Finland, 1969

179. Madam President, it gives me great pleasure to extend to you,

on behalf of my Government and myself, our sincerest congratulations

on your election to the high office of President of the General

Assembly. We welcome you as an eminent representative of

the African Member States of this Organization. We do so

in full awareness of the outstanding qualifications and the

long experience in United Nations affairs which you bring

to the important task you are called upon to fulfil. The fact

that for the second time in the history of the United

Nations the highest office of our Organization is entrusted

to a lady adds a special note to the sentiments with which

we greet your election.

180. We also wish to express our great appreciation of the

important contribution of our Secretary-General to

international co-operation.

181. In drawing up a balance-sheet of the development of

international relations in the past twelve months, we cannot

fail to take note with grave concern of the new dimension

of international tension which has emerged in the Far East.

It casts its shadow over the world scene as a whole. At the

same time, all the crises and conflicts which we discussed

here a year ago—manifestations of the use of force and

violence in relations between nations—continue to frustrate

our efforts to improve international relations.

182. Yet we can also note encouraging features in the

developments of the past twelve months. In Viet-Nam,

though the violence and destruction continue, the trend at

least has been reversed, The bombing of North Viet-Nam

has been stopped, the level of fighting in South Viet-Nam

appears to nave been somewhat reduced and talks between

the principal parties to the conflict are in progress.

183. In the Middle East, while violent action has increased

between Israel and its Arab neighbours, the joint effort of

the four leading Powers, permanent members of the

Security Council, to seek a peaceful solution of the

conflict, strengthens our confidence in their willingness to

co-operate, in accordance with their special responsibilities

under the Charter, to prevent any danger to international

peace and security. It is regrettable that no progress has

been made towards establishing a lasting and just peace in

the area. But this session of the General Assembly, attended

as it is by prominent representatives of all the countries

concerned, should offer an opportunity of making a fresh

effort in that direction.

184. Our hopes for world peace are also strengthened by

the willingness of the two leading nuclear Powers—the

Soviet Union and the United States—to begin negotiations

on the limitation of strategic armaments and thus to

continue along the road of arms control in the spirit of the

Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in

Outer space and under water and the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [resolution

2373 (XXII)]. It must be a universal hope that those talks

should start without any further delay and that for their

duration both Powers agree to refrain from any steps that

might intensify the nuclear arms race. There can be no

doubt that the outcome of those talks will largely determine

not only the prospects of further progress in the field

of disarmament and arms control, but also the future trend

of international relations as a whole. At the same time, it

should be emphasized that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation

of Nuclear Weapons should speedily be brought into

force as the cornerstone of any future system of nuclear

arms control.

185. It is further encouraging that at long last serious

negotiations on United Nations peace-keeping activities are

now in progress. Experience has shown that the use of

United Nations peace-keeping services has become an

indispensable means of containing and controlling international

crises and conflicts as an aid in the peaceful

settlement of disputes. Agreement between the leading

Powers on the principles and procedures to be followed in

such activities would considerably strengthen the capacity

of the United Nations to fulfil its primary task, which is the

maintenance of international peace and security.

186. Thus, while the rivalry between the great Powers

continues in many areas, there appears in greater measure a

willingness on their part to work together to discharge their

joint responsibility for the preservation of peace. There

need be no contradiction between those two tendencies. We

cannot expect that all conflicts of interest or differences of

ideology between nations can be made to disappear. But we

can hope that all disputes will be resolved in accordance

with the principles of the United Nations Charter.

187. There is no doubt that increasing understanding

between the leading Powers tends to give rise to suspicion

among many small nations, which history has taught to fear

that agreement between the powerful may sometimes be

reached at the expense of the weak. Yet, in the present age,

co-operation between the leading Powers is a necessary

prerequisite for the preservation of peace in the world, and

thus in the vital interest of all nations. Naturally, such

co-operation between the great Powers, as between all

nations, must be based on respect for the principle of the

sovereign equality of all States, which is a cornerstone of

the United Nations. By strengthening this Organization we

can most effectively strengthen the basis of international

peace and security, as well as that of the independence of

every nation.

188. In this connexion I should like to state once again

that, in the view of the Finnish Government, the collective

security system of the United Nations van be truly effective

only when it is universal. Accordingly, we hold the view

that the seat of China i the United Nations belongs to the

People’s Republic of China. We also believe that the other

nations that remain outside the United Nations should be

given the opportunity of participating in the work of the

Organization in appropriate ways.

