Kingdom of Denmark, 1982

I have the

honor of addressing the Genera Assembly on behalf

of the European Community and its Member States,

in this capacity I take pleasure in

congratulating you, Mr. President, on your

election to the presidency of this

Seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly.

37. I should further like to express the

Community's appreciation to the outgoing

President for the leadership he has shown en so

many occasions during the past year

38. The 10 Member states of the European

Community also wish to congratulate the new

Secretary-General, now attending his first

regular session of the Assembly. His tireless

efforts in pursuit of peace during his first year

in office have already—and justly— brought him

worldwide attention. The Secretary-General's

strong committee, to upholding the purposes and

principles of the United Nations is brilliantly

demonstrated in his report on the work of the

Organization, which is thoughtful and thought-

provoking. We, the countries of the world, would

do well to heed his advice that as an important

first step we should consciously recommit

ourselves to seeking negotiated solutions to the

world's many problems by adhering strictly to the

Charter of the United Nations.

39. The world today presents a bleak picture.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to remain

optimistic about the future. Grave conflicts have

continued to take place in many parts of the

world in the period that has elapsed since the

thirty-sixth session. The threat remains that

local and regional conflicts will escalate to the

global level. The world is in the grip of the

worst economic recession in decades. All nations,

and in particular the developing countries, risk

jeopardizing the hard-won achievements made

through international co-operation. Fundamental

human rights are being increasingly violated in

many parts of the world. This combination of

challenges which the international community is

facing today calls for determined action and

constructive co-operation. The situation requires

something more—and something other—than each

nation working to solve its own problems. Wisdom

and statesmanship are required if we are to meet

these challenges. We must admit that

interdependence inescapably characterizes the

world today. We must learn, as the

Secretary-General so rightly puts it in his

report, "to differentiate between short-term

advantage and long-term progress, between

politically expedient positions and the

indispensable objective of creating a civilized

and peaceful world order".

40. The United Nations provides the framework and

the forum for accommodating and reconciling our

interests if we accept the implications of our

interdependence. We must make a determined

effort to use the opportunities available to us.

We must seek peaceful settlement of the disputes

that divide us. We must employ the available

international machinery for the promotion of the

economic and social advancement of all peoples.

And we must devote ourselves to the promotion and

protection of human rights throughout the world.

41. The European Community and its 10 member States

pledge their full co-operation in achieving these

fundamental goals. We believe strongly that we

have a role to play and a contribution to make in

this great endeavor. We wish to make our

contribution in fruitful partnership and

collaboration with the other nations of world. We

understand and support their desire to defend

their sovereignty and territorial integrity. We

also recognize that genuine non-alignment is an

important factor in maintaining international

stability and can make an important contribution

to bringing about political settlements of the

conflicts which threaten the world.

42. The European Community also strongly

believes that through co-operation and

partnership we can come to grips with the

problems of inequity which plague the world

economy. We shall pursue our efforts in these

fields with vigor and look forward to building

the partnership based on mutual trust which is

necessary to achieve these important goals.

43. Serious setbacks in East-West relations

have been a major element in the deteriorating

international situation during recent years. The

past years have brought new and disturbing

violations of the principles on which the United

Nations is based. The continued occupation of

Afghanistan, with the evident willingness of the

Soviet Union to pursue its aims by use of its

massive military potential, has contributed to

the creation of a climate of distrust and tension.

44. The tragic events in Poland since last

December, which have taken place under pressure,

have also had a major negative impact on overall

East-West relations. These events, taking place

in the heart of Europe, cause deep concern among

the Ten. The Ten have repeatedly called for the

lifting of martial law, the release of those

arrested and the restoration of a genuine

dialogue with the Church and Solidarity. The Ten

will continue to urge the Polish authorities to

live up to their declared intentions of

re-establishing civil liberties and the process

of reform in Poland as rapidly as possible.

45. To halt the present negative trend and

develop substantial and balanced East-West

relations aimed at genuine detente, the causes

underlying the negative developments in East-West

relations should be removed in order to restore

respect for the principles of the Charter and the

Helsinki Final Act to ensure mutually

advantageous co-operation through dialogue and

negotiations. We have already shown our

readiness to contribute to a positive

development of East- West relations and we urge

the Soviet Union to demonstrate a similar

inclination.

46. There is at present much popular concern

about world tension, the use of force by some

countries in contravention of die Charter and the

imbalance in both nuclear and conventional

weapons. This situation creates international

mistrust and public anxiety. The latter manifests

itself in many ways States where freedom of

expression is guaranteed. The Governments of the

Ten recognize and understand these concerns. We

have no doubt that similar concern is felt by the

peoples of States where, regrettably, open

expressions of popular feeling about the build-up

of armaments and the consequent burden on

faltering altering economics have so far been

suppressed.

