Hungary, 1969

68. The Hungarian delegation has listened attentively to the analysis

of the international situation and of the encouraging and

alarming features of international life given by the delegations

participating in this session of the General Assembly.

It has likewise welcomed with great interest the proposals

put forward by the delegations, all of which, without

exception, desire to perform more successfully than hitherto

our great task of preventing a thermonuclear world war

and of safeguarding and consolidating peace.

69. Of course, the delegations have not viewed international

developments from the same standpoint and have

often reached different conclusions. Nevertheless, their

analyses show a surprising degree of similarity and often

display many common features, identical or similar

thoughts.

70. Last year the world succeeded in averting a new

critical change for the worse in the international situation.

At the same time it is obvious that efforts to solve the

complex international problems referred to by the Secretary-General

in his annual report [A/7601/Add.1] have not

led to satisfactory results and that we are merely marking

time. This is extremely dangerous, for delay in solving

controversial problems is fraught with the permanent

danger of a sudden and serious turn in the international

situation. I think we all agree that we must do more.

71. The past year was called by some the year of

expectations and hopes. Indeed, a year ago — and even

earlier — the peoples were hoping that significant progress

would be made towards the settlement of burning international

issues. That hope was based on the numerous encouraging

signs discernible in international politics at the

end of last year and the beginning of this. The United

States has ceased its bombing of the Democratic Republic

of Viet-Nam and agreed to start negotiations with representatives

of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the

National Liberation Front of South Viet-Nam. During last

year’s presidential election campaign in the United States,

statements were made concerning the intention to settle

controversial international issues. In the Federal Republic

of Germany, too, it seemed that a sane judgement was

beginning to prevail and that the ruling circles in that

country were at long last abandoning their anachronistic

ideas on foreign policy. In spite of many disturbing factors,

the disarmament talks at Geneva were continued and even intensified.

72. Despite all these factors, the events of the past year

failed in many respects to justify the peoples’ hopes.

73. With settlement of the Viet-Nam issue, no progress

worth mentioning has been made. There has still not been

any significant reduction in the number of United States

occupation forces. True, the United States Government has

announced the withdrawal of 25,000 American soldiers

from Viet-Nam, to be followed by a further 35,000. But

this withdrawal will not bring about any essential change, as

there will still remain in South Viet-Nam about half a

million American troops. Moreover, if the withdrawal

continues at this pace it may drag out over a number of

years. In the Saigon puppet theatre the figures sometimes

change but the policy remains the same. The Government

of the United States clearly insists on supporting the

discredited and thoroughly unpopular Thieu regime and is

unwilling to contribute to the formation of a provisional

coalition government which would hold general, free and

democratic elections. The United States negotiator is

holding up the negotiations in Paris with endless delaying

tactics. All this shows that the ruling circles of the United

States refuse to draw the lessons from their failure in

Viet-Nam and are basically still striving to attain their

previous well-known objects.

74. Nor has the situation improved in the Middle East.

The Government of Israel continues, in defiance of the

Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967

[242 (1967)], to pursue its aggressive course. Some Western

Powers affect to make every effort to persuade Israel,

and act as though the solution of the problem did not

depend on them. But is it really conceivable that the

Western Powers could not influence the Israeli Government

if they really consider it their vital business to do so? The

sale of Phantom aircraft does not in any case help to attain

this goal.

75. Hopes were also entertained in the past year that the

situation in Europe would develop favourably. These hopes

were strengthened by the Appeal issued to all European

peoples by the Budapest meeting of the Political Consultative

Committee of the countries of the Warsaw Treaty

Organization, and the response it met with throughout the

world. However, the leading NATO Powers continue to

make reservations concerning the idea of a European

security system and try to play for time. What is more,

some NATO Powers lay down impossible conditions and

strive to prevent the establishment of such a system.

76. The world community cannot ignore that some

Western countries are stepping up their war preparations.

The United States has decided to create an anti-ballistic

defence system, thereby opening a new phase in the

armaments race; and the Federal Republic of Germany is

continuing to develop the Bundeswehr, which will soon be

one of the most powerful armies in the world; in both these

countries chemical and bacteriological weapons continue to

be produced and stockpiled. Naturally these measures do

not improve the international climate.

