Greece, 1969

39. Madam President, I should like first of all, on

behalf of the delegation of Greece and personally, to offer

you our warm congratulations on your election as President

of the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Your

election is a well-deserved tribute to your personal qualities

and a recognition of the positive and constructive role

played by your country—with which Greece maintains

traditionally friendly relations—in international affairs.

40. I should again on this occasion like to pay a tribute

the memory of the late President Arenales, an eminent

statesman dedicated to the cause of peace and international

co-operation, who to the end of his life continued to strive

for the promotion and safeguarding of the principles of the

United Nations.

41. The twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly is

opening under the portent of the conquest of space.

Through the staggering progress of American science and

technology, two astronauts have accomplished a feat which

will be for ever the hallmark of our age. Men of earth have

set foot on the moon, and what seemed a symbol of the

impossible has become a reality.

42. In this new age, the age of exploits which until

recently belonged to the world of science fiction, man

conquers outer space but is still a victim of his ancestral

passions and prejudices.

43. Proof of this is given in the statement of the

Secretary-General on the progress of our world affairs. In

the introduction to his annual report [A/7601/Add.1] U Thant

has brought us face to face with the crises and conflicts

which together threaten the international community and

blatantly the principles upon which Organization is based.

44. The cannons roar ever more threateningly in

Middle East, the Viet-Nam war drags on, two great Powers

confront each other on the Sino-Soviet frontier, the

fratricidal war in Nigeria has not been brought to an end,

disarmament negotiations are merely marking time, and

economic problems of the developing countries still await a

just solution.

45. Should I add, to deplore it, the refusal of certain

Members of the United Nations to abide by the resolutions

of the General Assembly and of the Security Council?

46. It is, of course, far from the Greek delegation's

intention to underestimate what our Organization has

already been able to accomplish, or to try to paint too

gloomy a picture. However, we believe that our faith in the

future of the United Nations should not prevent us from

striking a balance or drawing the necessary conclusions.

47. The Secretary-General, in his periodic reports and on

many other occasions, has constantly drawn our attention

to our duty to take all the necessary measures to contribute

effectively to the economic progress of developing countries.

48. Technical progress, which offers immense possibilities

for accelerating economic development, has so far done

nothing but widen the gap that separates the prosperous

from the less privileged nations. If we want to prevent the

division of our world into two opposite camps, between

poor and rich countries or between north and south, then

we must show a creative brotherhood and take courageous

initiatives. Peace is incompatible with misery and ignorance,

and cannot be secured while the masses of the population

are overcome by disillusion and despair.

49. Our recent awareness of the need to draw up a new

global strategy for economic development is an encouraging

and promising omen for the success of the Second United

Nations Development Decade. Furthermore, the consensus

reached on the exploitation of the resources of the sea-bed

proves that nations can now play a pioneering role in the

search for new methods of developing the resources of our

planet for the benefit of all mankind.

50. Thus, without being complacent, we can say that we

are going forward on the right economic and social path,

thanks particularly to the leads given by the United Nations.

51. Politically, the situation in the Middle East is a

constant source of anxiety. Aware of its dangers, the Greek

Government considers that the provisions of Security Council

[resolution 242 (1967)] offer the ground for a just

and equitable settlement of the conflict.

52. Two years have passed, however, since the unanimous

adoption of that resolution: two years of tension, disillusion

and bloodshed. The sufferings of the people of the region are

increasing; the occupation continues and aggravates the struggle

of the Palestinians pro domo sua; positions harden and peace

seems more distant than ever.

53. When Mr. Jarring’s mission was suspended, our attention and

hopes turned to the four-Power consultations started last April.

We welcomed that initiative. Far from interpreting it as an effort

by the great Powers to solve that grave problem outside the

United Nations, we considered it to be a collective effort by the

four permanent members of the Security Council to devise practical

means of implementing the resolution.

54. The apparent lack of results from those four-Power

consultations and the recent escalation of increasingly grave

incidents have created an explosive situation. We see with

horror the rise of the fearsome spectre of a war which,

while incapable of solving the problems it is supposed to

settle, might directly affect international peace and security.

55. The Greek delegation wishes to endorse the appeal made

by the Secretary-General to members of the Security Council

—both individually and collectively—at the time of the tragic

death of Major Plane

“...to do all within their power to influence events in

a new and constructive direction”.

56. However, since in the final analysis the solution to the

problem depends entirely on the countries involved in the

conflict, it is obvious that only their moderation and realism

can lead to a peaceful settlement. We feel, and I repeat this,

that the firmest basis for an agreement that will

finally bring the conflict to an end is to be found in the

resolution adopted unanimously by the Security Council in

November 1967. All the principles on which peace in that

area must be based appear in that resolution.

57. When speaking of trouble spots we must inevitably

think of the war in Viet-Nam, which though not on the

agenda of the General Assembly remains an obsessive

thought at the back of our minds. The continued suffering

and loss of human life are bound to haunt the conscience of

all peace-loving peoples.

