Czechoslovakia, 1969

26. Madam President, allow me on my own behalf

and on behalf of the Czechoslovakian delegation to

congratulate you on your election to the high office of

President of the current session of the General Assembly. In

congratulating you, we rejoice not only that the President

of our session is a representative of the African continent,

but also that your election symbolizes one of the purposes

of the United Nations—the equal rights of men and women.

We hope that under your guidance our session will

accomplish the tasks which lie before it.

27. Allow me also to express our wholehearted condolences

on the death of Mr. Arenales, the President of the

previous session of the General Assembly.

28. For a number of years, the international situation in

which the General Assembly session was being held has

been described in the general debate as complicated and

tense. This year is no exception.

29. And yet, particularly on the eve of the twenty-fifth

anniversary of the inception of the United Nations, we

should like to express the hope that the day will come

when we can rejoice together that war is not raging in any

part of the world, that crises have been averted by the

common efforts of all the peace-loving countries in the

world, that the era of disarmament has begun, and that the

heritage of colonialism has been entirely eradicated.

30. We in Czechoslovakia are convinced that such a world

situation will ultimately prevail and are prepared to do

everything in our power to ensure that the noble objectives

which the United Nations set itself at its establishment

become a reality. But the reality has so far been entirely

different. Instead of a world without wars and crises, we

live in a divided world, constantly balancing on the brink of

the most terrible of all wars, in a world where dangerous

hotbeds of tension are constantly smouldering, the arms

race is continuing, and military arsenals are stockpiling

increasing reserves of weapons with a destructive power

many times greater than that which could transform our

earth into a dead planet.

31. Although the United Nations has in past years

achieved some partially favourable results in its efforts to

alleviate international tension, we cannot rest content with

this. The urgent problems of the current international

situation impose upon the United Nations the obligation to

use all the means at its disposal to transform the ideas

contained in its Charter into reality. It would therefore be

desirable to try once again at this session to lay some

foundations which would enable our Organization next

year to enter upon a new twenty-five-year period which

would be an era of lasting peace and co-operation, based

not on the principle of the “balance of power and fear” but

on awareness of the beneficial and useful effects of the only

alternative open to mankind, that of peaceful coexistence.

32. In the forthcoming anniversary year we shall have an

opportunity of assessing our Organization’s contribution to

solving the urgent problems which have confronted mankind

over the past twenty-five years. We can already note,

however, that in the period following the end of the Second

World War the peace-loving peoples have succeeded in

preventing the outbreak of a new world-wide conflict. The

community of socialist States has played a distinguished

and decisive part in this effort. This by no means

unimportant achievement gives us grounds for hope when

we look into the future.

33. Unfortunately there are still not only smouldering but

also flaming hotbeds of war in the world which threaten to

expand into a world-wide conflagration of unprecedented

dimensions. Accordingly, resolute efforts to eliminate

existing military conflicts and the constant establishment of

conditions for preventing a new war are among the most

urgent tasks of our time, and consequently among the most

urgent tasks of this session of the General Assembly.

34. The world has on many occasions heard denunciations

from this rostrum of the aggressive actions of the United

States in Viet-Nam. Yet the war against the people of

Viet-Nam still continues. United States soldiers thousands

of kilometres from their homes are striving to crush the

heroic resistance of patriots fighting for their independence

and to preserve the venal Saigon régime.

35. Meanwhile the sound and progressive forces in South

Viet-Nam have formed the Provisional Revolutionary

Government of the Republic of South Viet-Nam, which is

gaining increasing international recognition and increasing

support among the people of Viet-Nam. This Government is

fully entitled to express its views on the future destiny of

South Viet-Nam. Its programme and its specific proposals

for the establishment of peace provide a realistic solution

for the problems of that country’s future.

36. With feelings of hope and relief we welcomed last year

the news of the opening of negotiations in Paris at which

the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Provisional

Government of South Viet-Nam submitted their proposals.

These negotiations have so far not yielded the desired

results. After so many years of suffering and bloodshed,

nothing could better promote the settlement of the

Viet-Nam problem than an approach to these negotiations

by the United States which would allow the conclusion of

an honourable and just peace for the entire people of

Viet-Nam. It is indeed high time that the United States put

an end to this war, withdrew its troops from Viet-Nam and

enabled the people of Viet-Nam to live in peace and

tranquillity without foreign interference.

