Bulgaria, 1983

 I am very pleased, Sir, to congratulate you on your election to the presidency

of the thirty-eighth session of the Lenora Assembly. I

am confident that under your competent guidance the

work of the session will proceed fruitfully and successfully. I should also like to extend my gratitude to your

predecessor, Mr. Hollai, for his skilful performance in

occupying that position during the thirty-seventh session.

I avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate the

Secretary General.

52. On behalf of my country I cordially welcome the

new Member of the United Nations, the State of Saint

Christopher and Nevis.

53. Today more than ever before the attention of all

peoples is focused on the activities of the General Assembly. This is so because the major problems of our time,

and particularity the problem of how to prevent war and

preserve peace; have acquired truly vital significance for

the destiny of each and every individual every nation and

the whole of mankind. This is so because the present

international situation has given rise to extremely serious

grounds for alarm. Since the Second World War there

has hardly been another such complicated and tense a

period of history as the one we are living in today.

54. All this is the result of the course pursued by the

United States and certain countries of NATO, the aim

of which is to gain military-strategic superiority over the

Soviet Union and the other countries of the socialist

community. That course has led to an unchecked escalation of the arms race, has dangerously exacerbated tensions in various regions of the world and has kindled new

hotbeds of crisis.

55. An integral part of this policy is total confrontation,

which has also been reflected in certain attempts to interfere in the Internal affairs of the socialist countries and

to orchestrate slanderous campaigns.

56. The latest example in this respect has been the

campaign against the Soviet Union in connection with the

incident involving the South Korean aircraft. While expressing our most sincere regret at the loss of human life,

we at the same time are convinced that the entire responsibility for this tragedy rests With those forces which cold-bloodedly masterminded and carried out this criminal and

provocative act. Those forces have gone so far in their

insinuations as to deny elementary normal conditions for

the arrival of the head of the delegation of the Soviet

Union for the General Assembly session.

57. This course in international affairs has in fact no

future and no chance of success either in the political or

in that, military feted. Because of the extremely dangerous

risks which it poses for the fate of the people, it has

naturally met with the resistance of the overwhelming

majority of States, which are profoundly interested in

maintaining peace and promoting equitable and mutuality

advantageous international co-operation. This was eloquently reaffirmed by the decisions of the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned

Countries, held at New Delhi from 7 to 12 March 1983

which, as is well known,

constitute an important positive factor in the international

arena. At the same time, the policy of rearmament and

confrontation has aroused protests by the broadest strata

of the international community.

58. Never before have there been on Earth so many and

such terrifying weapons capable of destroying life, and

that is why mankind has never been in so much need of

the most energetic efforts to preserve peace and to eliminate the possibility that a nuclear war may become a

horrendous reality. The cardinal risk of our times is to

preserve life on Earth and to save human civilization.

59. The People's Republic of Bulgaria is convinced that

the way out ivies it renouncing the policy of confrontation

and the arms race and in proceeding towards genuine

disarmament, particularly in the nuclear field. A sound

and realistic basis on which we can rely in the attempts

to attain this objective is the existing military-strategic

balance of forces. The whole war development of

the world indicates that any effort to obtain military

superiority is futile and only increases the threat of a total

nuclear conflict. Action to ensure the security of every

State and of the world as a whole necessarily entails

curbing military confrontation through disarmament. The

only alternative to mutual annihilation is the policy of

disarmament and detente.

At present this irrefutable truth has acquired exceedingly topical significance to Europe. An issue of vita

importance for European as wet as for other peoples of

the world is being dealt with in Europe today. The choice

before our continent once again demands that, white

rejecting the propaganda smokescreen, the facts are reconsidered most responsibly and a sober and realistic appraisal be made of the consequences. The truth is that

the planned deployment of new United States medium range nuclear missiles in certain Western European

NATO countries is designed to ensure unilateral military

superiority and represents deliberate preparation for a

nuclear first strike against the socials countries. The

argument that the deployment of those missiles would

facilitate the conclusion of an arms reduction agreement

is totally unfounded. Naturally, our countries would be

compelled to take counter-measures for their legitimate

defence. The only tangible result of the deployment of

the new missies in Western Europe would be to increase

the level of nuclear confrontation and the risk of turning

the continent into an area of nuclear conflict. n our

nuclear age the security of some States cannot be achieved

at the expense of the security of others. It is incumbent

upon all States and political leaders to take all this into

consideration.

61. The Geneva talks between the Soviet Union and

the United States have entered their crucial stage. The

stepped-up preparations for the deployment of the new

United States missiles, however, which are proceeding

side by side with the talks, cause most serious concern.