58. During the last session of the General Assembly the

Greek delegation shared the generally felt relief at the

opening of conversations in Paris. After a year of apparently

sterile negotiations the international community is deeply

disquieted at their lack of progress.

59. The United States of America has adopted courageous

measures to create a propitious atmosphere for the success

of the talks, and has given assurances which should satisfy

even those most sceptical about its future.

60. The bombing of North Viet-Nam has ceased and the

American administration has carried out a de-escalation of

operations and a first withdrawal of troops from Viet-Nam.

We believe it would be untoward to expect similar measures

from Hanoi. Merely to accuse or exhort the party that has

undeniably already adopted specific measures for military

disengagement cannot relieve Hanoi of its grave responsibility

for prolonging the sufferings inflicted upon the Viet-Namese

people, or further the aim of bringing peace to the country.

61. In southern Africa, where traces and consequences of

the colonial era linger on, the situation has in no way

improved.

62. Since the creation of our Organization Greece has

made every effort to support the United Nations in the

abolition of the colonial system, the recognition of the

right of peoples to self-determination and the elimination

of racial discrimination. It is still ready to play its part in

the search for realistic and reasonable solutions to ensure

that the principles and ideals for which we stand will

prevail.

63. A quarter of a century after the creation of the United

Nations our Organization cannot yet establish machinery

that will enable it effectively to fulfil its responsibilities as a

guardian of peace. Yet, in the light of experience, the

usefulness and value of its peace-keeping operations cannot

be denied.

64. It is truly disappointing to note that, although we

spend astronomical sums in strengthening and developing

our machinery for war, we struggle endlessly to find ways

of meeting the cost of the peace-keeping operations, for

maintaining that peace which is the primary responsibility

of the United Nations.

65. If we are to judge from the yearly increasing deficits,

the system of voluntary contributions has proved ineffective.

Thus we are bound to be concerned over the bleak prospects

we see ahead of us for the financing of present and future

peace-keeping operations. The Greek delegation has supported

all proposals to remedy this state of affairs.

66, In a spirit of devotion to the cause of peace and an

acute awareness of its ‘responsibilities, Greece played a

leading role in the solution of the grave crisis in Cyprus in

1967. Since then it has contributed to everything that its

duty required to the improvement of the situation in the

island.

67. It must be admitted that the encouraging turn of

events in the Republic of Cyprus is due primarily to the

attitude of the Cypriot Government. The Cypriot leaders

have, indeed, undertaken courageous measures—not yet

reciprocated—towards a peaceful settlement, and have

likewise shown flexibility and moderation in starting and

continuing intercommunal talks. As for the substance of

the problem, the Government of Cyprus has submitted

most constructive and realistic proposals which pay due

regard to the special interests of their Turkish Cypriot

fellow citizens.

68. Since, in the present circumstances, pessimism would

be a poor counsellor, we continue to hope that the Turkish

side will realize that these proposals are genuine, and

remember that a setback to the present talks would serve

the interests of no one.

69. The road ahead is still long. Much perseverance, good

sense and realism will be needed from both sides for a final

solution that will benefit all the people of Cyprus.

70. Greece, which has so far contributed more than

$8 million to the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in

Cyprus, is fully cognizant of the burden of maintaining that

force. The Greek delegation, therefore, wishes to express its

appreciation to those countries which in a spirit of

international brotherhood, either by furnishing military

contingents or through voluntary contributions, have enabled the peace-keeping operation in Cyprus to continue.

71. I should like also to avail myself of this opportunity to

pay tribute to all those who have contributed to this

improvement in the situation in Cyprus, and particularly to

the Secretary-General, who has worked unceasingly to

reach the goals set forth in the Security Council resolution

of 4 March 1964 [resolution 186 (1964)].

72. Now that the blue skies of the Eastern Mediterranean

are darkened by so many threatening clouds, it is encouraging

to note that, thanks in large measure to the efforts of

the United Nations, at least one people in one corner of

that region is turning to the work of peace and prosperity.

73. I should like to conclude my statement by reiterating

Greece’s attachment to the policy of friendly relations with

all members of the international community regardless of

their political and social systems, a policy based on respect

for sovereignty, independence, and non-intervention in the

internal affairs of others.

74. In the view of my Government peaceful coexistence,

although an important step towards relief of tension,

cannot be considered an end in itself. A truce in the cold

war does not bring the world all the blessings of peace. The

small countries cannot feel free from danger or turn

peacefully to the search for a better life as long as our

world is liable at any.moment to become once again a

battleground where, on one pretext or another, the

interests of the giants clash. That clash will not be

prevented by amassing increasingly destructive weapons. It

is therefore urgently necessary to hasten the search for

ways of limiting the production of weapons of mass

destruction.

75. We hope that the contacts established between the

United States and the Soviet Union will bear fruit and so

realize the hopes of all men of goodwill.

76. We also hope for speedy progress in the economic

development of the developing nations; for a reduction of

the enormous gap between the living levels of the

industrialized and the developing countries would obviously be

one stabilizing factor. If that gap were narrowed, we could

hope for a new era of peace and security in the world.