37. From the very outset Czechoslovakia has taken the

side of the heroic people of Viet-Nam and has given it all

possible support in its difficult struggle.

38. Similarly, little success has so far been achieved in the

negotiations for terminating Israeli aggression in the Middle

East. Vast Arab territories are still occupied by Israeli

troops. The rights of the Arab population of these

territories are being violated and its plight is appalling. Is it

therefore surprising that the situation in this region is

explosive and may at any moment break out into a military

conflagration the consequences of which are hard to

imagine.

39. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic sees a way out of

this crisis in the adoption and particularly in the implementation

of all the provisions of the Security Council

resolution of 22 November 1967 [242 (1967)]. It now

depends on Israel whether it will comply with the demands

of the peace-loving nations and, above all, whether it will

withdraw its troops from the occupied Arab territories, or

whether it will assume full responsibility for further

dangerous developments in that region.

40. Among the other sources of international tension is

the continuing abnormal situation in Korea. It is deplorable

that, sixteen years after signature of the armistice agreement,

the armed forces of the United States are still

violating security and increasing tension on the Korean

peninsula under cover of the United Nations flag. It is

essential that the idea of peace should at last prevail in that

part of the world. The proposals which the socialist States

have submitted to this session of the General Assembly, and

of which Czechoslovakia is a co-sponsor, [A/7641/Add. 1-5

and A/7642/Add.1-2] are directed towards adoption of

equitable requirements for the peaceful unification of the

country. We are convinced that their adoption would

promote a peaceful settlement of the Korean situation.

41. There is no doubt that the true guarantee of peace and

security would be general and complete disarmament. This

goal is still before us and we must continue to strive for its

attainment. The road to it will be long, and we cannot yet

see its end. In any case, however, the prospect of creative

activity and of useful human labour in a world without

arms provides an inspiration which makes our continued

efforts worth while.

42. We are as yet at the very beginning of this road and

the first milestones are the so far modest results achieved

by negotiation: the treaty partially banning nuclear tests,!

the demilitarization of Antarctica, the demilitarization of

other space [General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI)] and

the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

[General Assembly resolution 2373 (XXII)]. Although of

course we attach great importance to these agreements, this

is not enough in either quantity or quality.

43. For example, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of

Nuclear Weapons, the conclusion of which we enthusiastically

welcomed last year, does not of course represent the

maximum of what should be achieved in that sphere.

Although its entry into force would be a step forward along

the road towards alleviating universal tension, even this

result has not yet been achieved, since the Treaty has not

been ratified by a sufficient number of States. In the

opinion of the Czechoslovak delegation, the General

Assembly, having adopted this instrument, should consider

it a matter of its responsibility and honour to ensure that

the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

enters into force and that as many States as possible accede

to it.

44. During the negotiations in the Disarmament Committee

at Geneva new possibilities emerged for reaching

agreement on partial measures; although these negotiations

did not make the desirable progress for which we are

striving. The Czechoslovak delegation hopes that the

twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly will at least

succeed in advancing work on certain measures of disarmament

which if implemented would effectively limit the arms race.

45. In addition to nuclear weapons, chemical and bacteriological

weapons present a fearful danger which threatens

the existence of all human life on our planet. The peace-loving

nations are becoming increasingly aware of the

danger of these weapons, owing to the relative ease with

which they can be obtained, and are actively demanding

their elimination from the military arsenals of all States.

46. The solution of this problem could be considerably

advanced by the recommendations contained in the report

of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, U Thant,

concerning these types of weapons and the possible

consequences of their use [A/7601/Add.1].

47. In accordance with these recommendations, the socialist

States have submitted a draft convention on the

prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling

of chemical and bacteriological (biological) weapons

and on the destruction of such weapons [A/7655]. The

consequences of this convention would be a direct and

logical extension of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and

would ultimately lead to the complete elimination and

destruction of these weapons.

48. The Czechoslovak delegation hopes that the draft of

the socialist countries will be favourably received, so that

this session of the General Assembly may mark a turning-point

in this highly important matter.