189. For a neutral country like Finland, which bases its

security not on military alliances or the protection of one

Power or group of Powers against others but on a foreign

policy designed to keep it outside international conflicts, it

is a natural interest that it should work for a peaceful and

rational world order anchored in the universal collective

security system of the United Nations Charter, We believe

that we can do so best by adhering strictly to our policy of

neutrality. This policy, while it enjoins us to refrain from

taking sides in disputes between the great Powers, enables

us to maintain friendly relations with all States across the

dividing lines of ideology and military blocs. On this basis it

is possible for us to make an active contribution to the

peaceful settlement of international disputes.

190. It is equally natural that on a regional basis Finland is

actively interested in developing a system of security

embracing the whole of Europe. As is known, the Finnish

Government has taken an initiative in this direction and

announced its readiness to act as host of a European

security conference. We believe that Finland may be

qualified for such a role by virtue of its neutral position

with regard to the central issues dividing Europe today, as

well as by its friendly ties with all the Governments

concerned.

191. Speaking on the situation in Europe, the President of

Finland, Mr. Urho Kekkonen, said in his speech of 15 July

of this year, during his state visit to Great Britain, that:

“...since the end of the Second World War we have

experienced in Europe the longest period of peace in this

century and years ago reached a stage in which no

changes in Europe could any longer be made through war

or violence but only through peaceful negotiations”.

President Kekkonen continued:

“Threats to peace are no longer the classical threats

inherent in ambitious and evil plans of one State or

another, but the danger of war itself with its unbelievably

destructive consequences. All in all, we have come to the

point where the problems of Europe are easier to control

than the great world problems which have appeared on the

scene. Even so, we often look at the European situation

from an outdated point of view, living in fear of

dangers that perhaps no longer exist. A new way of

thinking and a new approach are essential.”

192. The Finnish Government will continue to work

together with other Governments in order to promote

constructive negotiations on the solution of the problems

of European security. In this connexion I may mention that

the Foreign Ministers of the five Nordic countries,

Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, at their

recent meeting in Reykjavik, declared their support for the

initiative taken by the Finnish Government in the matter of

a European security conference and their desire to continue

to explore the possibilities of preparing for such a conference.

193. I have stressed the importance of co-operation

between the leading Powers in our efforts to solve major

political. problems which confront the Organization. This is

also true in regard to the problems of southern Africa.

Another year has gone by without any improvement in the

situation. Sanctions have not yet brought down the illegal

régime in Southern Rhodesia. We should therefore do our

utmost to make the sanctions more effective. With regard

to Namibia we have not yet been able to agree on the

means by which the United Nations could discharge its

direct responsibility for the territory. The illegal occupation

of Namibia continues, while in South Africa the policies of

apartheid are intensified in complete disregard of fundamental

human rights. Finally, in the Portuguese Territories

the colonial Power continues in its persistent refusal to

recognize the legitimate right of the population to freedom

and independence.

194. It is understandable that in these circumstances many

of us, and in particular many Africans, are beginning to

despair of finding a solution to the problems of southern

Africa through peaceful means offered by the United

Nations. In the face of this increased danger of racial

conflict it is necessary to intensify our search for constructive

and effective action to reverse the trend in southern

Africa. For this, co-operation between the leading Powers is

essential.

195. The appalling human sacrifice which the continued

fighting in Nigeria is causing the civilian population is

causing great distress in Finland as in many other countries.

The Governments of the Nordic countries have addressed to

the leaders of the parties to the conflict numerous and

urgent appeals which have been motivated by the desire to

make the relief work more effective. The Nordic countries

offer their support for any measure which may contribute

to a solution of the conflict, We have followed with interest

the efforts of the Organization of African Unity to solve

the Nigerian conflict and we believe that this Organization

is specially qualified to help to find a basis for a negotiated

solution.

196. Madam President, as we approach the beginning of

the Second United Nations Development Decade we have

reason for critical self-examination. The experience of the

past ten years shows that it is no longer enough to state

broad objectives and design over-all policies. In the preparations

for the Second Development Decade it is necessary to

agree upon plans of greater detail and precision so as to

enable us better to marshal our resources and review the

progress made.

197. At the same time it must be emphasized that while a

revitalization of aid policies is of great importance it is only

one instrument at the disposal of the world community.

Lack of true progress in international trade policies to the

benefit of the developing nations is a matter of great

concern. A fresh effort is called for to give the developing

countries a greater share in world trade.

198. The Finnish Government has recently undertaken a

thorough assessment of Finland’s contribution to the

Second Development Decade and as a result proposed to

Parliament a programme designed to achieve, in stages, the

aid target of 1 per cent of the gross national product.

Accordingly, in 1970, Finland’s contribution to economic

development aid will increase by one third and will grow

steadily year by year.