherence and
contribution of the most influential nations.
Let me conclude by restating the sincere confidence
of the Italian Government in the United Nations as well as in the
purposes and principles of its Charter. I also wish to assure you once
again that the Italian Government, interpreting the deep-felt
dedication to peace of its people, will continue to give its
unrestricted co-operation to the United Nations. |