In our opinion, it is still not too late to choose to reach

a fair agreement based on the principle of equality and

equal security. This historic opportunity should act be

missed. A substantial step forward In this respect is

represented by the latest constructive proposal put

forward by the Soviet Union.

62. As a European county, the People's Republic of

Bulgaria maintains the position that our responsibility to

present and future generations entail the elimination of

the nuclear danger in Europe, thus giving impetus

to detente so that Europe can become a continent of

peace, free of weapons of mass destruction, where all

States could maintain relations of co-operation on the

basis of fuel equally and mutual respect, in the interest

of the progress and prosperity of nations.

63. A hopeful sign in this respect is the successful concision of the Madrid meeting. It confirms once again

that, given good political will, it is possible even in the

present complex international situation to pursue a dialogue leading to mutually acceptable agreements. In our

opinion, it it’s vitally important for the process which

began at Helsinki, to continue and to advance, and to

develop in conformity with the spirit

of the Conference on Security and Co-operation. In view of the most topical and urgent

problems facing our continent, we emphasize as particularly significant and promising the decision to convene a Conference on Confidence- and Security-building

Measures and Disarmament in Europe.

64. The establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in

various regions of Europe and the world is of major

importance for the maintenance of peace. For this reason

the People's Republic of Bulgaria not only supports the

realistic proposals put forward to this effect but is actively

working in this direction.

65. Situated as it is in the Balkan peninsula, the People's

Republic of Bulgaria has a vital stake in the realization

of the idea of turning this region into a nuclear-weapon-

free acne. The concrete proposals of my country for

stepping up efforts to this end are also wall known. They

are fully consonant with the policy based on the principles

of peace, understanding and co-operation in the Balkans

which the People's Republic of Bulgaria has been consistently pursuing.

In this respect, I should like to recall our proposal for the signing of a

code of good-neighbourly relations among countries in

that part of Europe. This policy of principle is in the best

interest of all the Balkan and European peoples and is

a genuine contribution to the strengthening of peace and

security in the world.

66. Situated in close proximity to the Mediterranean,

the People's Republic of Bulgaria Is interested in fostering

peace and co-operation in that region and regards with

great interest all constructive proposals directed to this

end.

67. For the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the other

countries of the socialist community as well, the desire

for peace stems from the very nature of the socialist

system. A society which is entirely devoted to work and

construction for the benefit of all Its members cannot

desire war. Such a society does not need any war. War

Is alien to its very nature. Such a society needs peace as

well as mutually beneficial and equitable international

co-operation. It is precisely for this reason that the States

of the socialist community have unswervingly pursued,

and wilt continue to pursue, a constructive policy of

principle directed to defending peace, strengthening international security and promoting confidence and cooperation among peoples. In the present-day world there

Is no other road open but that of peaceful coexistence

of States with different social systems and the building

of International relations on the basis of strict observance

of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations

and the rules of international law.

68. In the present particularly Important—and I would

even say fatefully—moment for the future of mankind, the

peace-loving policy of the countries of the socialist community was once again reaffirmed in the Politician Declaration at Prague on 5 January 1983.

These documents contain detailed assessments of the current international situation as well

as constructive and realistic initiatives and proposals for

easing tensions and for solving the cardinal problems of

the present day: first and foremost, the elimination of

the danger of nuclear war, the cessation of the arms

race and the pursuance of disarmament on the basis of

equality and equal security.

69. Unfortunately these concrete proposals and initiatives for reducing the military threat in Europe and in

the world have not reached all adequate answer from the

States members of NATO.

70. The proposal for concluding a treaty on the mutual

non-use of force and on the maintenance of peaceful

rotations Is still without a concrete answer.

71. The clearly expressed will of the majority of countries in the world that all nuclear-weapon States should

factor the example of the Soviet Union and assume the

obligation not to be the first to use nuclear weapons

continues to be ignored.

72. Nor has there been a positive reaction to the Soviet

proposal that alt nuclear-weapon States should declare

a quantitative and qualitative freeze of the existing level

of their nuclear weapons.

73. Just before the opening of this session, the Soviet

Union came forward with an Important and timely proposal for the conclusion of a treaty on the prohibition

of the use of force in outer space and from space against

the Earth. We welcome and support this

proposal. It is fully in conformity with the perennial

efforts of the world Organization to forestall the launching of the arms race into space.

