Dominican Republic, 1969

1. One source of satisfaction afforded me by

this session of the General Assembly, Madam President, is

the significant fact of your election to preside over it. That

fact is extremely encouraging for countries like my own

that have struggled for many years, especially during the

constructive phase of our present constitutional Government,

to give the status of women its proper attributes. We

therefore celebrate as a victory of our own, in close

harmony with our beliefs, the fact that an illustrious

representative of the loftiest ideals of human justice and

talent has been unanimously elected by all Member States

represented here.

2. Under your enlightened guidance, the General

Assembly is embarking upon one of its most promising

sessions, at a time when the agenda before us includes items

of the utmost gravity and importance.

3. The supreme position you now occupy at the twenty-fourth

session reminds us of the notable presidence of

another eminent figure, Mrs. Vijaya Laksmi Pandit, who

conducted the eighth session of the General Assembly with

the same ability that we look for from you in view of your

acknowledged experience and understanding of the problems

which are a source of concern and disquiet to all

nations.

4. Despite our concern, it is encouraging to find that at

times such as these, when international organizations are

suffering the consequences of the unrest afflicting the

whole of mankind, a distinguished woman should have been

chosen to preside over the highest organ of the United

Nations.

5. At the last session of the Assembly this same honour

fell to Mr. Emilio Arenales, an eminent Latin American,

now deceased, to whose memory I should like to pay a

posthumous tribute for the wisdom with which he guided

our activities on that occasion, and for the admirable and

unflinching courage with which he faced adversity in the

difficult tasks he accomplished.

6. May I assure you, Madam President, that, in the

fulfilment of our duties and responsibilities, the work lying

ahead of us will be lightened by the resolution and

influence you bring to bear in searching for the most

desirable and appropriate solutions.

7. My country has followed with keen interest the

emergence of that group of young nations that has come to

be called the third world. As a token of the constructive

concern that prompts us, I welcome you to this General

Assembly and congratulate you in the name of my

Government and of its supreme leader and President,

Dr. Joaquin Balaguer.

8. As I see it, the primary cause of the international

political crisis which resembles a chronic disease to which

all States Members of the United Nations are liable to fall

prey, is lack of compliance with international treaties. This

evil is all the more prejudicial to the objectives pursued by

the Organization in that neither the principles of the

Charter nor the resolutions adopted by the General

Assembly, nor even the Security Council, which is directly

entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of maintaining

peace throughout the world, have escaped its influence.

9. Hence we doubt whether, in the midst of such a crisis,

we should advocate the admission of mainland China as a

Member of the United Nations, when it is precisely that

country which has done most to flout the principles

designed to prevent the scourge of war and to ensure the

maintenance of peace throughout the world, principles that

are not merely legal rules of conduct but inviolable

imperatives for all Members of the Organization.

10. The Dominican Republic also doubts the desirability

of admitting to this Organization a new Member which

neither believes in nor abides by the postulates of the

Charter by which Member States are governed. It would be

naive to expect that countries which become Members of

the United Nations will be able to change the very structure

of their policy, which has resisted all change for so many

years. These considerations justify the position assumed

now and in the past by my country in speaking out at the

General Assembly against the persistent candidature of

mainland China.

11. Nevertheless, we recognize the high ideals which

generally inspire and endeavour to preserve peace. We refer

to my country’s refusal to accept any kind of intervention

by States in the internal affairs of other States. In view of

the events that have been occurring in different parts of the

world in circumstances involving States Members of the

United Nations, it is vitally necessary at this time that, far

from allowing those principles which safeguard the

self-determination of peoples to be weakened, we should see to

it that a collective reaction takes place to ensure that those

principles become more than mere legal pronouncements.

12. The events in Czechoslovakia were a source of grave

concern to the countries of the free world. Despite the

regrettable train of events that followed, which has now

culminated in an internal situation that is reluctantly

accepted, we must make our position clear as regards a

curious belief that has recently emerged. I refer to the claim

by one Power of the right to intervene in the affairs of

another Power solely on the grounds of their association in

a political pact, or the use of power to freeze the ideologies

shared by such countries into hard-and-fast dogmas.