47. A few months ago the Member States met

for the second special session devoted to

disarmament. Governments and peoples all over the

globe had looked forward to this event in the

hope that it would lead to a fresh impetus in the

process of disarmament and thereby to the

reduction of armaments and to huge military

expenditures. The results of the session were

disappointing. However, the Ten consider it very

important that the consensus principle was

upheld. Furthermore, the session unconditionally

confirmed the Final Document of the Tenth Special

Session of the General Assembly the first such

special session, in 1978. The views presented at

that session will form a useful basis for future

discussions and negotiations. It is also

noteworthy that at the second special session

devoted to disarmament the Assembly agreed to

continue the process initiated at the first

special session.

48. The member States of the European

Community will make every endeavor to help

accomplish this important task. They will

continue to support all constructive proposals

which lead to reductions in armaments and to the

banning of certain types of weapons, and which

enhance confidence and assure the security of all

nations. In this respect the Ten strongly support

efforts of a substantial and realistic nature

made in the sole negotiating body, the Geneva

Committee on Disarmament, and in other forums.

49. The Ten welcome the negotiations

initiated this summer between the United States

and the Soviet Union on mutual reductions of

nuclear strategic arms. These negotiations will

undoubtedly be difficult. We hope, however, that

they will result in an early agreement on

substantial reductions of these weapons.

50. We welcome also the negotiations between

the United States and the Soviet Union on

intermediate- range nuclear forces, negotiations

which are taking place within the framework of

the strategic arms reduction talks. It is well

known that these weapons are of special concern

to us. We hope that the negotiations will lead to

concrete results in the near future.

51. Parallel with arms control and

disarmament in the nuclear field, substantial

reductions in the conventional field must be

pursued vigorously.

52. As regards central Europe, efforts to

establish a real balance at a Cower level of

forces between East and West have been pursued in

Vienna since H73, but progress has been slow.

However, the Ten note that in the view of Western

participants the prospects of an agreement have

increased following the presentation of new and

concrete proposals in Vienna. Their

implementation would lead to significant

reductions and thereby contribute to a more

stable relationship between East and West and to

the strengthening of peace and security in Europe.

53. Furthermore, the Ten have declared

themselves in favor of a conference on

disarmament in Europe on the basis of a precise

mandate to negotiate in a first stage militarily

significant, binding and verifiable

confidence-building and security-building

measures applicable to the whole of Europe.

54. Efforts at improving East-West relations

should not be restricted to arms control. There

is an equally great need for a comprehensive

East-West dialogue on other subjects, both

political and economic. The process initiated by

the Conference on Security and Co-operation in

Europe is a most important channel for this

dialogue. The Ten sincerely hope that it will be

possible, when the Madrid follow-up meeting

within the CSCE process reconvenes in November of

this year, to reach agreement on a balanced and

substantial concluding document. Such a document

should mark tangible progress within the human

dimension of the Conference and contain a precise

mandate for a conference on disarmament in

Europe. In the opinion of the Ten the draft

submitted by the neutral and non-aligned

countries remains a good starting-point for the

negotiating process in Madrid.

55. Since the thirty-sixth session of the

General Assembly and following events in Lebanon,

which are only the latest element in a chain of

violence and counter-violence in the area, the

situation in the Middle East has deteriorated

further. During the last few months problems

relating to that situation have occupied the

Security Council repeatedly, as well as the

General Assembly. The danger to international

peace must be evident to all of us.

56. The Ten recall their vigorous

condemnation of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

We are horrified by the terrible suffering and

damage which have been inflicted upon Lebanon and

its civil population. A large number of innocent

men, women and children have been killed or

wounded. Many thousands have been made homeless.

We are especially shocked and revolted by the

massacre of Palestinian civilians in Beirut. The

Ten have strongly condemned this criminal act. An

authoritative inquiry into the circumstances of

this incident is clearly necessary.

57. The Ten reaffirm their solidarity with a

friendly country whose population has suffered so

cruelly and whose fragile stability is

dangerously threatened. They are confident that

the Lebanese people will be able to bring about

national reconciliation. The presence of certain

of their members in the multinational force

established at the request of the Lebanese

Government in line with the objectives of

relevant Security Council resolutions bears

witness to the attachment of the Ten to the

restoration of the authority of the Lebanese

Government. They renew their offer to assist in

the relief and reconstruction of the country.