74. The proposal of the States parties of the Warsaw

Treaty to open negotiations on limiting naval activities,

on curtailing and reducing naval armaments and on

extending confidence-building measures to Include the

seas and oceans are also well known. The question has been

acquiring ever greater significance as a substantial part

of the efforts to prevent nuclear war.

75. The People's Republic of Bulgaria is deeply concerned over the lack of real progress In the efforts to

eliminate existing hotbeds of tension.

76. The situation in the Middle East continues to be

extremity dangerous, as the region Is being increasingly

turned into a front tine of the aggressive global policy

of certain imperialist States. With the encouragement and

support of the latter, Israel continues Its aggression

against the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples. We categorically condemn these actions and insist on Israel's

complete withdrawal from Lebanon as well as from all

the Arab territories occupied in 1967 and since. We

demand the recognition of the legitimate and Inalienable

rights of the Arab people of Palestine, including its right

to self-determination and the creation of Its own State.

77. The People's Republic of Bulgaria is convinced that

the only correct avenue for reaching a comprehensive,

just and lasting settlement of the Middle East problem,

as emphasized In the Geneva Declaration on Palestine,

Is convening an international peace conference on the

Middle East with the participation of all parties concerned, Including the indispensable participation on an

equal footing of the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Arab people of Palestine.

78. We support the efforts to reach a peaceful and just

solution of the problem of Cyprus, guaranteeing the

independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus, with the total

demilitarization of the island and respect for the interests

of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

79. As a result of the illegal occupation of Namibia by

the racist regime of Pretoria and its policy of apartheid

and aggression against the independent African States of

the region, the situation in southern Africa continues to

be tense and dangerous. The People's Republic of Bulgaria fully supports the legitimate struggle for self-determination and independence waged by the Namibian

people under the leadership of its sole authentic representative, SWAPO. Our position is fully in harmony with

that of the majority of States in the world, which has

been most categorically expressed in the decisions of the

United Nations, as well as by the international Conference in Support of the Struggle of the Namibian People

for Independence, held in Paris from 25 to 29 April 1983.

80. The military presence in, and direct intervention of,

the imperialist States in the internal affairs of a number

of countries pose a threat not only to the security of

individual countries and regions, but also to world peace

and security. We resolutely call for a habit to the campaign

of threats and provocations against Cuba, to the foreign

intervention in Nicaragua, to any interference in the

internal affairs of these and other countries of Central

America. We are hopeful that the efforts of the countries

of the Contadora Group to find a peaceful solution to

the problems will be successful.

81. I reiterate that the People's Republic of Bulgaria

wholeheartedly supports the proposals put forward by

the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the People's Republic of

Kampuchea and the Democratic People's Republic of

Korea to remove the tensions around these countries and

soave disputes through negotiations in order to ensure

peace and tranquillity for their peoples. The elimination

of the imperialist intervention in Afghanistan, the establishment of a zone of peace and stability in South-East

Asia and the peaceful reunification of Korea will contribute enormously to the strengthening of peace and

security in Asia and throughout the world.

82. The United Nations has a great role to play in

solving the key problems of the present day, which affect?

the interests of all States and peoples.

The maintenance of peace and ending the arms race

are the most important prerequisites for the successful?

solution of the pressing socio-economic and other problems upon which mankind's prosperity depends.

84. We devote particular attention to the problems of

development. As a country with a dynamic and stable

economy, we are interested in the removal of artificial

obstacles and barriers and in the promotion of equitable

and mutually beneficial co-operation, a guarantee for

which would be the restructuring of international economic relations on a just and democratic basis and the

establishment of a new international economic order. In

this connection, we support the demand for a speedy

beginning of global negotiations, and we are ready to

study any constructive proposal in this important area.

85. In conclusion, I return to the underlying theme of

my statement—how to preserve peace and save the planet

from a nuclear catastrophe. For us Bulgarians, there is

only one answer. As Tudor Zhukov, General Secretary

of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist

Party and President of the State Council of the People's

Republic of Bulgaria, has said:

"The question today is as follows: either we live

Peacefully with each other or we annihilate each other.

Therefore, the main conclusion we must draw cannot

be but the following: to build step by step, consistency

and decisively, new international relations, relations of

peaceful co-existence between States of different social

systems."

86. Now, as in the past, we are ready to co-operate with

all who are rally for peace, international understanding

and mutually beneficial co-operation. We shall continue

to work to strengthen the role of the United Nations, in

strict compliance with the principles and objectives enshrined in its Charter. These principles and objectives

correspond to the interests of all peoples. The People's

Republic of Bulgaria will continue to make an active

contribution to their realization.