77. I cannot remain silent about the frustration of

international understanding by the endeavours of some

Western Powers to drive a wedge between the socialist

countries. Some imperialist ruling circles cherish vain hopes

of taking advantage of the difficulties which have

arisen — through the fault of the Chinese leaders — between China

and other socialist countries.

78. As will be seen, the main obstacle to the easing of

international tension and to a speedier and more successful

solution of international problems is that Western Powers

continue to maintain, in essence, their old policies. The

sooner they change those policies, the sooner favourable

conditions will be established for improving the international

atmosphere and consolidating peace The international

situation cannot take a turn for the better unless

the United States changes its Viet-Nam policy and takes

seriously the task of finding a peaceful settlement of the

problem; unless, instead of the arms race, it really strives to

bring about substantive talks; unless Israel and the Western

Powers which support it stop playing with fire and

implement the Security Council resolution; unless the

Government of the Federal Republic of Germany renounces

its revanchist policy and accepts the situation

which has developed in Europe; and unless the main NATO

Powers abandon their delaying tactics and accept the

constructive proposals made for the creation of a European

security system.

79. Fortunately for the world, other forces are active on

the international scene and the prevailing mood is a genuine

desire to serve the cause of peace and security, oppose

warlike tendencies, lessen international tension and settle

controversial international issues. These are the forces and

aspirations of the socialist and other peace-loving States and

of hundreds of millions of people fighting for peace. It is

due, first and foremost, to this state of affairs that efforts

to broaden international co-operation and solve certain

important problems also meet with some successes.

80. Permit me to explain in more detail my Government’s

position on some international questions.

81. My Government continues to regard the halting of

United States aggression in Viet-Nam and the peaceful

settlement of that question as the most important international

issue. Our delegation to sessions of the General

Assembly of the United Nations has repeatedly declared

that a final settlement in Viet-Nam will be possible only if

the United States, unconditionally and without a threat of

renewed bombings, ceases its bombing of the Democratic

Republic of Viet-Nam. Numerous signs go to show that the

ruling circles of the United States have not ceased to utter

threats, alleging as their reason the lack of any positive

response by the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam to their

initiatives. The United States has bombed a sovereign

socialist country, and now that it is forced to cease its

bombings it is demanding some kind of compensation.

What kind of strange logic — to put it mildly — is that?

History has already long since shown that the heroic people

of Viet-Nam cannot be intimidated and that the circles

ruling the United States only complicate their position by

such threats.

82. An outstanding event occurred in the spring of this

year when the Provisional Revolutionary Government of

the Republic of South Viet-Nam was set up. The Hungarian

People’s Republic has recognized that Government as the

only lawful representative of the people of South Viet-Nam.

It agrees with its programme and considers that the

Viet-Nam problem can be settled only on the basis of that

programme, in the spirit of the Geneva Conventions. Those

who believe that the Viet-Nam question can be settled

through by-passing that Government by some kind of

reshuffling of the Saigon puppets are mistaken.

83. The President of the United States, speaking from this

rostrum on 18 September 1969 [1755th meeting], called

for international efforts to persuade Hanoi to agree to end

the war. But it is common knowledge that world public

opinion expects of the United States a sincere desire to end

the war in Viet-Nam, for its conclusion depends not on the

Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam but on the Government

of the United States. It is impossible, however, to take

seriously the empty American statements concerning the

right to self-determination of the people of South Viet-Nam,

for the United States policy is precisely what has

prevented and continues to prevent the genuine exercise of

that people’s right to self-determination.

84. My Government’s position on the Middle East situation

may be summed up as follows: it resolutely condemns

Israel’s aggressive policy and considers compliance with the

Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967

[242 (1967)] to be essential. It is a matter of general

knowledge that Israel is not only opposed to that Security

Council resolution but is repeatedly committing new

aggressive acts and, what is more, has announced the

annexation of some Arab territories. The time has come for

the Security Council to implement its resolution. Peace in

the Middle East will be impossible until Israel has with-

drawn its troops from all the occupied Arab territories to

within the boundaries which existed prior to 5 June 1967.