13. It is incomprehensible that, while the United Nations

is striving to further mutual respect among nations, these

events should reveal a tendency to undermine those very

objectives. We do not progress by going backwards; yet this

is what seems to be happening with the doctrine which we

might call the doctrine of “protected sovereignties”. We are

all aware that the ambitious concept of guaranteed constitutions

has been mooted for many years. It has been said

that one State can guarantee the political constitution of

another.

14. That interpretation has naturally been refuted on the

grounds that it is doubtful whether a sovereign is legitimately

entitled to transfer jurisdiction over the constitution;

it is certainly undemonstrable, since a people’s right to

self-determination is inalienable, cannot be held in disregard

or made the subject of international agreements. If any

benefit has been derived from these events, it is undoubtedly

that all freedom-loving peoples in the world have

been given an opportunity to reaffirm their faith in and

acceptance of the principles which are now universal.

15. My country has not been indifferent to the secessionist

war in Nigeria, which has cost so many lives because

of the impossibility of going to the assistance of the

defenceless civilian population, and which has given the

civilized world such a picture of untold horror and tragedy

in that part of Africa.

16. My Government considers that, in view of this

situation, we must devise means of restoring peace in the

zone of hostilities and of putting an end to the tragedy that

has been going on there for so long, without infringing the

right of non-intervention.

17. If we are to trust the information available to us, more

than ninety aircraft have been hijacked in mid-flight by

force of arms, to the danger of the aircraft, the crew and

the passengers.

18. The information at our disposal indicates that these

acts were committed for political motives. If we are right in

thinking this, it may reasonably be expected that these acts

will degenerate into even more serious offences in future. In

any situation in which this criminal irregularity is likely to

take place, there is undoubtedly a danger that, because of

their implications, the repetition of such acts could in

certain circumstances disturb the peace which the United

Nations is called upon to preserve. The United Nations is

therefore justified in taking up the problem in due course

and dealing with it in the appropriate way.

19. The hijacking of aircraft in different parts of the world

should lead us to consider the creation of a favourable

climate of opinion for the treatment of this type of

depredation as an international crime similar to piracy on

the high seas.

20. Views have been voiced which, although obviously

well-intentioned, are apt to create confusion. We refer to

the reaction aroused by the possibility that sparsely

populated territories that have become sovereign and

independent States will be admitted to the United Nations.

The reasons advanced for not admitting these States have

political overtones. It is argued, moreover, that, because the

States in question have small populations and would have

difficulty in becoming self-sufficient, they would not be

able to meet the contribution required of them to maintain

their rights as Members of the United Nations.

21. We dislike the fact that the exercise of a right

involving the idea of peace should be conditioned by any

kind of budgetary consideration. Nor do we like any kind

of discrimination in the application of the concept of the

sovereignty and independence of States.

22. We realize that these criteria afford protection for

small countries such as the Dominican Republic. We also

realize that for countries which cannot protect themselves

in other ways, recognition of their rights is a substitute for

all the other kinds of protective and defensive measures

which other States have the privilege of enjoying.

23. As we object to all forms of discrimination, we

maintain our inflexible attitude with regard to the policy of

apartheid and shall continue to uphold and strengthen the

principle adopted by the General Assembly in this unhappy

conflict, which seems to be no nearer its end and holds out

no hope that South Africa will recognize the impressive

nature of one of the most laudable advances made by

modern civilization.

24. The efforts made this year to find an honourable

settlement in Viet-Nam through the continuation of the

Paris talks have been hopefully welcomed by my Government,

whose attitude is, I am sure, echoed by most of the

Dominican people. Certain groups in different parts of the

world have shown impatience with the slowness and

nuances of this personal meeting between the parties

concerned.

25. We believe that the talks should continue as long as

possible and that South Viet-Nam and its associates have

indicated quite clearly that they are prepared to cease

hostilities and reach a constructive agreement. The withdrawal

of troops from Viet-Namese territory and. their

return to the United States, as also the categorical

statements made here on the 18th of this month

[1755th meeting] by the highest and most qualified spokesman of

the United States Government, are a further manifestation

of the desire for peace by which that Power is animated. We

must remember, however, that there is a long road still to

travel and that a tithe of the sacrifice, which may be of vast

proportions, has yet to be paid. My country expresses the

heartfelt hope that a way of bringing the situation in

Viet-Nam to an end will be found in the not too distant

future.

26. The conflict in the Middle East still engages the

attention of all peace-loving countries. Efforts have

admittedly been made to put an end to the situation, which at

times has been explosive—as it is at present. Security

Council resolution 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967

should be sufficient to enable the parties to enter upon the

final phase of the conflict.