49. Nearly ten years have elapsed since the adoption in

this forum of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence

to Colonial Countries and Peoples [General Assembly

resolution 1514 (XV)].

50. This is indeed a document of historic importance. The

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial

Countries and Peoples has, among other things, promoted

the establishment of dozens of new States which have

overthrown colonial domination and subsequently become

Members of the United Nations. Nevertheless, it cannot yet

be said that the requirements set out in the Declaration on

the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and

Peoples have been fully implemented. There are still vast

territories whose peoples continue to suffer under the

colonial yoke and look to this Organization in the hope of

assistance. This hope must not be disappointed; nor must

the hopes of peoples which have shaken off colonial

domination but which are still obliged to pursue their

struggle against various forms of neo-colonialism.

51. The problems of peace and universal security set

mankind a task of primordial importance. A world without

armaments and wars and the creation of peaceful conditions

for the free and creative development of human

labour — these are purposes laid down by the United Nations

in its Charter at its foundation. We are convinced that it is

essential at this time once again to draw attention to these

purposes and to concentrate all the efforts of the peoples

on their implementation. That is why we welcome the step

taken by the delegation of the Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics, which has requested the inclusion in the agenda

of this session of the General Assembly of an item entitled

“The strengthening of international security” and has

proposed the adoption of an appeal to all States of the

world on that subject [A/7654].

52. We consider that this appeal serves the interests of all

peace-loving nations and that, during the forthcoming

quarter-century of the Organization’s existence, it should

therefore become a base for the solution of problems

related to international security.

53. Speaking of international security, we should also like

to stress that Czechoslovakia, as a European State, is vitally

interested in establishing security in the European continent

in particular.

54. In this connexion we regard as a favourable development

the response to the Budapest appeal by the States

members of the Warsaw Treaty Organization, drawing the

attention of nations to the necessity of taking decisive steps

towards achieving security in Europe. It is gratifying that

most European States have expressed an interest in the

constructive programme proposed by the socialist

countries, and willingness to co-operate in its implementation.

We particularly welcome the fact that the Government

of Finland has already given a practical reply to this appeal.

We fully support that move and regard it as a significant

contribution to the cause of European peace.

55. Europe has its own outstanding problems, which are

not insignificant. They are due to the existence of two

contradictory trends, which have marked all European

development since the Second World War. The first trend is

one Which strives for peace and mutual co-operation and is

supported by all those who have really learnt a lesson from

the anti-Fascist struggle and wish peace to prevail in Europe

at long last. Czechoslovakia, like the other socialist States,

has always advocated, supported and promoted this programme.

56. In contradiction to this positive attitude, however,

there are still forces in Europe which do not wish to

reconcile themselves to the post-war settlement resulting

from the victory over fascism and are trying to pursue a

revanchist policy. Czechoslovakia, which has learnt by

experience of the expansive tendency of German imperialism,

is following with particular concern the activities of

militarist and neo-Nazi groups in the Federal Republic of Germany.

57. The Czechoslovak people harbours no feelings of

hostility against the people of the Federal Republic of

Germany. On the contrary, in our efforts to achieve

European security, we are prepared to do everything in our

power to restore our relations with the Federal Republic of

Germany to normal. But this will be impossible while

revanchist tendencies towards the revision of the European

frontiers laid down after the Second World War proliferate

in the Federal Republic of Germany. This will, above all, be

impossible until the Federal Republic of Germany agrees to

declare the infamous Munich Diktat null and void and to

abandon its unlawful claims to West Berlin and its

dangerous nuclear ambitions.

58. It is also necessary to end the unwarranted claim of

the Federal Republic of Germany to exclusive representation

of the whole German people, and thus also to end

discrimination against the German Democratic Republic,

which as one of two German States, is pursuing a consistent

policy of peaceful co-operation and thus gaining increasing

international authority. In October this year the German

Democratic Republic will celebrate its twentieth anniversary.

This fact shows the absurdity of attempts to ignore

the existence of the German Democratic Republic. It must

be recognized that urgent problems of European security

cannot be solved without the full participation of the

German Democratic Republic.