The Hungarian People’s Republic will go on supporting the

just struggle of the Arab peoples for the attainment of that

goal. My Government highly appreciates the readiness of

the Arab peoples to wipe out the consequences of Israeli

aggression by political means and by the full implementation

of the Security Council resolution.

85. My Government attaches great importance to organized

measures for preserving and consolidating international

peace and security. Consequently it is in full agreement

with the request by the Soviet Government for inclusion in

the agenda of the present session of the United Nations

General Assembly of an item on the strengthening of

international security. The adoption by the General Assembly

of the United Nations of the draft appeal [see A/7654]

submitted for its consideration by the representative of the

Soviet Union would do much to further the cause of

international peace and security, strengthen the role of the

United Nations in the maintenance of peace, enhance the

prestige of the Security Council and at the same time

directly enlist in the defence of peace those countries which

are outside our world organization.

85. My Government duly values also the efforts made to

strengthen peace and security in particular parts of the

world. As you know, my Government was entrusted by the

Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty

Organization with the task of conveying to the Governments

of the European countries its appeal concerning the

creation of a system of European security. In the course of

this honourable mission we became even more convinced

that the conditions for establishing the beginnings of a

system of European security were fully satisfied.

87. The Hungarian People’s Republic wishes to continue

to take an active part in the campaign to create a system of

European security, and supports every step directed towards

that end. We particularly highly appreciate the

Finnish Government’s constructive proposal on this question

and are convinced that it will considerably promote

the attainment of this goal. We are, of course, interested in

the peaceful development of other parts of the world as

well, and welcome the Soviet proposal for the creation of

an Asian security system, the implementation of which

would help to safeguard the peace and security of the Asian

peoples and at the same time of the whole world.

88. One of the main problems of world coexistence is the

achievement of general and complete disarmament. In our

view, we shall not be able to make significant progress

towards disarmament unless a stop can be put to the arms

race inspired by some Western Powers.

89. Even a few isolated results can have a favourable effect

on the achievement of disarmament and on the international

situation. For this reason, the Hungarian People’s

Republic was among the first to ratify the Treaty on the

partial banning of nuclear tests and the Treaty on the

Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution

2373 (XXII)]. But the results achieved must not allow us

to forget that much still remains to be done. We fully agree

with the Soviet proposals concerning the conclusion of

international conventions on prohibition of the production

of nuclear weapons, the reduction of existing stockpiles,

and subsequently the total prohibition of nuclear weapons,

the limitation and reduction of the means of delivery of

strategic nuclear weapons, and the immediate suspension of

all kinds of nuclear tests, and on the use of the sea-bed

exclusively for peaceful purposes. Particular efforts should

be made to bring about the prohibition of the development,

production, stockpiling and use of all kinds of weapons of

mass destruction, including chemical and bacteriological

weapons. In our view, the inclusion in the agenda of the

General Assembly session of the relevant proposal — of

which our delegation is a sponsor — and the adoption of the

aforementioned proposals by the Soviet delegation would

represent considerable progress towards the achievement of

general and complete disarmament. It is for the Western

Powers to give a positive reply to these proposals.

90. The Government of the Hungarian People’s Republic

has a high opinion of the activities of the Geneva

Conference of the Committee on Disarmament, which can

play an important role in working for a solution of

problems connected with disarmament. A few weeks ago,

the Hungarian People’s Republic, too, received an invitation

to participate in the work of this Committee. We accepted

that honourably invitation with pleasure, and our representative

is already participating in the Committee’s efforts to

fulfil the important tasks facing it.

91. Ever since the Hungarian People’s Republic became a

Member of the United Nations, it has endeavoured to

ensure the effective aid successful working of that Organization.

However, summing up the activities of the United

Nations, we are forced to conclude that, despite the efforts

of its numerous Member States, the Organization has fallen

short of the complete fulfilment of its task.