27. We have frequently heard it said that this is an isolated

situation confined to a certain area, but we would point out

that at the present time there are many tensions in the

world and that peace is exposed to such grave threats in this

era of atomic and nuclear weapons that it is impossible to

be sure that an isolated situation will not lead to an

extension of the conflict.

28. My Government is convinced that it was a wise step to

include the question of international co-operation in the

peaceful uses of outer space, which gave rise to General

Assembly resolution 2453 (XXI) of 20 December 1968

in our agenda.

29. The speed with which research and conquest of outer

space is proceeding compels us to press forward despite the

obstacles that may be placed in the way of studies and

decisions relating to the legal régime that must be established

before a situation arises which entails orderly

regulation agreed upon at the international level through

the possibilities afforded by the United Nations. We must

not forget that man has already left his tracks upon the

moon, and that this incredible feat opens to space

technology the path that will lead to other celestial bodies

in our solar system. This is why we reiterate the request by

the United Nations in the above-mentioned resolution that

the effective co-operation of the developing countries

should be enlisted in this matter which is of such

importance for the advancement of the peoples of the

world.

30. We cannot but express our satisfaction that the

celebration of the International Education Year has also

been included in the agenda of the twenty-fourth session. It

is a happy coincidence for us that my Government should

have declared 1969 to be Education Year.

31. This subject reminds us that education is a vital factor

in the development of human resources and that, while

helping to perfect man, it also equips him to assume the

grave responsibilities of our time. This is why we would

urge the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization to use every means available to it to

ensure that consideration is given to the desirability of

carrying out studies on the need to adopt a system of

compulsory secondary education.

32. The universal problems facing this important sector of

education stem from the situation produced by the

inadequacies of a primary education that is not completed

by secondary education.

33. The development of education offers an effective

means of making some progress in the fight against racism

and racial discrimination, which has concerned the United

Nations to such an extent that it has designated 1971 as the

International Year for action to combat this type of

discrimination.

34. This question also involves the training of young

people with a view to the development of national areas.

We must overcome the obstacles in the way of the

participation of the younger generations in a world that is

struggling to break out of its archaic mould and to

inaugurate the era of development in all fields of human

activity, which must necessarily affect the destiny of

nations and the objectives pursued by the basic principles

of this Organization.

35. It is to be hoped that the postulates of the Economic

and Social Council will be interpreted more correctly in the

General Assembly so that-national policies will encourage

young people to play a greater part in building the modern

world.

36. We are hearing a great deal of criticism of the

slowness, inertia and even inefficiency of the United

Nations. If this is true, we seem to forget that the blame

rests on all of us. We are all equally responsible for it and

under an equal obligation to rescue the United Nations

from its present situation.

37. In fulfilment of our duty to the Organization, we

would urge you to recognize, at this twenty-fourth session,

the historic responsibility which we were called upon to

assume in instituting this great international system. In

acknowledging this, we are compelled to strengthen the

structure of the Organization, imbue it with the necessary

vigour and place our trust in it, so that it will not perish,

because our hopes of peace are founded on it.

38. I am moved to recall in this Assembly, as our President

recalled at a time of conflict in my country, that in 1863,

eight-seven years after the United States of America became

independent, Abraham Lincoln, an apostolic figure and a

symbol of man’s equality and of the freedom of the people,

condemned violence, proclaimed the reconciliation a of his

countrymen and invoked, as the touchstone for settling all

human conflicts, man’s moral judgement and the grace of

Almighty God.

39. Let us prepare ourselves to take part in this new

session with sincerity, high-mindedness, impartiality and

love for our fellow men. Let us enter this hall again with

the eager and healthy enthusiasm with which a convalescent

returns to his daily life. Let us enter this noble hall in a

lofty and hopeful state of mind and spirit as befits the

present situation, inspired by optimism and the will to

succeed, with the joyful and full heart of which a great

French poet speaks, and with the unsullied spirit and

infectious enthusiasm of the person who, without fanfare

and with an overflowing heart, takes up the threads of his

life again.

40. These are my wishes and the wishes of my Government

and of our supreme leader and President Dr. Joaquin

Balaguer. And these are the hopes with which, at this

solemn moment, I address the delegations assembled here.