59. In spite of the undesirable phenomena I have mentioned,

trends towards the easing of tension and rational

peaceful co-operation are emerging with increasing clarity

in Europe. Indeed, it could hardly be otherwise. After all,

in the past half century this continent has twice been the

scene of world wars which have claimed over 70 million

human lives. These facts have not yet been obliterated from

the memory of entire generations of European peoples.

This has also contributed to the favourable response to the

Budapest document of the socialist States, which offers

possibilities for the settlement of all acute European

problems and for improving the atmosphere in Europe.

That is why the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist

Republic sees as one of the primordial tasks of its foreign

policy the implementations of the conclusions of the

Budapest appeal, particularly with regard to the convening

of an all-European conference on problems of security and

co-operation. We have already taken the lead in this

connexion and have entered into contact with a number of

European States. We cannot say that we have not met with

understanding; on the contrary, we are convinced that the

time has come for taking specific action in the near future.

60. The European peoples, like the peoples of other

continents, are interested in developing mutually-advantageous

economic co-operation in Europe under

conditions of peace and security and within the framework

of economic co-operation between all the countries of the

world. Czechoslovakia, a relatively small industrial country

in the centre of Europe, is endowed by its geographical

situation, its economic structure and its historic traditions

with favourable conditions for the most active participation

in such co-operation.

61. However, we are directing this co-operation not only

towards European countries but also towards the countries

of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Czechoslovakia has

participated to the best of its capacity in efforts to secure

the accelerated economic growth of the developing countries,

the transformation of their economic structures and

the strengthening of their position and role in the world

economy.

62. We want to continue to follow a policy of economic

co-operation with countries of both social systems, since

such co-operation will further the growth of the world

economy as a whole. We wish to participate in an

appropriate manner in preparing a global strategy within

the framework of the Second Development Decade. Attention

should be drawn to the fact that optimal development

on a world-wide scale cannot be achieved without the

solution of certain outstanding problems of economic

relations between countries with different social systems,

particularly between the developed capitalist and socialist

countries, and without the abolition of prevailing trade

barriers and restrictions between the countries of these

systems.

63. Czechoslovakia considers that the United Nations and

the specialized agencies have an important part to play in

international economic co-operation. In this connexion I

should like to point out that the Czechoslovak Government

recently adopted a decision to renew the membership of

the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Further

evidence of Czechoslovakia’s determination to develop and

strengthen international co-operation is given by the

increase in our contribution to the United Nations Development

Programme and in our voluntary contribution, to the

United Nations Industrial Development Organization, since

we regard industrialization as a basic instrument for the

economic growth of the developing countries. Accordingly

our country is increasingly making its human and material

resources available for the solution of these many-sided

problems, and intends to continue to do so.

64. The foreign policy of the Czechoslovak Socialist

Republic follows from the socialist nature of our State and

the historical experience of the Czech and Slovak peoples,

particularly during the period of the national liberation

struggle against fascism during the Second World War. It is

directed towards ensuring stable peaceful conditions for the

all-round development of socialist society in our country.

65. A month ago our country celebrated the twenty-fifth

anniversary of the Slovak national uprising, an event which

we regard as one of the most important in Czechoslovak

history. The dignified atmosphere and large scale of the

celebrations in honour of this event showed the whole

world the true attitude of our people. The objectives of the

Slovak national uprising are still a living reality. By its

political and military action the Slovak people expressed its

noblest aspirations for freedom and independence, as well

as its firm resolve to contribute to the cause of defeating

fascism and, together with the fraternal Czech people, to

establish the Czechoslovak Republic and to develop it on

new, democratic and socially equitable foundations. The

new constitutional and legal settlement of the relationship

between our peoples is a further expression of this sentiment.

66. The experience of the anti-Fascist struggle which

culminated in the victory over Nazi Germany and in which

the peoples of the Soviet Union played a decisive part

confronted the Czech and Slovak peoples with the acutely

urgent problem of safeguarding their future security in

Europe. The determination to achieve this end, together

with the firm resolve to develop a new and more equitable

system of socialism in our country, have unequivocally led

our people to stable friendship and mutually-advantageous

co-operation with the Soviet Union and other States of the

socialist community. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic

has found a reliable guarantee for its security in the

defensive alliance between the countries of the Warsaw

Treaty Organization.