92. I should like to point out that units of the United

States army, under cover of the United Nations flag, are

still stationed in South Korea, whence they organize armed

sorties against the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea

The United Nations must demand the withdrawal of

American troops from South Korea, the dissolution of the

so-called United Nations Commission for the Unification

and Rehabilitation of Korea, and condemn the possibility

of armed actions being carried out by the United States

forces under cover of the United Nations flag.

93. My Government has always supported the principle of

the universality of the United Nations. We cannot agree

that some sovereign and independent States should be

excluded from the family of the United Nations merely

because their social system does not please certain Powers.

This applies, above all, to the People’s Republic of China,

whose lawful rights in the United Nations have not yet been

restored. The United Nations has given the Federal Republic

of Germany the opportunity of sending an observer to

its meetings, but at the same time it refuses this right to the

other German State — the German Democratic Republic — which

is consistently fighting to preserve peace, and to

other socialist countries. There should be no room in the

United Nations for this type of discrimination.

94. The Heads of many delegations have drawn our

attention to the question of making the work of the United

Nations more effective. In our view, one way of achieving

this is to ensure the effective implementation of the

General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. The

General Assembly and the Security Council have adopted a

number of good resolutions designed to solve serious

international problems. But the results are still meagre. I

have already referred to the fact that the Government of

Israel is unwilling to respect the Security Council resolution

of 22 November 1967 [242 (1967)]. The resolutions

adopted concerning Zimbabwe, Namibia and the policy of

apartheid have largely remained dead letters, since they

have not been implemented. The General Assembly of the

United Nations adopted at its fifteenth session a declaration

on the necessity of bringing colonialism to an end. Nine

years have since passed, but in the Portuguese colonies

patriots continue to shed their blood, because this appeal

by the General Assembly goes unheeded by the Portuguese

Government.

95. My Government is deeply concerned by the problems

of developing countries and will continue to co-operate

with those who fight for the total liberation of colonial

territories. It supports the aspirations of the Zimbabwe

people to achieve their sovereignty and considers it a

disgrace that, in a territory under United Kingdom control,

the white minority should be able to oppress. the overwhelming

majority of the population.

96. The Hungarian People’s Republic most resolutely

condemns the South African régime of racial hatred, which

is violating the fundamental human rights of the majority

of the population and holding the Namibian people in

colonial subjection.

97. My Government considers that one of its most

important international tasks is to contribute towards the

success of the developing countries’ efforts to consolidate

their political and economic independence. This aim should

be furthered by the Second United Nations Development

Decade, which may become the most comprehensive

United Nations economic programme ever to exist so far.

The Hungarian Government supports the developing countries’

proposals, but considers that the discrimination

shown against the German Democratic Republic during the

preparations for the Second Development Decade is an

obstacle to their implementation.

98. That, then, is the position of the Government of the

Hungarian People’s Republic on the major international

issues. I can assure you that my Government will continue

to regard the furtherance of the cause of international

peace and security as its main task. It is prepared to support

any initiative which will help to achieve that object. At the

same time, it will not cease to draw attention to the

aspirations of imperialist circles which threaten the peace,

to signs of colonialism and neo-colonialism, and indefatigably

to challenge those forces which hinder the development

of international co-operation.

99. The Hungarian People’s Republic holds the United

Nations in high esteem and considers that - despite the

aforementioned deficiencies — it has done some useful work.

My Government has supported and continues to support

the work of U Thant, the universally respected Secretary-General

of the United Nations, for it is convinced that his

endeavours serve the cause of universal peace, the security

of mankind and co-operation among peoples.

100. The Government of the Hungarian People’s Republic

agrees that the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United

Nations should be fittingly observed at Headquarters during

the twenty-fifth session of the General Assembly of the

United Nations. The question should be considered of

whether States Members of the United Nations should be

represented by Heads of State or Government. The anniversary

might afford an occasion, in the course of the

general debate, for the adoption of instruments designed to

further the solution of certain international problems.

101. In conclusion, I should like to express the gratitude

of my delegation to Miss Angie Brooks, the President of

this twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly, for the

successful way in. which she has performed her task in the

present difficult circumstances. We wish her further success

in her activities, and hope that this session of the General

Assembly will promote co-operation among the countries

and nations of the world, and the solution of burning

international problems.