67. The socialist development of Czechoslovakia has

become a bright page of its history, despite the fact that

there were certain shortcomings, as happens in every

far-reaching social movement. Anti-socialist forces, inspired

and actively supported from abroad, tried to make use of

our honest efforts to rectify these errors and shortcomings.

Nevertheless, the danger of a counter-revolutionary uprising

was averted and eliminated in time.

68. I am dwelling on these facts because an unheard-of

campaign of hostility has been unleashed against our

country and its Government in recent months. The purpose

of this campaign was to confuse public opinion; we are still

witnessing slanders and insults levelled at our constitutional

representatives, and attempts to turn our Czechoslovak

people against its Government and against our binding

alliances.

69. Our people has paid a high price for the lesson of

history and is perfectly capable of recognizing its real

friends and distinguishing between truth and lies. That is

why the overwhelming majority rejected these hostile acts,

Provocation by anti-socialist forces, which assumed the

character of counter-revolutionary acts, culminated in the

defeat of those who organized and took part in them. The

people supported and still support the necessary measures

and policy of their Government.

70. No one will succeed in diverting the Czechoslovak

Socialist Republic from the path of building a socialist

society, the path of friendship and close co-operation with

the Soviet Union and the other socialist States. Nor will this

cause be promoted by acts encouraged from abroad, of

incitement to uprisings in the country, or by the most

subtle ideological campaigns based on pseudo-theories of

some kind of “limited sovereignty” and similar concepts. It

is therefore not only in the interests of the Czechoslovak

Socialist Republic, but also in the interests of promoting

friendly relations between nations, to put an end to

attempts to introduce the so-called question of Czechoslovakia

into this international forum. There is no such question.

71. The development of Czechoslovakia and the measures

we are taking for this development are exclusively our own

domestic concern. Decisions on our internal and foreign-policy

affairs are taken by constitutional and government

organs. These organs are headed by selfless patriots who

have fought actively for a free Czechoslovakia, who stood

by the cradle of the new, modern, socialist Czechoslovakia,

and who enjoy the respect and gratitude of our people.

What problems we have, we shall solve by ourselves.

72. The Czechoslovak people and its Government greatly

appreciate the friendship and sympathy shown to them by

other peoples and their Governments. We realize that many

of the countries with which the Czechoslovak Socialist

Republic maintains sound, mutually-advantageous friendly

relations might, as a result of the complexity of our internal

political development and of the lack of truthful information,

have reached premature conclusions concerning the

so-called events in Czechoslovakia and their causes and

might have encouraged or tolerated various acts which the

Czechoslovak Government could not and cannot regard as

friendly. We hope that these countries will take the point of

view of the Czechoslovak Government into consideration.

73. In the existing complex international situation, the

Czechoslovak delegation regards the United Nations as an

important instrument through which the solution of urgent

problems of peace and security could be promoted. The

principles and purposes of its Charter provide reliable

guidelines for the solution of important international

problems and for strengthening the United Nations itself

and its role in the contemporary world.

74. We therefore, consider that it would be useful for the

United Nations, in the year of its twenty-fifth anniversary,

first of all to reaffirm the full relevance of these purposes

and principles and the necessity of observing them. Efforts

must also be made to eliminate the obstacles which lie in

the way of the implementation of the purposes of the Charter.

75. Accordingly, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the

United Nations should be celebrated next year not merely

by declarations, but primarily by specific action, by

bringing certain unfinished projects to a conclusion and by

reaching agreement on outstanding questions. One such

action should be the conclusion of work on the declaration

on the principles of international law governing mutual

relations and co-operation between States. The adoption of

these principles would do much to promote the strengthening

of peaceful coexistence between countries with different

social systems, increased confidence between States and

the stabilization of the hopes and tranquillity of the peoples.

76. Much but by no means everything has been done to

enable the world to live without fear of war. We are

therefore in duty bound to co-opt all the peace-loving

forces and movements in the world which are actively

supporting this aim and are striving for its realization and

which quite rightly regard the United Nations as an

important instrument for the defence of peace and the

realization of the noble purposes of the Charter.

77. For my part, therefore, I should like to state that at

this session of the General Assembly, as in the past, the

Czechoslovak delegation will actively support and promote

all measures and steps directed towards the strengthening of

the peace and security of all mankind.